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Iron Straight Man
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Regardless of how displeased and dissatisfied Ming Yunji was towards Qin Wang, when Qin Wang, as an esteemed imperial prince, kneeled before him, he was still somewhat terrified. Even the old Jin Duke’s eyes were also filled with shock.
And Qin Wang, after kneeling down and kowtowing three times, his words were also very firm and resolute, “Starting from today, Jinrou is my wife. The duke and heir are thus my elders. Since grandfather and father-in-law have entrusted Jinrou to me, I naturally will treat her with respect and love, asking the elders to rest assured.”
After saying this, he once again bowed. Ming Yunji personally went forward to support Qin Wang up. Originally, the melancholy from having to marry off his beloved daughter and his complicated feelings towards Qin Wang had blended together in one place, but at this time, he also felt a bit moved.
Actually, regardless of where it was for a political marriage or political alliance, Qin Wangfei, this main consort position, really was already more than enough weight. To put it bluntly, in the future, if Qin Wang really were to one day ascend the throne, then the Ming family will have produced another empress. The glory and weight behind this was something that no family clan can underestimate.
Since Ming Jinrou has married Qin Wang, even if just for the sake of Ming Jinrou’s safety and future, the Ming family will still spare no efforts in supporting Qin Wang. And towards the solemness and grandness of receiving the bride for the wedding today, the people of the Ming family were already satisfied.
At this time, adding on Qin Wang’s three kowtows, the implications of a political marriage immediately just got reduced quite a bit. Ming Yunji was even in a daze for a split second, feeling that the tall and handsome young man before him really was just an ordinary son-in-law, and not the imperial prince Qin Wang that had countless interests behind him.
“My daughter is still young, also stubborn and mischievous by nature, hoping that………” Ming Yunji clenched his teeth, saying with a bow, “Hoping that your Highness take pity on her and treat her leniently.”
Qin Wang also bowed in response, “Don’t worry, father-in-law.”
At this time, the master of ceremonies once again sung the rites. The ceremonial music outside also once again played. The rites for bowing to the elders were completed. Ming Jinrou will now head out the Jin Duke Manor to mount the bridal palanquin.
The luan[1] palanquin of a jun-wangfei was a sixteen lifter palanquin, much more spacious than ordinary bridal palanquins, but the etiquette for climbing onto the palanquin was the still same, with the bride’s maiden family brother carrying the bride on his back onto the palanquin.
Wearing the gold crown and dressed in a brocade gown, Ming Jincheng was already waiting there. When squatting down to carrying Ming Jinrou on his back, he softly chuckled, “Stupid girl, finally leaving home. If there’s anything, just directly tell older brother, no matter how bad this older brother’s waist may be, will still protect you for life.”
Ming Jinrou’s shoulders once again trembled. When leaning against her older brother’s back, Ming Jincheng sensed the back of his neck both moist and warm. He wanted to make fun of this dumb little sister a few words, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his voice also became hoarse. He hurriedly coughed twice, forcibly enduring as he had her sent onto the luan palanquin, and saying with the tearful voice that simply didn’t get pressed down before leaving, “Properly……properly take care of yourself.”
At this time, Qin Wang as well as the others that had accompanied along to escort the bride have already mounted their horses. Ming Jincheng turned around and returned to the manor, also needing to, after slightly tidying up, follow his grandfather and father to Qin Wang Manor to attend the banquet.
When turning around, what he saw first was just Cheng Yanling standing inside the door. His feelings inside were currently very complicated, so instinctively just wanted to look for her. However, just as Ming Jincheng took the first step, Cheng Yanling suddenly turned her head and said a few words to the servant girl by her side, unexpectedly going back inside first in large strides.
This scene was also caught by Yu Lingxin who was similarly standing by the door, her heart suddenly jumping for some reason with some faint uneasiness rushing up her heart.
Ming Jincheng didn’t take note of others. Seeing Cheng Yanling leave first, his expression was also somewhat stunned, but currently, in the Jin Duke Manor, there were still many relatives and guests. Moreover, the old duke and old madam also needed to prepared to head out, so there were still many things to handle. He slightly pressed down the rising emotions inside and went to arrange things first.
