Miss Truth
Chapter 463 - 302: Grand Wedding · Fan Poem

Chapter 463: Chapter 302: Grand Wedding · Fan Poem

Today, neither Ran Pingyu nor Ran Yunsheng can attend openly, which makes Ran Yan feel somewhat downhearted. Since she came to the Great Tang, aside from her personal maids, the two people who have treated her the best are both unable to attend due to identity issues. Ran Yan herself does not care about status, but both Ran Pingyu and Ran Yunsheng firmly refuse.

Although they cannot escort her in the wedding procession, Ran Yan knows they will definitely be watching from a place where they can see her marry off.

As she was thinking this, the carriage gradually came to a stop. Outside, the noise was raucous, and Wan Lu hurriedly said, "Hurry, Wife, cover your face with the fan."

As she spoke, she hastily reached for the red gauze hanging on the wall of the carriage and draped it over Ran Yan’s head after she had completed the motion.

Firecrackers were then lit in front of the door, followed by lighting the fire basins.

From outside came the reminder from the ceremony official, "Lady Ran, you may alight from the carriage now."

Ran Yan was already well prepared and, with the support of Wan Lu and another maid, slowly got out of the carriage. Her jewelry and festive attire were layered upon each other, colorful and dazzling like the rosy clouds, evoking the envy of many unmarried ladies. Moreover, Xiao Song was approachable and exceptionally handsome today, prompting envy among many ladies from minor gentry families, who regretted not having a noble clan as maternal relatives!

Having studied etiquette with Xing Niang for three months, Wan Lu carefully assisted Ran Yan towards the main entrance. Upon reaching the door, they paused, waiting for the master of ceremonies to announce loudly, "The auspicious hour has arrived! The newlyweds bow in the hall!"

Immediately, twenty or thirty maids came running with bags of multicolored grains and fine silks, first spreading a layer of red carpet on the ground and then placing the grain bags and silks upon it, symbolizing a future as glorious as silk and the continuation of the family lineage.

Only then did Wan Lu help Ran Yan step over the threshold, and the rest of the path would be walked shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Song.

By then it was dusk, and two rows of maids carrying lotus lanterns led the way in front, followed by two maids sprinkling grain and beans. This was not as romantic as sprinkling flower petals. For Ran Yan and Xiao Song, it was practically torture. Despite the long road and the maids’ skillful scattering technique, ensuring most fell behind, some beans still rolled ahead, and if they accidentally stepped on one and stumbled, it would be tremendously embarrassing.

Xiao Song slowed his pace, staying close to Ran Yan. Under the cover of his wide sleeves, he secretly squeezed Ran Yan’s hand as a sign for her to relax. Hand in hand, they walked to the pavilion where the ceremony would take place and knelt down to bow according to the master of ceremonies’ direction.

In fact, the ceremony did not take long, as it only required performing the rites of mutual bowing. Once the ceremony was completed, guests immediately congregated around to offer their blessings, each saying words of auspicious meaning.

Surrounded by the crowd, Xiao Song gently held Ran Yan’s hand and led her into the bridal chamber.

The master of ceremonies directed the maids to hang the curtains, then to observe the wedding candles and join the silk scrolls.

But before the most important hairpinning ceremony took place, the groom had one important thing to do—reading the fan poem. The groom would recite the poem for rejecting the fan, prompting the bride to lower the fan covering her face, hence the ritual was dubbed "removing the fan."

Revealing the bride’s face was the part of the ceremony the guests enjoyed the most, and they were particularly curious about the bride whom Gui Jianchou from Chang’an was marrying. Thus, as soon as the master of ceremonies started announcing the fan-removal ritual, people began to urge Xiao Song to quickly recite the fan poem.

Behind the fan, Ran Yan suddenly felt a wave of nervousness. It had been more than two months since she had seen Xiao Song, and now she had a feeling akin to "fear as one approaches home."

She only heard Xiao Song’s mellow voice slowly say, "The wind on the city walls makes the torches cold, and as the brocade curtain opens, the flying phoenix is revealed. Knowing the Qin fairy’s immortal demeanor, why lightly separate her from the peonies?"

The Maid had instructed that the fan should only be lowered after reciting the second poem, and Ran Yan complied with this. It wasn’t strange, as while reciting the first poem, the bride might be shy, reserved, and so on, and would mostly not lower her fan. If the groom was not good with words, he could repeat the same fan poem several times, usually no more than four or five times at most.

The audience craned their necks in anticipation, and after a long wait without movement, they hurriedly urged Xiao Song to continue with his poetry.

Xiao Song slightly smiled and continued, "The beauty in the boudoir is like Shun’s flowers, the morning rains come to the household; with robes of clouds reflecting five colors, no need for silk fans to shield a hundred layers."

This poem carried a stronger hint of persuasion: Wife, you are beautiful, like a fairy, surely radiant, no need to hide your face.

Ran Yan hesitated for a moment, then slowly lowered the fan in her hand. It wasn’t because she was being prudish or elegant, but rather because her hand holding the fan had gone stiff, and the headpiece weighing over ten pounds was almost breaking her neck.

However, as the fan was lowered, Ran Yan’s exquisite and unparalleled beauty came into everyone’s view—a melon-seed face, misty eyebrows, a delicate nose, and lips with soft and gentle curves, her skin whiter than snow. A lotus flower was painted on her forehead, complementing the light pink on her cheeks, adding bewitching beauty. Her black hair was all swept up, now in the style of a married woman’s bun.

Xiao Song had always known Ran Yan had beautiful features but had not actually found her stunning. He liked her, though he didn’t know the reason why. Having seen Ran Yan’s plain, expressionless face often, he was now thoroughly taken aback by her beauty. With the added effect of not having seen her for many days, he found himself unable to look away.

Inside the bridal chamber, silence prevailed. The minds of most cleared for a moment before soft gasps filled the air. Xiao Song came to his senses, leaned forward slightly, and whispered, "I really do have good taste."

Ran Yan glared at him, but unaware that her makeup accentuated the gesture, her annoyance came across as enthrallingly charming, making Xiao Song lose any desire to go outside to entertain guests.

Following the fan ritual was the hair-binding ceremony, the drinking of the wedding wine, and other rituals. Once all the ceremonies were done, the guests swarmed in for the teasing of the bride, asking her challenging questions. Some ladies who had yet to bear children would stealthily pocket a few fruits scattered over the bridal bed, hoping to share in the auspicious energy and bless themselves with offspring.

After some merriment, a ceremonial officer announced that the Xiao household had prepared a feast and invited everyone to enjoy the meal. Only then did the guests leave reluctantly, and Xiao Song too had to attend to the welcoming of relatives and friends.

The banquet hall was filled with close relations, and the entire yard was full of dining tables. Any townspeople who wished to join the celebration simply had to wrap a few coins in red paper as a token gift and were then free to partake in the feast.

Considering Xiao Song’s lukewarm popularity in Chang’an, the preparations had been modest. Yet whether because of his affability on the day, the joy of the grand ceremony, or simple curiosity, many people came. Thankfully, the Xiao clan, a prestigious family, had made thorough arrangements, and after adding many last-minute tables, they barely accommodated everyone.

The hour was still early, not yet time for the consummation of the marriage. Xiao Song found himself relentlessly toasted by the guests in the banquet hall, especially peers, colleagues, and friends who seemed determined to get him so drunk that he would be unable to consummate the marriage, each taking turns offering toasts.

Inside the bridal chamber, Ran Yan knelt within the bed curtains in wait, her jewelry already removed, her hair casually tied back with a silk belt. However, she had to wait for her husband’s arrival before touching her cosmetics and attire. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)