The Mid-Autumn Reunion Banquet was in the evening. The lunch banquet, traditionally hosted by the Empress, was different this year. The Empress had claimed illness and didn’t appear even for Mid-Autumn. The gates of Kunde Palace remained tightly shut.
So the lunch banquet was hosted by the four consorts. The Emperor didn’t show up either; he was in Chongzheng Hall, feasting with his ministers in celebration.
During the lunch banquet, Mingxi finally saw the famed Tan Jieyu. Her Father was a military general, but she herself was graceful and charming, her features delicate and alluring—especially her eyes, which sparkled as if they could speak.
Even in early pregnancy, her belly wasn’t showing at all, and her waist remained slender and elegant.
What surprised Mingxi was how well-behaved Tan Jieyu appeared in front of the four consorts—polite, proper, not overstepping in the slightest.
This didn’t match the rumors.
According to gossip, Tan Jieyu was anything but well-mannered. Even Consort Shu had said that she was skilled at playing both sides and being two-faced.
If Mingxi hadn’t trusted Consort Shu deeply, after seeing Tan Jieyu today she might’ve thought Consort Shu had been exaggerating.
Which made it all the more interesting.
In the hall, music and dancing filled the air. The dancers’ movements flowed gracefully, long sleeves fluttering like waves. The warm breeze made one feel intoxicated—not only did men enjoy the sight, even the women found it pleasing.
After lunch, everyone returned to their own palaces for a rest. Mingxi brought Kang Wangfei back to Consort Shu’s palace.
Kang Wangfei wanted to visit Qian Jieyu, but Consort Shu said, “There’s also Li Zhaoyi at Qian Jieyu’s place. Though the Empress is staying shut away, Li Zhaoyi is still safe and sound. I’ll have Qian Jieyu come here instead. You two can meet in the side hall—less chance of causing trouble. You’re pregnant, so you should be cautious.”
“Thank you for being so thoughtful, Your Highness,” Kang Wangfei said gratefully.
Consort Shu had someone go summon Qian Jieyu, then rose to rest in her inner chamber. She didn’t want to make Qian Jieyu uncomfortable by being present.
There was still the main event in the evening—the reunion banquet. Consort Shu was getting on in years and couldn’t quite keep up anymore.
Qian Jieyu arrived shortly after. Mingxi greeted her and then went to rest in the room Consort Shu had prepared for her.
Kang Wangfei took Qian Jieyu to the room next door. Once inside, Qian Jieyu looked her over, eyes red. “As long as you’re both doing well, don’t worry about me. How’s your appetite lately? Is the baby behaving? Not giving you too much trouble?”
Qian Jieyu asked a string of questions, which Kang Wangfei answered one by one with a smile. Then she said, “Wangye has been very worried about you. You must take care of yourself in the palace. Don’t worry about us—Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law are looking after us well outside.”
Hearing this, Qian Jieyu quickly nodded. “I’m useless—not only can I not help you, I always end up making you worry about me. Her Highness Consort Shu is generous and often sends people with gifts for me. Since the Crown Prince was deposed, Li Zhaoyi doesn’t dare to bully me so openly anymore. Life is much better than before.”
Kang Wangfei let out a cold snort. “If she still doesn’t know her place… in the future… there will be debts to settle.”
Having endured a lifetime in the palace, Qian Jieyu didn’t feel bitter. Holding the hand of Kang Wangfei, she said warmly, “You are a good child. Take care of your health and give birth safely—boy or girl, it doesn’t matter.”
“Wangye also said, whether it’s a boy or a girl, it’s still our child,” Kang Wangfei said gently.
Qian Jieyu was overjoyed. Her own son would soon become a Father. After half a lifetime of suffering in the palace, she finally felt it had all been worth it.
Seeing the fatigue on Kang Wangfei’s face, Qian Jieyu rose to her feet. “I should go now. You’re heavily pregnant and your due date is near—get some rest. There’s still the banquet tonight, so you’ll need the strength.”
Kang Wangfei didn’t insist otherwise—she truly was tired. She saw Qian Jieyu out, watching as she left in quick steps before returning to her room to rest.
Halfway through her nap, Mingxi suddenly felt someone beside her. She opened her eyes and was hit by a wave of alcohol fumes. “How much did you drink?”
Xiao Muchen rubbed his forehead. “It was strange today—people kept coming to toast me without pause.”
Mingxi quickly had someone bring the prepared sobering tea. Xiao Muchen drank it with a frown—the taste was indeed unpleasant.
After finishing a bowl, he felt significantly better after a while.
Mingxi dampened a cloth to wipe his face. Xiao Muchen took it and gave himself a rough wipe, then pulled Mingxi to lie down beside him. “Lie with me for a while.”
Mingxi leaned against him and whispered, “Alright.”
With his eyes closed, Xiao Muchen held Mingxi close. “Did the luncheon go smoothly?”
Mingxi casually told him a bit about the lunch banquet and also brought up the oddity regarding Tan Jieyu.
“Tan Yingtai gave up civil service for a military path. It’s not surprising his daughter doesn’t resemble a typical military officer’s daughter.”
Mingxi was slightly surprised. “He gave up civil for military and still rose to the position of governor-general? That’s no small feat.”
“Mm,” Xiao Muchen responded. “Lately, he’s been giving Fengcheng Marquis quite a bit of trouble. They’ve clashed repeatedly—several times even escalating to the imperial court. Memorials have been flying to the capital.”
Mingxi scoffed. “The Crown Prince has already been deposed. What is Tan Yingtai trying to achieve?”
“That’s what I don’t understand either. I suspected he had dealings with some Wangye, but investigations turned up nothing.”
“A governor-general is already a powerful regional official. His daughter is now pregnant and stands out in the harem. If he were smart, he’d keep a low profile. Yet he’s acting so aggressively—what is he aiming for?”
Mingxi couldn’t figure it out either. “Could it be he’s eyeing Donggang? Even if he dared, the Emperor would never allow it. Dongjiang is already under his control—he’ll never be allowed to interfere in Donggang.”
Balance has always been an emperor’s essential tool.
Mingxi couldn’t make sense of it. After a pause, she told Xiao Muchen what Yu Wangfei had said about Yu Wang’s recent odd behavior. She hesitated, “Do you think this might be related to him?”
A three-masted ship?
Xiao Muchen opened his eyes, falling into a thoughtful silence.
Mingxi didn’t disturb him. Nestled in his arms, she closed her eyes. The half-day in the palace had worn her out. Surrounded by his familiar scent, she hugged Xiao Muchen’s waist and drifted off to sleep.
Xiao Muchen came back to himself, looked down, and couldn’t help but smile. He closed his eyes for a nap as well.
The entire palace seemed to quiet down in that moment.
Kunde Palace.
The Empress knelt in the small Buddha hall, rapidly turning her prayer beads. Lu Momo was dead. Zhang Mingde was dead. Since the Crown Prince’s fall, she had only Yinshuang and Jinxi by her side.
Her son had been confined in Donghua Palace. Compared to the spacious Eastern Palace, Donghua was cramped and narrow. Having grown used to luxury, how could he bear such a place?
The prayer beads spun faster and faster. With a loud snap, the string broke and beads scattered across the floor.
The Empress suddenly stood up. A wave of dizziness struck—she steadied herself on the offering table.
“Yinshuang.”
“I’m here, Your Majesty. What are your orders?” Yinshuang lifted the curtain and entered quickly.
“Is everything ready?” The Empress stared ahead, her gaze blazing.
“Everything has been arranged as you instructed,” Yinshuang replied.
