The coming-of-age ceremony was solemn and elaborate. On that day alone, one was required to change garments several times, and with each change of clothing, the makeup and hair dressing had to be redone anew.

At the coming-of-age ceremony, the woman who pins the ceremonial hairpin into a young girl’s hair is known as the primary presider. As a rule, the role of primary presider is filled by a senior female figure of exemplary virtue and character.

The Crown Princess was Su Ying’s own paternal aunt, and her standing was moreover lofty and noble — it was only natural for her to serve as the primary presider.

For Su Ying, having the Crown Princess herself preside over her coming-of-age ceremony was also a matter of immense honor and distinction, a cause for great happiness.

What delighted her even more was that her cousin, the Crown Grandson, had also come today…

Su Ying, dressed in her coming-of-age ceremony attire, had applied a light, delicate layer of makeup to her face, giving her a refined and graceful elegance. When the corner of her eye caught sight of the young man standing at the Crown Princess’s side, a faint blush suffused her pretty face, making her look exceptionally beautiful and captivating.

As the ceremony stretched on, Ling Jingyan began to lose patience. She quietly tugged at Ling Jingshu’s sleeve: “A’Shu, we’ve been standing here so long — my feet are nearly aching off.”

The inner hall was crowded with people, and the recitation of the ceremonial verses during the hairpin pinning had to be proclaimed aloud. Ling Jingyan had taken great care to keep her voice low, and did not attract anyone else’s attention.

Even so, this was not an appropriate moment for conversation.

Ling Jingshu clasped Ling Jingyan’s hand and murmured a soothing reply: “Bear with it just a little longer — it will be over soon.”

Ling Jingyan gave a soft sound of acknowledgment and fell quiet.

Ling Jingshu’s gaze returned once more to Su Ying.

Su Ying’s coming-of-age ceremony was this splendidly grand and elaborate. The Crown Princess had come specifically to serve as primary presider — surely this was not purely for the sake of supporting her maternal family. The Crown Grandson had already reached the age for selecting a consort and taking a wife. The Crown Princess was particularly exacting about the young women who appeared at the Crown Grandson’s side — Ling Jingshu herself being a prime example — which made it clear that the Crown Princess already had a particular daughter-in-law candidate in mind.

Looking at things now, that candidate was none other than Su Ying.

Su Ying’s beauty and talents were outstanding, and her disposition was gentle. She was also the Crown Princess’s own niece from her maternal family — naturally her place in the Crown Princess’s heart was altogether different from the rest. In that regard, she far surpassed Ling Jingshu on every count… and indeed, Su Ying truly was the ideal candidate for Crown Grandson’s principal consort.

Ling Jingshu’s thoughts were drifting when suddenly she found herself looking directly into a pair of cold, deep, dark eyes.

Those eyes — which as a rule held scarcely any fluctuation — now shimmered with a complex and inexpressible light.

Ling Jingshu lowered her gaze almost immediately, avoiding the Crown Grandson’s gaze, which carried a hint of burning intensity.

Mother Consort had deliberately made things difficult for her just now. With that proud and lofty character of hers, she must be quite angry inside. The Crown Grandson quietly sighed within his heart, and for no clear reason, a line Prince Yan had once said flashed through his mind.

A virtuous and lovely maiden — a nobleman’s heart is captivated. If you maintain your restraint all day long, what will you do when the maiden you have your eye on is taken by someone else?

Once the coming-of-age ceremony was completed, the assembled guests let out a collective sigh of relief. Then one by one they stepped forward with congratulations and well-wishes.

Su Ying seemed to have matured considerably in the span of that single half-day. Her every gesture and movement now carried a somewhat greater degree of gracious warmth and gentleness.

The Crown Grandson, who had remained silent throughout, took a couple of steps forward as well. His face, which rarely showed much expression, softened unusually: “Cousin Su, today is the joyous occasion of your coming-of-age ceremony. My congratulations to you.”

The two were first cousins who had grown up together from childhood, familiar with one another, sharing an intimacy and closeness naturally different from that of outsiders.

A light of joy and delight flashed in Su Ying’s eyes. She said softly: “Many thanks, Your Highness the Crown Grandson.”

The Crown Grandson gave a slight pull at the corner of his lips: “Just call me elder cousin — that is what you called me when we were small. How have you become so distant now.”

Su Ying blushed slightly and changed her form of address to “elder cousin.”

