Even before the coming-of-age ceremony arrived, the Grand Emperor and the Emperor had a major quarrel, so intense that even Cheng Guang fell silent during the morning court assembly.
In the Zichen Hall.
"Why should he? I am Ahuan's father. It should be me who chooses Ahuan's courtesy name."
Song Yu had practically worn out the ancient texts searching, and now Wu Qi came to say the Grand Emperor wanted to choose the princess's courtesy name?
If he could tolerate this, he might as well jump into the imperial gardens and become a ninja turtle!
Song Yu stormed straight to the Taiji Palace.
"Ahuan grew up under my watch too, and I am your father. I chose your courtesy name, so naturally, Ahuan's should be chosen by me as well."
Emperor Yuanyou did not yield an inch. As if he would give in—he had also nearly worn out his own set of ancient texts.
"You chose Ahuan's title. Choosing her courtesy name should be my turn, shouldn't it?"
Song Yu stood his ground defiantly. The fact that he hadn't changed Ahuan's title was already giving the old man plenty of face.
With neither father nor son willing to back down, the ones who suffered were the minor officials below.
The Shen father and son were especially unfortunate.
Emperor Yuanyou directly summoned Shen Mingwen to the Taiji Palace.
"Minister Shen, who do you think should choose Ahuan's courtesy name?" he asked, adopting an air of expecting Shen Mingwen to judge the dispute.
Similarly, Song Yu summoned Shen Qingping to the Zichen Hall.
"Shen the Third, who do you say should choose Ahuan's courtesy name?"
Though in different places, Shen Mingwen and Shen Qingping sighed in unison.
It was so difficult. Trapped between this imperial father and son, they desperately wanted to escape but couldn't.
Finally, Song Shihuan, unable to bear it any longer, stood before Emperor Yuanyou and Song Yu and spoke calmly:
"Let Master choose the courtesy name."
Hearing this, Song Yu instantly deflated like a punctured ball.
"Then let Master Qingshan choose it."
A debt of gratitude spanning two lifetimes—it was Master Qingshan who had first given Ahuan her name. He was more than worthy of choosing her courtesy name.
Emperor Yuanyou shot Song Yu several glances. Why had this kid given up so quickly?
Emperor Yuanyou still wanted to fight for it, but seeing this, Song Yu grabbed Song Shihuan and ran, terrified the opportunity might ultimately fall to the Grand Emperor.
As long as it wasn't the old man choosing it, he could accept not doing it himself.
Master Qingshan, upon learning of the matter, agreed cheerfully. When the snipe and the clam grapple, the fisherman profits.
......
Time passed day by day, and the Great Qi Dynasty welcomed Song Shihuan's coming-of-age ceremony.
It was a ceremony that seemed very strange at first glance but, upon closer thought, was perfectly reasonable.
On the day of Song Shihuan's ceremony, all civil and military officials of the third rank and above in the entire Great Qi entered the palace to celebrate. The great hall was packed with court officials.
The principal officiant for this ceremony was not a respected matron with both sons and daughters, nor was it even a woman.
When the officials saw Emperor Yuanyou appear in the role of principal officiant, they all twitched the corners of their mouths in unison.
For no other reason than this: among the families Song Shihuan was familiar with, there was no such matron with both sons and daughters.
Emperor Yuanyou felt that rather than finding a matron unfamiliar to Song Shihuan, he should take on the role himself. For this, he had practiced the technique of securing the hairpin for a long time.
Seeing this, Song Yu snorted through his nostrils. The reason he wasn't the principal officiant was that he had lost the fight with the old man.
The assistant for this ceremony was Gu Mingzhu.
As ceremonial music began, Song Shihuan appeared slowly behind Gu Mingzhu. She wore her hair in double coiled buns and was dressed in a colorful robe.
Emperor Yuanyou slowly took the first hairpin—the one prepared by Lady Chang for Song Shihuan. Both he and Song Yu, without prior agreement, hoped Song Shihuan would wear it.
They wished for Lady Chang's longing to also watch over and protect Song Shihuan.
"On this auspicious day and month, we first add the ceremonial headdress. Cast aside your childish inclinations, and cultivate your virtuous character. May you enjoy longevity and everlasting good fortune."
