After Exile, I Married the Amnesiac General [Rebirth] Chapter 22

In the deep winter season, sunlight shone on the edges of the tents where the snow had not yet melted, somewhat dazzling.

Inside the tent, Li Chansiu was being pressed down by Aunt Xu and the others to sit before a small table, having his hair and makeup arranged.

Although he had already moved to live in the infirmary, a bride could not set out from the infirmary. So after breakfast, he had been pulled by Aunt Xu to the women’s tent.

Physician Hu’s wife was also there. She was carefully drawing Li Chansiu’s brows with a charcoal pencil. After finishing, she straightened up and could not help praising, “Truly handsome. Look at these brows and eyes, this skin, oh my, if you ask me, there’s no need to apply powder at all. It’s already as white as porcelain.”

Li Chansiu quickly responded, “Then let’s not apply powder.”

The exiled women usually wished they could smear ash on their faces; no one kept eyebrow pencils or rouge in daily life. Even if he wanted to borrow some, he could not.

Pei Er surely would not have thought of these things either. Li Chansiu had originally intended not to dress up at all.

He had not expected Physician Hu’s wife to bring these specially. Unable to refuse her enthusiasm, Li Chansiu had no choice but to sit and be attended to.

But after he said that, the women beside him all covered their mouths and laughed.

“That won’t do. Marriage is the most important event in life, only happens once. You must dress up properly.”

“Exactly. If there were no conditions, that would be one thing. But now that there are, you mustn’t disappoint Madam Hu’s kindness.”

“The young lady is already good-looking. With just a little dressing up, won’t she dazzle Young Master Pei senseless?”

They teased one after another. Even Li Chansiu, a grown man, felt his ears grow warm, as though today he were not merely going through the motions but truly getting married.

Aunt Xu thought he was being “shy” and hurried to smooth things over, smiling. “Alright, alright. I think the young lady’s skin is indeed fair, no need for powder. But the rouge should still be pressed on.”

Afraid they would tease him more, Li Chansiu quickly took the red paper and, under Madam Hu’s guidance, pressed it to his lips.

His skin was fair. Once his lips were tinted with rouge, his brows and eyes appeared even more striking, his appearance increasingly radiant.

Perhaps because it was his first time using rouge, he felt unaccustomed to it and subconsciously pressed his lips together as if to lick them. Madam Hu quickly said, “Oh my, you mustn’t lick it. If you do, it won’t stay red.”

Another woman nearby giggled softly. “Save it for tonight, let Young Master Pei taste it.”

Li Chansiu instinctively felt puzzled, this rouge could be eaten? Only when he saw everyone laughing did he suddenly understand, and his ears grew hot again.

Fortunately, most of the younger women in the tent had already been married off. It was mainly the older ones teasing him.

Perhaps feeling that his head looked too plain, a woman in her early thirties then took out a silver hairpin to put in his hair.

They had all been exiled together and supported one another on the journey to the northwest, sharing some bond. Especially since Li Chansiu, relying on his father’s former subordinates, had some silver and medicine during exile and had often helped everyone along the way, they were all very grateful to him.

But Li Chansiu knew that this silver hairpin must be precious to that woman. Moreover, he was a man and had no need for it, so he hurried to refuse.

The woman, dignified in appearance and likely from a once well-off family, smiled lightly. “It’s nothing extraordinary. Marriage is the most important event in life. Just wear it. Consider it lent to you for now.”

As she spoke, she pressed down on Li Chansiu’s shoulder and inserted the silver hairpin into his dark hair.

The butterfly wings on the hairpin trembled lightly, gleaming, enhancing his beauty by several degrees.

Everyone praised him after seeing it.

Seeing that the sun had tilted westward and it was already afternoon, Aunt Xu hurriedly ushered everyone out.

Turning back, she also led Little Ah Yun, who had been sitting beside Li Chansiu, cupping her face with curiosity in her eyes, outside.

Li Chansiu sensed she had something to say. When she returned, he looked up and asked.

Aunt Xu sighed. “Young lady, you are alone. There may be some matters about marriage that no elder has told you. I was thinking I might say a few words, hope you won’t find me meddlesome.”

Li Chansiu thought it was something important and quickly smiled. “Of course not. Please say it.”

