On the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, an auspicious day on the Chinese calendar, a grand event took place in the Hua Dynasty. The Loyal and Filial King, Prime Minister Pei Yan, was to marry the second daughter of Grand Scholar and Prime Minister Dong Fang. Despite the period of national mourning calling for simplicity, the wedding was still a lively affair. All court officials came to offer their congratulations.
Pei Yan, dressed in bright red wedding attire, wore a faint smile as he nodded to the gathered officials in the garden. He led his bride, adorned in a phoenix crown and embroidered cape, into the wedding hall by a red silk ribbon. The Changfeng Guards couldn’t help but gather around, though they dared not cause mischief as they had at Tong Min’s wedding, intimidated by Madam Pei’s stern reputation.
Zheng Chenghui and other young nobles from prominent families huddled in a corner, plotting their strategies for the upcoming bedroom pranks before dispersing to put their plans into action.
Grand Scholar Tao Xingde personally served as the ceremonial officer. Amidst the chanting and joyous music, Pei Yan led his bride in bowing to heaven and earth, then to Madam Pei and Marquis Zhen Bei Pei Zifang, who had rushed back from Liangzhou. Madam Pei’s graceful smile captivated the assembled civil and military officials.
In a corner of the main hall, Marquis Qingwei and Princess Jingshu’s consort, Jiang Yuan, sighed deeply before throwing back his cup of wine in one gulp.
After the ceremony, a court eunuch arrived with an imperial edict, bestowing upon the Loyal and Filial King’s wife the title of First-Rank Furen and presenting rare treasures. The Empress had sent additional gifts. After Pei Yan and his wife knelt to express their gratitude for the imperial favor, the new Furen was escorted by her maids to the bridal chamber.
That day, the prince’s mansion was filled with laughter and adorned with lanterns and decorations. The joyous atmosphere dispelled the grief of the late emperor’s passing. Civil and military officials vied to toast Pei Yan. By the end of the banquet, even with his profound inner power, Pei Yan showed signs of intoxication.
Zheng Chenghui and the others exchanged glances before joining the Changfeng Guards in boisterously escorting Pei Yan to Shen Garden. Cui Liang, who had also attended the wedding, was pulled along by Tong Min to watch the fun.
Zheng Chenghui, leading the charge, was the first to reach the bridal chamber door. To everyone’s surprise, the door was tightly shut with no attendants in sight, and all was quiet.
The group was momentarily stunned before Zheng Chenghui recovered, banging on the door while making exaggerated facial expressions. The crowd joined in the uproar.
“Flying wing by wing, like fish in water, carp leaping through the dragon gate, turning heaven and earth—” A string of suggestive wedding chants was sung out amid raucous laughter.
Pei Yan, his handsome face flushed, leaned against the doorframe with a smile, watching the commotion. Cui Liang stood to the side, shaking his head and chuckling as the chants grew increasingly outrageous.
Suddenly, the door swung open. Zheng Chenghui, who had been leaning against it, tumbled forward, causing everyone to burst into laughter.
A pretty maid of about fifteen or sixteen years old suppressed a smile and said, “Oh my, I’m only sixteen. I can’t accept such a grand gesture from this young master.”
Zheng Chenghui scrambled to his feet, glaring at the young maid. Before he could speak, she continued, “This young master is so dashing and handsome. Could you be the renowned Young Marquis Zheng of the capital?”
Surprised that his reputation had reached even the servants of Scholar Dong’s household, Zheng Chenghui puffed out his chest proudly and replied, “Indeed, I am.” Noticing the maid’s attractive features, he felt a stirring of interest.
The maid glanced at Pei Yan, who was leaning against the doorframe with a faint smile, then batted her eyes at Zheng Chenghui. “I’ve heard that Young Master Zheng is quite talented. Since I have the rare opportunity to meet you today, I have a couplet challenge. If Young Master Zheng can’t answer, I’m afraid I can’t let you into the bridal chamber.”
