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.

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,

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

to have a good consort-mother. Else, he

least it proved one thing, that is if Yi Consort was no longer a imperial consort,

of setting. For

even so, the former Qilian Qingyan was already

Qingyan knew that this moment was actually where the essence of the Dragon Gate Banquet

Just like the feeling from before, Qingyan kept feeling that there was a gaze following her. But when she looked

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

hand out towards the red fruit in front of Su Qingyan. But unfortunately his arms

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

berry', it's a species

fruit often, because this fruit was a

smilingly pushed all the shan mei in front of her to Su Qingcong. "If Cong'er likes it, then you

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

to her from Su Qingcong with a smile. Yet, she placed it back onto Su Qingcong's plate before him.

scene, because she knew that only when these two siblings mutually help each other, can they finally solve

since today's Dragon Gate Banquet is more grand than the past's, we should have every family come