“Ah!” Aunt Xu immediately felt reassured. “It’s just that on the wedding night, when candles are lit in the bridal chamber…”

Li Chansiu: “…”

Suddenly embarrassed. Had he known it was about this, he would not have listened.

“…I’ve heard that wealthy families place a small booklet in the bride’s chest, with pictures explaining these matters. Poor families don’t have such conditions; it’s the mother who gives a few pointers. But young lady, don’t worry too much. In this matter, men always understand more than women. If it truly doesn’t work, then at that time, don’t worry about anything. Whatever Pei Er wants, let him do, but you mustn’t let him go too far…”

Seeing Li Chansiu growing more and more embarrassed, she laughed. “No need to feel shy. Once you’re married, it’s always like this.”

Li Chansiu: “…”

He could hardly maintain his smile anymore and only wanted to find a crack to crawl into.

Fortunately, a sudden commotion came from outside, the bridal party had arrived.

He let out a light breath of relief and quickly interrupted, “Pei Er is here. I’ll go out first.”

With that, he stood and walked out.

“Ah, you can’t just go out like that.” Aunt Xu hurried after him, calling out.

Outside the tent was lively. Through the curtain, from a distance, Chen Qing’s laughing shout could be heard: “We’ve come to fetch the bride, to fetch the bride! Sisters and aunties, don’t make things too hard for Pei Er. It wasn’t easy for him to marry Miss Shen!”

Laughter erupted outside. Then Madam Hu’s voice sounded: “That won’t do. We can’t let him take the bride away so easily. At the very least…”

Before she finished speaking, Li Chansiu had already lifted the curtain and stepped out, leaving the women who had been blocking the door speechless.

Pei Er was blocked at the tent entrance by a long bench. He wore the crimson robe he had bought yesterday. His posture was straight, like pine and bamboo. On his face, usually expressionless, there seemed today to be a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

Almost the instant Li Chansiu lifted the curtain, Pei Er looked over, and then his gaze froze.

Li Chansiu was likewise dressed all in red. His brows and eyes were delicate, as if drawn with ink. The red clothing and black hair set off his skin like frost and snow. A silver hairpin with butterfly wings trembled in his dark hair, as though about to flutter away.

Pei Er’s eyes suddenly grew burning bright. Subconsciously he reached out a hand, as if afraid Li Chansiu too might, like that silver butterfly, suddenly fly away.

Li Chansiu smiled faintly and also extended his hand, placing it in his dry palm.

Immediately, Pei Er’s broad hand closed tightly around his, pulling him toward his side, actually drawing him out directly across the long bench.

Li Chansiu nearly collided into his chest and was steadied by a hand at his waist.

Behind them, Aunt Xu, Madam Hu, and the others hurriedly called out, “No, no, how can you take the bride away so easily?”

Pei Er was already pulling Li Chansiu along, hastily mounting his horse, leaving Chen Qing and the others grinning as they blocked the way and handed out sweets to everyone.

Outside the camp, a row of camp banners swayed gently in the faint chill of the wind. The wind was not biting, dispersing some of the heat on Li Chansiu’s face.

Today was unexpectedly fine weather.

Pei Er rode in silence the entire way. Li Chansiu also did not speak.

Not until they were nearly at the small courtyard they had rented did Pei Er suddenly speak, his voice very low, somewhat hoarse: “The hairpin looks very nice.”

“…Does it?” Li Chansiu unconsciously tightened his grip on the horse’s mane.

“It was borrowed from an elder sister in the camp,” he explained, his throat slightly dry. After saying it, he felt it inappropriate.

It sounded as though he had specially borrowed a silver hairpin for the sake of getting married. Yet if he tried to explain further, it would seem as though he cared very much.

He opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing.

Pei Er also felt a wave of regret. He had intended to praise Li Chansiu for looking good. Afraid of being too abrupt, he had mentioned the hairpin instead, never expecting…

Only when they reached the small courtyard and had to dismount to perform the wedding rites did both of them release an imperceptible breath of relief.

Outside the courtyard, banquet tables had already been set up. On the wicker fence were pasted red paper cuttings of the “double happiness” character.

On the northwestern frontier, where Hu, Han, and Qiang peoples lived mixed together, folk customs were open. In poor families, brides often did not need to cover their faces.

