NOVEL NEXT Chapter 417: Finally Becoming a Couple
Zhao Country.
Capital.
After returning to Zhao Country, Yiren was visibly happier than she was in Chang'an.
Her favorite thing to do was to take Li Nuo by the hand and stroll through the streets of the capital.
"Congratulations on the royal marriage, Princess!"
"May the two of you fly together in harmony and grow old together."
"May your love be deep and fruitful with children soon!"
...
The entire capital of Zhao Country was steeped in a festive atmosphere, with decorations everywhere; the word "double happiness" was pasted on doors and windows, and red lanterns adorned every street and alley.
Facts proved that Yiren's wait was worth it.
This wedding was unparalleled in history; not Jiaren nor Anning could compare, not even when the Emperor was wed did it match up.
In the wedding preparations, Zhiyi spared no effort to honor Yiren.
Minister of Rites Luan Shu accepted the betrothal gifts, the imperial astronomer Feng Die inquired about the bride's name, Minister of Taichang Xuan Gui received auspicious signs, Honglu Si Minister Long Zhang presented engagement gifts, Director of the Imperial History Yun Shao set the wedding date; the Emperor himself arrived with a seven-treasure bridal carriage, the scale far exceeding the marriages to Anning and Jiaren.
This directly led to a strong sense of jealousy within the family these past two days.
Li Nuo could only try to appease them one by one; advantages came with being both early and late in marriage. Although Jiaren and Anning had an initial advantage, back then, everything for Li Nuo was just beginning, without the current strength and status, nor did he know the Empress willing to do so much for him at the time...
And although Yiren always found her position taken by others, she waited for the best time, which in a different form compensated her as the rightful wife.
Song Yiren clung to Li Nuo's arm, resting her head on his shoulder, endlessly listening to the citizens' new marriage congratulations, her smile never fading, her heart filled with satisfaction.
The best day, the grandest setting, the most blessings…
Though belated it was, it was all worth it.
On the night before the wedding, from the Imperial Palace to King Zhao Mansion, lights illuminated the path.
Tonight, there was no curfew, the citizens could revel all night long, and as dawn broke, all departments had already begun their busy day, especially the Food Bureau and the Imperial Kitchen, which had started preparing for the wedding banquet half a month ago.
Just after 9 a.m., over a thousand musicians from Taichang Si began playing joyful tunes like "Phoenix Seeking His Mate" and "Ni Chang Qu" along the main street, playing nonstop all day.
Many guests had already arrived here days earlier; these people were either famous martial arts figures of Zhao Country or great masters in the Medical Path. King Zhao, with his vast network, had naturally invited many heroes to the grand wedding.
King Zhao Mansion was, of course, decorated festively, engulfed in a jubilant atmosphere.
Anning, entering from the outside, said indignantly, "Song Yiren has been too pleased with herself these days; she just showed off her ceremonial attire and phoenix crown to me again, saying it's better than ours when we got married..."
Originally thinking her own wedding was grand enough, it seemed utterly inferior compared to Yiren's this time.
Phoenix was dressing up Mumu and Ning'er, who were flower girls at the wedding, hearing this, she laughed and said, "She's been aggrieved for so long, let her show off a bit, at most, let her kneel a bit longer when she serves you tea tomorrow..."
Mumu and Ning'er, who just celebrated their tenth birthday recently, had become a bit less adorably innocent and a bit more charming compared to previous years, and at the moment, they were arguing about something vehemently.
"I want to stand on Yiren sister's left side!"
"No way, I want to stand on the left side!"
"Master Sister and I are closer, you have to listen to me!"
The two little girls were still parents' worries despite their growing up a bit. Li Nuo had just calmed them down when he had to go outside to greet guests.
"Sect Leader Zhao, long time no see!"
"Sect Master Xu, greetings!"
"Doctor Han, your cultivation has improved again..."
"Lord Zhang, please come in; the other lords are already here..."
...
Given the grand scale of the wedding preparations, naturally, Li Nuo wanted to make Yiren feel even more fulfilled.
Hence, he specially invited his father-in-law and mother-in-law, the entire Song Family, his father, King Chun, and some family and friends from Chang'an as well.
Except for Song Yu and Li Yun, who were engaged in military duties at the front line and couldn't make it, practically the whole Song Family was present. Once the wedding concluded the next day, Li Nuo planned to send them back to Chang'an. With the airplanes transformed by Li Yun now more comfortable, Li Nuo's Mohist cultivation having reached Semi-Saint level, meant he could transport them in a very short time.
