"Spring Wedding in the Capital City - Part Three"
Tonight, the moon is bright and the stars are faint, while the flower market is as bright as day.
Changle Alley lights up every night in the second month, becoming a famous attraction for Capital City residents who enjoy bustling nightlife.
It's still early in the evening, and there's an endless stream of people strolling through Changle Alley to see the lanterns. Many vendors have set up night food stalls at both ends of the alley, calling out to sell snacks, while peddlers shake their rattles loudly to attract business.
Ying Xiaoman dismounts outside the alley, while Yan Rongshi ties the reins to a hitching post at the entrance. The two then link arms and squeeze into the crowd admiring the lanterns.
Lanterns hang every few steps high in the treetops on both sides. These exquisitely crafted lanterns not only differ in shape but also in color.
Red, yellow, light purple, pale pink, cyan - the various colored lights reflect on the intricate silk flowers tied to the branches, creating a dazzling sight of vibrant blooms from all four seasons.
A little girl with pigtails stops in front, pointing at a lifelike pink peony high up in the branches, exclaiming: "Daddy, that big flower is so pretty! I want to touch it!"
Her father rushes towards the tree, carrying his daughter on his shoulders: "Go ahead and touch it, sweetie."
Sitting on her father's shoulders, the little girl reaches out her small hand, waving it about for a while before pouting: "It's too high, I can't reach it!"
The Yan family servant watching by the tree just observes without stopping them.
"Every night, a hundred kids want to touch the flowers. Every night, you little ones pull off a dozen or so. My young master said that girls under four feet tall can try their luck - if you can reach the flowers on the tree, you can take them home. If not, give up and go look at the other lanterns."
A crowd gathers around the tree, laughing as they watch the pigtailed girl try to touch the flowers.
Ying Xiaoman notices the girl looks about the same age as Zhi. Her little hand keeps grasping but can't reach the large pink peony high up.
Her father tries to coax her to leave, but the girl stubbornly refuses. He ends up lifting her to stand on his shoulders. Now much taller, the girl pulls at the branch over a dozen times before finally managing to pluck the pink peony. She clutches it joyfully in her hands and runs back to her mother in the crowd. The happy family of three then leaves together.
The onlookers burst into laughter: "Another flower gone!"
"The Yan family has to give away over a dozen silk flowers every night!"
Ying Xiaoman stands in the crowd, watching the little girl who reminds her of Zhi happily departing with her peony.
That simple, pure joy is infectious, openly transmitted to the surrounding crowd. Without realizing it, Ying Xiaoman's eyes crinkle into a smile. In the colorful lantern light, she glances at her husband beside her.
Yan Rongshi is looking down at her. Lost in thought, his eyes and lips both curved in a smile.
A Yan family servant brings over a wooden ladder and quickly hangs another silk peony flower high in the branches. This time, the peony is a bright red.
This full-petaled crimson peony looks even more magnificent than the previous pink one. As soon as it's hung, it attracts many admiring gazes.
"That peony is quite nice," Yan Rongshi leans in to ask her: "Does Xiaoman want to try touching the flower?"
Ying Xiaoman is both amused and exasperated. She reaches up to pat him, saying: "The ones touching flowers are all little girls under four feet tall."
Yan Rongshi's eyes brim with laughter as he continues to persuade her: "We made the rules ourselves. Whichever flower Xiaoman likes, I'll have someone bring a ladder to pick it."
Ying Xiaoman simply takes his hand and pulls him towards the lanterns on both sides.
"No flower touching. Let's look at the lanterns."
The colorful lanterns hanging at the alley entrance are already captivating enough. Following the bustling crowd deeper into Changle Alley, the lanterns become more and more intricate as they approach the main gate of the Yan residence.
In addition to common flower lanterns, animal lanterns, sky lanterns, dragon and phoenix lanterns, and basket lanterns, there suddenly appears a hexagonal revolving lantern.
This large double-layered revolving lantern stands about three feet tall. Four large candles are lit inside, with a long row hung along the Yan family wall.
Whenever the revolving lantern starts to turn, the figures painted on the inner layer are clearly projected onto the ground. The whole ground is covered in moving shadows, delighting the surrounding children who clap and laugh.
Ying Xiaoman squeezes to the front of the crowd, fascinated as she watches for a long while.
"Is that Guan Gong wielding his big blade?" she points at the swaying figures on the ground.
"Oh my, is that one next to it Hou Yi shooting down the sun? The two figures are clashing!"
