The Fourth Lady

The so called Dragon Gate Banquet, has the meaning of 'the carp leaping through the dragon's gate'*. It can also be said that this is a welcoming feast specially prepared for Su Yun. The Dragon Gate Banquet would originally be held every year, but because Su Yun hadn't returned to the capital in the last three years, so this year's Dragon Gate Banquet seems to be more grand than past years'. (*T/N: In Chinese mythology there's a mythical dragon's gate wherein a carp can transform into a dragon by leaping through it.)

This was also one of Su Yun's performances that Hongjia Emperor admired. Su Yun can be said to be the only General in all of Donghe to enjoy such a rare honor. Even the Luo family, who was similarly also one of the country founding General, hasn't enjoy such treatment.

However, for the Luo family, ever since Luo Guancheng retired from the army life, the Luo family's main branch and second branch all chose literary government careers. And only his eldest legitimate daughter, Luo Bing, inherited Luo Guancheng's military power. That's why Luo Bing was also a well known female general within the capital.

The sky gradually darken, and all the red festive lanterns in the palace were already lit. Minding her own business, Qingyan focused on the chessboard in front of her. From the pieces on the board, it was impossible to tell who was winning and who was losing, but Qingyan still closely stared at the chessboard, unwilling to let any piece slip by.

All the way until a shrewd voice sounded, did Qingyan's train of thought finally get interrupted. Following the eunuch's voice of, "His Majesty has arrive, her Highness the Empress has arrive, the Crown Prince has arrive......" Everyone all rose to kowtow to the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince.

After they all took their seats, Hongjia Emperor finally sounded his powerful and resounding voice, "Beloved officials please rise."

The Dragon Gate Banquet wasn't any different from any other banquets. Or rather, for the most part, it wasn't any different from the Talent Conference. It was all considered to be showing off on behalf the imperial family, or in hopes for a Prince to take a fancy to their own daughters.

And while this Dragon Gate Banquet on the surface was a welcoming banquet for Su Yun, those womenfolk were planning to use it as an opportunity to climb up the social ladder.

Qingyan swept a glance at the Empress next to Hongjia Emperor. Indeed she was exactly as Murong Jingxuan described, a gentle and virtuous woman. It should be said that this kind of woman, who neither competes nor fights for favor, was indeed someone worthy of being a mother of a country.

And as for Yi Consort, when Qingyan directed her gaze towards her, she saw Yi Consort looking back in her direction with an curious look. After their line of sight intercepted in midair for a moment, Qingyan retracted her gaze, seemingly unconcerned with the inquisitive look in Yi Consort's eyes.

Yi Consort was certainly woman that was not easy to deal with. Since giving birth to the Second Prince till now, this woman has maintained the consort position for this long. She seems to have never committed any wrongdoings before, so even if Hongjia Emperor didn't have her in his heart, she was still able to sit on the consort position for more than ten years.

This Yi Consort was more interesting than she'd imagined. Seems like the Second Prince was fortunate enough to have a good consort-mother. Else, he could have been easily led by the nose by someone like Su Qingming.

But at least it proved one thing, that is if Yi Consort was no longer a imperial consort, then Xuanyuan Yufan would be someone without any support.

Qingyan didn't see Qilian Yuran's figure at the banquet. She knew that in the end, Qilian Yuran still didn't like this kind of setting. For the most part, she probably would always think of Qilian Qingyan of the past in this kind of setting.

But even so, the former Qilian Qingyan was already gone.

Before the start of the banquet, there was the designated performances that were prearranged. After the performances ended, Hongjia Emperor finally began to eat. And Su Qingyan knew that this moment was actually where the essence of the Dragon Gate Banquet was at. Because based on everyone's expression, they will surely suggest for someone to volunteer a performance. And this performance was nothing more than another way to try to please Hongjia Emperor.

