Qin Shen stood there until the carriage gradually disappeared from his sight, then he turned around and went back into Fuyunju.
…
Two people flew down from the roof, one of them had a gloomy expression and looked in the direction Yu Rou left.
"Your Highness, Mr. Guhe has agreed to teach in the Yu Mansion. What should we do next?" Bai Ye asked with his head down.
The prince was silent for a moment.
"The lady of the Yu family is very different from before. I think the tea art she just performed cannot be mastered without several years of practice." Bai Ye said.
The prince's expression was deep and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. Seeing that he didn't say anything, Bai Ye stopped talking.
The prince said coldly: "Check it for me."
Bai Ye: "What about Mr. Guhe?"
"I have my own plans." The prince narrowed his eyes, and his sinister look made Bai Ye feel cold in his heart.
…
At night, Yu Rou was leaning back on the couch reading a book when she suddenly heard footsteps. Before anyone could announce them, Wang came in, pulling her aside with a delighted look on her face. "Jiao Jiao'er, there's a letter from the palace. It's the Cold Food Festival in a few days. Princess He Ning and Princess Huaning are turning fifteen and will be holding their coming-of-age ceremonies. Your grandmother has been invited to the palace to witness the ceremony, and the Empress has specifically asked that you be brought along."
It was a long-standing custom in the Da'an Dynasty to hold a coming-of-age ceremony on the Cold Food Festival. Men were crowned at the age of 20, and women were married at the age of 15. Every year on the Cold Food Festival, these men and women who had reached adulthood and were already married would be given a coming-of-age ceremony.
In the original plot, the original owner broke off her engagement with the prince at the palace banquet, so she was naturally not invited to the coming-of-age ceremony on the Cold Food Festival. However, I heard that nothing special happened in the palace, so I wonder what will change if she goes this time.
Yu Rou asked, "Are the two princesses already married?"
Wang said, "Yes, it was His Majesty who granted us this marriage, but it will take another two years before the wedding is completed."
Yu Rou recalled that Princess Hening seemed to dislike her. She glared at her several times at the last flower viewing banquet. This was normal. There were not many noble ladies in the capital who liked her.
Wang smiled and said, "The Empress sent someone to invite you this time. It seems you were right. The Crown Prince will not cancel the engagement. This time, I will make those gossipers slap themselves in the face."
Yu Rou said, "Well, mother, don't worry. I also have good news to tell you. Mr. Guhe has agreed to come and teach my two brothers. Send the housekeeper to visit in a few days to see if he has any instructions and when we can move in."
"That's great! This is a big deal. I need to discuss it with your father. Why are you telling me only now, kid?"
"I thought there was no rush, so I didn't go."
"Of course I'm anxious. Well, I won't talk to you anymore. Your father will be back soon. I have to go tell him about this and also talk to your grandmother." Wang left in a hurry as soon as she finished speaking.
On the day of the Cold Food Festival, Yu Rou did not dare to slack off. She followed Old Madam Yu carefully. When she arrived at the palace, she saw He Yulian, Jiang Yuyan and three noble ladies from the Queen's family among the female relatives.
Yu Rou and He Yulian were disgusted with each other. When she saw her, He Yulian glared at her angrily, as if she shouldn't be there. Yu Rou pretended not to see her and ignored her completely.
For the coming-of-age ceremony, an incense table was set up in the hall and a crown seat was set up outside the east room. Various clothes, dresses and accessories that the princess would wear after she became an adult were placed on a plate, covered with a handkerchief, and watched over by three female officials.
The inner stewards and palace concubines stood by in their best clothes. When the music started, a eunuch asked the emperor to ascend the throne.
Emperor Xiaozhen was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and looked very majestic. Behind him followed a large group of people, including concubines as well as eunuchs and palace maids.
When the music stopped, an official shouted, "The princess is having her coming-of-age ceremony."
After a busy period, the music started again. The music started and stopped, making Yu Rou dizzy.
After an unknown amount of time, the coming-of-age ceremony finally began. The princess had to kneel before the emperor, empress, imperial concubines, and other elders to express her gratitude according to etiquette.
Yu Rou felt tired just watching this scene.
When the coming-of-age ceremony was over, the two princesses sat down again. The empress and concubines congratulated them one after another, followed by the eunuchs and the rest of the people.
For a moment, the serious atmosphere in the hall disappeared, and Emperor Xiaozhen smiled and spoke a lot to his two beloved daughters.
The corners of Princess Hening and Princess Huaning's eyes were slightly red, as if they were about to cry.
Emperor Xiaozhen was a benevolent emperor and was very gentle to his children. He smiled and comforted them with a few words, then asked the two princesses to lead the noble ladies who came to watch the ceremony today to visit the imperial garden.
As for relatives and elders, the older ones were also invited by the Empress Dowager to chat in the Cining Palace.
Surrounded by palace maids and female officials, Yu Rou followed the princesses to the imperial garden of the palace.
The princesses began to discuss what to play. Princess Hening wanted to fly a kite, the younger Princess Jianning said she wanted to swing, and Princess Shuning wanted to play mahjong and leaf games.
Princess Hening was the eldest princess and the most favored by the emperor. Princess Shuning was born to the current imperial concubine and was of lower status than Princess Hening. The two had been at odds since childhood, often opposing each other and it was extremely difficult to reach a consensus.
"You are so young and yet you are learning to play mahjong like women." Princess Hening glanced at Princess Shuning with a sarcastic tone.
"You are so childish that you only know how to fly kites." Princess Shuning glared at him.
"So what? This kite was made for me by my brother, the prince. You don't have one, so naturally you don't want to fly it."
Seeing that Princess Shuning had no words to refute, Princess Hening laughed, her face full of spoiled willfulness.
She turned around and asked the palace maid to get the kite, and happened to see Yu Rou.
Princess Hening's eyes lit up and she walked quickly towards Yu Rou.
"Madam Yu, I haven't seen you for a few days. Why do you look so beautiful today? Did you put powder on your face? How come your face is so fair and tender?" Princess He Ning grabbed her hand and said with a smile.
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