Dinner was set up in a large tent, with long low tables connected to form a long table. Everyone sat cross-legged on sheepskins eating, quite a few genuine rough and rustic flavors of the frontier. Two rows of long tables were adjacent, one for men and one for women, young people seemed to especially like this arrangement, and the row back-to-back with the neighboring table was almost entirely occupied by young boys and girls.

  Meili was arranged to sit on the right-hand side of the Empress Dowager, in the second position. She sat down quietly, she just came to eat. Jingxian always sits in the position closest to the old ancestor, this time is no exception, she sat in the first position on the left hand, from time to time glancing at Meili, as if her position was more advantageous.

  She never got along with Jing Xian and her gang, because of Zi Qing's relationship, Jing Xian was particularly hostile towards her, and Mei Li wasn't surprised.

  Everyone has arrived, even the Emperor and the ancestors have taken their seats. The position next to Meili is still empty, and the eunuchs and palace maids are starting to serve hot dishes. Su'ein follows Jingxuan into the tent and is led by a small palace maid to sit in the rightmost position closest to the Empress Dowager. Jingxuan also sits down behind her. Meili feels a bit constrained at first, she and he are too close, so close that when he turns around to talk to the Empress Dowager and Su'ein, his arm can touch her.

  She smiled slightly, relieved. The old ancestor asked about Su Ying's injury and also inquired about Jing Xuan's hunting results. None of them noticed her, none of them intended to talk to her, she was self-conscious again.

  Yonghe is now a busy person, always arranging things outside the account, and only took his seat when the banquet was about to start. Kangxi let him sit next to Jingxuan, Meili slightly bowed her head to make it convenient for him to sit down, Yonghe smiled and thanked her in a low voice. As she turned around, Meili saw Ziyu on the other side, Youyu hadn't come with a child, he was alone, she smiled, Ziyu nodded slightly.

  She keenly sensed the pity in Rong Yu's eyes, silently turned her body back, although she was already used to it, being looked at like that by someone so familiar still made her uncomfortable.

  "Meili, you'd better take good care of yourself lately, your complexion doesn't look good." Xiaozhuang suddenly shifted the topic to her while chatting with Suying. Meili felt that the people around her were scrutinizing her more carefully because of the old ancestor's words, she nodded obediently and didn't want to say more.

  She was always enthusiastically turning around to chat with Fuchun Beizi behind her, and accidentally bumped into her. Meili slightly furrowed her brow, realizing that carelessly turning around to talk during meals would cause trouble for the people beside her. No wonder the girls who sat next to her in the past always glared at her with raised eyebrows.

  The dishes were all on the table, and the emperor and the old ancestor simply said a few words before the lively banquet began. Because there were many people crowded together, no one was serving the food, Mei Li looked at her bowl with some difficulty, her left arm injured, unable to hold the bowl to eat, and the table was so low, she had to lean forward to eat, which was even more awkward. Fortunately, in front of her was a plate of small pancakes, she took one slowly and ate it, it was very delicious, and there was also meat filling.

  "Why aren't you eating?" The soft and pleasant voice was still clear amidst the murmurs of the crowd, causing her to instinctively tremble slightly for a moment, thinking he was asking her.

  "Oh dear!" The delicate and lovely Su Ying complained softly beside him, pouting as she turned around to whisper something in Jing Xuan's ear. Jing Xuan smiled, doting on her as he took her bowl, scooped some dishes onto it from his own table, and handed it back to her.

  She gazed at the pancake in her hand without blinking, and with a sidelong glance, she couldn't help but notice their intimate posture of whispering to each other with their heads down. She suddenly felt a little angry with herself, put down the pancake and picked up her chopsticks, only to find that all the dishes in front of her were meaty, she wanted to eat some vegetarian dishes, but unfortunately they were all far away, no wonder... Su Ying would let Jing Xuan help her pick. The chopsticks had already been raised, and she casually picked up a piece of meat. Perhaps it was because she picked up too much meat, the opposite Jing Yan and Yin Di couldn't help but laugh, looking at her with a mixture of disdain and pity.

  Meili gave them a cold glance, she wouldn't be as impulsive and competitive as before, but their repeated provocations made her unwilling to bother with them, not that she would let them continue to take advantage of her.

  She gave them a sideways glance, and both Jing Xian and Yin Di were stunned, seemingly not expecting her to have the courage to counterattack.

  Meili had just picked up the half-eaten pastry and was about to take a bite when Fuchun, who was sitting behind her, said something that made Sangzhu giggle uncontrollably, twisting her body back and forth. Meili wasn't prepared and accidentally dropped the pastry on the table. Without thinking much of it, Meili picked up the pastry from the table and took a bite. She then noticed that all the women at the banquet had fallen silent, and even those who hadn't initially noticed her action were now staring at her in confusion due to others' unusual reactions.

