Chapter 592: Coming of Age (2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
An Le pursed her lips and temporarily swallowed this secret. She introduced the gown with a smile.
“Sister Yunzhen, Sister Yanfei, look. The embroidery on it was embroidered by the best embroiderer in the Needle Palace Bureau. The hibiscus flower on it was personally drawn by my brother. Isn’t it very beautiful?”
“Also, look at this roper. It’s double-sided. One side is embroidered with a parrot, and the other is embroidered with a cat.”
An Le and Gu Yunzhen chatted happily, talking non-stop until the head palace maid coughed dryly at the side to remind them that it was about time.
An Le hurriedly looked at the time on her pocket watch and urged Gu Yanfei to change her clothes.
Today was the first time her father and brother had asked her to do such an important thing. She couldn’t mess it up.
The palace maids pushed Gu Yanfei behind the screen and helped her with the dress.
An Le ordered the palace maid to go to Qing Hui Hall next door to take a look at the situation. There was only a small stone bridge between Qing Hui Hall and the Qing Liang Pavilion they were in, on the east side of the stone bridge.
At this moment, Qing Hui Hall was filled with a bustling crowd, the fragrance of clothes, the shadow of hair, and the shimmer of pearls and jewels.
Those well-dressed madams and girls had already taken their seats in the hall. Most of them were familiar with each other and chatted about their daily lives. They talked about clothes and jewelry, which family had been added, and which family was going to have a marriage alliance with which family. They accidentally mentioned that the Lu and the Hua families had almost married. Hence, many strange gazes drifted to the female relatives of the An family.
Madam Chang’an and Second Madam Lu felt their faces burn and were slightly embarrassed.
Second Madam Lu had also thought about not coming today, but the invitation from the palace had been sent to Duke Chang’an’s Mansion. This was a grand event for the country, so the Duke’s Mansion naturally couldn’t be excluded.
Second Madam Lu pretended to take a sip of tea and lowered her voice to say to Madam Chang’an, “Sister-in-law, isn’t today’s banquet a little early?”
In the past, after they arrived at Tianhe Garden, they would play in the garden by themselves first. They could run horses, play polo, beat pellets, curry favors, tour the lake, and so on. The palace banquet would begin in the afternoon.
However, it was different this year. As soon as they arrived today, the women were brought to Qing Hui Hall.
Madam Chang’an looked at the sun outside and nodded. “Yes, it’s only the beginning of the year.”
It was still early for the banquet.
Just as Madam Chang’an was about to retract her gaze, she saw an eunuch leading other women over. It was Imperial Duchess Wei and her daughter-in-law, Lady Wei.
Imperial Duke Wei had a high status in the court, so many women stood up to greet Imperial Duchess Wei and her daughter-in-law, including Madam Chang’an and her sister-in-law.
Everyone chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere in the hall became much livelier.
After Imperial Duchess Wei and her daughter-in-law sat down, Madam Chang’an secretly asked Imperial Duchess Wei, “Will the Eldest Princess host the palace banquet later?”
Madam Chang’an deliberately lowered her voice, but several women around her also heard it and pricked up their ears curiously.
Logically speaking, the palace banquet on National Day was hosted by the Empress, but the Empress had passed away early, and Empress Dowager Yuan hadn’t come to Tianhe Garden today, so the only possible candidate was the Eldest Princess.
Many young women in the hall whispered to each other in twos and threes.
Not only Madam Chang’an, but most of the other women also thought so. They guessed that it was because the Eldest Princess was hosting the palace banquet for the first time and didn’t have the Empress to guide her, so the arrangements were a little messy. Before the time was up, they were asked to wait here in advance.
Although they thought about it and guessed, the women didn’t say much. After all, it involved the royal family.
“No.”
Unexpectedly, Imperial Duchess Wei shook her head and gave a negative answer.
She didn’t lower her voice, and the other women also came over when they heard the prestige. There was a stunned expression on their faces. If it wasn’t the Eldest Princess presiding, who else could it be?
Imperial Duchess Wei continued, “It’s not a palace banquet later. It’s Second Lady Gu’s coming-of-age ceremony.”
Her voice was neither high nor low, and it clearly resounded throughout the hall.
There was silence.
Everyone was dumbfounded as if they were mute. Some people even dropped the fan in their hands.
This news was really unexpected. It was unprecedented for a minister’s daughter to hold her coming-of-age ceremony in Tianhe Garden.
The initial shock quickly passed. After thinking about it carefully, everyone’s expressions became even more complicated.
Even if Imperial Duchess Wei didn’t say anything just now, everyone knew that it definitely wouldn’t be the Gu family who was so bold as to come here for the coming-of-age ceremony. Without a doubt, this was His Majesty’s idea..