Chapter 76
"What banquet?" Lady Yao was utterly confused.
She hadn’t received any notice about attending a palace banquet.
"I don’t know either," Madam Jin shook her head, equally unaware of the matter.
"Huh?" Now it was Lin Ziyi’s turn to be puzzled.
Recalling Eunuch Liu’s words that day, she wondered—could it be that only she and Li Zhiwei were invited?
"Lin sister, Sister Li, who informed you about this banquet?" Madam Jin eyed them suspiciously, thinking they might have been deceived.
"Eunuch Liu, who serves directly under His Majesty, personally delivered the message. Surely that can’t be wrong?" Lin Ziyi had been happily nibbling on the sugar plums Li Zhiwei prepared when she suddenly froze.
If it were anyone else, deception might be possible—but Eunuch Liu?
"In my case, Eunuch Liu mentioned it after announcing the imperial decree," Li Zhiwei quickly added.
"If it was Eunuch Liu who said so, then there shouldn’t be any issue," Lady Yao mused seriously.
"Eunuch Liu is His Majesty’s trusted confidant. He wouldn’t fabricate such a thing. Still, both of you should be careful when entering the palace," Madam Jin advised kindly.
"Ah, hearing you say that only makes me more nervous," Lin Ziyi set down the sugar plum, her expression uneasy.
"Don’t worry, Lin sister. Think about it—if His Majesty didn’t summon anyone else but the two of you, perhaps it’s because Prince An or your husband accomplished something that pleased the Emperor," Madam Jin reassured her with a smile, seeing her distress.
"Madam Jin, if Prince An achieved merit, that’s plausible. But my husband? A mere Court of Imperial Sacrifices official, responsible only for ceremonial rites—do you really think he could’ve captured an assassin or something?" Lin Ziyi shook her head at the absurdity. It wasn’t that she doubted Wei Jing'an—she just couldn’t imagine it.
The group stayed a while longer at the Li residence, chatting with Li Zhiwei before taking their leave.
Returning to the Wei Family, Lin Ziyi grew increasingly restless, unable to shake her unease.
"Has my lord still not returned?" she muttered, thinking of Wei Jing'an’s recent absence.
Her mood soured further.
Earlier, upon learning that neither the Xie family nor the Marquis of Yongning had been invited, her anxiety spiked. Now, not seeing Wei Jing'an only deepened her imbalance.
With a dark expression, she sat in the courtyard, waiting until the hour of Xu (7–9 PM) before Wei Jing'an finally returned.
"Oh, so you do remember the way home! I was beginning to think you’d gotten lost," Lin Ziyi’s sudden remark startled him.
"Madam, why are you still awake?" Wei Jing'an asked, bewildered.
"If I’d gone to bed, how would I know my dear husband only returns when the moon is high in the sky?" she retorted sarcastically.
She couldn’t fathom what could possibly keep Wei Jing'an busy until this hour. His position at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices wasn’t demanding—unless Lanuo Kingdom held a major ceremony, there was no reason for such late returns.
"Madam, I’ve been occupied lately," Wei Jing'an stammered, flustered.
Blame his meddling superior for assigning him this troublesome task.
Every day, Eunuch Liu dragged him away to...
The thought of his recent duties made his face burn with embarrassment.
But to Lin Ziyi, his flushed expression only confirmed her fears—he must have taken a lover.
The Wei Family wasn’t opposed to concubines.
All these years, their marriage had been harmonious. She’d assumed it would stay that way.
Yet now, her husband had someone else. The realization made her chest tighten painfully.
"Madam, don’t cry!" Wei Jing'an panicked at her tears.
"Then tell me—what have you been doing lately?" Lin Ziyi narrowed her eyes.
"I..." Wei Jing'an hesitated. Eunuch Liu had sworn him to secrecy. Besides, the whole ordeal was too humiliating to admit.
"Speak!" Lin Ziyi’s face reddened as his silence confirmed her worst fears—had he truly fallen for another?
Wei Jing'an said nothing.
Furious, Lin Ziyi pounded his chest.
"When will you bring her home?" she asked coldly after her tears subsided.
"Who?" Wei Jing'an was baffled.
"I’m not so petty as to refuse another woman. Just bring her back," Lin Ziyi took a deep breath, then turned away, retreating to their room alone.
Wei Jing'an sighed inwardly. Perhaps his recent neglect had upset her. Once this matter concluded in two days, he’d explain properly.
Meanwhile, Li Zhiwei had also wanted to consult Xu Heming, but he, too, seemed unusually busy.
He’d only sent Qingsong to deliver delicacies from Ruyi Pavilion and a jar of medicinal ointment.
"Do you know what His Highness has been busy with lately?" Li Zhiwei asked Qinghua and Qingyue curiously.
"Your Highness, this servant does not know!"
"Your Highness, this servant does not know!"
Qinghua and Qingyue answered without hesitation.
"You both came from the palace—do you know what kind of banquet will be held there in two days?" Li Zhiwei pressed.
"Your Highness will find out when you attend. It’s not unusual for the Emperor and the Empress to invite the families of officials to palace banquets," Qinghua replied after a slight pause, her voice hushed.
As she spoke, she felt a pang of guilt. But this matter was something Prince An had forbidden them to discuss, and the Emperor would surely not tolerate any loose tongues either. They dared not say more.
Seeing their reluctance, Li Zhiwei didn’t press further. After all, in her eyes, these two maids had only recently come to serve her—it was no surprise they weren’t yet fully loyal.
Soon, the day arrived when the Emperor had summoned them to the palace banquet.
"Sister Lin, what’s happened to you?" Li Zhiwei gasped, startled by Lin Ziyi’s haggard appearance.
"Little sister Li..." Lin Ziyi had been unable to eat or sleep properly these days, tormented by the news of Wei Jing'an taking a new lover. Her exhaustion was now painfully visible.
If not for fear of the Emperor’s displeasure, she wouldn’t have left her home today.
"Sister Lin, are you unwell?" Li Zhiwei wondered, noting how she herself, who should have looked worse for wear, appeared far better than Lin Ziyi.
Would the Emperor think her injuries were fabricated?
"Forgive me for making you worry, little sister. I’m fine," Lin Ziyi forced a smile, though she had no way to explain the turmoil in her heart.
She still hadn’t come to terms with Wei Jing'an’s betrayal.
The imperial garden was adorned with rows of chairs, and servants bustled about, placing fresh fruits at each seat. The concubines chatted and laughed among themselves.
Lin Ziyi glanced around in surprise—were she and Li Zhiwei the only officials’ family members present?
