Chapter 193 Chapter 193 is the only genuine version...
After entering the Jinyu Pavilion, I was immediately welcomed to the top floor.
The shopkeeper personally took out a wooden box carved with exquisite patterns, and inside the box was a golden hairpin.
Gold threads entwine the hairpin's body, like branches blossoming at its tip. Each petal is hammered from gold, as thin as a cicada's wing, gleaming dazzlingly in the sunlight. Flowing beads woven from the gold threads dangle, and tiny gemstones are studded between the threads, creating the illusion of hidden stars. At first glance, the craftsmanship is incredibly time-consuming.
The more Gu Zhizhuo looked at it, the more he liked it: "Cancan, when did you decide on it?"
Gu Yican counted on his fingers and said cheerfully, "March! Before I leave Beijing."
Gu Zhizhuo suddenly clenched the hairpin, his fingers tightened slightly for a moment, fearing that it would be damaged, and then he immediately let go, holding it in his palms with both hands.
March.
In other words, after ordering this hairpin, her Cancan left the capital to suppress bandits.
In the previous life, this farewell was a farewell forever, they never met again, and she didn't know that her Cancan, her brother, had prepared a coming-of-age ceremony for her.
In her previous life, she never saw this hairpin until her death.
Gu Zhizhuo's eyes suddenly turned red.
My heart felt burning hot, as if there was a raging fire burning inside.
Gu Yican was stunned and asked stupidly, "Don't you like it?"
I don't think he was crying because it was so ugly, it's actually quite nice. He drew it himself and it took him a long time.
"like."
Gu Zhizhuo clasped his hands together and held it carefully in his palms.
"Miss, would you like to try it on?" the shopkeeper asked. "If there's anything that doesn't fit, we can adjust it."
"I won't try it anymore." Gu Zhizhuo's fingers stroked the hairpin, and the petals trembled with her movements, like a flower in full bloom. "I'll wear it on the day I come of age."
She looked at it again and again, and reluctantly put it back into the box. She then tidied up all the tassels before closing the lid.
Her movements were both cherishing and careful, as if she was holding a rare treasure in her hands.
"I'll get it."
"No." Gu Zhizhuo held it in his arms and turned his head away. "It's mine. I won't give it to you."
Gu Yican:?
Even though he had a younger sister who had been with him since birth, Gu Yican still sometimes couldn't understand a girl's mind. But it didn't matter, as long as his younger sister liked him!
"I'll buy it for you next year!"
Gu Zhizhuo: "I want it the year after next, and I'll keep buying it until I become an old lady."
Okay!
After happily leaving the Jinyu Pavilion, Gu Zhizhuo, holding the precious hairpin in his hand, was unwilling to go shopping anymore, fearing that it might get bumped or damaged, so he went straight home.
Everyone in the mansion knew that Gu Yican would be back today, and the lady-in-waiting had people waiting at the ceremonial gate early.
As soon as she came back, she went to Ronghe Hall. Seeing two people coming in together, the lady waved happily and called them over. She first touched Gu Yican's face, then asked him to stand up and turn around, confirming that not even a hair had fallen off. The lady was relieved.
“Is Xinjiang fun?”
“Fun!”
"In the future." The lady touched his face, "Just take on jobs like this. It's so glorious. Don't go to dangerous places, okay?"
In the eyes of the lady, Gu Yican’s trip to Western Xinjiang was really just to welcome his bride.
It is much more glorious than suppressing bandits or quelling riots, and the main thing is that it is safe.
Gu Yican smiled and agreed: "I will stay in the capital and play mahjong with my grandmother. I won't go anywhere."
After defeating the Northern Di, he stayed in the capital and never traveled around again.
The lady narrowed her eyes in delight: "Cancan, be good."
"Can you give me the Persian dagger in my grandmother's storeroom?" Gu Yican blinked at him, "It's the one my great-uncle brought back from Persia."
Last year, the Jiang family's caravan went to Persia and brought back many rare Persian items. A while ago, they also sent a lot to the lady.
Here! The lady sent Nanny Zhu to get them: "Bring them all here for Cancan to choose. There are also Persian carpets. When the maids come soon, let them choose for themselves."
"Zhuo girl," the lady took her hand and said with a smile, "You will be coming of age in a few days. Grandmother has prepared a hairpin for you. It was left by your great-grandmother. Take a look and see if you like it."
She handed her a phoenix hairpin.
The Phoenix Hairpin is priceless and beautiful beyond compare.
"I got it." Gu Zhizhuo sat on the footstool, showing off her new gold hairpin. "Grandma, look, isn't it beautiful? Cancan painted it herself, for her coming-of-age ceremony."
"My grandmother gave it to me, so I want it too."
She happily accepted the Phoenix Hairpin. Who would complain about having too many hairpins, right?
"Anything else, Grandma?"
"Here, here, here, all for you."
The old lady had only one daughter. Since Gu Liaoliao came of age, there hadn't been another coming-of-age ceremony in the mansion. Now that she finally had a granddaughter who had grown up, the old lady was cherishing her very much.
Soon, several tables were set up in the main room, filled with headgear, short swords, and even the Persian carpets had to be piled aside.
The lady also specifically asked Madam Zhu to bring the catalogue from the storeroom where the jewellery and head ornaments were kept, so that Gu Zhizhuo could choose for himself.
Gu Zhizhuo ordered one and asked someone to bring one, filling up two tables.
The lady sat on it and watched with a smile.
Her warehouse is almost full, take it all away.
"Madam."
Just as the selection was in full swing, a housemaid came in from the front courtyard and reported, "The Emperor has ordered a banquet to be held tonight for the eldest prince and princess of Liang State. Prince Xuan and the eldest daughter are to enter the palace."
Gu Yican: "Are you going?"
"I don't want to go." Gu Zhizhuo happily played with a golden hairpin with a butterfly playing with flowers, without even raising his head.
Gu Yican: "I don't want to go either."
The Madam's face turned fierce. "The palace has summoned you. It's not up to you whether you want to go or not. Be obedient and wash up quickly. Nanny Zhu, have someone prepare the carriage. Cancan, you just got back and you're still tired. You're not allowed to ride. You can still sleep in the carriage for a while. Hurry up and don't be late."
Gu Zhizhuo looked at the table full of headgear reluctantly.
"All for you."
Gu Yican followed his sister's example, staring at the table full of Persian daggers and Mongolian daggers.
Madam Tai: "...each person is only allowed to pick one."
All right. Gu Yican picked one for his sister as well, and they ran off hand in hand. When he saw Gu Yiqun outside, he didn't forget to say, "Go in quickly, grandma has taken out all the Persian daggers that my uncle and grandpa sent. Go pick one."
"Grandma, Grandma! I want one too."
Gu Yiqun rushed in.
Gu Zhizhuo really didn't want to enter the palace, especially the palace banquets, which made him feel exhausted just by listening to them.
She was dressing up slowly, and Shen Mao was squatting at the door watching her.
Gu Zhizhuo grabbed it and took it with him. When they arrived at the ceremonial gate, Gu Yican had already finished his nap in the carriage. When he saw his sister coming, he took the initiative to lift the curtain for her.
Gu Zhizhuo sat down next to him.
"Let's go."
Gu Yican looked her up and down, always feeling that something was not right with his sister.
It was only after I got off the carriage that I realized that on my sister's waist was... the Persian dagger she had just begged for?
The thing on his shoulder is... a cat?
Gu Zhizhuo turned around and smiled at him with an innocent look on his face.
Gu Yican whispered, "Do you want to hide?"
Except for the sword-carrying guards in front of the emperor, no one was allowed to bring weapons into the palace.
"It's okay, the emperor is blind and can't see."
Carrying a dagger with him has been Gu Zhizhuo's habit since his rebirth, and he would feel uncomfortable without it.
"Is this a question of whether the Emperor can see it or not?"
The two of them walked towards the palace gate while arguing with each other. The eunuch waiting in front of the palace gate came up to them attentively. His eyes swept across the dagger on Gu Zhizhuo's waist, and as if he was blind, he even turned sideways to block the Jinwu Guards for her.
Looking at the cat, he even took out some dried fish as a tribute.
Gu Yican:?
Now that I'm working in the palace, do I have to carry dried fish with me?
He touched his chin, thinking for a moment. His knife was still in the carriage, and he wondered if it was too late to go back and get it.
The palace gate closed behind him. Well, it seemed that it was too late.
"Miss Gu, are you tired? The sedan chair is ready. Would you like to sit on it?"
"No, let's not go to Hanzhang Palace, let's go straight to the table."
"Yes, please."
The young eunuch was diligent and respectful.
Entering the palace was like returning home for Chen Mao. He lay on Gu Zhizhuo's shoulder and wagged his tail freely.
Gu Zhizhuo did not go to the harem to pay his respects to the queen as usual, but followed Gu Yican directly to Huazhang Hall to take his seat.
The brothers and sisters arrived neither too early nor too late.
The Zhenbei Palace was noble enough, and their seats were at the front. As soon as she sat down, a eunuch brought her some fruit juice to moisten her mouth.
After sitting for a while, other people arrived one after another and took their seats.
Some acquaintances also came over to chat for a while.
There was no separate seating for men and women today, but apart from Gu Zhizhuo, who had been officially canonized by the court and held the military power of the Qianji Camp, and was qualified to stand outside the court, only a few unmarried princesses and princesses from royal palaces came.
When Xie Danling saw them, she ran over happily.
"I'm going to sit here."
She asked the eunuch to move her seat. The eunuch glanced at Gu Zhizhuo and agreed happily.
"Cat, you're here too." As soon as she sat down, she picked up the cat and kissed it, saying, "The Queen Mother said that she wants to welcome Princess Xiliang and asked us to come and greet her." The "we" she mentioned refers to the princesses.
The two leaned their heads against each other, and Gu Zhizhuo showed off the coming-of-age gift he had received to her. Xie Danling spread her hands towards Gu Yican, and before she could say anything, Gu Yican also spread his hands towards her: "Sister, this is my birthday gift."
Gu Zhizhuo imitated him: "Birthday gift."
Xie Danling:?
"I am only three days older than you!"
"Three days older is still older."
"That's right. How about you call me sister?"
"I'll teach you how to cheat." Xie Danling rushed over, and the three of them started laughing and making a noise.
When Xie Yingchen came in, his eyes stayed on her for a long time, and he walked to his seat, which was only one step lower than the emperor's.
There were sounds of dancing and music in the hall.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
The emperor and empress walked in surrounded by eunuchs and palace maids.
The emperor was very thin. He was just in his forties, but his temples were already gray, and his sunken cheeks made him look particularly old.
He hadn't appeared in public for a long time. When people saw him for the first time, they all gasped in surprise.
Gu Zhizhuo heard from Xie Yingchen that the emperor's eyesight was failing.
The emperor probably didn't want to show weakness, so even if it wasn't visible, he didn't make it public. No one knew about it except his personal attendants. He walked steadily, his ears habitually tilted to the side in the direction of the sound. Only Li Deshun, who was supporting the emperor, would occasionally lower his head and say a few words.
"Stairs...lift your foot...fall down..."
Gu Yican read the lips and whispered to his sister, then suddenly raised an eyebrow and said, "It's Xie Yan."
Only then did Gu Zhizhuo notice that there was a small figure following among the princes.
The emperor did not mention it, and Prince Li just thought he had forgotten it. Xie Yan still had no official title and was not included in the imperial book. Even if the emperor brought him out, he did not have the prince's dragon robe, and walked among the crowd with his head lowered, appearing out of place.
The emperor sat down, his expression expressionless, and raised his hand, saying, "No need to be polite."
The people of Liang came in with the emperor. After they sat down at the table, many people secretly looked at the two members of the Liang royal family.
"Today I am welcoming the eldest prince and princess of Liang. May our two countries establish an everlasting friendship..."
The emperor spoke some high-sounding words, which took him half a cup of tea.
He cleared his throat, already feeling a bit exhausted, and quickly got to the point: "The Imperial Astronomical Observatory has chosen October 14th as an auspicious day for the wedding of my third prince and Princess Jiaye."
"Convey my will."
The emperor could only see a blur of light and turned towards where Xie Yingchen was sitting. He said, "Appoint the third prince as Prince Rui."
The Minister of Rites looked at Xie Yingchen, and when he saw him nod, he bowed in agreement.
The dancing and music started playing again, and people were toasting each other and having a great time.
The emperor and Duoleng talked about everything under the sun. Duoleng had stayed at the border for a long time, so he talked about the customs and people of the Qiliang border. The emperor was quite supportive and praised him repeatedly.
Just like the two countries have never fought to the death.
The people at the table also joined in from time to time, and the sound of dance and music made the room lively.
Gu Zhizhuo picked up a shrimp for the cat. This was specially prepared for the cat by the eunuch in the imperial kitchen. It was simply boiled in water and peeled before being served.
Xie Danling picked up a small silver pot and filled the cup in front of her. Gu Zhizhuo smelled a faint aroma of wine.
"Where are you from?"
Xie Danling smiled at her: "The new tribute is fruit wine, sweet and delicious."
Gu Zhizhuo took a sip and found it was indeed sweet!
“It’s delicious.”
The cat leaned over to sniff, then patted the wine jug in dissatisfaction. Gu Zhizhuo then had someone bring it a small bowl of warmed goat's milk.
The dance is over.
Several musicians came up holding pipa, and the sound of the pipa was like pearls rolling on a jade plate.
Gu Zhizhuo was mesmerized by the music. Xie Danling said in a delicate voice, "My mother and Princess Fu'an completed the incomplete score together. I think the song is called 'Lanting Si'. It was composed a hundred years ago after the lady and her husband divorced. I heard my mother play it, and it made me want to cry."
Her little face was slightly red, and when she saw her little cousin looking at her, the corners of her mouth curved up into a sweet smile.
Are you drunk?
Gu Zhizhuo pinched her cheek and it was indeed a little hot.
Gu Zhizhuo gave her the cat that was licking its paws after eating goat milk and shrimps, and replaced the fruit wine in front of her with fruit juice.
The cat stared at the fluttering sleeves at the table with its eyes wide open, opening and closing its paws, eager to try.
"...Your Majesty, the Great Emperor, please!"
Duoleng speaks standard Mandarin.
After three rounds of drinks, he stood up to toast and drank three cups in a row. Li Deshun possessed the spirit and told the emperor about it. The emperor applauded and drank a cup as well.
After paying his respects to the Emperor and Empress, Duo Leng turned to Xie Yingchen and said, "Your Highness, it's been a long time since we last met. You are still as charming as ever."
"Come on, you have to drink three cups!"
Gu Zhizhuo raised his eyebrows.
Duo Leng came out with a wine glass and walked towards Xie Yingchen. He smiled generously, his small braids hanging down his shoulders, and made a toast to Xie Yingchen.
Xie Yingchen responded by drinking it in one gulp. It turned out to be warm water.
Yaoyao didn't allow him to drink, and except for the time when he drank with Shen Xu, he didn't touch a drop of alcohol.
"You, Crown Prince, seem much healthier now. Unlike back in the capital, when you couldn't mount a horse, lift a sword, or draw a bow... you were nothing but a piece of crap."
He said this in a cold tone, taking advantage of the fact that others couldn't understand him.
After all, he was a "guest" in Daqi, and he couldn't do such a stupid thing as openly humiliating the crown prince of Daqi.
The recent repeated attacks by Daqi had ruined his plans at the border. The Daqi Emperor was weak and useless, which must have been Xie Yingchen's intention. This man was weak and fragile, and had been ill for six years in Liang State, but he was full of evil intentions. He had instigated the Liang State to change two monarchs in six years.
Duoleng raised his glass and made a toasting gesture with a hearty smile on his face, as if what he said was just some words to urge people to drink.
"Waste should stay where waste belongs. Don't get in the way."
"What do you think?"
After that, he switched to Daqi official language and toasted, "Please."
Pop.
Gu Zhizhuo put down his wine glass.
She understood Liang language. In her previous life, when the young master had instigated internal strife between Duoleng and the King of Liang, she had followed him and the young master had taught her personally.
"Even though I can't lift a knife or draw a bow, I can still blow your head off."
As soon as Gu Zhizhuo uttered this standard cold remark, Duoleng looked over suddenly.
She smiled brightly: "My head is blooming."
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