After a long and uneasy wait, Chinese New Year's Eve finally arrived. Beiping City is full of festive red, which is the atmosphere of the New Year and the temperature of the wedding.

Early in the morning, Shen Ruoyu pushed open the door and was surprised to see a goose feather snow quietly falling. Crystal snowflakes, big flowers, on the road, on the steps, on the eaves tiles, everywhere is covered with thick snow, white and flawless, still embellished or tiled with a bright red background, bright red and bright red, like the plum blossoms blooming in the snow in the valley of the night of the night of the twenty-seventh year of the twelfth month of Hongwu, the red firecracker crumbs scattered everywhere in the thick snow in the east courtyard, like the snow-white sheets, a large area of shocking blood, although after fifteen years, has become dark brown, in his eyes, But it will always flow with bright red, bright red, sad and strong flavor.

On this extraordinary morning, he practiced quietly and quietly for half an hour. Then, he opened the door and sprinkled it clean as usual. The two high-headed horses galloped to the door of the Hongjia Hotel and stopped, Ma Sanbao and Luo Yang walked into the store together, followed by more than a dozen palace officials and palace maids who were running out of breath. All dressed in good spirits. Everyone couldn't help but say, pressed him and Lu Jiang to the chair and sat down, and dressed them up.

Three years ago, on March 12, it was a day of the same heavy snowfall, a harsh winter, without the slightest breath of spring. He was about to worship heaven and earth with Yang Yiqing, but he was suddenly pulled into the courtyard, kneeling in the thick snow, letting the blood stain his clothes and snow red, and letting the never-ending snow slowly bury himself deeply, cold and frozen.

Now, Shen Ruoyu looked at himself dressed in red colors from head to toe: red dress, red belt, red boots, and even the headscarf was red. It seemed that the red was not enough, and a huge red flower was wrapped around his chest, which illuminated his cheeks like clouds.

What kind of red is this, so pure and warm, as clean as snow on the eaves, without the slightest impurity, so simple that people dare not touch it, and cannot bear to divide its wholeness, its flawlessness. Looking at the pure white from the sky outside, he only felt that his chest was pounding and beating, and his whole body exuded heat--the ice and snow deposited in Yexiao Mountain for thousands of years, and his young heart, which had been frozen for three years, melted away in this red that was purer and warmer than the flames, he was not the self he had ever been, he was a completely new person, a hot-blooded boy as pure as this snow, as passionate as this red, full of vitality, full of strength, full of hope—

No, soon, he will no longer be a teenager. Soon, after the New Year's pass, spring was ushered in, and by the time of March 12, he was already twenty years old, the year of the weak crown, and an adult.

By that time, he already had a wife, a home, and as an adult, the only thing he lacked was a career. And in the year of the weak crown, he can just start.

It was really an extremely warm winter, a quiet transition from the old year to the new year, and he had never had such a longing Chinese New Year's Eve in his life.

Lu Jiang didn't wear red, but he was also dressed up extremely beautifully; Originally, she was already very beautiful and moving, but at this moment, under the background of gorgeous clothes, she had a dignified and demure noble temperament. Her eyes never left Shen Ruoliao, her face was full of her mother's worry and love, as if her son was going to complete the most important and difficult career in his life.

The entire Hongjia Hotel has been decorated from the inside to the outside with a festive atmosphere, and the double happiness stickers with gold and gold are everywhere. The room where he usually slept was now a cave room, and every inch of the corner was bright red. The windows, walls, and curtains were plastered with gilded happy words. The big red bed with long tassels hanging down to the ground. In the cold winter, the bed is extremely warm, the kang fire is very strong, and the red brocade bedding that warms the bed is also soft and generous. On the high candlestick, more than a dozen red and gold-plated flower candles are thick and tall. The dresser by the window was specially given to Nangong Qiu by King Yan, and a big red double happiness word was also pasted on the bright bronze mirror on it.

Shen Ruoyu looked at the cave room, and felt a little uneasy in his heart. He walked outside. There is no joy hall; Because the place is too small, and because Nangong Qiu is the lord of the county, the Xitang is not located in the Hongjia Hotel, but in the square outside the Duanli Gate of the palace. The people of Beiping will gather there to witness the combination of autumn and wind.

