Chapter 1116: Liu Xu Takes a Wife

After autumn set in, although the lingering summer heat was still raging, the climate was indeed showing signs of turning cooler, gradually becoming comfortable and pleasant. Emperor Liu, who had spent nearly two months at the Qionglin Garden, had finally been willing to move back to the Han Palace. This time was the longest he had been away from the imperial city during his stay in the capital.

During this period, Emperor Liu had truly accomplished what he set out to do—apart from suburban sacrifices, military campaigns, appointments of Daoist officials, and matters of punishment and execution, all affairs of state, great and small, were entrusted to the ministers and high officials. The Crown Prince had also begun to make his voice heard at court, while he himself only concerned himself with matters that interested him.

Of course, there was another reason for returning to the palace this time: the eldest imperial son, Duke of Qin Liu Xu, was to be married. Liu Xu had just turned sixteen not long ago, seventeen by nominal age, and rounding up, one could say he was nearly twenty. Although still young in years, there was absolutely no problem with him getting married.

Back when his mother, Chen Consort Geng, had been with Liu Chengyou, Emperor Liu himself had only been sixteen or seventeen. On the other hand, preparations for Liu Xu's marriage had been underway for some time. Liu Xu had been raised by Empress Dowager Li, and this also fulfilled the old lady's wish to hold a great-grandchild sooner.

Since this was both his first son and his first time taking in a daughter-in-law, Emperor Liu naturally attached great importance to it. Although the final decision rested with the Empress Dowager, he had personally participated in the selection process. The chosen bride was naturally a virtuous lady from a distinguished family—the youngest daughter of Count Jianning Bai Tinghui, Bai Ying.

Although the Bai family could not be counted among the top-tier great houses of the Great Han, they were nonetheless descendants of a founding minister. All their blessings and protection came from the late meritorious elder statesman Bai Wenke.

Compared to those renowned meritorious veterans, Bai Wenke's fame was not great—he even seemed rather ordinary. But in the early days, within the Hedong regime, few could match his exalted status. To give just one example: when Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan originally held the title of Defender of the Northern Capital, Bai Wenke served as his deputy defender, and he followed Liu Zhiyuan for many years, rendering distinguished service in the process of establishing the Great Han.

However, despite his seniority, Bai Wenke's presence was not particularly felt during Emperor Liu's reign, mainly because of his advanced age, and because Liu Chengyou at that time preferred to employ younger civil and military officials.

Bai Wenke could be considered long-lived—he passed away at the age of seventy-nine. But because he died somewhat early and lacked outstanding achievements, he could not receive particularly high honors when merits were being assessed.

Nevertheless, he was not forgotten in the end. His son Bai Tinghui did inherit the title of Count of Jianning. And now, having produced a fine daughter who caught the Empress Dowager's eye and was matched with the eldest imperial son Liu Xu, one could say the family's fortunes had turned around.

The young lady of the Bai family was Bai Tinghui's youngest daughter, but she was already eighteen, more than two years older than Liu Xu. However, this gap was hardly significant—the Empress was older than Liu Chengyou, and Noble Consort Gao was nearly three years older than the Emperor. Moreover, being somewhat older meant being more mature and better able to take care of others...

The marriage of the eldest imperial son naturally followed court ritual protocols. Every step of the process adhered to the established regulations, and the Six Rites of marriage proceeded all the way to the day of fetching the bride.

On the eighteenth day of the seventh month in the second year of Kaibao, according to the *Kaibao Imperial Calendar*, it was naturally an auspicious day, suitable for marriage and travel. Liu Xu's wedding was thus set for this day.

The Duke of Qin's mansion was located outside the southeast of the imperial city, in Leping Ward, the closest ward to Kaifeng's Tian Street. It had been specially commissioned by imperial decree from Emperor Liu—though it was merely an old residence that had been renovated and refurbished. Even so, this sufficiently demonstrated his regard.

And because of Liu Xu's grand wedding, dignitaries and nobles from Kaifeng and even beyond the capital all stirred into action, either preparing congratulatory gifts or offering their assistance. The Emperor's affairs were everyone's affairs—the eldest imperial son's marriage naturally had to be taken seriously, to demonstrate loyalty.

Upon learning of this trend both inside and outside the capital, Emperor Liu reacted immediately. He issued an edict stating that the Duke of Qin's marriage was a family matter, requiring no great stir from court or country, and strictly forbade any disturbance to the people. Officials inside and outside the capital were not to prepare congratulatory gifts, and any invited guests' gifts must not exceed one string of cash in value.

