Chapter 735 The Imperial New Year's Eve Banquet

On the way to the capital, everywhere you looked, people were celebrating the New Year and bidding farewell to the old.

The streets were bustling with activity, with the crackling of firecrackers echoing from time to time. Children were having a great time lighting firecrackers everywhere with incense sticks in their hands.

Cheng Wanwan lifted the car curtain and looked at the lively scenery outside the window, feeling happy inside.

Such a peaceful and prosperous era should continue, instead of letting innocent people live in misery for the sake of greed.

Prosperity brings suffering to the people.

When the country falls, the people suffer.

Only when there is no war can ordinary people truly be happy.

The carriages became congested as they approached the palace gates.

Although a third-rank official is a high-ranking position, there are still over a hundred first, second, and third-rank officials in the entire capital, not to mention their families and servants.

Cheng Wanwan got off the carriage, and Cheng Yi drove the carriage aside to guard it. Granny Qi stepped forward to help her, and the two of them went into the palace together.

"Lady Sui!" Madam Zhang was waiting to enter the palace. When she saw Cheng Wanwan arrive, she immediately stepped out of the procession to greet her. "This is your first time attending the palace's New Year's Eve banquet, isn't it? If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me."

Lin Taifu's wife, Madam Lin, also came over and said with a smile, "It's just a banquet. Lady Sui will definitely be able to handle it. We'll sit together later."

“Wanwan, why don’t you sit with me?” Madam Ruan walked over and affectionately hooked her arm around Cheng Wanwan’s. “This palace banquet is held once a year, and there are many rules each time. Wanwan, just follow me and learn them.”

Seeing Madam Ruan and Cheng Wanwan so close, Madam Zhang and Madam Lin were both somewhat shocked.

The Ruan family were military families, and Madam Ruan didn't like to cultivate these interpersonal relationships. She kept her relationships with everyone distant, but she never expected to become so familiar with Sui Shuren.

Madam Lin smiled and said, "Madam Ruan has to take care of Miss Ruan, how could she have time to look after Lady Sui?"

"My daughter is unwell, and her brothers are taking turns caring for her at home. None of the children have come to the palace yet," Madam Ruan said with a smile. "It's our turn now, let's go in quickly."

She knew something big was going to happen tonight, so naturally she wouldn't let her children enter the palace to face the danger.

Of all the people here tonight, no more than ten know the plan. She and Wanwan are the only two women in the family who know it. After the chaos, the two of them need to help evacuate the panicked women...

After their identities were verified, the group headed into the palace.

Red lanterns hung everywhere in the palace, red paper was pasted on the windows, and the palace maids and eunuchs were dressed in new clothes, creating a festive atmosphere for the New Year.

"This is really strange." Madam Zhang looked left and right. "In the past, every time I entered the palace, there was a guard every three steps. Today is strange. I didn't see a single guard the whole way."

Madam Lin nodded in agreement: "Those eunuchs seemed to be in a hurry; I wonder what they were busy with."

"Every year at the palace banquet there are dance performances and such, so they're probably preparing for those," Madam Ruan changed the subject. "Speaking of which, the Second Prince and the Third Prince are of marriageable age, but they haven't married their principal wives yet. Tonight at the palace banquet, there should be many young ladies presenting gifts. I wonder which young lady will become a prince's wife."

Both Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Lin were getting on in years and loved to ponder such matters. The two of them discussed it with great interest.

They walked along and soon arrived at the main hall. Charcoal fires were burning inside and outside the hall, making it very warm. There were many low tables inside, each seating two people, and the court officials sat down in order of their rank and status.

General Ruan did not come, and Madam Ruan did not bring any family members. Cheng Wanwan was also alone, so the two of them ended up at the same table.

The two had just sat down when the He family arrived.

He Hanhai and his wife, He Ling and the eldest daughter-in-law of the He family, a group of four people walked in from the entrance of the main hall and sat down at two tables.

Cheng Wanwan glanced at Luo Qi, the eldest daughter-in-law of the He family, a few more times. As far as she knew, Luo Qi and He Xiao were originally a couple, but in the struggle between the brothers, Luo Qi chose He Ling and betrayed He Xiao... Hurt by both his family and his beloved, He Xiao was wounded in the heart, resulting in him still being single to this day...

As she was staring at Luo Qi, she felt a gaze fall on her. Turning her head, she saw Madam He looking at her and smiled gently.

She returned the smile and then looked away.

She really didn't know how to deal with a mother like Madam He.

“He Er is such a pitiful man,” Madam Ruan said in a low voice. “He was disliked since he was a child. He finally became the second-in-command in the army through his own efforts, but he was falsely accused of treason and was forced to wander outside for two or three years. Now that he has returned, he is unwilling to be close to the He family anymore. Every New Year he spends it with a few soldiers stationed in the army. Sigh, if He Er were not a bit older, I would have wanted him to be my son-in-law.”

Cheng Wanwan said softly, "It's better to be rid of a family like that. He's only in his early thirties, and he'll definitely meet his true love."

The two chatted in hushed tones, and soon it was time. As Eunuch Ming's shrill voice rang out, the royal family members slowly entered.

The Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager walked at the front, followed by the princes and princesses.

Although Princess Rongqing was confined to her quarters, she was naturally not allowed to be alone and miserable during the New Year, so she came as well.

The group walked to the highest point and took their seats. The youngest, the Fifth Prince, sat on the far side and looked extremely well-behaved.

“If Consort Yun hadn’t acted recklessly, the Fifth Prince wouldn’t be in such a pitiful state.” Madam Ruan shook her head. “At only three years old, he has already witnessed the coldness of human relationships, and his personality has changed drastically… If it weren’t for Her Majesty the Empress’s leniency, the Fifth Prince would probably have been bullied to death long ago.”

As the mother of the nation, the empress would naturally not mistreat the princes, but she also wouldn't pay them much attention.

The emperor had both sons and daughters, and was usually busy with state affairs, so he had no time to care about his youngest son. Therefore, the fifth prince's situation became even more dire.

However, as a prince, he was already much happier than many ordinary people, so Cheng Wanwan had no intention of pitying the child.

Once everyone had arrived, the emperor smiled and said some celebratory words, and the palace banquet began.

After the three rounds of wine, the Empress asked if anyone had prepared a performance, and immediately some ladies of high social standing stood up to play.

Some people played the zither, some painted, some composed poems on the spot, and some sang a song... The atmosphere at the scene was brought to its peak.

"Reward them all," the Empress said with a smile. "You ladies have raised your daughters so well. You should bring them into the palace more often to keep me company and get to know each other better."

The ladies immediately rose to express their gratitude.

Being able to enter the palace and speak with the Empress means that you have caught her eye, and you might even be bestowed upon the Second Prince or the Third Prince as a concubine, which would be an immense honor.

Just as the rewards were being distributed, He Ling suddenly stood up.

He walked to the center of the main hall, cupped his hands, and said, "For several years, the Great Yu Dynasty has enjoyed favorable weather and peace... A few months ago, I was chatting with a monk when I heard that a southern guest star had appeared in the suburbs of the capital. Since ancient times, the southern guest star has been an auspicious sign. So I sent many people to search for the auspicious sign. Heaven rewards those who persevere, and I have finally found it! At this time of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new, I humbly request that you present this auspicious sign to help my Great Yu Dynasty prosper and become strong!"

The emperor's face lit up with surprise, and he exclaimed with great delight, "Quickly bring forth auspicious omens!"

He Ling clapped his hands lightly, and a dozen people appeared at the entrance of the main hall. These people carried in a huge thing covered with a red cloth, so it was impossible to see what it was.