Chapter 323: — The Festival Beyond the Palace
The morning sun had barely risen when a familiar figure appeared outside the Empress’s temporary courtyard in the Duke residence.
A maid hurried inside.
"Your Majesty, Princess Zhi has arrived."
Lian An looked up from the invitation cards she had been reviewing.
"Princess Zhi?"
Before the maid could say anything else, the door burst open.
Princess Zhi entered dramatically.
But—
She wasn’t dressed like a princess.
She wore a simple pale blue commoner’s dress, her hair tied in an ordinary braid, carrying a cloth bag over her shoulder.
Lian An blinked.
"...What happened to you?"
Princess Zhi grinned.
"Nothing."
Then she pulled out another bundle of clothes.
"And these are for you."
Lian An stared at the bundle.
Then at Princess Zhi.
Then back at the bundle.
"No."
Princess Zhi immediately grabbed her arm.
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"I’m not going."
"You are."
"I have work."
"You have been doing wedding preparations for days."
"I am helping."
"You need fresh air."
Lian An narrowed her eyes.
Princess Zhi narrowed hers back.
The two women stared at each other.
The maid wisely moved farther away.
After several moments—
Lian An sighed.
"I lost, didn’t I?"
Princess Zhi beamed.
"Completely."
---
Half an hour later—
Lian An stepped out of her room.
Wearing simple commoner clothes.
A light cream-colored dress.
A plain cloak.
No imperial jewelry.
No elaborate hairstyle.
Only a simple ribbon holding her hair.
Princess Zhi gasped.
"You’re beautiful."
Lian An rolled her eyes.
"We’re supposed to blend in."
"Impossible."
---
The two women slipped out of the Duke residence accompanied by several hidden guards.
The capital was transformed.
Today was the annual Lantern Blossom Festival.
Every street overflowed with people.
Children ran carrying colorful lanterns.
Musicians played cheerful melodies.
Food vendors lined every corner.
Flower decorations hung from buildings.
The entire city seemed alive.
Princess Zhi immediately grabbed Lian An’s hand.
"Let’s go!"
Lian An laughed.
"You sound like Lian Hua."
Princess Zhi proudly nodded.
"She’s a genius."
---
The first stop was food.
Of course.
Princess Zhi stood before a skewer stall.
"I want one."
Then another.
"And one more."
Lian An looked at the growing pile.
"You only have one stomach."
Princess Zhi bit into a skewer.
"Not with that attitude."
---
Soon they wandered through rows of market stalls.
Jewelry.
Paintings.
Handmade ornaments.
Silk flowers.
Lantern decorations.
Everywhere they looked there was something beautiful.
A little girl selling flower bracelets approached them.
"Big sisters, buy one please?"
Princess Zhi immediately purchased three.
The little girl smiled brightly.
"Thank you!"
Lian An watched her run away.
Her heart softened.
---
Further ahead—
A storyteller stood on a raised platform.
A large crowd gathered around him.
His voice echoed dramatically.
"And then the brave general defeated the mountain demon!"
The children cheered.
Princess Zhi sat cross-legged immediately.
"I’m listening."
Lian An laughed.
"You’re really staying?"
"Obviously."
---
An hour later—
They finally continued walking.
The streets grew more crowded as evening approached.
Lanterns were beginning to glow.
Golden light illuminated smiling faces.
Music drifted through the air.
Couples walked together.
Families laughed together.
Friends gathered together.
The atmosphere felt warm.
Comfortable.
Alive.
Princess Zhi slowed slightly.
Her gaze moved across the crowd.
"...I never had this before."
Lian An looked at her.
Princess Zhi smiled faintly.
"In the palace everything is controlled."
"Everything has rules."
"But here..."
She looked around.
"...People are just happy."
Lian An nodded.
"I know."
For a moment—
Neither spoke.
Simply enjoying the atmosphere.
---
Suddenly—
Princess Zhi pointed.
"Look!"
Ahead stood a massive lantern tower.
Hundreds of lanterns floated overhead.
Red.
Gold.
Blue.
Silver.
Each carrying wishes written by ordinary people.
The sight was breathtaking.
Even Lian An stopped.
The lantern light reflected in her eyes.
Princess Zhi smiled.
"Beautiful, isn’t it?"
Lian An nodded softly.
"Very."
---
Nearby an elderly woman sold wish ribbons.
Princess Zhi immediately bought two.
She handed one to Lian An.
"Write something."
Lian An raised an eyebrow.
"You believe in this?"
Princess Zhi smiled.
"No."
Then she looked up at the glowing lanterns.
