Pearl also said, "Miss is the most beautiful woman in the world!"
"You're so quick-witted." Madam Qin looked at Ji Wushang and teased Zhu'er with a smile, while Xian'er also laughed at Zhu'er's eloquence.
"Someone, quickly, bring up the phoenix coronet and wedding gown and help the young lady put them on," Madam Qin ordered hastily, seeing that it was almost time.
Several maids held up the phoenix coronet and wedding robes, as well as the red wedding dress that had been sent earlier for him to try on. With a nervous heart, Ji Wushang put them on.
Just as I finished dressing, I heard a shout, "Wu Shang".
Ji Wushang was startled and turned around abruptly. "Grandmother." He was about to kneel down to pay his respects. He had thought that she was in seclusion and would not come to see him again. After all, the Old Madam Yuan had not even attended the weddings of her two younger sisters!
The matriarch smiled and nodded, helping Ji Wushang up. "So beautiful, Wushang. Today you are getting married to the Prince of Nan. This old man will reward you with a hairpin!"
"Thank you, Grandmother." Ji Wushang rarely saw her come and even rewarded her, so he pulled her to sit down beside him.
The old lady took out a small box from her bosom. Ji Wushang was surprised. Usually, when it came to rewards, wasn't it always Granny Guo who brought them out? But this time, the old lady actually put the box in her bosom. It was clear how nervous she was about what was inside.
Granny Guo, however, was quietly sobbing to the side.
Upon hearing this, the matriarch asked in confusion, "Granny Guo, why are you crying? My beloved granddaughter is getting married, why are you crying?"
"Madam, I'm just too excited. Back then, the eldest young lady was still a child. Now, she's getting married. She's such a beautiful woman. I'm so excited."
"Look at you, go sit over there." The old lady pretended to scold her, then focused her attention on the box and gently opened it.
Ji Wushang stared in astonishment as she pulled out a phoenix jade hairpin! It was exactly the same as the one Nan Xuzong had given her before!
Ji Wushang could not describe all of this as shock. Nan Xuzong had once said that this phoenix jade hairpin was his mother's keepsake. What about this one?
Madam Qin was also surprised, "This jade hairpin..."
"This jade hairpin is so beautiful!" Ji Wushang said immediately before she could finish speaking. "Thank you, Grandmother." As he spoke, he gestured to Madam Qin, indicating that she should not say anything yet.
Madam Qin indeed said nothing more. However, her doubts only deepened.
Ji Wushang also had questions in his heart, but the grudges between their elders were really puzzling to him.
The matriarch looked at them, but after thinking about it, she realized that Ji Wushang's marriage was more important, so she said, "Come, let your grandmother put it on for you personally."
"Thank you, Grandmother." Ji Wushang lowered her head. The old lady gently placed the hairpin in Ji Wushang's hair, instantly adding to her elegance.
Ji Wushang knelt down to express his gratitude, and the matriarch nodded in satisfaction, then left with the help of Granny Guo.
Finally, she put on her wedding dress and donned the phoenix coronet and embroidered robe.
Looking at himself in the mirror, Ji Wushang couldn't help but want to pinch his cheeks, but Madam Qin immediately said, "You can't pinch them!"
"I don't even feel like myself anymore," Ji Wushang said softly. The beauty in the mirror was stunning, yet possessed a stubborn and refined air about her, which seemed to resemble herself...
"Look at what you're saying," Madam Qin said with a smile.
Meanwhile, Madam Fugui busied herself, saying, "Quickly, get everything ready, don't forget anything!"
At this moment, a maid came in from outside and said, "Madam, Miss, everything is ready in the hall."
Actually, according to custom, they were to worship twice. Ji Wushang was a little worried that Nan Xuzong might not be able to withstand it, but unexpectedly, they still followed the rules.
All the rules were followed, and Ji Wushang was covered with a red bridal veil. Instantly, everything in front of her was red, and she, led by Zhu'er, walked out together.
