Qiao Chu

This year's New Year celebration was marked by a grand banquet held in the Imperial City.

On this day, the Emperor and Empress first led the court officials to the royal temple to offer incense and worship heaven, announcing the change of the era name. Afterward, the court officials dispersed, while the Emperor and Empress partook of the New Year's vegetarian meal at the temple before returning to the palace in the afternoon.

Later, the court officials attended the banquet with their families to celebrate the New Year together.

The banquet was set in Qiongfang Garden beside the Imperial Garden, where the imperial flower houses were located. The pavilions were spacious and bright, warmed by underfloor heating systems.

By afternoon, the families of court officials began arriving one after another. This was the time when everyone gathered most completely. Moreover, with the great victory in the Border Commandery campaign, the King of Xiliang admitting defeat, ceding territory, and fleeing far away, and Prince Zhongshan and his son executed, the Great Xia Dynasty, which had been turbulent for years, was finally stabilized.

The court had also stabilized. Deng Yi was shot dead by the Empress, and except for those officials deeply implicated with him, it was concluded that others had been either deceived by Deng Yi or misjudged his character, so no further investigations were conducted.

This allowed officials at all levels to breathe a complete sigh of relief.

The atmosphere at today's grand banquet was light and joyful. Officials gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing, while the female family members who arrived early even made plans to enjoy the scenery in the Imperial Garden.

As usual, every banquet also provided an opportunity for Chu Zhao and Chu Tang to meet and talk.

The two sat by the window, looking through the banquet roster together.

"Before we knew it, everyone has married," Chu Zhao remarked, looking at the roster where the young ladies who were once daughters of certain families had transformed into wives of other households.

"Not everyone can attend the banquet either," Chu Tang said. "Some married far away, while others don't have the qualifications."

Not everyone could marry into families with the privilege to attend imperial banquets, and even if they married into such families, they might not necessarily qualify to enter the palace—for instance, if they were young grandsons' wives of lower generations.

At this point, Chu Tang laughed again.

"However, some who originally didn't have the qualifications gained them through their own merits," she said, flipping through the roster. "Do you remember Cong A-Shan?"

Chu Zhao actually did remember: "That young lady who loved fishing and once competed in fishing at Chu Manor?"

Chu Tang nodded, pointing it out to her: "Last year, she married the youngest son of the second branch of this family. Her husband hasn't entered officialdom either, but this time, the family's matriarch is attending the banquet and brought along this granddaughter-in-law in addition to her two daughters-in-law." She leaned in and chuckled softly, "I heard from the maids that the two daughters-in-law were somewhat displeased, but the matriarch said she was counting on this granddaughter-in-law to get a cup of wine from the Empress and also gain some favor for her two sons in front of the Emperor. The Emperor will assume full power in two years, and since it concerns their future prospects, the two daughters-in-law stopped objecting."

Chu Zhao didn't laugh at that but at Chu Tang: "Your maids really know everything."

Chu Tang smiled faintly, covering her mouth: "As a young woman living alone in the capital, I must keep my ears sharp and eyes clear."

Besides guarding the residence, Xiao Tu and the others had also trained Chu Tang's maids and servants in gathering information.

Having been away from the capital for over a year, news from the streets and the inner quarters of noble families was regularly sent to Chu Zhao by Chu Tang.

Chu Zhao looked at Chu Tang with a slight smile: "A-Tang, you're not young anymore. What about your marriage plans?"

Chu Tang pretended to be shy, raising her sleeve to half-cover her face: "It's up to my parents' orders and the matchmaker's words—" Then she put her sleeve down, dropping the act, and said frankly, "My father and mother have taken a liking to a disciple from the academy."

A disciple from the academy. Thinking of Chu Tang's marriage in her previous life, Chu Zhao couldn't help but ask: "What's his family background like?"

She couldn't quite remember which family Chu Tang had married into in her past life, only knowing that they were local wealthy gentry.A wealthy and power-hungry man married the Empress's elder sister, but ultimately couldn't endure her domineering behavior. The entire family tearfully petitioned the court for divorce, humiliating her before Xiao Xun and further tarnishing the Chu family's reputation—though now, reflecting on it, this might have been orchestrated by Xiao Xun himself.

"He belongs to a prominent local clan," Chu Tang said. "However, with such a large clan and many members, this particular disciple comes from a distant and less influential branch."

Less influential? Chu Zhao laughed. "How could Uncle and Aunt consider him worthy? Our A-Tang is a princess."

Chu Tang smiled. "I told Father and Mother that as a princess now, I refuse to lower myself or serve as mere decoration for others. That's why they settled on him."

His family background was acceptable, yet he wasn't highly regarded within his clan. If Chu Tang married him, her husband's family status would shift. The husband would rely on his wife, while she would belong to their small household, maintaining flexible ties with the larger clan—all under her control. This way, Chu Tang would hold a superior position both inside and outside the family.

