The welcoming and wedding ceremony
As the royal entourage arrived at the Akakawa palace, the sweet scent of cherry blossoms filled the air as well as the sound of taiko drums and the delicate melodies of traditional flutes.
King Ryujin, resplendent in his formal attire stood at the forefront of the procession, flanked by his parents, the dowager king and queen.
The dowager queen, a stately woman with a kind face, smiled warmly as she greeted the princess. She presented the princess with a delicate hand-painted fan adorned with symbols of good fortune and prosperity while the king's siblings, Prince Taro and Princess Sakura stood behind their parents, dressed in their finest ceremonial attire.
Prince Taro, a handsome young man bowed deeply as he greeted the princess while Princess Sakura, a lively young girl curtsied and presented the princess with a bouquet of cherry blossoms; the official flower of Akakawa kingdom.
King Ryujin himself also stepped forward to welcome her. He was even more handsome than she had imagined with piercing brown eyes and jet black hair that fell to his shoulders.
The welcoming ceremony was attended by high ranking officials including the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and other members of the King's council.
They were all dressed in their formal attire, adorned with intricate embroidery and symbols of their office as they stood on either side of the throne room forming a procession to greet the future queen.
The king's warm smile put the princess at ease as he took her hand and led her into the palace where the dignitaries were already waiting to pay her homage and acknowledge her status.
As the procession made it's way to the throne room, the king's extended family members including uncles, aunts and cousins lined the corridors, bowing and greeting the princess as she passed.
As part of the wedding ceremony, the dignitaries presented Mei-Ling with gifts symbolizing their respect and loyalty. The gifts included a golden statue of the Akakawa palace crest representing the kingdom's prosperity and protection, a set of precious jewels, including rubies, sapphires and emeralds representing the kingdom's wealth and splendor and also a silk tapestry woven with intricate patterns and symbols signifying good fortune and happiness.
The Akakawa palace was a sprawling complex of buildings, courtyard and gardens with a strict hierarchy of servants, guards and nobles. At it's center was the throne room where the King held court and conducted official business.
After the welcoming ceremony, Princess Mei-Ling was escorted to her new quarters in the palace where a team of servants and ladies-in-waiting were awaiting her arrival.
As she stepped into her room with her handmaid, Jade, behind her; the Head maid stepped forward and bowed to the princess. She welcomed the princess and sought to introduce her servants to her, explaining their duties.
When she was through explaining, she clapped her hands twice, a signal for the servants to commence with the beauty treatments including baths, massages and hair styling to prepare the princess for the wedding ceremony.
Over the next few days, the princess settled into her new life at the Akakawa palace. She spent her days attending lessons on etiquette and protocol, practicing her language skills and getting to know the other members of the royal family.
Meanwhile, the palace staff worked tirelessly to prepare for the upcoming wedding ceremony. The air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers, the sound of hammering and sawing and the chatter of servants and courtiers.
On the fourth day after her arrival, the princess was summoned to the throne room, where the King and his advisors were waiting for her. She was informed that the wedding ceremony would take place the following day and that all the necessary preparations had been made.
The princess spent the rest of the day in a flurry of activity as she prepared for the big day ahead.
The day of the wedding ceremony dawned bright and clear, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the palace gardens. The princess, dressed in her beautiful white wedding kimono was escorted to the throne room by her handmaid and a procession of courtiers.
The King in his formal attire awaited the princess at the altar: a beautifully crafted wooden structure adorned with intricate carvings and silk hangings.
The High Priestess of the Akakawa temple, a wise and venerable woman stood before the altar, ready to officiate the ceremony.
The High Priestess began the ceremony by invoking the blessings of the gods and the ancestors. She then turned to the king and the princess and asked them to exchange their vows. The King spoke first promising to love and cherish the princess, to protect and support her and to rule the kingdom with wisdom and justice. The princess responded, promising to stand by the king's side, to support him in his duties and to be a loyal and faithful partner.
After the exchange of vows, the High Priestess presented the king and the princess with a pair of beautifully crafted gold rings adorned with precious stones.
The King placed the ring on the princess's finger and she did the same for him. The rings symbolized their commitment to each other and the bond that would unite them for the rest of their lives.
The High Priestess then presented the king and the princess with a sacred cup filled with a sweet fragrant wine. They shared the cup, drinking from it in turn to symbolize their union and their commitment to each other.
The High Priestess then pronounced the king and the princess as husband and wife and the assembly erupted into cheers and applause .
The King and the princess shared a tender kiss as the courtiers and guests looked on with joy and celebration. But not everyone was actually happy about the wedding.
Among the distinguished guests, many ladies were envious, jealous and angry that an unknown princess from nowhere would just arrive and possess their beloved king and among these disgruntled ladies was the king's very own female royal head guard, Commander Li-Chen.