The Mid-Autumn banquet was split between the front and rear halls. The Emperor and the princes hosted the officials in the front hall, while the Empress and the consorts entertained the noblewomen in the rear hall.
Unlike the birthday banquet, this event had a different setup.
The Empress cast a glance at Li Peilan, who immediately stood up and smiled, “Aunt, we younger ones are idle here. Why not let us stroll in the garden?” Then she turned to Bai Shixi. “Second Miss Bai, don’t you agree?”
Bai Shixi rose and responded with a smile, “This subject leaves all decisions to Her Majesty.”
Li Peilan’s smile froze for a moment before disappearing entirely. “Second Miss Bai is too cautious. Her Majesty always dotes on her juniors and would certainly agree.”
The Empress, feigning helplessness, said to Ning Qin Wangfei with a smile, “These mischievous youngsters can’t sit still for a moment. In my view, since there’s still some time before the banquet, let them go out and play.”
Ning Qin Wangfei affectionately agreed, “You’re right, Your Majesty. This one here is already restless.”
The Empress laughed at Xiao Yan. “I’ve always liked the lively Muhua County Princess. How could we keep her restrained? Off you go.”
With the Empress’s permission, Li Peilan promptly led everyone to express their thanks and leave. Mingxi followed the crowd at a measured pace, neither fast nor slow, as they exited.
Bai Shixi exchanged a glance with Mingxi as they turned a corner, quickly looking away without revealing any emotion.
Duan Mingxi lifted her skirts and stepped out of the hall, where Yao Yunyi and Chu Qingying came over to walk beside her.
“I wonder what Li Peilan is plotting this time. Whatever it is, let’s just ignore her,” Chu Qingying said to Mingxi.
Before Mingxi could respond, Yao Yunyi added, “Let’s see what happens first. There are only so many tricks she can pull at a banquet.”
Mingxi looked at the two of them and said, “If you refuse Li Peilan outright, you risk offending both the Cao family and the Empress. Aren’t you worried?”
“If we were afraid of everything, life would’ve become unbearable long ago,” Yao Yunyi scoffed.
Li Peilan might have the Empress’s backing, but did she not have Consort Xian, this aunt?
Although the Empress ruled the Six Palaces, the four consorts had not spent all these years in the palace in vain.
Chu Qingying, however, lacked Yao Yunyi’s confidence. She only had an elder sister who was Yu Wangfei and no aunt among the four consorts.
Yao Yunyi’s certainty indicated that the Consort Xian had already expressed her stance, so there was nothing to fear.
When they arrived at the imperial garden, they saw that the eunuchs had already set up tables and chairs, with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones placed on them.
Neither Liu Yunhua nor Xiao Yan was anywhere to be seen, leaving their whereabouts unknown. At this moment, Xu Nanxi spotted Mingxi in the crowd and quickly approached her.
There was a hint of displeasure in her expression as she whispered, “This is probably directed at you.”
Everyone knew that Mingxi had grown up in a merchant’s household, so her skills in the four arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting were likely inferior to those of the capital’s noblewomen. Li Peilan clearly had no good intentions.
Mingxi thought it was a petty trick but remained calm as she replied, “It’s no big deal.”
Sure enough, on the other side, Li Peilan was already loudly proposing a competition among the young ladies, earning cheers from those who aligned themselves with the Empress and Duke Cao’s household.
Li Peilan, dressed in an eye-catching red gown, exuded confidence and charm. She peered through the crowd at Mingxi and her companions, asking, “Do any of you have objections?”
Just as Chu Qingying was about to respond, Mingxi lightly tugged at her sleeve and said loudly, “Since it’s a competition, it’s only fair that everyone gets to decide the rules. Once Miss Li has made her proposal, shouldn’t it be someone else’s turn to set the next rule?”
Li Peilan was momentarily stunned, not expecting Mingxi to counter in this manner. She quickly retorted, “Mingxi, are you afraid and looking for an excuse?”
Her words drew laughter from the onlookers.
Xu Nanxi’s face darkened instantly. She rebuked, “Li Peilan, first you suggest a competition, and now you’re the one making excuses. Do you think the palace belongs to your family, where only your rules apply? That’s outrageous.”
“Indeed, it’s too overbearing. Or could it be that Miss Li is the one afraid?” Yao Yunyi chimed in with a smirk.
Li Peilan’s expression darkened as she glanced at Zhang Yaojun and Bai Shixi for support.
Zhang Yaojun smiled faintly but refrained from stepping forward.
After the previous debacle with the assassination at Longhu, Consort Gui had already suffered a silent defeat at the hands of the Empress. This time, she wouldn’t lend a hand to Li Peilan.
Bai Shixi, however, was in a different position as the future Crown Princess. Catching Li Peilan’s gaze, she hesitated momentarily before speaking, “Mingxi’s suggestion isn’t entirely unreasonable. Peilan, there’s no need to worry.”
Li Peilan: …
It wasn’t that she disliked Bai Shixi, but they truly lacked chemistry. In moments like this, how could she undermine her?
Her agreement only made it seem as though Li Peilan was afraid of Mingxi.
At this moment, He Wanyi stepped forward and said mockingly, “Since Miss Mingxi grew up in a merchant family, it’s only natural that she’s unversed in the four arts. Perhaps all she knows is handling an abacus for bookkeeping.”
Duan Mingxi glanced at He Wanyi, her tone steady. “In that case, Xingan Marquis must have excellent manners and education. I wonder which shameless individual targeted someone else’s shizi presumptive position.”
Everyone: …
She really dared to say it!
The succession dispute at Xingan Marquis estate had caused no small amount of turmoil after the shizi presumptive of the Jingyuan Marquisate was confirmed. For a time, arguments had erupted within the Marquis household.
Now, Mingxi had thrown a direct jab, and He Wanyi’s expression turned sour.
“What nonsense are you spouting?” He Wanyi snapped with a sharp glare.
“How is it nonsense?” Chu Qingying sneered. “Your family’s behavior shows true cowardice—doing things in secret yet lacking the courage to face the truth.”
Wang Daiying, sensing that the situation was escalating, quickly stepped forward and grabbed Chu Qingying’s hand. “Qingying, stop it.”
Chu Qingying turned to her cousin and replied, “Cousin, I’m merely speaking the truth. It’s just that some people have guilty consciences and fear being exposed.”
Zhang Yaojun, seeing the situation spiraling out of control, realized that if it escalated further, no one would come out unscathed. She stepped forward with a smile and said, “Why don’t we let Miss Duan decide what she wants to compete in?”
Duan Mingxi glanced at Zhang Yaojun. Although they hadn’t interacted much previously, it was now evident where her loyalties lay.
Mingxi politely nodded to Zhang Yaojun and said, “Since you wish to compete with me, it should be from the skills I am proficient in. As Miss Li mentioned earlier, I grew up in a merchant household and am only skilled in riding, archery, and weaponry. Feel free to choose from these.”
Everyone fell silent.
None of the young ladies present had ever trained in such skills. Wasn’t this blatantly making things difficult for them?
On second thought, Duan Mingxi likely wasn’t well-versed in poetry or the arts either, making it equally unfair to challenge her in those areas.
Awkward silence filled the air as embarrassment spread across the crowd.
Mingxi ignored their discomfort and focused on Li Peilan. “What do you say, Miss Li? Do you dare compete with me?”
The situation had come full circle, placing Li Peilan in a difficult spot.
To refuse would mean admitting defeat.
To accept would guarantee a loss.
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