The crowd had long grown accustomed to Gao Qian's ways and no longer found them strange.
With all eyes upon her, Liang Wan narrowed her eyes and smiled her thanks.
Gao Qian met her gaze directly, not looking away. He angled his body to make room for her, a gesture that appeared thoughtful to any onlookers.
As Liang Wan took her seat, the Empress gestured to a nearby eunuch, signaling for the banquet to begin.
Soon, palace maids were bustling about the grand hall, carrying platters of rare delicacies.
The low tables were laden with the same fare as always—dishes of finely sliced fish and roasted game, the height of extravagance, just as was customary for the Qi Royal Family and scholarly families.
For some reason, she was reminded of the bowl of wild vegetable soup she had on the night she first arrived in Pingzhou City.
Liang Wan watched in silence, the corners of her mouth lifting into a cold, thin smile.
