Chapter 21 Gods Clash: "They're all so handsome, Your Majesty, which one of you here prefers..."
In fact, in a social setting, some of these people should have declined when they needed to.
Especially Prince Yong.
There's no better way to enjoy flowers than in Shanglin Garden than to mingle with beautiful women on Flower Street.
Prince Pianyong was also present today, dressed in a purple-gold princely robe, looking quite respectable for the first time.
Despite his seemingly respectable appearance, Ying Dang was unable to speak human language.
Ying Dang poured the tea into a full cup, his eyebrows slightly raised, his gaze undisguised as he scrutinized Ying Xi. Today, he could read an indescribable beauty in his elder brother's eyes and brows.
Ying Dang offered his cup, making a gesture of respect to Ying Xi, and said:
“Last night, I was at Yulouchun and stayed out all night. The wine at Yulouchun was cloying, and the prostitutes were full of nonsense, telling me they were the most beautiful women in Chang’an. I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I came here to cleanse my eyes.”
That dissolute demeanor, if it were in her previous life, would have surely infuriated Ying Xi.
Not to mention, if you listen closely, there's a suspicion that this statement compares the emperor to a prostitute.
This is a great disrespect, but Prince Yong is not afraid.
Everyone carefully observed Ying Xi's reaction.
Ying Xi was even more composed than Prince Yong: "I did not host any female guests today, so Dang'er will not see the most beautiful girls in Chang'an. However, Prime Minister Su is exceptionally handsome and is recognized as a handsome man in Qin. With him here, your trip will certainly not be in vain."
Ying Dang's left hand, which was holding the teacup, froze. In the past, when he angered Ying Xi in public, she would punish him, and it never failed him.
But to his surprise, his brother didn't respond at all.
He could vaguely sense that his elder brother had changed recently, but the sound of "Dang'er" made his mind flustered for a moment. He didn't have time to investigate further, and forcibly suppressed his thoughts. Ying Dang decided to annoy Ying Xi again.
Prince Yong shook his head with a chuckle: "Prime Minister Su is passable, but he is not as young as Your Majesty, and I have always preferred young and beautiful women. Your Majesty's attire today is just right..."
Prince Yong was deliberately provoking them.
But he was met with a smile from Ying Xi, which made Prince Yong feel surprised and guilty.
He was incredulous and distracted by Ying Xi's smile, so he didn't realize that this was a scheme to shift the blame.
Su Xueyi, whose assessment by Prince Yong was "just passable," narrowed her sharp and dangerous eyes.
A cold vortex formed around Su Xueyi.
He casually bowed to Prince Yong and said, "I am honored by Your Highness's kindness. I am indeed a few years older than Your Highness. Therefore, I have been in Chang'an for quite some time and have heard about the habits of these courtesans. If they see that their patrons are young and inexperienced, they will use sweet words to coax them out of money and will not exert themselves physically. If their patrons are experienced in the ways of the world, then they will use all sorts of tricks to serve them."
"Your Highness is naturally an expert among flowers."
"But I suppose the courtesan outside misjudged her?"
Su Xueyi spoke in a relaxed tone.
Ying Dang was better at provoking people than debating; at only seventeen, he was in the prime of his youth and full of vigor.
The thing a young man should hate most is being told he's still too young.
Especially since Ying Dang secretly harbored a longing for his elder brother Ying Xi, he was even more unwilling to allow others to treat him like a child.
Ying Dang, enraged, slammed his fist on the table and stood up:
"Su Xueyi, how dare you! Are you saying I'm too inexperienced?!"
If the highest achievement for a military general is to seal the wolf's lair and reside in the Xiongnu territory, then for a civil official it might be to debate with a group of Confucian scholars.
Su Xueyi was undoubtedly a top-tier civil official.
He could hold his own in debates with many people, let alone when he made veiled sarcasm and mockery of Prince Yong.
Su Xueyi remained even more composed, cupping her hands in greeting: "I dare not, Your Highness is young and dashing, not at all like a sixteen-year-old."
Ying Dang gritted his teeth.
This person did it on purpose! They even understated their age by a year!
Prince Yong dressed maturely, had a mature physique, and had long been experienced in matters of the heart, especially in that area.
How could Prince Yong tolerate this?
But he ultimately failed to vent his emotions.
Zhu Zhao guided the conversation, gently correcting him, "Your Highness was born in the year of Renxu, and this year is the year of Jimao. Your Highness has just turned seventeen. Right Chancellor Su is mistaken."
Su Xueyi wasn't foolish enough to openly challenge Prince Yong.
The Imperial Tutor offered a way out, and Su Xueyi, having gained an advantage, took the opportunity to back down.
He bowed to Prince Yong and said, "As I grow older, my memory is failing. Please forgive my rudeness, Your Highness."
