Chapter 194: Performing the Wedding Ceremony

Time is a torment.

Luo Zijun changed into the wedding robes, and once everything was prepared, he sat in the room the whole time.

He could not go out, and could not even leave the room.

After the two matrons finished inspecting his body, they left.

As for the nail marks and tooth marks on his body, the two did not ask, only saying, "The Young Master must exercise restraint."

Luo Zijun suspected that the two might also know that he and Bai Daxiaojie were only performing the wedding ceremony and would not be consummating the marriage, so they were just going through the motions and inspecting him casually.

Outside the room, there were maidservants and matrons watching.

At this time, Xiaohuan and Ziyuan could not enter the room either.

Luo Zijun sat there feeling bored, not knowing what to do, so he had to take out the Copper Mirror to chat with that "Fairy of the Jade Pool."

Dongfang Junnan: 【Fairy, what are you doing?】

After a long while, the other party finally replied: 【Bathing.】

Dongfang Junnan: 【I don't believe it, bathing in broad daylight? Unless you send me a photo to see.】

The other party did not reply again.

Dongfang Junnan: 【I'll tell you some good news, I am getting married today.】

Fairy of the Jade Pool: 【Oh.】

Dongfang Junnan: 【Do you have a red envelope? We are, after all, extraordinary friends.】

Fairy of the Jade Pool: 【I do.】

Dongfang Junnan: 【Where is it? I'll go get it right away.】

A long time passed.

Just as Luo Zijun was about to put away the Copper Mirror, thinking the other party would not reply again, a message suddenly came through: 【Outside the city, Hanshan Temple.】

Luo Zijun gave a start and stood up abruptly from the chair.

Outside the city, Hanshan Temple?

This place was the very place where he had his first nightmare!

His expression shifted for a moment, and he asked: 【Who are you?】

This Fairy of the Jade Pool, could she be that detestable female flower-thief?

The other party did not reply again.

Luo Zijun's heart grew increasingly suspicious, and he asked again: 【What are you doing at Hanshan Temple?】

The other party still did not reply.

Luo Zijun sent a few more messages, but they all sank like a stone in the ocean.

Just as he was feeling uncertain and alarmed, a burst of firecracker sounds suddenly rang out outside, followed by the sound of gongs and drums.

It was already afternoon.

The guests should have all arrived by now.

Outside was lively and bustling, while inside the room it was cold and desolate.

By the time it was nearly evening, Xiaohuan finally passed a plate of pastries and water in through the window, saying, "Young Master, fill your stomach first; you will be going to perform the wedding ceremony in a moment."

Luo Zijun had long been starving, so he took the pastries and finished them quickly.

At dusk, the sound of firecrackers rang out once more.

The matrons waiting outside the door immediately came in and said, "Young Master, it is time to rinse your mouth and wash your face."

Ziyuan immediately brought in the hot water that had been prepared, attended to his washing, and helped him rearrange his hair and wedding robes.

The other matrons and maidservants also came in to check carefully, fearing any oversights.

At this moment, someone outside the door said loudly, "Invite the Young Master to board the sedan chair!"

Luo Zijun: "..."

A man marrying into a family having to board a bridal sedan chair—this custom was truly insulting enough.

A crowd of maidservants and matrons immediately swarmed around him and led him out the door.

Outside the main gate, there was indeed a large red sedan chair with a "double happiness" character pasted on it waiting for him.

Under the urging of the crowd, Luo Zijun boarded the sedan chair.

"Lift the sedan!"

The sedan chair was lifted, and the crowd of maidservants and matrons surrounded it, walking toward the front.

The maidservants and servants they encountered along the way were all snickering.

Only then did Luo Zijun feel ashamed.

When he arrived at the front hall and heard the lively sounds outside, he felt even more restless.

The sedan chair stopped in the front courtyard.

Ziyuan whispered at the window: "Young Master, don't be in a hurry; you must wait until the Eldest Miss arrives before you can get out of the sedan."

They waited for about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn.

Suddenly, the voice of the master of ceremonies came from outside: "The Eldest Miss has arrived! Invite the groom to dismount the sedan!"