Naturally, Li Chansiu had not covered his face either. As soon as he dismounted, some soldiers who were drinking rose with laughter and noise, crowding around and cheering. Fortunately, General Chen was seated in the main room of the courtyard, so no one dared go too far.

Li Chansiu and Pei Er each held one end of a red silk ribbon and walked into the courtyard.

Perhaps the rituals and procedures were all too formal. Though he had originally only intended to go through the motions, Li Chansiu’s mood at this moment was not as calm as he had imagined.

He gripped the red silk tightly, eyes fixed ahead, not daring to look at Pei Er beside him. There was always a sense that he was truly getting married, always a sense that…

“Careful of the threshold,” Pei Er suddenly reminded softly.

Li Chansiu snapped back to himself, instinctively turning his head to look at him and smiling in thanks.

Pei Er’s gaze tightened slightly.

This small incident dispelled much of Li Chansiu’s nervousness.

Upon entering the main room, General Chen was sitting in the center, smiling broadly, having waited a long time.

It was already evening. By Great Zhou custom, weddings were held at dusk, hence also called the “dusk ceremony.”

Following the proper steps, the two bowed to Heaven and Earth. As there were no parents or elders present, for the second bow they bowed to General Chen, and finally bowed to each other.

After the mutual bow, Li Chansiu and Pei Er lifted their heads, their gazes colliding, both slightly startled.

At that moment someone beside them urged, “Time to enter the bridal chamber.”

Pei Er’s ears suddenly reddened slightly. Holding the red silk, he led Li Chansiu into the inner room.

The inner room had clearly been decorated. Though not large, it had been thoroughly cleaned, there was not a single cobweb in sight. “Double happiness” characters were pasted on the windows and earthen walls. On the table before the bed were red candles, a plate of fruit pastries, a jug of wine, and two pottery bowls.

Li Chansiu looked around quietly and, as if to ease the atmosphere, turned and asked, “You came to tidy this up today?”

“Yes.” Pei Er nodded. His refined face was slightly warm, as if he were somewhat nervous.

After that, silence once again filled the room.

Li Chansiu had no choice but to find something else to say. “These two bowls…”

Pei Er came back to himself and hurriedly explained, “Physician Hu said that at a wedding one must drink the nuptial wine.”

Li Chansiu: “…”

Even so, there was no need to use two bowls, was there? Were they meant to gulp it down? he thought awkwardly.

And considering they were only pretending to be married, now that they had entered the bridal chamber and no one was watching, this step did not seem entirely necessary.

Just as he was thinking this, Madam Hu and Aunt Xu arrived.

Seeing the two sitting there stiffly, Madam Hu could not help laughing. “Why haven’t you drunk the nuptial wine yet? Hurry and finish. Young Master Pei still needs to go outside to toast the guests. General Chen is waiting too. The sooner he finishes toasting, the sooner he can return to accompany the bride.”

As she spoke, she poured wine for them. Fortunately, though the pottery bowls were large, only a shallow layer of wine was poured.

Li Chansiu had no choice but to lift his bowl. He and Pei Er bowed slightly to each other, then raised the bowls to their lips and drank them dry in one gulp.

The spicy wine flowed down his throat. As he set down the bowl, his eyes met Pei Er’s again.

They had bowed in the hall and now drunk the nuptial wine together. In a daze, there was a feeling as though he had truly married the person before him.

Pei Er also set down his bowl, told him to eat something first, and only then said slowly, “Then I’ll go out first.”

His tone seemed somewhat reluctant to leave.

Li Chansiu smiled at him. Thinking that the wine just now had seemed rather strong, he casually reminded, “Drink a little less.”

It was an ordinary remark, yet Pei Er’s ears reddened again. In a low voice he said, “Alright.”

After he left, Aunt Xu teased Li Chansiu: “Just married, and already feeling heartache for him.”

Li Chansiu froze for a moment, then felt awkward, only then realizing the words sounded like a wife admonishing her husband.

But then again, between friends, such a reminder was normal too. How was it that after a fake marriage, it felt abnormal?

Shaking his head inwardly, he saw Aunt Xu hand him the plate of fruit pastries. “Quickly eat some. From noon until now, you must be hungry. I see that Pei Er is strong, you might need strength tonight.”

Li Chansiu: “…?”