The full moon shines over Penglai Palace

In mid-August, 64 palace lanterns in front of Penglai Palace lit up one after another, illuminating the white marble steps as if it were daytime.

Inside the hall, the candlelight flickered red, and the officials knelt in order on brocade cushions, with seasonal delicacies displayed on a sandalwood table in front of them.

The fine wine from the Western Regions rippled in the luminous cup, while the plump crabs delivered by fast horses from Jiangnan wafted their fragrance on the celadon plate.

Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi) and Empress Wu Zetian sat on the Nine-Dragon Imperial Throne, while Crown Prince Hong and his three younger brothers sat on the lower left, and on the lower right were high-ranking officials led by Di Renjie.

When the Imperial Kitchen presented the specially made seven-layer mooncake, the entire hall erupted in exclamations of amazement.

"This cake is called 'Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon'," Wu Zetian explained with a smile, "it symbolizes reunion and happiness."

Di Renjie raised his cup and rose: "Your Majesty, we respectfully wish you good health and the Empress good health. This year has been blessed with favorable weather and abundant harvests, truly a fortune for all people."

The officials responded in unison, and the hall was immediately filled with the clinking of cups.

Wu Zetian carefully picked out the crab meat and distributed it to the children.

Taiping sat on a specially made high chair, her little hand reaching out towards the sparkling luminous cup.

"I can't give you this." Li Zhi smiled and moved the wine glass away, handing his daughter a crispy crab claw.

The little princess was immediately attracted to the new toy and began to chew on it intently.

After several rounds of drinks, the music hall began playing the "Rainbow Feather Garment Dance".

Li Xian imitated the officials by raising his cup to toast each other, using honey water instead of wine, looking rather naive and adorable.

"Your Majesty, please look," Wu Meiniang said softly, "Di Renjie and Vice Minister Shangguan are discussing poetry."

Li Zhi followed his gaze and saw Di Renjie wielding his brush, Shangguan Wan'er offering her comments with a smile, and a number of civil officials gathered around.

On the military side, however, it was a different scene. Cheng Wuting and others were competing in archery, hitting the copper coins at the corner of the palace with every arrow.

As the moonlight deepened, Li Zhi ordered his men to bring out the Jiao Wei Qin (a type of zither).

As the last note of "The Song of Feathered Robes" faded away between the palace beams, he gently stroked the strings of his zither, and the melody of "Orchid in the Valley" began to play.

The sound of the zither flowed like water, over the golden palace and jade steps.

Xian dozed off, leaning against Wu Meiniang's lap, while Xian and Dan nestled together, listening intently. Taiping, unaware of what had happened, had fallen asleep in her mother's arms, her little hand still clutching her father's sash.

Prince Hong quietly stood beside his younger siblings, tucking the thin blanket that had slipped down for them.

As the music ended, the moonlight moved across the glazed tiles of the palace roof, bathing the throne in its gentle glow.

Li Zhi looked up at the scene in the hall: civil and military officials were chatting and laughing, children were sleeping soundly around their knees, and Wu Meiniang was wiping the drool from Taiping's lips.

"May the world be at peace, as it is tonight," he whispered.

Li Zhi sat in the main seat, watching as Crown Prince Hongzheng patiently taught his second brother, Xian, to identify the mooncake fillings: "This one is jujube paste, this one is red bean paste..."

"I want to eat that golden one!" Xian pointed to the crab roe pastry.

"Let Father and Mother try it first." Hongwen gently pressed his younger brother's hand and respectfully presented the first plate of pastries to his parents.

Li Zhi pulled Princess Taiping onto his lap, picked up a crab roe pastry, and teased her, "Taiping, would you like to try some?"

The little princess opened her big, dark eyes, leaned closer to sniff, and suddenly sneezed, making everyone laugh.

"It seems we in Taiping cannot appreciate such delicacies." Wu Meiniang took a cup of warm goat's milk and carefully fed it to her daughter.

When the banquet was in full swing, Li Zhi ordered someone to bring out the Jiao Wei Qin (a type of zither).

With slender fingers gently caressing the strings, the melody of "Youlan" flows out like water.

Crown Prince Hong sat quietly to the side listening. Xian had somehow leaned against Wu Meiniang's lap, and Xian and Dan had also stopped playing and sat side by side.

As the melodious music played, Taiping gradually fell asleep in her mother's arms, her little hand still unconsciously clutching her father's sash.

When Li Zhi finished playing the song, he looked up and saw this heartwarming scene, a gentle smile appearing in his eyes.

"I remember the Mid-Autumn Festival when Hong'er was three years old," he said softly, "it was also in this Penglai Palace that he insisted on being held by me before he would admire the moon."

Crown Prince Hong blushed slightly: "I was ignorant back then..."

"Children's attachment to their parents is natural." Wu Meiniang pulled Taiping closer to her, then turned to Li Xian with a smile, "If you're sleepy, come closer."

The little one immediately and happily squeezed next to his parents.

Xian rubbed his eyes groggily, muttering, "Mooncakes... Your Majesty hasn't had enough..."

The candlelight flickered, and the moon slanted westward. Li Zhi gazed upon his children gathered in the room and softly said, "I wish for many more years to come like this."

Wu Zetian nodded, her gaze sweeping over the children's peaceful sleeping faces, and finally she and Li Zhi exchanged a smile.

The palace lanterns cast the family's shadows onto the palace wall, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Wu Meiniang nodded, her gaze sweeping over Di Renjie and Shangguan Wan'er discussing the poem, then over Cheng Wuting's patience in instructing Xian'er on how to hold a bow, and finally she and Li Zhi exchanged a smile.

The palace lanterns cast the shadows of the family onto the dragon pillar, where they blended with the shadows of the officials to create a peaceful scene.

As the banquet drew to a close, the eunuchs served specially made "auspicious cakes".

Wu Zetian personally poured sobering tea for each minister, and Crown Prince Hong, along with his brothers, respectfully saw off the officials.

As the last minister disappeared outside the palace gates, the morning light had already quietly painted the eastern sky white.