Chapter 300: Qing’an’s Wedding (Part 2)

The most time-consuming part of a wedding ceremony is the procession to welcome the bride. Chang’an was a vast city, and the journey took over two hours. By the time they arrived at Gao Lishi’s residence, it was already evening. The house was crowded with guests, filled with the noise of vehicles and firecrackers, while a group of children ran and laughed behind the bridal sedan chair, asking for lucky money.
“Lower the sedan chair!” the master of ceremonies shouted, and the chair settled steadily in the center of the entrance.
“The bride may exit!”
The curtain of the sedan chair was lifted, and two maids helped the bride out, handing her over to the bridesmaids. She moved gracefully, like a lotus swaying in the wind. Five or six maids quickly covered her face with fans, hiding her features. As the bride entered, the atmosphere on the groom’s side reached its peak. Mingyue carefully stepped over the brazier and the basket filled with dates and pears, finally entering the house with the help of the bridesmaids. Gao Lishi’s wife personally led Mingyue to the inner chambers. After entering, the couple was allowed to rest for half an hour before the wedding ceremony began.
During this waiting time, the guests chatted among themselves in a relaxed manner.
Nearly a thousand guests attended today’s event. In addition to high-ranking officials and their families, there were also many famous merchants from Chang’an, such as Wang Yuanbao, Yang Chongwen, Guo Wanjin, Xing Xu, and over a dozen leaders of the Yinlong Society. Even Mansur, an envoy from a Persian prince, was invited to attend. He sat in the VIP section, leisurely eating various fruits and vegetables, showing great interest in Eastern weddings.
On the bride’s side, there were four or five hundred people. Besides the Du Gu family and the Pei family, there were also powerful clans from Guanlong region, such as the Changsun and Lu families, who had close ties to the Du Gu family through marriage. Fortunately, Gao Lishi’s main hall was spacious enough to accommodate over three thousand people, so despite the large number of guests, it wasn’t crowded.
The original witness for the wedding was Li Linfu, the Right Prime Minister, but his illness worsened, and he couldn’t attend. Someone else had to take his place. At Li Qing’an’s invitation, Pei Kuan, the former Minister of Rites, agreed to serve as the witness. In fact, Pei Kuan was somewhat related to Li Qing’an—Mingyue’s grandfather, the former Prime Minister Pei Yaoqing, was Pei Kuan’s cousin.
At that moment, Pei Kuan was chatting casually with Gao Lishi. He was also one of the supporters of the Eastern Palace faction, but after retiring two years ago, he had lost interest in court affairs and focused on Buddhist practices. However, it wasn’t that he was truly uninterested in politics—it was more that repeated setbacks had left him disheartened.

These days, as the imperial grandson took charge of the Eastern Palace in a prominent manner, Pei Kuan’s once dormant heart began to stir slightly. But at 72 years old, it was impossible for him to return to official service. He was now more concerned about the future of his descendants, especially his eldest grandson, Pei Yu. Li Qing’an had mentioned that Pei Yu had been sent to the distant Byzantium and had since returned to Anxi.

After years of experience, Pei Kuan hoped his eldest grandson would return to Chang’an to take up a position soon. Li Qing’an also promised to recommend Pei Yu to serve in the court within two years.

For the sake of his eldest grandson’s future, and because of the familial ties formed between Li Qing’an and the Pei family, Pei Kuan was also particularly concerned about Li Qing’an’s prospects.

“Elder Gao, Li Qing’an marrying Mingyue this time will greatly influence his future!”
Gao Lishi smiled gently and said, “Elder Pei, where did you get that idea?”
“You’re pretending to be clueless!”
Pei Kuan laughed and said, “Li Qing’an joined the army during the Tianbao era. In just six years, he became the governor of Anxi. Although his rise wasn’t as rapid as Yang Guozhong’s, it was still extremely rare in the military. However, his rapid advancement made him seem lacking in stability and foundation. But by marrying the daughter of the Du Gu family, the granddaughter of Pei Yaoqing, it will greatly benefit both his network of connections and the support from the powerful families in the Central Plains. So I say that where he was once a steep and isolated peak, he is now gradually developing into a vast and solid mountain range.”
Gao Lishi chuckled and said, “Elder Pei makes a good point. But Li Qing’an can’t rely solely on his wife’s family; he also needs to give back to them for mutual benefit.”
That was exactly what Pei Kuan meant. Li Qing’an should also nurture the younger members of the Pei family. Since he couldn’t speak up directly, he hoped Gao Lishi would persuade Li Qing’an. Seeing that Gao Lishi understood his intention, Pei Kuan burst into laughter. “Elder Gao is so understanding!”
At that moment, the sound of clapping on a cloud board could be faintly heard from inside the hall, signaling that the auspicious time had arrived. The guests stood up one after another and moved toward the front of the hall. A clear space had been prepared in the front, covered with thick Persian carpets. On the front wall hung a “wedding” sign, with a large red character “double happiness” in the center. Below it were rows of soft couches. The elders were already seated. Since Li Qing’an had no father figure on the groom’s side, Gao Lishi and his wife acted as proxies. The bride’s family was represented by Du Gu Haoran and his wife, as well as his uncle Pei Min. Pei Kuan, as the witness, was also present.
Friends and relatives filled both sides. Sixteen maids carried unity knots and various items for the wedding ceremony. Then the host shouted loudly, “The auspicious time has arrived! Please welcome the bride and groom!”

