The guests were taken into one of the main courtyards of the Inner Palace. Wooden flooring and seats were prepared. A small wooden table was put in the middle of the courtyard, with carpets and silky cushions at both sides of the table. On the west, there was a wooden platform with three seats for the three distinguished guests: the Queen, the Grand Queen Dowager and Queen Dowager Shin, with a few of their personal servants and assistants standing on their side. On the opposite side, there was the rest of guests. While there were some seats distributed, the tradition established that they should stay standing as soon as the Grand King left the Throne Hall in direction to the ceremonial table.
The first one to make an appearance was Noble Lady Im, dressed in traditional clothing and hairstyle. She walked slowly, along her own father, until she reached the priest, respectfully bowing to him. Then, this time without the company of his father, she moved toward the wooden platform. She slowly knelt in front of Queen Dowager Shin and bowed four times. She repeated the same procedure in front of the Grand Queen Dowager and finally to Queen Hong. Then, she left to go directly to the table, sitting in direction to the south.
About ten minutes later, the Grand King left the Throne Hall toward the ceremonial table. The Royal Band played some religious tune as he approached. He would sit down in direction to the north, effectively looking directly to the entry of the Throne Hall. Before he could take her seat, Noble Lady Im bowed four times to the Grand King.
"Noble Lady Im looks so young", Queen Dowager Shin whispered. "But she achieves to look so both solemn and graceful".
"Indeed", Grand Queen Dowager replied. "They look like a beautiful couple, don't you agree? It reminds me your own wedding".
"The ceremony was different", Queen Hong added.
"Of course, of course ", Grand Queen Dowager replied. "But I can't help to remember the chills I once experienced when I entered for first time when I entered the palace".
"We are honoured to have someone who is able to remember the beginning of the modern times, Grand Queen Dowager", Queen Hong replied.
The conversation did not continued, as the priest started to recite the ceremonial hymn. As he did it, his two assistant started to prepare the ceremonial ointment.
Noble Lady Im remained knelt in front of the Grand King, which was sat down with his legs crossed. Two ceramic bowls were placed in the place. The Grand King took a sip of the drink, and Noble Lady Im followed. Then, they interchanged their bowls. The Grand King simply took a larger sip, while Noble Lady Im tried to elegantly finish it off. She attempted to retain the composure of her expression. It was not easy, however, as she found the ceremonial drink too bitter and unpleasant. There was not exchange of written vows as it is traditional as the ceremonial union was not an official wedding ceremony, after all.
"The Sun and the Moon shall welcome this union", the priest proclaimed.
A silence followed. Then, the Grand King stood up, and every of the local guests knelt. He left then toward the Throne Hall entry, while the ceremonial music was sounding again. Once he had disappeared from the sight of everyone, the music stopped to sound and the guest stood up again. Then, the Royal Secretary addressed the guests, announced that from this moment, Noble Lady Im was proclaimed as Noble Consort Im and welcomed to the Heavenly Palace. Then, the Royal Guards knelt in front of her.
As she left toward her new chambers in the palace, along two Palace Ladies, the Royal Secretary announced that the ceremony had ended, and the guests prepared to left as the gates of the palace were about to open.
The Royal Secretary approached the foreign guests and wished them "a future as bright as the union you have witnessed today".
"Preparations for your return will be ready as soon as tomorrow early in the morning", the Royal Secretary announced. "If you wished to stay a few more days in order to have an official audience with the His Great Majesty the Grand King, or a meeting with a representative with the government, you should simply inform my office", he told them.