The wedding day finally arrived, and Lu Ming thought it would be simple.
However, it was actually quite complicated. The dowry, including a grand nine-nine-piece set of gifts, a fine horse, armor, sheep, horses, and wine, was carried to the Meridian Gate.
Princess Wannian's wedding procession departed from the palace. After being received, she borrowed the Empress's carriage, with imperial guards positioned on either side to bolster the procession.
This seemingly simple wedding ceremony, with its grand spectacle, was far from simple. It was more like a contest of status and power, with the emperor hoping to demonstrate his economic strength and authority, and uphold the dignity of his imperial family, through the princess's marriage.
Even though this was Princess Wannian's second marriage, Emperor Ling spared no expense in making it a magnificent affair.
During this time, Lu Ming was like a puppet, following the master of ceremonies' instructions step by step.
This single wedding felt more exhausting than having sex with ten women. The master of ceremonies was a royal eunuch, one of Zhang Rang's adopted sons.
However, even for a princess's marriage, the Imperial Clan Court still needed to handle the registration and record-keeping. And the person in charge was none other than Liu Yan, the Grand Master of Ceremonies! This was someone Lu Ming had a grudge against!
"It's Liu Yan? He won't cause trouble, will he? We don't get along that well," Lu Ming muttered, stroking his chin.
The Imperial Master of Ceremonies, Zhang Po, overheard this and whispered, "No, this is the wedding of the imperial son-in-law. A banquet will be held in the palace. The Grand Master of Ceremonies wouldn't do that."
This was essentially the emperor marrying off his daughter. If someone were to sabotage Lu Ming at this time, delaying the proceedings, it would be a slap in the face to Emperor Ling.
For the Grand Master of Ceremonies, who managed the Liu clan, to slap the emperor in the face—good heavens, he'd be in deep trouble!
It would also make others laugh, seeing the Han dynasty as incompetent, with the Liu clan even engaging in internal strife.
And the position of Grand Master of Ceremonies was very important; no matter what, they had to be on the emperor's side.
"I hope so." Lu Ming felt a bit tired. After welcoming the princess to the residence, he considered the first stage complete.
Next, they would go to the palace together. The emperor was hosting a banquet for his daughter's marriage, and many idle members of the Liu clan had returned. These princes owned land but had no real power; they couldn't refuse to attend, otherwise the emperor would find a reason to further reduce their titles!
After finally arriving at the palace, they had to perform the wedding ceremony.
Emperor Ling and Empress He sat upright on the dragon throne, and Lu Ming and Princess Wannian bowed to them.
Afterwards, they had to bow and offer wine to Empress Dowager Dong. Lu Ming was somewhat amazed by her beauty. Empress He was already stunningly beautiful, but today she was even more radiant, with full red lips, dignified and virtuous. Her noble aura made Lu Ming instantly aroused!
Moreover, Empress Dowager Dong was no less alluring. The crow's feet around her eyes and the bright red lipstick gave her a mature, seductive charm. So alluring at her age, who was she trying to seduce?
The wedding ceremony proceeded: bowing to the emperor, bowing to heaven and earth, toasting—the ceremony was complete!
The princess was escorted back to her residence, while Lu Ming stayed behind, led by Zhang Rang, to toast each table of guests in turn.
Among them were court officials, including Yuan Kui, and also members of the Han imperial family, such as Marquis Zhao, who was there as a representative.
They usually kept a low profile in Luoyang; it was only upon arrival that one realized there were so many members of the Han imperial family.
If one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, and viewed it purely from a historical perspective, one would have thought all the members of the Han imperial family were dead. Otherwise, why would Liu Bei suddenly appear, impersonating the imperial uncle?
Fortunately, Lu Ming possessed an extraordinary physique; the inferior wine could be quickly digested, and the alcohol could be converted into energy. Liu Yan, still wearing a smiling expression, seemed completely unaffected by his daughter-in-law being taken away. He simply kept ordering members of the Han imperial family to take turns pouring wine for Lu Ming. Too much wine could be fatal!
Faced with this provocation, Lu Ming's anger grew increasingly intense. He simply pretended to be drunk, saying, "I can't take it anymore, I'm too drunk, I can't take it anymore."
"Hey, Anmin, you're as brave as the three armies on the battlefield as you are at the drinking table! Come, let me toast you." Liu Yan smiled maliciously, intending to flatter him to death—the higher you're praised, the harder you'll fall!
"Ugh!" Lu Ming vomited all over Liu Yan, completely bewildered. The sour, foul smell almost made him faint.
Just as he was about to lash out, he heard Lu Ming's drunken laughter, "Come on! Let's have a drink! Hehe, come on, in Hedong, I faced two thousand bandits against ten thousand without batting an eye, why would I be afraid of you! Come on! Will you drink or not! You're not giving me face, are you!"
With that, he grabbed Liu Yan by the collar and lifted him up. He started acting crazy, clearly very drunk.
Emperor Ling frowned slightly and summoned a eunuch to have Lu Ming sent back. "Hmph, this Anmin, if you can't drink, then don't drink, tch."
Empress He's eyes flickered, as if she had thought of something. She could only see Emperor Ling on the joyous occasion of Princess Wannian's wedding, so she parted her red lips slightly, "Your Majesty, Bian'er is old enough to understand things now, why not let Lu Ming teach Bian'er military tactics and martial arts?"
Since Emperor Ling values Lu Ming, then winning him over as the Crown Prince's tutor, even if it's just teaching martial arts, would be a way of showing allegiance.
It must be said that Empress He's move was truly shrewd, a classic case of undermining one's foundation.
The person Emperor Ling favored, she also favored, and even brought him to be her eldest son's tutor—that seemed perfectly reasonable, didn't it?
It was perfectly logical, beyond reproach!
Emperor Ling frowned slightly. He didn't like his eldest son, Liu Bian, because Liu Bian was weak and lacked talent; one could see a child's future from the age of three.
In ancient times, people could predict a child's future from the age of three, and he knew his days were numbered. Even with Lu Ming's exceptional medical skills, he could only delay death, buying him time to prepare for the future.
Living to a hundred?
Although Emperor Ling found it absurd, he knew it was impossible, unrealistic. It was better to take concrete action.
"No, this is the teacher I prepared for Xie'er. Bian'er already has Wang Yue; isn't he the greatest swordsman in the land? He's more than enough to guide Bian'er. Guards, prepare the carriage; return to the palace." Emperor Ling clearly didn't want to speak further with Empress He. Ever since Consort Wang was poisoned, he had disliked Empress He. If it weren't for the Ten Attendants intervening and presenting the facts, Empress He would have been deposed long ago.
The fact that she hadn't been deposed was merely for the sake of stability; their feelings were long gone.
No man likes a jealous wife, especially one who secretly poisons him. Even if the imperial physicians involved were torn apart by chariots, it wouldn't be enough to quell his hatred!