Chapter 5: No Wedding Night
A princess’s wedding differed greatly from that of ordinary people. Steps such as the betrothal, name inquiry, and auspicious date selection were unnecessary; the auspicious wedding date was determined by the Imperial Observatory.
Mo Shuihan felt somewhat guilty towards the princess, so he decided to compensate in other ways. He prepared an exceptionally lavish dowry. The betrothal gift alone was only slightly less than the Empress’s dowry for the princess. The list of gifts shocked the Emperor and Empress. They had expected a poor consort, but this inconspicuous consort surpassed all the other princesses’ husbands in wealth.
The Emperor and Princess Nine were pleased. Regardless of Mo Shuihan’s feelings, the event met their expectations. Of course, the Emperor didn’t covet the money and returned it all to Princess Nine, even advising her privately, “This top scholar probably spent his entire fortune preparing the dowry. After you marry him, you must manage your household well and not just focus on your own enjoyment.”
Feng Jingchen and Cheng Yang came to congratulate him, teasing, “You were willing to die rather than submit. Knowing you would eventually marry Princess Nine, why were you so stubborn?”
Cheng Yang also laughed, “Of the three of us, I was the first to get engaged, and now you’ve surpassed us. You’ve truly made a fortune silently!”
Mo Shuihan bowed his head and smiled wryly: Now, he himself didn’t know how he would navigate the future!
Although the Emperor was initially displeased with Mo Shuihan’s rejection, now that he was about to become his son-in-law, and given Mo Shuihan’s recent good behavior, he was very satisfied. He even arranged for several high-ranking officials to help prepare the wedding, subtly promoting him. Those who had previously mocked Mo Shuihan secretly regretted their actions and hurried to mend fences with him.
According to the customs of the Da Jing Dynasty, on the day of the princess’s wedding, the consort had to wait at the Wumen Gate with the wedding party early in the morning. Only after the eunuch announced the decree could they enter the palace.
Mo Shuihan first went to the main hall to pay respects to the Emperor, who then hosted a banquet and gave a speech. He then took several close friends and court officials to the Princess’s palace to fetch her. Because the Princess held a higher rank, the group behaved respectfully outside the palace, performing their greetings and waiting for permission to enter.
Princess Nine wore a bright red wedding dress embroidered with golden and silver dragon and phoenix auspicious patterns. The patterns shimmered with different light as she moved. She held a large red folding fan with the same dragon and phoenix pattern, hiding her face. Mo Shuihan and his party bowed again. From behind the fan, a soft voice said, “You may rise.”
Then Mo Shuihan took the princess to bid farewell to the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and others in the palace, weeping several times before getting into the palanquin. Princess Nine was the Emperor’s favorite daughter, and her dowry, palanquin, furniture, and so on, had been prepared since she was young. Mo Shuihan looked at the exquisitely carved, luxurious palanquin. It was two stories high and wide, undoubtedly comfortable, but Mo Shuihan worried about whether it could fit through the palace gate.
The procession arrived noisily at the palace gate. As Mo Shuihan had predicted, the palanquin was stuck!
The officials accompanying the wedding party tried various methods, their brows sweating in anxiety, but they couldn’t get the palanquin out. Even the Emperor was informed. Someone suggested dismantling the palanquin, but the Emperor refused, fearing it would be inauspicious for his daughter’s marriage. He even ordered the dismantling of the palace gate.
The officials gasped. Even Mo Shuihan was dumbfounded, once again realizing how favored Princess Nine was and growing increasingly worried about his future marriage.
He couldn’t let the palace gate be demolished for his wedding. Mo Shuihan stepped forward, suggesting, “As long as the princess doesn’t get out of the palanquin, it won’t be inauspicious. I’ve seen this palanquin; the outer layer is removable. Why don’t we remove the outer layer, carry it through the gate, and then put it back on?”
This was much easier than dismantling the gate. The officials thought it was feasible and asked the Emperor for his opinion. After receiving his approval, they quickly proceeded, just in time for the wedding ceremony.
Normally, weddings included wedding night pranks, but the princess’s noble status meant that this was different. The consort entering the bridal chamber required passing “three knives and six formations.”
Mo Shuihan looked helplessly at the several maidservants guarding the door like door gods. If it weren’t necessary, he wished they could block the door forever, preventing him from ever entering. But his companions weren’t pushovers and forcibly helped him enter, though they couldn’t assist him with the poetry portion.
The maids giggled, blocking the princess, “Consort, please compose a poem!”
Mo Shuihan bowed his head and pondered slightly: “A precious fan, I hold it entering the palace, bringing fragrant breezes beneath the flowers. Chang’e must descend with colorful clouds; she cannot spend the night in the moon.”
The cold voice reached Song Xiangxue’s ears, making her heart tremble. Her fingers holding the fan handle turned slightly white. The maidservants were about to continue to make things difficult for him, wanting to avenge his previous coldness towards the princess, but they opened their mouths only to see the princess revealing her face.
Princess Nine, rarely, blushed slightly. She had unconsciously moved her fan and felt slightly reckless, so she lowered her head in embarrassment.
Mo Shuihan, not wanting to embarrass her, picked up the wedding wine cups and offered them to Princess Nine. After the ceremony, the maidservants wisely left, leaving only Mo Shuihan and Princess Nine in the room.
The atmosphere was tense and silent. Mo Shuihan awkwardly coughed, covering his lips with his fist, moving closer to Princess Nine. He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say, then awkwardly stepped back, bowing to the princess. “I want to read a book. Please rest early, Princess.”
Princess Nine was startled, her face turning pale. “Are you still reluctant?”
Mo Shuihan paused, giving a gentle smile. “Princess, you’re overthinking. I’m just… just a bit drunk, my head feels heavy. I want to sit and sober up.” (And also think about how to proceed.)
Princess Nine watched as Mo Shuihan actually sat down at the desk, picked up a book, and began to read seriously. Her pale face turned red with anger.
Suddenly, the book in her hands was snatched away. Mo Shuihan looked up in confusion, “Princess…”
“Don’t ‘Princess’ me! Mo Shuihan, since you’ve married me, this life you’re mine in life and in death! And that person you admire, give up on that idea!” Princess Nine said rapidly, without any of her previous shyness or sadness.
“I understand. Go rest.” Mo Shuihan answered helplessly, reaching for the book.
Princess Nine raised her hand, and Mo Shuihan missed the book. “Since you understand, what are you acting up for? Mo Shuihan, you wouldn’t dare tell me… you can’t, would you?”
Seeing Princess Nine’s triumphant expression, Mo Shuihan angrily lowered his hand and took another book from the desk. “Truly, it’s hard to get along with villains and women!”
“What are you mumbling?” Princess Nine raised her chin, her eyes wide. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Tomorrow, palace servants will check. You don’t want to lose your head, do you?”
Mo Shuihan raised an eyebrow without looking up, “Didn’t you say I can’t?”
“You…” Princess Nine was speechless, throwing the book onto Mo Shuihan. “Stinky scholar! Even if you can’t, even if you were a eunuch, you’d still have to be my consort!”
Seeing Princess Nine angrily lying back on the bed, covering herself completely with the quilt, Mo Shuihan breathed a sigh of relief, then sighed again. He had inevitably involved innocent people.