Though she came and went at the Crown Prince’s residence frequently, the occasions on which Su Ying actually had the chance to see this cousin of hers were in fact not very many. Especially over these past two years — as they each grew older and the proprieties between men and women came increasingly into consideration, the opportunities for them to meet had become fewer and fewer.

Today was her coming-of-age ceremony, and in her heart she had privately hoped to be able to see him.

It had not occurred to her that he would truly come today…

An unfamiliar feeling rippled through Su Ying’s heart. A faint flush of color swept across her fair, smooth face.

The Crown Princess took in this scene with her own eyes, and the corners of her lips could not help but lift.

Now this was a perfectly matched pair!

Su Ying was her niece from her maternal family, a girl she had watched grow up. Her beauty and talents were of the highest caliber, her manner refined and gentle. Compared to Jiang Rongyue, she naturally preferred Su Ying far more as a daughter-in-law.

Judging by A’Yao’s reaction, it was plain that he had some measure of affection for this cousin of his. She would find a private moment to let A’Yao know what was in her heart on this matter — A’Yao should not object…

Even if A’Yao had truly been ensnared by that Ling Jingshu, he should understand clearly that, given the Ling family’s station, Ling Jingshu could by no means qualify as principal consort. If A’Yao truly insisted, she would concede just that one step — allowing Ling Jingshu to enter the household as secondary consort.

Once she was in the door, there would be time enough to properly guide and train her.

With these calculations in mind, the Crown Princess’s spirits grew increasingly at ease.

After a lavish and refined midday banquet at the Su household, the guests lingered for a short while in the inner quarters of the Su residence.

With the Crown Princess, Princess Changping, and the others present, Su Ying had not been free to step away for even a moment. Only after seeing the Crown Princess and the rest of her guests off did Su Ying finally return to the courtyard with an apologetic expression and smile at everyone: “Today I have truly wronged everyone — I have not had a moment all day to sit and have a proper conversation with you.”

“Now Eldest Sister Su is being far too courteous.”

Jiang Rongyue chimed in with a playful quip: “Today the Su household was filled with noble guests — the Crown Princess came herself to serve as your primary presider, the Crown Grandson came personally to offer his congratulations, and even Princess Changping and Princess An Ya were here. That you were kept busy is entirely to be expected. How could any of us possibly blame you.”

On first hearing, these words seemed perfectly ordinary. But savored carefully, they carried an almost imperceptible edge of sourness.

The young women present exchanged a knowing glance.

The Crown Grandson was of distinguished standing, and moreover a supremely handsome young man. There was no small number of well-bred young ladies from prominent families who had set their hearts on becoming the Crown Grandson’s principal consort. Of these, it was Jiang Rongyue and Su Ying whose talents, beauty, and family background stood out the most — and who were the fiercest rivals in contending for the position.

In terms of family background, Jiang Rongyue held a slight advantage. In terms of talent and beauty, however, Su Ying was more remarkable.

Young ladies of slightly lower family standing could still enter as secondary consort to the Crown Grandson. But Jiang Rongyue and Su Ying would absolutely never consent to become any kind of secondary consort. Either they would make a glorious marriage as the Crown Grandson’s principal consort, or they would withdraw from the contest in quiet defeat.

Today, the Crown Princess had made such a conspicuous point of serving as Su Ying’s primary presider for the coming-of-age ceremony. The intent expressed thereby required no words.

It was little wonder that Jiang Rongyue felt a measure of envy.

Su Ying appeared not to have detected the sourness in Jiang Rongyue’s words and replied with a slight smile: “Younger Sister Jiang had best not laugh at me just yet. In a little over a month it will be your own coming-of-age ceremony — I have no idea how grand and splendid it will be. My aunt and cousin will naturally not be absent, and who knows — perhaps even His Highness the Crown Prince himself might attend!”

These words were soft and gentle, not a trace of sharpness detectable in them.

Yet upon closer thought, that last line was unmistakably a counterattack against Jiang Rongyue.

Yes, my aunt shows partiality toward me — but my uncle shows even greater partiality toward the Duke of Ying’s household!

Jiang Rongyue was stopped smoothly and firmly in her tracks, but quickly smiled again: “His Highness the Crown Prince must rest and recuperate in peace — he would never venture out from the residence so casually. Eldest Sister Su, please do not tease.”

Ling Jingshu watched all this with cold detachment from the sidelines, and could not help but let out a quiet, private laugh to herself.

Two young women not yet betrothed, sparring in rivalry over the Crown Grandson — one truly had to wonder what the Crown Grandson would feel if he ever came to know of it…