The others all covered their mouths and laughed.
However, a moment later, the sound of a qin came through from outside, not Feng Seeks Huang, even not any one of the songs they were familiar with. However, although it possessed a very sentimental tone that made one weak and dispirited, it also carried even more of other things, aggressive and irresistible, directly striking the heart…………….
However, Jing Wan was in a daze, somewhat lost in thought. Perhaps because it was specifically played for her to hear, even if the qin sound conveyed a kind of relatively imaginary dream-like scene, she and Li Hong Yuan nevertheless became Zhong Zi Qi and Bo Ya[1] for once. He can give her a piece of the sky, give her everything she ever wanted, and the only thing he asks for is for her to not leave and abandon him?! ————Do you know, what kind of promise you’re making?
“Never thought that Jin Qinwang’s qin skills were actually this accomplished.”
“Right, wasn’t he one with nothing……….” That young madam hurriedly shut her mouth, carefully casting Jing Wan a glance.
“Certain that’s Jin Qinwang playing the qin?”
After all, as the locally born and raised people of the capital, no one has ever heard that Jin Qinwang was good at the qin before.
Rather, it was Jing Wan’s servant girl that very perceptively went out to look, and afterwards, smilingly returned. It was obvious, from her expression, one just knew, it was indeed Jin Qinwang playing the qin. Moreover, on him, it was certainly him wanting to play on his own. Others wouldn’t dare to mention this.
This…………what did it count as?
Jing Wan swept a glance over. She also never heard a certain someone play the qin before, but she wasn’t surprised.
However, seeing practically all of them with a look of ‘having their three views refreshed’, it was quite amusing.
“Miss, the time has come.”
Thus, the bridal veil with northern pearls sewn on covered her beautiful face.
Jing Wan kowtowed to her parents in farewell, thanking them for raising her.
This time, Zhang-shi truly was crying senselessly, sobbing as she urged Jing Wan to be well.
Jing Wan felt, she herself was actually also a cold-hearted one, just quietly listening to her mother, even a bit glad that her face was covered, else she might not be able to continue pretending. If it was her grandmother sitting here……………
Grandmother won’t cry!
Right when Luo Jing Bo was about to have Jing Wan carried out on his back, Li Hong Yuan instead directly went forward, single-handedly having Jing Wan picked up horizontally.
Practically everyone cried out in surprise. Jing Wan was also slightly started, and moreover, the veil nearly slipped off as well. Jing Wan hurriedly grabbed Li Hong Yuan’s neck with one hand, while pressing onto the veil with the other hand. If the veil falls now, it’ll be inauspicious. Jing Wan was just about to open her mouth to say something, but immediately recalled that she can’t speak right now, and thus could only remain silent.
The most dumbstruck was probably still Luo Jing Bo, “Wang, wangye, this, doesn’t conform with the rules.”
“This prince is the rules.” Never mind Wan Wan getting served by a bunch of female servants all day, ‘getting taken advantage of’, that was something that couldn’t be helped. After all, can’t let her personally take care of all things, but other men absolutely can’t touch. Never mind her brother, even her old man all won’t do.
What he said was the rules, he was the rules, well, with Jin Qinwang in full on tyrannical living Enma mode, don’t bother saying anything.
And along the way, seeing Jin Qinwang carry the bride out the whole way, not a single one wasn’t stunned.
Li Hong Yuan’s every step was all very steady. Jing Wan also just peacefully let him hold her. The other party didn’t abide by the rules, and she also wasn’t one that was bounded by the chains of social conventions.
The palanquin door was lifted open. Li Hong Yuan had her carried in. “There’s food behind the seat. Wan Wan eat a bit to pad the stomach.”
Under the veil, Jing Wan’s eyes slightly lit. Have to say, Li Hong Yuan’s consideration made her delighted.
“Raise the palanquin——–”
All the personnels took to their position, the gongs and drums sounding, and the firecrackers crying out again.
The eight person palanquin, the crimson palanquin screen, and although not moonlight silk, it was still a top quality colored silk. Embroidered on the two sides were red phoenixes facing the sun, and on the front was a ‘hundred children’ design. The roof of the palanquin was also exceptionally gorgeous. Setting aside that sculpted flying eaves, it was inlayed with gold, embellished with gemstones, with golden tassels on all four sids, meticulously strung with various colored pearls. Not a single one didn’t manifest the amount of manpower spent on it.
