Chang'an ancient meaning

Li Dan obeyed Taiping's words, and didn't care about Li Chengqi's bedridden illness, so he stepped up to handle all the appointment matters for him.The future princess is a descendant of the royal family of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The original surname of the royal family of the Northern Wei Dynasty was Tuoba, and Emperor Xiaowen of Wei changed his surname to "Yuan".Because Taizong's eldest grandson empress, her ancestors were also the royal family of the Northern Wei Dynasty, so after entering the Tang Dynasty, the Yuan family was highly respected by Li Tang and became a prominent family in Henan.

Li Chengqi is the king of the county, and the concubine is from a famous family. This kind of perfect marriage, from the imperial decree to the appointment ceremony, only took a mere month, which is really a bit sloppy.But this matter was handled by Princess Taiping and Prime Minister Li Dan personally, although the relatives of the Yuan clan felt a little unhappy, they did not dare to say more.Fortunately, Xiang Wang and Shouchun County King have always been quite famous. The Shouchun County King has passed the weak year and has not yet raised a concubine by his side. The family is also very satisfied with this marriage.

Since the early morning of this morning, Li Chengqi has been called out to change his clothes. He wears a white silk jacket inside, a white gauze middle sheet, and a crimson gauze singlet outside.The scarf used to tie the hair on the head was made by the princess herself, and it was sent to the palace yesterday, just for the meaning of "tie hair" today.Sitting in front of the mirror, Li Chengqi watched A Luo flatten and press the scarf for him, and then put on the Jinxian crown on top of it.A Luo passed a rhino horn hairpin through the crown, but frowned and said nothing.Li Chengqi didn't know what she was going to do, and he didn't dare to stand up. A Luo asked Concubine Doulu softly, "Miss Doulu, do you want to cover up your Highness's face?"

Concubine Doulu sighed softly in her heart, maybe it was because of her illness a while ago, Li Chengqi looked much less haggard, his complexion was as straight as the new white gauze exposed by his neckline, and there were also two dark blue shadows under his eyes.Concubine Doulu said softly: "Didn't Your Highness sleep well last night?" Li Chengqi smiled in a trance: "It's okay." Seeing that there was no makeup on the dressing table, Concubine Doulu said to A Luo: "Go and get your dowry box " A Luo hugged her in a hurry, Concubine Dou Lu powdered some powder under Li Chengqi's eyes, when she went to get the rouge, she saw it was purple, so she took out the red lipstick she carried with her, spread it on her palm, and lightly Gently rubbing against Li Chengqi's cheeks, that handsome face really looks much more energetic.

It was the first time Li Chengqi put on makeup since he landed, and he felt a little ridiculous in his heart.But firstly, Concubine Doulu is his concubine, so it is inconvenient for him to disobey her wishes, and secondly, he wears these layers of thick clothes in the summer, sweat seeps out from his body after a while, he just feels tired and exhausted, and even has the strength to argue with others nothing.

The maidservants who were helping to carry the clothes and fetch water behind were originally chattering and laughing, and one of them laughed and said: "Your Highness is really beautiful in such a dress! No wonder there is a word called 'He Lang Fu Fen', why not paint the eyebrows too, Let's have another 'Zhang Chang Thrush'." A Luo laughed and scolded her: "Hu Bai, Zhang Chang Thrush is for the lady." Another maid smiled and said: "It turns out that the princess's eyebrows will be drawn by His Highness in the future, why not let His Highness Practice with you first!" A Luo spat at her: "When the new princess comes in, I will smash your mouth first."

Hearing their noise, Li Chengqi felt his chest constricted as if it was about to explode, he opened his mouth but couldn't speak.Seeing Li Chengqi's chest rising and falling, and a streak of sweat slipping down from the temples under the scarf, Mrs. Doulu gently wiped it off for him, and asked, "Fengnu, are you feeling unwell?" Li Chengqi forced a smile, and got off the dressing table On the couch, she said: "It's okay, but it's a little hot." A Luo hurriedly took the leather belt to cover Li Chengqi's knees, tied them up for Li Chengqi, and squatted down to flatten Li Chengqi's knees.

