The next day, before dawn, Jiang Yuqing was woken up from bed.
First she was given a milk and flower petal bath, then her hair was wrung dry. Right after, a special female attendant gave her a full body aromatherapy massage using medicinal Chinese herb extracts, absolutely pure.
After finishing, Jiang Yuqing smelled herself and almost sneezed from the strong fragrance.
The matchmaker invited by the Jiang family this time was still Princess Ronghua.
As she was putting makeup on Jiang Yuqing, she marveled, “A beauty worthy of an empress, rarely seen in my life. Skin like jade, natural elegance.
As radiant as the rising morning sun, as dazzling as hibiscus blossoms emerging from the green waves. The Emperor is so fortunate.”
Jiang Yuqing arrogantly said, “I know right! I think so too. Princess auntie please compliment me more.”
Princess Ronghua laughed hard, “I’ve never seen a new bride like you, not a hint of the shyness a young lady should have.
I take back what I said earlier. The Emperor marrying you will probably give him headaches.”
Jiang Yuqing nodded in agreement, “I think so too, but he likes it!”
Princess Ronghua couldn’t stop laughing. What did they mean by it takes two to tango? She finally understood today.
However there was one thing she could confirm. The Emperor marrying such an amusing Empress, he probably won’t ever be bored for the rest of his life.
During the hair and makeup session, the women from Jiang Yuqing’s family came to accompany her. When Lu saw her daughter looking as beautiful as a flower, her eyes suddenly turned red.
She at least remembered today was her daughter’s big day and shouldn't cry, otherwise it would be inauspicious.
She hurriedly walked out of the room to calm her emotions before coming back in.
Old Lady Hu held one of Jiang Yuqing's hands, earnestly instructing her, “My precious girl, now that you’re married, live your days well.
You have to control your husband yourself, don’t let little vixens take advantage, even if he is the Emperor.
No taking concubines or anything like that absolutely not allowed!
And don’t be like those silly women, foolishly acting all virtuous and open-minded, practically giving their dear husband away in pieces.
In the end it leads to a pile of illegitimate sons and daughters, making the home not feel like a home, truly bringing trouble onto yourself.”
Jiang Yuqing nodded like a chick pecking rice, feeling that her grandmother made too much sense and that the women elders of her family had views perfectly aligned with hers.
As for women not from the Jiang family, their reaction was to gasp in astonishment. This old lady dared to speak so bluntly! That was the imperial family. Could you just get a divorce if you wanted to?
When brides from other families marry out, the elders teach the new bride that once she enters her husband’s home she should be filial to her parents-in-law and wait upon her husband, get along well with everyone in the home.
Yet the Jiang family’s women elders were the opposite.
The bride hadn’t even left home yet and the elders from her maternal side had even decided where she would go if she divorced in the future!
Aside from auspicious or inauspicious, possible or impossible matters, this kind of confidence was not something ordinary new brides could have.
Although at a loss for words, they deeply admired it.
Especially Princess Ronghua. She was utterly “shocked”.
Now she finally understood where Jiang Yuqing’s unyielding pride and free spirit came from.
It was all pampered out by this group of unique Jiang family women.
Although the Jiang family matriarch’s words were unpleasant to hear, they contained blunt truth. After careful thought, she didn’t know how many elite madams had lost face.
It was said the elderly became wiser, the old lady was worldly-wise and penetrating. Even she was not as good as the old lady.
After finishing hair and makeup, under the female attendants’ service she changed into her wedding dress. The intricate, layered wedding dress’s black and vibrant red color symbolized the most noble and mysterious color between Heaven and Earth.
Golden threaded phoenixes were embroidered on it, adorned with auspicious mountains, seas and cloud patterns, extremely luxurious and esteemed.
Even without wearing the phoenix crown yet, it already exuded an imposing aura of a dignified empress, intensely striking people’s hearts.
