On the fourth day of the ninth month, Han Zhi had just woken up when Yueping and several maidservants crowded around him and helped him into deep cyan wedding attire.
He was hardly finished dressing before they pulled him outside, where he experienced for the first time the sensation of being helped to brush his teeth by a whole group of maidservants.
Once he was all cleaned up, a maidservant brought Han Zhuo in. At this, Han Zhi respectfully bowed and greeted him:
"Sir."
Han Zhuo looked Han Zhi up and down, nodded, and said, "Now you look the part."
"Thank you, Sir."
He was being far too polite.
Han Zhuo stepped forward, gently reached out to adjust the collar of Han Zhi's robe, and finally patted him on the shoulder.
"Today is your big day, so carry yourself with dignity. Don't cause them to lose face, understand? On a joyous day like this, don't look so dejected."
Han Zhi nodded. Finally letting out a breath, Han Zhuo led Han Zhi outside, showing him the decorations throughout the entire residence and explaining the etiquette he would need to observe today.
As they strolled all the way to the front hall, Madam Han Zhou was already there, inspecting the entire wedding procession. Seeing Han Zhi approach, she walked over in a flutter of excitement, pulled him outside the door, and pointed ahead as she said:
"Zhi'er, just look at this. Isn't this wedding procession quite magnificent today?"
Han Zhi looked in the direction Madam Han Zhou was pointing. An entire caravan of carriages stretched from the doorway all the way to the end of the street, everyone dressed in bright red garments. At the head of the procession was a sedan chair, surrounded by sixteen people—a standard sedan chair carried by eight bearers.
Behind it were people in red holding placards that read "Great Joy," "Welcoming the Bride," and "Make Way," along with various musicians holding musical instruments. It was a remarkably long procession, and one could truly call it magnificent.
At that moment, a wedding usher walked over and said to Han Zhi with a cheerful smile, "Bridegroom, the auspicious hour is almost here. It's time for you to mount your sedan chair and welcome the bride!"
Han Zhuo also came up, patted Han Zhi on the shoulder, and said, "Go on. Don't miss the auspicious hour. Your mother and I will be waiting for you at home."
"As for that horse, ride it to fetch the bride—what a magnificent sight it will be!"
Han Zhuo smiled happily, then watched as his son walked out the door and swung himself up onto the horse.
Just as Han Zhi was about to ride off, Han Zhuo suddenly called out, "Wait!"
Han Zhi gave a start and looked toward his father. He saw him raise a hand, point to the top of his own head, and laugh, "Your hat is crooked!"
"Oh, oh..."
Han Zhi hurriedly straightened his cap, let out a breath of relief, and shouted, "Giddyap!" The date-red horse raised its hooves and began to move in the direction guided by the usher.
Though it wasn't really the date-red horse walking on its own; four horses ahead of it were "pulling" the date-red horse along.
Along the way, gongs and drums beat, and onlookers offered congratulations, though the atmosphere lacked much true festivity. But halfway through the journey, the sound of suonas rang out, instantly drowning out the other instruments and driving the festive air to a sudden peak.
"That's Jieyuan Han! Is Jieyuan Han getting married?"
"Jieyuan Han matched with Su Banniang—truly a talented scholar and a beautiful lady!"
"Look at this procession, how magnificent!"
"..."
To say nothing else, just the suona masters in their own procession were not people easily hired. If he hadn't won the title of Jieyuan and if his family weren't high-ranking nobles, there was simply no way they could have been retained.
Wedding candies were scattered across the sky; not only children scrambled for them on the ground, but even adults reached for a piece to share in the good fortune.
...
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Su Family, Su Shi and Su Zhe were both standing at the door, looking outside in hopes of catching a glimpse of their future brother-in-law. But they heard only faint music; the procession was nowhere to be seen.
Behind the two brothers stood the family servants. Who knows which one suddenly shouted, "The bridegroom is coming!"
Su Shi and Su Zhe both looked over and could already see Han Zhi riding toward them on horseback. They shouted in a flurry, "Close the door! Close the door! Hurry up and close the door!"
When Han Zhi reached the entrance, the doors of the Su Family had already been closed. Su Shi and Su Zhe were right at the front outside the doors, stretching out their hands as if hinting at something.
This was an old tradition, and there was no way Han Zhi wouldn't know it. He crooked his finger at the usher and took the basket from his hand.
These baskets were filled to the brim with red packets. Without even touching them, one could tell just by looking that they contained silver. He dismounted from his horse, holding one basket in each hand, and distributed them one by one to the servants at the door—especially the Su brothers, Su Shi and Su Zhe, who each received two shares.
Han Zhi thought that would be the end of it, but Su Shi still blocked his path and said, "My elder sister has not yet finished dressing her hair and makeup. I must ask the bridegroom to wait outside for a m—"
Before the words had even faded, Su Shi heard the sound of the door behind him opening, accompanied by the voice of a family maidservant:
"The bride is here!"
Su Shi was somewhat stunned. Han Zhi, on the other hand, gazed at the figure emerging and lost himself for a moment, an inexplicable thrill surging through his heart.
Su Zhen had a veil draped over her head and held a round fan in her hand to conceal her face. She was dressed in a deep red gauze skirt and *beizi*, as brightly red as fire, with a red cloak like rosy clouds draped over her shoulders. The red embroidered shoes on her feet stopped at the threshold and moved no further.
A maidservant called out, "Bridegroom, don't just stand there in a daze! Hurry and come receive the bride!"
At that, Han Zhi returned the basket in his hand to the usher, straightened his attire, and walked forward. He bowed slightly and extended his hand. With the help of the maidservant, Su Zhen placed her hand in Han Zhi's.
Supporting Su Zhen, Han Zhi gently walked back, leading her across the red carpet and up to the sedan chair. The bearers lowered the sedan so the bride could enter.
Yet after Su Zhen took her seat in the sedan, the bearers did not move; instead, they looked at Han Zhi with cheerful smiles.
"Bridegroom, today is your joyous day. We've taken on the labor to come and add to the festivity. But as such a great husband, you surely wouldn't want us to leave without a share of the good fortune, would we?"
"With such a grand spectacle and such a fine beauty, we humble folks also want to partake in a bit of good fortune."
Han Zhi quickly reacted and, with a smiling wave, had the usher distribute a red packet to each of them. The bearers smilingly tucked the red packets into their waistbands before finally lifting the floral sedan chair.
Once Han Zhi had remounted his horse, the usher cried out loud, "Lead the bride home! Lift the sedan!"
This time, the suona sounded first, followed by the other instruments.
On the way back, many pedestrians stretched out their necks, wanting to catch a glimpse of the bride inside the sedan chair. Yet the heavy curtains completely blocked everything inside from view.
While wedding candies had been scattered on the way there, wedding coins were scattered on the way back. Copper cash was tossed out by those surrounding the procession, scattering upon the ground and once more provoking a mad scramble.
Before long, they arrived at the front gate. By now, a crowd had also gathered outside the Fuping Earl Mansion. From his memories, Han Zhi recognized them all—they were none other than the elders of the household and the family maidservants.
As soon as they saw the sedan chair stop at the entrance, the maidservants, musicians, and others swarmed forward, surrounding the sedan chair. At the same time, they loudly chanted a verse:
"Gifts to bar the door are prized above all, not like ordinary market dealings. Ten thousand strings of coin should satisfy; do not lightly cast aside three thousand and five hundred."
Before Han Zhi could react, the usher beside him shouted aloud:
"True gentlemen never harbor gold within their breasts; this sentiment deepens the more we search for it. Let our relatives set aside these trivial formalities; there is no need to trouble yourselves with prolonged introductions."