On Yu Lingxin’s side, while still puzzled, she also looked around to see whether or not she needed to help. However, Xun Ying led along four servant girls, having her guarded tightly, “Older sister-in-law, father, mother, and second brother have already instructed, we just need to directly get on the carriage and head to Qin Wang Manor to participate in the banquet. The matters in Jin Duke Manor, you completely don’t need to worry over.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Yu Lingxin smiled, pinching Xun Ying’s little face, “Alright then, just need you to keep me company the whole time.” Slightly glancing at the formation today, she just knew that everything was steady, and yesterday, Xun Che had also instructed her that the only thing she needed to worry over today was just staying together with Xun Ying at all times. Regardless of whether it was for her rest, or Xing Ying’s safety, all in all, it’s best for the two of them to not separate.
Yu Lingxin understood Xun Che’s worries. Today was Qin Wang’s wedding. The imperial clansmen and high ministers that came to congratulate were extremely numerous. Aside from the Yiyang Marquis Manor and Fuyuan General Manor, the two side consorts’ maiden family, who probably don’t have the face to show up at the banquet, Wu Wang, Wei Wang, Anshun Count Manor Zhu family, Youjiang Wang Manor, as well as Ruiyang Junzhu, who has been quiet for a long time, will all arrive. When time comes, everyone’s attention will all be on Qin Wang’s wedding procedures and the banquet, as well as the officials’ attitude and inclination.
Those were naturally important. Xun Che and Ming Jincheng will also pay attention on their own. But, at the same time, what Xun Che was even more worried about was actually Xun Ying.
In the past life, precisely when everyone’s eyes were all gathered on the struggle between Qin Wang, Wu Wang, and Wei Wang, Xun Ying just met with mishap within the boundaries of Zhaoyang Hall several feet from Xun Che and them. That’s why, in this life, no matter where Xun Ying went, even if at Qin Wang Manor, this reasonably speaking, relatively safe place, Xun Che would still, while secretly assigning guards, ask Yu Lingxin to carefully look after Xun Ying.
Of course, Xun Ying herself probably didn’t notice. Currently, she was just smilingly coiling around Yu Lingxin’s arm, “That is only natural. I certainly will keep sister-in-law company at all times. Sister-in-law, did you hear about that bamboo poetry collection outside recently………” The two of them happily chatted the whole way, going to the second gate together to mount the carriage.
Very soon, they arrived at the newly constructed Qin Wang Manor. Sure enough, it was already packed full. Nearby, starting from three streets away, there were already guards from the Capital’s Magistrate Office and Yulin Camp working in coordination. The guests’ carriages needed to go through layer upon layers of inspection before they can enter the manor for the banquet. Even the womenfolk of the imperial clan weren’t exempted.
Probably for the Ministry of Rites, Zongjing Bureau, and Shangwu Bureau, aside from remembering the lesson from the incident of Renshun Crown Prince’s vermillion umbrella, the incident of the notorious bandit sneaking into the Zhu family’s hundred flower banquet back then was also ingrained in their mind.
After entering Qin Wang Manor, Yu Lingxin was slightly astonished again. At the same time, she was also somewhat amused———Ming Jinrou although had the ‘solemnness’ of going onto the battlefield back in Qinghong Pavilion, but for his Highness Qin Wang, this honest and straightforward groom, he really did put on the stance of going onto the battlefield.
The manor of a junwang, according to the regulations, just had several dozen guards to begin with, the total amount not allowed to exceed a hundred, which mainly was for preventing them from raising a private army and accumulating military weapons. But, aside from the guards, the other servants in the manor, even including the watchmen and such, their numbers were just much more flexible. As long as it wasn’t using the excuse of hiring more watchmen or trainers, and really recruiting several hundred soldiers, then even if having a few more or even twenty to thirty more people, no one would actually pursue anything.
And his Highness Qin Wang, among the various princes, has always been adept in martial arts and the art of war. That’s why, during the wedding ceremony, the arrangement and defense of the entire Qin Wang Manor’s interior was practically unable to be penetrated by a needle, unable to let a single drop of water through. It was hardly an exaggeration to say that it was a station every ten steps, and a sentry every five steps. Qin Wang Manor’s guards and the people borrowed from the Yulin army were arranged together. At every entrance and crossing, there were at least two people standing by in attendance. The borders of the little lake inside Qin Wang Manor were further densely packed with someone at every three steps, clearly afraid that someone might bring about a marriage through falling into the water again.
