The next day was Li Xing's fifteenth birthday. Fifteenth year is very important for girls. It is the age when they are waiting for marriage and marks adulthood.
Although it is not suitable for grand ceremonies, there are still simple rituals.
She had left this matter to Aunt Hu before, and invited the Princess Yongjing to give Li Xing a hairpin as the guest of honor, the Sixth Princess to be Li Xing's praiser, and one of Princess Dun's sisters to be Yousi. The location was chosen at Qixia Pavilion on the east bank of Taiye Lake.
The night before, Li Xing took out the hairpins he had received and asked Li Wei to choose the ones to wear tomorrow. Li Wei only glanced at them and said, "Just wear the one you like. For such an occasion, It looks suitable and dignified, so there’s no need to choose anything else.”
Li Xing took out the ruby hairpin and said, "Your Majesty, you taught me the right lesson before. I still don't want to wear that green hairpin. How about wearing this ruby plum blossom hairpin?"
Li Wei took a look and said: "The style is exquisite, but the shape is very ordinary, there is nothing outstanding about it. Feng Chai is more elegant, but if you want to insist, choose the one you like."
In Li Wei's view, this matter is not too important. Everything is just a formality. Li Xing liked this gemstone hairpin very much because it was a gift from the regent. There was a smile on Li Wei's lips, and she seemed to be able to guess her sister's thoughts.
After choosing the hairpin to wear tomorrow, Li Wei asked Qingxiang to take out a set of large-sleeved shirts made by someone else. It was made of palace silk with a black background and embroidered with bright red honeysuckle flower patterns. The color is very solemn.
"Do you like this dress?"
He chose the hairpin himself. As for what to wear, Li Xing felt it didn't matter. He nodded and said, "What the Queen Mother gives is always the best."
Li Wei nodded and said, "As long as you like it." Then he gave Li Xing a set of rouge and gouache as tribute from foreign countries, a set of red gold hair and face, and two brightly colored brocades.
The two sisters sat together and talked for a while, and then Li Wei urged his sister to go to bed early and stay in good condition tomorrow.
Li Wei finished flipping through a book under the lamp, then yawned twice, and then got ready to sleep.
The palace maid moved the lamp, and the light in the tent became much dimmer. The engraved copper ball hanging on the top of the tent faintly exuded a delicate fragrance. Although it was a spice to aid sleep, Li Wei smelled it particularly far away tonight, disturbing her clear dreams.
The fifth sister will be fifteen soon. In this era of early marriage, many girls get married before they even get their haircut. For example, she entered the palace at the age of fourteen. After the age of fifteen, you should get married.
She remembered the way her sister looked at the jeweled hairpin and her mother's instructions. Li Wei felt depressed, it was finally time to make a decision.
Over the years, he has been guarding her unfailingly, and the past between the two of them has been buried together like that era.
It was still a sunny day the next day. Li Wei woke up before dawn and freshened up. The waiter in front of him also specially found an apricot-colored cross-collar short jacket for Li Wei. The short jacket had olive-colored curly grass teeth. On the side, the same olive-colored plain heddle skirt. She wore a high bun and a red gold phoenix. In Li Wei's opinion, the bun looked like a ball, but it was neat and cool.
As soon as they finished dressing up, Li Xing and Shujia came over to greet her hand in hand, and Li Wei naturally stayed with them to eat together. After eating, Li Wei went to the Buddhist hall to burn incense. When he came back, the concubines were already waiting in the main hall.
Qixia Pavilion has been tidied up, and the Persian tribute blankets have been laid out. Twenty-four large screens with tapestry inlaid with mother-of-pearl have been set up, and the incense table has been set up. A large bunch of rose flowers of various colors just picked from the imperial garden have been inserted into a blue and white vase on the ground. The finest white sandalwood is burning in the Boshan furnace.
It was already morning when Mrs. Fu came to the palace in a sedan chair. She came with Mrs. Wen. The two ladies were wearing the robes of their respective ranks. Mrs. Wen had a gloomy and unhappy look on her face, but Mrs. Fu had a smile on her face. .
The two sisters made an appointment to go to Chongqing Palace. As soon as they arrived at the palace gate, the eunuch guarding them told the two ladies: "The Queen Mother and the others have already gone to Qixia Pavilion."
Mrs. Fu also asked: "Aren't you going to receive the ceremony at Chongqing Palace?"
Mrs. Wenda said in a neutral tone: "I'm afraid that the fifth girl is not so lucky and can't bear it."
The two ladies were of high status and no one in the Chongqing Palace dared to offend them. Not only could they not offend them, but they also had to accompany them and serve them carefully. Manager Qin hurriedly called for a car to take the two ladies to Qixia Pavilion.
After getting in the car, Mrs. Wen's face suddenly fell completely. Mrs. Fu knew why her sister-in-law was like this, so she couldn't help but persuade her: "Sister-in-law, don't be angry. It took a lot of effort to get into the palace. I will see the Queen Mother soon. Please take care of yourself." Talk to her, Awei, she is not unreasonable. You have watched this child grow up, and you have raised her, so she still doesn’t listen to you?"
Mrs. Wen was so worried about her son that she couldn't sleep well for several nights. She muttered angrily: "She is now the high-ranking Queen Mother, and I can't afford to offend her. As long as she still remembers that she is the third girl of Shangshu Mansion, she will You can’t do something so cruel and heartless.”
"Okay, okay. No matter what, you have to be happy when you see those concubines, princesses, etc., don't embarrass the Queen Mother in front of her. The Queen Mother also wants to lose face, and she will lose her face in public. Some words It’s even harder to say.”
The sisters-in-law talked with each other all the way, and the car stopped not long after driving.
Then a palace maid put down her stool and lifted the curtain. Mrs. Fu asked Mrs. Wen to get off the bus first.
Although there was no sound of drum music, Qixia Pavilion was quite lively today. All the princesses, princesses and concubines in Beijing, as well as concubines and concubines in the palace came to congratulate Li Xing on his birthday.
The two ladies, led by the little eunuch, entered one after the other.
Mrs. Fu saw that the yard was neatly tidied and full of exotic flowers and auspicious grasses. There are red carp in the scroll tank on the porch, or a tank of water lilies with pale pink flowers.
The servants standing on the corridor bowed to the two ladies one after another. A palace maid had already announced the arrival of the two ladies of the Li family, and then the bamboo curtain was raised and they were invited to enter.
Mrs. Wen and Mrs. Fu entered the room together. Li Wei was sitting on the table talking to the eldest princess Yongjing. When he saw his mother-in-law and his mother, he had to lean over and said, "Madam, please excuse me and take a seat." ”
The women in the room were all very prominent figures in the capital. Compared with these noble ladies, the status of the two ladies of the Li family was somewhat underwhelming.
Mrs. Wen looked up and saw that the girl was still talking to the eldest princess. She knew very well that there was no place to interrupt at the moment, and the trivial matters at home were not suitable for such occasions. She put away all those emotions, her face was solemn and calm, and she returned to the usual behavior of a lady from aristocratic family.
(End of chapter)