Chapter 9: The Royal Banquet

  In the evening, Ziwei was informed that she had to attend the annual August 15th royal banquet. After dressing up, she went out.

  As they walked, Zǐ Wēi suddenly stopped in her tracks, startling Xiǎo Qīng and Xiǎo Yù. She looked up at the sky, her eyes shining with a hint of mischief.

  "Let's go to the Autumn Festival," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Xiǎo Qīng and Xiǎo Yù exchanged a skeptical glance. "But Zǐ Wēi, we can't just leave without permission," Xiǎo Qīng protested.

  Zǐ Wēi grinned mischievously. "Oh, come on. It'll be fun! We can sneak out and no one will ever know."

  Xiǎo Yù hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Okay, let's do it!"

  The three of them snuck out of the palace, making their way through the winding streets of the city. They arrived at the festival grounds just as the sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the crowds.

  Zǐ Wēi led the way, weaving in and out of the stalls selling food, drinks, and trinkets. They stopped at a stall selling roasted chestnuts, and Zǐ Wēi bought them each a bag.

  As they walked, munching on their snacks, Xiǎo Qīng suddenly grabbed Zǐ Wēi's arm. "Look!" she whispered urgently.

  Zǐ Wēi followed her gaze to a nearby stage, where a group of musicians were setting up their instruments. One of the musicians caught her eye - a young man with piercing green eyes and jet-black hair that fell to his shoulders.

  "Who is he?" Zǐ Wēi breathed, her heart skipping a beat.

  Xiǎo Yù leaned in close. "That's Lǐ Jìng, the famous poet and musician. He's rumored to be the most talented man in all of China."

  Zǐ Wēi's eyes were glued to Lǐ Jìng as he began to play a haunting melody on his flute. The music seemed to speak directly to her soul, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

  As they listened, entranced, Zǐ Wēi suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see one of the palace guards standing behind her, a stern expression on his face.

  "Zǐ Wēi, you need to come with me," he said firmly.

  Zǐ Wēi's heart sank as she realized they had been caught sneaking out of the palace. She reluctantly followed the guard, leaving Xiǎo Qīng and Xiǎo Yù behind.

  As they walked back to the palace, Zǐ Wēi couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to change forever. Little did she know, Lǐ Jìng's music had awakened something deep within her - a passion for poetry, and a desire to follow her own path in life.