Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 456 The Big Wedding
New Year's Day 2013 was the 20th day of the 11th month of the Ren Chen year, which was the 20th day of the 11th lunar month.

An auspicious day, may all things go smoothly.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the auspicious time has arrived.

The wedding procession from the Song family was fully assembled at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Among the procession, the most eye-catching element was undoubtedly the eight-bearer palanquin made of golden nanmu wood. The palanquin was exquisitely carved with auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns and blooming flowers, and was adorned with shimmering gold leaf.

The sedan chair curtains are made of top-grade Suzhou double-sided embroidery, featuring either a "Hundred Children" design or a "Butterfly and Flower" design, with fine stitches and an elegant artistic conception; the top of the sedan chair is further decorated with filigree gold phoenixes, making it indescribably luxurious.

The eight sedan chair bearers, dressed in matching festive uniforms, walked with steady steps.

Song Ci is dressed in a Ming Dynasty scholar-official's python robe and jade belt, designed by Pan Yuzhen's team and custom-made by intangible cultural heritage masters. He wears a Liang crown, has a face like jade, and exudes a dignified and imposing air.

Her father, Song Zhang, was dressed in a solemn traditional ceremonial robe, with a warm jade pendant at his waist, a symbol of his status as the head of the Song family. He stood beside Song Ci, his brows full of undisguised joy.

The wedding procession was well-organized: a gong to clear the way, a sign to indicate silence, a festive plaque inscribed with "Song Family Wedding Procession," palace lanterns, and a canopy were lined up in order.

Furthermore, a special person carried an exquisite gift box symbolizing the "Three Books," and the ceremonial guards were all dressed in elegant ancient costumes, exuding a timeless charm.

The betrothal gift procession followed closely behind, carrying gift boxes containing a full range of symbolic and valuable betrothal gifts, including antique-style jade swallows, fine silk, premium tea, and custom-made goldware.

The entire procession was grand and imposing, displaying the grandeur of an ancient aristocratic family.

The master of ceremonies announced loudly, "The auspicious time has arrived! Time to welcome the bride!"

Suddenly, drums and music resounded, and the wedding procession slowly walked towards the main gate of Fangfei Garden amidst solemn and joyous ancient music.

Along the way, the sights drew the attention of guests and VIPs from both inside and outside the State Guesthouse, making the procession the most breathtaking visual focus at that moment.

Upon reaching the traditional Chinese gate of Fangfei Garden, the procession stopped. Song Ci, along with her father, best man, and others, dismounted and walked steadily inside.

Inside Fangfei Garden, Liu Yuqing was standing by the window gazing into the distance. When she saw the wedding procession approaching, she turned around and exclaimed, "Brother is here to fetch the bride! Oh, why is Uncle here too?"

Inside her boudoir, the bride, Liu Shishi, smiled sweetly, dressed in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, elegant and gentle, breathtakingly beautiful.

The bridesmaids looked at her, unable to hide their envy.

This phoenix coronet and embroidered robe cost a fortune. It was made by a master of Beijing embroidery, an intangible cultural heritage. It uses top-quality fabrics such as silk satin, kesi, and brocade, and is complemented by silk and kingfisher feather inlay techniques. It is also inlaid with top-quality pearls and gemstones, making it priceless.

"We need to think this through carefully; we can't let the groom take the bride away so easily."

"Yes, yes, we can't forget the red envelopes."

"We'll have to let Chairman Song show off a couple of his talents. I heard he's a great singer."

The bridesmaids chatted excitedly, creating a lively atmosphere.

On the other side, Song Ci and her father had passed through the inner gate of Fangfei Garden and arrived at the door of her boudoir.

Song Zhang stepped forward steadily and solemnly took out the scroll of "Wedding Letter" written on gold-flecked Xuan paper and carefully mounted from the sandalwood tray held by the steward.

He slowly unrolled the scroll, focused his energy, and loudly and passionately read aloud the "Song Family's Wedding Proclamation":
"With the harmony of heaven and earth, and the brilliance of the sun and moon, on this auspicious day, we solemnly pledge our alliance."

Song Zici, inheriting the virtues of his ancestors, embodies the gentleness and kindness of a gentleman. Liu Shishi, the daughter of a distinguished family, is intelligent, kind-hearted, and possesses both virtue and beauty.

They met as children, childhood sweethearts, and feelings secretly blossomed between them. Studying together in school, their youthful companionship deepened their affection. From classmates to close friends, and from close friends to profound lovers, time served as their matchmaker, and years became their betrothal gift. Their love, stronger than gold, finally led to them becoming a couple.

In accordance with ancient rites, we hereby formally announce to Heaven, Earth, and our ancestors the arrival of Miss Shishi, the daughter of the Liu family, to the Song residence with the elaborate ceremony of three letters and six betrothal gifts.

