The group walked to the banquet hall.

Many people had already arrived, standing in groups of three to five, chatting.

“Chu’er, I heard that at today’s palace banquet, the Emperor will bestow a marriage upon Prince Pingxi,” Du Ling said in a low voice. “Didn’t they say before that Princess Guli had chosen Prince Pingxi? But later I heard someone say that Princess Guli actually likes Prince Gongxi. Prince Gongxi committed an offense and is under house arrest, so he probably doesn’t have the fortune to receive the princess.”

Many people in the banquet hall were discussing this matter.

After all, Prince Pingxi’s marriage was no longer any secret.

“That previous Miss Tan wasn’t liked by the Young Lord of Pingxi, so she couldn’t marry into the prince’s manor.”

“Later, that Miss Fang even hanged herself for Prince Pingxi. Supposedly the Young Lord didn’t like her either, so Prince Pingxi declined that marriage proposal.”

“Prince Pingxi’s beloved still has the most ability—not only did she capture Prince Pingxi’s heart, she also made the two children unable to forget her. What a pity that she somehow died.”

“Some say Prince Gongxi caused the death of Prince Pingxi’s beloved, which is why he was punished with house arrest. Shh, I only heard this as hearsay—I don’t know if it’s true or false.”

“…”

Amid the various discussions, members of the imperial family arrived one after another.

Yun Chu immediately spotted the two children walking with Consort Yin. The two little ones sat down following Consort Yin.

Beside Consort Yin was also her eldest daughter, Princess Qinghua.

Princess Qinghua’s consort was the second son of the Governor of Pingliang Prefecture. They normally lived in Pingliang Prefecture and only returned to the capital once at year’s end.

She sat beside Consort Yin and said: “Mother Consort, Father Emperor is being far too frivolous, actually placing the choice of Prince Pingxi’s consort in the hands of two children.”

“You don’t understand,” Consort Yin said. “If it weren’t for the two children insisting on having a mother, Yi’er wouldn’t have nodded and agreed to take a wife at all.”

“Wasn’t it said that Yi’er would marry Princess Guli?” Princess Qinghua said. “I think that marriage alliance would be excellent.”

Mentioning this matter made Consort Yin angry: “It’s all because of that second brother Chu Mo. He had to stick his nose in. Princess Guli would rather become Chu Mo’s concubine than marry into Prince Pingxi’s manor. He deserves to be under house arrest.”

Princess Qinghua pulled Chu Hongyu over and instructed him in a low voice: “Yu’er, you’ve always been clever. You should know that people of status in the capital all sit in the front rows. When your Imperial Grandfather has you present the jade pendant later, just choose one from among those noble ladies in the front rows. Remember that, will you?”

Chu Hongyu grimaced: “Then how about I give the jade pendant to you, Auntie, and you can give it to those noble ladies yourself?”

“You child, now you’re even talking back…” Princess Qinghua pulled at the corners of her mouth. “Auntie is doing this for your own good. If your Father Prince marries a noble lady, your and Changsheng’s status can be elevated a bit. You’re really so inconsiderate. You should learn more from Shen’er.”

Shen’er was Princess Qinghua’s son, about six or seven years old, sitting there looking like a little adult.

Chu Hongyu pouted.

Since childhood, every New Year’s Eve, Auntie would compare him with Cousin Shen, always saying he was inconsiderate, saying he wasn’t as good as his cousin.

Seeing him sitting there with an unhappy expression, Princess Qinghua couldn’t help but continue: “Mother Consort, this is what children without a mother’s discipline are like—their etiquette and upbringing are somewhat lacking…”

“Yu’er is being lively—how is that so serious as to lack upbringing?” Consort Yin interrupted her with dissatisfaction, pulling Yu’er into her arms. “However, your auntie is right. Later, you should choose one from among the noble ladies in the front row to be your mother…”

Chu Hongyu didn’t want to hear any of this. He jumped down from Consort Yin’s embrace: “I’m going to play.”

