Is this an anomaly in the heavens and earth?
Laymen watch the spectacle, experts watch the details.
Ordinary people, seeing the sudden burst of vibrant blossoms, simply assumed it was the supernatural power of some scholar; the capital city had no shortage of literary figures. More knowledgeable scholars, however, offered more detailed speculations, concluding that someone had gained the approval of Heaven and Earth, triggering a response from the heavens and earth.
"This seems to be an auspicious omen. I wonder who caused it?"
Auspicious omens aren't exactly rare, but they're not exactly common either. Witnessing one or two in a lifetime is considered incredibly lucky. To personally trigger an auspicious omen is an achievement worthy of being recorded in the family genealogy and passed down through generations! Immediately, some people showed envious glances, recalling the people they knew and wondering which of them had the ability to do so.
Some people also noticed something was wrong.
"That's not right. I've heard that the auspicious glow of heaven and earth can benefit people for a lifetime, either by solidifying their literary and martial talents, breaking through bottlenecks in one fell swoop, or even improving their aptitude... These exotic flowers and plants are beautiful, but they are just ordinary plants with nothing special about them."
Upon hearing this, his colleagues around him also realized what was going on.
Some people even calmly experienced the sensations of their inner energy center.
The interior of the Dan Mansion was very quiet, and the energy of heaven and earth was normal.
There were none of the auspicious signs of being bathed in the glow of the clouds as rumored. In other words, this was not a celestial phenomenon, but rather a trick of someone's words. Considering what day it was, everyone turned their attention to Xun Zhen, who was their newly appointed father-in-law.
"Minister Xun, what a clever idea!"
This wedding setup is truly unique.
Xun Zhen, who was called out but was completely confused: "..."
He opened his mouth to explain, but his colleagues' attention was clearly not on him; they had all gone to join in the fun. It was unclear what kind of magical spell it was, but in the capital city of Fengluo, every place was now paved with exotic flowers and rare herbs. The air was filled with a wonderfully fragrant aroma.
Lanterns woven from flowers and plants adorn the eaves of buildings lining the streets, quietly emitting a soft, white light.
There is nothing else.
Xun Zhen breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing the servant's report.
Today is my son Xun Ding's wedding day. If something bad happens on this day, it will be a huge blow to the newlyweds' reputation, and it will also become strong evidence for Xun Ding to be attacked in court. This kind of method won't kill anyone, but it can be incredibly disgusting.
Fortunately, it was a close call.
Xun Zhen said to the steward beside him, "Go outside and see why the wedding party hasn't returned yet? The auspicious time is almost here! Never mind, let's send someone to Gongxi's residence to inquire."
He had very few direct interactions with Gongxi Chou.
Xun Zhen's knowledge of his future daughter-in-law's brother was limited to rumors, his lord's occasional complaints, and his son's observations. He knew that Gongxi Chou was incredibly powerful and talented. Xun Zhen was well aware that Gongxi Chou disliked Xun Ding, so the wedding procession would definitely not go smoothly.
It was obvious to anyone that Xun Ding was being harassed.
The steward hurriedly went out to inquire, but returned halfway there, beaming with joy: "Parents, they're here! The new bride is here!"
Xun Zhen also heard the commotion outside.
His colleagues were all getting restless.
As the host, Xun Zhen couldn't move around freely, but the guests didn't have this taboo. They were already aroused by the constant "wow" sounds, as if the Qi family's cat lived in their hearts.
It would scratch itself every now and then, making people unbearably itchy.
What are these people outside saying "wow" about?
Finally, some people took advantage of the chaos to sneak out and watch.
Then one after another followed suit.
Everyone thought they wouldn't be noticed if they went alone, but when they turned around, they were surprised to find that the same group of people were still around them.
Soon, even some less experienced people exclaimed "Wow!"
Petals began to fall from the street without anyone noticing.
On a wide path paved with exotic flowers and plants, a group of masked men and women dressed in exotic costumes sang and danced. Leading them was a graceful woman who wore a grass-patterned mask, was barefoot, and had seven drumheads painted with strange patterns on her feet.
The woman had a graceful figure, yet possessed immense power.
With each step she took, the silver bells on her ankles and wrists jingled, and the drumheads beneath her feet produced rhythmic beats.
The group of men and women each carried a simple-looking musical instrument.
Behind the crowd followed a carriage as wide as eight horse-drawn carriages. This carriage was also peculiar, with flower petals as its surface, tree branches as its pillars, and a thin veil covering its eight corners, from which figures could be vaguely seen sitting. I didn't know what music the group was playing, but it was cheerful, melodious, clear, and exuding a carefree spirit; just listening to it was infectious. My hands and feet were itching to get down and dance along.
The guests who attended the ceremony prided themselves on their composure and restrained their impulses.
The ordinary people watching the spectacle nearby were not so rational.
They were also drawn in and joined in.
