Chapter 25: The Coming-of-Age Ceremony
"I also like the chirping of katydids. Can you make a katydid cage? Can you help me make one? I have a cricket with a big cap named Black General. It's really amazing.
He is invincible in killing crickets. I have always wanted to change his cage. Can you help me make one? I will bring General Black to see you next time.
I also have a lot of books about regions, including a record of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Would you like to read it? I'll have someone bring it to you, okay?"
The Records of the Great Zhou Dynasty is a very expensive book. Song Yuning has always wanted to buy it, but because it would cost too much money, she has never made up her mind.
"Okay, if you lend me a book, I'll help you make a katydid cage. How about that as a thank you gift?" Song Yuning said with a smile.
Xu Hui nodded, and looked at Song Yuning seriously with his peach blossom eyes. To be honest, these eyes really made Song Yuning completely irresistible.
Not only beautiful, but also full of affection.
Xu Hui is playful and is the beloved old man in the family. He should not face too much pressure in the future. If he can become his wife, it would be quite easy.
However, it is hard to say whether the Xu family is willing to hire a concubine as Xu Hui's wife.
Song Yuning is still young now, only twelve years old, and Xu Hui is only fourteen. The marriage can be discussed in two years. We can talk about the future later.
The two did not stay here for long. After talking for a while, Xu Hui sent Song Yuning back to her sisters.
Fifth sister Song Yuyan has also returned. After Song Yuning came, only tenth sister Song Yuyao has not returned. However, she is with Li Yuan, so there is no need to worry.
"It's getting late, why don't we go down the mountain?" Looking at the sky, sixth sister Song Yuwan said.
The others had no objection and asked a maid to inform Song Yuyao, Song Yuning and the other three to go down the mountain to look for the old lady first.
The old lady was talking with several other old ladies at the moment. When she saw the four of them coming back, she smiled and waved, asking them to come forward and pay their respects.
The gaze of Madam Lu, the great general of the country, was as sharp as that of an eagle. She looked Song Yuyan up and down several times, as if she wanted to see through her from head to toe, with a clear sense of pickyness.
After looking him from head to toe, there was still a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction in the depths of her eyes.
"Is this the fifth daughter of your family? She is indeed beautiful and looks quite quiet and dignified." Madam Lu turned to the old lady and said.
Song Yuyan stood there quietly, her expression unchanged, as calm as a pool of still water.
But only she herself knew that her hands hidden in her sleeves had unconsciously clenched.
General Lu, the national defender, has three grandsons.
The Lu family had strict rules that prohibited taking concubines, unless the head mother was over 40 and still childless. Because of this, all three grandsons were legitimate.
Among them, the eldest and second sons Lu have both married and started families, and now only the third son Lu, who is only eighteen years old, is still unmarried.
According to common sense, as the grandson of a great general, even if he was a playboy, it would not be difficult for him to marry a legitimate daughter of an equal social status.
However, there was another reason why the Third Master Lu had never married. It was said that he had suffered a serious injury, which had left him with a chronic illness, and he was afraid that he would not be able to have children in this lifetime.
This matter is no longer a secret in the capital. Is the old lady trying to contact Madam Lu at this time...
Song Yuyan just lowered her head and let people look at her. Her face was calm, but her heart was in a mess. She kept thinking about the young man in the peach blossom forest.
In fact, even if Mr. Lu San was infertile, he would still be a good candidate for husband. However, without children, there would be no one to rely on, and Song Yuyan was unwilling to compromise.
Song Yuyan touched the jade pendant wrapped around her wrist inconspicuously and began to think in her mind.
Sixth sister Song Yuwan and seventh sister Song Yurou lowered their heads and huddled together with Song Yuning, fearing that Mrs. Lu would notice them.
The two of them are only one or two years younger than Song Yuyan. It would be terrible if Madam Lu did not like Song Yuyan but chose the two of them.
At the moment, Song Yuning is the safest person, so she is not too worried.
Song Yuyao also came down the mountain soon. Seeing that the five girls had returned, the old lady did not stay any longer. She said goodbye to the other old ladies and took her people back to the Song Mansion.
On the way, the old lady specifically asked Song Yuyan to ride in the same carriage with her.
"Yuyan, you're fifteen this year, and you'll have your coming-of-age ceremony in two months. Madam Lu wants her second daughter-in-law to be your main guest. What do you think?"
The so-called main guest, or the one who gives the compliments, must be a female elder with great virtue and talent. During the coming-of-age ceremony, a hairpin will be put on the person who has reached the age of 15.
Once a girl wears a hairpin, it means that she has reached adulthood and can get married.
By letting Mrs. Lu's daughter-in-law be the sponsor, the old lady was telling Song Yuyan that she was ready to agree to the marriage with the Lu family.
Song Yuyan clutched the jade pendant in her hand, her fingers tightly gripping it as if she wanted to crush it.
She was silent for a long time, and finally raised her head slowly, looking directly at the old lady with a firm gaze, and said softly: "Grandma, Yuyan feels that this matter is inappropriate."
The old lady raised one eyebrow slightly, but her face remained unusually calm, showing no sign of anger. Her tone was a little heavy: "Why?"
Song Yuyan took a deep breath, carefully took out the jade pendant from her bosom, handed it to the old lady with both hands, and said, "The last time I went to my second sister to attend my nephew's full moon banquet, I met a young man while watching the lotus in the lotus pond.
At that time, he encountered some difficulties, so his granddaughter helped him out a little."
Song Yuyan continued, "Today, on the mountain, my granddaughter unexpectedly saw him again. We chatted for a while, and my granddaughter even drew a peach blossom painting for him as a gift.
This jade pendant is the thank-you gift from that young man to his granddaughter."
The old lady took the jade pendant and examined it carefully. While she was examining it, she glanced at Song Yuyan thoughtfully, then slowly asked, "This jade pendant does look valuable, but it doesn't clearly indicate the owner's identity."
So, who is this mysterious young man? Can you find out his true identity?"
Song Yuyan shook her head slightly and replied, "My granddaughter tried to ask him about his background, but he remained tight-lipped and didn't reveal any information.
However, the granddaughter saw unique royal patterns on him.
As far as I know, the oldest of the princes in the palace is only in his twenties. Judging by their ages, I suspect the young man I met is most likely the Fifth Prince, Xiao Qinghe.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