King Chun volunteered to serve as the head chef on the wedding day; his hands each holding a carving knife, working both sides skillfully, carving dragons with the left hand and phoenixes with the right, neither affecting the other, resulting in lifelike sculptures of dragons and phoenixes.
The Imperial Chefs from Zhao Country widened their eyes at such heavenly knife skills, something they had only heard of in legends.
A chef couldn't help but ask, "With such exquisite knife skills, may I ask which famous foodie chef you learned from?"
King Chun waved his hand, saying, "What foodie or chef; it's all just mindless tinkering on my own..."
The chef paid him a respectful bow, saying, "My lifelong dream is to step onto the path of great food, please offer your guidance…"
King Chun shook his head, saying, "There's nothing much to teach; as long as you put your heart into it, anyone can be a foodie…"
...
Inside the joyous hall dimly lit by red candles, Li Nuo and Yiren held a red silk tied with a knot of mutual hearts, Li Nuo dressed in a red wedding robe, Yiren wearing a phoenix crown, adorned with colorful gemstones that hung down to her shoulders, the golden threads on her ceremonial robe shimmering brightly under the candlelight.
"The auspicious time has arrived!"
The Minister of Rites, acting as the ceremony official, stood at the front and proclaimed, "With the sun and moon shining brightly, witnesses in the heavens affirm the wedding union, bow to the heavens and the earth!"
Li Nuo and Yiren turned and bowed three times towards the sky.
The Minister of Rites continued, "With flourishing elders and fragrant orchids, respectfully accept parental guidance and bask in their grace, bow again to the parents!"
The two turned towards their father-in-law, mother-in-law, and Li Xuanjing, and performed the kneeling ceremony, then Yiren respectfully handed a teacup to Li Xuanjing, "Father, please have tea."
Li Xuanjing smiled as he took the teacup and sipped lightly, Song Zhe gazed at the couple before him, letting out a melancholy sigh, both of the most outstanding daughters of the Song Family had finally become part of the Li Family.
"In harmonious music, may the pearls complement each other, pledge forever a union under mountain and sea, bow to each other as husband and wife!"
The voice of the Minister of Rites came again, and Li Nuo and Yiren turned towards each other, slightly bowing, with the gilded veil on her head swaying with her movement, Li Nuo caught sight of the uncontrollable smile at the corner of her mouth.
"With red candles casting shadows, may the room be full of spices and orchids, congratulations on the heavenly match, send them to the bridal chamber!"
Yiren was supported by two palace maids as she left, following the tradition, that after all the ceremonies, the groom stays to entertain the guests.
Just as Li Nuo picked up a wine cup, the Minister of Revenue waved his hand and said, "Hehe, the night is precious, Brother Li, you'd better go quickly, don't let the princess wait too long..."
...
Squeak…
Li Nuo pushed the door open and entered the bridal chamber, causing lotus seeds hidden on the door to fall, symbolizing abundant offspring and blessings. Usually so lively, at this moment Yiren sat quietly by the bed, her legs tightly together, hands folded on her lap.
Li Nuo took the gold-plated balance rod from the cabinet by the bed and gently lifted a corner of the veil, Yiren looked up at him, her beautiful eyes seemingly flowing with light.
At this moment, she didn't know how long she had waited.
The gold thread veil fluttered to the ground, and Li Nuo extended his hand to her, saying, "Wife, it's time to drink the cross-cupped wine..."
Yiren slowly raised her hand, placing her hand in his.
From clutching the marriage book in her bewildered childhood to holding his hand on the wedding night, she had used a full twenty years, with all the bitterness known only to her own heart.
After drinking the cross-cupped wine, Yiren sat by the table with one hand on her cheek, gazing intently at Li Nuo, suddenly saying, "Husband."
"Hmm."
"Husband."
"Hmm?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to call you that..."
She had called him husband countless times in her heart, and now that she could finally call him openly, how could she be satisfied with just a few times?
She couldn't see enough of him in his wedding robe.
"Husband."
"Wife."
"Husband."
"Wife..."
"We should move on to the next step..."
"What is the next step?"
"..."
"Should we take off the phoenix crown?"
"Let it be, it looks good on..."
On the gilded candlestick, the wedding candles with intertwined wicks burned shorter and shorter in this calling and response, until a gentle breeze blew through, and silently extinguished both candles.
In the silent bridal chamber, only the sound of the phoenix crown's dangled jewels clinking gently echoed like wind chimes…