As he spoke, Emperor Yuanyou placed this hairpin, engraved with "My Daughter Ahuan," into Song Shihuan's hair.
Song Shihuan returned to the side hall, changed into a plain jacket and skirt matching the hairpin, then re-entered the main hall to perform a bowing ceremony to Emperor Yuanyou, Song Yu, and Master Qingshan.
Song Yu's eyes instantly reddened.
The flower he had so carefully nurtured had truly grown up.
Yet he still felt Ahuan was just a child.
Emperor Yuanyou took the second hairpin, an ornate golden hairpin he had prepared himself. As he placed it in Song Shihuan's hair, he said:
"We now add your second adornment, observing all rituals in order. With this fine wine, we pray you receive heaven's blessings."
Watching Song Shihuan leave once more to change clothes, Emperor Yuanyou also wiped the corner of his eye.
The young girl who had endured so much hardship would henceforth be an adult.
When she appeared again, Song Shihuan was wearing a deep robe with curved hem, and the youthful air from before had completely vanished.
Emperor Yuanyou stared at Song Shihuan for a few breaths, then took the third hairpin, a phoenix hairpin crafted with utmost extravagance according to the regulations for a Grand Princess.
This time, Song Shihuan changed into a grand purple robe with wide sleeves and performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows to the elders in the hall.
Emperor Yuanyou received the paper bearing Song Shihuan's name. Upon opening it, his eyes contracted slightly but quickly returned to normal.
"The rituals are now complete. On this auspicious day and month, we proclaim your courtesy name. A fine and fitting name for a distinguished lady. May it bring you good fortune, and may you forever be preserved under its auspices..."
"It is... Zhaohua."
The great hall instantly fell silent.
Zhao, as in Zhaowu's Zhao.
Zhaohua.
Choosing this name was truly audacious.
But Master Qingshan's expression remained unchanged. He continued to smile warmly at Song Shihuan. His Ahuan was worthy of this name.
If hearts were to change in the future, with this name, those who wished to scheme against Ahuan would have to weigh their actions carefully first.
"Zhaohua, an excellent name!"
Song Yu was the first to speak. "Thank you, Master Qingshan, for bestowing this name upon Ahuan."
Master Qingshan slowly rose and walked to Song Shihuan. His opening words were filled with deep reluctance. "Although you have grown up, to Master, Ahuan will always be a child."
The Ahuan in his memory, who had suffered greatly and struggled through two lifetimes, had finally broken through the barriers of fate and stood here on this day of her coming-of-age ceremony.
When it was Emperor Yuanyou's turn, the carefully prepared words he had rehearsed were completely forgotten. He only smiled and patted Song Shihuan's shoulder. "No matter when, your Imperial Grandfather is here for you."
"That's right, no need to rush growing up. Your Imperial Father will also protect Ahuan forever."
On this day, the officials' understanding of the depth of the Grand Princess's favor increased yet another level.
Where had they ever seen a woman's coming-of-age ceremony where the elders' exhortations were declarations of protection?
The officials' minds raced with a hundred thoughts, each pondering whether the gifts they had presented for the ceremony were perhaps too modest.
After the ceremony concluded, Song Yu held a celebratory banquet in the palace, while outside the palace, a continuous feast was set up. Passing commoners all stopped, hoping to partake in a share of the Grand Princess's good fortune.
That night.
Song Shihuan, for once, got to drink fruit wine again.
In a tipsy haze, Song Shihuan stealthily made her way to Song Yu and looked up at the man in dragon robes before her.
"Imperial Father, I received so many coming-of-age gifts today."
Song Yu nodded. "I've instructed Baoxia to store them all in Ahuan's private treasury."
"And Imperial Father's gift?"
The girl extended her flawless, fair palm—it turned out she had come to demand a gift.
Song Yu couldn't help but chuckle. With Master Qingshan around, Ahuan hadn't drunk for some time. Today, she was actually drunk.
"My gift is placed in the Zichen Hall. Does Ahuan want to go fetch it now?"
"Yes!"
Song Shihuan nodded her head like a little chick pecking at rice.
"Father Emperor must have prepared something special for me, that's why he didn't present it publicly."
Song Yu was amused. This little drunkard's mind was still working quite fast.
"Let's go."
