003 A Joyous Occasion in Huaining

As Wang Lanping entered the city, the streets were packed with people. Every house was adorned with red silk and colorful banners, as if every girl in the city were being married off on the same day. Firecrackers lined the path from the city gate all the way to the Wang family’s doorstep. This was not a superficial display orchestrated by sycophantic officials; it was a spontaneous and heartfelt gesture from the townspeople. After all, Huaining City had produced the world’s top military scholar, and no other county dared to challenge their pride.

Du Ningning had been dragged home, unwilling and reluctant, by her father, who claimed there were major matters to discuss. The officials dared not visit the private residence of the military scholar. The Ming Code strictly prohibited local officials from forming private associations with regional military commanders, and Wang Lanping was now a significant general. Furthermore, those officials would have been mortified to go—the world’s top military scholar lived in two crumbling thatched huts, while they themselves resided in towering mansions. It was neither proper nor sightly. Thus, the officials took their leave of the scholar and returned to their respective offices. Only Liu Zeqing, the Anqing Regional Commander, did not leave. He lingered in the city, afraid to return, for he knew that the day Wang Lanping officially assumed his post would likely be the day of his own demise.

The alley leading to the Wang residence was too narrow for the scholar’s honor guard, so they were sent to the courier station to rest. Wang Lanping took only two personal guards home.

The crowd watched the scholar return home before joyfully dispersing, leaving the streets bustling with excitement.

In front of a butcher shop, a commotion broke out.
"Boss, how much for this pork?"
"One copper coin. Take the knife and cut it yourself—as much as you want, until you've had your fill."
"What... what is this supposed to mean?"
"What does it mean? Huaining has produced a military scholar! You’re still asking me for a price? Forget buying it; just take the pig’s head. I’m happy, brother!"
"Hey, boss, you’re mocking me. I’m not happy if you’re not. Here, take this string of coins. Don’t haggle with me; I’m just cutting a small piece to give my wife a treat."

At the entrance of a restaurant, a waiter was pulling at a passerby.
"Sir, please, come in! Our boss is hosting an open banquet today—free for all guests!"
"No, no, I couldn't."
"Hey, brother, Huaining has produced a military scholar! It would be disrespectful if you didn't eat."
"I really can't eat anymore. I've walked half the street and already eaten three times. I’m stuffed to the throat."
"Well, everyone’s happy. If you won't eat, at least have a drink. Hey, don't walk away! It’s a day of great celebration!"
"Look, you’ve torn my clothes! Fine, since we’re all so happy, I’ll have a drink, hic..."

Wang Lanping, before even entering his courtyard, could hardly believe his eyes. Was this still his home? It didn't look like it. He remembered his home having a thatched roof—when had it been changed to black tiles? The small courtyard in front, which used to be unable to even keep a chicken in, was now surely secure enough to keep a horse from running out. And that wasn't all; the courtyard was filled with loads and crates.

Old Mother Wang was just as bewildered. She had only been out for a few hours; had the house changed? Had she gone to the wrong place? She looked left and right—no, it was correct; the thatched-roof house belonging to Yunniang was still standing right there.

Wang Lanping walked into the small courtyard and began checking the crates one by one. Good heavens—silk, fabrics, antiques, and paintings; everything was there. Seeing this, the military scholar understood: bribery. It was said that officialdom was corrupt, but he hadn't expected it to be this blatant, with gifts摆ed right at his doorstep. He checked the name tags on the crates—he didn't recognize any of them, but he had heard of them all. Practically every prominent family in the city had been there. The reason given for the gifts was singular: "Congratulating the Wang family on their house renovation." It was a clever excuse; when someone renovated their house, friends and relatives bringing gifts was merely a matter of social etiquette. If anyone investigated, it couldn't truly be classified as bribery. A crafty tactic indeed.

Wang Lanping carefully checked the name tags again and felt a sense of relief—not a single official was among them. At least that showed the officials were still upright enough not to engage in such practices.

Wang Lanping hadn't yet decided how to handle these items, so he let them be for now. He helped his mother inside, and once they entered, both mother and son were stunned again. The two small rooms were also packed to the brim. Checking the name tags again, Wang Lanping’s face turned green. It turned out the officials had come first and filled the rooms, so those who came later could only pile their gifts outside. Were these officials crazy? Did they really think the imperial censors were just for show?

