As the dust settled on the succession dispute, the streets and alleys of Chang’an began discussing another matter.

This was the marriage of the new top scholar Pei Heng and Du Zhenyue, daughter of Magistrate Du from Yangzhou. The marriage of these two young people had experienced many twists and turns. First betrothed since childhood, then Pei Heng achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations in Chang’an—what should have been a joyous occasion was disrupted by Princess Qi’an’s interference. If not for the Imperial Grandson’s persistent efforts to save him, Pei Heng might still be languishing in the Dali Temple prison, let alone marrying Du Zhenyue.

It was said that Pei Heng had personally visited the Imperial Grandson, inviting him to attend the wedding banquet at his residence.

However, since both the Pei and Du families were from Yangzhou, why was the wedding being held in Chang’an?

In Chang’an city, both the Pei and Du families had mansions. The Du family, being of merchant origin with wealth in the millions, had a particularly magnificent residence. As the sun slanted westward, after paying respects to his ancestors, Cui Xun rode on horseback with many friends accompanying him to the Du residence to fetch his bride. The Du family lived in Chongren Ward, separated from the imperial city by a single wall. Along the way, drums and music created a clamor, and the sound of string and woodwind instruments carried to the Daming Palace. Cui Xun couldn’t help glancing toward the imperial palace.

Holding the wedding in Chang’an had been his insistence. The Empress’s days were numbered, with her death expected within the next two months. What concerned her most now must be her daughter’s future. Cui Xun thought that even if she could only hear some sounds of the wedding procession, it would be good.

He lowered his eyes and continued riding toward the Du residence. Upon arrival, he found the main gate tightly closed. From inside came the laughter and merriment of the women, who called out loudly: “Who comes here?”

“Pei Heng from Yangzhou.”

“For what purpose?”

“To claim my wife.”

“Who is your wife?”

“Her name is Zhenyue.”

There was more laughter from inside the Du residence: “Please dismount, young master.”

After Cui Xun dismounted, the vermilion gate slowly opened. As he stepped inside, a large staff swung toward him.

This was one of the Great Zhou’s wedding customs called “hazing the son-in-law.” Many women wielded staffs and clubs, shouting, “The son-in-law is the wife’s family’s dog; no one will question if we beat him to death!” They swung at Cui Xun with their weapons, while according to custom, the groom’s companions could not take the blows for him, but instead hooted and laughed as they watched the new groom being hazed.

Cui Xun sidestepped the staff, then noticed that in the tower, a window had opened slightly, and the bride, beautiful as a flower, was pressing her lips together, secretly smiling at him.

A staff fell on his body, but it swung heavily through the air and landed lightly. One woman whispered to Cui Xun: “Mingyue Zhu warned us that if we harmed her groom, she would be angry with us.”

Cui Xun looked up and saw that Li Ying was already dressed for the occasion. Her black hair was coiled up with gold and jade flower hairpins inserted. On her forehead was a red droplet-shaped decoration, her cheeks were rouged, and her cherry lips were painted with pomegranate lipstick, making her so beautiful that it was dizzying and difficult to look away.

As Cui Xun gazed at Li Ying, she leaned out of the window to look at him. Cui Xun always maintained a calm demeanor, whether at the Pei residence or the imperial academy, appearing unruffled even if a mountain collapsed before him. Li Ying had never seen him being teased like this. She looked toward Cui Xun with shy sweetness, and when she discovered that Cui Xun was also staring up at her, her face reddened, and she shut the window with a snap. But hearing the commotion in the courtyard, her curiosity got the better of her, and she quietly opened the window again to peek outside.

Cui Xun, distracted by the sight of her, was hit several more times. Though not painful, it was rather embarrassing. Seeing this, Li Ying couldn’t bear to watch him being teased further. She grabbed a handful of gold beans from her dressing table and secretly threw them toward the courtyard. When the gold beans fell to the ground, the women understood the hint and looked up toward the tower, only to see the bride, embarrassed by her protectiveness, quickly closing the window in shame. The women silently laughed at Li Ying, amused that she had already grown up and was no longer a child, already concerned for her groom before officially becoming his wife. Thus, the “hazing the son-in-law” ceremony was hastily concluded.

Next came drinking, reciting poetry, and matching couplets. After Cui Xun had said a thousand sweet words to the ladies, he finally reached Li Ying’s chambers. Now it was time for the groom’s party to urge the bride to come out.

The groom’s relatives and friends called from outside: “Bride, hurry out! Bride, hurry out!”

After dozens of calls, the bride in her deep blue wedding attire finally emerged, holding a light silk fan to cover her face, slowly walking out with the support of her maids. The main hall was hung with layers of embroidered screens, and a saddle was placed on the ground before them. The bride faced south, sitting on the saddle—this was the Wild Goose Ceremony.

