It's 23 years since LI Dong Hai the current emperor ascended the throne, and so far Dongyue has been wealthy and prosperous. In the capital city Chang'an where we set our scene as two fated lovers meet and have a journey of romance. The Date is 23 July 1432 *(1) where Princess Chiu Yeung is getting married. Many gentlemen took wonders as the sights were blessed with the pretty yet ignorant princess who was finally getting married. On the outside smiles shone on their face as their inner hearts breathe a breath of relief as they were not unfortunate enough to marry this girl. Since all Princess were married no one else would fall prey to these predators. The groom however was not having a good time.
As the groom Li Tian You waited outside the door of Prince Zi*(2) mansion his face a stony cold as no one dared to approach him unless they're looking for death. The groom himself looked dashing alongside the pure jade-like skin belonging to the princess. He was wearing a red robe adorned with golden Chinese characters meaning love and happy marriage. A pair of mandarin ducks would always be adorned onto the bride's dress symboling love also with the words ' May your marriage last for eternity. As the red sedan carrying Princess stop in front of the mansion, this dashing man face fell a few shades as the sedan stopped. Walking towards the sedan he kicked it open*(3). Holding her hand as they walk into the ancestral hall*(4). Standing there was an old woman who must have good fortune in her life was holding 2 sets of tea. "The first bow towards the sky" the women chanted as they turned towards the outside bowing with their hands held tight in front. " The second bow towards the older generation," facing back towards the name palets they bowed down. " The last bow towards each other," the look of disgust was hidden through the smile that was shown on the groom's face as they bowed delightfully. "The marriage vow if finished, please offer tea to the elder generation. " The first Tea is offered towards the late father. The couple split the tea onto the floor*(5). The second is towards the mother. Again with pouring the tea. " Announce the Consort Dowager," a shrill voice belonging to a eunuch announced. " Li Tian You, Li Chiu Yeung greets Imperial Grandmother," They chorused along with citizens and relatives watching the marriage spoke. " Imperial Grandmother, what are you doing here?" asked Li Tian An as she arranged a chair for her imperial grandmother. " Oh I'm here to participate in You'er wedding." she replied "After all there must be someone of the elder generation being served tea. And that I'm sure my son and daughter-in-law would have personally wanted to watch this ceremony." "Come somebody pour another set of tea for Imperial grandmother," Li Tian( Chuan) Hua bellowed. " Chiu Yeung you are now married you must be so willful and stubborn anymore. Tell me if anyone including my grandson ever bullies you," commented consort Dowager. "You'er I hope that you and Chiu Yeung will make a good pair, I'll wait for Chiu Yeung to give birth to a lovely great-grandchild. Do work in harmony,". The groom nodded as the Consort Dowager smiled in approval " Imperial grandmother please take tea" a powerful voice belonging to Tian You stated. The Consort Dowager drank the tea, in a sweet delicate voice with a hint of arrogance uttered " Imperial grandmother*(6) please drink this tea from your granddaughter-in-law," she drank the tea as the couple got up and went separate ways. Tian You to drink wine with the guest (like a modern-day reception) and Chiu Yeung to be sent to the bridal chambers. for the consummation.
