On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the capital was exceptionally lively. The streets and alleys were filled with smiling faces, and as the carriage passed by, the festive atmosphere was even more vibrant than usual, with the sounds of bustling life and fireworks in the air.
Tang Ning wore her hair styled in a dragon-whisker bun, replacing her usual twin-lotus wooden hairpin with a gilded, gem-encrusted crescent moon hairpin adorned with dangling pearls. A circle of jeweled flower ornaments adorned the base of her bun, with a few soft strands of hair falling gently across her forehead, accentuating her delicate, fair face.
Rong Yue was also dressed elegantly today, striking a balance between refinement and understated nobility. Her radiant face complemented a deep blue gown that was both luxurious and subtle, ensuring she wouldn’t outshine the noblewomen in the palace.
“There are so many people entering the palace today,” Rong Yue remarked, lifting the carriage curtain as she spoke.
There was only one road leading to the palace gates in the capital, and the number of carriages heading that way was countless.
Tang Ning was flipping through some items beside her and replied, “In previous years, the palace banquet had a fixed guest list, with only officials of the fourth rank and above allowed to bring their wives. This year, His Majesty wanted the banquet to be lively, saying it would bring some joy to the long-ailing Empress Dowager. So, Brother lowered the requirement a bit.”
The capital was never short of officials, and the fourth rank was a dividing line.
Setting the limit higher would exclude a large number of people, but this year, Xiao Yan, who was organizing the banquet, followed Emperor An’s request for a grand celebration and extended invitations to sixth-rank officials in the capital.
It was only a difference of two ranks, six tiers in total, but the number of people eligible to attend the palace banquet more than doubled.
No wonder it was so lively.
Rong Yue glanced at the increasingly crowded palace gates and the growing congestion of carriages, feeling a bit uneasy. Turning back, she saw Tang Ning packing items into two sachets.
“What are you doing?”
“Packing snacks.”
Tang Ning stuffed the last two fingertip-sized red bean cakes into a slightly oversized brocade sachet and handed one to Rong Yue.
“Palace banquets never have much edible food, and with so many people gathered, even picking up your chopsticks a couple of extra times draws attention. Uncle Gu, worried we’d go hungry, had someone prepare these snacks for us to bring into the palace.”
“These snacks are small, perfect for one bite, soft and crumb-free, and all in flavors we like. Aunt can carry them, and if we get hungry in the palace later, we can have a little something.”
Palace etiquette was strict, and attending a banquet didn’t mean you could eat right away. Often, guests had to wait outside for a long time.
Those who could enter the palace were high-ranking officials, noblewomen, and daughters of prominent families, all wary of embarrassing themselves in front of esteemed company. Making a fuss to “relieve themselves” would be a loss of face, so most people ate and drank sparingly before entering the palace, and during the banquet, they rarely touched their chopsticks, enduring until they could return home.
Knowing the palace event would be taxing, Gu Helian had thoughtfully prepared snacks for them to bring along, sparing them the discomfort of going hungry.
Rong Yue took the sachet and said, “He’s always fussing over these things.”
“It’s not fussing; Uncle is concerned for you,” Tang Ning replied, taking a small snack from her sachet and popping it into Rong Yue’s mouth. “Try it, Aunt. It’s delicious.”
The snack had a slight sweetness, not cloying at all, with a faint fruity fragrance. It was soft, easy to eat, and neither choked nor left the mouth dry.
A trace of a smile flashed in Rong Yue’s eyes as she tied the sachet to her waist. “Fine, he’s thoughtful.”
After crossing the Golden Water Bridge, the carriages gradually stopped in front of the palace gates, unable to proceed further. Everyone disembarked here and entered the palace on foot.
Tang Ning and Rong Yue weren’t particularly special and followed the crowd, getting off the carriage and entering the palace. Along the way, acquaintances greeted Rong Yue, and she nodded in response while quietly explaining their identities to Tang Ning. After walking through the long palace corridor for quite some time, they were led to Deyu Hall.
Suddenly, a palace attendant beside them lowered their voice and said, “Princess Xiangning, the Supervisor asked this servant to inform you that it’s chilly in autumn, and the Imperial Garden will be especially cold before and after the banquet. If you and Lady Rong wish to admire the moon, you can go to the nearby Luyun Terrace to avoid catching a chill in the Imperial Garden.”
