The Emperor, after all, had frail health, and the Empress Dowager was getting on in years, so shortly after Yun Chi returned to the Eastern Garden, the two of them departed for the palace to rest.
Only after the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had left did the guests at the Eastern Palace loosen up, truly enlivening the atmosphere as they drank and exchanged toasts.
From the older generation, only the Duke of Jingguo was absent; the rest, including Prime Minister Zhao, the King of Anyang, and the Marquis of Wuwei, were in attendance. Among the younger generation, Su Zizhan, Lu Zhiling, An Shuli, and the recently acclaimed scholars took the opportunity to get acquainted with one another.
Although Lu Zhiling insisted that he must drink heartily tonight, he did not dare to overindulge. After all, though the Crown Prince had successfully married, and the Capital City was currently stable without rebellion, there was no guarantee that no one would cause trouble in the night.