Chapter 88: Li's Grand Wedding

  In addition, Li Chong had another important thing to do, that was the grand wedding. Cai Yan was already 16 years old this year, and Li Chong should have welcomed her into his family.

  All this is the result of Li Zhong's carelessness and negligence. In the Han Dynasty, girls were supposed to get married at the age of 15, and Cai Yan had also hinted to Li Zhong several times with words, but Li Zhong just didn't catch on. This is not that Li Zhong has low emotional intelligence, but rather that he was really not adapted to the marriage system of this era. In later generations, most men and women get married after the age of 20, and those who get married in their thirties are also not uncommon. Li Zhong simply didn't turn around for this bend.

  If it weren't for Shunniang's reminder, Li Chong would probably have forgotten about it in another two or three years.

  The grand wedding of the Han Dynasty was very cumbersome. For someone like Li Chong, the six rites were indispensable. The six rites are divided into six steps: proposal, asking for the name, sending auspicious gifts, sending betrothal gifts, requesting the date, and welcoming the bride.

  First, the matchmaker had to be invited. The matchmaker was usually sent by the man's family to propose to the woman's family and bring gifts. However, Cai Yan no longer had any relatives, so Li Zhong let Cai Yan recognize Tai Shi Lao as her godmother and Tai Shi Ci as her godbrother, which meant she now had elders.

  Tai Shi Zi is now a military general of Hu Lie, and it's not humiliating for Cai Yan either.

  Moreover, Cai Yan's recognition of everyone has its benefits. First and foremost, Li Chong explicitly expressed an attitude: I regard Taishi Ci as one of my own people.

  But Tai Shi Ci's attitude on this matter is also very clear: Master, from now on we are relatives, I will not betray you. Therefore, Cai Yan's recognition of her kinship has created a result that makes everyone happy.

  Li Chong had originally planned to let Cai Yan recognize Cheng Yu as her godfather, but later Li Chong thought it was not suitable. He always felt that old man Cheng Yu was too sinister, so it's better to be careful. However, Cheng Yu also has his uses, and at his age, he is the most suitable person for the role of matchmaker.

  Nuptial rituals were also a hassle. As the prefect, Li Chong had to prepare gifts such as black silk, sheep and geese, which kept him busy for several days. The betrothal ceremony also required some words of praise, but that was easy with Chen Lin, the great writer, around; it was child's play.

  After the betrothal gifts were sent, there was the asking of names, the sending of auspicious gifts and the sending of divination tokens. This is where things became formalized. Li Zhong's engagement gifts were simple: twelve horses and fifty pieces of gold.

  Finally, Li Chong set the wedding date on Chinese New Year's Day, a doubly auspicious occasion.

  The grand wedding doesn't need to be described in detail. As the head of a county, Li Zhong had many rich merchants and local tyrants come to fawn on him, allowing him to make a big profit.

  After seeing off the guests, Li Chong returned to the bedroom. The red candles and curtains were lit, and the beautiful woman was as lovely as jade. Li Chong felt that all the blood in his body was about to boil over...

  However, Li Chong knew that he couldn't be impatient at this time. He walked softly to Cai Yan's side, held one of her hands, and put his other arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his embrace. Looking at Cai Yan's delicate face, he said gently: "My wife, you are so beautiful. In this life, I will never let you down." Li Chong's intimate actions and words made her blush uncontrollably, with two red clouds rising to her cheeks, making her look even more gentle and lovely.

  "Husband, being able to marry you in this life is my greatest fortune." Cai Yan also spoke softly with a thick layer of shyness. Cai Yan's small hand was held by Li Chong, leaning against his chest, the two people stuck together, and the fragrance from her body floated into Li Chong's nose. Cai Yan felt the scorching body temperature and masculine breath, and gradually her face and body began to warm up, her slender legs couldn't help but close together, and her body started to twist gently. Li Chong felt the movement of the beauty in his arms, a smile rose from the corner of his mouth, he lifted her round chin, and kissed her tender red lips.

  Cai Yan shyly closed her eyes, feeling Li's lips on hers, Cai Yan let out a soft "mmm" sound, her face even more flushed, the pure and innocent girl's shyness and timidity instantly melted away in Li's deep and passionate kiss.

  It wasn't her first time being savored by him, but this time, on their wedding night, everything was like a beautiful dream that left her enchanted.

  Li Chong's movements gradually slowed down, allowing Cai Yan, who was almost suffocated by the kiss, to catch her breath slightly. Li Chong's hand suddenly began to wander on her back, and she hugged him tightly. Li Chong's lips started from her eyelashes, eyes, pretty face, jade neck, and kissed all the way down. At the same time, one of his hands gently unbuttoned her top, slowly undressing her, revealing her snow-white, plump, and firm breasts. His hand climbed onto one of her breasts, gently caressing, pinching, and teasing, while his mouth sucked on the other breast, which stood upright like a red gemstone. Another hand slid down from her waist, slipped into Cai Yan's underwear, and touched the girl's secret garden.

  Cai Yan pressed Li Chong's head against her chest with both hands, and her mouth kept making enticing moans, "......"

  When the girl was emotionally moved, she shed her last cover and gently opened her legs. Li Chong deeply entered her body, filling the room with spring colors...

  After marriage, Li Chong took Cai Yan, who was still young and innocent, to offer sacrifices to their ancestors. It must be noted that the ancestor Li Chong worshipped was Laozi, also known as Lao Dan. It is worth mentioning that during the Han Dynasty, Laozi had already been revered as the ancestor of the Daoist way, and even Emperor Huan of Han had personally offered sacrifices to him.

  Of course, the family tree and all that are fabricated. Anyway, Laozi has been dead for several hundred years, and he can't come out to find Li Chong to settle accounts. But if Laozi really came down from heaven, maybe Li Chong would be even more delighted.

  In the first month of Xingping's first year (194), Li Chong was preparing to send someone to infiltrate Jin Yang, when he suddenly received a thunderous piece of good news: Zhao Yun had come to surrender to him.

  "Is this true?" Li Chongqiang suppressed his excited mood and welcomed him out of the main hall.

  As soon as he came out of the gate, he saw Zhao Yun talking to Taishi Ci. When he saw Li Zhong coming over, Taishi Ci smiled and said: "Congratulations, my lord! Zhao Zilong is a fierce general who can defeat ten thousand enemies! Now that he has defected to you, my lord, it's like adding wings to a tiger, and great things can be accomplished."

  Li Zhong saw that Zhao Yun was still wearing the tattered leather armor, and hastily said: "Zi Yi, take Zi Long to wash up first, then change into new clothes and armor for Zi Long. I'll have someone prepare a feast to welcome him."

  Taishi Ci responded with a "yes" and took Zhao Yun away. Li Zhong then returned to the side hall, ordering people to prepare wine and food, and also informed Cheng Yu and Zhou Tai to come and join in the drinking.

  Less than half a time, Taishi Ci brought Zhao Yun to the side hall, and Cheng Yu and others also rushed to accompany them.

  It's really true that people rely on clothes and horses rely on saddles. After changing into a new set of clothes, Zhao Yun indeed deserves the two words "cold and cruel". Now, Zhao Yun stands tall with a stern expression, his eyes shining brightly, completely different from his original image as a low-ranking soldier.

  Li stood up and welcomed him with a smile, saying: "Zi Long, I really didn't expect you to come so quickly, it's truly Li's good fortune!"

  Zhao Yun smiled awkwardly and said humbly: "It's nothing, Zhao Yun just asked the lord for a meal to eat!"