With this clear edict from the Son of Heaven, the upper and lower ranks finally settled down somewhat. Liu Chengyou's feeling was becoming increasingly pronounced: since the first year of Kaibao, it seemed that whenever there was the slightest stir at the top, it would be amplified below; and if it involved the imperial family, it was certain to cause a sensation.

This instead made Emperor Liu suspicious and uneasy, wondering whether this omen and tendency was good or bad.

But even with the preventive measures in place, Liu Xu's wedding was still conducted with sufficient grandeur. Within the capital, all qualified nobles received invitations to participate in the ceremony and enjoy a wedding feast.

Liu Xu had moved into the Duke of Qin's mansion early, and with the assistance of Ministry of Rites officials and a host of household retainers, he need not worry about the wedding arrangements—he only had to quietly wait to become the groom. For this occasion, the role of master of ceremonies fell to none other than Bureau Director of the Water Bureau Geng Chong'en, for he was Liu Xu's maternal uncle, the person closest to him by blood after Liu Chengyou and the Empress Dowager.

On the day of the wedding, Liu Xu was roused early in the morning, groomed and dressed, changed into his wedding attire, and even had light makeup applied with powder and rouge. Ministry of Rites officials stood by, supervising his conduct and reminding him of the ritual details he had already memorized by heart.

Liu Xu, who was by nature gentle and refined, was nearly driven to his breaking point. After all, he was still just a sixteen-year-old youth, about to take on responsibilities and step into another stage of life—some nervousness was inevitable.

However, when he saw his chattering younger brothers and sisters, his composure returned, and he broke into a smile as warm as a spring breeze.

Liu Xi, Liu Fang, Liu Yun, and the other older younger brothers led a crowd of boys and girls as they rushed eagerly to the Duke of Qin's mansion. The younger siblings felt both novelty and joy—especially Liu Yun, who had always loved lively occasions and looked the most excited of all.

"So this is eldest brother's mansion? It looks really nice. I wonder—when I get married in the future, will Father grant me one too?" The Fifth Prince Liu Yun, upon entering the mansion, looked left and right with a hint of envy.

Hearing this, his full brother Liu Fang immediately slapped him on the shoulder and teased: "What, have you got spring in your heart too? Want to take a wife? Too bad—you'll have to wait a few more years!"

Caught off guard by his elder brother's sudden move, Liu Yun felt his innards jolt. Pulling a sour face, he quickly dodged away from Liu Fang, putting his eldest sister Liu Jia in front of him as a shield, then said to Liu Fang: "Why would I need to wait years? Next year I'll ask Father for a wife..."

Liu Yun was only twelve this year. Going back five or six hundred years, as a member of the imperial family, getting married and taking a wife at this age would hardly have been surprising.

"It seems the Fifth Young Lord's heart is indeed stirring with spring!" Liu Xi chimed in with a teasing remark.

But the eldest imperial daughter Liu Jia, whom Liu Yun had used as a barrier to separate himself from the Fourth Brother, was displeased. She disdainfully brushed off the hand resting on her shoulder, about to scold him, when she caught sight of Liu Xu emerging from the door. Her eyes lit up, and she hurried over, looking up at him: "Elder Brother, are you off to fetch your bride now?"

Meeting her gaze, Liu Xu spread his hands and smiled wryly: "Everything must follow the master of ceremonies' arrangements—I have no say in any of it!"

"Is getting married really this exhausting?"

"Little sister, you wouldn't understand—this is bitterness first, sweetness after. The joy of it comes after tonight..." Liu Xi chuckled, winking at Liu Jia, showing a rare hint of lechery.

Seeing him like this, Liu Jia furrowed her delicate brows, not understanding his meaning. She instinctively moved away from Liu Xi and looked at Liu Xu with a puzzled expression.

Seeing this, Liu Xu immediately glared at Liu Xi and scolded: "What nonsense are you talking?!"

Liu Xi gave an embarrassed smile and immediately resumed a proper demeanor—though he still shot Liu Xu an improper wink. Liu Xi was also a fifteen-year-old youth, at that age when the heart stirs with spring. Having seen plenty of palace beauties, he was naturally interested in the opposite sex.

And Liu Xi, it seemed, had clearly tasted the forbidden fruit and explored the mysteries of the female body... Because of this matter, his legs had nearly been broken by Noble Consort Gao.

In comparison, Liu Xu was more than a year older, but he had always been a well-behaved child. Though he understood such things and had entertained fantasies, he still observed propriety and rules. Teased by Liu Xi like this, his heartstrings trembled as well. Though he maintained his composed facade, a hint of anticipation showed in his eyes.

Today, he too could unleash the instincts of human nature.

As for Liu Jia, she looked back and forth between her two brothers, growing even more puzzled...