Sui Heng did not stay at Muyun Pass for a long time. After pretending to take the Geng Tie, he set off early and returned to the Sui capital. Fan Zhou and Yun Huai personally went to the city gate to bid farewell.
After finally seeing off this unreasonable Jiangbei wild wolf, Fan Zhou breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiang Yun couldn’t show his face, so he took Xiao Jiang Nuo to watch Sui Heng leave from the city gate tower. The little dumpling rode around Gongsun Yang’s neck, still wearing a snow-white jacket, holding a crystal ball in his arms, obedient like a lucky kid in a New Year painting.
That’s right, after the little dumpling threw the ball in the morning, Sui Heng’s head grew two times bigger. He poured out a basket of apologies and promised to give the little one five different colored mechanism birds as compensation for his “defect before the battlefield started.” The little one stopped crying and reluctantly accepted the crystal ball he handed him again.
Sui Heng was satisfied and flipped through the new eight characters no less than ten times. As soon as he got on the horse, he could almost recite them backwards. He just couldn’t wait to find out how their real eight characters matched up. He rushed all the way without stopping, and as soon as he entered the Sui capital, he didn’t even have time to change his robes. He immediately rushed to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and sent the Geng Tie, which he had personally kept all the way over.
The imperial censors dare not neglect it. After calculating overnight, they unexpectedly created a very rare hexagram: “Dragon and Phoenix are in good luck, ascending to great fortune.” This not only represents the ascending hexagram in marriage but also implies the noble status of the two Crown Princes, who are evenly matched. Emperor Sui was overjoyed and announced a general amnesty in the morning court to celebrate the Crown Prince’s marriage.
With this auspicious omen, Han Xiao also began to lead the entire ceremonial officials of the Ministry of Rites to fully prepare for the Crown Prince’s marriage. Neither Empress Yan nor the Empress Dowager, mother-in-law, nor daughter-in-law were willing to fall behind. Every now and then, they would call Han Xiao into the palace to inquire about various details, fearing any omissions.
After all, Empress Dowager is old and lacks energy, while Empress Yan can be said to be highly motivated.
Since Sui Heng announced in front of Emperor Sui and various civil and military officials in morning court that he would adopt Xiao Junwang, Sui Zhang, into the Crown Prince Mansion, Empress Yan has been extremely depressed and pessimistic for the past year and a half. She has even lost hope for Sui Heng’s descendants. Unexpectedly, Sui Heng went to the Jiang Empire, and not only did he find her a noble daughter-in-law but also a lovely and beautiful grandson. Empress Yan has been feeling proud lately, standing particularly straight in front of both the Empress Dowager and Lan Guifei.
The marriage alliance between the two Crown Princes directly affects the situation in the north and south as well as the world.
Once this marriage was concluded, not only did it resolve a tragic battle, but Sui Heng’s position as Crown Prince was also unshaken afterward.
Now that the Crown Prince Mansion has a true Xiao Huangsun, she no longer needs to worry about her son’s future.
“Bengong has been the Empress of this palace for so many years, and there is no happier and more joyful time than now.”
Empress Yan returned from the Ministry of Rites, sat down, and drank a sip of tea, sighing with Qin momo.
Qin momo massages her shoulders and teases, “Since His Highness returned, the corner of Empress’s mouth has never been pressed down.”
“That’s natural. This time, Bengong has to make that Lan Xinru jealous and vomiting blood, letting her know who was the boss in this palace.”
“By the way, how are the small garments that Bengong asked the Bureau of Clothing to cut?”
Qin momo pursed her lips and smiled, “Don’t worry, Niangniang. The first batch has already been cut, and they are currently rushing to work on the second batch. However, everyone in the Bureau of Clothing is busy making the wedding attires for His Highness’s wedding now, and many tasks have been postponed, so the progress is inevitably slower.”