Quite a few people notice Guan Gong battling Hou Yi. As the crowd laughs and discusses, the revolving lantern slowly turns, and Hou Yi transforms into Chang'e on the spot.
Now Guan Gong and Chang'e are fighting, causing an eruption of laughter from the crowd.
Ying Xiaoman can't stop laughing. She struggles to turn back from the increasingly dense crowd, finds Yan Rongshi, and forcefully pulls him to the front to see the excitement.
By the time they push hand-in-hand to the front of the crowd, the figures on the ground are no longer Guan Gong and Chang'e.
The whole ground is covered with jade rabbits pounding medicine. As the revolving lantern continues to slowly turn, light and shadows interweave in a riot of colors. Many little rabbits hop and jump at Ying Xiaoman's feet, with children cheering as they chase the shadowy rabbits on the ground.
Ying Xiaoman's gaze is filled with joy as she admiringly follows the lantern shadows on the ground. Beside her, her husband's gaze follows her.
Seeing her happiness makes his heart rejoice as well.
This long-prepared lantern festival has finally welcomed its appreciative audience.
Changle Alley is not very long. Following the crowded flow of lantern-viewers, it takes only about half an hour to walk from one end to the other. Not wanting to finish too quickly, they walk arm-in-arm to the far end, then retrace their steps.
On their second pass by the main gate of the Yan residence, the previously tightly closed front door is now half open, with several stewards bustling about inside preparing something. Yan Rongshi stops at the courtyard wall diagonally opposite, glancing over from afar.
The stewards inside have been watching for his movements. Seeing him stop, one of them immediately rushes over and reports something in a low voice.
Yan Rongshi frowns slightly and instructs:
"If the Old Ancestor wants to see the lanterns, just support her as she views them. Why stop her from even going out the door? Go back and tell Fifth Young Master, if he truly wants to be filial, he should personally accompany and look after the Old Ancestor, making sure she's not jostled by people nearby. This lantern viewing is a lively event - there's no need to deliberately block off the road or drive away the crowds. Relay my exact words to Fifth Young Master, and there's no need to tell him I'm in Changle Alley."
"Yes, sir!" The steward runs back to the residence.
Ying Xiaoman overhears most of this and asks curiously: "Old Ancestor?"
"The Old Grandmother of the family wants to come out and see the lanterns tonight," Yan Rongshi explains as he pulls her aside to avoid some children running towards them. They continue walking forward.
Ying Xiaoman remembers now. Seventh Young Master had mentioned a few times that there was a forgetful Old Grandmother in the family.
Her curiosity piqued, she occasionally glances back while viewing the lanterns.
The main gate of the Yan residence is indeed open wide, and an elderly white-haired woman emerges leaning on a cane, her steps looking quite steady.
A robust young man wearing sable fur supports the old lady down the steps, while a wall of servants forms around them, keeping the nearby crowd at bay.
"The one in the middle is the Old Grandmother. The one supporting her is Fifth Young Master from the third branch of the family," Yan Rongshi explains, watching from a distance. He advises Ying Xiaoman: "Our family is large and prosperous, with many people living in the Yan residence. You only need to remember the Old Grandmother - I'll bring you to pay respects to her sometime. The other unrelated people aren't worth your concern."
"Oh, I see." Ying Xiaoman indeed looks carefully at the Old Grandmother a few more times to memorize her appearance.
As for the "Fifth Young Master" who was skipped over, Yan Rongshi explains:
"He's arrogant but incompetent, unable to pass the imperial exams for an official position, yet he spends money like water. When the third branch's funds aren't enough for his spending, he hangs around the grandmother, hoping the old lady will give him some of her private savings."
Ying Xiaoman is shocked. "You don't stop him? You let him scheme for the old lady's private money?"
Yan Rongshi calmly walks on: "Grandmother has over twenty people attending to her - one more or less makes no difference. If Fifth Young Master wants to be filial, let him. But Grandmother doesn't remember him, and every few days she asks me who this con man hanging around is."
Ying Xiaoman: "...Pfft."
As the two chat while admiring the lanterns, they've slowly walked to the end of the alley. Ying Xiaoman suddenly remembers something and casually brings it up:
"When Yan Erlang took me to the mutton shop earlier today, he seemed to run into an acquaintance of your Yan family and mentioned arrangements for the wedding day. From Yan Erlang's tone, it sounded strange, as if he was up to no good?"
"A Yan family acquaintance?" Yan Rongshi ponders for a moment.
"The mutton shop is near the Ministry of Justice. The Yan family acquaintance he could have met is most likely Eighth Young Master."
