Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1198 The Liang King's Wedding Contained Many Overstepping Restrictions

As soon as the words were spoken, the hall fell silent enough that the soft popping of candle flames could be heard.

The Dong family members were taken aback at first. Then, Dong Min's wine cup trembled slightly, spilling a few drops of wine onto the table, but he didn't notice. The Dong family members' eyes reddened, and they subconsciously looked towards the ancestral hall outside the hall—where the ancestors of the Dong family were enshrined, including the old man Dong who had risen and fallen in the chaotic world.

What's even more touching are the veteran generals of Xiliang. When they followed Dong Zhuo, they had seen countless battles and their hearts had been hardened by the years. Yet now, one by one, they turned away and secretly wiped the tears from the corners of their eyes with their armor.

Back when Dong Zhuo died, the Dong family was weakened and adrift, it was Ma Chao who held them up. Now, Ma Chao, as the King of Liang, still remembers this kindness; how can this not be moving?

Inside the ancestral hall, the air was thick with the fragrance of sandalwood incense, and Dong Zhuo's memorial tablet glowed serenely in the candlelight. Ma Chao picked up a wine jug and slowly poured the clear, cool liquid into the sacrificial vessels before the spirit tablet, pausing three times with solemn gestures. The wine seeped into the blue bricks, as if carrying the joy of the day, offering solace to his eternally resting ancestor.

Standing to the side, Dong Huang watched Ma Chao's tall and straight back, his throat choked with emotion. He turned to the Dong family members behind him and said, "Remember the King's kindness today. From now on, the descendants of the Dong family should treat each other with loyalty and righteousness." The Dong family members all agreed, their voices filled with undisguised emotion.

After Ma Chao and the Dong family members drank the clan-union wine together, Li Ru raised his hand to look at the sky, smiled and stepped forward, saying, "It's an auspicious day, let's not delay. Bai'er, Your Majesty, it's time to set off."

Dong Bai wore a princess's gown embroidered with golden phoenixes, the hem of which trailed on the ground, the gold threads flowing as she walked, making her features appear even more gentle and radiant. She lowered her eyes slightly, walked to Ma Chao's side, and he gently took her fingertips in his hand. The reassuring warmth made the last trace of tension in her heart disappear.

"Let's go," Ma Chao whispered, his voice tinged with amusement.

The two walked out of the ancestral hall side by side, surrounded by the Dong family members and the old generals of Xiliang, heading out of the mansion. A dragon and phoenix carriage had already been prepared outside the gate, with six snow-white horses waiting obediently. Pairs of copper bells were tied to the carriage shafts wrapped in red silk, swaying gently in the breeze and tinkling.

The vermilion gates of the Dong residence swung open, and as Ma Chao, supporting Dong Bai, stepped across the threshold, the waiting crowd fell silent for a moment before erupting into thunderous cheers.

"Look at the princess! She's truly a celestial being descended to earth!"

"The King and Queen Liang standing together look like they've stepped out of a painting..."

Dong Bai's phoenix coronet and wedding gown shimmered in the sunlight. Her eyes were slightly lowered, her cheeks flushed, but she steadied herself slowly in the warmth of Ma Chao's palm. Ma Chao turned to her and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'm here." Then he turned to face the people and announced loudly, "Fellow villagers, today, banquets have been set up along the four streets of Qinglong, Baihu, Zhuque, and Xuanwu, at the four gates of Chang'an, and even outside the imperial city."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the eager faces, his voice growing louder: "Enough wine and meat! Everyone eat and drink to your heart's content. This is how Ma and the Dong family express their gratitude to the elders of Chang'an for their usual care!"

The crowd was silent for a moment, then erupted in cheers—"Long live the King of Liang!" "Thank you for your great kindness, King of Liang!" The cheers almost lifted the roof off. Many people were so excited that they knelt down and kowtowed. Even an old man with graying temples stroked his beard and wiped away tears: "I've lived most of my life and never seen such a grand occasion... The King of Liang really treats us like family!"

Ma Chao raised his hand in a gesture of support: "Get up, everyone. Hurry up and go eat at the feast, or it will all be gone!"

The people roared in agreement, but no one was in a hurry to leave; they all wanted to take a few more glances at the newlyweds. Ma Chao carefully helped Dong Bai into the carriage, and as the curtain fell, he caught a glimpse of her lifting a corner, smiling at the crowd—a smile brighter than the pearls on her phoenix crown.

