Sixth Prince's Estate
"So many days have passed, and this Prince sees Marquis Wuyang showing no signs of abnormality in court every day. Yebai, how do you explain this?" Jun Hui gazed at Yebai with a chilling intensity.
Yebai knelt on one knee, cupping his hands. "Your Highness, please forgive me. This subordinate is also unsure what went wrong. Our people said the medicine was administered nearly half a month ago, and by all accounts…"
"Always 'by all accounts'! This Prince doesn't want to hear that! I only ask you: why does Marquis Wuyang show not the slightest discomfort?" Jun Hui impatiently cut Yebai off.
Yebai was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, this subordinate will immediately order an increase in the dosage!"
Jun Hui waved his hand. "You may go."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Wait," Jun Hui suddenly said. "Have the steward prepare a coming-of-age gift for Miss Su."
Yebai paused, surprised. "Your Highness, the Minister's Estate didn't send us an invitation."
Jun Hui's face darkened. "Does this Prince need an invitation?" He thought for a moment, then added, "Never mind. This Prince will prepare the gift myself. You may go."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
In a flash, the day of Su Li's Hair-pinning Ceremony arrived.
Early that morning, Su Li was pulled from her bed by several maids, bathed, dressed, and meticulously groomed.
No sooner had she finished getting ready than Wei Yuanyao pulled Qu Zhirou inside.
"Li'er, it's so lively outside—" Wei Yuanyao's voice abruptly cut off when she saw Su Li.
So beautiful!
Su Li wore a Flowing Cloud Bun, with a scattering of pearls adorning her hair, giving her an elegant and natural look. Her apricot eyes sparkled with a smile, and her jade-like face shone.
Unlike her usual casual attire, today she was adorned with sparkling jewels and ornate hair ornaments, exuding a noble and refined grace.
She wore a flowing light purple gown that swept the ground, cinched at the waist with a jade pendant and a matching concentric knot tassel, her slender waist so delicate it seemed impossible to grasp.
Seeing the two enter, Su Li raised her eyes and offered a faint smile. That smile was like ice melting and flowers blooming, like an ethereal orchid blossoming in full splendor.
"Cousin, Sister Qu, you've arrived?" Su Li spoke slowly.
Wei Yuanyao clutched her chest dramatically. "Cousin, don't smile at me like that, I can't take it!"
Su Li rolled her eyes at her. Wei Yuanyao immediately added, "A beauty is a beauty, even rolling her eyes has a unique charm."
Su Li laughed, "Cousin, I haven't seen you for a few days, and you've already turned into a lecher?"
Qu Zhirou stepped forward, tidied a strand of her hair, and smiled, "Li'er, you truly look beautiful. This is the coming-of-age gift I prepared for you."
Su Li took the box. "Thank you, Sister Qu."
"And mine!" Wei Yuanyao also presented her gift.
Su Li thanked them one by one, instructing Siqin to put them away carefully.
"Cousin, it's so lively outside! Uncle is so busy his feet aren't touching the ground," Wei Yuanyao said, sitting beside her.
Qu Zhirou said, "Li'er is a Princess and the future Princess Consort of Prince Jing, so naturally, many people would come."
The girls sat inside the room, chatting, a courtyard gate separating them from the clamor outside.
The heavens favored them that day; the sun was bright, and the pond water sparkled. Inside the estate, a hundred flowers bloomed in profusion, forming vibrant clusters. The green grass was like a carpet, and the trees were lush and verdant.
The entire Minister's Estate was immersed in an atmosphere of jubilation. Everyone wore smiles on their faces, congratulating Father Su. "If one is to have a daughter, she should be like Princess Changning" – this was a saying recently prevalent in the capital.
Father Su smiled proudly, exchanging flattering remarks with his colleagues.
"Imperial Consort De has arrived! His Royal Highness Prince Jing has arrived!" A herald's voice announced from outside the estate.
Everyone knelt and bowed, "Greetings to Imperial Consort De! Greetings to His Royal Highness Prince Jing!"
Imperial Consort De entered, accompanied by Jun Mo.
"Rise, all of you," Imperial Consort De said as she walked further in.
"Thank you, Your Ladyship!"
The crowd rose, surprise evident in their eyes. A Hair-pinning Ceremony for the daughter of an official, yet it had drawn the attendance of Imperial Consort De, one of the Four Consorts. It showed just how much Imperial Consort De valued her future daughter-in-law.
Father Su personally led Imperial Consort De and her son to the seats of honor.
No sooner had Imperial Consort De been settled than another announcement came from outside the gate.
"The Emperor bestows gifts!"
A eunuch was seen entering, leading a long line of palace servants carrying trays.
"Your subject accepts these gifts on behalf of my humble daughter." Minister Su stepped forward and knelt in a bow.
