"Ladies and gentlemen, the Princess's coming-of-age ceremony is about to begin. Please enter the hall to observe the ceremony."
The hall was not only decorated magnificently in gold and jade, but the space was also exceptionally large, enough to hold two to three hundred people. It was also used by the imperial palace to host various large and important banquets.
In the middle of the hall on both sides, more than a hundred seats were neatly arranged in rows going backward. On the table in front of each seat, all kinds of fine wine and delicacies, fruits, cakes and other snacks were placed for the guests to taste.
Gong Xiaohua was arranged in the outermost first row closest to the entrance. The closer the seats were to the inner side, the higher the status and position.
Among the people in the palace, Gong Xiaohua had the lowest status and position. But the princess insisted on arranging her in the first row closest to the entrance, so that as soon as she came in, her palace sister could see her.
Soon, there came an announcement "His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince arrive!"
Gong Xiaohua knelt down with everyone else to welcome them with the ceremony greeting, but as she was very far from the front of the main hall, all she could see was that three people walked in from the side hall.
The first was a middle-aged man in black clothes embroidered with golden dragon patterns, wearing a crown on his head - undoubtedly His Majesty the King of the Da Ye Dynasty.
Following closely behind was the Queen of the Da Ye Dynasty. She wore a crimson robe embroidered with phoenix patterns and a phoenix crown on her head, a beautiful woman.
Walking last was the Crown Prince of Da Ye, also wearing black robes embroidered with python patterns, and a jade hairpin on his head.
His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen sat at the highest front seats, with the Crown Prince sitting to the lower left.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"Exempted from courtesy."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The court lady signaled to the Gentleman of Ceremonies beside her. The Gentleman of Ceremonies started announcing in a loud voice: "The Princess's hair-pinning ceremony."
Then the orchestra started playing. Led by the court ladies, Ling Long, Princess with beautiful long black hair hanging loose over her shoulders, walked slowly into the main hall.
The Queen set Ling Long's hair up in a formal style. When the music softened, the palace ladies sang blessings:
"Auspicious month and day, first to put on an adult hairstyle. Put aside your childish ways, follow womanly virtues. May you enjoy longevity, and receive blessings."
Then with a smile, the Queen placed Ling Long's formal hairpins and Four Phoenix crown on her head, and slowly took phoenix hairpins and ornaments one by one from the tray held by a palace maid to carefully insert them in her hair.
Then the Attendants brought in ceremonial dressings and asked Ling Long to put them on, and offered her a cup of wine. Loud blessings were heard again:
"Flavorful wine, with intoxicating fragrance. Adding to your joyous attire, may your eyebrows enjoy endless fortunes. Accept heaven's favor forever, to glow and prosper always." After the blessings, His Majesty the King presented Ling Long with wine, which she drank.
Although Ling Long's figure was still slender and delicate, with the crown and ceremonial dress, she now had the air of a young maiden, with glimpses of flirtatious glances in her eyes.
Although seated far away, Gong Xiaohua watched the whole process and could not help but admire the cumbersome etiquette of the royal family.
After the ceremony, the guests went up one by one to bring gifts to express blessings for the Princess.
Princess Ling Long was the Queen's daughter, also the Crown Prince's sister. She was the second most honorable woman after the Queen in the Da Ye Dynasty.
For this banquet, the royal family had also invited top families and newly promoted ministers to participate, asking them to bring outstanding unmarried young masters and maidens of the families.
The purpose was for the Princess to select her future husband as well as palace companions.
And the young masters and maidens had poured in great efforts, hoping to gain the Princess's favor.
The gifts they brought to the Princess tried to outdo each other in luxury and value: night luminous pearls as big as fists, unusually rare blue sapphires as big as goose eggs, precious Hui silk - each brought in exclamations of astonishment.
So far, the most expensive gift was a half-man-tall piece of red coral presented by the Qin family. Red corals were extremely rare. As soon as it was brought out, there was a great commotion in the hall. Even His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen could not help walking up to view it.
The entire coral formation was shaped like deer antlers, with lustrous smooth quality and gorgeous vibrant color, dazzling brilliantly under the bright light.
The Qin family came led by the Grand Madam of the main Qin household branch, also the current head of household, bringing the family's juniors to attend the Princess's ceremony.
Qin Xiang had originally instructed the family to keep a low profile as His Majesty seemed intent on suppressing the Qin clan recently.
The gift for the Princess need not be too expensive. But the Grand Madam ignored Qin Xiang's requirement in selecting the gift.
She harbored some resentment - Father doted only on Qin Chuyuan from the third household branch, determined to let him inherit the leadership of the Qin clan.
What right did he have to bypass their main branch!
She wanted her own son to perform well before the Princess. She wanted to see if the Princess favored Sixth Young Master Qin, if Father would still pass the position to Fifth Young Master.
So privately, from her own dowry, she took out her most precious piece - the red coral, to have Sixth Young Master Qin present to the Princess.
"Princess, this red coral was sourced from the depths of the southern ocean. I present it to congratulate you on your coming-of-age."
"Such a rare coral, Young Master Qin is willing to present it to me?"
"However rare, it is but an object. If it pleases the Princess, that is where it finds its true value."
"Then I gratefully accept this. My thanks for Young Master Qin's generosity."
"My pleasure if it pleases you."
Young Master Qin returned to his seat.
Princess Ling Long had Grand Steward Sun present a cup of fine wine to Young Master Qin, delighting him and provoking a smug glance at Qin Chuyuan sitting nearby.
From his seat above, the Crown Prince saw Sixth Young Master Qin's behavior. Apart from Qin Chuyuan, the Qin juniors were really a bunch of mediocrities.
Seated closest to the entrance, Gong Xiaohua had no idea about the situation unfolding up front - too far to hear or see clearly. She also knew better than to crane her neck for gossip.
Her only concern was the "fine wine and delicacies" before her. Although unavoidably steamed or boiled, the palace food was quite tasty, especially the fruit wine with its clean, sweet taste. She didn't know what fruit it was made from.
Watching Gong Xiaohua drinking cup after cup, Qin Chuyuan wondered - didn't she know the wine's potency? How bold to drink so freely alone.
Across from Qin Chuyuan, seeing his gaze fixed at the entrance, Lin Yueru boiled with jealousy.
She stood and addressed Princess Ling Long: "Princess, I heard a palace outsider painted a portrait for you. Might we have the fortune of viewing it?"
How dare she claim friendship with royalty based on a few meetings, let alone paint them without permission! Even with skill, improperly portraying royalty was offensive, even criminal.
"Oh? When did Ling Long make friends outside?" Ling Long's surprised father looked to his daughter.
"Mother, we met at the wrestling tournament. I'm sure you'll like her as much as I do."
"Hm. I am quite curious now."
Steward Sun promptly went to summon Gong Xiaohua.
