On the day of the palace banquet, Ling Qingwan went as promised. Perhaps to distance herself from the siblings, Ling Chuchu set off first. Ling Xiao didn't care and got on the carriage with Ling Qingwan.
The carriage drove slowly, passing Zhuque Street and Qingya Bay. The street was bustling with people. Ling Qingwan opened the curtains and looked out.
"It seems to be a lot more lively these days than before." Ling Qingwan couldn't help but sigh.
Although she liked quietness the most, she also loved the smell of fireworks. Whenever she saw the lights of thousands of houses and the people living and working in peace and contentment, Ling Qingwan felt at ease.
"As the year draws to a close, every family is preparing for the New Year's banquet. On that day, families get together and Tokyo City becomes the most lively." Ling Xiao chuckled and said to Ling Qingwan.
Ling Qingwan looked delighted, with a pair of crescent-shaped eyes.
"Wanwan, you have suffered a lot these years." Ling Xiao was full of thoughts and couldn't help but say what was in his heart.
Ling Qingwan closed the curtains, retracted her gaze, and looked at Ling Xiao with confusion.
"This year is the first New Year you have spent with your family since you can remember. I suddenly remembered that every year at this time of year, mother missed you especially. Now that you are back, it is a blessing for mother and me." Ling Xiao was so gentle, as if he could squeeze water out of him.
Ling Qingwan's nose felt sore.
Her family is safe and sound, which is also what she hopes for.
"Brother, can we go back to our grandfather's house for the reunion dinner this year?" Ling Qingwan asked Ling Xiao.
The Marquis's family was large, and without them, the house would be lively. But my grandfather was different. His favorite and most caring person in his life was his daughter. When the family reunited, he must have missed his daughter and grandson very much.
What's more, in Ling Qingwan's view, the General's Mansion is her real home.
"My mother is the eldest lady in the family, and I am the oldest among the younger generations in the mansion. If I am not at home during the New Year, I am afraid that I will be criticized. But don't worry, I will find a way to take you to visit your grandparents during the New Year."
Ling Xiao was extremely patient. After explaining to Ling Qingwan, he made a solemn promise.
He was devoted to Ling Qingwan, so how could Ling Xiao not try his best to give Ling Qingwan what she wanted? Ling Qingwan knew that all Ling Xiao could do for her was the best.
"Don't worry about it. As long as you can spare some time during those few days to have a meal with the general and my grandfather, I will be satisfied." Ling Qingwan comforted Ling Xiao so that he wouldn't really go through the trouble of doing it, which would make Ling Qingwan feel guilty.
The carriage drove into a wide avenue, at the end of which was the north gate of the imperial palace, which was closest to Fengming Palace.
"Hey! Is this Wanwan's carriage?" An Yi heard the sound of horse hooves outside, stuck her head out, and found that it was the carriage of the Marquis' Mansion.
Someone mentioned her name, and Ling Qingwan also opened the curtains and bumped into An Yi.
"It's really Wanwan!" An Yi was so excited that if it weren't for the wall blocking her way, she would have jumped off the carriage.
"Princess." Ling Qingwan nodded.
"Why is there such a big fuss?"
Someone was muttering behind An Yi. When Ling Qingwan listened carefully, she knew it was Tan Jiao who was speaking.
That basically confirmed that An Yi misunderstood her at the last flower viewing banquet because Tan Jiao stirred up trouble in front of An Yi and said bad things about her. Ling Qingwan's heart was as clear as a mirror.
"An Yi, I'm here too. Why don't you look so happy to see me?" Ling Xiao found it funny and teased An Yi.
"Wanwan and I are like sisters, and you and I have nothing to do with each other." An Yi pouted and teased.
She was a talkative person, and the few of them laughed and chatted for a long time on the avenue. Seeing that time was running out, An Yi suggested that Ling Qingwan get in her carriage and go to the palace with her.
Ling Qingwan was reluctant at first, but when she thought of Tan Jiao sitting inside, she agreed.
Since Tan Jiao disliked her so much, she simply deliberately looked at Tan Jiao a few more times, which could be regarded as Ling Qingwan's small revenge for her gossiping behind her back.
As expected of a carriage from the prince's palace, it was spacious and luxuriously decorated. Even with three people sitting in it, it didn't seem crowded at all.
An Yi happily pulled Ling Qingwan to sit next to her. Tan Jiao was unhappy and stood up and moved to the opposite chair.
"It's so crowded for three of us to sit together." Tan Jiao complained unhappily.
"It's not crowded, it's just right." An Yi was naive and didn't understand the meaning of Tan Jiao's words. She really thought she was complaining that the carriage was too small. "I'll tell my father tomorrow and ask him to find a craftsman to make the carriage bigger."
Tan Jiao was so angry when she saw that An Yi was also on Ling Qingwan's side. However, since she had not yet broken off relations with Ling Qingwan, she had to swallow her anger.
"Wanwan, I heard that the Queen is holding a palace banquet today and you were not invited. An Yi was very disappointed and complained to me about the Queen for a long time. As a result, I met you halfway here. It's really fate."
With a turn of her eyes, Tan Jiao focused her attention on Ling Qingwan. She had to make Ling Qingwan unhappy so that she would feel better.
Tan Jiao was ostensibly greeting Ling Qingwan, but in reality she was hinting at her not getting the invitation and not being in the Queen's eyes. Ling Qingwan lowered her head, the corners of her mouth slightly raised.
Tan Jiao was no different from those young ladies in the backyard of the Marquis's mansion who were born to look down on others, so Ling Qingwan didn't take her words to heart.
"Yes! Wanwan! I was so angry when I heard the news! Do you think the Queen has become senile and confused that she even sent the invitations by mistake!" An Yi nodded heavily and agreed.
"I think the Queen knows that my brother and I have a deep relationship, so she treats us as one." Ling Qingwan found an excuse for the Queen, and she naturally went down the stairs.
An Yi liked Ling Qingwan very much and kept chatting with her. Tan Jiao didn't want to pay attention to Ling Qingwan and sat quietly on the side, looking even more redundant. After finally arriving at the palace, Tan Jiao sulked and found an excuse to go to Fengming Palace first.
"Is Gillian in a bad mood?" An Yi realized it belatedly and tilted her head to look at Tan Jiao's hurriedly leaving back.
She was indeed acting a little strange today.
"I don't know. I think she is worried about something, so I don't want to ask. If you have time, just pay more attention to her, that should be enough." Ling Qingwan thought for a moment and suggested.
"Wanwan, you're so nice." An Yi suddenly became serious and turned to face Ling Qingwan. "Ah Jiao is just like that, but she's not a bad person. I'll talk to her more often, and she'll definitely clear up her misunderstanding of you."
As expected. Ling Qingwan's smile grew even wider.
An Yi was a straightforward girl who didn't think much, so Ling Qingwan knew that she only needed to say a few more words to get An Yi to tell the truth herself.
Now Ling Qingwan was certain that Tan Jiao not only disliked her, but was also slowly doing bad things behind her back. Thinking that she had made an enemy for no reason, Ling Qingwan felt helpless.
The palace banquet was held in the open space in front of Fengming Palace. There was a platform on top and several rows of chairs underneath. Men and women sat separately. Ling Qingwan had no choice but to sit with Ling Xiao. According to their status, An Yi sat in front of her. On both sides of Ling Qingwan were people she didn't know.
Well, she was just here to kill time.