Three attendants on the left escorted the groom, Li Qing’an, out slowly, while three bridesmaids on the right helped the bride, Dugu Mingyue, out. By this time, Mingyue no longer had a fan to cover her face; her head was adorned with dazzling jewels, her face as beautiful as a peach blossom, her eyes like polished lacquer—her snow-white skin and floral beauty made her exceptionally charming, drawing gasps of admiration from the guests.

Suddenly, the butler rushed over to Gao Lishi and whispered something to him anxiously. Gao Lishi immediately stood up.

“Lord Gao, what’s happened?” Pei Kuan asked in surprise.

Gao Lishi looked strange and said anxiously, “The Emperor, the Imperial Concubine, and the Crown Prince have all arrived.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than shouts were heard from outside, “The Emperor is here! The Imperial Concubine is here! The Crown Prince is here!”

Chaos ensued in the hall. The Emperor had actually come in person to attend Li Qing’an’s wedding—a great honor. The ministers and family members quickly stepped aside to make way. Emperor Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty entered, accompanied by Yang Guifei and dozens of palace maids and eunuchs, with the Crown Prince Li Yu following behind.

The ministers bowed together and said, “We pay our respects to Your Majesty!”

Li Longji was dressed in plain clothes today, wearing a gauze hat—very simple. He waved his hand and smiled, saying, “I’ve also come to congratulate the great general on his wedding. Like everyone else, I must not overshadow the main event.”

Gao Lishi hurried forward and said anxiously, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier that Your Majesty was coming? I could have prepared!”

Unnoticed, Gao Lishi had changed his address to Li Longji from “old slave” to “old minister.” Though it was just one word difference, its meaning was entirely different—it indicated that he had no longer been in Li Longji’s inner circle. This showed both his awareness of his status and, to some extent, dissatisfaction with Li Longji’s indifference.

Li Longji also changed the way he addressed Gao Lishi. He smiled and said, “To be honest, Lord Gao, I wasn’t feeling well and didn’t want to come. But the Imperial Concubine insisted, so I had no choice but to accompany her.”

At that moment, Dugu Haoran also rushed over, deeply moved. “Your Majesty has come to witness my daughter’s wedding! I am infinitely grateful!”

Though moved, he was also uneasy. Ever since Li Longji last met with him, he hadn’t seen him again. Such matters could only be understood, not expressed in words. Since he hadn’t been able to fulfill Li Longji’s demands, his anxiety was understandable.

Li Longji glanced at him, a trace of barely noticeable annoyance flashing in his eyes. Then he chuckled and said, “Since your daughter is getting married today, I must also congratulate you, dear Dugu!”

Although a hint of annoyance flashed in Li Longji’s eyes, it was still caught by Li Qing’an’s keen observation. He immediately became alert—Li Longji had not given up on Mingyue; he was still waiting for the right moment to act. Yes, he was the emperor, how could he give up on a woman he couldn’t have? At that moment, Li Longji looked at him, and Li Qing’an bowed in greeting. He couldn’t leave now. Li Longji smiled and nodded slightly in blessing, but his peripheral vision couldn’t help but flicker back to Mingyue again. With a guilty look, he smiled at Pei Kuan, who quickly stepped forward. Yang Guifei, who was extremely observant, noticed that a heart-shaped knot had appeared beside Li Qing’an and Mingyue—this meant the wedding ceremony was about to begin. Knowing how important the timing of the wedding was, she quickly said to Li Longji, “Your Majesty, let them begin the ceremony first; don’t delay the time.” Li Longji glanced at Mingyue and nodded, saying, “Let the couple begin the ceremony!” The wedding continued, and Li Longji and Yang Guifei sat in the guest seats. He watched Du Gu Mingyue with complex emotions—such a stunningly beautiful woman had fallen to Li Qing’an. He harbored deep resentment. If it weren’t for his concern for his reputation, would it have been Li Qing’an’s turn? At that moment, Li Longji secretly resolved that he would get Du Gu Mingyue no matter what. The first step of the wedding ceremony was drinking the marriage wine, similar to today’s “exchange of wine cups” ritual, but with much deeper significance. After drinking it, the couple would be husband and wife for life. In the Tang Dynasty, instead of wine cups, cups made of bitter gourd were used, with each spouse drinking half. This was the responsibility of the groom’s elders. Gao Lishi stood up and said to the couple, “Today is a day of great joy for you both. From now on, you will live together in simplicity. I hope you will respect and accommodate each other—harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things. This is an eternal truth. Remember this.” Seeing that both nodded, Gao Lishi smiled and said, “Drinking the marriage wine is a ritual before the ceremony begins. Well, the auspicious time for the ceremony is approaching. Let’s start!” Mingyue picked up the bitter gourd cup, drank half of the wine, and shyly handed it to Li Qing’an. Li Qing’an smiled slightly, took the cup, and drank it all in one gulp. …

