Phoenix Hairpin

A daughter getting married was not as exciting as a son marrying a daughter-in-law.

Similarly, there were a lot of guests, and when the daughter got on the sedan chair, most of the guests would leave. Therefore, there was always a bit of reluctance and sadness in the excitement.

It was common for the woman’s family to make it difficult for the groom to enter the room, and it was also a lively and festive event.

Zhou Li, who was dressed in a red wedding dress, was already mentally prepared to face this challenge. He specially invited several Hanlin friends to help out. He never thought that when he came outside the gate of the courtyard, the first pass would be neither making couplets nor reciting poems.

Lu Mingyu stood at the door with a smile on her face and said kindly: “Sānjiěfū[1], being well-versed in poetry and literature, and exceptionally talented, composing poems and couplets is a breeze for you. Therefore, today I’ve set up not a literary challenge for my jiěfū, but a martial challenge. Once you pass this test of mine, you’ll be allowed into the courtyard.'”

Then, she pointed at the jade stone beside him: “It’s very simple. All you need is for the jiěfū to lift this piece of jade.”

Zhou Li: “…”

The piece of jade was just too big, about half the height of a person, about two or three hundred catties.

Zhou Li smiled wryly and repeatedly bowed his hands to beg for mercy: “Good sì mèi[2], please forgive my jiěfū. Jiěfū really doesn’t have that much strength.”

With his strength, he could barely hold the jade up with all his strength. However, on the big day, he really didn’t want to make a fool of himself!

Lu Mingyu smiled very kindly: “My jiěfū will not be able to pass the first pass, so I can’t let my jiěfū in.”

Lu Mingyue and Lu Xuan cheered to help.

The crowd who joined in the fun laughed one after another.

Zhou Li clasped his fists and bowed, saying all the good things.

Only then did Lu Mingyu take the time to straighten her sleeves, then leaned over slightly, and lifted the jade with one hand. In the exclamation of everyone, the jade was removed again.

Most of the onlookers were relatives and friends of the Lu family, and they immediately applauded.

Li Jing, who was standing aside, kept his smiling gaze on Lu Mingyu’s radiant and pretty face.

Zhèng Zhòng coughed, and laughed in a low voice: “Sì mèi is amazingly powerful, is your Highness panicking?”

Such a daughter-in-law will marry back, and her husband will be hard-pressed!

Li Jing smiled: “I just hope that life will pass faster and I can marry Xiaoyu as soon as possible.”

Zheng Zhong laughed.

After Li Jing and Lu Mingyu got engaged, he often came to Lu’s mansion and became more and more familiar with Zheng Zheng. Zheng Zheng grew up in the military camp, he was outspoken and funny. Li Jing had a very good impression of this future liánjīn[3] and was willing to have more contacts.

However, when facing Zhou Li, Li Jing was not so easygoing and was always lukewarm.

Today was a happy day for Zhou Li and Lu Minghua was getting married, and Lu Mingyu didn’t make things difficult for Zhou Li too much. Li Jing stood aside, watching the excitement.

After passing the first level, there will be a second level and a third level… There were many tricks and turns.

On a very cold day, the groom, Zhou Li, was so anxious that he was sweating.

After arguing for two hours, Zhou Li finally entered the boudoir.

Lu Minghua was wearing a red wedding dress and a red veil, sitting quietly.

Zhou Li’s heart warmed, and he hurriedly stepped forward. Before he could touch Lü Minghua’s hand, the joyful xǐniáng[4] had already approached with a smile. She stuffed a red wedding silk into his hand and said, “Please, sir and young miss, come to the main hall to bid farewell to the elders together.”

…

The new couple knelt down together and kowtowed three times.

Lu Lin smiled and told Lu Minghua: “After marrying into the Zhou family, you must respect your parents-in-law and serve your husband. You should open up branches and leaves for the Zhou family as soon as possible.”

After a pause, he continued: “If you have been wronged, don’t keep silent. Yì fù[5] will always support you.”

Zhou Li: “…”

Zhou Li immediately expressed his heart: “Father-in-law, don’t worry, I will treat Ming Hua well and never let her be wronged.”

