Too high to reach

Chapter 215: Royal Family Banquet
Today's banquet at the royal palace is Mo Yi's first family dinner since she married into the royal family.

Of course, she didn't care about anything.

Li Jing got up early, walked around the yard for a while, took a shower with almost cold water, and put on her undergarments before coming out.

The maid came in and dressed him.

Looking at Mo Yi, who was still curled up in bed, he said, "Today, your main purpose is to meet some people; there's nothing else. Granny Zhao will come to keep you company; she knows all those people. It'll just be drinking tea, eating, and chatting. This is the schedule on the table; you can take a look first. If you don't understand anything, go ask Feng Liniang."

"Okay." Mo Yi was a little nervous and couldn't sleep, so she got up.

"Don't be nervous, it's nothing important. Besides, your family should all be here today."

"Huh?! Everyone's coming? I thought it would just be my eldest uncle, my two older brothers, and my fourth sister."

“Wherever you live, your father should at least come and see… so he can feel at ease!” After saying that, Li Jing glanced at Mo Yi with a half-smile, “Your old man is always so careful in front of me, as if he’s afraid of saying something wrong and then I’ll take my anger out on you…”

He shook his head after saying that. This father-in-law could be incredibly fierce at times, but as cunning as a rabbit at others...

Mo Yi, however, was immersed in a strange happiness, thinking, "It's so nice to have a father who loves me!" As the hostess, entertaining her parents, this feeling was quite wonderful.

Li Jing was momentarily lost in thought. "I was in the front study all morning, and came in around lunchtime. Most of those who came today are people we are close to... People from the Marquis of Jing'an's residence will also be coming."

Mo Yi was slipping on her shoes when she heard this and paused for a moment. "Are Madam Liang and Lord Liang here?"

"Hmm..." Li Jing glanced at her with a half-smile, "I suppose Liang You, in his capacity as Marquis, has been engaged in diplomatic exchanges this year. That fellow is quite lucky. Perhaps you'll see him again soon..."

She gave Mo Yi one last deep look, then turned and left.

Feeling guilty under his gaze, Mo Yi called out to his retreating figure, "You haven't had breakfast yet?"

No one answered.

"What kind of look is that..." Mo Yi muttered silently, then chuckled again.

After she finished washing up, the women around her started fussing over her.

Inside, she wore a silver-gray silk overcoat dress with a cross-collar and silver-gray shoes. Over it was a purple brocade robe with bird, bamboo, and plum blossom designs.
The waistband is made of gray embroidered with purple diamond patterns and is covered with beads.

Wearing a plain-colored purse with long tassels, it swayed by her side as she walked.

Lanxing found her a filigree headdress with a floral pattern that perfectly matched the design on her body.

Those gold threads were as fine as embroidery thread...

"How come I've never seen this set before?" Mo Yi asked curiously.

Lanxing said proudly, "Your Majesty, there are many things you haven't seen! Lanxing remembers them all for you. As soon as you wear certain clothes, Lanxing knows what jewelry to match!"

"This is so beautiful... Is it heavy?"

"...Gold, of course it will have some weight. But look at these filigrees, they're even finer than a hair!"

Mo Yi's hair was combed slicked back and tied up so tightly that her scalp felt uncomfortable before she started putting on her jewelry.

"Shouldn't we put them all on? They're too heavy..." Mo Yi worried.

Lan Xing was somewhat reluctant: "Your Majesty, but this is a set! It won't be perfect if one piece is missing."

"Well... alright then." Mo Yi's eyes darted around. "I remember when I went to the Liu family last time, Madam Liu changed three sets of clothes and jewelry. If it really doesn't work out later... I'll come back and change too."

"Yes, no problem, you can change into four different outfits..."

"Do you think I have nothing better to do?"

The girls all giggled.

After putting on her jewelry and applying her makeup, Mo Yi looked in the mirror and felt like she had grown taller. Touching her face, she exclaimed, "I'm so beautiful!"

Thinking about how I was still half asleep when the prince left, I found it funny.

