Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Today was Princess Shi's coming-of-age ceremony. Gong Xiaohua was wearing a light purple crossover ruqun with the skirt reaching her waist.
Her shoulder-length black hair was half let down over her shoulders and the other half was simply tied up with a white jade hairpin in a loose bun.
The ruqun she wore was hastily custom-made at the clothing store when Madam Gong found out that she was invited to the palace to attend the princess's coming-of-age ceremony. Madam Gong had insisted on taking her there to get it made urgently.
Gong Xiaohua was then pulled to the jewelry store where she picked a white jade hairpin as hair accessory.
Madam Gong had originally wanted to spend a fortune to buy her some fashionable accessories popular among young ladies, but Gong Xiaohua declined. They ended up just choosing this white jade hairpin.
But even with just these two items, it had cost her three taels of silver.
The extra money she had earned with great difficulty last time was quickly running out like this. The distressed Gong Xiaohua was bleeding inside.
Madam Gong kept fretting that her daughter's outfit was too plain even after she entered the palace, worried that she would be mocked by others there.
The gift Gong Xiaohua prepared for the princess was a full-length portrait she had spent three days painting for her using modern sketching techniques and adding some bright colors, which was sure to delight the princess.
In fact, when the princess and others saw such a vivid and lifelike portrait for the first time, they were amazed beyond belief.
It brought tremendous reform to the painting and calligraphy culture in the future Daye Dynasty.
Carrying the gift she prepared for the princess, Madam Gong was going to accompany Gong Xiaohua to the palace gate.
The two hired a simple horse carriage with coachman from the carriage station heading towards the imperial palace.
Inside the carriage, Madam Gong looked at her daughter sitting across from her.
Tall in stature, hair dark as lacquer, slender arched brows, thick lashes, straight and prominent nose, naturally exuding a vibrant heroic spirit.
In addition, her skin was tender enough to be broken by a blow, and although somewhat plump in figure, she was no less inferior to young ladies from prestigious families.
"Xiaohua, at the banquet, pay attention and take note of any eligible young talents for your mother. Tell me about them when you’re back."
"With your current status, I'm not saying you have to marry into prestigious families, but new rising talents would also be decent matches."
"Mother, I'm going to attend the coming-of-age ceremony, not pick a husband."
"While it's called attending the ceremony, it's also a form of matchmaking."
"For a female's coming-of-age ceremony, the elders would invite some young gentlemen and ladies to participate, also implying that the lady is now of marriageable age and can be wed."
*sigh* Whenever she was with her mother, there wasn't a moment of peace from her urging to find a good husband.
"Mother, I wonder if it would still be possible to back out now and not attend the princess's coming-of-age ceremony?"
Madam Gong rolled her eyes at her daughter, surely because she was annoyed again by the mention of potential suitors.
So she scowled at Gong Xiaohua: "Of course you still can, why wouldn’t it be possible, you just have to be willing to have the whole family thrown into prison with you if you turn back now."
Gong Xiaohua: ??
"Mother, I was just joking, it was just a joke. Don't take it seriously."
"Mother, I know you are bold, but you can't act recklessly or speak carelessly once inside the palace, you know?"
"I know, Mother."
After walking for nearly half a ke (15 mins), the carriage moved slower and slower until it came to a complete stop.
The coachman's voice came from outside.
"Esteemed guests, the palace's moat bridge is less than 500 meters ahead, but there are too many carriages going to the palace here that it would be hard for this carriage to turn around if we go further ahead. Could the guests please walk the rest of the way there on your own?"
Madam Gong lifted the carriage curtain and looked ahead at the two wide avenues completely congested with traffic at a standstill. Indeed, if they went further, it would be difficult for the carriage to turn around.
"Alright, stop here then."
"Thank you, esteemed guests!"
"Xiaohua, Mother will just accompany you this far. You can walk a bit more yourself to get there. I’ll come pick you up later."
"No need, Mother. I can make my own way back later."
Jumping down from the carriage holding her gift, she even said thanks to the coachman before leaving breezily.
Watching Gong Xiaohua's departing figure in the distance, Madam Gong suddenly felt an inexplicable unease in her heart.
Today, Qin Chuqin was accompanying the women of her husband's family to attend the princess's coming-of-age ceremony, upon invitation.
Also sitting in her carriage was her young sister-in-law Zhou Yao, who had just returned from seeking medical treatment from her natal family.
When they were crossing the moat bridge, they saw Gong Xiaohua standing by the side of the bridge cradling a long cylinder case in her arms, making way for the passing carriages.
The young lady was slightly taller than average, dressed simply and elegantly in everything.
She stood there alone quietly waiting for the carriages on the bridge to pass, her face devoid of any impatience or discomfort.
It seemed that every time Qin Chuqin saw her, she had an air of indifference beyond worldly affairs.
One would need a magnanimous state of mind to possess such grace.
If family background was discounted, in terms of character and ability, few young ladies from prestigious families could compare to her.
"Lady Gong." Qin Chuqin called out to Gong Xiaohua up ahead from her carriage.
Hearing someone calling from behind, Gong Xiaohua turned around. In a luxurious carriage bearing the character "Zhou", a young married woman had lifted the carriage curtain and was staring at her.
Gong Xiaohua searched her memory banks - she was definitely not acquainted with this woman, but still politely responded: "Excuse me madam, I must confess I do not believe we have had the pleasure of an introduction?"
Although of humble origins, the young lady's demeanor was neither servile nor overbearing, and very courteous, completely unlike the unruly and stubborn one her mother made her out to be.
If family background was discounted, few young ladies could compare to her in character and ability.
"Lady Gong is right that we have not met, but I have in fact seen her several times before. My maiden name is Qin. Might Lady Gong be able to guess who I am?"
Surname Qin? The only Qins she knew now were the relatives of her young uncle. This woman had married into the Zhou family. She must be the elder sister of Qin Chuyuan that her uncle had mentioned.
"You are Qin Chuyuan's elder sister."
"Lady Gong is clever. Might you be interested in allowing me to invite you to ride with us?"
Gong Xiaohua looked at the long queue of carriages behind them that showed no signs of abating, then back at herself already having stood here for some time.
She politely accepted the offer and got into Qin Chuqin’s carriage.
Upon entering, she noticed there was another unmarried young lady sitting inside.
The abundance of gold hair ornaments, heavy makeup and that lavish glittery dress covered in gold threads - everything about her screamed opulence.
Zhou Yao saw that her sister-in-law had casually struck up a conversation by the roadside with a woman who clearly had no standing or even a carriage to her name.
She was already greatly displeased, but now the woman was even invited on board.
As the shabbily-dressed Gong Xiaohua entered, Zhou Yao couldn't help but cover her nose with a handkerchief and shift further away, shooting her a glare and remarking snidely: "What village bumpkin is this, reeking of poverty."
