By the time evening fell, Seventh Miss had finished dressing. Following Madam Xu’s guidance, she’d adorned herself festively yet not too grandly, fitting the scale of tonight’s banquet. Xu Fengjia was even more practiced, having dressed and groomed himself early.

The young couple went together to Leshan Residence to see the Grand Madam, then to Qingping Garden to show themselves to Madam Xu. Duke Pingguo happened to also be at Qingping Garden talking with Madam Xu, so they all departed together. Xu Fengjia rode horseback, Duke Pingguo took a palanquin, and Seventh Miss rode in a carriage. Upon arriving at the palace gates, they presented their name cards. Naturally, someone guided them to enter separately—men and women to their respective venues.

Seventh Miss’s previous palace visits had all been confined to the Eastern and Western Six Palaces. This time was quite different. The palace attendants led her all the way into the Western Garden. On Taiye Pool, she could faintly see several dragon boats slowly cruising. The water’s surface rippled with light, reflecting a brilliant full moon on the horizon. Countless colored lanterns lined the shores—for a moment, it truly felt like an immortal paradise.

Seventh Miss stood by the pool for a moment and happened to encounter Second Miss. The two smiled and nodded at each other before joining hands to board a small sampan that ferried them to the dragon boat. The Empress Dowager, Consort Xu, and others had already taken their seats in the cabin. After everyone exchanged greetings, Second Miss led Seventh Miss to sit at a secondary seat.

One after another, several more relatives of palace consorts entered. When no more titled ladies appeared, Seventh Miss looked carefully and saw a young titled lady beside the Empress Dowager—she knew this must be the young madam of the Niu family. Beside Noble Consort Niu sat a middle-aged titled lady with a rather haughty expression. Second Miss whispered an introduction: “This is Noble Consort Niu’s mother, the Empress Dowager’s sister-in-law.”

Before long, the Empress entered the dragon boat with Sixth Miss, followed by several Beauties and Jieyu. The titled ladies quickly rose to kowtow, then exchanged bows with the Jieyu and Beauties. According to rank, everyone either returned the courtesy or nodded. By the time everyone was seated according to precedence, lanterns had just been lit. The Empress Dowager, radiant with vigor, looked around at everyone and smiled. “This year we’re rarely so happy. The dynasty has several joyful events. The first is Empress Xiaoan receiving her rightful position. The second is the Imperial Eldest Son being established as Crown Prince. The third is Noble Consort Niu’s pregnancy. So although in past years we always let everyone celebrate Mid-Autumn at home, this year we’ve invited our close friends into the palace for a banquet. Consider it this old woman sacrificing face to beg your congratulations!”

She truly lived up to being a seasoned public figure. These words were both humorous and dignified, without a trace of imperial airs. Everyone covered their mouths laughing, all saying, “What words are these! With such joyful events, we’re the ones basking in the imperial family’s good fortune!”

Someone else laughed. “Who would have thought Noble Consort Niu would announce such happy news—wonderful, wonderful!”

Seventh Miss and Second Miss exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other’s eyes. Noble Consort Niu’s pregnancy had come without any warning. She must have been with child for only a few days—at least the two of them had heard nothing.

Seventh Miss glanced at Consort Xu and saw her completely composed, which puzzled her. Looking again at Sixth Miss, she saw Sixth Miss purse her lips in a smile, also unhurried and unruffled. Her heart settled somewhat before she smiled again, raising her cup to echo Madam Niu’s words. “Let us toast to congratulate Empress Xiaoan on receiving her rightful position!”

Having the Niu family congratulate Zhou Guiren on her elevation was indeed very appropriate. Seventh Miss couldn’t help feeling slightly regretful—had she known, she should have dragged the Grand Madam here to anchor the occasion, even by force. With her status, if she had taken the lead in proposing this toast, it would have been perfect.

Though Seventh Miss had attended palace banquets before, they were mostly during major festivals—standardized by the Ministry of Rites, distributed according to regulations, mere formalities. This was her first time participating in such a small banquet with a family gathering atmosphere. The mood wasn’t actually solemn at all. The inner titled ladies weren’t dressed too grandly either, joking freely with each other, very much like a grand family banquet. Only the outer titled ladies spoke with a bit more caution.

