Chapter 301: Worship The Hall
General Pei, dressed in red wedding attire, rode a majestic warhorse to welcome her husband.
Following customary rites, the son-in-law entering the household was treated like marrying a wife, riding in a flower sedan and stepping over a fire basin. In the barracks, there was no need for so many elaborate customs; all complicated ceremonies were simplified. The groom, wearing red wedding attire, happily led the red silk out, mounted a horse likewise, circled around once, and then they could go worship the hall.
Steward Shi, dressed in red robes, had shining brows and eyes, looking extremely handsome.
General Pei could not restrain herself and watched for a while.
Steward Shi gazed back with burning eyes. The general usually wore drab military uniform, but today, changed into dazzling and festive red robes, she was radiant without any need for makeup.
The crowd winked and made noise boisterously. On this day of great joy, no one feared the general anymore, and some bold ones were waiting to make merry in the bridal chamber!
Pei Qinghe’s heart pounded hotly as she led the red silk to the horse’s side. After Shi Yan mounted, she nimbly and gracefully flipped onto the horse, sitting right in front of Shi Yan.
Shi Yan’s heart heated up, his body even hotter, and he subconsciously wrapped his arms around Pei Qinghe.
Pei Qinghe turned her head and smiled at Shi Yan.
The onlookers saw this stimulating scene and burst into loud laughter and commotion.
Pei Qinghe smiled charmingly and lightly kicked the horse’s belly. The sturdy fine horse stepped forward with its four hooves. The slightly cool autumn breeze could not dispel the flames in Shi Yan’s heart. His heart and eyes were filled only with his beloved general right before him.
“Quick, look! General Pei and Steward Shi are coming!”
“They are truly made for each other!”
The valiant and heroic general and the handsome and gentle Steward Shi—two figures in bright red wedding attire pressed close together—were both dazzling and pleasing to the eye.
Madam Feng, seated at the head of the wedding hall, waited with a beaming smile. Today was Pei Qinghe’s great day of marriage, so she, as the mother, naturally took the main seat.
Today, worshiping the hall together were also Pei Yun and Pei Yan. Three wedding halls were set up in total. The auspicious time for the worship the hall ceremony was fixed; the oldest by age, Pei Yun, went first, then Pei Qinghe, and finally Pei Yan. With all the wedding halls in one place, the crowd could take turns watching the ceremonies, very lively indeed.
Pei Qinghe and Shi Yan arrived hand in hand and, under the bride’s matron of honor’s direction, performed the worship the hall ceremony. First worship heaven and earth, then worship elders, then husband and wife bow to each other.
After three bows, the ceremony completed, and the pair of newlyweds was escorted into the wedding chamber.
Pei Zhi took the lead, bringing Pei Xuan, Pei Feng, and a crowd of cousin brothers and sisters in, shouting brother-in-law at Shi Yan.
Shi Yan’s mouth corners had not come down all day today; his handsome face was nearly split from smiling. No matter who called out, he cheerfully responded. He was also very cooperative and indulgent toward the rowdy demands of the cousin brothers and sisters.
The crowd made trouble for a bit, then all went together to make merry at Pei Yun and Pei Yan’s side.
Pei Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief: “Finally they’re all gone; they made such a headache. There’s still the wedding banquet later—marriage is so troublesome!”
Shi Yan chuckled: “What kind of trouble is this? The marriage worship the hall formalities have been cut by more than half; it’s already as simple as it can get.”
Pei Qinghe’s black eyes rippled with amusement: “Anyway, something this troublesome is enough just once in a lifetime.”
Shi Yan’s face was flushed with joy, his eyes flashing with ardent flames, unable to restrain his feelings as he drew close.
Noisy footsteps sounded outside the new house, and Yang Hu and Song Dalang’s wild laughter reached their ears: “General Pei’s marriage is a great joy; we’re here to watch the fun too!”
The new house was not large, fitting at most eight or nine people. Earlier, Pei Zhi led the Pei clan’s young men and women to make merry in the bridal chamber. Now it was their turn.
