MTCCP Chapter 20

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The entire process could be described as elaborate and meticulous, with a strong performative aspect.

The citizens of Lin Country had always held deep reverence and curiosity toward the royal family, and the annual celebration broadcasts consistently garnered high viewership ratings.

According to tradition, the groom's procession was to enter through Yiguang Gate from the east. After the formal ceremony in the hall, the couple would receive congratulations from noblewomen and dignitaries before proceeding to the grand banquet.

When the emperor or the crown prince married, the ceremony was referred to as Fèng Luán Hé (Phoenix and Luan Harmony).

Lin Country, situated on a subtropical island, was home to abundant flora, with countless birds migrating there seasonally to roost or overwinter.

China upheld the dragon as its sacred emblem, with emperors throughout history claiming to be true dragon sons of heaven. Lin Country, as a vassal state, dared not overstep these boundaries, instead drawing embroidery patterns from various bird species.

Whether it was the silver peacock adorning a sleeve or the resplendent bird of paradise gracing a robe, every detail was both luxurious and distinctive.

The wedding date was carefully chosen based on the couple’s birth charts, selecting the most auspicious day, which was publicly announced twenty days in advance.

Upon hearing the news that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was to be officially wed, many young women—both married and unmarried—reacted as if they had lost a great love, with some even going out drinking in despair.

#Official Announcement of Fèng Luán Hé Date

#Who is the Crown Princess?

#Thousands Prepare to "Steal the Bride"

Hua Muzhi had been unassailably handsome since childhood, and his demeanor was equally impeccable. Though he had only granted a few media interviews, and his public appearances were mostly limited to accompanying the emperor and empress at ceremonies, his popularity within the country was comparable to that of a top-tier celebrity.

On Douban, dedicated confession threads were set up for him. In Rabbit Forum, fans compiled extensive audio-visual records to express their admiration. Unofficial fan content flooded every corner of the internet.

Some skeptics questioned whether this was a deliberate marketing campaign by the royal family, only to be swiftly shut down by the masses.

"Jealous much? You’re delusional if you think this is just hype!!"

"We’d love for His Highness to debut as a celebrity!! But it’s never going to happen, boohoo—"

Driven by their love for gossip, the public was eager to uncover the identity of the Crown Princess, investigating family background and potential scandals.

However, the Yue family had been one step ahead. Any traces online had been meticulously erased, leaving no clues behind.

As the excitement surrounding the event continued to grow, past records of Hua Muzhi were unearthed.

On the day of his coming-of-age ceremony, he delivered a public speech at Lin Capital National University to inspire himself and his generation.

He spoke without a script, addressing the audience entirely in English. Even during the live Q&A, his responses were flawless.

Polite, refined, and elegant—truly like a willow in the spring breeze.

The speech was later included in English textbooks, with students required to read and memorize it in its entirety.

—

On the day the wedding robe arrived, Yue Yiwan was scrolling through Weibo.

He knew Hua Muzhi was popular, but he hadn’t expected the topic to remain trending even after five days.

Some fans had spontaneously created various lock screen and desktop wallpapers, and there were even chibi-style plush dolls of him in traditional attire.

Some of the wallpapers were indeed breathtakingly beautiful. Silently, Yue Yiwan right-clicked to save one and set it as his own.

As his finger swiped across the screen, he noticed some haters stirring up controversy in the trending topics section.

"Of course, he has to put on a good act—he needs to fulfill your delusional fantasies, you fangirls. Who knows what kind of person he really is behind closed doors, haha."

"My classmate’s relative worked in the palace for a while. I heard the Crown Prince is actually violent and arrogant in private, smashing porcelain at servants' faces."

"As a neutral observer, I have to say this theory actually sounds pretty plausible. Some people are just wolves in sheep’s clothing. The adult world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. :)"

Yue Yiwan’s eyebrow twitched as he read, thinking to himself how everything had become like fan wars these days.

