Chapter Sixty-Eight: Standing as the Groomsman (Part One)

On the second day of the twelfth lunar month in the first year of Eternal Prosperity—a most auspicious day, suitable for all endeavors—Princess Taiping was wed to Wu Youji.

Both bride and groom were widowed and remarried, so it was deemed inappropriate to hold a lavish feast. Even so, the venue at Wannian County Hall was splendidly decorated. With the short days of winter, dusk soon fell; flaming torches lined the way, their fierce heat singeing the roadside trees. The glow from the hall's gold and jade radiated into the sky, visible even from miles away.

Guests poured in, their carriages rattling in an endless procession, jamming the roads until several nearby markets were impassable. The walls of the county hall had to be dismantled to ease the congestion.

The Li family’s nobles, the powerful figures of the Wu clan, and nearly all the prominent civil and military officials were present.

Quan Ce served as Wu Youji’s groomsman, arriving ahead with the groom’s friends and relatives to prepare the hall and greet the guests at the door.

The Wu family boasted many young men, several of whom were unmarried. Yet, Wu Youji did not ask his influential kin—such as Wu Chengsi, Wu Sansi, or even his own elder brother Wu Youning, who had grown sons—to serve as groomsmen. Instead, he chose Quan Ce. The guests, all well-placed in the court, knew of the close friendship and business partnership between the two, and thought nothing of it. The more astute among them perhaps saw in this marriage the merging of the Li and Wu families, and Wu Youji’s selection of an allied Li as his groomsman seemed both fitting and composed.

Only the man standing beside Wu Youji, Quan Ce himself, knew the truth: it was a silent act of defiance. The Empress Wu had issued a decree forcing Wu Youji to remarry before his late wife's body was cold, a wound he bore bitterly. Made to represent the Wu family, he deliberately chose a Li as his attendant and specifically requested his more reserved cousin Wu Youxu to officiate, ensuring that the ambitious likes of Wu Chengsi would have no role in the ceremony.

It was a faint rebellion—he could do no more.

Both groom and groomsman wore strained, forced smiles as they greeted and saw off guests. Quan Ce was reminded of a recent incident: taking advantage of his sister’s remarriage, Prince Li Xian of Luling, far off in Luzhou, had petitioned to return to the capital to offer his congratulations but was harshly refused by the Empress, falling seriously ill as a result.

The princes and nobles of the Li family who attended kept their distance from Quan Ce—their relations were ambiguous at best, friend or foe uncertain, maintaining only the surface appearances required by decorum. The princesses, however, unburdened by political strife, were fond of him, teasing and tugging at him, the elder among them pinching his cheeks and remarking on his good looks, treating him more as a plaything.

When Princess Gao’an arrived, she found Quan Ce being playfully tormented by several older princesses and promptly stepped in to rescue him, embracing him protectively like a mother hen her chick and berating her sisters and aunts.

“My, Gao’an, look at you doting on him! Anyone who didn’t know better would think Quan Dalang was your own child!” the princesses quipped with sharp tongues.

“Hmph! He’s my true nephew—what difference is there between a nephew and a son?” Gao’an retorted cheerfully. “I’ve watched him grow up since he was little, and I won’t allow you to bully him.”

“Tch, you’re not even related by blood. Who knows when the family ties will break? You’re just being sentimental,” came the snide reply.

Princess Gao’an’s brows shot up, about to answer, when a stern voice cut through the air: “Not related by blood? So what if you’re not of the same lineage? If you and I aren’t of the same house, should I strip you of your title as princess?”

“Nephew Youji pays his respects to the Empress and His Majesty!” Wu Youji led the chorus as the crowd fell to their knees in confusion. The Empress Wu and Emperor Ruizong had arrived together, their retinue kept to a minimum due to limited space, so their entrance caused little commotion and left the quarrel at the door exposed before them.

“Tonight is a night of joy for Taiping. I’ll not hold this against you—now go!” Empress Wu’s expression was cold as she issued her command.

