Above the bright red lacquered gate hangs a plaque made of black and gold nanmu wood, on which are inscribed three large characters: "Taiji Palace" in a vigorous and elegant style.
At this moment, the vermilion gates were wide open, and the officials arrived one after another. Hu Yanhongxue took his seat under the guidance of the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial.
Yellow curtains were laid out on the platform, and amidst the elegant music from the side of the hall, a high-pitched announcement came from outside the door.
"His Majesty has arrived! Consort Lin has arrived!"
With the year-end approaching, the emperor naturally had to give Lin Ruhong, the mother of the future crown prince, some face.
He then lifted her confinement and went to the banquet with her.
Emperor Ming slowly entered, and beside him stood a haggard-looking Lin Ruhong.
The officials in the hall rose from their seats and knelt down respectfully to perform the grand kowtow.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Only Hu Yanhongxue raised an eyebrow and simply took a step in the Siamese style.
"Rise, all of you." The Emperor glanced around indifferently, not pursuing Hu Yanhongxue's unruly behavior, but simply released Consort Lin's hand and said kindly, "My dear consort, please take a seat."
Lin Ruhong's expression froze. In the past, His Majesty had always made her stay by the throne, but now he had ordered her to sit in the lower seat. The fact that she had fallen out of favor was obvious.
She stiffly withdrew her hand, bowed her head respectfully, and said, "Yes..."
Mu Yao looked over with concern, but dared not utter a word.
On the gilded dragon throne, the Emperor of Liang sat sideways, looking down at his ministers, and laughed loudly, saying, "Let the banquet begin."
A beautiful woman comes from the purple stamens, dressed in brocade for Dulu. Her clothes are exquisite and beautiful, like jade. She moves lightly as if flying.
The dancers, who filed in one after another, wore tight-fitting trousers with narrow sleeves. Their slender and graceful waists resembled delicate flower branches blooming with dew. When they danced, they were like goddesses flying low and returning to gather duckweed.
The assembled officials fell silent, their gazes fixed intently on the breathtakingly beautiful scene within the palace.
They would whisper among themselves from time to time, praising it endlessly: "This dance should only exist in heaven; how often can one hear it on earth!"
The Emperor of Liang loved singing and dancing, so the Music and Dance Department had very strict requirements for the dancers!
We don't want anyone who isn't flexible and supple, who isn't well-proportioned, or who has an ordinary appearance.
This year's palace banquet also saw the arrival of envoys from Siam.
Naturally, they were determined to do their best and put on the best show to broaden the horizons of the Siamese envoys!
The ministers stared in disbelief, while the women on the sidelines secretly engaged in a friendly exchange with the dancers in the hall.
They insisted on finding fault with everything, but dared not publicize it, fearing that the Great Liang Emperor on the dragon throne would hear it and they would be accused of disrespect.
Xiao Ziwu would occasionally follow the other officials, glancing at the singing and dancing out of the corner of his eye, but most of the time he would keep his eyes on the woman in red by the door.
Seeing her blink and cover her lips as the fruit tasted sour, she still reached out her little hand for the next fruit, unwilling to give up.
She watched the singing and dancing in the palace with great interest, showing no sign of anger whatsoever, and appeared exceptionally calm among the noble ladies.
As Xiao Ziwu watched, his thin lips involuntarily curved into a smile, his eyes filled with intense love, shrouded in a tenderness that sent shivers down one's spine.
He could only pick up the wine cup and drink it all in one gulp, using the refreshing and strong wine to suppress the palpitations in his heart.
Emperor Liang raised his wine cup on the dragon throne, a gentle smile on his face, and said to Huyan Hongxue, who sat at the head of the Siamese envoy's table: "Young prince, your journey here from afar to celebrate the New Year of our dynasty is also a grand event to demonstrate the good alliance between Liang and Siam. Come, let me toast you!"
Hu Yanhongxue's lazy expression turned serious, and he stood up to reply, "Your Majesty the Emperor is magnanimous. May Siam and Great Liang enjoy a prosperous and harmonious world together!"
After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp.
After reciting his impassioned oath, he sat down, resuming his languid and leisurely posture. His black robes hung loosely on his shoulders. The Siamese prince, known for his womanizing ways, drank his wine in silence, seemingly uninterested in the singing and dancing in the palace.
The Emperor of Liang's eyes flashed, and he raised his hand to stop the music, immediately putting the hall to a solemn silence.
Tianyun paused in his chewing, then looked up, puzzled.
Her round, dark eyes looked at Xiao Ziwu, who was staring intently at her, and her long eyelashes curved.
He pointed to the few remaining small green fruits on the table and made a strange, grimacing face.
Xiao Ziwu covered her lips and smiled, finding her lively little appearance at that moment truly adorable!
He waved his hand behind him and whispered a few instructions. The maidservant serving behind him blushed and withdrew.
Since Xiao Ziwu was reinstated by His Majesty, his prestige in the palace has gradually increased, and no one dares to look down on him as before!
Inside this solemn palace, the two gazed at each other as if no one else was around, their sweet affection surrounding them making the people around them seem lifeless.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the emperor, and no one noticed the two's subtle actions. Only Hu Yanhongxue, who was always watching this side, caught the little clue.
He looked displeased and sullenly took another big gulp of wine.
The Emperor of Liang rested his hands on the imperial desk, leaned forward slightly, and asked him with concern, "Little Prince, is there anything that displeases you?"
They actually ignored the dance I had meticulously choreographed!
"No!" Hu Yanhongxue opened her slightly tipsy eyes and quickly said, "I just feel a little stifled and bored."
Hu Yanhongxue glanced at the trembling dancers who had suddenly knelt down in the hall, as if he could kill them if he said another word of dissatisfaction.
Then he added, "It's my own problem, it has nothing to do with anyone else."
"If the young prince does not have a good time in Daliang, it is because our dynasty has not been hospitable enough." The Emperor of Daliang's smile faded, and he said gently, "Please feel free to ask, and I will grant your request."
Hu Yanhongxue regained some of her energy, lifted her hair tie, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Really?"
"nature."
He hiccuped, and, emboldened by the alcohol, said, "This kind of singing and dancing is beautiful, but it lacks a captivating spirit. I've heard that the Great Liang holds a Hundred Flowers Banquet every year during festivals, and the chosen ones are all noble ladies with celestial beauty."
Ignoring Xiao Ziwu's suddenly cold gaze, he emboldened by the alcohol said, "This prince wishes to see the graceful dance of the top flower on the list! I wonder if Your Majesty would grant my request?"
"The top flower on the list?" If it's a commoner woman, it won't be easy to find her. The Emperor of Liang looked at the men's seats, at the gentle and modest Prince Qi, "Has this year's top flower been chosen?"
Prince Qi bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, the winner of this year's Hundred Flower Fairy is still unknown. However... if the little prince only wants to see the dance, the first-round winner of the Hundred Flower Beauty competition is enough, and that person is currently in the palace!"
The Emperor of Liang then turned his inquiring gaze to Huyan Hongxue, "What does the young prince think?"
Hu Yanhongxue's heart raced, and she shouted, "That's enough!"
The Emperor of Liang looked down at the palace and suddenly remembered that the newly added seats this year were set up for Shangguan Ming, and his daughter seemed to be the top of the Hundred Flowers Ranking!
He asked, "Is Shangguan Ming here?"
Shangguan Ming stood up shakily, his scalp tingling as he faced the gazes of the assembled officials.
"Your humble servant... Your humble servant is here."
My mental fortitude is still not strong enough!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
