Chapter 511 Zhao Zhao's Coming of Age
Time flies like an arrow.
Princess Zhaozhao of Changle, the brightest and most charming princess in the palace, has reached her coming-of-age year.
On the eve of her coming-of-age ceremony, Zhao Zhao was rarely able to sleep.
She was not worried about tomorrow's schedule.
She has been familiar with royal etiquette since childhood, and has her own palace maids to take care of everything.
She just inexplicably thought of Miaomiao's coming of age two years ago.
I once joked to her that "the little crybaby has finally grown up."
And now it’s my turn.
The moonlight filtered through the carved window lattices into the hall, casting a shadowy shadow on her bright face.
She subconsciously stroked the rough-woven but brightly colored agate bracelet that Su Yuchen had given her when she was a child.
Then he felt confused again and took it off and stuffed it under his pillow.
The next day.
The main hall of Changle Palace was filled with guests and friends, and the rituals and music were solemn.
The emperor and empress sat high up, their eyes filled with satisfaction and love.
Miaomiao was wearing a primrose yellow palace dress, her round little face flushed with excitement, and she was even more nervous than the person involved.
Crown Prince Yan Xingtian, Eldest Prince Yan Xingyi, Fourth Prince Yan Xingchuan, and Fifth Prince Yan Xingmao were all standing by his side.
The expression is solemn and carries blessings to the younger sister.
However, when the ceremonial officer sang "The coming-of-age ceremony begins," the palace door opened.
The scene that came into view made everyone——
Even the emperor and empress, who were used to big scenes, were slightly stunned.
Then there was an unconcealable surprise in his eyes.
This is not the grandeur of a traditional royal coming-of-age ceremony, but...
A carefully constructed "Spring Scene on the Battlefield" that belongs only to Zhaozhao.
I saw a huge embroidered carpet spread on the floor of the hall.
The pattern is not an auspicious dragon and phoenix, but a vast map of the border.
The mountains and rivers are outlined with gold and silver threads, which is magnificent.
The decorations around are not potted peonies, but "Iron-Blooded Cold Plums" with red iron branches, cold jade leaves, and kingfisher feathers as flowers.
There is an unyielding vitality in the cold.
The air was not filled with the sweetness of ordinary spices.
Rather, it is a blend of the crisp pine wood and the elegant orchid.
It seems to perfectly combine the spaciousness of a martial arts field with the tranquility of a girl's home.
The music that started was not the sound of bells, drums, zithers or harps.
Instead, it is the combination of the low and powerful hujia and the ethereal and distant guzheng.
The tune played was a new tune that blended "Pozhen Music" and "Gathering Wild Wheat".
It has both the heroic spirit of war and iron cavalry, and the gentleness of late spring.
Zhao Zhao walked in wearing a fiery red riding and archery uniform with gold embroidery.
Her long hair was not tied up, and it fell behind her like an ink waterfall.
She still walked with a dashing demeanor, but her expression was more calm than usual.
She knelt down to pay respect to her parents and listened to their instructions.
When it came to the ceremony of adding the hairpin, everyone thought that it would be done by the empress herself or presided over by an elder in the palace.
Unexpectedly, the person who came forward was the prince of Anguo Duke - Su Yuchen.
He is no longer the childish boy he was a year ago.
He is taller, with broader shoulders and back, his face has lost its youthfulness, and his handsome brows are filled with calmness and sharpness.
What he held in his hand was not an ordinary jade or gold hairpin, but an extremely exquisite crown with a flying eagle holding a pearl.
The crown has a dark gold base and is shaped like an eagle with its wings spread.
The eagle's eyes are inlaid with sparkling rubies, and in its beak is a glittering pearl as big as a pigeon egg.
On the eagle's wings, fine and dense golden threads coiled to form cloud patterns.
Several strands of red gold tassels hang down, each end decorated with tiny rubies.
The movements were glittering and dazzling, complementing Zhao Zhao's fiery red riding and archery uniform.
It is both noble and heroic.
Su Yuchen walked up to Zhao Zhao, his eyes were deep, but his movements were extremely respectful and solemn.
His voice was clear and penetrated the palace.
