The banquet was held in the main hall, where the view was the most beautiful. General Lee had invited all of the most prominent figures in the capital, the hall was filled with official chatting while praising their daughters and sons, while the women were all dressed up lavishly perhaps to show off.
Ming Lee was attending all the guests, he was wearing a dark blue robe, it was rather simple but it's layers with different shades of blue made it look more elegant and befitting for a general. Beside, the general was Ming Hong, wearing a sage green robe, which complimented his eyes and personality, Ming Hong was very polite and calm like a scholar, if not for his tan skin and rather rough hands people would mistake him for a scholar.
The official wife, and the other two wives too were attending the guests while the children,
Lue Yi and Li Mei , two sisters were asked to be seated in a table along with other noble ladies from other residences, as for Ming Yue she was not present there yet as she had some complications with her dress. The girls were all chatting, and laughing, suddenly all the lively noise of the hall went down, on the entrance there was a young girl, wearing a beautiful white hanfu, embroidered with gold. It was pure white one piece hanfu, she was wearing a belt embroidered with gold and silver, she paired it with a long white outer robe made with net, she was wearing a beautiful head piece made of rubies and white gold. Everyone was looking at Ming Yue, while she calmly walked towards her father and brother.
Ming Yue knew she was looking good, but everyone else had never seen a girl so beautiful, snow white skin with red plump lips, her eyes shone brighter than the stars,her beauty was ethereal. The eldest daughter of Marquis Ping residence, Gang Xin Yan, was considered the most elegant and beautiful young miss in the capital, but now seeing the young miss of general Ming's residence, they were very sure that this miss would be a very tough competition to Marquis Ping's eldest daughter!
Ming Yue had no idea why everyone was looking at her, but she was not a bit nervous, she had killed thousands of people in her previous life what bad was those people looking at her? Ming Yue reached beside her father and brother and greeted both of them politely, and said
"Greetings Father, Brother. Yue Yue apologies for being late to the banquet because I was not feeling well."
Ming Lee hastily and worridly said
"Yue Yue, if you're not feeling well you may return to your courtyard."
Ming Yue replied
"Father, Yue Yue is fine now, you need not worry."
Others who were listening to this conversation of father and daughter, some were surprised, as the great general could be caring towards his daughter, while others were jealous of the bond the father and daughter shared.
Ming Yue finally noticed a man standing next to her father, he only looked a bit older than her father, she politely greeted him not knowing who was the man, she said in her honey dripping voice
"Greetings sir"
Marquis Ping looked at the young girl before him, she was beautiful and had good manners, he felt very jealous of his close friend Ming Lee who was blessed with such a beautiful and well tempered daughter, because his eldest daughter Xin Yan who was about to reach 16 this year was very hot headed, being the only daughter of his, also she was in mid earth rank, she was pampered by her brothers and Marquise Ping himself. She has flatly refused many marriage proposals which had Marquis Ping stressed out, he was speaking of this matter with Ming Lee when Ming Yue came.
Though Marquis Ping had a subtle smile in his face, she could had a faint guess that Marquis Ping's rank was great! Marquis Ping had relaxed so he didn't bother to conceal his power, Marquis Ping should atleast be in Noveau 3rd rank. (Marquis Ping was in peak Noveau 2nd rank, he had trouble in breakthrough).
General Lee read the atmosphere and turned towards Ming Yue and said
"Yue Yue, you must've forgotten him, he is Marquis Ping."
"Yue Yue is sorry for not recognising Marquis Ping. Greetings Marquis Ping, I hope you don't mind Yue Yue."
Marquis Ping heartily laughed and said
"It's not a big deal anyways. Of course how could little Ah Yue remember this Marquis when General Ming here kept her inside all these years!"
Marquis Ping's voice was by no means small, when he said this many people began to think that it made sense, in all of the banquets Ming residence was invited most Lue Yi and Luo Yi would only attend, that's why people were not familiar with Ming Yue. Ming Lee was a bit embarassed when he heard his friend because how could he say that he was negligent towards this daughter of his and only recently he had opened up to her?
Ming Yue understood the situation and politely replied,
"It's not Father's fault, Yue Yue was very sick for the few previous years and was recuperating . That's why first young miss was attending most of the banquets, but now since Yue Yue's sickness is treated, Marquis Ping will be seeing Yue Yue more often."
Marquis Ping heartily laughed, he noticed that this girl was quite witty and had a way with her words. Marquis Ping only nodded, while general Ming was quiet. Lue Yi was glaring at Ming Yue with red watery eyes, she had so much of her hatred for her, she had spent a long time selecting her dress for this banquet and was in her best behaviour, she had to be the best young miss atleast from the Ming residence, but Ming Yue was here and she was trying to steal the spotlight from her! She was the daughter of the official wife!!
Ming Yue excused herself and then went over to seat where Lue Yi was sitting. She carried herself with elegance and confidence, making heads turn when she walked, she sat down across Lue Yi while Mei was standing beside her. A servant came and started to brewed her a chrysanthemum tea, and left, Ming Yue began to slowly sip on the tea. The atmosphere around the table turned really awkward, when suddenly a girl who was around 15 years old came upto Ming Yue and said
"Greetings second miss, may I have a seat?"
Ming Yue looked up, she was a beautiful young girl, she has milky white skin, and a cute teeth like that of rabbit, her hair was tied in two buns each secured with gold ribbons, she was wearing a blue and yellow hanfu. Her beauty was refreshing and cute, Ming Yue smiled, her smile looked like blooming of a flower because Ming Yue used to smile less her smile was quite rare and now when she smiled it looked like a thousand flowers blooming at the same time, she looked like an angel, she was an ethereal beauty and looked so harmless and sweet while smiling, she said in a very pleasing tone
"Of course, please have a seat"
Li Bai was dumbfounded with Ming Yue's beauty. She had seen Ming Yue when she was entering the hall and Ming Yue's demeanor had made her very curious as to what kind of person Ming Yue was. Li Bai sat down next to Ming Yue, and started interacting, Li Bai was the daughter of Li Jun who was the official of imperial court, Li Bai had an elder sister who was married and she had two elder brothers. Li Bai was a gossiper but she was trustable, and most importantly she was very popular with the other noble young miss's from prominent families.
Li Bai and Ming Yue chatted for more than one hour, they had so many things in similar and had bonded easily, Li Bai then enthusiastically said
"Ah Yue, I'm holding a small tea ceremony tomorrow afternoon, with some of the noble young misses, why don't you join us? and also, I hope you don't mind me calling you Ah Yue."
Ming Yue smiled and said
"Of course, you can call me Ah Yue, and about the tea ceremony tomorrow, I'll be there. Also I have high hopes as it'll be my first tea ceremony."
Li Bai happily said
"Ofcourse it'll be great! Ah Yue I should go to my father now, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay, see you tomorrow then."
Li Bai happily walked away while Lue Yi who was speaking with her friends glared at Ming Yue, Li Bai was popular but she wasn't friends with Lue Yi, seeing Li Bai speak with Ming Yue, it made Lue Yi more jealous and more angry towards Ming Yue.
After the time it would take an incense stick to burn, the banquet was over with a large feast.