It was taking hours to get ready. From the moment he woke up that morning he had been surrounded by people who were trying to pull him one way or the other. He was soaked, scrubbed, oiled, trimmed, brushed, and fortunately fed. Each time he had a chance to grab a bowl of porridge, a spoonful of soup, or a drink of water, he lunged for them.
Teacher Min and then his mother followed him about with reminders and last minute lessons. How to hold his head, how to bow gracefully, how to pour the tea, where to look when he was doing this... His head was spinning!
Then he was layered with clothes, soft delicate under clothes, stiff mid robes with embroidery to hold shape, and his waist was cinched tightly with a waist belt. Then top robes were draped over that fluttered about him like phoenix feathers and gleamed with gold threads.
His hair was fixed with ropes of gold and pins with precious stones, all piled onto his head in an elaborate bun. A gold headdress was fixed over it, an interesting mix between a woman's headdress and a man's. Teacher Min beamed at the sight of it.
"Ah, I have not seen this in ages. It was the Second Prince's mother's when he was married into the palace. He was a very beautiful Ger like yourself, and very favoured." Teacher Min explained with a proud look.
"Who sent it over? Did the Emperor send it over?" Du Mother asked curiously, as she had not seen it before then.
"Yes, Lady Du, he sent it over with his brother's best wishes this morning." A senior serving woman told her with a smile and bow. Du Mother smiled and took a deep breath.
"Du Fen, as your mother it is difficult to say this last part... I have to tell you..." She hesitated, but steeled her resolve when Du Fen looked at her with curiosity.
"What is it?" He asked, trying not to move or breathe as they powdered his neck and cheeks lightly.
"It is about... your purity. See when a Ger is married and the husband has relations for the first time... well, it may hurt a little bit. Just a pinch." She assured him as she made an awkward face. The other women and Ger in the room smiled gently to themselves as they watched the uncomfortable conversation.
"Ah, that... it doesn't sound so bad. I am sure it will be fine mother." He said with his eyes closed as someone traced his lashes with black eye paint. She cleared her throat and continued.
"Yes, well... unlike with a woman, since you are a Ger... there will be a release of hormones when this happens. So... so you may go into your heat early... again." She explained with a nervous look. Du Fen couldn't open his eyes while they dusted them with powders, so he just hummed.
"It's fine. I will take some herbs then." He replied. The women and Ger couldn't help but chuckle at his nonchalance and naiveté. His mother sighed.
"Oh sweetie, this time you can't take your herbs." She patted his perfectly powdered and manicured hand. He flinched at that and luckily the woman was done his makeup, or it would have been ruined as his eyes flung open.
"Eh!? What? Why?" He turned in his seat, looking beautiful and worried. He recalled the most recent time without herbs with a painful look.
"Your husband is the Emperor, dearest Ah Fen. The herbs, they simulate pregnancy for a Ger to make the heat subside. A false pregnancy is not allowed for the new wife of the Emperor. You will have to be in seclusion with him for seven days following the wedding ceremonies." She told him with a worried mother's look.
"I have to... for seven days?" Du Fen almost fainted with the news. Or maybe it was the layers of clothes he was wearing. Or no, it was the thought of being alone with the Emperor for seven whole days!
"Unless... unless the heat ends early on it's own dear." She told him with a suggestive look. Du Fen felt a little flip in his stomach at the thought. It meant, it would only happen if he got pregnant? He wasn't sure if he was ready for that. It wasn't that he hadn't thought of having the man's child, but it was really too soon ah!
"This whole marriage with the Emperor is... so much work." He muttered to himself with a pout. "Mama, if he wasn't soooo handsome." He joked to her. She laughed, along with the other wide-eyed women and Ger in the room. Then his lips were painted with neutral balm and he was put in front of a mirror. He looked...
"Ah... Lord Du Fen looks like an Immortal Fairy!" One of the women gushed. The others agreed and all said how beautiful the boy looked. His mother beamed with pride at the absolute vision her son was on his wedding day.
"Yes, my son is the most beautiful." She agreed, and Du Fen thought that he would not argue the word. At least he did not look too feminine thanks to the robes. She then leads him to the sitting room to wait. The layers of voluminous pants and skirts rustled as he walked.
A sedan would come to pick him up to be married, and his parents sat with him in anticipation. Both of them wore intricate outfits themselves. It had been a long time since Du Fen had seen his father wearing ceremonial robes of that quality, nor his mother wear such exquisite gown.
His father even had his most prized possession, a sword from the Emperor's father, strapped to his side. His mother wore her most expensive jewelry. They waited with a feeling of unease in their bearing, watching every shadow and yet schooled with calm faces.
"General Yu and Prince Ling Min are here to escort the bride!" A guard shouted from outside the room. It seemed as though both his parents sighed in relief and took a more comfortable posture. Du Fen watched as both men came to the door in rich outfits, adorned with metals and ropes and dragging robes like his own father's. He smiled nervously at them, and they bowed carefully.
"Your husband awaits your presence." General Yu said to him. Prince Ling Min smiled and gestured outside to the waiting sedan. Du Fen walked to the door and his eyes widened. It was made of pure gold! The red fabrics draped were trimmed in gold embroidery. The seat cushion was at least a foot thick.
