Chapter 580: Beauty Showering Attention
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The banquet was held in the Bright Happiness Palace in the Imperial harem’s palace complex, but before the banquet started, they had to wait for Xiao Jin to pray to the heavens at the stargazing platform.
Only after the praying ritual would they proceed to go to Bright Happiness Palace.
Su Ying did not immediately head to the stargazing platform. Instead, she waited outside for Xiao Jin to go there with him.
Just as they were about to go inside to avoid the freezing wind, they saw Xiao Jin, who was wearing a purple dragon robe, walking over with his men.
Xiao Jin looked in Su Ying’s direction and extended his hand toward her.
Su Ying slowly walked towards him and placed her hand on his palm.
Even though it was the coldest day of the year, Xiao Jin’s hand was still warm. His large palm wrapped around her hand, giving her an inexplicable sense of security.
“His Majesty and Her Imperial Highness have arrived…”
As the high-pitched announcement rang out, everyone present stood up and bowed.
“May the Emperor live for tens of thousands of years! May the Empress live for thousands of years!”
Xiao Jin and Su Ying arrived in front of everyone.
“You may all rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
After everyone straightened up, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau official walked out with red and yellow flags and began performing the ritual dance around the stargazing platform.
After the ritual dance was almost over, Xiao Jin released Su Ying’s hand and said in a low voice, “I’ll be right back.”
“Take care of yourself.”
Xiao Jin nodded slightly and followed the Imperial Astronomical Bureau official to the stargazing platform.
The stargazing platform was also a platform for astrological divination. On normal days, the Imperial astronomers would also come here to observe important astrological phenomena.
Almost everyone raised their heads to look in Xiao Jin’s direction.
Ding ling ling! The copper bell rang, and there was a humming sound. The ceremony had begun.
Su Ying withdrew her gaze. It was too tiring to keep looking at people with her head tilted back.
The ceremony was not complicated and ended in less than 30 minutes.
The group of ministers and their family members standing below were already shivering from the cold, but no one dared to show any signs of dissent.
After the ceremony ended, Xiao Jin walked down from the stargazing platform.
“Let’s proceed to the Bright Happiness Palace.”
“His Majesty is proceeding to the Bright Happiness Palace.”
It was finally over!
The Bright Happiness Palace was located in the southern direction of the Imperial Palace, which was a good place to avoid the blustery north wind. As soon as they entered the palace hall, everyone felt the warm air greeting them.
“All officials, please take your seats.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Xiao Jin clapped his hands lightly, and the palace maids filed in with hot soup and dishes. Although the budget for today’s palace banquet had been reduced by a lot, the dishes that were served smelled particularly fragrant.
Perhaps it was because they had mostly eaten cold dishes during the past banquet. In contrast, the bowls of soup and food that were served today were still steaming.
The first dish that was served was a bowl of chicken soup that looked exceptionally refreshing. At first glance, this chicken soup looked like chicken immersed in clear water, but after taking a sip, it left a lingering aroma in one’s mouth.
The dishes made by this Imperial chef were indeed different. Even an ordinary dish was so appetizing.
The second dish was a cold dish. It was also the sour and spicy radish that Su Ying had tasted after waking up. As soon as the dish was served, the entire hall was filled with the sour aroma of the radish.
Many ministers, noble women, and young ladies of aristocratic families frowned. They felt that this smell was very pungent and not quite presentable.
They wanted to be thrifty when organizing the palace banquet but surely this was too shabby? Who would serve the guests pickled vegetables and radishes during a banquet?
“Crunch! Crunch!”
Just as the wives of the ministers were looking at the dish with disdain, they heard a crunching sound.
Perhaps it was because the hall was too quiet. The crunching sounds could not be ignored at all.
They looked in the direction of the noise and saw the noble Empress eating with a contented expression.
The Empress was the daughter of the Prime Minister after all. How could she enjoy radishes so much?
Someone curiously picked up a piece of radish and put it into his mouth. After chewing it slowly, he actually discovered the wonder within.
This radish was especially crunchy and refreshing. It did not have a very aggressive sour vinegar taste when eaten. He did not know how it was marinated, but it was especially appetizing when he ate it.
No wonder the Empress ate it so contentedly. This was really delicious.
For a while, the hall was filled with the crunching sound of people eating radishes.
The third dish was fried mushroom. There were only a few pieces on each plate. The food presentation looked good, but there was really not much to eat.
No one knew if it was because these people only knew how to cherish something after losing it.
The dishes that were served today were all completely eaten up by the guests.
They even felt that a small fried mushroom was so delicious!
There were only eight dishes in this banquet, and the portion of each dish was not much.
At this point, a melodious melody floated out in the hall. A graceful woman stood up gradually and walked to the center of the hall with light airy steps.
The woman had a full round face that was blessed with fortune. Her eyes were big and mesmerizing, and her dimpled smile was pleasing to the eye.
“Your humble subject Lian Rong hereby pays her respects to Your Majesty. Today is the Winter Solstice, I would like to take this opportunity to present a song to Your Majesty and Your Imperial Highness. I hope I won’t invite ridicule from Your Majesty and Your Imperial Highness.”
Su Ying was engrossed in eating the dessert that was served at the end. To be honest, if it wasn’t for her tight robe today, this little bit of food wouldn’t even be enough to fill the gaps between her teeth.
There was food, drinks, and a free performance, so Su Ying had no reason to refuse. “Sure, go ahead and play.”
When she saw that Su Ying had given her approval, Lian Rong thought that Su Ying was willing to give her a chance to prove herself, so she put in even more effort.
The sound of the zither was melodious, but it seemed a little depressing. However, the person playing the zither was much more lively than the musical notes from the zither. Her eyes would occasionally send a loving gaze to Xiao Jin at the intervals in between her zither playing.
Unfortunately, Xiao Jin had been influenced by Su Ying. He was also engrossed in wolfing down the food with his head lowered the entire time and did not notice that pair of eyes blinking so furiously they almost went into spasms.
After one song, Lian Rong excused herself in disappointment. At the end of it all, she did not even get a glance from the Emperor!
Just because she couldn’t do it didn’t mean that others couldn’t.
Many of the exquisitely dressed young ladies present were eager to give it a try. God knew how long they had prepared for this opportunity to show their faces.
Next up was a dancing beauty.
After Su Ying finished her dessert, Zhou Qing handed her a cup of hot tea to help with her digestion.
Thus, she had a chance to enjoy the beauty’s graceful dance.
The beauty was dancing a peacock dance, and every movement was so lifelike that it was as if a real peacock was dancing.
After the dance, the beauty came up to Xiao Jin with light airy steps. She took the wine jug from the palace maid’s hand with a smile and poured a cup of wine for Xiao Jin. “Your Majesty, please have a drink.”
Xiao Jin had just finished the last piece of dessert Su Ying had given him when he suddenly saw a face leaning toward him. His sharp eyebrows twitched momentarily.
Then, he mercilessly reprimanded her, “Stand down.”
The beauty’s expression changed slightly, and Su Ying gave a sigh. This beauty’s expression changed faster than one could flip through a book. Just a moment ago, she was still acting like the world was at peace, but now, it was as if her entire family was about to be exiled.
“Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Your… your subject has offended you. Please do not be angry, Your Majesty.”
Indeed, Xiao Jin didn’t like to get too close to strangers, especially when an unfamiliar aura invaded his personal space. He would instinctively want to attack.
The Emperor’s expression was very chilly, and no one dared to step forward and plead for the beauty.
Just as the atmosphere in the hall was stuck in a stalemate, Su Ying spoke..