As soon as they stepped outside the courtyard, they saw a man already standing there—the handsome and tall Ji Tiankui.
As the older brother, it's natural for him to see his younger sister off on her wedding day.
Ji Tiankui rubbed his hands together; it was still a bit chilly. Seeing Ji Wushang being helped out, with Madam Qin smiling and greeting him, surrounded by a joyful atmosphere, he felt even happier.
Ji Tiankui stepped forward and said, "Big sister, congratulations on your marriage to Prince Nan!"
"Thank you, brother!" Ji Wushang's lips twitched. Although he couldn't see Ji Tiankui, he could still feel the way Ji Tiankui looked down at him.
“Come on, let me see you out.” Ji Tiankui said, then turned around and squatted down in front of Ji Wushang.
☆、151 Mandarin ducks entwined, wedding night in the bridal chamber! (Climax!)
As Lady Fugui watched Ji Tiankui kneel down to see Ji Wushang off at her wedding, she waved the red handkerchief in her hand and said, "What a beautiful day! Sending off the young lady on her wedding day!"
There were some maids following around, scattering rice grains on both sides as they walked, symbolizing a house full of children and grandchildren.
Ji Wushang lay on Ji Tiankui's back and gently called out, "Thank you for your trouble, brother."
"Don't worry, little sister!" Ji Tiankui nodded, steadily carrying her on his back and walking into the main hall. The surrounding sounds were filled with the sounds of firecrackers, the laughter of children, and the teasing and exclamations of young ladies.
Although Ji Wushang was being carried on his back, she could still see the ground. Everywhere they went, there were large red carpets, extremely luxurious. She remembered that in her previous life, she had never even seen such a carpet before she was married off. At that time, her elder brother was running around on the battlefield with Ji Dingbei and never attended her wedding, let alone saw her off.
Ji Wushang put aside his thoughts. At this moment, Ji Tiankui had finished circling the Xinyuan Garden and indicated that the unmarried woman had reached the age of marriage and should enter her husband's family. He had already carried Ji Wushang to the main hall, where many people were amazed.
"She's here! The bride's here!"
"Wow, that's beautiful!"
"Look at those jade-like hands, that skin!"
Some people sighed, those who didn't understand always felt it was a pity that the eldest daughter of General Ji's mansion had married a disabled heir of a marquis's mansion.
"What a pity, such a fine young lady."
"Isn't that right? If I could marry the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei, how wonderful that would be!"
...
Ji Wushang was somewhat nervous. Although he heard the praise or regret from these people, he didn't care much. What he was thinking more about was seeing or feeling Nan Xuzong's aura as soon as possible.
Ji Wushang was put down, and she could only stand there blankly in the hall. The bridal veil covered her vision, making it difficult for her to walk.
Just as they were fidgeting, a loud shout rang out, "The heir of the Marquis of Jinnan has arrived!"
Ji Wushang's hands involuntarily twisted together, his heart pounding with even more tension.
Nan Xuzong was wearing a jade crown and a red wedding robe. He was sitting in his wheelchair, which was decorated with small red flowers, making him look elegant without being too tacky.
That aura was beyond words; no one could match it.
He gazed intently at Ji Wushang, his eyes moving from top to bottom, finally settling on her hands, and a smile suddenly appeared on his lips.
"Wow, Prince Nan is smiling!"
"I've never seen him smile!"
"That's right!"
"Of course! Prince Nan has struck gold this time!"
"That's exactly what I meant!"
...
Nan Xuzong was still smiling.
The matchmaker and Lady Fugui looked somewhat embarrassed. The bride stood there awkwardly and nervously, while the groom kept watching. Madam Qin and Ji Dingbei sat in the main hall, along with Marquis Jinnan and Consort Zhao, all observing the scene.
Madam Qin glanced at the Marquis of Jinnan and Consort Zhao, and quickly gestured, "Quickly, get the big red flower!"
