When Yang Fan arrived at Maqiao's house, it was just past midnight. The Ma family's house was already full of people inside and outside. In addition to the neighbors, the Ma family's large group of relatives and friends had all arrived. Some were from the city, some were from the countryside, and some were bringing the old and the young. It was a magnificent sight.
The Ma family's small courtyard couldn't hold so many people, let alone the house. Therefore, they set up a water table outside the house. Because the banquet hadn't started, some of the guests were sitting, some were standing, and some were calling each other, whispering to each other as they chatted. A kitchen was set up in the east corner. The invited chef was busy there, and the smell of meat wafted over from time to time.
The Ma family's house had three rooms. In the middle was the central room, and on the left and right were residences. Originally, the east room was the largest, and it had always been occupied by Ma's mother. Now, it had been vacated and cleaned up. The walls had been repainted, and it was used as a new house. Ma's mother moved to the west room. Although Ma Qiao was filial and didn't want his mother to suffer in the slightest, he couldn't change his mother's mind on this point. Moreover, as a bride, it wouldn't be good for her to suffer in the small room, so he obeyed his mother's wishes.
When Yang Fan arrived, Maqiao had already changed into a crimson official robe. He wore a crown on his head, and he was so nervous that his face was sweating. The crimson official robe was originally the court robe of the fourth to sixth rank imperial court officials, but the imperial court made an exception. The bridegroom and bride could wear the official robe with a leather belt and a phoenix crown. Therefore, Maqiao could dress like this.
Seeing Yang Fan rushing over, Maqiao grinned at him. His face was a little stiff. It seemed that this wedding really made him nervous. Fortunately, there was Su Fangzheng and a few enthusiastic and respectable people to help him manage the wedding. Everything was arranged by these people, so it was busy but not chaotic.
In the afternoon, because it was early summer, the sky was still bright. Moreover, Pasta's house was not far from the Ma family. They lived in the same square, so there was no need to greet the bride so early. However, the relatives and friends had been waiting impatiently. After some noise, Su Fangzheng decided to greet the bride, so a large group of people clamored out of the Ma family.
Yang Fan accompanied Maqiao out of the Ma family's courtyard. There was a hired carriage parked outside the door. The horse's neck was tied with a piece of red cloth, and it looked happy and energetic. Maqiao was the groom, and the groom had to greet the bride. So, Maqiao drove the carriage to Pasta's house. When they arrived, Xiang accompanied Maqiao into the courtyard. They greeted the mother-in-law and relatives, and then took them to the carriage. In Pasta's house, Auntie Hua and a group of aunts were helping. Miss Xiaodong and a group of girls were accompanying Pasta in the house.
According to the custom, at this time, the groom should read the "makeup poem", but that was an elegant thing played by scholars. Many ordinary people could not even read, so how could they read the "makeup poem". Therefore, Maqiao and a group of male companions knocked on the door and shouted Pasta's name outside. A group of girls inside laughed and refused to open the door, only asking some questions to make things difficult for them.
If these girls deliberately made things difficult, Maqiao would have to stand in front of the door for more than half an hour to successfully take his wife out. After hearing a few words from the sisters, Pasta could not bear it and could not help but speak up for Maqiao, begging the sisters to let him go. Seeing this scene, the sisters teased Pasta for a while, opened the door, and hugged her out.
Pasta was wearing a dark green dress. The groom wore red, and the bride wore green. This was the Tang people's wedding attire, and the idiom "red man and green woman" came from this. Pasta had big sleeves and a silk drape, looking grand and dignified. Her hair was decorated with gold and silver hairpins. Although they were not real gold and silver ornaments, there was no difference. Her hair was full of pearls and jade, making her look very noble.
Unfortunately, Yang Fan stood on tiptoe and did not see what she looked like. Pasta did not wear a veil. Although veils had appeared since the Han Dynasty, veils were not popular in the Tang Dynasty. Most people used round fans when they got married. Pasta held a round fan in her hand. The fan was decorated with white feathers, and it covered her face completely. Only a little skin could be seen from the side.
The bride's family also hired a carriage. Pasta was supported by Miss Xiaodong and another girl from the brothel. They slowly boarded the carriage. Maqiao acted as the coachman and drove the carriage forward. The wheels only rolled three times before he got off and boarded his own carriage. The coachman drove the carriage for the bride, while Maqiao whipped the horse and rushed home to prepare to pick up the bride.
This kind of rule was called "anti-horse". If the bride was found not to be a virgin or had any serious behavior during this period of time, the groom could send her back. This was the reason why the bride had to prepare her own carriage. Although she was married, she was still not a true member of the Ma family.
When Maqiao drove away, Yang Fan did not accompany him. His identity was the most free. He could be considered as a member of the husband's family and also the in-laws' family. Yang Fan giggled as she followed a group of relatives from Mian 'er's family who had come to send off the bride. They accompanied Mian' er's carriage all the way back to the Ma family's residence. She saw Ma Qiao standing at the door in his groom's attire, craning his neck as he waited for a long time.
Next, they stepped on the brazier, straddled the saddle, straddled the rice bag … a series of complicated procedures to escort the bride. It was not easy to complete this set of procedures. The two "golden boys and girls" sprinkled grains on Maqiao and Pasta. The groom walked in front and the bride half a step behind. They slowly walked into the central room under the cheers of everyone.
