The top scholar marries a wife; a match made in heaven.
In late spring, Zhuque Street in the capital was decorated with festive red silk, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Red lanterns hung high in front of the Shen and Su residences, drums and music filled the air, and guests came and went in an endless stream, all to witness the grand wedding ceremony of the newly appointed top scholar Shen Qingci and the talented Su Yunqing.
When the auspicious hour arrived, Shen Qingci, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, with a jade belt around his waist and a scholar's hat on his head, looked handsome and spirited. He rode a tall horse, followed by a grand wedding procession. The sounds of suona horns and firecrackers reverberated through the streets, attracting crowds of people to flock to the streets, eager to catch a glimpse of the scholar's demeanor.
Inside the Su residence, Su Yunqing sat gracefully before the mirror, her phoenix coronet and wedding gown highlighting her exquisite features. A maid applied the final touch of rouge to her face. Gazing at the pearl ornaments adorning her temples in the mirror, a blush rose to her cheeks, her eyes filled with anticipation for the future. They had known each other since childhood, childhood sweethearts, from their worthy rivalry under the peach blossom tree to their mutual support during their arduous studies. All the tender moments of those times now warmed her heart.
"Miss, the groom has come to fetch the bride!" The maid's clear voice rang out. Su Yunqing took a deep breath, got up, put on the red veil embroidered with a picture of a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons, and slowly walked out of her boudoir with the help of her bridesmaids.
Stepping over the fire basin and crossing the saddle, the series of rituals proceeded in an orderly manner. As Shen Qingci personally helped Su Yunqing into the bridal sedan chair, the moment the sedan chair started moving, he seemed to see the smiling girl playing chess under the peach blossom tree many years ago, who was now finally going to become his life partner.
The wedding was held in the main hall of the Shen family mansion, with red candles burning brightly and the tassels of the wedding tents swaying gently. At the master of ceremonies' announcements, the couple stood side by side and performed the three bows. The first bow was to Heaven and Earth, to express gratitude for the guidance of fate; the second bow was to their parents, to repay their kindness in raising them; and during the mutual bow, Shen Qingci gazed at Su Yunqing beneath the veil, his eyes filled with tenderness, and Su Yunqing could feel the gentleness in his gaze, her heart fluttering.
After the ceremony, guests took their seats, toasting and laughing. The Emperor specially dispatched an eunuch to deliver a plaque inscribed with his own calligraphy, "A Perfect Match," along with congratulatory gifts, adding unparalleled glory to the wedding. Shen Yanzhi and Su Mingyuan looked at the newlyweds with smiles of satisfaction on their faces. Their years of friendship as classmates had finally blossomed into a beautiful story through their children.
As night deepened and the guests departed, the red candles flickered in the bridal chamber, filling the room with warmth. Shen Qingci carefully lifted Su Yunqing's red veil. In the candlelight, her eyes were shy, her cheeks flushed, and she was breathtakingly beautiful.
"Yunqing," Shen Qingci held her hand, his voice gentle yet firm, "From this day forward, you are my wife. In the years to come, whether in good times or bad, I will protect you, cherish you, love you, and never leave you for the rest of my life."
Su Yunqing looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears, yet filled with a smile: "Brother Qingci, I will also stay by your side, cook for you, share your worries and troubles, and spend every meal and season with you, year after year."
As the red candles burned out in the dead of night, their tender whispers filled the warm tent of their spring night. That night, the peach blossoms still smiled in the spring breeze, and the two childhood sweethearts finally joined hands, embarking on a new chapter of their life together, weathering storms together. They may not have anticipated the storms that lay ahead, but the warmth of their hands at that moment gave them the courage to face any challenge that lay ahead.
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