Fanon:Meiren (Avatar: The Legacy of Rong Yan)

By King Bumis Heir

Part of the Avatar: The Legacy of Rong Yan continuity.

Juji's fine. He comes back to life in the end when the doomsday device shifts the polarity of the Earth. Oops. Spoiler. Sorry.

Warning! This page contains spoilers for Avatar: The Legacy of Rong Yan.

Meiren is a minor character in the fanon Avatar: The Legacy of Rong Yan. Meiren is the matchmaker that matches Yi'an with Earth King Qiang Zhen.

History[]

Meiren is the local matchmaker in Ba Sing Se province that matches potential couples together for arranged marriages. Typically, she works with Upper and Middle Ring families and any Upper-Lower Ring citizens that can afford her services.

Traditionally, if men had trouble with finding a wife a matchmaker would assist them in finding the right girl. This was done through a bridal market where girls would be chosen by men who desired them. Usually, men went for calm, obedient, fast-paced women with tiny waists who could bear them children.

Sometimes it was the middle-aged or elderly parents that went to these places with a sign that advertised their sons or daughters for potential life long partners. The business garnered matchmakers a ton of money which is why Meiren is an Upper-Ring citizen.

The process steps after the man found an interest in the potential bride, was a betrothal letter to the girl's parents. They would decide whether the man who desired the girl could marry her by asking for her hand in marriage to the girl's father. When this was decided the bride price would be requested by the parents of the bride to the groom.

In this case, Youlang, Yi'an's father requested the position of Minister of National Intelligence when the rank was vacant. The previous minister was assassinated and so Qiang Zhen granted the old nobleman his request in return for Yi'an's hand in marriage.

A fortune teller would be visited by the young couple where the fortune teller would give them a wedding date by looking at their birth dates and other factors they played into the perfect wedding date.

The job of the matchmaker ended on the wedding night, typically that was done by the families. Which consisted of the bride being dressed by a respected elderly woman. Before leaving from her home for the final time the bride must cry with her family. In which a male figure either a brother or father would escort the bride to a carriage to be transported to the wedding.

The wedding procession of the bride's family stops at the door of the groom's home. In the meeting party, the groom would meet a series of difficulties intentionally set in his path. Only after coping with these could he pass to see his wife-to-be. On the arrival of the carriage at the wedding place, there would be music and firecrackers.

The bride would be led along the red carpet in a festive atmosphere. The groom, also in a red gown, would kowtow three times to worship heaven, parents, and spouse. Equivalent to exchanging vows in the Fire Nation, the couple would pay respect to Emperor Qin, the patron family deities, paying respect to deceased ancestors, the bride and groom's parents, and other elders, and paying respect to each other. Then, the new couple would go to their bridal chamber and guests would be treated to a feast.

The bridal chamber rituals consisted of the pouring of drink from the wife to the husband and herself. The bride would then take a drink of spirits with her husband, the two would eat half uncooked dumplings, and follow with coitus.

In the mornings, servants or even family members would inspect the sheets to find bloodstains. Thus was the tradition that the bride was a virgin which usually resulted in pregnancy and childbirth.

Royal Wedding[]

Ting, mother of Qiang Zhen requested for Meiren the matchmaker to bring her son more potential matches. While she interviewed each girl herself along with Meiren she found her favorite being Yi'an of Zhang.

Guwen notified Qiang Zhen of the effort his mother made with matches after he declined having met over 100 girls all of them being boring. He rolled his eyes and accepted his mother's opinion and Meiren walked in with a few girls.

Qiang Zhen chose the girl Guwen pointed out that his mother Ting liked and he too liked her after she recited the passage and poured him, Guwen and herself some tea. From there Qiang Zhen had Meiren produce the betrothal letter for Yi'an's parents Youlang and Xin'ai. Youlang accepted the betrothal letter and requested the position of Minister of National Intelligence after the last one was assassinated by Senlin.

Qiang Zhen accepted the request and promoted his future father-in-law but kept the position from the public at the moment to protect the old man from assassins as of now. Qiang Zhen showered the Zhang family in gifts up to the wedding night.

Qiang Zhen and Yi'an visited a seer who told them that their wedding date will be the Spring Equinox. Ting took responsibility for the payment of everything being the mother of the King. When wedding night arrived Yi'an was dressed by her mother, sister and grandmother at the end she cried one final time with her family because after today she would reside in the palace.

During the ceremony both Qiang Zhen and Yi'an bowed to the portrait of the first Earth Emperor Qin, before Qiang Zhen had to bow before his mother, Yi'an's parents and Yi'an herself. In the end he also had to kneel before Tiandi himself while Yi'an bowed before Yun. When the ceremony ended the feast began and the mothers tied a red ribbon on Qiang Zhen and Yi'an which signified the bond between the newlywed couple.

During their evening in the bridal chamber the newlywed couple shared drinks, uncooked dumplings, and coitus occurred that evening. The next morning the sheets were covered in blood once Qiang Zhen and Yi'an exited the chamber for breakfast. Xin'ai, Ting and Youlang were excited for Yi'an and Qiang Zhen.

Abilities[]

Patience

To build relationships with clients, earn trust, and make matches, takes time. A good matchmaker always meets their clients in person and takes time to get to know them, their past experiences, current needs, and expectations. The matchmaker and client have to be on the same page for the relationship to work. Slow and steady win the matchmaking race.

At ease with people

With every social encounter being an opportunity to make a match, networking is a vital skill for matchmakers. They never know who their next client is going to be; or if someone they meet at a party could make a potential partner for one of their current clients. But this is not a sales job. Their matchmakers are charming, warm and put people at ease.

Emotional Intelligence

Sensitivity and treating others with respect are vital for any matchmaker. Dealing with clients when they feel vulnerable or upset is a daily reality. Meiren takes the time to get to know her clients until sometimes she knows the must-have traits and qualities of their ideal partners before they've been able to verbalize them.

This takes significant levels of emotional intelligence and excellent listening skills. Meiren has to think with her brains and with her heart.

A giving heart

To develop relationships with numerous members; relationships built on active listening, trust and respect; can be draining for the wrong person. Meiren will hold your hand while she helps you develop the positive attitude and the confidence needed for the process.

A matchmaker has to develop personal relationships with many clients, all of whom have their own history, personalities, and demands. Hearing negativity over past relationships while being aware of the need to encourage positive thoughts and attitudes can be challenging. Being devoted to helping others – even when it can be hard work – is a key quality in a matchmaker.

Appearances[]

Trivia[]

Meiren means 'matchmaker' in Chinese.
In the comic, Qiang Zhen wasn't getting married I only added it in because I thought it'd be engaging to experience Kingsmen weddings.

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