On the martial arts field in the Yangjia Louzhai, Zhang Guodong shouted loudly: "Everyone should leave the muskets behind. Put the blunderbuss holsters, sticks, tin turtles, lead molds and other items in each hand into a bag and leave them behind!"
Everyone in the martial arts field was stunned, but they saw Zhang Cheng step forward, clasping his fists at Yang Shibin and saying: "Zhang Cheng has just arrived at Yangjialou, and he has nothing else. Now he will give me a fine automatic firebird gun made by Xuanzhen North Road. One hundred strokes as a mark of respect!”
Yang Shibin was really overjoyed. He had just seen the power of these hundred automatic fire bird cannons. To be honest, just these one hundred automatic fire bird cannons were worth the armor, shield, and spear that Shicai had given him. Knives and sticks and tiger crouching cannons.
He also took a step forward, expressed his gratitude first, and then came to Zhang Cheng and said, "Zhang Shuai, it's almost time. Shall we carry out the ceremony? Have a good drink, everyone!"
…………
Yang Liying is still wearing a tight-fitting battle jacket and a dagger hanging on her waist. This has been her habit for many years, but today is a festive day after all, and she still looks like a bride on the outside.
I saw her wearing a phoenix crown, a pleated red skirt, a red silk handkerchief on her head, and a dingdong. She was supported by Chunni and Chunxue, who were also dressed in military uniforms, and got on the sedan chair.
Immediately in front of the sedan chair were Chun Ni and Haru Xue. Their horses had red damask hydrangeas on their heads. Behind the sedan chair was a group of twenty female soldiers, also riding on horses and walking slowly.
This group of female soldiers was Yang Liying's own selected and trained personal soldiers. They called themselves the "Women's Army". Yang Shijie was the ambassador to send off the bride. He led a group of 100 young and strong soldiers from Yangjialou to walk behind the female soldiers.
Originally, if Zhang Cheng's wishes were followed, the happy event would be held as extravagantly as possible.
He even had to pay three letters and six betrothal gifts, for fear of wronging Yang Liying. After all, a woman in this era might only get married once in her life.
But Yang Shibin wanted to get it done as soon as possible to avoid long nights and many dreams, and Yang Liying really didn't care about the red tape. What's more, Zhang Cheng was really busy with the army, so she was so eager.
But marriage is a major event in life after all. Although Zhang Cheng and Yang Liying have already fallen in love with each other, and Zhang Cheng is in a hurry to obey the authority and does not need to repay his mother's consent, the due ceremony is still indispensable.
So it was decided that today the sedan chair would circle around the Yang family's village and finally be carried to a separate courtyard next to the Yang family's compound. This is the mansion where Zhang Cheng is temporarily staying.
Suddenly, Yang Liying, who was sitting in the sedan chair, heard the bearer walking at the front shout: "A flower at your feet!"
Then the second bearer said: "Look at it, don't pick it!"
The two bearers behind the sedan also repeated these two sentences.
Yang Liying felt strange in her heart: Who threw Huazi on the road? In this world of ice and snow, what kind of flowers could be thrown on the ground?
She thought for a moment before she suddenly realized. She remembered that she had heard it before. This sentence was actually the incision of the bearers. If the bearer at the front saw feces on the road, he would use this auspicious saying to inform his companions behind to avoid the danger. Step on your feet.
She was still thinking, hadn't the streets been cleaned just now? How could there be a "flower"?
Although Zhang Cheng was staying in a mansion next to the Yang Family Courtyard, the wedding ceremony still had to be held in the Yang Family Courtyard because the courtyard was not only spacious but also had many houses.
The courtyard is very lively inside and outside. Not only are there guests and friends from outside, but also people of some status in the Yang family building are gathered here. Who would want to miss such a grand ceremony?
Even in the martial arts hall, a large number of officers and soldiers gathered there and lit bonfires. There were also groups of war horses. Various people carrying gifts came and went, and two groups of drummers took turns playing music.
The road from the main entrance to the second hall was paved with red felt. When the sedan chair arrived, there was loud drumming and firecrackers with swastika heads hanging on the trees on both sides were lit together, making a loud noise.
Zhang Cheng was dressed in a strict red military uniform, with a sword gifted by the current emperor hanging on his waist. He was draped in red and wearing flowers and was waiting for him in the courtyard.
Chuni and Chunxue had already dismounted. They tore off the sparse red threads sewn on both sides of the sedan door, opened the sedan curtain, and helped Yang Liying out of the sedan.
We walked into the main gate amidst the sound of drums and firecrackers, and walked to the second gate on the red felt amidst the cheers of the guests.
Although Yang Liying is usually carefree and like a sonorous rose, she doesn't like red makeup and loves armed weapons, but after all, she is a girl's family and it is her first time to get married. At this moment, she is also very nervous, her heart is pounding, and she is not happy. Dare to look up, but dare not look at anyone.
There is a saddle lying across the threshold of the second door.
This is a historical trace left over from the primitive society period and the nomadic people’s custom of snatching marriages. Although it has been passed down from generation to generation in the Central Plains, no one can explain its specific origin and significance.
Today, Yang Liying already knew that she had to step over a saddle when entering the second gate, and her lowered eyes also saw the half-old red lacquered wooden saddle lying horizontally, with a saddle underneath.
However, due to the cheers of the guests and friends around her, and the fact that she was too nervous in such a busy and crowded situation, her steps were a little flustered, which made her capable of riding and shooting when mounted, and wielding a sword and gun when dismounted. The heroine tripped one foot on the saddle.
If Chuni and Haruyuki weren't supporting her, she might have stumbled, causing everyone around her to burst into laughter.
In the middle of the second courtyard, slightly closer to the upper room, there is a heaven and earth table, which is also covered with a bright red brocade table surround. There is a large incense burner with sandalwood burning in it.
Behind the incense burner is a wooden bucket filled with grain, with the mouth sealed with red paper. On the red paper is a bronze mirror with a steel scale inserted on it.
This is also an ancient custom that has been passed down for thousands of years. It is said that the steelyard and the bronze mirror symbolize the couple's open mind and fair treatment of each other, while the grain in the bucket symbolizes the "rice and flour couple", which means that the couple wants to live together. .
Yang Liying was helped to stand in front of the heaven and earth table. According to the old rules of men on the left and women on the right, Zhang Cheng was standing on her left, but she did not dare to turn around and look. She just felt that Zhang Cheng was beside her, and then I caught a glimpse of his new riding boots.
Amidst the sound of drums and music, the master of ceremonies loudly praised him, and she followed the instructions of the praise and bowed to the heaven and earth with Zhang Cheng, then to the high hall, and finally the husband and wife bowed to each other across from each other.
She just felt like a wooden figure, allowing herself to be manipulated by people, but she always felt that she was clumsy. Even kneeling down and praying suddenly became very unfamiliar.
She felt that sometimes, she almost didn't pay much attention to the sound of drums, praises, and cheers, but she could hear her short breathing and ring.
After worshiping the heaven and earth, Yang Liying was supported by Chunni and Chunxue and walked around the heaven and earth table towards the inner room. Suddenly something rushed towards her head and body.
Yang Liying was startled at first, and then she realized that the things scattered were all bran and red dates. A feeling of happiness filled her heart instantly, and she was willing to sprinkle more of these two things towards her.
Sure enough, everyone kept spreading the news until she walked into the inner room and turned to the other courtyard on the right. Fortunately, there was a piece of red silk covering her head, which made the handfuls of red dates and The bran could not hit her beautiful and delicate face, nor could it hit her phoenix crown.