Qingyan looked to the delicate dishes before her and felt rather dull. Just like the feeling from before, Qingyan kept feeling that there was a gaze following her. But when she looked over, she only found a tall tree standing behind her.

Qingyan picked up a fruit from the fruit bowl and slowly began to have taste. Inwardly, she thought that perhaps because of Xiuran's plan today, it made her mind be in a tense and heightened state. That's why she would keep having this feeling.

"Big sister, I want to eat that." Su Qingcong said as he stretched his small hand out towards the red fruit in front of Su Qingyan. But unfortunately his arms were too short, and he couldn't reach it.

The red fruit was Donghe's specialty fruit, called 'shan mei'. But despite so, because of its costly price, it wasn't a fruit that ordinary families could eat.

(*T/N: Literal meaning is 'mountain berry', it's a species of raspberry native to China.)

Even someone of Qingyan's status wasn't able to eat this fruit often, because this fruit was a set tribute sent to the palace.

"Alright." Qingyan smilingly pushed all the shan mei in front of her to Su Qingcong. "If Cong'er likes it, then you can eat big sister's share too." She said as she even rubbed his little head.

Su Qingcong saw the fruit before him, but still only took a few. And afterwards, he even shared a few of the shan mei in his hand with Su Qingxue, who was quietly eating fruits to the side.

Su Qingxue accepted the shan mei handed to her from Su Qingcong with a smile. Yet, she placed it back onto Su Qingcong's plate before him. She looked to Qingcong and spoke smiling, "Big sister doesn't want to eat, it's fine if just Cong'er eats."

Qingyan very much liked seeing this kind of scene, because she knew that only when these two siblings mutually help each other, can they finally solve some things, even if those matters were insignificant to them.

Just then, the Third Prince, Xuanyuan Yuzhe's, voice sounded, "Imperial father, now that the meal has progressed to the halfway point, and since today's Dragon Gate Banquet is more grand than the past's, we should have every family come up with a good show. This way the banquet won't be so dull."

Hongjia Emperor listened to Xuanyuan Yuzhe's words, and after thinking for a moment, felt that his words were pretty reasonable. He glanced to the Empress next to him and said with a smile, "What does the Empress think?"

The Empress looked to Hongjia Emperor and spoke smiling, "This subject-wife also feels this idea is very good. I can assume that all the younger sisters* also think so too, right?"

(*T/N: Not her actual sisters, but referring to the other consorts present. Women of the harem often refer to each other as sisters to show closeness.)

Hearing the Empress's words, everyone naturally all agreed in succession. Naturally they all felt this idea was very good, moreover, these sons of theirs have all yet to marry. If they can find a daughter-in-law today in this kind of setting, then naturally it was all good. "Beloved Officials, who is willing to volunteer to perform first. If the performance is good, then this Emperor will definitely give a reward." Hongjia Emperor looked at the bunch below him and spoke with a smile on his face.

He knew that these sheltered young ladies were already all eager to have a try. When he thought of this, he turned his sight onto Su Qingyan, who was sitting to the side. On her face was an unperturbed calmness, as if everything that was happening all had nothing to do with her.

He thought back to what Su Yun once said and recalled what happened during the Dragon Gate Banquet three years ago. Hongjia Emperor couldn't help frowning. In the end, she was still just a child.

Since she is just a child, then she had the right to be forgiven by everyone. Besides, she even became Ning'er's savior today.

Qingyan felt Hongjia Emperor's gaze on her, but she still remained unmoved in her seat, because she knew what Hongjia Emperor meant with his gaze. But it doesn't matter. Tonight, as long as no one directly points her out, she definitely wasn't going to volunteer herself to perform.

But she was afraid that those who harbor ill intentions wasn't willing to let her have her heart's desire.

Qingyan's gaze quietly swept through the expressions on all the young ladies at the banquet. Just then, she heard a familiar voice sounding. "Your Majesty, this subject-daughter is willing to volunteer for the first performance."