The mother and son tidied up the room, lit incense, and Wang Lanping knelt before the ancestral altar, respectfully paying his respects to his forefathers, telling them that the Wang family had produced a scholar and brought honor to the ancestors.

Once finished, the mother and son enjoyed a moment of family bliss. When Mother Wang mentioned how much Yunniang had helped look after things over the years, Wang Lanping was deeply touched. He hurried outside, leaned over the courtyard wall, and called out happily toward Yunniang’s house.
"Yunniang, are you home? It’s me, Brother Lanping. I’m back."

Wang Lanping called out several times, but there was no response. After a long while, he heard the creaking of the wooden door at Yunniang’s house as it slowly opened.
"Yunniang, come out! Look at the fun things I brought you. Why are you hiding? It’s me!" Wang Lanping called out excitedly.

After another while, Yunniang and her parents emerged cautiously, looking as nervous as thieves.
"Lan... Master Scholar, this humble one pays respects to the Great Master." Yunniang’s father was a simple, honest farmer. The highest-ranking official he had ever seen in his life was a local constable. He never imagined that, nearing the end of his life, he would become neighbors with a Great Scholar. His voice trembled, and even his body shook—a testament to how much the common folk of the Ming Dynasty feared officials, to the point that they couldn't even face a child they had raised. Yunniang’s mother didn't even dare to raise her head, and Yunniang was even worse, huddled in her mother’s arms, silent.

Wang Lanping gave a bitter laugh. "Hey, Uncle, Auntie, what are you doing? Don't treat me like an outsider. We’ve been neighbors for decades. I’m still the same Ping’er. At home, don't treat me like an official. Besides, my position has nothing to do with you. See this armor? I only manage the soldiers."

Yunniang’s father grinned foolishly. "Yes, yes, you’ve done well, yes... we are just poor folk, hehe, no, we dare not climb so high."

Seeing that he couldn't explain it, Wang Lanping simply bypassed the courtyard wall and walked over. "Climb what? What official doesn't have a few poor relatives? Besides, my mother has relied on your family for help all these years I’ve been gone. I can't forget that kindness. Come, Yunniang, come play at my house. I had someone make you a few of the most fashionable outfits from the capital. Go try them on. Come on, go! Why are you stealing away? I’m not going to eat you."

Yunniang’s father tugged at her clothes. "Girl, go on."

Only then did Yunniang pull her face—anxious yet filled with a young girl's shyness—out from her mother’s arms, blinking her large eyes as she looked at Wang Lanping.
"It’s not like you’re getting into a wedding sedan, why are you so nervous?" Wang Lanping grabbed Yunniang’s arm and headed home.

At these words, Yunniang blushed even deeper. At her age, she understood some things about men and women, and their childhood play was now a distant memory.

By rights, Yunniang was well past the age for marriage. In a family with money, she would have been married off long ago. For the poor, marrying off a daughter was difficult; the wealthy wouldn't have her, or would only take her as a servant, and the parents of modest families couldn't bear to see their daughter suffer. And so, she was twenty.

As soon as Yunniang entered the Wang house and saw Mother Wang preparing food, she went to help. Mother Wang loved the girl from the bottom of her heart—she was beautiful, kind-hearted, caring, and had grown up with her son. The old lady had long wanted to arrange this marriage, but Wang Lanping had been away studying for years, so she hadn't dared to propose it. Now, her son had established his career, and it was time for him to settle down.
"Go on, girl, go see what clothes Brother Lanping bought for you. You two haven't sat and talked for years. I can handle this work, go on!" The old lady pushed her away with a smile.

Wang Lanping beckoned to the guards standing outside the gate, signaling them to bring in the items from the capital.
"Yunniang, come, try these on and see if they fit." Wang Lanping shook open a bundle, spilling out colorful fabrics. He looked through them, picked out what he thought was the best—a sky-blue cotton garment—and handed it to her.
Yunniang looked at the clothes, which she wouldn't have dared to dream of, and didn't even reach out. She said timidly, "I... I’m wearing these?"

"Am I the one wearing them? Come on, go inside and change." He shoved the clothes into her hands and pushed her into the inner room.

