Chapter 854 A Dream of Youth 386
After Xie Ning knelt and sat facing west in the ceremony area, Xueqiu obediently lay down in front of him.
Yuan Can stepped forward. She was the one who offered the praise. Generally, the praiser is Xie Ning's friend or sister, but Xie Ning invited Yuan Can mainly because Yuan Can is more representative.
Qingli, as the official in charge, stood at the bottom of the steps on the west side. When she saw Yuan Can move, she stepped forward with a copper basin to wash her hands, her gaze following Yuan Can's movements to Xie Ning.
Her jet-black hair cascaded smoothly down her back. Qingli suddenly felt a stinging sensation in her eyes. This was the girl she had watched grow up, the one who had led her forward.
From a slave to someone who is now respectfully addressed as "teacher," this is something she never dared to hope for when she was young and wandering with her mother.
She was a seed planted by Xie Ning, and now she is following in Xie Ning's footsteps, planting one flower seed after another. One day, flowers will bloom all over the spring, and spring will never die, blooming year after year.
Each flower is a bright star, illuminating every tiny speck of dust.
Yuan Can stood beside Xia Xiang and only combed Xie Ning's hair three times before stopping, because Xie Ning had just come after taking a bath and her hair had been styled and was very smooth.
Xie Ning placed the comb to the south and, at Yuan Can's prompting, turned around and sat facing east.
Accompanied by Xie Wangzhi, Xia Xiang washed his hands at the foot of the east steps, dried them, and then took the handkerchief and hairpin offered by Qing Li before walking to the person getting her hairpin made.
He loudly recited the blessing: "On this auspicious day of this month, you are formally dressed. May you cast aside your childish ways and embrace virtuous conduct. May you live a long and prosperous life, and enjoy boundless blessings!"
After speaking, he knelt down to comb Xie Ning's hair and put on her hairpin. Looking at the elegant and beautiful young lady in front of him, Xia Xiang couldn't help but sigh. Even though he was far away in Xijing, he often heard about Xie Ning's deeds, not to mention that his granddaughter had followed Xie Ning to take the exam for a female official and was sent to a local area.
Thinking of his granddaughter, who had been very opinionated and intelligent since childhood, Xia Xiang fell silent for a moment.
His daughter wrote to him, angrily rebuking her granddaughter for her filial impiety. As someone who advocated governing the world with filial piety, Prime Minister Xia could not tolerate this.
If he gave the order, Zhao Huilan would absolutely not be able to step out of the house. Instead, she would go through the marriage process like an ordinary woman, marry, have children, and stay in the inner quarters to be a good wife and mother.
But at that time he also received a letter from Xie Ning. Xie Ning did not write anything else, nor did he argue with him about men and women. He only asked him how he should choose between the ruler and the people, loyalty and filial piety.
There is also something left unsaid: how should one choose between the state and the ruler?
Xia Xiang's choice to restrain his daughter and return to the capital from Xijing was a subtle way of making a decision. In his heart, the monarch was an integral part of the nation, like a tall building with the monarch as the main pillar. If the monarch were lost, the nation would collapse.
However, the nation and its people are inseparable. Without the people, how can there be a nation? Therefore, the people are the foundation.
Xia Xiang was loyal to the emperor, but he valued the people even more. The people are the foundation of the country, and the country is above the emperor. Therefore, the people are more important than the emperor.
Xia Xiang's idea is inextricably linked to the current situation of the Great Zhou Dynasty, where the emperor and the "scholar-officials" jointly govern the country, civil officials hold a high position, and imperial power is weak.
As the music faded, Yuan Can pretended to gently straighten Xie Ning's hair, symbolically adjusting it. He glanced at the obedient Snowball beside him, his eyes softened, and he also put the flower wreath specially prepared on the tray on Snowball's head.
Snowball's tail immediately started wagging, and its round eyes were fixed intently on Xie Ning.
Xie Ning smiled, tapped its nose, and then stood up.
Xia Xiang then offered his blessings, saying, "On this auspicious month and day, adorn yourself with dignified attire, and cultivate your virtuous character. May you enjoy longevity and abundant blessings!"
Xie Ning accepted the gift, and then went back to her room to change into the plain clothes and skirt that Chen Wanniang had prepared for her.
With her crescent-shaped eyebrows and starry eyes, dressed in pristine white robes, she resembled a jade tree in full bloom. Many were captivated, and a noblewoman nearby whispered, "Usually, we only notice the imposing presence of this young Master Xie, which makes us overlook her beauty..."
Princess Jiayue came to her senses. Xie Ning's appearance was not like that of a typical woman; she was elegant and refined, with sharp eyes and a tall figure. At first glance, it was hard to tell whether she was male or female.
Xie Ning walked up to his father and mother and bowed; this was the first bow.
Then, facing east, Xia Xiang removed her hairpin and replaced it with a hair ornament, loudly blessing her, "On this auspicious day and month, you are dressed in your finest attire. May you be dignified and virtuous. May you live a long and healthy life, and forever enjoy abundant blessings!"
This is a double addition.
The coming-of-age ceremony requires three additions and three bows. The first addition is the hairpin, and the wearer is dressed in a plain dress and skirt. The second addition is the hairpin, and the wearer is dressed in a deep robe with a curved hem. The third addition is the hairpin, and the wearer is dressed in a long dress with wide sleeves.
During the three bows, Xie Ning also bowed to Xueqiu. To Xie Ning, Xueqiu was not a pet, but a family member, a companion who accompanied her as she grew up, and who traveled thousands of miles to find and save her.
After the three bows came the ritual. As Xia Xiang finished his blessing, Xie Ning bowed, took the wine and sat down. He knelt down and sprinkled the wine on the ground as a libation. Then he symbolically took a small sip of the wine. Next, Qing Li served the food. After eating a little, Xie Ning began to bow again.
Because it was a significant ceremony, the coming-of-age ceremony was solemn and elaborate.
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