Child Bride

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Child Bride

Chapter 2

The Wei Manor was decorated resplendently with swathes of lucky red banners, as guests noisily participated in the wedding entourage. Zong Yi, decked out in the auspicious red, waited for the mei po to officiate the ceremony.

The accompanying cymbals, drums, xuan na and firecrackers heralded the arrival of the bride. The bride was then piggybacked on the mei po into the Manor, and deposited beside the groom, who stood before the family altar.

"First, bow to the heavens and earth!" cried the shrill voice of the mei po, making sure that all the guests could hear her loud and clear.

The couple turned towards the altar of heaven and bowed low to the ground.

"Next, bow to the ancestors!"

The couple turned towards the altar where the tablets of the ancestors' names were kept and repeated the bow.

"Bow to your spouse!"

Zong Yi turned to his bride, who was veiled behind an elaborate headdress and a heavy silk scarf. The bride was decked out in a red dress, heavily embroidered with a phoenix motif. No doubt she had done the delicate embroidery herself.

The main ceremony completed, it was now time for the couple to offer tea to their elders. The bride, who was still heavily veiled moved gracefully in front of her seated mother-in-law, knelt before her and offered her tea. Before taking the tea from the girl in red, Lady Jin Hong smiled and proclaimed blessings over her.

"May your children and grandchildren fill to the rafters! May you grow old with your husband!"

The bride made no reply, as was customary, and so the ceremony went on until all the Elders of the Wei clan had been served tea.

By then, the guests were moved to the grand dining hall, where a magnificent feast was served. The bride, still veiled and unseen by all, was led by the mei po to the bridal chambers, which was also draped in red. After receiving the congratulations of some of his more distinguished guests, Zong Yi, too, left the dining hall and proceeded to the bridal chamber.

The bride, still veiled, sat demurely on the edge of the large bed, which was set into the wall of the chamber. The red curtains on the bed were pulled to the two posts fronting it, framing the girl. Zong Yi was struck by the picture of his bride - a woman he had never laid his eyes on - seated there framed by the curtains.

He moved to the table set in the centre of the chamber and poured himself a cup of sweet wine. Fortifying himself with the drink, turned to look at the red-clad girl, who sat as still as a statute. A gold rod was on the table beside the flask of wine, which he picked up. He walked over to the bed, and sat by the girl.

"Niang Zi," he whispered to the red veil.

Using the golden rod, he carefully lifted the veil of the virgin bride. The bride adverted her eyes from the man who was her husband and blushed prettily.

Removing the veil completely, he gazed at the face of his young wife.

'Beautiful!' his heart whispered. 'A celestial fairy has descended among us mere mortals!'

He gently cupped her chin, and turned her to face him, tracing her fine features with his eyes. She gave him an unsure smile, head still bowed, not daring to look into the face of her husband. Of course she had heard all about General Wei Zong Yi. He was the man who saved the Kingdom from the marauding barbarians from the west, and had banished them all away!

Shyly, she peeked up at Zong Yi from under her long eyelashes. "Xiang Gong," she whispered timidly in greeting to her husband.

Zong Yi's heart soared! Such bell-like tones! Such melodious syllables!

He grinned foolishly at his young bride, and kissed her gently. Turning to extinguish the oil lamp on the bedside table, he returned to the happy task of consummating his marriage.

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"Niang Zi, look," Zong Yi smiled at Tao Hua, as he pointed to the ducks flying in a V-formation overhead. She turned her gaze skywards to trace the paths of the ducks. The newly wedded couple were walking through the Wei Manor Pleasure Gardens.

In all his 39 years on earth, Zong Yi had never known such simple pleasures, peace and contentment. Since joining the Imperial army at 18, Zong Yi's life was one fraught with battles, many a times living from one day to the next, surviving. He had lost many worthy heroes and sworn brothers in the Imperial army, fighting in the deserts out on the harsh western frontiers. It was only heaven's grace that allowed him this short furlough into civilian life, allowing him to fulfil a son's duty by marrying and continuing the family line.

He turned to look at Tao Hua. He knew what his men were saying behind his back - "Zong Yi is walking in tao hua yun". He smiled at that thought. Indeed he was. The pun on her name notwithstanding, he had led a very lonely life amongst desperate men at the frontlines. Thus, it was truly heaven's blessing to find such a lovely, intelligent being awaiting him after the horrors of the past 5 years.

