The Autumn

"Matriarch Gu, Bengong wishes you a life longer than the Han river and happiness greater than the northern mountains," said the Empress as she gently held the old woman's wrinkled hand.

Even at the age of late forties, the Empress had a well maintained body and smooth skin which made her look like she was only in her thirties. Along with her beautiful features, her kind gestures gave people the impression of an exemplary Empress, the Mother of the Nation.

"Her Majesty is magnanimous. This one thanks the Empress for honoring us with your presence in this small banquet," replied Matriarch Gu while touching the back of the Empress's hand with her forehead, a gesture that showed her submission to the royalty of the kingdom that her family had served for generations. The family of the General has always been loyal to the crown and held it in the highest regard above everything else.

"Please, take a seat. Matriarch should not be standing for too long, it's not good for your knees," advised the Empress as she helped the old woman sit on the chaise under everyone's respectful gaze.

Seeing her daughter still standing at the side, the Empress smiled and motioned with her head, "An Rou, come here. Haven't you prepared a gift for Matriarch Gu?"

"Your Highness, why take trouble with bringing gifts? This one is already happy that you came all the way here," said Matriarch Gu with a shake of her head.

"This younger generation should care about these things even more. If they start thinking that following such courtesy is a trouble then bengong can't imagine how things will be in their time," countered Empress with a light smile before she beckoned Xin An Rou, "An Rou come here and show your present to Matriarch Gu. This child, Bengong can't lie but she has worked all night since yesterday to prepare the gift as soon as she found out Matriarch's birthday is today."

Xin An Rou looked at her mother, silently pleading with her big doe-like eyes to not make a big deal out of it. Seeing this cute interaction between the mother and daughter, the nobles present couldn't help admiring the Princess who seemingly didn't want to be bragged about.

Her features were very similar to the Empress, perfect arching brows, natural contoured cheeks and pink lips. Void of the heavy makeup and heavy jewelries unlike the rest of the women in the banquet, An Rou was like an enchanting flower found only at the top of the mountain, one that men desired for but couldn't reach.

Precisely because of her refreshing personality, people couldn't help but follow her every movement.

As Xin An Rou motioned at the nearby eunuch, after which, two servants carried an enormous rectangular looking object hidden under a red silk.

Hearing it was the present from Xin An Rou to Matriarch Gu everyone's curious gaze followed the hidden object being carried at the front hall.

"Careful! Don't let it fall," instructed the Empress as the servants lowered the object to the ground.

Everyone was lost amidst questions and thoughts but their interest had been further piqued. What could it really be for the Empress to be so cautious about?

Xin An Rou walked towards the large object which was held above a wooden stand. When she stood a few inches away from it, under everyone's curious eyes, her long fingers pinched the red silk and gently pulled at it.

Her slow graceful movement had further built up the anticipation in the room. Everyone's eyes were glued at the object and they couldn't wait to see what was beyond that cover.

The red silk gently slid and fell on the ground. When An Rou's body moved to the side, everyone could finally see the masterpiece they had been waiting for.

What fell under everyone's gaze was the scene of the autumn where the golden maple leaves are falling on the lake from a nearby tree. The ripples formed seemed to be in the process of erasing the beautiful reflection as it spread outward. Each stroke was carefully handled, making the painting seem life-like.

Covered by the frame of gold on all sides, the painting was almost the size of an adult human. No wonder it was difficult to carry it even by the two servants.

Matriarch Gu's eyes lit up. She was very much fond of arts, especially to collect the rare paintings of the famous masters. As a result, the Gu house had the collection of all varieties of paintings but the one before her was truly one of a kind.

Everyone was reminded of the beautiful autumn that bid farewell to the summer as it ushered the winter. But even with the arrival of the cold winter, their hearts couldn't help but anticipate the fall.

As expected of the First Princess. Talented in all four arts and even the sword skills. Whatever her hands touched, she mastered it to the point of perfection.

The reaction from everyone prompted Bai Yu Yan to stretch her eyes towards the large painting. She was not unaware of the female lead's unrivalled talent but wanted to witness it herself. But having seen all kinds of paintings in the modern world, she didn't have much reaction seeing the autumn scene colored on the paper.

Right at this moment, Xin An Rou's eyes unconsciously turned to look towards Bai Yu Yan's direction. Even in the group of ladies, she could easily be detected as the prettiest of all. However, as An Rou's eyes lingered in the girl's expression, she found that unlike the excited reaction from the rest of the people in the hall, Bai Yu Yan had a dull expression when looking at the painting.

Didn't the noble women in the capital like to excel in all forms of arts? Painting was definitely one of them.

Xin An Rou averted her eyes and lowered her head, it seems the woman did not understand the painting. Although she did not like judging anyone, her impression of Bai Yu Yan was of someone who cared more about their outer appearance than other things.

"This Princess hopes that Matriarch Gu does not dislike this small present," said Xin An Rou with a serious face devoid of any flattery. It was her Mother who made her paint it for today's banquet, so she just regarded it as a task.

Dislike? How could anyone dislike such a beautiful painting, that too, made by the Princess herself? The onlookers couldn't help but sigh at her modesty.

"Your Highness, this one's eyes is not too old to dislike such a marvelous piece of art. This one thanks Your Highness," replied the Matriarch with courtesy.

"That's good. Bengong had already told Rou'er that Matriarch Gu will like it but this child did not listen to me. When His Excellency appreciated this painting, only then she believed it," commented the Empress with a helpless sigh.

To that, An Rou peeked at Lu Tong Xiao and gave an awkward smile.

Hearing the Empress say he liked the painting, Lu Tong Xiao's brows furrowed into a knot. When did he say anything like that?

Earlier in the palace when the servants were creating a fuss while wrapping the painting, he had simply taken a glance at it. But knowing that it was the gift for Matriarch Gu's birthday, he could help but think which idiot would gift an old woman the painting of autumn on her birthday.

Although he was not an artist himself, upon deeper study about this meaning, one would know that the dry falling leaves would signify a person's frail life which is about to come to an end. Only a fool would give such a painting to an old person.

When the nearby servant saw him staring at the painting, he had excitedly informed him that it was made by the Princess. Not wanting his thoughts to appear on his face, he had simply nodded his head and retreated to his work.

Lu Tong Xiao did not want to ruin the atmosphere by stating his opinions. After all, it was the banquet of his good friend's family.

From the empress's words, the onlookers immediately picked that Lu Tong Xiao admired First Princess' art. The Prime Minister was known to be a serious man who rarely engaged himself in things like arts, much less appreciate it, but it seems even he is not spared from the beauty of the Princess's talents.

Without them realizing, the nobles had unconsciously started to get interested in any news surrounding Prime Minister Lu and the First Princess.

"This new generation does not believe in our old thinking style. They need confirmation from the people of their age to make an opinion," added Madame Gu with a smile. As a mother of two sons, Gu Jin and Gu Sheng, she had already experienced this herself.

After the royal family presented their gifts, the other nobles went forward one by one to present whatever they had prepared. Even though it would pale in comparison to the First Princess' gift, still, calligraphies of famous masters, rare stones, thousand-year-old ginseng, the nobles had brought the best they could find. After all, it not only represented the wealth and power of their house but also a way to get closer to the prestigious Gu family.

Everyone was enjoying the banquet as they ate and drank while witnessing and comparing the presents of the other nobles with their own.

However, surrounded by the lively atmosphere, Bai Yu Yan could not enjoy the banquet. Under the calm front, her hands sweated and her toes twitched with nervousness.

She could almost feel her heart drumming a thousand beats per second as her turn drew nearer.