Chapter 49: Chapter 49 – Wedding.

The manner in which weddings took place was a long-standing tradition in the Blue Crane Kingdom. Xiulan and Meirong had to make a few changes due to their special circumstances. Firstly, it was not common for two women to get married so they had to decide who would take on the role of the groom and who would take on the role of the bride.

They pretty quickly agreed the Xiulan would play the groom. The idea was to give Meirong her dream wedding and the groom had far less to do in the ceremony. That was why Xiulan found herself standing at the doors to the palace with Elder Xin. He had volunteered to officiate the wedding as the most senior cultivator in attendance.

Way down by the river Yen Wen, Fu Jinjing, Zheng Ling and Princess Lijuan had stepped in for Meirong’s family. For obvious reasons Meirong’s actual family could not attend.

The four women where each holding one corner of an open-top palanquin and walking slowly up the winding paths of the city. The streets were full of celebrants and Meirong threw out wedding candy to the crowd as she went. Occasionally someone would step forward from the crowd and drape a bouquet of flowers on the palanquin.

It was evening and the sun was just about to set when Meirong reached the doors to the palace and the waiting Xiulan. Meirong was smiling and had a deep flush showing her happiness at how well attended her wedding was. She was almost buried in flowers.

The number of attendants was always thought to be a good sign at a wedding. Meirong was wearing a breath-taking purple dress. Xiulan could not help but marvel at her beauty as she stepped up to help her down to the ground.

Once Meirong had alighted the pair walked hand in hand towards Elder Xin and the doors to the palace.

Elder Xin used his qi to project his voice for the crowd to hear, “stop! Who are you to attempt to take this woman from her family. Do you have the wealth to keep her happy?”

Xiulan whistled and her parrot flew to her holding a case. From the case Xiulan drew a chain of pearls. These pearls were more valuable than gold and came from the ocean to the south of Silver Bay.

Xiulan placed the chain around Meirong’s neck and replied to the Elder, “What wealth I have I would share with her. Meagre though it may be.”

The lines of the ceremony were traditional and unchanged no matter what token of wealth the groom presented.

Elder Xin snorted but did not move aside. He boomed, “and do you have the strength to keep her safe?”

The Elder stepped forward into a fighting stance and Xiulan moved in front of Meirong. The Elder lunged forward, and Xiulan fell into her long-neglected combat technique. This part of the ceremony was also ceremonial, but it quickly became clear that Elder Xin was really testing her.

Their exchanged went on for several minutes. The Elder would try and get past Xiulan to get at Meirong and Xiulan would deflect his momentum away from her fiancé. Eventually satisfied the Elder returned to his place in front of the door.

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“Long Xiulan,” he intoned, “today you have shown that you have the means to protect and provide for this woman. Bai Meirong do you accept Long Xiulan as your marriage partner and swear to the common good of your household?”

Meirong stepped forward and took Xiulan’s hand again. She said, “I do.”

Elder Xin stepped aside and finished by saying, “then the two of you may cross the threshold. When you do you will be married in the eyes of the heavens and men.”

Xiulan and Meirong walked steadily until they crossed through the doorway and then turned back to face the crowd outside. There was a rolling cheer going on when they turned around and people had begun to drink and eat in celebration.

Tables and chairs were being brought out and musicians were starting to play. A table was brought to the married couple just inside the doorway. It was considered bad luck for the married couple to leave the house on their wedding night.

The palanquin and the flowers adorning it were set on fire. Symbolising the finality of the bride’s journey and at the same time sending the well wishes of the flower givers to the heavens.

Some of the more prominent families of the city walked forward to lay gifts before the Newlyweds table. The Zhao Clan sent and especially lavish gift of silks from the Capital. Their iron mines had been doing very well given the generally increased industry of the interior.

Bai Meirong thanked each clan for their gift and always knew who they were and inquired about the health of their grandchild or some other personal subject. Xiulan would never have the patience to do that. The pair would make a good team.

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Watching the celebration from a distance was the dual cultivator the Crown Prince had been talking to. He seemed less than impressed with the ceremony. His eyes were instead glued to Zheng Ling. “How did you unseal your cultivation?” he murmured to himself.

Not only had Zheng Ling unsealed her cultivation but it had grown tremendously. The prince needed to know that the Princess had somehow found some real cultivators in the interior and that judging from Zheng Ling’s fast rise they could be a real threat to him. The Qi here also seemed denser than it should be in the interior.

Before heading back though he needed to rectify Zheng Ling’s condition. She could not be allowed to live a happy life. Not after he had already condemned her.

He waited patiently until Zheng Ling wandered alone into the palace. She had never been much of a party goer. He followed her until she made her way into a master bedroom with a big circular glass window. She was arranging some incense sticks presumably from the newly married couple to enjoy. He stepped into the room and said, “hello Zheng Ling did you miss me?”

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