"Congratulations, Brother Mo!"
Kong Huisuo cupped his hands and congratulated Meton. He was the representative of the Confucian School of Thought.
"You're too polite, Brother Kong. Please forgive me if I'm not a good host." Meton returned the gesture.
Kong Huisuo did not bother with the formalities and walked directly to Qin Huaiyu and the others.
"I thought you weren't coming," Qin Huaiyu said with dissatisfaction.
Kong Huisuo smiled bitterly and said, "How can I not be present for Brother Mo's wedding?"
The Confucian School of Thought and the School of Thought were both schools of thought. Although the two schools had conflicts, they still had to show their etiquette on the surface. No one from the Confucian School was willing to come, so they could only send Kong Huisuo.
"The auspicious hour has arrived!"
Following Fu Bo's loud shout, the entire place suddenly became silent. Everyone knew that this grand wedding had finally reached the most crucial moment. The wedding ceremony was about to begin.
At this moment, the hall had already been emptied, leaving only Meton and Princess Changle. Meton held Princess Changle's hand and walked to the center of the hall. Immediately, everyone's eyes focused on the two of them.
"Next, let's invite the officiator of the School of Medicine, Sun Simiao, and the witness, Han Zheng," Uncle Fu said loudly.
"Wedding officiator? Wedding witness?" Many guests were stunned.
This had never happened in a wedding in the Tang dynasty. However, it did not stop the crowd from understanding. The officiator was the one who presided over the wedding, and the witness was the one who gave the marriage certificate. Sun Simiao was from the School of Medicine, and Han Zheng was from the School of Legalism. Both of them were highly respected, so it was not rude for them to officiate the wedding of Meton and Princess Changle.
"We're used to many weddings, but this is the first time we're attending a wedding of the School of Thought. There seems to be a lot of new ideas." Many guests were surprised and could not help but watch with interest.
Sun Simiao and Han Zheng went up the stage together and cupped their hands.
Han Zheng said loudly, "Old Man, Han Zheng, has been entrusted by the groom to be the witness of this wedding. This is the marriage certificate of Meton and Princess Changle. However, everyone should know that the new marriage law has already included the principle of mutual consent. This is the result of the groom's own efforts."
Immediately, many people burst out laughing. After all, the matter at that time was known by everyone in the city. Naturally, everyone knew about it.
Han Zheng solemnly said, "If that's the case, then I'll personally ask on behalf of everyone. Groom Meton, are you willing to take this woman as your wife? Love her and be faithful to her, in poverty, sickness, or disability, until death. "
After Han Zheng finished speaking, everyone immediately fell silent. Such a question was no less than making a vow. If they violated it, they would definitely be criticized by their relatives and friends. Moreover, the couple had to personally admit whether they were willing or not. Naturally, they could not do things that they were not willing to do. Everyone secretly nodded. In their hearts, they could not help but take this wedding a little more seriously.
"I'm willing!" Meton said without hesitation.
"Alright!"
Immediately, everyone applauded.
In fact, it was reasonable to say that Meton advocated a Chinese wedding. He did not intend to add such a vow. However, when he found that even though the marriage law had changed, the degree of freedom of marriage in the Tang dynasty was still very, very low, he had no choice but to add the vow in public. After promoting it, the principle of mutual consent would be greatly promoted.
"Bride Li Lizhi, are you willing to marry this man? Love him and be faithful to him, in poverty, sickness, disability, until death. "Han Zheng looked at Princess Changle again and asked.
"I'm willing!" Under the red veil, Princess Changle's firm voice came out.
"Oh!" Immediately, the guests' cheers resounded in the Mo Mansion.
Han Zheng nodded and said, "The wedding of the bride and groom is decided by their parents and the words of the matchmaker. Both parties are willing to be husband and wife. Here, I declare that the wedding of Meton and Li Lizhi is in line with the marriage law of the Tang dynasty. The marriage is legal. I wish the two newlyweds a long and happy life together."
Immediately, the audience burst into thunderous applause. This wedding gave them too many surprises.
Han Zheng bowed and left, but his heart could not calm down for a long time. He could not help but think of Meton's theory of the common people's daily use. Meton's wedding invited him to be the witness to prove that their marriage was legal. Wasn't this also the application of the common people's daily use?
After Han Zheng left, Sun Simiao walked to the front of the stage and said in a clear voice, "Old Man Sun Simiao greets all the guests. Today is the wedding day of Meton and Princess Changle Li Lizhi. I am entrusted by the groom to preside over this wedding. First of all, I wish the two newlyweds a long and happy life together and express a warm welcome to all of you."
Sun Simiao had lived for a long time. Naturally, he had seen too many weddings. With a few words, he made the atmosphere extremely hot.
"… Finally, let us bless the newlyweds again. I declare that the wedding ceremony officially begins." Sun Simiao said in a clear voice.
To the side, Princess Changle immediately became extremely nervous. She could not help but tug at Modun.
Morton said in a low voice, "Just do what I do later."
Under the veil, Princess Changle nodded her head in relief, the tension in her heart somewhat alleviating. However, she still could not help but feel anxious and uneasy. Before the wedding, she had crammed quite a few wedding procedures in order to avoid panic. However, all of her preparations had come to naught. Today's wedding was very different from today's, leaving her at a loss.
Sun Simiao saw that the two newlyweds stood still. He took a deep breath and said, "First, bow to Heaven and Earth!"
"Bow to Heaven and Earth?" Everyone couldn't help but be stunned. This was an unprecedented saying. Before this, couples would bow to each other when they got married. There was no such thing as bowing to Heaven and Earth.
"Could it be a custom unique to the Mo Family?" Everyone was puzzled. However, the world in this era was extremely mysterious. Bowing to Heaven and Earth did not feel inappropriate. Instead, it made everyone's eyes light up.
Sun Simiao couldn't help but sigh in his heart. When he first saw the wedding process, he couldn't help but be amazed by the process of bowing to Heaven and Earth!
Meton and Princess Changle solemnly bowed. This bow was witnessed by Heaven and Earth. From then on, the two were husband and wife.
"Second, bow to your parents!" Sun Simiao shouted again.
Although Meton's parents died early, their memorial tablets were placed in the middle of the hall.
Meton and Princess Changle solemnly bowed again.
"Husband and wife, bow to each other!" Sun Simiao shouted again.
Everyone nodded slightly. In this era, most weddings were done by the husband and wife bowing to each other. However, the Mo Family's wedding had added a bow to Heaven and Earth, and then to their parents. It was simply a stroke of genius.
Meton and Princess Changle turned around and faced each other. Both of them bowed at the same time. This bow symbolized the bond between husband and wife for life.
"The ceremony is complete! Send them to the bridal chamber! "
Sun Simiao said solemnly. Immediately, everyone cheered.
As Modun led Princess Changle into the bridal chamber that had been meticulously prepared for Princess Changle, the entire Modun Estate was thrown into a banquet. Exquisite food was served one after another. Vegetables that were rarely seen on the market were out of season, and crystals that were extremely valuable on the market were used to resolve a thousand worries. Modun's wedding banquet had everything that could be expected.
Everyone was tasting the delicious food. The topic of conversation was always about this refreshing wedding. Meton's wedding had too many changes, but every change was talked about enthusiastically.
The bridal sedan and carriage were removed from the drawbacks of being too slow and the sedan bearers were extorted. The bowing to Heaven and Earth was witnessed by Heaven and Earth, making it more solemn. The wedding vows that the newlyweds would spend their lives together. It was truly voluntary. It was believed that it wouldn't be long before this wedding model would be popularized in the Tang Dynasty. The entire Tang Dynasty's wedding customs would change because of this.
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