Chapter 245: Chapter 183: Coming-of-Age Ceremony

The princess’s coming of age is a significant event. Although not everyone can witness it, the entire Capital City is still brimming with excitement.

The princess has come of age, and now she can get married.

They wonder who could possibly be worthy of the Princess, while feeling a bit sad at the same time.

No matter who eventually marries the princess, it won’t be them.

To the people, the princess is an unattainable beauty, a revered figure hidden in their hearts, only to be admired from afar, never to be desecrated.

But the princess coming of age is still something to be happy about! The princess will surely look beautiful with her hair styled!

It seems everyone is happy, except for the person involved.

Shen Jingxian is grumpy in the morning. She was dragged out of bed early to wash up, get dressed, draw her eyebrows, and apply lip color, making her feel quite out of sorts.

But given the importance of today, she couldn’t be capricious. She could only let the servants dress her up like a doll.

Today, it wasn’t the Maid Team dressing Shen Jingxian. Although they originated from the Hidden Guard, and usually handled other matters fine, such a grand occasion needed professionals.

Not to mention, just the princess’s outfit today had five layers; it would have been a mess if left to the Maid Team to handle.

However, they weren’t idle. They stayed by the side diligently learning, hoping to be useful the next time the princess came of age!

At that time, the Maid Team hadn’t realized the seriousness of the matter, resulting in them weeping sorrowfully when they found out the princess could only come of age once.

Their cries were earth-shattering, and Shen Jingxian had no choice but to privately come of age once more to soothe these delicate flowers.

But that’s a story for another time.

Shen Jingxian was fully awake on the way to Pingkun Hall.

She had to walk over by herself, while the Empress and Emperor were already waiting inside the hall.

Traditionally, only the Empress and noblewomen could attend a princess’s coming of age ceremony, but how could the Emperor bear not being able to attend his beloved daughter’s ceremony? Thus, he ordered the Ritual Officer to amend the ancestral customs overnight.

Don’t tell him it can’t be changed; as the Emperor, he decides how things are!

So it was changed so the Emperor and officials ranked four and above could attend!

Don’t ask why the Emperor wanted to make this change; just say he wanted to show off his daughter, and these high-ranking officials were the perfect audience for his display.

The princess’s coming of age ceremony has an auspicious time. Before it arrived, the princess could only wait outside the hall, but the maid responsible for Shen Jingxian’s grooming today managed the timing perfectly, not keeping her waiting too long before the ceremony began.

The Empress and Emperor sat high on the main seats in Pingkun Hall, with various noblewomen standing by rank on the Empress’s side.

On the Emperor’s side stood the high officials he specifically named, including Shen Jingxian’s mentors and… Wen Ranchen.

Shen Jingxian, dressed in her five-layered finery, waited outside the hall until the Ritual Officer called her in. The Palace Maid assisted Shen Jingxian step by step into the hall.

Once inside, the Palace Maid released Shen Jingxian’s hand and stood at the end of the line of noblewomen, hands respectfully down.

Shen Jingxian continued toward the main seat, and as she approached, she bowed deeply according to the etiquette taught by the Ritual Officer these days, kneeling with her hands raised to her forehead, bowing deep, rising and bowing twice more.

After the grand ceremony, Shen Jingxian stood up and continued forward, unintentionally catching the Emperor looking tearfully at her, touching her heart deeply, even though she herself was no longer a true young girl inside.

The Emperor’s tears flowed because he was worried: Did kneeling hurt her knees? Why was she bowing so forcefully? Would she bruise her skin later?

Shen Jingxian ascended the steps of white jade, slowly approaching the Empress, bowing again but not rising.

Then, the Empress came behind Shen Jingxian to style her hair.

The Emperor’s hands itched to help, taking the gold-glazed hairpin meant for Shen Jingxian’s hair. But as he got close, the Empress’s gaze landed on him, and he obediently handed over the hairpin, allowing the Empress to personally adorn Shen Jingxian.

After styling, the Empress helped Shen Jingxian up, facing the noblewomen and ministers.

The Ritual Officer loudly proclaimed: “The ceremony is completed!”

Wen Ranchen’s gaze never left Shen Jingxian from the moment she appeared.

He had waited so long, and now the princess had finally come of age. But would the princess choose him?

Though he was known in the Capital City as the Jade-faced General, admired by every woman, no one knew his heart cautiously probed for the princess’s favor.

The princess once agreed to his overture, but never acknowledged it before the Emperor and Empress, as if only he remembered that day.

The princess shone so brightly, always meant to stand at the pinnacle, while he, struggling and fighting out of the mud, could barely resemble a person. Could he really be worthy of the princess?

Soon came the part Shen Jingxian had dreaded for months.

A talent show!

The most absurd part was that it was merely a talent show, yet it had such a grand name, self-assessment.

Displaying what one had learned through a talent performance was considered self-assessment.

Shen Jingxian didn’t understand how playing a zither could lead to much pondering, but she had to play.

A zither was set up before Shen Jingxian by the Palace Attendant, the very one made by Wen Ranchen.

Recently, Xiao Qi had read too many books and was paranoid someone would tamper with the zither, guarding it day and night, finally able to get some sleep today.

As Shen Jingxian placed her hands on the zither, muscle memory instantly awoke, producing a distant sound from the strings before a tune formed in her mind.

She didn’t play as fast as Song Yan, whose music was full of aggression and attack, nor as strategic as Wen Ranchen, but she!

Could certainly memorize!

She guaranteed every note played was correct!

Shen Jingxian immersed herself in the joy of rote memory and ease, unaware that some were moved to tears below.

This was the “Bell Chime,” the world’s hardest piece, and the princess played it so well. Truly worthy of being a princess; her music was so moving.

If they could, they wished to shout the princess’s name loud, but dared only sway with the music to express their feelings.

The piece ended.

Shen Jingxian lifted her hands, and from their expressions, she knew she had played successfully.

From above, she deeply understood what her high school teachers meant by being able to see everything about their students clearly.

Standing high did give one perspective, even spotting the Assistant Minister discreetly wiping his tears with his beard.

However, something seemed off about Wen Ranchen’s emotions.

As soon as Shen Jingxian thought that, Wen Ranchen seemed to sense it, lifting his head, their gazes locking, both surprised.

Shen Jingxian froze, unsure what to say, so she smiled, a smile that takes years off one’s age.

Heh heh.

At that moment, Wen Ranchen had only one thought left.

The princess has come of age, perhaps he should… propose directly to the Emperor and Empress.

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