Li Chengqi raised his head slightly, and the pearls and jade necklaces hanging from both sides of the crown rang softly beside his ears. When he saw himself in the mirror, he thought of the ceremony of setting up the crown prince many years ago. He was also so hot and tired, and felt I was pushed onto the stage like a puppet on a string.He didn't dare to move around, didn't dare to say outrageous words. At that time, he was able to get off the stage, and there were flower slaves playfully grabbing the jewels on his official hat. Now he looks at the puppet in a stiff posture in the mirror, Knowing that the puppet will never get off the stage again.

Since his aunt took Hua Nu back to Princess Taiping's mansion a month ago, they had very few chances to meet each other. At first he sent someone to ask, but Taiping always said that Xue Chongjian's staff had not healed. , he finally understood what his aunt meant to isolate them.He staggered out of the inner room, the outer room was already crowded with many clan and noble relatives, all of them came to congratulate and watch the excitement, Li Chengqi hurriedly swept away, but still did not see Xue Chongjian, he was slightly relieved, but felt even more hollow in his heart.

It was a custom in this dynasty that weddings were held in the evening, in line with what the ancients said, "when a marriage is dark, the woman is also dark, so it is called faint." A faint crescent has just been hung on the willow twigs. Because of the dark night in summer, although it is already the moon, the sky is not yet dark, and the pale moonlight is like being lightly painted with ink.Li Chengqi was in a daze, whether it was day or night, whether he was awake or in a dream, whether he was alive or a ghost, he couldn't tell.

In front of the gate of the Yuan Mansion was also crowded with hundreds of people who followed Li Chengqi to pick up the new wife. Brothers and family members sent by the Yuan Mansion to guard the gate and play tricks on the son-in-law crowded the place, but hearing the laughter and cursing in his ears, Li Chengqi read out Even he himself couldn't understand the make-up reminder poem.Fortunately, Li Longji knew early on that there was a custom of having a son-in-law[1] in weddings in the Northern Dynasties. Longji protected Li Chengqi and "killed" him in.

After entering the second gate, Li Longji waved his sweat and smiled triumphantly after entering the second gate: "Everything is done if it is not forewarned, but my plan is not bad." Li Chengyi was busy packing for Li Chengqi. With messy clothes, he said with a smile: "Your idea is to kill ten thousand enemies and lose eight thousand. According to me, we should learn from Hua slaves, lure the enemy with a suspicious soldier, climb over the wall and enter the backyard of their house, and recite it." The new sister-in-law will run away."

The two of them were talking, when they suddenly heard the sound of warblers and swallows frolicking, somehow, a group of women came out from behind the whitewashed wall, among the flowers and trees, each holding sticks, and shouting with a smile: "I have a new son-in-law!" Pushed Li Chengyi and Li Longji away, took Li Chengqi hostage and left. The two brothers were about to catch up, but they were blocked by a few young maidservants holding sticks at the door. Those maidservants didn't know whether it was because of the hot summer or because they were deliberately difficult to help the groom. In addition to the tube top, there is only a layer of light gauze shirt, and the delicate skin with snow-white cleavage is faintly visible.Li Longji and Li Chengyi didn't dare to fight with them either, they couldn't help but be dumbfounded looking at Li Chengqi's distressed back, and they could hear the ringing rings of the women and the laughter of spring birds singing in their ears.After looking at each other, Li Chengyi cried out sadly: "Only women and villains are hard to raise!"

Li Chengqi was captured by a group of women and taken into the inner hall. Behind a screen, there was a faint flower hairpin exposed, which seemed to be the hiding place of the bride.There were a few people dressed as young women sitting in the hall, and said with a smile: "Your Highness wants to marry my sister, so let's have a glass of wine first." Li Chengqi's arms were still held by the maid, and a woman came forward, pinched his jaw, and held him A big amber bowl was put on his lips and he drank it down forcefully, but he didn't know that a lot of chili was added to the wine, and he suddenly coughed and choked, causing the women to burst into laughter.He also heard the eldest woman laughing and saying, "Let's ask the groom, how will you treat my sister after she comes in?"

