Holding the script, I want to give up.

Shangguan Zitong woke up with a splitting headache and a sore shoulder. What was going on? Drinking alcohol shouldn't make her feel this bad.

"I only had a few sips, why do I feel so bad? It's like I've been beaten up."

"Princess, why are you drinking with them? And so much at that, no wonder you feel unwell."

Youzhi brought the hangover soup into Shangguan Zitong's room and gave it to her.

"Okay, okay, I'll drink less next time. Don't worry, Youzhi."

Shangguan Zitong made a face and got out of bed, but tripped over her own shoe and fell to the ground. Youzhi quickly helped her up, secretly trying not to laugh.

"You wretched shoes, trying to seduce me! I'm not going to wear you today! You're making me so angry!"

As Shangguan Zitong spoke, she nervously stomped on her shoes twice before feeling relieved.

"...Your Highness..."

Youzhi rubbed her forehead, thinking that she was still drunk.

After Shangguan Zitong finished stepping on the ground, she noticed a few snow-white fox furs. She squatted down, picked them up, and showed them to Youzhi her unexpected discovery.

"Look! How come there's fox fur here?"

"I don't know, maybe it was left by some unknown fox that came in to keep warm."

"After all, Princess, you seemed to have returned late last night. Perhaps a fox was following you?"

Youzhi guessed. She would never admit that she didn't know when Shangguan Zitong had returned.

"Oh, alright then. I don't know either."

"A fox? A fox! Oh dear, the fox that my brother the Crown Prince gave me has been left in the palace."

Shangguan Zitong looked regretful upon hearing the name "fox." How could she have forgotten to bring it? She slapped her forehead in exasperation.

"That's true. I'd forgotten about it too."

Youzhi also remembered that she hadn't brought the white fox. The princess had really liked it before, how could she have forgotten?

"Youzhi, let me tell you, I saw a handsome white-haired boy last night."

Shangguan Zitong spoke with the look of a young girl in the throes of first love.

"Princess, you are truly drunk. How can you describe a man as handsome?"

"Why don't you sleep a little longer? I'll go and make you some more hangover soup."

As she spoke, Youzhi helped Shangguan Zitong up and walked towards the bed, wanting her to get some rest.

"Hey, hey, hey, what I'm saying is true."

"Could it be that I've really drunk too much and am hallucinating? Is my alcohol tolerance really that low?"

Shangguan Zitong also fell into self-doubt.

......

Meanwhile, inside the East Palace, Shangguan Nuoyou, holding the white fox, murmured to herself, "Tell me, how could my sister, who loves you so much, forget to bring you along?"

Shangguan Nuoyou ruffled the white fox's head and continued, "Three years have passed, and not a single letter has been sent. It's so despicable that it didn't even come to my coming-of-age ceremony. Is life in the common folk really that fun?"

After Shangguan Zitong left, if Shangguan Nuoyou hadn't wandered around her palace, this white fox would have starved to death long ago.

Shangguan Nuoyou put down the white fox, stood up in front of the desk, wrote a letter, and summoned the shadow guards.

"Xuan Ye, send this letter to the little princess as fast as you can and bring it back with you."

"be careful."

Shangguan Nuoyou stood with his hands behind his back and said.

"Yes, I will take your orders."

After finishing his words, Xuan Ye left with the letter.

Shangguan Nuoyou stared at the white fox on the ground, lost in thought. She wondered if Xuan Ye could bring the fox back before her sister's coming-of-age ceremony. Her father was old and nearing death; she should rightfully hold a coming-of-age ceremony for her sister.

......

At Shangguan Zitong's coming-of-age ceremony.

Shangguan Jin stood on the eastern steps to await the guests; the attendant with a tray stood at the foot of the western steps; the guests stood outside the venue to wait; after bathing, Shangguan Zitong, who had reached the age of marriage, changed into colorful clothes and shoes and sat comfortably in the eastern room to wait; the music began to play.

When the principal guest arrived, Shangguan Jin stepped forward to greet him. After exchanging formal greetings, they entered the venue. Youzhi, Youxi, and Yibai took their seats as the main guests; the other guests took their seats for the audience. Only after all the guests were seated did Shangguan Jin take his seat as the host. At this moment, Shangguan Zitong walked to the center of the venue, faced south, and bowed to the audience. Then, facing west, she sat down in the ceremony's seating area.

Shangguan Jin rose to deliver a speech, announcing the official commencement of the coming-of-age ceremony, and invited Shangguan Zitong to enter and greet the guests.

During the "first coming-of-age ceremony," Shangguan Jin combed Shangguan Zitong's hair and added a hairpin, offering a blessing: "On this auspicious day of this month, you begin your coming-of-age ceremony. Cast aside your childish ways and embrace your mature virtues. May you live a long and blessed life." This signified that the girl's childhood was over and that she would henceforth assume the responsibilities and obligations of adulthood.

During the second crowning ceremony, Shangguan Jin once again adorned Shangguan Zitong's hair with a hairpin and recited Taoist verses. The third crowning ceremony was the final one, during which Shangguan Jin placed an even more magnificent headdress on Shangguan Zitong, simultaneously announcing her adulthood. Each addition of hairpins and ornaments had a specific meaning and symbolism, representing the increasing beauty and wisdom a woman gradually acquires during her growth.

The first bow, the second bow, the offering of wine, the ritual of giving wine to the girl, the hairpin ceremony, the listening to the instructions, and the bowing of the official to express gratitude—all these steps are full of ritual and blessings and expectations for the woman.

After completing all the above steps, Shangguan Jin announced the successful conclusion of the coming-of-age ceremony.

After the guests finished their business-like flattery, they left.

"Oh, it's finally over, I'm so tired."

Shangguan Zitong rubbed his shoulders and said.

"Princess, this is the most important moment in a girl's life. How can you say you're tired?"

Youxi spoke excitedly and took off her headdress.

Youzhi and Youxi had already undergone the coming-of-age ceremony before becoming Shangguan Zitong's personal maids.

"Look how excited you are. Will Yibo be an adult in a few days?"

"Yes, Princess, what should we do?"

Youzhi helped Shangguan Zitong change out of her heavy clothes.

"My older brother is the oldest, so let him do it."

Shangguan Zitong said softly that she was too tired and wanted to sleep. She figured that Youzhi and Youxi must be tired too, so she dismissed them.

As luck would have it, Shangguan Jin arrived.

"Little sister, let me take a closer look at you."

As Shangguan Jin spoke, he opened the door. Shangguan Zitong was only wearing her undergarments and was about to go to sleep.

"Ah, brother, I'm tired. Didn't you see it at my coming-of-age ceremony?"

Shangguan Zitong asked, yawning and stretching.

"There were too many customers, I didn't notice."

Shangguan Jin scratched his head sheepishly.

"Brother, Yibai will be an adult in a few days, could you..."

Before Shangguan Zitong could finish speaking, Shangguan Jin interrupted her.

"I understand, I understand, I can do it."

"Since you're tired, I won't bother you any longer. You should get some rest."

As Shangguan Jin spoke, he went out and closed the door behind him.

At Yi Bai's coming-of-age ceremony, the crowd surged, mostly young girls who came to see the handsome young man. After all, it's rare to find someone so obviously wealthy and powerful in a place like this, and since they were all very easygoing, they all wanted to come and broaden their horizons.

Shangguan Zitong had the illusion that her own child had finally made something of himself.

The coming-of-age ceremony proceeded smoothly until the guests left. Only then did they dare to relax.

After a busy day, they were so tired that they went to bed before it was time to sleep. Indeed, youth is wonderful; they can fall asleep the moment their heads hit the pillow.

.....