This year’s New Year festival, the imperial city held a grand banquet.
On this day, the Emperor and Empress first led the court officials to the imperial temple to burn incense and offer sacrifices to Heaven, announcing the change of era. Then the court officials dispersed, and the imperial couple partook of the opening year vegetarian meal at the imperial temple before returning to the palace in the afternoon.
Afterwards, the court officials brought their families to the banquet to celebrate the New Year together.
The banquet was held at Qiongfang Garden beside the imperial garden. This was where the imperial city’s conservatories were located, with spacious pavilions and warm underfloor heating.
From afternoon onward, the families of court officials arrived one after another. This was also when everyone gathered most completely. Moreover, the border campaign had achieved great victory, the Xi Liang Prince had admitted guilt, ceded territory and fled far away, Prince Zhongshan and his son had been executed, and Da Xia, which had been in turmoil for several years, had finally stabilized.
The court had also stabilized. Deng Yi had been shot and killed by the Empress. Apart from those officials too deeply implicated with Deng Yi, the court’s conclusion was that others had been bewitched by Deng Yi or had failed to recognize him properly, and no further investigations would be conducted.
This allowed officials from top to bottom to breathe a complete sigh of relief.
Today’s grand banquet atmosphere was light and joyful. Officials gathered in twos and threes chatting and laughing. The ladies who arrived early even made arrangements to go to the imperial garden to admire the scenery.
As before, each banquet was also when Chu Zhao and Chu Tang could meet and talk.
The two sat by the window together, looking at the banquet roster.
“Without realizing it, everyone has gotten married,” Chu Zhao said, looking at the roster. Those who had once been young ladies, daughters of their families, had changed identities to become wives of other families.
“Not everyone can attend the banquet anymore either,” Chu Tang said. “Some married far away, some don’t have the qualifications.”
Not everyone could marry into families with qualifications to enter and exit imperial city banquets, and even if they married into such families, they didn’t necessarily have the qualifications to enter the palace with them—for instance, if they were younger sons’ wives of lower seniority.
Speaking of this, Chu Tang smiled again.
“However, some who originally had no qualifications have gained qualifications through their own merit.” She flipped through the roster. “Do you still remember Cong Ashan?”
Chu Zhao did remember: “That young lady who liked fishing, who competed in fishing with others at Chu Garden back then?”
Chu Tang nodded and pointed it out to her: “Last year she married into this family’s second branch as the wife of the youngest son. Her husband hasn’t entered office either, but this time when the family’s Grand Dowager attends the banquet, besides bringing two daughters-in-law, she’s also bringing this granddaughter-in-law.” She leaned in with a low laugh. “I heard from the maids that the two daughters-in-law are somewhat dissatisfied, but the Grand Dowager said she’s counting on this granddaughter-in-law to get a cup of wine from the Empress and gain some face for the family’s two sons before the Emperor. The Emperor will personally take charge of government in another two years. It concerns their prospects, so both daughters-in-law stopped objecting.”
Chu Zhao didn’t laugh at this, but laughed at Chu Tang: “Your maids certainly know everything.”
Chu Tang smiled with pressed lips: “As a maiden lady alone in the capital, I must make sure I’m well-informed.”
Besides watching over the household and guarding the compound, Little Rabbit and the others also trained Chu Tang’s maids and servants in how to gather information.
Having not been in the capital for over a year, news from the streets, markets, and inner chambers of aristocratic families were all regularly sent to Chu Zhao from Chu Tang’s side.
Chu Zhao looked at Chu Tang with a slight smile: “A’Tang, you’re not young anymore either. What about your marriage prospects?”
Chu Tang pretended to be shy, raising her sleeve to half-cover her face: “By parents’ command and matchmaker’s word—” She then lowered her sleeve, dropping the act, and said frankly, “Father and Mother have taken a liking to a student from the academy.”
A student from the academy. Chu Zhao thought of Chu Tang’s marriage in the previous life and couldn’t help asking: “What is his family background like?”
She couldn’t remember clearly which family Chu Tang had married into in the previous life, only knew it was a local wealthy family.
The wealthy family, greedy for power, had married the Empress’s sister, but ultimately couldn’t tolerate the Empress’s sister’s arrogance and domineering ways. The whole family tearfully submitted a memorial to the court requesting separation, making her lose face before Xiao Xun. The Chu clan’s reputation became even more disreputable—though of course, thinking about it now, this was probably also arranged by Xiao Xun.
“They’re a major local clan,” Chu Tang said. “However, with a large clan comes many people. This student is from a distant branch with thin connections within the clan.”
Thin connections? Chu Zhao smiled: “How could Uncle and Aunt approve of this? Our A’Tang is a County Princess.”
Chu Tang smiled: “I told Father and Mother that I’m now a County Princess. I don’t want to bow low and act small for others, nor do I want to be used as decoration. So they approved of this one.”
The family background was acceptable, and he wasn’t someone valued within the clan. If Chu Tang married over, her husband’s family’s status would be different. The husband would rely on his wife, and the wife would belong to this small family. Connections with the clan could be distant or close, controlled by her own hand. This way, Chu Tang would have transcendent status both inside and outside.
