roccoschili Chapter 245 The Joy of the Imperial Marriage
Chapter 245 The Joy of the Imperial Marriage
Bathed in the warm spring sunshine, the royal palace of the Nanzhao Kingdom resembled a magnificent, dreamlike city. The glazed tiles of the palace shimmered with dazzling light, reflecting the surrounding blooming flowers, and the air was filled with a sweet floral fragrance and a subtle festive atmosphere.
On this day, the palace was brightly decorated and bustling with activity, as Xiao Jingchuan was about to bestow a marriage upon Yan Dongdong and Jiang Yichen, the son of Minister Jiang. The news spread, and the entire palace was immersed in joy.
In the Imperial Garden, Xiao Jingchuan sat upright on the dragon throne, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe embroidered with lifelike golden dragons, exuding imperial majesty and solemnity. Gu Liuli sat beside him, wearing a magnificent phoenix robe, her demeanor graceful and charming.
"Summon Yan Dongdong and Jiang Yichen to an audience!" The eunuch's shrill voice echoed through the Imperial Garden.
Yan Dongdong wore a light pink silk dress with delicate peony embroidery on the hem. Her hair was meticulously styled and adorned with a small gold hairpin, making her exceptionally beautiful and charming. Jiang Yichen, on the other hand, wore a moon-white brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist, from which hung a warm jade pendant. He was tall and elegant, with a graceful demeanor. The two walked hand in hand into the Imperial Garden and knelt before Xiao Jingchuan and Gu Liuli.
"Your subject Yan Dongdong (Your subject Jiang Yichen) knelt respectfully and kowtowed, loudly proclaiming, 'Greetings, Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress.' Their voices were clear and resonant, like the chirping of birds in the mountain forest at dawn, yet subtly mixed with a hint of tension and excitement. This emotion was like ripples on a lake gently stirred by a breeze—not obvious, but undeniably present."
Seated on his high throne, Xiao Jingchuan's gaze slowly swept over the two kneeling figures below. A smile of satisfaction gradually appeared on his handsome face, as warm and comforting as the spring sun. He nodded slightly and said, "Yan Dongdong, Jiang Yichen, today I hereby issue a special decree to bestow marriage upon you two. I hope that after your marriage, you will live in harmony, respect each other, and treat each other with the courtesy due to guests."
Upon hearing the Emperor's personal bestowal of marriage, Yan Dongdong and Jiang Yichen were overjoyed and quickly responded in unison, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Their voices, perfectly synchronized, resounded throughout the palace, their joy overflowing. At that moment, their eyes sparkled with happiness, like dazzling stars in the night sky.
Seeing this, Gu Liuli, standing to the side, couldn't help but smile. She moved gracefully to Yan Dongdong's side, gently took her hand, and whispered, "Dongdong, you're such a well-behaved and sensible girl. And look at this Young Master Jiang, so handsome and talented. I firmly believe that you two will definitely live a happy and fulfilling life."
Upon hearing this, Yan Dongdong slightly raised her head, her beautiful eyes already brimming with tears of emotion. Looking at Gu Liuli, her voice trembled slightly as she said, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. Dongdong will cherish this hard-won marriage and will never let His Majesty and Your Majesty down." Having said this, she bowed her head deeply again to express her profound gratitude.
Afterwards, officials from the Ministry of Rites read out the imperial edict approving the marriage and explained in detail the arrangements for the wedding. Throughout the process, Yan Dongdong and Jiang Yichen knelt quietly, listening attentively, their hearts filled with anticipation for their future life together.
After the marriage ceremony, everyone congratulated Yan Dongdong and Jiang Yichen. "Congratulations, Young Master Jiang! It is truly a great blessing to marry such a beautiful woman as Miss Dongdong," a minister said with a smile.
Jiang Yichen quickly cupped his hands in thanks: "Congratulations, thank you all for your blessings."
Yan Dongdong's friends gathered around. "Dongdong, you're finally getting married. You must be happy in the future!" One of her friends held Yan Dongdong's hand, her eyes full of reluctance and blessings.