The sound of the crowd jeering suddenly erupted outside.

At this moment, the curtain of the sedan chair was lifted, and a matron poked her head in and said, "Young Master, come down quickly."

Amidst the jeers and the burning gazes of the crowd, Luo Zijun stepped out of the sedan chair in extreme embarrassment.

The courtyard was full of people.

The corridors and the rooms were also packed with people.

Wasn't it said that everything would be kept simple?

Before Luo Zijun could think much, a matron grabbed his wrist and walked toward a flowery sedan chair nearby.

That sedan chair was not only bright red, but it was also decorated with rings of flowers; it was a flowery sedan chair in the truest sense.

The master of ceremonies came over and said, "I invite the groom to step forward and ask the eldest young lady to exit the sedan."

The matron holding Luo Zijun's wrist hurriedly whispered, "Groom, go quickly, help the eldest young lady lift the curtain, hold her hand, and invite her to come down."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zijun walked to the front of the sedan chair, lifted the curtain, extended a hand, and said, "Eldest young lady, please exit the sedan."

Inside the sedan sat the bride, wearing a bright red wedding robe and a red veil; she did not reach out upon hearing him.

The master of ceremonies hurriedly said, "I invite you once more!"

Luo Zijun had no choice but to reach out and invite her again: "Eldest young lady, please exit the sedan!"

Only then did the bride slowly extend a hand as white as jade.

Luo Zijun gently grasped it, slowly stood up, and carefully supported her as she walked out of the sedan chair.

"I invite the two newlyweds to enter the house!"

The master of ceremonies announced in a loud voice.

Supporting the person beside him, Luo Zijun walked toward the main hall amidst the bustling crowd.

As they stepped onto the stairs, he whispered a reminder: "Lift your feet, there are steps."

The bride lifted her feet gently and stepped onto the stairs.

A fire basin was placed at the entrance, with bright red charcoal burning inside.

The master of ceremonies shouted at the entrance: "The talented man and beautiful woman cross the fire basin, may they be in harmony forever! Crossing the fire in the golden basin, wealth and honor fill the door; red light fills the hall, and blessings run deep!"

Beside them, Bai Yuning and the other young girls of the Bai Family also offered blessings in unison: "The fire basin burns bright, good luck comes to the newlyweds! Stepping over the fire basin with red-hot passion, may they be together for a hundred years and full of blessings!"

The maidservants also said in unison: "Once the fire basin is crossed, wealth and glory follow; the firelight reflects red, may they stay together for a hundred years! Crossing the fire basin, the lucky star shines high; may life be prosperous and may they soon have a precious child!"

The matron nearby hurriedly whispered a reminder: "Groom, cross the fire basin!"

Luo Zijun hurriedly stepped over with one foot first, but seeing that the bride beside him seemed to have difficulty crossing, he directly wrapped his arms around her slender waist, lifted her up, and crossed over with her.

The master of ceremonies laughed: "We haven't even performed the wedding ceremony yet, and the groom is already impatient to hold the bride? Being too eager won't do."

Everyone burst into laughter.

In the crowd on the right side of the courtyard, Liu Chujian stood with Jia Yingchun and the others, a smile on her face. Jia Tanchun and the others couldn't help but steal glances at her, and they were secretly surprised to see that she didn't have any expression of sadness or pain.

"Groom and bride, first bow to heaven and earth!"

The sound of firecrackers rang out, followed by the voice of the master of ceremonies.

Luo Zijun held the hand of the bride beside him, turned around, and bowed toward the outside of the door.

"Groom and bride, second bow to the high hall!"

Luo Zijun took the hand of the bride beside him, turned around, and bowed to Bai Ming and his wife, who were sitting in the hall, as well as his sister and brother-in-law.

Luo Jiaorong wept with joy.

Li Zhengshan also nodded with a smile, his eyes turning red.

"Groom and bride, bow to each other!"

The two turned around, faced each other, and seemed to look at one another, pausing for a moment.

With this bow, they were truly husband and wife.

!