It had grown dark, and the sound of firecrackers and drums rang out again outside—it was time for the wedding ceremony. Two bridesmaids, Rushi and Mingzhu, came forward holding red ribbons with intertwined knots. Mingyue was very careful in her planning; she had originally intended to have the identical twin sisters Rushi and Ruhua hold the knots, as their striking resemblance might add more drama. But Mingyue also knew that these rare twin sisters would surely arouse jealousy in some people, putting pressure on Li Qing’an—such as from the current emperor, who sat in the VIP section with a cold gaze.

So at the last moment, Mingyue changed her mind and had her sister Mingzhu take Rushi’s place. At that moment, Lady Pei stood up and personally handed one end of the silk ribbon knot to the groom, officially giving her daughter to him, while giving the other end to her daughter.

The two stood side by side as the main hall filled with guests, mostly important figures and elders from the Du Gu family.

“Witness gives speech!” the host shouted.

Pei Kuan cleared his throat, stood up, and said slowly with a smile, “On this beautiful day under the bright moon, Li Qing’an of the Anxi Li family marries Mingyue of the Du Gu family. In my capacity as witness, I declare that from now on, the two shall be united as husband and wife, loving each other until old age.”

After the witness finished speaking, the host called out, “The auspicious time has arrived! The couple shall bow to heaven and earth!”

The two slowly turned outward and knelt on the mats beside them, bowing to the sky outside the hall.

“Next, they shall bow to their elders!”

They turned around and knelt together before the elders in front of them, bowing in gratitude for their upbringing. Lady Pei couldn’t help but shed tears again.

“Now, the husband and wife shall bow to each other!”

Guided by the bridesmaids, the two knelt face to face and bowed deeply to each other—thus officially becoming husband and wife.

“The bride is led to the bridal chamber!”

The sound of firecrackers and drums rang out once more as Mingyue and her bridesmaids were led into the bridal chamber. Meanwhile, the wedding banquet at the Gao family’s residence officially began. Li Qing’an couldn’t leave yet; he had to drink around the table to thank the guests before he could enter the bridal chamber.

Li Qing’an carried a cup of wine and first went to Li Longji, his superior. Of course, he had to pay respects to his leader first.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for coming to my wedding. I wish you good health and a long, prosperous life!”

These were words of great good fortune, but spoken by Li Qing’an, they also carried a hint of advice—to maintain good health, one should avoid women and live a simple life.

Li Longji also raised his cup and laughed, “Today is General Li’s joyous day—you must drink until you’re drunk! Here, let’s start with the first drink.”

Yang Guifei beside her frowned slightly and said with a smile, “Your Majesty is confused. Today is a beautiful day for a wedding ceremony. If General Li gets drunk, the bride will be unhappy.”
“Oh! Look how foolish I am. Fine! Just one drink!”
Li Qing’an nodded and smiled at Yang Guifei, then drank the wine in one gulp. Li Longji also drank, then set down his cup and said, “Well, I must go now.”
“Your Majesty, Your Grace, please return to the palace!”
Everyone stood up to pay their respects, and Li Longji left under the escort of guards and palace servants.
The hall once again became lively with toasting. “General, let me toast you! No—it should be the wedding master who does that.”
…
The bridal chamber was in the Furong Tower, quite far from the hall. There were a dozen maids standing downstairs. The chamber was on the third floor, divided into two rooms separated by a gauzy curtain, both decorated splendidly and festively, with red ‘Xi’ characters and cute pictures of many children. In the inner room, a pair of large red candles burned brightly.
Inside the room was a huge wooden bed that took up half of the space, with a peach-colored Furong-style canopy hanging low, concealing their soft and warm bed.
Mingyue sat in front of the bed, feeling both happy and nervous. She was happy to finally marry the man she loved. Her marriage had faced many difficulties but ended happily. Now came the most important moment of her life—the wedding night.
Yet this special night also filled her with anxiety. Last night, her mother had told her what would happen that night. Mingyue felt sweet, shy, and full of anticipation.
“The bridegroom is here!”
A maid’s voice came from downstairs. Mingyue let out a soft “Ah!” as her heart pounded. Heavy footsteps echoed on the stairs.
“Is he drunk? His steps are so heavy. Is he tired? He rode a horse all day without stopping.”
Mingyue’s mind wandered. At that moment, the voices of two maids accompanying her as dowry came from the door: “Hello, brother-in-law!”
“Mm! Okay! Uh… you don’t need to serve me tonight. I know how to take care of myself better than you. You’re also tired—go back and rest early!”
“Brother-in-law, we’ll sleep in the outer room tonight!”
“That’s what that bastard arranged! How can you sleep in the outer room?”
“It’s the lady who arranged it. She said you might need to get up at night and need someone to serve you.”
“Oh! It’s your lady who arranged it. Actually, it’s not necessary. It’s… inconvenient. Do you understand?”
“But, lady?”
At that moment, Mingyue spoke from inside the room, “Qiuye, Chunshui, be obedient and go sleep in another room! Now it’s the brother-in-law who makes the decisions here.”