The offending princess trembled, her relief palpable. She kowtowed twice and fled in disgrace.

Empress Wu snorted, then turned to Gao’an, who was still kneeling, holding Quan Ce’s hand as if he were a small child. The Empress smiled. “You are Gao’an?”

“I am, Mother. Your daughter greets you,” Gao’an replied, bowing her head.

“Get up, all of you,” Empress Wu laughed lightly. “Gao’an, don’t cling to your nephew so. He’s half the star of today’s ceremony. With Yiyang absent, you are Taiping’s only sister—don’t let your favoritism for Quan Ce mean you go easy on Youji.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Gao’an answered more easily, seizing the chance to plead for Quan Ce. “Dalang is still young. Thanks to Minister Wu’s favor, he’s serving as groomsman, but he may not know the proper forms and could make mistakes.”

“If you keep coddling him, how will he ever grow up?” Empress Wu cast an indulgent glance at the docile Quan Ce beside Gao’an, a rare softness in her eyes—such heartfelt affection was seldom seen in an imperial family. “Gao’an, come with me.”

Standing beside the Empress, Emperor Ruizong deferred to Gao’an, who dared not accept the honor. He smiled wryly. “Sister, don’t put me in a difficult position.” In fact, aside from Princess Taiping, Ruizong was the youngest of all Emperor Gaozong’s children.

Gao’an apologized repeatedly and followed the Empress inside.

News of the commotion outside the county hall spread quickly among the guests, who whispered among themselves. Quan Ce exchanged a glance with Wu Youji, each pondering his own thoughts.

Quan Ce understood the Empress’s intent: to create an atmosphere of reconciliation, to silence dissent, and clear the way for her ascension—not just between the Li and Wu families, but even extending warmth to Lady Xiao’s daughters and grandchildren.

As the auspicious hour approached, Wu Youji and his party entered the side courtyard where Princess Taiping awaited. The royal kin of the Li family, including Princess Gao’an, did not make things overly difficult for him; traditional tricks to embarrass the groom were not employed, and the poetry and essay challenges were routine. Wu Youji recited his prepared verses and passed each trial with ease.

At last, they reached the door to Princess Taiping’s chamber, which was tightly closed. Standing outside were Shangguan Wan’er and Xie Yaohuan, the Empress’s two chief ladies-in-waiting. This hurdle would not be easy. Many scholars and young nobles crowded around, eager to see how the famous Shangguan would test today’s groom.

“The Princess has three questions,” announced Shangguan Wan’er crisply. “The groom must answer each with a worthy verse. For every question, the time allowed is the burning of one stick of incense.” Xie Yaohuan brought forth the beast-shaped censer.

“The first question: In the groom’s view, what is the highest form of love between man and woman?” Shangguan Wan’er stated, smiling.

A look of longing crossed Wu Youji’s face, quickly replaced by sorrow. Unable to control himself, he bowed his head to hide his expression and waved his hand in a hoarse voice. “I am unworthy—let my groomsman answer for me.”

Quan Ce was caught off guard but quickly stepped forward to shield him. Before he could speak, Shangguan Wan’er added, “The Princess allows the groomsman to answer, but a mere recitation of old verses will not suffice.”

“To have no wings like the colored phoenix, yet for our hearts to beat as one,” Quan Ce replied at once, shamelessly borrowing the line to save the day.

Shangguan Wan’er’s eyes brightened with delight, and the crowd erupted. Cui Rong leapt up to ask, “Groomsman, do you have the whole poem?”

Quan Ce only shrugged impishly. “The Princess said a fine line would do.”

A collective sigh of disappointment rose from the crowd.

But Shangguan Wan’er was in high spirits, satisfied with what she’d obtained from Quan Ce. She went inside, returning moments later with a beaming smile. “Congratulations, Groom—you’ve passed the first question. Now for the second: Your first wife has departed on the wind. Have you any thoughts to share?”

At this, Wu Youji’s face went ashen.