And after the guests enter the main hall or garden pavilion and take their seat, the servant girls and attendants going around back and forth carrying the tea and delivering dishes, although were dressed in a simple blue cloth attire, a standard and ordinary appearance, but even if just carrying a pot of hot water, they were still all in groups of two. Moreover, each and every one, both men and women, all had their backs straight, their gaze sharp, as if someone would smash a cup as signal at anytime, and all the servants would immediately jump up, leaping onto the roofs, vaulting over walls, and draw their swords for battle.
Based on this degree of cautiousness, never mind the wedding for a junwang, even if it was Xuan Emperor going on an inspection or performing a sacrificial rite, it probably can also smoothly and safely go by, completing the task without a drop of water leaking out.
Just, on a wedding day, this kind of stance really was a bit………
Just thinking about it, Yu Lingxin laughed again. Now, she increasingly understood why Qin Wang had assumed to have expressed his feelings, yet Ming Jinrou was still a look of ‘this bad guy, since he doesn’t like me in the slightest, just wanting a political marriage, then I will just give him a political marriage, hmph!’
Very soon, the guests finished taking their seats. Qin Wang and Ming Jinrou arrived in the main hall to bow to the heaven and earth. For the part of bowing to the parents, they bowed to the north which was the direction of the imperial palace. Afterwards, it was the couple mutually bowing to one another. The bride was then escorted by the matron of honor and the servants to the bridal chamber in the main courtyard. After the various rites finished, Qin Wang came back out to the front hall again, and like all grooms, toasted wine to thank the guests.
And at this time, upon the stage set up inside the manor, the sizhu[2] began playing. This wedding ceremony finally reached the most exciting and most lively banquet time for the guests. The exquisite delicacies and fine wine were all sent to the tables like flowing water. And for all the guests that wanted to go out for some air, go for a walk, chat in private, or even wanting to go to the cleaning room to relieve themselves, or change their clothes, there was always someone guarding outside providing support and service.
Or perhaps should say, there were at least two or more guards accompanying along to the place prepared in advance, really not giving the slightest opportunity to cause some drunken chance encounter, meeting when changing clothes, coincidentally falling into the water and getting saved, and such troubles. And for the guests in the reception hall, unknown as to whether it was just that they didn’t carrying this kind of thought to begin with, or after seeing such a stance in Qin Wang Manor, just pressed down their intentions, all in all, Qin Wang and Ming Jinrou’s wedding ceremony and wedding banquet can be considered a rare perfect example during the Tianxu period. The entire affair completing without a single incident from beginning to end.
And another thing that later also got viewed as a modeled example was the matter of the side consorts entering the manor at the same time. They were practically already completely forgotten by the other guests. Just, when dusk arrived, as the musical instruments continued to loudly play upon the stage, Qin Wang Manor’s corner gate soundlessly opened. Qin Wang Manor’s secretary led two pink sedan chairs lifted by four people each in through the door. Behind them followed their respective sixteen trunks. Following the pre-arranged route, they were escorted by a small squad of eight guards, half grandly welcoming and half solemnly surveilling, to their respectively arranged courtyard.
Outside the two courtyards, there was already a head mama waiting there with the first rank servant girl. After greeting the new side consort and new liangyuan, their first words were just, “Wangye has said, prior to the first return to the maiden home on the third day, asking you to not leave your own courtyard. If your servant were to go out and startle wangfei, wangye’s order is to kill without question.”
[1] Mythical bird related to the phoenix.
[2] Sizhu actually refers to a collection of traditional instruments that are played together. Si[丝] refers to the string instruments and zhu[竹] refers to the reeds and pipes.
T/N: I just discovered another problem, due to the author’s inconsistency, the Deng family has been referred to as the Dingyuan General Manor when introduced, then later called Zhaoyuan General Manor midway, and lastly mentioned as Fuyuan General Manor until they are never mentioned again in the novel. So for consistency sake, I’m going to go back and change it all to Fuyuan General Manor, this is mostly in case I forget later on and just translate the author’s words directly. I’m assuming the author also forgot what name was given to them originally and just made up a new name every time they are mentioned.
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i feel like there’s nothing wrong with Qin Wang really… he’s just a block of wood that doesn’t know how to communicate. I am happy to see that all of the Ming family is standing with me ready to fight at a moments notice though! also this whole thing feels very realistic, like why would anyone want to get married to a prince and have 2 women marrying in on the same day and a week before they were trying to sow discord before the marriage even happened! wishing the 2 new concubines a swift boxed lunch.