Li Chengqi didn't know if he hadn't caught his breath yet, or if he really didn't think about it, he was at a loss for words, and a little servant girl smiled and said: "The groom is negligent, please forgive me." Come on, and said with a smile: "First hit twenty killing sticks, let him know that our wife can't be bullied." Several maidservants responded with a smile, and immediately moved a high chair, pressed Li Chengqi's body on it, and lifted it up. He picked up the stick and hit him on his back buttocks and legs, but he was quite merciless.The sticks fell like raindrops, and the maids didn't see the groom struggling, nor did he beg for mercy, it was completely different from the lively scene when the son-in-law was married in the past, so they were very surprised.A maid pushed aside a few strands of pearls and jade necklaces hanging on his cheeks, only to see that the bridegroom's elegant eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of water, but his eyes were warm and bright, unable to distinguish between sorrow and joy.In the middle of the bustle and bustle, she couldn't help but tremble when she saw such a pair of eyes that seemed to be separated by a vast mist.

Several women in the hall couldn't help whispering to each other, and someone whispered: "Why is this county king a little dumb?" A faint voice came from behind the screen: "Sister, please forgive him." Before passing through the door, I felt sorry for my son-in-law." Fortunately, Li Chengyi and Li Longji's Yu Linmen, relying on their numbers, broke through the gate, passed the defense of the Women's Army, entered the back hall, and snatched Li Chengqi from under the stick. come out.There was another burst of hustle and bustle, and countless money was poured out before the new princess was urged out from behind the screen.

The Yuan family led lanterns, step barriers, and golden hazel fans out from behind the screen. Everyone only saw the woman behind the fan wearing a blue Zhai dress, revealing a nine-torn pomegranate red skirt, a white jade pendant hanging from her waist, golden flower shoes on her feet, and a resplendent gold on her head. Huachai, her face was covered by a fan, only her fingertips exposed outside her sleeves were very fair and slender.Li Chengqi was supported by his two younger brothers in pain. Seeing his newlywed wife being supported by others, walking towards him tremblingly like stepping on Lingbo, he knew that at this moment, they were two gorgeous and incomparable wooden puppet.

After several frolics, when Li Chengqi brought his bride out of Yuan Mansion, it was already dark.The bride was helped into the chariot, and Li Chengqi also mounted the horse, and circled the chariot three times according to the custom [2].He looked up at some sparse but bright stars in the dark blue night, a few birds were startled by the noise of the crowd, and flew away from the tall willows.Li Chengqi had just been tossed and turned dizzy in the Yuan Mansion, but at this time he was blown by the cool night wind, and his mind woke up, and a deep fear rolled in his heart, did he take her back and stay at the same table with him from now on? And the person who eats, the person who sleeps on the same bed, and the person who travels with Lishan Mountains and Rivers, are they the people in this car?But what he thought in his heart was clearly not like this.He only felt that his movements of circling the Youbixiang chariot were so hesitant and helpless, like a black magpie circling three times around a tree with no branches to cling to under the moon and stars.

Although Li Chengqi was not favored in the palace, but after all, he was the nephew of the prince's son, and the marriage was Princess Taiping's matchmaker, so it was even grand.From Yuanfu to Longqingfang Shouchun County Prince's Mansion, along the way, there are lanterns hanging on the trees. All the relatives of the emperor and relatives who sent off the wedding also ordered their family members to lead the way with fancy lanterns.The musicians of the Jiaofang Division played music along with them, and the colorful girls sang along the way, attracting all the people in Chang'an City to watch.

