Chapter 563. Coming of Age Ceremony (1/2)
Zhu Hanwen was afraid his imperial uncle would expose his affairs and quickly cut off the conversation and asked, ”Father, Older Sister Xiaocao's hairpin ceremony has already started. If you don't go up now, you won't get to see anything exciting!”
Zhu Junfan glared at him, 'Little rascal, I'll settle this when we get back!' Zhu Hanwen, who understood the meaning in his father's eyes, couldn't help shrinking his head down and going to hide behind his imperial uncle. Seeing his father take long strides up toward the third floor, he winked at the friend he just met today and followed his father up like a fox masquerading as a tiger.
Wasn’t it an honor for the emperor to come in person to their daughter's hairpin ceremony? Who would quibble about whether or not it was in line with customs? The womenfolk on the third floor all knelt on the floor to give their respects to the supreme emperor.
Fang Zizhen quickly told people to add in a mahogany chair in between the hosts’ seats to let this uninvited god sit down. The thick-skinned Zhu Junyang stole the position of a bodyguard, standing tall behind the emperor. However, that pair of phoenix eyes focused on a delicate figure on the stage without blinking.
The lass seemed to have grown up suddenly. The broad clothes couldn't hide her delicate and exquisite figure. Her eyebrows were lightly swept and her eyes looked deep and clear as if it was a deep pool. If a person had a moment of carelessness, it would be easy to be sucked in. A light pink color had been lightly added to her small mouth and her lips looked as delicate and charming as a rose, making people unable to do anything but fantasize... Zhu Junyang's soul was about to be hooked out by this little spirit! Faced with the hot gaze of a beautiful man, Xiaocao, who was originally relaxed, suddenly became tense.
At this time, the crown prince also straightened his back, standing behind his father. However, his little partner, Yu Fan, soon brought over a chair so he could sit at the right hand side of the emperor. Yet... Little Shitou also stood confidently behind the crown prince, but his slightly skinny figure was less imposing than Prince Yang.
Su Ran took a look at his position that was currently occupied and revealed a helpless expression. Fortunately, Yu Hai had ordered people to add a chair slightly off to the side, so he didn't have to stand in the hall at a loss.
The emperor waved his hand and commanded, ”You all can continue.” The hairpin ceremony, which was interrupted by the emperor's arrival, went on. The only difference now was the atmosphere of the room became more restrained.
As the master of the ceremony, He Wanning stood behind Xiaocao. While gently combing her long silky black hair, in a slightly jealous tone she said, ”The emperor and empress have come to attend your hairpin ceremony. This is the first for any young lady in the capital! You're in the limelight now.”
”Is this limelight any good? Having too high a profile might not be a good thing!” Yu Xiaocao murmured into He Wanning's ear.
”Wow! There's two Older Sister Xiaocaos!” The crown prince was dazed by the two similar-looking faces in the same dress. He thought that there was something wrong with his eyes and he was hallucinating. He blinked his eyes a few times, but the two figures were still there. The little guy was confused.
Little Shitou, who was standing behind him, bent down and explained in a low voice, ”My oldest sister and second sister are twins. They just look alike.”
”Twins? Isn't it said that twins will compete for each other's luck and generally only one can survive?” This was a folk myth. Many families sent one of the twins far away so both could survive. In actuality, because of the backward medical conditions of the ancient times, twins were generally born prematurely. The nutrition in the womb couldn't keep up with two little guys, so they were born weak. Thus there were very few twins who could survive at the same time.
Yu Xiaocao was the weaker of the two. It was Madam Liu, who was a careful mother, that managed to raise her sick little daughter to the age of eight. Unfortunately, that girl managed to survive the illnesses but she couldn't survive that senseless disaster, which had benefited Lin Xiaowan's soul from a different world. If it wasn't for the Little Divine Stone’s help, the broken body carrying the transmigrated soul might not have survived till now.
Zhu Junfan turned his head and gave his silly son a warning look. They were having a solemn hairpin ceremony right now. This fellow was asking for trouble with his questions and exclamations. Zhu Hanwen pursed his mouth, held in his curiosity, and calmed down to watch the girls' hairpin ceremony.
The two masters of ceremonies finished combing the girls’ hair and placed the combs on the south side of the mat. The empress, as the guest of honor, stood up and washed her hands with Madam Liu and Lady Fang. They then returned to their respective places and sat down.