He mounted his horse, his black cloak billowing behind him, the sword at his waist jingling softly with the horse's slight sway. "Go," he nudged the horse's flank, and the white steed, understanding, began to move forward slowly.

The carriages carrying Dong Zhuo's relatives followed closely behind. Dong Zhuo's former loyal generals mounted their horses one after another, their backs now straight, their armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight. These veterans, who had followed Dong Zhuo in his conquests, looked at Ma Chao's retreating figure with complex yet relieved expressions—perhaps, this was the best end for the Dong family.

The procession slowly made its way towards the palace. Along the street, a continuous feast had already begun. People ate and drank while waving to the newlyweds in the carriage. The aroma of food and wine mingled with laughter, filling the long street. Some children chased after the carriage with candied hawthorns in their hands, only to be pulled back by adults with smiles, shouting, "The Princess Consort is so beautiful!"

The imperial city was already brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. Red silk stretched from the palace gates all the way to the steps of the palace, and gilded palace lanterns hung like dragons under the corridors, illuminating the glazed tile roofs with a warm glow.

The imperial carriage rolled over the red carpet, heading straight into the heart of the imperial city. The central gate opened wide, and the guards stood with halberds at their sides. Upon seeing the carriage approach, they all bowed in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized. The carriage did not stop along the way, only slowly coming to a stop in front of the Taiji Hall, where Liu Bian had once held court.

Ma Chao dismounted first, his black court robes accentuating his tall and straight figure. He turned and lifted the carriage curtain, reaching out to help Dong Bai. Dong Bai took his hand, stepped off the carriage onto a brocade stool, her phoenix coronet and wedding robe trailing on the ground, the golden phoenixes on her skirt shimmering in the sunlight.

The two walked side by side up the jade steps, ascending one by one. On either side of the steps, civil and military officials stood according to their rank, their court robes neat and silent; further down, guards in gleaming armor stood in two rows, the cold glint of their halberds reflecting on the red carpet, solemn and dignified.

Suddenly, ceremonial music arose, bells and drums resounded, and the clear, melodious music filled the hall, brushing against everyone's robes. The instant Dong Bai stepped onto the last step, all the civil and military officials and palace guards below the steps knelt in unison, the sound so powerful that the bronze bells on the eaves jingled softly.

"Welcome, Your Highness!"

Dong Bai paused slightly, her fingertips unconsciously tightening around Ma Chao's sleeve. The Dong family members behind her stood below the steps, their eyes welling up with tears as they gazed at the grand procession and the officials bowing in reverence—who could have imagined that the Dong family would one day receive such glory? This display was a true show of respect from the King.

Ma Chao sensed her nervousness, turned his head and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Dong Bai looked up and saw his steady gaze and warm palms, and her nervousness gradually dissipated. She straightened her back and followed Ma Chao step by step into the main hall. The sounds of ceremonial music and the welcoming voices of the officials behind them intertwined and echoed in the empty hall, weaving a grand and solemn picture that belonged to them.

As the music official chanted "Perform the ablution ceremony," the warm water in the bronze basin was steaming. Ma Chao held the ewer, and Dong Bai held the basin. The two bowed to each other, and when their fingertips touched, Dong Bai felt the thin layer of sweat on his palm—even the most composed king could be nervous at this moment. The water flowed over their jade hands and into the bronze mirror below, reflecting their intertwined figures, much like the fleeting glimpse they had seen in the bronze mirror when they first met at the Dong residence.

During the "sharing the same meat" ceremony, a sacrificial animal was placed on the altar, positioned to the left and right. Ma Chao held a dagger, and Dong Bai held the sacrificial chopsticks. Together they cut off a piece, dipped it in the seasoning sauce, and passed it to each other. The aroma of meat mixed with the tangy sourness of the sauce filled the air. Dong Bai suddenly remembered that day in the kitchen when he clumsily tried to make her favorite flatbread, his sleeves covered in flour. Yet now, he was able to perform the sacrificial rites meticulously according to ancient rituals.