Even pet communities had conflicts. Book fandoms fought. And now, even a royal wedding had haters? Just how much free time did these trolls have?

The Crown Prince exuded warmth and approachability even just by standing still. There was no way he was as despicable as they claimed.

"Your Highness." A royal attendant approached, presenting a lacquered box. "It’s time to try on your attire."

Yue Yiwan blinked and repeated, "What did you just call me?"

"Your Highness, Prince Yong." The imperial attendant smiled. "His Majesty has already given instructions. Although the official title has not yet been conferred, all rituals and allowances will follow the standards of a prince."

He was momentarily stunned, feeling a bit out of place, yet at the same time, he couldn't help but enjoy it a little.

So now, I am a prince too.

The lacquered boxes were quite heavy—there were three in total.

A soaring luan bird was elegantly depicted, its design magnificent and refined, colored in pale gold, bright silver, and deep red. Its eyes were inlaid with ruby-red gems, resembling pigeon’s blood. The gold and silver threads used in the embroidery were of substantial weight.

The first box contained an elaborate inner robe and a waistband, the second held an outer robe and small accessories.

The third box contained a long ceremonial crown adorned with gemstones, a design blending ancient and modern styles.

Placed together, these boxes were so heavy that a young girl might not even be able to lift them.

No wonder physical training includes strength exercises… So it’s to prevent me from being crushed under the weight of my own attire.

The first time Yue Yiwan wore the full ceremonial outfit, he almost fainted.

The thick robes pressed down heavily, making every movement a burden, and on top of that, he had to balance a jade crown on his head like a weightlifter.

Since he had pierced ears, he also had to wear two tourmaline pendants shaped like peacock feathers. His wrists bore bracelets as well.

Fully dressed, he not only had to walk from the Ming Temple to the front court after the Crown Prince came to fetch him, but he also had to wear this opulent ensemble while paying respects to the Emperor and Empress.

Could they spare me?

It was said that the Crown Prince wasn’t faring much better—his shoes were even embedded with jewels, making walking a challenge.

As per custom, the couple was not to meet before the wedding, and they had adhered strictly to this rule—no messages had even been exchanged.

Then, on the long-awaited day, November 11th, Yue Yiwan was woken up at three in the morning.

Still half-asleep, he allowed the attendants to dress him up like a little puppet, raising his arms when instructed and tilting his head as directed.

By the time everything was in place, he found himself sitting before a mirror, drifting between sleep and wakefulness as imperial makeup artists worked on his eyes and lips.

It felt as if he had dozed off for a bit, yet also remained awake, listening to the attendants and stewards bustling about.

By five o’clock, his outfit was finally complete, and they began adorning him with bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.

Even though he had taken melatonin and gone to bed at eight the previous night, he was still so drowsy that he could barely keep his eyes open.

I’m probably going to end up looking like a peacock…

At this moment, the ritual hall commenced the Proposal, Name Inquiry, and Betrothal Gift Presentation.

Drones hovered in the sky, capturing footage, while official media stationed outside documented everything.

The entire ceremony was a fusion of ancient and modern traditions, and although today’s rituals were meant to be completed in one go, the betrothal and gift exchanges had already taken place beforehand. Today was simply a reenactment for the extended family to witness.

The Hua and Yue family clans were all in attendance, having undergone extensive etiquette training in preparation.

The exchange of betrothal documents took place, while dowries and gifts flowed past in a grand procession.

The Crown Prince, astride a silver-maned white horse, led a grand escort along Yuzhang Road to fetch his bride.

The streets had long been sealed off, and in the distance, citizens cheered and waved binoculars, eager for a glimpse of the Crown Prince.

Among them were tourists and foreign media personnel who had undergone security checks just to enter these two blocks. They weren’t even allowed to bring drinking water—an effort in itself.

When Yue Zhigu arrived at the hall, his expression was rather complex. "Are you sure you want me to carry you into the bridal sedan?"

