Chapter 270: Wedding

Although he had prepared in advance, the bustle of the wedding procession today still exceeded Li Yu’s expectations.

As dusk deepened, the crowds thronged, there wasn’t a breath of wind on the street, and Li Yu, riding on horseback, was drenched in sweat.

It must be even more stifling inside the bridal carriage.

He couldn’t help but rein in his horse closer to the carriage window and call out softly, “Ah Li, Ah Li, are you alright?”

There was no response from inside the carriage.

She couldn’t have fainted from the heat, could she?

The bride had started getting dressed at noon and hadn’t been able to eat.

He suddenly felt a little regretful, thinking that there shouldn’t have been so many complicated steps.

Li Yu reached out to lift the carriage curtain, but the people next to him saw this and cried out, “Your Highness, don’t be hasty!” “You can’t see the bride yet!”

Was it against the rules to see the bride now? Would it be unlucky? Would it affect their ability to grow old together?

Although he had seen and asked about many wedding customs, at this moment, Li Yu couldn’t remember a single one.

He hesitated, gripping the carriage curtain but not lifting it further.

Suddenly, a light tapping sound came from inside the carriage window: “Li Yu, I’m fine.” The carriage curtain was also slightly lifted at one corner.

In the dim light, he could see the crimson dress and the glittering jewels on the floral crown.

Li Yu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled: “That’s good.” He added, “We’ll be there soon. If you’re hot, use the fan to cool yourself.”

The people around them heard this and burst into laughter again. “The groom can’t wait!” “The groom is so considerate!” The voices were loud, but Li Yu was not affected in the slightest. Amidst all the noise, he only heard the female voice from inside the carriage say, “I know.”

The smile on his face deepened. He urged his horse forward and shouted loudly, “A fair and virtuous lady, a gentleman’s good match, tonight is the auspicious hour, the Li family’s son and the Bai family’s daughter tie the knot for a thousand autumns!”

The sound of drums and music filled the air, accompanied by thunderous cheers.

Bai Li sat by the window, looking down at the street where figures, carriages, and houses were gradually outlined in ink-like strokes.

“I wasn’t sleepy last night, and I couldn’t sleep while you were reading,” she said, then turned to look at Zhou Jingyun, who was holding a teacup in his hand, seemingly hesitant about something. “Hey, you’re not thinking of splashing me awake, are you?”

Zhou Jingyun laughed: “I did have that intention.”

But if they were both dreaming, he didn’t know whether to splash himself or Bai Li.

“Don’t worry, I’ll only sleep for a while,” Bai Li said. “It’s a long way from our house to Prince Chu’s, and we’re going slowly.”

Our house, Zhou Jingyun pursed his lips and took a sip from the teacup in his hand. “That’s how wedding processions are. If the distance is short, they deliberately take a detour.” He paused for a moment. “Actually, our academy was also quite large back then. It would take a long time to walk around the mountain forest.”

Bai Li laughed: “We didn’t have that kind of time. Zhang Ze was watching us like a hawk. We managed to arrange the time just right, and he arrived right on cue, not too early, not too late, so he could see with his own eyes but not linger.”

Zhou Jingyun recalled those times, but the memories were hazy. Was it because he was in a dream? Or was it that he didn’t take it to heart back then and didn’t remember anything? What a pity.

“Why did you come out? Didn’t we agree that you shouldn’t move around too much?” Bai Li said.

Zhou Jingyun smiled: “I didn’t walk. I came by carriage.”

Bai Li glared at him. How did he learn to be so sly?

“Don’t worry,” Zhou Jingyun looked at her and said with a smile.

Bai Li let out an “oh.” Although the dream was hazy, she felt Zhou Jingyun’s gaze was particularly bright, and she couldn’t help but look away and towards the street.

Someone stood next to her. The window wasn’t large, and the two of them stood shoulder to shoulder, their clothes touching.

“Is that the wedding procession?” Zhou Jingyun said, looking at the scene unfolding like a scroll, with tiny figures, carriages, and horses constantly appearing, outlining the bustling street.

Bai Li hummed in agreement and turned to look at him: “Did you come here specifically to watch the excitement?”