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4 hours later
" An Ping*(7) how long is this Li Tian You gonna be?" Princess Chui asked " Who does he think he is to make me wait for so long.!" " Princess calm down and watch your words after all this is not the third princess mansion. The walls are thin we don't know who is listening." advised An ping. Taking off her red veil as she threw it off." Princess you mustn't it is counted as not auspicious. The groom himself must take it off himself." hushed An ping. " Whatever. We don't even like each other. He only married me because it was his father's dying wish and I only married him to escape from Prince Sithuka. And besides, we had an agreement to only look lovely- dovely in front of other people. But what if he is too drunk to remember not to touch me?" stressed the princess. " My dear Princess Consort no matter how drunk I am I'm not sure I'll like to consummate with a person less than a dog". hushed as a drunk looking handsome man dressed in dark red walked in. " Everyone out," he ordered, as everyone began walking out Chiu Yeung clung onto An Ping only to shake off and walked out along with the rest. As the door clicked shut, Li Tain You seem like a transformed beast walking slowly as he claimed Chiu Yeung's lips for himself. Or so it appeared to be what it looked like for the peeping maids outside. In reality, Li Tian You thumb had already been placed on top of Chiu Yeung's lips so he was kissing his thumb under the shocked princess. Removing himself he whispered into her ear disguised as a hug. " Play along maids are watching and another strange man outside. I've asked Yu Xuan to deal with it after 15 mins but we still have to act as if we are in love cause, after all, they need to see something or when words get to Imperial grandmother I'm not sure she be happy. " Yeung er*(8) you wouldn't blame me for what I said when I came in right?" The groom asked " after all no one would like it when they're talked about behind their back," " Of course, not Hubby I wouldn't mind," replies Chiu Yeung " How about I loosen your shoulder joint as we prepare for what's happening next," Blushing nervously. Outside a commotion was happening as the maids whispered among themselves " Wow look how straightforward the princess is," ." If I was Prince Ping Xi I would ravenously deflower her," Many guards joined into the conversation only to be hitten on the neck by An Ping. Having this commotion outside distracted the groom and bride who pretended to not know of their existence as Li Tian You quickly pinned the princess underneath her and kissed her. Trialling down to her neck. Onlookers gasp in shock as they blushed in embarrassment.
Unknown to them action on the roof was more sneaky and cunning. Yu Xuan having taken the order of wiping out the man on top of the roof after a quarter of an hour quickly removed himself from the well passed out ( drunk) soldiers and went to begin his task. Grabbing his dagger he jumped onto the roof softly and silently. The black-clothed man turn his head behind as he saw nothing but the clear dark sky filled with soft twinkles. Turning back to watch the couple he jumped back in shock to see Yu Xuan holding a dagger near his neck. " Who are you?. What is your aim in watching the prince and princess consort doing their nightly business?" Yu Xuan asked the questions one after the other. Quickly, the man reached inside his sleeve as he sprinkled some powder on Yu Xuan blurring him from the view, as the Black clothed man made his way home back to his master. Blinking rapidly Yu Xuan gained more consciousness as his blurred eyes finally came to focus on something. ' Uh, I've failed to complete my task. Master gonna kill me' Yu Xuan thought. Jumping swiftly in front of the maids' Yu Xua coughed as he ask in a sinister voice " what do we've here?". As the tone in his voice could be seen as someone not to be reckoned with everyone scrambled away, those to their patrol duty and those to their respected bedroom/ quarters.
Getting up from the bed Li Tian You shuffled aside as he put back on his outer cloth that was discarded moments ago and walked over to the side bed laying on it. " Well done, never knew you had it in you," He commented, " Why are you still here?" She asked furiously. ' well so quick to change attitude' " Well do you want anyone to smell a rat?" continuing " Besides I've already lent you the bed and blankets so be grateful," he replied. Turning away as he pretended to have fallen asleep. Shuffles of blankets moving, it wasn't long before the room became silent as soft snores emitted from the princess. The groom himself however was still awake and found it quite hilarious that the usual prime, proper, arrogant princess would snore so unladylike. A tear fell from his eyes as he drifted off to dreamland whispering a silent promise that no one but himself could hear. " Forgive me Xin er but I promise you I'll never love her,"
#Glossary: ʢ ᵕᴗᵕ ʡ
1. None of the dates in my story is based on any historical dates.
2. Li Chong Hai's title
3. I'm not too sure about the details of ancient Chinese weddings but in all the c -dramas I've seen all grooms usually do this at their wedding. I think it means it's emitting the bride as his lawful wife. ⌒(•ㅅ•)⌒.
4. Usually the wedding hall inside would have the paternal parents or elders but Tian You parents are both died and there are no other elders so it commences in the ancestor's hall instead where names of people from Prince Zi mansion. Including, Wen Yue Lin (Tian You's mother), Li Zhong Hai( Tian You's father) and Lu Shi ( Li Zhong Hai concubine) are inscribed onto nameplates. [ Usually when concubines die their names are not allowed to enter the ancestral hall but this is an expectation explained later on.]
5. Um because the parents are dead in the afterlife so the tea is spilt onto the floor.
6. When the bride marries into the family she usually follows the groom way of addressing her elders.
7. The princess maid that following her since young.