Chapter 80 Wedding 1

The mirror on the dressing table reflected the snowflakes falling outside the window, which, along with the rising steam inside, condensed into frost flowers on the window frame. Two embroiderers were on a gold-embroidered carpet, putting the finishing touches on the priceless wedding dress.

The moment the wedding dress was unfolded, everyone trembled. "This is the final work of a Suzhou embroidery master," the embroiderer said, stroking the lifelike golden phoenix on the dress. "Just the phoenix's eyes alone used twelve different kinds of silk thread."

She pointed to the phoenix tail, "See this gradient color? The peacock feather threads are mixed with real gold leaf. They have to be split into fine threads on the water-cloud satin; if you miss a stitch, the whole piece of fabric is ruined."

Jiang Yining reached out and touched the blooming peonies on her skirt. Each petal was painted using the "nested needle" technique, creating a three-dimensional effect by gradually deepening the color. Even more exquisite was the "gold thread embroidery" on the waist belt, where pure gold threads moved across the deep red satin background to form auspicious cloud patterns, shimmering with light at the slightest movement.

"This was the most labor-intensive part." Shen Nian'an held up the cloud-shaped shoulder ornament, adorned with 999 South China Sea pearls. "Each pearl had to be the same size. President Xie personally went to Qiongzhou to oversee the procurement."

She suddenly lowered her voice, "I heard that divers searched the coral reefs for three months to gather this number."

When the twelve-panel kesi horse-face skirt was put on, Jiang Yining could barely breathe. The "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" pattern on the skirt was woven using the ancient technique of "interlacing warp and weft," creating different light and shadow effects as she moved. The outermost gauze garment was actually the long-lost "Heavenly Fragrance Silk," in which a hundred children pattern could be faintly seen in the dark patterns when held up to the light.

"Lower your head." Mother Jiang's voice trembled as she placed the phoenix crown on her head. This Ming Dynasty-style kingfisher feather phoenix crown used the intangible cultural heritage "gold and silver inlay" technique. The filigree gold dragon and the kingfisher feather phoenix intertwined their necks, and each of the pearl tassels hanging from the crown's edge was engraved with micro-carved scriptures, which shimmered with a warm light under the candlelight.

"My God..." Shen Nian'an gasped, "How much would this cost?"

Jiang Yining shook her head. Xie Shiyan never told her these numbers, just as he never let her see the intricacies of wedding preparations. All she knew was that he personally oversaw every detail, from the venue to the floral arrangements, from the menu to the band.

As the auspicious hour approached, the clock struck 7, when a sudden commotion arose downstairs. Jiang Yining peeked through a corner of the curtain and saw fifteen gleaming black luxury cars neatly parked at the entrance of the residential complex.

The door of the lead Rolls-Royce opened, and Xie Shiyan stepped out. He was dressed in a bright red python robe, with a unicorn embroidered in gold thread on his chest that glared angrily in the morning light. The mutton-fat jade pendant hanging from his jade belt was the "Double Fish in Harmony" pendant passed down through generations.

"The Xie family, Xie Shiyan has come to the Jiang family to pick up the bride!" Zhou Yanzhe's loud voice echoed throughout the entire neighborhood.

A gasp erupted from the crowd. People raised their phones to take pictures, and flashes went off everywhere. Jiang Yining saw Xie Shiyan look up at her window, his gaze piercing, as if he could see right through the curtains into her heart. She hurriedly pulled the curtain down, her heart pounding like a drum.

The wedding procession was solemn yet heartwarming. Xie's mother respectfully handed a mahogany tray containing the property certificate and gold jewelry to Jiang's mother, while Xie Shiyan knelt down to offer tea to Jiang's father.

The entire traditional Chinese wedding procession was captured by a professional photographer, and it quickly caused a huge stir online.

Wow, what a rare sight! A traditional Chinese wedding, and... this isn't just a dowry, it's a walking gold mine!

Did the bride save the galaxy in her past life?

Am I the only one who noticed that the groom is as handsome as a celebrity?

Jiang Yining was completely unaware of these discussions. At that moment, she sat in the wedding car, her fingers unconsciously tracing the embroidery on her skirt. Xie Shiyan's hand covered hers, warm and dry: "Nervous?"

"A little," she admitted honestly, "thinking about seeing so many relatives later..."

Xie Shiyan chuckled and, as if by magic, pulled a lemon candy from his pocket: "Have some candy."

The solemn ceremony at the Xie Family Ancestral Hall, paired with the newlyweds' traditional Chinese wedding attire, created an unexpected harmony. Elders from the Xie family took turns offering their blessings to the couple, while Jiang Yining knelt on a prayer mat, feeling the tranquility amidst the swirling incense smoke.

Xie Shiyan protected her the entire time, even pressing his hand against her forehead when he bowed to pay his respects. After the ancestral worship ceremony, on the way to the hotel, the snow stopped.

The eight-bearer dragon and phoenix sedan chair had gilded incense balls hanging from its four corners, scattering plum blossom petals mixed with sandalwood fragrance with each step of the bearers. Suddenly, a corner of the sedan curtain was blown up by the wind, and Jiang Yining saw crowds along the way taking pictures.

Xie Shiyan even ordered people to distribute "red envelopes" along the way. In addition to money, the red envelopes also contained a specially made copper coin engraved with "May you grow old together" and strung together with a red string into a ruyi knot.

The wedding banquet at noon was held at the most luxurious five-star hotel in H City. The lobby was transformed into the layout of an ancient royal palace, with golden dragons coiled on the vermilion pillars and thirty-six palace lanterns illuminating the white marble floor like a mirror.

As the "Rainbow Feather Dress Dance" began, Jiang Yining walked towards the wedding hall, her twelve-panel horse-face skirt trailing behind her like a rosy cloud. She saw Xie Shiyan standing before the gilded double happiness character, the river and sea patterns on his python robe surging under the lamplight.