May the newlyweds live in harmony, grow old together in love, have a happy and fulfilling life, and have many descendants.

With utmost sincerity, I humbly request your acceptance!
Song Zhang, head of the Song family, bows his head.
Auspicious days in the winter month of the Ren Chen year

After the reading was completed, Song Zhang handed the "Wedding Letter" to the master of ceremonies. The entire hall was silent, with only the lingering sound of the letter echoing in the air, the solemnity reaching its peak.

Inside her boudoir, Liu Shishi's eyes shimmered with tenderness, and a warm feeling welled up inside her. Her father-in-law had personally come to fetch her, a gesture that made her deeply aware that she was the legitimate daughter-in-law of the Song family.

Listening to the "Wedding Letter," she recounted her childhood friendship with Song Ci, her love story unfolding in a gentle and poignant way. Every word was filled with affection, and her heart almost melted into this elegant tenderness.

"Please invite the bride to leave her home!" the master of ceremonies announced once again.

The girls' cheerful laughter immediately came from behind the door: "Groom, where's the red envelope?" "You have to sing a love song before you open the door!"

Upon hearing this, Song Ci smiled and gave Wang Sicong a wink.

The latter understood immediately, and with a grin, pulled out a handful of red envelopes: "There are plenty of red envelopes, but how will you see them if the door isn't opened?"

After a moment's hesitation, the bridesmaids finally opened the door a crack.

A mischievous glint flashed in Wang Sicong's eyes as he slowly slipped the red envelope through the crack in the door. Just as the bridesmaid reached out to take it, he suddenly pushed the door shut, preventing it from closing.

The groomsmen behind him reacted quickly, rushing forward to push the door open with a creak.

The girls realized they'd been tricked and stomped their feet angrily, but there was nothing they could do. Wang Sicong raised an eyebrow at them, her face full of smugness.

Seeing this, the master of ceremonies smiled and said, "Please invite the bride to leave her home!"

With things having come to this point, the bridesmaids had no choice but to follow the ceremony's procedures.

With assistance, Liu Shishi gracefully rose to her feet, concealing her face with a jade-handled fan, and walked out with dainty steps.

The phoenix coronet and embroidered robe shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, with gold and silver threads and gemstones reflecting each other, drawing exclamations of admiration from all around.

Upon reaching the sedan chair, Song Ci stepped forward and bowed respectfully. The couple looked into each other's eyes, a thousand words unspoken. Then, the bridesmaids and a woman of good fortune helped the bride board the eight-bearer sedan chair.

"Get up the sedan!"

The sedan chair bearers carried the sedan chair steadily, and the drums and music resounded once more. The wedding procession circled the state guesthouse once, finally stopping at the main ceremony area in Fangfei Garden.

As the sedan chair alighted, Song Ci stepped forward, gently lifted the curtain, and bowed to invite the bride to alight.

Liu Shishi, still covering her face with a round fan, and linked with Song Ci by a red silk ribbon, stepped onto the elaborate carpet and entered the ceremony area, guided by the admirers and accompanied by melodious music.

The elegant floral arrangements and warm lighting made the newlyweds look even more perfectly matched.

As the newlyweds stood in place, the emcee recited a poem about lifting the fan: "A light silk robe conceals a fairy-like figure, orchids and magnolias share a heart known to the sun and moon. Words and brushes write a three-life vow, and one day, lifting the fan reveals a jade branch."

After reciting the poem, Song Ci gently called out, "Please, madam, remove your fan."

Liu Shishi slowly moved aside her fan, revealing her stunning beauty. Her gaze met Song Ci's, their eyes brimming with tender affection. In this moment, the profound tradition of the Chinese ceremony was filled with a unique and intimate moment between the two of them.

After the fan is turned back, the classic ritual of bowing to heaven and earth begins.

"First bow to Heaven and Earth!" the master of ceremonies chanted loudly.

Song Ci and Liu Shishi smiled at each other, then bowed side by side to heaven and earth, giving thanks for the blessing of fate.

"Two thanks to the high hall!"

The couple turned around and bowed deeply to Mr. and Mrs. Song, Mr. and Mrs. Liu, who were seated in the highest positions, to express their gratitude for their upbringing.

"Husband and wife bow to each other!" The young couple stood facing each other and solemnly bowed. The first bow was to express their love, and the second bow was to symbolize that they would grow old together in harmony and mutual respect.

"Perform the same prison ceremony."

The deacon presented a dish containing the meat of the same animal, and the two sat together, each taking a small portion to eat. From then on, they shared joys and sorrows, and every meal and season was for each other.

"Perform the wedding ceremony."

An exquisite gold-inlaid jade nuptial cup was presented, connected by a red silk thread, and filled with fine wine.

