The fifteenth day of the fourth month, in the twenty-sixth year of Deyuan.
It was a peculiar day. Though considered deeply inauspicious overall, its auspicious hours were clustered close together, making it suitable for marriage.
On the wedding day, the Crown Prince would personally escort his bride. The emperor would preside over the ceremonial admonition from his hall, with additional rites of washing and offering food. The day before, officials of the Eastern Palace had erected a south-facing Ceremonial Tent at the Jinyang Marquis's Residence.
At the first glimmer of dawn, Dantai Mo donned his Ceremonial Robe and rode the Imperial Carriage to the gates of the Jinyang Marquis's Residence, accompanied by the Eastern Palace Procession and the Drum and Music Troupe. He entered the Ceremonial Tent to wait.
Inside the Jinyang Marquis's Residence, lanterns and festive decorations adorned every corner. Min had risen before dawn to oversee the preparations. Every member of the household was dressed in new finery, ready to welcome the groom, while several senior stewards had been so busy they had barely slept all night.
The female officials from the Eastern Palace waited outside the Deer Song Courtyard early that morning, exchanging glances.
There were countless rules governing the Crown Prince's wedding. They had been ordered to teach the future Crown Princess the wedding protocols, yet the Crown Prince was already waiting outside, and his bride was still asleep.
The entire Jinyang Marquis's Residence bustled inside and out. Even the Old Madam had dressed in full formal attire appropriate to her rank. Only the Deer Song Courtyard remained so quiet that a falling pin could have been heard. Not a single maid stood at the gate; apparently, the maids were asleep too.
After waiting at the entrance for nearly an hour without anyone getting up, the