"The Emperor bestows upon Princess Changning a pair of jade ruyi scepters, a set of gold-embroidered, jade-inlaid, pearl-drop hair ornaments,
a set of gold-thread peacock-patterned hair ornaments, ten glass-beaded entwined-vine step-shakers, ten golden begonia hairpins, ten jadeite bracelets, ten jade bracelets! Ten bolts of moonlight brocade silk..."
The list of gifts was read for a long time, and the crowd watched with envious eyes. The jewelry and fabrics were all things a young girl would adore, clearly demonstrating the Emperor's regard for Princess Changning.
"Your subject accepts these gifts on behalf of my humble daughter and expresses gratitude for this Imperial grace! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"
Father Su rose, instructing the estate's servants to receive the gifts. He then slipped the eunuch a substantial purse before inviting him to take a seat at the banquet.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince bestows gifts!"
Father Su had just sat down and taken a sip of tea to rest when the herald's voice sounded from outside the gate once more. The gifts from the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were not light either.
Father Su saw that all those present today were high-ranking officials and nobles, even Minister Lin of the Ministry of Justice, who rarely socialized, and Marquis Zhongyong,
with whom he had no prior acquaintance, had come. He knew his daughter had cured many people outside, but he never expected them to be such important figures. This old father truly felt inadequate.
No sooner had they received the gifts from the Eastern Palace than they heard the Sixth Prince had also arrived.
The crowd watched Father Su spinning around like a top, secretly envious. The coming-of-age ceremony for a minister's daughter was attended by Imperial Consort De and two princes, as well as ministers, major aristocratic families, and even the heads of major merchant guilds!
The steward looked at the courtyard, which was quickly filling with gifts, and was secretly astonished. These high-ranking officials and nobles were truly generous, sending gifts as if money were no object,
pulling cart after cart into the Minister's Estate. The storeroom was already full during the New Year festivities, and now even this courtyard was running out of space.
Once everyone had taken their seats, Father Su quietly let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, his daughter was wise enough to arrange for the master chefs from Drunken Immortal Pavilion to be in charge of the kitchen and to prepare extra banquets, otherwise, it would have been difficult to manage!
As the Si hour passed its midpoint, Father Su and Mother Su also took their places at the main host's table. Seeing the time was ripe, the steward leaned over and said to Father Su, "Master, the ceremony can begin."
Father Su rose, stood in the center, and announced loudly, "Today, my humble daughter, Su Li, undergoes her coming-of-age Hair-pinning Ceremony.
I extend my deepest gratitude to all of you for attending this observation! Now, my humble daughter's Hair-pinning Ceremony officially begins. I ask my daughter Li'er to step forward and greet all the esteemed guests and friends!"
Following Father Su's gaze, everyone simultaneously looked towards a single spot.
"Hiss!"
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
A beauty in purple was seen approaching gracefully, her figure lithe and elegant. The young woman's countenance was exceptionally beautiful, her exquisite hair half-styled, with a vibrant orchid hairpin of purple jade that looked remarkably lifelike,
adding a unique and refined touch. Tiny earrings swayed gently from her lobes, her delicate hands held a small, light purple handkerchief, perfectly complementing her violet gown. Her demeanor was serene, and her every movement and gesture exuded boundless grace.
"Indeed worthy of being Tianqi's foremost beauty!" This was the unanimous thought in everyone's mind.
Jun Mo watched the woman approaching with such grace, as if she were the only one of her kind in all the heavens and earth.
Su Li gracefully walked forward to stand beside her father, then slowly performed a curtsey. "Father."
Father Su smiled, "Greet everyone."
Su Li nodded and looked ahead.
"Li'er extends her greetings here." The young woman on the platform bowed gracefully, parted her cherry lips, and spoke in a voice like pearls and jade falling, ethereal and clear. Every action, every movement, was the epitome of a noble family's daughter.
After the greetings, came the hearing of instructions and the bestowing of the hairpin.
Imperial Consort De slowly rose and walked to the platform. She cleansed her hands with clear water, dried them with a silk cloth, then turned to face Su Li.
Su Li slowly knelt. Her figure was slender yet resilient as she began to listen to the instructions.
"Tsk, Imperial Consort De is actually the Officiant. It seems Prince Jing truly dotes on the Princess to an extreme!"
"Indeed! If you ask me, how could anyone not cherish such a wondrous girl like the Princess at the very tip of their heart?"
"Prince Jing and Miss Su are truly a match made in heaven!"
...
Listening to the constant murmur of chatter around him, Jun Hui tightened his grip on his cup, his gaze turning sinister as he looked at Jun Mo.
🚨 Note : Consider to Support this Story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access +300 advance Chapters & 2 Chapters Daily and To Support The Daily Update