Zheng Chenghui, unwilling to back down, said, “Little girl, you dare to challenge me with a couplet? Bring it on!”
The crowd, expecting him to lead the bedroom pranks, fell silent to listen to the maid’s challenge.
The maid smiled and recited, “Half an acre of red lotus reflects in the emerald waves.”
Several young nobles exclaimed, “That’s easy to match! It’s clearly from the couplet at the Bibo Pavilion. Quick, Chenghui, give the second line so we can go in!”
Zheng Chenghui laughed, about to respond, when he suddenly realized something. His face turned red, and he found himself unable to speak the second line.
The maid merely smiled, while Pei Yan’s eyes flickered, his smile deepening.
Seeing Zheng Chenghui stammer, the others asked, “Chenghui, what’s wrong?”
Zheng Chenghui glared at the maid and spat, “You’re cunning!” He waved his sleeve and said, “You all carry on. I’m leaving.”
Pei Yan said with a smile, “Chenghui, take care. No need to see you off.”
At this moment, the second son of Minister of Revenue Xu Duan realized the trap. His mother and Zheng Chenghui’s mother were close friends, and he vaguely remembered that Zheng Chenghui’s mother’s maiden name was “Bai Yue” (White Moon). The second line of the couplet is “A hall of white moonlight shakes in the clear breeze.” No matter how unruly Zheng Chenghui was, he wouldn’t dare to recite his mother’s maiden name in public. If his strict Marquis father found out, it would spell certain doom.
As he pondered this, the maid turned to him with a smile and said, “You must be Minister Xu’s second son, right?”
Young Master Xu’s heart sank. His mother was also a close friend of Madam Dong, so the second Miss Dong likely knew his mother’s maiden name as well. He hurriedly excused himself to Pei Yan, “Your Highness, I must take my leave,” and darted away.
Pei Yan laughed heartily as he stepped into the bridal chamber, but the maid blocked his way, saying, “The groom must also answer a question before entering the chamber.”
Pei Yan looked at her with interest and said, “Then your young mistress should come ask me herself.”
The Changfeng Guards immediately started teasing from the doorway, “That’s right! To question our prince, the princess must come out herself!”
“Shu’er,” a very calm voice called from the inner room. The maid quickly turned and went to assist someone.
Dressed in a wide-sleeved ceremonial robe and wearing a golden phoenix crown, the Loyal and Filial King’s wife emerged, graceful yet reserved. She walked up to a few steps away from Pei Yan, her head lowered, and said softly, “Shu’er has been spoiled by me since childhood and is somewhat lacking in manners. Please forgive her, Your Highness.”
Tong Min led the others in laughing, “No need for forgiveness! Tonight is no time for formalities. You can tease our prince however you like!”
Outside the bridal chamber, everyone burst into laughter. Cui Liang, however, turned pale, his chest feeling as if struck by a hammer, his body swaying slightly.
Inside the chamber, amid the laughter and commotion, the Loyal and Filial King’s wife slowly raised her head. Her serene and beautiful face caught everyone’s attention, but it made Cui Liang, standing by the door, stumble. Someone behind him pushed forward, causing him to trip over the threshold and fall into the room.
Pei Yan, quick to react, caught Cui Liang just before he hit the ground. He smiled and said, “Ziming, you’re not planning to join in their mischief, are you?”
Cui Liang struggled to maintain a smile, masking the pain of seeing her again. He joked, “This is the only chance to be unruly with Your Highness. How could I miss it?” As he spoke, he couldn’t help but glance at the princess again.
The crowd cheered once more and surged into the room. The Loyal and Filial King’s wife’s smile froze on her face, and she stumbled back a few steps, feeling weak. Shu’er quickly came to support her, exclaiming, “Young Mistress!”
The princess’s gaze moved past the crowd, lingering on Cui Liang for a moment before turning to Pei Yan. She said softly, “Your Highness, would you be willing to answer a question for me?”
