Because everything has exceptions, although the mainstream thought at the time was that the married couple would die in the same place, but Cheng Yaojin did something that went against the mainstream. Even if he and Mrs. Xuxian were buried together in Zhaoling, it can be seen that Cheng Yaojin preferred Mrs. Xuxian. Perhaps the original wife did not please Cheng Yaojin, but at that time Cheng Yaojin was just a commoner who had not made a fortune, so he could only live with his original wife. Later, Cheng Yaojin became a high official, and his first wife died at the age of 31. Cheng Yaojin justifiably married the next wife in a short period of time. From his request to be buried with his wife, it can be seen that Cheng Yaojin was not very satisfied with his original wife.
The marriage process in ancient times was very troublesome, especially marrying a real wife required the orders of parents and the words of a matchmaker. Three letters and six rites are also required. The three letters are the letter of engagement, the letter of etiquette, and the letter of welcome. The six rites are the marriage proposal, the exchange of birth dates, the betrothal gift, and the selection of an auspicious day. Only then can the wedding be held. After these are completed, it is considered a real marriage. For couples.
On the night of the wedding, the couple will each take a strand of their own hair and tie it together, which is called a hair knot. From now on, they will sleep together in life and in the same hole in death, which means that they will be inseparable in life and death and stay together forever. Moreover, in ancient times, the concept of status was very important. A man's first wife was called the married couple. After that, the wives he married could only be regarded as filling in the house or continuing the marriage. The status of filling in the house and continuing the marriage could not be compared. Married couples, so after the death of the husband, they must be buried with the married couple, not with the wife who filled the house or continued the marriage.
Yuchi Jingde, who lived in the same era as Cheng Yaojin, is a typical example. He was named Duke of E. Even though his wife had been dead for more than 40 years, Yuchi Jingde, Duke of E, was still alive. Before, it was still stated that he wanted to be buried with his first wife, Su Wu, but not with his second wife. The approach of Duke Wei Chi Jingde of the State of Hubei was the mainstream thought of the ancients at that time.
Cheng Yaojin’s first wife was Sun, who gave birth to two sons for Cheng Yaojin, namely the eldest son Cheng Chumo and the second son Cheng Chuliang, the consort of the Tang Dynasty, General Huaiyuan. . Sun and Cheng Yaojin spent the most difficult years together, but Cheng Yaojin finally abandoned Sun, which was a bit disappointing.