A Crown for a Tail

Union

The journey from Qing Qiu to The Celestial Heavens was a long one, but setting a steady pace, The Empress being a woman who had birthed many children, led the procession as it was deemed good luck, and wanting as many grandchildren as Ye Hua and Bai Qian could give her, she wanted them to reach their destination as quickly as possible.  Though she was mindful of their elderly clan members who were bringing up the rear, so she did slow the pace every now and then for them to catch up.

Behind was Mo Yuan and Di Jun and between them was Ye Hua who was laughing at the loud raucous banter still coming from the Disciples amid the loud banging of drums, fireworks, the Celestial Band and every now and then, giggling coming from the sedan.

"For Disciples of Kunlun Mountain which is akin to a Mortal Realm Monastery, you lot sure are rowdy and your minds are in the gutter, I could hardly call you chaste, refined and cultivated going by the garbage coming out of your mouths." Ye Hua stammered having just been referred to as a pretty flower boy after his very entertaining dance which he knew would be dredged up by them all for all eternity.

Looking at them all laughing and having a good time as they walked, Ye Hua grinned at Zhi Lan who was the most outspoken of the lot and the one who seemed to have an endless supply of jokes, come backs and ribald songs.

"What? No comeback?  Ye Hua asked smirking widely at him.

Never being one to hold back, Zhi Lan immediately bit back. "Sects sects sects is all I have on the brain Ye Hua, that makes me the epitome of a chaste Monk." He retorted so loudly, he embarrassed himself as Mo Yuan turned around to give him a wide eyed stare in mock horror.

Roaring with laughter the very large group consisting of the Disciples and The Celestials dressed in their Royal Blue Robes with gold trim and flanked by Qing Qius Forest Green and Pale Yellow were almost there when the Disciples began to release the larger fireworks which was added to by sword lightening by everyone else.  The noise was so horrendously loud, it brought everyone out from their homes to add to the noise with their own congratulations to the groom and to throw handfuls of rice and flower petals at them as they passed by.

Picking up the rolling of the drums, the Celestial Band raised their full orchestra to play a lively tune as the Celestial Heavens came into view.  And no sooner had their group been spotted, than fireworks and sword Lightening erupted in the skies above the Palace as every man and woman waiting added to the cacophony.

Inside the Sedan, Bai Qian had listened to the banter most of the way, but being made of very solid wood, the noise was not as loud and sometimes their voices became muffled so she didn't catch it all, not even the noise from the fireworks and lightening strikes were all that loud inside the quite large space she was sitting in, but the gentle rolling sensation of the sedan as it moved her forward one step at a time was enough to have her eyes drooping.  And being fully padded with soft cushions to lean on, she eventually curled up on them and fell asleep.

By the time they entered the Palace all the noise ceased as every Celestial Maids and Guards were present.  The men dressed in pale blue robes with gold trimming and the girls in pale pink with gold trimming.  Alternating, they lined the corridors to create a guard of honor as the procession passed through and out into the open court yard where a lengthy strip of red carpet was already prepared, then placing the sedan directly in front of it, they all came to a halt.

Ye Hua then moved  towards the Alter while Di Jun lowered himself to unlock the sedan doors, the only official act he would have to perform before Mo Yuan opened the doors.  Being the brother of the groom, it was his duty to release the arrival of the bride, an act of welcoming her into the fold.   Then stepping back they waited as the Fox Emperor moved forward with an outstretched hand which Bai Qian was to take so he could assist her out.