Zhao Hanzhang’s hairpin ceremony was held in the rear courtyard of the county office. All the county magistrates had arrived early in Xiping. To their surprise, the person presiding over her ceremony was not a woman, but Zhao Song.

Zhao Song was also conducting a hairpin ceremony for the first time. Even as the auspicious hour approached, he was still asking Zhao Hanzhang, “Are you sure you want me to conduct your hairpin ceremony? Actually, there are quite a few blessed female elders in the clan.”

Zhao Hanzhang said with a serious expression, “But they’re not Fifth Great-Uncle. When Grandfather was alive, you were closest to him. He can’t witness my coming-of-age, so having you conduct my hairpin ceremony—he’d be very happy to know.”

The corners of Zhao Song’s mouth curved up, and his mood became cheerful.

Today the rear courtyard of the county office was very clean and tidy. Originally, Zhao Hanzhang’s hairpin ceremony should have included lanterns and decorations, but she was still in mourning, and her purpose wasn’t to celebrate a birthday but to meet with the magistrates from the other seven counties, so she hadn’t specially decorated the county office.

But for Wang Shi, this day was extraordinarily significant.

Like a man’s capping ceremony, a woman’s hairpin ceremony was the most important day aside from the wedding. Even though she was in mourning and couldn’t hold a grand celebration, Wang Shi didn’t want to shortchange her daughter too much.

So two days early she had people sweep and clean the courtyard, cleaning even the eaves and wall corners. All the servants in the county office were also freshly dressed. When County Magistrate Chai and the others arrived, they felt the dignity and solemnity emanating from the Xiping county office.

Seeing the well-trained servants, everyone instinctively lightened their steps. The invited guests paused in their conversation and exchanged glances before stepping forward.

What surprised them was that the person standing at the door to greet guests was actually Zhao Ming.

County Magistrate Chai was fine—he’d been mentally prepared, so his expression remained unchanged. But the other magistrates weren’t so fortunate.

They had arrived in Xiping one after another, but after arriving had only briefly met with Zhao Hanzhang once. She hadn’t engaged in deep conversation, and they too felt they had nothing to say to this young girl, so they didn’t know each other very well yet.

Some had already met her in Quyang last year, but in their impression, Zhao Hanzhang was just a young lady skilled in warfare. They hadn’t expected the Zhao clan to value her so highly that even someone of Zhao Ming’s status would serve as her greeter.

Zhao Ming stood at the door with a light smile. Upon seeing them, he bowed first, then stepped aside to invite them in.

The guests were led in one after another.

The layout of county office rear courtyards was generally the same, with only small changes based on the magistrate’s personal habits. The hairpin ceremony would be held in an open pavilion in the rear garden, where guests could observe the ceremony from the garden.

Guests arrived in succession, each one well attended to—after all, the Zhao clan had many members.

For Zhao Hanzhang’s hairpin ceremony, Zhao Ming mobilized quite a few Zhao clan young men and young ladies. The refined young gentlemen and ladies courteously received the guests from afar. Male guests and female guests were arranged separately, standing symmetrically on the left and right.

The Zhao clan’s young gentlemen attended to the male guests, while the young ladies attended to the female guests.

Fan Ying and Chen Siniang were among those invited. Both came in full regalia.

Strictly speaking, they shouldn’t have been invited, because according to custom, both their fortunes were rather poor.

One had lost her entire family, the other had lost her husband in youth. But Zhao Hanzhang had invited them anyway, and had invited them repeatedly in person.

Zhao Hanzhang’s exact words were: “This isn’t a simple hairpin ceremony. My main purpose is to meet with the county magistrates. Since you’re now my people and will be involved in Runan Jun affairs in the future, you should take this opportunity to meet these magistrates.”

So after much deliberation, the two had come after all.

However, they feared disrupting Zhao Hanzhang’s hairpin ceremony, so they hid in a corner without coming forward.

Zhao Yunyíng, having received instructions beforehand, found them and led them to the front of the female guests. “Third Sister said you’re both her capable subordinates. Especially Sister Ying—you’re the daughter of a loyal and righteous family, so you should stand here.”

Fan Ying was very moved, not to mention Chen Siniang. Both were so touched their eyes reddened.

The auspicious hour arrived. A musician gently struck the bronze bell, and Zhao Ming invited the guests on both sides to take their seats.

Servants brought out cushions to place on mats. The guests sat cross-legged and looked up together toward the pavilion above.

Wang Shi took a deep breath and followed respectfully behind Zhao Song as he walked to the open pavilion. Suppressing her nervousness, she smiled as she faced the assembly. “Today is my daughter Sanniang’s coming-of-age hairpin ceremony. Thank you all for traveling from afar to attend.”

Having said this, she curtseyed to the crowd, and everyone rose to return the courtesy.

Wang Shi smiled and said, “Now my daughter’s hairpin ceremony officially begins. I invite the honored guest to preside over my daughter’s hairpin ceremony.”

Under everyone’s astonished gazes, Zhao Song stepped forward.

Even though the atmosphere was solemn at this moment, the guests couldn’t help but discuss: “The Zhao clan’s Fifth Elder is the honored guest?”

“Shouldn’t the honored guest be a blessed elder with high virtue? Using Zhao Ming as the greeter was one thing, but the honored guest is actually Fifth Elder…”

“Look who’s carrying the tray behind him!”

Everyone looked closely. A few didn’t recognize him, but most did. “Zhao Kuan? Didn’t he take office as magistrate of Quyang?”

“He’s the new magistrate of Quyang?”

Finally someone asked the question on everyone’s mind: “Just what ability does Zhao Sanniang have to receive such support from the Zhao clan?”

Zhao Song had known they would be controversial, so he waited deliberately, letting them recover before raising his hand to quiet the scene and saying with authority, “Please come forward, Sanniang.”

The crowd slowly quieted, craning their necks to watch from their seats.

Zhao Hanzhang strode forward boldly from behind, her hair loose. As she walked, her dress swirled like clouds—completely unlike the restraint and caution typical of girls at their hairpin ceremonies. Her movements were free and natural. She smiled as she faced the guests, nodding to them openly and generously before bowing to Zhao Song, then sitting down facing west.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

Zhao Song gave a slight nod. Zhao Yunyíng, who stood nervously to one side, stepped forward and raised her hand slightly. Ting He carefully brought forward a bronze basin for her to wash her hands. After washing, she picked up a comb and combed Zhao Hanzhang’s hair.

The hair had been washed and combed early that morning and was very smooth. This was just for show—a few strokes would suffice.

Standing beside Fifth Great-Uncle, Zhao Yunyíng felt very nervous. So she tremblingly combed three times and stopped, setting down the comb.

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes. Originally for her hairpin ceremony, the young lady and Wang Siniang had agreed that when they came of age, they would serve as each other’s assistants. What a pity…

Zhao Song, seeing she still wasn’t moving, cleared his throat lightly.

Zhao Hanzhang came to her senses, looked up and smiled at him, then rose and changed position to sit facing east.

Zhao Song washed his hands, took the hairpin from the tray Zhao Kuan held, stepped forward, and removed the simple pin from her hair. In a loud voice he intoned: “On this auspicious month and fortunate day, we bestow upon you this proper attire. Respect your dignified bearing, be virtuous and careful. May you live ten thousand years and enjoy eternal blessings!”

Having spoken, Zhao Song inserted the hairpin in her hair.

At this moment, even Zhao Song was somewhat moved. Looking at Zhao Hanzhang kneeling before him and bowing deeply, he seemed to see the young Zhao Changyu. His eyes grew moist.

If he was like this, imagine Wang Shi—she almost couldn’t hold back her tears.

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