Huaiyao arrived, and soon after, Huairou, dressed in a light pink flowing palace dress, walked over gracefully.
Beside Huairou stood Jiang Chengyan, dressed in a pine-green brocade robe.
The siblings are quite different; one is gentle and charming, while the other is serious and unsmiling.
Seeing that there were several people present, Huairou smiled gently and asked, "Why don't you go in?"
Xie Zhi said, "It's still early before the banquet. Going in would just be boring."
"Exactly!" Huaiyao stroked the whip wrapped around her wrist. "At every banquet, there are always some people who keep asking all sorts of questions. It's so annoying!"
Jiang Chengyan snorted lightly: "If you had just restrained yourself a little, no one would have bothered to arrest you."
Upon hearing this, Huaiyao's eyes widened: "Jiang Chengyan, what did you say?"
"I said..."
Huairou quickly called out, "Chengyan!"
These two siblings always seem to bicker, no matter where they go.
Huairou said softly, "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, and the Northern Di royal family is also present, so it can be considered a state banquet."
As princes and princesses of the Great Qi Dynasty, how could they allow themselves to become a laughingstock at this time?
Jiang Chengyan frowned: "I'll go in first."
After he finished speaking, he nodded to Xie Zhi and Lin Xuan.
As Jiang Chengyan approached Yuan Yao, he asked, "Shall I take you inside to find the Ninth Prince?"
Yuan Yao shook her head and said with a sweet smile, "Thank you, Second Prince, but my father has something to do tonight, so I won't disturb him."
"Um."
Jiang Chengyan nodded and stepped into the Imperial Garden.
The little eunuch behind him followed at a distance.
The Imperial Garden was brightly lit, as bright as day.
After standing outside the garden for a moment, Huairou took Yuan Yao's hand and said, "Yao'er, let's go in."
"Let's go!" Yuan Yao obediently let Huai Rou lead her.
At the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, men's and women's seats are still separated.
Through the screen displaying mountains and water, Yuan Yao glanced curiously toward the men's section.
There were already quite a few people at the banquet.
Although there were no songs or dances, many people were chatting and laughing, making it quite lively.
As Huairou led Yuan Yao along, she said, "These days, Mother Empress has been busy with the Empress Dowager's funeral arrangements and preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. She's exhausted."
Fortunately, the Imperial Concubine helped with the arrangements.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao smiled and said, "When Sister Huairou grows up a bit more, she can help Her Majesty the Empress."
“That makes sense!” Huairou smiled gently.
However, it will be several more years before I grow up.
When she grows a little older, she'll have to leave the palace again...
Thinking of this, Huairou couldn't help but feel melancholy.
Huairou said softly, "I wonder how many more Mid-Autumn Festivals like this we'll have."
"Sister Huairou." Yuan Yao raised her little head.
"Hmm?" Huairou lowered her head.
Yuan Yao's clear, bright eyes, with their distinct black and white features, said, "From now on, we will always spend Mid-Autumn Festival together."
"As long as the Emperor is alive and my father is alive, we can always celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival together!"
If the Great Qi is stable, they can be at peace.
Huairou paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "We will always be alright."
"Um!"
Yuan Yao turned her head.
Behind them, in the brightly lit area, Xie Zhilin and Xuan walked side by side.
Huaiyao walked beside him, occasionally making a sarcastic remark, but then laughing and cursing...
Before parting, Xie Zhi strode forward and said, "Xiao Yao'er, I'll come find you to see the lantern festival later, wait for me!"
“Okay,” Yuan Yao replied with a smile.
Xie Zhi called Lin Xuan, and the two left.
Huaiyao stepped forward and reached out her hand to Yuanyao.
Yuan Yao: "?"
Huaiyao said irritably, "You walk so slowly, I'll hold your hand."
But isn't she being led by Huairou?
Forget it!
Whatever Your Highness says goes!
Who told Her Highness to be so arrogant?
Yuan Yao stretched out her chubby little hand and placed it in Huai Yao's palm.
Huairou laughed indulgently.