After finishing speaking, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Niangniang hasn’t even met Xiao Huangsun yet, but Niangniang was already about to have Xiao Huangsun’s clothes tailored until ten year old.”
“Bengong really wishes that Bengong could make them all, but little kids grow up so fast, it’s a waste to make too much in case the size doesn’t fit. It’s better to wear it now and make it right.”
As soon as Empress Yan finished speaking, the palace attendant reported outside that Prime Minister Han had arrived.
Empress Yan couldn’t care less about drinking tea, she quickly put her tea cup down and let him in.
The Crown Prince is about to get married, and the entire Sui capital was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
Early that morning, fine snow drifted again in the sky. The capital of Sui was located in the north of the Yangtze River. It was common for snow to fall in winter, and as long as it wasn’t a blizzard, it didn’t affect going out. The people took it for granted, and after skillfully cleaning the streets, they began to work normally. The vendors on both sides of the street also set up sheds.
The liveliest place is the calligraphy and painting workshops that specialize in selling ink, paper, and inkstones, as well as books, calligraphy, and paintings.
As soon as Chenshi 17-9am arrived, the streets were bustling with carriages.
A simple style covered in green carriage struggled to move forward in the middle, driven by a white-faced house servant, holding a whip in his left hand and his right hand hanging on the side.
He drove the carriage with all his might, but because he was too anxious, he collided with the carriage in front of him. The driver of the carriage was a rough and strong man who immediately came over in a fierce manner, grabbed the white faced servant, and was about to hit him.
The white-faced house servant shouted loudly, “Do you know which mansion we are from? You still dare to be reckless?”
The strong man glanced at the carriage and saw that it was just the most ordinary green carriage, without even a badge. He snorted coldly and asked in a rough voice, “You tell me instead, which mansion are you from?”
The white-faced house servant opened his mouth and thought of something, but halfway through, he swallowed it back.
The strong man let out a yelp and spat on his face.
“What the hell? You dare to show off in front of Laozi? Do you know which nobleman you have offended? That’s the Young Master of Xiang daren’s mansion from the Military and Horse Department!”
The strong man was about to punch him when a sudden “wait a minute” came from the carriage. Then, the carriage door opened, and a plain figure walked out.
It was a young Young Master.
The strong man gave him a sidelong glance and said, “What? Do you want to kowtow to my master and apologize on his behalf?”
The young Young Master frowned and said with a cold and arrogant expression, “Where did we damage you guys? We’ll pay for the damage, why be so rude and impolite?”
“Who are you calling rude and impolite?”
The strong man was once again provoked and was about to erupt when the Young Master Xiang from the carriage ahead also came out. Wearing a bright brocade robe, he smiled and looked at the person standing tall in the center of the street, saying, “Hey, isn’t this Young Master Yan Qi?”
He reprimanded the strong man again. “Why don’t you step back quickly? Who is Young Master Yan Qi? He was once the most talented person in Jiangbei, the eldest grandson of the Yan family, and the youngest Imperial Censor of the Great Sui. Is he someone you can challenge?”
His words were full of ridicule and sarcasm.
Yan Qi ignored him and got on the carriage, asking his servant to turn around and drive away.
The house servant angrily said, “This Xiang family used to be unworthy of even lifting shoes for the Young Master, but now they dare to be so disrespectful! If the Prime Minister was still in court…”
“Enough.”
Yan Qi spoke with displeasure, and the house servant quickly shut up.
At this moment, there was suddenly a commotion outside the carriage, and a group of literati were gathered on the street, loudly discussing something.
Yan Qi frowned and asked, “What’s the matter?”
The servant hesitated and dared not answer.
Yan Qi ask him to speak.
The house servant whispered, “His Highness the Crown Prince is getting married and has invited scholars and literati from all over the world to write poems to congratulate him on his wedding. Anyone who writes poems can go to the Crown Prince’s mansion to receive rewards and gifts. Now, scholars in the Sui capital city are busy writing wedding poems for His Highness the Crown Prince.”
