The red candle tent warms the couple's union
The auspicious date was chosen to be August 16th, the first day after the full moon, as a symbol of "after the fullness, there will be more blessings." Zixu Temple had shed its former quietness, with lights and decorations adorning the entire place, and even the stone steps in front of the mountain gate were spotlessly swept.
Before dawn, I was dressing in my room. The dresser, specially invited by Lu Renjia from Suzhou, gently tied my long hair into a flowing bun and pinned it with a phoenix-beaded hairpin—the very same one Yiqing had given me that day by the stream. A touch of cinnabar between my eyebrows made my skin whiter than snow. My bright red wedding dress, embroidered with gold thread, depicted a harmonious phoenix and a crane, shimmered in the morning light.
"You look so beautiful today, young lady." Qingsong came in with rouge and powder, her eyes sparkling. "Just now I went to the front yard and saw many unfamiliar guests, all here to congratulate you."
I looked at the unfamiliar self in the mirror, and vaguely recalled the panic I felt on the streets of Yuncheng when I first traveled through time. Back then, I never imagined that one day I would be able to wear a wedding dress and tie the knot with my beloved in this Taoist temple that existed thousands of years ago.
As the auspicious hour approached, Lu Renjia arrived to greet me. He had also changed into a brand new Confucian robe. He was startled when he saw me, then smiled and bowed, "Junior sister, you are truly radiant today."
The square in front of the temple was already decorated. A red carpet covered the ground, an incense table was set up, and on either side sat guests who had come to observe the ceremony. To my surprise, in addition to several Taoist friends and local gentry who were friendly with Zixu Temple, there were also several old acquaintances from Liangshan.
Li Jun, Tong Wei, and Tong Meng sat at the east end, nodding slightly when they saw me. He looked thinner than he had in Jiangnan, but his eyes seemed calmer. Ruan Xiaoqi remained his usual outgoing self, chatting and joking with Yan Qing beside him. Yan Qing, dressed in a simple blue shirt, raised his glass with a smile when I looked over. What surprised me most was that Wu Song was there too. Despite his broken left arm, he looked in good spirits. Sitting alone in a corner, he smiled a rare smile when he saw me.
Yiqing had already been standing in front of the incense table. He wasn't wearing a Taoist robe today, but a crimson wedding dress, which accentuated his handsome face and made him even more handsome than usual. When he saw me, a flash of undisguised surprise flashed across his eyes, then turned into a look of tenderness.
Master Luo sat upright in the upper seat and nodded slightly when he saw us coming.
The ceremony was conducted according to ancient rituals. We knelt side by side on the mats and burned incense to pray to the heavens.
"My two disciples, Gongsun Yiqing and Bu Luanyin, are in love and would like to become Daoist companions." Luo Zhenren's voice was solemn and dignified. "From now on, we will walk hand in hand and pursue the great Dao together. Are you willing?"
"Disciple is willing." We answered in unison and smiled at each other.
When we exchanged tokens, Yiqing tied a jade pendant carved with a pine and crane around my waist, and I handed him the embroidered mandarin duck sachet. The moment our fingertips touched, he gently squeezed my hand, and the warmth penetrated my skin.
After the ceremony, a banquet was held in the courtyard of the temple. Although not as lively as a secular wedding banquet, it was also elegant in its own way.
Ruan Xiaoqi was the first to raise his glass and step forward: "Mr. Gongsun, Miss Bu, I won't say those flowery words, I just wish you a long and happy life together!" After that he drank it all in one gulp, very generously.
Yan Qing then came over, holding the cup and said with a smile: "When we were at Liangshan back then, I could see that you two had a lot in common. Today you've finally become a couple, it's truly a match made in heaven." His eyes swept over my and Yiqing's shaking hands, with a knowing smile.
Li Jun's gift was the most special - a rare coral bonsai, and the attached congratulatory card was written in vigorous handwriting: "The road ahead is long, take care of yourselves." These short eight words expressed thousands of words.
Wu Song was the last to step forward. Though he only had one arm, he remained composed. "Master Lin asked me to tell you he's doing well and not to worry." He then produced a small jade ruyi. "He found this in Hangzhou. I wish you all the best."
I took the jade ruyi, and my eyes warmed as I thought of the hero who spent his days quietly in Liuhe Temple. Yiqing gently shook my hand and said to Wu Song, "Thank you, Master Lin, for us."
As the moon rose, the guests gradually dispersed. Li Jun and the others had to hurry on their way, so they said their goodbyes one by one. Before leaving, Ruan Xiaoqi patted Yiqing on the shoulder and said, "If Miss Bu is wronged in the future, I'll be the first to object!" This made everyone laugh.
