Chapter 80: A Magnificent Banquet

The banquet hall was large, with a vast plaza below. The civil and military officials were seated there, bustling with activity, while a few steps up led to a grand platform. This platform was for performances, connected to the main hall, which housed a smaller banquet hall—this area was reserved for the royal family and first-tier officials.

In a society with strict class divisions, status was everything.

Xiao Mama guided Tian Mi to her seat. It was in the small banquet hall, but in the back row near the entrance. Tian Mi was quite satisfied with the spot, as it was away from the gossiping circles, and she could still enjoy the performances up close.

The hall was nearly full, but Tian Mi didn’t recognize anyone. As soon as she sat down, a maidservant brought over refreshments and tea.

Noticing that many people were observing her, she responded with a polite smile! Some smiled back, while others gave her cold, sharp glances.

She, an insignificant woman with no power or influence, had accidentally entered this place of intrigue. Were there people waiting to see how she would meet her end?

Was it because of the words she had spoken so openly in front of everyone the other day?

Actually, it wasn’t entirely because of that. There was another, more vicious drama caused by this woman, Jin Wenwen, but Tian Mi had no idea about it.

Before long, a sharp voice rang out.

“His Majesty has arrived!”

Everyone stood up to welcome him. The Emperor, accompanied by the Empress, the Crown Prince, Bai Mucheng, and followed by the various concubines, slowly made their way in.

Such was the royal family! Resplendent in colorful attire, each person radiated dignity. Today, everyone wore ceremonial robes, each stitch meticulously crafted, exuding an aura of nobility and authority.

Bai Mucheng scanned the room and quickly spotted Tian Mi. Why was she sitting in that corner? It seemed too much of a slight to her.

Once everyone was seated, the Emperor and Empress took center stage, with the other concubines behind them. The Crown Prince and his consort sat in the first position on the left, Bai Mucheng in the second, followed by the Second Prince and his consort.

Bai Mucheng was the son of the Noble Concubine Li. When the King of Jin took on a secondary concubine, his primary wife did not object. Instead, she allowed him to marry two more secondary wives: the current Noble Concubine Li and Concubine Wen. Over the next two months, several more concubines were added to the King’s harem.

In a world where one cannot be satisfied with just one person, what could one expect?

When there are too many concubines, it is only then that the first wife, who stabilizes the household, becomes essential.

The Empress, now forty-six, was no longer young, but she maintained a dignified elegance. Her grace was unmatched, and her smile was warm and benevolent. Who would think that she was so wise, so adept at controlling human nature and hearts?

From her seat in the back row, Tian Mi could easily see these important figures.

The Emperor was in high spirits. He was radiant as he first addressed everyone, praising the efforts of the Duke of Ding for stabilizing the nation and bringing peace. Then, he toasted with everyone to celebrate.

Everyone raised their glasses in unison, toasting and praising the Duke of Ding’s achievements.

Then came the entertainment to liven things up. The palace’s music and dance performances were vibrant and lively, with everyone whispering in admiration as they enjoyed the show. The Empress also raised her glass to the Emperor, her spirits high as today was a celebration of her son’s achievements.

Next, the performances from various noble houses began!

Tian Mi’s eyes sparkled—she wondered what talents the young men and women of this era would display.

She needed to watch carefully!

The first to perform was the young master from the Marquis of Cheng’en’s family, the Wang family. This was the same man who owned the fragrance shop in the city. Though their family had fallen from grace and held little real power, their status still lingered.

The young master appeared to be around eighteen, with handsome features. Tian Mi’s eyes brightened at the sight of him. A refined, sunny young man—everyone here was meticulously dressed and brimming with energy.

He played a song on the flute, The Moonlight Melody. The tune was clear and graceful, flowing serenely and beautifully.

Sitting in the back row, Tian Mi didn’t feel the need to be overly reserved. She leisurely sipped her tea, enjoying the music. Ah, how much better it would be with a little wine!

Though there was wine on the table in front of her, Tian Mi didn’t dare drink. She knew her limits.

Opposite her, the Crown Prince and his consort were drinking and chatting. Bai Mucheng occasionally glanced toward Tian Mi’s corner. This plump fellow really had no decorum—his eyes lit up whenever he saw a handsome man. His mood seemed to sour immediately when he caught sight of the young man performing.

