Chapter 62
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Preparations
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'Now that things have finally quieted down, life feels worth living again.'
I set down my brush and stretched.
After luring and soothing even the Hu tribes with promises of profit, Jangak had at last regained its peace. Thanks to that, I could finally proceed with the long-delayed wedding.
Chae Yeom and I had been exchanging letters nonstop, and I'd also sent one to my teacher—now my father-in-law-to-be.
And at last, both Chae Yeom and I received replies from Father. As proof, two letters lay before me.
'Ha... of all things, two of them...'
I picked up the first letter, from Saibang.
Father had cheerfully given his blessing: "I can entrust my daughter to you." But as a criminal confined to Saibang, he couldn't leave, so Elder Ye Gang would stand in his place and escort Chae Yeom all the way to Chang'an.
Moreover, thanks to Elder Ye Gang pulling strings, my superior, Yang Province Administrator Yang Ong, had arranged the wedding venue in Chang'an.
"With Elder Ye Gang coming in person, it couldn't be more reassuring."
But the joy was short-lived. Seeing the second letter from Bing Province drew a sigh from me unbidden.
—It was from Inspector Ding Yuan, the old man who claimed me as his foster son.
『How can you marry without a father? I swore to the world to take you as my son—how dare you not even mention it to this father of yours!』
It started with a shout, but in the end, the old coot from Ding Yuan announced he would attend the wedding and was coming to Chang'an.
"Haa... my head hurts. Hurts."
But I had no choice but to go through with the wedding. I set the letters aside and called out toward the door.
"Zhang Liao, Gao Shun! And have both advisors come at once!"
"Yes, Administrator!"
Moments later, the four of them entered the office. I handed them the letters.
"As you can see, something's come up. We have to head to Chang'an for the wedding."
After reading the letters I offered, Tian Feng and Jia Xu spoke up.
"My lord, with the Bing Province Inspector coming all this way, it doesn't look like we can keep this wedding quiet."
"Hm, but your fame will rise that much more, so it's not a bad thing."
I nodded at their words, then fixed Zhang Liao and Gao Shun with a steady gaze.
"Jangak will be in your hands while I'm gone. Understood?"
"We shall obey your command, my lord."
"If the Hu tribesmen or any foreigners get ideas— I don't need to tell you what to do, right?"
A cold smile curled Zhang Liao's lips at my words.
"Worry not, my lord."
"Good. The rest of you, prepare to follow me to Chang'an. We depart at dawn tomorrow!"
A week had already passed.
The road to Chang'an was long and tedious amid the chill autumn winds. But the barren plains finally gave way, and signs of human life—roads and small villages—began appearing one by one.
At last, I could feel we'd entered the Sanfu region.
"Heeya! I really am a city boy at heart. Brother! Don't you think glittering Chang'an suits me better than this dusty frontier? They say the girls in Chang'an are something else!"
Cheng Lian clicked his tongue at the sight and cut in.
"Wei Colonel, tone down that nonsense. Anyone can see what kind of mess the 'Stud of Jangak' will stir up in Chang'an."
"How bad at keeping it in your pants do you have to be to earn a nickname like that? You keep this up, and you'll end up on the road to the Yellow Springs for real."
With Wei Yue chiming in, Wei Sok flinched and whistled innocently.
"Stud of Jangak? You all seem lively now that I've loosened things up a bit."
"N-no, Brother! How could I... I was just working nonstop! All for Jangak's peace—smashing bandits, nothing more!"
"Just bandits, huh? Bet you smashed some village wives too. Sigh..."
As Cheng Lian sighed, I had no choice but to grab Wei Sok by the collar and ask.
"You didn't go after any married women, did you?"
".....Absolutely not."
The three seconds of silence told me everything.
"Ma Deng!"
"Yes, my lord!"
"From now on, if this Wei Sok strays more than a hundred paces from your side, kill him. Got it?"
"....Yes."
Ma Deng obeyed glumly, but Wei Sok freaked out in disbelief.
"B-Brother! What the hell?!"
"Shut it! No women around, so you go after wives? Are you insane?"
"N-no! Brother, hear me out—"
"I said shut it!"
After silencing Wei Sok, a sigh escaped me.
'I really need to find a match for that Wei Sok fool. If I leave him like this, it won't be long before his head's on a pike.'
Thinking of Wei Sok gave me a headache, but then Chae Yeom came to mind.
'Ha... well, at least we'll meet soon.'
At last, Chang'an's massive walls came into view far ahead. I gazed at the gates, feeling a smile spread across my face unbidden.
Upon arriving in Chang'an, we were escorted to the mansion prepared by Yang Province Administrator Yang Ong.
Wei Sok, apparently unconcerned by my earlier scolding, grinned ear to ear. "Kahaha! Brother! Now this is more like it—fitting our status!"
I wanted nothing more than to beat him half to death, but it didn't seem right to see blood on a day like today, so I could only signal Ma Deng with my eyes.
"Deputy Wei, a word over here."
"Hm...? Colonel Ma, why drag me to the corner— Gahk!"
As Wei Sok quieted down and we began unpacking, a servant suddenly rushed in panting.
"Administrator! Big trouble! Ch-Chief Attendant Elder Ye Gang and Bing Province Inspector Ding Yuan are nearly here!"
