Did the Seventh Prince attend court today?

Time stretched out infinitely at this moment.

The moon climbed higher, the wind carried the fragrance of osmanthus, and the palace was filled with steam, yet fine beads of sweat appeared on the Empress Dowager's forehead.

On the highest throne, Emperor Wulong and Empress stood close together, occasionally whispering to each other, their expressions cheerful, seemingly unconcerned about whether the moon-worshiping ceremony could proceed smoothly.

The noble families, officials, and civil and military officials below looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

Clearly, the current situation is a power struggle between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

In the past, someone would have already stepped forward to advise Emperor Wulong to back down.

However, the Yi family's crisis has not yet been resolved, and the powerful families are in a weakened position; the relationship between the Emperor and Empress is harmonious, and the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will surely join forces with the Prime Minister's mansion to fully assist Emperor Wulong; the Imperial Preceptor has not yet appeared, and is obviously not on the Empress Dowager's side. Moreover, there is still a monstrous Seventh Prince who has not yet made a move—the news of the disaster relief in Xiangyang has already spread throughout Shengjing, and rumors about Youlu are rampant. Whether he is a god or a demon, it is enough to intimidate many people.

Given this situation, who would dare to force Emperor Wulong to bow his head?

The Empress Dowager waited and waited, but the Imperial Preceptor did not appear. The noble families who followed her every word were also obsequious and dared not step forward. She had lost this first round, and lost completely.

Concealing the resentment in her eyes, the Empress Dowager spoke in a deep voice: "We cannot miss the auspicious time. Since the Imperial Advisor has not yet arrived, let the Emperor preside over the moon-worshiping ceremony."

Emperor Wulong had been waiting for her to say that, and immediately with a flick of his sleeve, he rose and shouted, "Play the music!"

The musicians standing below immediately began to play the Shao music.

The crowd moved to the altar, where Emperor Wulong led them in performing the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony to worship the moon. Female officials burned incense, and eunuchs recited prayers, filling the courtyard with solemnity.

After the ceremony, Emperor Wulong personally cut the large mooncakes according to age and social status and distributed them to everyone present, symbolizing the reunion of the people and the sharing of the emperor's blessings.

The moon-worship ceremony was completed just before the auspicious time, after which the palace banquet began.

The full moon hung high in the sky, its bright light illuminating the palace, where the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air.

Accompanied by clear and melodious music, the palace maids first served tea and then food, presenting osmanthus tea and honey-preserved osmanthus cake, followed by elegant and fresh dishes such as crab-stuffed orange, water chestnut and lotus root soup, crystal duck, and lotus seedpod fish dumplings. The wine was newly brewed osmanthus wine and chrysanthemum wine, served in lustrous jade cups, the clear liquid fragrant, the full moon falling into the cups.

After the emperor and his ministers raised their cups to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, dancers dressed in celestial gowns from the moon palace filed in and began to dance gracefully in the hall. Their performance of the Rainbow Dance won thunderous applause.

You Lu, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized that the lead dancer was Consort Yi. He wasn't interested in singing and dancing at first, and was idly peeling water chestnuts, plotting how to conspire with the Fifth Princess later. But now he was intrigued.

It has to be said that Consort Yi is really going all out, still performing at her age.

After all, he was a very generous person who had given him 50,000 taels of silver, so he had to give him face. Youlu put down the water chestnuts in his hand and began to appreciate them carefully.

However, the Third Prince's expression was not good.

In his view, such flattery was degrading and shameful, but given the current situation, the Yi family had no other choice but to win back the emperor's favor.

The Fifth Princess, however, seemed detached from the matter. But recalling the rumors she had heard in the palace that day, she subconsciously glanced at You Lu, who was engrossed in the conversation, and then at Cang Shuyue, who was silently drinking. She simply couldn't imagine what it would be like for the composed and aloof Duke of Zhenguo to be strolling around the palace with her seventh brother, who was even more arrogant and unruly than her.

After the dance ended, Lu applauded enthusiastically.

To be fair, Consort Yi danced very well, and it was clear that she had a solid foundation in the art. It was just a pity that her affections were unrequited; Emperor Wulong not only didn't appreciate her dance, but he didn't even recognize her.

