Listening to the gasps that sounded out around us, I smiled as I turned to nod at Li Yichen, clasping her hand in mine.
I could feel the surprise and jealousy directed at us, though most of that was angled mainly at Yichen.
Squeezing her hand slightly, I raised my hand as I hushed the crowd, who turned to stare at the Matriarch as she rose to her feet, moving languidly towards the center of the platform.
Walking over to her, Yi'er and I knelt and kowtowed to the Matriarch, before she asked "Gao Chen; Whether she has sickness or health, beauty or is plain, in the good times and bad, are you willing to love her, to comfort her, to respect her and protect her? Are you willing to be together with her for the rest of your long, prosperous life?"
The venue was silent as the Matriarch spoke, and her serious voice made my heart race, but I took the vow nonetheless.
"I, Gao Chen, swear to love and nurture Li Yichen as my wife and as the mother of my children, present and future, for the rest of our lives together. I swear to protect her peace and happiness, for it is my own."
Nodding, the Matriarch turned to Li Yichen, and she asked "Li Yichen; Do you swear to support and aid your wife through all hardships in the future, to be her guiding, and calming voice in trying times? Will you remain loyal to her for the many years to come, and to raise and nurture the children she gifts you?"
"I, Li Yichen, promise to the heavens to be her pillar, to shelter her from any storm that rages outside our home. I swear to maintain the hearth and warm our house, so that it shall forever be our home."
Many were surprised by the raspy whisper that filled the courtyard, but they didn't make any sounds as the Matriarch briefly looked up, her azure eyes hard as they swept over the crowd.
"Then exchange rings and drink; finalize your union before the Moonlit Orchard, and come together as family."
Nodding, we both pulled out the small ring boxes that had been prepared for us, and I grew curious as I exchanged boxes with Yi'er.
Neither of us knew what the other had prepared as a ring, and I was curious as to what she had chosen; would it be a serious ring, or would it be a ring that held a slight against me?
Nodding to one another, I watched as Yi'er opened her box first, revealing the golden band and large Arctic Sapphire that adorned the top, while a Cloud Diamond sat nestled on either side of the pale blue sapphire.
The Cloud Diamonds shifted colors, going from white to gray to blue and back, while the sapphire was a cold pale blue, which matched her eyes perfectly.
Taking the ring for her, I slipped it onto her left ring finger, the gold shrinking to fit her finger perfectly.
Smiling softly at her, I turned back to the box in my hands, lifting the lid and staring at it.
Like hers, it was a golden band, and sitting on the top where two stones sat, one a circle and the other embedded in the center of that stone.
A deep, rich orange sapphire coiled around a small sliver of turquoise, and the meaning wasn't lost on me.
Blinking a few times, I looked over at Yi'er and chuckled, watching as her petite hands reached over to slip the ring on my finger.
It felt odd to wear a ring, but looking down at it, I nodded to myself, enjoying the weight.
"Drink."
Looking back up, I saw the Matriarch offering Yi'er and I a cup of wine each, a thin red string connecting the two cups together.
Seeing the 'string of fate' securing the two wine cups, I held back the urge to roll my eyes before graciously accepting the wine.
I never believed in higher powers, let alone fate.
Though...
Looking to the side, I saw Yi'er lift her veil ever so slightly, revealing those thin red lips and pale skin, making me gulp.
I wanted to lean over and grab her, but instead I just turned back to my cup and prepared to drink it.
Bringing it to my lips, I glanced to the side to see Yi'er mirror me, and I swiftly downed the sweet wine, enjoying the taste.
As for Yi'er, her lips puckered in mild disgust as the sweet, yet strong wine slid down her gullet.
Holding in another chuckle, I handed the cups back to the Matriarch and stood up, staring down at Yi'ers veiled face.
"Now that the union has been made official, Gao Chen, Li Yichen, you need one last action to completely seal this union permanently..."
Nodding, I reached forwards and lifted the veil from her face, blinking idly as I took in her permanent sad features, finding it rather cute with how she tilted her head slightly to stare at me.
Her pale blue eyes were unreadable, and I took a deep breath and leaned down, ignoring the murmuring of the crowd as I cupped her cheek.
Yi'er closed her eyes and tilted her head back, allowing me better access to her lips.
Sliding my other hand around her waist, I pulled her closer and gently pressed my lips against hers, enjoying the sweet taste of her tongue as I pushed my tongue inside her mouth.
The people gathered around continued to murmur as I held her, but I couldn't care less as I focused instead on savoring her taste, knowing that the next few hours would be long and tedious.
Yi'er shivered in my arms, and when I broke apart she gasped adorably, her cheeks slightly blushed as she looked up at me with heated eyes.
Resisting the urge to pull her away from the venue, I took a deep breath and turned towards the crowd, preparing for the 'battle' to come.