OBS Chapter 1604: A Spring Night Worth Gold
Chapter 1604: A Spring Night Worth Gold
Although it was a royal family's daughter getting married, the wedding was held at Princess Wenshu's residence.
From now on, Bai Mufeng will also need to reside in the Princess's residence, and the entire family of the consort will need to treat Princess Wenshu with the respect due to their subjects.
At this moment, outside the residence of Princess Wenshu.
The imperial son-in-law, Bai Mufeng, dressed in a bright red auspicious robe and wearing a black gauze hat, led his entire family, young and old, to wait respectfully on the wide street outside the mansion gate.
The third-ranked scholar was beaming with joy today, his eyes bright. The slight upturn of his lips revealed his inner excitement and anticipation.
He and Wen Shu had finally waited for this day!
Following protocol, Bai Mufeng bowed deeply towards the direction of the imperial carriage and proclaimed loudly, "Your subject Bai Mufeng respectfully welcomes the Princess!"
After the ceremony, a palace attendant stepped forward to invite Princess Wenshu to alight from the carriage.
Two elegantly dressed noblewomen stepped forward to help Princess Wenshu alight from the phoenix carriage.
When the bride, her head covered by a veil, appeared before the crowd, a murmur of admiration rippled through the assembled guests.
Bai Mufeng looked up and saw the bride in her phoenix coronet and wedding gown, her figure even more beautiful than before, and he couldn't help but be stunned.
Immediately, the blush on his face deepened, and he quickly lowered his head again.
The wedding ceremony was held in the main hall of Princess Wenshu's residence.
The hall was decorated in a festive and grand manner, with red silk hanging high, double happiness symbols pasted on the walls, and incense and candles swirling around.
"I bow to Heaven and Earth—!!!"
Princess Wenshu and Bai Mufeng stood side by side, facing the incense table set up outside the hall, and solemnly bowed.
Thank God for this marriage!
"Second bow to the emperor and parents—!!!"
The newlyweds turned north and knelt in gratitude towards the palace, expressing their thanks for the emperor's benevolence and the granting of their marriage.
Then, they turned south and knelt to pay homage to Bai Mufeng's parents.
Of course, Princess Wenshu did not need to kneel; a slight nod was sufficient.
Mr. and Mrs. Bai, dressed in their official robes, were so moved that their eyes reddened, and they repeatedly asked them to rise.
"Husband and wife bow to each other—!!!"
This is the most eye-catching part.
Because of the princess's noble status, according to custom, the prince consort was required to kneel before Princess Wenshu, while she only needed to nod in return.
Without hesitation, Bai Mufeng straightened his clothes, knelt down solemnly, and bowed deeply to Princess Wenshu!
Princess Wenshu Yingying returned the gesture with a nod, her cheeks flushed.
Both of them had gentle smiles in their eyes.
The act of kneeling and bowing, while highlighting the hierarchical relationship between ruler and subject, softens the rigidity of the ritual by conveying the natural affection between the two, creating a sense of harmony and happiness.
Among the guests were, of course, the Xiongnu delegation that had not yet left the capital.
Luan Di Yi Tu, as the Left Wise King, held a prestigious position and was also among those invited.
He sat in the reserved VIP section, watching the elaborate Central Plains wedding with great interest.
Seeing Bai Mufeng kneel before Princess Wenshu, a trusted general behind Luan Di Yitu couldn't help but sneer in a low voice in the Xiongnu language: "The rules of the Great Zhou are really... to marry a woman, you have to kneel down as if you were paying homage to the king."
"If a man from our grasslands takes a fancy to a woman, he'll just snatch her back to his tent! Why go through all this trouble, and be so humble!"
Upon hearing this, Luan Di Yi Tu's lips curled into an ambiguous smile, and he replied in a nonchalant tone in the Xiongnu language: "So they are the Great Zhou, and we are the Xiongnu."
"They use etiquette to bind the moral order between ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife. We speak with swords and hooves."
