On the eighteenth day of the Yang month, it is auspicious for marriages and travel; it is unsuitable for burials and groundbreaking.
This day is not favorable for Xu Qing, who cares about the environment of Dayong and enjoys planting and digging.
There are always certain considerations in funeral practices. Since today's almanac is not suitable for attending funerals, why not go to a wedding instead and enjoy a feast while at it? Wouldn't that be delightful?
The embroidery building where the Gu family's young lady resides is about fifty miles from the merchant's mansion. It is said that the large house where the embroidery building is located was specially bought by the wealthy Gu family of Huainan as the bride's family home.
The Gu family, though not a prominent clan with a thousand-year legacy, had an ancestor named Gu Lingjun who was a Confucian general.
Despite coming from a humble civilian background and not a military lineage, Gu Lingjun commanded troops as a civil official without tasting defeat for fifteen years.
During Zhu Sheng's southern campaign to quell the rebellion, he visited Huainan to pay respects to Marshal Gu, where the commemorative stele of Marshal Gu still bears the words, 'Loyal and Martial Commander-in-Chief' leading eight thousand White Robed Army to defeat six hundred thousand Northern Yan forces, turning their white armor into bloody robes and garments after the battle.
After Gu Lingjun's death, the former emperor of Dayong posthumously honored him with multiple titles such as Loyal and Martial Princes of Righteousness and Peace, Protector of the Eight Banners, and Civil Minister Guardian.
Gu Lingjun, who was both civil and martial, has always been the spiritual totem of King Changting, but the fate of this posthumously titled Marshal of the Eight Banners was not a happy one.
He pacified both internal and external conflicts and helped the former emperor establish an unparalleled legacy. Logically, this should have been the time for Marshal Gu to enjoy his accomplishments, but unfortunately, fate had other plans, and this renowned general, undefeated in battle, perished completely during a mission to quell a demonic uprising.
This matter remains unresolved to this day, as Gu Lingjun's death was too sudden. Some say the former emperor, fearing his power overshadowed his own, set up a trap. Others say Gu Lingjun ascended to the heavens, having completed his mission on earth.
Xu Qing did not know the living Gu Lingjun, but he did know the deceased Marshal of the Eight Banners.
The Marshal of the Eight Banners was a title conferred posthumously by the former emperor, yet Xu Qing had never heard of the Yin Erosion Law King.
Perhaps only those from that era know the truths buried in history.
Regardless of past events, the Gu family's descendants have always enjoyed their ancestor's blessings. Even now, although the martial influence is not as strong as before, they still remain a renowned family in all of Huainan.
Currently, Miss Gu Xueqing of the Gu family and Mr. Shang Shaoyang of the Shang family are well-matched in status and family background.
These two were childhood sweethearts, knowing each other since their youth. To Shang Shaoyang, it undoubtedly is a blessing accumulated over eight lifetimes, to continue the familial alliance, bring benefits to the family, while also caring for his feelings by marrying the girl he loved since childhood...
Even Xu Qing's Dream Creation Skill couldn't create such a beautiful dream!
"How come all the good things in the world fall to this surname Shang!"
Xu Qing smacked his lips, eyeing the flying eaves adorned with red silk and the countless flowers arranged in a staircase on the embroidery building before him.
Orchids, peonies, lilies, azaleas, blooming in brilliant clusters, but where do these many fresh flowers come from in this chilly October season?
Not only had Xu Qing never seen such a sight, but neither had Xuan Yu.
The zombie and the cat had their eyes opened wide; truly, the rich are indeed different from them!
"What kind of flower is this? So big! So fragrant!"
A girl in a black dress leaned toward a palm-sized flower, sniffing it continuously.
Xu Qing glanced sideways to see it was a pot of Red Silk Drunk Cloud, peonies with jade petals bathed in dew.
Beside him, an old man watched Xu Qing with the delicate-featured girl, explaining flower names and finding it amusing, stepped forward and said:
"Young man, don't just look. You need to be like this little girl, get close, smell with your nose, and listen with your ears."
Xu Qing blinked at those words.
A zombie enjoying flowers, smelling them, listening to them, this was rather exquisite.
Even without deliberately using his heightened senses, Xu Qing could feel the rich fragrance enveloping him as he moved closer.
Besides the floral scent, when his ear got nearer, he could hear various pleasant insects chirping inside.
If not for the cold October wind blowing occasionally, Xu Qing might have thought he was in the midst of summer!
This way, while others were bustling with gongs and drums, seeing the bride and groom off, a young man and a girl were outside, dipping here to sniff and there to sniff, like two butterflies, one large and one small.
The old man who had suggested to Xu Qing laughed aloud, showing his missing teeth!
After looping around, Xu Qing, followed by the smiling old man with hands behind his back, took another stroll.
Along the way, the old man continued introducing the various flower names, scents, and the blooming seasons of each flower to Xu Qing and Xuan Yu.
Curious about how the old man seemed so knowledgeable, Xu Qing asked, "Sir, how are you so familiar with these flowers?"
The small, scrawny old man in a gray cotton robe and short jacket cheerfully answered, "My family has raised flowers for generations. If I don't know about these, no one else would!"
Seeing Xu Qing's lack of surprised expression, the old man, somewhat defiant like a plum blossom, with hands behind his back, said, "There is a destined cycle for blooming and withering, within the law of nature. However, I'm different. I can bring together the flowers of spring, summer, fall, and winter to bloom beautifully for people to see. This is something not even the royal garden's florists can accomplish."
"Because this is not something ordinary mortals can achieve!"