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Dongxie let out a light chuckle.

He found a place to sit.

Qixi Festival, also known as the Festival of Skills, is a time when local women would worship the moon, eat festive fruit, and hold sewing competitions, all in an effort to gain skills akin to those of the Weaver Girl Star.

Each region has its own customs and traditions.

As for the festivities inside the Imperial Palace, they were carried out quite grandly.

A large hall was made out of luxurious silk, and it was decorated with fresh fruit and delicacies in honor of the Weaver Girl Star and the Cowherd Star. Palace musicians played in the distance while women competed by threading needles with multi-colored strings.

Those who could thread the fastest and best would be deemed the most skillful.

Even though it was all in good fun, when it was competition time, things naturally got serious.

There were constant giggles, chattering, drinking, and general merriment.

It would typically last until midnight.

This was not unique to the palace – it was the same elsewhere, too.

By gathering all the women here, the Princess Consort was just adding to the lively atmosphere.

Jiang Ning, however, was not particularly interested in all the revelry. After sipping her tea, she scanned the room in search of Li Tingqian.

Li Hongyuan had left the capital in the spring, and now, in the height of summer, she had only seen Xiaoqian twice.

The last sighting was more than a month ago.

Being the emperor’s eldest grandson, Li Hongyuan would not possibly take him to the Imperial Mausoleum even though he had watched him grow up.

Xiaoqian was a well-behaved, lovable child. He genuinely liked Jiang Ning and she doted on him in return.

She had missed him tremendously during this long separation.

She wondered how the five or six-year-old child was faring.

“…Princess Consort of Yu, won’t you join the sewing?” A Princess Consort asked Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning smiled and replied, “My eyesight isn’t so good, so I won’t be taking part.”

“I can’t tell if the Princess Consort of Yu is just delicate or if she really is this incapable,” a young, somewhat impetuous girl remarked.

Turning to look, Jiang Ning recognized her as Princess Changhuan from the Prince of Lu’s Mansion.

The Princess was the daughter of the Emperor’s cousin, which made her Li Hongyuan’s cousin, a proper princess. But whether she was actually proper was something Jiang Ning was unsure of.

From Jiang Ning’s perspective, Princess Changhuan appeared to be nursing an unrequited love for Li Hongyuan. Her reason for wanting Jiang Ning hurt was probably to vent her anger on behalf of Li Hongyuan.

Currently keeping a low profile, Jiang Ning did not want to engage in a war of words with the Princess, so she ignored her. She turned to the Princess Consort and asked, “Where is the emperor’s grandson?”

The Princess Consort smiled, “A eunuch just came to tell us that the Queen Mother allowed the emperor’s grandson a day off from reading because it’s a holiday. I’d sent someone to bring him here. He should arrive soon.”

As she was speaking, a eunuch led Xiaoqian into the room.

The small figure followed the eunuch obediently, without a trace of a smile on his face.

Jiang Ning quickly called out, “Xiaoqian!”

Upon hearing Jiang Ning’s voice, a hint of joy spread across Li Tingqian’s face, but he restrained himself from rushing over to her. Instead, he went over to the Princess Consort and respectfully bowed to her.

The Princess Consort smiled at him, “Good boy, you must be tired from studying. Take this snack to fill your belly a bit.”

As she spoke, she handed him a sweet pastry.

Li Tingqian gracefully accepted, “Thank you, Princess Consort.”

After saying this, he glanced towards Jiang Ning, itching to go over but not daring to.

Jiang Ning laughed and said, “Princess Consort, would you mind if Xiaoqian sits with me for a while?”

“Of course not. Xiaoqian, go and sit with your little Aunt, but remember not to eat and play too much. We don’t want you to have trouble sleeping tonight. Understand?”

“I’ll remember.”

“Off you go, then.”

Li Tingqian then turned around and walked to where Jiang Ning was seated.

Jiang Ning reached out to hug him and asked, “Xiaoqian, did you miss your little Aunt?”

Li Tingqian nodded obediently and replied, “I did.”

“Look what little Aunt has brought you.” Jiang Ning took a food box from Xiaoman and handed it to him, “Open and see, it’s all your favorite treats..”