As he left, he frantically made eye signals at Yun Chu.

Yun Chu felt somewhat troubled.

At such a critical moment, it truly wasn’t appropriate to have much contact with this little fellow.

But she worried that if she didn’t follow, this little one would probably come find her on his own initiative.

Fortunately, her position was at the very bottom, and no one noticed her movements. She quietly rose and followed the little fellow to a secluded spot.

“Mother, you must remember to receive my jade pendant later,” Chu Hongyu said, blinking his large eyes. “No matter what others say, Mother cannot retreat. Remember that, okay?”

Yun Chu stroked his head and said gently: “Yu’er, you must remember—Mother will work very, very hard to walk toward you and Changsheng. Our family will be together openly and honorably.”

The little fellow smiled, his lips curving upward.

At that moment, Yun Chu suddenly heard voices from within the flower bushes.

She patted the little one’s bottom: “Quickly return to the banquet.”

She looked toward the direction of the voices and saw the Crown Prince’s concubine, Fang Xinyan, dressed in jewels and treasures.

Before Fang Xinyan, standing a head shorter than her, was the former Prince Zhuang sitting on a large rock—Chu Rui.

“You person, why must you haunt me like a ghost!” Fang Xinyan was somewhat exasperated. “I’m already the Crown Prince’s concubine now. Why do you still pester me?”

Chu Rui’s pale face was full of bewilderment: “When have I ever pestered you?”

“Then why would you appear here?” Fang Xinyan said angrily. “This path is the only route from the Eastern Palace to the banquet hall. You’re waiting here—isn’t it just to entangle yourself with me?”

Back then, after her marriage arrangement with Prince Pingxi fell through, her father said the Empress Dowager had asked the Emperor to bestow a marriage between her and Prince Zhuang.

She would have been crazy to marry a sickly invalid, so she could only agree to become the Crown Prince’s concubine.

She was already a person of the Eastern Palace, yet Prince Zhuang—no, he was no longer a prince now—this man still haunted her like a ghost.

“If you continue to pester me, I’ll report this to Her Majesty the Empress!” Fang Xinyan said, then swept her sleeves and left.

The young eunuch standing beside Chu Rui stamped his foot: “Your Highness, why didn’t you just tell Concubine Fang that you were merely resting here? How could that be considered pestering her? How can she make such baseless accusations…”

Chu Rui opened his mouth to speak, but a breath of cold air entered his body, causing him to cough violently.

The young eunuch quickly helped him up: “Your Highness, please hold on a bit longer. We’ll reach the banquet hall very soon.”

Chu Rui stood up with support and, raising his eyes, caught sight of a glimpse of skirts in the distance. Just from that silhouette, he recognized her—it was Yun Chu.

He quickly took two steps and called out: “Miss Yun.”

Yun Chu had only turned to leave after seeing Fang Xinyan depart. In the palace, she didn’t wish to invite trouble.

But having been called out to, she couldn’t very well ignore it. She could only turn back: “Your Highness.”

“Does Miss Yun think I’m very much a failure?” Chu Rui slowly approached Yun Chu. “Any random woman can humiliate and mock me like this. Living is truly meaningless.”

The scene of him cutting his wrists in Jinying Hall flashed through Yun Chu’s mind.

She paused before speaking: “There are still many worthwhile things in this world. Your Highness must have eyes skilled at discovering beauty.”

Chu Rui smiled bitterly: “In the entire capital, there isn’t even one woman willing to marry me. I’m destined to remain alone, walking toward death in solitude. Am I not pitiful?”

Yun Chu shook her head: “Perhaps the fated connection hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Then what of Miss Yun’s fated connection?” Chu Rui asked slowly. “After Miss Yun’s divorce, have you thought about remarrying?”

Yun Chu felt this question was rather abrupt.

She avoided answering: “The New Year’s Eve banquet is about to begin. We should go.”