The long wind brought songs, echoing within the prosperous Lake Capital City. The Sun tilted slightly to the west, casting light and shadow on the magnificent Great Temple. Hundreds of thousands of celebratory crowds, like tides, surged across the Capital City, raising joyful cheers. The Lake Capital City roared with joy, but within the palace and the Temple District, there was a solemn silence where the sacred wedding ceremony was taking place.
The grand wedding ceremony began in the morning and half a day had unknowingly passed. Two thousand Eagle Warrior Battalion and Jaguar Warrior Brigade lined up inside and outside the King’s palace, armored and armed, their expressions solemn and dignified. Envoys from various states stood in the summer sunshine, their faces still smiling with blessings despite the sweat dripping from their bodies.
As the host of the wedding, Cacamatzin was solemn and sang the speech aloud. It was not until this moment that the sacred wedding officially began.
"...Rainwater brings good news! The elderly woman comes from the East, carrying the ropes of agave, linking the two sides of the marriage!"
Soon, under the embrace of several noblewomen and dressed in luxurious clothing with feather adornments, an elderly woman slowly walked from the East. She was about fifty years old, kind and smiling, holding a ceremonial rope. Under the gaze of everyone, she first walked to Cacamatzin’s side, offering a gentle smile.
"Thank you, my wife."
Cacamatzin slightly bowed his head, entrusting the heavy burden of asking the intentions of both sides to his wife.
In a Mexica wedding, inquiring about intentions is the first step, and the envoy must be a highly respected elderly woman. Typically, this step occurs before the wedding itself. In this royal wedding, although there was a complete ritual process, most steps were merely formalities.
"Obeying you, my husband."
The elderly woman bowed and performed the礼. Then, she continued to walk forward slowly, arriving at the front of the King’s palace, and bowed respectfully to King Aweit on the second floor. Her identity was noble enough, being both an elder of the royal family and the envoy of the wedding, she did not need to kneel to the King.
King Aweit stood up and solemnly bowed back.
Then, the elderly woman smiled slightly and asked aloud.
"Alisa’s respected father! The pure Alisa is the most beautiful lotus of the royal family. The young Xiulote is the most valiant hummingbird of the royal family...May I ask, can the beautiful lotus bloom for the brave hummingbird?"
Upon hearing this, King Aweit’s expression became complex, and he lowered his head slightly. After a few moments, as the bride’s parent, he nodded in agreement.
The elderly lady stood in place, bowing again. Then, she asked aloud once more.
"Xiulote’s respected teacher! The young Xiulote is the most valiant hummingbird of the royal family. The pure Alisa is the most beautiful lotus of the royal family...May I ask, can the valiant hummingbird rest upon the beautiful lotus?"
King Aweit pursed his lips and nodded calmly. This time, it was in his role as Xiulote’s teacher.
These two inquiries are roughly equivalent to the alliance confirmation in traditional Celestial Empire weddings, asking once for the bride’s side and once for the groom’s side. In the Mexica Alliance, the decision-maker for the bride is her father; the decision-maker for the groom is not his father, but his formal teacher.
Thus, King Aweit, being Xiulote’s formal teacher, is the decision-maker for both sides in this wedding.
It is worth mentioning that according to the Alliance’s tradition, a person’s formal teacher is extremely important and often singular. The teacher’s status is even higher than that of the father and can decide many significant matters for the student. Therefore, initially, at the insistence of his grandfather, Xiulote acknowledged King Aweit as his teacher, forming an extremely close alliance. For the same reason, King Aweit exclusively holds the title of Xiulote’s teacher, while Olosh quietly relinquished this identity.
"Chief Divine bears witness, ancestors bless! The sacred marriage hereby establishes the alliance!"
The elderly lady shouted, announcing to everyone. Then she slowly turned and walked towards Cacamatzin, bowing slightly.
"I have fulfilled the task, my husband."
"Thank you, my wife."
Both were well-mannered and performed the礼 perfectly. Having been married for thirty or forty years, they now served as the wedding’s host and envoys, symbolizing an exemplary long-lasting marriage. Once united, the sacred royal marriage can only be separated by death!
Subsequently, Cacamatzin slightly turned and sang aloud towards the Great Temple.
"...Divine observes the mortal world! The wedding of esteemed divine descendants needs the Elder Priest’s divination to obtain divine blessings!"
As soon as the words fell, a swift-running attendant holding a torch dashed out from the King’s palace, quickly heading toward the Great Temple. He carried two wooden tablets engraved with the names of the marriage parties, for the temple priest to divine the auspiciousness.
Soon, the intricate rituals began at the Great Temple. The sacred fire was lit, and divine smoke curled up. The High Priest, dressed in black ceremonial dress, along with five Elder Priests, sang and danced around the sacred fire.
The two engraved wooden tablets were thrown into the fire, burning and turning into blue smoke, reporting the identities of the marriage parties to the Chief Divine. Then, a precious tiger bone and a rare eagle bone were burned simultaneously, producing different cracks.