When they reached the entrance of Longqingfang, the road was blocked by the brothers of the Yuan family again, asking for a car barrier.Today's betrothal gifts were all given by Prince Li Xian, and there are several younger brothers who are helping Li Chengqi, so he is not too embarrassed.The Yuan family wasn't a vulgar person, and they didn't want to have fun with their cars, so they quarreled for a while.After finally persuading everyone in the Yuan family to disperse slowly, Li Chengqi secretly heaved a sigh of relief when he saw the festively decorated palace of Shouchun County in the distance. came back.He lightly tapped the horse's belly with his heels, and was about to urge the horse to move forward. When he looked up, two Yuan family members carried a box of gold and silver and walked away. Xue Chongjian was standing in the middle of the road and smiling at him.

There was a buzz in Li Chengqi's head, and he almost fell off his horse with a sway.His hands were tightly gripping the reins, and the veins in his pale hands were bulging. The horse was hurt by him, and it took a step back uneasily.Xue Chongjian took another step forward calmly, and said with a smile: "Mr. Bridegroom, you haven't paid me the fare for the car!" He is wearing a purple gown with a lapel and a hip missing. It can be used, but Xue Chongjian is favored by the emperor, and his clothes are often out of control, and no one dares to criticize them.Because the lights around him were bright like daytime, the intricate patterns outlined with golden thread and emerald jade on the hem and sleeves of his clothes shone brightly.He wears a suet jade belt around his waist, the left side of the belt is Ding Dong Qishi, and the right side hangs a coral handle wrapped with a golden silk whip.There is also a peony flower on his head, which looks more festive than Li Chengqi in auspicious clothes.

At this time, the noise of singing and dancing did not stop, the young man walked slowly, like walking on a song, thousands of lights illuminated his handsome face, there was a hint of a smile on the corner of his ruddy lips, and the wind flowed along his head , the corners of his lips, his clothes, the sleeves of his clothes that were slightly opened when he walked, flowed down.

Sitting on the horse, Li Chengqi felt that the grotesque crowd around him gradually faded into the hazy light and shadow. They laughed, talked, sang and danced, but he couldn't see or hear them clearly. It seemed that he was the only one left in the world. He and Hua Nu, as well as the bumpy mount under his crotch.He wondered if he could ride his horse forward, pull Hua Nu up, and let the beast lead them to escape from the bustling market, even if they ran across the Wei Bridge, to the cold and snow-covered Great Wall, and watched the wind blow. Weeds, watching the moon fall into the empty city.As long as the two of them are together, it is the best prosperity in the world.

Seeing Li Chengqi's blank expression, Xue Chongjian repeated it with a smile.Idlers on the side of the road saw that there was excitement to watch, and the road that had just dispersed was blocked again.Li Chengqi felt that those words were a little familiar just now, but now he suddenly remembered it, and felt a sharp pain in his heart.Ever since he left his parents as a prince when he was young, his food, clothing, and happiness were all given to him by Hua slaves. Even his life was taken back from the underworld by Hua slaves. He didn't know what he could give Hua slaves. slave.

Li Chengyi asked in surprise, "Why is he here now?" Li Longji frowned, and gestured to his servants, asking them to come up to him with a gold-painted box, changed his smile and punched Xue Chongjian on the shoulder, smiling Said: "Why are you here to pretend to be a cheap uncle today? This box of things will be given to you first to beg for the lottery. After a few days when you get married, I will also go to the car and ask for double the amount." He smiled and took Xue Chongjian's arm, Secretly exerted strength and dragged him to the side of the road.Xue Chongjian didn't insist on anything, he took a step back, and then he heard Li Longji say with a smile: "Brother, bring your sister-in-law in!"

Xue Chongjian stood on the side of the road, smiling like a bystander, watching the groom's horse move slowly, followed by the rumbling Youbixiang chariot.He knew that he couldn't keep what he couldn't keep ten years ago, and he still can't keep it today. Ten years ago, there was a needle hidden in his hand, but now his hand is empty, and he can only stand on the road like the most irrelevant person. By the side, watching, seeing the most cherished people in his life drifting away.