Emperor Wulong had no interest in appreciating the song and dance. The thought that the consort he had carefully chosen for his second princess was a woman made him extremely uncomfortable. It was only after the empress reminded him that he snapped out of his daze, bestowed a pile of gold and silver jewelry upon Consort Yi, and then dismissed the others.

Consort Yi started the show, and people came one after another to perform. Some played the zither and painted, while others recited poems and sang songs. Even the Fifth Princess went up to perform a sword dance. Waves of enthusiastic applause pushed the banquet to its climax.

After the Fifth Princess withdrew, the Fourth Prince and the Sixth Prince stood up, one playing the zither and the other the flute, and together they played a piece called "Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake".

You Lu watched in amazement. If the Sixth Prince had no feelings for the Fourth Prince, the two exchanged glances in public, playing a tranquil and ethereal melody with poignant tenderness. If he did have feelings for him, the future they foresaw showed him chasing and fleeing, seemingly unable to escape—truly unpredictable.

Just as Lu was lamenting the unfathomable nature of men's hearts, an aged voice suddenly spoke up: "I have heard that the Emperor's newly found Seventh Prince is not only skilled in both literature and martial arts, but also exceptionally intelligent, and deeply versed in metaphysics. I wonder if I may have the honor of witnessing his abilities today?"

The speaker was an elderly woman sitting at the head of the left side of the second tier. She was dressed in an elegant palace gown, with a kind face and a string of wooden beads in her hand. She looked benevolent and kind. Beside her sat a young man, Yan Ci, whom You Lu had seen at the training ground earlier.

Youlu immediately guessed the old woman's identity—the late emperor's elder sister, Princess Anle.

The hall fell into an eerie silence for a few moments, then became lively again, with everyone's attention focused on the location of the deer.

Yan Ci anxiously tugged at his grandmother's sleeve, his eyes pleading, and whispered, "Grandmother, I was the one who spoke rudely first, but he didn't do anything to me. Please don't make things difficult for him."

He thought the Grand Princess was going to stand up for him, and he became so anxious that his face turned red.

The Grand Princess patted his hand reassuringly, then turned to Emperor Wulong and Empress Wu, whose brows were slightly furrowed. Her gaze was calm, and she said slowly, "I have no other intentions, but the outside world has been talking about the Seventh Prince as if he were a god, and he seems to be able to surpass the Imperial Preceptor. I am really curious and would like to see the Seventh Prince's abilities."

Emperor Wulong frowned. The Grand Princess was the Imperial Preceptor's most loyal supporter and couldn't stand anyone damaging his reputation. There had indeed been some rumors circulating in Shengjing recently about Xiao Qi, but they weren't as exaggerated as she had described. Clearly, someone was deliberately exaggerating in front of her to incite her to target Xiao Qi.

Her words put Xiao Qi on a high pedestal. If Xiao Qi didn't show some skill tonight, she would become the laughing stock of the entire capital tomorrow morning.

But now Xiao Qi's abilities have been sealed...

Emperor Wulong was in a dilemma, while the Empress Dowager, who had been overshadowed that night, was overjoyed and chimed in, "I also want to broaden my horizons."

The situation instantly changed from one-on-one to two-on-one. The two factions, led by the Grand Princess and the Empress Dowager, united at this moment and launched an attack together. They used the pretense of joking to incite trouble and demand that the Seventh Prince display his supernatural powers.

You Lu felt that they didn't want to see supernatural powers, but rather wanted to drown him in their spittle.

Everyone thought that under the combined pressure from the Empress Dowager and the Grand Princess, Emperor Wulong would back down. However, they underestimated his rebellious nature. With two loud bangs, Emperor Wulong and Cang Shuyue simultaneously smashed their teacups. Emperor Wulong stood up and roared, "Is my son some monkey from the mountains?! You all quack and clamor to see him. Anyone who didn't know better would think I was raising a bunch of ducks!"

Youlu: Fatherly love is like a mountain, but it will truly fade away.

The courtiers who were called ducks dared not speak out in anger, but turned to look at another menacing figure. His Majesty smashed the table to protect his own son, but why was the Duke of Zhenguo smashing the table?

Cang Shuyue calmly met everyone's gaze and slowly said, "I was drunk and my hand slipped."

Everyone: "..."

You Lu chuckled to herself, thinking that her boyfriend's excuse was too perfunctory; she estimated that zero people would believe it.