In the Northern Song Dynasty, he started by marrying the eighth daughter of the Su family.

After passing through the "gate-blocking" area, the gatekeepers dispersed. Yueping and several maids, who had been waiting for a long time, came to the sedan chair and welcomed Su Zhen out.

As soon as Su Zhen stepped out of the bridal sedan chair, a person dressed in a black and white robe came out, holding a "dou" (a type of container) filled with grains, beans, copper coins, and colorful fruits, and scattering them towards the door while chanting incantations.

Immediately, two more rows of maids, carrying blue brocade rugs, laid them at Su Zhen's feet. Only then did Yueping pull Su Zhen forward.

They moved through the seating area to the main threshold, where a saddle and a scale were placed. Yueping whispered a reminder and then helped Su Zhen step over it. Now, Su Zhen had passed through the main gate, which was the true meaning of "crossing the threshold."

Yueping helped Su Zhen all the way, and Han Zhi followed them to the nearest house, where they hung up curtains and had Su Zhen sit inside to wait.

As soon as Su Zhen sat down, the servants brought wine jugs and cups to Han Zhi. Liang Zhe reminded him, "The groom must drink this wine before he can go outside to perform the high seat ceremony."

Han Zhi nodded, accepted the wine glass, bowed to everyone, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Now it was Han Zhi's turn to be surrounded by the crowd and brought to the main hall. A bed had already been set up in the hall, with a chair on it, which was the "high seat" that Han Zhi was to sit on.

He slowly stepped forward and sat down at Liangzhe's prompting. Liangzhe and the matchmaker who had spoken on their behalf then stepped forward, each holding a wine jug, and said in unison:

"This humble servant humbly requests that the groom descend from his seat!"

As she spoke, Yueping handed the wine cup to Han Zhi, and then Liangzhe and the matchmaker poured wine for him one after the other. After drinking two cups, Han Zhi stood up and went to the bed below.

After the two of them, several aunts and maternal aunts came forward, each giving Han Zhi a cup to drink. Only then did Han Zhi get off the bed and stand on the floor.

Finally, there was Madam Cheng, who had already arrived at the Marquis of Fuping's residence with the wedding procession. She also held a wine cup in her hand and poured a cup into Han Zhi's wine cup.

"Young master, this is the last cup of the high-seat ceremony."

"I've met my mother-in-law."

Han Zhi smiled and bowed, then downed the wine in his cup in one gulp. Madam Cheng found the young man increasingly pleasing to the eye; at least he was refined and cultured. To be able to invite so many people to a wedding, his character was undoubtedly impeccable.

"Groom, please proceed to the bridal chamber to celebrate your wealth and honor!"

Liang shouted again, and then a group of people surrounded Han Zhi and went to the room where Su Zhen was.

This "sitting ceremony for wealth and honor" was relatively simple. Han Zhi was given a bamboo slip and sat on the left side of the bed, while Su Zhen sat on the right. Madam Han Zhou and Madam Cheng each took out a piece of colorful silk and tied it into a love knot.

One end of the love knot was hung in the locust tree slip in Han Zhi's hand, and the other end was placed in Su Zhen's hand, thus ending the knot.

"Holding the handkerchief, let's bow to the ancestors!"

Han Zhi walked backwards, and Su Zhen faced him, letting the former lead her towards the central hall.

Upon arriving at the main hall, the two stood together in the center, while Han Zhuo and Han Zhoushi sat in front of them. Several memorial tablets were placed on the table between the two elders.

"The first bow is to the ancestors and the heavens and earth!"

The two bowed and paid their respects to the memorial tablets.

"The second bow is to our parents!"

Now, the ones being worshipped are Han Zhuo and Han Zhoushi.

"The third bow, the husband and wife bow to each other!"

Two maids then stepped forward and helped Han Zhi and Su Zhen stand facing each other. Finally, both of them bowed and clasped their hands in a gesture of respect.

"Moving into the new house!"

As soon as the last three words were uttered, the wedding ceremony ended, and all the guests in the front hall cheered. Then, Han Zhi led Su Zhen towards the bridal chamber.

The bridal chamber was arguably the most festive place in the entire Fuping Marquis's mansion—red candles, red paper, dates, scallions, and osmanthus blossoms. Su Zhen, supported by Yue Ping, sat on the bed, while the love knot on her hand was removed and tucked under the bed.

The bamboo slip in Han Zhi's hand was replaced with a "ruyi scale," and Liang Zhe gestured for him to remove the bride's veil. However, things were not that simple—

She removed Su Zhen's veil, but the "face-covering fan" in her hand completely concealed her true appearance.

“Groom, please recite a poem about the bride’s shyness!” Liang said at this moment.

Han Zhi scratched his eyebrows, then recited the poem that Su Zhen had taken from him at the Su family's gate. After he finished reading it, Su Zhen immediately put down his fan.

Han Zhi was completely mesmerized at this moment:

After careful grooming, her face was spotless, and her stray hairs were pulled back. Whether it was from makeup or her natural skin, her complexion was as white as jade.

With a slight lift of her eyes, her gaze is filled with tender ripples; her eyebrows are like distant mountains shrouded in mist, lightly drawn yet possessing a unique charm.

Her eyes flickered slightly as she glanced to her left. Han Zhi then snapped out of his reverie and sat down beside her. Two maids came forward, each cutting off a lock of hair and combining it with silk ribbons and other decorative items to form a bun, which they then placed under the pillow.

The women around were scattering coins and colorful fruits on the tent, while on the other side, a maid was bringing wine cups.

Han Zhi and Su Zhen each poured a cup of wine, and then the attendant said, "Bride and groom, please drink the nuptial wine!"

Their arms crossed, bringing them even closer. Han Zhi could even feel Su Zhen's breath on his hand. They looked at each other and drank the wine in their cups.

The maid took the two wine cups and placed them under the bed, one face up and the other face down. Then the maid lowered the bed curtains, and Han Zhi needed to go and thank his relatives.

Han Zhi was surrounded by everyone as he left the bridal chamber. He turned around with difficulty and saw Su Zhen looking at him, watching him leave.

He smiled at Su Zhen, who also covered his mouth with his fan and smiled back.

They arrived at the main hall, where the banquet had already begun. Everyone who saw Han Zhi greeted him with smiles, each holding a wine cup and offering words of congratulations.

Han Zhuo, holding two wine glasses, stepped forward with a smile, saying, "Take your time, take your time, don't push the groom!"

Everyone laughed and stopped pressing the matter. Then, Han Zhuo handed the wine glass in his hand to Han Zhi and said in a low voice, "Drink less. Tonight, I will have everyone evacuate your courtyard."

Han Zhi was taken aback and looked at Han Zhuo in surprise, while his father nodded, seemingly with a deeper meaning.

"Congratulations, Mr. Han, on your marriage to Lady Su!"

"Wishing Han Jieyuan a speedy birth of a son!"

As soon as Han Zhuo left the crowd, the guests rushed forward with smiles, offering congratulations and holding wine glasses in each hand. Their actions were clearly intended to get Han Zhuo to drink!