We said we would experience life, fairy, how did you become real?.

Chapter 433 The Ceremony is Complete! (4000 words)
The deafening sounds of gongs, drums, and suonas resounded throughout the entire capital.

Along the main road of the Zhou capital, the people all looked up at the wedding procession.

At the very front of the wedding procession, Xiao Mo rode a large red horse.

In the Zhou state, the customs of welcoming the bride were roughly the same as those of ordinary families, except that the wedding process after entering the palace had its own rules for the imperial family.

Therefore, even though Xiao Mo was an emperor, he still had to ride a horse to greet his bride.

For the vast majority of the people in the Zhou capital, this might be their only chance in their lifetime to see their own emperor in person.

"Is this His Majesty?"

"Your Majesty is so handsome."

"Who said His Majesty is six feet tall and weighs two hundred pounds? His Majesty is clearly very handsome."

"Yes, I also think His Majesty is very handsome, just like a Confucian scholar."

"But I feel that His Majesty is more like a general who fights on the battlefield."

"I also really want to marry His Majesty."

"What are you all saying? Watch your words, watch your words!"

"Stop talking about His Majesty! Aren't you afraid of being beheaded?"

Many women's eyes sparkled with delight when they saw Xiao Mo dressed as the groom.

In their minds, they had always thought that His Majesty was a pot-bellied man.

But I never expected her to be so beautiful.

Aside from the women, many scholars were also surprised.

After all, they had long heard that His Majesty was obsessed with cultivating immortality, and even that he spent his days indulging in debauchery with palace maids.

Judging from His Majesty's demeanor and composed expression alone, he doesn't seem like someone who indulges in wine and women at all.
As the wedding procession from the palace gradually left the palace, the Lingxin Palace procession also arrived at Shiqiao Village and the Qin State envoy's residence.

Led by a female official from Lingxin Palace, the two boarded a bridal sedan chair and headed to Zhou Mountain.

This mountain is located on the outskirts of the Zhou Kingdom and is the origin of the Zhou Kingdom's dragon vein.

The founding ancestor of the Zhou state emerged from this mountain and built a vast empire with his own hands.

The importance of this mountain to the Zhou state is self-evident.

Normally, the groom is supposed to go to the bride's house to fetch her.

However, since the two concubines were of equal status, it would be inappropriate to send either of them first, as both would cause controversy.

Therefore, the Ministry of Rites and Lingxin Palace, based on ancient rites, established a new procedure, which was to have Consorts Yan Ruxue and Qin Siyao wait at the foot of Zhou Mountain.

His Majesty also went to Zhou Mountain to welcome the two imperial concubines.

Afterwards, His Majesty only needs to take the two imperial concubines for a walk around Zhou Mountain and then offer incense.

This was considered announcing the arrival of the bride to heaven and earth and to the ancestors, thus completing the wedding procession.

In this way, no one will be offended.

Half an hour later, the royal wedding procession arrived at the foot of the mountain.

Two bridal sedan chairs were already parked at the foot of the mountain, waiting for Xiao Mo's arrival.

Xiao Mo dismounted and walked between the two bridal sedan chairs.

Following the procedure that everyone already knew by heart, Madam Yan stepped forward, slightly lifted the curtain of the sedan chair, and led her daughter out with a red silk ribbon.

Since Qin Mujiu's relatives were all in Qin and had not come to Zhou, Empress Dowager Yan led Qin Mujiu out of the bridal sedan chair.

"Your Majesty, I entrust my daughter Ruxue to you." Madam Yan pleaded with Xiao Mo, fighting back tears.

"Your Majesty, Mu Jiu has come from Qin to Zhou. This foreign land will now be Mu Jiu's home. Your Majesty must treat her well," Empress Dowager Yan instructed.

"Please rest assured." Xiao Mo bowed. "Whether it is Ru Xue or Mu Jiu, I will treat them with sincerity and will never let them down."

Although this statement is correct.

