The breeze of Qingfeng gradually turned cool; once again, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival of the year.
In the first three years after Emperor Xingwu ascended the throne, the national treasury was either empty and everything was in need of revival, or he was busy waging wars in the Southern Region to achieve unification.
There had never been a Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet held in the palace.
This year, the Northern Region enjoyed favorable weather, and the Southern Region had fully returned to Great Qi.
There was no shortage of silver, nor of achievements.
Pleased, Emperor Xingwu issued an edict ordering the Imperial Sacrificial Court, Imperial Banquet Court, and Imperial Cuisine Bureau to jointly prepare a Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet.
The Imperial Sacrificial Court was responsible for the pre-banquet rituals and the music and dance for the entire event.
On the ninth day of the eighth month, a steward from the Imperial Sacrificial Court requested that the Noble Lady move to Yichun Pavilion to select from among the thirty musical and dance pieces prepared for the banquet.
From these, she was to pick two sets each of nine musical pieces and three dances, to be performed at the two banquets presided over by the Emperor and the concubines on Mid-Autumn night.
Both the Yichun Pavilion within the palace and the Bureau of Entertainment outside were under the management of the Imperial Sacrificial Court.
Songstresses and dancers first trained at the Bureau of Entertainment, and only the most skilled among them could be selected into Yichun Pavilion, where they might perform for the nobility at any time.
Before departing, the Noble Lady sent for Consort Li and Grand Princess Yongkang: “His Majesty is not interested in music and dance, leaving the decisions to me. But it’s difficult for me to decide alone, so I’ve invited you both to come along and help me consider.”
Consort Li was both flattered and startled: “I know nothing about music or dance. I always just watch for the fun during the feast. Sister, you should decide on your own.”
The Noble Lady had anticipated this and smiled: “Appreciating music and dance is simple. If there’s one you like, just tell me.”
Both women were Emperor Xingwu’s consorts. In fact, though the Noble Lady had served the Emperor for a few years longer, the time she had spent with Consort Li still exceeded her time with the Emperor.
Consort Li was as beautiful as a fairy, gentle and without contention.
Emperor Xingwu liked her, and so did the Noble Lady. Being women, they had even more topics to talk about together.
Yongkang listened quietly as the two concubines politely deferred to each other.
The Noble Lady then turned to chat with the Grand Princess, leaving none neglected.
When they arrived at Yichun Pavilion, the Noble Lady led the two to their seats, and the selection began in an orderly fashion.
Qingyang was studying in Chongwen Pavilion and knew nothing of this matter until noon, when she was dining with her Imperial Concubine in Qianyuan Hall.
Her Father Emperor asked her Imperial Concubine about how the music and dance selection at Yichun Pavilion had gone.
Only then did Qingyang, who had been focused on eating, look up and unhappily ask, “Mother, why didn’t you take me to Yichun Pavilion?”
Consort Li coaxed, “You were studying. How could I disturb you for this? Besides, you’ll see it on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.”
Qingyang said, “But I want to see it now.”
Emperor Xingwu doted on his daughter and looked at Consort Li: “Which dance is the most beautiful? I’ll send someone to bring the songstresses over to dance for Lin’er first.”
Consort Li frowned and advised, “It’s lunchtime, and the songstresses have been busy rehearsing lately. Your Majesty, please don’t trouble them further.”
Not wishing to be a foolish ruler, Emperor Xingwu accepted her advice and taught his daughter, “Your mother is right. We cannot use our noble status to trouble others for our own desires, making them run about when they should be resting.”
Qingyang nodded obediently and took another bite, but she continued to ask about the music and dance: “Did they dance ‘Stars Surrounding the Moon’?”
Consort Li’s expression changed.
She shot her daughter a warning look and tried to sound casual: “No, all the dances this time are newly choreographed.”
Emperor Xingwu noticed the oddity between mother and daughter and laughed, “What is ‘Stars Surrounding the Moon’? Why don’t I remember it?”
Consort Li replied, “During the Dragon Boat Festival this year, when we invited Prince Yong’s family to a Family Banquet, it was a dance performed by Yichun Pavilion.”
Emperor Xingwu was even more curious: “It must be a wonderful dance, for Lin’er to remember it so clearly after three months.”
