CHAPTER 136: CHAPTER 136: THE DOUBLE SEVENTH PALACE BANQUET

Lin Wanyi’s calligraphy was something she practiced diligently in her youth for several years.

During that time, while recuperating at her grandfather’s house, there were very few days when she moved about.

Her grandfather, fearing she would be bored, would take her daily either to practice calligraphy or painting.

It tempered her temperament, making her calm and equanimous.

With a few swift strokes, the inscription was completed.

The Emperor glanced at it and was quite satisfied.

"Dong Yuzhong."

"I am here, Your Majesty."

"Find someone to mount this painting, and then hang it on the wall."

He pointed with his hand, even assigning its position.

Dong Yuzhong complied without question, immediately responding, "Yes."

Then he carefully rolled up the painting and sent someone to deliver it to the Jixian Institute.

The Jixian Institute was a gathering place for Da Wei painters.

Inside, there were at least dozens of court painters, some skilled in landscapes, others in flowers and birds, and some in human figures.

Each had their specialties.

With a flick of his wrist, the Emperor picked up a cup of tea from the table by the bright window and began to drink.

The flavor, as always, was quite distinctive.

"Is today’s fruit nectar peach?"

"Yes, the peach syrup was personally made by the Second Prince. Your Majesty should try it."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor was three parts surprised.

Not to mention the prince, he had rarely eaten anything personally made by the harem concubines.

Just like in the Huifang Courtyard.

What he ate was all made by Chunqi; Lin Wanyi had never been seen cooking.

"How is it?"

Lin Wanyi curiously looked at the Emperor, trying to decipher any subtle changes on his face.

Yet the Emperor, calm and composed, revealed none of his thoughts.

Therefore, he glanced at Lin Wanyi and teasingly said,

"Not very good."

Lin Wanyi raised an eyebrow at the Emperor, seeing the laughter in his eyes.

Knowing he was speaking nonsense.

So she "threatened,"

"Not very good, huh? Then next time, I’ll tell the Second Prince there’s no need to learn anymore; after all, Your Majesty doesn’t like anything he makes."

She hit the nail on the head.

The Emperor was speechless; indeed, she had him completely.

Then he laughed and changed the subject.

"Are you attending the palace banquet for the Qixi Festival?"

"Yes, Princess Consort Yi sent someone to invite me. I’ve been recovering for half a month; it’s no good to hide away forever."

The Emperor thought for a moment and found reason in it.

In his youth, he also disliked facing these serious and rather rigid ministers.

There was a time he even resisted attending morning court.

But later on, he gradually enjoyed this feeling of confrontation.

Even as he grew stronger, seeing those supposedly seasoned ministers suffer, he found great joy.

So he said to Lin Wanyi,

"Then dress nicely and go."

Dress nicely?

The Emperor sure had lousy ideas.

One didn’t need to guess to know there’d be many concubines at the palace banquet.

All dressed to the nines.

Why bother going?

She just smiled and replied, "Yes."

As for dressing up, she’d decide for herself.

Days passed swiftly, and the day of the Qixi Festival arrived in the blink of an eye.

The palace banquet, as per tradition, was held at Shengjing Building.

When Lin Wanyi appeared there again, memories from half a month ago rushed back.

Xia An had no fondness for this place.

If it weren’t necessary, the master’s cold ailment wouldn’t have been triggered.

Taking medicine daily as though it were water.

Therefore, this time around, she brought ample supplies of medicine.

Her eyes watched everywhere intently, afraid of encountering danger again.

Upon entering Shengjing Building, Lin Wanyi immediately spotted the tall, colorful tower stacked outside, known as Qixi Tower.

That colorful tower was constructed with wooden steps, with each level filled with all sorts of novelties.

There were flower gourds sculpted from melons, precious brush and ink stones, and even colorful threads.

But what Lin Wanyi favored most were the clay figurines.

Each was vivid and lifelike, not only painted, but their expressions captured perfectly.

Some depicted figures from ancient myths, while others portrayed everyday life.

They even modeled them after the concubines, replicating them one by one.

Lin Wanyi recognized herself at first glance, not for anything else but the pearl ornament pinned in her hair, identical to her own.

This ingenuity brought about a rare harmony amongst the concubines visiting Shengjing Building.

No scheming, no biting remarks.

Instead, they immersed themselves in the front of the Qixi Tower, chatting.

Lin Wanyi picked up her figurine for a closer inspection.

Just as she was examining it carefully, two people suddenly appeared beside her.

"Sister Lin, this figurine is truly beautiful, much nicer than mine."

It was Mu Lanchun speaking, and by her side stood Noble Princess Consort Ying.

With a smile, she looked at Lin Wanyi.

The two seemed inseparable nowadays, appearing everywhere together.

"Mu, you’re joking. Your figurine is the truly lifelike one. Look closely at those eyes, aren’t they lively like yours?"

Everyone loves to hear compliments, and Mu Lanchun was no exception.

Hearing Lin Wanyi’s words, she was naturally pleased.

And Noble Princess Consort Ying, holding her own figurine, remained graceful and courteous, even capturing her slight baby bump.

Truly meticulous.

"I wonder where Princess Consort Yi found such a skilled artisan, making each concubine’s figurine so well. It seems Princess Consort Yi is to be rewarded."

Indeed, this kind of ingenuity is rare.

Born into a military family, who would have thought Princess Consort Yi could orchestrate something so engaging.

It’s much more interesting than previous Qixi palace banquets.

The three of them walked together into Shengjing Building.

Per palace rules, they all sat according to their positions.

Mu Lanchun ended up sitting behind Lin Wanyi and was somewhat displeased.

But since her rank was lower than the others, she dared not show her discontent.

Lin Wanyi sat in the middle, flanked by Du Changzai and Ming Changzai.

Ever since realizing Du Changzai’s connection to Nanny Du, Lin Wanyi was a bit wary of her.

Fearful of unintentionally offending her with a wrong word.

Yet Du Changzai, unaware that Lin Wanyi knew her identity, remained as courteous as before.

"Sister Lin, after you were poisoned, you’ve been recovering in Huifang Courtyard. His Majesty decreed that we sisters should not disturb you. How have you been lately?"

"Thank you for your concern, Sister. I’m much better now, but the Imperial Physician said during windy or rainy days, I might suffer a bit."

Lin Wanyi’s difficulty with pregnancy, though not deliberately spread, was widely known.

So when she spoke, Du Changzai seemed to empathize with some shared sorrow.

She then spoke words of comfort,

"Sister, just like me, we’re both unfortunate. Years ago, I also had a child, but even before it was born, it..."