As he ascends into full view, the square is so quiet he feels like even his breathing is echoing. He had read that Ghost Valley had three thousand ghosts. He estimates there are more. And they are all looking at him. Ignore them. Focus.
Swallowing, he realizes that his mouth is dry. Refusing to give the ghosts even so much as a glance, his eyes focused straight ahead, he starts to walk slowly along the red carpet. The da-dum-da-dum startles him and he looks to the right to see two black clothed ghosts hitting two enormous drums and he automatically starts walking to the same rhythm.
Da-dum-da-dum.
Lifting his head, he sees an altar at the end of the carpet. It is draped with red and gold fabric, offerings of food, wine and tea placed in a row on the table. The smoke from the incense dispersing as soon as it burns. The name tablets at the center of the table are blank. Who are we paying respect to? Who are we bowing to? None of our parents are even here.
Da-dum-da-dum.
The groom is standing with his back towards the approaching bride. Turning around, Zhou Xu almost trips when his profile comes into view. A little bit embarrassed of his reaction that may have just been seen by the thousands of onlookers, he ignores whatever that was and continues forward as if nothing happened. Involuntary, his heart skipping a beat. He.... is Wen Ke Xing...
Da-dum-da-dum.
The man, now fully turned and facing him, is a few inches taller than he is, with long soft black hair reaching a little bit below a slender waist. A looped ponytail has been tied at the top of his head, wrapped with a golden crown seeming almost dusted with hundreds of small rubies making it sparkle vividly as Wen Ke Xing moves in the sunlight. A golden hair pin has been inserted through the crown, white pearls dangling from its end, so inviting that Zhou Xu wants to reach out and touch them.
The dark red wedding robe is of the same style as his own. A perfect match with similar golden patterns except the groom's robe includes radiant white pearls woven into the fine fabric. A large gold necklace drapes both down his chest and his back, making him look regal. The ethereal sleeves sway as the fan in his right hand moves back and forth. The fan is white with a golden guard, a poem seems to be painted on it, though Zhou Xu can't focus his mind to read the words. A warm tingling is spreading throughout his body, its roots within his chest. Ignoring any feelings and thoughts, he continues to walk forward on auto-pilot.
Da-dum-da-dum.
When those pitch-black eyes meet his own hidden ones, a radiant smile spreads across the groom's face, making him look absolutely ethereal. Zhou Xu's breath catches unnoticeably, as the back of his skull goes numb. Or at least that is what he hopes, as he swallows hard.
Reaching the place where Wen Ke Xing is standing, his mind is so dazed he has forgotten why he is there. Even if his veil is removed, his marble exterior would reveal nothing of his internal thoughts. His heart is pounding so loud it is overpowering the drums.
Ba-dum-Ba-dum.
The Guigu Guzhu assumes the same posture with arms in front, hands clasped and hidden. Walking the final distance on the carpet side by side, the red sleeves are swaying in the wind making the golden decorations glimmer when the sunrays occasionally hit them. They stop in front of two golden pillows that have been placed on the carpet, directly in front of the altar.
Da-dum-da-dum.
And the drums stop.
Glancing at his bride, Wen Ke Xing's thoughts are with the face he is yet to see. "I knew my bride would obscure the moon and make flowers blush." (1) Indicated behind that red veil is a soft profile, as the bride keeps his gaze straight. "Just follow what I do."
"...." Like I have a choice?
Turning to face each other, Wen Ke Xing smiles as he focuses his sight on the bride, ignoring the thousands and thousands of ghosts that have come to the Wu Ying Manor to see the wedding.
"We start with San Yi San Rang." (2)
The ghost watches the new couple greet each other by bowing with hands still clasped, the tip of the sleeves always kept above the ground. Starting with the groom, they take turns to give precedence to each other a total of three times.
"Now we pay respect to our ancestors."
The fabric rustles as they kneel, the pillows soft against their knees. Bowing three times, this time in unison, against the nameless tablets, Zhou Xu thinks of his parents. What will they think of this? Can they see me from where they are?
Wen Ke Xing helps his bride to stand up and takes one cup of tea in each hand, giving one to Zhou Xu, the hand a little bit shaky as it accepts the cup. Watching Wen Ke Xing's grave expression as he pours his tea over the altar in front of the tablets, his eyes glistening for a moment so short, Zhou Xu is certain he must have seen wrong.
Following the groom, he pours his tea over the altar and wishes for his parents not to hate him for marrying like this. Surely this doesn't count when it is in Ghost Valley?
They both take a step back, turning again to face each other. With the smile back on his face, Wen Ke Xing casually eyes the bride up and down. Is he nervous? I thought I would have to drag him kicking and screaming. How fascinating.
Taking both of the bride's hands in his, warm to the touch against his cold skin, he looks beyond the red veil, imagining those brown eyes looking back at him.
"I promise to our ancestors, I am going to be your soulmate." Taking a step closer, Wen Ke Xing tries to see through the veil without any luck. "My love will last forever. Until the mountains were disappeared. Until the rivers run dry. Until the thunderstorm happened in the winter. Until the summer snowed. Until the sky and ground were closed together." (3)
Letting go of the hands, they stay up, fingers slightly trembling. Curious as to the reaction, he takes another step forward and is about to speak when the celebratory clapping from the guests starts.
Turning towards the crowd, the Guzhu and Nu Zhuren of Ghost Valley bow for the first time as a married couple.
Taking a slow breath, trying not to dissect whatever emotion is swirling through his mind, Wen Ke Xing watches as his bride is led away by the maids heading back towards Hua Men.
Surrounded by the Ten Devils, he opens his fan gently swaying it in his right hand, the words "My love will last forever" written in gold. As the group heads towards the banquet a da-dum-da-dum starts behind them. Those drums would be echoing in celebration throughout the valley for the coming three days.
<(_ _) 人 (_ _)>
Authors notes:
(1) "obscure the moon and make flowers blush" is a Chinese idiom, (of a young woman's beauty) make the moon hide behind a cloud and put the flowers to shame, i.e. be bewitchingly beautiful.
(2) San Yi San Rang - Grand welcome etiquette in traditional ceremony which reflects the mutual respect between new couple.
(3) This is an English translation of the poem 'The Pledge' (上邪). This is a beautiful love poem with the promise from a soulmate. The full poem goes like this:
I promise to the God.I am going to be your soulmate.My love will last forever.Until the mountains were disappeared.Until the rivers run dry.Until the thunderstorm happened in the winter.Until the summer snowed.Until the sky and ground were closed together.Then I dare to end the relationship with you.
YOU ARE READING
How To Polish A Pearl
FanfictionComing to, he feels the other man breathing into his mouth, the used air filling his lungs and somehow bringing him back to life. Between his spiritual core almost being grinded to dust over the past week to being choked from the inside, he is so dr...