Starting with the Empress, everyone toasted the Empress Dowager and others in turn. Since Seventh Miss was the youngest person present, she was last to rise and offer wine. Just as she finished pouring for the Empress Dowager and before she could speak, ethereal singing suddenly drifted in from outside the window. Across the water, it sounded remote as celestial music. When everyone looked, they saw across the water surface a flower boat with numerous heavenly maidens dancing gracefully. Under the colored lanterns, they truly had an appearance of ascending to immortality.

Even the Empress Dowager was transfixed for a moment. Coming back to herself, she laughed and praised Sixth Miss. “Consort Ning is truly talented, arranging things so beautifully! Even an old stick like me was mesmerized.”

Though Seventh Miss knew full well the Empress Dowager was narrow-minded, looking only at her words and actions, one truly couldn’t discern this person’s real character at all. The depth of palace women’s scheming was evident.

Sixth Miss, however, remained her usual naive charm. “Consort Ning only witnessed such romance on Taihu Lake once when accompanying her parents on a tour while in Jiangnan. This shows that when the country is prosperous and people strong, even common folk’s enjoyment surpasses us palace dwellers!”

These words were clever, praising the prosperous era. Both the Empress Dowager and Consort Xu couldn’t help but be delighted, and even the Empress smiled with her eyes. “Consort Ning truly has a way with words!”

Seventh Miss thought of that year on Taihu Lake and her intense conflict with Xu Fengjia. For a moment, she felt a deep sense of time’s passage and zoned out. Seeing the Empress Dowager turn back toward her, she lowered her head to toast the old woman. The elderly lady’s thoughts were still on the flower boat outside, so she drank absentmindedly. Seventh Miss then moved before Consort Xu, respectfully offering wine. “Aunt, please drink this cup.”

Consort Xu smiled and taught a five or six-year-old boy beside her, “Come, call her cousin-in-law.”

Only then did Seventh Miss realize Consort Xu had actually brought Prince An along. She quickly untied the purse from her waist. “Meeting for the first time, cousin-in-law has nothing good to give you…”

The little boy blinked his large eyes, timidly glanced at Consort Xu, and seeing her smile and nod, accepted the purse and called out crisply, “Thank you, cousin-in-law.”

Seventh Miss also toasted the Empress, and when she reached Noble Consort Niu, Noble Consort Niu smiled. “When elders offer wine, one dares not refuse. Among peers, forgive me for asking a favor—I won’t drink tonight.” Seventh Miss also nodded with a smile and turned toward Sixth Miss.

With this direct look, Seventh Miss froze.

Sixth Miss had put effort into adorning herself today.

With her beauty, even without makeup she could stand proudly above everyone. Sixth Miss had thus never bothered with careful grooming. Though she loved jewelry and cosmetics, she rarely dressed in complete, coordinated sets. Even during the selection, she had only followed procedure—speaking of ornamentation alone, she hadn’t stood out.

Only tonight did Seventh Miss realize Sixth Miss actually possessed such depth—she could hide such peerless beauty deep within her chambers. Her brows enhanced with powder, her cheeks rouged with rose pigment—she was stunningly, breathtakingly beautiful.

With such features, adorned so carefully, only now did she truly deserve the words “toppling kingdoms and cities,” only now was she worthy of the flower ornament between her brows and gold hairpins in her hair. If she and Seventh Miss weren’t sisters, Seventh Miss would definitely have praised her appearance.

When their eyes met, the amazement in her gaze was unconcealed and fell fully into Sixth Miss’s eyes.

A flash of pride crossed Sixth Miss’s eyes. When she spoke, she was still her naive self. “Seventh Sister, what are you staring at? Come, we rarely gather in a year. Drink this cup to the bottom.”

Without waiting for Seventh Miss to respond, she tilted back her neck and cleanly drained the cup. On that flower-like delicate face, two patches of red immediately bloomed, making even Seventh Miss feel somewhat envious. Among all the beauties Seventh Miss had seen in her lifetime, only Feng Jin could rival Sixth Miss.