The emcee declared with great emotion: "Let us drink the nuptial wine together, and from now on share joys and sorrows!"

With a smile in his eyes, Song Ci and Liu Shishi each held a cup, first drinking half a cup each, then exchanging cups to finish the rest of the wine—the clinking of cups was just like the merging of their lives, a union forever.

"Let us untie our knots and tie our hair together, and be together forever!" the master of ceremonies continued to sing.

The Song Dynasty poem is tender and affectionate, gently untying the betrothal tassel from Liu Shishi's hair.

Then, the woman of perfect fortune took a strand of hair from each of their hair, tied them together with a red tassel, and put them into a brocade pouch. The intertwined hair symbolized that they would stay together for life and never be separated again.

The ceremony is now over.

The emcee announced in a loud voice, "The ceremony is complete! Congratulations to the newlyweds, Mr. Song Ci and Mrs. Liu Shishi: May your love be as harmonious as a phoenix in flight, and may your family prosper for generations to come!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the relatives and friends in the audience erupted in thunderous applause that lasted for a long time.

As night deepened, the sensational wedding of the century finally came to a close. Song Ci and Liu Shishi saw off the last group of distinguished guests and returned hand in hand to their private residence, Jingyuan.

The garden exudes natural elegance, and instead of hanging gaudy red lanterns and the character "囍" (double happiness) for the newlyweds, it features two square paintings framed in delicate rosewood frames.

On the left is the elegant running script "Words and Rhymes, Pure Joy," and on the right is the graceful regular script "Poetic Heart, Orchid Intent."

All are works by renowned artists, with deep, rich ink and touches of gold powder, cleverly incorporating the couple's names and subtly expressing their hopes for a harmonious future together, silently announcing the owners' status and the joy of their marriage.

Outside the window, the wind was biting cold, but inside it was warm and cozy.

The bedroom was dimly lit, and Liu Shishi nestled beside Song Ci, her face beaming with the sweetness and contentment of newlyweds.

Her slender fingers slid gently across the tablet, displaying meticulously edited photos just sent by the wedding photographer. Each one was breathtakingly beautiful, perfectly capturing the dreamlike classical ceremony.

“Honey, look at this one!” Liu Shishi clicked on a photo.

The image shows her wearing that priceless phoenix coronet and wedding gown, holding a fan, and slightly turning her head in front of the eight-bearer golden nanmu sedan chair.

The phoenix on the crown is filigree, with a golden phoenix that seems to be about to spread its wings. The kingfisher feathers are shimmering and colorful, and the pearls and gemstones reflect a warm and dazzling light. The Suzhou embroidery of lotus flowers on the shawl is lifelike, and the edges outlined with real gold thread shine with understated luxury.

The distinctive, solemn eaves and elegant gardens of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in the background further accentuate its extraordinary classical beauty.

"So beautiful, Shi Bao." Song Ci's eyes were full of amazement and love as he lowered his head to gently kiss his wife's forehead.

"I want to select a few photos to post on Weibo and share this happiness with my fans." Liu Shishi's face was filled with the joy of a young girl. "They must have been waiting for a long time."

Song Ci chuckled indulgently: "Send it out. Let them all see how beautiful my bride is."

Liu Shishi nodded and carefully selected nine of the most representative photos to form a perfect nine-square grid:
Close-up of the phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, the departure of the eight-bearer sedan chair, the fan-removing ceremony, the second bow to the parents, the nuptial ceremony, the untying of the hair ornaments, a panoramic view of Fangfei Garden, and a family portrait of the Song and Liu families.

And the last photo shows the couple in traditional Chinese attire. Song Ci, in his python robe and jade belt, is dashing and extraordinary; Liu Shishi, in her phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, is elegant and noble. The two stand in the classical garden of the state guesthouse, like a perfect couple who have traveled through time.

She hesitated for a moment, then asked her husband to polish the writing before she wrote the accompanying text:

"On an auspicious day in the winter month of the Ren Chen year, I and Song Ci, with the three letters and six rites as our betrothal gifts and an eight-bearer carriage as our engagement, formally married and formed a bond of brotherhood."

Grateful for time as our matchmaker and years as our betrothal gift, we, childhood sweethearts, have finally become husband and wife. Grateful for the profound kindness of our parents and the deep love of our relatives and friends.

A gathering of traditional Chinese culture, a rendezvous between distinguished families. Phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, ten miles of red bridal procession—none of these could compare to the boundless joy in our hearts. Hand in hand, we vow to grow old together.

From then on, day after day, year after year. @Songciv

The New Year's Day is already a highly anticipated occasion, and the wedding of the richest man and the top female figure was kept secret from the outside world because it was held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

But the release of this Weibo post was like a boulder thrown into a still lake, instantly creating a huge wave!
Within minutes, the number of reposts, comments, and likes skyrocketed exponentially, putting Weibo's servers under pressure.

