“Your Majesty, the Empress, may you be well and safe!”
A chorus of neat greetings rose as the Empress appeared, accompanied by the Zhenbei Wang Fei.
“Wang Fei, greetings,” some of the lower-ranking ladies also bowed to the Zhenbei Wang Fei.
“All right, no need for formalities. Today’s flower-viewing banquet is Le’an’s stage; let the children play here. I’ve had a theater set up in the nearby garden—why don’t the ladies come with me to watch a few performances?”
The Empress was impatient to avoid idle chatter with so many people. She had already summoned the performers early, planning to watch the plays from beginning to end, saying as little as possible.
“How thoughtful of the Empress,” a group of ladies flattered as they followed her, exchanging quick glances at their own children before leaving.
Qionghua Terrace was divided into two sections. Once the banquet began, translucent folding screens would separate the spaces. Besides the winding water channels for the “floating cups” game, a single flower-arched gate allowed passage, separating male and female guests.
But this was mostly symbolic—gender separation wasn’t strictly enforced in the Ying Dynasty. The screens were low; standing up could easily give a view of the opposite side, and only seated guests were shielded from view.
These were purely for decorum, a ceremonial formality.
“Early spring in March, peach blossom season, Qionghua Terrace has specially planted these peach trees. I hope everyone enjoys them. You must all be tired from walking around earlier; why not sit, have some refreshments, and play the floating cups game to amuse yourselves?”
This was the usual setup for such banquets, and all present readily agreed.
“I love peach blossoms. Seeing the garden in full bloom delights me. Let today’s theme be flowers and plants!”
Princess Le’an casually gave this opening line, then accepted a specially-made small wooden tray from a young eunuch. On it rested a tiny glass cup filled with sweet grape wine that wouldn’t intoxicate.
Supporting the wide sleeves with one hand, she placed the tray in the water channel, letting it float, and gently pushed it along with her fingertips.
This game, called Qushui Liushang, was common at noble gatherings.
Guests bowed toward Princess Le’an, then took their seats along the low benches by the waterway. The tables held seasonal fruits, and conversation flowed as the wine cups slowly drifted past.
The cup soon stopped in front of one noble lady. A young eunuch retrieved it and handed it to her, signaling that it was time to compose a poem.
The noble lady drained the cup at once, then looked toward the male guests behind the screen, a faint look of melancholy on her face.
“Spring brings sorrowful thoughts, flowers bloom but hearts diminish.”
Shen Yunshu, speaking with Princess Le’an, froze for a moment. That poem carried the heavy air of a springtime maiden’s lament?
Other noble ladies also froze, startled. Who was foolish enough to dampen the princess’s mood at the very start of the banquet?
For a moment, silence fell.
Ji Xinyi glanced at the poet, almost choking on her pastry.
The audacious noble lady disrupting the princess’s delight was none other than her distant cousin, Han Ruobing.
This year, her cousin’s father had just been promoted to a fifth-rank literary post, barely enough to gain an audience at court.
Her own distant cousin had only just reached childhood and couldn’t attend such banquets, so she had sneaked into the royal Qionghua Banquet. But she had no sense of decorum.
Ji Xinyi quickly stood and intervened before anyone reacted. “Ruobing cousin, is something troubling you? Your poem carries a sorrowful air. Today’s scenery is delightful; this opening verse doesn’t fit the mood. Allow Xinyi to help revise it, shall we?”
Han Ruobing had been watching the male guests, but Ji Xinyi’s remark made her realize her poem was ill-timed. She quickly smiled apologetically at Ji Xinyi.
“My poem spoiled the fun. Sorry, cousin Xinyi,” she said.
Ji Xinyi smiled sweetly but silently scolded her inwardly. She had no idea what poem to make herself!
“I suggest changing it to: ‘Springtime brings returning wild geese, flowers bloom with letters of love.’”
Ji Xinyi cleverly modified the lines to be less melancholy.
Even if the poem wasn’t great, the princess would let it pass.
Han Ruobing forced a tight smile. Was this cousin mocking her for sending love letters?
Several noble ladies who knew the story giggled behind their handkerchiefs.
“Very good. With this change, it’s lively and bright,” Han Ruobing replied, awkwardly agreeing.
Shen Yunshu, Wen Peihan, and Princess Le’an all turned their heads, surprised, to look at Ji Xinyi in unison.
Everyone in their circle knew Han Ruobing had been writing love poems to Lu Mingzhe, yet Ji Xinyi openly mentioned it in front of her.
And when did Ji Xinyi gain the skill to mock others with poetry? She was always learning martial arts from her uncle, General Han Jin, not literary arts.
“I’m not doing it on purpose, believe me?” Ji Xinyi blinked innocently.
Princess Le’an rolled her eyes. “We believe you. Everyone knows your poetry skills! But what about your cousin?”
Ji Xinyi sighed helplessly. “My cousin had her eye on the Minister’s eldest son, Lu Mingzhe, not long ago. Sadly, he never reciprocated her efforts.
When you weren’t here, everyone was admiring flowers. Lu Mingzhe got along well with Jiang Xuanyan, the Minister of Rites’ daughter. My cousin was blinded by jealousy, hence the lack of decorum.”
There was one more thing she couldn’t say here.
Her uncle was a sycophant, even hoping to have Han Ruobing selected as a consort.
But since the Emperor hadn’t taken concubines in recent years, he couldn’t be sure, so the plan quietly died down.
Still, mentioning it had already startled her cousin.
Although the Emperor was mighty, he wasn’t young.
Han Ruobing, still a young girl with romantic notions, wanted a perfect husband before any imperial selection, so she could be exempt.
However, she overestimated herself.
Lu Mingzhe was the eldest son of the Minister, while her father was a minor literary official. Han Ruobing, from a cadet branch, had little family resources, barely moving within the circles of capital elites.
If Lu Mingzhe had not noticed her intentions, Han Ruobing would have no chance to interact with him, let alone marry him.
Her uncle truly failed her—he hadn’t taught her proper etiquette upon her first palace visit. She was in the imperial inner court but still obsessed with one young man. She had no sense of perspective, acting all timid and melancholic, making a fuss over trivialities!
If it weren’t for Han Ruobing being a maternal relative, and Ji Xinyi having to avoid angering her maternal grandmother, she wouldn’t have bothered to save the situation.