Liu Yaoyu took Yu Jiao's hand and said, "Are you going to the back hill to look for us? Then have you seen a small courtyard with a fence? There are many snow-white and cute rabbits in the courtyard."
Facing Liu Yaoyu's expectant gaze, Yu Jiao shook her head and said, "The mountain path is too long. Jianjia and I walked for a while, but when we didn't see you, we didn't dare to go deeper!"
"Then let's go and have the vegetarian meal quickly. After the meal, if there is still time, I will take you to the back mountain to see the rabbits." Liu Yaoyu took Yu Jiao's hand and pulled her towards the vegetarian hall.
After finishing the vegetarian meal, the old lady felt tired and did not stay in the nunnery for long. She told the servants to prepare to return home. This way, Yu Jiao didn't have to find excuses to dissuade Liu Yaoyu from going to the back mountain.
The journey down the mountain from Lianxi Temple back to the mansion was quite peaceful without any disturbances. Yu Jiao felt much more at ease. If Governor Cheng wanted to make trouble, he would have gone directly to the temple to find someone. Since he didn't go there, he probably didn't intend to make a fuss.
Old Lady Liu prayed for Yu Jiao's safety and blessing, and said that Master Miaochang liked the seal incense she made very much, and that they at Lianxi Temple wanted to order some seal incense made by Yu Jiao herself. Yu Jiao naturally agreed, just to pass the time. She was not good at needlework, and was just sitting around doing nothing all day, so having something to do would make her life more fulfilling.
Two days later, it was Yu Jiao's birthday. As it was her coming-of-age ceremony, Madam Liu arranged a grand banquet for Yu Jiao, inviting more guests than the last time Yu Jiao returned to her ancestral home and opened the ancestral temple.
Yu Jiao was woken up by Jianjia early in the morning. She sat on the stool in front of the dressing mirror in a daze, allowing the two of them to dress her up.
The dress was made for Yu Jiao by a female craftsman from the brocade workshop in the city that Madam Liu had asked. The jacket was embroidered with hundreds of gold-thread butterflies and paired with a floor-length skirt of plum blossoms and water drops, which looked particularly gorgeous.
The headpiece is a matching gold-inlaid jeweled butterfly hairpin, purple jade hibiscus earrings, and a gold necklace with gold thread and eight-treasure beads.
Yu Jiao seldom dressed in such bright and gorgeous clothes. Her little face was really charming. After getting dressed up, she didn't look gaudy at all. Instead, she looked more light and graceful, with ethereal and beautiful facial features, which was quite stunning.
The mansion became lively early in the morning. Liu Yu was at home on a day off today, and the whole family had breakfast together in the old lady's Baoshou Hall.
Not long after, guests arrived one after another. Madam Liu greeted the guests in the front hall for a while. After Ms. Yang entered the house, Madam Liu arranged for Nanny Wei beside her to greet the guests and personally led Ms. Yang to the backyard.
Ms. Yang was the sponsor invited by Madam Liu. Her father was a first-class Jinshi and a great scholar in the Hanlin Academy. Ms. Yang learned calligraphy from her father since she was young and her talent was well-known. Unfortunately, after her father passed away, the Yang family fell into poverty. Ms. Yang relied on her talent and aloofness, and did not pursue fame and fortune. She never married in her life and was often invited by aristocratic families in the capital to teach the young ladies in their homes. She was quite famous.
By the time the ceremony started, most of the guests had arrived. Liu Yaoyu and Yu Fuling were sitting with Yu Jiao in the east room.
After Yu Jiao came back from Lianxi Temple, she asked Li Jing to go to Kanjing Hutong to send invitations to Yu Qizhe and Yu Fuling. Yu Qizhe was a stranger and was sitting in the front hall at the time. But when Yu Fuling came over, she went to look for Yu Jiao.
It was also the first time she saw Yu Jiao dressed so exquisitely. She was almost stunned when she entered the room and was amazed for a while.
Madam Liu led Ms. Yang in and introduced her to Yu Jiao. She then took her hand and comforted her, "The coming-of-age ceremony will begin soon. There are quite a few guests outside. Don't be nervous. Just follow the rules."
Yu Jiao smiled and nodded, "Thank you for your hard work, Madam."
Ms. Yang was listening at the side, feeling a little surprised. Madam Liu treated the third young lady very attentively, otherwise she would not have invited her to be the sponsor. But it seemed that the third young lady did not change her tone and addressed Madam Liu politely.
Madam Liu didn't care about this. She had no gratitude towards Yu Jiao, neither for giving birth to her nor for raising her. The child had only been back home for a month. If she really changed her mind and treated her more affectionately, it would be awkward.
After spending these days together, she also knew that Yu Jiao was a person who knew what was good for her. If someone was nice to her, she would return the favor. If someone treated her badly, she would never curry favor with someone she didn't like.
This kind of personality is very good. There are few people in the mansion. As long as the family is harmonious, Madam Liu is willing to treat Yu Jiao and Yao Yu the same way, as if they were her own children.
Not long after Mrs. Liu left the east room, it became quiet outside. It must be the beginning of the coming-of-age ceremony.
Yu Jiao was sitting in the room when she heard the official outside say, "Heaven and earth created all things, and all things flourish forever, with family and country. The glory of our ancestors, the inheritance of our parents, life for family and country, the most precious is honor and harmony. A man is born young, and then he goes on to the future. Young people inherit independently. The family, clan, and country accept the establishment of a person and the rights of the person. The adult bears the responsibilities of the family and the great principles of the country. This is specially rectified and clarified by etiquette and rules."
After a round of ceremonial music, Liu Yu and Madam Liu were welcomed out as the relatives.
After Liu Yu took his seat, he addressed everyone, "Today, my daughter Yu Jiao is having her coming-of-age ceremony. Thank you all for coming to witness my daughter's coming-of-age ceremony."
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