Pei Yan’s face grew redder from the wine, a smile playing on his lips as he bowed slightly, “Please ask, Princess.”
Her voice was calm, but Cui Liang could hear that she was forcing herself to remain composed. It reminded him of the time they had stolen loquats from the Great Enlightenment Temple and hidden in a woodshed while being chased by monks. Only at that moment had he felt she was like an ordinary girl, not the second daughter of Prime Minister Dong or the Loyal and Filial King’s formal wife standing before him now.
He couldn’t hear clearly what question she asked Pei Yan. Slowly, he retreated from the crowd, out of the bridal chamber, and walked towards the rear garden of the prince’s mansion. The moon above was full and bright, and the plum blossoms in the garden were in full bloom.
Blooming flowers and a full moon? Perhaps this was such a night.
In the candlelit room, Pei Yan smiled as he took the wedding cup from the attendant, intertwining his arms with his princess to drink, and then allowed the attendant to tie their clothes together.
When everyone else had left the bridal chamber, Pei Yan’s smile faded. He untied their clothes and stumbled into a small room behind the bed. Soon, the sound of his retching could be heard.
After a while, he staggered out, his face flushed and his speech slurred, “These rascals… One day… One day I’ll get them all back!”
Dong Juan, seeing him stumble, hesitated for a moment before going to support him. Pei Yan seemed unsteady on his feet. As soon as he reached the bed, he collapsed onto it and fell into a deep sleep within moments.
The red candle sputtered, casting a shower of sparks. Dong Juan sat at the table, listening to the slightly heavy breathing of the man on the wedding bed behind her and the faint sounds of laughter from outside. She sighed silently.
At fourteen, watching her sister reluctantly marry the Crown Prince while her heart was with Master Jiang, she knew that one day she too would have to marry into a family of high officials or nobility to maintain the Dong family’s status.
From then on, she reminded herself to be a proper lady of a great family, to follow her parents’ wishes in marriage, and to devote herself to the Dong clan like her sister had done.
She became increasingly quiet and composed. The servants in the Dong household found it harder to read this second young miss. When Madam Dong fell seriously ill, she took charge of the household at sixteen, and no servant dared to slack off in her presence.
But no one knew what this mature young woman truly wanted in her heart. She loved reading, especially travel journals. She always longed for the famous mountains and rivers described in the biographies, imagining herself like the wind, freely sweeping across plains and mountains.
One day, she went out of the Scholar’s mansion to browse the East Market and check on prices to verify the household expenses. Unexpectedly, she met him there.
His smile was warm, his eyes bright, his voice pleasant to hear, and his calligraphy was so beautiful she couldn’t bear to leave.
So, she went to the East Market again and again. She loved hearing about the famous mountains and rivers he had visited, and the interesting stories from his travels, and she especially enjoyed seeing his occasional blush. She only knew his surname was Cui, and he only knew her surname was Dong.
But when he took her to steal loquats from the Great Enlightenment Temple, when they hid in the woodshed, when he was so close that his breath made her heart tremble, she lost her usual composure and felt an inexplicable impulse. She finally knew she couldn’t go to the East Market anymore.
From then on, the second Miss Dong never left home again. She often sat in the back garden of the Scholar’s mansion, holding a book, occasionally glancing at the blue sky above.
Finally, one day, her father told her she was to marry the Loyal and Filial King, just as her sister had done, to ensure the Dong family would stand firm regardless of the political situation.
When her father told her this, there was a hint of guilt in his voice, but she just nodded silently without a word. Back in her room, she quietly locked the poem he had written for her in a box.
No matter how clever she was, she couldn’t have predicted that on her wedding night, in this bridal chamber, she would see his forced smile and hear his trembling voice. So, he was the Military Advisor Cui that her father and brother-in-law had been secretly investigating, the Tianxuan Gate disciple her husband relied on as his right-hand man.
She raised her head, looking around the room. Red candles illuminated the wedding chamber, with wealth and prosperity all around. This, she thought, must be what it looks like.