❃ 𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 ❃

🔹𝕰𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙🔹

The wedding ceremony finally began!

An elder from the Lan clan stood in front of the crowd who gathered around the tables, and said out loud,

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. As one of the elders in the Lan Clan, I'm delighted to welcome you all here tonight, to the union of Gusu Lan and the Yunmeng Jiang! As everyone knows, the highest happiness on earth is the happiness of marriage. So let's wish well for Wei Wuxian, the senior disciple of Yunmeng Jiang and Lan Wangji, the second sect heir of Gusu Lan, for a long and happy life together! Let's begin the ceremony now."

With that said, he moved to a side, and asked Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji to come forward. And when they did, he declared,

"First, kowtow to the heaven and earth three times, this is to pay respect to gods and ancestors."

Wei Wuxian held his breath and did what was asked him to do. Along with Lan Wangji, he prostrated to the heaven and earth, his heart crying, 'This is really happening!'

"Now, kowtow to your parents three times, to show respect and gratitude for taking care of you up until now."

Lan Wangji could hear Wei Wuxian's sharp and deep breathes by his side. His chest tightened. Wei Wuxian was going through all these just because of him. Lan Wangji would never forgive himself for what he had done.

First, they bowed down to Lan Qiren and then Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan who stood side by side each other.

"Now, kowtow to each other three times, to show your respect to each other."

This was the final bow! With this done, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian would be married! Married to each other!

Wei Wuxian found it hard to prostrate to Lan Wangji. He was rooted in place as a statue. Lan Wangji was halfway through to bow down when he saw that Wei Wuxian remained unmoving beside him.

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji called out in a whisper.

"Huh?" Wei Wuxian asked in a daze.

"Bow down."

"Mn."

That 'mn' contained a lot of sadness and sounded very melancholic, and Lan Wangji did not fail to miss it. But there was nothing he could do to vanish Wei Wuxian's sadness so all that could do was remain silent.

Once they had completed all the bows, there were cheers and claps from the crowd, despite the rule that shouting was forbidden.

Wei Wuxian had always loved noise and commotion and he himself was a boisterous person. But right now, he wished that they could have been silent for it felt like they were happy over his death!

Marriage was always a happy occasion but for Wei Wuxian, his marriage was not such a one. Fir him, this marriage meant nothing more than that he was bound to rules forever and this was the last minute that he could be himself.

"According to the Lan's," the elder began, "the headband represents a Lan. And now that Young. Master Wei had married Second Master Lan, he would be tied a ribbon on his wrist, indicating that he was a member of the Lan family, from now on and forever."

Those words fell in him as if it was thunder. Each abs every single word stabbed Wei Wuxian too deep and he was surprised that he was still alive.

A headband was brought by a Lan disciple which was place on a box and was handed over to Lan Wangji.

"Lan Wangji, tie it on Young Master Wei."

Lan Wangji took out the ribbon and eyed it. His heart clenched at Wei Wuxian's depressed sight. Tying this ribbon on him meant that he was bound together with him, now and forever! And Lan Wangji knew that Wei Wuxian did not want this! He would never want it!

"The forehead ribbon," The Lan elder continued, "is a sacred object to members of the Gusu Lan Clan. Our ancestor, Lan An, taught that one can only let go of all regulations when they are with the one they love and cherish. Thus, a member of the Gusu Lan Clan cannot easily give another person permission to touch their forehead ribbon, nor can they take it off as they please. Furthermore, they absolutely cannot tie it on someone else – unless that person is their 'fated person'. And now that Lan Wangji had tied it on Wei Wuxian, it is an untold promise that they belong to each other!"

Lan Wangji took Wei Wuxian's hand in his and wrapped the ribbon around his wrist. He could feel how Wei Wuxian's hand had turned cold and he was unsure if it was due to the breeze or due to Wei Wuxian himself.

"Congratulations!" The Lan elder said, once Lan Wangji had tied the ribbon on Wei Wuxian, "You two are married. May today be the beginning of a new tomorrow that you will cherish forever. May the years ahead be filled with lasting love and happiness. May your special union bring unbelievable joy to your life and to your family's."

Now that all the customs and traditions were over, Jiang Cheng helped Wei Wuxian get up while Lan Xichen helped Lan Wangji to stand on his heels. Their wedding robes were really too heavy for them to move on their own.

"Wangji, Young Master Wei, Congratulations! May this day be the start of forever for you two." Lan Xichen really hoped that his words would come true.

"Thank you, brother." Lan Wangji replied and glanced over at Wei Wuxian who seemed to be lost in his own world.

"Wei Wuxian, congratulations!" Jiang Cheng said, ignoring Lan Wangji and not caring to wish him.

"Mn." Wei Wuxian hummed.

"A-Xian," Jiang Yanli came up to them, tears brimming in her eyes due to happy. "I am so happy for you two. A-Xian, Wangji, may this day mark the beginning of a lifetime together."

Wei Wuxian did not know what else he was supposed to say except, "Thank you, shijie."

"Thank you, Maiden Jiang." Lan Wangji said.

"You should stop calling me that way. From now on, you too can call me, Shijie. Alright?"

Lan Wangji was taken aback for a moment but then he replied, "Mn."

Jiang Yanli smiled.

Now that all the bows, customs and traditions were over, the festive began!