“Yes, my lady.” The two maids closed the door and left. Li Qing’an lifted the curtain and entered the inner room, smiling and asking, “Have you checked the cabinets and wooden boxes?” Mingyue’s face suddenly turned red as she lowered her head and whispered, “We’ve checked everywhere. Aside from Mingzhu hiding in the cabinet, there’s no one else.” “That little girl still can’t bear to be separated from her sister at a time like this?” Li Qing’an said with a smile. “Hasn’t my husband drunk too much?” Mingyue asked, biting her lip lightly. “How could that be?” Li Qing’an stepped forward, removed her phoenix crown, and took out the jade hairpin. Her waterfall-like black hair cascaded down, making her skin appear even whiter and smoother. He gently lifted her chin with his hand, gazing at her stunningly beautiful face—her full, soft red lips, her eyes filled with affection and misty charm. She shyly lowered her gaze, unable to meet his passionate eyes. Unable to resist, Li Qing’an bent down and kissed her lips deeply, sucking on her sweet, smooth lips. His hand then moved restlessly toward her firm, elastic breasts. Mingyue trembled, her body stiff with tension. Li Qing’an respected and loved her deeply, knowing she was extremely reserved in such matters and would never allow him to touch her excessively—only light kisses and hugs at most. He tentatively moved his hand forward; seeing that she didn’t push him away, he grew bolder. His hand grasped her trembling breasts, which were like an inverted jade bowl, full of elasticity. He began to pinch and rub them recklessly. Mingyue was still a virgin and couldn’t withstand his skilled teasing. She bent forward, beginning to breathe heavily. Li Qing’an was already consumed by desire. He grabbed Mingyue’s legs, lifted her up, and knelt as he walked toward the tent. “My husband, turn off the lights!” Mingyue said tremblingly. “Don’t turn them off. I want to see you clearly.” “Then… you must turn them off later.” “Later? When is ‘later’?” Li Qing’an asked in a low, teasing tone. “I… don’t know.” The curtain was drawn down, and muffled sounds of undressing came from inside the tent, along with occasional jingling of jewelry. Through the thin curtain, Mingyue was now completely naked, her skin snow-white and delicate, her curves full and beautiful—her firm, round breasts, her plump, smooth buttocks, and the lush greenery between them, all of which intoxicated Li Qing’an.

He quickly stripped off his clothes and tightly embraced her incredibly voluptuous body. The two lay naked together, and Mingyue felt what her mother had mentioned the previous night—a hot, hard object rolling between her thighs. Nervously, she closed her eyes, feeling both shy and eager, and whispered, “Husband, turn off the light.”

Li Qing’an grabbed his clothes and threw them at the candle, which went out with a whoosh. “Husband, what’s that?” Mingyue asked curiously despite her shyness. “Hehe! You’ll know if you touch it.” Li Qing’an guided Mingyue’s hand to touch it; she felt as if she were touching a red-hot coal and quickly pulled back in fright. By now, desire was almost bursting through Li Qing’an’s chest. He separated Mingyue’s legs and embraced her plump, smooth, white buttocks, slowly finding that moist, warm spot. “I’m coming!” With great vigor, he thrust forward, piercing deep into her delicate depths…

…

The two maids who came as part of the dowry slept in the next room. Although they now had to obey the new master, their long-held habits made them still think of Lady Pei’s words. In the middle of the night, they suddenly woke up. The lady had said the newlyweds might need to use the bathroom. They sat up, wondering whether to go help. Then they heard faint moans and breaths coming from the next room. The two maids were stunned. It was already the dead of night. They exchanged a glance and burst into laughter. This groom was truly remarkable!