Catching Monsters

Chapter 495 Husband and wife kowtow to each other, vowing to grow old together.

Those seated at these twenty-eight banquet tables were all among the most important figures in the Zhou Kingdom.

Wen Chen's father, Wen Fangang, along with Zhao Gongcheng and Zhao Qin, consciously sat down in the backmost seats.

After Wen Fanggang and Zhao Gongcheng took their seats, they were also quite amazed.

Wenfanggang was already considered a relatively low-level commoner in the capital. Before Wenchen became Jiang Yun's disciple, the only important figures he could usually see were the constables patrolling the outer city streets.

Sitting here now, looking at the officials in front of me, I can't help but feel a little nervous.

Soon, a man in his fifties, dressed in white casual clothes, casually sat down next to them.

After Xiao Yuzheng sat down, he smiled and poured himself a cup of tea, drinking it by himself.

He did not sit forward, otherwise the ministers in front would have recognized him immediately.

"Who is this man?" Zhao Gongcheng saw that the man had an extraordinary air about him, so he quickly went up to greet him and thought to himself that the man who could sit at the last table must not be of high status.

“Jiang Yun’s friend,” Xiao Yuzheng replied casually.

"My name is Zhao Gongcheng, and I am Jiang Yun's future in-law."

"Future in-laws?" Xiao Yuzheng asked, frowning.

"She's my daughter. She and his apprentice developed feelings for each other, and that's how this relationship came about." Zhao Gongcheng poured wine for Xiao Yuzheng with a smile: "What do you do, brother?"

"I work in the palace," Xiao Yuzheng said calmly.

"A eunuch in the palace?" Zhao Gongcheng's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this. If he could get in touch with one of the palace eunuchs, his future would be limitless.

Xiao Yuzheng frowned slightly, but he didn't bother arguing with Zhao Gongcheng.

At a table not far away, the brother and sister from the Marquis of Weiwu's mansion were also seated. Feng Huan kept a careful eye on Feng Beier beside him.

Feng Beier gripped the teacup tightly, her gaze fixed ahead with a complex expression. Feng Huan took a deep breath and whispered, "Beier, don't be impulsive. There are many important figures and elders present today. If something goes wrong, it will be difficult to handle."

"I've already disobeyed Mother's orders by secretly bringing you here, if..."

Feng Beier nodded slightly, her words becoming much calmer. She slowly said, "Brother, rest assured, I'm here only to offer my blessings to Jiang Yun's wedding. He is a man of great talent, and even if we cannot be together, I will still wish him well."

Hearing this, Feng Huan felt a slight sense of relief. He had always felt sorry for his younger sister and had originally gone to Feng Beier's room to persuade her.

But he was persuaded by Feng Beier instead.

Feng Beier insisted on coming to Jiang Yun's wedding, claiming that once the wedding was over, she would be heartbroken.

Feng Huan then brought her here.

Soon, Tao Yuelan came out and sat down on two chairs in the courtyard. The newlyweds were about to formally serve tea.

Jiang Yun's parents died young, and the old Duke of Zhenguo had also passed away, leaving only Tao Yuelan.

Soon, Jiang Yun took Xu Suwen's hand and slowly walked out from the back of the hall. Soon, the musicians from the Ministry of Rites, who had been prepared in the courtyard, began to beat drums and gongs, and everyone present wore smiles.

Red lanterns and wedding invitations filled the courtyard with a festive atmosphere.

Soon, Huang Yuanchou, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, also came out with a marriage certificate. This was a tradition in the Zhou Kingdom: the higher the status of the people getting married, the more likely they were to find someone of high status to officiate the wedding.

After much deliberation, Lord Huang Yuanchou was naturally a very suitable candidate. As a member of the Ministry of Rites, he was well-versed in these traditional rules and regulations. After Tao Yuelan personally wrote a letter of invitation, he agreed to be the officiant at Xu Suwen and Jiang Yun's wedding.

Huang Yuanchou coughed and cleared his throat, and the room gradually quieted down a bit. Then Huang Yuanchou read aloud:
"Today is an auspicious day, with heaven and earth in harmony and our ancestors blessing us. I have been entrusted by the Jiang and Xu families to officiate the wedding for Jiang Yun and Xu Suwen." "The wedding ceremony is the foundation of all rites, upholding the ancestral temple sacrifices and continuing the lineage of descendants. It is not a trivial matter."

"The marriage between our two families is truly a match made in heaven. We should respect Heaven and our ancestors and be forever grateful."

Then, Huang Yuanchou slowly said, "Jiang Yun and Xu Suwen bow to Heaven and Earth to express their gratitude for the blessings of creation."

Jiang Yun and Xu Suwen solemnly knelt down and kowtowed to the front.

"I will bow to my parents again to express my gratitude for their nurturing and guidance."

The two turned around and knelt and kowtowed to Tao Yuelan once again.

"Husband and wife kowtow to each other, vowing to stay together until their hair turns white."

Seeing Jiang Yun and Xu Suwen bowing to each other, the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers.

With a smile on his face, Huang Yuanchou slowly said, "Now that the ceremony is complete, let us drink the nuptial wine and from this day forward, may our marriage be harmonious and last a hundred years!"

It must be said that Huang Yuanchou was, after all, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Normally, if the Minister of Rites was unavailable, he would preside over various sacrificial ceremonies on his behalf. Presiding over this wedding was somewhat of a waste of his talents.

Jiang Yun slowly removed the red cloth covering Xu Suwen's head. Today, Xu Suwen was not as plain as usual; she was wearing rouge and powder, and was quite beautiful.

"Is it pretty?" Xu Suwen blinked.

Jiang Yun couldn't help but smile: "Of course it looks good. Come on, let's change our clothes and then we'll toast the guests."

As the two walked into the house, food was continuously served. Qu Lanyu sat next to Xiao Yuzheng, Zhao Gongcheng, and the others.

He didn't stand on ceremony at this point, reaching out to grab the roast chicken on the table and wolfing it down.

Choking on his food, he took out a sip of wine and drank it down. Qu Lanyu's eyes lit up immediately: "Good heavens, why does this Jiang boy always keep such good wine to himself? He has such good wine, but he doesn't let me taste it. He has to save it for the wedding banquet."

This wine was not bought from outside. It was a batch of fine wine that Xu Dingwu ordered when Xu Suwen was born and has been sealed up until now, so that it could be served to the guests when Xu Suwen got married.

Unfortunately, Xu Dingwu was not fortunate enough to enjoy it.

The other guests at the table frowned slightly and looked at each other as they watched Qu Lanyu wolf down her food.

Qu Lanyu ate in a hurry, even grabbing other dishes on the table with her hands.

However, the dishes he ate made the others lose their appetite.

Of course, those who could attend this banquet were all people of status and position, and none of the people present looked down on Qu Lanyu.

Instead, they secretly wondered who this person was.

They certainly didn't believe that Qu Lanyu was a beggar...

What kind of beggar can get into this courtyard to eat? Even if this person is down on his luck, he must be a poor relative from Commander Jiang's hometown. We can't afford to be negligent towards him.

"Grandma, please eat slowly." During the meal, someone noticed that Qu Lanyu was choking while eating, and someone kindly offered their concern.

As she was eating, Qu Lanyu stopped chewing and her gaze suddenly turned sharply toward the backyard.

"We have more guests."

(End of this chapter)