The most solemn ceremony was the "nuptial cup ceremony." A palace attendant presented a gourd-shaped cup, the two halves filled with mellow wine. Ma Chao held the left ladle, Dong Bai the right, their arms crossed, and they drank the wine in one gulp. The gourd was bitter, but the wine was sweet; that slight bitterness was much like the initial tentativeness and distance of their first meeting, while the aftertaste held the lights of Chang'an streets, the crabapple blossoms in Dong Bai's backyard, and his words, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

As the master of ceremonies chanted "Bow to Heaven and Earth," Dong Bai turned around with Ma Chao and looked out of the hall. The sunlight was perfect, the clouds drifted like gauze, and below the steps, officials stood solemnly, while guards in armor stood like a forest.

Next, she paid her respects to Ma Teng and his wife. Dong Bai had already recognized herself as a member of the Ma family and always considered herself the matriarch of the Ma family. Ma Teng and his wife had also long accepted Dong Bai's identity and were extremely satisfied.

The ceremony continued with the worship at the Ma family ancestral temple. After the worship, Ma Chao took her hand; the sweat on his palm had dried, leaving only a reassuring warmth. As they passed through layers of palaces towards the sleeping quarters, Dong Bai heard him whisper in her ear, his voice muffled by the music, yet clear as if it were falling on her heart: "Just now, during the nuptial ceremony, did you know that the gourd is bitter?"

She nodded.

"But only after suffering can you know the sweetness." He smiled. "From now on, I will make sure you never taste any more bitterness."

After all the tedious formalities were completed, the guests rested for a while and had some refreshments. Then, everyone followed Ma Chaoyu and Dong Bai to the Taiji Hall.

The beams and pillars of the Taiji Hall cast somber shadows under the candlelight, and the dark brocade covering the dragon throne still carried the lingering scent of ambergris. When Ma Chao and Dong Bai took their seats, the breaths of the officials below seemed to freeze for a moment.

Led by Ma Yue, the four children, Ma Xiang, Ma Guan, and Jiang Wei, knelt down, their childish voices solemn: "Greetings, Father; greetings, Mother." Dong Bai reached out to help them up, his fingertips brushing through the children's hair, his smile gentle: "Get up, from now on we are family."

Next came Ma Chao's confidantes, who stepped forward one by one and bowed gracefully, their jeweled ornaments trembling slightly: "Greetings, Mistress." Dong Bai nodded to each of them, her tone gentle: "No need for such formalities."

Finally, the civil and military officials, lined up on either side, their armor and court robes gleaming, shouted in unison, "Long live the King! Long live the Queen!" The thunderous roar echoed through the hall, reverberating for a long time. Dong Bai looked down at the dark mass of people, her fingertips gently gripping Ma Chao's sleeve. He returned her grip, his palm still warm as ever.

By this time, it was already dark, but the palace was brightly lit, with lanterns illuminating the beams and pillars of the halls as if it were daytime. All the wedding ceremonies were now complete; all that remained was the banquet.

The civil and military officials of Xiliang were all extremely excited, their faces full of pride. They gathered in twos and threes, their excitement barely concealed as they whispered among themselves, their words filled with praise for Ma Chao, as if their lord's glory was their glory.

In contrast, the expressions of the people who came to witness the ceremony varied. Everyone could clearly see that Ma Chao's actions today were quite presumptuous, especially since he actually held the princess's hand and sat calmly on the dragon throne, which only the emperor was allowed to sit on, with a composed and uninhibited demeanor.

Among the crowd, Zhuge Liang's face showed a mocking expression, while Guan Yu beside him had a livid face.

"Hmph," Guan Yu said in a deep voice, his voice filled with suppressed anger, "The King of Liang was once so loyal to the emperor and patriotic, devoting himself to the cause. Now he... has actually committed such an overstepping act!" His eyes were like torches, staring intently at the direction of the dragon throne, "He actually sat on the dragon throne openly with the princess. Does he still have the emperor in his eyes?"

Zhuge Liang sighed softly, his feather fan obscuring half his face, revealing only his deep eyes: "Yun Chang, calm down. What happened in the past may have been merely a temporary measure. What he is like today is probably his true nature." His tone was calm, yet carried a hint of coldness. "His overstepping of authority to this extent reveals his treacherous heart, and he probably no longer regards the court."

The people around them were too busy enjoying themselves to hear their whispers. The distant sounds of string and wind instruments seemed rather jarring at that moment.