When the masked men and women jumped to a certain beat, they would occasionally toss out a large pile of pearls or a small piece of gold or silver. These gifts would land precisely in everyone's hands, rather than on the ground, thus avoiding any scrambling. One of the guests also received a gift.
Good heavens, it's a real pearl.
It's about the size of a thumb, and it's crystal clear and round.
"Do the Gongxi clan raise clams?"
Xun Ding felt like he was the one who didn't fit in. These masked men and women were mostly dressed in green, white, and pink, and he stood out like a huge, conspicuous bag among them.
Looking at the pearls flying everywhere, I couldn't help but complain.
Where did the Gongxi Chou brothers get so many pearls?
Leaving aside the gold and silver that had been spent along the way, there were hundreds of bushels of pearls alone—even raising oysters at home didn't involve such extravagance. Xun Ding suddenly remembered that Gongxi Chou always told him to add more; so this wasn't an insult, but rather a revelation of the truth?
Compared to the Gongxi clan, he was indeed as poor as an extra.
As the last drumbeat sounded and the music faded, the bridal carriage stopped right in front of the Xun family mansion's gate. Two crisp sounds rang out, and two shimmering birds flew in from the horizon. One carried a thin veil in its beak, the other on its flank, placing it on the curtain hook to reveal the newlyweds behind it.
Xun Ding suddenly became the focus of dozens of guests' eyes, and even though he was used to big occasions, he was still a little nervous.
"The wedding ceremony of the Gongxi clan differs from that of the secular world, and there have been many disturbances. Please forgive us." Gongxi Chou strode in, looking refreshed and invigorated. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought he was the main character of the day. "It's just a pity that if the moon were high in the sky, the singing and dancing would have been even more enjoyable. What a waste of all those lanterns..."
Those are rare and exotic flowers and plants that can glow.
They also set off fireworks at night.
Gong Xichou has only seen it three times in his entire life.
The first two times, he was young, and he remembered that there were two couples in the tribe making vows, and the old priest specially planned for them. Although the scene was far less grand than this time—most importantly, the tribe had a small population—it was still unforgettable.
Ji Moqiu stepped forward with a wooden staff in hand and nodded to Xun Zhen: "It's alright, 'Hundred Flowers in Bloom' can last for twelve hours."
Gong Xichou didn't show it on his face, but he was inwardly astonished.
He remembered that the old priest's "Hundred Flowers in Full Bloom" lasted only four hours? That was after several days of rest and recuperation beforehand.
The guests attending the ceremony had all heard of Gongxi Chou's great name.
Some of them had been beaten by Gong Xichou before. Specifically, their former factions had been attacked by Gong Xichou, leaving them with some psychological trauma from his face. They never expected two of them to show up today. Besides those who had been beaten, others knew even more inside information.
Unable to resist secretly glancing at the king who was watching the spectacle.
According to some unverified historical accounts, before founding the kingdom, their ruler publicly declared his preference for men like Gongxi Chou. To curry favor with him, powerful families offered him dozens of talented young men, all bearing a resemblance to Gongxi Chou. It is also said that the popular men's attire in Kang Kingdom was modeled after Gongxi Chou.
Gongxi Chou was truly an extraordinary man!
The guests attending the ceremony were like badger in a melon patch, eating melons everywhere.
Gu Chi, who was also watching the drama unfold, choked several times.
Censor-in-Chief Tian Cuo looked over.
He asked, "Are you feeling unwell because there are so many people here?"
Although Tian Cuo was unaware of Gu Chi's principles of scholarship, he knew that Gu Chi disliked crowded places and always looked exceptionally pale.
Gu Chi calmed his breathing and waved his hand.
"No, I'm just marveling at the power of rumors." These people here haven't even become history yet, and the unofficial history is already so wild.
Tian Cuo examined it carefully for a while.
Only after confirming that Gu Chizhen was alright did they shift their attention elsewhere.
He was invited to Xun Ding's wedding today, firstly as a guest, and secondly to find fault, to see if there were any overstepping boundaries in Xun Ding's wedding, and to observe whether his colleagues had been negligent or made mistakes. If so, there would be something to discuss at tomorrow's court assembly.
Tian Cuo murmured to himself.
"The wedding ceremony of the Gongxi clan..."
He's not familiar with this, so he can't find any fault with it.
Xun Ding helped Gong Xilai carefully step up the steps of the Xun residence.
With a flick of his sleeve, Ji Moqiu caused the masked men and women to transform into a shower of blossoms. Only then did the music from the Xun residence resume.
Shen Tang couldn't help but gasp at the sight.
"It's a shame they're not in the wedding planning business..."
Her voice wasn't loud, and no one's attention was on her. No one noticed her complaints, but one pair of eyes happened to fall on her—the very person she was complaining about.
Shen Tang: "..."
