"Your servant greets the princess. May the princess live long and healthy." Shangfu Cui and the people from the Shangfu Bureau saluted together.
"Mister Cui, please don't be polite." Shen Xihe personally helped the old and experienced female official up, "Thank you for braving the cold wind to come here."
"I dare not. This is my responsibility. I have brought the treasure manager, clothing manager and jewelry manager here. My princess, would you like to see the clothing contracts and drawings first, or the precious jewelry?" Cui Shangfu was very respectful.
There were six Shangs and four Sis in the palace. The Shangfu Bureau's Sibao was in charge of the patterns of palace people's clothes and skirts, Siyi was in charge of clothes and jewelry, and Sishi was in charge of towels, combs, ointments, and toys.
The clothes and jewelry for Shen Xihe's coming-of-age ceremony were all arranged by the Shangfu Bureau. She had to bathe, wash her hands, and burn incense on the day. This was also the responsibility of the Sishi Bureau. There was also a Sizhang Bureau, which was responsible for the ceremonial guards. All of these were done according to regulations, and Shen Xihe did not need to review them personally.
"Let Cui Shangfu arrange it." Shen Xihe also showed respect.
Cui Shangfu then opened the clothing pattern sheet and showed it to Shen Xihe. He brought several patterns. Each one was carefully designed based on Shen Xihe's preferences, so that it would have both auspicious meaning and suit her taste.
Shen Xihe saw a set of ivory white embroidered with butterfly-like Pingzhong leaves, and she fell in love with it at first sight. It was the simplest one among all the dresses, while the rest were decorated with rich flowers like peonies and roses, or bird patterns like peacocks, swallows, and sparrows.
"This one." Shen Xihe pointed at the ivory-white chest-length skirt.
"This dress is somewhat plain, but if the princess likes it, choose some luxurious hairpins." Cui Shangfu asked someone to put away the dress chosen by Shen Xihe, and asked Si Yi to bring the people up to show them the matching hair accessories one by one.
The most important headpiece was a flower crown made of a silver-white beaded necklace inlaid with many pearls. It was gorgeous and intricate, perfectly complementing the dress. She also selected other jewelry.
She was very straightforward, unlike other masters in the palace who would point out what they were not satisfied with after making their selections. She would make sure everything from the overall style to the workmanship was done to her liking. However, these masters did not understand this and knew that some techniques, jewelry and styles could not be combined, otherwise it would look out of place. However, the servants did not dare to object.
Cui Shangfu and everyone in the Shangfu Bureau were very happy that Shen Xihe was so easy to talk to, and the matter was quickly settled. As for the utensils, spices and ointments to be used that day, Hongyu told them. Shen Xihe wanted to talk to Gu Zexiang alone, so Cui Shangfu generously let her go.
"Princess." When they arrived at a private place, Gu Zexiang saw that Shen Xihe was a little embarrassed. The last time Shen Xihe asked her about the Crown Prince's past, it was the Crown Prince who instructed Cui Shangfu to let her say so. Although they were all true, she always felt that she had let Shen Xihe down.
"You are worried about what happened last time, right?" Shen Xihe had a sharp eye.
“Princess, I…” Gu Zexiang felt even more ashamed and didn’t know what to say.
"Don't worry, you didn't harm me, and what you told me was the truth. If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince didn't tell you to pick an old maid to tell you, then you would not feel guilty if you told me. You feel that you are helping me, not making a deal with someone to plot against me." Shen Xihe smiled lightly, "To me, there is no difference between the two. The process is not important. What matters is that in my heart, you helped me."