Three Bows

The first bow was to the heavens and earth. The second bow was reserved for those who had brought them into the world. 

Finally, the third bow was to each other, a gesture of mutual respect for their wedded union. 

Unlike a bride in ancient times, whose blush would be concealed behind the silken fall of her red veil, Yan Zheyun could see the entire ceremony that he was participating in. It started with an extravagant procession over to the groom's 'home'. Ordinarily, the bridal party would have a long trail of gifts from both the groom's side and her parents to flaunt her value in front of envious eyes. Yan Zheyun had no distinguished ancestral estate to back him up and had the person he was marrying been less doting, would have had a humble procession towards his new life.