freenovelworld Chapter 489 The Coming-of-Age Ceremony!
Chapter 489 The Coming-of-Age Ceremony!
Coming-of-age ceremony is certainly not going to be easy.
Beforehand, Aunt Fang and Granny Yu had prepared all the trivial matters, such as all the items needed for the ceremony. However, it was still appropriate for Mu Xin Nuan's elders to handle some things.
However, Mu Xin Nuan was already married at this time, and all her elders from her maternal family were in the capital, so it was obviously impossible for them to come and preside over her coming-of-age ceremony.
Fortunately, Aunt Fang invited Madam Liu, Liu Yi's wife, to help with the divination.
The list of attendees was finalized, and the guests were given three days of ceremonial preparation and one day of overnight stay. A virtuous and courteous woman from the family or in-laws was chosen as the principal guest, and after much deliberation, Lady Liu was ultimately selected.
Then, Mu Xin Nuan personally wrote a letter of resignation on stationery and sent it to the guest of honor three days before the ceremony. The day before the ceremony, she again respectfully invited the principal guest of honor and sent a letter to convey her message.
On the day of the Flower Festival, Mu Xinnuan bathed and changed clothes early in the morning, combed her hair neatly, and then let it all fall down her back.
Mu Xin Nuan felt somewhat disappointed when she thought about how today was her coming-of-age ceremony, but she couldn't have her mother personally put her hair in her hair.
How many daughters in this world would marry so young as she does? Every daughter of a noble family would be engaged before their coming-of-age ceremony, and then marry. But here she is, now she has to arrange everything herself.
Mu Xin Nuan's eyes welled up with tears when she thought of her mother and younger brother who were far away in the capital.
Thinking of the letter she had received from her mother before the Lunar New Year, she naturally felt very concerned.
But no matter how much she missed her mother, she knew her mother couldn't come to Yanzhou. Mu Xin Nuan sighed inwardly, knowing that this was a busy time for Duanmu Chu Ze, and it was best not to distract him. If she interfered with his important matters, wouldn't she be making a grave mistake?
According to tradition, a woman's coming-of-age ceremony should ideally be held in the family temple, with a structure called the East Room built to the east of the main hall. Generally, this is done in a solemn, quiet, spacious location with a strong cultural atmosphere. Washrooms and towels should be provided in the hall, similar to the arrangement of an ancestral hall. A room enclosed by curtains and screens is placed in the northeast corner of the hall. If the hall does not have two levels, the shape of the levels is drawn.
Only in this way can the importance a family places on this woman be shown.
However, it is impossible for Mu Xin Nuan to hold the ceremony in the Mu family's ancestral temple, let alone in the imperial ancestral temple in the capital.
However, Mu Xin Nuan chose the northwest location, because the capital city was located in the northwest of their Yan Prefecture. In this way, it could also be seen as a way of expressing her longing for her elders at home.
Madam Liu arrived early as well. To show respect to Madam He, who had the Xie family of the capital behind her, she ultimately entrusted the responsibility of presiding over the coming-of-age ceremony to her.
Most of the guests had arrived, and generally, once the main guest arrived, the ceremony would begin.
Duanmu Chuze, dressed in a purple prince's robe, smiled and asked, "Does Anuan feel that something is missing in her heart?"
Of course, many things are missing!
Mu Xin Nuan thought to herself, "If you hadn't insisted on the imperial decree for an early marriage, would I be in such a humiliating and passive position now? Now, I'm having my coming-of-age ceremony, but not a single elder in the household can come. Will I never be able to forget this regret for the rest of my life?"
However, with so many guests present, Mu Xin Nuan naturally couldn't show any dissatisfaction. Instead, she lowered her head and said meekly, "It's already very good."
Duanmu Chuze, however, did not buy it and said with a smile, "Aunt Fang, Granny Yu, it is not appropriate for Anuan to go out to greet you today. You two can go to the gate of the mansion to greet my mother-in-law in place of the princess."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
These words shocked everyone present. Mu Xin Nuan, in particular, looked at Duanmu Chu Ze with utter disbelief, as if his words were a joke!
"My mother-in-law arrived yesterday. To give you a surprise, I arranged for them to rest outside the city for the time being. However, my father-in-law has heavy responsibilities, and the Emperor is unwilling to allow him to leave the capital. Therefore, only my mother-in-law and my aunt have arrived. I hope they haven't disappointed you too much."
With tears in her eyes, Mu Xin Nuan chuckled softly, giving him a look that was both reproachful and grateful—a look brimming with a myriad of emotions.
After Li and Liu entered side by side, many people naturally bowed and greeted them. The two women didn't care about that at the moment; as soon as they entered, their eyes were immediately locked on Mu Xin Nuan.
When the mother and daughter met, they naturally exchanged pleasantries. If it weren't for Liu Shi and Duanmu Chuze's persuasion, the mother and daughter might have actually burst into tears!
Finally, they all calmed down, and the coming-of-age ceremony naturally began.
Standing in the center, Madam Li gave a brief speech, "Today, my daughter Mu Xin Nuan is undergoing her coming-of-age ceremony. Thank you all for coming! Now, the coming-of-age ceremony for my daughter Mu Xin Nuan will officially begin!"
Madam He paused for a moment before smiling and raising her voice, "Please, Mu Xin Nuan, enter and greet all the guests!"
That's what they say, but what is Mu Xin Nuan's status? How could she possibly greet the other ladies and young women? Even if she dared to bow, they wouldn't dare to respond!
The attendant whom Mu Xin Nuan had previously invited came out first. She was also a famous lady of good fortune in Yanzhou. She washed her hands and took her seat on the west steps.
So, Mu Xin Nuan changed her clothes and went directly to the center of the venue. Facing south, she bowed to the guests. Then, facing west, she knelt on the mat for those about to have their hair styled. The officiant combed her hair and placed the comb on the south side of the mat.
This was the first ceremony, which involved presenting a colorful robe.
The "caiyi" refers to the children's clothing worn before the formal ceremony. It consists of a short jacket and trousers, made of black cloth with vermilion brocade trim. However, because Mu Xinnuan is already married, and to royalty at that, her attire is slightly brighter. She wears ordinary cloth shoes and her hair is styled in double buns.
For this coming-of-age ceremony, three hairpins and three hair ornaments are required.
On the first day of the coming-of-age ceremony, Mu Xin Nuan turned and sat facing east. The officials presented a handkerchief and hairpin, and the chief officiant walked to the person wearing the hairpin and loudly recited a blessing: "On this auspicious day of this month, you begin your coming-of-age ceremony. Cast aside your childish ways and embrace your virtuous character. May you live a long and blessed life, and enjoy great fortune."
Then, kneeling, she combed Mu Xin Nuan's hair and added the hairpin, before rising and returning to her original position. The attendant symbolically adjusted the hairpin for Mu Xin Nuan. After Mu Xin Nuan rose and bowed, she returned to the east room. The attendant took clothes from the official and went inside to change into a plain dress and skirt to match the hairpin on her head.
The three-addition ceremony was completed quickly, followed immediately by the three-hairpin ceremony.
The so-called "three hairpins" refers to the fact that Mu Xin Nuan's three closest relatives must come to add hairpins to her hair.
Li Shi was naturally the first one without a doubt.
A fine white jade hairpin shaped like a magnolia flower pierced through her dark hair. Li's eyes welled up with tears, and she choked out, "My Anuan, you've finally grown up."