Chapter 136: Banquet Concluded
The New Year’s Eve banquet was temporarily halted, yet no one in the hall dared to move.
Only after Chu Mingheng’s figure disappeared from the dais did those below exchange bewildered glances, uncertain of his intentions.
After a short while, Chen Kangan emerged from behind the hall and announced, “His Majesty decrees: As the hour grows late, the New Year’s Eve banquet shall conclude here. All are advised to depart the palace promptly to avoid missing the proper time.”
It was already the hour of Shen, approximately one hour before the banquet’s scheduled end at You hour. Given the major incident that had occurred, it seemed this grand feast could no longer proceed.
Thus, everyone rose, their departure not exactly panicked but certainly hurried as they rushed to leave the palace.
Only after many had left the main hall did the imperial concubines prepare to depart as well.
Yet Chen Kangan had not withdrawn and added, “Your Ladyships, please remain. His Majesty has another decree: For the evening palace banquet, all must attend without delay. His Majesty states that everyone must be present.”
The imperial concubines halted their steps, glancing at one another. No one ventured to ask further questions, only murmuring low acknowledgments in response.
It seemed that keeping vigil on New Year’s Eve was tradition; even though the grand banquet had ended, the evening palace feast would still proceed as usual.
Lan Wu also rose, intending to return to her palace to rest. The earlier spectacle had demanded her full attention, leaving her no room for distraction. She wondered how Chu Mingheng planned to handle these individuals.
Would he execute Prince Wei?
Her thoughts wandered aimlessly over the recent events when someone suddenly approached her side.
Lan Wu looked over and saw it was Chen Kangan.
“Your Ladyship, His Majesty awaits you,” Chen Kangan reported softly with a smile.
Most of the concubines below had already departed, but a few remained, listening for any developments.
Lan Wu glanced back and nodded. “Lead the way.”
Several hours remained before the evening banquet. Lan Wu assumed Chu Mingheng would first deal with Prince Wei or the Lin family matters. Yet upon reaching the rear hall, she found Chu Mingheng resting with his eyes closed in a chair.
She had never been to the rear hall of Taiqing Palace before and found it somewhat unfamiliar. The hall doors closed behind her, leaving her no choice but to proceed forward.
Before she could take more than a few steps, Chu Mingheng opened his eyes.
“Ah Wu,” he called softly, extending a hand toward her.
Lan Wu stopped in her tracks, hesitating briefly as she studied him closely.
In that moment of hesitation, Chu Mingheng stood and walked toward her, stopping before her. His tall figure was imposing, like a wall pressing down upon her.
Hearing no response from Lan Wu, Chu Mingheng raised his voice slightly in question, uttering a soft “Hmm?”
Then he leaned down and kissed Lan Wu’s forehead, lifting her into his arms as if it were the most natural thing. He carried her back to the chair he had occupied earlier and set her down.
“Why does Ah Wu ignore me now?” His eyes were deep, concealing hidden light. As he spoke, he reached out to fiddle with the gold hairpin and dangling ornaments in Lan Wu’s hair, tangling the tassels.
Immediately distracted, Lan Wu reached up to touch her hairpin, glaring at him reproachfully. “You’ve messed it up.”
She still had to appear before others that evening.
Chu Mingheng leaned closer, insisting it was not disheveled.
Their foreheads lightly touched, breaths mingling in the space between them. Though nothing more transpired, the atmosphere grew subtly intimate.
Only when Lan Wu composed herself did she ask, “Was this the significant matter you spoke to me about the other day?”
No wonder Chu Mingheng had told her it was kept secret at the time. Only now, as everything was revealed one by one, did she understand how it truly was.
“Yes,” Chu Mingheng replied, then seemed somewhat unsatisfied. He glanced around, straightened up, and pulled her to her feet, saying slowly, “There are still a few hours until the evening banquet. Ah Wu, accompany me to lie down for a while.”
That was fine, but…
“The palace banquet has been called off, so why is the evening banquet still proceeding?” Lan Wu was gently pulled by him onto the soft couch, which was padded with cushions and pillows.
Chu Mingheng lay down and immediately pulled Lan Wu onto him. As he removed her pearl hairpins and gold hairpins, he said, “There are other matters tonight.”
His tone carried a hint of weariness and exhaustion. After loosening Lan Wu’s hair bun, he wrapped his arm around her waist and held her as they turned to lie on their sides.
What other matters could there be?
Though curious, Lan Wu noticed he seemed very tired and decided not to ask. She turned slightly and pushed aside the hairpins Chu Mingheng had just removed, moving them farther away before reaching for the blanket. She spread it out and covered them both.
Once they were both under the blanket, Lan Wu felt satisfied. Leaning against Chu Mingheng, she prepared to sleep for a while.
They slept soundly, unaware that the atmosphere outside was somewhat somber.
Chu Mingheng had long been prepared. Ever since Prince Wei entered the palace, his residence had been surrounded. Although the imperial relatives attending the palace banquet had already left the palace, no one dared to mention what had happened inside. Beyond that, the reactions of the imperial concubines were relatively subdued. After all, Prince Wei’s background had little to do with them—they were merely spectators.
Yet the spectacle they had most anticipated at today’s banquet had failed to materialize.
“What a pity for that palace maid named Pan Xi. After all the effort you put into cultivating her, she turned out to be so ungrateful. Truly lamentable,” Consort Shu remarked sarcastically as she caught up with Noble Consort Li’s procession.
Noble Consort Li had intended to use Pan Xi to present her at the New Year’s Eve banquet, both to irritate Lan Wu and in the faint hope that the dance, identical to Lan Wu’s, would evoke the Emperor’s affection.
Unexpectedly, Pan Xi had no such intentions. To be honest, it was truly a waste of such a face.
Leave the palace?
Could Noble Consort Li really allow her to leave the palace smoothly?
“Where are you heading, sister? This doesn’t seem like the way to Jinghua Palace. Could it be that you’ve had too much to drink and forgotten the way back to your palace?”
Noble Consort Li’s eyes showed undisguised loathing. Her face was cold, yet she had no choice but to bow and reply, “Your Highness worries too much. This concubine is indeed returning to the palace. It’s just that the hall was too stuffy earlier, so I thought to take a detour for some fresh air.”
Consort Shu nodded, smiling knowingly. “So that’s how it is. I thought you were going to look for that Miss Pan Xi. After all, you… are the most vindictive.”
With that, she paid no further attention to Noble Consort Li’s expression and ordered her attendants to proceed.
Only when Noble Consort Li and her entourage were completely out of sight did Consort Shu gradually let her expression fade.
Noble Consort Li had gained nothing today, and neither had she.
Thinking of Lan Wu, Consort Shu frowned.
“Is Xiuyi Bai all prepared?” she suddenly asked Yunqing in a low voice.
Yunqing lowered her gaze slightly and replied, “Your Highness, this servant saw Xiuyi Bai’s palace maid earlier. If Your Highness is concerned, this servant can go and inquire.”
Consort Shu remained silent for a moment, then shook her head. “No, let it be. It would attract too much attention right now.”
She spoke slowly, “I trust Xiuyi Bai. She has always been meticulous in her work.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Also, send word to Hanlu Palace. His Majesty has said that no one may be absent from the evening banquet. Whether she attends or not is up to her.”