Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 568: The Grand Wedding (Part 2)
According to the wedding customs, when the groom arrives at the bride’s home, he is subjected to all kinds of teasing by the bride’s brothers and cousins.
But when it comes to Jiang Shaohua, the situation is different. The Cui Family didn’t even bother to block the door; they were eagerly escorting the Commandery Princess to Cui Du’s courtyard.
In the midst of everyone’s kind laughter, Jiang Shaohua pushed open the door.
The handsome young man, dressed in his groom’s attire, sat by the bed with a silly smile.
Jiang Shaohua didn’t need a mirror to know that the corners of her lips were turned up, her eyes were shining.
Their eyes met.
"Commandery Princess, you’re here," Cui Du murmured, as if in a daydream.
Jiang Shaohua chuckled lightly, "Yes, I am here."
Then, she extended her hand. Cui Du immediately grasped Jiang Shaohua’s hand and stood up with ease.
The wedding maid hurried over with a smile, taking out the festive silk that had been prepared and placed it in the hands of the young couple: "Commandery Princess, please hold the silk, and Elder Changning, you too. Now, let’s proceed to the main hall to bid farewell to the elders of the Cui Family."
Reluctantly, Cui Du released the hand, holding one end of the silk, while the other end remained in Jiang Shaohua’s hand. Guided by the wedding maid, Jiang Shaohua walked ahead, with Cui Du following, holding the silk.
This is the rule for bringing a son-in-law into the household. The roles of men and women are reversed, the order of marriage is inverted, and everything follows the customs.
Entering the main hall, there sat the smiling Master of the Cui Family, Cui Youshi, at the head.
Cui Du’s "parents passed away early," so in name, the closest elder now is Cui Youshi.
Jiang Shaohua smiled and saluted, and of course, Cui Du followed suit.
Cui Youshi restrained the urge to get up and return the salute, accepting it calmly as an elder of a son-in-law. Then, he publicly admonished Cui Du in front of the family and guests: "Since you are a son-in-law to the Commandery Princess, you should prioritize her in all matters, treat her wholeheartedly, and never provoke her displeasure or anger."
Everyone found it amusing and craned their necks to see how Elder Changning would react.
In truth, more than half of those witnessing the ceremony were men; there were very few women. To the men, watching the Commandery Princess marry a son-in-law was quite a striking scene, giving rise to a sense of marveling at the reversal of roles.
Under all eyes, Cui Du felt no grievance, only endless joy and pride, and responded loudly in affirmation.
Jiang Shaohua turned her head and smiled at Cui Du with pursed lips.
Cui Du was dazzled by her radiant beauty and blurted out, "The Commandery Princess is truly beautiful!"
This caused a burst of laughter among everyone.
Jiang Shaohua also laughed, "You look especially good today too."
Cui Du wore wedding attire similar to an Earl court dress, in the same bright red color. The two stood side by side, like a pair created by nature, dazzlingly radiant and hard to look away from.
After bidding the elders goodbye, it was time for the son-in-law to board the bridal sedan chair.
For a woman getting married, her brothers carry her to the sedan chair so that her feet don’t touch the ground, followed by customs like kicking the sedan door and stepping over a firepot. All these trivial rites were omitted today.
Jiang Shaohua led him by the festive silk to the sedan chair, personally lifted the sedan curtain, and Cui Du sat comfortably inside, not forgetting to remind the Prince Mansion Guard carrying the sedan: "Don’t rock it too hard, if I get dizzy and throw up, it won’t be good for the wedding ceremony later."
Qin Huma and Meng Sanbao each grinned, showing their big white teeth: "Got it!"
"Elder Changning, please sit tight!"
"Lift the sedan!"
With a shout, the sedan chair was lifted steadily.
Jiang Shaohua mounted a fine horse and began to ride slowly, accompanied by the lively sound of firecrackers.
The Cui Mansion was only three streets away from the Prince Mansion, and if they went straight, it would only take the time of burning two sticks of incense to get there. The Commandery Princess’s wedding was a grand occasion for Nanyang County. The route for the wedding procession had already been planned; they would circle the streets of Nanyang County to let all the people witness this grand event.
People gathered on both sides of the streets to watch the excitement, constantly shouting "Long live the Commandery Princess," while playful children shouted for Elder Changning.
Sitting in the sedan, Cui Du felt a bit bored and at some point lifted the curtain to make faces at the children on the street!
The wedding maid by the sedan was caught in a dilemma, wanting to speak up but then saw the Commandery Princess turn her head, looking at Elder Changning with a smile as gentle as water.
The Commandery Princess is pleased, then so be it.
The wedding maid thought silently and tactfully kept her mouth closed.
The long wedding procession stretched for two miles, bustling with music and fanfare. They circled the streets of Nanyang County, and it was near dusk when they finally arrived at the Nanyang Prince Mansion.
The wedding hall in the Nanyang Prince Mansion had long been prepared, with all the guests eagerly awaiting.
The Commandery Princess was getting married, and Lu Xuan, her father, naturally sat at the head. This was also the most glorious and high-profile moment of Lu Xuan’s life.
He sat poised in a large wooden chair, waiting for the bride and groom to complete the wedding ceremony.
The newlyweds first bowed to heaven and earth, then to their parents. After Lu Xuan received the bow, he wanted to speak, but alas, the crowd was so high-spirited and loudly cheering for the Commandery Princess that no one cared to listen. Lu Xuan wisely kept his mouth shut.
During the couple’s mutual bow, the groom, Cui Du, who had been in a state of euphoric joy all day, made a mistake and bowed one extra time.
Ma Dianshan, overseeing the wedding ceremony, broke a sweat amid the good-natured laughter and whispered a reminder: "Elder Changning, one bow is enough."
But Cui Du said, "The Commandery Princess and I are a couple and also sovereign and subject. I will first perform the couple’s bow, then the sovereign and subject bow. There’s nothing wrong with it."
He didn’t intentionally speak loudly; only a few people heard his words.
Chief Historian Chen stroked his beard and smiled, while Chief Historian Feng thought that Elder Changning was indeed the Commandery Princess’s ideal husband.
Jiang Shaohua looked at Cui Du and said softly, "You respect me, and I respect you as well. You are my husband and also a capable official of the Nanyang Prince Mansion; no one will dare to look down on you."
Cui Du grinned widely.
Sitting at the head, Lu Xuan felt like an arrow had pierced his chest, deeply painful.
Years ago, when he became a husband-in-law to the Nanyang Prince Mansion and married Jiang Yan, the Prince Nanyang and Princess Nanyang looked down on him then, and the officials of the Nanyang Prince Mansion viewed him with disdain or contempt.
Twenty years have passed. He thought he had long forgotten the shame of becoming a son-in-law back then, but today’s scene brought back those memories, as if reopening old wounds long scarred over.
Ah, Cui Du! Even better at pretending than he was back then!
He wanted to see whether, after marriage, Cui Du would still be willing to remain under Jiang Shaohua, or if he would develop a rebellious heart. Considering Jiang Shaohua’s strength and pressure, what kind of good life could Cui Du possibly have?
Lu Xuan thought spitefully, already envisioning a scene years from now where the couple becomes enemies. Just imagining it filled him with immense satisfaction.
"The ceremony is complete. Commandery Princess and Elder Changning, please enter the bridal chamber together." No one knew how long Ma Yaosong had practiced privately; today, he looked presentable and sounded loud and impressive.
Jiang Shaohua still grasped the festive silk in front, with Cui Du holding the other end like a delighted young bride, following Jiang Shaohua into the bridal chamber.
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