After a long time, under Wang Lanping’s repeated urging, the door finally opened. Yunniang stood there shyly, not daring to look up. Mother Wang came over and wiped Yunniang’s face with a towel, revealing a radiant beauty—a gem of a girl.

To Wang Lanping, Yunniang looked as if she had been transformed by magic. The dusty little girl from before was gone. She was beautiful, and in Wang Lanping’s view, she was no less stunning than the daughters of the noble families in the capital.
"Yes, yes, yes," Wang Lanping stared at her, nodding repeatedly.

Yunniang’s face was flushed, making her look even more moving. She asked shyly, "Is... is it beautiful?"
"Beautiful. Do you know who I saw at the Lu Ming Banquet hosted by the Emperor last year?"
"Have you heard of Chen Yuanyuan, known as the world’s greatest beauty?"

Yunniang shook her head, then nodded. "You mentioned that name when you were ten. Oh, and there was someone named Wu Sangui, right?"

Wang Lanping couldn't remember that. He had spouted too much historical knowledge that hadn't happened yet when he was young, but no one believed him. But when Yunniang mentioned Wu Sangui, Wang Lanping remembered a massive issue: why hadn't he warned the Chongzhen Emperor to watch out for that boy before leaving the capital? But would the Emperor have believed him?

"What... what’s wrong? Brother Lanping?" Yunniang asked.
"Oh, nothing. Where were we? Right, Chen Yuanyuan. That day at the banquet, the world’s greatest beauty was there, and she truly lived up to the name."

"What about her?" Yunniang asked.
"I mean, you are no less beautiful than Chen Yuanyuan."
"You... you’re lying!" Yunniang blushed even more, hiding behind Mother Wang, which made the old lady laugh. She gently tapped her son. "This boy, Yunniang is thin-skinned, don't tease her."

Wang Lanping laughed as he watched Yunniang’s flushed face.
When Mother Wang went back to finish cooking, Yunniang smoothed out her new clothes and suddenly asked, "Brother Lanping, who do you think is prettier, me or the eldest daughter of the Du family?"
Wang Lanping didn't even think about it. "Both are beautiful."
Yunniang was a bit displeased, pouting, and muttered, "Who is prettier?"

Wang Lanping had never compared the two. It was hard to say who was prettier on the spot. Except for her bad temper, the Du girl was quite likable, but she wasn't there, so he naturally said, "You are."
"Really?" Yunniang was overjoyed.
"Fake."
"You!" Yunniang’s expression changed, the joy turning to gloom in an instant.
"Just kidding, really, really."

At this moment, Mother Wang, who had been watching from the side, coughed and beckoned her son to come over.
The two stepped outside, and Mother Wang whispered, "Ping’er, what do you think of Yunniang?"
"She’s fine. Why?"
"Do you like her?"
"It’s okay."
"What do you mean 'it’s okay'? If you like her, you like her; if you don't, you don't. You can't be vague about this."
"What is this, Mother? What are you doing?"
"What am I doing? Your father left early, and now you’ve grown up and become a scholar. As the saying goes, 'Build a family, then build a career.' Look at how old you are. I want you to settle down and continue the family line."
"No way, Mother. You were asking me to settle down ten years ago. I’m a scholar now!"
"You’re still my son! Can’t a scholar have a family?"
"That’s not what I mean. I have a lot of important things to do. The Emperor is counting on me to revitalize the Ming Dynasty."
"National affairs shouldn't stop you from marrying and having children. When your father was your age—no, your father didn't have the luck; he wasn't even your age when he passed." Mother Wang’s eyes filled with tears.
"Fine, fine, Mother, stop worrying. I promise you."
"Is that a promise? I’ll go talk to Yunniang’s parents tonight."
"Who? Yunniang?"
"Why, don't you like her? You just said you did."
"Well, it’s not that I don't like her..." Wang Lanping said reluctantly. It would be a blessing for anyone to marry Yunniang, but she had suffered since she was young, and he was now a military general. If one day he were to fall, Yunniang’s suffering would never end.
Mother Wang asked, "Then what is it?"
Wang Lanping scratched his head and chuckled. "We’re too familiar. It’s hard to make a move."

"You child, what are you saying?" Mother Wang was left between laughing and crying.
"No, Mother, can you let me think about it? It’s a lifelong decision."
"Think about what? For a marriage, it’s the parents’ command and the matchmaker’s word. Fine, think about it. I’ll go ask Yunniang what she thinks."

