Jiang Ning stopped in her tracks.
She hesitated to break the serene solitude.
Nonetheless, the Emperor had already noticed her and spoke up, "Seventh Sister, come and sit down."
The nickname made Jiang Ning smile quietly. She walked over, sat on a stone stool across from the Emperor, and took a jug to pour herself a cup of wine.
The Emperor, holding a wine cup in his hand, remarked, "You're not shy about helping yourself."
"Your Majesty, when you first came to my place for a meal, you were even more unreserved."
"You were quite bold when you took so many antiques from me."
"Oh, pardon my ignorance, but I didn't realize they were antiques at the time." Jiang Ning brought the wine cup to her lips and took a small sip, finding it had a mellow aroma without any harsh taste.
She found it delightful and gulped it down, pouring herself another cup.
The Emperor warned, "This wine has a strong kick."
"It's the Mid-Autumn Festival, a few more cups won't hurt," Jiang Ning chuckled.