As the newlyweds were ushered into the wedding hall, Ji Moqiu lagged behind and said, "Back when I was wandering around with my teacher and Uncle Lin, we did this sometimes when we were short of money..."
However, the process is not like this.
Overall, it is more in line with popular aesthetic tastes.
Shen Tang: "..."
She asked, almost as if possessed, "Is it expensive?"
Ji Moqiu said, "At least a hundred gold coins per game."
Shen Tang: "..."
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
The Gongxi Chou brothers have experienced hardship in their lives, but they have never been poor.
She was different; she spent most of her life in abject poverty.
This made Shen Tang inwardly pound her chest in frustration once again.
Because of Gong Xichou and Ji Moqiu's interference, the wedding ceremony's bowing to heaven and earth seemed somewhat out of place. However, since entering the Xun residence, neither of them said anything, so Xun Ding hinted to the master of ceremonies that they could proceed with the ceremony normally and discuss the rest later.
The wedding hall was extremely quiet during the three bows.
Xun Zhen knew about Gong Xilai's health condition and had instructed the master of ceremonies not to delay and to complete the procedures as quickly as possible without being impolite or making mistakes. He instructed them to escort the newlyweds to their bridal chamber, and that the other guests would be taken care of by the master of ceremonies, so as not to burden Gong Xilai.
The emcee did as instructed.
Xun Zhen offered two symbolic blessings to the newlyweds.
As the ruler of the country, Shen Tang also offered a few words.
Just as the master of ceremonies was about to have the maids help Gong Xilai inside, Ji Moqiu stepped forward, causing Xun Ding to tense up.
The voice held a faint plea: "Brother Shaobai..."
He felt intimidated by Ji Moqiu's serious expression. He hoped that the other party wouldn't make things difficult for him, considering that he had paid money to curry favor.
Ji Moqiu did not intend to make things difficult.
He simply held the wooden staff horizontally in front of him.
He said softly, "Put your hands up here."
The guests watched this scene in silence, and Xun Ding and the other man had no choice but to comply. Ji Moqiu said, "Here, you swear an oath to the gods."
Xun Ding hurriedly said, "Brother, I will definitely do my best—"
Before he could finish speaking, Ji Moqiu glared at him and told him to stop.
Ji Moqiu sang softly.
It was a strange and obscure language.
No one understood what he said, but judging from Ji Moqiu's devout expression, they could guess the gist of it. No, there was one person who did understand. Shen Tang's surprised gaze fell on him. She was certain she hadn't studied that language, yet her hearing was perfectly fine.
Gu Chi also looked over.
He looked at his own lord, and then at Ji Moqiu and Gongxi Chou.
He wasn't too surprised by this. He had known for many years that his master was from the Gongxi tribe and was a "sacred object" worshipped by their tribe for countless years. As a "sacred object," it was normal for him to understand the Gongxi language.
Ji Moqiu asked the two of them, "Do you agree?"
That's a completely nonsensical question.
Xun and Ding snapped out of their daze, exchanged a glance, and nodded firmly in unison: "I agree."
"God has granted your request." Ji Moqiu tapped each of their palms with his wooden staff. After the staff was removed, a mark appeared in each of their hands. He said solemnly, "This will be the mark of your loyalty to each other. Those who betray it will be punished by God. Until then, God will protect your covenant, and even life and death cannot completely separate you."
To outsiders, this is just a formality.
They said a few mystical things and that was it. Only the two people involved knew clearly that this was not a charade. They both had a mysterious premonition, a clear sense of each other's presence, and could not betray one another! The one who betrays will suffer the torment of swallowing knives and drinking iron!
Ji Moqiu is different from Gongxi Chou.
“As long as you don’t betray each other, everything you gain will be beneficial.” He wasn’t so disgusted with Xun Ding, and added afterward, “With this seal, you can stay together until old age.”
This is not a blessing, but a fact.
Xun Ding looked at the mark on his palm. At first, he didn't understand what it meant, but he quickly realized what it meant and gradually his face lit up with joy.
"Brother, is that really true?"
Ji Moqiu nodded and added, "However, if Alai lives beyond her original lifespan, and you have an accident at this time and lose the source, she will also quickly weaken and die."
This technique was originally designed for lovers.
There are benefits, but the cost of betrayal is also heavy.
Born in the morning, dying at dusk, life after life, until the soul is scattered.
Even members of the Gongxi clan rarely dared to form an alliance. Xun Ding was an outsider, and Gongxi Lai only half understood it; both were "newborn calves unafraid of tigers." Their lifespans were already unequal, so the benefits of this technique far outweighed the drawbacks for them.
Xun Ding hesitated for a few moments.
"If anything were to happen to me before that..."
On such a joyous day, one shouldn't say such unlucky things, but Xun Ding wanted to know the answer, so he mustered up his courage and asked.
"Won't."
Shen Tang rested her chin on her hand and looked at it.
Jimo Qiu is lying.
|ω`)
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