"...But sometimes it’s nice to hope."
Lian An looked at the ribbon.
For a moment she remembered everything.
The palace.
Her family.
The ghosts.
The Emperor.
The second chance she had received.
Slowly—
She began writing.
---
As night fully descended, the festival became even more magical.
Thousands of lanterns illuminated the capital.
Music echoed through every street.
Laughter filled the air.
For one evening—
There was no palace.
No politics.
No conspiracies.
No danger.
Only two friends wandering through a sea of lights.
Enjoying freedom.
Enjoying life.
And making memories they would never forget.
The days leading to the wedding became some of the liveliest the capital had seen in years.
Everywhere people looked, there was excitement.
Red lanterns hung outside shops.
Silk banners fluttered above busy streets.
Merchants smiled as customers filled the market from morning until evening.
The marriage between the Duke family’s young master and the Chen family’s daughter had become the most talked-about event in the city.
Even commoners who had never met either family spoke about it while buying vegetables, drinking tea, or walking through the market.
---
Inside the Dowager Empress’s palace, the Dowager sat quietly by the window.
A maid knelt nearby, reporting the latest news from outside.
"Your Highness, the markets are full every day."
The Dowager raised an eyebrow.
"So lively?"
The maid nodded eagerly.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"People are buying wedding gifts, sweets, silk cloth, jewelry, and decorations."
"The entire city feels festive."
The Dowager remained silent.
The maid continued.
"I heard many shops have sold out of red silk already."
"The restaurants are also crowded."
"Especially the Whisper Bowl."
At the mention of the restaurant, the Dowager’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"The Empress’s restaurant?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
The maid smiled.
"People say they are preparing food for the announcement banquet."
"Many customers are curious and want to try the dishes beforehand."
The Dowager tapped the armrest thoughtfully.
---
Outside the palace walls, the city truly felt different.
Children chased each other through the streets carrying paper lanterns.
Young women gathered at fabric shops discussing wedding dresses.
Elderly men sat outside tea houses talking about the upcoming celebrations.
Even the atmosphere seemed brighter.
---
The maid continued her report.
"Many people are saying the wedding is a blessing for the Empire."
The Dowager looked up.
"A blessing?"
"Yes."
The maid hesitated slightly.
"Many people are wishing happiness to the Imperial Family."
The Dowager listened quietly.
"The citizens say that since the Empress recovered, many good things have happened."
"The harvest was good."
"The plague ended."
"The capital is peaceful."
"Trade is increasing."
The Dowager’s fingers paused.
---
The palace had been filled with rumors recently.
Dark rumors.
Fearful rumors.
Stories about the Empress’s illness.
Stories about the attack.
Stories about strange events.
Yet despite everything—
The people seemed hopeful.
---
The maid smiled softly.
"I passed through the market yesterday."
"Many people were talking."
"What were they saying?" the Dowager asked.
The maid lowered her head respectfully.
"They were wishing for the Emperor and Empress to have a long and happy marriage."
The Dowager blinked.
For a moment, she said nothing.
---
The maid continued.
"They said the Emperor personally visited the Duke residence."
"They believe His Majesty cares deeply for the Empress."
The Dowager’s expression became complicated.
She remembered seeing her son these past few days.
The way he constantly asked about the Empress.
The way he rushed to her bedside.
The way he refused to accept her death.
The way he stayed at the Duke residence.
---
A sigh escaped her lips.
Perhaps...
Perhaps she had been wrong about many things.
---
Outside, another maid entered carrying fresh tea.
The first maid bowed again.
"There is one more thing, Your Highness."
"Speak."
"The invitation cards have already been sent."
The Dowager nodded.
"Good."
"Almost every noble family has accepted."
The maid smiled.
"Many are preparing gifts already."
---
The Dowager looked out the window again.
The capital stretched beyond the palace walls.
Bustling.
Alive.
Happy.
---
For the first time in a long while, the Empire felt peaceful.
At least on the surface.
---
Yet deep in her heart—
A small unease remained.
The attack on the Empress.
The strange incidents.
The rumors of dark practices.
Something still felt wrong.
---
But as she listened to the sounds of laughter drifting from distant palace courtyards, she pushed those thoughts aside temporarily.
The wedding preparations should be a happy occasion.
The people deserved happiness.
The family deserved happiness.
---
Outside the palace, bells rang from a nearby temple.
Merchants called to customers.
Children laughed.
And all across the capital, people spoke excitedly about the upcoming celebrations.
For now—
The Empire rejoiced.
Unaware that beneath the joy and festivities, hidden shadows were still waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
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