The following evening arrived with deceptive beauty.
The Lin Clan compound had been transformed for the occasion, paper lanterns hanging from every eave and tree branch, their warm glow casting the courtyard in shades of gold and crimson. Musicians played soft traditional melodies in one corner, their instruments creating an atmosphere of refined culture. Servants moved with practised efficiency, carrying trays of delicacies and fine wines to the arranged seating areas.
The banquet hall itself—actually a large open-air pavilion with retractable silk panels—had been arranged to accommodate approximately sixty guests. Low tables formed a U-shape around a central performance space, with the Lin family's table positioned at the head. Red and gold decorations dominated the aesthetic, the colours considered auspicious for political gatherings.
