Zhang Shou came from an era that was angrily denounced by some retro-styled people as a time of collapse of rituals and music, because all hierarchies had been broken down and all classes had been shattered. So he could be polite, but he was not willing to talk about rituals; he could abide by morals, but he was not willing to abide by old conventions.
Therefore, although he likes history, poetry and songs, and recognizes the beauty of Hanfu, he does not like to promote retro in everything.
You know, he used to feel disgusted when he saw the strict hierarchy in Japanese and Korean dramas, companies and families. He always sneered at some scholars who advocated kneeling to parents and re-performing the ceremony of coming of age, etc. This was no different from the advocacy of the group of old men and young men like Kang Youwei after the fall of the Qing Dynasty that there was no use for kneeling if not kneeling!
Now that he was in the real Ming Dynasty with strict hierarchy, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. Therefore, he was very grateful to Emperor Taizu for eliminating the kneeling ceremony from the regular court and daily audiences and meetings after he unified the world. Only the grand court was used.
Otherwise, the palace would definitely be the place he least wanted to go, no doubt about it!
But now, Ge Yong was willing to come in person to help him preside over this ceremony of coming of age, which was equivalent to a coming-of-age ceremony. When Wu, who was brought over from Zhang Garden by Ah Liu, heard about this, she was so happy that she almost cried. Although the lady-in-waiting did not comment, she asked Zhu Ying to take out the clothes prepared for him to wear at the imperial lecture, as if she was planning to pick out a formal dress. Could he object
Even though he didn't like this kind of formalism, could he live up to the efforts and kindness of his relatives and elders? Of course, he couldn't. So, he could only helplessly watch Ge Yong and Wu discuss the auspicious date, the selection of the main guest and the sponsor, and who to invite to the ceremony. If Zhu Ying hadn't gone to get the things but slipped to his side, he would have been unable to sit still.
Seeing Zhu Ying's mischievous expression that said "I really sympathize with you", he couldn't help but feel angry and said in a low voice, "Yingying, don't be too happy too soon. I can't escape the ceremony of coming of age, and you can't escape the ceremony of coming of age, right?"
After being stunned for a while, Zhu Ying almost laughed out loud. She leaned close to Zhang Shou's ear and chuckled, "Ah Shou, you don't know this, right? Most girls' rites of passage are not held separately. When they get married, they simply add a hairpin and a rite of passage. It's not as grand as yours."
"Also, you don't know that the ceremony of coming of age for high-ranking officials was actually mostly for the sons of high-ranking officials in the past. In this dynasty, there has never been an old precedent where someone like you has become a fifth-rank official, even with a lot of students, but has not yet performed a real ceremony of coming of age!"
This time Zhu Ying raised her voice a little. Seeing that Ge Yong and Wu, who were discussing enthusiastically, suddenly quieted down, she revealed a smug smile.
"Besides, the second crown you wear is the Jinxian crown, right? Ah Shou, you are now a fifth-rank official. You have a Jinxian crown in your court robes, and it is a three-beam crown. Now you are officially going through the crown ceremony again. What did you wear at the grand court meeting before? When the four presidents gather in the capital, and so many scholars also gather in the capital waiting for the examination next year, if this matter gets out..."