What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 63: Pingyang Princess’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Pingyang Princess’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony

"He keeps reminiscing about his beautiful wife, barely glancing at my elder sister standing right in front of him. How can any beautiful wife be more beautiful than my elder sister?" Tang Xiaobai scoffed.

Li Mu did not respond to her sarcasm and instead frowned, asking, "Was it really a snake that startled the horses?"

Seeing his concern, Tang Xiaobai quickly replied, "Indeed, it was. Pingyang Princess was the first to notice it. Not only were the carriage horses startled, but Gu Fourth Son and Pingyang Princess’s horses were frightened too—" Suddenly, she lost the desire to continue speaking.

Pingyang Princess’s horse was also startled, fortunately saved in time by Zhao Jing—

This "timeliness" was quite intriguing.

Li Shu couldn’t "timely" save the startled Tang Jiaojiao, but Zhao Jing "timely" saved the startled Pingyang Princess.

"Was the snake wild?" Li Mu remained focused on the incident with the startled horses.

Tang Xiaobai was taken aback: "You suspect someone deliberately released the snake to startle the horses? What would be the purpose?" She asked but was startled in her heart.

What would be the purpose? It depends on who benefited.

When Pingyang Princess caught up with them that day, she was already pale, being held in Zhao Jing’s arms as they rode together.

In the following days, there were no reports of any discord between the Princess and the Prince Consort.

Being petty, it spoke volumes about her and Tang Jiaojiao.

"Elder sister said this matter has been handed over to the Capital Prefecture for investigation," Tang Xiaobai huffed, "but they probably won’t find anything."

Li Mu, while recalling the resume of the Capital Prefecture Officer, uttered an "um" in acknowledgement.

Tang Xiaobai was already annoyed, and upon hearing this "um," she suddenly snapped: "Um what? What does um mean?"

Li Mu, taken aback, looked up to see her irritability, hesitating, he asked, "What happened to Second Miss?" Miss Tang’s temperament was usually pretty good, and it was rare for her to lose her temper like this.

Tang Xiaobai suddenly deflated: "Tomorrow is Pingyang Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony..."

This coming-of-age ceremony is not fixed at fifteen as she had previously seen in ancient texts, but it is held on the first birthday after the engagement, generally not long before the wedding.

The coming-of-age ceremony for Pingyang Princess was only a month away from the wedding date.

She vaguely heard her cousins mention that many in the court had impeached Zhao Jing, but the more they impeached him, the more rebellious the Emperor became, as if he had set his heart on this son-in-law.

The court officials couldn’t handle Zhao Jing; what could she do?

Moreover, it now seemed the Pingyang Princess was also besotted.

Quite frustrating...

Tang Xiaobai sighed.

The young man showed an understanding expression and replied indifferently, "It’s just a coming-of-age ceremony."

...

Pingyang Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony was held at Qianqiu Hall, presided over by Empress Yuan.

She was the first daughter to come of age in the current reign; at the host’s seat, the Emperor was present, a slight wistful smile resembling that of every father during their daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony.

Tang Xiaobai glanced at the Emperor from afar, internally scoffing as she silently lowered her head.

Not until the ceremonial music began did she follow everyone’s gaze towards the entrance.

Soon, Pingyang Princess, dressed in festive attire, stepped out gracefully.

Her makeup was elegant, her demeanor dignified, and her eyes calm and unruffled.

Since the horse incident, it was the first time Tang Xiaobai had seen the Pingyang Princess, sensing that she had suddenly matured.

She walked forward step by step, eyes unwavering, without any misstep.

Tang Xiaobai stared at her, vaguely feeling something peculiar.

Reaching the center, Pingyang Princess turned, faced south, and bowed deeply.

As she lowered her gaze, it was as if twilight descended upon the horizon—

The ceremonial processes continued without flaw, and Princess Pingyang cooperated well, missing not a single step, nor making any mistake.

Until the third bow.

Wearing a ceremonial robe with phoenix patterns, Pingyang Princess made her final exit in the large-sleeved attire, pausing before Tang Jiaojiao.

There was no major action, merely a shift in gaze, casting a glance at Tang Jiaojiao.

The glance wasn’t aimed at Tang Xiaobai, yet she inexplicably felt her heart race, quickly checking Tang Jiaojiao’s expression.

Tang Jiaojiao furrowed her brow, her eyes equally puzzled.

After that glance, the Pingyang Princess continued to move forward.

Three bows.

A toast.

Listening to parental admonitions.

The Emperor was then like any typical parent, one stern word followed by a gentle one, his eyes full of affection.

Pingyang Princess quietly knelt before the Imperial Court, and after the admonition, placed her hands on the ground, bowing deeply.

The atmosphere in the hall was tense, and the sound of the Princess’s forehead touching the ground resonated eerily.

Tang Xiaobai was also stunned.

Though she hadn’t been immersed in this world for long, she had absorbed some of its rituals.

In women’s kneeling and bowing, only a half-bow is performed.

Because women have hair ornaments, if they were to hit the ground solidly, it would damage the makeup and seem inappropriate.

Like the way Pingyang Princess knelt and made a true kowtow, it was actually a breach of etiquette!

The Emperor’s face had changed, but the Pingyang Princess remained kneeling, and announced clearly to the hall: "I, your humble servant, report to Your Majesty, in the twenty-third year of Jianhe, while serving the late Emperor at Ganlu Hall, he personally promised me entry into Taoism. Now still in the Palace chambers, I sincerely wish to relinquish the title of Princess, and I pray that Your Majesty grants my request!"

With these words uttered, the surroundings fell silent.

...

"Jianhe is the late Emperor’s reign title, in the twenty-third year of Jianhe, Li Yao was only five years old—"

"She was the late Emperor’s first grandchild and was often brought into the palace to play. That day, upon a chance encounter with a Taoist woman from Xianyi Temple on the way to Ganlu Hall, she uttered a remark in front of the late Emperor, who perhaps found her words amusing due to her young age, and casually agreed;"

"This matter was no secret, known to quite a few, but nobody ever took a casual remark seriously—"

"A ruler’s words are not to be taken lightly!" Tang Xiaobai pointed out earnestly.

Princess Ji chuckled at her and continued: "Actually, I had heard before that Li Yao had clamored about wanting to become a nun, perhaps rebuffed by His Majesty, but I didn’t expect her to pull such a move at the coming-of-age ceremony."

Pingyang Princess publicly invoked the late Emperor, leaving the Emperor in an awkward position, unable to easily consent or refuse, resorting only to leaving with a grim expression after saying, "Let’s discuss it over the long term."

With such a commotion, the ceremony hastily concluded.

After leaving the palace, Princess Ji gathered her daughter and two granddaughters onto her carriage and animatedly recounted the old tale.

After narrating the story, they arrived at the Duke Yan Mansion.

The carriage slowly stopped, and Tang Xiaobai quickly asked, "Do you think His Majesty will agree to Pingyang Princess’s request?"

Princess Ji smirked with a hint of sarcasm: "Our Majesty is certainly a filial son; he surely will agree!" she laughed, "Li Yao’s memory is impressive, remembering such an old incident—" she asked the sisters, "Do you remember the things you casually said when you were five?"

Tang Xiaobai shook her head.

She couldn’t remember things from the age of five in this current identity, but she did recall similar childhood experiences like crying upon not receiving a small red flower in kindergarten, so she found it unsurprising that Pingyang Princess would remember that particular matter—

"It’s not my own memory, someone reminded me." Pingyang Princess added.