Chapter 85, Chapter 85, Wedding Ceremony?
Lin Yan felt like her legs were no longer her own.
He huffed and puffed as he led the way, clutching his precious guidebook in his hand, glancing down every now and then to confirm, muttering to himself, "Go up the stream for about two miles, then take the right-hand path up the earthen slope at the fork in the road, and after walking for about half a cup of tea's time, it should be around here. You guessed it..."
Xiao Che followed half a step behind him at a leisurely pace, watching him mutter to himself while craning his neck to look around with a serious yet somewhat anxious expression, and couldn't hide the smile in his eyes.
Lin Yan became increasingly suspicious that the reference list he had found was wrong, to the point that he couldn't find the place. In this desolate wilderness, was it really there?
My legs are so sore... Why did I feel like this time was so romantic yesterday and insisted on adding it to the list?
Please bless me, please bless me, please don't let me down in front of my boyfriend.
After rounding another moss-covered stone staircase, the view suddenly opened up before us.
In the center of a small open space, a simple and ancient temple stands quietly.
The house has gray tiles and walls, with slightly upturned eaves and a small copper bell hanging from them. When the wind blows, it makes a very light and crisp "ding-dong" sound.
The temple gate was open, and the faint candlelight inside could be seen.
The area around the temple was kept very clean, indicating that it was regularly maintained, but the incense offerings were not particularly abundant, a stark contrast to the bustling crowds at the Yue Lao Temple.
Above the temple gate, a small plaque reads "Hehe Temple".
Lin Yan finally caught his breath, supporting his knees, feeling reborn.
"Your Majesty, we have arrived." Lin Yan breathed a long sigh of relief and turned to look at Xiao Che with a sense of accomplishment. "This is it, the Temple of the Two Immortals of Harmony. It is said to be very efficacious and quiet, much less crowded than the Temple of the Matchmaker in the city."
Hard work pays off.
Xiao Che's gaze swept over the small temple: "Han Zhang is indeed ingenious. This place is quiet and elegant, very good."
What she really thought was that Lin Yan's sincerity far surpassed that of the Two Immortals of Harmony and Union.
Lin Yan was in a great mood after receiving affirmation, and he forgot all about his previous complaints about sore legs.
He took the prepared box from the attendant who had been following him. Inside, specially made incense and candles and several fresh fruits and offerings were neatly arranged.
"Come on, Your Majesty, let's go in." Lin Yan took Xiao Che's hand and stepped into the temple gate with great interest.
Lin Yan looked up and saw two smiling, endearing statues enshrined in the temple. One held a blooming lotus flower, and the other held a covered round box. They were the Two Immortals of Harmony and Union, who were in charge of marriage and symbolized reunion and happiness.
"As expected, they are the Two Immortals of Harmony and Union." Lin Yan muttered to himself.
Compared to the Old Man Under the Moon, who seems to focus more on finding destined partners by tying the red thread, these two are more like those who bless predestined couples to be loving, harmonious, and grow old together.
For their current situation, it's more suitable and private than going to the crowded Matchmaker Temple.
The temple was very quiet, with only an old temple keeper dozing off.
The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
Following the plan, Lin Yan took out incense and candles, distributed them to Xiao Che, lit them skillfully, inserted them into the incense burner, and then placed offerings on top. Her movements were meticulous, as if she were performing an extremely important ritual.
Wisps of smoke rose, blurring the smiling face of the statue.
After doing all this, Lin Yan knelt down on the prayer mat first. Seeing that Xiao Che was still standing, he gestured with his eyes and urged in a low voice, "Come quickly."
Xiao Che lifted his robe and knelt down on the prayer mat beside him.
After kneeling down, Lin Yan put his hands together and closed his eyes.
He didn't just silently recite it in his mind, but spoke it out softly and clearly, his voice sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet little temple.
"By the two immortals of harmony, your faithful son Lin Yan, together with his companion Xiao Che, has come to pay our respects."
Lin Yan paused for a moment, as if considering his words or gathering his courage. When he spoke again, his voice was almost devoutly gentle: "I... don't know how to say it. Meeting him was the most unexpected gift in my life. It was like suddenly seeing a beautiful view that I had never dared to hope for on an ordinary road that I thought was already destined."
“He is of noble status and has the world in his heart. Sometimes he seems unattainable, like snow on a mountaintop or the moon in the clouds. Yet, this is the kind of person who has me in his heart.”
"I used to think that in this chaotic world, it would be a blessing to find a place to settle down. I never thought that I would be so lucky to meet someone who gave me courage. I no longer just thought about hiding away from the world, but was willing to stand with him and face all the known and unknown storms."
Lin Yan turned his head slightly, and even with his eyes closed, he could feel the strong presence of the person beside him.
“Xiao Che, every word I speak before the two immortals today comes from the bottom of my heart. I, Lin Yan, am fond of you, not because you are a king, but simply because you are you. I am willing to spend the rest of my life with you, sharing joys and sorrows, and never leaving you in life or death.”
"I do not seek the ultimate glory and wealth, but only long years of peace and tranquility. I wish to be of one heart and mind with you, like this lotus and the box, inseparable and harmonious. I wish to do my best to bring you joy and comfort you from your hardships, and to be a small place for you to rest for a moment when you bear the weight of the world on your shoulders."
Finally, Lin Yan made a soft but solemn wish: "I have no other wish but that the two immortals would protect me and ensure the safety and well-being of those around me, and that our love would remain unchanged through the passage of time and grow stronger through the vicissitudes of life."
