Unkoden Palace is located within the Kyoto Imperial Palace complex, situated on a small island in the center of a lake. It is a magnificent palace complex surrounded by water on all sides, and can only be accessed by boat.
The main hall was spacious and had no palace walls; instead, it was surrounded by reddish-brown wooden platforms forming railings. The doors on all four sides were open, allowing a clear view of the banquet inside. Behind the main hall, layers of bamboo groves encircled a side hall, which served as a place for people to change clothes and rest.
The Emperor sat in the very center, while the Crown Prince and his wife sat a head lower than him, yet were seated at the head of the table. As for Consort Fu, she was seated below with the other concubines, with the absent-minded Princess Chunhui sitting beside her.
Perhaps it was because it was the Crown Prince's first birthday banquet that the Emperor mercifully released Princess Chunhui. However, there were two maids following behind her, probably to prevent Princess Chunhui from causing trouble.
Today, the Rongguo Duke's Mansion has been arranged to be at the head of the officials, alongside the Prime Minister, who is the head of all officials. This is an extremely great honor.
Li Shiyue sat next to Madam Yang with Xu Lingzi. This was her first time attending such a grand and solemn banquet.
My gaze fell upon the hall, and the sounds of string and bamboo instruments were like heavenly music, gently touching my heart.
The songstress's graceful figure moved through the center, each hand holding a lotus cup. Her steps were light, and the silk shawl draped over her body swayed with her slender waist, making her look like a fairy from a storybook, accompanying the Queen Mother of the West.
The hall was resplendent in gold and green, and beneath the vermilion-lacquered, green-tiled eaves, a five-clawed golden dragon coiled around the massive limestone pillars outside. The clinking of glasses revealed joy, though much of it was in the form of flattery.
"Your Majesty, it's time for the baby's first birthday celebration." Eunuch Gao smiled sincerely as he bowed and stood beside the Emperor.
Seeing the emperor nod, Eunuch Gao waved his hand, and the dancers withdrew. Four strong eunuchs carried in a red lacquered wooden table and placed it in the center of the hall.
On the red lacquered wooden square table, there were all sorts of things, many of which were things I had never seen before.
The Emperor rose, and everyone else followed suit. He walked to the Crown Princess, took the Crown Prince in his arms, looked around, and then pulled off a blood-red jade pendant hanging from the waist of his dragon robe, placing it in the very center.
Gao Gonggong was surprised. This jade pendant had been inseparable from the Emperor for decades. The fact that it was still there today showed the importance of Chonghua Palace in the Emperor's heart.
The Crown Princess glanced at the Crown Prince, hesitated, and said, "Father, this is too precious."
Although she didn't know where the Emperor had obtained the jade pendant, she sensed from the expressions of Eunuch Gao and the Crown Prince that the jade pendant, just because it had been torn from the Emperor, was of great significance.
The Emperor showed no anger. Holding his grandson in his arms, he bounced him around and laughed heartily, "Even if the whole world were given to him, I would be willing. In the blink of an eye, I have become a grandfather. Crown Prince, when you become a father in the future, you will understand my good intentions."
"Then I pray that Your Majesty will live a long and healthy life, and impart to me the ways of raising children. I'm afraid this boy is quite resilient." The Crown Prince chuckled, his gaze falling on the eldest son in the Emperor's arms, though his eyes had long since followed the small wooden sword on the table.
The Emperor, with satisfaction in his eyes, placed the Crown Prince in the middle of the table and let him climb on his own. As expected, the Crown Prince not only grabbed the small wooden sword he desired, but also gripped the jade pendant tightly in his other hand, and pounced into the Crown Prince's arms.
After the baby's first birthday celebration, people will naturally offer flattering words to the child.
Xu Lingzi's face lit up with joy as she grabbed Li Shiyue's hand: "I knew it! How could the child of my elder sister and His Highness be so quiet? I even picked out that little wooden sword myself, but my elder sister still didn't believe me."
It's perfectly normal for a young man to like a wooden sword. Even she, according to her mother, grabbed a wooden sword when she turned one.
What do you call this? A nephew resembling his aunt.
Li Shiyue watched as the Crown Princess was protected by the Crown Prince at the head of the table, both of them smiling. She felt happy too.
"I'm thinking of going for a walk later, do you want to come?"
Xu Lingzi nodded: "You go first, it'll be too conspicuous if we go together."
Li Shiyue did not refuse. She waited for the first birthday ceremony to end before quietly leaving the main hall.
The sounds of string and wind instruments gradually faded behind her until they were no longer clear. She stopped and sat on the gray bench in the pavilion.
She raised her hand to rest her forehead on her arm, tilting her head to feel the gentle breeze blowing across the lake. The cool breeze caressed her face, taking away some of the heat and making her feel much more awake.
My gaze fell upon the shore. Although it was a temporary palace, it was not as prosperous as the imperial city. Yet, the palaces and imperial carriages exuded royal majesty everywhere.
A row of willows lined the bank, tall but unable to obscure the towering palaces and pavilions behind them. The golden eaves of the buildings curved upwards at the four corners, merging into the azure sky.
Footsteps came from behind her. Thinking it was Xu Lingzi coming, she turned her head with a smile on her face, not even having time to wipe the smile off her face.
"The hall is bustling with activity. Why did the county princess come out on her own?" Qin Ying was wearing an indigo brocade robe with gold thread patterns today. Although his features were gentle, there was something about him that made one uncomfortable.
Li Shiyue suppressed her smile and watched Qin Ying approach. She stood up and took a few steps back.
With a distant expression, completely devoid of the captivating look from before, Qin Ying felt an emptiness in his heart, and a hint of displeasure unconsciously appeared on his face.
"The county princess is avoiding me."
Li Shiyue looked down at her feet and smiled slightly: "Your Highness is joking. I am, after all, an unmarried woman, and Your Highness is naturally an outsider to me. There is no one around. If someone sees us, wouldn't that ruin the reputation of Your Highness and me?"
"It's not about hiding, it's just normal etiquette."
She spoke casually, her face conveying complete aloofness and politeness. At that moment, she was as docile as a kitten, a far cry from the fierce and tenacious figure she displayed on the polo field.
It's like a fierce cat that has sheathed its sharp teeth and claws, hiding its edge, and is best suited to nestle in its owner's arms.
Today she wore an ivory-colored brocade robe with a light pattern of begonia flowers, paired with a silver-patterned ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with jade hairpins. Her slender waist was as soft as a willow branch on the riverbank, and she wore a white jade begonia-shaped headdress in her hair. The hair ornaments on both sides were not long, and did not even reach the length of her sideburns.
Noticing Qin Ying's gaze, Li Shiyue didn't want to stay any longer and was about to take her leave. But when she looked up, she saw Xu Lingzi, who had arrived late, and her eyes lit up – her savior had arrived.
As soon as Xu Lingzi left the main hall, she searched for Li Shiyue's figure. Upon seeing the Prince of Yan, she came here almost without thinking.
Although she could be playful at times, she was also able to distinguish between what was important and what was not. As she walked in, she discreetly shielded Li Shiyue behind her, as if Qin Ying had touched her precious treasure, her wariness practically written all over her face.
"May Your Highness be well."
"Sixth Miss Xu." Qin Ying clenched his fist and coughed twice.
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