"Can we go take a short walk now? It'll still be a bit before all the clans arrive, won't it?" Jingyi asks. He wonders if there's even the slightest chance they'd remember to return before the banquet begins. Their clans would probably look down on that! Was it worth the risk to get a couple of Zizhen's kisses? Absolutely!

He considers the scepter or whatever it is Jin Ling was carrying and eventually nodded. He'd say more about how over-the-top even for a 'Jin' that seemed, except for the reminder about his recovery. He glances up at the dais the throne is sitting on with the censor. Was that because he is still unwell too?

He slips his hand over Sizhui's and gives it an encouraging squeeze. Everything will work out just fine!.. he hopes.

The steward leads Jiang clan to the tables directly across from them. Cheng doesn't sit down before stepping across the hall to greet his brother and brother-in-law. He's less thrilled this means he's greeting the Ouyang clan while he's at it, but that's politics.

"Are you planning on being a good sport this time?" He says as a greeting to Wuxian with a smirk.