PFC Chapter 405 The Wedding Procession's Challenges: The Groomsmen Fails
Chapter 405 The Wedding Procession's Challenges: The Groomsmen Fails
Yang Wenwen and Gu Caiwei exchanged a knowing smile, each accepting the gold ingot, stepping aside, and gesturing for Gu Jingye to open the door.
The moment the two stepped aside, the groomsmen surged in like a tidal wave, their presence overwhelming.
The group walked until they reached the hanging flower gate, where they stopped.
Ma Wencai, Fang Shiyu, Guo Yuming, Xie Wenke, and Liu Lingzui stood in a neat row, looking very energetic.
On the other side of the hanging flower gate stood the three sisters, Gu Xuening, Gu Tongtong, and Gu Yingxue, gracefully standing.
Gu Xuening's gaze swept over the groomsmen, finally landing on the young prince Cang Lingxuan, and she said crisply, "Young prince, are you all ready to save time?"
Before Cang Lingxuan could speak, Duan Yifeng smiled, stepped forward and gently pinched Gu Xuening's cheek, teasingly saying, "Little girl, your uncle never knew you had this mischievous side."
Gu Xuening slapped Duan Yifeng's hand away and scolded, "Uncle, don't interrupt! Today we're just going to give you the questions."
Don't think you can get away with anything just because you're my uncle. No way!
"Alright, alright," Duan Yifeng smiled helplessly and waved his hand, "You little rascal, hurry up and give me the question!"
This round is a riddle game: "On the wedding night, when one's name is on the list of successful candidates in the imperial examination (guess the Chinese idiom)."
Helian Zhao leaned closer, looking at Gu Xuening with a questioning expression: "Little girl, are you sure this is a riddle?"
Ma Wencai looked at the groomsmen and joked, "What, you can't even answer such a simple riddle?"
Duan Yifeng rolled his eyes at him and teased, "Then tell me, what's the answer to the riddle?"
Gu Caiwei looked at them with a smile: "The answer is, 'Joyful surprise'!"
Ma Wencai and the others collectively: "..."
Why did you say it so quickly?
They even wanted to use these riddles to trap Duan Yifeng and his companions. You have to understand, when the five of them first arrived at the Imperial Academy...
It was those few who were leading the mockery of them.
A gentleman seeks revenge; they've been waiting for this moment to avenge their humiliation.
The groomsmen were speechless for a moment...
Mu Qingfeng glanced at Fang Shiyu's frustrated face, his eyes flickered, and his smile deepened.
You little fox, just you wait.
Cang Lingxuan glanced at his group of mischievous friends, adjusted his headdress, and said ingratiatingly, "Little girl, please ask the next question."
Gu Yingxue opened a purse and took out a note: "It has a head but no neck, eyes but no eyebrows, no feet but can walk, and wings but cannot fly. (Guess the animal)"
A group of groomsmen...
I facepalm! So depressing!
Are they really academic underachievers?
What is this riddle?
It feels like we're from two different worlds.
Ma Wencai watched as the groomsmen whispered amongst themselves, and he burst into laughter.
She exchanged a glance with Xie Wenke and thought, "Hmph! These are the few of them, carefully selected from thousands of riddles given by Sister Jin."
One of the best man shouted, "Ms. Gu, we concede defeat. Please give us the answer."
Gu Yingxue glanced at everyone and smiled slyly: "Yes, fish!"
"what……"
…………
The Gu family courtyard was brightly decorated and bustling with activity as a unique game of "flying flowers" (a traditional Chinese game of wordplay) was in full swing.
Dressed in brocade robes, Ma Wencai stepped forward with an air of elegance, his voice booming: "This round is a flying flower order game with the character 'flower' in it. I'll start the first round."
Like a spring breeze overnight, pear blossoms bloom on thousands of trees.
Helian Zhao strode forward, clapping his hands rhythmically, full of cadence: "The cassia blossoms fall in the quiet of the day, the spring mountains are empty in the stillness of the night."
Fang Shiyu raised an eyebrow, glanced at Mu Qingfeng, and said to Helian Zhao with a slightly critical tone, "Barely correct. From now on, the number of characters in each line of poetry must be the same."
When Mu Qingfeng saw that it was him who was speaking, she simply smiled elegantly at him and did not say anything.
However, in the instant their eyes met, Mu Qingfeng looked at Fang Shiyu with eyes full of doting affection.
As soon as Fang Shiyu said this, the groomsmen looked at each other, their expressions revealing a hint of guilt.
