In the main pavilion of the Northern Family, the entire royal family gathered. The bright and shiny moon was clearly visible from the pavilion.
The seats were aligned at a perfect distance from each other. At the front, the main seat for the Emperor and the Empress was made, followed by the Empress Dowager and the other Consort Dowagers.
Weng Yu delightedly sat down on the last seat as the seats were made according to the rank. He saw many dishes were put on the floor table in front of him. He picked the lid that had covered the bowl. Taking out the moon dessert, he brought it close to his mouth.
"Brother Yu, don't eat now," Lei Wanxi told him, who took his seat. "We still need to worship the moon first," he said. Weng Yu licked his lips as he was hungry. He put the mooncake back into the bowl and covered it from the lid.
"Sixth Brother, where are the other Brothers?" He asked.
"They will be here soon. Look at the sky. The moon looks pretty today," Lei Wanxi said and smiled. The red and yellow lanterns were hanging at every corner of the pavilion.
Nianzu and Chuntao came to the pavilion. Both Lei Wanxi and Weng Yu greeted them. Soon, the other Princes started to come with their respective wives.
The Empress Dowager entered, followed by the three Consort Dowagers. The Princes and their wives stood up to show respect towards them. After them, the Emperor and the Empress entered, who halted in front of the table which had mooncakes, some snacks, and fruits on it. On the edges, two candles were placed on the candle stand.
Sheng Li and Ying Lili had to offer the prayers first as the Emperor and the Empress. "Don't kneel. I will give the greetings to the moon on your behalf," Sheng Li told Ying Lili.
Deng Hui and the others heard them.
"The Empress can kneel. It won't affect her and her child," the Empress Dowager proclaimed.
"I will kneel and bow on her behalf, Empress Dowager. I cannot take any risk," Sheng Li said with a smile. Ying Lili was flustered to hear it. However, she did not want Sheng Li to defy the norms of this festival.
"I can do it. I should offer my greetings too," Ying Lili stated.
"Your husband can do it. Just keep standing," Sheng Li told her. He then held her hand and took her towards the seat that was specially designed for them for today evening.
"Brother Sheng is so caring towards Sister Lili," Weng Yu whispered near the ear of Lei Wanxi, who agreed with him.
Sheng Li made Ying Lili sit down and told her to wait for him. He returned towards the table and offered the greetings to the moon and knelt on his knees. He bowed deeply and looked towards the moon.
The Royal family members also bowed after him from their respective seats.
'For my beloved wife, I do every prayer which I never believed. I pray to the Moon Goddess to bless my wife and my children,' Sheng Li said internally. He picked the incense stick and lit it with the candle. Placing it inside the tiny cauldron-shaped vessel, he stood up and stepped back.
He again bowed and took a few steps back before returning to the place where Ying Lili was seated.
Everyone started eating the mooncakes that were placed on the plates in front of them.
"After such a long time, we all have gathered together," Nianzu initiated the conversation.
"Hmm. We hardly get together. The moon festival is a great occasion to get together," asserted Jian Guozhi, agreeing with the Fourth Prince.
"Your Majesty, if you permit then, I would like to take my leave with my sisters," Empress Dowager said as she looked at the three Consort Dowagers. "After our husband passed away, we did not like to get involved in the festivals or any gatherings. Hopefully, His Majesty will understand us," Deng Hui requested.
"Sure," Sheng Li permitted them. Deng Hui thanked him and left with the three Consorts to her chamber.
Princess Bai looked at the Princes sitting with their respective wives and again she felt lonely. "Your Majesty, I am not feeling well. May I go back? I would like to rest," Bai Yaling urged Sheng Li, who looked at Ying Lili, who nodded her head.
"Princess Bai may leave. Do not stress yourself," Sheng Li told her. Bai Yaling bowed and left with Court Lady Dai. General Wang, who was outside the pavilion, saw Bai Yaling leaving. He tightened the hold on his grip as he watched her walking past him.
"Sister Bai must be feeling lonely. We all are with our husbands while her husband is no more," Liao Jun said. "Well, her fate is indeed twisted. Her husband committed treason and she has to bear its consequences till her last breath," She added.
Rong Zemin frowned and was going to scold her, but before he could speak, Sheng Li said, "Princess Liao Jun, this is the last time you have made such a comment. Next time if I hear it, you will get punished."
"Please forgive Princess Liao, Your Majesty. She did not mean this," Rong Zemin calmed down Sheng Li.
"Princess Bai is going through a tough phase yet Princess Liao said such things. It is not acceptable from the wife of the Third Brother," Sheng Li affirmed.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Liao Jun said.
"Sister Liao, the circumstances are not in the favor of Sister Bai. It has nothing to do with her fate. These past few weeks were tough for her. Sister Liao also knows how Sister Bai tried to take her own life. We need her strength at this time," Ying Lili politely said to her. Liao Jun nodded her head.
"Let's not argue today. It is such a great occasion," Nianzu stated and looked towards the moon. "Let's admire the beauty of the moon with our beloved person," he suggested to them, glancing towards the moon.
"Beloved person?" Weng Yu asked.
Nianzu tilted his gaze towards him.
"Brother Yu, Brother Nianzu is talking about his wife," Lei Wanxi said and started to giggle.
"Brother Yu, do you know why we celebrate this Moon Festival?" Nianzu asked him.
"I have read that it's based on the legendary tale of Chang'e, who is worshipped as the Moon Goddess," Weng Yu answered.
Sheng Li, who was unaware of such a tale. The only thing he knew about this festival was that offering prayers to the Moon Goddess would fulfill the wishes.
"Absolutely right. Brother Yu is studying hard. It's nice to see," Nianzu stated and passed him a smile.
"What's the tale about?" Sheng Li asked as he picked the cup of wine.
"Does Brother Sheng not know?" Jian Guozhi asked. Nianzu also gazed at him in bewilderment, so did the others.
"You don't know?" Ying Lili asked him.
Liao Jun smiled a little which Sheng Li noticed, but before he could ask her, Nianzu said, "Brother Sheng should not have run from the royal classes."
"I will narrate the story to Brother Sheng," Nianzu stated and continued, "Huo Yi, the great archer, who saved the earth from the blistering heat of ten suns. He shot down the nine suns and was known widely for it. He got the elixir of immortality for his marvelous act. However, that elixir could be used by only one person.
His wife's name was Chang'e to whom he gave the elixir of immortality but they don't drink. However, one night a disciple of Huo Yi came home to steal this elixir. Chang'e was alone at home that night, so to save it she drank the elixir and thus flew away to the moon.
Huo Yi when found out about this fell into grief. He missed her so much that he made an offering to the moon. He used to see his wife on the moon.
It's a legendary tale whose significance is not limited to admiring the moon and your wife but also your family."
Sheng Li hummed and sipped the wine. "I indeed adore my family, so you all do," He stated. Nianzu agreed with him and picked the mooncake.
"It is a great festival to come together and have the conversation," Jian Guozhi pronounced. Ying Lili smiled seeing how the Princes had ended the bitterness between them, especially Sheng Li's coldness towards them.
~~~~~
"Princess Bai, can we talk?" Wang Hao stopped Bai Yaling, who was with Court Lady Dai. "I want to converse with you in private," he stated and then looked at the Court Lady. "I will escort the Princess safely to her chamber," Wang Hao assured her.
Bai Yaling told Court Lady Dai to leave, who walked away.
"What does General Wang want to talk about?" She asked him.
"How is the Princess doing? I know there's no meaning to ask such a question, still, I want to know whether she is good or not?" Wang Hao asked.
"I am doing well, General Wang.. I have understood that I should move on with my current and fated life," she asserted.