What was the wedding of my father and mother like? A deviant elopement, can there be any wedding to speak of.

So, whether you want this wedding or not, in fact, what does it matter?

He once thought that if Wang Zhenren was the only one, looking at him and Qiu'er, with the wind and moon as the matchmaker, and the heaven and earth as the evidence, maybe it would be more eternal.

However, looking at the sky and the earth, a snow-white and blood-red, standing in the red of the self, looking at the direction of the palace, silently looking forward to the arrival of the auspicious time, looking forward to the Chengtian Gate floated out, the same red clouds as him, the girl in the sedan chair who is as delicate as the clouds, he still thinks that it is good to have a wedding, even if it is really as Wang Zhenren's letter in the sentence, all this is just a scene in the end, after a gust of wind, the smoke disappears, like water without a trace, he can at least remember this wedding in his heart and remember it for a lifetime.

Of course, both will. No matter who breaks it all first in the end, so that all can only become permanent memories - what unforgettable memories will be, unforgettable beauty, unforgettable pain.

In any case, he will keep going, he can't see the future, he only knows that now he must marry her, and there is no one or anything to stop him.

"Can I bring the autumn breeze?" He asked.

Ma Sanbao and Luo Yang glanced at each other, hesitated, and said:

"The prince didn't command. It's better to bring it, it's you. ”

Bring the autumn breeze, it's me.

He hung the autumn wind on the golden hook of his belt. The sword was so dim that it was so unworthy of his bridegroom's garments. But he knew who was in the dull scabbard, and who was in the gorgeous clothes.

Always a person.

The auspicious time has arrived. He walked out of the store and saw the second-rate man waiting for him. Even it wore a red tassel on its head, and hung with countless golden bells, and a saddle of red satin, with red tassels hanging down to the horse's belly. Suddenly, he noticed that the pony seemed to have grown into a sturdy and tall horse overnight, majestic and majestic. Time is so fast. He's growing, the pony isn't small, he's not a kid anymore.

On Zaohua Street, there are already many people standing outside waiting to see the excitement. Shen Ruoyu got on the horse, and Lu Jiang also got on the gorgeous sedan chair behind him with the support of the palace maid. Luo Yang and Ma Sanbao got on the horse and followed at the end.

Shen Ruoyu stood still for a moment, took a deep breath of the cold air mixed with snowflakes, raised his horsewhip, and shouted: "Drive!" - "The horse flew out like an arrow, steadily, through the streets and alleys of Beiping, through the heavy snow, and galloped towards the magnificent and majestic Yanwang Palace.

The square outside the Duanli Gate was crowded with people. The wide Hidai back gate sits on the north side of the square, standing out from the crowd. Red flag flying; On the wedding platform, the canopy of King Yan and the princess has fallen with snow; Under the canopy, the prince and the mother were also dressed festively and beautifully, sitting quietly on the stage and waiting. Yuan Heng also sat on the stage, and Yuan Zhongche took his son to stand next to his father. Yao Biao sat on the outside. Behind them, a huge red curtain was raised, and in the center was a huge double happiness word shining with golden light, announcing that this wedding platform was the place where the bride and groom worshipped heaven and earth.

On the west side of Xitai, a senior monk who is over the age of sixteen is leading a group of monks to chant scriptures and pray for blessings. It was Dao Yan and his disciples of Qingshou Temple. Around Xitai and around the square, sandwiching the onlookers between the inside and outside are several layers of guards under King Yan. The most powerful generals of King Yan, Zhang Yu, Qiu Fu, Zhu Neng, Chen Qi, and Tan Yuan are all there. On the north side, the tall and majestic Duanli Gate is also dancing with flags, and the entire south palace wall is full of soldiers, looking condescendingly at the square where the wedding is about to be held.

"The guest of honor is here—"

On the outskirts of the square, I don't know which soldier suddenly shouted. The crowd immediately got the order and automatically gave way to a road. A ride of red dust broke through the heavy snow, swept across the square like lightning, and came to an abrupt end in front of the happy platform. Lu Jiang's sedan chair stopped behind him, and several sedan chair drivers were so tired that they couldn't breathe. Luo Yang and Ma Sanbao rode to both sides of Xitai and dismounted, standing on the side.

