Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard Chapter 72.1

Eastern Li's Third Princess (1)

T/N: Chapter sponsored by BasalGanglia, Annieca, Lilianetta, and Zarate!

Du Xiao Li sat behind Du Old Madam, bored out of her mind. Ever since she came back after getting summoned by Han Ming Xiang, she discovered that the usually cold and indifferent towards her Du Old Madam actually voluntarily said a few words to her. Although it was only a short few words of, "You're back? You didn't offend Princess Changle, right?" After hearing Du Xiao Li say everyone was all good, she let her sit at her seat, and then continued chatting with Du Yun Han. 

Although separated during the resting period, during the banquet, male and female both sat together. The banquet was set in a large flower garden, in order to make it easier for everyone to admire the moon. The ground was completely covered in carpets, and the tables were divided into the right and left side. And how many rows each side had will be decided according to the number of people participating in the banquet from each family. The first row was the family's lord, the second row was the family's old madam and madam, and the third fourth row and such were the family's younger generation. 

And positioned in the middle were four seats, very obviously the Emperor, Empress, Empress Dowager, and Grand Empress Dowager's. Following below them was the seats of some imperial consorts, princes, and little princesses.

Directly across from the dragon seat, that is their table's other end, was a propped up stage, specially provided for tonight's performance. In the back was the palace hall, and a few rooms among it were used as the resting lounge. Those young ladies were currently in the back resting lounge. After they finish performing, they can return to their family's seats and use the meal together with everyone. 

Because there were a lot young ladies in the capital, and their performances more or less the same, it was inevitable that it would produce fatigue. Thus, the sooner one performed, the better the effect.

Du Xiao Li looked around. The attending officials for the most part all arrived already. Apart from the Emperor and them, having not arrived yet, between the imperial family's seats and their seats, there were still a few more empty tables. The tables were all separated individually, so it wasn't like those seats of the nobles. 

"Those tables were prepared for big brother Luo Qi and them." Du Xiu Heng saw Du Xiao Li's confused look and explained.

"Big brother Luo Qi? Oh right, he's also attending the banquet tonight. But, isn't the Emperor coming soon? How come they're still not here yet?" Du Xiao Li asked.

Du Xiu Heng put down the tea cup in hand and said, "Did you forget, Big brother Luo Qi and them are tonight's honored guests, and moreover, the people of the pugilistic world aren't governed by the imperial court, so they won't come this early."

"Big brother, how do you know?" Du Xiao Li looked to Du Xiu Heng in confusion.

"Previously, I heard them say." Du Xiu Heng casually replied, and then pulled Du Xiao Li to stand up, "The Emperor is here."

"May my Emperor live for thousands of thousands of years, Empress Dowager for tens of thousands of years, Empress for tens of thousands of years." The entire courtyard of people all stood up and bowed towards the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress, who walked from the side to the dragon chair.

"All rise, everyone have a seat." The Emperor swung his right hand sleeve and sat down onto the dragon chair. "Today is the mid-autumn festival. This emperor arranged this banquet for everyone to celebrate together, no need to be this formal."

"Thanking the Emperor."

Everyone once again sat down, yet the atmosphere wasn't as lively as before. After all, the Emperor was here, and everyone all wanted to properly show off. 

At this time, from outside the palace hall, came a voice.

"Eastern Li's third princess has arrived-----"

Following the announcement a beautiful girl wearing a red dress matched with a cornelian pendant walked in. Behind her, only one servant girl followed. This must be the Eastern Li's number one beauty, Lu Jun Qi. 

"Greeting Feng Ming's Emperor, Empress, Empress Dowager." Li Jun Qi curtsied towards Han Ming Ze and the Empress Dowager and lightly performed her greetings.

"Rise, for third princess to be able to come take part in my Feng Ming's mid-autumn banquet today is also a kind of fate." Han Ming Ze said with a smile, and then meaningfully glanced at Han Ming Yi below. "Please take your seat third princess." 

