Chapter 40

Soon, the day of the palace banquet arrived.

For Tuan Tuan's first time attending such an important banquet, Cheng Ru'an personally made her a new outfit, and Liu Mamamu helped her dress carefully; upon seeing her, everyone:

The upper part was a delicate light yellow, with embroidered twisting lotus vines on the collar and cuffs, paired with a moon-white pleated skirt below. At the waist hung an exquisite embroidered pouch bearing the same pattern.

Tuan Tuan took a few steps inside the room, her skirt swaying open in a soft arc, like the faint ripples spreading across a lake surface.

Her hair was tied into two neat little buns, each fastened with a matching hairband inlaid with red coral beads, the ends dangling jauntily by her ears.

Around her neck hung a fine red-gold chain from which dangled a gold-inlaid jade longevity lock, and on each wrist she wore a small gold bracelet wrapped with twisted pearl buds.

Her little face was clean and round like a peeled egg; when she smiled, the two sweet, soft dimples sank in, looking as if filled with honey, just sweet to behold.

A delicate, fair-skinned little girl, so lovely one couldn't look away.

Xiao Ningxun exclaimed, "Mother's needlework is superb, the accessories match perfectly—Tuan Tuan's outfit is gorgeous! How could it be so beautiful!"

Xiao Ningchen, who usually spoke little, offered no praise, merely nodding repeatedly beside them.

Tuan Tuan lowered her head and tugged at the little embroidered pouch: "Mother, is this the new one you made for me?"

Cheng Ru'an smiled: "Exactly, it matches this outfit! Do you like it, Tuan Tuan?"

"I love it! Especially pretty!" Tuan Tuan flung herself into her mother's arms, reached out with her little hand to pull her mother's face close, and gave her a vigorous kiss: "Anything Mother makes, I love! Thank you, Mother!"

Cheng Ru'an was coaxed into a beaming smile by her daughter, then looked to Xiao Yuanhang: "Your Highness, Tuan Tuan is attending the banquet like this—what do you think?"

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "Very good, my daughter, that's exactly how she should dress."

Liu Mamamu glanced at the time: "It's getting late; the carriage is already waiting outside."

Cheng Ru'an hesitated for a moment: "Your Highness, are you really not going?"

"For this palace banquet, the Emperor originally intended to gather the family, but due to his slight indisposition, he temporarily changed it to a treasure-appreciation gathering hosted by the Grand Princess; those attending will likely be officials' wives, so you just need to bring Tuan Tuan."

Cheng Ru'an nodded: "What Your Highness says is correct."

"Mother, what is a treasure-appreciation gathering?" Tuan Tuan asked, hearing the term for the first time, curious.

"A treasure-appreciation gathering is when attendees don't just go for tea and snacks; they also bring their own exquisite little items, sit together, and appreciate them collectively."

Upon hearing about the little items, Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "A treasure-appreciation gathering means there's food and lots of fun! Mother, what should we bring?"

Cheng Ru'an knew her husband's recovery alone would draw enough attention; she wanted to keep a low profile and avoid making a scene at the banquet: "We're just going to look around; there's no need to bring anything."

"Let's go." Cheng Ru'an took her daughter's little hand and rose to her feet.

"I'm going too!" Xiao Ningxun hurried to follow, while Xiao Ningchen walked silently behind.

Tuan Tuan got into the carriage first, and Xiao Yuanhang grabbed his wife, who was about to climb in, saying: "The incident at Suijin Pavilion that day has spread throughout Jingcheng; I expect no one would dare utter nonsense today, but if there are still clueless people, you needn't suffer and retreat—I'm here."

Cheng Ru'an nodded: "I understand, don't worry." She turned and slipped into the carriage.

The father and son watched the carriage gradually fade from sight until it disappeared, then reluctantly returned to the Prince's Mansion.

This treasure-appreciation gathering was arranged in the hall where Grand Princess Xiao Anhe resides, the Chenghui Hall.

Xiao Anhe is the Emperor's own elder sister; early on she married Prince Consort Huo Junming, a couple that aroused envy. Yet not long after their wedding, Huo Junming died on the battlefield, leaving the Grand Princess alone, widowed at a young age.

The Emperor summoned the Grand Princess back to the palace, granted her residence in Chenghui Hall, and named her the sole Grand Princess of the dynasty, holding her in utmost esteem.

