A gentleman’s word is as good as gold.
It was agreed that on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Bailu would be married.
Naturally, the Bai family must marry off their daughter.
Perhaps because Lu Jian’s Investigation Bureau was right across the street, the Bai family’s way of handling this marriage was rather peculiar.
The ceremony did not take place at the Bai family mansion, but surprisingly at Cuiwei Peak beside the Imperial Academy.
A red sun slowly rose in the east.
Beneath Cuiwei Peak, ancient plum trees stood with gnarled branches like dragons, and large plum blossoms bloomed, releasing a delicate fragrance that drifted in the cold wind.
Petals fluttered down like rain, shimmering with a faint glow in the morning light.
At the peak of Cuiwei, on the Terrace of Picking Violets, Bai Changkong and a group of esteemed elder friends wore simple ancient robes and sat upright with solemn composure.
Below, in the plum grove, straw mats were spread on the ground.
Countless scholars from both the Imperial Academy and the Grand Academy knelt respectfully on the mats, listening attentively to a dignified middle-aged man with a long beard, elegant bearing, who spoke from the entrance of the stone steps leading up the mountain.
This middle-aged man with flowing hair and wearing plain hemp clothes boomed with a clear voice.
His name was Zhu Song, the cousin of Grand Chancellor Zhu Chong, and the father of Zhu Yu.
He was also the Grand Sacrificer of the Grand Academy of the Dayin Dynasty, a position equivalent to Bai Changkong’s at the Imperial Academy.
If Zhu Chong was the face of the Zhu family in the court, then Zhu Song was the banner of the Zhu family among the common people.
Within Haojing City, there was the “Zhu Family Academy,” which spread across every district and market, even to the remotest Ninth Rank Market.
There was a Zhu Family Academy present.
The academies were free to the common folk and grassroots offspring of Haojing, teaching the classics and imparting knowledge.
They even provided impoverished scholars with writing supplies and meals without charge.
Zhu Song was the headmaster of the Zhu Family Academies.
Countless students selected by him went on to study at the Grand Academy, achieving brilliant success in the imperial examinations, climbing swiftly out of their humble origins.
Because of the Zhu Family Academy’s influence, with more and more officials and scholars emerging from its ranks, the Zhu family’s reputation as the “Descendants of the Sage” shone ever brighter.
Their foothold in Dayin grew ever more solid and deep-rooted.
Seated cross-legged on the stone steps, gazing down at the tens of thousands of students below, Zhu Song smiled calmly and spoke in a coherent manner.
“You all must know: Bai Shanchang governs the ‘ancient rites.’”
“‘Ancient rites’ require self-restraint — to control one’s desires, to temper one’s integrity, thereby ‘restoring ritual.’ This means bringing back the gentleman’s original noble virtues, following the gentleman’s flawless original code of conduct.” (Here the explanation of ‘self-restraint and restoration of ritual’ is somewhat distorted according to Bai Changkong and his associates’ wishes!)
“Bai Shanchang governs ancient rites and must embody them through action.”
“In today’s world, the people’s customs grow ever more decadent and corrupt. Modern rites become more complex and entangled — betrothal gifts, name inquiries, bridal presents, dowry — all kinds of things, nothing more than worldly desire running rampant and people’s hearts losing their old virtue.”
“Therefore, today, Bai Shanchang uses the ‘Xian Ju Ya He’ rite from the ancient tribal times — the simplest, purest ceremony our human ancestors used — to arrange Miss Bailu’s marriage. This truly shows the demeanor of a great sage, worthy of the title ‘Master of Ritual Studies.’”
Zhu Song nodded and shook his head approvingly, flattering Bai Changkong with much fanfare.
He rambled on, basically saying—Bai Changkong believed that ancient rites were the proper way.
The current elaborate rites that stretched over months for just one wedding were nothing but the product of the moral decay and material obsession of the times.
Moreover, Bai Changkong, with his clean reputation and upright conduct, did not have the wealth to carry out the costly modern wedding ceremony for Bailu.
So, he took advantage of his only granddaughter’s marriage to revive the ‘Xian Ju Ya He’ rite from ancient tribal times, both to spread his understanding of ‘ancient rites’ and to criticize the ever more extravagant and improper customs of the common people today.
The so-called ‘Xian Ju Ya He’ rite was a ceremony from the ancient tribal days.
Among the tribe’s ancestors, if a man and woman saw each other at first glance and fell in love, and the tribe elders confirmed they were a suitable match, then they could be officially married.
The entire process took only half a day.
Simple, quick, economical, and convenient... but because it was adorned with the lofty ideal of ‘self-restraint and restoration of ritual,’ this simple but not simplistic wedding appeared grand and solemn—sacred and dignified.
Especially, the ‘Xian Ju Ya He’ rite required a gathering of tribal elders together to evaluate and judge the couple’s character and declare whether they were a worthy match.
Now, in the Caiwei Pavilion at the top of Cuiwei Peak, Bai Changkong, Gongyang Yao, and dozens of cultural and educational elders from Haojing had assembled here.
They stood in as the tribal elders to appraise Bailu and her chosen fiancé, deciding if they made a suitable union.
A wedding that earned the recognition and blessing of dozens of great sages and the witness of tens of thousands of scholars from the Imperial and Grand Academies was truly honorable.
In the plum grove, countless passionate young scholars clapped and cheered, unable to contain their joy as they offered their highest blessings to Bailu and her lucky future husband.
Some scholars whispered excitedly among themselves, eager to discuss the subject.
“I also think today’s weddings are too complicated. It’s fine if they take three or five months; I can wait for that. But those extravagant betrothal gifts... tsk tsk, it’s just too wasteful.”
