He wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, pretending nothing had happened.
“These green jade, summer pearl jade, black jade, blue-veined jade, and peach blossom jade, Jiu Cheng thinks they are the perfect choice to make jewelry for Ninth Sister.”
Lian Jiucheng introduced the remaining boxes one by one, and the young ladies and gentlemen present stared wide-eyed.
[If this is already such a grand coming-of-age ceremony gift, what will the Crown Prince of Shu be like when the Ninth Princess gets married? He'll have to move half the capital over!]
"Oh, Jiucheng is so thoughtful."
Yun Beiye couldn't help but feel embarrassed, as this was the first time he had ever encountered a foreign crown prince sending so many gifts.
He was torn between accepting the gift and returning it. If he accepted it, he suspected that the amount was enough to be considered a betrothal gift. In addition, even Jiucheng had proposed marriage before, and he didn't want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings.
Although he was quite satisfied with Jiucheng, he was still reluctant to marry his daughter off to the Shu Kingdom.
If he were to refuse it, it would seem as if he, Nanyang, was being coy and hesitant. It was merely a coming-of-age gift from a neighboring country; refusing it would make him appear petty and stingy.
Just as she was hesitating, Yun Duoduo stood up: "Thank you, Your Highness!"
Yun Beiye nodded, "Then let's accept it!"
Upon hearing Yun Duoduo's address, Lian Jiucheng's smile faltered.
【Duoduo, your way of addressing me is still so unfamiliar.】
Ah, childhood was so much better. When we were little, Duoduo would follow me around, calling me "Brother Jiucheng"...
The past seems so distant, and even Jiucheng can't help but feel nostalgic.
As he grew up, the burdens on his shoulders became heavier and heavier, and he could no longer be as carefree and unrestrained as he was in his childhood.
Yun Duoduo had a simple idea: she could accept the gift for now and return it when Lian Jiucheng married the Crown Princess, or when Lian Qiao and Lian Rong got married.
Lian Jiucheng looked at Yun Duoduo's innocent smile with a hint of helplessness. Lian Qingcheng, who was standing in the center of the hall in a daze, tugged at his sleeve. Lian Jiucheng then came back to his senses, bowed to Yun Beiye, and sat down at the table.
Shangguan Wanwan was initially quite tempted by Lian Jiucheng's appearance, demeanor, and extravagant spending, but she could tell that his heart was set on the Ninth Princess of Nanyang.
【Sigh, since the Crown Prince already has someone he likes, I won't join in the fun!】
Among the young men of Nanyang, I think there are quite a few who are good-looking.
Shangguan Wanwan naturally wouldn't let this opportunity to showcase herself slip by.
She stood up and performed the Loulan etiquette for Yunbei Ye: "Shangguan Wanwan greets the Emperor of Nanyang."
Because she had never met Yun Beiye, she didn't address him as intimately as she did with Lian Jiucheng.
Yun Beiye smiled and nodded at her.
"The coming-of-age gift Loulan prepared for the Ninth Princess was a pair of hexagonal glass bottles!"
Shangguan Wanwan clapped her hands, and an envoy carrying a small sandalwood box walked to the center of the hall.
[A hexagonal glass bottle? What the hell is that?]
Yun Duoduo was stunned when she heard about the gift. She was not a picky person, but not only her, everyone present was extremely surprised. The great Loulan only gave two bottles?
This is clearly a blatant disregard for Nanyang!
Compared to the gifts that even the Nine Cities couldn't fit in two carriages, Loulan's coming-of-age gift was indeed rather meager.
Shangguan Qin'er seemed to have anticipated this scene. She stood up, picked up a wooden box, and walked to the center of the hall, trying to divert everyone's attention.
"You go back first," Shangguan Qin'er whispered in Shangguan Wanwan's ear.
Shangguan Wanwan looked at Shangguan Qin'er with some confusion.
Back in Loulan, I treated you with utmost respect. Why do you still bully me now that we're in Nanyang?
Seeing that Shangguan Wanwan was still standing there dumbfounded, Shangguan Qin'er gave her a wink, signaling her to quickly return to her seat and stop making a fool of herself.
Shangguan Wanwan felt a little embarrassed. She hadn't finished speaking and hadn't had a chance to properly showcase herself in front of the young masters when Shangguan Qin'er interrupted her.
Shangguan Wanwan pouted and returned to her seat.
The envoy beside her sensed something was amiss and whispered in her ear, "Princess, are our gifts too few?"
Shangguan Wanwan then realized that compared to the gifts from other delegations, sending only two hexagonal bottles was truly stingy.
Ugh, how stupid.
Before you come, find out what other countries are giving as gifts!
Shangguan Wanwan glanced at the Wusun envoys, who also had many packages and bundles behind them.
It seems that the gifts she received from Loulan were indeed the fewest.
Actually, it's not her fault. In Loulan, when a girl comes of age, she is given a pair of hexagonal glass bottles as a coming-of-age gift. This is the only gift, symbolizing harmony and good fortune. After coming of age, the man and woman can get married and live happily ever after.
This is a custom of Loulan, but in other countries, the coming-of-age ceremony is a grand affair with many gifts.
Shangguan Wanwan looked dejected.
What an embarrassing day!
In the center of the hall, Shangguan Qin'er said, "Father, this is the coming-of-age gift I have prepared for my younger sister."
"Oh? What is it?" Yun Beiye asked curiously.
"I know that my sister is passionate about medicine. These are twenty-four silver needles and twenty-four gold needles that I specially commissioned from skilled craftsmen in the capital."
"They vary in thickness and length."
Shangguan Qin'er opened the box and showed it to Yun Beiye and the Empress Dowager for a moment, then took it to Yun Duoduo. Yun Duoduo looked at the silver and gold needles inside and liked them very much.
She said sweetly, "Thank you, Eldest Sister-in-law! Duoduo likes it very much!"
Following that, the Wusun vassal state presented a pair of blue night crystal jade bracelets, a white jade screen, and a nanmu pillow.
Outside the northern border of Nanyang, it was mainly adjacent to small states such as Wusun, Xiongnu, Yuezhi, and Rouran.
The summer before Yun Duoduo was born, Wusun suddenly launched an attack on Nanyang. Yun Beiye was furious and ordered a counterattack against Wusun, capturing the six states of Wusun. From then on, Wusun became a vassal state of Nanyang.
After the envoys finished presenting their gifts, the Empress gifted Yun Duoduo a residence in the capital.
Consort Chen presented Yun Duoduo with a box containing beautiful jade from Yunnan, pearls from the South China Sea, emeralds from the Northern Frontier, and gemstones from Xining.
Consort De's gifts were quite special. She had recently collected bear paws, leopard gallbladders, and Tian Shan snow lotus, all rare items that money couldn't buy.
Yun Duoduo was very happy to see Consort De's gift, and Yun Beiye also praised it highly.
The gifts from the ministers were nothing more than glass and jade jewelry boxes, butterfly hairpins, white jade and jadeite hairpins, blue crystal bracelets, and silk gowns with peony designs—things young girls would use.
...
"Serve the meal!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