If one of a pair of wild geese dies, the other will never mate again, so the wild goose symbolizes unwavering fidelity. The Wild Goose Ceremony represented the lifelong commitment of marriage. Cui Xun threw the prepared wild goose into the curtained area. Inside, the Du family women quickly wrapped the goose in red silk and bound its beak with five-colored brocade to prevent it from crying out. Outside the curtain, amid the teasing of the Du family members, Cui Xun composed several poems to request the removal of the screens. Li Ying’s cousin clapped his hands and laughed: “Indeed worthy of the new top scholar, impossible to stump! Someone remove the screens!”

Li Ying’s seven-year-old nephew and niece jumped about, lifting the embroidered screens. After Cui Xun entered, he took the bound-beaked wild goose. Li Ying sat upright on the saddle, the light silk fan concealing her face. Cui Xun could only see her reddened jade-like earlobes, a sign of her nervousness. Cui Xun smiled slightly, lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt in the lower position before Li Ying, placing the wild goose beside her. He asked softly: “My love, are you ready to board the wedding carriage?”

Li Ying’s small ears grew even redder. From behind the fan, she lightly scolded: “We haven’t performed the ritual yet. Who is your ‘love’?”

Cui Xun laughed: “Very well, Mingyue Zhu, are you ready to board the wedding carriage?”

Li Ying secretly lowered her fan a little. Her face, white as jade, was flushed red. She didn’t agree to board the carriage but, with lowered lashes, said shyly: “Don’t your knees hurt kneeling like that? Stand up already.”

This was her consent. Cui Xun hurriedly rose and helped Li Ying to her feet. The two emerged from behind the screens to bid farewell to Li Ying’s parents. Magistrate Du and his wife were extremely reluctant to part with their daughter. Madam Du, with reddened eyes, instructed Li Ying that after going to her husband’s family, she should no longer be willful but live well with Cui Xun. Li Ying tearfully promised, and afterward, Cui Xun escorted her onto the wedding carriage, heading toward the Pei residence.

The Pei residence was already adorned with ten li of red decorations. Li Ying walked on the red carpet and, surrounded by the crowd, entered the erected blue canopy. Governor Pei and his wife had been waiting for a long time. Many officials from Chang’an attended, including Imperial Grandson Li Zheng and Chancellor Lu Huai, Luoyang Governor Yu Fuwei, and even the long-reclusive former Chancellor Cui Songqing. The scene was very lively.

When Cui Songqing saw the groom’s appearance, he was momentarily stunned, probably because the groom reminded him of his deceased nephew. A shadow passed through his eyes—if his nephew were still alive, the Boling Cui clan would not have gradually declined. Such was the way of fate.

But Cui Songqing was over seventy years old, with not many years left, and his mindset was different from before, now being very peaceful. He quickly adjusted his mood and congratulated the bride and groom. Unlike the pure joy of the others present, Yu Fuwei’s happiness carried a hint of complex emotion. He was the only person under the blue canopy who knew about these two people’s previous lives. Scenes from the past flashed before him: the ghost market where he had mocked Cui Xun for being unable to draw the iron-framed bow and Li Ying becoming angry; Li Ying risking her life to go to the underworld to rescue Cui Xun who had been framed by Jin Ni; and Cui Xun kneeling on all 201 stone steps at the Famen Temple, kowtowing 201 times, his body bathed in blood, just to obtain the Buddha’s relic. These scenes, though sixteen years in the past, seemed as if they had happened only yesterday, leaving a vivid impression.

He stared at the still-young couple before him. Li Ying and Cui Xun’s happiness was almost overflowing. Yu Fuwei suddenly smiled, picked up a cup of grape wine from the table, and took a sip. As the wine took effect, he became slightly tipsy. Looking at the two, he silently said in his heart: Mingyue Zhu, Seventeen, all your suffering ended in your previous life. In this life, I wish you both smooth sailing and complete happiness.

As the groom and bride were about to pay respects to Governor Pei and his wife, the Imperial Guard suddenly rushed into the blue canopy, shouting: “Her Majesty the Empress arrives!”

Everyone was startled and rose to kneel in welcome. The Empress was too weak to walk and sat in a sedan chair carried by the Imperial Guard. Governor Pei had no idea why the Empress had come and hurriedly kowtowed: “We greet Your Majesty.”

The Empress’s voice showed no anger; rather, it was very kind: “Governor Pei, the sounds of your family’s wedding banquet have reached the Daming Palace.”

Governor Pei’s face instantly paled. Frightened, he kowtowed: “My son’s wedding has disturbed Your Majesty’s peace. I am guilty!”

As Governor Pei repeatedly kowtowed to seek forgiveness, Li Zheng’s face also changed color. Just as he was about to plead for Governor Pei, the Empress said to him, “On this joyous day, stop kowtowing.”

She gestured for her attendants to help her down from the sedan chair, and with their support, she walked to where Madam Pei had been sitting. The Empress sat down and said, “Weren’t the bride and groom in the middle of their ritual? Continue.”