The master of ceremonies announced loudly, "The ceremony is complete! Lead them to the bridal chamber—!!!"
Inside Princess Wenshu's residence, in the Qiluan Courtyard, a bridal chamber specially prepared for her wedding.
The courtyard had been completely renovated, showcasing royal grandeur and the joy of the newlyweds.
The floor was covered with a thick Persian carpet, embroidered with intricate patterns of twin lotus flowers and mandarin ducks with intertwined necks.
The walls were draped with soft red silk gauze curtains, embroidered with auspicious patterns such as "a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons" and "double blessings of happiness and longevity" in gold thread.
On the carved canopy bed, there was a soft, smooth mattress and a large red brocade quilt.
The display cabinets were filled with precious jade artifacts bestowed by the emperor, which shone brightly under the light of several glass palace lanterns.
Princess Wenshu was escorted into the bridal chamber by noblewomen and palace maids.
According to etiquette, she was to sit on the wedding bed and wait quietly for the prince consort to come over after he had finished the toasting ceremony in the front hall.
Two matrons and four personal maids stood to one side, eyes downcast and postures respectful.
Time passes quietly...
The hustle and bustle outside became distant and blurred.
Princess Wenshu felt a slight flush rise to her cheeks as she recalled the scene of the wedding ceremony.
After an unknown amount of time, footsteps approached from outside, accompanied by bursts of laughter and conversation.
These are clearly the best man and relatives who brought the groom to the bridal chamber.
"Your Highness, the gentlemen in front are so hospitable, please bear with us."
"Yes, yes. A moment of bliss on this spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold, so let's not disturb you any longer!"
"Brother Bai, congratulations!"
"..."
A gentle knock sounded on the door, and the master of ceremonies announced loudly from outside, "The auspicious hour is approaching. We respectfully invite the Prince Consort to enter the bridal chamber—!!!"
The old woman inside the door immediately signaled to the palace maid to open the door.
Bai Mufeng stood at the entrance of the bridal chamber, surrounded by several young colleagues.
He had clearly been given a lot of alcohol, his fair face flushed. His usually gentle and smiling eyes were now surprisingly bright, and his gaze immediately fell on Princess Wenshu.
The young officials behind Bai Mufeng let out good-natured laughter.
Bai Mufeng coughed lightly, feeling a little embarrassed, and cupped his hands in thanks to everyone: "Thank you all for seeing me off!"
"It's late, everyone should get some rest."
After exchanging a few more jokes, the group dispersed with smiles.
The nannies and maids, being very perceptive, stepped forward to serve the two.
Bai Mufeng first walked up to Princess Wenshu, straightened his clothes, and bowed solemnly once again: "Your subject Bai Mufeng greets Princess Wenshu!"
Princess Wenshu's gentle voice came from under her veil: "Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities."
"Now that the ceremony has been held, these formalities can be dispensed with privately if possible."
Her cheeks turned even redder after she finished speaking.
The nanny handed over the congratulatory talisman, and Bai Mufeng stepped forward to lift the veil.
Looking at his newlywed wife, whose cheeks were flushed and whose eyes were like water, he felt an overwhelming tenderness in his heart.
"The eldest princess..."
Bai Mufeng paused, seemingly feeling that the title was too formal for the occasion, and changed his address to "Wen Shu".
"Thank you for your hard work today. The etiquette was quite elaborate, but did you manage?"
Princess Wenshu gently shook her head, glanced at Bai Mufeng, and then lowered her eyes shyly: "It's not hard work."
"As for the prince consort, he drank quite a bit while entertaining guests in the front hall, didn't he?"
She noticed the flush on his face and the faint smell of alcohol on him.
"It doesn't matter."
"They are all colleagues and close friends, and I can't refuse their kind invitation."
Bai Mufeng's gaze fell on Princess Wenshu's slightly furrowed brows, which were furrowed with concern. He found her appearance extremely charming: "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting here."
The differences between the two, stemming from their different social statuses and manners, gradually dissipated during their simple and natural conversation.