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So she spoke with Steward Zhang and suggested that if there were any off-duty Young Eunuchs in Star Palace today, they could come and have some fun too. She would first have Xiao Qing teach them how to mold mooncakes, then they would have a competition.

Steward Zhang managed to gather six more individuals for her, making up six groups in total.

When the mooncakes were baked and ready, the group that made the most and the best would receive a portion of the mooncakes as well as the biggest prize, while everyone else would receive a portion of mooncakes and a smaller prize.

The prize was actually something she had wheedled out of His Majesty, who could blame her for staying up late waiting for him to return? After she told him, he had scolded her for not going to sleep earlier, and in a fit of pique, she extorted fifty taels from him!

This time she took out twenty taels of silver to use as the prize, planning to use the remaining thirty taels another time.

Everything was going smoothly, except just now a Little Palace Maid mentioned that a Palace Maid named Xia Liu felt unwell and had not come; fortunately, Pang Ya stepped in. Otherwise, the one she had high hopes for, Xiao Qing, would have been left alone.

She had decided that today they would eat all of the mooncakes, both the well-made and the poorly-made ones, and then she would pick out some of the good ones and send a portion to Sister Zhaoyi.

With the rest, she planned to keep some for herself and reward each of the Young Eunuchs and Little Palace Maids of Star Palace and Canglan Court with a share. She would also give a portion to Steward Zhang.

She did the math and figured that should be just about right!

Little did Lian Hua know, this event had stirred up quite the commotion among the servants of Star Palace; everyone was fighting tooth and nail for a chance to participate. In the end, it was only after Zhang Qing exercised his authority and selected six people, that things finally quieted down.

The selected ones were overjoyed, while those who weren’t chosen were beating their chests and stamping their feet in frustration, left with no choice but to pay close attention to the results of the competition, feeling regretful that they couldn’t witness it firsthand.

Lian Hua moved from table to table, observing the progress.

When she came to Xiao Linzi’s table, she couldn’t help but offer some advice, "Oh, Xiao Linzi, you’re so clumsy, your dough balls are all mismatched in size.

It’s going to look so ugly once you press them into the mold. You’re really holding back Xiao Jizi."

Xiao Linzi, flustered by the critique, nearly mixed up the crust and the filling, which only made Lian Hua disdain him more. She suggested that Xiao Jizi and Xiao Linzi switch roles, with Xiao Linzi working the mold and Xiao Jizi shaping the dough.

After giving instructions at one table, Lian Hua moved on to the next and saw the pair she had great expectations for, Xiao Qing and Pang Ya, working together. She nodded with satisfaction. Not bad, the mooncakes looked good with cute rabbits pressed onto their surface.

And so she continued making rounds among the six tables.

Nanny Qi stood watching for a while and then sat back down, finding it amusing to observe Lian Hua bustling about enthusiastically from table to table.

This young girl just couldn’t sit still and was always full of ideas; she could turn such a small event into a big affair that was both bustling and festive, making everyone happy and bringing the spirit of the festival to life.

The palace was usually a dull place, and now that she had so few amusements available to her, Nanny Qi thought why not let her have her fun? Better for her to stir things up within Canglan Court where she could keep an eye on her, moreover, the lively scene was a joy to watch.

There was a set amount of dough, and they could only take a new batch after finishing molding an entire one.

Finally, all the dough was molded, and they started to bake, everyone waiting anxiously and busily for the mooncakes to be ready.

The Emperor, meanwhile, was presiding over the Imperial Court session when the Grand Tutor submitted a memorial that sparked a debate between two parties:

The incident began when a Scholar from Taiyuan Prefecture, who limped slightly due to a congenital defect in his left foot, was barred from participating in the Autumn Exam.

The Grand Tutor, serving as the Chief Examiner of Taiyuan Prefecture, happened upon a man during his inspection and saw that this individual was brimming with talent and possessed the capability to govern a state.