However, at this very moment, a woman's voice suddenly came from the courtyard: "Wait!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expression changed, and their gazes turned in unison.

Wan Qianzi of the Bowang Marquis Mansion stepped out from the crowd, looking at the groom in the hall with a sneer: "Uncle Bai, I fear you have all been deceived by this groom! He has long had a sweetheart, and his sweetheart has also come here today; I fear the two of them are colluding to swindle the Bai Family's property!"

Upon hearing this, everyone had different expressions.

The originally lively scene suddenly became deathly silent.

Bai Qingtong suddenly walked out from the room, face cold, and said: "Wan Qianzi, we did not invite you to the banquet today, please leave immediately!"

Wan Qianzi sneered: "Qingtong, I am doing this for your sister's sake, fearing she might be deceived. What, have you also been bewitched by that brat, unable to distinguish truth from falsehood?"

Bai Qingtong said indifferently: "I suggest you go back and read more books, so you don't embarrass yourself next time. Young Master Luo is marrying into the family; does someone marrying into the family have the right to divide the property? You don't need to sow discord here, and you don't need to disgust people here; no one will believe you, and our Bai Family does not welcome you."

Wan Qianzi suddenly pointed across the way with a vicious look and shrieked: "Everyone look, that brat's sweetheart is her! Her name is Liu Chujian, she is a prostitute from a Brothel! Back then..."

"Back when you were a prostitute, I even paid for your services!"

A voice suddenly came from the room, interrupting her words.

Everyone was stunned and turned to look.

The groom suddenly came out of the room and continued: "Wan Qianzi, have you forgotten? I met you at the Brothel back then and even wrote a few poems for you. Those patrons at the Brothel clapped and cheered after hearing them, and from then on, a dozen or twenty people would pay for you to sleep with them every night."

Wan Qianzi gritted her teeth and said: "You're talking nonsense! You..."

"The first poem goes like this, everyone listen carefully! The title of the poem is 'Wan Qianzi': Ten thousand miles of brothel nights are not yet over, a thousand soft whispers charm the red makeup. A pair of jade arms are pillowed by a thousand men, half a pair of vermilion lips tasted by ten thousand guests. Purple sleeves lightly cast aside, kindness and righteousness are thin; golden hairpins fall frequently, hiding fake tears. Floating flowers and wild stamens have no master, never asking if a man is short or long."

As soon as this poem was recited, a burst of exclamations and laughter erupted from the crowd.

"Good poem!"

Someone actually couldn't help but applaud!

Wan Qianzi was furious, and just as she was about to curse, Luo Zijun continued: "There is a second one, the title is also 'Wan Qianzi': Ten thousand lanterns shine on the beauty, a thousand people call her by a name in a painting. Purple sleeves wave lightly, adding charm; how much silver is a bit of true feeling worth? The sandalwood mouth speaks cleverly to deceive drunken guests, the silk robe falls easily, chasing the wind and dust. Do not say it is the beauty's own mistake; selling smiles has never asked the heart."

"You..."

Wan Qianzi was trembling with rage.

Luo Zijun added: "There is a third one, the title is still 'Wan Qianzi': Ten thousand kinds of charm laugh at the spring light, a thousand miles of fireworks enter the land of intoxication. Lightly untying the purple sash, leaning against red makeup, lightly spitting out a fragrant tongue to invite others to taste. Eyebrows raised lightly, holding back tears; the silk robe is easily untied to change for a new groom. Passion is only mistaken for a fool's error; heartlessness was the original profession all along..."

"Shut up! You shut up!"

Once these three poems were out, Wan Qianzi let out a sharp scream, and suddenly, as if she had gone mad, she waved her claws and charged at him with a ferocious face.

The two were not far apart.

Seeing this, the expressions of everyone present changed.

Who would have thought that just as Wan Qianzi rushed up close, Luo Zijun suddenly raised his foot and kicked her in the stomach with a "Bang!", sending her crashing onto the ground on her backside.

Then he stepped forward and, swinging both hands, slapped her hard over a dozen times with a "Slap! Slap! Slap!".