Chu Zhao sighed: “Parents selecting marriage prospects for their children always choose the best.”
She hadn’t expected Uncle and Aunt, who were so unreliable in their affairs, could select a suitable candidate.
Although she held the position of Empress with illustrious reputation, without parents, a corner of her heart was missing and difficult to fill completely. Chu Tang used to envy what others received, but now she knew that no one could have everything go as they wished. With gain comes loss; to taste sweetness, one must also taste bitterness.
“Family members all care about family members,” she said, looking at Chu Zhao and asking softly, “So, I also want to ask you—what do you think?”
Comforting her that she was her family. Chu Zhao smiled gently, looking at her: “A’Tang, it’s not what Father and Mother think, nor what I think. It’s what you think. You must remember—in forming a marriage alliance, the most important thing is that you like him.”
She patted Chu Tang’s hand gently.
She already had a different life. She hoped Chu Tang could have one too.
Like him… Chu Tang was silent for a moment, then smiled: “I know. I’ll set out for the academy tomorrow to spend the New Year with Father and Mother, and to see this person with my own eyes.”
Chu Zhao smiled: “I wish you fulfillment.”
Here, A’Le walked in: “Your Majesty, His Majesty’s side is ready.”
As before, at imperial palace banquets, the Emperor and Empress would appear together before everyone.
Chu Tang hurriedly rose to take her leave.
Chu Zhao instructed again: “When you go back, take more people. Pay attention to safety on the road. Display proper pomp and ceremony. We must be careful and cautious, but when people should know, we must let them know.”
Chu Tang smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, watching Chu Zhao rise to prepare to change into formal attire. She suddenly said: “A’Zhao, do you now have someone you like?”
Chu Zhao was slightly startled and looked toward Chu Tang.
But Chu Tang hurriedly turned and left, patting her chest somewhat fearfully. She had actually asked the Empress such a question—it was simply outrageous. How could she still truly wait for Chu Zhao to answer?
She didn’t know why she had asked this way, perhaps because of the genuine look in Chu Zhao’s eyes when she had just given her instructions. It warmed the heart but also felt somewhat sad.
Empress was the Emperor’s wife.
But for Chu Zhao, it was merely a position.
She certainly didn’t think Chu Zhao became the Emperor’s wife because of liking him.
So would Chu Zhao never have someone she liked for her entire life?
“What did Miss A’Tang say? Have what? Like?” A’Le asked in confusion. She hadn’t been serving close by and didn’t know what they had just discussed.
Chu Zhao smiled with pressed lips, her fingers lightly flicking the pendant hanging at her waist.
“Speaking of liking,” she said. “I also have that.”
……
……
As twilight fell, Qionghua Garden was brightly lit, like glazed crystal.
Everywhere were crowds of people chatting and laughing, with palace maids weaving through them serving fine wine and fruit drinks.
Liang Qiang stepped into the hall and felt his mother’s footsteps hesitate behind him.
“Mother?” He turned back and inquired in a low voice.
A trace of constrained smile flashed across Mother Liang’s face: “It’s nothing. It’s just been a long time since I’ve seen so many people.”
Actually, Mother had returned to the capital for over a year already, and the Liang clan nameplate had been re-hung outside the mansion gates. But after Deng Yi’s incident, the Liang clan’s already unstable foundation immediately wavered, and the Liang family almost never left their doors.
His return to the capital this time, because of his merit in the campaign against Xiao Xun, restored him to Roving General, allowing the Liang family to breathe a sigh of relief.
This time he had also received qualification to attend the banquet, and to be the same as others, proper and dignified, he had also brought female family members.
To truly gain a firm foothold, relying on him alone wasn’t enough. He needed to make the people in his family also become… useful.
Socializing with people, conversing with people, interacting with people—this was the role of female family members.
Mother had previously also been a young lady from a prominent family, the wife of the Liang clan’s second branch. She had attended palace banquets many times before, yet now she was somewhat constrained, showing how she had been worn down and marked by their previous life.
Perhaps he should give Mother time to adapt, but—there was no time.
“Don’t worry,” Liang Qiang reached out to support his mother, saying softly, “Our seats are in the back rows. We won’t be too noticed.”
Mother Liang nodded with a smile: “I know, A’Qiang, don’t worry.”
As the mother and son spoke, someone pushed through the middle, accompanied by a somewhat childish voice: “Elder Brother, this place is so beautiful.”
Liang Qiang looked down and saw his younger sister.
His sister’s eyes were full of amazement and delight. The child had no worries. Having arrived here, she was already dazzled, her whole heart wanting to rush inside.
She looked at the bejeweled women in the hall, her eyes sparkling. She was the same as them. She was also one of them.
Just then, melodious music rose, accompanied by the palace attendants’ loud announcement: “His Majesty and the Empress have arrived.”
The chatting and laughter in the hall immediately stopped. Everyone stood in place and bowed forward in respect.
“Welcome, Your Majesty and Empress—”
Liang Qiang and his mother also bowed with the crowd. Little Sister Liang couldn’t help but peek curiously through the gaps between adults toward the front. She saw a boy about her age wearing dragon robes, holding the hand of a phoenix-crowned young woman as they walked slowly forward.