Chapter 116 This book is dedicated to...
On the fifteenth of August, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather was perfect, with the autumn light shimmering and even the breeze that swept through the pavilions and towers of the garden carrying just the right amount of gentleness.
Inside Dan Garden, red silk ribbons were already hanging high, and the character for "double happiness" filled the windows, creating a scene of splendid reunion. Exquisite red silk flowers were tied to the eaves, branches, and even the Taihu stones by the pond, creating a scene of splendid reunion.
The air was filled with the faint, sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, blending perfectly with the festive atmosphere.
The servants moved briskly, carrying various ceremonial vessels and delicacies, shuttling between the courtyards and corridors. Their faces were filled with pride and joy, yet they dared not speak loudly, keeping their voices low as they talked, suppressing their lively enthusiasm beneath an orderly facade of busy work.
Lin Yan was awakened early by the faint sounds of people and birds outside the window. He lay on the soft bed, staring blankly at the intricate embroidery on the canopy for a while before slowly getting up.
After a simple lunch and a short rest, at the auspicious hour of Wei (1-3 PM), Lin Yan and Xiao Che were each invited back to their assigned rooms.
On Lin Yan's side, Wen Yun personally oversaw the process, directing two clever servants to help Lin Yan take a bath.
The huge bathtub was filled with warm water, on which dried osmanthus flowers and cypress leaves floated, emitting a refreshing yet rich fragrance. This is the so-called "washing with osmanthus," which symbolizes cleansing away impurities and bringing good fortune, and purifying the soul.
Lin Yan climbed into the bathtub, and the warm water instantly enveloped her. The sweet fragrance of osmanthus and the slightly bitter scent of cypress leaves mingled together, which smelled quite pleasant.
Leaning against the tub, Lin Yan's skin turned slightly red from the steam, and his mind began to race.
The Ministry of Rites should really issue his mother an advisory certificate, specializing in optimizing various celebration procedures.
Lin Yan was lost in thought and almost fell asleep in the bathtub. It wasn't until Wen Yun urged him from the outer room that he quickly climbed out, his whole body feeling soft and limp from the soaking.
After drying off and changing into the inner garments used for the wedding, she began to formally put on the gorgeous and heavy wedding dress.
Layer upon layer of clothing were put on her, from a plain gauze undergarment to a brocade robe, then to an elaborately embroidered outer robe, and finally to the weighty, filigree, jewel-encrusted headdress. Lin Yan felt like a carefully wrapped gift, her movements adorned with jingling ornaments and shimmering light, though her neck was a little sore.
Dressed neatly, he dared not make any large movements, for fear that a strap might not be fastened properly or a jade pendant might fall off.
On the other hand, Xiao Che's experience was much the same.
Surrounded by Li Defu and others, he completed the process of "washing the osmanthus" and changing clothes.
The moment he donned the black robes and crimson skirts, and put on the modified twelve-tassel crown, the majestic aura of an emperor naturally emanated from him. However, today, this majesty was mixed with a touch of obvious gentleness and anticipation.
After bathing and changing, the two were placed in separate rooms for the next ritual—writing their heartfelt words.
The room was already prepared with gold-flecked red paper and imperial writing brush and ink. Lin Yan sat at the desk, picked up the purple-tipped brush, and stared blankly at the red paper for a while.
What should I say?
This is something that needs to be read during the ceremony, and everyone can hear it, so you can't say it in a sarcastic or cynical way that would make people laugh.
Lin Yan pondered for a long time before finally putting pen to paper. What he wrote was not some fancy words, but some trivial yet real thoughts.
After writing, blow away the ink, carefully fold it, and put it into a special envelope.
On the other side, Xiao Che also finished writing.
Chu Ye and He Lianfeng were responsible for helping to convey the heartfelt messages.
This rare couple is here to deliver this special "letter," which can be considered as sharing in their good fortune and bringing good luck.
When Chu Ye received the envelope from Lin Yan, his eyes were almost overflowing with teasing and blessings, but he managed to hold it in due to the occasion. He Lianfeng, on the other hand, remained as composed as ever, bowing respectfully to Xiao Che before accepting another envelope.
The two exchanged envelopes and delivered them to each other.
Lin Yan received Xiao Che's heartfelt message, her fingertips slightly burning. She resisted the urge to open it immediately and carefully put it away.
The auspicious time is approaching.
Lin Yan and Xiao Che each held a half of the jade ruyi, symbolizing "harmony and good fortune," and stepped out of the room.
The sun was shining brightly, casting its light on the road covered with red carpet.
Lin Mo, accompanied by a group of brightly dressed maids carrying flower baskets filled with petals of various colors, waited smilingly by the roadside.
The two walked towards each other at a slow pace, their steps surprisingly consistent.
As they walked, the girls raised their hands and tossed the flower petals from their baskets high into the air.
Pink, red, and yellow petals fell like a beautiful rain, clinging to their clothes and filling the air with fragrance.
Lin Yan's heart began to race as she watched Xiao Che, also dressed in finery, walk toward her through the rain of flowers.
