Chapter 235.2: Wedding 1
Jing Wan no longer paid him any attention. Tomorrow, there will be plenty of things to exhaust over.
Li Hong Yuan s.h.i.+fted Jing Wan’s body, doing his best to let her sleep more comfortably.
The reason why he came to look for Jing Wan was purely because he couldn’t fall asleep. The closer it got to the wedding date, the more he was unable to sleep at night, not out of nervousness, but rather excitement. From head to toe, his body was all crying out in excitement. He never thought of controlling it, instead indulging himself. Just, he indeed hasn’t been resting well these last few days. Although he himself didn’t think much of it, his body more or less reflected some of it. He and Wan Wan’s big day, he naturally wanted to bring out his best state.
And in reality, Jing Wan was indeed able to let him sleep peacefully.
When Jing Wan woke up, she didn’t see him, although she was already accustomed to this. In the future, that b.a.s.t.a.r.d can just sleep holding her for however long he wants, without worrying about anyone seeing, and further don’t need to worry about anyone criticizing. What mood that b.a.s.t.a.r.d was in, Jing Wan didn’t know, but no longer needing to sneak about like a thief in the future, Jing Wan was still quite happy. As for the numerous problems she might face after marrying, Jing Wan believed that she wasn’t someone who would refuse to face reality, so however it should be, just let it be.
Today, Jing Wan was actually unable to do her morning exercises. Very early in the morning, a lot of people came to her place.
The good fortune madams, the matron of honor, and also numerous servant girls.
From the start, it was just very busy, yet busy but not chaotic.
Just, Jing Wan got tormented a bit miserably, this bath taken a full three times, flower petals, aromatherapy, and so on all used, and afterwards, even did a full body treatment. Even if she was used to Gong mama treating her everyday, Jing Wan still felt tormented, silently sympathizing the other women. However, Jing Wan didn’t know that not every bride was like this. Because the person she will marry was an imperial descendant, it thus was this complicated. In the end, it was still the ‘disaster’ brought about by the other party’s status. Just like those imperial concubines, prior to getting pampered, all need to vigorously toss about, their purpose all the same, they must be beautiful from head to toe, becoming a heavenly beauty, striving to have the groom captivated till he loses his soul, and afterwards, strive for a perfect bridal night.
This was precisely ‘everyone’s’ ‘sinister intentions’.
Just this, just wasted four hours, and this was still because Jing Wan’s foundation was very good to begin with.
After finished getting cleaned, Jing Wan was finally permitted to eat a little. Now that was really just kitten food. Jing Wan pitifully wanted to eat a little more, but was forcefully refused by stern words of propriety. Just thinking that she needs to starve all the way until nighttime, Jing Wan’s entire person felt unwell. Clearly it was two people getting married, but how come that b.a.s.t.a.r.d can just eat and drink as much as he likes without misgivings, while she has to starve? Jing Wan strangely felt a bit resentful.
More and more people gathered in the room.
Jing Wan’s hair was loosely tied behind her head. The good fortune madam began threading her face for her.
Using powdered pearls, it was evenly applied on the face. Ordinary families seemingly just used flour.
After applying, the good fortune madam used five colored threads twisted into one, and afterwards, under another madam’s help, tightened the string, and began setting to the task. Even if the pore hairs on Jing Wan’s face was spa.r.s.e, barely visible, it didn’t mean that there weren’t any. At the time, when Zhou Ying Shuang got married, thinking that the good fortune madam can just go through the motions for her was practically a pipe dream. Precisely because there were few, she was even more attentive and meticulous, seemingly like if she can’t wring out even more pore hairs, then she won’t be able to display her threading skill.
Clearly it was painful, yet she needed to endure the pain, motionless like a mountain.
“Lifting a pair of good fortune chopsticks, the n.o.ble air descends from the heavens, dispelling the filth, seeking good fortune, a hundred years of peace. First cleaning the forehead, when getting married, won’t starve, don’t fear exhaustion in labor, and filial piety begets love; second cleaning the eyes, avoiding calamity and dissolving hards.h.i.+p, husband and wife hand in hand, all the way until old age; third cleaning the nose, protecting the family, keeping safe and sound, giving birth to a son soon, the husband and wife harmonious; fourth cleaning the mouth, luck coming from the mouth, getting on the sedan to go to the husband’s family, having a happy union tonight; fifth cleaning the face, the l.u.s.trous and translucent skin like jade, a pure and fair good young lady, bestowing you riches and honors for thousands of years; behind the ear, the neck, everywhere clean, everywhere pure, the whole family happy for a lifetime.”