Mother Wang walked into the room with a smile and called Yunniang, who was still admiring her new clothes, into the inner room.
"Child, do you like the clothes Brother Lanping bought you?" Mother Wang stroked Yunniang’s head.
Yunniang nodded, her face full of joy. "Yes, Auntie, I like them."
Mother Wang thought for a moment. "Yunniang, have your parents promised you to anyone in the past few years?"
Yunniang blushed. "Auntie, why are you asking that?"
Mother Wang smiled. "Nothing. I only have Ping’er as my child, and sometimes I feel like we are mother and daughter. You’ve helped me so much over the years. Thank you."
Yunniang reached out and gently kneaded Mother Wang’s aching arm. "Auntie, why say that? When Brother Lanping wasn't home, if I didn't help you, who would? It’s what I should do."
"Good child. What do you think of Brother Lanping?"
They say women have keen intuition. Yunniang immediately caught the implication, lowered her head, and blushed to her neck. "What do you mean, what do I think?"
"You child, you’re twenty this year. I’ve known for a long time that you like Ping’er, don't you?"
"Auntie!" Yunniang twisted her waist.
Mother Wang had her answer. But that wasn't enough; if the girl agreed but the parents didn't, it would be for nothing.
"Alright, I’ll go talk to your parents tonight. If it works out, we’ll set the date. Our two families will become one."
"Auntie, stop it!"
"Fine, fine, I won't say any more. Look at you, blushing."

Yunniang was overjoyed. She had held this thought for ten years, but as a girl, she had never dared to speak it. Now that her heart had been laid bare, she was flushed and breathless. She twisted her waist and ran outside.

*Thump!* As she ran out, Yunniang collided with Wang Lanping. His armor clattered.
"Where are you running to?" Wang Lanping quickly grabbed Yunniang’s shoulders to steady her.
Yunniang’s heart raced. She couldn't meet his eyes, shook her shoulders to break free, and changed the subject. "Brother Lanping, is... is this armor heavy?"
Wang Lanping patted his chest. "It is. It was a gift from the Emperor. It can withstand a five-stone bow within a hundred paces."
Mother Wang added, "Then take it off and rest."
"No, it’s a hassle to put on. I have to go out in a bit."
Yunniang touched the armor plates. "Do you wear these when you fight?"
"Not always. Only heavy infantry wear this. For most, the lighter the better."
"Then you carry this every day. Isn't it tiring?"
"It is. But carrying you on top wouldn't be tiring at all." As he said this, Wang Lanping bent down, as if playing a game from their childhood, and swept Yunniang up in his arms, spinning in a circle. Yunniang was truly lighter than his armor.
Yunniang was no longer a little girl; she was twenty. She let out a cry, and her face, which had just returned to a normal color, was flushed red once again.

Just then, a sharp, jealous voice rang out from the entrance of the Wang courtyard.
"Brother Lanping, what are you doing?"
Standing outside the courtyard was the furious Du Ningning and her father, Du Ming, who wore a dark expression.

***

Historical Note:
The colors of imperial robes throughout the dynasties.
According to historical records, from the Zhou Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty, the ceremonial robes (ritual wear) of the emperors were black.
Daily attire varied by dynasty. According to the "Five Elements" theory in the *Classic of History*, the Qin Dynasty was associated with the Water element, hence they favored black; the Han, Song, and Ming dynasties were associated with the Fire element, favoring red; the Tang was associated with the Earth element, favoring yellow.
Thus, it can be seen that only the Tang emperors wore yellow, and even then, it was a "vermilion-yellow." No one in the Han-led dynasties wore bright yellow while alive; the pronunciation of "Ming" (Bright) is identical to "Ming" (Underworld/Death), which was considered inauspicious.
In historical dramas, Ming emperors are often shown wearing bright yellow, but such garments only appeared in the posthumous portraits of emperors or as burial shrouds. Ming emperors and officials generally wore red—it was the dynasty that favored red the most. "Ming" means fire, and the Zhu family’s dynasty (the Ming) favored red.
The only ones who truly wore bright yellow while alive were the Manchus of the Qing Dynasty, who tried to emulate Han culture but created a strange hybrid that became a laughingstock.