The prince usually left early and returned late, leaving before he had even washed and dressed. When he returned in the evening, he was already all dressed. Even when he was home all day, he always dressed comfortably, often with his hair in a bun and adorned with a few hairpins…

She only dresses up properly when she goes out with him.

In a little while, I'll have to let him see it...

"Yi Yi!" Mo Yuan arrived. "My goodness, Your Majesty, you look so beautiful! How many clothes and how much jewelry do you have?"

"My scalp hurts..." Mo Yi gently touched her temples and let out a long sigh.

"No, Your Majesty is dressed like this... I need to go change my clothes!"

“You look beautiful just the way you are,” Mo Yi said, pulling her along.

"Not beautiful!" Mo Yuan was about to leave.

"Fourth Sister!" Mo Yi leaned closer and whispered, "What are you comparing yourself to? I'm a princess, and I'm newly married, so it's only right that I dress up formally. But you, putting everything else aside, you're still a young lady."

Especially considering the Mohist school, dressing too formally without family backing would be laughable. Dressing too flashy would appear superficial and revealing your true intentions… You'd better present yourself as gentle and virtuous today! Don't be like yesterday… too mature. Today, all the ladies here are from various families. Think about it, if you were one of them, how would you choose a daughter-in-law?”

Mo Yuan blinked, thought for a moment, and nodded: "Yes. You're right!"

"Listen to me, you won't go wrong! You don't need to rush over now, go with Miss Zhou Jiu. Although I don't manage things at home, I still need to go and check on things beforehand, and I also need to meet with Granny Zhao."

"Alright then... I'll go with Miss Zhou Jiu and the princess in a bit."

"We're having guests over today."

Who's coming?

"The Prince said they'll all be coming. I have to go with Granny Zhao today, so keep an eye on things and let me know as soon as possible if anyone from home comes. Also, they've never attended an event like this before... so please take care of them and have Hongyan and the others greet them. Understand?" Giving Mo Yuan something to do will make her more cautious.

Sure enough, Mo Yuan nodded solemnly, "Don't worry. Mo Wen will be here today too, we'll come together."

"Ah."

Mo Yi ate something and then left with the maid.

Mo Yi didn't even come into the main living room in the backyard today...

Two ladies at the entrance curtsied as she entered. Upon seeing the magnificent hall, she was astonished, wondering if her home contained such a place.

It's almost like the main hall in the imperial palace, very tall, with paintings on the ceiling. It seems to be covered with gold leaf, shimmering under the palace lanterns.

There was a huge painting on the wall, as well as a vase taller than half a person and a bronze crane incense burner. Inside the room, dozens of pots of clivia and azaleas were in full bloom on the flower stand, their moist fragrance instantly lifting one's spirits.

These flowers are blooming so beautifully. I wonder if they were grown at home or bought from outside...

If someone asks me about it later, I won't be able to answer.

It seems that in the future, after Consort Feng makes arrangements for such matters, I will also need to inquire about them. There are many things I hadn't considered before…

“I didn’t even know there was such a place in my house…” Mo Yi said to Hong Yan.

Hongyan explained, "This hall is only used for important banquets. On ordinary days, all the doors and windows are closed to prevent dust from accumulating. The items inside are also covered with cloths. It was only when the house was being cleaned before the New Year that the doors were opened and the house was cleaned. Only then did we start to light the fire and bring in the flowers."

"Hmm. Remember to remind me, I really need to take a good look around this house and get to know it properly, so I don't feel like an outsider..."

"It was my oversight. Your Majesty, you haven't had a moment's rest since you married into the family."

"Yes... I haven't even tidied up the things in the study yet! The shop will reopen after the New Year, and I haven't had time to do anything these past few days." Thinking about what would happen after the New Year, she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

It seems that the prince's decision not to let me take over the affairs of the manor was indeed for my own good.

Otherwise, today's banquet alone would have been fatal...

Wearing a purple brocade robe embroidered with birds, bamboo, and plum blossoms.

I ordered a dark blue Song brocade top with a bird, bamboo, and plum blossom pattern. I haven't worn it yet, but it looks gorgeous!