Seeing the hairpin in Xiao Ruxun's hand, Chu Ying was a little confused.
"Yifu, this …"
"This is called a hairpin. It's specially used to tie hair. In ancient times, there were no hairpins. The Han people, like other people, had disheveled hair. Later, some philosophers felt that this was not good, so in order to show the prosperity of civilization, hairpins appeared to tie hair to show etiquette and education."
Xiao Ruxun handed the hairpin to Chu Ying. Chu Ying looked at it without saying anything and just looked at Xiao Ruxun.
"Since you're my adopted son, you should behave. You can't go out like this and let others think that I didn't educate you well. I'm the emperor of Daqin. If I'm criticized by my subjects, what should I do?"
Chu Ying couldn't refute the reason given by Xiao Ruxun.
Of course, Chu Ying didn't think there was anything wrong with it, but he felt a little strange.
His clansmen all kept braids and shaved the rest of their hair. Wasn't it a little disrespectful to his parents and the tradition of the tribe?
Keeping hair and even tying it up?
"Yifu, that's what we do in our tribe. I've cut off my braids and kept long hair. In fact, I already feel that it's a little inappropriate. If I continue to tie up my hair, what will my clansmen think of me when I return to the tribe?"
Seeing Chu Ying's worried look, Xiao Ruxun smiled.
"How many clansmen do you have?"
"Hundreds of thousands."
Chu Ying answered honestly.
"Yes, hundreds of thousands. But how many people in Daqin are there? There are 100 million people. Chu Ying, think about it. Is it better for hundreds of thousands of people to treat you as an outsider or 100 million people to treat you as an outsider? "
Hearing Xiao Ruxun's words, Chu Ying felt that it was indeed the case. Getting the approval of 100 million people was obviously better than getting the approval of hundreds of thousands of people.
"But, Yifu, I'm not a Han after all."
Chu Ying was still a little worried. After all, he was the son of Nurhachi and the little prince of the tribe. He still had some common sense.
"Chu Ying, you must remember that to judge whether a person is a Han or not, it's not what others say, but what you think. Your comrades around you are all Han, but what's the difference between you and them?
You wear the Daqin battle robe, eat the rice grown here, speak the Han language, and have Han hair. There's no difference in our appearance, and you're my adopted son. Who wouldn't treat you as a Han? "
Xiao Ruxun patted Chu Ying on the shoulder. "The Han people aren't so particular. As long as you join them, live the same life as the Han people and speak the same language, it won't be long before you realize that everyone will treat you as a Han. No one will mention your past anymore, so you don't have to worry at all."
"Is that so …"
Chu Ying lowered his head and looked at the hairpin in his hand. He seemed to be moved.
This hairpin is quite beautiful.
Moreover, he had gradually gotten used to this kind of life, staying with a group of hearty men, living the life of the Han people, he felt that he had already gotten used to it.
In fact, it was even more comfortable and smooth than living in the tribe. The conditions in all aspects were also very good, not any worse than living in the tribe.
The way his comrades tied their hair also looked quite good. Moreover, everyone was like this, but he was the only one who was special. Wouldn't he look a little out of place?
More importantly, he felt that he was very lucky to have a adoptive father of the Central Empire's Emperor. This father's identity and status was much higher than his biological father's. That was the Great Emperor!
Following the Great Emperor's adoptive father as a Han person and living a life of honor, compared to following his biological father as a barbarian outside the Great Wall, living a life of climbing ice and lying in the snow, which was better?
The answer was without a doubt.
Xiao Ruxun pulled Chu Ying up and went to his study. He had an inner servant bring a set of clothes for Chu Ying.
"This was specially made for you by the palace servants. Put it on!"
Xiao Ruxun pointed at the set of clothes. Chu Ying seemed to feel a little flattered. Under the help of the inner servant, he changed into the set of clothes. Then, he looked at the glass mirror in the study and revealed a surprised expression.
"This is … me?"
Xiao Ruxun walked to Chu Ying's side and looked at Chu Ying in the mirror. He smiled and said, "There's still something not good about you. Come, sit down."
Xiao Ruxun pressed Chu Ying onto a chair, then personally tied up his hair, tying it into a small bun on top of his head. He then brought over a crown, tucked the bun into the crown, and inserted the hairpin into it. Following that, he ordered someone to bring the mirror to Chu Ying.
"This is called a crown. It is something bestowed by the elders of the family when a Han man reaches adulthood. Wearing a crown means that a man has reached adulthood and can get married, become an official, and start a family. Does it look good?"
Chu Ying's body trembled slightly as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was dressed in gorgeous clothes and had a crown on her head.
"This … is this really me?"
"Of course. Look, what a handsome young man, isn't it?"
Xiao Ruxun curled the corner of his mouth and looked at the excited Chu Ying in the mirror.
Chu Ying's lips moved slightly.
"Yes …"
He was very satisfied with his current appearance.
Xiao Ruxun nodded in satisfaction.
"You are already eighteen years old. As your adoptive father, I will personally perform the ceremony for you. Chu Ying, you are now an adult. You can get married, become an official, and start a family. You can live in this world as a real man and fulfill your duties. At the same time, you are no longer a foreigner. You are already a Han, Chu Ying."
"I … I am … a Han?"
"Yes, you are already a Han. You will be crowned as an adult. Oh, right, I will also give you a name. The Han people have their own names. An adult man must be given a name by his elders."
Xiao Ruxun smiled and said, "Guihan, you will use Guihan as your courtesy name. Everyone in the army will call you General Chu. Let's use Chu as your Han surname. From now on, you can walk the world in the name of Chu Guihan."
"Chu Guihan …"
Chu Ying looked at himself in the mirror. He only felt happiness in his heart. Other than that, he did not feel anything else.
Chu Ying was indeed very happy. When he returned to the Wild Lion Battalion, his comrades saw the luxurious clothes he was wearing and the crown on his head. When they learned that the Emperor of Daqin had personally crowned him and bestowed him a courtesy name, their eyes almost turned green with envy.
They did not have such treatment. Not to mention the Emperor personally crowning him and bestowing him a courtesy name, they could not even do the usual crowning ceremony. After all, the crowning ceremony and bestowing of courtesy names were a special treatment that only scholars could enjoy. Commoners did not even know how to read, so how could they talk about being crowned with courtesy names?
After the crowning ceremony and bestowing of courtesy names, Chu Ying was no longer the same as before. Now, he seemed more like a Han than everyone else.
Not to mention his comrades, even the generals with higher positions than him were envious of his luxurious clothing.
Jiang Yue and Xue Bolu were obviously more polite to him.
Feeling this transcendent atmosphere, Chu Ying felt as if he was floating in the clouds. It was extremely comfortable.
What could be happier than such a thing?
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