Ying Xiaoman suddenly becomes worried, her voice rising:
"Eighth Young Master doesn't have good intentions towards you! If Yan Erlang and your Eighth Young Master are whispering in private about the wedding day, could something bad happen to you?"
Her shout caused passersby to stop and look.
The two of them were standing under a lamp, and when some lantern-viewers recognized Yan Rongshi, they came over in surprise to pay their respects.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yan Rongshi led Ying Xiaoman to the side, away from the bright lights in the middle of the alley.
"It won't be that bad, after all, the two families are now related by marriage," he pondered for a moment, then laughed at himself.
"But knowing Yan Erlang's temperament, he definitely won't let me off easily. He'll probably gather people to openly tease the groom. On the day I go to the Yan family for the wedding, I might have to endure a beating."
Ying Xiaoman gritted her teeth and rolled up her sleeves.
"You? Get beaten? I think it's Yan Erlang who'll get beaten! I'll go find him tonight and clear things up face to face."
She had rolled up her fluffy sleeves twice, but someone smoothed them back down.
At this moment, Yan Rongshi's eyes were even filled with joy.
As long as he could successfully marry Xiaoman and bring her home, even enduring a beating would be worth it. Then again, teasing the groom was a wedding custom in the Capital City, and it might not even happen.
"Don't be angry, it's not certain," he said calmly. "After all, we still have over thirty brothers at home, and there are advantages to having many people. If we bring a dozen adult brothers to the Yan family, we might not be at a disadvantage on the wedding day."
The two leaned behind a large elm tree, using the tree's shadow as cover while they quietly discussed for a while.
Finally, Yan Rongshi said, "Tonight I'll ask Eighth Young Master Yan what Yan Erlang told him."
"You ask him, and he'll just tell you?" Ying Xiaoman remembered that former "ally" Eighth Young Master Yan and wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"That Eighth Young Master of yours isn't much good. He might lie to you."
Yan Rongshi laughed silently.
"He won't. Eighth Young Master Yan is flexible and knows how to read the situation."
Last year, the Ministry of Justice solved several major cases in succession. All officials who participated in the joint trials were rewarded for their merits. The Eleventh Young Master was granted the title of Prince Jin, gaining the Emperor's trust and moving a step closer to the position of Crown Prince.
He himself was appointed as a Hanlin Academy Scholar, often entering and leaving the imperial presence to draft edicts. This was a common preparatory position for young court officials before being promoted to minister.
The Assistant Minister of Ministry of Justice was promoted one rank, becoming the Senior Judge of Ministry of Justice.
Only Eighth Young Master Yan's situation was special.
It wasn't a reward for merit, but rather using achievements to offset crimes.
With his promise of "atoning for crimes through meritorious service, without imprisonment," Eighth Young Master Yan worked desperately hard, barely managing to keep his official position.
But the fifth-rank position of Senior Judge of Ministry of Justice couldn't be kept for him. He was demoted three ranks, becoming a seventh-rank Assistant Judge of Ministry of Justice.
"His crimson official robe was changed to a green one," Yan Rongshi casually told Ying Xiaoman.
"He's become even more gloomy, but also more aware of the situation. Tonight, I won't need to seek him out. He'll probably come to me on his own, sell out Yan Erlang, and ask for favors from me."
Ying Xiaoman felt her head spinning from all this.
"Fifth Young Master Yan and Eighth Young Master Yan, these types are always arguing with you at home? It's tiring just hearing about it. Isn't there a way to get rid of them?"
Yan Rongshi stood under the tree, casually brushing away the long silk ribbons that had blown onto Ying Xiaoman's shoulders.
"Don't worry about small matters. You don't need to concern yourself with the men in the family, I can handle them."
At this point, he also brought up another matter.
"By the way, Xiaoman. The household management is currently in Old Grandmother's hands. After you marry into the family, the management token will be passed to you."
"Hm?" Ying Xiaoman looked back puzzled at the Old Grandmother, who was happily enjoying the lanterns surrounded by a crowd.
"Wasn't it said that the old lady is too old and forgetful?"
"She is indeed forgetful. But Old Grandmother has several capable maids by her side, who were my mother's personal attendants. They've been managing the household affairs these past few years."
The two leaned against the tree, speaking softly. The colorful silk ribbons hanging from the high branches fluttered in the wind. Ying Xiaoman quickly waved them away, but inadvertently, they became tangled in Yan Rongshi's hair ornament.