Xiao Che's gaze pierced through the fluttering petals, locking firmly on him, his deep eyes revealing a clear smile and tenderness.
It's a bit embarrassing to be so romantic.
But it's really beautiful.
The two met in the center of the red carpet, and with a gentle touch, the two halves of the jade ruyi in their hands merged into a perfect circle. The jade was warm and lustrous, and it shimmered with a soft sheen in the sunlight.
"The ceremony is complete!" Li Defu, acting as the master of ceremonies, sang at the opportune moment, his voice filled with joy.
Holding hands and gazing at each other, their eyes reflected each other's images and overflowing with affection.
Next came the wedding ceremony.
Before the wedding ceremony, a servant brought over a copper basin filled with clear water, in which tiny osmanthus flowers floated.
The two simultaneously immersed their hands in the basin, carefully washing them. The slightly cool water washed away the thin layer of sweat from their palms, symbolizing that with clean bodies and devout hearts, they would be united in marriage.
After washing their hands, the two went into the hall.
Lin Chengji and Wen Yun were seated at the head of the table.
Lin Chengji tried his best to maintain a serious demeanor, but his slightly trembling lips betrayed his excitement. Wen Yun's eyes were slightly red, but her face showed a relieved smile.
"I bow to Heaven and Earth—" Li Defu announced loudly.
The two turned around and bowed deeply to the heavens and earth outside the door.
Thank God for granting this blessed union.
"Second bow to the parents—"
He turned around and bowed solemnly to Lin Chengji and Wen Yun.
I thank my parents for their kindness in making my life possible.
Lin Chengji and Wen Yun quickly raised their hands to help him up.
"The newlyweds bow to each other—"
The two faced each other, their eyes met, and they both bent down at the same time.
This bow is a promise to each other, a vow to weather the storms of life together for the rest of our days.
After the wedding ceremony was completed, suppressed, well-intentioned low laughter and congratulations filled the air.
Then, someone presented a gourd that had been prepared beforehand. The gourd was cut in half and connected by a red thread, and the inside was filled with sweet wine made from osmanthus flowers.
The two each kept half.
“Drink the Heqin wine—” Li Defu sang.
They exchanged gourd cups, each drinking half a cup of the sweet wine with the fragrance of osmanthus. The wine was sweet and smooth, and they exchanged cups again, finishing the remaining half in each other's cups.
Drinking from the same bowl symbolizes unity of purpose and sharing joys and sorrows.
After the wedding wine was drunk, someone brought out a tray with scissors, red silk thread, and embroidered purses.
The two took a strand of their hair; Lin Yan's was jet black, while Xiao Che's was even shinier.
They carefully tied two strands of hair together with that red silk thread, thus binding their hair together and vowing to be forever in love.
The neatly tied "hair bun" was carefully placed into that exquisite embroidered purse.
Li Lianshun quickly seized the task, holding the purse as if it were a rare treasure, his face beaming with joy. After all, this was a good job that would earn him favor with the emperor.
Then, the newlyweds held hands and, witnessed by all their relatives and friends, prepared to read the wedding invitation they had written beforehand.
Lin Yan spoke first, his voice clear and bright, with a hint of barely perceptible nervousness, as he read aloud the "trivial" things he had written.
There were no fancy vows, but every word was sincere, which made Wen Yun wipe her eyes again.
When it was Xiao Che's turn, he unfolded the red letter, his voice low and steady, but his gaze never left Lin Yan.
His writing focused more on promises and the future, a rare display of straightforward affection from an emperor. Lin Yan's ears burned as he listened, and his heart felt as sweet as if he had drunk another large cup of osmanthus wine.
After the heartfelt words were read aloud, the two solemnly pressed their palm prints and signed their names on the prepared bright red marriage certificate.
Li Defu stepped forward, held up the marriage certificate with both hands, and read it aloud clearly and slowly in front of everyone.
The marriage certificate was beautifully written and deeply affectionate, giving the union of the two a solemnity witnessed by heaven and earth.
"...With this book, we proclaim to the world our eternal bond, vowing to stay together until our hair turns white."
As Li Defu finished speaking, the hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted in even more heartfelt congratulations.
The ceremony is now complete.
The final step is to remove the red tassel from the other person's crown. This tassel symbolizes single status; removing it signifies the end of single life and the beginning of a life closely connected with another person.
The two raised their hands and carefully untied the red ribbon from each other's heads.
Xiao Che placed the ribbon he had taken off next to the one he had taken from Lin Yan's crown, and put them into his sleeve.
All the ceremonies were finally completed.
Lin Yan let out a soft sigh, still feeling a sense of unreality.
He turned his head to look at Xiao Che, who had also removed some of his heavy crowns and accessories and seemed more relaxed, and met his smiling gaze.
The air was filled with the whispers and blessings of relatives and friends, and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus and the aroma of wine lingered in the air.
Xiao Che's lips curved into an even more pronounced smile, and under the cover of his wide sleeves, he gently took Lin Yan's hand.
Their fingers are intertwined.
