Page 733 of Doted By The Regent King

In the second month on the day of ’Dragon Raises Head,’ it was also the Spring Plowing Festival.

Every year, Huayang County would bustle with excitement, as the County Magistrate had already led people early on in praying to the dragon for rain, hoping to bless the year with favorable winds and abundant harvests. Therefore, the county was very lively.

Similarly lively was a certain residence in the alleyway, for they had a young girl who had just matured, which meant that from top to bottom, everyone wore festive smiles, just as joyous as during the New Year.

Wufu, the center of attention, had already been dug out of her warm blanket by her maids early in the morning to perform the incense-burning and bathing rituals in preparation for her coming-of-age ceremony.

This was a major event in a girl’s life, and Madam Zhou had arrived early as well.

Seeing Wufu sitting in front of her dressing table, clad in snow brocade undergarments with a heavy cloak over her shoulders, with maids wringing her smooth black hair dry like satin, Madam Zhou felt warmth in her eyes.

Fifteen years had passed, and the daughter had finally grown up. From a small bundle of flesh, struggling hard alongside her mother to get through each day, she was now an adult.

Thinking of the hard times in the past, Madam Zhou’s heart soured, yet she also felt gratitude.

"Mother, why are you standing there doing nothing?" Wufu said with a smile as she caught sight of Madam Zhou staring blankly through the copper mirror. Without having to think, she knew her sensitive mother must have been recalling some difficult moments again.

Madam Zhou wiped the corner of her eyes, walked over, took the ivory comb from Purple Jade, and gently lifted a strand of her hair, combing it softly as she spoke, "My child has grown up; I am happy."

Wufu held her mother’s hand with her own and said with a smile, "Mother, thank you for giving birth to me and raising me. From now on, it will be my turn to look after you in your old age."

These words, filled with warmth, caused Madam Zhou’s throat to catch, barely suppressing her tears before they welled up again, and she nodded with a smile.

Time trickled by until Qiu Xiang came to report that the guests who came to watch the ceremony had arrived; as the Matriarch, Madam Zhou naturally had to go and attend to them.

Wufu sat in her room, bored stiff, and after a quarter Shichen, a commotion came from outside. Purple Jade lifted the curtain, telling her that Miss Ping and several young ladies from the Ma Family had arrived.

They didn’t know many people, and as it was improper to invite men to watch a girl’s coming-of-age ceremony, they generally only had female guests arrive.

As such, the only people Madam Zhou could invite were the Madam Ma from the neighbor’s and their daughters, as well as Lady Ping and her daughter.

Wufu didn’t enjoy socializing with other females; her acquaintanceship with the Ma Family’s young ladies was merely a nodding one, without much contact on ordinary days, so now seeing them brought a few moments of awkwardness.

Fortunately, there was Ping Caier, who had once been an Official’s daughter. The young ladies from the Ma Family wished to ingratiate themselves with her, and with her help to lighten the atmosphere, the room didn’t fall into silence.

After making small talk for half a Shichen, Purple Jade came to announce that the auspicious time had arrived, and the coming-of-age ceremony could begin.

Although Wufu found these cumbersome rites irksome, when it came time to perform them, she didn’t cut corners. She didn’t want to embarrass Madam Zhou, so she went through the whole ceremony properly, dignified and beyond reproach.

Especially after the Guest of Honor combed her hair and put on the Peach Blossom Hairpin, and when Wufu donned the Fragrance Brocade robe sent by Ah Jiu and received the Hairpin Crown, everyone present widened their eyes in awe.

Because this ceremonial attire was so resplendent and gorgeous, it enhanced the young girl’s beauty even further, and Lady Ping, once a Lady Official herself, recognized the extravagance of the gown and looked at Wufu with profound meaning.

The intricate ceremony proceeded smoothly and systematically, and after it was completed, Wufu, with a smile in her bright eyes, gave a deep bow to Madam Zhou, who was filled with tears.

This bow was for the original owner of the body, and for herself, to thank her for her nurturing.