Chapter 425: Perceptual Error
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling nodded vigorously. She was probably the most relaxed among everyone. To her, it was just a palace banquet. When a group of women got together, they would at most gossip. Wouldn’t it be fine as long as she ate quietly?
However, when they set off in the afternoon, Qi Haoran’s words shattered her dream. Mu Yangling asked loudly, “What did you say? The Emperor is going to ask us questions? Why would the Emperor ask us a question?”
Qi Haoran patiently explained, “The Emperor might not necessarily ask you questions, but it’s always good to be prepared. After all, he specially called us back. He has already seen me and might ask you a few questions. So be careful and don’t say anything you shouldn’t.”
Mu Yangling heaved a sigh of relief. “I thought we had to pay our respects to the Emperor. Isn’t he busy during the New Year? He definitely won’t have time to specially summon us, right?”
This time, it was Qi Haoran’s turn to be surprised. He said blankly, “Who said that the Emperor would specially summon you?”
Mu Yangling glanced at him. “Didn’t you say that just now?”
“Wait.” Qi Haoran stopped in his tracks and said seriously, “I only said that His Majesty might ask you questions, but I didn’t say that he would specially summon you?”
“How can he ask questions if he doesn’t summon us?”
“Aren’t we going to the palace banquet? If anything comes to the Emperor’s mind, he might just ask a few questions. It’ll be in front of so many people, that’s why I asked you to be more cautious.”
“…” Mu Yangling hesitated before saying, “Perhaps I misunderstood at the beginning. Aren’t the palace banquets separated? Shouldn’t the Empress be the one hosting our side? Will the Emperor also come to the women’s side?”
Qi Haoran looked at Mu Yangling for a long time before grabbing her hand and turning to walk back. “Forget it. I’d better tell them that you’re sick and can’t attend. Sister-in-law and I will just go by ourselves.”
Mu Yangling stood still and pulled him back. “Explain clearly. What’s going on?”
“The palace banquet of the Great Zhou Dynasty has never been separated. Do you think it’s the previous dynasty? Isn’t this common knowledge? Even everyone in the residence of a seventh-grade county magistrate knows about this. As the wife of a fourth-grade assistant commander, shouldn’t you be well aware?” Qi Haoran accused.
Mu Yangling was stunned. Then, she jumped up and said, “How would I know when no one told me about it? Besides, aren’t you guys particular about men and women staying an appropriate distance from each other? Why are men and women attending a palace banquet together?”
In the end, Qi Haoran still dragged Mu Yangling into the carriage. He really wanted to leave Mu Yangling behind, but she refused no matter what. It was rare to have a chance to witness a historical palace banquet, so why should she give up such an opportunity?
Qi Haoran could only equip her with a lot of general knowledge at the last minute in the carriage.
Actually, the palace banquets of the past dynasties were not very strict. Other than those banquets that were specially held for the court, the harem, officials, and their family members would join in the celebration during major festivals.
Not to mention the current dynasty, the Tang Dynasty, the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and the Western Jin Dynasty were much more open than the Great Zhou Dynasty with regards to their annual palace banquets. If a scholar accidentally met a princess in the imperial garden, it would not be a big deal for him to tease her. Of course, that was during the Former Tang Dynasty and the middle period of the Tang Dynasty. In the Later Tang Dynasty, it was much stricter such that men and women were separated at the palace banquet. Even if it was jointly held in the same garden, there would be a screen between the two genders.
During the Great Zhou Dynasty, things had been restrained for the past few decades. It was said that during Emperor Shizong’s time, everyone entered the garden in the morning. Food would be served separately as the guests arrive in succession, so everyone just ate when they were hungry. Men and women enjoyed various little games at the same venue. Sometimes, Emperor Shizong would even change into casual clothes and have fun with the ministers. It was lively until nighttime. Once everyone sat down, they would watch the song and dance performances before returning home to observe the tradition of staying up all night to see the new year in. At that time, the palace banquet was still held on Chinese New Year’s Eve.
