The palace gates opened one after another, and the three of them walked forward side by side.
The palace is dazzling in the sunlight, with red walls and black tiles.
All the way to the magnificent hall.
At the entrance, the Imperial Household Department stood on the east side of the main hall. The spy's voice pierced the eardrums: "Officials of the fifth rank and above and their families, please take your seats—"
Civil and military officials in official uniforms entered the hall one after another with their families.
Xiao Yunchen came close to the three of them and reminded them in a low voice: "Enter the hall. Please come with my sister-in-law and Yun Ya."
Li Nian nodded in agreement and followed Xiao Yunchen into the hall.
Xiao Yunya leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Sister-in-law, this is the first time I've seen such a grand palace banquet!"
Li Nian glanced at her and responded in a low voice: "Me too."
Her answer made Xiao Yunya at a loss for words for a moment, but she always had this lukewarm attitude when interacting with her sister-in-law. Xiao Yunya was used to it and was not annoyed.
Enter the magnificent hall.
Li Nian pulled Xiao Yunya to sit down.
Suddenly, a burst of bells and chimes rang out, and a screen embroidered with a golden dragon riding on clouds appeared in the corner of the hall, and the emperor in a bright yellow dragon robe strode out.
He was born with a fair complexion, a high nose, and a pair of blue eyes that looked like stars in the sky. If you looked into their eyes, you would be drawn to them unconsciously.
The handsome young emperor walked leisurely up the steps to the dragon throne at the top and sat down.
His blue eyes swept over the ministers below. When he noticed Li Sisi looking up at him, he was stunned for a moment, then revealed an intoxicating smile.
The colorful light reflected from the glass lamp outlines his exquisite features, making him look as charming as a demon.
Li Sisi was distracted by his sudden laughter, and then quickly lowered her head.
Holy crap! Although the Fifth Prince isn't a wise ruler, he's really good-looking!
"Give me a banquet—"
As the Imperial Household Department's voice ended, everyone shouted, "Long live the emperor—long, long live the emperor—"
After the ceremony, everyone took their seats.
Li Nian dropped the crystal cake into the green jade lotus leaf plate.
She had been thinking about this thing since she tasted it for the first time at a palace banquet. Later, she learned to make it a few times, but she always felt that something was missing.
Moreover, the crystal cake made by the imperial chef was carved into the shape of a lotus flower, with a hint of pink and white showing through it, and it was so exquisite that it looked like a work of art.
She has absolutely no ability to produce such a product.
Oh! If only I could enter the palace and learn a few tricks from the imperial chef.
At this moment, the sound of pipa broke through the air in the silent hall, and more than a dozen dancers in moon-lit long skirts spun out from behind the Panlong pillar. The gauze tied on their delicate arms swept across the crane incense burner with curling smoke, causing the smoke to disperse and gather.
The two beauties leading the dance tapped their toes lightly, their bodies were slender, and their dance moves were as graceful as the curling smoke.
Xiao Yunya suddenly leaned close to Li Nian and whispered, "I heard that this group of dancers were presented by the princesses to the emperor. In the past, we wanted to see them dance, but it was something we wouldn't even dare to dream of."
Li Nian looked at her in surprise: "How did you know?"
Xiao Yunya curled her lips, her face full of pride. "I heard from my sisters that her aunt was once a concubine in the palace. She was not favored by the previous emperor, but now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, her life has become more and more comfortable. The new emperor respects her very much and has given her many gifts!"
Upon hearing this, Li Nian raised his eyes to look at the emperor who was as exquisite as a work of art.
But he kept looking in Li Sisi's direction from time to time, looking lost in thought.
Li Sisi picked up the crystal cake and took a bite. Her eyes suddenly lit up and she glanced at the people around her: "This is delicious. Do you want to try it?"
Hearing Li Sisi's words, Xiao Yunchen took a small bite of the crystal cake she handed over and praised: "It's really delicious."
Li Sisi smiled brightly. "Really? Actually, Nian Nian can also make this crystal cake. It tastes almost the same as this one, but Nian Nian always says it's a little different. I can't tell the difference anyway."
Li Sisi chatted while slowly finishing the remaining crystal cake.
He picked up the wine on the table and started drinking, his eyes fixed on the dancer performing in the center of the hall.
"Hmm? Why do I feel like this lead dancer looks familiar? I feel like I've seen her somewhere before."
Before Xiao Yunchen could respond, she continued to talk to herself: "Don't all beauties look the same? Chenchen, look, they have great figures! That waist, that butt..."
"Madam, this is a palace banquet." Xiao Yunchen reminded in a low voice.
"I know, that's why I whispered to you! Oh, her waist is so soft when she bends down like that! And she can even straighten it up again? Amazing!"
Li Sisi suddenly remembered where she had seen this dancer!
She pulled Xiao Yunchen's sleeve and moved closer to him: "This dancer seems to be Miss Furong from the Princess's Mansion! She used to be the most popular girl in Furong Pavilion!"
As she spoke, her sleeves fell down, and when the dance ended, the lingering sound of the stringed instruments gradually dissipated.
Everyone was immersed in the lingering rhythm of the dance music, leisurely sipping wine and chatting.
Suddenly, after the dancers had left, an official in official robes stumbled to his knees in the center of the hall and shouted, "Your Majesty! I received urgent news yesterday that refugees from northern Jiangsu have reached the outskirts of Xuzhou, and the Anhe River embankment has breached in three places."
Li Sisi was startled and looked at the handsome emperor sitting on the dragon throne.
His delicate eyebrows were furrowed tightly, and there was a hint of displeasure on his face.
"That's complete nonsense!" another minister retorted. "The other day the governor of northern Jiangsu sent an urgent report clearly stating that the water had receded! Could it be that Lord Liu has accepted bribes from merchants and is trying to use this disaster to stir up trouble?"
He glanced at the emperor's slightly gloomy expression and added, "Besides, today is the palace banquet. What is your intention in bringing this up at this time?"
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