Misfortune
The sounds of ceremonial music filled the air, and seeing that the auspicious time had arrived, there was no time to delay any longer. Zhu Ling couldn't help but step forward and urge them in a low voice. Yao Suran, with her delicate face and exquisite makeup, glanced back at Lin Xu as if giving a warning, then walked out with her face held high.
Zhu Ling, who had been waiting nearby, had already noticed the undercurrents between the two, and Yao Suran's aggressive demeanor made her look at Lin Xu with concern.
But she saw that although her young lady's eyes were lowered, a rare smile was on her lips, as if she was in a very good mood. For some reason, she had a keen feeling that something big was about to happen, and her heart couldn't help but tighten.
.
Inside the main hall, guests of all kinds were already seated, sipping tea and awaiting the completion of the ceremony. Lin Fu, renowned for his integrity and respected as Right Chancellor Lin, had originally intended only to hold a small banquet for his coming-of-age ceremony. However, Gao Youyi, overjoyed at being in charge for the first time, had expanded the celebration to an even grander scale, causing a sensation throughout much of Mujing City. Many of Gao's relatives and friends had also attended, and the main hall was now filled with high-ranking officials, dignitaries, and prominent figures from Mujing.
When Lin Xu emerged leisurely from the east room, all the guests' gazes naturally fell upon her, only to be immediately taken aback by the sight of the young woman's now stunningly beautiful face. Even in the capital city, known for its auspicious feng shui, it was rare to find someone so ethereal and captivatingly alluring.
The elderly Minister Wen and his wife were both shocked as they looked at the figure with fair skin and delicate bones on the platform. The old lady of the Wen family stared at Lin Xu as she calmly bowed to the guests, her gentle smile always on her lips. Her appearance was so serene and graceful that it seemed as if she were born with jade bones that attracted everyone's attention. Instantly, she remembered an old friend.
It's so similar...it's really too similar.
Madam Wen rubbed her already failing eyesight, and it took her a while to come to her senses. Many years ago, on that stormy, stormy night, she had also seen such a graceful and beautiful person. That person, the moment she appeared, had attracted all the attention of everyone present, making her quite envious at the time…
That day, the palace was filled with dazzling beauties, yet none could compare to her. Later, it was said that such a beautiful woman died suddenly that very night. Indeed, beauty is fleeting, and heaven is jealous of one's love. When she heard this tragic news, she lamented for a long time.
It's been ten years already.
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Yao Suran washed her hands with clean water in the gold and silver carved basin, then picked up a comb and walked gently behind Lin Xu, slowly and carefully combing her already washed, cascading hair.
In front of a host of guests, she indeed played the role of Lin Xu's closest confidante. Her exquisitely made-up face was full of a peaceful smile, and to anyone who saw her, she looked like a close and amiable best friend.
Lin Xu knew perfectly well what was going on, but remained silent, simply kneeling quietly on the mat as Yao Suran combed her hair. After a long while, Yao Suran finally put down the comb and whispered sweetly in her ear, "Good sister, I'm so happy for you."
After the attendant finished combing her hair, she was to retreat to the foot of the steps as was customary. She knelt quietly on the straw mat, waiting for Madam Gao, the principal guest, to rise and exchange greetings with Lin Fu and Gao Youyi, the hosts. In the meantime, her gaze swept over the people in the hall, and she saw many familiar faces.
Yao Su'an, dressed in an elegant light blue blouse, sat in the second row, the seat next to her still empty. A faint melancholy lingered between her brows, as if she were troubled by something.
Not far away, Zhou Weikan, with a gentle expression and a long white jade hairpin in her hair, was chatting quietly with a man in purple from the Gao family sitting beside her. When she saw that Zhou Weikan's gaze was on her, her expression changed slightly, and then she smiled. A few emotions quickly disappeared in her clear eyes.
She quickly looked away.
Further away were two cousins from Hecheng, each accompanied by a beautifully dressed woman. These two cousins were older than Liang Zhengyuan and were stationed at the border year-round; it was a mystery why they had found time to come today. After several years apart, their features were still sharp and spirited; they must have come all this way specifically for her coming-of-age ceremony. Looking at her long-unseen relatives, her eyes welled up with tears.
Madam Gao had already washed her hands clean at the foot of the east steps and walked up to the platform with a smile, her features very kind. Although it was the first time Lin Xu had met her, he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity.
Yang was born into a prestigious family. The marriage was arranged when the Gao family was at the height of its power and the two families were on good terms. Although the Gao family gradually declined after the marriage, she never looked down on them. On the contrary, she managed the Gao family mansion in an orderly manner by her own efforts. She was also fortunate enough to be granted the title of fourth-rank imperial lady four years ago.
That year, Gao Yanbang uncovered a major case of illegal salt smuggling in Ruannan, which alarmed the emperor. Emperor Su was overjoyed and promoted Gao Yanbang two ranks, and also specially conferred the title of Lady Yang.
Although Gao Yanbang is often away investigating cases, with the honor of being a titled lady, it is only natural that he is the most important guest of honor at Lin Xu's coming-of-age ceremony.
