The Red Lantern
The New Year's celebration was in full swing. We ate and watched the dancers, clapping and cheering as the musicians followed them beat to step.
Being as discreet as possible, I handed Nian Qu and Qin a piece of pastry each as the Palace staff began to serve them to us. Servants were allowed to have food at the back, but dessert was only for guests.
Osmanthus cakes.
From behind three rows of royal relatives and great noblemen, I found Zheng picking up the plate he had been served. Before long, Yi Liang was by my table, offering the plate to me with both hands.
"Sire hopes that Your Ladyship will enjoy his dessert for him," he said. Perhaps distance was a good thing. Yi Liang no longer looked angry when he spoke to me, only polite.
"Thank Sire for me," I replied, accepting the plate. A warm fuzzy feeling filled my stomach. Zheng remembered the cakes I had made for him. All those months ago.