The princess regretted it.

Inside the palace, the lights were as bright as day. Massive golden pillars, carved with lifelike patterns of flying dragons and auspicious clouds, embodied the royal majesty and dignity. Ornate curtains draped from the high ceilings fluttered gently in the breeze, resembling ethereal clouds. The floor was covered with a thick, soft, and sumptuous red carpet.

Tables and tables were set up directly above and on both sides of the palace, laden with a variety of delicacies. Delicate porcelain plates held alluringly colorful delicacies, including juicy roasted lamb, fragrant braised fish, and beautifully shaped dim sum. Fine wines rippled in crystal-clear glasses, exuding a rich aroma.

The civil and military officials and their families, dressed in their splendid attire, entered the palace one by one and were led to their respective seats by palace maids. The officials exchanged greetings. The emperor and his concubines had not yet arrived, so all the seats at the top and some near the left and right were vacant.

The Duke of Huguo's Mansion and the Prime Minister's Mansion were both located in the front, while the Marquis of Jinwu's Mansion was located slightly further back. After taking his seat, Wu Anshuo looked at the people in the Prime Minister's Mansion in front of him, his eyes revealing a complex emotion. He then exchanged a glance with Wu Changfeng, who nodded in understanding.

Fan had originally intended to bring Liu Qianyi along today, but Wu Anshuo reprimanded her. He said, "How could anyone be brought to a palace banquet?" Liu Qianyi's status was somewhat limited, and bringing her along at this time would be impolite and would also draw criticism. Although Fan was reluctant, she didn't dare disobey Wu Anshuo's order. She was unaware of the conspiracy between her master and her son, who feared Liu Qianyi's presence would cause trouble.

At this time, a shrill and high-pitched shout came from outside the hall: "The Emperor has arrived! The Imperial Concubine has arrived!" Everyone in the hall stood up and stood on both sides, straightened their clothes, lowered their heads and turned to face outside the hall.

As the shouts fell, a neat line of eunuchs and palace maids appeared at the palace gate. They stood respectfully on either side, heads bowed, their ceremonial instruments gleaming solemnly in the lantern lights. Then, the emperor appeared, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe embroidered with lifelike flying dragons in gold thread, gleaming in the sunlight. The emperor wore a crown, its beads swaying gently. He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his steps steady and powerful, striding into the palace with the gait of a dragon and a tiger.

The imperial concubine, following closely behind the emperor, wore a magnificent palace dress, predominantly purple and embroidered with delicate floral and bird designs. The silk threads shimmered brilliantly under the light. The jewels and jadeite in her hair swayed gracefully, the glittering gems and pearls complementing her beauty, accentuating her delicate and captivating figure. Her gentle smile, her eyes moving, revealed a radiant charm and nobility.

Princess Jin'an, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and Princess Jiaoyu followed closely behind. Princess Jin'an wore a bright red dress with delicate floral patterns embroidered on the hem, which accentuated her beauty. Her eyes were bright and clear, lively and alert, and a playful smile played on her lips. Princess Jiaoyu, dressed in a pink gauze dress, was as delicate as a blooming spring flower. Her face was beautiful and her temperament was gentle. Like her mother, she wore a faint smile.

When the Third Prince came in front of Marquis Jin Wu, he paused slightly, then turned his eyes slightly. Wu Changfeng raised his head slightly and looked at him at the right time, and then the two of them looked away.

The Emperor and Imperial Concubine Zhang took their seats at the head of the table. Several princes and princesses also took their places. Civil and military officials and their families bowed in greeting, chanting in unison: "Long live the Emperor! Thousand years of life for the Imperial Concubine! Thousand years of life for the Princes! Thousand years of life for the Princesses!" The Emperor raised his hand and said, "No need to bow!" His voice was steady and commanding. Everyone then slowly rose and returned to their seats.

Changsun Wuwang raised his eyes slightly, his gaze fixed on Zhong Chuzhou, who sat at the Duke of Huguo's residence. Yesterday, he had received a message from Lan Zhu, who seemed to be planning to meet with Jin'an at the Prime Minister's residence. What were her intentions? Could this be a turning point? With this thought, he feigned a casual glance at Lan Zhu, who was standing behind Jin'an. Lan Zhu blinked knowingly.

Changsun Hongze, now in power, was completely unaware of the undercurrents surging beneath the surface. He held his wine glass upright and addressed the audience, speaking aloud, "My Lords, today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. I gather with you to celebrate our reunion. The Mid-Autumn moon is full and bright, just like the prosperity of our dynasty."

Looking back on the past, I am deeply gratified. Thanks to the assistance of all of you, our dynasty has enjoyed peace and prosperity, and our people live and work in peace and contentment. Your civil officials have used their wisdom and strategy to plan and direct national policies, while your military commanders have used their valor and fearlessness to safeguard the tranquility and stability of our borders. This is a source of great joy to me, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you all.

"At today's palace banquet, I hope all of you will enjoy the joy and forget your daily toil. May our dynasty, like the Mid-Autumn moon, shine forever brightly and prosper forever. Let us raise our glasses together and toast to the glory of our dynasty, the well-being of our people, and this night of reunion. Cheers!" He then downed the wine in one gulp.

Seeing this, everyone immediately stood up, respectfully raised their glasses, and shouted in unison, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is wise!" After saying this, they also drank the wine in their glasses in one gulp. Changsun Hongze raised his hand slightly and pressed it down, and everyone took their seats.

Then, Changsun Hongze tilted his head slightly and gestured to Fuquan beside him. Fuquan immediately understood and shouted sharply, "Open the feast, play music, and dance."

At Fuquan's command, a melodious melody resounded throughout the palace, seemingly piercing the soul. Suddenly, drums and zithers blared, flutes played, and pipa sang. The sounds of various instruments intertwined, creating a lively and festive atmosphere within the palace.

Then, a group of graceful dancers glided gracefully into the center of the palace. Their vibrantly colored costumes fluttered with their movements, like blossoming flowers. Their movements were fluid and graceful, with twirls and graceful dances. Their ribbons danced through the air, dazzling like a rainbow. Their eyes were lively and their smiles were sweet, transporting us to a dreamlike world.

Everyone ate the delicious food on the table, toasted each other with fine wine, and watched the performance in the hall. They seemed to be attracted by this wonderful performance and immersed in this wonderful atmosphere. But if you pay close attention, you will find that some people's attention is not on the singing and dancing at all. For example, Zhangsun Wuwang at this moment, although his eyes seem to be enjoying the singing and dancing, he is paying attention to Zhong Chuzhou and Jin An with his peripheral vision. He secretly wondered: Why did this playboy go to the Prime Minister's Mansion yesterday and even bring gifts? What is his intention? Why did Jin An suddenly get close to the Prime Minister's Mansion?

Zhong Chuzhou seemed oblivious to Changsun Wuwang's gaze. He watched the performance in the center of the palace with a composed expression, fiddling with a wine glass, his eyes half-closed, a faint smile on his lips. His flamboyant fiery red robe shone brightly in the light, and the red mole between his eyebrows added a touch of mysterious charm.

Princess Jin'an seemed completely absorbed in the performance, oblivious to the eye contact between Lan Zhu and Changsun Wuwang, or Changsun Wuwang's furtive gaze. She nibbled at the fresh fruit on the table, her eyes bright as she watched the dance unfold.

The melodious music and graceful dancing, beneath the peaceful atmosphere, lies a turbulent undercurrent. Incidents could arise at any moment.