Once the "gate-blocking" customs concluded, the crowd blocking the entrance dispersed. Yueping and several maidservants, who had been waiting nearby for quite some time, stepped up to the bridal sedan chair and welcomed Su Zhen out.
As soon as Su Zhen stepped out of the sedan, a figure dressed in black and white robes emerged, holding a ceremonial dou filled with grains, beans, copper coins, and colorful fruits, scattering them toward the doorway while chanting auspicious incantations.
Immediately following, two rows of maidservants holding blue-brocade mats stepped forward and laid them out along Su Zhen's path. Only then did Yueping take Su Zhen's hand and lead her forward.
Walking across the courtyard, they reached the main threshold, where a wooden saddle and a flat balance had been placed. Prompted by Yueping's whispered reminder, Su Zhen stepped right across them. Crossing the central outer gate in this manner marked the official, true completion of "crossing the threshold."
Yueping guided Su Zhen all the way, accompanied by Han Zhi, to a nearby chamber where hanging curtains had been set up, and seated Su Zhen inside to wait.
Hardly had Su Zhen taken her seat when the household servants approached Han Zhi carrying wine decanters and cups. The ritual master reminded him, "The groom must drink this wine before going out to perform the high-seat ceremony."
Han Zhi nodded, accepted the cup, bowed to everyone assembled, and drained it in a single gulp.
Next, Han Zhi was surrounded by the crowd and escorted into the main hall. A couch had already been set up inside, with a chair placed upon it—this was the "high seat" Han Zhi was required to occupy.
He slowly walked forward and took his seat, guided by the ritual master. At that moment, the ritual master and the matchmaker who had arranged the marriage stepped forward, each holding a wine decanter, and chanted in unison:
"We humbly implore the groom to step down from the seat!"
With that, Yueping handed a wine cup to Han Zhi, after which the ritual master and the matchmaker poured him drinks in turn. After draining two consecutive cups, Han Zhi stood up and stepped down onto the couch below.
Following the two of them, several aunts and maternal uncles stepped up one by one, offering a cup each for Han Zhi to finish. Only then did Han Zhi step down from the couch entirely and stand on the floor.
Finally came Madam Cheng, who had accompanied the wedding procession to the Fuping Earl Mansion. She held a wine cup in her hand and poured a drink into Han Zhi's cup.
"Son-in-law, this is the final cup of the high-seat ceremony."
"Greetings, Mother-in-law."
Han Zhi smiled and bowed, then drained the wine in his cup. Looking at this young gentleman, Madam Cheng found him increasingly pleasing to the eye, at least refined and courteous. To be able to invite so many guests to a wedding occasion clearly spoke volumes of his everyday character.
"Presenting the groom to the shadowy tent to partake in wealth and honor!"
The ritual master called out once more, and another throng of people crowded around Han Zhi, escorting him back to the room where Su Zhen was waiting.
This "wealth-bestowing ceremony" proved relatively simple. Han Zhi was handed a scholar's wooden tablet and seated on the left side of the bed, while Su Zhen sat on the right. Madam Han Zhou and Madam Cheng each took a side, took out a length of colorful silk, and tied an endless knot.
One end of the endless knot was hung over the wooden tablet in Han Zhi's hand, while the other end rested in Su Zhen's hand, bringing the ritual to a close.
"Lead with the silk scarf, to the ancestral hall!"
Han Zhi walked backward, facing Su Zhen, allowing her to take hold of the silk as he guided her toward the central hall.
Arriving at the central hall, the two stood side by side in the very center, while Han Zhuo and Madam Han Zhou sat ahead of them. On the table between the two elders sat several ancestral spirit tablets.
"First bow, pay homage to heaven, earth, and the ancestral spirits!"
The pair bowed deeply toward the spirit tablets, performing the obeisance.
"Second bow, pay homage to parents and elders!"
This time, the recipients of the bows were Han Zhuo and Madam Han Zhou.
"Third bow, mutual bow between husband and wife!"
