In the first year of the Longqing era, the sixth day of the fourth month, the God of Joy resides in the east—an auspicious day for weddings, lighting stoves, opening markets, and great fortune.
Wang Daxia rose before dawn, repeatedly checking the calendar by his bed to confirm it wasn’t a dream. He had truly waited through three years, then another three years and three months for this splendid day.
After enduring family mourning and national mourning, he was finally marrying Wei Caiwei today.
Wang Daxia groped his way to the ancestral hall—his own home, which he could navigate blindfolded. Lamps burned in the hall, and Commander Mu had risen even earlier than the groom, offering incense to Wang Commander and presenting the three sacrificial animals.
When Wang Daxia entered, Commander Mu was staring blankly at Wang Commander’s memorial tablet.
Two years prior, after confirming Wang Commander had been buried in the Yangtze River with no remains recovered, Wang Daxia and others erected a cenotaph for him in the ancestral grave. Commander Mu handled the funeral arrangements, exhausting himself for the Wang family. In his previous life, it was also Commander Mu who ultimately bore everything.
Hearing the door push open, Commander Mu snapped out of his reverie. "You’re here? So early—the groom should sleep more. You’ll be busy enough today. Leave the household matters to me. After paying respects, go back and rest."
Wang Daxia offered incense to his father and mother, informing them of his wedding today. As he inserted the incense sticks, he noticed one in the burner nearly burnt out—undoubtedly offered by Commander Mu. "Uncle Mu, have you been up all night?"
Commander Mu replied, "Not exactly. I woke at midnight, thinking of your wedding, and couldn’t fall back asleep. I decided to come early and update your parents on today’s arrangements."
Wang Daxia’s wedding was entirely managed by Commander Mu—a man with no blood ties acting as both father and mother, all because of Wang Commander’s written plea, "I entrust Daxia’s marriage to you," honoring that promise.
Wang Daxia hugged Commander Mu like he did as a child, resting his head on his shoulder. "Thank you, Uncle Mu. You raised me young; I’ll care for you in old age. We’ll provide for you until your final days."
Commander Mu pushed Wang Daxia’s head away with a palm. "I have my official salary—I don’t need your support. Just take advantage of my remaining energy to expand your Wang family line soon. I can still help raise your children and teach them martial arts. Any later, and I won’t have the strength."
At these words, Wang Daxia darted away! He wasn’t ready to be a father—he was still "observing and learning" how to be a husband, fearing Banxia might dissatisfiedly send him out to do it herself. Anyway, fish swim bladders, sheep intestines, and such would still be in use!
Commander Mu shook his head with a bitter smile at Wang Daxia’s retreating figure, turning to Wang Commander’s tablet. "You see, this child is twenty-one but still acts like a reckless youth. How dare I grow old? Too many worries bind me—I’ll have to join you underground a few years later."
As the groomsman, Lu Ying was the first guest to arrive at the Wang residence. She wore the crimson python robe bestowed by the emperor, with a pair of fiery pomegranate blossoms pinned to her black headscarf, symbolizing abundant offspring.
The scar-faced handsome lord wearing flowers for the first time was likely to captivate many young maidens in the capital, becoming the object of their dreams.
Lu Ying asked him, "How do I look? The groom’s word is law today. If it’s not good, I’ll change—it’s all up to you."
Wang Daxia stroked his chin, circling Lu Ying once. "It’s quite handsome, but I’m worried you’ll outshine me. However—"Wang Daxia stood with arms akimbo, laughing heartily, "No matter how many women fancy you, having Caiwei's affection alone is enough for me."
Dressed in his wedding attire with the Red Vermillion Endorsement, Wang Daxia went to fetch his bride. Living as neighbors with merely a short distance between their homes, he had barely warmed the saddle before arriving beneath Wei Caiwei's residence.
A group of women wielding rolling pins and brooms gathered at the entrance—all local neighbors. Following capital customs, they playfully blocked the way to "beat" the groom—not in earnest, but as a lively tradition to coax money from him. Of course, if the groom proved stingy with his offerings, he might genuinely endure a few strikes.