After a while, outside came the sounds of firecrackers followed by drums and music. People rushed in with delighted news that His Majesty was riding the imperial palanquin to personally welcome the Empress.
According to imperial regulations, the Emperor only needed to sit in the palace and wait for the Empress to enter. For the Emperor to personally welcome was an exceptional honor.
The room of women were all ecstatic for the new Empress. Only Jiang Yuqing was rather calm. She already knew Jing Yan would come welcome her personally.
Moreover, for such a major life event as marriage, it would be inappropriate for the groom not to personally welcome the bride, even if he was the Emperor.
When the auspicious time arrived, Lu personally placed the exquisite, magnificent phoenix crown on her daughter’s head.
Seeing her gorgeously dressed, peerlessly beautiful daughter before her eyes, Lu’s eyes turned red again. Her daughter was truly getting married.
She forcefully held back her reluctance. Together with her sister-in-law, she took her daughter’s hands and walked towards the front hall of Duke Jiang’s Residence.
Holding a jade ruyi scepter, Jiang Yuqing was supported on both sides by her mother and eldest aunt. In front were her grandmother Old Lady Hu and second aunt Zhu.
Beside her were the madams and sisters-in-law of the household, surrounding her as they walked forward together.
The palace’s female attendants and maids had instead become extraneous guides.
At this time no one bothered adhering to propriety. The Empress was the ultimate propriety.
Jiang Yuqing slowly walked into the front hall and saw Jing Yan also dressed in an imperial black and red wedding robe, domineering and spirited, joyfully beaming. The couple smiled at the sight of each other, affectionately standing across from one another.
Lu and Old Lady Hu sat together with their respective husbands in the seats of honor. Also sitting alongside was Doctor Qiu.
The music started again and the master of ceremonies loudly announced the newlyweds were bidding farewell to their parents and elders.
Amidst everyone’s cries of surprise, Jing Yan and Jiang Yuqing together knelt down. Jing Yan bowed to Lu and Jiang Wenyuan as the bridegroom.
Jiang Wenyuan and Lu raised up the couple.
Jiang Wenyuan took his daughter’s hand and solemnly placed it in Jing Yan’s hand, red-eyed pleading, “She is my one and only precious daughter.
If you no longer love her in the future, please do not hurt her. Tell me, I will bring her home.”
At this moment, Jiang Yuqing burst into tears. What virtue or ability did she have to receive such wholehearted love from her parents and family?
Jing Yan’s expression was solemn and resolute as he declared, “Qingqing is my lifelong love, more precious than my own life. Father-in-law please relax, I definitely won’t have that day come to pass.”
“I hope you can remember today’s vow.”
Jing Yan held Jiang Yuqing’s hand as emperor and empress walked out towards Duke Jiang's front gate together. The Jiang family followed closely behind, exiting the front gate.
Imperial guard formations were arranged outside Duke Jiang’s Residence’s gate.
Crowds of people looking for some entertainment surrounded the area, standing on tiptoes and craning necks to see inside.
And finally upon catching sight of the Empress, they uniformly knelt down again, not daring to directly look upon Heaven’s countenance.
After bidding parents farewell again.
Just as the emperor and empress were about to set off on the imperial palanquin.
Suddenly sixteen tall men wearing red silk dashes darted out from both sides. These men replaced the original palanquin carriers and lifted the imperial palanquin.
The onlooking crowds immediately cried out in shock, “Heavens! Isn’t that Commander Wei Qing of the Northwest Army? Why is he back? And going to carry the palanquin?”
“Commander Zu Ti is also here! And there’s General Cheng, General Zhao of the Southwest Army!”
“Look, isn’t that General Feng of the Southeast Navy? The third one from the left is General Cao of the Lidong Army.”
Hearing the cries, Jiang Yuqing looked and saw the imperial palanquin carriers were all former comrades-in-arms she had fought alongside.
Jiang Yuqing exclaimed in surprise, “Honored generals, why are all of you here?”
