Chapter 401: Finally Get Married
"The auspicious time has arrived—"
The resounding voice of the ceremonial officer pierced the palace. With a snap of the long whip in his hand, the ritual music suddenly sounded in unison. The chimes and drums intertwined, making the bronze bells in the corridor rustle.
According to Nanzhao wedding customs, a "goose laying ceremony" must be performed before the wedding. Xiao Nanyan had already prepared a pair of white geese, which were presented to the palace by the eunuchs as a symbol of "keeping faith forever";
Then came the "betrothal ceremony". The hundred boxes of betrothal gifts sent by Tianqi were displayed outside the hall. The ceremonial officer called out the names of the items one by one, from gold, silver, jewels to silks and satins, which made the officials watching the ceremony nod their heads frequently.
After these rituals were completed, the ceremonial officer sang again:
"Please invite the bride to come into the hall——"
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the inner hall.
But then the sound of footsteps came from the inner hall. Xiyan, wearing a bright red wedding dress and a red veil covering her face, was supported by Manluo and slowly walked into the outer hall, stepping onto the red carpet step by step.
Xie Zhan caught sight of Manluo, and a flash of joy flashed across his eyes, but the occasion was not appropriate, so he tried his best to suppress the urge to step forward.
At this moment, Xiyan's long skirt was dragging on the ground, and the picture of a hundred children embroidered with gold thread was faintly visible on the red carpet, complementing the palace lanterns on both sides, like a flowing embroidered scroll.
Xiao Nanyue stood inside the palace gate, his eyes fixed on the crimson figure, his heart pounding as if it was about to burst out of his chest.
After nine years of knowing each other and being together, with all the entanglements of love and hate, today, everything will finally come to a close.
According to the Nanzhao ritual system, the bride needs to step over the fire basin and the rice bag, which symbolizes a prosperous life and many descendants.
As Xiyan's embroidered shoes just touched the rice bag, Xiao Nanyue took a few steps forward and reached out to hold her waist firmly.
His palms were warm, and his gaze was full of tenderness when it fell on Xiyan, but when the corner of his eye swept over Manluo beside him, there was a hint of undisguised sharpness.
Manluo's hand that was supporting Xiyan suddenly retracted. When she met the sharp gaze of her former master, she felt extremely guilty. She smiled awkwardly, let go of her hand tactfully, and stepped aside.
Xiao Nanyan didn't bother to pay attention to her. He lowered his head to look at the bride in his arms, and his voice softened:
"Slow down, don't trip."
Xiyan's body trembled slightly, but she still let him support her and slowly walked into the hall.
Inside the hall, ritual music filled the air, and the ceremonial officer sang "Bow to Heaven and Earth." Xiao Nanyan and Xiyan stood side by side and bowed deeply.
When they bowed to their parents again, Xie Zhen and Jiang Jingyue sat upright, looking at the newlyweds who were bowing, one nodded slightly, and the other had tears in her eyes.
When the couple bowed to each other, Xiao Nanyyan and Xiyan turned to face each other, and they slowly bowed. Where their clothes overlapped, the dragon and phoenix embroidered with gold thread seemed to be leaning against each other at this moment.
The ceremony is over.
Xiao Nanyan turned around and bowed deeply to the Southern Emperor and the Southern Empress again:
"Father, Queen Mother, Nan Yan will protect Yan Yan for the rest of his life."
Xie Zhen's face was moved, and he rarely smiled:
"Nan Yan, I believe in you and will do what I say. Now that the ceremony is over, take your bride and return to the Princess's Mansion to feast the ministers. Your mother and I will not be there."
Xiao Nanyan saluted again:
"Thank you, Father, and Mother."
Today, Xiao Nanyue gave enough face to the Southern Emperor.
Getting married in the Nanzhao Palace was almost like marrying into the wife's family in terms of etiquette, but he didn't care about these empty titles at all.
For him, rules and dignity are not as important as marrying the woman he loves.
After the ceremony, Xiao Nanyan ignored the surprised looks from those around him and directly picked up Xiyan and carried her sideways.
Xiyan was caught off guard by his sudden move and clutched his clothes in shock.
Under the reluctant gazes of the Southern Emperor and the Southern Queen, Xiao Nanyue turned and walked out of the palace, stepped over the brazier, and steadily put her into the big red sedan chair.
As the ceremonial officer shouted "Lift the sedan chair", drums and music sounded again, and the sound of suona pierced the sky.
Manluo took Yin'er from Xie Zhan's arms, and followed the bridesmaids such as Nishang and Dieyu, following the sedan chair and marching out of the palace in a grand procession.
After arriving at the palace gate, Xiao Nanyan climbed onto the black horse, while Manluo, holding Yin'er, got into another sedan chair.
Xie Lan and Xie Zhan, as relatives coming to see them off, all mounted their horses.
The long wedding procession set out from the palace gate in a mighty manner, with music and dance all the way, heading towards the princess's residence which had already been decorated.
The ground was covered with red carpets and palace lanterns led the way. People along the street stopped to watch and cheers rang out one after another.
Xiao Nanyue rode his horse slowly at the front, listening to the joyful sounds that filled the sky, and the smile on the corner of his mouth couldn't be hidden.
From now on, the woman who had been with him for several years finally became his, Xiao Nanyan's, legitimate wife, and she and Yin'er also became the people he would protect for the rest of his life.
After about half an hour, the welcoming team arrived at the gate of the princess's mansion.
The gate of the mansion had already been decorated with red silk and colorful lanterns, making the pairs of "囍" characters even more red.
Xiao Nanyue dismounted and a guard handed him a bow and arrow. He completed the final ceremony of shooting at the sedan chair, then quickly walked to the front of the sedan chair, personally lifted the curtain, and carefully carried Xiyan out of the sedan chair.
The woman under the red veil had a slender figure. He held her firmly in his arms and carried her straight to the bridal chamber.
A sumptuous banquet had already been laid out in the front hall, and the guests were toasting each other in a lively atmosphere.
The Xie brothers, accompanied by the civil and military officials who came to congratulate, dealt with the greetings and congratulations during the banquet.
However, the prince consort of Nan Zhao did not even enter the front hall.
He had no interest in those perfunctory social engagements.
At this moment, he was holding Xiyan and walking through the corridor, his steps full of uncontrollable eagerness.
Because, what he wanted to do most now was to take off the annoying red veil and complete his relationship with Xi Yan.
——The wedding night.
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