At this cue, two maidservants stepped forward to support Han Zhi and Su Zhen, turning them to face one another. Finally, both bowed deeply with clasped hands toward each other.
"Enter the bridal chamber!"
As the final three words rang out, the wedding ceremony concluded, and cheers erupted from the guests in the outer hall. Immediately afterward, Han Zhi took Su Zhen by the hand and led her toward the bridal chamber.
The bridal chamber could well be called the most joyous spot in the entire Fuping Earl Mansion—adorned with red candles and red paper, and strewn with jujubes, peanuts, and longan fruits. Supported by Yueping, Su Zhen sat down on the edge of the bed, while the endless knot she had been holding was unfastened and tucked beneath the bed.
Meanwhile, the wooden tablet in Han Zhi's hand was replaced with a "ruyi balancing scale," and the ritual master signaled that he could now lift the bride's veil. However, things were not quite so simple—
Though Han Zhi lifted Su Zhen's veil, the "face-shielding fan" in her hands completely blocked her true appearance from view.
"Will the groom please recite a veil-lifting poem? The bride is feeling shy!" the ritual master announced with a smile.
Han Zhi rubbed his eyebrow, then recited the very same poem he had been made to take back at the Su Family's gates. As soon as he finished reciting, Su Zhen lowered the fan in her hand.
At that sight, Han Zhi was utterly captivated:
Carefully made up, her face was impeccably clean, with all stray wisps of hair swept back behind her head. Whether from cosmetics or her natural complexion, her skin was as white and flawless as mutton-fat jade.
When she lifted her eyes slightly, they shimmered like gentle ripples of water; her brows resembled distant, ink-touched mountains—traced lightly, yet possessing a unique and lingering charm.
Her eyes stirred slightly, glancing toward her left, which finally jolted Han Zhi back to his senses, and he sat down beside her. Two maidservants stepped forward once more, each clipping a lock of hair from the bride and groom, intertwining them with silk ribbons and hairbands to form a single knot, which they placed beneath the pillow.
Surrounding female relatives showered the bed with copper coins and colorful fruits, while on the other side, maidservants approached carrying wine cups.
Han Zhi and Su Zhen each filled a cup of wine, and the ritual master proclaimed, "Bridegroom and bride, please drink the wedding wine with crossed arms!"
Their arms crossed over one another, bringing the two of them closer than ever. Han Zhi could even feel the gentle warmth of Su Zhen's breath against his hand as they gazed into each other's eyes and drank down the wine in their cups.
The maidservants took back the two cups and placed them under the bed—one facing upward, one inverted. With that, the maidservants lowered the bed curtains, and Han Zhi had to go out to greet and thank the relatives.
Surrounded by the crowd, Han Zhi stepped out of the bridal chamber. Straining to look back, he could see Su Zhen watching him through the gap, following his departure with her eyes.
He smiled at Su Zhen, and she responded by covering her mouth with her fan and smiling back.
Arriving at the front hall, the banquet was already underway. The moment the guests caught sight of Han Zhi, they smiled and walked over, each holding a wine cup and offering words of congratulation.
At that moment, Han Zhuo walked over with a smile, holding two wine cups, and called out, "Take your time, take your time! Don't crowd the groom!"
The guests laughed and stopped pressing forward. Afterward, Han Zhuo handed the wine cups he was holding to Han Zhi, murmuring in a low voice, "Drink sparingly. Tonight, your father will have everyone cleared out of your courtyard."
Han Zhi blinked, staring at Han Zhuo in astonishment, but his father merely nodded with what seemed to be a knowing look in his eyes.
"Congratulations to Official Han and Lady Su on joining in marriage!"
"Wishing Jieyuan Han an early birth of noble sons!"
No sooner had Han Zhuo stepped back from the crowd than the guests swarmed forward with smiles, offering congratulations with every breath and thrusting wine cups into his hands. Their intentions were blatantly clear—they were determined to get Han Zhi drunk!