After the toasting finished, the Empress took the initiative to start drinking games. Everyone relaxed considerably, laughing and joking without restraint. Even Noble Consort Niu drank two extra cups. Watching this, Seventh Miss couldn’t help but frown secretly. As far as she knew, pregnant women should avoid alcohol. Why was Noble Consort Niu…

This time and place naturally wasn’t appropriate to voice this question. Seventh Miss reluctantly suppressed her doubts and smiled along with everyone’s games. Before long, someone called out loudly, “His Majesty pays respects and offers wine to the Empress Dowager and Consort Dowager.”

With this announcement, another dragon boat on the lake slowly approached. Palace attendants immediately surged forward, positioning prepared screens before the titled ladies’ seats to shield and separate them.

The Empress rose gracefully first, and all the titled ladies immediately stood up with a whoosh. Only the Empress Dowager and Consort Xu remained seated high at their places, calm and composed. Seventh Miss ventured a glance at the screen before their seats and felt somewhat disappointed—the thing was extremely solid with intricate patterns, completely blocking the view behind it. Hoping to glimpse the Emperor’s heavenly countenance was clearly too difficult.

After a while, light footsteps entered from outside the cabin, followed by a calm voice tinged with coolness.

“This son pays respects to Mother Empress and Mother Consort.”

The Empress Dowager smiled. “His Majesty has come—sit!”

Then the Empress’s voice: “This subject wife greets His Majesty.”

Though the titled ladies were behind screens, they still performed proper etiquette, calling out, “Subject wife so-and-so greets His Majesty. May His Majesty be well.”

The Emperor laughed lightly, saying quietly, “I am well. All rise. On such a rare beautiful occasion, no need for such formality.”

Just from hearing this voice, one could imagine his bearing and manner must be extraordinary. The voice contained faint dignity, but more of an indescribable worldly weariness. If she didn’t clearly know his formidability, Seventh Miss would never imagine the owner of this voice was that sovereign who, barely past his coming of age, had toyed with someone as clever as the Grand Master in the palm of his hand.

The Emperor toasted the Empress Dowager and Consort Xu, then toasted the Empress, saying, “Though the National Uncle’s wife isn’t here, sister-in-law is present, so I must offer a cup. Brother-in-law’s distant campaign is my doing that separates you husband and wife. This cup serves as my apology.”

Second Miss quickly bowed forward to accept the Emperor’s wine, protesting she dared not. “Liquan serving the country is his blessing…”

After such courtesies, the Emperor joined the gathering. He asked again, “Is Fengjia’s wife here tonight?”

His tone was relaxed and courteous. Compared to mentioning Sun Liquan, it carried a bit more warmth, showing his relationship with Xu Fengjia was indeed good. Consort Xu smiled. “She’s here. Having the young couples celebrate Mid-Autumn separately tonight—we’re rather at fault, speaking of it.”

The Emperor also laughed lightly. “Mm, quite right. I’ll toast Fengjia’s wife a cup too. Your husband opened up territories for Great Qin—a rare young hero. He and I have known each other since childhood, our bond extraordinary.” He paused, then added, “I hear you’re very kind-hearted, most fond of helping the weak and pitying the poor. This is good. Come, I toast you!”

Seventh Miss knew full well the last sentence referred to the past between her and Feng Jin. She lowered her brows and eyes, emerged from behind the screen, dropped to both knees, drank the full cup, then humbly declined. “I dare not accept His Majesty’s praise…” Nothing but polite formulas—yet from start to finish, she only saw the Emperor’s boots.

After Seventh Miss returned behind the screen, the Emperor laughed. “Speaking of it, tonight I’ve toasted two families’ titled ladies. Though one surnamed Xu and one surnamed Sun, both are daughters of the Yang family. Master Yang is now drinking on the dragon boat, already thoroughly drunk. One family gazing at each other across Taiye Pool—quite an interesting scene.”

As he spoke, his voice moved away, finally lowering a bit—it seemed he didn’t plan to toast other families’ titled ladies.