The next ritual required Cui Xun and Li Ying to pay respects to the elders, but with the Empress sitting in Madam Pei’s place, Governor Pei and his wife dared not move. Seeing this, the Empress smiled and said: “In that case, let the bride and groom perform the ritual for me.”

Governor Pei and his wife exchanged glances, and none in the blue canopy could guess the imperial intent, except for Yu Fuwei, who immediately understood.

Cui Xun also understood. He tugged at Li Ying’s sleeve and said: “Your Majesty is the mother of all people in the empire, thus also the mother of this subject and his bride. We pay our respects to Your Majesty.”

With that, he knelt to perform the ritual for the Empress. According to the Great Zhou wedding customs, men knelt while women did not. Li Ying came to her senses, folded her hands in front of her chest, and bowed respectfully. As she straightened, she seemed to see tears glimmering in the Empress’s eyes. She thought that perhaps the Empress was seeing her as her daughter.

And the Empress had never had the chance to see her daughter get married.

Thinking of this, she felt a sense of melancholy. After paying respects to the elders, the couple bowed to each other. With this, the ceremony was complete, and she was now a member of the Pei family.

The Empress rose shakily, took Li Ying’s hand, and a thousand words became simply one: “Good.” She placed Li Ying’s hand in Cui Xun’s and said: “Top Scholar, treat your bride well, or I will not forgive you.”

Cui Xun, holding Li Ying’s hand, promised: “This subject will faithfully obey Your Majesty’s edict.”

The Empress nodded. Her attendants came forward to help her back into the sedan chair. Everyone knelt to see her off. Li Ying, watching her departing figure, suddenly felt a strong sense of reluctance to part. She raised her head, and at that moment, the Empress also looked back with the same reluctance. Li Ying, with courage from an unknown source, said: “Your Majesty need not worry. This bride will accompany her husband for life, never separating even when our hair turns white.”

Tears fell from the Empress’s eyes. She smiled through her tears, nodded, and then left the blue canopy surrounded by the Imperial Guard and her attendants.

After the Empress left, everyone remained puzzled. Some thought that perhaps the Empress, in her old age, longed for the smoke and fire of human life, so after hearing the music, she came to the Pei residence for this visit. Others thought that perhaps the Empress felt guilty about wrongfully imprisoning the top scholar, so she came to give him face. Still others thought that perhaps the Empress came to support the Imperial Grandson. Only Yu Fuwei and Cui Xun knew the true reason.

The Empress had come for her most beloved daughter.

Li Ying, watching the Empress’s departing figure, inexplicably felt her eyes moisten. Cui Xun, seeming to sense her thoughts, whispered in her ear: “Mingyue Zhu, I am here.”

Li Ying responded with a soft “Mm.” She composed herself and joined Cui Xun in receiving everyone’s congratulations. Then, they were ushered into the bridal chamber. After the ritual of tossing the fan and drinking from the same cup, the guests tactfully withdrew, leaving only Cui Xun and Li Ying in the bridal chamber.

Li Ying sat on the bed, feeling nervous, her fingers gripping the brocade quilt. Cui Xun lowered the bed curtains. Outside the curtains, the red candles flickered. In the candlelight, Li Ying’s hair, black as a waterfall, cascaded down, and her face, white as jade, appeared especially delicate and beautiful. She quickly glanced up at Cui Xun, then immediately lowered her head shyly, not daring to look at him. Cui Xun was also somewhat nervous but still sat beside Li Ying, cupped her jade-like face, and bent down slightly, almost reverently kissing her forehead, kissing her lips. Li Ying felt dizzy from his kisses and didn’t know when he had removed her clothes and carried her to the brocade quilt.

Li Ying was so embarrassed that she closed her eyes, not daring to look at Cui Xun before her. Cui Xun kissed her eyelashes and carefully asked: “Mingyue Zhu, may I?”

Li Ying, with her eyes closed, felt both shy and annoyed: “You… don’t you know what to do? Why ask me?”

Cui Xun smiled in sudden understanding. He kissed her cheek, and afterward, neither could clearly remember what happened. They only remembered the extreme intimacy within the red bridal curtains. The young groom, having tasted the sweetness, called for water again and again until they finally fell into deep sleep just before dawn.

Even the three thousand morning drums at the Chengtiangmen gate couldn’t wake them. Early the next day, they were supposed to pay respects to their in-laws, but Governor Pei and his wife wouldn’t let anyone disturb them. It wasn’t until almost noon that a crash of thunder finally woke Li Ying from her drowsy state.

She found herself still nestled in Cui Xun’s embrace, his arm around her waist. Li Ying noticed the many fingernail marks she had left on his back and the bite marks on his shoulder, instantly blushing with embarrassment, her heart racing with sweetness. She gently nuzzled his chest, but Cui Xun didn’t wake. Feeling playful, she kissed his chin, thinking that if he still didn’t wake, she would pinch his nose.

Just then, another crash of thunder sounded, and Li Ying shrank back into Cui Xun’s embrace in fright. She held him tightly, and suddenly, memories flooded her mind like a tide, all surfacing at once.