Cheng Ru'an led Tuan Tuan to the gate of Chenghui Hall, pointed at the plaque, and taught her: "Tuan Tuan, look, the characters on this sign read Chenghui Hall."

Tuan Tuan lifted her head and followed along: "Chen, hui, dian." Mother, this place is huge! Bigger than our Prince's Mansion!

Cheng Ru'an laughed: "Yes, because this is the imperial palace!"

Hardly had her words faded when a cold voice sounded from behind: "So the so-called Prince's Mansion maiden, Princess Jiayou, has never even set foot in the imperial palace!"

Cheng Ru'an turned around and saw two women standing behind her; the older one she recognized as Zhao Qilan, the principal lady of the Needle'guo Marquis's household, while the younger was somewhat unfamiliar.

"Oh, it's Lady Zhao of the Needle'guo Marquis's household; and who is this?" Cheng Ru'an, having heard her husband mention the Suijin Pavilion incident, did not wish to engage further with them, merely wanting to observe proper etiquette.

"Greetings, Princess Consort Ning." The young woman performed a proper salute, her bearing dignified and graceful: "I am Wei Qingchen, the legitimate daughter of the Needle'guo Marquis's household; I have come with my mother to attend the gathering."

"The Needle'guo Marquis's household! Isn't that the family of the scoundrels who tried to snatch my food that day?" Tuan Tuan lifted her head and looked at them: "You're also a legitimate daughter, right? I'm Princess Jiayou!"

Zhao Qilan and Wei Qingchen's faces instantly darkened: "This little brat! At such a young age, she knows how to use her princess status to press us down! No wonder she could cause Bing'an to suffer such a great fall that day."

According to rank, although the marquis's household holds a title, it is far inferior to the prestige of a commandery princess; they ought to pay respects to Tuan Tuan.

But having just seen Cheng Ru'an and her daughter, and recalling the incident with Wei Bing'an, they were filled with resentment—how could they bend low to perform a great salute before a little girl?

The mother and daughter exchanged a glance; unwilling to perform the salute yet finding no suitable excuse to decline, they froze in place.

Cheng Ru'an glanced at her daughter; the Suijin Pavilion incident had already caused a rift between the two families, and she, naturally gentle and mild, did not wish to widen that rift further.

She then gave a slight smile: "You needn't stand on ceremony; the banquet is about to begin—don't miss the timing, go inside." She turned and led Tuan Tuan inside.

Seeing them walk away, Wei Qingchen fiercely stamped her foot: "Mother! Look at that little girl—so arrogant! I can't swallow this insult no matter what! Is my third brother still cooped up in Jingzhao Prefecture, not yet out? Mother, how can you just stand by?"

Zhao Qilan grabbed her daughter's hand: "What's the rush? A country-bred wild girl who barely knows a few characters, and Cheng Ru'an is soft-natured and easy to bully—at today's treasure-appreciation gathering, just find a chance to let her make a huge fool of herself before everyone."

"That princess title of hers is merely something the Emperor bestowed out of face for Ning Wang, who had just awakened, by personally going to the palace to request it."

"You are the legitimate daughter of our Needle'guo Marquis's household, raised beside me since childhood, nurtured with riches and jade, taught by the finest masters—how could you possibly not outrank a wet-behind-the-ears country girl who isn't fit for polite company?"

Zhao Qilan carefully examined her daughter, adjusted the hairpin at her temples, and said: "Show your dignity; don't lose the status of the marquis's household's young lady."

Wei Qingchen drew a deep breath at her mother's words: "Mother, you're right; I've taken note of it all."

Zhao Qilan nodded in satisfaction, and mother and daughter entered Chenghui Hall together.

Inside Chenghui Hall, beams of yun-ding sandalwood supported the roof, while crystal jade bi served as lamps, exuding utmost splendor and dignity.

The hall had no regular seating; instead, dozens of zitan tables and stands were arranged in a staggered fashion, each draped with bright yellow brocade, bearing not only assorted refined tea snacks but also displaying the curious treasures each family had brought.

Imperial kinsfolk, nobles, and ladies of rank were already gathered in small groups, moving leisurely among them.

As it happened, the Needle'guo Marquis's household's table was placed right beside the Ning Prince's Mansion's table.

"The Grand Princess approaches!" a eunuch announced loudly.

"Elder Princess has arrived!" the inner attendant sang loudly.