Immediately afterwards, the next round of the "Flying Flowers" game began.
Liu Lingzui, with his sharp eyes, posed another question: "This round has the character 'moon' in it, so I'll start—'Raising a cup to invite the bright moon, we become three with our shadows.'"
Seeing Fang Shiyu turn around awkwardly, Mu Qingfeng turned to face him and smiled helplessly.
With a light and graceful figure, she stepped forward carrying a bamboo basket, smiling and speaking in a gentle voice: "The bright moon shines among the pines, and the clear spring flows over the rocks."
As the poems clashed, the groomsmen were utterly defeated.
The purses in their baskets were also decreasing at a visible rate.
With each coin lost, the groomsmen's hearts tightened, and fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on their foreheads.
By the time they reached the final stage, all the groomsmen's baskets were empty.
Fortunately, Cang Lingxuan was prepared. He took out several gold ingots that he had prepared in advance from his pocket.
Yu Ying and Dong Ping then slipped it through the crack in the door and opened the door with satisfaction.
Then they saw Jun Qirui carrying Jun Qixian out. Cang Lingxuan rushed forward and pulled the red silk that Jun Qirui handed him.
……
The auspicious time has arrived.
Amidst the blessings of the crowd, Jun Qixian was helped into the bridal sedan chair by Cang Lingxuan.
The wedding procession set off again, and with a burst of cheerful drum music, the procession marched in a grand procession toward the Prince Dun's Mansion.
Leading the way were several drummers dressed in red.
They pounded their drums with all their might, the sound deafening, as if trying to wake the whole world.
Following them were eight strong men carrying the bridal sedan chair. They carried it with steady steps and great care, as if afraid of the slightest bump.
Colorful flags fluttered and ribbons danced around the bridal sedan chair, creating a festive atmosphere.
Several servants, dressed in the same red clothes, each carried a basket.
It was filled with copper coins, colorful candies, and flower petals, which were scattered along the way.
The people were grabbing the loot while saying auspicious words.
Cang Lingxuan rode a tall white horse beside the bridal sedan chair.
He stood tall and proud, full of vigor, and his smile was as bright as the sun.
Along the way, accompanied by loud drumming and firecrackers, the event attracted a large number of onlookers.
People stopped to offer their sincerest blessings to the newlyweds.
Ruyi, [The bride has left. When do we leave?]
Dongfang Jin looked around. "Let's go now. We'll head closer and arrive at the Prince's residence before the wedding procession."
After speaking with Ruyi, he called out to the courtyard, "Jingye, tell Uncle and the others to go to the Prince's Mansion for the banquet!"
Shen Qihui answered her from the other end: "I understand!"
……
After the wedding procession returned to Prince Dun's Mansion, the long-awaited wedding ceremony officially began amidst everyone's eager anticipation.
As the melodious sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments filled the air, Prince Cang Lingxuan, dressed in a red-gold embroidered wedding gown, stood tall and straight, like a star.
Beside her stood Jun Qixian, adorned in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe. The phoenixes embroidered on her red wedding gown were so lifelike that they seemed ready to take flight at any moment.
The pearls and jade hanging from her phoenix crown swayed gently, trembling with each step she took.
A red ribbon, one end tied to the groom's hand and the other end leading the bride, leads her towards the groom's house.
She moved with light, graceful steps. Although her expression was not visible beneath the red veil, her slightly trembling fingertips betrayed her nervous yet expectant feelings.
Surrounded by maids and servants, the two were greeted with blessings from guests on both sides.
Children laughed and ran through the crowd, waving the candies they had just received.
We walked slowly along the red carpet toward the wedding hall in the main hall of the Prince's Mansion.
Above the wedding hall, a gilded plaque inscribed with "Dragon and Phoenix Bring Auspiciousness" hangs high, radiating a solemn light.
Below the plaque, a carved offering table is neatly arranged, with abundant offerings on it: red apples symbolize peace and good fortune.
Plump red dates symbolize the wish for many children, and the fragrant incense and candles add a touch of sacredness and solemnity to the wedding.
Prince Dun and his wife sat in the center of the throne room, the Imperial Tutor and his wife sat to his left, and the Duke of the State and his wife sat to his right.
The master of ceremonies, dressed in magnificent robes and holding a ceremonial register, announced loudly, "The auspicious hour has arrived—"
The voice was loud and clear, echoing for a long time above the Prince's Mansion.