Today, on the Mid-autumn Festival, Jiang Changbai had changed into court dress early in the morning, and gone to stand outside the Cining Palace's doors. According to the previous traditions, today, every member of the core imperial family were to ascend the Liuli Tower [1] at the outermost of the Imperial Palace, and pray for blessings together with the citizenry. The situation now wasn't as before—those who could ascend the Liuli Tower could be counted on a single hand, but what had to be done still had to be done. This was the reason Jiang Changbai was here now, as well. The messenger maid called out a great number of times, and only then did the doors of the Cining Palace finally open. Though she'd guessed that Lu Pingwan would likely not see her, when she looked in the direction of the voice, her gaze still held some hope. What if? Jiang Chanbgai thought. But this time, there wasn't any what if; the doors to the Cining Palace were pushed open, and from within, A...