“Ranran, what Mother is about to tell you next is the most important part of marriage between a man and a woman—”
In the dead of night, inside the brightly lit Listening Summer Pavilion, Zheng Shi opened the delicate Bride’s Red Wooden Box on the table. “Rite of Zhou Gong.”
Yun Ran looked up and saw that the very top of the box was a thin booklet.
When the booklet was moved aside, underneath was a pair of finely crafted, smooth Porcelain Dolls.
Zheng Shi took out the pair of Porcelain Dolls embracing each other, then, right in front of Yun Ran, she “clacked” them apart—
With that separation, the structure of both male and female was immediately clear.
Yun Ran hadn’t expected this to be the case once the dolls were separated.
She was familiar with the female doll’s body, after all, she saw her own every day when bathing, but the male doll…
She furrowed her brow, staring at that protruding thing about three inches below the navel, then looked at the notch at the waist of the female doll, suddenly understanding.
“I get it. It’s just like the mortise and tenon structure in houses.”
Yun Ran took the two dolls from Zheng Shi and started fiddling with them. “If you shove it in like this, they’re stuck together, right?”
Seeing her daughter “clack” the two Porcelain Dolls together in a flash, Zheng Shi’s eyelid twitched. “That’s the principle, but the union between man and woman should never be so simple and rough…”
She was just thinking about how to express this tactfully when, with another “clack,” Yun Ran separated the two dolls again.
“Mother, are you going to teach me the Room Arts?”
Yun Ran poked at the oddly structured male Porcelain Doll. “If it’s about Room Arts, I’ve read some books before, so you don’t have to explain.”
Zheng Shi was shocked. “You… Where did you read about these things?!”
She was still so young, an unmarried girl, where could she have read such things?
“In our Daoguan’s Shujai.”
Yun Ran said, “Don’t be fooled by how small and shabby our Daoguan is, we still have quite a collection of books. Although, some books Master allows us to read, and some he keeps locked up, saying it’s not time for us to learn those yet. Like those volumes about Room Arts, the silk scrolls and bamboo slips are always locked up, and I’m not allowed to touch them.”
Zheng Shi’s willow brows furrowed slightly, her expression complicated. “Then how did you get to see them?”
“Well, Master got sick, the Daoguan ran out of money, and all the Senior Sisters went down the mountain to find work. Only Fourth Senior Sister and I stayed behind.”
Yun Ran sighed helplessly. “Fourth Senior Sister doesn’t like to read, and she only knows a little about Interpretation of Lots and Divination, but she’s older than me and seems more mature, so usually she’s the one in front interpreting lots for guests, while I’m in the back telling her how to explain, which story to use, and which reference. But sometimes I come across things I don’t understand, and there’s no one to ask, so Fourth Senior Sister gave me the Jade Key to the Shujai and let me teach myself.”
So, every day after finishing her chores and daily lessons, she would dive into the Shujai.
At fourteen or fifteen, one is at the age of rebellion and curiosity—the more forbidden, the more irresistible.
The very first day Yun Ran got the key, she unlocked the chest and read through all the old books inside: “Things like the Daoist Scripture of the Plain Girl, Dongxuanzi, Harmony of Yin and Yang Formula, Health Nurturing Formula, Assorted Therapies Formula… I read them all, more or less.”
Zheng Shi held her forehead. “So you understand the matters between man and woman?”
Yun Ran nodded. “Isn’t it just the Union of Yin and Yang?”
Looking at her daughter, so earnest and completely unashamed, Zheng Shi: “…”
Why did she find it so hard to believe?
“Then why don’t you tell me about it?”
Hearing that her mother wanted to test her, Yun Ran immediately sat up straight, cleared her throat, and recited: “The Health Cultivation Way values essence, qi, and spirit, practiced through the Room Arts, dietary arts, and breathing arts. The Room Arts are the ultimate expression of one’s nature, the highest Dao, the Union of Yin and Yang, the Heavenly Mandate united as one.”