Hundred Children Painting Flying Eaves
After entering the palanquin and sitting down, the butt cannot casually move, asking for peace and stability. Jing Wan twisted her body. In the back, she indeed found things, not only various fingertip sized desserts, but also fruits that were cut into small pieces. She couldn’t drink water, but this was a pretty good alternative. Jing Wan picked up the toothpick and unhesitantly began eating. Her pitifully starving stomach was finally no longer that unbearable. For someone who would eat three meals a day, punctually on the clock, and the quantity even quite a bit, going hungry definitely can be considered torture.
Gong mama also travelled along with the palanquin. With her hearing ability good, she heard the slight sound of chewing, yet wasn’t surprised in the slightest. Speaking of which, it’s not that they didn’t prepare food for her, just there were too many people, so they didn’t have the opportunity to bring it to her. The servant girls were still worried, feeling sorry for their miss who still needed to continue starving. However, Gong mama was very calm. As expected, it was just as she’d anticipated.
For wangye to be able to go this far, it was indeed considered exceptionally hard to come by, only hoping it can continue forever, the husband and wife holding hands until old age. That way, her highness, the Imperial Noble Consort will also be happy under the nine springs[2].
Setting out from the Luo Manor, they actually won’t directly head to Jin Qinwang Manor, still needing to circle around the capital.
Along the way, it was extraordinarily lively, and with Jin Qinwang’s rich and imposing mannerism, everywhere the procession passed, all will have someone sprinkling all kinds of nuts, and also large amounts of copper coins. Because the amount was sufficient enough, and along the sides of the road, there were also people specifically dispatched to maintain the order. Naturally, matters of people madly fighting over and getting injured won’t happen. Instead, because they’d obtained benefits, even the commoners sent blessings from the bottom of their hearts.
Even if they’d originally placed bets, betting that Jing Wan, not long after getting engaged, will meet with mishap, at this time, no one mentioned this again.
Thus, this festive atmosphere was naturally pushed to the peak.
This outcome, Li Hong Yuan was actually a bit surprised by. His original purpose was just, today was his big day, thus in a good mood, so sprinkling some wealth to raise the festive atmosphere, and if possible, also accumulate some good fortune for his wife. And this outcome right now made one very happy. The normally deadpan towards outsiders Jin Qinwang, this while, all couldn’t help but carry a light smile, making the young madams and young misses that saw blush and their hearts race, becoming infatuated with him.
Just this kind of atmosphere didn’t persist forever.
The wedding procession suddenly stopped. Jing Wan was very surprised. Even if they were directly going to Jin Qinwang Manor, at this time, they still wouldn’t have arrived.
“Miss, there’s someone blocking the palanquin.” Gong mama leaned in and spoke from outside.
Jing Wan was astonished. The living Enma escorting the bride, yet daring to block the palanquin, probably can be considered a true warrior.
However, what was the aim of this person blocking the palanquin?
Generally speaking, the goal of blocking the palanquin was nothing more than just two reasons. One, someone finds this marriage unpleasant to the eyes, so want to cause some trouble, and two, it was the marrying young lady being ‘one family’s good daughter sought after by hundreds’, so naturally want to give the person that managed to marry her a bit of a ‘lesson’. This was a test for the groom, and also giving the bride backing.
Li Hong Yuan tightened the reins in hand, and the horse under him settled down. Seeing more than a hundred people in front blocking the palanquin, his eyes slightly narrowed. The spectators wiped a palm of cold sweat for them. How come they were just this muddled? If by chance they were to enrage this one, suffering a bit of physical pain was all trivial, and one misstep, forfeiting one’s future prospects…………..
Regardless of what reason, for Jin Qinwang, afraid it was all a kind of humiliation.
In reality, they all thought too much. Li Hong Yuan really wasn’t angry. After seeing the person in the lead, he already guessed their purpose. Lifting his hand, the gongs and drums instantly stopped. The entire street, with that many people, instead appeared very quiet.
“What do you all desire?” Li Hong Yuan opened his mouth.
Eh? He actually didn’t lash out? Oh, Jin Qinwang got engaged eight times, and finally waited for this marriage to come, so probably don’t want to see blood either, else how unlucky. However, there was a saying called ‘settling the score after autumn’.
