The sweetest in the entertainment industry

Chapter 417 The Wedding (Part Two)

"The fan falls, revealing her beautiful face; a bright pearl reflects on a jade plate. This is the 'poem on the fan completes the ceremony, a bond of hearts that will never be broken.'"

As Zhou Sinian recited the script, Li Sijia took over, continuing to guide the newlyweds through the ceremony:
"According to the *Collection of Rites of the Great Ming Dynasty*, the ceremony of paying homage is performed: first bow to Heaven and Earth, second bow to the profound grace of one's parents, and third bow to the perfect union ordained by Heaven—"

On the stage, Lu Zhendong and his wife sat upright on the left, while Gu Lanxi's mother's memorial tablet was on the right. As the young couple bowed, Zhou Sinian smiled and offered a blessing:

"A red silk cord binds our feet, a bond for three lifetimes; the first melody of the zither and lute, a vow for a hundred years."

The Lu couple sat upright, smiling as they looked at the two of them, tears welling up in their eyes.

They had three sons, and each of them found someone they loved. Although there were many ups and downs along the way, they all got married smoothly and lived happily ever after.

For them, isn't this a great success in life?
To avoid disrupting the rhythm of the ceremony, the wedding does not include speeches by the parents, unlike Western weddings.

After the three bows and three concessions, the core ritual combination begins.

The first item is called the "Wu Guan" ceremony.

"The auspicious time has been set, and the perfect couple is about to be united. Now we perform the ritual of washing hands and face, using water as a mirror and utensils as a symbol—to cleanse our hands and face, to wash away the dust, and to show the sincerity of our hearts and the purity of our intentions. The attendant presents the ewer and the plate."

Lu Weichen, as the nephew, carried a gilded silver ewer with mandarin duck patterns filled with water and walked in front. Lu Jianing, as the niece, carried a tray with red towels and followed behind. One of Gu Lanxi's nephews also carried a copper basin and walked beside Lu Jianing.

As the elder, the Gu clan patriarch, leaning on his cane, went up to the stage, picked up the gilded silver ewer with mandarin duck patterns, and prepared to water the plants. His nephew then brought a copper basin to collect the water.

"The bride washes her hands: her jade hands are gently washed, the water leaves no trace, she wishes that her heart will be like a clear spring, pure and unwavering; the dew on her fingertips is like a spring breeze, she hopes that their love will be like fragrant grass, evergreen year after year."

Gu Lanxi stepped forward and washed her hands.

After washing, take the towel, dry yourself, and step back.

"The groom washes his hands: cleansing the dust with bare hands, with a clear and bright mind, I will hold this heart to protect you; the dew in his palms signifies responsibility, I am willing to shoulder the burden of building our homeland together."

Lu Nanting, with a solemn expression, stepped forward to wash his hands and then dried them.

"Both hands are cleansed, and the ritual vessels are temporarily set aside. Water serves as the medium, reflecting the mutual affection between two hearts; the vessels serve as the witness, upholding the covenant of a hundred years. From this moment on, all worldly noise is gone, leaving only sincerity, and we may proceed with the proper ceremony."

The couple watched the ceremony quietly from the audience, their sincerity evident in every gesture.

Many people think that rituals are meaningless, but once you actually experience them, you'll find that they are very meaningful.

After the handwashing ceremony, the second item is the same as the sacrificial offering.

"The auspicious time has arrived; let us perform the ceremony of sharing the same meal. As the ancients said, 'To share a meal signifies that husband and wife are one.' Now, my virtuous son-in-law and daughter-in-law should share joys and sorrows, and support each other through thick and thin. Please, those in charge, present the meal."

After the staff brought out a roast suckling pig, cut off a small piece for each of them, placed it on a small plate, and had the two eat it, the emcee continued reciting the incantation:

"The meat of this sacrificial animal symbolizes the harmony between husband and wife. May the two newlyweds share honor and disgrace, fortune and misfortune from this day forward. May they enjoy this feast, and may their family prosper and their love last forever."

The young couple ate the meat carefully, and then came the most important part: the union of husband and wife.

The staff brought out a tray with a gourd wrapped in red silk, also known as a "jin".

"This is a legacy of the Zhou Dynasty's rites, and the Ming Dynasty continued this custom. May the newlyweds each hold a cup and drink the sweet wine together—"

The staff member symbolically poured in two sips of sweet rice wine.

The two each took half, tilted their heads back and drank it down. Li Sijia immediately took the other half and combined them into one.

"Sharing a bitter gourd in half, may our union be forever without regret."

The staff took the tray down, and soon someone else brought the tray back up.