“‘Harmony of Yin and Yang Formula’ records: For the methods of union, hold hands, pass the wrist yang, press the elbow to the side, touch the armpit, move up to the shoulder, circle around, down to the collarbone, pass the sweet dew, cross Bo Sea, ascend Mount Heng, enter the Mysterious Gate…”
As she spoke, she picked up the two little Porcelain Dolls, pressing their upper bodies together but not joining them below. “The book also says, even if a man and woman just hold each other like this, without joining, it’s still quite interesting.”
Zheng Shi: “…”
Her daughter’s theory was indeed comprehensive, but…
To prevent her daughter from spouting Daoist texts, mysterious books, or Health Nurturing Formula on her wedding night to the Jing Prince, Zheng Shi took the Porcelain Dolls from Yun Ran’s hands and handed her the thin booklet from the box. “Enough, just take a look at this.”
Yun Ran obediently replied and took the booklet. When she opened it, her dark eyes widened.
Zheng Shi said nothing, only quietly observed her daughter’s reaction.
She watched Yun Ran flip through the Spring Painting Album, her expression changing from initial surprise, to seriousness, and then, as her snow-white eartips turned pink, Zheng Shi finally let out a sigh of relief—
She should have just shown her the paintings to begin with, no need to waste all that effort.
Yun Ran hadn’t expected that the obscure lines she had memorized to exhaustion from the bamboo slips and silk scrolls, once painted, could be so… face-burning and heart-racing.
Earlier, when she read the part about the “Ten Positions,” she was so confused—how could people pose like ten different animals?
Things like tiger prowl, cicada clinging, measuring worm, and curling horn— she couldn’t imagine it at all.
Now, seeing these vividly colored, lifelike illustrations, she understood. “So that’s how it is…”
Zheng Shi’s brow twitched. “Now do you understand?”
Yun Ran took a deep breath, closed the Spring Painting Album, and nodded again. “This time I really do understand.”
Zheng Shi finally let out a huge sigh of relief. “Good, that’s good.”
Yun Ran: “But—”
Zheng Shi’s breath caught again. “But what?”
Yun Ran pinched the thin booklet, her delicate brows furrowed. “Do I… really have to do these things with the Jing Prince? We’ve never even met, and we’re not close.”
Finally, she asked the key question.
Zheng Shi patted her daughter’s hand. “This is how it is on the wedding night. Even if you and the Jing Prince aren’t close now, after tomorrow, when you officially become husband and wife, you’ll be the closest people in the world.”
Hearing this, Yun Ran still couldn’t imagine doing such things with a strange man.
But she also knew that everyone did this on their wedding night.
The books said so too— marriage is the union of heaven and earth, and if there is no Union of Yin and Yang, no mutual complement, how could there be unending life?
“It’s getting late. Get some rest. As for husband and wife matters… well, the Jing Prince likes quiet. Tomorrow night, just talk less and go along with whatever he wants.”
“Alright.”
Yun Ran shrugged, still holding the booklet. “Mother, can I keep this booklet?”
Zheng Shi paused, then turned her face aside and coughed. “Of course. This booklet and those Porcelain Dolls are meant to be the bride’s keepsake, to be included with your dowry when you go to your husband’s home.”
Hearing this, Yun Ran felt relieved.
After all, she had only skimmed it just now— there was still a lot she hadn’t seen.
That night, with her mother’s company, Yun Ran slept especially soundly and sweetly.
–
The next day was the eleventh of November.
The birthday of the Ten Directions Supreme Savior, and also the wedding day of the Jing Prince and the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Changxin Manor.
At the break of dawn in early winter, a maid’s voice called from outside. “Madam, Young Miss, it’s already mao hour. Time to get up.”
Zheng Shi was a light sleeper and woke up quickly.
She had cried herself to sleep last night, and now both her eyes were swollen like walnuts.
“Mother, did you cry again last night?”
Yun Ran woke up and, seeing her mother’s state, felt a pang of heartache. She hurried out of bed, soaked a cloth, and pressed it to Zheng Shi’s eyes. “Here, use this for a bit.”
