I don't know how I responded to this statement.
But in the end, I did collapse in An Gui's arms, being held by him like that, and finally, with everyone's eyes on me, I returned to the small room he gave me.
Probably because he really scared me, An Gui didn't touch me after that. At most, he just held my hand.
After Abdul and the others finished practicing, An Gui asked me: "Do you want to marry me?"
Actually I don't want to.
But I saw the coldness in his deep eyes, and I knew that if I didn't want to, I would definitely die today.
So, I swallowed my saliva, took a deep breath, and said to him, "I think so. But we Central Plains people want Shili Hongzhuang."
An Gui was very interested in what I said about the weddings of the Central Plains people, and he pulled me to talk to him all night.
I only had impressions of ancient weddings from books, so I told him:
"In our Central Plains, weddings start with the marriage proposal. After the marriage proposal, matchmaking, and engagement, we can enter the formal wedding process: carrying the sedan chair - crossing the brazier and shooting arrows - worshiping in the hall and drinking wine - tying the knot together and thanking the matchmaker. etc."
An Gui's eyes lit up after listening to what I told him about the plot. He held my palm with his hand, rubbed it gently, and asked in a gentle tone:
"What's your favorite part? The wedding ceremony?"
I blushed, glared at him, shook my head and said, "Of course not."
My favorite part is getting into the sedan chair.
In ancient times, before the bride got into the sedan chair, her groom would urge her to dress up three times. She would pretend that she was unwilling to get married and was too lazy to dress up, and then sit on her lap. The mother would feed her daughter rice in the sedan chair, which meant that she should not forget the kindness of nurturing her daughter.
There are three unusual customs: one is "crying on the sedan chair". When the daughter gets on the sedan chair, the mother cries to see her off. The words she cries are mostly blessings and exhortations, such as: "Nanny, oh, Nanny, you can carry it away, it makes a roar! Go alone, come with the tide!"
"I respect my parents-in-law, respect my blessings, respect my husband for having food to eat," etc. The bride was moved and said goodbye with tears.
Second, "get on the sedan chair." The bride is carried into the sedan by her elder brother. After entering the sedan and sitting down, her hips cannot move casually to ensure safety and stability.
The third is to "pour out the ashes of fire".
A fire harem burning with charcoal fire and spices is placed under the bride's seat, and a mat is tied to the rear bar of the sedan chair. It is commonly known as "the fire harem inside the sedan chair and the mat behind the sedan chair."
When getting up the sedan, the girl's family sets off firecrackers and sprinkles tea leaves and rice grains on the top of the sedan. The bride's brothers walk with the sedan, which is called "sending the sedan off".
In urban areas, people carrying sedan chairs have to go around Chitose Square or Sanfaqing (place name) to win the "Chitose" and "Three Hair" prizes.
Brothers will return as soon as they arrive, and they must pack some fire ashes and light incense or cigarettes from the fire. When they return home, they will put them in the fire jar. This is commonly known as "pouring fire ashes" or "catching fire".
"Do you want someone to cry on the sedan chair?" An Gui asked me suddenly. He seemed a little excited.
I knew he wanted to ask about my family.
I shook my head gently, "No, my home is not here, and my family is not here either."
Where can anyone get on the sedan chair crying for me?
Even in modern times, I'm a nerd and don't have many friends or family to help me.
An Gui didn't know if he understood my sadness. He suddenly held my face and said with some domineering paranoia: "As long as you want, I can make the entire Thirteen Cities of Tianfang cry for you."
My head is full of black lines, how dare I want this?
This is a bit exaggerated.
But An Gui didn't think so. He even asked me about the details of how I cried on the sedan chair. Listening to his concerned tone, for a moment, I really thought that he wanted to marry me and be with me.
But I am also sober. I know that I do not belong to this era, so I must not have feelings for the people here.
This is irresponsible to oneself!
"I'll take you to the home of the person I like. Be good and don't make them unhappy." The next day, An Gui took me out and specifically whispered in my ear.
It was obvious that he cared very much about the person he said he liked.
Although it's surprising how someone like him could have someone he likes, but it's not hard to understand after thinking about it...
No one is born cruel and terrible. There is probably a soft spot deep in everyone's heart.
However, when it came time, I took back my words.
Perhaps for An Gui, this was softness, but for those Central Plains people who were tied together by them, it was cruelty.
I saw many Central Plains people being used as slaves by them, with deep and shallow whip marks on their bodies, which looked terrible.
They were a little surprised when they saw me.
I understood that look, it was asking why I was okay and why I could be on the same horse as An Gui.
I think...it can only be because I put on a good skin when I came here.
"An Gui, have you fallen in love with another Central Plains woman?" The girl who came over was named Linglan, which was a name from the Central Plains people.
It was only later that I found out that she liked Angui.
It was because of An Gui that he changed his name.
But An Gui was not interested in explaining my situation to her now. Instead, he said, "Where is your mother?"
"Inside! I'll take you in. Leave this Central Plains man to the slaves." Linglan said, already holding An Gui's arm and walking inside.
Probably because I don't like An Gui, so when I saw him being intimate with other women, I didn't have many thoughts.
An Gui didn't like my reaction very much. He looked back at me and said coldly: "You are not allowed to leave. Remember what you promised me."
Oh, how could I leave!
This is their territory. Even if I walk out of the gate, I can't reach the river.
I'm not accepting my fate, I just don't want to waste time and increase risks for myself.
I don't know what they said inside. When An Gui came out, Linglan's face was red, and she looked shy like a girl.
She stood up on tiptoes, and when I was watching them, as if she was declaring sovereignty, she pulled An Gui's collar and kissed him directly.
"You promised me a Central Plains wedding, don't lie to me." Linglan said playfully.
An Gui rubbed the spot where she kissed him and smiled a little evilly, "I won't lie to you! I'm ready to get married in peace."
I understand, An Gui wants to marry Ling Lan.
To be honest, I'm not jealous, and I even think it's a good thing.
He married Suzuran, so maybe I would have a chance to go back, right?
"Are you jealous?" An Gui came over deliberately to ask.
I blinked and didn't answer.
An Gui coughed slightly, as if he was lifeless, and said deliberately: "You haven't said yet how people in the Central Plains take concubines."
concubine?
I was stunned, and then said expressionlessly: "There are also rituals for taking a concubine, but it's a little simpler! It doesn't require a matchmaker to get married, three books and six etiquette, and no need to pay a visit to a church. You can just sit in a small sedan chair and have a banquet. That’s it.”
"So..." An Gui chuckled suddenly and asked me: "Do you want to be a wife or a concubine?"
