NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 160
"I want to have a coming-of-age ceremony," Li Xia looked at Mrs. Lu and then at Li Xin, confirming that the expressions on their faces were not joking.
"Your birthday coincided with Mei and Xinyue's wedding. We were concerned about your and Xinyue's feelings, so we didn't hold the ceremony," Mrs. Lu said with some guilt. Xu Xinyue's situation was only a small part of the reason. The real reason was Li Hui's marriage, which caused Mrs. Lu to overlook Li Xia's coming-of-age ceremony.
"It's fine if we missed it," Li Xia didn't want to have the ceremony. She had observed Li Xin's coming-of-age ceremony from start to finish, and it was such a hassle. Li Xia was still relieved that she didn't have to go through all that.
"No, this is an important day for a young woman. We can't skip it," Li Xin knew Li Xia's lazy nature, but this event couldn't be overlooked.
"It's too troublesome, sister," Li Xia approached Li Xin, held her hand, and acted coquettishly. No one could resist Li Xia's coquettish behavior, so Li Xin looked towards their mother, Mrs. Lu.
"I know you don't like trouble, so we won't invite outsiders. Just family," Mrs. Lu said. Hearing this, Li Xia reluctantly agreed.
Back at the Orchid Courtyard, the clothing manager had already arrived with her staff to take Li Xia's measurements for her outfit. Qiu Shui stood by, wiping tears of excitement. She had been thinking about this since the New Year, waiting for the family to hold the young lady's coming-of-age ceremony.
But even when autumn came, there was no sign of preparations for the young lady's ceremony. Unable to contain herself any longer, she secretly approached the eldest young lady to discuss the matter.
Now, seeing the family preparing for the young lady's coming-of-age ceremony, she couldn't help but shed tears of joy. As the clothing manager left, Li Xia called out to Qiu Shui, "Qiu Shui, did you talk to my sister about this?"
Qiu Shui wiped her tears and fell to her knees, "Yes, young lady, I did."
"Get up, I'm not blaming you. Why are you kneeling?" Li Xia stepped forward to help Qiu Shui up.
"I know you dislike trouble, young lady, but the coming-of-age ceremony is a big event that can't be skipped," Qiu Shui knew that her actions might displease Li Xia, but this was the young lady's adulthood ceremony. How could it not be held? Even if Li Xia disliked her for it, she had to speak up.
Li Xia took out some ointment and gave it to Qiu Shui, "The floor is so hard, and you just knelt down. Your knees must be swollen. Take this back and apply it."
Qiu Shui clutched the bottle tightly and hugged Li Xia's arm, crying even harder. Li Xia, trapped in the embrace, had no choice but to let Qiu Shui cry. Her eyes swept over the three people at the door, signaling them to take Qiu Shui away.
The three at the door exchanged glances and turned to leave. They didn't want to be lectured by Qiu Shui, as her lectures were too intense. They were afraid too.
After crying, Qiu Shui realized she had wet Li Xia's sleeve. Embarrassed, she quickly fetched clothes for Li Xia to change into.
After Li Xia changed her clothes, Qiu Shui came forward to apologize, "I'm sorry, young lady."
"You better not cry again. I just changed into these clothes," Li Xia's words made Qiu Shui call out "Young lady" in a slightly protesting tone.
On the day of the coming-of-age ceremony, as Mrs. Lu had said, no outsiders were invited. Only the Li family, Xu Xinyue, and the three members of the Lu family - their close relatives - were present.
Xu Xinyue arrived early at Qingyue Street. Seeing Li Xia dressed differently than usual, she held her hand, feeling both happy for her daughter and remorseful. She felt guilty that as a mother, she had forgotten such an important event.
"Mother, do I look good?" Li Xia showed her attire to Xu Xinyue, seeking praise. Li Xin had brought people early in the morning to carefully dress up Li Xia.
"You look beautiful. You look good in anything," Xu Xinyue suppressed the urge to cry.
"You didn't even look properly before praising me with your eyes closed," Li Xia was unsatisfied with Xu Xinyue's response.
Xu Xinyue took out a jade hairpin from her bosom, "Do you like it?" freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Li Xia loved the translucent green hairpin, "Mother, put it on for me."