"You little beast, how dare you!"

Only then did the maids and nannies brought by Wan Qianzi react, shouting in a panic as they prepared to rush up and fight for their lives.

Bai Qingtong suddenly shouted coldly: "Where are the Bai Family guards? Seize these uninvited slaves who have trespassed, slap them, and throw them out!"

"Yes!"

The Bai Family guards suddenly rushed out from the corners on both sides, pinned those maids and nannies down, and with a wave of their large hands, began to slap them.

"Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!"

After a dozen slaps, those maids and nannies all had mouths full of blood and were unable to speak; they were then grabbed by their hair, dragged out, and thrown directly outside the main gate.

This scene instantly turned the guests pale with shock, leaving them as silent as cicadas in winter.

Wan Qianzi was also slapped until she was dizzy and her mouth was full of blood. Just as she was about to curse again, Bai Qingtong suddenly walked over and struck her mouth with a "Slap!", knocking her front teeth flying out.

"Today is my sister's wedding day! What kind of thing are you to dare to run wild in my Bai Mansion?"

Having said that, Bai Qingtong grabbed her by the hair, dragged her straight out, and threw her outside the main gate.

Then, with a cold and murderous look on her face, she returned and said: "Close the doors, continue the wedding ceremony!"

The courtyard was silent for a moment.

The festive music suddenly resumed.

The master of ceremonies also hurriedly announced in a loud voice: "Bride and groom, bow to each other!"

Luo Zijun glanced at the murderous Bai Third Miss, who beamed at him and said: "Brother-in-law, hurry inside and finish the ceremony."

Luo Zijun looked at Liu Chujian in the crowd again; Liu Chujian smiled slightly and hurriedly signaled for him to go in quickly.

Only then did Luo Zijun turn and enter the room, returning to stand opposite Bai Daxiaojie.

Seeing him return, the master of ceremonies repeated: "Bride and groom, bow to each other!"

Luo Zijun bent his waist and bowed gently to Bai Daxiaojie opposite him.

The wedding ceremony was finally completed.

The master of ceremonies smiled and said: "Bride and groom, send them to the bridal chamber!"

The members of the Bai Family in the room immediately began to clap and cheer.

Bai Yuning and the others laughed: "Sister Qiu Ning, let's go tease the newlyweds! We'll make brother-in-law compose a poem for us, otherwise he's not allowed in!"

Several young girls nearby all laughed and said: "Okay!"

Then a group of people followed behind the bride and groom and left from the room to the side.

In the main hall, the liveliness returned.

Luo Zijun held Bai Daxiaojie's soft, cold little hand, and surrounded and led by a crowd of maids and nannies, they walked through the long corridor and traveled for a long time until they arrived at Xue Yuan.

In Xue Yuan, the ground was covered with white snow.

On the trees, on the flowers, and on the rockeries, everything was covered in silver, as if carved from ice and jade.

Soon, the group arrived at Luoxue Residence.

At this moment, Luoxue Residence was decorated to be exceptionally festive and beautiful, with red decorations everywhere.

Luo Zijun secretly observed his surroundings, held the bride's hand, and led by the maids, prepared to enter the bridal chamber.

At this moment, several young girls suddenly ran over, blocked the doorway, and laughed: "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, if you want to enter the bridal chamber, you must first pass a test."

Luo Zijun said: "There is no such rule, is there?"

The maids and nannies nearby all laughed and said: "There is. If the groom wants to enter the bridal chamber, he must pass a test; only then can he enter."

Luo Zijun said with a straight face: "I have read the 'Marriage Law', and I know the rules you speak of, but you must have forgotten that today it is not me marrying a bride, but the bride marrying me; I am the one marrying into the family. If there is to be a test, the bride should be the one taking it. You should be testing the bride."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter with a "Pfft!".

Luo Zijun hurriedly took the opportunity to push aside the girls in front, entered the bridal chamber alone, and quickly closed the door, saying to those outside: "Make the bride compose a poem or a couplet, otherwise she's not allowed in!"

Everyone outside immediately doubled over with laughter.

(End of this chapter)