The Chrysanthemum Banquet was held at Yanbei Hall, not far from the residence of Prince Gong. This hall was originally established by the founding emperor and empress of Ming Qi. The estate was once an exquisitely manicured garden from the previous dynasty, spanning thousands of acres with grand and intricate architecture. Had it not been so far from the city center, the imperial couple had even considered transforming it into a part of the palace.
Nestled between mountains and rivers, though remote, it was an excellent spot for enjoying the scenery. Especially in October each year, when chrysanthemums of all colors bloomed in competition. With dedicated caretakers tending to rare chrysanthemum seeds, the sight of their blossoms was akin to stepping into a fairyland. Holding the Verification here was considered quite refined.
From Shen Mansion, it took about an hour by carriage to reach Yanbei Hall, so snacks and food were prepared for the journey to stave off hunger.
Gu Yu opened the basket given by Granny Gui and asked Shen Miao, "Miss, why not have something to eat? The journey is long, and you'll need the energy."
Shen Miao glanced at the contents of the basket.
Iced goat cheese, scallion rolls, spicy oil legs... At first glance, they looked appetizing, vibrant in color, and fragrant in aroma.
Unfortunately, these foods had strong flavors. Items like iced cheese and spicy oil legs were particularly prone to smudging lipstick and could easily stain one's clothes. Granny Gui had truly "carefully" selected these provisions.
The struggles among women in the inner chambers often involved overt and covert schemes. But Shen Miao, who had once navigated the Ming Qi imperial harem, had faced far more sophisticated rivalries between concubines vying for favor. These petty tricks were beneath notice. She shook her head and motioned for Gu Yu to close the box, turning to Jing Zhe instead. "No need. Jing Zhe has something here."
Jing Zhe carefully produced a small cloth bundle from behind her. Inside were delicate, dainty pastries. Shen Miao distrusted the Shen Mansion kitchen and had Jing Zhe bribe the procurement steward to bring in pastries from outside. The steward, assuming Jing Zhe had a sweet tooth, didn’t tamper with them, though she was surprised that a maid could afford treats from Guangfu Zhai.
Guangfu Zhai was one of the top pastry shops in Fixed Capital, favored even by imperial concubines. In her past life, Shen Miao hadn’t been particularly fond of Guangfu Zhai’s pastries, but Wan Yu adored them, feeling restless if she went a day without eating them.
The pastries now were only the size of Shen Miao’s fingertips, shaped like tiny flowers, pitifully adorable. Shen Miao shared some with Gu Yu and Jing Zhe. The two maids initially hesitated, but upon Shen Miao’s insistence, they carefully accepted and took a bite, exclaiming in delight, "Miss, these pastries are truly delicious!"
Shen Miao smiled faintly. How delicious could pastries really be? They were merely cute and exquisitely made, and young women always loved pretty things. When Wan Yu was sent away for a political marriage, Shen Miao had even spent a fortune to hire a pastry chef from Guangfu Zhai, hoping Wan Yu could still enjoy her favorite treats in the harsh lands of the Xiongnu.
Who would have thought... Who would have thought Wan Yu would perish midway, her body never to be seen again.
Shen Miao closed her eyes briefly.
Wan Yu’s political marriage was instigated by Mei Furen, orchestrated by Chen Ruoqiu’s family, but the order came from Fu Xiuyi. In this life, none of them would escape. Those who had caused Wan Yu’s death—she would make them repay a thousandfold, a hundredfold!Gu Yu was happily nibbling on pastries when she suddenly noticed Shen Miao's icy gaze beside her. In that instant, Shen Miao resembled a noblewoman accustomed to decisive command from high positions, and Gu Yu seemed to catch a glimpse of Shen Xin's shadow. Shen Xin was a man who had killed on the battlefield and seen blood; when angered, his very bones exuded ferocity. Shen Miao's current expression was identical to his.
Gu Yu nearly choked on her pastry, forcing it down before cautiously asking, "Miss, are you feeling unwell?"
"No," Shen Miao lowered her eyes. "Just thinking about some matters."
Today's Chrysanthemum Banquet and Verification would have Fu Xiuyi in attendance—not just him, but several of his brothers as well. Among the nine princes, each had their strengths, and naturally, they formed factions. Fu Xiuyi appeared the most harmless, maintaining good relations with the Crown Prince's faction.
Who could have guessed that in the end, the Crown Prince would be deposed and Fu Xiuyi installed as heir? She had no intention of helping the Crown Prince. The Ming Qi royal family was utterly heartless. They viewed these aristocratic families who had fought to establish their dynasty as nothing more than aging hounds. Though these hunting dogs had once helped them catch rabbits, now that the rabbits were safely in their grasp, they feared the dogs might turn and bite them. So they wrung every last drop of blood from the hounds before slaughtering and cooking them.
If the world lacked benevolence and the heir lacked righteousness, how could they demand loyalty from anyone?
Why not watch the dogs tear at each other first? Shen Miao's lips curled slightly.
...
Yanbei Hall was already filled with many noble families.
Though today's Verification did not separate men and women, the banquet hall still divided guests into male and female seating. On the men's side, young boys and their fathers busied themselves with introductions, as it was natural for noble families to forge connections and support one another. After all, these boys would one day take their fathers' places and shoulder their family responsibilities—making friends now was beneficial.
The women's side was less bustling. Matrons often gathered to chat about daily affairs, so the young ladies already had established circles of friends. Small groups of familiar faces clustered together, both nervous and excited about the Chrysanthemum Banquet. Occasionally, they would glance across the hall at the young men who had caught their fancy.
Yi Peilan fiddled with the flowers on the small table before her and asked, "Are you all prepared for today's Verification?"
"Not me," one of the girls beside her laughed. "With so many talented people here, someone as mediocre as me is terrified. I just hope no one draws my name or challenges me to the stage. I don’t seek glory—just don’t let me embarrass myself."
Yi Peilan pursed her lips. "At least try. Don’t forget Prince Ding will be here today, and isn’t that young Master Li you fancy also attending? He’s so outstanding in literature—he’s bound to take the stage. Shouldn’t you seize this chance to impress him?"
The girl shoved Yi Peilan playfully, her cheeks flushing. "Stop teasing me."
Jiang Xiaoxuan chuckled. "Exactly, Bai Wei, don’t be afraid. If we’re talking about embarrassment, isn’t the Shen family’s fifth daughter always the one to make a fool of herself? Surely you’re better than her."
"True," Yi Peilan giggled, her shoulders shaking. "Every year at the Verification, Shen Wu is there purely for entertainment. It’s impressive she still has the face to show up. Just thinking about what ridiculous act she’ll perform this year makes me laugh. What will she wear this time? Another horrifying combination like last year’s bright red with that gaudy purple-gold hairpin?"
The girls burst into tittering laughter."Enough already." Feng Anning suddenly spoke up. "Is it really that funny?"
Yi Peilan was taken aback, then said, "Feng Anning, you've been acting rather strange lately. What, have you befriended that fool?"
Feng Anning's face flushed with anger, just as she was about to retort, someone from the other side called out, "Ah, the Shen family's madam has arrived."
...
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