"What? Already?"
"Yes! No one else can receive them but you."
With the servant sweating bullets, I had no choice but to drop everything and head out.
Outside, the two had arrived, each with their entourages.
By Ding Yuan stood Fierce Attendant Officer Zhang Yang and the soldiers who'd served with me in Bing Province. Beside Elder Ye Gang were Minister over the Masses Lu Zhi and Protector-General of the Hu and Wuhuan Zhong Yuan.
'Uh... why are so many people here?'
I'd planned a small wedding with just Chae Yeom, never imagining this crowd. And I hadn't even dreamed the Bing Province Inspector would come.
I'd pegged him as a sly old fox just out to use me, yet here he was, marching all the way to distant Chang'an for his foster son's wedding.
'Ahem, my chest feels oddly tight.'
As a strange ache tugged at my heart, Ding Yuan spotted me and spread his arms wide, striding over.
"Oho, my son! This father rushed from afar in a single bound to celebrate your wedding!"
I hesitated a moment, then bowed deeply and politely.
"Father, you must have suffered on the long road."
I then approached Elder Ye Gang, bowing even deeper with genuine feeling.
"Elder, you too have endured much on this long journey."
"Hohoho, you seem to change aura every time I see you."
Once greetings were exchanged, I turned straight to Elder Ye Gang.
"Elder, where... is Lady Chae?"
Seeing my eager expression, Ye Gang chuckled.
"Hohoho! A groom shouldn't be so impatient. Lady Chae is staying elsewhere."
"Then right now—"
"Come now! Before a wedding, men and women must keep their distance. Purify your heart and wait!"
As Elder Ye Gang chided me, Ding Yuan stepped forward as if he'd been waiting.
"Heh heh, the Chief Attendant is right. Son! As your father, how can a true man fret so over one woman? So many honored guests have come to celebrate your wedding. Tend to them first!"
Ding Yuan's words forced me to shelve meeting Chae Yeom for now.
"Guests? We just wanted something quiet—" I tried to protest, but Ding Yuan raised his voice, glancing around and cutting me off.
"Look! Even the Minister over the Masses and Protector-General of the Hu and Wuhuan are here! They've all come to celebrate your future, so as host, it's only right to receive them properly! And this is the wedding of the hero who beheaded Northern Palace White Jade and the Yellow Turban leaders! How could it be quiet?!"
Unaware of my inner turmoil, even Elder Ye Gang nodded along with Ding Yuan.
"Hohoho, the Inspector speaks true. For a hero whose name echoes through the realm like you, throngs will naturally come to celebrate. All the guests won't arrive for... at least a week."
As I stared at them in disbelief, Elder Ye Gang continued.
"Moreover, a hero's wedding demands fitting rites and decorum. I've specially asked the Minister over the Masses to instruct you. Until the ceremony, he'll teach you the Grand Rites and the dignified bearing befitting a groom."
At Elder Ye Gang's words, Lu Zhi, who'd been standing silently behind, stepped forward and eyed me.
"Marriage is the great rite of human relations. Knowing propriety is also the foundation of a warrior. We begin tomorrow morning."
"....."
I was speechless.
All I'd wanted was a quiet wedding with Chae Yeom. I'd never imagined things would balloon like this.
The next morning, before dawn even broke, I was dragged to Lu Zhi's lodgings.
Elaborate ritual vessels sat before him, and Lu Zhi regarded me sternly.
"Sit."
I plopped down with legs splayed wide, as usual.
"Again."
"Pardon?"
"Kneel and sit without a sound, properly. Who told you to flop down like a wild boar?!"
At Lu Zhi's bellow, I corrected my posture and sat properly. His clear voice then rang in my ears.
"A wedding begins by informing the ancestors. First, learn to bow. There's protocol for the angle of your waist, hand positions, and how long to lower your head. Try it."
I bowed roughly.
"Wrong!"
"What's wrong now?!"
"Hand position's off! Left hand on top! Why keep your back rigid and just bob your head? Show humility in your bow. And that neck—what is it? Offering it for the ax like a criminal?!"
"No, can't I just lower my head—"
"Again!"
After half a shichen of torment on bowing, next came walking. Wei Sok's snickering drifted in from where he peeked outside.
"A groom must carry dignity. Don't stride like you're on the battlefield! Shorten your steps, eyes forward—but not arrogantly!"
"Minister, at this pace, the sun will set before I reach the bride."
"No backtalk! Again!"
"Kahaha! Never seen Brother squirm like that! Is that the crane's gait?!"
Wei Sok's voice from outside made my fist clench reflexively.
"Hoo hoo..."
After a full day of torment, the sun set, and I collapsed exhausted on the floor.
Lu Zhi looked down at me and asked one final thing.
"Do you think what you learned today is trivial and useless?"
I wanted to say yes, but fearing more lessons at night, I quickly changed tack.
"No."
"Why not?"
"On the battlefield, we crush foes with strength, but here I've learned the weight of propriety. Ways to show rank and earn admiration without drawing a blade. It feels akin to another form of combat."
A faint smile flickered across Lu Zhi's impassive face for the first time at my answer.
"Hm, now you seem a bit human. Tomorrow, receiving guests. Don't be late."
Lu Zhi's words drew a sigh from me.
'How much more suffering tomorrow...'