But when Xiao Mo told the two women, "I will treat you with sincerity and never let you down," it felt a little strange.

Madam Yan and Empress Dowager Yan handed the red satin to Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo held a red ribbon in each of his left and right hands.

The red ribbons in the hands of the two women, like red threads, were both pointing at him.

Xiao Mo raised his head and looked at his two wives.

Although they were all wearing red veils.

But Xiao Mo could still vaguely sense their shy demeanor with their heads down.

"Is this my wife?"

Suddenly, an idea popped into Xiao Mo's mind.

In Xiao Mo's heart, marriage was always something that seemed very far away.

Moreover, perhaps it was because Xiao Mo was not fully prepared to take responsibility for other women, or perhaps he was worried about whether he could take good care of his partner.

Therefore, Xiao Mo still harbored a slight sense of fear.

But when this actually happened...

It seems that getting married isn't so scary after all.

"Your Majesty, it is time to offer sacrifices at Zhou Mountain."

Minister of Rites Yan Zhen stepped forward and spoke softly to Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo nodded and led the two concubines by the hand as they circled around the foot of Zhou Mountain.

After circling around the foot of Zhou Mountain, when Xiao Mo returned to his original position with his two concubines, the Ministry of Rites had already set up the altar.

Xiao Mo and the two concubines lit three incense sticks. He stood at the front, while Yan Ruxue and Qin Siyao stood on the left and right sides behind him.

"bye!"

In the ode, Xiao Mo, Qin Siyao, and Yan Ruxue bowed together to worship Zhou Mountain.

Just as the three of them stood up, a colorful ray of light rose from the summit of Zhou Mountain, connecting to the Zhou Kingdom's royal palace, like a rainbow after the rain, but several times more beautiful.

Immediately following, a series of dragon roars resounded through the sky and echoed for hundreds of miles.

Birds circled endlessly in the air, chirping and chattering with boundless joy.

The people in the city, seeing this colorful cloud, exclaimed that it was an auspicious sign, feeling both amazed and overjoyed.

But in Xiao Mo's view, this was nothing more than a little trick played by some mountain cultivators at the behest of the Ministry of Rites.

After all, it wouldn't be right not to have some auspicious signs on such a joyous occasion as a wedding.

The other civil and military officials thought the same thing.

Even the officials from the Ministry of Rites looked at their superiors, thinking that the Minister had said that inviting immortals to bring good fortune was just too fake.

As it turned out, the Minister said it was a lie, but he actually did invite them, and made such a big fuss about it.

Only Yan Zhen, the Minister of Rites, stared blankly at this auspicious omen.

They all thought that this auspicious omen was orchestrated by Yan Zhen, the Minister of Rites.

In reality, Yan Zhen knew nothing; he hadn't invited any cultivators to fake anything.

That is
These auspicious omens are all real!

Could it be that His Majesty has married his own daughter and that princess from Qin? Could it be that our Great Zhou Dynasty can truly usher in a period of revival?!
After paying respects at Zhou Mountain, Madam Yan and Empress Dowager Yan each led Yan Ruxue and Qin Siyao back to their bridal sedan chairs.

As the suona horns and drums sounded again, Xiao Mo mounted his horse, and the wedding procession returned to the capital.

"I'm coming!"

"His Majesty and the two imperial consorts have arrived!"

"Look, everyone!"

At the gates of the imperial city, people lined the streets to welcome him.

Behind Xiao Mo were two bridal sedan chairs walking side by side.

Many men looked on with envy as they gazed at the two bridal sedan chairs.

After all, Miss Yan was not only hailed as the most talented woman in the Zhou Kingdom, but also the most beautiful woman in the Zhou Kingdom.

And the eldest princess of Qin was said to be just as beautiful as Miss Yan.

Now that His Majesty has won the hearts of two beauties, how can they not be envious?

Women and men share similar, yet opposite, ideas.