The new house was located in a secluded courtyard behind Guanhou. It had previously been Yiqing's residence, and now, newly decorated, it exuded a festive atmosphere. Red candles burned brightly, illuminating the room with a warm and charming atmosphere. A bright red wedding character was taped to the window, a mandarin duck-patterned quilt covered the couch, and even the curtains were painted a festive red.
Yiqing picked up the wedding wine, his eyes reflecting the candlelight, especially bright: "This cup is for my wife."
I took the glass and drank from him. Slightly tipsy, his cheeks flushed, and his face looked even more handsome in the candlelight.
Putting down the wine glass, he gently removed the hairpin from my hair, and my black hair fell like a waterfall. His fingertips lingered in my hair, with an indescribable cherishment.
"I've finally waited for this day." He murmured softly, his breath brushing past his ears, carrying a light aroma of wine.
I looked up at him. His eyes were incredibly gentle in the candlelight. I took the initiative to put my arms around his neck and pressed my lips against his.
This kiss was different from the previous tentative kisses; it held the promise of a mutual confirmation. He quickly took control, gently embracing me in his arms. The laces of my wedding gown had been undone at some point, and the layers of red fabric had fallen apart, revealing the plain white nightgown beneath.
His kisses trailed down my face, from my brow to the tip of my nose, and then to my lips. Each touch was incredibly gentle, like a gesture of worship. When his lips brushed my collarbone, I couldn't help but shudder.
"Are you cold?" he asked in a low voice, but his arms tightened even more.
I shook my head, my fingertips unconsciously clenching his shirt. His kisses gradually moved downward, gently pulling the straps of his pajamas apart. The cool air on my skin sobered me up a bit, but when I met his deep eyes, I was lost in them again.
The red candles crackled and the curtains swayed gently.
He kissed my eyebrows and eyes carefully: "Tell me if it hurts."
I shook my head and took the initiative to meet it. The pain of this moment seemed like a farewell to all the hardships of the past. From now on, it was a brand new beginning.
The candlelight cast our overlapping shadows on the wall, and in a trance, it seemed as if the shadows of a phoenix were circling in the room.
When our love was at its peak, he whispered my name, each one etched into my heart like a mantra. I clung to his shoulders, melting into a pool of spring water in his arms.
The lovemaking had just subsided, and he still held me, his gentle kisses gracing my sweat-soaked forehead. The candle had burned past halfway, its tears piling up like the intertwined fates of our lives.
"Does it still hurt?" he asked softly, stroking my back with his fingertips.
I shook my head and nuzzled into his arms. Such an intimate gesture was something I would never have dared to imagine in the past.
He chuckled and hugged me tighter: "Go to sleep. We have to serve tea to Master tomorrow."
I found a comfortable position in his arms and closed my eyes. The moonlight outside the window was perfect, tinting the garden's flowers and trees in a silvery white. From then on, Yun Shen had the company of a phoenix, and my heart of Taoism was no longer lonely.
Half asleep, half awake, I seemed to hear him whisper in my ear: "We are married and our love is unquestionable."
The candlelight sways red, and is rolled by the red waves. The warmth of this night will be forever engraved in the depths of memory and become the most gentle mark of the years.
The next morning, I woke in Yiqing's arms. The morning light filtered through the gauze curtains, casting a faint shadow on his peaceful sleeping face. Thinking of last night's passionate lovemaking, my cheeks felt hot, and I gently moved to get up.
"Sleep a little longer." He closed his eyes, but his arms were clenched tighter, and his voice was hoarse with the morning wake-up call.
I lay back in his arms, listening to his steady heartbeat. The peace I felt at this moment was better than anything else in the world.
We waited until the sun was high in the sky before we got up to wash and dress. He insisted on drawing my eyebrows, and although his technique was unfamiliar, he was extremely patient. The reflection of us leaning on each other in the mirror made us look like a perfect couple.
When we arrived at the main hall to offer tea to Master Luo, the old man looked at our clasped hands and smiled with satisfaction: "In the future, please treat each other well and don't let this fate down."
"Disciples, please remember this." We responded in unison.
Walking out of the main hall, the sun was shining brightly. Yiqing took my hand, interlocking our fingers: "I'll take you somewhere."
He led me to the secluded valley behind the mountain. Today, the place looked completely different—a bamboo pavilion had been built by the spring, with a zither table inside, and a guqin on the table.
"This is..." I looked at him in surprise.
"Let's come here often from now on." He took my hand and kissed my fingertips. "You play the piano and I'll make tea, okay?"
I looked into his smiling eyes, and my heart was filled with warmth. After traveling through thousands of years in this life, I was able to meet him, know him, stay with him, and rely on him.
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