Chapter 238.2: Wedding Night
The dishes for the bridal chamber were very quickly sent over and slowly set out on the table, but the portion of each one were all very little. The great majority were all what Jing Wan liked to eat, and the remaining ones, “The manor has chefs from all over. w.a.n.gye’s meaning is to let w.a.n.gfei have a taste first, see what all w.a.n.gfei likes. The kitchen knows that w.a.n.gfei has married in, and has been eagerly preparing to display their skills.” A servant girl by Li Hong Yuan’s side softly spoke.
This servant girl, Jing Wan naturally recognized. Although the number of times she saw weren’t many, but the four of them were all still in an unmarried girl style. “Still haven’t been conferred, so just call madam for now.”
“w.a.n.gfei, no need to worry too much, these words won’t spread out. We, servants, all understand the severity. However, presumably it won’t be long either.” They’d been long instructed beforehand.
Jing Wan also didn’t dwell on this problem any longer either, “What are you called?”
“Replying to w.a.n.gfei, this servant is Qing s.h.i.+, the four of us, s.h.i.+, Ci, Ge, Fu, Qing from green hills and clear waters[1].”
Qing(青), Qing(清), was it a coincidence? Should be a coincidence, right? After all, the first-rank servant girls by her side were named many years ago, and at the time, she didn’t have any relations with a certain someone.
(T/N: Jing Wan’s servant girls are named with the character 青 meaning blue/green, while LHY’s servant girls use the character 清 in their name meaning clear/pure. Obviously he deliberately named his servant girls after hers.)
Qing s.h.i.+ served Jing Wan. Her servant girls that came over as dowry rather didn’t have any intention of stepping forward and interfering either.
Rather, it was Jing Wan’s wet nurse whose gaze thoroughly swept through Qing s.h.i.+ from head to toe. In her eyes, these were all alluring vixens that will damage miss and w.a.n.gye’s relations.h.i.+p.
That gaze really wasn’t obscure, but this kind of thing couldn’t be more normal. Qing s.h.i.+’s brows didn’t even crease once, just contemplating, after a period of time, once the matters in hand are all handed over to w.a.n.gfei’s dowry servant girls, probably can ask w.a.n.gfei to ‘appoint a marriage’.
Speaking of which, at the imperial summer residence, Jing Wan already discovered, Qing s.h.i.+, towards serving her, was very skillful, knowing her little habits. What she wanted to eat, or what she wanted, without needing to say anything, Qing s.h.i.+ will just be able to take care of well, to the point that Jing Wan, who was focused on eating, after finis.h.i.+ng, only realized in hindsight that the person serving her wasn’t her own servant girl. To actually not have the slightest out of sorts feeling, this was rather interesting. Perhaps the other three were also more or less the same.
Jing Wan naturally can’t eat that long like the outside, so after finis.h.i.+ng, just cleared the table.
Afterwards, Qing Ci and Qing Ge drew in water for her to clean her face and wash her hands, while Qing Zhu reapplied her makeup. Today’s matter still weren’t over with yet, so this makeup still can’t be removed.
“Does w.a.n.gfei want to look at the books?” Qing s.h.i.+ suggested.
Just sitting here was certainly boring, so Jing Wan nodded.
Qing s.h.i.+ brought out a small pile of scroll books, miscellaneous records, travel notes, and storybooks, all good things for pa.s.sing the time, the preparation quite complete.
Jing Wan temporarily removed the outer wedding coat, leaning on her side on the recliner, conscientiously flipping through the books, occasionally getting fed a piece of cut fruit. Truthfully speaking, it really was no different from prior to getting married, and really was quite satisfying.
And Qing Zhu and them were directly and enthusiastically pulled by the other few, and without needing to ask anything, just like popped peas, they had the situation in the Jin Qinw.a.n.g Manor told to them, even dividing the work, each person a share, all not overlapping.
A very thin booklet, Jing Wan just read to halfway before Eunuch Mu hastily came. However, this while, he didn’t enter.
Qing Ci lifted the curtains and entered, “w.a.n.gfei, the conferment imperial decree from the palace has arrived. w.a.n.gye let you go to the front courtyard to receive the decree.”
Jing Wan slightly blanked. How come this conferment decree was just issued this quickly? Wasn’t the earliest needing to wait until after the first return to the maiden family? However, recalling a certain someone’s style, one can probably understand what happened. Really knew how to pull in hatred for her, but she didn’t deny that because of getting cared about and getting valued, she was happy inside, so that bit of grudges and whatnot was also just whatever.
The scarlet wedding coat was put on again.
Arriving at the front courtyard, Li Hong Yuan reached out and had her pulled to his side, his movement natural and intimate.
Jing Wan, who had her veil removed, her appearance was completely revealed to everyone, and standing at Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s side, she actually appeared indescribably equal, as if a perfect pair. This woman that will soon become Jin Qin-w.a.n.gfei, as expected, was extremely outstanding.
With Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan in the lead, everyone all knelt down in succession.
Although there wasn’t a grand conferment ceremony, the treasured doc.u.ment, official seal, and the qin-w.a.n.gfei formal gown, were all present.
Not only that, even gave Jing Wan a considerably generous share of bestowments.
