0p0 Chapter 481: Marriage
Chapter 481: Marriage
The national mourning period lasted for a year before it ended.
It was an imperial edict issued by the Empress Dowager.
In retrospect, it can be considered a great thing that benefits the country and its people; otherwise, if people had truly observed three years of mourning, the economy would have declined significantly.
Not only the economy, but the birth rate is also declining.
In ancient times, people believed that having many children brought good fortune. For ordinary people, the children they gave birth to were not just children, but, frankly speaking, able-bodied laborers.
After all, people in ancient times started moving sheep as early as seven or eight years old. Herding cattle and sheep, washing clothes, cooking, taking care of younger siblings, etc., were all common occurrences.
The high birth rate was also due to the low survival rate in ancient times; a simple cold could easily take their lives.
More children die young than survive.
If we observe another three years of national mourning, the birth rate will likely become negative.
Restaurants, eateries, and brothels also had to close.
Fortunately, Luk Kee Trading Company had a wide range of businesses, and the poor performance of its restaurants and eateries did not affect A-niang's overall revenue.
It did not affect the family's quality of life.
It's that time of year again, another March with its mild spring weather.
Spring sunshine is warm, willows are green, and all things are reviving.
March 20th is an auspicious day for marriage.
It's a good day.
Lu Zifeng and Princess Rong'an got married on this day.
It was still dark, feeling like the middle of the night, when Miaomiao was scooped up and dressed by her two mothers.
The key point is that she was actually the last one to get up.
After getting ready, I went to see my brothers.
Miao Miao suspected that her eldest brother was so excited that he hadn't slept all night, and he even had dark circles under his eyes. Her second brother was applying powder to cover them up for him.
It's quite rare to see someone as easygoing as my brother experiencing pre-wedding anxiety.
Shouldn't the bride be the one feeling anxious?
Miaomiao leaned closer: "Big brother, what are you nervous about?"
"It's the first time a young lady has gotten into a sedan chair, and it's the first time I've ever gotten married, so naturally I'm nervous." Lu Zifeng looked at his sister and grinned foolishly.
He wasn't that nervous even on his first battlefield experience; his palms were sweaty.
When he first returned to the capital and met Princess Rong'an, he was somewhat at a loss, because the image that lingered in his mind was still that of the shy yet bold little girl from many years ago.
Standing before him was a graceful young woman; both of them had changed in appearance and demeanor.
It looks even better now, the kind of good-looking that makes him unable to look away.
There's a feeling that's both familiar and unfamiliar.
During the national mourning period, the two lived together as an engaged couple for a year, and would think of each other when they had something delicious or fun to share, and have someone send it to them.
When they encounter happy events, they exchange letters.
When they encounter unhappy things, they will write letters or even meet in person.
And so, they became familiar with each other again, and adapted to each other becoming special family members.
After waiting and hoping for so long, he finally got married.
That little girl who always stuffed sachets into his arms, loved listening to his ramblings, and even though the wine he brewed wasn't good, she still kept it.
She'll be his wife soon.
My heart felt warm and cozy.
I could hear a series of loud gongs and drums outside.
It's time to go and fetch the bride.
He excitedly got up and went out to greet them.
Princess Rong'an remained calm and composed, though she was somewhat reluctant to part with her mother.
Fortunately, the two families lived not far apart. In order to see her often, her mother specially found a house that was neither too close nor too far away and made it her residence.
There will be many more days to meet in the future.
Joy overshadowed sadness.
Looking at her brother Feng, dressed in red, who had come to greet her, she shed tears of happiness.
I'm both nervous and excited.
She and Feng-ge'er were only a few months apart in age. If he didn't come back to marry her soon, she would become an old maid.
This is the first time I've known that waiting for someone can be so unpleasant.
I worry that he will get sick, that he will get hurt, that he will not come back, and that he will fall in love with someone else.
She used to think these worries were unnecessary, but after Brother Feng went missing last time, she couldn't sleep all night and had nightmares.
She knew that she had completely fallen for this person.
She is lucky.
The person you marry is the person you love.
She began to look forward to the future.
Although the two families lived close by, the bridal sedan chair still made a long detour through the city before finally returning to Lu Garden.
Princess Rong'an stepped into the gate of Lu Garden.
Unlike before, this time she stepped in as a new bride.
Perhaps it was because she had stepped through this door countless times over the years that she felt a sense of ease.
All the tension from before has vanished.
The two entered the front hall hand in hand, performed the wedding ceremony, and served tea.
Mother sat alone at the head of the table.
Lu Zifeng pushed Mu Yunji forward: "Godfather, please sit next to Mother. The princess and I will serve you tea."
"That won't do," Mu Yunji said, waving his hands repeatedly.
Even though Jiang Yunze is gone, this position is not one he can sit in; it's against the rules.
Lu Zifeng pressed him back down: "Godfather, you are like a father and a teacher to me. I want you to drink this cup."
“Brother Mu, please sit down. Over the years, you have taught Feng’er like a father and a teacher. Only you are worthy to drink this tea.” In fact, Lu Qingyao wanted to say that even if Jiang Yunze were present, he would not be worthy to drink the tea offered by his son.
Mu Yunji accepted it.
But the tea bar also made him feel dizzy.
It was as if they were a real family, with the son serving him tea and Yao Yao being his wife.
What a beautiful dream!
The ceremony concluded, and dusk fell.
The entire Lu family was busy greeting guests; almost the whole family was out, except for Miaomiao.