The entire prefecture began a sweeping investigation, and Wang Yan also ushered in a new chapter of his life in the Song Dynasty.
The matter of taking a concubine had already been settled. Wang Yan was willing, Hualan had no objections, and the main branch of the Sheng Family was willing to give their daughter in marriage. Naturally, the sooner it was done, the sooner it would be settled.
Thus, after the Lantern Festival, a party set out from Youyang and traveled by water to Hangzhou.
The rites for taking a concubine naturally could not compare to those for a principal wife entering the household through a proper marriage. There were far fewer procedures, far less festivity, and nowhere near as much pomp. Taking a concubine was relatively simple; often, a few people would carry a red sedan chair to bring her into the home, and that was that.
Still, the main branch of the Sheng Family had already wronged their daughter. After all, their daughter could have married another man as his principal wife. They might not have been able to reach the very highest branches, but they would not have had to settle for anyone too poor. That was why, in the original story, they had chosen Scholar Sun—an investment in his future. They simply had not expected Scholar Sun to be so useless.
Now, Wang Yan was at the height of his power, unbelievably formidable. In just over a month, he had seized control of Hangzhou, then ground the great households of Hangzhou into the dirt. He had done far too many impressive things, and he was a genuinely dependable man. Moreover, Wang Yan's principal wife was also from the Sheng Family. Hualan had long been known for her virtue and gentleness, so she surely would not