If Line (3) At the coming-of-age ceremony, a distinguished guest arrived. ...

As soon as Chan Zhen entered the house, he ran into Song Ge who had just returned from his duty at the palace. His eyes immediately lit up and he walked towards him.

"Brother is back."

Seeing her joyful face, Song Ge reached out and touched her head. "I heard that you went to attend the flower viewing banquet held by Concubine Shu today. Did you cause any trouble for me?"

He was clearly joking. Chanzhen recalled the time he accidentally ran into His Majesty in the garden and rolled his eyes guiltily, "No, I haven't even seen His Majesty."

"It's better if I haven't seen him." Song Ge didn't want his innocent sister to be involved in the whirlpool of the royal family. Moreover, the candidate for the Prince of Jin's wife had already been chosen. That's why he didn't want his sister, whom he had spoiled since childhood, to become a concubine who was inferior to others.

In his expectation, his sister would marry a man whose family background was slightly lower than that of the Marquis of Jing'an, and become a mistress who was respected and admired by others. Then he would work hard to earn more military merits. As long as he was around, at least his sister would no longer suffer any grievances.

"Brother, don't you want me to be chosen as the princess by His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin?" Chan Zhen asked him.

"The palace is not a good place." Song Ge shook his head.

Chan Zhen smiled and said, "Don't worry, brother. I will never go into that place."

When Mrs. Wei saw the brother and sister talking and laughing along the way, a loving smile appeared on her face.

"What a coincidence that you two bumped into each other today."

Zen Zhen immediately threw himself into her arms, hugged her and acted coquettishly: "Mom, did you miss me?"

Madam Wei tapped her forehead and said helplessly, "You'll be coming of age next month, why are you still acting like a child?"

"Don't talk about her, mother," Song Ge smiled as he watched them from the side. "My sister is the one who is spoiled by mother."

Madam Wei glanced at him and said, "As if you don't pamper her at all."

After saying this, she patted Chan Zhen's shoulder, and smelling the scent of alcohol on her, she said, "Go wash up first."

Chan Zhen also didn't like this outfit. She usually liked to wear bright colors, but today she dressed more simply to avoid attracting attention. Now she just wanted to change back.

After she left, Mrs. Wei called Song Ge into the room and asked, "What did your sister say to you?"

Song Ge told her about the conversation he had with Chan Zhen along the way. When Mrs. Wei heard Chan Zhen say that he had deliberately concealed his abilities and avoided meeting His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin today, she couldn't help but sigh.

"She is quite smart." Regarding Chan Zhen's marriage, the mother and son had already reached a consensus. It was enough for the Marquis' Mansion to have Song Ge to support the family, and there was no need to sacrifice Chan Zhen's marriage to curry favor with someone in power.

"Don't worry, mother. My sister has already avoided His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin. I think Taoist Xuanwei's prediction that day was just a joke." Song Ge comforted her.

Mrs. Wei recalled that ten years ago she took the young Chan Zhen to visit Ziyun Temple, and Taoist Xuanwei described Chan Zhen’s fortune as “invaluable beyond words.”

The Marquis of Jing'an's mansion was already a distinguished family. Just what kind of fate could be worthy of the phrase "inexpressibly noble"? As Chan Zhen grew older and more beautiful, her unease grew, especially after the court released news of the selection of a concubine for the Prince of Jin. Fortunately, Chan Zhen finally avoided this disaster.

"Next month will be your sister's coming-of-age ceremony, so your sister's marriage should be arranged as soon as possible." She looked at Song Ge, "If there are any suitable men around you, you can let me take a look first."

"Don't worry, mother. I've always been thinking about my sister." However, he was now employed in the Jinwu Guard, and he had already privately inquired about his familiar colleagues. Either they had too many family matters and were worried about their sister being burdened by marriage, or they already had concubines or favorites, so he immediately eliminated them. Finding someone with the appearance and demeanor that matched his sister's, with a clean family background and a righteous character who hadn't married or taken concubines was truly difficult.

Mrs. Wei knew that this matter could not be rushed, and that it was better to have no marriage than to have the wrong one, so she had to look at the candidates one by one slowly.

The invitations to the coming-of-age ceremony were sent out early in the morning. This was a rare and great gift in Chan Zhen's life, and all the prominent families in the imperial city received invitations.

Thanks to Xuan Yang, Chan Zhen was able to invite Princess Yu Zhen, who had not been seen for a long time, to be the guest of honor. This honor was the first among the noble ladies in the imperial city.

In the palace, Chen Dingyao naturally also learned the news that Chanzhen was about to have her coming-of-age ceremony. When he heard that Princess Yuzhen would be the guest of honor, his eyes flickered.

He may not have seen the imperial sister for a long time. If he used the excuse of seeing Yuzhen, his appearance at her coming-of-age ceremony would not arouse much suspicion.

I wonder what she will be wearing that day, and whether she will be surprised and speechless when she sees him.

"What gift should I give her?" He tapped his knuckles on the table, and before Guo Kai could answer, he muttered to himself, "No ordinary gift would be worthy of her."

If he hadn't been afraid of scaring her by doing it too suddenly, he would have wanted to issue an imperial decree to confer the title of imperial concubine on her coming-of-age ceremony.

"This..." Guo Kai, knowing the emperor's concern for Miss Song, said with sweat dripping down his face, "Miss Song is a beauty of the country, and ordinary people are not worthy of her."

"A beauty of national beauty? That's true." He chuckled, and suddenly remembered the scene of her sitting under the crabapple tree that day, and an idea suddenly came to his mind.

On the other side, Yun Yi looked at his guards after receiving the news.