Seventh Miss and Second Miss immediately became targets of attention. Both kept their eyes on their noses, noses on their hearts. They only heard Consort Xu laugh. “Your Majesty forgot—even you yourself have a Yang family daughter serving you. Tonight on Taiye Pool, there are four people from the Yang family!”

Usually it wasn’t noticeable, but with Consort Xu pointing it out, everyone felt the Yang family’s honor was truly astounding. Two mistresses of tremendously powerful ducal houses, one first-rank Grand Secretary, and one second-rank consort… Even the Niu and Sun families didn’t seem this illustrious.

The Emperor seemed to pause, then laughed. “Indeed! Speaking of it, tonight besides our imperial family, the Yang family has the most people on the lake. Come, Consort Ning, drink this cup fully to congratulate your Yang family—each member accomplished, tonight reunited within the Forbidden City!”

Immediately followed Sixth Miss’s innocent, carefree laughter. “Your Majesty’s praise—we can’t accept it! Father merely knows how to produce daughters. His only son is still studying hard at home, incomparable to Uncle Niu and Master Niu—tonight two couples on Taiye Pool, husbands and wives sharing one pool!”

The Niu family indeed had two generations of couples honored with palace attendance. Sixth Miss’s praise scratched the Empress Dowager’s itch perfectly. Her laughter reached behind the screen, still revealing her delight. “Consort Ning truly has a way with words. Come, I reward you with a cup.”

The Emperor also laughed. “Seeing Consort Ning’s rosy dimpled cheeks, I fear—”

His words suddenly stopped, as if only now truly seeing Sixth Miss’s beauty. After a long pause, he slowly continued, “—I fear she cannot hold her wine…”

For a moment, no one at the gathering spoke. After a while, the Empress laughed. “His Majesty stares at Consort Ning so intently! What, is tonight’s Consort Ning truly so beautiful?”

Everyone laughed. The Emperor also smiled despite himself. “I just feel that having drunk wine, Consort Ning’s eyes are very bright. Instead, she has an aura of inviolable dignity, very much like…”

His voice weakened again. Consort Xu’s voice came through. “Didn’t I say so? Year in and year out, one must also relax and unwind. Drinking a bit of wine while appreciating the Mid-Autumn moon is the best thing. Looking at Your Majesty’s manner, constantly worried about state affairs, you’ve probably never noticed that right beside you is such a beauty as Consort Ning!”

Seventh Miss’s heart immediately became crystal clear: For tonight’s banquet, Consort Xu had probably taken great pains and made arrangements long ago.

She savored again Sixth Miss’s intoxicated state and suddenly understood.

The Emperor truly had discerning eyes like torches. After careful adornment, Sixth Miss and the young Feng Jin did share something in common to a certain degree: both their beauties had reached a kind of dazzling extreme.

The Emperor toasted the Empress Dowager another cup and instructed the Empress a few things. “The night deepens and dew grows heavy. Empress, be careful to add clothing. On my behalf, toast Mother Empress and Mother Consort a few more cups.” Then he left the dragon boat. Everyone removed the screens and continued drinking and making merry. Around the third watch, they gradually went ashore and left the palace.

After the banquet dispersed, the consorts all boarded palanquins back to their residences. Only Sixth Miss, just off the boat, was intercepted by two teams of palace maids on the shore and escorted onto another small sampan. Instead of going ashore, she was ferried toward the lake’s center, boarding the great dragon boat anchored alone in the middle of the lake.

Seventh Miss and Second Miss walked together on the brightly lit stone path. All around, myriad sounds were still. Only a few autumn cicadas chirped forlornly in the treetops. She tightened her cloak and looked back at the pitch-black surface of Taiye Pool. Suddenly, she felt cold throughout her body, all her wine-induced warmth swept completely away.

She said softly, “Second Sister…”

The words barely left her mouth before Seventh Miss forgot what she meant to say next.

She shook her head and sighed lightly, caught up with Second Miss, and walked arm in arm with her, murmuring in low tones as they quickened their pace.