Chapter 20 Everyone Has Their Use The four figures were all backlit, in Ying Xi's...
Ying Xi, who was still immersed in the secret memorial, was suddenly interrupted by Tian Tong.
He remained calm and didn't react strongly, so Tian Tong didn't realize that he was pretending from beginning to end. He asked in a low voice, "What activity?"
"'Spring Blessing Favorability Boosting Event'!" Sweet Tong replied.
He could never understand the sweet and simplistic nouns.
Ying Xi said calmly, "Let me explain."
Sweet Tong obediently replied, "Yes."
"Didn't I tell you before that I'm only responsible for two values? One is charm, and the other is favorability."
Sweetie said, "In the past, we always added charm points to you because you actively released your charm. Now, this activity is centered on you, and targets within a one-kilometer radius will all have a greater or lesser positive impression of you."
Ying Xi could understand Tian Tong's explanation.
Ying Xi vividly remembered the benefits that increased charm had brought her.
The current level of favorability probably serves the same purpose; as long as the favorability is maintained at a certain value, it shouldn't cause too much trouble.
Ying Xi nodded slightly, showing no joy: "Can I see the favorability rating?" He always wanted to know about his target's situation.
Sweetheart: "No. To ensure novelty and a better experience, we will not disclose it to His Majesty."
Sweet Tong added, "The mainframe also keeps it a secret from me. Unless..."
"Unless what?" Ying Xi pressed.
"That NPC's favorability rating is off the charts."
Strange terms always refreshed Yingxi's understanding.
Even someone as quick to learn as Ying Xi was completely bewildered by Tian Tong's previous sentence.
Ying Xi frowned, unsure which watch to hold, but he didn't want to keep asking the system questions, because the more he said, the more mistakes he would make, and he couldn't reveal his trump cards too obviously.
Ying Xi slowly smiled and said, "I understand. Thank you for participating in the event."
Ying Xi conveyed a sense of reconciliation, still displaying the polite and pleasant-voiced nature of her host.
Sweet Commander cheered, "Understood! That's wonderful, Your Majesty! The event officially begins the day after tomorrow. Please prepare yourselves, Your Majesty!"
"Um."
"Then I'll take my leave." Sweet Tong felt too embarrassed to say goodnight again, so she obediently logged off and went to sleep.
Just after Tian Tong logged off, Ying Xi tidied her desk and then got up to return to her palace. Yu Jing followed her.
He belatedly realized that his ankles no longer hurt when he walked. It was truly a double blessing; when one is in good spirits, one's spirits soar, and he stood tall with his head held high and his sleeves fluttering in the wind.
The alleyway is now decorated with lanterns from the Three Kingdoms period.
Ying Xi began looking at the lanterns as soon as she entered the alley. There were twenty lanterns depicting well-known generals.
The lantern's light dispelled the gloom; the lantern was exquisite. Ying Xi slowed her pace and squinted slightly.
Yu Jing seized the opportunity to start talking: "Your Majesty, look at these lamps today. This servant thinks that Guan Yu is majestic, Zhang Fei is rugged, and Lü Bu is incredibly brave... That little monkey Cheng Shun is very diligent. He personally selected each lamp."
It turns out that Yu Jing's youngest apprentice was named Cheng Shun.
The master and apprentice helped each other, which was also a testament to Yu Jing's wisdom.
Upon reaching the palace gate, the two lamps outside were the brightest.
These two lamps guard the entrance; they weren't hung randomly. If someone dared to hang a lamp depicting someone like Lü Bu, they would definitely offend Ying Xi.
After much discussion with Yu Jing, the young apprentice finally hung the lamp on the right with Zhao Yun's name and the lamp on the left with Ma Chao's name.
The two young generals wore similar armor and both wielded long spears. Not only did they achieve a balance between symmetry and aesthetics, but they also received largely negative reviews in historical records.
Before entering the palace, Ying Xi stopped under two lanterns.
He looked up, his eyes reflecting the two beams of light from the lamp. His gaze fell on the sharpness of the weapon in the general's portrait, then moved to the portrait's resolute face.
