Day after day, one year passed quickly. During this time, many things happened in Tianze. The warlords who had been living peacefully until now were once again stirred due to the war between Eastern Wei and Great Xia. Their dormant ambitions blazing lit once again, the region had enveloped in chaos.
In the middle of this conflict were the families and clans who were allied with either Eastern Wei or The Great Xia. This course included Li Junwei and the Li Province.
Li Junwei was delighted when he heard the good news of his son's birth. He finally had an heir and future to the Li Family. As much as he wished to leave everything and run to the Purple Lotus City to see his son and wife, he couldn't do so.
Enemies were everywhere, ready to pounce at the slightest gap in the defenses and the smallest of weaknesses. Every day was a struggle as the food was running low and people were dying all over the place. The common man was troubled and afraid, the region was unstable.
Knowing all this, Li Junwei could only send his best regards, words of encouragement, and comfort through letters, some of which never reached their destination.
While Li Junwei was struggling to keep his territory from falling apart, the war between Wei and Xia was heading nowhere. Both sides were pushing to the best of their abilities and it looked as if the war would last forever.
The most significant thing was probably that the people of Great Xia were starting to wake up. As the war continued, food and supplies grew scarce. And while the commoners were suffering and dying as a consequence of the war, the nobles and the upper-class society lived as lavishly as ever, if not more.
Rumors were spreading that the Emperor had no interest in the current conflict. He had no ambition, no care, and no nothing. He would write poetry all day, admire art and hold banquets as well as spend the nights with his imperial harem. If not courageous and mighty, the man sure had a lot of stamina, at least.
On the other hand, the second Prince Jing was working wonders on the frontiers. The Prince who was neglected by his father and hated by his family was slowly making a name for himself by garnering people's and soldiers' admiration and respect by holding off the Wei Army. His name was resounding everywhere.
Amidst all this chaos, the Purple Lotus City seemed like a paradise on earth. The city was currently in a hustle and bustle as Wang Xue, the newborn princess's first birthday was being celebrated with prestige and glamor. The Wang clan had really organized a huge spectacle for the event. The city was decorated, guests were invited and the birthday as well as grabbing ritual preparations were done with the utmost splendor.
This was not the first time when the city witnessed such a grand event as Wang Fang already had a son. Not only that, there had been many births and celebrations in the Wang Estate as the Wang Clan did not only consist of Wang Fang and his wife and children. The Wang Clan was a prominent one, with many hereditary bloodlines and houses.
What made the particular day special was that this time, for the first time, the Wang Clan was hosting the celebration and rituals for someone who was only a guest and not in any way related to the Wang Bloodline. The guests were, of course, Li Yan and her son, Li Shuyi.
In the hall of the splendid, tall, and magnificent Purple Jade Pagoda, the grabbing ritual was commencing among the watchful eyes of many.
The pagoda hall was beautifully adorned with vibrant colors and intricate designs to celebrate the 1st birthday-grabbing ritual. Bright red lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the room, while colorful banners with auspicious symbols and well-wishes for the child adorned the walls.
At the center of the room stood a beautifully decorated altar, adorned with flowers, fruits, and burning incense. The altar was set up as the focal point of the ceremony, and was surrounded by rows of chairs for guests to sit and witness the ritual.
In front of the altar, a small table was set up with various items for the ritual, including a bowl of rice, a pair of scissors, and a brush. The rice was symbolic of wealth and prosperity, while the scissors were used to cut away any negative energy and obstacles that may hinder the child's growth and development. The brush was used to write the child's name and birth details on red paper, which would then be hung up for good luck.
The guests who had come afar, those who had come from the neighboring lands, and those who resided in the city itself. Along with the entire Wang Clan consisting of many men, women, children, and elders.
Li Yan and Lady Wang both stood in front of the altar where a large table was placed filled with random objects such as books, scriptures, a wooden sword, a bow, a crown, a flower, a quilt, and many such objects.
Everyone watched in anticipation as their gazes did not leave the two children. This was a test that would determine which path the children would be taking in life. Everyone, including the mothers, was eager to know what would the kids pick among all the random objects.
With the anticipation, also came a sense of nervousness. This was an important juncture in the kids' lives and no one would wish for the kids to embarrass themselves for grabbing something strange.
Lady Wang and Li Yan both sat on their knees in front of the altar holding their children, garnering everyone's attention and admiration as they looked like beautiful fairies wearing floral embroidered robes.
Wang Xue was dressed in a pink floral dress, her hair tied together with a purple hairpin, she looked spectacular and cute, like a celestial angel.
On the other hand, Li Shuyi was dressed in a red, fiery robe embroidered with dancing dragons. His hair was tied in a small bun above his head and he wore a small crown. His expression was peaceful and focused as he looked around the hall with intelligence and curiosity.
Finally, an old man with a long white beard sitting on the honored seat smiled kindly as he gestured for the ceremony to begin. The hall became deathly silent, brimming with excitement and anticipation as Lady Wang placed Wang Xue on the table with an encouraging smile on her face, urging her forward to choose any random item from the table.
As Wang Xue looked at the many items laid out in front of her, some strange shaped, some beautiful, some unfamiliar while some shining, her tranquil gaze and blue eyes going over all the items. She finally moved…
… And everyone held their breaths.