When Emperor Gaozong ascended the throne, he changed the date to one day before Chinese New Year’s Eve. From then on, this date was fixed. There were also more performances added which varied in scale.
When it came to Emperor Jingyan’s time, although he loved to play, he had always observed the rules during the New Year’s banquet. He would never do anything that the imperial censors could use against him.
Qi Haoran whispered all sorts of rules in Mu Yangling’s ear. He only relaxed after she repeatedly promised to follow him and her sister-in-law closely.
Qi Haoran hugged his wife and sighed. “I don’t know if bringing you into the palace is right or wrong.”
“Of course it’s right.” Mu Yangling immediately said, “I can protect Sister-in-law at all times. A man like you can’t very well follow Sister-in-law at all times, right?”
Qi Haoran pursed his lips. “Isn’t it just Sister-in-law taking the carriage by herself now?”
“That’s because you dragged me over. If it weren’t for you, I would have been in the same carriage as Sister-in-law.”
“Yes.” Qi Haoran said slowly, “I shouldn’t have dragged you here to teach you those rules…”
Mu Yangling immediately massaged his shoulders ingratiatingly. Qi Haoran immediately spread his legs like a rich young master and said, “Don’t just massage the shoulders. Massage the legs, too.”
The two of them played around all the way to the entrance of the palace. After the guards checked their tokens, they got off the carriage. At this moment, there were already many people waiting outside the palace. Some of them had white hair and were holding crutches as they were helped in by their juniors.
Mu Yangling sighed when she saw this. Goodness. To think these men had to rush over to attend the palace banquet at such an old age.
Following her gaze, Qi Haoran said, “That’s a noble family. Some of them are matriarchs, while others are the wives of the family heads. The wives of the ministers of the six departments, who aren’t young anymore, will also come.”
“What about the mothers of the six ministers?” Mu Yangling asked curiously.
“Those who are healthy will naturally come, and those who are not will take leave. However, they will usually choose to attend. After all, this is an honor.”
Although there were many people who were entering the palace, they were all cultured people. The young would give in to the old, and the junior officials would give in to the high officials. There would not be many people left outside.
Although the Qi family was entering the palace with Qi Xiuyuan’s title as a Grade 2A official, Qi Feng tactfully gave in and entered the palace with the other Grade 3A officials.
Mu Yangling walked beside Li Jinghua and followed Madam Wu and the others to Eternal Joy Palace, where the palace banquet was held.
Although Mu Yangling did not look around, she would occasionally turn her head to look at the scenery on the road. She was much more relaxed than the others on the road. Madam Wu, who was at the side, was already so nervous that her forehead was sweating. She walked behind Qi Feng without looking sideways and had no time to care about Li Jinghua and Mu Yangling. Naturally, she did not notice Mu Yangling’s relaxed state.
At first, Li Jinghua was also a little nervous, but with a large group of people walking together, she was no longer nervous. Only then did she have the time to look at Mu Yangling beside her. Seeing that her eyes were shining as she admired the architectural scenery in the palace, she secretly pinched her hand.
Mu Yangling turned around and smiled. She said in a low voice, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I’m not looking around in an embarrassing manner.”
“I know you’re not being an embarrassment, but you should act a little nervous. It’s not wrong to follow the crowd.”
Mu Yangling thought about it and agreed. She immediately followed everyone’s example and lowered her head slightly to focus on a spot three inches in front of her feet. Sometimes, she would reach out to support Li Jinghua and massage her waist. Li Jinghua was shocked and felt a gentle and warm airflow spread around her waist. The stagnant soreness from before instantly disappeared.
Li Jinghua was relieved. Then, her face turned slightly red and she whispered, “Thank you.”
Qi Haoran walked in front and looked back at them with concern from time to time. Seeing this, he couldn’t help but frown. He stopped in his tracks and walked over. “Why don’t I ask the young eunuch for a carriage?”