Chapter 107
The twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month.
It was the grand wedding day of Ji Wenliang and Jin Kelu.
This was the first joyful event since everyone came to Yuchang after the war. The work of opening up farmland was already in its final stages, and every household was idle, waiting for the New Year. Naturally, everyone was going to attend the banquet, and it was especially lively without even needing to say so.
The young couple, Ji Wenliang, also made the banquet very lively. For months, on every tenth day of the lunar month, Ji Wenliang would inevitably go to the city to buy some things. Each time he bought a little, slowly gathering everything needed for the wedding banquet.
This month, Ji Taoyu had just finished his month of confinement after childbirth. He got up early in the morning because today he was going to Caochang Village to help Jin Kelu wash, change, and put on the wedding dress.
This time, he was both part of the bride's family and the groom's family.
"Caochang just can't do without water. How come they're already drinking so early in the morning?"
Before Taoyu even saw anyone upon entering Jin Kelu's room, he first smelled the scent of alcohol.
"Taoyu, you're finally here, come in quickly!"
As soon as the words were spoken, a figure in undergarments flashed over, grabbed Taoyu, and pulled him inside.
"In our northern nomadic tribes, weddings are simple: the two people wear new clothes, bow to each other in front of elders, and that's it. It's not as elaborate with so many rituals like in the south."
"A-Liang sent over large and small boxes of things. We're not allowed to see each other before the wedding, and the servants under me don't know how to handle so many things. I was so anxious I almost died, so I drank a few mouthfuls of liquor to calm my nerves."
Ji Taoyu laughed: "I thought you were drinking to bolster your courage because you were nervous."
"That's not it! It's not easy to finally be able to sleep under the same quilt legitimately. I'm not nervous."
Ji Taoyu laughed even more: "Come on, let me do your makeup."
"Alright, all of you go out first. Taoyu will help me get ready."
The usually boisterous Jin Kelu was uncharacteristically cooperative, letting Ji Taoyu comb his hair and fiddle with his face.
Actually, Jin Kelu had regular features and was already good-looking. However, living in the northern regions with constant wind and sand had inevitably made his face rough. After half a year in the south, it was already showing signs of improvement. A simple application of ointment was enough.
He lay back in the chair, letting Ji Taoyu work on his face.
After a while, he felt a medicinal fragrance on himself.
"Done."
"So fast!?"
Jin Kelu hurriedly grabbed a bronze mirror to look at himself. With his hair neatly tied up and some light makeup applied, he appeared much more vibrant and spirited than before.
He examined his reflection from various angles and remarked: "This is completely different from what I imagined. I thought I'd have those bright red, painted cheeks."
"If you like that style, I can do it for you too."
Ji Taoyu closed the vanity case.
"No, no, if I ended up like that, who knows how long I'd be laughed at."
Jin Kelu said with growing impatience: "I need to change into the wedding robes! The wedding robes that Sister Wu sent are incredibly beautiful. I almost wish I could have slept with them last night."
"Sister Wu is a famous embroiderer in Tongzhou." Ji Taoyu replied. "It's only natural that the wedding robes she creates are beautiful."
Ji Taoyu went to fetch the wedding robes. One glance confirmed they were unmistakably Wu Lianhe's craftsmanship, she had also made his own wedding robes.
It reminded him that he and Huo Shu had also married in a winter just like this one. In the blink of an eye, three full years had already slipped by.
It just goes to show how time flies and waits for no one.
"Beautiful."
Jin Kelu possessed a tall and slender build. Once he put on the wedding robes, he appeared even more dignified and upright than the typical ger.
Ji Taoyu offered his praise with complete sincerity.
Hearing this, Jin Kelu, beaming with joy, was about to go look in the mirror when he suddenly stopped and said warily, "Did something happen outside?"
"Today is the banquet, there must be people coming to see the excitement."
Ji Taoyu didn't understand and instinctively glanced towards the door. When he quieted down, he really could hear the noise outside getting louder.
But on such a joyous day, it wasn't strange for a large crowd to be noisy.
"No, I have to go out and see."
As he said this, Jin Kelu lifted the hem of his wedding robes and was about to go out.
Ji Taoyu quickly stopped him: "How can you go out like this? Don't worry, just stay here. I'll go out and take a look first. If there's anything, I'll come in and notify you, alright?"
Jin Kelu looked at his wedding robes, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Alright then, I'll wait here for you. Be quick."
Ji Taoyu helplessly ran out and immediately saw several people dragging two unfamiliar faces towards the firewood shed.
"Behave! Or you'll get a taste of something nasty!"
"Who are those people!?"
Ji Taoyu was astonished by Jin Kelu's sharp hearing—he had actually been able to detect that something was amiss outside from inside the room.
"The village patrol team discovered someone who seemed to be secretly peeping in. They worked together to detain them."
Fortunately, drawing on past experience and hard-learned lessons, the patrol team was even more vigilant than usual on such a joyous day. Otherwise, these intruders might have truly used the celebratory chaos to sneak in unnoticed.
Huo Shu, seeing Ji Taoyu come outside, approached him to explain the situation.
He had brought Ji Taoyu over that morning and had not yet left.
"Who are they? You can't tell by looking."
Ji Taoyu was somewhat worried. After all, they had been through many hardships and were easily frightened. Moreover, today was a joyous occasion, it wouldn't be good if something happened.
"I told them to lock them up first. Ge Liang has already gone to interrogate them."
Huo Shu patted Ji Taoyu's hand: "I'll take some people to patrol the nearby area and also notify Lin Village to see if there are any accomplices."
"Alright, be careful."
Ji Taoyu went to inform Jin Kelu of the situation. Upon hearing the news, Jin Kelu's notoriously short temper nearly exploded.
"Daring to cause trouble on my wedding day? Just watch me whip them to death!"
Ji Taoyu held him back and poured him a cup of tea to cool his temper: "It's your wedding day today, no fighting or killing. Let them handle it."
Fortunately, Huo Shu took people to patrol and found no accomplices.
Huo Shu came back and asked Ge Liang about the interrogation. "They're very tight-lipped, insisting they are from the former Wujiang Village and came here to gather firewood. They said they heard it was very lively here, and in this wilderness, they thought they had encountered ghosts. Seeing it was broad daylight, they gathered their courage to come take a look."
Ge Liang said: "When asked about the village's situation, they could answer everything."
Huo Shu asked: "Did you check if they were carrying any weapons?"
"We did. They only had two firewood chopping knives. While these could potentially be used for self-defense, it's common for villagers in this region who can afford them to own such knives. Many keep them for protection in case they encounter bandits."
Huo Shu was silent for a moment, then said: "Release them in a while."
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