"Your Highness, Su Yuchen, the Crown Prince of the Duke of Anguo, would like to present this 'Lingyun Crown' to congratulate Her Royal Highness Princess Changle on her coming of age."
"May Your Highness soar freely like an eagle across the sky, forever maintaining his sincerity and radiating his heart like the sun and the moon."
After he finished speaking, he actually tied Zhao Zhao's hair with his own hands.
Place the "Lingyun Crown" firmly in her hair.
As he moved, his fingertips occasionally touched her hair, causing a slight, barely perceptible tremor.
Zhao Zhao raised her eyes and met his extremely serious gaze.
The surging emotions in there made her heart jump inexplicably.
I even forgot my usual casual attitude towards him and only felt the weight of the crown.
And... a perfect fit.
She had never seen jewelry that suited her so well and understood her preferences so well.
This is not something that can be achieved overnight.
After the capping ceremony, everyone was amazed.
Then, Su Yuchen clapped his hands three times.
A uniform congratulatory message came from outside the hall:
"All the officers and men of the Red Flame Battalion of the Border Army, from afar, wish Her Royal Highness Princess Changle a happy and healthy coming of age. May she be a peerless beauty, shining brightly across the land!"
It turned out that he had used the connections of the Duke of Anguo's Mansion in the military.
Let the border soldiers who have the most similar personalities to Zhao Zhao and have received his guidance in riding and shooting send their blessings from afar.
This thoughtfulness far exceeds any ordinary expensive gift.
Zhao Zhao stood there in a daze, looking at Su Yuchen, her heart filled with shock.
She had never thought about Su Yuchen, the man who had followed her since childhood and whom she always called "little brat".
He could actually do this for her.
The sincerity was so profound that she felt a little helpless.
After the coming-of-age ceremony, the banquet began.
Zhao Zhao found a gap, avoided the noisy crowd, and came alone to the secluded corridor behind the hall.
I stared at the plum blossoms in full bloom in the yard, my heart in turmoil like falling plum petals in the snow.
Su Yuchen followed quietly and stood behind her.
The night wind blew by, ruffling the hems of their clothes.
"Zhao Zhao." He called her, his voice much lower than before in the hall.
If you listen carefully, you can also hear a hint of tension.
Zhao Zhao turned around, her face back to normal, and she looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"Su Dabao, you must have put a lot of thought into this show today."
"Tell me, have you gotten into trouble again? Do you want me to help you plead with Duke Dingguo?"
She habitually used teasing to cover up her inner strangeness.
Su Yuchen took a step forward, his eyes burning, not allowing her to dodge.
"Everything I do is not for you to plead for me."
He took a deep breath and looked at her intently.
"Zhao Zhao, I love you. It's been like this since we were little, and it hasn't changed."
Zhao Zhao's eyes suddenly widened, as if he had heard something incredible.
She subconsciously took a half step back.
"You...what nonsense are you talking about!"
Her heart was beating like a drum, and her first thought was:
"You...you like Miaomiao, don't you?"
"For several months last year, you were so attentive, always whispering to Miaomiao in private..."
She always thought that Su Yuchen was so close to Miaomiao and had been competing with Cui Huailin for her for several months.
Because he wants to marry Miaomiao.
In addition, when he was a child, he did say that he liked Miaomiao's gentle temperament.
When Su Yuchen heard this, he was stunned at first, and then an expression of being at a loss whether to laugh or cry appeared on his handsome face.
He explained hurriedly:
"That's all a misunderstanding! I'm helping Sister Miaomiao!"
"First, I see how pitiful she is because of her love troubles;"
"Secondly, I thought that if I could help her and Master Cui achieve a good relationship, you would have less to worry about her."
His eyes were eager and sincere, and his tone was as persistent and serious as his eyes.
"As for those childhood words, they were all just childish nonsense, meant to hide... to hide my true thoughts!"
"What I, Su Yuchen, have always wanted in this life is only you, only Zhao Zhao!"
"My intentions are witnessed by heaven and earth!"
Zhao Zhao was completely stunned.
Look at his cheeks flushed with eagerness, look at the undisguised fiery emotion in his eyes.
Thinking back on his subtle closeness and care over the years, and today's heart-stirring coming-of-age ceremony...
Those overlooked details suddenly came to mind.
So... is that how it is?
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