Chapter 835: Stunning Loneliness (4)
Chu Heng and Princess Consort Liang’s seats to the left were occupied successively by Xiao Ruiyuan, Yan Junyu, Mr. Liu and his wife, and Han Zhiyun. As for Lady Han, being the guest of honor, she was currently waiting in the adjoining room; she would come out to pay her respect to Mo Yan once the hairpinning ceremony began.
As the auspicious time approached, the laughter and chatter within the room gradually subsided. At the gesture of Mo Qingze, Yang Baocang, the master of ceremonies, stood up, straightened his clothes, and, after bowing to the others, announced loudly, "Heaven and Earth create all things, and all things flourish eternally, for the family, for the state, our ancestors’ glory shines. Passed down by our parents, our lives exceed the household; nobility reaches honor and accord. Indeed, from innocence one matures, from youth moves forward... This, specially bestowing formal rite and code, the hairpinning coming-of-age ceremony shall start; please, the hairpinning subject, come forth from the eastern chamber―"
Amidst the music signaling the beginning of the ceremony, Mo Yan walked out of the eastern room, accompanied by Xin Er, step by step.
Eagerly looking towards the door, the guests saw a slender figure in pale green emerging from afar, growing clearer as it approached. When they got a clear view, everyone felt a brightness before their eyes, their gazes involuntarily focusing on Mo Yan, shifting with her every step, their eyes allowing room for only that refreshing shade of pale green.
Under the countless awestruck eyes, Mo Yan entered the room with a serene expression, stepping over the threshold and walking up to where Mo Qingze was seated. In the midst of the master of ceremonies’ chant, she respectfully bowed to her father, and then to the gathered guests.
Afterward, Mo Yan stepped back, knelt down formally on the hairpinning mat spread on the ground, and waited for the hairdresser to do her hair.
After cleaning her hands, Liu Tinglan took a peach wood comb from the tray brought by the servant, stepped forward, and combed Mo Yan’s black hair, gathering it up at the top of her head into a flowing cloud bun.
Mo Yan stood up, bowed to Liu Tinglan, and then, accompanied by Xin Er, returned to the eastern room to change into the plain apricot dress for the initial hairpinning. She then knelt down on the hairpinning mat again, amidst the guests’ astonished gazes.
The master of ceremonies sang out loudly, "The guest of honor is invited to place the first hairpin in the hair of the hairpinning subject!"
No sooner had the words been spoken than Lady Han, who was waiting in the next room, entered. After cleaning her hands, she took a silk scarf and a hairpin from the tray and knelt on the hairpinning mat. With a solemn expression, she began to chant the blessing, "On this auspicious day and fortunate moon, the first garment of adulthood is donned; abandoning your youthful ways, embracing mature virtues; wishing you long life and prosperity, to carry forward abundant blessings!"
After finishing the chant, Lady Han gently wrapped the silk scarf around Mo Yan’s bun and then secured it with the hairpin.