"…A decree must be issued to dispatch court troops to suppress the White Lotus Sect rebellion."
"The Ministry of War is under Prince Jing's control."
"Then…" It is customary for decrees to pass through the Six Ministries, but Su Xin imdiately awakened as if from a dream and hastily said, "In extraordinary tis, extraordinary asures must be taken. Specially assign external commanders to oversee military operations, mobilize forces southward to crush the White Lotus rebels, and even... apprehend the Hu-Guang officials to purge the chaos of Hu-Guang and set an example for the empire."
"You've followed for many years and are quite perceptive. Draft a confidential edict... no, an imperial decree. As for the roster of soldiers, prepare one for ." The voice was calm, as though it were explaining a trivial matter.
But Su Xin knew that over the past half-year, the Forbidden Army in the Capital had gained many officers bearing the surna An.
The Ding'an faction was fervently vying for power at court. Coupled with the prolonged peace of the Great Yu, none had realized the Lin Party's concealnt and the An family's years of deep entrenchnt within the Forbidden Army. Once these An family mbers marched south to quell the rebellion, their eventual triumph would undoubtedly shake the court. Even if Prince Jing and others wanted to curb their power, it would be too late.
"If there's nothing else, leave now."
Su Xin did not retreat, and instead said, "I have one more matter to present."
"Speak."
"The New Year is approaching. For this year's private banquet, I must request Your Majesty to decide on the arrangents." Su Xin carefully articulated every word.
At her desk, the Empress indeed fell silent, wrapped in an oppressive darkness.
Su Xin shivered uncontrollably, for she knew precisely what had transpired last year. She was also painfully aware that the one who committed the grave cri of lèse-majesté had been exiled to the corners of the earth, with no trace of his whereabouts.
After a while, the Empress rose and slowly stepped out from the shadows, saying, "Take a trip to Yuan Chun Hall."
Su Xin's trembling ceased, though she could not discern the aning behind those words.
Such a remark carried a truly ambiguous undertone.
But as a palace official, she understood clearly that at such a mont, one should not make unwarranted guesses. She replied, "Yes."
Yuan Chun Hall was located within the inner palace; there was no need to board a carriage. The Empress led the way with Su Xin following, accompanied by several palace maids, as they walked toward Yuan Chun Hall.
Their pace was slow, slow enough that one could leisurely admire the waxing and waning of the moon above.
The Empress gazed at the moon frequently, her brows unchanging in expression.
As they approached Yuan Chun Hall, lanterns around the palace lit one by one, illuminating the interior. The vermilion and purple pillars stood vividly, the battle scenes of Asura on the murals remained lifelike, and a thick layer of dust settled upon the round table. Yet, the arrangent was just as it had been in days past.
The Empress stopped and gazed at the round table, saying, "Set the porcelain plates and cups."
As her voice fell, the palace maids acted accordingly, swiftly arranging the plates according to rank: golden chopsticks at the head seat's ceramic plate and silver ones at the others.
The Empress gazed long and hard before, at last, she slowly took her place at the head seat.
From her vantage point, to her left were Dong Guifei and Lin Wanxiao, directly across sat Yin Weiyin, to her right were Yin Tingxue and Dong Gong Ruoshu, along with him—caught between them…
The glow of palace lanterns shimred and swirled;
The banquet seed vivid still, as if it were yesterday.
"He's dead."
Su Xin suddenly heard those words. She raised her head, and before she could make a sound in response, another phrase followed.
"Let's just say he's dead," the Empress said slowly, "so that I might have a touch more to rember him by."
Su Xin dared not respond.
The bright moon hung high in the night sky. The palace lanterns cast light upon the walls, their glow blending into the rims of cups. A palace maid poured wine at that mont, ripples spreading in the cup, a mistlike vastness reflecting the Empress's solitary visage. The fragnted lantern light in the wine evoked the banquet's fleeting beauty, the only cherished scene in her mory—a stolen mont of heaven's grace, a family united.
After a long ti, the Empress sighed softly, a sigh full of endless turns, murmuring, "Another year approaches once more."
At this year's Lantern Festival, the moon and lights remain…
But the people are gone, and the halls lie empty.
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