Zhou Jingyun smiled: “Yes, I haven’t seen your wedding ceremony.”

Bai Li smiled. That’s right, he was also present at her wedding the last time.

She looked at the continuously extending and expanding scene.

“My wedding ceremony is indeed very beautiful.”

Zhou Jingyun stopped talking and watched the slowly unfolding scroll with her, until a mansion in the distance gradually became clear from its initial blur.

“We’ve arrived at Prince Chu’s Residence,” Zhou Jingyun said softly.

As he spoke, the scene before them flickered, the ink-wash scroll rippled, and he suddenly fell through the window where he had been standing.

Zhou Jingyun instinctively looked towards the window, but the figure of Bai Li in her wedding dress instantly vanished from his sight.

He let out a soft cry and sat up, his eyes met with flickering candlelight, and the summer breeze carried the noise from the street, swirling within the room.

Jiang Yun knelt beside him and reached out to support his shoulder: “My Lord, it’s time to go back. Madam will be worried, and it’s almost curfew.”

Zhou Jingyun let out an “oh” and slowly got up, walking to the window to gaze into the distance. The capital city in the night was like a river of stars, and at this moment, Prince Chu’s Residence was the brightest star.

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

Countless candles were lit inside the room. Bai Li’s head drooped slightly, and she opened her eyes, seeing the floor illuminated as bright as day.

The room was silent, and she could hear laughter and chatter coming from outside.

“They’re teasing the groom.”

A voice reached her ears.

Bai Li turned her head slightly, and her ornate headdress swayed, casting a shadow. The shadow stretched out and transformed into the figure of a person leaning against her legs.

“We entered the house earlier, paid respects to the kitchen god, paid respects to Heaven and Earth, paid respects to the ancestral tablets, performed the husband and wife bows, and then they teased the bride…”

The figure kneaded their shoulders, their voice filled with complaint.

“All of that is over, you’re awake. You’ve really been taking it easy!”

Bai Li pursed her lips and smiled: “Who can you blame for that? You agreed to get married, so naturally you have to perform the ceremony.”

The figure suddenly stood up from her feet: “I agreed? You agreed too!”

Bai Li looked at the swaying tassels and said: “Yes, I agreed too, so I got married and you performed the ceremony.”

The figure flickered again, appearing before her, and the face in the shadow became clear.

She let out a “ha” sound: “Bai Li, you’re finished, you and I are inseparable now!”

✿✿✿

Bai Li looked at the face: “No, I can tell the difference. I know what I need to do.”

She raised an eyebrow: “You want to be the Empress!”

Bai Li smiled faintly: “Yes, you want to be the Empress.”

The figure was about to say something, but the tassels swayed, the light from the surrounding candles poured in, and the figure suddenly vanished. At the same time, the door was pushed open.

A group of women entered, surrounding Li Yu.

“The bride and groom are taking their seats on the bed.”

With joyful laughter and chatter, they pushed Li Yu to sit beside the bride. As they chanted auspicious words, they removed their ceremonial robes and crowns, tied their hair and clothes together with colorful silk threads, and then retreated.

Several palace maids extinguished the bright candles one by one, leaving only a single night lamp.

“Prince Chu, Princess, have a good rest.”

They bowed respectfully and exited, closing the door behind them.

The noise in the courtyard gradually faded away as the guests all took their leave, and soon the courtyard inside and out fell into silence.

“It’s finally over,” Bai Li said, and then laughed.

She and Zhou Jingyun had also done this step when they pretended to get married.

Li Yu, who was sitting stiffly beside her, let out a breath and looked at her: “Is it really over? Can we move freely now?”

Bai Li laughed and said yes. Li Yu abruptly stood up, and the next moment, Bai Li let out a soft cry of pain, while Li Yu also stumbled and nearly fell.

Bai Li supported him with her hand and said with a smile: “Don’t rush, don’t rush, we’re still tied together.”

Li Yu was already looking at her anxiously: “Where did I pull you? Did it hurt?”

Bai Li pulled him to sit down and tilted her head slightly: “My hair.”

Li Yu raised his hand to untie the colorful ropes that bound their hair, but whether it was because the ropes were too thin or her hair was too thick, he couldn’t untie them.