This was no day for bravado. Even Wang Daxia, the notorious prodigal of the Northern City, promptly dismounted to scatter coins without hesitation. Lu Ying, serving as the groomsman, shielded Wang Daxia as they entered. The women, charmed by Lu Ying's handsome appearance and already appeased by the coins, couldn't bring themselves to strike her. Thus, Wang Daxia passed through unscathed, not a single blow landing on him. Lu Ying proved to be an invaluable groomsman.
At the doorstep, music swelled, with the suona's fervor nearly lifting the roof. Lu Ying recited the bridal urging poem:
"What night is this night, I cannot tell,
Hastening the bride before her mirror to dwell.
Who says the lotus grows in waters deep?
In the bronze mirror, a blooming branch to keep."
The door opened, revealing Wei Caiwei in brilliant red wedding attire, adorned with a full set of gold and gemstone headpieces, holding a fan of green peacock feathers to veil her face.
Wang Daxia rose on his toes, eager for a better glimpse of his bride, but Lu Ying pulled him away. "The crowd outside clamoring for money grows larger—even a mountain of gold wouldn't suffice. Hurry and bring the bride home, where you can gaze upon her to your heart's content."
Wei Caiwei, still holding the feather fan, stepped into the bridal sedan. Within moments, she was carried to the Wang family's gate. The matchmaker, holding a bowl of rice, chanted:
"Music and drums resound across the capital today,
As the Weaving Maid weds the Herdboy in fine array.
The family comes to welcome their treasured bride,
With added dowry and rice, traditions abide."
After the chant, the matchmaker scooped a spoonful of steaming rice and approached Wei Caiwei, saying, "Bride, open your mouth to receive the rice." This ritual signified that the bride would henceforth partake of the husband's household sustenance.
After Wei Caiwei took a bite, the matchmaker tied one end of a red silk ribbon—centered with a love knot—to her fan-holding wrist and handed the other end to Wang Daxia. "Groom, lead your bride across the threshold."
Wang Daxia's younger brother, Wang Daqiu, placed a saddle before the door. Wang Daxia stepped over it first, then waited on the other side. To Wei Caiwei, who followed behind with her fan shielding her face, he said, "Mind your step—there's a saddle ahead."
The onlookers erupted in laughter. The bride, veiled by her fan and head bowed, could clearly see the saddle beneath her feet—the groom's reminder was quite unnecessary.
Behind the feather fan, Wei Caiwei smiled knowingly and steadily stepped over the saddle, symbolizing a lifetime of safety.
The women bearing rolling pins and brooms, all experienced in marital life, murmured among themselves: "The groom clearly knows how to cherish his bride—so tender and considerate."
"Indeed, remember when he paraded three men through Gulou West Diagonal Street? All to avenge his bride."
"Hush! This is a joyous day for the union of true loves. We've received ample coins—let's not bring up the past."
Wang Daxia guided Wei Caiwei by the love-knotted red ribbon toward the wedding hall. The bride's feet never touched bare ground, as a red carpet paved her entire path. Wei Caiwei felt a flutter of nervousness, the crimson runner seeming endlessly long, as if it would stretch on forever.Although she had married Wang Daxia in both her past and present lives—tying the knot twice—their union as an Eunuch and Maid Pairing in the palace had merely involved a banquet to announce their relationship. Wei Caiwei had never experienced the grand wedding customs of the common folk.
This was her first time riding in a bridal sedan, just like any young maiden—a completely new experience.
Yet Wang Daxia, leading the way with the red silk ribbon, kept turning back every few steps to remind her: walk slowly, watch for turns, mind the threshold ahead... His fussing drew laughter from the wedding guests.
Wei Caiwei, who normally considered herself thick-skinned, felt her cheeks burn at the sound of their amusement. She thought to herself:
Hurry up and walk! Stop dawdling! I’ve lived over fifty years between my past and present lives—do you think I don’t know how to walk?
Even the usually stern Lu Yi couldn’t hold back a smile, urging Wang Daxia to hurry to the wedding hall for the ceremony so as not to miss the auspicious hour.