Amidst the loud sound of firecrackers, Lu Minghua went up The bridal sedan chair of the Zhou family. The welcoming team happily married the bride and left.

Lu Lin was originally full of joy, but at this moment, he felt inexplicably uncomfortable.

Hey, when Lu Mingfang gets married, he will feel the same way.

The daughter who was carefully raised was married off by the stinky brat. Thinking about it again, in two months, Xiaoyu will also get married. Lu Lin’s mood became more and more depressed.

“Father,” a familiar voice rang in my ears: “The one who greeted us has gone far away. Let’s go back home!”

Lu Lin turned his head to look at Lu Mingyu and sighed sadly: “The feeling of marrying off a daughter is truly not easy to bear.”

Lu Lin, who was usually humorous and forthright, suddenly became sentimental.

Lu Mingyu also felt uneasy in her heart. She took Lu Lin’s arm and whispered, “Dad is reluctant to part with sān jiě[6]. In the future, we’ll make sure she often comes back to her maiden home for a short stay.”

The Zhou family was simple and unpretentious; they wouldn’t overly restrict their daughter-in-law. It was fine for her to visit her maiden home. In the future, Lu Mingyu will be marrying into the Royal Family as a Prince’s Consort – she won’t have the freedom to casually visit her maiden home, will she?

Lu Lin silently glanced at his daughter but said nothing.

Li Jing came over at some point, and said with a low laugh, “When Xiaoyu and I get married, I will accompany Xiaoyu back to the Lu Mansion. At that time, father-in-law, don’t think I am coming too diligently.”

As a father-in-law, how could he not feel delighted and joyful upon hearing such words from his future son-in-law?

Lu Lin’s slight sadness disappeared immediately, and he said with a smile, “Okay, okay, I’d better come back from time to time.”

Zhèng Zhòng approached him with a cheeky face: “In the past, my father-in-law liked me the most. Now that I have my sānmèifū[7] and Your Highness, I am about to fall out of favor.”

Li Jing glanced over with a smile: “Dàjiěfū[8] has been filial to father-in-law for a few years, so you must also leave some opportunities to show courtesy to the new sons-in-law.”

Lu Lin was amused and laughed.

Lu Mingyu looked at Li Jing silently.

She really didn’t expect that Li Jing would be so flattering, and with a few words, he made Lu Lin very happy.

Li Jing seemed to have noticed Lu Mingyu’s gaze, quickly turned his head, and smiled at Lu Mingyu.

…

Two days later, the new couple came back.

Lu Minghua’s eyes were like water, her face was like a peach blossom, shy and charming. Zhou Li was considerate and gentle to his new wife. He looked at Lu Minghua from time to time and smiled.

Lu Xuan quietly rubbed the goosebumps on his arms, and whispered: “So corny.”

Lu Mingyue smiled and twisted his ears: “It will be the same when you marry a wife in the future.”

Lu Xuan said arrogantly: “I don’t want to marry a daughter-in-law. From now on, I will be a bǔ kuài[9] and investigate cases. I will be very busy. I won’t have time to marry a wife and have a son.”

The words made everyone laugh.

Only Lu Mingyu’s eyes darkened slightly.

In her previous life, her righteous brother Lu Fei never married. The sixth younger brother, Lu Xuan, entered the Ministry of Criminal Justice, was busy day and night, and never got married. Later, Lu Xuan accidentally injured a leg, his temperament changed suddenly, and he was even more unwilling to marry a wife.

Until she closed her eyes, the two brothers were still bachelors.

In this life, Lu Fei married Shen Lan. Lu Xuan also needs to get married earlier.

Lu Xuan suddenly felt his ears itchy, and rubbed his ears vigorously: “Huh? Is someone scolding me? Why are my ears so itchy?”

References

References↑1third brother-in-law or husband of sister↑2third sister↑3husband of wife’s sister↑4a matron or elder woman who is conducting the marriage rituals↑5foster father↑6third elder sister↑7husband of your third younger sister. Here third sister of wife↑8eldest brother-in-law or husband of your elder sister. Here husband of wife’s elder sister↑9bailiff responsible for catching criminals in Imperial China