Li Chengqi took his bride to get off the car in front of his mansion. From the place where the bride got off the car, nine embroidered felt mattresses had been rolled out one by one. Concubine Yuan covered her face with her knees and stepped forward on the felt mattress until she passed the first one. Immediately, a maidservant in Tsing Yi turned this piece to the front one, and spliced ​​it into a colorful road in turn, which is the popular "transfer seat [3]", which means to inherit the family and have a bright future.After the bride enters the door, all the family and guests waiting in the Prince's Mansion of Shouchun County go out through the side door and enter through the main entrance, leaving the bride's trail[4].

After the bride entered the palace, the servants in the palace were already waiting for the edict, and someone came to issue the emperor's decree, canonize Yuanshi as Princess Shouchun, and give a book of gifts.Concubine Yuan received the book and kowtowed to Tian En with King Shouchun, which became the most solemn scene of today's wedding.Later, they entered the inner courtyard, where the house was made of green cloth and curtains, which was the green cottage where husband and wife worship each other.The maidservant in Tsing Yi brought up the nine items of Nacai, the gourd dagger for the wedding ceremony, and a plate of roasted mutton for the ceremony.The bride covered her face with a fan and sat on the bed. Li Chengqi read out a few poems that Shangguan Wan'er had confided to him yesterday. Amidst the shouts of "Bride, come out!", Yuanshi slowly covered her face. Li Chengqi saw that his princess's forehead was dyed light yellow, her eyebrows and cheeks were pasted with flowers, her eyebrows were painted with snails into a crescent moon makeup, her face was covered with powder and rouge, and her lipstick was also popular nowadays. The general point is done purple.With so many decorations piled up on a woman's face, Li Chengqi only knew that this woman was very beautiful, but he was still in a daze. He couldn't see her face clearly for this person who was so close.The golden flowers on the cheeks of the bride because of her shy smile also scattered into the hazy moonlight just like the lantern outside the door.

Yuanshi didn't dare to look at Li Chengqi at all, but was guided by his servants, bowed to Li Chengqi, carefully took the half of the gourd that Li Chengqi had cut open, took a sip of wine, covered his mouth with his sleeve, and nervously ate a small bite of mutton .When Li Chengqi started to tie the two people's belts on a bronze mirror, the blush on her face overwhelmed the rouge.Li Chengqi looked at her as if she was walking on thin ice, and felt deep sympathy in his heart. He knew that this young girl, who was twenty-eight years old, must be very scared at the moment, just as scared as he was when he was sitting in the Chongfu Hall, just like he is now Fear.

After the ceremony, everyone cheered, and they surrounded the couple to watch the lanterns at the Linzi Prince's Mansion next door. Everyone knew that the ceremony was over, and they relaxed and became more noisy than before.Xue Chongjian waited for the crowd to go away, and then slowly walked into the Qinglu. He was fascinated by the Nine Things[5] on the plate, and a maidservant next to him came from his home, and said with a smile: " What are you looking at, sir?" Xue Chongjian pointed to the plate and said, "Look at these two." The maid smiled and said, "This is donkey-hide gelatin, and this is dry lacquer, which means that you can never leave the lacquer." She flattered her again: " In a few days, Mr. Lang's big wedding will of course be more lively than today!" Xue Chongjian closed his eyes and meditated for a while, he silently recited a poem in his heart, then opened his eyes and smiled, "So that's what it means."

The author has something to say: [1] Having a son-in-law is to tease the son-in-law, "On the day when the son-in-law pays homage to the pavilion, the wife's family, relatives, guests and women gather together, and each of them beats the son-in-law with a stick for the fun of it. Zu[2] "The woman gets on the car, the son-in-law rides and circles the car three times." ——The source is the same as above.

[4] "Women enter the door, and uncles and aunts all go out through the convenient door, and enter through the door, saying that they are the traces of the new wife." - Youyang Zazu[5] "Wedding, there are Acacia Jiahe, Ejiao, Jiuzipu , Zhu Wei, Shuangshi, Mian Xu, Longevity Thread, Dry Lacquer. There are words for each of the nine things: glue paint whichever is solid; ;Shuangshi, the meaning lies in the two solids.” (It’s still the Youyang Miscellaneous Book, why is Duan Chengshi talking in such detail, it seems that I only have one reference)