Was it fear of the gun, or admiration for the man? Did the person in the lamplight resemble the Duke of England too much, thus further angering the emperor?
The emperor didn't say much, and stepped over the threshold into the house.
However, the details made Yu Jing's heart tremble.
Yu Jing followed him into the room and casually asked, "Did Your Majesty give any instructions before going to bed?" He considered whether to remove the colorful lanterns at the door.
The night was deep, and Ying Xi's voice was languid: "Summon the chief official of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to see me tomorrow morning. I want to arrange a flower-viewing banquet."
Is this related to the two lamps we just saw?
***
The connection between the two lamps and the flower-viewing banquet puzzled Yu Jing all night, and she failed to guess the dragon's heart once again.
The following day, the Grand Master of Ceremonies had an audience with the Emperor.
The Grand Master of Ceremonies was over forty years old, broad-minded and plump, and spoke slowly and deliberately, like a fish blowing bubbles.
Upon hearing the emperor's decree to hold a flower-viewing banquet, the Grand Master of Ceremonies was first startled, then his eyebrows twitched slightly: Could this be a test for him?
Who doesn't know that the new emperor lives frugally?
Not to mention that the actors and performers of the Jiaofangsi barely managed to keep their positions and were not all dismissed.
Take Prime Minister Su of the Ministry of Personnel, for example. He was always eyeing corruption and wanted to investigate everyone who looked like a corrupt official.
The current situation is to conserve resources to deal with internal troubles within the court.
But when the emperor summoned him, he wanted to hold a grand banquet.
The Grand Master of Ceremonies, caught in a dilemma, slowly said, "Your Majesty's will is my duty. As Your Majesty requests, the more guests who attend the flower viewing banquet, the better. However, the court is short of funds."
"I am afraid that I will not be able to fulfill Your Majesty's entrustment, and I am also afraid of going against the situation. I am caught in a dilemma and am in a real predicament. Please give me your instructions."
"Go ahead and do it, and try your best to do it well."
Guanglu Xun wondered what to do if they wouldn't pay him.
He glanced down at the figures the emperor had allocated for the flower-viewing banquet; it was still far from being a grand feast.
Ying Xi waved her hand: "The cost of the music won't be covered, and you don't need to be responsible for the venue. Just make proper arrangements for the meals."
Guanglu Xun was at least half relieved.
If you're just cooking, this money is more than enough; you can even use your best skills.
But without music or any special decorations, is this flower-viewing banquet a bit sloppy and laughable?
The Grand Master of Ceremonies dared not ask any further questions: "Your humble servant obeys."
***
On the day of the Spring Blessing event, at Shanglin Garden.
Now is the most beautiful time of year for flowers in Shanglin Garden.
From a distance, the Shanglin Garden appears as a colorful ribbon, with palace buildings and plants blending together.
The main road runs north to south. There is an artificial river with a small island in the center, on which are pavilions and towers. There are countless exotic flowers and trees, and various animals also live in the park.
The deer cry softly, and the cranes dance gracefully.
The venue has been simply set up.
The flower viewing area is set up outdoors, at the Yichun Palace in Shanglin Garden, where a platform has been erected at the entrance of the palace.
The emperor's seat had a table, and each table had a vase.
All the seats at the lower end were arranged similarly.
Music filled the air above the entire complex.
The music flowed gently, its melody even and peaceful. If someone tried to find its source, they would guess that it was drifting from the nearby music bureau.
Perhaps ever since the emperor spared the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau), they have been deeply grateful, and their music and songs flow seamlessly together.
Many refined scholars who arrived early entered Yichun Palace in twos and threes, exchanging pleasantries and discussing the origins of the music.
"Is this a newly composed piece?" a courtier asked. "Brother Wenze, you once served in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, where you were entertained with grand banquets and elegant music. Have you ever heard this piece, 'Unforgettable Tonight'?"
"No, it never has. The melody of this piece is quite steady, and it has the appearance of a prosperous era."
"That is indeed the case; I, your humble brother, also hold this view."
"‘The whole land of China is embraced by one heart; the green mountains remain, and people are not old.’ But I wonder who wrote this?"
