Chapter 11
Chapter Summary: The Beginning of the Year.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Hearing the hazy sounds outside, Yu Jing woke up groggily and softly responded, "Mmm."
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager?" Someone outside seemed not to have heard Yu Jing's voice and called out again.
"Come in." Yu Jing rubbed her eyes, clearing her head, and said in a slightly louder voice.
"Squeak." The door opened, and footsteps sounded. Ayu stood at the head of the table and bowed to Yu Jing, saying, "Your Majesty, it is the New Year's banquet today, and it is getting late. We servants will help Your Majesty with your hair and makeup."
Yu Jing lazily got up from the bed, yawned, and asked, "What time is it now?"
“It’s almost time tonight,” Ayu replied.
"I've slept for so long," Yu Jing murmured, reaching out her hand.
Seeing Yu Jing reach out, Xiao Ting quickly handed her the warm water she had prepared. Yu Jing took it, drank the water, and only then did she feel alive again.
"Let's get ready." Yu Jing put down the cup, lifted the quilt and stood up. As she stood up, she glanced at the clothes being carried by the palace maid below, a striking bright red.
Perhaps because it was the New Year's Eve banquet, which couldn't be taken lightly, Yu Jing felt that her makeup had taken a long time to prepare. Her hair ornament consisted of twelve gold phoenix hairpins with pendants made of pearls, which hung at the ends, round and beautiful. When she put them all on, they were incredibly heavy, and Yu Jing felt like her neck was about to break.
"Your Majesty, it's all done," Ayu said with a smile.
Yu Jing looked up at the bronze mirror, momentarily surprised. Since her self-inflicted injury, she rarely wore makeup, and even when she did, it was very light. This makeup was completely different from her usual style. Heavy makeup, bright red lipstick, long, thick eyebrows, and exquisitely defined features. Truly, her face was flawlessly beautiful, leaving a lingering, unforgettable impression. It was completely different from her usual appearance.
"Let us help Her Majesty the Empress Dowager change her clothes," Ayu said, adjusting the hairpin in Yu Jing's hair.
"Okay." Yu Jing responded and stood up, letting them help her change her clothes.
"grown ups."
As Xie Xuan entered the Cining Palace with his sword, the guards on both sides saluted him. Xie Xuan nodded slightly in response.
Today is the first day of the year, and he is also attending a banquet. Given the large number of guards, he is not wearing armor, only his official robes. Because he was worried about Sheng Hua, he decided to come and escort him there.
The snow continued unabated, and now it even seemed to be getting heavier. Xie Xuan walked to the corridor with his umbrella, and just as he closed it, he heard the palace doors open. He subconsciously turned around and was momentarily stunned.
Her eyes were alluring, her movements captivating and beautiful.
Her attire today is unlike anything I've seen before; with such heavy makeup, she looks somewhat like the Empress Dowager, exuding a sharp and majestic aura.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager," Xie Xuan said, kneeling and bowing while holding an umbrella.
Yu Jing looked down and saw Xie Xuan dressed in a scarlet official robe. The tip of his umbrella, which he had just closed, was covered in snow, much of which had already slowly melted.
"Rise," Yu Jing replied, then asked somewhat curiously, "Lord Xie, are you not attending a banquet today?"
"Your Majesty, I thought of coming to escort you there."
Upon hearing Xie Xuan's words, Yu Jing smiled, surprised that the Heavenly Lord had become so honest after descending to the mortal realm. He then said, "Then I will trouble you, sir."
"It is my duty," Xie Xuan replied, bowing his head.
Yu Jing was dressed in elaborate and solemn attire, making walking impractical. Upon reaching the palace gate, she found a sedan chair already waiting. Ayu helped Yu Jing into the chair; it was Yu Jing's first time riding in one. The chair was spacious inside, with a small table besides the seat, upon which sat an oil lamp. The cramped space was filled with a dim, yellow candlelight. Perhaps it was the small space inside the chair, the candlelight, and the loud sound of wind and snow outside, but Yu Jing felt exceptionally warm and cozy.
The sedan chair creaked and groaned as it traveled along the passageway. Yu Jing felt a constant jolt, which initially seemed novel, but after a while, she began to feel tired.
Xie Xuan stood outside the sedan chair, holding an umbrella and following closely behind.
After sitting for a while, I heard a faint sound of silk music mixed with the sound of wind and snow outside. I guessed that we were almost at Zhengyang Palace.
Sure enough, after a while, Ayu's voice rang in my ears: "Your Majesty, we have arrived at Zhengyang Palace."
As soon as Ayu finished speaking, Yu Jing's vision slowly brightened. She stretched out her hand, and Yu Jing placed her hand in Ayu's palm and helped her out.
As soon as she stepped out of the sedan chair, an umbrella was placed over her head, completely enveloping Yu Jing. Looking along the edge of the umbrella, Yu Jing saw Xie Xuan. Behind him were thousands of flickering candlelight, and although he was facing away, his eyes were very bright.
As Yu Jing stepped into the Zhengyang Hall, she heard a eunuch announce loudly, "The Empress Dowager has arrived."
"Your subject (your humble servant, your humble servant, your servant, your servant, your servant) greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Thousands of shouts surged forth like a tide, and Yu Jing's steps faltered the moment she stepped into the palace. There were many servants in Cining Palace, but most of them greeted Yu Jing separately, so Yu Jing didn't feel anything special.