Finally arriving at the wedding hall, Wei Caiwei breathed a sigh of relief—like the pilgrimage trio who, after enduring eighty-one hardships, finally obtained the scriptures in the Western Paradise. And Wang Daxia? He was undoubtedly Zhu Bajie.
During the bowing ceremony, since neither had living parents, Wang Daxia invited Commander Mu to take the seat of honor and receive their bows as a parental figure. Looking at the newlyweds, Commander Mu was reminded of Wang Commander, his eyes welling up with tears.
After bowing to heaven and earth, Wang Daxia held the Tongxin Jie (a traditional wedding decoration symbolizing union) and led Wei Caiwei into the bridal chamber. The matchmaker chanted:
“The newlyweds step through the hall,
Divine maiden and immortal groom enter the bridal room.
Generous rewards for flowers and red envelopes,
Scattering abundance in all directions, balancing yin and yang.”
The scattering ceremony began. Seated side by side on the bed, Lu Ying recited a fan poem:
“Do not bring the painted fan beyond the curtain,
Veiling spring mountains, delaying talent.
If reunion is like the full moon,
Here must the osmanthus bloom.”
Wei Caiwei moved aside the feather fan covering her face, revealing a countenance like a blooming lotus—exceptionally beautiful.
Wang Daxia gazed at her with a besotted smile. “My wife is truly lovely.”
Another wave of laughter swept through the room, making Wei Caiwei so embarrassed she wished she could hide behind the fan again. How mortifying!
Suppressing her laughter, the matchmaker scattered coins, grains, red dates, peanuts, and other auspicious items around the bed curtains, chanting:
“Scattering to the east,
Curtains deep, candle shadows red.
Auspicious energy lingers unbroken,
The painted hall daily blessed with spring winds…”
She continued chanting and scattering, covering all directions—east, south, west, north, center, front, and back. Inside the bed curtains, the couple’s wide sleeves and skirts caught the grains and fruits—the more, the better.
When scattering toward the center, a few peanuts nearly fell on Wei Caiwei’s head, but Wang Daxia swiftly caught them, afraid they might hit her.
The guests laughed again, the merriment in the bridal chamber rising wave after wave. Never had they seen a groom like Wang Daxia, who treated his bride as if she were made of tofu—tenderly and protectively.
In that moment, Wei Caiwei forgot her embarrassment, feeling only warmth in her heart.
Once the scattering ceremony ended, the guests tactfully withdrew, leaving the newlyweds alone.
Wei Caiwei untied the red satin ribbon from her wrist. “I need to remove my makeup. You should go toast the guests.” The bride’s makeup today felt like at least two liang of powder—she was suffocating.
Wang Daxia reluctantly set down the heart knot. “I’ll make one round of toasts and come right back.”
The guests were eager to get the groom drunk, but Lu Ying stepped in to shield him, secretly instructing others to dilute the wine with water—just enough for the aroma. Wang Daxia played along, pretending to be drunk. Fellow guards like Wu Hundred-Household Commander carried him to the bridal chamber door, saying, “Groom, stop pretending. We’re all friends here. Walk in yourself—we really can’t carry you any further.”Wang Daxia distributed red envelopes to his comrades as a token of gratitude. Returning to the bridal chamber, he found it empty. The maids had already cleared away the auspicious grains and coins from the bed, and the dressing table was covered with the jewelry Wei Caiwei had removed. The sound of splashing water came from the bath chamber.
His wife was bathing. Wang Daxia tossed aside his black gauze hat, kicked off his boots, tore off his wedding attire, and strode into the bath chamber rubbing his hands like an eager fly. Having diligently practiced and carefully honed his skills over the past three months, he was confident that tonight, on their wedding night, he would undoubtedly graduate with honors.
Author's Note: A wedding chapter must be sweet! Let's all shower this couple with blessings for their marriage!
Note 1: The wedding customs in this chapter reference "The New Tale of Fast-Tongued Bride Li Cuilian" from Hong Bian's "Stories from a Clean and Peaceful Studio," compiled and printed during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. This feels chronologically appropriate.
The bridal urging poem is by Jia Dao, while the fan-removal poem is by Li Shangyin.
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