After Lin Yan finished speaking, he knelt there quietly, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyes, his cheeks slightly flushed, as if his outpouring had exhausted all his strength, yet it also brought him an unprecedented calm and composure.
At this moment, a heart, offering itself wholeheartedly, beats passionately yet serenely before the gods and Buddhas, beside its beloved.
Lin Yan let out a long sigh of relief, having accomplished an extremely important task. His cheeks were flushed red, and he secretly opened one eye to peek at Xiao Che's reaction.
But he found Xiao Che looking at him, his gaze deep and unfathomable, like a dark pool, churning with emotions he couldn't quite understand but enough to make his heart skip a beat.
Xiao Che also clasped his hands together, facing the statue. His voice was deep and steady, not making a wish, but making a vow: "Hereinafter the two immortals of harmony, I, Xiao Che, have come to pay homage today with my companion Lin Yan."
"I... As the Son of Heaven, my words are law. Today, every word I speak comes from my heart, witnessed by Heaven, Earth, and the gods."
"Lin Yan is an unexpected delight to me, the only lively and interesting thing outside of the boring government affairs, and the person I wholeheartedly seek and cherish for a lifetime."
“I know his character, I understand his concerns, I pity his hardships, and I love everything about him, including those rebellious acts that he dares not utter.”
"Today, here and now, I, Xiao Che, swear that in this life, I only wish to be with Lin Yan, one heart and one mind, never to betray her. If I break this vow..."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yan suddenly reached out to cover Xiao Che's mouth, trying to prevent him from saying anything unlucky.
Xiao Che gently grasped his wrist, shook his head, and continued, "If I break this oath, may my imperial star fall and I live a life of loneliness."
His gaze was fixed on Lin Yan, and his phoenix eyes, which always held an air of majesty and unfathomable depth, were now filled with an intense and unwavering affection.
Lin Yan's heart was struck hard; her nose stung, and her eyes welled up. All her usual banter, shyness, and panic subsided in that moment, leaving only immense emotion and overwhelming love.
Their eyes met, and silence spoke volumes.
After a long while, Lin Yan sniffed, looked away a little embarrassed, and muttered softly, "Don't go back on your word. You have a heavy responsibility to bear."
Xiao Che chuckled softly and squeezed his hand.
The two knelt quietly for a while before getting up together.
Stepping out of the temple gate, the sunlight warmed my skin.
Looking at the two shadows pressed together on the ground, Lin Yan suddenly had a flash of inspiration and blurted out, "Hey, Your Majesty, look at what we were doing just now, kneeling, bowing, and making vows, didn't it look like we were getting married?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Lin Yan was stunned.
Xiao Che stopped abruptly, turned his head to look at him, and his eyes changed instantly.
It was as if a dark fire had suddenly been lit inside, so hot it almost devoured people.
Xiao Che stretched out his arm, put his arm around Lin Yan's waist, and pulled him close to him, so close that they could almost feel each other's heartbeats.
"The wedding ceremony?" Xiao Che's voice was extremely low, dangerously close to Lin Yan's ear. "Does Hanzhang know what comes next after the wedding ceremony?"
Lin Yan felt a chill run down his spine under his gaze, the arm around his waist felt like an iron band, and the warm breath brushed against his ear, sending a shiver down his spine. He subconsciously blurted out, "It's...it's our wedding night..."
"Hmm." Xiao Che's nose almost brushed against his cheek, his gaze falling on the lips that were flushed from the ceremony just now and the intimacy at the moment. "So, what we did just now didn't count as a wedding ceremony."
There was still a hint of regret in his tone.
"At least, it doesn't count until tonight when we have our wedding night." Xiao Che gently stroked Lin Yan's waist with his fingertips, his voice carrying a teasing probing tone as he asked, "So, Hanzhang, when do you want to formally bow to me in marriage, hmm?"
The last "hmm" sound, with its slightly rising tone, seemed to have a tiny hook, tickling Lin Yan's heart.
Lin Yan was caught off guard by this question, her cheeks flushed red, and her heart pounded like a drum.
Wedding ceremony?
The formal kind?
Lin Yan hadn't really thought about things that far ahead.
He and Xiao Che were already very happy with their mutual affection, and he focused more on enjoying the sweetness of the moment and cherishing the person in front of him.
But a wedding ceremony... doesn't seem like that's not out of the question?
I came from the modern world, what haven't I seen?
When a relationship progresses to a certain point, isn't taking it to the next level a natural progression?
Looking at Xiao Che so close, his eyes filled with expectation and a certain profound meaning, Lin Yan suddenly felt a surge of modern-day pride.
He blinked, trying to suppress his embarrassment, and deliberately adopted a "let me think about it" attitude: "Well... I need to think about it carefully, Your Majesty. You can't rush things."
Lin Yan stretched out his finger and gently tapped Xiao Che's chest, his eyes sly: "Besides, I'm well-informed and know a lot. If Your Majesty doesn't prepare, you might expose your ignorance."
Those mere ancient people, watch how I handle them.
Seeing Lin Yan's confident expression, Xiao Che nodded in agreement: "Alright, then I look forward to Han Zhang bringing me a surprise."
He tightened his arms, holding the man even closer, and whispered with a smile in his ear, "Okay, don't keep me waiting too long."
His voice was filled with joyful anticipation.
Lin Yan leaned against Xiao Che's chest, listening to his seemingly faster heartbeat, her mind racing with calculations.
Just wait, Xiao Che.
I'll show you what I'm capable of then.
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Author's Note: Xinmei: I don't know how amazing you are, I only know that you go soft when you kiss me.
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