“I’m so clumsy,” he said.

Bai Li looked at his sweaty face and said: “Get some scissors.”

Li Yu flatly refused: “No, no, we can’t use scissors right after getting married, it’s unlucky.”

What’s so unlucky about that? It’s not a real marriage anyway, Bai Li thought to herself, but looking at Li Yu’s serious expression and focused eyes under the dim lamplight, she swallowed her words.

“Take your time,” she said with a smile, using her sleeve to gently fan him. “We have nothing to do tonight, there’s no rush.”

Li Yu looked at her smiling face and smiled as well, focusing on untying the hair ropes. Bai Li remained still to make it easier for him. After a while, the hair was successfully untied. Li Yu then untied the colorful ropes that bound their bodies and legs, and looking at the scattered colorful silk threads in his hands and at their feet, he let out a long breath.

“You must be tired,” Bai Li said with a smile, standing up and stretching her arms.

Li Yu nodded, then his face was filled with apology: “Actually, we could have omitted many steps, and you wouldn’t have been so tired…”

“That wouldn’t do,” Bai Li said.

Hearing these words, Li Yu’s eyes lit up. So she also wanted…

“…You are Prince Chu, and it was His Majesty’s decree. How could we be perfunctory?” Bai Li continued. “So many people are watching. If we are careless, His Majesty will lose face and blame you.”

That’s right, Li Yu thought, and then the smile in his eyes faded, but she was still worried about him, for his sake.

“We’ll have to work hard again tomorrow,” he said. “We have to pay respects to Princess Jinyu and the Emperor. The Emperor will be fine, but Princess Jinyu will probably make things difficult.”

Bai Li said: “It doesn’t matter. We’ll meet the challenge head-on. We’re not afraid.”

Li Yu was about to say something when soft footsteps sounded outside the door.

“Madam, Your Highness, would you like something to eat?” Chun Yue’s voice came through.

Li Yu hurriedly said: “That’s right, you haven’t eaten all day.” He then quickly let Chun Yue in.

Chun Yue entered carrying a food box, bringing some light porridge and side dishes.

Bai Li invited Li Yu to eat together. After they finished their simple meal, washed up, and changed into their everyday clothes, Bai Li finally let out a long breath: “I feel like it’s truly over now.”

Li Yu looked at the prepared bed: “You should get into bed and rest quickly.” He hesitated for a moment. “I, I might have to stay here too, after all…”

Before he could finish, Bai Li laughed: “Of course, who would kick the groom out to sleep?”

She walked over and looked at the prepared bed as well. The bright red curtains and bedding were festive and dazzling.

“When I pretended to get married to Zhou Jingyun, we also shared a bed.”

Li Yu looked at her and smiled gently, seemingly curious: “What was it like when you pretended to get married to the Marquis’s Heir?”

Before Bai Li could answer, he sat on the bed first, stretched, and lay down.

“Tell me about it,” he said.

Bai Li smiled and sat down as well: “There’s really nothing much to say about that time. It wasn’t as lively as this.”

Perhaps there was really nothing much to say, or perhaps she was too tired. Just as she started talking about entering the bridal chamber and before she could mention tying their hair together, Zhuang Feizi fell seriously ill, and they rushed to attend to him. Bai Li fell asleep.

The night lamp flickered dimly. Li Yu looked at the person beside him, her eyes closed, her face clean and free of heavy makeup, as gentle as a luminous pearl.

“Ah Li,” he called softly.

Bai Li mumbled in response, but she didn’t wake up, sinking deeper into sleep.

Li Yu quietly looked at her face.

He had married Bai Li.

He had brought her back from the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence, and under the watchful eyes of the entire city, he had led her into Prince Chu’s Residence.

He and she had paid respects to his parents, he and she had tied their hair and clothes together, he and she were lying side by side within the bright red bed curtains, amidst the bedding embroidered with twin lotus flowers and mandarin ducks playing in the water.

Li Yu raised his hand and gently stroked Bai Li’s right cheek, his fingers touching her delicate and soft skin.

I adapted the wedding ceremony based on the information I found.