The ancient and desolate chanting of the Elder Priests echoed within the Temple District, accompanied by the prayers of the lower-ranking priests. The sacred atmosphere surrounded everyone’s hearts. After a moment, the High Priest, wearing specially made gloves, retrieved the two bones from the fire. He examined them briefly and joyfully announced.
"Great Prosperity! Chief Divine has decreed, blessing the sacred marriage!"
"Great Prosperity! Chief Divine blesses! Great Prosperity!..."
The attendant, holding the torch, ran back from the Great Temple, loudly announcing the joyous news of the divination, quickly arriving at the front of the King’s palace.
"The High Priest personally divine, the marriage is greatly prosperous! The sacred marriage, blessed by the Chief Divine, shall continue from the mortal world to the Divine Kingdom!"
Cacamatzin smiled broadly and announced loudly. Then he gently waved his hand, and several guards holding torches ran to various parts of the Capital City. They would spread the same joyous news to all the citizens.
Mexica people sincerely believe in ghosts and gods, superstitious about omens. Before important events, they always seek divination from priests. Generally speaking, the divination results are usually great prosperity, prosperity, small prosperity, or lesser prosperity, rarely appearing ominous. If ominous results occur during wedding divination, the wedding will be postponed or even canceled. Of course, today’s royal wedding, personally divined by the highest status and most powerful High Priest, will certainly not encounter such a possibility!
With the envoy spreading the joyous news, laughter erupted throughout the Lake Capital City. Cacamatzin smiled kindly, raised his hands high, and solemnly announced again.
"...Warriors serving the royal family! The sacred royal wedding will bring the continuation of divinity, extending the honor of the royal family. Noble warriors, step forward to dance and celebrate!"
As soon as Cacamatzin’s words fell, the low drum beats resounded in the palace district. One thousand Eagle Warriors and one thousand Jaguar Warriors, all dressed in luxurious war clothes, danced fiercely to the rhythm of the drums, wielding their war clubs and shields.
"Roar! Roar! Praise the Chief Divine! Praise the King! Praise the sacred marriage!..."
Two thousand noble warriors danced and roared beastly, singing praises to the King’s glory and the royal wedding.
In the Mexica Alliance, only the most noble royal weddings would have the noble warriors dance and celebrate. This step similarly showcased the royal family’s majesty, reflecting the King’s control over the warriors! Commanding thousands of Eagle and Jaguar Warriors to dance for the Princess and Prince’s wedding is something a weaker King would never be able to do.
King Aweit sat high on the throne, watching the dancing noble warriors, nodding in satisfaction. He gripped the steadfast Divine Staff, feeling the supreme kingship, surpassing any predecessor monarch in the Alliance! The passion of ruling the world stirred in his chest, slightly dulling the sorrow of his daughter’s marriage.
Listening to the intense war songs of the noble warriors, all the envoys at the front of the King’s palace changed their expressions. The royal power of the Mexica Alliance grew ever stronger, the Mexica King becoming increasingly noble and dangerous.
The warrior’s dance lasted a full quarter, with the passionate drums gradually quieting down. The next step would be even more astonishing.
Cacamatzin’s expression turned solemn as he raised the Scepter high, gazing toward the Great Temple, as if awaiting something.
"Boom boom boom! Boom boom boom!..."
Thirty-six wooden cannons fired simultaneously toward the vast sky, issuing thunderous roars! The continuous thunder echoed across Lake Texcoco, enforcing a sudden stillness upon the entire Capital City.
Hearing the cannon blast, Cacamatzin nodded slightly. Then, with a majestic expression, he announced loudly.
"...Chief Divine sends down flying Divine Force! The glory of the Chief Divine spreads from the sky, the sacred marriage is held on the ground. And between heaven and earth, there flies the heart of the Divine, the descent of the sacred miracle!"
All around fell silent, the vast Capital City instantly quieted. Shortly after the cannon blast, a gigantic flying wonder slowly rose from the Great Temple’s summit, sixty meters high, under the gaze of countless citizens.
The enormous object was shaped like a ball, painted with a vivid red heart on its surface, surrounded by the Chief Divine’s emblems, with a burning flame at the bottom. It soared higher and higher, into the clouds, amidst gazes of shock, awe, praise, longing, terror, and daze!
"It’s the heart of the Divine!..."
"Chief Divine sends down Divine Force, blessing the sacred wedding!"
Watching the divine miracle ascend, the Capital City’s citizens were awestruck, and the envoys from various states were speechless. Moments later, thunderous cheers erupted even more intensely than the cannon blast!
"Miracle, miracle! The miracle has descended!..."
Under the divine miracle, hundreds of thousands of people shouted in awe, screamed excitedly, and even roared in terror! Community priests shouted loudly, recounting the Chief Divine’s blessings, leading tens of thousands of followers. Before long, the roaring voices of hundreds of thousands gradually merged into fervent and devout chanting!
"Praise the Chief Divine! Divine bless the wedding! Praise the Chief Divine!! Divine bless the wedding!!..."