Shen Ruoliao was just about to dismount, but Zhu Di stopped him with a smile and said:

"Don't be busy; Let's go and greet your bride first. ”

The door of the Duanli Gate slowly opened. Passing through the Duanli Gate, in the heavy snow, Shen Ruoyu saw from a distance that the Chengtian Gate was also slowly opened. A little bright red color waited quietly in the Chengtian Gate, which was so far away that it had shrunk into a small hole.

He didn't speak, rode through the crowd, and under the gaze of the entire Beiping, galloped into the Duanli Gate, jumped directly over the Jinshui Bridge, and galloped towards the Chengtian Gate.

All the way the guards stood solemnly; Shen Ruo turned a blind eye, and only the red sedan chair waiting in Chengtianmen was left in his eyes.

He galloped into the Chengtian Gate like lightning and stopped in front of the sedan chair. He got off the horse, walked to the front of the sedan chair, and was about to reach out to lift the curtain, but the palace maid standing beside him stopped him:

"Yi Binlang can't; Please welcome the sedan chair to the wedding platform first. ”

Shen Ruoyu hesitated.

"But—how do I know who's inside?"

The palace maid burst out laughing.

"You can't see when you lift the curtains; The lord of the county is covered with a hijab. You can't lift the hijab until you enter the cave room, otherwise the bride will have bad luck. ”

Shen Ruoyu thought about it; He was really a little uneasy, and he couldn't see through the thick red cloth whether it was the Nangong Qiu he was looking forward to day and night. But he didn't dare to break the taboo. No matter how much people don't believe in gods and ghosts, at this moment, in the face of the traditions left by their ancestors, with pity for their lovers, they will never dare to break the rules, open the curtain, and then lift the red hijab inside. What's more, Shen Ruoliao himself is not a person who is not superstitious.

He sighed, "Okay; Whether it's her or not in it, it's all providence. How should I greet me, please tell me? ”

The palace maid curtsied and said, "Yi Binlang is polite." Please get on your horse and walk outside the Duanli Gate, and we will follow you. Don't go too fast. ”

Shen Ruoyu got on the horse and slowly walked towards the Duanli Gate, feeling uneasy in his heart becoming stronger and stronger. At this moment, he was really starting to get a little scared. What would he do if he entered the cave and the hijab was lifted and the face of another person appeared in front of him?

All he wants to marry is Qiu'er.

Out of the Duanli Gate, the red groom and the sedan chair became the focus of attention in the city. Shen Ruoliao led the sedan chair to the front of the Xitai and got off the horse. The sedan chair fell, a palace maid lifted the sedan curtain, and the other two palace maids helped out a girl with a red hijab from inside. It is also a bright red, newlywed dress, embroidered with gold silk rich peonies and bat auspicious clouds. The long skirt dragged to the ground - even if she could see the shoes she was wearing, Shen Ruoyu could determine whether it was Nangong Qiu or not, Qiu'er was not a three-inch golden lotus, and the shoes would be bigger than these palace maids. But he couldn't see it at all.

Ma Sanbao handed him a red ribbon with large flowers at one end, and the other end was handed over to the bride by the palace maid. Then, the maid who was holding the bride let go of her hand and completely handed the bride into the hands of the groom.

Shen Ruoliao followed Ma Sanbao's instructions, pulled his invisible bride with a long ribbon, and cautiously walked up the high steps of Xitai. He turned back and whispered to the bride:

"Watch out for the steps."

The bride paused, as if hesitating. Shen Ruoyu hoped that she could say something, and he could distinguish Nangong Qiu by listening to her voice. But the bride did not make a sound, lifted her steps high, and walked up the steps somewhat awkwardly. Shen Ruoyu slowly moved up step by step, constantly reminding the bride to take steps, and finally both of them successfully climbed onto the wedding platform.

The big red carpet covered the entire Xitai, and a faint layer of snowflakes had fallen on it; A red carpet with gold trim on top of the bottom carpet leads from the edge of the Xitai to the front of the place where King Yan and the princess are sitting on the north side. Lu Jiang had already sat on the seat next to King Yan. On the ground in front of them, the two red kneeling mats were lying side by side, waiting quietly.

