jdhmnovel Chapter 54: Coming of Age Ceremony (Part )
Chapter 54: Coming of Age Ceremony (Part )
On the first day of June, the capital city was busier than usual.
The daughter of the Left Prime Minister's family is going to have a coming-of-age ceremony, which is a big deal. Her father is the most popular Left Prime Minister of the dynasty, and her future husband is the seventh prince, the Prince of Yan, who holds a large number of troops. This coming-of-age ceremony is naturally unusual. I heard that the eldest princess was invited to be the guest of honor...
Early in the morning, Bai Chuxiao was pulled up by Lanxiang to dress up. She first changed into the sky blue long-sleeved dress she was going to wear today.
Bai Chuxiao sat in front of the bronze mirror with a pair of hazy eyes, letting Lanxiang put on her makeup. Lanxiang was deft and finished her makeup in a short while. She also tied her hair into a bun.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Bai Chuxiao was no longer sleepy, but she felt that the exquisiteness was a bit monotonous, so she drew a plum blossom hairpin between her eyebrows.
Lanxiang smiled and said, "Miss, you look so beautiful like this."
Bai Chuxiao usually looks simple and elegant, but today she looks bright and charming. Bai Chuxiao nodded with satisfaction.
Soon, the second aunt, Mrs. Kong, Kong Xihan and Zhang Yue came to the room.
Bai Chuxiao asked in surprise, "Second aunt, why are you here?"
Mrs. Xie has been pretending to be sick, so today's banquet was arranged by my second aunt, and Mrs. Kong also helped.
The second aunt snorted coldly, "Mrs. Xie and Miss Bai are waiting to greet us, so they don't need us. We just came to see how you are doing."
Mrs. Kong said sarcastically, "This Mrs. Bai is extraordinary. I have seen her today."
That's right. Which mistress of the house would be so magnanimous? Not only did she ignore the coming-of-age ceremony of the legitimate daughter of the mansion, but she also arranged everything properly. She dressed up elegantly and luxuriously to grab the credit. If you didn't know, you would have thought it was her daughter Bai Chuwan's coming-of-age ceremony. She didn't mention Bai Chuxiao at all during the whole process.
Bai Chuxiao smiled faintly, "Excuse me, Aunt Kong."
Kong Xihan didn't think too much about it. He looked at Bai Chuxiao's eyebrows and smiled, "Xiaoxiao, you look really beautiful today, especially this plum blossom..."
The second aunt joked, "You finally dressed up nicely today. Before, no one would have known that you were the daughter of a prime minister's mansion."
Bai Chuxiao was helpless when she heard this, "Second aunt, you think I bring shame to you guys every day."
Mrs. Kong smiled and said, "How could that be? Xiaoxiao is usually elegant and refined, but today she is really bright and charming. I said that I would be the one to tie your hairpin today. Since you have invited the eldest princess, I can't take over this job."
Bai Chuxiao looked at her and smiled softly, "Aunt Kong is so good to Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao will remember it all."
The front yard was filled with guests. Bai Linan and the old lady sat in the main seats with their faces almost broken with laughter. Normally, when a girl reaches the age of 15, she would still invite some of her close friends. But today, not only female relatives came, but also many important officials, princes, and children of aristocratic families.
The eldest princess and Princess Lingxiang were sitting with the King of Yan and the King of Xiang drinking tea.
It's not surprising that Prince Yan and his men are here, but what is Prince Xiang here for? Chu Tianze held up his teacup and squinted his eyes as he said, "I didn't expect you, Fifth Brother, to be so free."
King Xiang smiled faintly, "Why do you say that, Seventh Brother? After all, we will be a family from now on, so naturally I have to come and congratulate you."
Chu Tianze raised his eyebrows, "Oh? Brother Emperor and the princess are getting married soon, how are the preparations going?"
The eldest princess smiled when she heard this, "I didn't expect that you would care about these things, seventh brother. Are you thinking about the wedding?"
It was not appropriate for a princess of a foreign race to live in her house, and it was not very convenient for her, so she naturally wanted Ling Xiang to get married quickly so that she could have some free time.
Princess Lingxiang smiled and said, "I will inform His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan in advance when the time comes."
Prince Xiang agreed, "Yes, but I'm sorry for disturbing my sister these days."
The eldest princess chuckled, "It's okay, you are all my brothers, and I am happy to see you all get married one after another."
