"How did I beco tyrannical? Haha, Xie Yun, you are quite amusing," Rong Jing said with a smile, his ability to change expressions so quickly left Gu Lan speechless.
"I misspoke," Xie Yun replied with a faint smile, breathing a sigh of relief internally, realizing that the Emperor no longer minded the matter.
"Everyone, rise," the Emperor addressed the crowd kneeling before him, his smile as harmless as that of a noble gentleman, "Changle, today is your coming-of-age ceremony, why would I punish you? Besides, it was my oversight in not considering your bond with Prince Rui."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Baoyi stood up in surprise, tears shimring in her eyes.
Rong Miaoyan also felt relieved, grateful that Xie Yun ntioned Marquis Gu, calming her father down.
"Gu Lan, my previous words were to test whether, as Yunhao’s companion, you would take responsibility in defying palace rules. You didn’t fear my ’tyranny’ and upheld the prestige of the Dingyuan Marquis," Rong Jing said with a faint smile.
Though Gu Lan knew that the so-called prestige of the Dingyuan Marquis had nothing to do with not fearing the Emperor, but since the Emperor said so, she bowed and replied, "You flatter , Your Majesty."
"Father, but Gu Lan and others left the palace without permission—" Rong Qijun said unwillingly.
Rong Jing waved his hand, his tone becoming more severe, "Gu Lan and Changle had their reasons, Yunhao is still young, so I can pardon their transgression, but you... I haven’t settled the score with you for the trouble you caused in the Imperial Family!"
"Father, please calm down, I was rely joking with Brother Lan, not expecting Brother Lan’s martial arts to be so strong..." Rong Qijun quickly knelt on the ground, a trace of resentnt flashing in his eyes.
He understood clearly now, as long as the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion stood, his father would not punish Gu Lan.
Rong Jing’s gaze flashed across Rong Heng’s face and finally he said with so significance:
"As for Fifth Prince... I know you won’t make another mistake, right."
Rong Heng lowered his head, furrowing his brows, a shadow casting over his heart.
Not only did he leave the palace, but he also went to Rong Shuo’s military camp; Rong Jing definitely wouldn’t let this go easily.
Fortunately, with Gu Lan’s identity from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, she wouldn’t be affected by it.
*
The fifteenth day of the eighth month in the sixth year of Chengping, Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Mid-Autumn Festival has always been a ti for family reunion, now coinciding with the coming-of-age ceremony of Prince Rui’s legitimate daughter, County Princess Changle. To honor Prince Rui, the Emperor specially had the Empress hold a feast in Yonghua Palace, inviting the concubines and officials with their families.
In reality, the Emperor was saving costs by combining Rong Baoyi’s coming-of-age ceremony with the Mid-Autumn banquet.
That night, a bright full moon hung in the sky, moonlight like flowing rcury shone with rippling brilliance, spilling over the winged corners of Yonghua Palace.
Inside the palace, civil and military officials accompanied by their families entered in succession, the palace halls resplendent with pearls and brightly lit, as if in daylight.
Madam Zhou represented the female mbers of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion at the feast, and before all the officials had gathered, she called Gu Lan to a corner.
"I heard this morning that you skipped class with Baoyi?"
Gu Lan asked, "Who did madam hear this from?"
This matter was just a day old, how does it feel like the whole world knows already?
"Fireworks were set off on Magpie Street last night, and soone heard Baoyi’s na, naturally recognizing you as well. It’s said the fireworks on that street were beautiful, Lan, you’re not interested in Baoyi, are you?" Madam Zhou asked worriedly.
Gu Lan: "...Have you forgotten that I am a woman."
Madam Zhou: "Seems like you’ve forgotten you’re a woman yourself."
Then, Gu Lan felt a weight in her arms, gaining another bag of East Pearls.
"I heard the fireworks cost quite a bit of silver? Is this enough, I still have two boxes of gold ingots, which I’ve handed to You’er when I ca."
Gu Lan said, "It’s enough, I don’t spend money in the palace."
She was interrupted as Madam Zhou pushed a piece of broken mooncake into her mouth.
Gu Lan, puzzled, didn’t reject it and instinctively swallowed it.
It was bean paste filling, perfectly sweet, with a soft texture -- the best mooncake she’s ever tasted.
"Your second aunt asked to bring you these mooncakes, they were so delicious that I secretly ate two while hungry in the carriage, and now there’re only two left. Do you like them?" Madam Zhou asked with a gentle smile, her eyes full of warmth.
"I like them."
Gu Lan nodded, as the formal banquet had not yet begun, she and Madam Zhou together—
Devoured the mooncakes.
"Mid-Autumn reunion, you and I, mother and daughter, also achieve a little reunion tonight. Let the old lady at the Marquis Mansion envy us," Madam Zhou said, giving Gu Lan another bite. Since Gu Lan beca more obedient, she now found joy in teasing her daughter.
With Madam Zhou’s words, Gu Lan was too embarrassed to refuse, so she ate another piece.
While eating, Gu Lan realized a gaze was fixed on her.
She tilted her head and saw Rong Heng eyeing her... mooncake with intense eyes, as if glowing red in his deep black gaze.
Gu Lan instinctively retracted the mooncake, her mouth full, cheeks round like a squirrel: "Brother Hang, next ti for sure, my second aunt brought these."
Rong Heng’s throat moved slightly, feeling even hungrier, but compared to eating Gu Lan’s mooncake, he found that the Mooncake-holding Young Master looked more appetizing.
Today’s banquet was large enough that even Rong Heng had a place.
Now everyone knew that the late Emperor’s fifth son had entered the Imperial Family, for a banquet, the Emperor wouldn’t deny Rong Heng’s attendance.
However, since there weren’t classes in the afternoon, Gu Lan naturally didn’t bring a al, so Rong Heng could only silently stay in the corner.
He calmly watched the Young Master and Madam Zhou, a fleeting hint of envy crossing his eyes.
Madam Zhou seed gentle and quiet, unlike Xiao Ning, who liked to stuff food into his hands.
Yet, Xiao Ning had already gone, and under such a bright full moon, regardless of her faults, he still deeply missed her.
"Lan, is this the... Rong Heng you ntioned before?" Madam Zhou curiously scrutinized Rong Heng.
Rong Heng accidentally t Madam Zhou’s gaze, suddenly, the ever composed Fifth Young Master Rong felt a panic seeping as he averted his gaze.
What should he call Brother Lan’s mother?
Should he address her as Mother too?
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