"The song is new, and the lyrics are beautifully written. If I am fortunate enough to meet the composer and lyricist, my life will not have been in vain. My dear brother Fenghua, after the banquet is over, shall we go with you to the Jiaofangsi to find out where this song came from?"
"Seeking secluded spots and listening to melodious tunes is a refined pleasure, and we should go together."
"Senior Wenze, Lord Fenghua, please take me with you, I am willing to go!"
"..."
The whispers of several courtiers drifted into Ying Xi's ears. Ying Xi, seated at the head of the table, sipped tea, a vein throbbing slightly on her forehead.
The emperor arrived very early today.
He sat at the head of the field early on, so as not to waste the effects of the system's activities and to increase the favorability of these subjects towards him.
But he did not expect that his courtiers would investigate the origin of the music.
Ying Xi picked up her teacup and took a sip.
"Could you please play a song I've heard before?"
Tian Tong had already used up a lot of emotional energy preparing this flower-viewing party for Ying Xi, and was a little tired at the moment. She said in a low voice, "My playlist is full of classic songs, but you probably haven't heard them before."
"for example?"
"The Lasso"
That's a bit strange.
"I'm admiring the flowers, but I won't lasso the horse. Are there any more?"
"Today You're Marrying Me"
That's way too blunt.
“You can try expanding the playlist,” Yingxi said.
Sweetie complained, "I'm just a system that helps you fall in love; it mostly has love songs built in."
But the emperor really couldn't understand why a lasso was needed for a romantic relationship.
If you gave him a lasso, he definitely wouldn't use it for dating. Ying Xi imagined herself holding the lasso, the rope looping around her head.
He tricked the court officials:
"You, work for me."
"You will also work for me."
"You all go and get to work."
Everyone has their own strengths, and a smile slowly appeared on Ying Xi's lips.
Little did he know that, due to the influence of system activities, his smile, which harbored the intentions of a ruthless exploiter, appeared to the ministers below the throne as nothing less than a gentle spring breeze, melting ice and snow, clearing away clouds and rain, and revealing a bright and clear sky.
The ministers instantly lost their breath and could not find their tongues.
After a long pause, the ministers all rose and bowed, their eyes wanting to look at the emperor but not daring to, and said, "May Your Majesty enjoy lasting blessings and may the Great Qin prosper."
Ying Xi raised her dark gray eyes.
Having absorbed a wide range of emotional value, the love system is regaining its energy.
Ying Xi could hear Tian Tong regaining his energy, gradually emitting the familiar yet helpless hissing sounds.
"Mmm, so delicious! Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"I've finally tasted this younger man who's the dominant one, this seemingly refined scoundrel, with a wicked mind but a respectable appearance..."
The loud banging of the system filled Ying Xi's mind and kept swirling around.
Ying Xi rubbed her temples, which were throbbing from the noise.
At this moment, four announcements rang out simultaneously outside the main hall of Yichun Palace, and none of the eunuchs in charge of receiving guests at Shanglin Garden dared to offend any of them.
Inside the flower-viewing banquet venue, the assembled officials all stopped drinking, and dozens of eyes turned to look at the newcomer.
Those gazes held a mixture of envy, jealousy, admiration, and respect, and the once free-flowing conversation in Yichun Palace fell silent for a moment.
The eunuchs were shouting:
"Greetings to the Imperial Tutor! I pay my respects to the Imperial Tutor!"
"Welcome, Your Highness Prince Yong!"
"Greetings, Duke of England! Your Excellency remains as dashing as ever!"
"Prime Minister Su, please take your seat!"
The four figures were all backlit, forming four silhouettes in front of Ying Xi.
They are both strikingly handsome, yet each has its own unique characteristics.
The four of them glanced at each other, then looked at the emperor in the main seat at the same time. They took their seats at the same time, filling the four important seats in front of Ying Xi to the brim.
Finally, four pairs of eyes turned to them, and they said in unison:
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Suddenly, Ying Xi had a feeling that the venue was too small.
Four people who were difficult to deal with suddenly appeared.
In this life, he has truly never lacked surprises, Ying Xi said with a smile.
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