“Senior brother’s words are spot on. This ‘Xian Ju Ya He’ rite of Bai Senior is perfect. If a couple fall for each other at first sight and get the elders’ approval, they can form a good match. Such an ancient rite—elegant, dignified, truly wonderful beyond words.”
“Alas, we have no such good fortune to have so many great sages evaluate us.”
“Hmm, I wonder which one of the Twelve Talents under Heaven has won Miss Bailu’s favor?”
“That is unknown. Only a few days ago, at the Moyun Tower, Lord Tianyang...”
“Shh, be quiet—you want to get beaten up?”
Outside the gate of the Caiwei Pavilion at the top of Cuiwei Peak, Bailu knelt on a soft cushion, wearing a simple cloth dress.
Her fingers gently touched the strings of a five-string zither, producing a pure and elegant melody like flowing mountain water.
According to the procedure announced by the Bai family, this was an essential part of the ‘Xian Ju Ya He’ rite.
The unmarried lady must display her talents, allowing the tribal elders to judge if she was a suitable and virtuous woman for marriage.
In the plum grove, some scholars clapped and praised her skill.
Bailu’s zither performance was not unparalleled, but it was excellent and ranked among the top one hundred in Haojing City.
Together with her extraordinary beauty and the aura of being Bai Changkong’s only granddaughter, her melody earned her countless cheers and admiration.
As she played on the mountain, many students from the Grand and Imperial Academies below began loudly reciting poetry that matched her song.
Outside the plum grove, under a massive pine and cypress tree, a simple four-wheeled horse carriage sat quietly.
Li Zi, Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Rites, scowled inside the carriage.
His gaze was sharp like a blade, fixed unwaveringly on his beloved, pampered youngest son sitting opposite him, Li Erya.
Li Erya was only eighteen, standing eight feet and one inch tall, handsome and refined, the very image of a cultured gentleman.
He was one of the Twelve Talents under Heaven who had come to propose at the Bai family’s doorstep a few days ago.
He also participated in the literary contest at Moyun Tower and was the lucky one chosen by Bailu as her future husband after Lu Jian’s shocking departure and a remarkable poem about plum blossoms that caught her eye.
Li Erya sincerely admired Bailu for many years.
But previously, Bailu had been close to Zhu Yu, so Li Erya had never dared to challenge him.
His thoughts of Bailu deeply consumed him to the point of sleepless nights and tossing and turning.
Suddenly, when Bailu was ‘broken off’ by Lu Jian and abandoned, and Bai Changkong declared he would choose the best talent in Haojing to marry her, Li Erya’s heart leapt.
Hearing that others had gathered to propose at the Bai family house, he was one of the first to jump in eagerly.
Unexpectedly, he really won Bailu’s heart through his talent and character.
So, when the Bai family proposed to hold the marriage under the ancient rites, he agreed without hesitation and immediately told his father the good news.
Meanwhile, Li Zi had been busy cleaning up the mess in Siji Market these past days.
He dealt all day with arrogant heirs and noble ladies, almost angry enough to draw his sword.
Suddenly, his most beloved youngest son joyfully told him that Bai Changkong planned to marry his granddaughter to him, following some ancient rite that finished the wedding in just one day.
They would bring Bailu home soon after!
“Erya, have you really thought this through?” Li Zi glared gloomily at his son. “Nobody can force you to do anything, not even Bai Changkong. If you don’t wish to marry her, you can follow Lu Jian’s path—I’ll send you straight to the Palace of Virtuous Women myself.”
Li Erya stared wide-eyed at his father in shock. “Father, what nonsense are you talking? Miss Bailu is the one and only perfect match for me... Don’t worry, when I marry her and bring her home, I’ll treat her well. Next year, I’ll give you a big, fat grandson!”
Li Zi’s face twitched.
Usually, he wore a full smile, every wrinkle filled with warmth and laughter.
But now, his face was frost-cold.
Looking at his precious son, he said darkly, “Bailu’s previous fiancé was Lu Jian, but he’d rather join the Palace of Virtuous Women...”
Li Erya waved his hand impatiently. “Why mention that traitor? He’s just stupid. He let go of a woman as good as Wei Shuang!”
“Stupid?” Li Zi nearly slapped Li Erya’s handsome face in anger. “He’s not stupid. Do you know that he won the emperor’s favor in just ten days? Even the Empress Dowager favored him. The Great General liked him too. He easily earned a duchy title. Do you know your old man struggled his whole life in court and only managed to be Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Rites, never even touching a noble title? If Lu Jian was stupid, then am I? Are the other civil and military ministers at court all fools?”
Li Erya paused, looking at Li Zi before shaking his head. “Fine, he’s not stupid. His calligraphy and poems are unmatched in our age. So what? Wei Shuang is mine. I will marry her.”
“Hurry up, Father! Prepare yourself. Once Wei Shuang’s zither melody ends, we’ll head straight to Cuiwei Peak.”
“I will sing joyfully all the way up the mountain, then display poetry and talents in front of those great sages... Without your support behind me, I truly wouldn’t dare to show off in front of so many elders.”
A fierce glint surfaced in Li Zi’s eyes.
Watching his son eagerly push open the carriage door and stride briskly forward, he said in a low voice,
“Go. Gather three hundred disciples from the inner sect. Swap out all the servants and maids at my mansion.”
“Bai Changkong, you better not try any tricks.”
“Otherwise, I’ll make you understand what kind of so-called ‘cultural and educational sages’ I think of as nothing more than swine and dogs to be slaughtered like cattle.”
“They say the previous dynasty fell because our Begging Skill Sect, Nine Yin Sect, Feishi Sect, and Tianyu Palace Four Sacred Sects deceived the emperor and threw the world into chaos.”
“Heh, heh. If anyone dares to provoke my son, I’ll show you what true calamities that ruin the country and harm the people really mean!”
(The End of Chapter)