That’s why, right now, only Jing Wan was the lead, even Li Hong Yuan included were all reduced to supporting roles.
Naturally there were some that were happy, and some………..
Those zhoulis of Jing Wan’s, prior to Jing Wan, even if there were disparities, it still wasn’t very big. Regardless whether it was sense of superiority or discontent, it actually all weren’t considered strong. But now, Jing Wan occupied an advantage in all things, surpa.s.sing them by too much, so this heart naturally just………….
However, “Jin Qinw.a.n.g monopolized first place among the princes, so for his w.a.n.gfei to be first among the princes’ consorts, what’s so strange about it?” Thus, like as if getting stabbed by a needle, their entire person just deflated. It was all their own man not giving strength.
This was a happy matter upon a happy matter. When the guests poured wine for Li Hong Yuan, they increasingly didn’t hold back, especially those brothers of his, further having malicious intentions, wis.h.i.+ng to have him drowned in wine, collapsing on the ground and unable to enter the bridal chamber.
However, Li Hong Yuan perfectly displayed to them what was called an alcohol tolerance perfected from an intoxicated dream. He just directly used his actions to tell them, bring it on! Never mind these brothers of his, even for the court officials, he didn’t refuse a single one either.
The final outcome was Li Hong Yuan alone overturning a crowd. As long as it was one that wanted to get him drunk, the one to collapse in the end was definitely them. Only those that just toasted him a cup as a gesture of goodwill were still perfectly standing.
Never mind all the guests getting shocked by his high alcohol tolerance, even Jing Wan, after hearing, all nearly jumped up. However, she was more so out of fright. Alcohol poisoning, that wasn’t a joke. One mishap, and it will ask for the life.
The wine used for his wedding certainly were all first cla.s.s good wine.
Jing Wan hurriedly called for someone to prepare for him alcohol dissolving soup, but thinking that it still won’t do, directly called for the doctor.
Just, not long after Jing Wan issued the order on this side, Li Hong Yuan already returned from the other side.
Jing Wan rather wanted to directly go out to support him, but there were still others that followed in together.
Li Hong Yuan actually came in alone, and when walking, also didn’t walk in a S-shape line. Just his steps were distinctly somewhat light, and his eyes also didn’t have a focal point. After standing for awhile, he finally walked towards the bedside. But when lifting his foot, he didn’t steady his balance, and just directly fell towards Jing Wan.
Jing Wan hurriedly caught him, “w.a.n.gye………quickly have the wine sobering soup brought over, also the manor doctor……..”
“Wan Wan, I’m fine.” Li Hong Yuan hugged Jing Wan and rubbed against her.
The manor doctor didn’t come, but an alcohol dissipating pill was brought in.
However, Li Hong Yuan threw a tantrum and refused to eat. Then, it was just holding Jing Wan and not letting go.
Jing Wan could only patiently coax him, letting him have the medicine taken, making the two that followed in, the good fortune madam and virtuous madam, endlessly awkward from watching. However, when a person was drunk, as expected, was different from normal.
The so called ‘spitting out truth after wine’, certain actions after drinking wine should be able to better reflect a person’s inner heart. Jin Qinw.a.n.g must really like his own w.a.n.gfei very much. Along the way, he didn’t want anyone near him, yet when holding his w.a.n.gfei, he was unwilling to let go.
Jing Wan was also somewhat awkward looking to the two of them, helping him sit properly and nicely letting him complete the last ritual———-the ‘three cup wine’ rite.
Li Hong Yuan, like as if unable to sit up, leaned on Jing Wan, his eyes half closed, staring at the irrelevant people.
The two n.o.ble madams felt their scalps growing numb from his stare, calling someone to quickly send over the wine.
“The first cup of wine, congratulating the groom, whatever gossips there are, speak under the covers, fearing others will eavesdrop the bridal chamber.”
“The second cup of wine, congratulating the groom, the affairs of the bedroom discuss in private, beware of others wanting to renegade on a debt.”
“The third cup of wine, congratulating the groom, wis.h.i.+ng husband and wife together until old age, giving birth to an esteemed son soon.”
Each time, Jing Wan and Li Hong Yuan all just needed to take a small sip, and mutually exchange the wine cup.
Afterwards, the two madams hurriedly left. Even if they were his elders, they still didn’t want to face this living Enma.
“Wan Wan, the bothersome people are finally all gone.” Li Hong Yuan had Jing Wan pressed down. He can officially began enjoying the delicious meal.
Jing Wan was also helpless, pus.h.i.+ng away Li Hong Yuan who was randomly gnawing all over her, “w.a.n.gye, let’s take a bath first, alright? Moreover, this bed also needs to be tidied. This many things, don’t you feel it’s terribly uncomfortable?”
Li Hong Yuan paused for a moment, getting up and having Jing Wan picked up, walking towards the cleaning room.
[1] 青山绿水 – ‘Green hills and clear waters’, this idiom is used to describe the character 清 in their name; basically because chinese has many similar sounding words, you need to be specific when letting people know which character you’re referring to. The word ‘清’ is made up of the 氵(three dot representing water radical) + 青 (blue/green)