The Demon Lords-Chapter 654 - 119 Departure Bell Rings! _3
However, this was, after all, a royal marriage alliance. The procession parading through the streets was already considered quite unconventional; the sort of boisterous games and playful teasing common in ordinary folk weddings were naturally out of the question.
The requisite dignity and solemnity had to be maintained.
The sound of gongs and drums arose. The Crown Prince dismounted his horse and first signaled for the sedan chair, carried by thirty-six bearers, to halt and be set down.
Immediately, he took a few steps forward and bowed, saying, "I, Ji Chenglang, thank the Earl of North Border and his wife for your esteemed affection, allowing me to welcome your daughter into the sedan chair."
The Earl of North Border and his wife were not present, but the thanks still needed to be given, and the ceremonial procedures still had to be followed.
Next on the agenda was the Yan Emperor's imperial edict. This would be followed by a family letter from the Earl of North Border's household and then the Empress's decree. The Minister of Rites also had to personally preside over certain procedures.
Therefore, although there were no lively games like those at commoners' weddings, the complexity of the procedures was by no means lesser than those of the common folk; if anything, it was greater.
The Crown Prince had eaten early, as had the three Princes, all of them prepared for a long day.
But just as the imperial edict had been read out, and with a host of procedures still to come, the main gates of the West Garden suddenly swung open from within.
One of the Four Great Swordsmen, a renowned blade of Yan State and the General Commander under the Earl of North Border, Li Liangshen, emerged slowly. He held a sword in his left hand and, with his right, led a young woman adorned with a phoenix coronet and dressed in red wedding attire.
The surrounding civil and military nobles were all stunned by this sight. The Minister of Rites was so shocked that he felt like an old wad of phlegm was stuck in his throat—he couldn't cough it up or swallow it down, nearly rolling his eyes back and fainting from sheer exasperation.
Li Liangshen was the adopted son of the Earl of North Border, making him the Princess's adoptive elder brother. With her parents not in the capital, it was perfectly reasonable for Li Liangshen to escort her.
However, to skip the rites in such a direct manner was not. It was a clear statement, an attitude that declared: You think you can bind me with these etiquettes and rules? Fat chance!
Currently, the Imperial Guard was absent from Yanjing. The defense of the capital actually rested with the North Border Army. This army was part of the Princess's dowry and the foundation of her confidence.
The Crown Prince's expression stiffened slightly, but it was quickly replaced by a warm smile. He took the initiative to walk over, ignoring the nearby masters of ceremonies and the Minister of Rites, who looked as if his blood vessels were about to burst. He evidently intended to follow her example and go welcome his wife.
Of the three Princes, apart from Ji Chengsu, who was young, the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince exchanged a look, their eyes holding a mix of schadenfreude and wry smiles.
The schadenfreude stemmed from the fact that their second brother was marrying a real tigress; he was certainly in for it.
As for the wry smiles, those were for themselves. With such an assertive sister-in-law, who also held such a special status, their lives as her younger brothers-in-law were going to be... well, they could only sigh.
On the ramparts of the Yan State Imperial Palace gate, the Yan Emperor's dragon palanquin was ready. Wei Zhonghe attended by His Majesty's side.
When the Princess married into the Ji Family, Li Liangting could choose not to come. But he, Ji Runhao, had to give face to the brother he had grown up with.
As the monarch of a nation and the head of the Ji Family, he humbled himself to wait personally at the palace gate to welcome her.
At this moment, eunuchs were constantly scurrying between the West Garden and this location, reporting the latest news.
Upon hearing that the Princess had directly skipped the etiquette and walked out on her own, Ji Runhao burst into laughter.
This temper of hers, it truly has her mother's flair from back in the day.
Once, right here in the West Garden, after the Yan Emperor and the Earl of North Border had been drinking, the Yan Emperor himself had said, "If your daughter has what it takes for the hen to crow at dawn, then let her go right ahead."
As long as he, Ji Runhao, was alive, she wouldn't get the chance. Once he was gone, as long as she didn't do anything to wrong the Ji Family, she could stir things up however she pleased.
Therefore, the Yan Emperor genuinely didn't mind this unconventional behavior from his soon-to-be daughter-in-law; on the contrary, he found it amusing.
"Is the gate of Lord Jingnan's residence still closed?" the Yan Emperor asked suddenly, as if a thought had struck him.
Wei Zhonghe immediately replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, yes. Several imperial edicts have been sent, both secret and general, but Lord Jingnan's residence has refused to accept them all."
The Yan Emperor nodded, his expression unreadable.
On this matter, Wei Zhonghe dared not utter an extra word, nor did he dare to speculate on His Majesty's intentions.
After a short while, the Yan Emperor spoke again, "Later, send a note to Zhao Jiulang. Tell him that once Tian Wujing has finished this campaign, he is to get married. As for Tian Wujing's wedding ceremony, let Zhao Jiulang himself draw up the plans. It must not overshadow this current wedding, but it also cannot be too shabby. Since that old Barbarian King is willing to marry his daughter to us, our Yan cannot appear too petty."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Wei Zhonghe replied. "This servant understands."
Just at that moment,
DONG! DONG! DONG!
The bells suddenly began to toll.
It was the sound of the Departure Bell!
The Departure Bell had not rung for many years. Atop the gate towers of Yan's four city gates, there was a Departure Bell, established by an ancestral emperor of the Ji Family. This bell was not for telling time, nor for joyous occasions or funerals, nor for festivals.
It was called the Departure Bell because once a change in the war situation occurred within the territory of Yan State, its tolling signified that the men of Yan—both direct descendants of the royal Ji Family and common Yan people alike—would have to bid farewell to their families, take up their arms, and ride to the battlefield.
In the past, during the fiercest battles between Yan and the barbarian tribes, the Departure Bell could be said to ring year after year. In recent years, it had long fallen silent; many young Yan people were not even aware of the Departure Bell's existence.
According to the ancestral customs of Yan, once news of a significant military defeat at the front arrived, and military dispatches detailing the situation passed through the city gates, the Departure Bell at that gate must be rung, and the Departure Bells at the other city gates must swiftly follow suit.
All of Yanjing would then suspend all joyous occasions, funerals, ceremonies, and celebrations, to face the crisis together.
This was also a warning from the Ji Family ancestors to their descendants, fearing the emergence of unworthy offspring who would indulge in pleasure, oblivious to the cataclysms outside. It also forbade future emperors from playing tricks to whitewash peace, burying their heads in the sand and pretending nothing was wrong just to maintain superficial stability.
Wei Zhonghe immediately reported, "Your Majesty, the first toll came from the East Gate."
Coming from the East Gate meant the military intelligence was from the eastern front, not from the western desert.
It was the eastern expedition army... the eastern expedition army had suffered a defeat.
"Pass Our imperial edict: the grand wedding is suspended. Summon all officials to court."
"This servant obeys the edict."
Even if it was the Crown Prince's grand wedding, when the Departure Bell rang, it had to be halted.
The dragon palanquin was lifted. The Yan Emperor was about to leave for the main hall to await the arrival of the civil and military officials for discussion. But just before departing, the Yan Emperor suddenly added, "Immediately send another edict to Lord Jingnan's residence. Ask him, Tian Wujing, if he has caused enough trouble yet!"