Tang Ning paused, then nodded. “Understood.”
“Tang Ning?” Rong Yue asked quietly as the attendant left. “What’s wrong?”
Tang Ning lowered her voice. “Don’t go to the Imperial Garden tonight.”
Rong Yue’s expression shifted, and she was about to speak when a voice came from inside the hall.
“A-Yue.”
“Tang Ning!”
She swallowed her words and looked up to see Lady Wenxinhou, the Qian mother and daughter, and the smiling Old Lady Fu approaching.
Both Rong Yue and Tang Ning couldn’t help but smile upon seeing them.
After exchanging greetings, Qian Qiyue immediately sidled up to Tang Ning, linking arms with her. “Tang Ning, why did you and Aunt arrive so late? I thought you weren’t coming to the palace today.”
“What ‘Aunt’? No manners,” Lady Qian chided lightly, exasperated by her daughter. “Lady Rong, please don’t mind her. She’s always so outspoken.”
Rong Yue smiled and said, “She’s just being affectionate. Tang Ning and I don’t have many relatives, so gaining a niece is something to be happy about.”
“Exactly, Aunt dotes on me,” Qian Qiyue said, hugging Tang Ning’s arm and making a face at her mother.
Lady Qian exasperatedly tapped her head. “You’re just a cheeky monkey climbing the pole.”
Qian Qiyue let out an “ow” and whined, “Mother, that hurts!”
Everyone couldn’t help but laugh.
After a few more words, many in the hall noticed Rong Yue and came to greet her. Lady Wenxinhou and the others joined Rong Yue in conversing with them, while Qian Qiyue pulled Tang Ning and a young Fu girl aside.
“This is Fu Jinrou, a younger sister from the Fu family in Lingnan. Jinrou, this is Tang Ning.”
It was Tang Ning’s first time meeting a Fu family girl, though she had heard of her from Qian Qiyue before.
Fu Laiqing’s elder sister had long since married, and his second sister, born of a concubine, was also wed. The Fu household still had one unmarried girl, the daughter of Fu Laiqing’s second granduncle from Lingnan.
She was of marriageable age but had faced some difficulties with betrothals in Lingnan, so she was sent to the capital to stay with the Fu family temporarily, hoping Old Lady Fu could help arrange a suitable match in the capital.
Fu Jinrou lived up to her name, with delicate features and a gentle, soft-spoken manner. “Jinrou pays respects to the Princess.”
Tang Ning smiled. “No need for formalities. Please, rise.”
After standing, Fu Jinrou said softly, “I’ve heard my cousin speak of the Princess many times, always full of praise. Even my grandaunt and the others hold you in high esteem. Meeting you today, the Princess indeed has an extraordinary presence. No wonder you founded Rongsheng Academy.”
Tang Ning’s smile faltered slightly. “Miss Fu flatters me.”
Fu Jinrou continued, “I haven’t been in the capital long, but Sister Qian and Sister Zhou have often taken me around. On the day the academy opened, I had planned to attend, but unfortunately, I fell ill and missed the grand unveiling of the Wende Stele.”
“Sister Qian said the academy’s library is remarkable. If there’s a chance, might I have the honor of visiting it?”
Her eyes were full of longing, tinged with a hint of bashfulness.
Seeing Fu Jinrou’s shy expression and her affectionate mention of Qian Qiyue and Zhou Yuchang, Tang Ning gave a faint smile.
“If you wish to visit, just inform the academy, and have Young Master Fu take you. The books can’t be copied or borrowed, but as long as you don’t disturb the teaching, it’s fine.”
Fu Jinrou’s face lit up. “Wonderful! I’ll discuss it with my cousin when I return.”
Fu Jinrou was about Tang Ning’s age, and when genuinely happy, her eyes curved with an irrepressible smile.
Old Lady Fu, spotting someone, called out to Fu Jinrou, who quickly excused herself and hurried over.
Qian Qiyue waved a hand. “Tang Ning, what are you looking at?”
Tang Ning withdrew her gaze from Fu Jinrou. “Nothing.”
When Fu Jinrou mentioned Fu Laiqing praising her endlessly, something felt off, but it seemed like a casual remark. Perhaps she was overthinking it.==================
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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