Struck by admiration for talent, he allowed the man to sit for the provincial examination, and immediately submitted a memorial to confess his fault and explain the matter.

At the court meeting, the conservative ministers argued this man’s appearance was lacking and an eyesore, conflicting with the image of current officials. Even if he had participated in the provincial exam, they insisted he should be disqualified and not employed afterward.

These ministers then stated that since ancient times, those with physical ailments or damaged appearances, which clash with the image of current officials, were always disqualified from holding office; otherwise, it would tarnish the Imperial Court’s reputation and they should adhere to the precedent set by their predecessors.

Behind these ministers, others went further to accuse the Grand Tutor of overstepping his authority by allowing someone to take the provincial exam for his personal gain.

Another group of progressive ministers posited that if this man truly possessed genuine knowledge and talent, his limp, being an acquired injury, was excusable.

They cited a litany of capable officials from history who, despite physical ailments, had contributed significantly to the governance of the state, demonstrating that those with disabilities could still serve the court effectively.

They argued that the imperial examination was established to select talented individuals and should not be restricted by stagnant and outdated conventions; therefore, the Scholar’s participation was beyond reproach.

The two sides immediately erupted into a squabble, giving the Emperor a headache.

In the end, he made a definitive decision, "Promoting the worthy and employing the capable are in no way blameworthy.

The court should be flexible in employing talent; if indeed there are individuals talented and virtuous, why not give them an opportunity. "

With that, the matter was dropped.

The Emperor, however, took a quiet interest in this man; the Grand Tutor was known for his stringent standards, and it was rare for him to speak highly of anyone. A person he commended must possess exceptional qualities.

Nevertheless, it was better to wait until the man proved himself by passing the subsequent examinations—discussing it further at this point was premature.

After the court session ended, the Emperor spent time in the Administration Palace listening to several ministers report on the provincial examinations from various regions, before returning to the Star Palace.

Hu Miaomiao had been waiting in the Star Palace for some time, and upon seeing him, the Emperor knew he must have uncovered something about Little Concubine’s relatives.

The Emperor summoned him in.

Upon seeing the Emperor, Hu Miaomiao immediately beamed with a smile and greeted him with a salute, exclaiming, "I pay my respects to my Emperor, may His Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years."

"Rise and reply," said the Emperor as he sat down, lifted a teacup, skimmed off the froth with the lid, and began to drink.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Hu Miaomiao briskly stood up, his rotund figure seemed to radiate festivity.

Then his words burst forth like cannon fire, "This humble servant dispatched agents for investigation, hearing along the way the sounds of chickens and dogs, witnessing commoners with doors unclosed at night, possessions untouched on roadsides.

I personally went and indeed found it to be true: the country is peaceful, the people are secure and content, well-clothed and well-fed—a sight of a prosperous age.

Our Emperor is wise and valiant, appoints the talented and capable, diligent in governance and loves the people, with grand strategies and tactics.

Seeing such prosperity under the heavens, this servant is not surprised, all because we have an illustrious sovereign like Your Majesty. "

The Emperor clapped the lid back onto his teacup with a "snap": "Why all these pointless words?"

What a Hu Miaomiao, his skill at flattery had grown increasingly refined, seizing the chance to spout a stream of nonsense while the Emperor sipped his tea.

Hu Miaomiao raised his hand to lightly slap his own face in self-reproach while still smiling earnestly, "Indeed, all due to this servant’s inability to hold back the words in my heart.

Having such an illustrious sovereign is a fortune to the common people, a blessing to this servant, which I must express for relief. .."

"Enough," the Emperor interrupted impatiently, knowing this could go on endlessly, "How goes the investigation? Why only now is there news?"

When the conversation returned to the matter at hand, Hu Miaomiao put away some of his smiles and again solemnly made a bow, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant had people trace the records, and found that Beauty Lian’s relatives prior to her entering the palace are all still alive, but have moved to another place—"