NFBE Chapter 115 Mid-Autumn Festival
Chapter 115 Mid-Autumn Festival
"The fifth and seventh princes come to see you." Zhang Suian announced loudly outside Chengming Palace.
Qi Xiao had no time to wipe the sweat off his forehead, and had no time to ask for the "Nothing to Do" card, when the fifth prince and the seventh prince came to Chengming Palace together as if they had made an appointment, and they both glanced at Qi Xiao secretly at the same time.
"My sons and ministers see my father, long live my father."
"Well, let's get flat."
Qi Xiao stood up and bowed: "Fifth brother, Seventh brother."
"Ninth brother, you came really early." The fifth prince Qi Li smiled and glanced at the Taoist scriptures on Qi Xiao's desk, his eyes darkening.
"Alright, go pay your respects to the Queen Mother."
The Fifth and Seventh Princes had just arrived, but before they could exchange a single word, His Majesty had dismissed them. His Majesty had no intention of continuing the previous conversation with Qi Xiao, instead continuing to copy the Thousand Character Essay. Silence fell in Chengming Hall.
After leaving Chengming Palace, the fifth prince Qi Li glanced at the seventh prince Qi Ting and sighed softly.
"Fifth brother, do you have something to say?"
"Oh, not really."
The Seventh Prince rolled his eyes secretly, muttering to himself, "Clearly, he's just jealous of his father's favor towards the Ninth Prince." "Is copying sutras even something worth being jealous of?" But then he thought, Qi Xiao had only been back in Yuanjing for a month, and he was already being left alone in Chengming Palace. While copying sutras wasn't exactly a good thing, compared to them, who weren't even allowed to stay in Chengming Palace for long, the difference was obvious.
Seventh Prince Qi Ting silently shook his head. Based on the Fifth Prince's personality, he was sure to stir up trouble. The Ninth Prince had dodged the Moon Festival incident, but he might not be so lucky next time. Poor...
The fifth prince Qi Li also wanted to go to the Queen Mother's palace first, but he didn't want to go the same way as the seventh prince Qi Ting, so he walked very fast, leaving him far behind.
"Heh..." Qi Ting sneered. It just so happened that he didn't want to see Lao Wu's ugly face.
***
It was almost noon when His Majesty finally released Qi Xiao from Chengming Hall. He copied the Daoist text three times and selected the best one. However, judging by His Majesty's expression, he was still not satisfied. Qi Xiao couldn't do anything about his dissatisfaction. Writing skills weren't something that could be mastered in a day or two.
Qi Xiao walked out of Chengming Palace and looked at the bright sun in the sky. He couldn't help but sigh. He still had to pay his respects to the Queen Mother, the Empress and Concubine Zhao first. He was afraid that he would not have time to go to Qiyun Palace for lunch.
"Your Highness the Ninth Prince." Zhang Suian escorted Qi Xiao out.
"Could you please, Eunuch Zhang, send someone to Qiyun Palace to tell her that I will be there later and that she need not wait for me for dinner."
"Your Highness, don't worry. His Majesty has already instructed that you can go to the Empress Dowager's palace to pay your respects after lunch, and then go directly to Linxiantai to participate in the moon ceremony. You don't need to go to the Empress and Consort Zhao's place."
"Hmm? No need to... go and pay respects to the Empress and Consort Zhao?"
"Yes, the Empress and Consort Zhao have both been informed. Your Highness does not need to go today. It's getting late. Is Consort Lin still waiting for Your Highness to dine together?"
"...Thank you, Eunuch Zhang."
"Your Highness, please forgive me for embarrassing this old servant. This is all the will of His Majesty."
As Qi Xiao emerged from Chengming Hall, he couldn't help but wonder, was having him copy the sutras just an excuse? A way for him to avoid paying his respects to the Empress and Consort Zhao? But paying his respects was just a formality; keeping him copying the sutras in Chengming Hall would only make the Qin and Gongsun clans hate him even more. His Majesty had essentially made him a sitting duck, forcing him into a desperate situation. Perhaps assigning him to the Tiance Camp was truly a way to save his life...
***
Zhang Suian sent Qi Xiao away and returned to Chengming Palace: "Your Majesty, it's getting late. The Queen Mother is still waiting for Your Majesty to have dinner."
"Hmm... Zhang Suian, come and take a look." His Majesty pointed at the Taoist scriptures Qi Xiao had copied and the Thousand Character Essay in Cursive Script that he had just copied. "See how it goes."