At this moment, the servant announced loudly, "Your Highness Prince Qi, Princess Changyun has arrived."
Xie hurriedly took Bai Chuwan to greet them. Chu Tianling didn't have a bad face today but looked like a gentleman. Princess Changyun was dressed very gorgeously today, and she was wearing the headdress she had snatched yesterday.
Princess Changyun would not accept Xie and Bai Chuwan's warm welcome. She looked up at Bai Chuwan, who was also dressed very formally today, and snorted disdainfully, "Hmph, you shameless vixen!"
Previously, it was widely rumored in Kyoto that the prince and this woman were in love with each other, but now, although she could not marry the prince, this woman could not become the prince's consort either, so she naturally had to make a few remarks.
Bai Chuwan's face was grim. "Princess, what do you mean? How did Wan'er offend you?"
Princess Changyun sneered, "Some people want to fly up to the tree and become a phoenix, but they don't even look at their own identity."
Xie also looked a little unhappy, "We have never neglected them, why is the princess so sarcastic?"
"Humph, seeing you guys dressed like this, someone who doesn't know would think you're getting married. What a pity, these people are only here for your elder sister."
She was not standing up for Bai Chuxiao, but compared to hating Bai Chuxiao, she despised Bai Chuwan's behavior even more.
Xie and Bai Chuwan were very angry, but they didn't dare to get angry.
Chu Tianling said calmly, "Okay."
Then, Princess Changyun said nothing more. She didn't want to lower her status to talk to them. She and Chu Tianling walked towards the eldest princess.
"Meet the Imperial Sister, Meet the Cousin"
The eldest princess looked at them coming and put away some of her smile. She knew something about the conflict between them and Bai Chuxiao. Would they come to sincerely congratulate them today?
So he said calmly, "Why are you two here?"
Chu Tianling chuckled, "My dear sister, you are all here, so I naturally want to join in the fun as well."
Princess Changyun pulled the eldest princess' sleeve and muttered, "Cousin, do you mean that you don't welcome Changyun? Cousin, I am biased."
The eldest princess was somewhat helpless, but still said, "I didn't mean that, but don't make trouble today."
Chang Yun whispered, "I know."
But she came here today just to cause trouble. Bai Chuxiao wanted to have her way, but she would not allow it.
The time was almost up, Lan Xin came in and bowed to report, "Miss, it's time to go to the front yard."
In the main hall of the front yard, as Bai Chuxiao and her group came over, everyone stopped chatting and sat down to watch the ceremony. Looking at the woman walking slowly, everyone's eyes flashed with amazement. The King of Yan is so lucky!
A smile flashed in Chu Tianze's eyes. His Xiaoxiao is always so beautiful.
As everyone was sighing, the servants shouted, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince has arrived." Everyone hurriedly saluted.
Chu Tianyou smiled and said, "Everyone, get up. I am here to congratulate Miss Bai today. You don't have to greet me, Ms. Bai."
The guests have all arrived, the auspicious time has arrived, "The ceremony of becoming a princess begins!"
The eldest princess stood on the high platform with a smile on her face. Then she saw Bai Chuxiao bow to the guests and slowly walked up to the high platform. Only Mrs. Kong followed behind her, holding a tray.
Mrs. Kong presented Bai Chuxiao with a hairpin. The eldest princess walked up to Bai Chuxiao and said loudly, "On this auspicious day of the month, I will wear your first clothes. I will abandon your childish ambitions and cultivate your virtues. I wish you a long and healthy life and great happiness." Then she combed Bai Chuxiao's hair and put on the hairpin.
When the ceremony of getting married was over, Madam Kong presented the eldest princess with a hairpin. The eldest princess took it and said loudly, "It is an auspicious month and a good day. I will wear your clothes, respect your dignity, and be prudent and virtuous. May you live a long life and be blessed forever." Then she put the hairpin on her.
After the second hairpin-raising ceremony, the eldest princess came to Bai Chuxiao again and said loudly, "In the right year, in the order of the month...", and took off the hairpin and put on the hairpin crown. This was the third hairpin-raising ceremony.
The ceremony was over, and Bai Linan stood up and said with a smile, "Welcome everyone to attend my daughter's coming-of-age ceremony. Today, the Prime Minister's Mansion has prepared some wine, so everyone can drink to their heart's content."