The women envied the two imperial concubines inside the bridal sedan chair. They thought to themselves how happy they would be if the Emperor were marrying them.
Just as the wedding procession was gradually heading towards the palace.

An official from the Ministry of Rites knocked on the wooden door of a villa in the imperial city.

The door opened, and a woman dressed in ordinary hemp clothing stood before the official.

On the woman's shoulder, a large glutinous rice ball with wings lay quietly.

"Greetings, Master Wangxin." The official from the Ministry of Rites bowed respectfully. "Today, I'm counting on Master Wangxin's help."

"Okay." Wangxin nodded. "Please lead the way."

"Master Wangxin, please."

The official from the Ministry of Rites helped Wang Xin into the carriage, and then rode off on another horse himself.

In less than fifteen minutes, Wang Xin was taken to the foot of a tall building.

Wangxin got off the carriage and, with Xiaohundun in tow, walked alone up to the tall building.

Today is a joyous day for the King of Zhou.

Today, I will pray and recite scriptures for him.

Upon reaching the upper floor, Wangxin sat on a futon; she was the only person in the room.

"Migu Migu."

Little Chaos rubbed against Wangxin's thigh.

"You mean, what if the person we marry is really Xiao Mo?" Wang Xin asked.

"Migu!" Little Chaos nodded its chubby body.

"Even if it really is Xiao Mo, it doesn't matter." Wangxin's eyes blinked gently. "Isn't it a good thing that he's married and has children?"

"Migu." Little Chaos swayed its chubby body.

"what should I do?"

After a moment's thought, her clear eyes shone with a gentle light.

"I'm fine too."

"If the ruler of Zhou is indeed Xiao Mo, and Xiao Mo marries another woman, I do feel a bit empty inside."

"But it's alright."

"As long as Xiao Mo is alright, I'll be alright too."

"As long as I can find him, and watch over him silently, that's enough."

"Migu!" Little Chaos flapped its wings, perched on its owner's head, and kept gently patting her head, as if angry at her for not being up to par. "Migu Migu!"

"That's really what I think, I'm not lying."

Wang Xin lowered her head gently, her small hands unconsciously clutching the hem of her skirt, and spoke slowly.

"I really"

"I'm not lying."

Amidst the farewells of the people.

The royal wedding procession has already entered the palace.

At that very moment, the sound of chanting Buddhist scriptures drifted from a tall building in the capital.

The chanting was ethereal yet solemn, sounding like a woman's voice, a man's voice, or a chorus of monks chanting together.

As the chanting of sutras echoed through the sky, golden lotuses floated above the capital.

The lotus flowers formed a golden river, their sacred aura spreading to every corner of the capital.

Xiao Mo raised his head and glanced in the direction from which the Buddhist chanting was coming from.

For some reason, Xiao Mo felt that the voice was somewhat familiar.

However, the fact that the monk invited by the Ministry of Rites could cause such a phenomenon simply by reciting Buddhist scriptures shows that his cultivation level was indeed quite high.

Xiao Mo felt that the high monk must have reached the Immortal Realm.

After an incense stick had burned, the bridal sedan chair stopped in front of the ancestral temple.

Xiao Mo led Yan Ruxue and Qin Siyao into the ancestral temple to pay homage to the ancestors of the Zhou Kingdom.

The Director of the Observatory burned the birth dates and times of Xiao Mo and the other two in front of the ancestral tablets, seeking the blessings and protection of the ancestors.

After paying homage to their ancestors, Xiao Mo and his civil and military officials arrived at the square of the Altar of Heaven.

They stood on either side, looking at the gate of the square.

At the forefront of the civil and military officials, Xiao Mo also looked at the gate, waiting quietly.

"The wedding ceremony shall begin!"

Just as the hour of Wei (1-3 PM) arrived, the voice of Yan Zhen, Minister of Rites, rang out in the square.

The square gates suddenly opened.

Yan Ruxue and Qin Siyao entered, led by the Empress Dowager and Madam Yan.