"It's rare for Aunt Yuzhen to come down the mountain. Shouldn't I also go and show my filial piety?"

After saying this, he nodded spontaneously: "It is time for this prince to go."

What gift should I give her then?

…

The day of the coming-of-age ceremony soon arrived. Chanzhen remembered Madam Wei's instructions from the day before, so he got up early and went to the main courtyard with his two maids.

When Mrs. Wei saw her daughter walking towards her gracefully, she was a little dazed for a moment.

Her daughter's radiant beauty made her both proud and worried. As the saying goes, an innocent man is guilty of possessing a treasure. Fortunately, such a beauty fell into the hands of a distinguished family like the Marquis of Jing'an, and they still had the strength to protect her. If she fell into the hands of an ordinary family, this beauty would become a weapon to hurt herself.

"Mom, how come even you are dazzled?" Chan Zhen walked up to her, hugged her arm and joked with her.

Madam Wei patted her head with emotion and said, "You've grown up so quickly. You'd better behave yourself when Princess Yuzhen comes later."

"I know." Chan Zhen knew it in her heart. She only liked to joke in front of people close to her. After all, basic etiquette is something that is taught from elementary school to adulthood, and she can do it perfectly without anyone finding fault with it.

As they were talking, they heard an announcement that Princess Yuzhen and Princess Xuanyang had arrived, and they hurried out to greet them.

Xuan Yang was familiar with Chan Zhen, so he naturally took the role of the one who sponsored her ceremony. Just as Chan Zhen was about to pay her respects to Princess Yu Zhen, Xuan Yang stepped forward and held her right hand.

"Zenzhen, guess what gift I brought you?"

"You carved this jade hairpin yourself, didn't you?" Chan Zhen said as she saw a look of shock on Xuan Yang's face. Clearly, this gift was exactly what she expected. Last year, at Xuan Yang's coming-of-age ceremony, Chan Zhen had carved a jade hairpin herself as a gift.

"How come you guessed it so quickly? It's meaningless." Xuan Yang said dejectedly.

Chan Zhen couldn't help but purse his lips and smile, coaxing her, "Well, how could I possibly deserve such a gift from the renowned Princess Xuanyang to personally make a jade hairpin for me? This is truly a blessing I've cultivated for three lifetimes. If you give me the jade hairpin, I'll definitely wear it every day from now on."

Xuan Yang's face looked better. "Then I'll keep an eye on you. If you forget to wear it someday, I'll definitely come after you."

Princess Yuzhen watched them fooling around with a smile. After exchanging pleasantries with Madam Wei, she looked at Chanzhen and couldn't help but praise him, "I haven't seen you for a few years. Chanzhen has become even more handsome."

She had never seen such a beauty in her life since she grew up in the palace. She wondered which man would marry her in the future.

She also never thought that the Song family would send Chanzhen into the palace. It would be a waste for such a good girl to be involved in the palace dispute.

"Zhen Zhen greets the eldest princess." After comforting Xuan Yang, Chan Zhen had the time to pay her a complete tribute.

Yuzhen nodded, and they walked together towards the main courtyard where the ceremony of taking up the imperial robe was to be held.

As the hour drew near, the guests gradually arrived, and the sound of ceremonial music gradually rose. Madam Wei and Princess Yuzhen took their seats first, and sent for the guests to be ushered in.

Chanzhen fixed her makeup in the room. Thinking about the upcoming ceremony, she couldn't help feeling a little nervous. She took a few deep breaths before relaxing a little. With the help of her maid, she walked up to the stage.

The moment she appeared, all the eyes in the audience were focused on her, so hot that no one dared to look up. Zen Zhen even heard a few gasps from the audience.

Chan Zhen rarely appeared in public before, and even when he went out, he usually wore a veil. Therefore, it was not until today that people knew that the daughter of the Song family was such a beauty, and many people immediately became excited.

The sound of ritual music gradually grew louder, and the coming-of-age ceremony officially began.

Xuan Yang, as the sponsor, was about to stand up to comb the bun for Chan Zhen who was kneeling in front of him, when he suddenly saw a servant from the Song Mansion running in hurriedly and kneeling down without even catching his breath.

"Madam, His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin have arrived and are waiting outside the door!"

Everyone present immediately stood up and looked at each other, thinking for a moment that they had misheard.

How could His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin appear at such a small coming-of-age ceremony?

Only Princess Yuzhen was a little calmer. She comforted everyone first, especially said a few more words to Chanzhen, who looked a little bewildered, telling her not to worry, and then led everyone out to welcome the emperor.

The ceremony naturally could not be held. Chanzhen stood up, hesitating whether to follow them. At this moment, Xuanyang held her hand.

"It's okay, my aunt is here."

Only Princess Yuzhen could take charge of the situation. Chanzhen nodded and decided to go out together to welcome the emperor.

But she remembered the encounter with His Majesty in the palace a few days ago. She thought His Majesty must have forgotten her.

Outside the door, Chen Dingyao and Yun Yi, father and son, looked at each other.

What a coincidence, no one expected the other party to appear here.

"Why is Yun Yi here?" Chen Dingyao looked at his second son calmly, wondering if he came for her as well.

Didn’t they not meet at Concubine Shu’s flower-viewing banquet?

Yun Yi calmly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, I heard that Aunt Yuzhen rarely comes down the mountain, so I wanted to come and pay her a visit, and also give Miss Song a good luck."

"Really?" Chen Dingyao said leisurely, "I haven't seen my sister for a long time. I heard that today is Miss Song's coming-of-age ceremony, so it's a coincidence that I can join in the fun."

The father and son had the same reasons, but neither of them exposed the other. They just looked at the door together, looking forward to seeing her later.