redvbooks Chapter 1105 - 1090: Wedding Officiant
Chapter 1105 - 1090: Wedding Officiant
Zhao Song said, "After today, the two of you will be joined as husband and wife. Husband and wife are like a bottle gourd split in two, sharing sweetness and bitterness alike, thus becoming one body. I hope you two will not forget the vows you make today, nor be harmed by those filthy rumors outside, thinking that between husband and wife it must be the east wind overwhelming the west wind, or the west wind overwhelming the east."
"If you harbor such thoughts, it is better to part early; better each to stand whole alone, and it also saves you from wasting yourselves in inner strife, only to let all those messy winds outside take advantage. You must know, husband and wife are one body; only if your hearts are as one can your virtues be shared, and only then can you walk the same path."
Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan exchanged a glance and both bowed to accept his words.
This was a question they had never seriously thought about before. In the past, they only felt that having a common goal and liking each other was enough. Only after hearing Zhao Song’s admonition today did they realize it was still not enough; they had been too shallow.
Seeing that they had taken his words to heart, Zhao Song nodded in satisfaction, the smile on his face deepening a little. He said, "Come and pay respects to your parents."
He stepped aside, and the two of them walked forward together, bowing to the three parents seated in the upper seats.
The three parents sat in a row. Princess Hongnong wore a faint smile on her face and raised her hand to bid them rise. Looking at Zhao Hanzhang, her heart still could not help but feel somewhat complicated. Fu Xuan kept nodding again and again, while Mrs. Wang’s eyes were already rimmed with tears as she hurriedly urged them to stand.
Zhao Song called out in a loud voice, "Next, bow to Heaven and Earth."
The two turned around and gave a deep bow toward the Heaven and Earth outside.
Zhao Song raised his voice: "Husband and wife, bow to each other—"
Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan turned to face one another.
The two of them exchanged a look and could not help curling their lips into a smile. Suppressing their smiles, their eyes bright, they bowed to each other at the same time. Their foreheads lightly touched at one point, then they lifted their heads to look at one another again.
"The rite is complete—"
Though the main rite was complete and, by custom, the newlyweds should now be sent to the bridal chamber, Zhao Hanzhang did not leave. Instead, she led Fu Tinghan to turn toward Zhao Song.
As expected, Zhao Song still had more to say. He spoke softly: "On this auspicious day in a blessed month, with gentle wind and warm sun, today the Fu and Zhao families form a good union of two surnames. I hope that you two will look up to and carry on the aspirations of your forebears, and not forget the virtues of your ancestors; that you may not forget your original intent, be of one heart and one virtue, encourage and aid one another, and accompany each other to old age; and that below, you may extend your line with descendants and nurture the generations to come."
Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan assented and bowed down respectfully.
As Zhao Hanzhang bowed before him, he lowered his head and could only see her jet-black hair. Zhao Song’s hardened heart could not help but soften. This was the child who most resembled his eldest brother. The Zhao Family flourished because of her, and in the future this country would also prosper because of her...
Zhao Song’s eyes grew faintly red. He rose and stepped forward to help her up, and also reached out a hand to help Fu Tinghan.
He placed their hands together and clasped them tightly, his eyes brimming with hot tears. "You two must live well in the years to come, you must live well..."
Only now did the always composed Zhao Hanzhang feel a wave of sourness and excitement in her heart. Her eyes grew hot and she blinked, wanting to blink away the tears, but her nose grew ever more sore. Choking up, she answered, "We will!"
Fu Tinghan turned his hand and gripped Zhao Hanzhang’s hand tightly in return, also nodding solemnly as he replied, "Please be at ease, Fifth Uncle, we will live well."
Only then did Zhao Song truly feel the sensation of a grandniece being married off; it was in fact more bitter to him than marrying off a son. He truly regarded Zhao Hanzhang as his own granddaughter.
The rites in the front hall were done, but there were still the rites in the inner quarters. They were led into the bridal chamber, and the guests squeezed in after them. Under the witnesses of all the guests, the two drank the nuptial wine. After the official matchmaker finished speaking auspicious words, she looked toward the guests, signaling that they could begin the bridal-chamber teasing.
Zhao Rong and the others, in high spirits, stepped forward. Just as they were about to speak, they saw Zhao Hanzhang lift her eyelids and look at them. Everyone’s steps halted; in the end, they did not dare be too unruly. After exchanging glances, they cupped their hands and said, "Let the groom and bride rest. We shall withdraw first."
Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand and said, "Go on, then. After we change our clothes, we will come out and toast everyone."
Zhao Rong hurriedly bowed and withdrew. Only after he walked out of the room did he finally let out a long breath.
Inside, Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Fu Tinghan, pressed her lips into a smile, and rose. "I’ll go and change into something more convenient. Then we’ll go and offer everyone two cups of wine together."
Fu Tinghan nodded. "All right."
Zhao Hanzhang summoned Ting He and went behind the screen to change into everyday clothes. Fu Tinghan also found a set of plain clothes and put them on himself.
As Zhao Hanzhang removed all the jewelry from her body, she asked, "Is Fifth Uncle still here?"
"Fifth Grandfather is in the front courtyard drinking with the Princess, the Prince Consort, and the others."
Zhao Hanzhang said, "Go find Zeng Yue and tell him that it’s getting late and to prepare to see Fifth Grandfather home. After I’ve finished a round of toasts, send him back."
Ting He assented.
Zhao Hanzhang took off her earrings as well and placed them in Ting He’s hand. "Have Seventh Ancestor stay, and call all the female officials such as Fan Ying and Wang Hufeng to the front."
Ting He lifted her head and glanced at Zhao Hanzhang, then bowed and accepted the order.
Zhao Hanzhang tidied her hair again, pinning only a single jade hairpin into it. When she came out from behind the screen, Fu Tinghan had also changed into plain clothes and looked much more refreshed.
The two shared a smile and, hand in hand, walked out.
Zhao Hanzhang said, "I have already let slip a hint that I wish to have today’s marriage rites recorded into the Book of Rites. Tonight I shall raise the matter again, so we will likely have a hard battle to fight. I’ll be troubling you."
Fu Tinghan said, "The memorials from Fan Ying and the Ministry of Justice have already been sent back three times. Can it succeed this time?"
Zhao Hanzhang tilted her head and smiled. "I think it can. In their eyes, ritual matters more than law. And not every man can accept this new marriage rule, but their daughters are their own flesh and blood."
Hand in hand, Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan walked to the banquet hall. The banquet was set up in an open pavilion at the back, with many tables and benches arranged out into the garden. At this moment, lamps lit the place brilliantly, making the pavilion and garden bright as day.
Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze swept over those lamps and candles. Fu Tinghan seemed to know what she was thinking and whispered by her ear, "The Princess bought them on credit."
Although Princess Hongnong had returned late, she had still hurried to add many things for this wedding.
Seeing the newlyweds come out, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked over.
Ting He presented two cups of wine. Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan took them and first went to toast Zhao Song. "We have troubled Fifth Uncle today. Third Lady and Tinghan offer you our thanks."
Smiling broadly, Zhao Song took the wine from the attendant’s hand and said with a laugh, "As long as the two of you live in harmony as husband and wife, it is worth it for me to serve as the principal witness to your marriage."
After drinking the wine, Zhao Song stepped back and turned sideways. "Quickly, go toast your mother and your aunt. In days to come, you must be filial to them. They raised Tinghan and you, and also managed your wedding for you. It has been no small toil."
Zhao Hanzhang agreed and stepped forward to offer wine respectfully to Mrs. Wang, Princess Hongnong, and Fu Xuan.
Zhao Hanzhang had even changed the marriage rites themselves; what was it, then, to leave the bridal chamber and come toast a bit of wine?
Princess Hongnong accepted the cup without a change of expression, drank it with a smile, then turned her gaze to Fu Tinghan, who was tipping his head back to drink. She admonished, "Eldest, you have now formed a household of your own. From this day forth, you are no longer only the son of your father and me, but also a husband, and in the future you will be a father. You must have the ability to support a household and protect your wife and children; only then will you not have failed in your duty."
Fu Tinghan bowed his head and assented.
Princess Hongnong still wished to say more when Zeng Yue came forward and said, "Fifth Grandfather, the carriage and horses are ready. I shall now escort you back to your residence."
Tonight, Zhao Song had drunk several cups of wine in succession, and together with his stirred emotions, he now felt somewhat tipsy. He did not remember Zhao Hu, who lived in the same compound. Handing his cup to a servant, he said to Princess Hongnong, "The hour is not early; I shall take my leave first. Congratulations to the Princess and Prince Consort on this great joy. May your line be ever flourishing, through a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations."