Xuanyuan Xi brought Duanmu Yao back to the palace, where they were immediately surrounded by Duanmu Junyu, Su Renzhong, Su Yun'an, Pei Luo, and Dao Yi.
"You're finally back, kid! I thought you wouldn't make it back in time!"
"Yes, this is your coming-of-age ceremony. If you really don't come back, your father and mother will probably have a hard time explaining it to others."
“If you don’t come back for a day, Little Star will run out every day. She’ll stay at the Shili Pavilion for most of the day. It’s good that you’re back, so the girl doesn’t have to run out every day anymore.”
They chattered back and forth, making Xuan Yuanxi feel ashamed: "But I'm back now, aren't I?"
He knew that tomorrow was his coming-of-age ceremony, and his father and mother had sent him a message well in advance, telling him that he must come back this time.
With the Emperor and Empress Dowager's orders, how could he not come back?
Seeing that they were all criticizing Xuan Yuanxi, Duanmu Yao quickly grabbed Xuan Yuanxi's arm to defend him and said, "Brother was late because he was helping me get this thousand-year-old snow spirit mushroom. Besides, tomorrow is his coming-of-age ceremony. Grandmother, uncles, and grandmasters, please don't say anything to him."
Seeing that this girl was still defending her own, everyone was both amused and exasperated.
Xuanyuan Xi affectionately rubbed Duanmu Yao's head.
I must say, the girl wasn't spoiled for nothing; she can come in handy when it matters.
"You're getting so close to your brother now? What about your brother Jue?" Duanmu Junyu teased her.
"Brother Jue is behind us." Duanmu Yao suddenly remembered Huangfu Jue and immediately left Xuanyuan Xi to go find him.
Seeing Duanmu Yao running so fast, everyone shook their heads and laughed.
This girl is seventeen now; it's time to find her a husband.
Speaking of Duanmu Yao and Huangfu Jue, at least they liked each other, but that kid Xuanyuan Xi...
Duanmu Junyu pulled Xuanyuan Xi aside first: "Xi'er, you're all grown up now, do you have someone you like?"
Xuanyuan Xi blinked, looking at Su Yun'an as if pleading for help.
In previous years, he could have pushed the blame onto his uncle at this time.
It's not that his uncle isn't married yet, so why is this nephew in such a hurry? But this year his uncle married the empress, and without his uncle to back him up, he can't even offer a defense.
Su Yun'an, feeling sorry for his nephew, quickly chimed in, "He's only twenty, what's the rush? What's the point of a grown man getting married so early?"
As soon as Su Yun'an spoke, Duanmu Junyu glared at him and said, "Just like you, getting married at thirty!"
...After hearing this, Su Yun'an had nothing to say.
His mother used to dote on him so much, but now that Xiao Bao and Xiao Xing have grown up, he, the youngest son, has lost all his status.
Su Yun'an glanced at Xuan Yuanxi helplessly.
It's not that he didn't want to help him, it's that he couldn't withstand their firepower!
Even his uncle couldn't save him, so Xuanyuan Xi had no choice but to run away: "I'm too dirty, I want to go wash up first. Grandmother, Uncle, Grandmaster, you can talk slowly."
Xuanyuan Xi finished speaking and ran off without waiting for them to reply.
Watching Xuan Yuanxi's figure move faster than a rabbit, You Yi leaned closer to Bai Fuya, somewhat amused and exasperated, and asked, "Do you think that girl will come to his coming-of-age ceremony?"
Bai Fuya raised an eyebrow and glanced at him sideways: "Isn't that your precious apprentice? You're asking me?"
"Didn't you raise them? Who else should I ask if not you?" Youyi knew how to refute.
Bai Fuya was speechless.
It's true that she raised her, but that girl has always been a woman of her own mind, and neither she, Youyi, nor even Xiaobao can control her.
Xiao Bao and You Yi both understood what she was thinking, but they didn't know if that girl understood. She usually hid it very well, and they couldn't see through it at all.
So whether she and Xiaobao can get together depends mainly on her!
Not only were Bai Fuya and You Yi thinking about Leng Xiyue, but Xuan Yuanxi was also soaking in the bathtub, thinking about Leng Xiyue as well.
She should know that tomorrow is his coming-of-age ceremony; he has already sent her a message, but he doesn't know if she will come.
Early the next morning.
Xuanyuan Xi was then pulled out to get ready.
The coming-of-age ceremony in Dongchu was also very complicated. After a set of elaborate coming-of-age rituals, Xuanyuan Xi changed into the crown prince's robes.
After Xuanyuan Xi's coming-of-age ceremony ended, everyone presented him with gifts.
The gifts from Duanmu Junyu, Su Yun'an, and others were delivered to Dongchu a month ago.
Even Emperor Huangfu Shengling of the Southern Qi Dynasty specially sent lavish gifts, and each emperor's gift list could be read at length.
After presenting the grand gift, Duanmu Junyu, Su Renzhong, Su Yun'an, Dao Yi, You Yi, Pei Luo, Bai Fuya, Xuan Yuanzhan, Su Xuening, Huangfu Jue, and Duanmu Yao each gave individual gifts.
Among them, the gifts given by Duanmu Yao and Huangfu Jue were the most special.
Duanmu Yao presented a small box and leaned close to Xuanyuan Xi, saying mysteriously, "This is something I specially made for you. You must not open it unless you have to. If Sister Xiyue comes tonight, you can secretly open it."
After saying that, Duanmu Yao winked at Xuanyuan Xi in an ambiguous way.
...Xuanyuan Xi had no idea what Duanmu Yao was up to, nor what was in the wooden box, so he accepted her gift for the time being.
Huangfu Jue presented a long box, saying, "Returning it to its rightful owner."
Originally, Xuanyuan Xi wasn't curious about what Huangfu Jue had given him, but Huangfu Jue's words, "returning the item to its rightful owner," did pique his curiosity.
Xuanyuan Xi opened the box and glanced at it, then exclaimed in shock, "This is... the Xuanwu Sword?"
The officials were all delighted to hear that Huangfu Jue had returned the Xuanwu Sword to Xuanyuan Xi.
"It's good to return it to its rightful owner; it should have belonged to the Crown Prince all along."
"Yes, the Xuanwu Sword is the national treasure of Eastern Chu, it cannot fall into the wrong hands!"
"When the Emperor gave him the Xuanwu Sword, the entire court opposed it. I never expected that he would return the Xuanwu Sword to the Crown Prince now."
"I thought he had ulterior motives, but it seems he didn't."
Xuanyuan Xi frowned and looked at Huangfu Jue: "This is a gift from Father Emperor for your apprenticeship."
Perhaps the Emperor's decision to give the Xuanwu Sword to Huangfu Jue was made on a whim, but he did write a letter explaining the situation to him.
He didn't care, not to mention that his father had given him the Xuanwu Sword to kill his beloved younger sister who was about to become someone else's.
So even if his father passed the throne of Eastern Chu to him, he would have no objection, as long as he was good to Xing'er.
Huangfu Jue smiled slightly: "This is a gift from my master to me when I became his disciple. The affection between my master and mistress, along with this Xuanwu sword, protected my childhood. Now that I have come of age, I no longer need the Xuanwu sword, but I can still protect them. So it is time for this Xuanwu sword to be returned to its rightful owner."
He knew that the officials of Dongchu harbored deep resentment towards his master for giving him the Xuanwu Sword, and he didn't want his master to always face such doubts.
The Xuanwu Sword is a fine sword, but to him it is just a fine sword. To the Xuanyuan royal family, however, it is a national treasure, and he should return it to its rightful owner.
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