Coming of age

She picked up the animal bone and examined it closely in her palm. It was hollow inside, making it an excellent material for making whistling arrows. Just by gently blowing on the gap, one could hear a buzzing sound.

One of the square-faced guards stepped forward, bowed deeply, and behaved with great respect:

"By order of Fourth Master, from now on, Zhou Qi and Zhou Quan will stay by Miss Biao's side and vow to protect her with our lives."

Another guard named Zhou Qi nodded, looked at the beast bone in her hand, and said loudly:

"Fourth Master also instructed that this gift was originally prepared for Miss Biao's coming-of-age ceremony, but unfortunately he was summoned to join the army and could not stay. Therefore, he left this whistle to you. Fourth Master said that no matter where you are or what danger you encounter, you only need to blow this whistle three times, and Fourth Master will definitely risk his life to come back and protect you."

She had some impression of these two guards, only remembering that they were people who had grown up with Liang Zhengyuan since childhood. Among the guards who came from afar from Hecheng, they were the most agile and brave. Now that he was going on a long expedition, he actually left these two with her.

Beyond being moved, she was also deeply touched. Liang Zhengyuan's gift had come at just the right time—

This would be just what solves her immediate problem.

.

The banana leaves were soaked with rain, and the roses on the wall bloomed and faded. The sun rose and set again, and three days passed before her birthday finally arrived.

The entire Luoya Residence had been preparing intensively for several days. On the day of her coming-of-age ceremony, everyone in the courtyard began making preparations before dawn. She slept soundly for the first time at night because the drizzling rain was less frequent, but she was still gently awakened by Zhuling before dawn.

Granny Qin ordered several maids to serve her sweet cakes, pastries, and a few dishes of congee. She finished washing up in a daze, changed her clothes, and then sat sleepily at the four-legged carved sandalwood square table.

Granny Qin had always served Liang Shuangyu. After Liang Shuangyu's passing, she should have retired, but out of concern for the young Lin Xu, she requested to stay and serve her. Unexpectedly, she stayed for ten years, and now she is the most senior servant among all the attendants at Luoya Residence. Looking at Lin Xu, who had blossomed into an increasingly ethereal beauty with a graceful figure, she couldn't help but tear up, and sighed softly:

"Miss used to be only knee-high to this old servant, such a tiny child, yet she has grown into a beautiful and delicate beauty, so incredibly charming. She used to be so adorable, but now she looks more and more like the former mistress..."

As the gentle morning sun rose, its light shone through the carved window, making Lin Xu's oval face appear as pink as jade, the fine downy hairs shimmering in the sunlight. Upon closer inspection, her eyebrows and eyes bore a striking resemblance to that of her deceased friend.

Lin Xu smiled and looked at Granny Qin, gently patted her hand, and then took a piece of golden-yellow flower-shaped goose cake and tasted it carefully with a small bowl of steaming mica porridge.

As was customary, after breakfast she had to pay her respects to her parents. So she only drank a few sips before leaving the courtyard in a dark-colored brocade satin skirt with a mandarin duck pattern. Zhu Ling followed behind her, her movements graceful and elegant. Before long, they arrived at the main courtyard of the Lin family mansion.

Gao Youyi had already eaten breakfast and was looking out the window with a restless expression. When she saw that it was her, she hurriedly told the servants to come out and greet her. Xin Tan and Xin Ti, with smiles on their faces, helped Lin Xu inside. Before they had even stood still, they saw Lin Fu standing in the main hall in a soft satin robe of ink color. When he saw her, his face was full of relief and he couldn't stop smiling.

Having already experienced her coming-of-age ceremony in her previous life, although her expression remained unchanged, she couldn't help but feel grateful for her father. All her sorrow turned into a gentle smile as she solemnly bowed to Lin Fu and Gao Youyi before straightening up.

Lin Fu opened his mouth, but it seemed that he had a thousand words to say but could not express them. He simply touched his slightly graying beard and said slowly with emotion, "Now you have finally grown up and become more and more graceful. I believe that if Shuangyu knew this in the afterlife, he would be very happy."

With just a few words, he touched upon the painful past in his heart, and in the end, he couldn't bear to continue. So he picked up the teacup beside him and pretended to lower his head.

Gao Youyi quickly took Lin Xu's hand, looked her up and down with a smile, and then said loudly, "It's such a pity that Xu'er, with such a beautiful face, is always confined to her maiden home. Today, with so many guests, I'm really eager to let them see the charm of our Xu'er."

The two then gave Lin Xu detailed instructions on what would happen later. Although Zhu Ling was young, she was meticulous and thoughtful in her work, and everything needed had already been prepared. She readily agreed.

As the auspicious time approached, the head maidservant beside Madam Gao came and gently urged her to hurry. She had no choice but to bid farewell to her parents and then, lifting her skirt, returned to the east room, which was not far from the main courtyard, to take a bath.

Warm bath water, already heated and steaming, was prepared along with clothes and shoes to change into after the bath. Two maids gently combed her cascading black hair until it was as smooth as silk, and helped her change into the neatly folded clothes.

She sat in the rosewood armchair for a short while before a maid entered the courtyard and announced from outside the curtain that the guests had arrived and were already waiting in the main hall.