Yue Yiwan, adorned like a Christmas tree, opened his arms, the ornaments jingling. "Come on, big brother."

Yue Zhigu resigned himself to fate, took a deep breath, and heaved his little "Christmas tree" of a brother into the sedan chair, hurrying to place him inside.

He was unbelievably heavy… Yue Zhigu even heard a faint crack somewhere in his spine.

Hua Muzhi arrived on horseback and nodded respectfully to Yue Zhigu from a distance.

The Yue family’s elderly steward, with tears streaming down his face, raised his head and called out loudly—

"Lift the sedan!"

Yue Yiwan didn’t dare doze off anymore. Holding onto the frame, he peeked outside.

The entire road was indeed on lockdown. I could roll around ten times in the middle of the street, and nothing would happen.

Yue Zhigu followed the sedan halfway, then turned back as dictated by custom, symbolizing the formal handover.

Imperial attendants on both sides scattered tea leaves and glutinous rice, letting them fall like gentle rain.

Silk and stringed instruments played melodies that sounded like they came straight from ancient times.

It really feels like we’re acting in a historical drama.

The Emperor and Empress awaited them at the Ming Temple. First, they would lead their descendants and family members in bowing before the ancestral shrine before proceeding to the main hall for the official wedding rites.

Yue Yiwan stepped out of the sedan, raising his hand to grasp Hua Muzhi’s. Finally, they could see each other clearly.

The young man, lively and mischievous, wore robes embroidered with soaring luan birds. The pale gold and shimmering silver feathers made him look as though he were draped in sunlight.

His silver hair was tied up, and the jade in his crown gleamed brightly.

Hua Muzhi, clad in deep red wedding robes, was adorned with phoenix embroidery. The golden threads wove intricate patterns on his billowing sleeves, reflecting dazzling light in the morning sun.

Wearing a gold crown and crimson robes, he appeared even more strikingly handsome.

Simply standing together, they looked like a perfect match.

"You look amazing," Hua Muzhi said with a smile.

Yue Yiwan had rarely seen him wear such bold colors. Under the radiant sunlight, the man’s features seemed to burn brightly, like a noble bloom.

"Mm." He adjusted his grip on Hua Muzhi’s hand through the thick sleeves and stepped steadily in his wooden clogs. "Let’s go."

Everyone in attendance had donned traditional clothing, and as Yue Yiwan took in the sight of the gathered royal family members, he felt an eerie sense of time twisting.

It was as if he had truly traveled back a thousand years and become Prince Yong.

The Grand Princess and the young prince stood solemnly, while the two Empress Dowagers stood in the front row, their figures aged yet dignified.

Since the ancient Office of Ceremonies no longer existed, an imperial attendant announced the rituals in a loud voice.

Everyone knelt in unison, bowing three times in reverence to their ancestors.

The sedan was carried through the Yiguang Left Gate, proceeding toward the palace.

The main hall, once a place for imperial councils, had been transformed into a grand ceremonial hall. Even foreign dignitaries were received there from time to time.

Rules and rituals had changed, just as customs had evolved.

What once required candlelight to illuminate the suspended halls was now brightly lit with modern lighting. Outside the hall, an arched bridge stretched across a lake that gleamed like the sun.

The front court’s lake symbolized the sun, while the inner palace’s river symbolized the moon—sun and moon shining together, a blessing for the royal family’s eternal prosperity.

"First bow to heaven and earth—"

"Second bow to the honored elders—"

"Husband and husband bow to each other—"

Yue Yiwan turned, looking at Hua Muzhi’s smiling eyes, and couldn’t help but smile himself.

From now on, they were a family.

They bowed deeply in unison.

"On this day, the peach blossoms burn bright, the household shall flourish. May the future bring endless prosperity, and your lineage thrive. With this vow of lifelong companionship, let it be recorded in the crimson registry."

"This is the proof."

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