Chapter One Hundred Thirty-One: Attending a Banquet

Chapter 131: Attending the Banquet

Standing, sitting, conversing, performing rituals, dining, changing clothes...

All these had to be relearned. Lin Qiuran was like an infant, having to abandon her old habits and start from scratch.

Matron Li was recommended by Yun Shi. She was formerly a palace matron who later retired from the palace and was often invited by noble families to teach etiquette.

Lin Qiuran studied for two hours every morning and two hours every afternoon, beginning with posture and walking—how to perform court rituals.

Of course, palace matrons were different from others. When they came to the estate, they were treated as honored guests. Not only were they presented with generous gifts, but they were also treated with utmost respect, and one had to learn to serve with care and caution.

After a day of practice, her body ached all over, but it was effective. In the evening, Lin Qiuran looked at herself in the mirror and saw that her posture had greatly improved.

Regarding conversation, Matron Li advised her to keep it minimal. Aside from greeting dignitaries with proper etiquette, she should say as little as possible.

Speaking more led to more mistakes; speaking less led to fewer mistakes. Not making any mistakes was the best outcome. There would be many people at the banquet, and the emperor would celebrate with his officials, possibly even consuming alcohol. Matron Li also advised Lin Qiuran to build up her alcohol tolerance recently to avoid getting drunk and behaving improperly before the emperor.

It must be said that Lin Qiuran’s alcohol tolerance was quite good. Although she didn’t drink with others, she brewed her own wine. Sometimes she would make wine with a higher alcohol content for culinary use, and she would always taste it herself before serving it to guests.

With no worries about her alcohol tolerance, Lin Qiuran focused on learning everything else to perfection.

Lin Qiuran spent over half a month learning these things. Sun Shi, seeing her struggle like this, couldn’t help but feel relieved that she didn’t have to go.

Her aging body would surely fall to pieces if she had to learn this. Who walks balancing a bowl on their head? After half a month of practice, whether her neck would still be intact was one thing, but she was afraid that even if she learned it, she would forget once she entered the palace. With so many people around, she didn’t want to embarrass herself.

While Sun Shi wasn’t going, Tang Yuan really wanted to. The imperial palace—such a grand place—he had never been there before.

Lin Qiuran said to him, "You don’t need your father and mother to take you. Perhaps in the future, you’ll have the opportunity to go yourself."

Tang Yuan asked, "What opportunity?"

Lin Qiuran replied, "Your father enters the palace for morning court assemblies. If you enter government service in the future, you’ll be able to enter the palace too."

Being young, he found places he hadn’t been to interesting. But Lin Qiuran felt that the palace was full of rules and constrained by high walls. Especially after half a month of learning etiquette, she no longer found entering the palace particularly novel or desirable.

Tang Yuan’s eyes lit up. "Then I must study hard."

Lin Qiuran smiled. She didn’t say anything negative about the palace to Tang Yuan, partly because she was afraid he might blab to others, and partly because if he had the drive to advance, working hard to enter the palace wasn’t a bad thing.

By late July, Matron Li had left, but Lin Qiuran still set aside half an hour every day to practice palace etiquette. She didn’t aim to stand out but only to avoid making mistakes when the time came.

The rest of her time was spent preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet and preparing gifts for various mansions. This also coincided with the monthly shop inventory, keeping her extremely busy.

They had sent gifts to their hometown during the Duanwu Festival, and they had to do the same for Mid-Autumn. Over the past three months, the estate had formed several new friendships, and Tang Yuan’s teacher also needed to receive gifts.

Lin Qiuran entrusted Xu Yuanhang to bring the festival presents for their hometown. The steward there would handle it according to her instructions.

In addition to these, there were also festival presents for the household staff. With more and more people in the estate, including shop assistants and tenant farmers from the manors, arranging gifts for everyone kept Lin Qiuran busy until the ninth day of the eighth lunar month.

After this busy period, Lin Qiuran took a few days to rest properly. She did nothing but read books, drink tea, and stroll around the estate when she had nothing to do, recuperating and restoring her energy. She had a bowl of tonic bird’s nest porridge morning and night, went to bed earlier than usual, and when Xiao Xun tried to make advances, Lin Qiuran would push him away and say, "Don’t bother me. Let’s talk after Mid-Autumn."

Xiao Xun replied, "...Alright."

When Lin Qiuran saw him say this, he resembled Tang Yuan—eyebrows drooping, eyes looking down. He looked like a big dog that hadn’t gotten a bone, pitiful and sad.

But these past few days, it really wasn’t possible. She was tired.