The two sisters, each holding one of Yuan Yao's hands, stepped into the women's section.
Before the Empress and Consort Lin arrived, the concubines, ladies, and young ladies present all rose to pay their respects.
The three seats were next to each other.
As soon as I sat down, many scrutinizing gazes fell upon me.
Yuan Yao sat obediently, her face expressionless.
She turned her head and glanced at Huaiyao.
Huaiyao stood tall and proud, took the whip and held it in his palm, brandishing the handle, his face practically screaming arrogance.
When the ladies tried to speak, they were all intimidated by Huaiyao's expression.
No one dared to mention the matter of the Marquis of Changdu's residence or Consort Zhao's affairs.
Soon, a shrill voice rang out from the banquet hall: "The Emperor has arrived! The Empress has arrived! Consort Lin has arrived!"
Yuan Yao straightened her skirt, stood up, and followed suit in bowing.
Soon, the Empress entered with her entourage.
Yuan Yao looked up and saw a little girl in a red dress and skirt, with braids all over her body, dark skin with a rosy tinge, and exceptionally deep and bright eyes following beside the Empress.
After everyone bowed, the Empress said "No need for formalities" and then slowly introduced, "This lady beside me is Princess Acha of the Northern Di."
Before the ladies and young ladies could even offer their greetings, Princess Acha spoke up in a clear and cheerful voice: "This is my first time visiting the Great Qi. I would like to present a song and dance to everyone as a Mid-Autumn Festival gift!"
Her eyes and brows sparkled with vitality.
Applause broke out during the meal.
Yuan Yao looked at Acha curiously and clapped along with him.
"snort!"
Beside him, Huaiyao let out a soft hum.
Yuan Yao, puzzled, turned her head to look at her through the lamplight.
Huaiyao happened to look over and glared at her.
Yuan Yao was puzzled.
Huaiyao leaned closer to her and asked with a cold snort, "Yuan Yao, I'm asking you, does Acha look better in a red dress, or does this princess look better in a red dress?"
Yuan Yao: "?"
She glanced at Princess Acha, then at Huaiyao.
Princess Acha has a round face and healthy-looking skin, not very fair, but with rosy cheeks.
Moreover, although Acha looks only slightly older than Huaiyao, her body has already begun to develop, and her curves are becoming more and more defined...
Wearing a red dress, she exudes a unique charm.
Yuan Yao was silent for a moment, then lied to herself and said, "Sister Huaiyao looks beautiful in a red dress..."
"Really?" Huaiyao frowned.
Fake.
It's all just to make you happy.
Yuan Yao pursed her lips and said in a childish voice, "Actually, I think my dad looks best in red!"
Huaiyao: "..."
Huaiyao was furious.
However, she scoffed, "You're smart enough! I, the princess, also think that no one in the world can wear red better than the Ninth Prince!"
Yuan Yao breathed a sigh of relief.
On the red carpet, Princess Acha had already taken a double-sided drum and posed for a photo.
As the drumbeats began, she tiptoed, tossing her red skirt and braids, and twirled around at an astonishing speed.
The enthusiastic spinning dance, accompanied by the rhythmic drumbeats, enlivened the atmosphere at the gathering.
One of the ladies couldn't help but cheer, "Great!"
"The songs and dances of the Northern Barbarians are truly fascinating!"
"Yes, won't you get dizzy spinning around like that?"
"I've heard that the Northern Barbarians are all raised on meat and have great stamina..."
When the drumbeats stop, the dance steps cease.
Princess Acha lifted her skirt and bowed.
"Clap clap clap..."
During the meal, loud applause rang out once again.
The Empress smiled gently and said, "Princess Acha, you've had a long day. Please have a seat."
Acha ignored him and instead said in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, I heard back in the Northern Barbarians that the people of the Great Qi Kingdom are skilled in singing and dancing."
"Since it's part of the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, why not let Acha witness the dance skills of the Great Qi princess?"
After saying that, she raised her eyebrows and smiled, looking towards Yuan Yao.
Yuan Yao: "..."
Yuan Yao's heart skipped a beat.
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