For the sake of diverting her attention, Jing Wan carefully listened to the good fortune madam reciting the verses, all some auspicious words.
After getting the face threaded and cleaned, Jing Wan’s face, aside from becoming rosy, actually didn’t have any other changes. Then again, it was already glossy and smooth to begin with. Quite a few people all praised Jing Wan for having good skin, “This body of good skin of miss’s, Jin Qinw.a.n.g should love too much to part.”
Jing Wan ‘bashfully’ hid her face, causing the onlookers to cover their mouth and giggle.
Jing Wan let someone give out red packets again. That’s right, everything that needs to be done for her today all need to have a red packet for.
Bathing for the bathing ceremony, face threading for the face threading ceremony, hair combing for the hair combing ceremony, clothing for the clothing ceremony…………way too many.
Shortly after, the good fortune madam began combing Jing Wan’s hair for her again:
One comb, combing to the head, need not to worry for riches and honor;
Second comb, combing to the head, no illness and no sorrow;
Third comb, combing to the head, many children and longevity;
To comb again, combing to the tail, holding the tray, mutual respect in marriage;
Second comb, combing to the tail, flying together wing to wing in union;
Third comb, combing to the tail, forever bounded like a heart ornament.
———–The comb, every single time, all lightly combed from the root of the hair to the tail, slowly, carrying rhythm and cadence.
The things in the verses were probably what many women pursued for a lifetime, but no matter how pleasantly said, how many people can achieve it? For Jing Wan, the rest she can all have, but this ‘many children’ bit, sigh…….
According to her, an outstanding child, one was more than enough, but the people at present all lived by the concept of ‘many children, many blessings’, and daughters simply weren’t considered heirs. That’s why, probably no one would allow her to just give birth to one child.
Shortly after, Jing Wan’s hair was completely tied up for the first time. Speaking from a certain perspective, it was already a married woman’s hairstyle.
Jing Wan on normal days very rarely put on makeup. In reality, towards her own look, she really didn’t care all that much. After all, today’s look was mainly for the newly-wedded husband to see, and what she was like, would that b.a.s.t.a.r.d not know?
However, the final result was somewhat beyond her expectations. This seemingly was the handiwork of the people by her side, and their skills, in the very beginning, came from her, no? They must have made preparations beforehand.
Soon after, Jing Wan went to the inner room to change her clothes. When she came out, the people in the room, not a single one wasn’t repeatedly exclaiming in admiration.
That entirely crimson moonlight silk, golden embroidered edges, the firm silk on the two shoulders like flower petals unfolding layer upon layer, going along the shoulders, inclining downward. The folded overlap of the gown in the middle flowed together downwards under the belt between the chest and abdomen. The wide sleeves and dress hem had six phoenixes flying into the ninth heaven outlined in gold, exquisite and beautiful, vivid and lifelike, as if they will fly off from the clothes at anytime. That luxurious gold accompanying the magnificent crimson moonlight, bringing out the best in each other, just like as if a wedding gown made of the flowing red clouds in the horizon. At the bend of the arm hung an extremely soft and extremely thin dark red mermaid muslin, the back of it following along the wedding gown downward, overlapping with the more than three foot long moonlight silk on the ground, trailing along. Bounded across the waist was three kinds of pure gold phoenix belt, folding over in layers and binding together, perfectly outlining her graceful figure.
Jing Wan’s two hands naturally folded over in front of her lower abdomen, her two eyes clear and bright, her lashes long, the makeup exquisite, and her lip color wasn’t that strong red, but rather deep pink, appearing gentle and pretty, carrying a slightly smile. Even if she wasn’t an absolute beauty, at this very moment, she still gave people a kind of ‘the most beautiful in the world is also nothing more than this’ feeling.
Even if the entire wedding gown just had red and gold, these two colors, it was still exceptionally gorgeous. Don’t know whether to say it was the clothes setting off Jing Wan’s temperament, or Jing Wan propping up the clothes’ magnificence. Or perhaps, they complemented one another. This was a one and only, peerless wedding dress that just belonged to Jing Wan.
T/N: Did I mention I hate translating ancient verses. And I feel like if I have to look at another adjective I might slam my head into a wall. I also added some pictures of traditional wedding gowns as material for your visualization.