"Not now. This pin should be put on by Old Madam Lu," Upon receiving the invitation for Li Xia's coming-of-age ceremony, Old Madam Lu had requested to be the main guest. Mrs. Lu had been worried about whom to invite as the main guest, so Old Madam Lu's willingness was a godsend.
When Li Xin had her coming-of-age ceremony, she wanted Li Xia to be the officiant, but it didn't happen. For Li Xia's ceremony, Li Xin had said early on that she wanted to be the officiant for Li Xia, to make up for that missed opportunity.
Qiu Shui came in to report that Old Madam Lu, Old Marquis Lu, and Lu XuanNing had arrived, and that Li Xia should go to greet them.
Hearing that the three had arrived, Xu Xinyue wanted to hide. She feared that her presence might cause the Lu family to disapprove of Li Xia.
"Mother, let's go together," Li Xia held Xu Xinyue's hand, not letting her retreat. Unable to resist Li Xia, Xu Xinyue was pulled along to the front hall.
Xu Xinyue's hand was shaking. Li Xia reassured her, "Mother, don't be afraid."
Looking at her daughter, who kept encouraging her with her eyes, Xu Xinyue took a deep breath to suppress her panic. She entered the hall with Li Xia, where Mrs. Lu was chatting with Old Madam Lu.
Seeing Xu Xinyue and Li Xia approach together, Mrs. Lu introduced them to Old Madam Lu, "Old Madam, this is Minister Wang's wife and Xia'er's birth mother, Xu Xinyue."
"Greetings, Old Madam," Xu Xinyue said with a slightly trembling voice as she paid her respects to Old Madam Lu.
The Lu family had already inquired about Xu Xinyue's situation. When Xu Xinyue came to pay her respects, Old Madam Lu's expression remained gentle, "Please rise."
Seeing that Old Madam Lu showed no contempt or disdain, Xu Xinyue's trembling heart steadied a bit. At Mrs. Lu's gesture, she sat down.
Li Xia stepped forward to greet Old Madam Lu. "Good child, please rise," Old Madam Lu reached out to help Li Xia up, liking her more and more as she observed her. After noticing that Lu XuanNing was fond of Li Xia, Old Madam Lu had been hesitant about whether to arrange an engagement with the Li family.
After Old Marquis Lu visited Qingan Temple, he directly proposed to Li Ming, settling the engagement. After the engagement was set, Lu XuanNing's overall spirit improved significantly. Old Madam Lu's hesitation also disappeared. As long as it could benefit her grandson, issues of status were not a problem.
Li Xin entered the room to remind everyone that it was time for the ceremony to begin. Li Xia supported Old Madam Lu as they went to the ceremonial area. After going through the whole process, Li Xia felt her neck stiff and her whole body tired.
After changing out of her ceremonial clothes, she came out to see Lu XuanNing waiting for her at the door. "Why are you here?" she asked.
"A gift for you," Lu XuanNing handed her a brocade box. Li Xia opened it to find a pair of jade bracelets. She extended her hand, gesturing for Lu XuanNing to put them on for her. Lu XuanNing carefully took out the bracelets and put them on Li Xia's wrists.
The fresh, natural green color made Li Xia's wrists look even more fair. Lu XuanNing couldn't help but caress them. "Are you flirting with me?" Li Xia's words made Lu XuanNing cough violently and instinctively step back several paces, his face turning bright red.
"Haha..." A burst of laughter erupted from behind, interspersed with a few stifled giggles. It was Cao Fugui, Li Xin, and Chang'an who had come over.
Lu XuanNing glanced at Cao Fugui, his eyes filled with murderous intent that made Cao Fugui falter for a moment. Coming to his senses, Cao Fugui remembered that this man was no gentle soul. "Well, the show is about to start. Let's go watch it," he said, turning to leave with Li Xin.
The Chang'an Princess, her eyes brimming with excitement, was reluctant to leave but was dragged away by Cao Fugui.
"I shouldn't have said that," Li Xia looked at Lu XuanNing apologetically. The scene just now had reminded her of the apocalyptic world, where she had witnessed similar situations. The sisters in her team would say that such men were harassing women. They had told Li Xia to kick them down without hesitation if she ever encountered such behavior.