"Oh!" Granny Shi, who was standing to the side, immediately had someone bring over a big red flower. The maid put one end in Nan Xuzong's hand and then the other end in Ji Wushang's hand.
Ji Wushang looked at the big red flower being stuffed into his hand and nervously and awkwardly accepted it.
"The auspicious time has arrived!" Butler Lin shouted loudly.
A large red prayer mat had already been placed in front of Ji Wushang. Zhu'er stepped forward and helped Ji Wushang kneel down, while Nan Xuzong naturally faced the high hall directly.
"I bow to Heaven and Earth!" Butler Lin tried to draw out his voice as much as possible.
Apart from the eldest daughter, none of the women in the general's mansion got married in a grand and glamorous way. Since Aunt Xie died, Steward Lin has become even more timid after witnessing the infighting among these young ladies, and he has become much more serious about the affairs of the mansion.
Ji Wushang knelt down to pay homage to heaven and earth outside the hall, while Nan Xuzong turned his wheelchair around and humbly tried to match Ji Wushang's posture, bending his upper body to perform the homage to heaven and earth.
He was overjoyed, his expressionless face, unchanged for years, now made him look like a fool. He kept glancing at Ji Wushang, who was covered with a red veil, with such a silly look that it was as if he had never seen a bride before.
This is the person he loves, the wife he will spend his life with. Nan Xuzong doesn't care what others say; in his world, there is only her.
"Bowing to the parents twice!"
With Zhu'er leading him around, Ji Wushang knelt down again in front of Ji Dingbei, Madam Qin, Marquis Nan Aogan of Jinnan, and Aunt Zhao. Nan Xuzong also turned around and bowed again.
"Husband and wife bow to each other!"
Nan Xuzong faced Ji Wushang, his gaze brazenly fixed on her. Even through her bridal veil, Ji Wushang could feel his domineering gaze, naked and possessive.
She smiled gently and slowly bowed to him.
This is my wife.
"That's what Nan Xuzong said in his heart."
"Let's present a toast!"
During the Xia and Zhou dynasties, the wine drunk by the woman's family was called "jiaobei" (交杯), while the wine drunk by the man's family was called "hejin" (合卺). The difference was that the jiaobei wine was served in a cup, symbolizing sleeping with their necks intertwined, while the hejin wine was served in a jin (卺) vessel, symbolizing the union of husband and wife as one.
A maidservant brought over two cups of nuptial wine. Ji Tiankui strode forward to see Ji Wushang off at her wedding. As the eldest son, Ji Tiankui was the one giving the most important gift. He brought the plate and presented it to Nan Xuzong, saying, "Xucong, please. May you and your sister Wushang be of one heart and mind and live a long and happy life together."
"Thank you, elder brother." Nan Xuzong changed his address to elder brother for Ji Tiankui, which made Ji Tiankui even happier.
Nan Xuzong took the wine glass with both hands, also holding the large red flower end in his hand.
Ji Tiankui presented the wine cup to Ji Wushang, saying, "Sister Wushang, I wish you and Xu Cong a harmonious marriage and that you will soon have a son."
"Thank you, brother." Ji Wushang lowered his eyes, a hint of shyness on his face, and took the wine glass.
Ji Tiankui stepped aside, and Zhu'er helped Ji Wushang to Nan Xuzong's side before stepping back.
Nan Xuzong looked up at her. Ji Wushang thought for a moment, then bent down and stretched out his hand. He also stretched out his arm and circled his hand with his.
After downing a glass of wine, signifying their relationship, his face flushed slightly. Ji Wushang was right in front of him, and her delicate fragrance wafted into his heart, stirring his soul.
Ji Wushang smiled, her red lips curved into a smile.
Pearl and String put their wine glasses away.
"Send off the newcomers!"
Ji Wushang's heart pounded.
According to the wedding customs of the Xia and Zhou dynasties, the groom should carry the bride out of the main hall and onto a sedan chair. Then, the groom would ride a tall horse to take the bride back to his residence, where they would bow to heaven and earth before consummating their marriage.