Thinking of how she had cuddled her daughter and cried again after Yun Ran fell asleep last night, Zheng Shi felt a bit embarrassed. “Alright, today is your big day. How can I let you wait on me? Go wash up, I’ll take care of myself.”
Yun Ran pursed her lips. “But you mustn’t secretly cry again.”
Zheng Shi dabbed her eyes with the cloth. “I know, go on now.”
Yun Ran took a long look at Zheng Shi on the bed, then finally put on her outer robe and walked out.
Who would have thought, as soon as she opened the door, she saw a neat row of a dozen palace maids in ceremonial dress standing outside, while her own maids stood timidly by the pillars like quails.
Yun Ran frowned and looked at Qingling. “What’s going on?”
“These are all palace maids sent here specially to do your hair and makeup, Young Miss.”
Following the voice, Yun Ran saw Langui Mama, who usually wore autumn-green or stone-blue palace robes, now dressed in a dark red gown embroidered with grape patterns.
“Mama, your outfit today is so festive and pretty. You should wear this color more often.”
“You flatter me, Young Miss. I’m just an old bag of bones—no need for such bright colors. Today, it’s only because of your good fortune that I put on red for the occasion.”
After spending time together, Langui Mama had grown fond of Yun Ran, and now, seeing the young Princess Consort about to marry, she felt as if her own granddaughter were getting married.
Smiling, she said, “Your wedding robe is what’s truly exquisite and beautiful. Today, I guarantee they’ll doll you up so you’ll look like a fairy descended to earth!”
With that, she nodded to the palace maids.
The maids immediately clustered around Yun Ran and led her inside.
Zheng Shi, after a quick wash, left Listening Summer Pavilion to busy herself in the front yard.
Yun Ran finished her breakfast, hurried to offer three sticks of incense to the Heavenly Lord of Salvation, set out some fresh fruit and pastries, and was then brought back to the dressing table, where the skillful palace maids began to apply powder, rouge, and arrange her hair.
No one knew how much time had passed. Yun Ran was so bored she started yawning.
Finally, a voice sounded above her. “All done, Young Miss. Have a look in the mirror?”
Yun Ran looked up and was stunned.
She had thought her look in the palace back in August was already extravagant, but now, the person in the mirror had a snow-white face, two inky-black brows, two patches of red blush, and lips painted into a tiny cherry.
Her hair was piled high atop her head, weighed down with a Golden Phoenix Crown studded with jewels, and bristling with golden hairpins and dangling ornaments.
The maids beside her all exclaimed, “Young Miss, you look so beautiful, truly a national beauty, like a fairy!”
“Yes, before makeup she looked a bit too young, but with the makeup on, she looks so dignified and mature.”
Yun Ran: “…”
What kind of fairy looks like a white-faced ghost? And with this much powder, it’s hard not to look “mature.”
Once her hair and makeup were done, the maids helped Yun Ran into the inner room to change into her wedding robe.
The splendid wedding attire had six layers.
By the time she was on the third, the female relatives who had been drinking wedding wine in the front yard all came to Listening Summer Pavilion to give gifts and join in the wedding fun.
When Yun Ran, dressed in a complex, bright red Marriage Robe, appeared before everyone, she was met with another wave of admiration—
“The Princess Consort looks simply radiant, like spring flowers, bright as the autumn moon.”
“Look at that robe! I heard the Embroidery Maids from the Shangyi Bureau worked for sixty-four days and nights to finish it.”
“No wonder—palace Embroidery Maids really are different. The bride looks even more beautiful and dazzling.”
Most of the women who could come to Listening Summer Pavilion were relatives of the Marquis of Changxin Manor.
But with Langui Mama present, they were somewhat reserved, so after a few congratulatory words to Yun Ran, they presented their gifts and moved to the side hall for tea.
Yun Ran’s main companions were still her three sisters-in-law—
They were all dressed brightly and festively.
Third Sister-in-law, Qian Sijin, wore a new pair of lantern-shaped gold earrings and whispered to Yun Ran, “When the wedding invitations went out, we were worried people wouldn’t come. But today, seeing you’re still safe and sound, everyone rushed to Listening Summer Pavilion to send you off!”
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