Chapter 240: The Road to High Office 40

Chapter 240: The Road to High Office 40

At 3:45 PM on May 20th, during the Shen hour, Xu Zeping rode a tall horse out from the Xu Family.

The auspicious time for the wedding ceremony was exactly 7:45 PM. Xu Zeping had timed everything perfectly. The journey to fetch the groom would take half an hour, and he had already discussed it with his cousin Qingyun, agreeing not to make things too difficult for himself.

Qingyun, who hadn’t read much, would at most come up with two poems to make things challenging. This part would also take half an hour, ensuring they would return just in time for the wedding ceremony.

Xu Zeping rode his tall horse behind the horn-blowing attendants, followed by eight bright red wedding sedans. Behind the sedans, attendants beat gongs and drums.

As they passed by the well-wishers, Xu Zeping bowed in gratitude, his radiant smile unwavering.

At 5:45 PM, Xu Zeping’s wedding procession arrived at the main gate of West Lane Courtyard.

"Hey, the groom's here to fetch his bride!" The matchmaker twisted her red handkerchief and began to call out.

At that moment, Lin Qingyun, Zhong Hualang, and Chen Kaixuan emerged from behind the main gate.

"To marry the new groom, you need to pass three challenges and beat six obstacles!" Chen Kaixuan said with a smile, looking at Xu Zeping as if he wouldn’t let him take the new groom unless he succeeded.

Upon seeing Chen Kaixuan, Xu Zeping was stunned. "When did you get here?"

Chen Kaixuan grinned, smugly raising his eyebrows. "My little brother’s getting hitched; can’t I see him off as his sworn brother? Top Scholar, there’s no such rule in the world, right?"

The matter of Chen Kaixuan and Cheng Ge’er recognizing each other as godfather and godson was settled last year when Xu Zeping went to Yanjing for the spring examinations and Chen came to deliver New Year’s gifts to Liu Huaizhi.

Of course, the arrangement of recognizing each other as godfather and godson was made after Chen Kaixuan had asked the Xu Songshan couple and Cheng Ge’er himself for their consent. Although the Xu Songshan couple felt a bit uncomfortable about Chen Kaixuan’s intentions, they weighed the pros and cons and agreed.

Being recognized as a godson could boost the youngest child’s future prospects.

"Then I’ll ask Brother Chen to present the challenge," Xu Zeping emphasized, his smile growing wider.

Chen Kaixuan clapped his hands, and two burly men appeared, each carrying a tray. One tray held a pear and a heart-shaped agate, and the other tray held a bow and arrow.

Chen Kaixuan had the men place the pear and agate on a table two meters away, with the pear stacked on top of the agate. Chen Kaixuan smiled at Xu Zeping. "Groom, will it be an arrow of separation or one of affection? Your call!"

Chen Kaixuan figured that as a scholar, Xu Zeping would find the twenty-meter distance challenging. By then, wouldn’t Xu Zeping have to humbly ask for his help?

With his arms crossed and a smug look on his face.

Just this?

Xu Zeping struggled to contain his smile as he took the longbow from the tray and gave it a slight pull. Fortunately, it was a one-stone bow.

Xu Zeping nocked an arrow, skillfully drew the longbow—whoosh!

The arrow pierced through the agate.

To Chen Kaixuan’s astonishment, Xu Zeping’s eyes lit up with joy. "Oh my, Brother Chen, as a gentleman skilled in the six arts, I haven’t embarrassed myself, have I?"

"But I must thank Brother Chen for the generous gift. Winning someone’s heart at first sight is truly my good fortune!"

"You’re quite capable," Chen Kaixuan said, forcing a smile on this joyous day, saying words that went against his true feelings.

"Ahem, groom, the world knows you are a man of great talent." Lin Qingyun cleared his throat and, following the prearranged script, challenged Xu Zeping. "Please compose a poem on the spot to express your admiration for the new groom."

—There is a beauty, seeing her, I cannot forget.

A day without seeing her, and I yearn like a madman.

The phoenix soars and flies, seeking its mate across the four seas.

