Chapter 92: Wang Pingting's Coming-of-Age Ceremony, Xu Nian in Charge
The Book of Rites states: "At fifteen years old, a woman should wear the marriage tiara."
Today is Wang Pingting's coming-of-age ceremony. Xu Nian has never seen a coming-of-age ceremony for ancient women, so she is very curious.
Early in the morning, Xu Nian dressed up and walked out of Qingteng Courtyard. Tian was already prepared and waiting for him in the main courtyard.
"Sorry for waiting, shall we set off now?"
"When you are ready, let's go. You will be the boss today. Do you remember the procedures?"
"Don't worry, Mom." In order not to affect Wang Pingting's coming-of-age ceremony today, Xu Nian put in a lot of effort.
In addition to Siyan who was beside Xu Nian, Liuyun also went with them. Today, Liuyun attended as a sponsor in his capacity as Wang Pingting's teacher.
When the group arrived, Wang Pingting's room was already full of people. Seeing Xu Nian, Wang Pingting stood up happily, and the girl in pink beside her held her back helplessly.
"You must not be rash today. Stay calm for me."
Xu Nian walked over and echoed, "Sister Wang is the protagonist today, so we must hold our heads high."
Wang Pingting pulled the pink-dressed girl to Xu Nian and said, "Sister Xu, this is my cousin. She came here especially for my coming-of-age ceremony. Today, you all have to be my servants."
Xu Nian bowed and said, "Meet Miss Guoguan, my name is Xu Nian."
The pink-dressed girl returned the greeting and said softly, "I often hear Pingting talking about you. I never thought you were such a beautiful girl. Just call me cousin like Pingting does."
The two of them exchanged a few greetings, and Guan Minghui took Xu Nian to start packing the things that would be needed for the ceremony.
When the hour of Chen arrived, all the guests stood still at the ceremony venue.
It was Xu Nian's first time to attend such a solemn ceremony, and she was a little nervous. At this time, she and Guan Minghui stood at the bottom of the stage holding trays, while General Wang Qian and his wife stood on the east steps waiting for guests.
The guests were standing outside the venue waiting, while Wang Pingting, who had just finished bathing, had already changed into her formal clothes and shoes and was sitting in the east room waiting.
Xu Nian listened to the musicians playing slowly, and heard old lady Wang, the guest of honor, slowly approaching. Wang Pinting said that this old lady Wang was a close friend of her grandmother and was a rare and blessed person.
General Wang Qian and Madam Guan came forward and both parties bowed to each other formally before entering the venue. Madam Wang sat at the main guest seat, and the guests who had been waiting outside sat at the viewing seats. After everyone was seated, General Wang Qian took Madam Guan to sit at the host seat.
Xu Nian was infected by the solemn atmosphere and couldn't help but straighten his expression.
The music stopped, and General Wang Qian said loudly: "Today, my daughter Pingting is having her coming-of-age ceremony. Thank you all for coming. Next, my daughter Pingting's coming-of-age ceremony will officially begin. Please allow Pingting to greet all the relatives and friends."
Xu Nian looked up and saw Liu Yun, the sponsor, came out first, washed his hands, and took his seat on the west steps. Then Wang Pingting walked out slowly to the center of the venue. This was the first time Xu Nian saw Wang Pingting so calm.
Then Wang Pingting faced south and bowed to the guests. Then she knelt on the marriage matron's seat facing west, and Liuyun began to comb her hair.
Next, Wang Pingting turned to the east and knelt down. Xu Nian and Guan Minghui came forward holding trays and presented her with a scarf and a hairpin. Old Madam Wang walked up to Wang Pingting and chanted a blessing in a loud voice: "On this auspicious day of a certain month, you are finally wearing your first clothes. I have abandoned your childhood ambitions and helped you to become virtuous. I wish you a long life and good fortune." Then she knelt down and began to comb Wang Pingting's hair and put on the hairpin.
After the coming-of-age ceremony was completed, Xu Nian followed Wang Pingting back to the inner room, because Old Madam Wang wanted to change Wang Pingting into a plain dress.
Only then did Xu Nian truly feel the importance of the coming-of-age ceremony to a woman in ancient times.
Before Xu Nian could think deeply, Wang Pingting had already changed her clothes, and Xu Nian followed her back to the field.
After Wang Pingting paid respects to her parents, she knelt facing east again. Old Madam Wang washed her hands again, took the hairpin from Xu Nian's tray, walked to Wang Pingting, and chanted a blessing again in a loud voice: "In this auspicious month and auspicious day, I present you with the clothes. I respect your dignity and manners, and I am virtuous and prudent. May you live a long life and be blessed forever."
Liuyun walked forward to help Wang Pingting untie her hair, and Old Madam Wang put a hairpin on her. After paying their respects again, Xu Nian followed her to the inner room again, this time to help Wang Pingting change into a long gown with a curved hem that matched the hairpin.
Wang Pingting knelt facing east for the third time. Xu Nian saw that Madam Wang had washed her hands and presented the hairpin crown on the tray. Madam Wang took it and walked to Wang Pingting again, chanting aloud: "In the right year, in the order of the month, you wear salt and clothes. Brothers are here to complete your virtue. Huang Nu has no limit, and you are blessed by heaven."
Liuyun went to fix Wang Pingting's hairpin again, and Old Lady Wang put a tiara on her head. Then they went into the room to change into a long dress with wide sleeves that matched the tiara on her head.
Xu Nian was shocked by the three plus three bows. She couldn't imagine how flustered she would be when it was her coming-of-age ceremony. These rituals were really too complicated.
Finally, General Wang Qian announced that Wang Pingting's nickname was "Tong'er", and the completion of all ceremonies meant that Wang Pingting officially became an adult woman from today and could get married and have children.
Xu Nian accompanied Wang Pingting back to her room and asked with a smile, "Sister, how do you feel today? I really admire you for being able to remember such a complicated etiquette without missing a single detail."
Wang Pingting no longer had the same look as she had just had at the ceremony. She leaned over and said helplessly, "If you recite the process a dozen times every day when you open your eyes, you will definitely be able to do it perfectly."
Xu Nian stuck out his tongue. It seemed that Sister Wang was indeed not having an easy time these days.
At this time Wang Pingting remembered something and pulled Xu Nian to the inner room.
"Did you meet the Third Young Master Wei today?"
"No," Xu Nian shook her head blankly. She was so nervous today, afraid that something might go wrong, that she had no time to pay attention to the Third Young Master Wei.
Wang Pingting didn't care, she pulled Xu Nian's arm and said coquettishly: "Does your promise to me still count?"
Wang Pingting looked at the other person, blinking her eyes without saying anything, and said coquettishly, "Well, you have completely forgotten what I said. Tell me, are you just thinking about that foxy prince?"
Xu Nian's originally amusing expression froze, "Fox Prince? Hahaha..."
She felt that she knew what to write in her next reply to Luo Jinan.
"I think this is a great title. How about letting me judge it myself?"
After Xu Nian finished speaking, she saw Wang Pingting stretching out her magic hands to attack her, and she quickly begged for mercy, "Good sister, I was wrong. How could I have forgotten what you said? Isn't it just a test for your Third Young Master Wei?"
"What's mine? Don't talk nonsense."
"Okay, okay, it's the Third Young Master Wei who is to be tested, right?"
“…”
After Xu Nian and Wang Pingting agreed on a date for the horse racing club, they were able to escape and return to the county government.