Di Yiming glanced at Yu Mingyue before leaving. "You little lady have good luck!"
Yu Mingyue quickly cupped her hands. "Thank you, sir, for your guidance."
Song Yumíng followed closely. "It seems your position as Deputy Temple Official won't last long?"
"Why?" Yu Mingyue asked, confused.
"Why?" Song Yumíng was amused by her current dazed cuteness. "Minister Du, can you tell your lady why?"
Du Rui's face was filled with unconcealable excitement, but he still said steadily, "My lady is likely to be promoted to Temple Official."
"What do you mean 'likely'? The Dali Temple has always valued ability over seniority. Didn't you hear Lord Di say your luck was good just now?" Song Yumíng patted her shoulder.
Yu Mingyue shook her head. "Then what about Lord Di?"
Although Lord Di was a bit petty, he was still a good superior. She had never thought of replacing him.
Song Yumíng sighed. "You're usually so smart and quick-witted. Why are you so confused now? Temple Lord Xu is being transferred, and the position is now vacant."
Yu Mingyue suddenly understood.
"Then we will follow my lady's promotion," they said in unison.
Yu Mingyue felt a little embarrassed. "It's still early, still early."
"Either way, you're treating us to a meal."
Yu Mingyue's errand, which should have taken seven or eight days, was delayed for over half a month, which greatly worried Madam Cui.
She still felt lingering fear from that night. If Zhu Yu hadn't protected her, she would have been seriously injured.
Poor Zhu Yu. Everyone desires beauty. She was so badly injured. If she could find a good match in the future, she would give her several chests of dowry to make up for it.
"Hurry and resign from that Deputy Temple Official position. Let those young men earn the glory for the Duke's mansion. You stay in the mansion and prepare for marriage. No more going out." Madam Cui knew Yu Mingyue was also injured that night.
She pulled her daughter into the room and insisted on checking her injuries. Yu Mingyue naturally refused, but she was no match for Madam Cui. Finally, she bared her arm for Madam Cui to see.
A UGLY scab had formed on the wound. It would definitely leave a scar.
Madam Cui's tears immediately flowed. Her pampered daughter, who had never even broken her skin before, was now so badly injured after such a short time.
"I know Mother pities me. This is just a minor skin injury. It's nothing. It's all healed. Look, I can still dance with my sword." Yu Mingyue said, preparing to perform for Madam Cui.
Madam Cui stopped her daughter. "Don't be flippant. I'm serious this time."
She wasn't unreasonable. She knew that the country came before the family. However, her husband and sons were already fighting for the Xiao family on the battlefield. Sixth daughter was her only daughter, and she couldn't bear to see her hurt.
"Mother, I don't want to resign from my post." Yu Mingyue tugged at Madam Cui's arm and pouted. "Lord Di wants to keep me as a Temple Official, a fifth-rank official in the capital."
Madam Cui wouldn't be easily coaxed. "I don't care about any officials. Mother just wants you to be safe and sound."
"I care! I want to be an official, a renowned minister throughout history, to be remembered in the annals of history. No one can restrain me. Perhaps Father and brother will have to call me 'My Lady'!" Yu Mingyue's eyes were as pure as amber in the sunlight, yet held a sharp edge, full of hope for the future.
Such a spirited and energetic demeanor made Madam Cui momentarily dazed. In that moment of daze, Yu Mingyue pecked Madam Cui's cheek. "I knew Mother supported Yue'er the most. My mother is the best mother in the world."
Madam Cui: ...
Madam Cui shook her head in exasperation. "I can't control you anymore. Your father might return to the capital this year. You can talk to him yourself then."
Because Yu Mingjing was stationed at Yumenguan Pass, Yu Zeyan had an opportunity to report to the Emperor in the capital at the end of the year.
"Father is returning to the capital?" Yu Mingyue's face lit up with surprise.
She hadn't seen her father in two years. She missed him dearly.
"Your father wrote that he wouldn't be able to make it for your coming-of-age ceremony, so he sent a gift back first. He will stay in the capital to celebrate New Year's Day this year." Madam Cui handed the letter to Yu Mingyue. "Read it yourself. Your father also disapproves of you serving as a female official."
To accompany the emperor was like walking with a tiger. The imperial court was full of old foxes. She, a young lady, with her father and brother not in the capital, would likely be bullied by those people.
Yu Mingyue carefully put away her father's letter. "I know Mother and Father wish for my safety, but Yue'er only wishes for peace in the land and calm seas, for the nation's might and the people's prosperity. Mother, I want to be more than just a young lady who stays in the inner chambers to raise a family. My heart also holds the world and the nation."
...
On the day of Yu Mingyue's coming-of-age ceremony, Lord Di granted her a day off and also shared good news.
Starting tomorrow, she would no longer be a deputy sixth-rank Temple Official but a sixth-rank Temple Official. Lord Di was also promoted to a fifth-rank Temple Lord. Although it wasn't his first promotion, this time he truly benefited from this girl.
For this, Lord Di even gave Yu Mingyue a treasured inkstone, a gift from his teacher when he first entered Dali Temple, as her coming-of-age gift.
Alas, such a fine inkstone, wasted on this girl.
Not long after the Fifth Daughter's coming-of-age ceremony, the Sixth Daughter also came of age. The Duke's mansion hadn't been this lively in a long time.
The Empress specially sent two auspicious palace maids to perform the hair-pinning ceremony for Yu Mingyue. Such a privilege was not granted to ordinary people.
Madam Cui looked at her daughter's graceful figure, already much taller than her. For today's ceremony, she wore a light red silk undergarment. Through the thin silk, one could vaguely see her fair and smooth arms beneath the sleeves. A pair of ruby earrings made her skin appear like snow, her nose was delicate and upturned, and her eyes were full of emotion, making it impossible to look away.
Suddenly, Madam Cui was reluctant for her daughter to marry. Since she wanted to be a female official, she could stay for a few more years. After all, her daughter would never lack suitors.
Yu Mingyue had grown accustomed to wearing men's clothing these days. She found the hairpin heavy, like carrying a thousand-pound burden, and wished the ceremony would end quickly.
In the afternoon, after the guests left, Yu Mingyue impatiently removed the decorations from her hair and changed into a comfortable straight robe. Chihua had already registered the gifts and handed the ledger to Yu Mingyue.
"Miss, you've really struck it rich this time! This servant saw some particularly precious gifts. Look, but there are no names of the guests. This servant asked, and everyone said they didn't know who sent them." Chihua said.
Yu Mingyue knew who sent the gifts after looking at them. Youyou was quite bold to have someone send gifts. She wondered if Lu Jingxing had spies watching.
When Youyou came of age, she had designed a hairpin herself and had a craftsman make it. The hairpin had a hidden mechanism, with a hollow center that could shoot out six poisoned needles, which could save her life in critical moments.
Youyou had also made a similar one, only the flower design was different. When making this hairpin, Youyou had suggested she make one just like it, so people would know they were good sisters at a glance.
However, so many things had happened later, and she hadn't been in the mood to make one. She hadn't expected Youyou to remember.
She could still recall Youyou's smiling face like a blooming flower on her coming-of-age day. Unexpectedly, it was now difficult to see her again.