"Now that I have golden scissors to bring good fortune, please cut a lock of hair and put it in a sachet."

The couple sat down on the stools, and an elder from each family came up to cut the other's hair.

Lu Nanting had been growing her hair long for a long time so that it would be easier to cut today, and she even left out a tuft when styling it.

Gu Lanxi was the same.

Two highly respected elders, holding the dragon and phoenix gold scissors passed down from the Gu family, carefully cut off a lock of hair for the two of them, then meticulously tied it with a red ribbon before placing it into a brocade pouch.

"Hair intertwined, brocade pouch sewn tightly. This is 'tying the knot as husband and wife, their love unwavering.'" Gu Lanxi watched as the brocade pouch was placed back on the tray. After stepping down from the stage, it was put into a sandalwood carved box that her mother-in-law had prepared beforehand. Gu Lanxi felt a sense of relief.

Immediately afterwards, a strong sense of peace washed over me.

After she looked away, it was time for the next step: holding hands and making a vow.

"On this auspicious day and time, the perfect couple stands hand in hand. Please, the two newlyweds, stand facing each other, gaze into each other's eyes, and whisper your vows."

Before Gu Lanxi could reach out, Lu Nanting had already eagerly reached out and firmly grasped her hand.

The solemn ceremony gradually shifted to a more relaxed tone at this point, and his relatives and friends below couldn't help but laugh at his eagerness.

Lu Nanting was never afraid of being laughed at; whenever he encountered such a situation, he would assume it was just envy or jealousy.

He took a deep breath, looked earnestly at Gu Lanxi, and spoke his vow with deep affection:

"The mountains and rivers bear witness, time bears witness, you are the only one in my life, through life and death, we will stay together year after year."

During this segment, the two did not rehearse their lines, saying they wanted to surprise each other.

Gu Lanxi had anticipated this situation and made ample preparations. She then let Lu Nanting speak first, and she would respond.

After Lu Nanting finished speaking, she had already thought about how to say it.

"The stars are my witness, the morning and evening are my proof; my heart is with you, through thick and thin, we will never be apart."

After she finished speaking, her ears turned bright red.

During her previous birthday celebration, Lu Nanting flaunted their love, forcing her to respond online. Now, however, he's saying these sweet nothings in front of so many people.

She was very embarrassed.

Fortunately, the emcee was quite professional and quickly eased her discomfort.

When Lu Nanting visited the set of "Lurking", Zhou Sinian had interacted with him before. The two had a fairly good relationship and Zhou Sinian had witnessed many sweet moments between the young couple.

He was quite happy to be one of the two emcees for this wedding.

When the ceremony was announced as complete, the voice was very loud and joyful:

"Scattering hazelnuts, chestnuts, dates, and cassia, we pray for prosperity for five generations. May today's ceremony not only unite two families, but also uphold the weighty traditions of Chinese marriage. Guests, please clap your hands in celebration!"

As applause erupted from the audience, a red gauze curtain slowly descended from the stage, and grains and dried fruits began to be scattered on the large screen.

The two slowly disappeared behind the gauze curtain, held hands, walked around the screen, and quickly left the stage.

Meanwhile, the emcee on stage was still reciting celebratory words:
"The tent is set up in the east, the hibiscus tent is warm in the spring breeze, may the descendants prosper for five generations."

The tent is set up to the west, where orchids, musk, and peonies dwell in the golden chamber; next year, may the addition of a son fill the path with laughter.

Scattered curtains to the south, fish and flounder play side by side in the clear ripples, a perfect couple sharing a hundred years of love.

Scattering the tent to the north, the Weaver Girl and the Weaver Girl offer their congratulations from afar, wishing for countless generations of descendants to receive her blessings.

"In the tent, red silk binds their feet, their hearts united; for a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations, they will sit in glory."

Gu Lanxi stepped off the stage and immediately adjusted the phoenix crown on her head: "Quick, quick, go change!"

Lu Nanting smiled and quickly followed, then took her hand and squatted down in front of her: "Come on, climb on my back, I'll carry you across."

Many relatives backstage nearly died laughing when they saw the two of them like this.

Gu Lanxi was easily embarrassed and blushed when she was laughed at. She covered her head and ran away in a flash.

Lu Nanting shook his sleeves and stood up, glancing helplessly at everyone, his disdain evident in his expression.

Then, amidst the laughter of the crowd, he quickly chased after them.

They need to change into something more comfortable before going out to offer toasts.

The wedding ceremony was different from those in ancient times. They referenced the Ming Dynasty wedding ceremony procedures online; if there are any discrepancies, that's because the couple modified them themselves. It's none of my business.