One of the men inhaled a breath, taking a step forward, “This humble official, Xie Ren Hui greets wangye. This humble official and nine others once received Luo third miss’s kindness, and until now, have been unable to repay the favor. Today is her big day, we all only wish for her to marry a good husband, healthy and well, with everything smooth all her life. Today, we want to give our humble effort to test wangye. Wangye is of imperial descent, incomparably honorable. That being the case………..if there are areas where one offends, after today, we are willing to accept the punishment, just aside from the ten of us, the rest were all invited, asking wangye…………”
(T/N: Xie Ren Hui and the others are the characters introduced in chapter 108.)
“Connecting rhyming couplets and battling wine?” Li Hong Yuan waved his hand to interrupt him, glancing at the table set up at the side. On top, there was a brush, ink, paper and ink-stone, as well as small bottles of wine.
“Yes, asking wangye to bestow one’s teachings.”
Li Hong Yuan nodded his head, “With you all giving support to this prince’s soon-to-be wangfei, this prince naturally need to win some face for her too.” He directly climbed down from the horse.
Probably no one expected that Jin Qinwang would actually agree. Clearly knowing what kind of outcome it will be, yet still firmly accepting, just based on this bit, Jin Qinwang was also a true man. However, if he doesn’t agree, it will probably be even more embarrassing.
But these people clearly knew that one can’t afford to offend Jin Qinwang, yet still did this, it was indeed being loyal and true.
Everyone discussed enthusiastically. Although their voices weren’t loud, because there were many, it just sounded somewhat noisy.
This was going directly for the groom, so there was no excuse to ask for help.
Xie Ren Hui was first, taking out a long prepared first verse of a couplet.
In the tradition of blocking the palanquin, if touching upon the things of scholarly learning, it will all be revealed.
Li Hong Yuan took a glance, heh, should say, these people really did take his face into consideration?
Li Hong Yuan lifted a small jar of wine, with one hand being more than enough to grip it. Pasted on it, fitting with the occasion, was a double happiness character (囍). Removing the bottle cork, he lifted his head and resolutely poured two mouthfuls, and afterwards randomly threw to one side. A shattering sound, the wine jar split into pieces.
“No way, can’t even match such a simple one? This clearly was a verse that as long as one has a bit of learning all should be able to answer. Jin Qinwang really is……….”
Xie Ren Hui’s complexion was also a bit unsightly. Their purpose was to just give Luo third miss support, and not step on Jin Qinwang. After all, as Luo third miss’s husband, getting too humiliate, Luo third miss’s face also won’t have light. For the sake of being able to handle it beautifully, they didn’t put in any less effort, but at the crucial moment, Jin Qinwang just dropped the ball? If one had long known, if one had long known……………
However, the next moment, they just saw Li Hong Yuan take the brush, dipping it in the ink, and after a few strokes, immediately had the brush thrown aside.
In an instant, Xie Ren Hui’s ashen complexion faded, his eyes lighting up. Then, looking to Li Hong Yuan again, his eyes carried disbelief.
“What are you looking at this prince for?”
[1] Zhong Zi Qi and Bo Ya were a pair of best friends well known throughout the ages. They existed during the Spring and Autumn Warring States period. Bo Ya was very good at performing musical instruments, while Zhong Zi Qi was good at admiring music. Tbh you can almost turn their story into a BL novel lol. The chinese word for ‘intimate friend’ (知音) also originated from their relationship. The word 知音 literally translates to ‘to know sound’. In the stories, after Zhong Zi Qi passed away from illness, Bo Ya was extremely heartbroken, believing that there was no longer anyone that will understand his music in the world anymore. That’s why he just ‘broke the qin and severed the strings’, having his most beloved qin smashed into pieces, no longer playing the qin again for the rest of his life.
[2] Referencing the underworld
T/N: There’s a lot of pain and suffering for Jen in the . I’m just so glad I didn’t have to translate poems and verses in this chapter.
Not sure if I need to explain this but I’ll explain it anyways. LHY taking the wine first was originally seen as him taking the punishment for not being able to answer the ‘riddle’, so everyone thought he was too stupid to answer such a simple question. But because he drank first and then answered, the meaning of his action changes to him toasting(respecting) the other party that’s quizzing him.