"Thank you, your Majesty." 

Lu Jin Qi followed the palace maid to her own seat and sat down. Afterwards, her gaze glued onto Han Ming Yi, who was diagonally across from her, but Han Ming Yi just drank his tea with his head lowered, completely disdaining the gaze she casted towards him. 

"Four Sea Manor's young master Luo Qi, Yu Sword Pavilion's Master, Moon Water Paradise's Shui Qing Fairy has arrived------"

(T/N: 'Yu' here has multiple meanings, it can mean either imperial, or to defend or resist, though I think it should be the latter meaning, so 'to defend the sword' pavilion.)

The announcing voice once again sounded. Luo Qi and the Yu Sword Pavilion's Master, Feng Ru Han, as well as a woman with a fairy-like bearing, slowly walked in from outside. When passing by Du Xiao Li and the others, Du Xiao Li blinked her eyes at Luo Qi who casually floated over.

"Greeting your Majesty."

"Hahaha, you three have also come, please rise and have a seat." Han Ming Ze said as he laughed out loud.

"Thanking your Majesty."

Luo Qi and Feng Ru Han sat to the left side, while Shui Qing Fairy sat down beside Lu Jun Qi. 

Eunuch Shan who was standing next to the Emperor asked: "Emperor, can we announce for the banquet to start?" 

"En, began." Seeing that everyone has all arrived, Han Ming Ze thus nodded his head.

"This servant understands." Eunuch Shan straightened his back, and just as he was about to announce for the banquet to start, from the corner of his eye, he saw the Grand Empress Dowager walking over, startling him as he widened his eyes, inwardly thinking, 'How come she left the forbidden palace this year too?' However, when the words reached the tip of his tongue, they instead became, "The Grand Empress Dowager has arrived----"

(T/N: The shiniest of golden thighs has arrived---)

Following Eunuch Shan's voice, everyone all stood up from their seats and bowed towards the slowly entering Grand Empress Dowager.

"Greetings Grand Empress Dowager---"

"You all may rise." The Grand Empress Dowager faintly spoke.

"Thanking Grand Empress Dowager."

Han Ming Ze just slightly bent at the waist, and after getting up, he came to the Grand Empress Dowager's side, helping her onto her seat and asking with a smile, "If imperial grandmother wanted to come today, why didn't you tell this grandson, this emperor would've properly arranged for it."

"En, I changed my mind at the last moment." The Grand Empress Dowager said, "Those two that had trespassed this afternoon made me suddenly want to come see tonight's banquet. Because it was a last moment decision, I wasn't able to inform you in time. I heard this year, you specially let those young ladies prepare a performance?"

"Yes, imperial grandmother." Han Ming Ze said.

"Alright, don't block in front of this grieving one anymore, go back to your own seat then. Meng Gu will attend to me." After the Grand Empress Dowager sat down, she waved her hand at Han Ming Ze as she said this.

"Yes."

Han Ming Ze returned to his own seat and nodded towards Eunuch Shan. Eunuch Shan thus took a step forward and said, "Start the banquet----"

After saying this, he returned to Han Ming Ze's side. Han Ming Ze picked up his wine cup and stood up, "Today's gathering, one is for everyone to celebrate mid-autumn together. Additionally, there's also another purpose, and that is for our outstanding officers' heroic deeds. Many thanks to our valiant soldiers for defending our homeland for us, so that we're able to gather together at this time to spend our days peacefully! Many thanks to our Great General, Ding Wang, as well as all the people of the army. At this moment, we will toast a cup to express our gratitude!" 

"Many thanks to all the soldiers!" 

T/N: There more good fluff coming in this chapter and next ohohohohoo. If I have time I'll translate extra chapters outside of sponsored and regular chapters, though don't hold me to it because I don't know if I'll actually be able to, but I'll try my best. My life is constantly going from one sleep deprived day to another. _(´ཀ`」 ∠)_

Chapter end