After entering the central room, it was time for the "Fan Removing Ceremony". The "Fan Removing Ceremony" was equivalent to the later lifting of the veil. However, at this time, the bride was not so restrained. She was not sent to the bridal chamber when she arrived at the wedding. In this era, the groom's parents were only responsible for chatting with friends and relatives of the same generation. The main characters of the wedding were the newlyweds, so the "Fan Removing Ceremony" was held in the hall.
Maqiao did not know how to recite the "Fan Removing Ceremony", so he only performed the "Fan Removing Ceremony" to Pasta. Only then did Pasta gently move the round fan in front of him.
If the round fan was moved, she would still be her, but she would not be her!
Pasta's eyes were bright, and she smiled shyly. Even Maqiao and Yang Fan, who were familiar with her, were stunned by her charming appearance.
The bride was indeed the most beautiful woman at this moment!
The horse's mother smiled and gently wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes.
The bridegroom and the bride bowed to each other. At this time, there was no ceremony of bowing to each other, and there was no need to bow to heaven or earth. The husband and wife just stood facing each other. Pasta bent down and bowed to her husband. Maqiao stood straight and nervously accepted Pasta's bow, then bowed again.
Pasta bowed again, and Maqiao bowed again. This went on for four times, and when the ceremony was complete, they were officially husband and wife. Only then did Pasta and Maqiao step forward together and bow to the mother-in-law as the bride.
Yang Fan stood at the side and watched them cut off a strand of hair, tied it up with a red thread, and put it into a silk bag to complete the "Hair Tying Ceremony". He watched them pick up chopsticks and eat a portion of stewed meat that had already been offered to the ancestors, completing the "Same Prison Offering". He watched them use a gourd that was divided into two and tied together with a red string to drink a cup of wine …
His eyes were a little moist. It was a feeling of being connected by blood. He had long regarded Maqiao and Pasta as his own family. Seeing them complete the ceremony and finally become husband and wife, Yang Fan was sincerely happy for them …
…
South of Luoyang, Five Miles Village.
It was quiet in the village. Two old farmers with hoes in their hands were leisurely returning from the fields. In the courtyard of the first family in the village, a woman was holding a dustpan. She was calling the family's chickens and sprinkling the soaked rice over them. Under a big locust tree at the intersection, several village children were playing hide-and-seek.
Suddenly, a dozen or so fast horses galloped over from afar. It had not rained for the past two days, so wherever they passed, they kicked up a cloud of dust like a yellow dragon.
The riders quickly stopped in front of the outer courtyard of a village member surnamed Qiu.
The riders were all dressed in the Western Region's Hu clothing. They all wore short robes with narrow sleeves and a leather belt around their waist. They wore deerskin boots and carried swords on their backs. They looked agile and heroic. They all wore "light dew" on their heads. Occasionally, the wind would lift up the curtain, revealing a trace of tender white skin. Obviously, they were all women.
The courtyard door opened and the round and round Qiu Qiu, Qiu Yuanwai, ran out to welcome them. As soon as his short and fat legs crossed the threshold, he cupped his hands in greeting. "Ah hahaha, Seventh Young Lady is here. I am sorry for not going out to meet you. Forgive me, forgive me."
"Qiu Qiu, I haven't seen you for two years. Why are you so fat?"
With a clear and pleasant voice, a girl used a horsewhip to lift up the dew, revealing a face that was both happy and angry.
Her eyes were clear and limpid, and her jade-like smile made her look bright and beautiful. She was charming and charming, but also had the candid and pureness of a northwestern woman. Her expression, posture, and every movement had the graceful bearing of a daughter of a wealthy family. It made people's eyes light up at first sight.
Qiu Yuanwai's smiling face stiffened. He quickly smiled and said, "Seventh Young Lady, you must be joking. Hahaha …"
Qiu Qiu bent her ball-like belly with difficulty and asked, "Seventh Young Lady, why did you come all the way from Chang 'an?"
That Seventh Young Lady did not answer and only asked, "I am looking for Shen Mu. Is he in the residence?"
Qiu Qiu said, "Aiyo, this is not a coincidence. Young Master went out just after noon and said that he will not be back tonight."
Seventh Young Lady's gaze froze. She bowed her head and asked, "Where did he go?"
Qiu Qiu shook her head like a rattle drum. Her fat face trembled as she said, "Young Master will not tell me his whereabouts. Uh … Seventh Young Lady, why don't you come to my residence and rest for a while? Even if Young Master did not come back today, he will come back tomorrow. "
Seventh Young Lady snorted and raised her chin, "That vixen, did she go out with him or is she in your residence?"
Qiu Qiu did not answer directly. She only smiled and said, "Young Master went out alone."
Seventh Young Lady rolled her eyes and snorted, "Then I will find another place to stay! Hmph, Shen Mu must have heard some news and went out to hide from me! Let's go. Does he think that I will not be able to find him if he hides? "
This Seventh Young Lady was an impatient person. She turned her horse and rushed into Luoyang City.
A dozen fast horses followed behind her and rushed out. The hooves of the horses stirred up a cloud of dust. Qiu Qiu's round body disappeared in an instant. In the cloud of dust, only half of a fat stump could be seen standing there and coughing sounds could be heard.
At this moment, Shen Mu was carrying a box of wedding cakes and two rolls of good cotton cloth. He was smiling as he stepped into Maqiao's house.
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