Ying Xiaoman asked him to lower his head so she could untangle the ribbons from his hair ornament, mumbling:
"I only know how to keep accounts for a butcher shop. I don't know how to manage the household of a big family like yours. Hey, lower your head. I can't reach the hairpin."
Yan Rongshi lowered his head even more: "You don't have to do it yourself. After you marry into the family, my mother's personal attendants will all be assigned to help you. You just need to listen to their reports and come to me if you have any questions."
"Mm, okay."
This position was intimate, with the two almost touching, their breaths brushing each other's faces as they spoke.
Ying Xiaoman said that "okay," just as she untangled the ribbon, and happily raised her head: "It's untangled—!"
Yan Rongshi maintained his lowered head position, gazing at her from close range.
Their soft lips accidentally brushed against each other lightly. The sensation on their lips was warm.
In that instant, it was as if stars had fallen from the sky, turning into sparks flying from a large bonfire on the ground.
Sparks flew everywhere.
Ying Xiaoman's heart pounded violently in her chest. She remained in her upward-looking position, frozen in place.
She didn't move, but the distance between them continued to close, and soon their warm, soft lips touched again.
The noisy, lively sounds around them faded into the background. Ying Xiaoman's eyes reflected thousands of lantern lights, while Yan Rongshi's eyes reflected only her.
As if moths to a flame, or like mutually attracted sparks from kindling, the emotions that had been suppressed for too long across the winter and new year needed only a brief moment to burst into brilliant fireworks.
Before their eyes, the lantern lights were dazzling, and the sounds of people laughing and talking were incessant, faintly resembling the grand spectacle of the Lantern Festival.
Sheltered by the tree trunk's shadow and the fluttering silk ribbons, the two figures behind the tree embraced and kissed passionately, unwilling to part.
East of the city. Mogan Lane.
The sound of slowly approaching hooves came from afar, turned into the alley entrance, and then meandered along the courtyard wall into the deep alley.
The main gate of the Xingning Marquis Mansion was wide open, with four lanterns hung high on the door frame lit up, illuminating a large area at the bottom of the steps in front of the door.
On this chilly spring night in February, a round-backed armchair was surprisingly placed outside the door. Someone sat in the chair with their legs crossed.
Ying Xiaoman, on horseback, saw the figure from afar and suddenly exclaimed, "Huh? Yan Erlang?"
Yan Rongshi, who was guiding the horse's reins slowly into the alley, had also noticed this person early on and glanced at the open main gate of the marquis mansion.
"We left without saying goodbye, and your second brother is quite angry. He's waiting for us to return on our own, like the old man who waits by a tree stump for rabbits to come by."
By the time they finished this brief exchange, the horse had approached the gate of the Yan family. Yan Erlang in the round-backed armchair changed his sitting position, took out an ivory fan from his sleeve, and opened it with a swoosh, fanning himself.
"You're back?"
Yan Rongshi didn't respond, instead turning to lift Ying Xiaoman down from the horse.
Ying Xiaoman was holding two lanterns.
One was a jade rabbit lantern, and the other was a small hexagonal running horse lantern. Both were exquisitely made, and she had carefully protected them on the way, their warm yellow light still unextinguished when they reached the door.
"You're not dressed warmly enough for tonight's outing, be careful not to catch cold. Light an extra charcoal brazier before going to bed," Yan Rongshi carefully reminded her.
Ying Xiaoman repeatedly urged him to go home: "You've gone back and forth between the north and east of the city, hurry home and get some sleep. You still have to attend court early tomorrow morning."
Having escorted her to the door, it was time to part no matter how reluctant they were.
Yan Rongshi tightened her cloak for her and gave a few more reminders. Ying Xiaoman, holding the two lanterns, watched him mount his horse with reluctance, the sound of hooves gradually disappearing at the entrance of the alley.
In the quiet night, a soft voice suddenly came from behind:
"I also have to attend court early tomorrow morning. Why am I sitting outside the door in the middle of the night? Xiaoman, care to explain?"
Ying Xiaoman, holding her cloak, turned and took two steps, standing in front of the round-backed armchair, looking at Yan Erlang sitting with his legs crossed.
"How long have you been sitting here? Your nose is red, and you've even got a runny nose from the cold."
Yan Erlang suddenly leaped up like a fish, loudly ordering his attendant to bring a handkerchief.
Before the attendant inside could run down the steps, Ying Xiaoman had already taken out a handkerchief and handed it to him. "Here, wipe it."
Yan Erlang looked surprised. As he covered his nose with Ying Xiaoman's handkerchief, he couldn't help but give her a suspicious glance.
Ying Xiaoman held up the running horse lantern for him to see. "Isn't it pretty?"