The room was completely silent, but the distant courtyard and main hall could be faintly heard bustling with voices. Through the screen, one could vaguely see the elegant and refined nobles all around. It seemed that Gao Youyi had put a lot of thought into her coming-of-age ceremony today.

As she listened to the music rising from outside the east room, a flood of emotions welled up within her. In a daze, she heard Lin Fu loudly thanking the guests in the main hall. This was an invitation for the guests to take their seats; the auspicious time had come, and the formal ceremony was about to begin.

She leaned back in the armchair. In her previous life, because she was the only daughter in her family and was naturally unruly, she had no close friends. Therefore, the best man had to ask her aunt, who had come from afar, to bring her daughter to serve as the best man for her coming-of-age ceremony.

This time, Gao Youyi meticulously prepared everything for her coming-of-age ceremony. She had asked about it once during a casual chat, but Gao smiled and waved her hand, saying that everything was ready and she didn't need to worry about it. She also heard that many guests would be visiting the Gao family this time, and she secretly thought that the person who would ultimately be chosen would be a girl from the Gao family who was about her age.

Thinking this, she suddenly saw the curtain of the east room being lifted by a fair and delicate hand, and then walked in, and there was an old friend she hadn't seen for a long time, who was still beautiful and dazzling.

Several sparkling pearls adorned Yao Suran's temples, making her appear even more charming. Her long, peach-colored brocade dress trailed gracefully on the ground, and with each light step, the entire east room was instantly enveloped in the rich fragrance of osmanthus. Her beautiful face was full of affection, a stark contrast to the arrogant and sharp-tongued demeanor she had displayed when she last met Yao Suran on Qixi Lanye.

She never expected to see her old nemesis in her own residence today. She gave a cold smile and said, "It's been a long time."

Yao Suran smiled broadly, as if she had never had any disagreement with her. She walked straight towards her with graceful and charming movements, and casually pinched her cheek.

"My dear sister, it's been so long since we last met, I've missed you dearly. Today is such a momentous occasion as your coming-of-age ceremony, and since we're like sisters, how could I possibly be absent?"

"My mother asked you to be my apologist?"

Lin Xu was too lazy to deal with him anymore. Apart from disbelief, the chilling aura on his face had not yet disappeared.

Yao Suran lightly covered her mouth with a handkerchief, seemingly unbothered by her coldness, and playfully twirled the handkerchief, saying:

"What, little sister Xu'er, are you not welcoming me?"

She sighed, tears welling in her eyes as if touched upon a painful memory, before looking at Lin Xu in front of her and softly saying:

“I knew you still resented me. We used to be so close, but then that incident at school happened, and we developed a rift from then on. We can no longer be sisters like we used to be.”

Seeing that Lin Xu remained silent, she stood up, her eyes gleaming with an unreadable light:

"Your stepmother, Madam Gao, sent out invitations all over the city. Who in the entire capital doesn't know that you, Lin Xu, are coming of age today? Even the students of Zhiqiong Hall have all received invitations. But this one, I never knew you were here. You're so pitiful, you don't even have a single close, confidante sister..."

Yao Suran lowered her head, looking at her sitting peacefully in the armchair. She slowly leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "I used to be so close to Xu'er, how could I stand by and watch? So I volunteered to be your cheerleader."

Lin Xu's expression remained calm and serene, but his eyelashes trembled slightly. Yao Suran couldn't help but smile, continuing in a seductive voice:

"Now all the guests are waiting outside. Everyone knows that I, Yao Suran, am a distinguished guest whom your Lin family has repeatedly invited today. You wouldn't be so inconsiderate as to refuse to see your only close friend and guest, would you?"

Her fingers gently traced the black hair that fell behind Lin Xu's shoulders, her voice low, yet suddenly revealing a ruthless intent:

"In other words, even if you hate me to the core and dare to offend the people of my Duke's Mansion, you, Lin Xu, can bear the consequences, but can your father, who holds a position in the court, and your Lin family of over a hundred people bear the consequences?"

Seeing that Lin Xu's eyes were half-closed and he remained silent, Yao Suran didn't bother to pretend anymore. A cold smile remained on her lips, and her voice, which sounded like poison, rang out above her head:

"If you're a reasonable person, you'll obediently play along with my act later. If you don't cooperate—"

For some reason, Yao Suran suddenly pursed her lips tightly, swallowing back all the words she was about to say.

Lin Xu slowly stood up from the armchair, took Yao Suran's hand that was playing with his hair in his palm, his expression was completely normal, even as still as a stagnant body of water.

"Then I'll have to trouble you today, Sister Su Ran."

She was never afraid of trouble, yet she never intended to cause any. She had already endured everything at Zhiqiong Hall to the fullest extent, and was just worried about where to get revenge for the public humiliation she suffered that day. From the cup of pear wine Yao Suran had given her in her past life, to the endless series of difficulties she faced in this life, from the sachet to the pen with the hidden note, she had been quietly observing everything.

Now, however, it is finally clear that although Yao Suran is full of ruthlessness, her methods are nothing more than this.

Now that she has come to me of her own accord, whatever dirty and wicked schemes she may be plotting to harm me again, I will no longer tolerate it.

This is, after all, her territory.

Lin Xu held those soft, fragrant laurel hands, and after a long while, a smile finally appeared on his expressionless, aloof face.