The palace maid presented a plate of translucent cherries. Stored in a White Jade Bowl, the red and white contrasted beautifully, enticing everyone's appetite.
Yueyao ate cherries while listening to Mingzhu speak about her recent experiences in the imperial palace. Although the Empress Dowager protected Mingzhu, she disliked the palace for its numerous rules and restrictions, and the lack of someone to chat with. Since the Empress Dowager was so fond of her, Mingzhu couldn't broach the topic of leaving. Running into Yueyao at the palace was a rare occasion, so she made sure to take full advantage to talk as much as she could.
Once Mingzhu had finished, Yueyao asked, "Enough about me, what about your marriage arrangements? Have they been settled yet? You're two years older than me; you should be more anxious."
Mingzhu felt disheartened and gestured towards Bai Yi with her lips.