Zhang Suian leaned forward to take a look and said with a smile, "Your Majesty is making fun of me again. I am a crude and uncouth old servant, and I don't understand the elegance of writing."
"Oh, you followed me to the Imperial Academy for ten years. Do you remember how many books you copied for me during that time? I will record your crime of deceiving the emperor."
"Your Majesty, please spare my life." Zhang Suian was terrified and hurried to kneel down.
"Come on, stop pretending. You're still getting excited. Let's go. Don't keep the Queen Mother waiting."
"Yes." Zhang Suian looked back at the copied scriptures on the table and wanted to sigh.
His Majesty suddenly said to Zhang Suian, "Since Lao Jiu has copied the Taoist scriptures, let's send it to the Imperial Observatory."
"……Yes."
"Also, have you arranged to send Lady Lin to the West Palace to recuperate?"
"Your Majesty, everything has been arranged. The judge said that Consort Lin has improved and can be moved."
"Well, let Fang Yuanpan go with him. If Lady Lin doesn't recover from her illness, he won't have to come back."
"According to the order."
***
The Moon Sacrifice Ceremony lasted more than two hours from the beginning to the end. Qi Xiao was like a puppet, completing all the procedures according to what Ning Wanxiao had taught him yesterday. When the ceremony was over, Qi Xiao just wanted to look up to the sky and sigh, he was so tired.
After the Moon Festival, a banquet was held in the palace. Qi Xiao felt a growing weariness and disgust as he drank and chatted. He glanced in Tang Ling's direction. As if sensing something, Tang Ling turned back to him and exchanged a smile. Tang Ling's gaze was gentle and affectionate, and Qi Xiao couldn't help but smile slightly. He wanted to return to the guild hall quickly so he could hold Tang Ling in his arms, rather than just a fleeting glance like now, separated by so many people.
Although it was a palace banquet, it was different from Tang Ling's last welcoming banquet. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, all the families in the mansions had to reunite, and His Majesty could not confine all the court officials in the palace, so the banquet ended early.
It was just after midnight when Qi Xiao left the palace. It was not too early, but on Mid-Autumn Night, there was a lantern festival and night market in Yuanjing City, and there were fireworks at midnight, so it was a lively time.
Qi Xiao got into the carriage and Tang Ling was already waiting for him. Tang Ling smiled, and without a word, Qi Xiao leaned forward, kissed her, and held her in his arms.
"Are you tired?" Tang Ling raised her hand and stroked Qi Xiao's forehead and eyebrows. Qi Xiao had gone out early in the morning, and she had noticed that he looked tired during the Moon Festival. However, it was the first time she saw Qi Xiao's serious look, and she found it a little funny and very cute.
"What are you laughing at? Do you like me so much?"
"Yes, I like it."
Qi Xiao couldn't help but kiss Tang Ling again. He wanted to immediately hold Tang Ling in his arms and love her dearly.
Baixi Bridge drives away from the palace.
Tang Ling listened to the bustling and increasingly lively chatter outside the carriage, and couldn't help but ask, "Aren't we going back to the same guild hall?"
"Let me take you to eat first. You didn't eat much today, and you also drank some wine. Is your stomach uncomfortable?"
Tang Ling shook his head slightly. He still remembered what happened at the palace banquet. He replied, "I didn't drink much, so I'm not uncomfortable."
Bai Xiqiao drove around in circles and finally stopped in an alley. He knocked on the carriage door frame and said through the curtain, "The streets are crowded tonight. Driving is not allowed in the East Market. We can only park outside."
Qi Xiao took Tang Ling out of the car and said to Bai Xiqiao, "No need to wait for us, go back first."
Bai Xiqiao gnashed his teeth and said, "Tsk, what a heartless ungrateful bastard."
Qi Xiao laughed out loud, and without looking back, he pulled Tang Ling away.
"Is Mid-Autumn Festival also so lively in Zhou Kingdom?" Qi Xiao held Tang Ling's hand as they walked in the crowd, passing by all kinds of excitement and the noise in their ears, so Qi Xiao had to lean close to Tang Ling's ear to speak.
Tang Ling nodded and smiled, "It's just as lively. Well, I should say it's even more lively. Shaoyang has a three-day Mid-Autumn Festival, and there's also a lantern festival at night. It's like there's no difference between day and night. It's very lively."
"Really? I really want to see it. Ziyi will do his best to be a good host and take me out for fun, right?" Qi Xiao smiled sweetly as he leaned against Tang Ling. One of his hands had already been around his waist without him knowing when. They were not shy about being intimate in the crowded crowd.