On either side were the betrothal guards and servants, lined up in row upon row to protect his journey. So many as far as his eye could see. Horses of the best quality carried the elite ones, draped in fancy saddles and streaming with red ribbons.
"One last thing." His father said before he walked forward. He took a piece of thin silk and with the help of his mother, draped it over his head. Then he was lead up into the sedan. He sat carefully inside, and waited for them to move forth once his parents got into their own sedan to follow.
The procession went slow, the footsteps of the guards thundering down the streets and the creak of the sedan barely heard. He could hear cheers as he got closer and closer to the great Temple. His palms were sweaty and his heart was racing.
"We are here. Careful as you step down." He heard Prince Ling Min's voice and was helped by two sets of hands to set his feet upon the ground. He allowed himself to be escorted through the thunderous noise and into the Temple. Once inside it was eerily quiet in comparison.
"Your bride is delivered, Your Majesty." The words were said in unison by the four people about him. He recognised his parents and his two escorts, before they were moved into position in the ceremony. His hand was taken by a strong one, and he bit his lip in relief as he was gently led to the great altar.
"One for the heavens!" A shout went up. He waited for the squeeze of his hand and bowed gracefully. A jangle of bells was rung out. They turned to the opposite side, facing out and clasping their other hands.
"One for their ancestors and sires!" A second shout rang out. His hand was squeezed again, and they bowed in unison once more to the ringing of bells. He turned in and wished that he could see the man's face clearly. Was he happy? Stoic? He cursed the fact that he had to wear a stupid veil.
"One for the Lord Emperor, his new husband!" The last command rang out and he carefully sank into a deep bow, his knees bent, and his head lowered. He heard a rustle of murmurs through the crowd and wondered what was going on. He was lifted out of his bow, and the veil was pulled up off his face.
His new husband looked very satisfied, very happy indeed. Du Fen had to supress the urge to flush all the way to his toes. He focused on the next part of the ceremony. They took dishes of food and placed them together on the alter. Then they poured tea, first cup to the gods of heaven.
Du Fen's hand shook a little as he poured the tea for the Emperor, presenting him the cup. Jian Jun took a sip, then turned it towards him and offered it back. Du Fen licked his lips and took it, raising it to his mouth and taking a sip. The Emperor smiled then.
"It is customary to title the new bride, however We feel moved to do more. Before our bride married Us, he had already showed Us his talent, bravery, and devotion to Us." The Emperor said clearly to Du Fen. He motioned for the Prince Ling Min, and he came forward with a big smile.
"Now you have to kneel down." Prince Ling Min whispered with his back facing the audience. Du Fen looked up at Jian Jun and he nodded imperceptibly. He sank down onto his knees, grateful now for the layers of fabric and cleanliness of the alter area.
"Lord Du Fen, Imperial Wife of the Emperor and son of the Great General Du from the North... We hereby award you for your excellence with the official title of the First Consort, and the key to the Imperial Household is now passed to you." The Emperor said with grand pomp.
The Head Eunuch approached the Empress Mother with a tray, and after a hesitation and pout, she lifted a great gold key from her neck and placed it upon the tray. It was carried to them, and presented to Du Fen.
"You must put it on your neck." Prince Ling Min whispered again from nearby, pretending to cough slightly. Du Fen listened to him and placed the chain around his neck with a little difficulty. The Emperor had to stifle his grin as it got a little caught on his headpiece. Eventually it fell into place.
"In addition, We declare that should you give Us Our first born son, We shall bestow the title of Lord Empress upon you." The pronouncement caused another ripple of murmurs through the attending Lords and Generals.
The Emperor looked down at the boy affectionately now, and Du Fen couldn't help the slack jaw and wide eyes he met him with. Did... did he just say Empress? Him? Wait a minute... if he... oh dear, oh dear. It was if he let him... you know!
He wasn't given a minute to think too much before Lord Du Fen was helped to his shaky feet at that time. The Emperor took his arm with his before making his way off the altar to bring Du Fen to their waiting sedan. They would pass through the city with a ridiculously large honour guard.
The Lords and Generals invited to the wedding feast would pass through the Imperial Palace gates with them and the party would go for the two newlyweds until the sun set past the horizon. At that time, they would be shut in the Rose Palace until Lord Du Fen's heat subsided.
It was one of the ways marrying a Ger was different from marrying a woman. They had to plan for the whole week off in case the Ger did not get pregnant in the meantime. A woman was only given three days.
Of course, as the Emperor, he could choose not to bother at all. But it had not happened in some time that the Emperor disliked his bride so much and left her or him alone after the wedding. Still, Du Fen recalled his words to the Emperor on the road, and was nervous whether the man would approach him or no.
It did seem like everything was leading up to them actually being together though. He was a little saddened by the fact that he was being kept from all the delicious food on the table too. He was served wine, tea, broth, and juice... but not any of those lovely looking honey sticks!
"Don't even think about it Du Fen." His mother warned him as he stared at them. He pouted and glanced at her, sitting next to him and watching his every move. "It will give you a stomach ache if you have it just before your heat."
A gong began to sound throughout the hall, and Du Fen looked at the procession of guards that came forward. The Emperor rose from his seat and held a hand out to Du Fen. He blushed furiously and took it, following the man as he joined the honour guards and left the hall which was filling with chuckles.
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