With the ceremony complete, the next step was to entertain the small number of guests.
Aside from the special guests Chu Ye and Helian Feng, the rest were the core circle who had regular contact with Lin Yan and Xiao Che and knew about their relationship—such as Li Defu and Li Lianshun, who were trusted by the emperor, Jin Yi, the commander of the Golden Shadow Guard, and Jin Jiu, among others.
The banquet was held in a warm pavilion by the water in Dan Garden.
This place offers a wide view, perfect for enjoying the Mid-Autumn Festival moon, and also provides more privacy and warmth than the main hall.
The room was already properly decorated, with several round tables made of rosewood filled with carefully prepared delicacies, perfectly suited to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Today was not only Lin Yan and Xiao Che's wedding day, but also the Mid-Autumn Festival, so the festive atmosphere was definitely there.
Although Xiao Che did not deliberately put on an imperial air at this moment, his accumulated prestige was still there. He only needed to stand there with a wine glass in his hand to have an aura. Lin Yan, on the other hand, was gentle and approachable, and naturally took on the role of enlivening the atmosphere.
He pulled Xiao Che along and led him to the table where Lin Chengji and Wen Yun were sitting.
"Father, Mother, thank you for your hard work today." Lin Yan raised his wine glass, his tone filled with gratitude.
Xiao Che also raised his cup. Although he didn't say much, he respectfully followed Lin Yan's address, calling out, "Father, Mother."
The way she addressed him made Lin Chengji's hand tremble, and he almost spilled his wine. He quickly stood up and said, "I dare not." Wen Yun's eyes reddened again, but she smiled and drank the wine.
Lin Mo covered his mouth and chuckled to himself, earning a reproachful look from Wen Yun.
Next, they arrived at the table where Chu Ye and Helian Feng were sitting.
Chu Ye, who had been unable to contain himself any longer, immediately raised his wine glass with a wink as soon as he saw the two of them approaching: "Congratulations! May you two be forever united in heart and live a long and happy life together!"
Helian Feng remained a man of few words, calmly raising his glass and saying succinctly, "Congratulations, take care."
Lin Yan smiled and clinked glasses with them, then lowered his voice to Chu Ye and said, "Thank you for your support, Brother Chu." This earned him a knowing look from Chu Ye and a slightly puzzled glance from Helian Feng.
Li Defu, Li Lianshun, Jin Yi, and the others naturally said, "We dare not accept your toast, sir," but at Xiao Che and Lin Yan's insistence, they all drank a full cup, their faces beaming with excitement and honor.
Emperor Xiao Che was in high spirits today and rewarded him again and again. Luckily, His Majesty the Emperor had a lot of private wealth, otherwise he might have gone bankrupt.
Moonlight streamed through the carved windows of the warm pavilion, mingling with the warm lamplight inside. Outside, the pond reflected the full moon, its surface shimmering. The fragrance of osmanthus blossoms wafted through the wine glasses and amidst laughter.
All good things must come to an end.
The guests tactfully took their leave one by one, leaving the rest of the time entirely to the newlyweds.
When the last guest left, only Lin Yan, Xiao Che, and a few trusted eunuchs, including Li Defu, who stood in the corner with his hands at his sides, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, remained in the warm pavilion. The surroundings instantly fell silent, with only the soft crackling of the red candles burning.
Lin Yan rubbed his slightly stiff cheeks, let out a long sigh of relief, feeling exhausted but also extremely satisfied.
He turned to look at Xiao Che and found that the other was also staring at him, his gaze deep and unfathomable, as if containing an endless galaxy and a dark fire about to ignite in the flickering candlelight.
"Tired?" Xiao Che's voice was lower and hoarser than usual, with a hint of tension.
Lin Yan nodded subconsciously, then shook his head, and said honestly, "A little, but even happier."
Xiao Che gave a soft "hmm," reached out, and grasped Lin Yan's wrist directly, not through his sleeve, his fingertips gently caressing the five-colored silk thread that had remained untied on Lin Yan's wrist.
“We should go back to our rooms too,” Xiao Che said calmly.
Xiao Che remained calm, but Lin Yan was not.
Lin Yan knew, of course, what returning to his room meant.
Images of theoretical learning and adaptive training flooded his mind uncontrollably, instantly making his mouth dry and even causing his wrist, which was being held by Xiao Che, to feel hot.
"Okay, okay..." Lin Yan heard his own voice sound a little unsteady.
Xiao Che didn't say anything more, but simply took his hand and walked steadily towards the bridal chamber that had already been prepared.
Li Defu and the others followed at a distance, maintaining a just-right distance.
Red candles burn brightly, and the brocade quilt exudes fragrance.
The road to the bridal chamber seemed even longer and more thrilling than the red carpet covered with flower petals that led there.
Lin Yan could clearly feel Xiao Che gripping his hand tighter and tighter.
What to do, what to do, what to do?
So nervous!
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Author's note: "紧脏" is not a typo [shy]
Also, the next chapter won't be 3,000 words, so I'll update it together with the previous one.
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