Yan Dongdong smiled and nodded: "I will, and you all take good care of yourselves too."
Amidst the cheers and laughter of the crowd, Yan Dongdong and Jiang Yichen left the Imperial Garden. Back home, Yan Dongdong's parents had been waiting for a long time. Seeing their daughter return, her mother's eyes filled with tears as she stepped forward and hugged her tightly: "Dongdong, you're getting married now. Take good care of yourself and listen to your in-laws."
Yan Dongdong leaned against his mother's chest and said, "Mom, don't worry, I will."
The father also came over and patted Jiang Yichen on the shoulder: "Young Master Jiang, Dongdong is in your care now. I hope you will treat her well."
Jiang Yichen nodded solemnly: "Uncle, rest assured, Yichen will love and protect Dongdong for the rest of his life."
In the days that followed, Yan Dongdong and Jiang Yichen began preparing for their wedding. Together they chose their wedding attire and decorated their new home, carefully considering every detail. Looking at the busy Jiang Yichen, Yan Dongdong's heart was filled with sweetness: "Yichen, thank you for everything you've done for me."
Jiang Yichen gently put down the items he was carefully arranging, turning his gaze to Yan Dongdong beside him, his eyes filled with endless tenderness and love. A slight smile played on his lips as he softly said, "Silly girl, this is our once-in-a-lifetime wedding, how could I not put my heart into it?"
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the long-awaited wedding day finally arrived. At this moment, the entire capital city seemed to be enveloped in a rich atmosphere of joy. Every street and alley was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, hanging high like twinkling stars in this ancient and prosperous city.
A bustling crowd surged onto the street like a tidal wave, each person beaming with smiles, excitedly whispering among themselves, eager to witness this grand and lavish wedding. Everyone's heart was filled with blessings for the newlyweds and longing for a beautiful love story.
The wedding procession stretched like a long, winding dragon, marching majestically towards Yan Dongdong's house. Leading the way was Jiang Yichen, riding a tall, powerful, and brilliantly colored white steed, looking dashing and spirited.
He wore a bright red wedding robe embroidered with exquisite gold patterns that shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, further highlighting his handsome and dashing appearance.
Surrounded by relatives and friends, Jiang Yichen stepped into Yan Dongdong's home. Following traditional customs, he methodically completed a series of solemn and elaborate rituals, each movement performed with earnestness and focus. Finally, amidst enthusiastic cheers, Jiang Yichen carefully lifted Yan Dongdong, adorned in a phoenix coronet and wedding gown, and steadily walked towards the bridal sedan chair parked at the entrance.
The leader shouted, "Lift the sedan chair!" Before the words were even finished, eight strong men steadily lifted the beautifully decorated sedan chair. Accompanied by the joyful and exciting sound of firecrackers, the powerful beat of gongs and drums, and the cheers of the onlookers, the wedding procession began to move slowly forward, heading towards the Jiang family's location.
Along the way, deafening firecrackers echoed through the sky, their crackling sounds like a stampede of horses; the lively rhythm of gongs and drums resonated powerfully, expressing the deep joy in people's hearts. The entire capital was immersed in this joyful and peaceful atmosphere, and the wedding became the focus of everyone's attention, a beautiful and enduring story.
Upon arriving at the Jiang family home, Yan Dongdong and Jiang Yichen held a grand wedding ceremony witnessed by everyone. They bowed to heaven and earth, paid respects to their parents, and finally bowed to each other, officially becoming husband and wife.
"The ceremony is complete!" As the master of ceremonies shouted, everyone applauded and cheered, offering their blessings to the newlyweds.
After the wedding ceremony, Yan Dongdong and Jiang Yichen were led to their bridal chamber. Inside, red candles flickered, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere. Jiang Yichen gently lifted Yan Dongdong's red veil, looking at her shy face, his heart filled with love: "Dongdong, from today onwards, we are husband and wife."
Yan Dongdong nodded slightly, her eyes glistening with tears of happiness: "Yes, we will always be happy."
On this beautiful night, Yan Dongdong and Jiang Yichen began their new life.