Grand Wedding
In late spring, the crabapple blossoms at the Silver Prince's Mansion were in full bloom, their pink and white petals adorning the branches. A gust of wind would cause them to fall softly onto the bluestone slabs, like a floral carpet laid out for the wedding.
Yinli sat in front of the mirror, her maidservant styling her hair. A heavy phoenix crown, adorned with gold and kingfisher feathers, hung down, its tassels swaying gently with her movements, making the person in the mirror look like a peach blossom.
"Miss, look at this 'Twin Begonias' rouge. It makes your complexion even more radiant." Wanqing, the personal maid, smiled and handed over the rouge box. The box was decorated with exquisite gold patterns and was specially made by Yinli.
Looking at herself in the mirror, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, the gown embroidered with a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons in gold thread, the stitches fine and dense, the hem trailing on the ground, the embroidered phoenix and dragon motifs shimmering in the light, a warm feeling welled up in her heart—this was a style she had seen in her mother's dowry, and now, she was finally going to wear it and marry the man who had protected her since she was young.
Music and celebration drifted from outside the courtyard, growing louder as it approached, accompanied by the cheerful laughter of the guests. Wanqing helped Yinli to her feet and led her to the porch. The courtyard was brightly decorated, with red lanterns hanging from the branches of the crabapple trees, and the character "囍" (double happiness) pasted on the doors and windows. The clan elders, dressed in formal attire, waited with beaming smiles.
Uncle Yin San walked forward, leaning on his cane, his eyes reddening: "Li'er, today is your special day. You must live a good life from now on and live up to the expectations of your parents and Yin Li." Yin Li nodded, her eyes also burning, her voice choked with emotion: "Uncle, don't worry, I will."
Just then, the sound of horses' hooves and firecrackers came from outside the door; He Mo's wedding procession had arrived. Through the red veil, Yin Li could vaguely hear his voice, filled with barely suppressed joy: "Thank you all, I've come to fetch my bride."
According to ancient customs, the wedding procession must pass through three stages: "blocking the gate," "answering questions," and "serving tea." The Yin family's sons were already waiting at the door, posing various difficult questions—some tested their knowledge of poetry, some tested their ability to compose couplets, and some asked them to recount their past acquaintance with Yin Li.
He Mo responded with ease, and when answering with poems, he immediately said, "In life and in death, we made a vow." When talking about the past, he mentioned details such as picking up kites in Xinghua Village and protecting her when she was injured on Qinglang Mountain. He even remembered clearly the crooked-faced rabbit doll that Yin Li hid in her sleeve pocket, which made everyone laugh and admire him.
After passing through the gate, He Mo entered the courtyard. His bright red wedding robes accentuated his tall and straight figure, and the cloud-patterned jade belt around his waist complemented Yin Li's phoenix crown perfectly. He walked up to Yin Li, extended his hand, his palm warm and dry: "A Li, I've come to pick you up."
Yin Li gently placed her hand on his, and the warmth from his fingertips reassured her.
Amidst the sounds of ceremonial music, the two walked side by side out of the Silver Prince's Mansion and boarded a magnificently decorated bridal sedan chair. As the sedan chair traveled along, people lined the streets to welcome them, scattering grains and flowers. Children chased after the sedan chair, shouting "Happy Wedding!" creating a lively and festive atmosphere. Upon arriving at the Crane Prince's Mansion, according to custom, He Mo had to lead Yin Li across a brazier and step over sacks of rice, symbolizing "prosperity" and "abundance." After entering the mansion, the wedding ceremony was held in the main hall.
In the center of the main hall stood a table inscribed with the names of Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher. The flickering candlelight cast a warm glow throughout the hall. "First bow to Heaven and Earth—" the master of ceremonies announced in a resounding voice. Yin Li and He Mo knelt side by side, bowing deeply to Heaven and Earth to express their gratitude for their union.
"Second bow to the parents—" He Mo's mother had long since passed away, and her memorial tablet was placed on the table. The two knelt before the tablet to comfort the spirit of their elder in heaven. "Husband and wife bow to each other—" The two turned to face each other, their eyes filled with tenderness and smiles as they met. With a gentle bow, they became husband and wife, vowing to stay together for life.
After the wedding ceremony, the wedding banquet began. Dozens of tables were set up in the courtyard of the Crane King's mansion, filled with guests, and the air was filled with the clinking of glasses. Yin Li and He Mo went from table to table toasting, receiving blessings from everyone. During the banquet, some guests urged He Mo to recite a poem. Looking at Yin Li beside him, he casually recited, "The peach tree is young and tender, its blossoms are bright and beautiful. This maiden is going to her husband's home, may she bring harmony to her family." This drew cheers from the crowd, and Yin Li's cheeks flushed. She quietly tightened her grip on his hand.
As night deepened and the wedding banquet ended, the maids escorted Yinli back to her bridal chamber. The bridal chamber was decorated with extra festive decorations, with twin lotus flowers embroidered on the bright red quilts, and peanuts, longans, red dates, and lotus seeds placed on the table, symbolizing "early birth of a son."
Yin Li sat on the edge of the bed, her red veil still on, able to hear her own heartbeat, a mixture of nervousness and anticipation in her voice. Soon after, He Mo pushed open the door, carrying a faint smell of alcohol, yet remaining clear-headed.
He walked up to Yinli, picked up the wedding scale, and gently lifted the red veil. The moment the veil fell, their eyes met, and Yinli saw the tenderness in his eyes, like water brimming, warming her heart.
"Ah Li, you look so beautiful today." He Mo's voice was deep and gentle as he reached out and lightly stroked her cheek, his fingertips still warm from the wine. Yin Li's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head to avoid his gaze, but he gently lifted her chin.
He took out a jade pendant from his sleeve. The pendant was made of white jade and engraved with the characters "Li" and "Mo," strung together with a red thread. "I had this specially made by a craftsman. From now on, we will never be separated." He tied the jade pendant around Yin Li's neck. The pendant was cool against her skin, but it warmed Yin Li's heart.
She looked up at He Mo, her eyes full of smiles: "Thank you, He Mo." "I'm the one who should be thanking you." He Mo lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead: "Thank you for being willing to marry me and spend the rest of your life with me."
The maids brought over the nuptial wine, and the two of them each held a cup, intertwined their arms, and drank the wine in one gulp.
The wine is sweet, with a faint fragrance of osmanthus, much like their sweet relationship that has weathered many storms.
After that came the wedding night festivities. Relatives and friends from the Crane Prince's Mansion flooded into the bridal chamber, putting on all sorts of fun games—some made the two of them share a red date, some made them recite poems, and others made He Mo name Yin Li's three preferences.
He Mo answered fluently, remembering Yin Li's preferences clearly, even mentioning her love for osmanthus cake, her fear of the dark, and her fondness for crabapple blossoms, which made everyone laugh and joke.
After the wedding guests left, the bridal chamber finally quieted down.
The candlelight flickered, casting their shadows overlapping on the wall. He Mo sat beside Yin Li, gently holding her hand: "You must be exhausted today?" Yin Li shook her head, leaning on his shoulder, her voice soft: "Not tired, I'm very happy." She looked at the dancing candlelight on the table, remembering how her master taught her to read when she was little, how he protected her when they were investigating cases, and how she was both amused and exasperated when Qingmei Mountain exposed her identity. Her heart was filled with emotion, "I never thought that the person I would marry in the end would be my master."
He Mo chuckled softly and pulled her into his arms: "Whether you're Master or He Mo, I'm the one who wants to protect you for the rest of my life."
He lowered his head and kissed her lips, his movements gentle and precious. Yin Li's response fueled He Mo's desire even more. He kissed her fiercely, his hot tongue licking the softness in his mouth, sucking on the sweetness while entwining his tongue with hers, not letting go of a single bit of her sweetness.
And his hand pulled her hands behind her back...
"I love you." A soft, rustling sound—it was no longer clear whose confession it was.
The next day—there was no next day—I simply couldn't get up; I was so sleepy…
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