Chapter 259: The Date is Set
The night was gentle tonight.
At the hour of Zi, Shen Xingnong and Chu Tiankuo met in the space again.
Chu Tiankuo handed a red invitation with gold accents to Shen Xingnong, his eyes seemed to twinkle with starlight.
Shen Xingnong took it, opened it, and casually asked, “What’s this? A betrothal letter?”
She was just joking, after all, getting married in ancient times required going through the “Three Letters and Six Etiquettes.”
“The date for the investiture ceremony and our wedding has been set, right during the autumn harvest season.”
Shen Xingnong’s eyes widened: “So soon?”
Chu Tiankuo glanced at her: “Soon? It’s only the end of February.”
There were still half a year until the golden September.
“I thought it would be next year at the earliest.”
Chu Tiankuo: “Next year is a ‘blind year,’ not suitable for marriage. The year after that, there wouldn’t be an auspicious date suitable for us until the end of the year. Moreover…”
Chu Tiankuo pulled her into his arms, gently embracing her, his chin resting on top of her head: “By the end of the year after next, I would be pestered by all the officials in the court.”
Shen Xingnong: “…”
In this dynasty, it was rare for men to remain unmarried by the age of twenty. Those who were still single by twenty-four or twenty-five would be suspected of having some sort of problem!
Moreover, as the Crown Prince, Chu Tiankuo’s marriage was also a political matter, and it was indeed not suitable for him to marry late.
Chu Tiankuo rubbed his chin against the top of her head and said softly, “However, if you think it’s too soon, then let’s do it at the end of the year after next! It’s all up to you. I’ll go talk to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau tomorrow and tell them to set the wedding for the end of the year after next. As for the Crown Princess investiture ceremony, it will be in January, there’s no time in other months. Because the year after next, Father Emperor’s fiftieth birthday celebration is in February, Empress Dowager’s seventieth birthday is in April, Mother Empress’s birthday banquet is in May, the 150th anniversary of the founding of Chu State is in June, the Four Kingdoms Youth Formation Master Competition hosted by Chu State is in July and August, the grand ceremony of offering sacrifices to Heaven is in September, October… That entire year is quite busy.”
Shen Xingnong was almost dizzy from listening. She only then remembered that she had previously agreed to get married during his investiture ceremony to avoid too much trouble. Now, hearing about all these grand birthday celebrations and ceremonies, she felt a headache and said, “September this year it is then!”
She wouldn’t join in the fun the year after next!
Otherwise, the Ministry of Rites would probably be overwhelmed!
The corner of Chu Tiankuo’s mouth curled up slightly: “Alright!”
Shen Xingnong: “…”
This answer was too smug and straightforward!
She couldn’t help but gently push him away and saw his smug look. She looked at him suspiciously: “You’re not deliberately scaring me, tricking me into marriage, are you?”
Chu Tiankuo laughed and pulled her into his arms again, then cupped her small face in his hands: “Yes, tricking you into marriage. But you’ve already agreed, there’s no chance of going back now!”
After saying that, he closed his eyes and slowly lowered his head.
Shen Xingnong watched his handsome face draw closer and closer. As his kiss landed, she closed her eyes and thought: Trick me then! With this kind of looks, she was willing to be tricked! No regrets!
~
The next day, to show his sincerity, Chu Tiankuo personally visited the Jin Kingdom Emperor and Shen Ruoxi to discuss the wedding date. Once they agreed, they could formally begin the “Three Letters and Six Etiquettes.”
Of course, it was actually inappropriate for him to come and discuss this matter.
But he couldn’t trust anyone else to handle it, afraid they wouldn’t be able to settle it. He had to disregard etiquette and come himself.
He didn’t care whether it was in line with etiquette or not, being able to marry her back was the real deal.
He even deliberately discussed it with the Jin Kingdom Emperor while Shen Xingnong and Shen Ruoxi were present, because Shen Ruoxi would help him.
Upon hearing this, the Jin Kingdom Emperor immediately protested: “September this year? No way! At least five years later!”
He had only just found his daughter, hadn’t even compensated her enough, and she was going to get married?
What was the difference between this and not having a daughter at all?
Shen Ruoxi glared at him upon hearing this. Five years later, Shen Xingnong would be an old maid!
Shen Xingnong was already eighteen years old, which in the village, most people would have already been married and had children.
Besides, Shen Xingnong still had Shen Xingqing and Shen Xinghui below her. If Shen Xingnong didn’t marry, it wouldn’t be easy for Shen Xingqing to find a match either. Wouldn’t this delay Shen Xingqing and Shen Xinghui’s marriage prospects?