Shi Yan reacted swiftly and immediately sat up straight.
Pei Qinghe laughed softly.
Yang Hu, Song Dalang, and the others squeezed into the new house. All the teasing and rowdy plans they had prepared beforehand dissipated by more than half upon meeting Pei Qinghe and Shi Yan’s smiling eyes.
Reverence for Pei Qinghe was etched into their bones. It was also unwise to offend Steward Shi, who managed money and grain, too harshly. Yang Hu sincerely skipped many steps of making merry in the bridal chamber.
Song Dalang did not care about these things; he was just here to join the fun. In a few years, his sister Song Xue would marry into the Pei clan as a wife. In that case, they were all family!
Sudden commotion erupted outside, the noise directly overwhelming the racket in the new house.
Pei Qinghe had sharp ears and heard a familiar voice, unable to help but feel both exasperated and amused: “On this great day of marriage joy, what is Pei Yan making trouble for?”
Was it not Pei Yan?
Pei Qinghe and Pei Yun indulged the cousin brothers and sisters in making trouble, but Miss Pei Yan could not restrain herself at all. Displeased that Pei Zhi and the others were too rowdy, she dragged the leader Pei Zhi out. Pei Zhi glared in anger: “Hey hey hey, you’re getting married today; you’re the bride. Surely you’re not going to spar with me a few moves!”
Pei Yan gave Pei Zhi a disdainful glance and mocked her mockingly: “With your skills, the moment I make a move, I’ll beat you until you’re searching for your teeth on the ground.”
Right! It was usually Pei Zhi who was bullied; today she thought to take the perfect opportunity for a little “retaliation.” Who would have thought Pei Yan would be so lacking in martial virtue, not staying quiet even on this day of great joy.
Pei Xuan was much slyer, giving Pei Feng an eye signal; the two quietly moved backward.
Pei Zhi glared over in anger: “Pei Xuan, Pei Feng, it was you two who came up with this rotten idea, and now you have the face to run. Hurry back and send Pei Yan back to the new house.”
Pei Xuan slipped away like oil under her feet, even faster.
Pei Feng did not have thick enough skin; while slipping away, he felt a twinge of conscience: “Pei Xuan, are we just running like this? Isn’t it too disloyal?”
“Do you want to go back and get beaten up by Cousin Sister Yan?”
“Definitely not.”
“Then that’s that. Hurry, hurry!”
Pei Qinghe came out, both laughing and crying: “Pei Yan, stop making trouble! Making merry in the bridal chamber is a customary rite; there’s no reason to beat people up on a day of great joy.”
Pei Yan reluctantly let go.
Pei Zhi immediately darted to Pei Qinghe’s side, moved as she grabbed Pei Qinghe’s sleeve: “Cousin Sister Qinghe still dotes on me the most.”
Pei Qinghe smiled leisurely at Pei Zhi: “There will come a day when you get married too. When everyone makes merry in your bridal chamber then, you’ll have to endure it.”
Pei Zhi: “…”
The crowd laughed wildly at Pei Zhi’s deflated pretty face.
After the wedding banquet began, it got even livelier. Those qualified to sit at the tables were all leaders from the various armies, filling more than a dozen tables solidly.
Braised pork, roasted mutton, stewed horse meat, and much wild game. The tables were full of meat, and exceptionally, each table had a jar of fine wine.
The crowd’s appetites were greatly whetted; they drank wine, ate meat, and laughed and made trouble loudly.
The soldiers in the barracks all got extra meals today; each had a bowl of meat and half a bowl of wine. It seemed like not much at first glance, but with over ten thousand people in the barracks, everyone eating meat and drinking wine meant a massive amount of wine and meat to prepare. Managing it all properly in just ten short days was all thanks to Steward Shi’s merit.
Pei Qinghe also drank three cups of wine tonight.
She was powerful in every way; her only weakness was poor drinking capacity. After three cups entered her mouth, her face flushed red, and her black eyes were exceptionally bright.
Actually, the wine bowls were much larger than usual. Pei Qinghe looked sober, but in truth, she already had drunkenness.