As was the custom of the time, all marriages in the higher-ranked families were arranged. Therefore, finding a love match was really the work of providence. Therefore, finding a love match in Tao Hua was truly his great fortune. In the weeks following his marriage, he discovered that his wife was not only beautiful, modest and dutiful to his mother, she was spirited and intelligent, too. Unlike many ladies of the high-ranking families, she was literate and read voraciously (Her father, Minister Zhu, had only Tao Hua and had doted on her, allowing her opportunities not often given to women.) During those dreamy days of wedded bliss, they would discuss the finer points of scholarly essays over wei qi, exchange ideas through their calligraphy sessions by the lake in the Pleasure Gardens, take long walks through the Gardens in the evening, and end the day by reciting poetry over tea and wine in the moonlight. It was a scholar's paradise, and Zong Yi after the bloody battles of the past five years, was glad that he could engage in his scholarly pursuits together with his accomplished wife.

His mother was pleased with her daughter-in-law, and unlike many households, the women got on famously with each other. The two women were similar in temperaments, and were united in their common love for Zong Yi - for all who had eyes could see that Zong Yi's wife literally blossomed whenever her husband was in the vicinity.

One quiet evening, about a month into their marriage, Zong Yi approached his wife in the chambers, and noticed that she had a scar just below the back of her neck. Puzzled, he asked her about it.

"Oh, Xiang Gong, it's a very old scar. When I was but a baby, my natural family was attacked by robbers one night. When the robbers came into my house, and my nai ma took me and ran off, but not without being viciously set upon by our attackers first. She managed to get away from them, and I escaped death. That scar is the only reminder of that terrible night."

At this point, she paused, and a lone tear tracked down her right cheek. When she recovered the use of her voice, she continued, "My entire clan was massacred in that one night. My nai ma brought me to my paternal uncle's house where they took me in as their ward. When I turned two, I was given to Minister Zhu's wife as her daughter, after her own 2 year-old daughter died of fever." Tao Hua paused again, this time smiling at the memory of the woman who loved her well, "She renamed me Tao Hua, because Hua was also in her daughter's name." She looked up at her husband with a smile, "My name used to be Tao Xiang."

Zong Yi turned pale. He stared at his wife in shock and fear.

"How old are you this year?" he asked her harshly.

Tao Hua's eyes grew wide. In all the time she'd spend with him, Zong Yi had never raised his voice with her. She knew he had a quick temper, but never was this temper directed at her.

"I...I'm not yet 18," she trembled, confused. What was going on? What had she done to anger him?

Zong Yi's hands started trembling. A quick calculation placed her exactly as a baby when he was 22, all those years ago. He raised his trembling hands to his face and pressed his face into his hands, and started laughing harshly.

Heaven's will!

Heaven had prepared a beautiful wife for him, but he had tried to have her killed! Rash, rash young man! Bloodthirsty! Guilty murderer! The blood of her entire clan was on his hand!

In confusion, Tao Hua placed her hand on her husband's arm. "What is the matter, Xiang Gong? I don't understand..."

Zong Yi's violent laughter died down into furrowed eyebrows and sorrowful eyes. "Niang Zi, old heaven is making sport of us. It's all heaven's will. Don't you understand?"

Tao Hua shook her head, uncomprehendingly.

'Ah, Zong Yi,' he asked himself, 'what had that Xiang Shi said so many years ago?'

'...only you will see a despair and loneliness unlike any other. You are destined to suffer a desolate loneliness for three lifetimes, but in your third, you will be saved by tao hua yun. You will be lauded by men far and wide for your scholarly brilliance. But few will know and appreciate your sacrifice in battle. In this lifetime, at least, you might come into a short happiness, but it is fleeting.'

Desolate loneliness for three lifetimes? Fleeting happiness in this lifetime?

Zong Yi looked desperately at Tao Hua, "Niang Zi, ai ren, I...I don't know what to tell you. My life has resembled the 18 levels of Hell until you came along. My furlough will soon be over, and I will have to return to the frontiers. I may not... I am afraid... No!" he turned angrily, "Men make the own destiny!" he shouted to the heavens.

He stalked out of the chambers, robes billowing - lost in anger, guilt and confusion.

