Princess Liling was chatting politely with some married women who looked to be about in their mid-twenties when Yuelan found her and approached. When she turned to look she beamed at Yuelan. “Yuelan you came!” she called cheerfully. “Are you nervous about attending your first palace banquet?”

Yuelan smiled and curtsied to Liling. “A bit,” she admitted, her cheeks turning a little pink. “There is so much happening and so many people watching. I’m not used to it.”

“Even though your father is a prime minister?” Liling teased.

Yuelan laughed. “He is, but events like this are a bit different in Kilin,” she explained.

“And all the important people already know who you are and what you look like so you don’t have everyone staring at you and trying to figure out your identity,” Liling agreed. “This is the wife of the heir to Duke Cheng Yi and the wife of Count Dong Li. The Duke and the Count are very loyal to Father Emperor. Ladies, this is Miss Long Yuelan, my third brother’s future wife.”

The two women turned and curtsied in greeting to Yuelan, who returned the gesture and gave them both a polite smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

The countess was the first to speak. “I’ve never heard of Kilin. Is it very far, Miss Long? Do you miss your family?”

“You could say that it is quite far,” Yuelan answered honestly. “And I do miss my father very much, but fortunately we have been able to keep in contact without problems.”

“What about your mother? Or your brothers and sisters?” the duke’s daughter-in-law inquired.

“I have no brothers and sisters and my mother died when I was very young,” Yuelan explained. “Father never married anyone else, so he raised me himself and it has been just the two of us for a very long time.”

The two women gave Yuelan sympathetic smiles. “Losing your mother must have been very difficult,” the countess said gently.

“It was. Sometimes I worry that father will be lonely and alone for the rest of his life, but I also understand that he still loves my mother very much and this is his way of honoring her memory.” Yuelan sighed and looked up at the clouds with a sad expression.

“I think that’s enough sadness for today,” Liling interrupted. “Today is a celebratory day and not a day to think of sad things.” She smiled. “Yuelan, will we have the privilege of hearing your guzheng performance today? It has been so long since I’ve been able to hear you play.”

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Yuelan’s cheeks turned somewhat pink. “Yes. His highness the third prince sent someone to fetch my guzheng. He also seems eager to have me display my skills.”

Liling beamed and clapped her hands together. “Wonderful! Yuelan’s skills with the guzheng are extraordinary. I’m excited to hear you play again and I’m sure Father Emperor will be happy to hear your music as well.”

“Princess Liling is just saying that to embarrass me. I’m sure there are many who have greater skill on the guzheng than I do.” Yuelan didn’t want anyone to think that she thought herself better than anyone else on anything. She knew the idea of the more praise the harder the fall and didn’t want to crack her skull or break her nose when she landed.

“If Princess Liling feels Miss Long is very skilled then I am looking forward to hearing Miss Long play,” the countess declared cheerfully.

“As am I,” the future duchess agreed.

Yuelan looked uncomfortable, but didn’t argue with them and smiled instead. “I hope I can live up to your expectations, then.”

When the two women eventually wandered away, Liling stood up, slipped her arm through Yuelan’s, and started pulling her along to meet as many noble women as possible. It seemed Liling was determined to make sure Yuelan would be able to hold her head up in front of these women, though Yuelan didn’t think that just meeting them and playing the guzheng would be of much use. The fact she came from a place nobody had ever heard of put her birth in question. There wasn’t anything Yuelan could do about that. Unless she did something to earn a status of her own Yuelan was sure she wouldn’t be truly accepted by anyone.

After about an hour of being dragged here and there by Liling, the odd voice of a eunuch announced the arrival of the emperor and empress and everyone turned toward the spot where the thrones had been set up to kneel with their heads lowered. After maintaining that position for what felt like a couple of minutes, the emperor’s voice sounded, allowing everyone to rise.

Silks and satins rustled and the tinkling sound of accessories swaying and hitting against each other was soft but clear around Yuelan as she rose. Liling once again claimed Yuelan’s arm and started pulling her along, this time toward the emperor and empress to give greetings. As Yuelan allowed herself to be pulled she saw the princes and other princesses making their way over as well.

The emperor’s children and Yuelan all saluted the royal couple and greeted them.

The emperor smiled and said, “Rise, all of you. Today is a day of celebration. Enjoy the festivities and don’t worry so much about the formalities.”

Yuelan straightened along with Liling and glanced at the woman seated next to the emperor. She seemed to be a tall, proud woman with a delicate, oval face and pale skin. Her dark hair was pinned atop her head and covered in accessories that looked heavy enough to make Yuelan’s neck start to ache. The woman’s dark eyes looked back at Yuelan and even though her face had a neutral smile, Yuelan could see in the empress’ eyes that the woman felt disdain and anger towards her. With the disdain and anger was a cold ruthlessness that made Yuelan shiver a bit.

This was the empress. The woman that Guangfeng wanted her to watch out for.