"What does it matter if it's pretty or not?" Yan Erlang scoffed. "It's not like you're going to give it to me."
Before he could finish speaking, Ying Xiaoman directly handed the lantern to him. "Here, it's yours now."
Holding only the jade rabbit lantern, she happily went up the steps.
Yan Erlang: ?
What's going on? Did the sun rise from the west?
Yan Erlang became very wary, holding the lantern and chasing after her in a few steps.
"Explain yourself clearly. You suddenly give me a handkerchief and a lantern, what are you trying to get from me in exchange?"
Ying Xiaoman was taken aback.
"I'm not trying to get anything. I'm just happy tonight."
She was so happy tonight that everyone looked good in her eyes.
The jade rabbit lantern was of course for Zhi, and she had originally planned to keep the running horse lantern for herself. Suddenly seeing Yan Erlang waiting for her in the cold wind outside the door in the middle of the night, she felt a rare twinge of guilt. Had she forgotten to tell him she was going out tonight?
She always acted without thinking too much. When she wanted to give the lantern, she just gave it.
However, when Yan Erlang said this, she remembered. There was indeed something she needed to discuss with him face-to-face.
She stopped in her tracks and said seriously to Yan Erlang, "On the third day of the third month, when Seventh Young Master comes to take his bride, don't mess with him. Let that day pass smoothly, and after that, we'll follow Old Grandmother's saying, 'turn swords into plowshares.' If you torment Seventh Young Master that day, don't blame me for knocking your head off!"
Yan Erlang: "..."
He had just happily given her a lantern, and now she's threatening to knock his head off over Seventh Young Master?!
Yan Erlang felt anger surging in his heart, but he laughed and said, "Fine."
Ying Xiaoman was truly happy tonight. In her joy, she failed to notice that Yan Erlang's response was actually sarcastic. She clasped her hands together in gratitude, smiling as she thanked him, "Thank you so much."
Holding her rabbit lantern, she walked briskly towards the back courtyard.
Yan Erlang remained in place, his expression complex. After a while, he threw the lantern on the ground.
"You think a small broken lantern can stop me from messing with him? Dream on. The third day of the third month is the Spring Festival, perfect for teasing a new groom. Just wait—!"
But before he could finish his angry words, the young lady had already disappeared from sight...
Yan Erlang tucked the still-warm handkerchief into his sleeve, walked a few steps, then turned back to pick up the lantern from the ground. He instructed a servant to find flint and relit the lantern, then carried the swaying revolving lantern back to his courtyard.
After all, it was a gift from Xiaoman.
He couldn't bear to throw it away.
*
That night, two warming braziers were indeed lit in Ying Xiaoman's room.
She had such a joyful evening that she couldn't sleep.
In the middle of the night, she got up, used a handkerchief to stifle her continuous little sneezes, and sat at her bedside to write a letter:
"Seventh Young Master, upon reading this letter.
Don't worry, I've already spoken with Yan Erlang, and he won't bother you.
On the third day of the third month, feel free to come and take your bride without concern."
*
Under the half-moon light, the lamps in Changle Alley in the north of the city suddenly went out.
As soon as Yan Rongshi entered, he was cornered by Eighth Young Master Yan, who solemnly informed him of the news he had gathered today. After listening, he nodded.
"The wedding date is set for the third day of the third month. The Yan family, for auspicious reasons, won't allow the Yan family to bring too many brothers. If more than three brothers come, they won't open the door. Yan Erlang spoke with continuous cold laughter, his expression suspicious, perhaps he has other plans. Understood."
Yan Rongshi walked towards Fengsong Court, saying calmly, "Thank you for informing me, Eighth Young Master. If that's the case, on the third day of the third month, the day of the wedding, you'll come with me."
Eighth Young Master Yan: ?
Eighth Young Master Yan had come to show goodwill tonight, but that didn't mean he was prepared to go and get beaten up. He immediately let out a soft sigh.
"Brother, your younger brother is exhausted from his studies, frail and weak, unfit for such tasks. Why doesn't brother ask Fifth Young Master to go? Fifth Young Master has nothing to do at home, with excess energy to spare, strong as an ox."
Yan Rongshi calmly replied, "Fifth Young Master is as strong as an ox, Eighth Young Master is as sharp-witted as a needle, the two of you together make a perfect pair. On the wedding day, you perfect pair will come with me, and must ensure the Yan family's door is opened before the auspicious time. I'm counting on you, Eighth Young Master."
Eighth Young Master Yan: "..."!