Early that morning, civil and military officials, along with nobles and imperial relatives, sent gifts to celebrate the Crown Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony.
Many shrewd officials, concerned that the Eastern Palace was located deep within the inner court and thus inaccessible for personal congratulations, had initially intended to send more lavish gifts. However, they feared that the Crown Prince might use such excessive gestures as a pretext to investigate things that were better left unprobed. After much deliberation, they settled on generous gifts comparable to those usually bestowed upon princesses and countesses.
"Your Highness, look at this. Magistrate Guan sent five hundred taels of gold, all crafted into the shape of peony flowers..."
Chapter 168