Beneath their long skirts, the two imperial concubines strode forward with graceful and dignified steps.

Behind the two women, a total of eight palace maids trailed their long skirts.

The spring sun shone on their red attire, making their soft sunlight appear as vibrant as the red of phoenix flowers.

Upon seeing this, everyone couldn't help but exclaim – so the spring sunshine truly does have color.

Below the altar, the Empress Dowager and Madam Yan handed the red silk to Xiao Mo for the last time.

Xiao Mo turned around and led the two concubines step by step toward the sacrificial altar.

On the altar, Yan Zhen, the Minister of Rites who was in charge of the wedding, walked up to Xiao Mo with a jade plate in both hands.

Inside the jade plate was an imperial edict written by Xiao Mo himself.

Xiao Mo picked up the edict he had written and spoke each word solemnly, his voice reaching everyone's ears:

"I, Xiao Mo, have received the mandate of Heaven, inherited the legacy of my ancestors, and ruled over seven dynasties, reigning over all lands."

"On this auspicious day when Heaven and Earth unite in virtue, and when the ancestral temples bestow blessings, in accordance with the six rites and the double-jade ceremony, we hereby betroth Yan, a virtuous lady, and Princess Mujiu of Qin."

"The two daughters are exceptionally beautiful and virtuous, and are worthy of being role models for the inner court."

"Your family, the Yan family, is renowned for its elegance and refinement, upholding the principles of poetry and propriety. Princess Qin, bathed in wine, is a celestial being, possessing a kind and gentle heart, and setting a great example for others."

"I have followed the system of the 'Dianfu' section of the Rites of Zhou and consulted the marriage ceremony in the Spring and Autumn Annals, and hereby confer upon her the title of Imperial Concubine."

"The Snow Consort was granted residence in the Ningxue Palace, and the Bath Consort was granted residence in the Hanjiu Palace. Each was granted a golden book and a purple ribbon, and enjoyed the honor of nine pheasants and four phoenixes."

"May the two consorts cultivate their character through quiet chastity and tranquility, serve the emperor and parents with gentleness and obedience, harmonize the six palaces with their speech and appearance, lead the concubines with respect, frugality, humility and gentleness, ensure the continuation of the imperial lineage and consolidate the foundation of the country, jointly assist in the governance of the inner palace, coordinate the affairs of the inner palace, and make the inner palace solemn and the exemplary conduct of the imperial family evident."

"May the two consorts shine as brightly as the sun and moon, and be as precious as jade and precious stones. May they serve each other meals morning and evening to demonstrate filial piety, weave silk to encourage mulberry cultivation to spread education, and play elegant music to harmonize the nation. May all women in the world admire the virtuous example of the imperial concubines, and may all the people of the nine provinces bask in the glorious sound of the royal family, so that our great Zhou dynasty may be harmonious in its families and well-governed in its state, and may its great happiness continue forever."

After Xiao Mo finished reading the imperial edict, he put it down, just as the auspicious time arrived.

Yan Zhen stepped forward and shouted loudly, "The auspicious time has arrived! Let's begin the wedding ceremony!"

Si Li came over carrying a jade plate with incense sticks on it.

Xiao Mo, Yan Ruxue, and Qin Siyao each took three sticks of incense.

At the same time, ceremonial music began to play.

"Worship heaven and earth!"

Xiao Mo and the other two lit incense sticks and bowed to heaven and earth.

"Two thanks to the high hall!"

Because Lady Yan and Yan Zhen were subjects and could not accept the emperor's bowing, Empress Dowager Yan stepped forward and stood beside the three of them.

Xiao Mo and the other two bowed and paid their respects to their parents.

"Husband and wife bow to each other!"

Yan Ruxue and Qin Siyao stood together, facing Xiao Mo, and the three of them bowed.

"The three bows have been completed!"

"With all officials as witnesses, and with Heaven and Earth as our witness!"

"From this day forward!"

"The ceremony is complete!"

(End of this chapter)