frightfiction Chapter 311 A grand and festive collective wedding
Chapter 311 A grand and festive collective wedding
Luo Li was an outsider to the dowry business in this era, so she didn't get involved. The three personal maids and Hong Gu were like family members to her, and they took out a stack of banknotes.
"Hong Gu, Ruhua, Siyu, Tingting, you can choose your own dowries. I will give each of you 30,000 taels of silver as a dowry. Go and buy whatever you like."
Ruhua hastily refused, "Miss, this is not possible. Thirty thousand taels of silver is too much for a dowry. Even wealthy and powerful families would not be willing to give such a huge sum of money as a dowry when marrying off their daughters."
"Yes! Miss, following you, we all have saved a lot of money. We dare not take such a large sum of money." Siyu also hurriedly refused.
Tingting was moved and anxious, her eyes were wet, "Miss, please take it back, we really can't have it."
Hong Gu said, "Miss, this amount of money is too much. We won't take it. We can't refuse you to add more money. Otherwise, you can give us three thousand taels of silver as dowry, which is equivalent to the standard of a wealthy family marrying off their daughters."
"You four all know how good I am at making money, so don't refuse me. You are all my relatives. If it weren't for the huge amount of money I spent on making military supplies in the past few months, I would have given you double the money.
After the war, we will make a lot of money! You have been following me loyally, how can I treat you badly in this life? Miss has become the richest woman in Song Dynasty, so the man around her should be a rich woman, right? Take them all, don't be reluctant to spend money on the dowry, buy me whatever you like!"
Ruhua walked over with tears in her eyes and took the banknote, "Xie Miss, I'll give some to them."
Yingchun, who was standing nearby and serving, had tears in her eyes. She was more moved than the four people who received the silver bills. As the eight personal maids of the princess in Ning Xin Garden, it was truly a blessing they had earned in eight lifetimes.
The wedding of one hundred and sixty-six couples was a grand occasion and could only be held in the spacious Big Foot Women's Army Camp.
Captain Luo gave each female soldier three hundred taels of silver as dowry, and the Regent's Palace covered all wedding expenses.
Those whose homes are close to the capital have had their parents and family members brought over as time is tight. Those who live far from the capital can only wait to inform their parents in the future.
Even without inviting large guests, the elite Mo Yun Cavalry and the female soldiers of the Big Foot Women's Corps were enough to create a lively scene.
When the young Emperor Zhao Wuji found out, he insisted on attending the event as a distinguished guest. The Empress Dowager was also very surprised and insisted on coming to watch the fun.
Empress Dowager Zhaoning and Princess Yongqing certainly could not be left behind. A huge honor guard came out of the palace and marched to the Big Foot Women's Army camp in the west of the city.
The most honorable emperor of the Song Dynasty, the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager personally attended the collective wedding as guests and rewarded each couple with one hundred taels of silver. This made the newlyweds very excited. They could tell their children and grandchildren about such an honorable wedding in their lifetime.
As the families of the two deputy commanders of the Big Foot Women's Army, the Prince of Bohai and the Tianbo Yang Mansion both received invitations. Prince Gao Huaide of Bohai and Old Lady She of the Tianbo Yang Mansion were happy to attend with their families. As the families of the female soldiers, gifts were a must, and each female soldier received a dowry of 60 taels from the Gao and Yang Mansions.
Not only did they not have to spend money to get married, they also made a fortune, which made the parents and family members of the female soldiers smile from ear to ear, and they were all grateful for the decision that allowed their daughters to come here.
On the large parade ground in the Big Foot Women's Corps camp, the high platform built was decorated with red lanterns and colorful silks to make it festive. The two huge Chinese characters "囍" and the wedding couplet read: "We are happy to be together in the battles of thousands of miles, and we are happy to be together for a hundred years" were written by His Royal Highness the Regent.
Lord Luo Jiluo was the master of ceremonies. The old man came on stage with great joy and delivered a speech, which included a long speech of auspicious blessings. The parents and family members of the newlyweds sitting on the stage only understood auspicious words such as "May you have a happy marriage for a hundred years", "Fly together forever", "Grow old together", "Have a son soon", etc. They clapped their hands excitedly along with the Mo Yunqi soldiers and female soldiers in the audience.