Chu Zhao sighed with emotion. "Parents always seek the best for their children's marriages."

She hadn't expected her usually unreliable uncle and aunt to choose such a suitable candidate.

Though she was the Empress, renowned and powerful, the absence of parents left an irreparable void in her heart. Chu Tang used to envy what others had, but now she understood that no one could have everything. Gains came with losses; sweetness was accompanied by bitterness.

"Family members care for each other," she said softly, looking at Chu Zhao. "So, I want to ask you, what do you think?"

To comfort her as family, Chu Zhao smiled gently and replied, "A-Tang, it doesn't matter what your parents think or what I think. What matters is how you feel. Remember, in marriage, the most important thing is that you like him."

She gently patted Chu Tang's hand.

She had already embarked on a different life and hoped Chu Tang could have the same.

Like... Chu Tang fell silent for a moment, then smiled. "I understand. I'll set off for the academy tomorrow to celebrate the New Year with my parents and meet this person in person."

Chu Zhao smiled. "I wish you happiness."

Just then, A Le entered. "Your Majesty, His Majesty is ready."

As usual, during grand banquets at the Imperial Palace, the Emperor and Empress would appear together before the court.

Chu Tang hurriedly rose to take her leave.

Chu Zhao added, "Take more people with you on your return journey, ensure safety on the road, and make a grand display. We must be cautious, but it's also important to let others know when necessary."

Chu Tang nodded with a smile and agreed. Watching Chu Zhao rise to change into her ceremonial robes, she suddenly asked, "A Zhao, do you have someone you like now?"

Chu Zhao paused slightly and looked at her.

But Chu Tang quickly turned and left, patting her chest nervously. She couldn't believe she had asked the Empress such a question—it was almost treasonous. How could she have waited for an answer?

She didn't know why she had asked, perhaps because of the sincere concern in Chu Zhao's eyes moments earlier, which warmed her heart yet also brought a pang of sadness.

The Empress was the Emperor's wife.

But to Chu Zhao, it was merely a title.

She didn't believe Chu Zhao had become the Emperor's wife out of affection.

Would Chu Zhao never experience love in this lifetime?

"What did Miss A-Tang say? What is it? Like?" A Le asked, puzzled. She hadn't been attending them closely and didn't know what they had just discussed.

Chu Zhao pursed her lips into a faint smile and lightly flicked the tassel at her waist."Say you like it," she said. "I have one too."

...

...

As dusk fell, the Qionghua Garden was brilliantly illuminated, resembling glazed glass.

Laughter and conversation filled the air everywhere, with palace maids weaving through the crowd offering fine wines and fruit beverages.

Liang Qiang stepped into the hall and sensed his mother hesitating behind him.

"Mother?" he turned and asked softly.

A trace of restraint flashed across Mother Liang's face as she smiled: "It's nothing, it's just been a long time since I've seen so many people."

In truth, Mother Liang had returned to the capital for over a year, and the Liang family name had been reinstated outside their residence. However, after Deng Yi's incident, the already unstable foundation of the Liang family immediately became precarious, and they had almost become recluses.

His return to the capital this time, due to his merits in the campaign against Xiao Xun, had restored his position as Brigadier General, which brought some relief to the Liang family.

This time, he also received an invitation to the banquet, and to appear proper like everyone else, he brought female family members along.

To truly establish a firm footing, relying on himself alone wasn't enough; he needed to make his family members... useful as well.

Socializing, engaging in conversations, and building connections—these were the roles of the female family members.

Mother had previously been a young lady from a prominent family, the wife of the Liang family's second branch, and had attended numerous palace banquets. Yet now she seemed somewhat restrained, clearly marked by the hardships of their previous life.

Perhaps he should give his mother time to adjust, but—there was no time.

"Don't worry," Liang Qiang reached out to steady his mother and said softly, "Our seats are in the back row, we won't attract too much attention."

Mother Liang nodded with a smile: "I know, don't worry, A'Qiang."

As mother and son were speaking, they were pushed aside by someone, accompanied by a somewhat childish voice: "Brother, it's so beautiful here."

Liang Qiang looked down and saw his younger sister.

His sister's eyes were full of wonder and joy; as a child without worries, she was already mesmerized upon arriving and eager to rush inside.

She gazed at the jewel-adorned women in the hall, her eyes sparkling. She was like them; she was one of them.

Just then, elegant music rose, accompanied by the eunuchs' loud announcement: "Your Majesty, the Empress, have arrived."

The laughter and chatter in the hall immediately ceased. Everyone stood still, bowing toward the front.

"Welcome, Your Majesty, Empress—"

Liang Qiang and his mother also bowed along with the crowd. Liang Xiaomei, unable to contain her curiosity, secretly peeked through the gaps between the adults and saw a boy about her own age, wearing a Dragon Robe, slowly walking forward while holding the hand of a young girl in a phoenix crown.