Madam Gao reached out and gently patted her thin shoulder. She then took a handkerchief and a plain jade hairpin from the servant beside her, and with a smile in her eyes, she gently smoothed her hair and placed the jade hairpin in her hair.
Someone was already reciting a eulogy aloud, and Madam Gao said gently, "From now on you are an adult. May you live a long and peaceful life, inherit the family's illustrious tradition, and grow into a virtuous and wise person."
Madam Yang was generous and considerate, possessing the unique demeanor of a noble lady of the house. She spoke with composure and elegance, displaying an outstanding temperament. Gao Youyi stood to the side, watching Lin Xu receive the ceremony with a face full of satisfaction. After the hairpin ceremony, Lin Xu had to return to the east room to change her clothes.
She had been wearing the colorful clothes and shoes required for the initial ceremony, and her thin clothing made her feel slightly cold.
Yao Suran descended the stage with her, gracefully returning to the east room. She handed her a matching plain dress and ruqun, which had been prepared beforehand, so she only needed to change. Lin Xu sipped the tea that had been cooled and left to cool. The servants were waiting in the outer hall and the main hall. The large east room was quiet and not a sound could be heard.
She rested briefly, then went behind the screen to change her clothes. As soon as she approached the screen, she smelled an extremely fragrant and rich aroma; the intense scent of laurel permeated everything behind it.
In a short while, she felt dizzy and had no strength left in her body.
In the silence, I gently closed my eyes and became completely unaware.
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Zhu Ling watched as the maids prepared all the flowing robes and deep-sleeved gowns that Lin Xu would be changing into. Coming-of-age was a major event for her young mistress, and she knew, having received repeated instructions from Madam Gao, that it couldn't be taken lightly. Inside the main hall, the melodious strains of stringed instruments filled the air. Knowing that her mistress and Yao Suran were at odds, and that Yao Suran seemed particularly unapproachable today, she had been secretly keeping a close eye on her movements.
She had been so gentle and considerate on the stage, without a hint of anything amiss, and now she was quietly waiting outside the east room, showing no sign of anything unusual. She glanced at the guests in the main hall, a room full of distinguished nobles. The Lin family had never seen so many distinguished guests arrive at the same time, and the maids and servants were all serving them with utmost care. Among the guests in the front row was a noble lady with a sorrowful face and a remarkably refined appearance, and there was an empty seat next to her.
Zhu Ling looked away, and in a flash, she was filled with doubts.
She vaguely remembered that this empty seat had been occupied before the coming-of-age ceremony began. It seemed to belong to a fair-skinned, noble-looking young man, whose features bore a resemblance to the young lady with a sorrowful expression, and also somewhat to Yao Suran, who had been making things difficult for the young lady...
Wait, Yao Suran?
Zhu Ling's heart pounded like a drum, and she hurriedly looked towards the east room. She had been standing on the side corridor leading to the east room from outside the main hall. From there, she could vaguely see Yao Suran standing outside the door of the east room, her expression calm, but a faint smile of confidence on her lips.
That kind of laughter immediately sent chills down her spine.
She couldn't care less about anything else and immediately ran towards the east room. Before she could catch her breath, she was about to push the door open when Yao Suran turned around gracefully. A maid behind her stepped forward and blocked her way.
"What are you doing—?"
Zhu Ling was suddenly stopped, which made her angry. She looked at the maid in front of her with a flushed face.
She was pretty, but her words were sharp and sarcastic. She said in a coquettish voice:
"Where did this maid come from? How can she be so rude? Doesn't she see that our young lady from the Duke's mansion is still standing here?"
Zhu Ling, enraged, laughed instead. After all, she was now a trusted maidservant of Lin Xu and rarely dared to be provoked like this. She couldn't help but raise her head and say:
"This is the Lin residence. It's not your Duke's mansion's place to act arrogantly here. As guests, how dare you stop the host?"
The maidservant sneered and said in a crisp voice, "I've always heard that a dog that bites doesn't bark. How come even a lowly maid in the Lin family is so sharp-tongued, with a face that looks like she's about to bite someone?"
Zhu Ling's face flushed red instantly, but she knew that the maid was just using this as an excuse to stall her. Yao Suran, on the other hand, stood with her arms crossed, looking quite relaxed. Zhu Ling felt even more panicked, wondering what had happened to Lin Xu in the east room. She didn't want to get entangled with these two unreasonable mistresses and servants any longer, so she turned and walked away.
Unexpectedly, as she took a big step forward, the maid from the Duke's mansion persisted and immediately tripped her to the ground.
Zhu Ling fell heavily to the ground, the fall quite solid. She felt a warm liquid run down her cheek, and when she wiped it haphazardly, she found her hands covered in blood. Her internal organs ached. Before she could even react with anger, she heard the maid's sharp, mocking voice from above:
"Oh dear, I was just trying to lift my foot to shake off some dust, how did I trip you up? Did you fall hard?"
Yao Suran's calm and composed voice drifted down from above, "Feng Ying, don't be rude. Quickly help that girl up."
Zhu Ling struggled to lift her head, forcefully shook off the hand that was pretending to help her up, and desperately tried to stand up.
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