The front hall was filled with important people chatting.
In the backyard, Elder Brother and Sister-in-law were entertaining old friends and family. This time, Pingting did not join the festivities in the front. She was pregnant, and the pregnancy was not very stable, so she had become more subdued. She stayed in the back, helping Yumeng with her makeup and dressing.
As the auspicious time outside approached, with the sound of zithers and flutes, the entire hall was a sea of heads, all searching for Princess Yumeng.
Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi sat on the main seats, looking at the guests who had come to witness the ceremony. The couple felt a sense of pride, like watching their daughter grow up.
The ceremony began.
Fan Zehao stood up, faced the guests who had come to offer their congratulations, and said with a slight tremor in his voice, "Today, my daughter Yumeng is having her coming-of-age ceremony. Thank you all for coming! Now, my daughter Yumeng's coming-of-age ceremony officially begins!"
After a short pause, Fan Zehao turned to the butler beside him and said, "Please invite Yumeng to enter and pay her respects to everyone!"
As the butler announced the summons to the outside, several maids helped Yumeng, dressed in colorful attire, to enter. Her young maiden's face was tinged with shyness, a stark contrast to her usual boisterous demeanor.
Yumeng stood in the center, kneeling before her parents, appearing obedient and sensible.
Fan Zehao looked at his daughter. No matter what she wore, he felt no other woman in the world could match her beauty.
At this moment, Yao Jingyun stepped forward, washed her hands, and went to the center to comb Yumeng's hair. She combed it a few times symbolically.
For the first dressing, an official presented a silk cloth and a hairpin. Yao Jingyun washed her hands and approached Yumeng, reciting congratulations in a loud voice: "On this auspicious and fortunate day, your first robes are put on. Abandon your childish thoughts and embrace your virtuous character. May you have longevity and good fortune, and be blessed with great prosperity."
Yumeng retreated to the inner chamber and changed into a simple plain dress and skirt. She then re-emerged and knelt in the same spot, performing a formal bow to her parents. This bow was to express gratitude for their upbringing.
For the second dressing, Pingting washed her hands and placed a hairpin in Yumeng's hair: "In this auspicious month and fortunate time, your robes are donned. Respect your demeanor and be prudent in your virtue. May you have longevity and receive endless blessings."
After rising and thanking them, Yumeng returned to the inner chamber, changed into a deep-sleeved curved-hem robe that matched the hairpin, and performed another formal bow. This bow represented respect for teachers and elders.
For the third dressing, Zhao Jiaqi washed her hands, removed the previous hairpin from Yumeng's hair, and recited congratulations loudly: "In the beginning of the year, in the auspicious month, your robes are all added. With your siblings present, your virtue is perfected. May you have boundless longevity and receive the blessings of heaven."
As soon as she finished speaking, she personally placed a hairpin and crown on her. Yumeng shyly glanced at her mother before returning to the inner chamber to change into a wide-sleeved long skirt formal gown.
Yumeng then knelt in a bow, signifying her determination to inherit civilization and serve the country.
A series of subsequent rituals left Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi feeling dizzy. Fortunately, they had people guiding them, and the entire affair lasted until noon.
Finally, when the ceremony concluded, Fan Zehao gave a closing statement.
"My daughter Yumeng's coming-of-age ceremony is complete. Thank you all for your esteemed participation!"
He, along with Yumeng and his beloved wife, thanked the guests who had come to witness the event. The ceremony finally drew to a close amidst a wave of applause.
As soon as they finished, in the afternoon, Helian Zhicheng and Duan Yao, with their son, came to propose marriage. The scale of their arrival was grand, not much different from the liveliness of Yumeng's coming-of-age.
Indeed, boxes and boxes of betrothal gifts were carried to the prince's mansion and displayed in the front courtyard for everyone to admire.
Seeing the grand scale of the coming-of-age ceremony for Fan Zehao's daughter, Huangfu Xi felt a pang of envy. Not only that, but the suitor they found also had an impressive background.
He was not the only one who thought this way. The emperors of the other kingdoms also felt the same. Driven by their envy, they began to form alliances with each other, creating a favorable situation.
They became so intertwined that apart from the Fan Zehao family, who were happy, the only other person who was pleased was Huangfu Xi.
Impartially, he accepted princesses from other small kingdoms to enrich his harem. Now, the imperial harem of Yun Kingdom was like a hundred flowers in full bloom.
As night fell, the couple, who had been busy all day, retired early.
Lying in bed, Fan Zehao asked his wife with concern, "Is your body alright? Should I call Qixuan back to help you with your pregnancy?"
Zhao Jiaqi lay flat. Her stomach was aching slightly. Having given birth twice, she knew this was a strained movement and not a significant issue. There was no need to trouble someone else.
She waved her hand at Fan Zehao, "I'm just tired today. I'll be better after a few days of rest. It's nothing serious."
Seeing that his wife's complexion was not good, Fan Zehao also thought that she had indeed been tired all day. He didn't press further. Instead, he got out of bed, blew out the lamp, and went to rest.
They slept soundly through the night.
Before they had fully woken up, they heard that Huangfu Xi had gotten drunk the previous night and had violated a maidservant in their mansion. Now, even Zhao Jiaqi, who wished to rest, had to get up and deal with this sordid affair.
After washing up, Zhao Jiaqi's expression was somewhat grave and not good. Supported by her maid, she went to the separate courtyard.
As she entered the separate courtyard, she heard the maidservant crying and kneeling on the ground, her clothes disheveled. Zhao Jiaqi's brows furrowed.
Looking up, she saw Huangfu Xi sitting on a chair with a very unpleasant expression. He was at least dressed and washed. The contrast between them was truly ironic.
Zhao Jiaqi sat on a chair, turning her head to look at Huangfu Xi, "Your Majesty, after such an incident, will you not give this consort an explanation?"
Huangfu Xi stared into Zhao Jiaqi's eyes with displeasure and retorted, "I wanted to ask the Regent Princess for an explanation."
He pointed at the woman kneeling on the ground and asked with a cold sneer, "What does the Princess mean by this? Forcing women into my chambers?"
His words made it perfectly clear to Zhao Jiaqi.
She let out a cold laugh, "You think it was me who intentionally sent you women to monitor you?"
She sneered and threw the teacup in her hand onto the ground in front of him, saying unceremoniously, "Huangfu Xi, I call you Emperor out of respect. Don't forget, the throne you sit on was once unwanted by my husband."
"I didn't care for it before, and I care for it even less now. If you don't know what's good for you, I can make you Emperor, and I can let others do so as well. Why would I need to use such despicable means to monitor you?"
These words caused Huangfu Xi to lose face completely. His face turned red, and his chest heaved violently with anger.
Zhao Jiaqi glanced at him and directly gave him a pair of white-eyed stares. This fellow was simply an idiot.
Huangfu Xi had just taken in several noble ladies yesterday, and he felt emboldened. His tone of speech was completely different.
He said, "Princess, don't speak too arrogantly, or the consequences will be unimaginable."
"I am no longer the meek and submissive person I once was. I have already formed an alliance with several other countries. If anything happens to me, you will be facing other countries. Don't speak so loudly in front of me. Let alone you, even if Fan Zehao were here today, I would dare to say the same."
After hearing this, Zhao Jiaqi could hardly believe her ears. She looked at Huangfu Xi with some scrutiny.
Had he drunk the wrong wine last night? This morning, he was talking nonsense.