Actually, with Tang Yuan around, sometimes it was already late, and intimate matters weren't very convenient. But the banquet took priority, and Xiao Xun was also afraid that if something went wrong on the day, whether it was his fault or not, Lin Qiuran would surely pin it on him.

The days flew by. On the evening of the fourteenth, Lin Qiuran felt somewhat nervous. After coming to the capital, especially since Xiao Xun’s return, everyone in the estate had been very cautious. The next day, she would be meeting the emperor and empress. The slightest mistake could lead to execution and bring disaster upon the whole family.

If she caused trouble, it would affect the whole family and Tang Yuan’s future. How could she not take it seriously?

Seeing that she couldn’t sleep, Xiao Xun suddenly took her hand and said, "Actually, if you’re tired, you’ll fall asleep."

Xiao Xun didn’t expect Lin Qiuran to agree, but after a moment, she leaned over, kissed the corner of his mouth, and said softly, "I think what you said makes sense."

When tired, one falls asleep faster. Thinking back to the days of learning etiquette, Lin Qiuran had gone to bed early every day.

Today should be no different.

The next morning, Xiao Xun went to the military camp early. Lin Qiuran wasn’t in a hurry to get up because the Mid-Autumn palace banquet was in the evening. She didn’t eat much during the day, as it would be inconvenient to change clothes in the palace, so it was better to eat less.

Of course, she didn’t drink much water either. If she was thirsty, she moistened her lips with a cotton swab; if she was hungry, she sucked on a piece of candy. Otherwise, fainting in a place like the palace banquet would be even more embarrassing.

In the evening, Xiao Xun returned. Lin Qiuran and Xiao Xun took a carriage to the palace. Her clothes were heavy, and her headdress was even heavier, but she had to keep her head up and couldn’t lower it.

Xiao Xun was also wearing ceremonial robes, though his was less cumbersome than Lin Qiuran’s. Xiao Xun was strong, so even heavy things didn’t feel burdensome to him. Seeing Lin Qiuran breathing lightly, he supported her pheasant-feather headdress with his hand to make it easier for her.

Lin Qiuran smiled at Xiao Xun. Before being granted the title, she had desperately hoped the emperor would confer an imperial title for women on her. Now that she had it, it came with a lot of trouble.

She said, "It’s fine, it’s okay. I’ll get used to it first, or it’ll be even more uncomfortable in the palace."

When she was practicing etiquette, she hadn’t worn this much. Today, she had an ordeal to face.

When they reached the palace gate, the carriage stopped. No matter whether one was a marquis or a duke, everyone had to get out and walk into the palace.

Many carriages were already parked at the palace gate. Xiao Xun got out first and helped Lin Qiuran down. This was her first time entering the palace. She had to keep her gaze slightly lowered to show respect, so she followed Xiao Xun, ignoring any commotion around her and keeping her eyes forward.

Passing one palace wall after another, walking past one palace attendant after another, they finally arrived at the venue for the banquet.

The building where the banquet was held was called the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, with nine floors in total. The banquet was on the eighth floor. Lin Qiuran struggled to climb the stairs and followed Xiao Xun to their seats. The emperor hadn’t arrived yet, so everyone sat and waited.

There was food on the low dining table in front of them, but no one touched it. Lin Qiuran thought that if someone ate something, like grapes, and still had food in their mouth when the emperor arrived, it would surely be embarrassing.

Thinking about that scene, it was quite amusing.

After waiting for who knows how long, the emperor, empress, empress dowager, and various consorts finally arrived. The consorts sat opposite the officials, and Lin Qiuran didn’t look up.

Outside the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, it was pitch dark with a bright moon hanging high, but the banquet hall was brilliantly lit, no different from daytime. Behind Lin Qiuran was a candle lamp shaped like a tree, with dozens of candles on it.

Musicians played behind a screen, the sound of strings and flutes particularly pleasant. All the officials and their families stood up to bow and greet, filling the hall with the unified chant of "Long live the emperor, long live the empress."

Lin Qiuran’s voice was lost among them. Then a male voice said, "My beloved officials, you may rise."

Lin Qiuran didn’t rush to sit but waited until she saw others sitting out of the corner of her eye before sitting down.

The emperor spoke of a peaceful and prosperous realm, celebrating together as a nation. Given Xiao Xun’s status, they were seated toward the back. Some of the words Lin Qiuran couldn’t hear clearly. When the emperor finished speaking, everyone stood up and bowed again.

The only good thing was that, as it was Mid-Autumn Festival, the emperor held the banquet to celebrate with his officials, so they didn’t have to perform the full three kneelings and nine prostrations. However, even though the emperor said everyone should relax, no one dared to truly let loose.

