"You're not even thirty yet and you already look like this. If you're depressed, no amount of elixir will help," she said.
She could only be speaking to herself. Having experienced the treachery of the imperial court for most of her life, how had she ended up in this predicament? She refused to believe that Emperor Qi hadn't played a part in pushing her to this point.
For a moment, the food and wine before her lost their appeal, and she sank into a reverie of the past.
After Xiao Tingyi left, the banquet remained lively.
Among the princes, the First Prince was held in the highest regard. By his side was his heavily pregnant First Princess Consort, both dressed in exceptionally grand attire. The First Princess Consort's bulging belly indicated that her labor was not far off.
The Empress, concerned for the imperial grandchild, naturally ensured extra vigilance.
Every dish and drink was meticulously inspected, leaving no room for error.
The First Princess Consort hailed from the Li clan, descendants of the founding heroes of the Great Jin. Emperor Qi seemed quite fond of her.
"I recall the Empress mentioning your fondness for sour flavors. Coincidentally, we received many tributes from the outer territories this time, and one of them is called tamarind. I hear it has an excellent taste. I shall bestow it upon you, and I hope you will give birth to a son soon."
"Thank you for your concern, Father Emperor. Your daughter-in-law is doing well in all aspects."
Although the First Princess Consort was close to giving birth, her complexion and spirits were excellent, clearly indicating she had been well cared for. She did not appear bloated or fatigued, but rather exuded a gentle aura amidst the myriad of lights.
The First Prince exchanged a smile with her, his gaze sweeping past the Ninth Prince beside them. The Ninth Prince was drinking by himself, as if he hadn't heard a word.
"Ninth Brother, why have you come alone again? This time, Father Emperor and Noble Consort should find you a suitable marriage, lest your lineage be delayed."
Though not explicitly stated, the jab at the Wei family was obvious.
The engagement between the Ninth Prince and Wei Lanxuan was already widely known, but it was ultimately snatched away by the Liang family. One had to admit, it was indeed "regrettable."
After speaking, the First Prince raised his wine cup to the Ninth Prince, a more pronounced smile on his face.
The Ninth Prince found the remark tiresome. Fearing that Noble Consort Wei would be furious, he turned to his father, Duke Wei, his eyes practically spitting fire. However, Duke Wei appeared calm, as if he hadn't taken the words to heart.
In that moment, Noble Consort Wei could only swallow her anger, directing her resentment towards the Liang family.
While the exchanges in the Moon Worship Pavilion were filled with veiled barbs and sharp wit, the commoners below the Zhengde Tower eagerly awaited the lantern ceremony.
Lighting the lanterns was the most crucial part of the Lantern Festival.
In front of the Zhengde Tower, lanterns had been erected for half a month. Four majestic dragons, positioned at the front, back, left, and right, were constructed from countless small lanterns. They were not only lifelike but also exuded an air of dominance over the world.
On the night of the Lantern Festival, the oil-soaked grass at the base of the dragons would be ignited, and the dragons would come to life, heralding a year of favorable weather and abundant harvests.
Therefore, many people had gathered early, anticipating the spectacle.
Feng Er and Xiao Muqian, flanking Feng Jinyao and the other two, had pushed their way to the very front. Witnessing the grandeur up close, they marveled at the scale.
The girth of the four dragons was so immense that even two or three people hugging them wouldn't be enough, let alone their lifelike posture.
One could only admire the skill of the artisans!
The walls of the Zhengde Tower featured mechanisms that released a continuous flow of water, resembling a waterfall, creating an ethereal atmosphere.
Below, a spacious platform had been prepared, with poles erected around it. These poles supported colorful silk canopies, beneath which sat renowned performers invited by the Ying Tian Prefecture. They played music and performed, appearing from afar as celestial beings descended to add splendor to the earthly festivities.
In the center of the dragons was a massive lantern sphere, with the dragons circling it, creating a magnificent scene.
Inside the sphere was a luminous pearl from the East Sea. Its faint glow made the pearl seem as if it had descended from the heavens, radiating an aura of peace.
"I heard that once the oil troughs are lit, the dragons will soar into the sky and four dragons will vie for the pearl," Feng Er explained, having witnessed this many times.
"Oh? What happens if one wins? And what if none do?" Xiao Muqian asked. He had left the Eastern Capital as a child and grown up in Liangzhou, so he was unfamiliar with the customs.
Feng Er smiled and continued, "Each dragon represents a region of the Great Jin: east, south, west, and north. Whichever dragon king snatches the pearl signifies an abundant harvest for that region in the coming year."
So that was it. Xiao Muqian understood, though he privately felt it was merely a spectacle to entertain the populace, not something to be taken too seriously.
Amidst the roaring cheers, soldiers in brocade uniforms stepped forward and ignited the oil troughs. As the flames touched the oil, they flared up and spread rapidly, quickly igniting the excitement of the crowd.
The dragons indeed came to life, their heads held high, letting out powerful roars, solemn and grand. Their sharp claws and serpentine bodies began to move.
The commoners were ecstatic. As the four dragons began to move towards the dragon pearl, everyone watched intently, afraid of missing a single moment of the spectacle.
"Such a grand display, only our Great Jin could achieve this, I suppose," Bai Siruo said, her face filled with pride and happiness at living in this land.
The dragon king representing the south, with lightning speed, was the first to reach the dragon pearl. It opened its maw as if to swallow the pearl, but was preempted by the western dragon king. It circled beneath, and while the southern dragon was caught off guard, the western dragon nudged it aside and seized the pearl.
As the western dragon king obtained the pearl, the crowd below erupted in cheers, shouting "Long live, long live, long live!"
Emperor Qi, who was still savoring his delicacies, heard the cheers and his expression grew even more joyous.
"Which dragon king has obtained the pearl this year?"
"Your Majesty, it is the Western Dragon King."
"Excellent, excellent! Since the heavens have given this omen, the southwestern and northwestern regions will surely have a bountiful harvest this year."
"It is the grace of heaven, and also due to Your Majesty's wise governance of the Great Jin, that we have this auspicious sign. Your humble subject sincerely wishes for the Great Jin to have a prosperous year and for all the people to live in peace."
"Well said, First Prince. Only when the people are at peace can I, as emperor, govern in peace."
Receiving this praise, the First Prince immediately knelt and shouted, "Long live, long live, long live, Father Emperor!"
Following his lead, the imperial relatives and ministers also erupted in cheers, "Long live, long live, long live, Your Majesty!"
Emperor Qi's eyes crinkled with joy. Several times, he cast approving and gratified glances at the Empress.
The resentment that Noble Consort Wei had suppressed for so long was finally released. What if she was favored? What if her son had military achievements?
In the end, it was she, the Empress, who stood beside the Emperor to receive the homage of the people.
And it was her son who would ultimately ascend the throne.
With this thought, her smile became considerably more genuine.