A brazier lay in the middle of the road ahead, stopping them, and the flames were still beating fiercely in the snow. Shen Ruoyu stopped, he knew that this was a hurdle that two people had to cross. He looked at the bride's long skirt mopping the floor, wondering how she could get through.

Thousands of people are watching.

He stepped over the brazier, turned around, and said softly:

"Step over this brazier, Qiu'er."

The bride hesitated and lifted her feet, but her skirt was still dragging on the floor. She tentatively stepped forward, but was stopped by the skirt and stepped into the brazier. She let out a scream and immediately retracted her feet. The hem of the skirt was already on fire.

Shen Ruoyu was taken aback, kicked the brazier away, stepped back to the bride in one step, threw away the red ribbon in his hand, knelt down in front of the bride, grabbed the long skirt she dragged underneath, grabbed the flames on the skirt, and instantly extinguished the fire.

"Qiu'er, are your shoes on fire?" He couldn't see her embroidered shoes, and he couldn't lift her skirt in public, and he was very anxious.

The bride stood for a long time and shook her head blankly.

At this moment, Shen Ruoyu no longer needs any proof, he knows who is in the hijab; That exclamation, though only a slight and brief one, was enough to make the stone in his heart fall to the ground in an instant. There will be no second person with this voice, this silver bell as crisp and pleasant, with the innocence and cunning of a child, full of mischievous and amazement. He looked at the fiery bride, and only felt a burst of passion turmoil in his heart. He stood up, stretched out his hand and picked up the bride horizontally, held it high in his arms, and then strode straight to the north side of the bride before putting the bride down.

There was silence in the square for a while. Thousands of people have never seen such a scene and are dumbfounded.

Zhu Di and Concubine Xu also looked at him in surprise. Lv Jiang, Yuan Hui, Yao Biao...... Everyone else on and off the stage looked at Shen Ruoyu dumbly. Even a group of monks chanting scriptures on the west side stopped, looking at Shen Ruoyu in surprise, only Dao Yan didn't seem to be surprised. Nangong Qiu stood stunned, still holding the big red ribbon with flowers in his hand.

Soon, King Yan reacted, smiled approvingly and happily:

"Well done! In this way, Lone and Princess He are also relieved. ”

Ma Sanbao looked at Shen Ruoliao with a smile, and opened his high-pitched voice, which penetrated the entire Beiping:

"The bride and groom, worship heaven and earth—"

Shen Ruoyu looked at Nangong Qiu, knelt down on the soft cushion with her, faced the north side, and kowtowed.

"The Second Worship Hall—"

Shen Ruoyu raised his head; King Yan and the princess sat directly in front of them; On the side were Lu Jiang and Yuan Hui, looking at the newcomer in front of them, their eyes were full of relief.

Shen Ruoyu didn't have time to think about it, and bowed deeply with Nangong Qiu, who couldn't see anything.

"The bride and groom, husband and wife worship each other—"

The two men stood up, turned around, knelt down face to face, and bowed down deeply and carefully.

Zhu Di laughed happily:

"Good, good; That's great. From now on, the two of you will be husband and wife. We must share blessings and difficulties, and grow old together. Wives must obey their husbands, and they are not allowed to lose their temper or take advantage of the lord. The husband should also love his wife, and not show off his husband's prestige, and not let her be wronged. Did you both remember? ”

The two newcomers nodded together.

Zhu Di smiled and said, "Okay; After worshipping heaven and earth, Ruo Xiao, Qiu'er, you two sit down. Lone specially prepared some programs for the wedding, and everyone sat down, happy and lively, and had a good time. ”

Shen Ruoyu pulled Nangong Qiu, and the two of them sat together on both sides of the small table specially prepared for them. The table was filled with refreshments and fruits. Shen Ruoyu was very suspicious for a while that Nangong Qiu was going to eat with her hijab covered.

His attention was all on the bride, and it was not until the jubilant music and gongs and drums sounded that he looked up and was surprised to see several lions dancing around on the stage. After the lion dance, a few more people came up to perform acrobatics. The acrobats who sell their performances on the streets of Beiping on weekdays were invited by King Yan to support the scene.

In the middle of the acrobatic performance, suddenly several people squeezed through the bustling crowd and came to the stage, interrupting the performance. Shen Ruoyu recognized that it was Zhang Yu, Xie Gui, Zhang Xin and Jing Qing.