Consort Li laughed awkwardly.
Qingyang didn’t understand why Father Emperor kept staring at her, but she had promised her mother to keep it secret and would never tell Father Emperor.
Emperor Xingwu did not press his daughter. During his nap, however, he used his own means to pry the truth from Consort Li.
Gentle as a willow, Consort Li could not withstand the Emperor’s pressure and finally confessed, then had no choice but to perform a portion of the dance for the Emperor while wearing a thin sleeping gown, her face flushed.
Emperor Xingwu had long experienced Consort Li’s beauty, but seeing her graceful and lively dance now, he was truly amazed: “So you have such talent.”
Even though Emperor Xingwu didn’t dance himself, he knew that such skill could only be achieved through years of practice.
Consort Li sat far away at the foot of the bed, her head bowed in embarrassment: “I secretly practiced for three months. Your Majesty just hasn’t seen much, that’s why you think I dance well. In truth, I can’t compare to those dancers at all.”
Emperor Xingwu beckoned her over.
When Consort Li obediently leaned into his arms, he asked, “Why did you practice in secret? If you like dancing, just ask an Imperial Tutor to teach you.”
Consort Li replied, “…What proper concubine would study such things?”
Emperor Xingwu laughed, “So you wanted to learn to dance for me, but didn’t want outsiders to know your ‘improper’ thoughts?”
Consort Li felt wronged, but the Emperor, shameless as he was, was determined and gave her no chance to explain.
***
In the blink of an eye, the fifteenth of the eighth month arrived.
Since the Palace Banquet for moon-viewing was scheduled for the evening, Emperor Xingwu spent the day with his family.
Before dusk, the family of eight played pitch-pot in the Imperial Garden.
The two concubines formed a team, Yongkang and Crown Prince Qin Hong were a team, Qin Bing and Qin Ren were a team, and the youngest and clumsiest, Qingyang, was teamed with her Father Emperor.
Qingyang missed twice in a row.
Emperor Xingwu lifted his daughter and set her two steps from the bronze pot, then guided her little hand to throw once more.
This time, she finally succeeded.
Qingyang knew this was cheating and huffed, “I don’t like this game. I want to play hide-and-seek.”
Emperor Xingwu said, “Alright, let’s play hide-and-seek then.”
Yongkang teased, “If my little sister wants to play hide-and-seek, Father Emperor agrees. But if I want to play pitch-pot, would Father Emperor play with me?”
Qin Bing joined in, “I don’t want to play either. I want to play cuju. Will Father Emperor play with me?”
Emperor Xingwu said, “Alright then, we’ll take turns playing hide-and-seek and pitch-pot.”
Yongkang laughed, and Qin Bing glared, “What about cuju?”
Emperor Xingwu said, “If you get top marks in your literature exam at the end of the month, I’ll play cuju with you for a whole day.”
After a round of fun, everyone went back to their own palaces to change and prepare for the banquet.
On the way, Qingyang learned that Father Emperor and the Noble Lady would be entertaining ministers and official ladies separately, and that her three imperial brothers would go with Father Emperor to Taiji Hall.
She immediately clung to Father Emperor’s neck and demanded, “I want to go to Taiji Hall too!”
Emperor Xingwu said, “I’m hosting ministers in Taiji Hall, and everyone will be drinking. Lin’er is a girl; it’s better to stay with your mother and the others.”
Qingyang replied, “I don’t want Father Emperor to drink. When you drink, you feel sick and keep throwing up.”
Consort Li looked away in embarrassment.
Emperor Xingwu looked at his daughter’s worried little brows and felt indescribably content.
His eldest daughter was too old to be so close to him, and his three sons probably never even thought to care about their old man.
Only his youngest daughter spoke her mind, pure and innocent.
Emperor Xingwu said, “Alright, Father Emperor will drink less tonight.”
Qingyang said, “Then take me to Taiji Hall. I want to be with Father Emperor.”
Consort Li couldn’t persuade her daughter and looked pleadingly at the Noble Lady for help.
The Noble Lady wanted to help, but Emperor Xingwu was willing to indulge his daughter.
Thus, the matter was settled amid the Little Princess’s coquettishness and Emperor Xingwu’s laughter.