But alas, my beloved is not behind the eastern wall.

...

Though Xu Zeping isn’t particularly fond of Sima Xiangru, his "Feng Qiu Huang" is indeed a famous love poem passed down through the ages.

With just one recitation of "Feng Qiu Huang," he completely won over the audience, who all clapped and cheered.

After consecutive failures by Chen Kaixuan and Lin Qingyun at blocking the way, only Zhong Hualang was left.

Since Xu Zeli became the third-place winner (Tanhua) in the imperial exams last year, Xu Songrui, no longer concerned about filial piety, removed all of Zhong Wangshi’s spies from around Zhong Hualang and sent him to live in a separate residence, replacing all the attendants with her own people.

If Zhong Wangshi tried to cause trouble, Xu Songrui would have Zhong Ye talk to his eldest uncle about it.

Zhong Wangshi used to take great pride in being born into the wealthy and influential Wang family, often putting on airs in front of her two daughters-in-law.

When her eldest son was serving as a deputy judge in Yongan Prefecture, Zhong Wangshi had been much more restrained.

But since her eldest son had been appointed Prefect of Wanli Prefecture, she felt that no matter how capable Xu Songrui was, he couldn’t reach Yongan in time, so she became arrogant again.

Xu Songrui, however, had been mindful of filial piety and the influence of the Wang family behind Zhong Wangshi...

But now things were different—his maternal family had risen in power and formed connections with the Su family in Yanjing.

After over a year of guidance, Zhong Hualang's temperament had become more proper.

As for his maternal family, even though he didn’t have filial admiration for them, at least he no longer rejected them.

"I’ve heard you’re really good with arithmetic problems. I have a puzzle here, Cousin, and I wonder if you could help me solve it," Zhong Hualang said loudly, slipping the golden abacus he held onto his waist: "Yesterday, Third Brother bought three chickens for 100 wen, then sold them for 110 wen. Feeling it wasn’t worth it, he bought them back for 105 wen, and finally sold them again for 120 wen. How much profit did Third Brother make?"

"Twenty-five wen."

This problem was essentially a brain teaser, not very difficult, but the convoluted wording could easily cause someone to miss a detail if they weren’t paying close attention.

Zhong Hualang's eyes widened in surprise; he was wondering why Xu Zeping hadn’t fallen for it.

"Did I get it right, cousin?"

"Yes, yes."

"Alright, let’s go tie the knot!"

Since Cheng Ge Er had no direct brothers to carry him out, this part was changed so that Xu Zeping would carry him.

Gao Yan, standing behind Xu Zeping, touched his nose; he had thought there would be no room for him to contribute, and that he was just there to make up the numbers for the wedding party.

When they arrived at the bridal chamber, Xu Zeping saw Cheng Ge Er sitting on the bed with a red veil over his head and a red apple in his hand. His clear eyes seemed to be able to overflow with water at any moment.

"Cheng Ge Er, I've come to take you for the wedding ceremony."

Xu Zeping quickly walked to Cheng Ge Er, turned around, and bent down to carry him out, but was pulled up by Xia Tian and Qiu Tian, both smiling brightly, "Young master, you can’t! You haven’t found the bride’s embroidered shoes yet!"

At this point, Xu Zeping noticed that Cheng Ge Er had been kneeling on the bed, and he could vaguely see the white socks beneath him.

Chen Kaixuan grinned mischievously, "Think it’s over? Not quite! There’s one last challenge!"

Xu Zeping, seeing Chen Kaixuan's sly smile, became anxious, sweat appearing on his forehead, and quickly rallied the wedding party to search for the shoes.

They searched high and low, from the door to under the table, under the bed, and inside the cabinets... after a thorough search, they finally found one embroidered shoe on the beam.

Xu Zeping held the embroidered shoe in his hand and knew that this one had been hidden by Chen Kaixuan, who was the most agile among everyone in the room.

However, it was almost 5:45 PM, approaching the fourth quarter, and there was only a little more than a quarter of an hour left until the auspicious time for the wedding ceremony.