Fortunately, the platform's technical staff had a contingency plan in place, which helped to stabilize the situation and prevent it from becoming paralyzed.

Topics such as "Liu Shishi in her phoenix coronet and wedding gown," "Liu Shishi's traditional Chinese wedding," "This is what a proper marriage should be," and "Wedding scene at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse" quickly became trending topics.

In the blink of an eye, they dominated the top of the list, with each topic marked with a prominent "hot" tag, their popularity soaring.

The comment sections of netizens and fans were completely buzzing, filled with the lingering shock and amazement.

"My goodness! Shishi doesn't look like a bride at all, she looks like a goddess descended from the heavens! Her phoenix coronet and wedding gown are breathtakingly beautiful, my sister is so lucky!"

"Holy crap! I knew Shishi was pretty, but I never imagined she could be this beautiful! Are the jewels on her phoenix crown glowing?"

Is the embroidery on that embroidered robe alive? This face paired with this outfit completely outshines all the empresses and imperial concubines in period dramas; it's the pinnacle of classical aesthetics!

"A grand sedan chair carried by eight men! Made of golden nanmu wood! This is quite the spectacle! Boss Song is a true tycoon, and Shishi is the epitome of a wealthy family's legitimate wife! Every frame of the wedding photos looks like a movie poster—no, even more stunning than a movie!"

"I cried! When Shishi stepped out of the sedan chair and moved the fan aside, the happiness in her eyes shone brighter than diamonds! This is what it looks like to marry the right person!"

"The Three Letters and Six Rites! The Eight-Bearer Sedan Chair! The Washing Hands, Sharing the Same Food, Drinking from the Same Cup, and Tying the Hair Tie! My history book has come to life!"
This is truly a top-tier wedding for Chinese people, a million times more meaningful than any cookie-cutter Western wedding, and it's absolutely exhilarating!

"Holding a traditional Chinese wedding at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse? Mr. Song's influence and taste are truly impressive!"
The decor of Fangfei Garden—the palace lanterns, screens, and floral arrangements—lacks ostentatious red and gold, yet exudes elegance and sophistication. This truly embodies "understated luxury with substance"—I've learned a great deal!

"Shishi's copywriting is amazing! 'Auspicious day in the winter month of Ren Chen year,' 'Three books and six rites,' 'Elegant gathering of the national style,' 'A promise of a noble family'—it's miles ahead of those 'We're getting married' copywriting! She married a talented husband, and even her copywriting is so charming."

"The brocade pouch for untying the hair ribbon has a school uniform pattern and the initials of the name! The details are perfect! It integrates the story of childhood sweethearts into a traditional ceremony."

The designs by the two masters, Yang Se and Pan Yuzhen, were absolutely brilliant; this wedding is destined to go down in history!

"Who said 300 million wouldn't be enough? Shi Shi's phoenix coronet and wedding gown alone are worth 100 million!"
There was also a sedan chair made of golden nanmu wood, antique-style jade nuptial cups, and the venue was Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Saying 300 million is an understatement; this is truly a wedding of the century!

"Even TV dramas wouldn't dare to film a procession with an eight-person sedan chair, a gong to clear the way, and a silence sign!"

Chairman Song truly embodied the concept of a "proper and formal marriage," giving Shishi ample respect and honor—I'm speechless with envy!

"The picture of Mr. Song's father reading the 'Letter of Welcome to the Bride' was full of energy, every word was powerful and clear, and the solemnity was filled with joy. It was so infectious!"

This is the grandeur of a marriage between wealthy and powerful families; the Song family's high regard for Shishi is self-evident!

"From now on, Western wedding dresses have lost their appeal to me! Liu Shishi's phoenix coronet and embroidered robe have redefined the most beautiful moment for a bride. Chinese wedding attire is amazing! Pan Yuzhen's team and the intangible cultural heritage masters, please accept my deepest respect!"

"The significance of this wedding goes far beyond entertainment news. It showcased the solemnity, beauty, and profound meaning of traditional Chinese wedding ceremonies in an extremely sophisticated manner and at the highest level of venue."

This has significant implications for promoting the revival of traditional culture, especially the modern inheritance of wedding customs and rituals. Song Dynasty poetry and Liu Shishi deserve immense credit for this.

"After watching it, all I can say is that Yang Se and Pan Yuzhen have reached god-like status! The combination of 'National Style Gathering, Family Appointment' with personal stories, plus the support of Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, has reached an unparalleled height."

This is the pinnacle of high-end customization, setting a new benchmark for the industry. Cultural depth and ultimate aesthetics are the true keys to success!

(End of this chapter)