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The Imperial edict came the next morning, and General Wei Zong Yi had to prepare to engage the enemy once more. The war with the barbarians had intensified, and he was needed once again to lead the Imperial army westward with the other Generals.

When he left his family that morning to report to the Palace, he knew in his heart that his short time of happiness was at an end. He had gazed at his tearful young wife, and in his eyes, expressed all the love he had for her. Maybe, in another lifetime, they'll meet again. Maybe, if old heaven has eyes, they'll continue their scholarly discussions amidst Pleasure Gardens and lakes. Charging his Niang Zi to take care of his Niang, he mounted his warhorse, and rode towards the Palace. Towards his desolate loneliness.

He never returned to Wei Manor, to his mother, wife and son.

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Glossary:

xuan na - Shrill trumpet-like instrument.

mei po - Matchmaker Lady. She conducts the wedding ceremony.

Jin Hong - Gold Red

Zong Yi - Loyal Righteous

Tao Hua - Peach Blossom

Xiang Gong - term of endearment used by wife when speaking to her husband

Niang Zi - term of endearment used by husband when speaking to his wife

nai ma - literally "milk mother" or wet nurse

tao hua yun - peach blossom fortune (or lucky in love)

wei qi - a strategic game (akin to chess) played with black and white seeds on a chequered board

ai ren - lover

Xiang Shi - Fortune Teller

A/N: This part of the story was based on an actual Chinese folk story wherein a man tried to go against his destiny by killing a baby girl after a fortune teller told him that he would end up marrying her. Naturally, the story continues that his attempt at killing her failed. In 18 years' time, the man marries a young bride. On their wedding night, he discovers that the girl has a scar that she received when the man who tried to kill her failed in his attempt. The bride, of course is that girl. The title of the folk story is "The Child Bride". I don't know where to access this story anymore; I read it a very long, long time ago in primary school. The story just returned to me when I thought about the SS/HG ship.

Did you recognise all the characters in HP? One chocolate frog for each correct character detected!

Lady Jin Hong - McGonagall

Gold Red: Gryffindor colours, of course! In Chapter 2, we see that she gets on famously with her daughter-in-law. I had initially wanted her character to have feline inspired names or features. Unfortunately, naming your children Ah Mao (cat) is what low-birth peasants would do.

CynthiaWeasley suggested that Lady Jin Hong was Molly Weasley. I must confess that the thought did not occur to me - but yes, Lady Jin Hong was modelled on the quintessential loving mother figure, and could very well be Molly (if Red referred to the Weasley hair, and Gold to her heart). So if any of you thought of Molly, have a chocolate frog too!

Wei Zong Yi - Severus

Snape's honour is reflected in his name - Zong for loyal/faithful and Yi for righteous/steadfast. Also, it is hinted in his background of a scholar/warrior.

Feng Ling - Fawkes

Phoenix Bells: Ok. That's a stretch, but I most upper class families would name their females, Feng. The mythical phoenix is usually a motif for females, while the dragon is for males. That's a free chocolate frog for the fun of it!

Xiang Shi/Old Man - Dumbledore!

Most reviewer got this character right - the snowy beard, the twinkling eyes, the omniscience - Dumbledore through and through! Double chocolate frogs for you!

Tao Xiang/Tao Hua - Hermione

Does 'annoying girl' in Chapter 1 ring a bell? I could only further develop her "inner-Hermione" in Chapter 2.

Madam Chen - Pansy

Effectively the shrewish character I was going for, and so far only pk got this right!

Um. No, the Emperor is not Voldemort, no matter how much He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named claim otherwise. heh.

I decided to play the arranged marriage card because it is more realistic. In feudal China, upper class women do not even step out of the house - only on feast days, and heavily chaperoned. Very rarely would betrothed couples even have a glimpse of the other before the wedding night. The courtly Regency era of Pride and Prejudice will be considered open, liberal and scandalous by the feudal Chinese of that time period. Husbands and wives do not even touch each other in public, much less link arms.

The description of the wedding is what I call a "telly-movie" version of a Chinese wedding. I am familiar with various customs surrounding a traditional Chinese wedding, but the truth is, the various customs vary a great deal from different dialect groups, rank, as well as time period. Modern Chinese weddings do not last as long nor are they as elaborate.

In which time and place will our protagonists meet up next? Tune in to find out!