The Crown Princess is a meticulous person. She had suspected earlier and carefully analyzed everything, and now it seems that her suspicions were almost certainly correct.

She probably knows who the person involved in the strange fate is.

But the problem is, that person is a widow. How does this work? Could it be that this outstanding young man is going to marry a widow?

Madam Xiao had seen Bai Mucheng back before, and now she could finally see his face. As a careful person, she had been watching the two precious ones every day, and now seeing Bai Mucheng true appearance, her mind went a little blank. How did things end up like this?

She noticed the Crown Prince glancing toward the princess occasionally, his face growing darker. Looking at her own mistress, who was leisurely drinking tea, eating snacks, and listening to the music, looking elegant and carefree.

She stood behind Tian Mi, unable to see her admiring the young man.

Next was a beautiful lady playing the guqin, followed by song and dance, all very graceful performances. Soon, they heard the eunuch announce the arrival of the daughter of General Lin Buqu, Lin Yixue, and Lin Yuting, performing a sword dance like a dream.

Tian Mi smiled, admiring them.

The two young women bowed to the audience. This was the most confident they had ever been since coming to the capital. Along with the sound of Peng Dan’s guqin, one note after another flowed like a river.

They moved like spirits, following the rhythm of the music. The sword dance was graceful and beautiful, and as the music sped up, their movements became more intense, focused, and mesmerizing.

The audience was delighted. This was far more exciting than the previous dull performances. Even the officials and their families had to admit that their performance was captivating and outshone everyone else.

After the performance, the applause was thunderous, making the two women blush with excitement.

The Emperor and Empress both nodded in approval. Every performer at the banquet received a reward, and they were immediately given a generous reward.

This performance sparked a small climax, and then one by one, other young men and women performed. Soon, Jia Yuntang appeared.

Jia Yuntang was indeed strikingly beautiful, well-dressed, and had great elegance. Just her posture was enough to attract attention. If she hadn’t been so rude earlier, Tian Mi would’ve surely praised her!

But now, hmph! A person with such a bad heart can’t be beautiful!

Jia Yuntang performed a song, playing and singing at the same time. Her piece was “Old Red Face.” To be honest, her skill on the guqin was quite good, and her singing was very pleasant. Closing her eyes and listening was truly enjoyable, which earned her rounds of applause. The Emperor also gave her a generous reward.

Tian Mi sighed that this banquet was indeed wonderful, and now it was time for the competitive performances.

Everyone praised Jia Yuntang, saying that she was a talented young woman, and even the Empress praised her guqin skills.

Madam Jia raised a cup of wine to the Empress, thanking her for the compliment.

She said, “Your Majesty, the performances by the children of the civil and military officials were truly wonderful. It has opened my eyes.”

It was rare for these people to praise the children of military families.

The Empress smiled and replied, “Madam Jia is right! Both civil and military officials are the foundation of the nation.”

Madam Jia continued, “Having seen the performances of the civil and military officials’ children, it would be even more perfect if we could see some folk performances! I heard that Princess Changfeng comes from the common folk. If she could perform for everyone, it would be even more wonderful.”

Tian Mi was stunned. Why was she being brought up now?

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent. Everyone knew that Changfeng came from the common folk—what kind of great talent could she have?

Madam Jia clearly wanted to make it known that Princess Changfeng was just a beautiful but unremarkable commoner!

Hmph! She wanted to embarrass her in front of everyone, showing she wasn’t fit to be a princess.

The Empress, unaware of Madam Jia’s intentions, thought the princess had offended her son-in-law, so she was speaking up for them. She was about to refuse.

But Jia Taishi scolded Madam Jia, saying, “What are you talking about? Everyone knows Princess Changfeng comes from the common folk. What could she perform? Why are you making things difficult for her?”

He then turned to Tian Mi and apologized, “Princess, please forgive me. My wife does not understand.”

Damn it! The performance was really enough! The only person who smiled slightly at the scene was Bai Mucheng. He had heard from Zuo Zhengfeng that after the mountain valley battle, when everyone was exhausted and morale was low, it was her song that rekindled everyone’s energy.

It seemed Madam Jia’s plan was about to fail.