The journey from Xi'an Street to the Xu family residence took a quarter of an hour, and Xu Zeping was really starting to panic.

Beads of sweat kept dripping from the corner of his forehead. Where was the other embroidered shoe?

With the red veil covering his face, Cheng Ge Er could only steal glances at the feet of the people rushing around. He was also in a hurry and thought, oh, Pingping is so foolish.

If he couldn't find it soon, her legs would go numb.

Cheng Ge Er couldn't help but softly coughed.

Hearing Cheng Ge Er's voice, Xu Zeping's eyes lit up, and he immediately turned around and walked towards him.

"Young master, young master, you can't give any hints," Qiu Tian and Xia Tian quickly interjected.

Meanwhile, Winter, who enjoyed causing trouble, blocked Xu Zeping's path. "Young master, you haven't found the embroidered shoe yet. You're not allowed to get close to him."

Xu Zeping innocently said, "I just want to help Cheng Ge Er put on the shoe. I didn't plan to do anything else."

Hearing this, Winter couldn't say anything more.

Xu Zeping walked to the bed and secretly lifted the hem of the wedding robe, revealing the other red embroidered shoe on Cheng Ge Er's foot.

He couldn't help but stifle a laugh and gently put the shoe on Cheng Ge Er's foot, then turned his back to him. "My husband, climb on."

Cheng Ge Er eagerly climbed onto Xu Zeping's back, his arms circling Xu Zeping's neck.

The warm breath on Xu Zeping's neck made his heart beat uncontrollably. He had finally married the love of his life.

Xu Zeping carried Cheng Ge Er over the threshold steadily, his eager steps heading towards their future happiness.

Cheng Ge Er rested his cheek on Xu Zeping's broad back and tightly hugged him, softly muttering, "Pingping, you're really foolish."

Xu Zeping didn't respond until Cheng Ge Er was in the bridal sedan chair, and when Xu Zeping lifted the veil, he whispered, "Because I can't stop thinking about you."

Hearing this, Cheng Ge Er, with his cat-like eyes wide under the veil, couldn't help but retort, "I'm not foolish."

"Lift the sedan chair~ Take the new husband back for the wedding!"

First bow, a perfect match made in heaven!

Second bow, deep love and respect for the elders!

The couple bow to each other, wishing for a long life together!

In Qingshui Town, there was no custom of teasing the newlyweds in the bridal chamber, so after Xu Zeping escorted Cheng Ge Er into the bridal chamber, the guests happily went to enjoy the feast.

"Cheng Ge Er, you haven't eaten anything all day, have some porridge to hold you over, I'll be back later." Xu Zeping brought a small table and placed it next to Cheng Ge Er, putting food beside him.

Then he closed the door and went out to attend to the guests.

Knowing that today was his big day, Xu Zeping certainly couldn't get drunk. So, to avoid getting too drunk, he pretended to spill wine on his clean clothes before heading to the front courtyard.

..

About half an hour later, with Little Tiger's support, Xu Zeping returned to the bridal chamber, pretending to be drunk.

Once back in the bridal chamber, Xu Zeping sent Little Tiger away and asked Qiu Tian and Xia Tian, who were guarding the inner room, to leave.

Xu Zeping used the wedding scale stick to lift the red head covering from Cheng Ge Er's head, revealing Cheng Ge Er’s sparkling cat-like eyes smiling back at him.

"Drink... drink the nuptial wine," Xu Zeping stammered, then staggered towards the table to pick up the wine cups.

As their hands touched, a faint peach scent filled the air.

Cheng Ge Er drank the nuptial wine and, as if discovering something new and amusing, looked at Xu Zeping with a teasing smile, "Pingping, are you nervous?"

Xu Zeping's eyes darkened, his voice roughened slightly, "Cheng Ge Er, let's go to bed."

"You still haven't answered me."

Before Cheng Ge Er could finish his sentence, Xu Zeping sealed his words with a kiss.

The clink of the nuptial cups hitting the floor echoed, and the large red wedding curtain was drawn down, hiding Cheng Ge Er's soft sighs.