Most importantly, she felt that Chu Tiankuo was very good, very satisfied with this son-in-law! He had fallen for Shen Xingnong when she was still dark and thin, which showed that he wasn’t a lustful person.
Shen Ruoxi smiled and said: “September is good! Let’s do it in September! Next year is a ‘blind year,’ not suitable for marriage, and the year after that would be too late. This year is good, with an intercalary month and two ‘Spring Begins.’ Let’s do it in September this year! Shen Xingnong’s grandmother and I also think it’s better to get married this year.”
Shen Ruoxi and Madam Gu had indeed thought about when would be a good time for Shen Xingnong to get married.
Next year, getting married during a ‘blind year’ was definitely not possible, it was unlucky!
Waiting another year, Shen Xingnong would be twenty, an old maid!
If they hadn’t found a suitable person, then forget it. But since they had found one, why not get married sooner?
โฟโฟโฟ
As for the Jin Kingdom Emperor’s suggestion of five years later, Shen Ruoxi simply took it as him deliberately making things difficult for Chu Tiankuo and didn’t take it seriously at all.
Shen Xingnong looked at Chu Tiankuo upon hearing this. So next year really was a ‘blind year’?
She hadn’t really paid attention to whether next year was a year without ‘Spring Begins.’
After all, in modern times, people got married every year.
Chu Tiankuo saw Shen Xingnong looking over and gave her a helpless look. He wouldn’t actually lie to her, what he said was all true, but he had deliberately made his tone a little more aggrieved.
The Jin Kingdom Emperor wanted to object, but then he thought of Shen Ruoxi refusing to let him sleep in the room if she got angry.
He helplessly realized that he had no standing anymore!
No one listened to his opinion at all!
Objecting was useless.
Chu Tiankuo looked at the Jin Kingdom Emperor again.
The Jin Kingdom Emperor snorted coldly.
Shen Ruoxi quietly pinched the flesh on his waist.
The Jin Kingdom Emperor: “…”
He glared at Chu Tiankuo and said grumpily: “Didn’t you hear my Empress say September?”
Upon hearing this, Chu Tiankuo stood up and bowed respectfully to the two: “Thank you, Your Majesty and Empress, for your consent!”
Shen Ruoxi smiled and said: “We’re family, don’t be so polite!”
Anyway, she really liked Chu Tiankuo as her son-in-law!
After the matter was settled, Chu Tiankuo went to check on Madam Gu again, changed her medicine, and then left.
~
In the blink of an eye, another five days passed. Chu Tiankuo came to Xi Garden again to check on Madam Gu’s leg.
Chu Yuehou, who had run into Chu Tiankuo on the way and used the excuse of a follow-up check for his head injury, came along.
After Chu Tiankuo checked Madam Gu’s pulse, felt her bones, and changed her medicine, he said: “The bones are healing well, there’s no misalignment, it’s even faster than I expected. As long as you take it easy from now on, you can try getting out of bed in a month and a half, see if it hurts. If it doesn’t hurt, then it’s fine.”
It takes a hundred days for injured muscles and bones to heal. Chu Tiankuo had originally thought that even with the improved Bone-Nourishing Pills and Muscle-Regenerating Pills, it would take two and a half months to fully recover.
Now it seemed that it could heal in less than a month and a half. However, to be on the safe side, Chu Tiankuo still asked Madam Gu to wait a month and a half before walking around.
Hearing this, Madam Gu’s face also showed a happy expression: “Then can I go back to Futai County?”
Chu Yuehou was a little reluctant to hear this. He hadn’t recovered his memories yet and said: “… Wouldn’t this foot injury be unsuitable for the long journey?”
Madam Gu: “Riding in a carriage or taking a boat doesn’t require walking, it won’t be a problem.”
Chu Yuehou had nothing to say, his thin lips pursed.
The Jin Kingdom Emperor then said: “Mother, why don’t you come with us to Jin Kingdom to watch Shen Xingnong’s competition? It’ll be good to have someone to look after you on the journey.”
Since Madam Gu’s foot was fine, they should also set off back to Jin Kingdom.
Madam Gu waved her hand: “No, I’m an old woman, I won’t bother!”
She had enough of the journey to the capital!
So two days later, Shen Xingnong, the Jin Kingdom Emperor, and the others set off for Jin Kingdom, dropping Madam Gu off at Futai County on the way.
That day, Chu Yuehou arrived at the city gate early in the morning.