Wei Qing cheerfully laughed, “Today we are not His Majesty’s subjects, but the bride’s family. We came specifically to deliver off our little Goddess of War for her wedding.”
Jiang Yuqing pursed her lips, barely stopping her tears from flowing, choking back sobs to say, “Thank you so much!” Then said to Jing Yan, “Yan, thank you!”
Jing Yan tightly held her hand, interlocking ten fingers with her. Gentle and warm, he said “Qingqing, you deserve the best in this world.”
The procession set off, led by two white beasts decorated with large red flowers at front and slowly headed towards the imperial palace.
The sons and grandsons of the Jiang family all rode horses in full formal attire to escort their little sister’s marriage procession.
Watching the imperial palanquin slowly disappear from sight, Jiang Wenyuan and Lu finally couldn’t endure, embracing each other in tears.
Riding on the imperial palanquin, according to the set route the emperor and empress circled the capital city once then entered the imperial palace via the front gate.
All along the path the Forbidden Guards cleared the way and Feathered Forest Guards protected alongside, maintaining order on both sides of the streets. Everywhere they passed became a sea of cheers.
The common people uniformly knelt on both sides, loudly chanting “Long live His Majesty! Long live Her Majesty!” All kinds of celebratory sounds endlessly rang.
As the ceremonial procession passed by He'an Hospital, the familiar doctors and nurses, after paying their respects, jumped up and shouted to her: “Little genius doctor, you must be happy!”
“In harmony like zither and pipes, white-haired and living together until old age.”
Jiang Yuqing also waved back at them in greeting.
Glancing back at the partner by her side. He may not be eloquent with sweet words, but he had carved his love for her into his bones. Even the route of the ceremonial parade was chosen with such thoughtful and meticulous care for her.
He really is wonderful!
The carriage continued moving forward, finally entering the main gate of the Imperial Palace along the Imperial Avenue. They paid respects to Heaven and Earth, the ancestors, the retired Emperor and retired Empress Dowager.
After this ceremony was completed, Prince Huayang appeared in his magnificent Daoist robes.
He personally held out the wedding contract for the new couple’s bonding ceremony: “New couple, pledge your vows!”
Jiang Yuqing and Jing Yan looked each other in the eye, both raising their right hands to swear to Heaven.
“With this marriage contract, we declare to Heaven above and the underworld below, announce to the nine heavens, with the ancestral masters of the three realms bearing witness.
If I betray my beloved, it would be deceiving Heaven, a sin against Heaven, my body perishing and soul scattering.
If my beloved betrays me, it would go against the will of Heaven, erased from the three realms, never to reincarnate.”
As soon as their voices fell silent, a loud crack of thunder exploded in the sky, and a pillar of white light landed on both of their heads, representing their vows had been made.
Soon after, the edge of the sky lit up in magnificent seven-colored clouds.
From within the colorful clouds, two wisps of clouds swiftly floated over in the direction of the Imperial Palace, transforming into illusory shapes of a golden dragon and phoenix, intertwining with each other in the sky, lingering endlessly.
Seeing such an astonishing sight, the crowd cried out together: “Auspicious sign! Auspicious sign!”
Prince Huayang laughed heartily as well, bowing deeply to Jing Yan and Jiang Yuqing.
“The dragon and phoenix bringing blessings, the fortunes of the country flourishing! This poor Daoist congratulates Your Majesties on your fortunate marriage, well-matched and equal partners. I wish you abundant children and grandchildren in the years to come, enduring prosperity and brilliance.”
The couple returned with half-bows: “Thank you Daoist master for your blessings.”
At this point, the entire ceremony was finally complete.
Jiang Yuqing was sent to the bedchambers, decked out splendidly and joyfully yet warmly, to bathe and change. Accompanied by Bai Xiaojiu and Bai Xiaoshi, she waited quietly for night to arrive.