The imperial authority was formidable, and everyone was cautious. As it was Lin Qiuran’s first year, she was no exception. She toasted and made conversation with the ladies around her. When the emperor raised his glass, they had to raise theirs too, and they also had to toast the empress and offer formal greetings.

Finally, someone suggested going downstairs to watch the fireworks. Lin Qiuran, with her heavy headdress, followed them down. By the time they came back up, her neck felt like it was about to break, and she hadn’t even paid much attention to the fireworks.

She couldn’t help but think that last year she had watched the fireworks from the direction of the palace, but today she didn’t even want to look.

After sitting for a while longer, the emperor spoke again, and the banquet finally came to an end.

The palace banquet had ended, but they were still within the palace grounds, so it wasn't truly over. Lin Qiuran hadn't eaten much during the banquet, and after descending the Moon-Viewing Tower, she quietly sighed in relief.

Once inside the carriage, she finally relaxed, and as soon as she relaxed, she felt neck strain, sore shoulders, and a stiff back. Having held the same posture for over two hours, changing positions hurt.

Xiao Xun felt sorry for her, but there was little he could do. He could only help support her heavy headdress for the time being.

Lin Qiuran’s voice was weak as she said, "Never mind holding it for now. Just get me a piece of candy from my pouch."

Xiao Xun quickly retrieved one, and after eating it, Lin Qiuran felt a bit better.

Xiao Xun asked, "You're exhausted, aren't you?"

Lin Qiuran put a finger to her lips. "We’re not home yet—we can’t say things like that."

Xiao Xun smiled and nodded.

Attending a palace banquet to pay respects to the emperor was an honor that brought glory to one’s ancestors. In other families, such an event would be recorded in the family genealogy—how could anyone complain about being tired?

Such words would displease the emperor if overheard.

Lin Qiuran sat back and rested for a while, still unable to remove her headdress, so Xiao Xun continued to support it for her.

The Earl’s estate was not far from the palace gates, and they soon arrived home. As soon as they entered, Tangyuan came running out to meet them. He had been on holiday for the past couple of days and had finished his homework the day before. Still awake, he rushed toward Lin Qiuran, but Xiao Xun stopped him in time.

Tangyuan asked, "Mother, was the palace banquet fun? Were there many people? What did the emperor look like?"

Lin Qiuran thought to herself, *Do I look like I went there to have fun?* "...Ask your father. I need to go change first."

Xiao Xun picked up Tangyuan and said, "If you have questions, ask me."

Tangyuan asked eagerly, "Are we going to eat soon? Grandmother is waiting for us to have the reunion dinner."

Xiao Xun smiled. "Of course we'll eat."

He hadn’t eaten much at the banquet either—of course, one couldn’t eat nothing, as it would be disrespectful. Now, both of them were quite hungry and likely to eat a lot.

Tangyuan said, "It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival today, a time for family reunions under the full moon. We should eat together. It’s just a pity Grandfather isn’t here—otherwise, the family would be complete and happier."

Xiao Xun looked at Tangyuan with tender affection and said, "You’re right, but don’t mention your grandfather in front of your grandmother."

Tangyuan didn’t understand why but nodded seriously.

It was already the eighth month, and Xiao Dashi had been away from the capital for over half a year. The steward from their hometown wrote once a month.

If nothing noteworthy happened, the letters simply stated that all was well, as a way to reassure them.

Last month’s letter mentioned sending supplies to Xiao Dashi, who was now living in Xiao Village. Oddly enough, the old household had moved to the county town, and none of them had gone back to check on Xiao Dashi even once.

This was the so-called "care" and "remorse" Xiao Dashi had spoken of—wanting to make amends for the past. Yet, now that he had no money, they still neglected him.

Of course, Lin Qiuran wouldn’t let Xiao Dashi stay in Xiao Village indefinitely, as Xiao Xun and Sun Shi would find it hard to bear. Last month, Lin Qiuran wrote a letter arranging for Xiao Dashi to move back to the residence in Yu'an. If the old household came looking for him again and Xiao Dashi still trusted them, Sun Shi planned to seek a formal separation from him.

For now, this was the arrangement, and no money would be left in Xiao Dashi’s hands.

That's how it would be. Sun Shi thought it best for Xiao Dashi to remain where he was. Life was good now, and she wanted to live a few more years.

Sun Shi couldn’t help but wonder if, on this day of reunion, Bai Shi might have taken Xiao Dashi to celebrate the festival together.

After changing into more comfortable clothes, Lin Qiuran emerged. Her formal headdress had been removed, and her hair was pulled back simply. Sun Shi noticed the deep red marks left by the headdress on Lin Qiuran’s forehead and said with genuine concern, "Oh dear, you must be exhausted. Come, let’s eat."