The banquet began with the Empress presiding. Holding seven-year-old Si Tianque by the hand, she arrived at the feast surrounded by a retinue of palace attendants.
Si Tianque was dressed today in a long gown of cobalt blue cloud-patterned brocade, the cuffs and collar embroidered with dense gold thread, and the cloud motifs at his waist shimmering brilliantly. He wore a golden lotus crown upon his head, framing a fair, jade-like face that was both rounded and handsome. Between his brows and eyes, he bore a striking six or seven-part resemblance to the Empress. The joy on the Empress's face was undisguised, revealing the depth of her affection for him.
Watching this from her seat at the lower tables, Meng Yihuan felt a sense of relief. At the very least, the Empress doted on her son, which was, in its own way, a blessing.
Chapter 210