Chapter 80: Lantern Festival

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, the imperial palace was brightly lit with various beautiful and exquisitely crafted lanterns hanging in the courtyards, creating an atmosphere full of auspiciousness and joy. The lanterns were adorned with famous poems and verses, and riddles were written on them. When the ladies of the court, both inside and outside the palace, correctly guessed the answers to the riddles, they were given small but exquisite gifts as rewards.

Meinang could not join the lively crowd. Instead, she stayed with the Empress, sitting in a warm pavilion, watching through the gauzy curtains as the people outside celebrated and reveled in the lantern-lit night.

The Empress, Sun Hui Yun, was elegant and beautiful. As Meinang had guessed, her figure and build were similar to hers, though at six months pregnant, her waist appeared slightly swollen. Her constitution was frail, and her complexion was pale, but her mood was good. She sat beside Meinang, enjoying the lanterns, with a sweet and contented smile.

At the time of the morning ceremony in the palace, the Emperor, showing his concern for the Empress, feared that the long ceremony in full ceremonial attire would be too much for her. Therefore, only the highest-ranked ladies were invited to participate, and the others were excused to rest in the palace.

Afterward, the Empress changed and lay on a soft couch, while she met with some of the ladies she wished to see, including Meinang, her sister in law, the wife of the Duke of Ding, Lady Pang, the wife of Marquis An Yuan, Lady Mei, the wife of Marquis Ning Yuan, Lady Gan, and Lady Wang, wife of Marquis Chang Le. These were women Meinang had known for a long time, and she recalled them from their visit to her during her revival when they had roasted meat in the burned plum forest.

As they walked deeper into the palace, Lady Pang, the wife of the Duke of Ding, turned to Meinang and said, “You’re looking well. Why didn’t you join us for the outing? You’ve always been saying you’re sick, but now you look just fine.”

Lady Wang, the wife of Marquis Chang Le, added, “Exactly, we invited you to see the lanterns, but you kept refusing. You really don’t keep your word.”

Lady Mei, the wife of Marquis An Yuan, also said, “I told my mother in law it was your wish to come, but you didn’t show up while others did.”

Meinang could only apologize profusely, feeling miserable: “Ladies, please forgive me. It really was inconvenient for me to come either I or my child was unwell. I deeply apologize and promise I won’t make the same excuse again.”

Lady Wang pointed at her and said, “Our peonies are blooming soon. You must come to the flower viewing party. If you don’t, I’ll come to your house myself!”

Lady Mei laughed, covering her mouth. “Be careful, Lady Wang. This one here might just be capable of fighting back.”

The ladies all laughed, and Meinang raised her hands in surrender, saying, “I will definitely come, no matter what.”

Lady Pang said, “And don’t forget my invitation! Come, and I’ll teach you how to make perfume.”

Meinang nodded eagerly, “Of course. I’ll visit you soon, my dear sister.”

The ladies agreed to set a date for a visit. When they arrived at the Empress’s residence in the Kun Ning Palace, they all knelt and offered their greetings. The Empress told them to rise and sit, chatting with her sister in law, asking about the family’s affairs, and then conversing briefly with the other ladies. However, Meinang was not asked about her affairs. After a short while, the palace servant came to announce that the Empress needed to rest, so the ladies stood and bowed, preparing to leave. However, Meinang was asked to stay behind.

The Empress called for her to approach and, with a smile, began a private conversation. Meinang was led into a soft gauze tent where the Empress, pale and slightly swollen from her pregnancy, lay on a soft couch. She extended her hand, and Meinang gently took it, sitting beside her.

The Empress smiled faintly and said, “Although we’ve never met, you must have heard of me.”

Meinang replied, “I have often thought of Your Majesty.”

The Empress shook her head. “Your good friend, Lin Ru Nan, has known me since we were children in the south. She was my closest friend, but when she moved to the capital, we lost touch.”

Meinang was stunned. She remembered that Wang Mama had mentioned a good friend of hers, Lin Ru Nan, who had once invited her to go boating. It was because of this invitation that Xu Jun Ying had first seen her and instantly decided to marry her.

Meinang blushed and said, “I’m ashamed. After recovering from my illness, I’ve forgotten so much, including old friends.”

The Empress looked at her in surprise. “You really don’t remember? We’ve corresponded, and Lin Ru Nan spoke highly of you. She said you were both beautiful and gentle.”

Meinang felt embarrassed. The Empress continued, “Since you don’t remember, perhaps you haven’t heard what happened to Lin Ru Nan. Her father, Lin Chang Qing, was once a high-ranking official, but he was caught embezzling and was exiled to the south with his family. All their wealth was confiscated, and Lin Ru Nan has had no luck in marriage since then…”

The Empress sighed, taking a sip of tea. She continued, “After hearing of her troubles, I was hesitant to mention it to the Emperor, but I eventually did. He was kind enough to grant a pardon, allowing her family to return to the capital, although they must now live as commoners without any hope of re-entering official service.”

Meinang said, “The Emperor has shown great mercy, and that is enough.”

The Empress nodded. “Yes, I only dared to make such a request because I’m pregnant and have received special treatment from the Emperor. I did it for Lin Ru Nan, so she can at least rely on old friends to find a good marriage and live a peaceful life.”

Meinang was deeply moved. “Your Majesty’s kindness is unparalleled. You care for your friends with such genuine affection, I can’t help but admire you.”

The Empress smiled warmly. “I wanted to speak with you for this reason. I’m not concerned with others, but I can’t bear to see Lin Ru Nan suffer. I’ve done all I can, and her family has been pardoned. They should be back in the capital by now. Their property is gone, and I don’t know where they’ll live. Please keep an eye on them, and if they need anything, I’ll help.”

Meinang quickly assured her, “There will be no trouble. Lin Ru Nan is both Your Majesty’s and my friend. I will handle everything and ensure that she suffers no further hardship.”

The Empress nodded. “You take care of it for now. I will look into ways to return some of her family’s property to help them get by. You must take care of her.”

Meinang promised to do so and encouraged the Empress to focus on her health. As they spoke, the lanterns outside began to glow brilliantly, and the palace garden became a dazzling spectacle. Meinang admired the scene, forgetting to eat.

The Empress, a little apologetic, said, “I know you can’t go out to enjoy the lanterns because of the wind, and the Emperor has advised me to stay in as well. But tonight, I’m so glad you’re here to accompany me. Without you, this evening would have been quite dull.”

Meinang smiled. “Sometimes, it’s better to admire the lanterns from a distance. The closer you get, the less enchanting they may seem. It’s my honor to be here with Your Majesty tonight. As for Lin Ru Nan, it’s the duty of a friend to help her.”

The Empress smiled brightly. “If you ever feel like talking, just call for me. I’ll come to see you.”

As the night deepened, the lanterns illuminated the entire palace, creating a magical atmosphere. The Emperor later visited the Empress in the pavilion, and Meinang had her first official meeting with him. Nervous, she greeted him, and the Emperor teasingly remarked that she had forgotten him after her illness.

Their conversation lightened, and the Emperor made jokes, making Meinang feel more at ease. Eventually, the Emperor assured her that he would have Xu Jun Ying come to escort her after the lantern viewing. He also expressed his hope that she would join him and the Empress to admire the lanterns again next year, with their children in tow.

Meinang smiled, feeling grateful for the Empress’s friendship and the Emperor’s kindness. The evening continued with laughter, food, and lanterns, marking a peaceful and enjoyable Lantern Festival.