The young Emperor Zhao Wuji did not go up to say a few words of blessing. He was afraid that as soon as he stepped on the stage and opened his mouth, thousands of people below would kneel on the ground and shout "Long live the wedding!", thus stealing the limelight from the master of ceremonies and the newlyweds.
The Grand Empress Dowager looked at the joyous and lively scene and said to the Empress Dowager Zhaoning with a smile: "This kind of collective wedding is so joyous and lively that it is unforgettable. If it weren't for Yongqing's status as a princess, wouldn't it be nice for her and Yang Yanzhao to also participate in this collective wedding?"
Empress Dowager Zhaoning smiled, covering her mouth with her hands. "Mother, you are becoming more and more open-minded. It's all thanks to Li'er."
The Empress Dowager was stunned for a moment, then she remembered her identity and said awkwardly: "Li'er is a child with a kind of magical power. Anyone who stays with her for a long time will be led astray by her."
Princess Yongqing shyly and affectionately glanced at Yang Yanzhao who was sitting next to her brother. Thinking of the love words he said that day, her heart was hot and her cheeks flushed. After the Northern Expedition, they would get married.
One hundred and sixty-six pairs of newlyweds in wedding gowns were led onto the stage by graceful young women in pink uniforms.
Princess Yongqing smiled and explained to her mother and sister-in-law, "Mother, those women in pink uniforms are the female employees of the "An Xiang Xi Ren" shop."
: "Oh! It's really refreshing. Only Li'er can come up with such eye-catching tricks."
The first couple to enter, holding the jade-like groom Yun Yi, had their mouths pulled to their ears, which were red and hot.
Luo Cong led Ruhua, Luo Ning led Tingting, Mo Wen led Honggu, followed closely by Wu Xing leading Mulaner... When Shen Qiu led Pang Ying, who was wearing a large veil, onto the stage, there was a burst of laughter...
The families of the newlyweds were stunned.
Pang Ying, who stood out from the crowd, lifted her veil, and with her flushed face, she glanced majestically at the thousands of people below.
She shouted in a high voice: "What are you laughing at? Although my husband Shen Qiu is in my hands and his head and feet are not exposed, he is very capable and can make any sophisticated equipment with his clever hands. Who among you is not convinced?"
The laughter became even louder, and the distinguished guests in the nearby guest seats were laughing so hard that they forgot to maintain their appearance.
The young emperor Zhao Wuji said with a smile: "Aunt, your army of big-footed women is full of talents! This Pang Ying is no less talented than Yu Li."
Yu Li's eyes widened! She said to the little emperor without any respect, "We are straightforward and honest. We speak our mind and say whatever we want to say. If you don't like what we hear, just cover your ears."
Luo Li laughed until tears welled up in her eyes. She patted Yu Li and said, "Calm down. The emperor is praising you!"
Shen Qiu was so embarrassed that he wanted to bury his head in his crotch, but after hearing Pang Ying's next two sentences, he immediately straightened his chest and said, "What's wrong with my wife being taller than me? She still loves me, Shen Qiu, just the same."
The spacious platform was covered in a festive red colour, and one hundred and sixty-six couples formed a spectacular red festive scene.
The master of ceremonies sang loudly, "Bow to heaven and earth..."
One hundred and sixty-six couples bowed down.
"Bow to your parents twice!"
One hundred and sixty-six couples turned around and bowed to the platform where their parents and family members were standing.
"Husband and wife bow to each other!..."
One hundred and sixty-six couples turned around and bowed to each other... Now it was a lively scene. Although the high platform was spacious enough, more than three hundred couples lined up in three rows to bow to each other. It was still unclear who touched whose feet or whose veil fell off. The flustered couples caused another round of laughter from the audience...
"Send to the bridal chamber..."
The brides, with their faces covered with veils, were shy and sweet in their hearts. They were led by the grooms, holding the red silk ribbons, to a barracks at the back.
After the young emperor and the grand empress dowager stood up to say goodbye, the banquet was set up. The tables filled the empty space in front of the barracks. The air was filled with the aroma of wine and meat, and people were toasting each other in a joyous atmosphere.
Regent Zhao Defang and Luo Li drank three cups of celebratory wine and then hurried back to the palace. Their two-month-old son was waiting for his mother to prepare dinner at home!