But in this instant, standing in the Zhengyang Hall, Yu Jing instantly understood the feeling of standing at the pinnacle of power. The Zhengyang Hall was enormous, with carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent in gold and jade, almost giving the impression that it stretched endlessly. The feeling of millions of people kneeling at his feet was truly exquisite.
"Everyone, please stand up," Yu Jing responded, glancing at the seat of honor. Qi Jin and Zhang Qingcen were both dressed in bright red today, and the two of them standing together looked like a wedding scene from a storybook. A handsome man and a beautiful woman, a perfect match!
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Everyone responded and stood up. Yu Jing slowly walked towards the upper seat. Just as she was about to step onto the stairs, Yu Jing saw Su Siyang.
Wearing a purple official robe, with a face as handsome as jade, and adorned only with a simple white jade hairpin, he exuded unparalleled nobility. He didn't look like a high-ranking official like the Grand Secretary, but rather like a noble young master from a distinguished family. Yu Jing glanced at him slightly, and he seemed to notice, a smile playing on his lips.
Yu Jing quickly turned around and then sat down in her seat.
"Mother." Zhang Qingcen greeted Sheng Hua with a smile and a soft voice as she approached. Yu Jing nodded slightly in response.
When Yu Jing arrived, most of the officials had already arrived, so the banquet could begin once Yu Jing was seated.
As soon as Yu Jing sat down, A Yu went to her side and filled her wine cup. Yu Jing had secretly tasted the Old Man of the Moon's wine when she was in Heaven, and it was not pleasant at all, and quite spicy. So she secretly tugged at A Yu's sleeve and whispered, "I don't want to drink this wine."
Ayu paused for a moment, then whispered to Yu Jing as if coaxing a child, "Your Majesty, these first three cups are a New Year's custom, and we probably can't refuse to drink them."
After Ayu finished speaking, the eunuch's voice rang out in the hall: "Today is the beginning of the year, and all officials celebrate together. Let us celebrate the peace and prosperity of the country."
Before she finished speaking, Yu Jing saw everyone raise their wine cups. Yu Jing also reached out and picked up her cup, joining them in drinking the wine in one gulp.
The pungent, stimulating smell assaulted her nostrils, and Yu Jing forced herself to swallow it in one gulp, enduring the irritation. She didn't know what kind of wine it was, but it was quite strong; her stomach felt like it was on fire as soon as she drank it. Just as she put the wine cup down, A Yu leaned closer and refilled it.
"May the weather be favorable for the second time, and may the harvest be plentiful."
Yu Jing took a deep breath, raised the wine cup, and drank it all in one gulp.
"May the three festivals celebrate a bountiful harvest of grains and crops, and may this be accomplished."
After three glasses of strong liquor, Yu Jing felt that the New Year's Eve banquet was probably over. Qi Jin then said a few polite words, and the whole place became lively. People toasted, laughed, and chatted about everything under the sun, with constant laughter and cheerful conversation.
Yu Jing sat in her seat for a while and then started to feel a little tipsy.
"Xuan'er." Xie Xuan heard the voice and looked over, only to see Xie Ying sitting a little behind him.
"Sister." Xie Xuan greeted Xie Ying with a smile, and seeing Li Wei sitting next to Xie Ying, she also smiled and called her, "Mother."
Li Wei smiled and nodded.
Xie Ying quietly moved behind Xie Xuan and asked in a low voice, "How have you been lately? Have you been eating and sleeping well?"
"Yes." Xie Xuan nodded with a smile. "And you, elder sister?"
"I'm fine," Xie Ying replied with a smile.
"Hey, my mother told me that you're not young anymore, and you should keep an eye out for the ladies from prominent families in the capital during the New Year's banquet. If you find someone you like, tell your father and mother, and they will arrange a marriage for you." Xie Ying said to Xie Xuan while looking at the elegantly dressed woman beside her.
Mentioning this made Xie Xuan somewhat irritated. Since his return to the capital, Li Wei and Xie Jin had brought it up with him many times. But he wasn't interested in matters of love; he had no woman he fancied and didn't want to casually delay other women's lives. However, Xie Ying seemed unaware of Xie Xuan's thoughts and spoke to him with great interest.
"That's Zhang Mingzhen, the daughter of the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Household Department. I've met her before and spoken to her a bit. She's well-mannered and has a gentle temperament. She's also quite pretty. Take a look..."
Xie Xuan glanced at her, but only once before looking away. For some reason, that glance brought to mind Sheng Hua's alluring and seductive manner in the corridor. Realizing what he was thinking, Xie Xuan abruptly stood up.
"Hey, where are you going?" Xie Ying asked as Xie Xuan stood up.
"I need to relieve myself." Xie Xuan responded and walked outside.
Yu Jing felt her face getting hotter and hotter. She reached out and touched her face; the coolness of her hand against her hot face brought her immediate relief. Although her body felt warm and limp, she remained conscious.
Seeing that Yu Jing's face was flushed, A Yu said, "Your Majesty, would you like me to go to the small kitchen and bring you a bowl of hangover soup?"
Yu Jing waved her hand and said, "No need, let's go for a walk and get some fresh air."
"Yes." Ayu responded and helped Yu Jing stand up, walking towards the side gate at the back.
"Lord Su, this humble official would like to offer you a toast."
"Lord Su, I also respectfully greet you."
The wine cup was already offered to him, and Su Siyang had no choice but to accept, but his gaze followed Sheng Hua as he hid outside the side gate.
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