Chu Youning slept deeply.
By the time she woke again, the sky had already dimmed.
Sensing a change in her breathing, Qian Rui, who had been keeping watch beside her, immediately brought over a cup of tea.
"Elder Princess, you're awake. Have some tea first."
"Thank you."
Her mouth felt a little dry, so Chu Youning took the cup and sipped a few mouthfuls.
Her gaze instinctively searched her surroundings.
Seeing this, Qian Rui thoughtfully added, "My master is outside."
"Oh."
Chu Youning nodded gently.
She sat for a little longer, waiting for her mind to gradually clear, before slowly asking, "What time is it now?"
"It's already past the You Hour. (17:00)"
Hearing Qian Rui's answer, Chu Youning froze. "That late?"
With that thought, Chu Youning got up, wandered over to the dressing mirror to tidy her hair, then headed outside.
After leaving the courtyard, she walked a few steps down the covered walkway and spotted quite a few people seated farther along it. They all looked familiar, too.
Over there.
The moment the group noticed Chu Youning coming out, they stood up and turned toward her.
"Why... is everyone here? Did something happen?"
Chu Youning looked at the crowd, led by the Emperor and Empress, with bewilderment in her eyes.
"The banquet I arranged for you is about to begin, yet here you are, sleeping until the world turns dark. How could we hold it without our guest of honor? I had no choice but to come drag you back myself."
Having already gotten his excitement out of his system, Chu Wenzong now looked at Chu Youning with a composed expression, his tone almost no different from usual.
Chu Youning was baffled again.
"What banquet? Why are you throwing a banquet for me?"
"Yu'er, now that your Princess's