  She was stunned for a moment, yes, this table of pampered women thought that the food that had fallen on the table was already dirty and there was no difference with the ones that fell on the ground. If it were someone else who did this, they might just look at her coldly, but because it was her - Mei Li Ge Ge from the Cold Palace, picking up dirty food to eat was quite a sensation.

  As expected, there are people who won't let this opportunity go.

  "People who have been to the Cold Palace are just different." Jing Xian chuckled, still remembering the sideways glance she gave earlier, "So fond of food."

  Everyone at the table looked at the joke with various cold eyes, and Xiaozhuang's face sank, but it wasn't a good time to say anything.

  Meili pursed her lips and, under the scornful gaze of everyone, devoured the half pancake in her hand. She smiled coldly, "Yes, in Anning Hall, we only get one meat dish every three days, so I think it's very fragrant. Unlike you, who eats mountain delicacies and seafood every day, but eats everything like dirt, wasting food!"

  Meili's back was heard by Yonghe with a "pu" sound and laughed out loud.

  "Ah!" Jing Xian was choked and stared, hearing Yong He's laughter made her even more embarrassed. Just as she wanted to continue with a sharp retort, she was given a cold glance by Xiao Zhuang. She was deterred by that icy gaze, opening her mouth but not daring to say another word.

  "Eat more if you think it's delicious! You're so thin, it's pitiful. Yu An, give Meiri a bowl of this mountain chicken soup."

  Everyone continued eating their own food with some boredom, and there were whispers and laughter on the table again, unlike the awkwardness earlier.

  Meili finished drinking the soup and said a word to Xiaozhuang. Many people had already left the table, and her withdrawal did not attract attention.

  Outside the tent, a large bonfire had been lit, and the fierce flames made Meili tremble. She found a quiet corner and forced herself to stare at the fire, this pass would have to be crossed sooner or later, she shouldn't continue to be afraid.

  In autumn, the children were not good at eating well and left the table early to jump around the bonfire, excited.

  Jingxuan and Suyue also came out of the tent, Meili stood in a dark corner, the firelight was too bright, the two people walked by whispering to each other without noticing her.

  Meili let out a breath and prepared to leave for her own tent.

  Qiuquan's eyes were sharp and he shouted loudly: "Beautiful Sister Mei!"

  Jingxuan and Suyue, who had already walked past, stopped in their tracks and turned around to look. Meili let out a soft sigh, making herself appear more composed as she walked towards the light. It's always like this - when they want to meet, it takes effort to make it happen, but when they don't want to meet... they can't avoid each other.

  Qiuquan and Qiuwan ran over, still holding hands with her, one person on each side, but unlike during the day, they didn't jump around excitedly. Instead, they pretended to be deep in thought, looking at each other without speaking.

  Jing Xian finished her meal, looking impatient as she was dragged along by her arm, chasing after Yong He's silver hair. Why did Yong He pull her along as a shield?!

  "Meili sister..." said the slightly older Qiūquán hesitantly, "I heard that you've been staying in the Cold Palace for the past two years. Is it scary there?" Like all children born into wealth and nobility, she was extremely curious about places rumored to be terrifying.

  Jing Xian listened, and with a swing of her arm, she shook off Yin Qi's hand. With a mocking expression, she walked over and said, "Right, Mei Li, tell the kids a story too, so they can have something to fear, and not grow up like you!"

  Meili glanced at Jingxian and tried hard to suppress her anger.

  Akane pouted and glared at her brother, having already warned him not to ask Meryl about this again. Although she too was curious, it was just too sad to bring up.

  "Meili jiejie, have some delicious food!" Qiuyuan let go of Meili's hand and hastily opened her own pouch, carefully taking out a few pieces of candied fruit. She was still young and thought that good food could make people happy, Meili smiled at her.

  "Let Autumn eat it herself, sister doesn't like to eat it." She stroked Autumn's chubby little face, only children would have such sincere sympathy.

  "Eat!" Jing Xian coldly sneered without mercy, "Haven't you gone hungry for over two years? Don't you want to?"

  Meili finally couldn't help but glare at her, just about to say something, when Azusa walked out of the tent and frowned at her, shaking his head.

  She silently lowered her head, understanding the meaning of Zhi Yu's words. If she were to conflict with Jing Xian, no matter who was right or wrong, she would ultimately be the one to suffer. The Emperor might even blame her for not knowing how to repent. What was wrong with her? In the past, she had been able to ignore even more vicious taunts and remain calm, so why did she now find herself unwittingly calculating against Jing Xian? Probably... it was because in the past, she had always been at odds with Jing Xian, making it a habit.

  Habits... many habits, she thought she had changed, but they still exist.

  She smiled coldly, half in self-mockery and half in indifference, "Always can't get it, so I don't want to eat anymore."

  This book is first published on 17K, read the genuine content at the first time!