Since the other party apologized, Ying Dang couldn't make trouble unreasonably.
Prince Yong sat down angrily.
However, the Imperial Tutor had just persuaded the two of them, but he was thinking of using this as an opportunity to get Ying Xi's attention.
After parting ways with the emperor at the secret burial site, Zhuzhao heard that the emperor was injured and that Yingxi had not summoned him for a long time.
If Zhuzhao doesn't teach the emperor for even a single day, his identity will be exposed, and the emperor will lose faith in him.
Zhu Zhao seized the opportunity to probe, saying, "I have recently been studying the Huang-Lao school of Taoism. The war in the north has just ended, and everything is in need of rebuilding. The situation is roughly comparable to that of the early Han Dynasty."
"How to reduce taxes and corvée labor, and allow the people to rest. How to govern leniently and nurture the people, and eliminate redundant institutions."
"There are precedents for these in the historical records of the Han Dynasty."
"Your Majesty, I request to speak with you after the flower-viewing banquet. I hope Your Majesty will grant me time, and I also hope that what I say will be of some help to Your Majesty in governing the Great Qin."
"..."
Su Xueyi couldn't stand hearing this.
Su Xueyi's past disregard for office hours was not due to a yearning for freedom, but simply because she found it boring.
He is now working diligently and with great enthusiasm.
However, according to Zhuzhao's theory, most of what he did was useless.
A prime minister who could easily stand out from the crowd since childhood looked down on everyone and believed that everyone should obey him.
How could he possibly think highly of laissez-faire governance?
Moreover, Su Xueyi had planned to report to the Emperor on the progress of his recent official duties after the flower viewing banquet.
Su Xueyi intended to continue getting closer to the emperor, and she could not accept it if Zhuzhao got there first.
Su Xueyi said sarcastically, "The Han dynasty was able to allow the people to rest and recuperate at the beginning because the situation within its borders was stable. Now, Li Yilong is eyeing us covetously, and there are still many small hills in the north. If Your Majesty were to follow the example of Huang-Lao at this time, wouldn't that be tantamount to handing over the country to someone else?"
Ying Dang, always eager for a good show, stirred things up, hoping to temporarily set aside his earlier anger and join the fray.
"Xie Qianli, I'm asking you."
When will the small mountain stronghold and Li Yilong be wiped out?
The flowers haven't even been admired yet.
In front of Ying Xi, these people had already engaged in a verbal battle for several rounds.
Feng Ze and Lian Qing were not qualified to sit too close to Xie Qianli, so they could only watch from afar.
Feng Ze was pale and seemed absent-minded.
Lian Qing, her face flushed with anxiety, slapped Feng Ze's hand hard under the table.
"Hey! What are they arguing about?!"
"Who is Huang Lao, and which 'Lao' is he?"
"These scholars, what nonsense are they spouting? They're even more uncouth than us. How did they end up talking about Li Yilong from brothels to Li Yilong... Are they trying to bully our general?"
"Don't hold me down!"
Lian Qing eagerly peered forward.
But when his eyes met Xie Qianli's, his scalp tingled, and he felt an invisible pressure.
Lian Qing silently sat back down, placing her hands obediently on her lap.
Xie Qianli's attire was simple. Gone was his signature white robes and silver armor with dragon-patterned hilts; today he wore dark blue arrow sleeves and a navy blue outer robe. The understated clothing fully revealed his physique, which was usually concealed beneath his armor, transforming him from a strikingly valiant figure into an exceptionally handsome one.
Xie Qianli always exudes a sense of calm.
His words seemed to distance him from the murky world, and Xie Qianli calmly replied, "The imperial edict has just been issued, and the royal army has already set out. The Longwu Army is ready to be dispatched by the court at any time."
Prince Yong's lips twitched.
To everyone's surprise, the most unserious provocation received the most serious response.
Prince Yong was a dissolute and frivolous man, while Xie Qianli was aloof and upright. He teased the latter with words, just like a hedgehog hitting a wall.
Prince Yong gave a stiff snort.
Lian Qing whispered to Feng Ze beside him, "Hey, you're so cultured, didn't our general suffer a loss?"
After a long pause, Feng Ze came to his senses and said in a hoarse voice, "He answered very well, neither humble nor arrogant, and he also showed his loyalty."
Lian Qing was relieved and grabbed a handful of candied fruit from the food plate, chewing it heartily: "As long as we didn't suffer any losses, that's good. Since the old man's generation, there have been many blind men in the Longwu Army. Fortunately, the Grand Princess has been strict with the general's studies since he was a child... It's really good to be able to study."
Feng Ze did not respond.
The whole conversation started because Prince Yong teased him.
However, because of that cry of "The Dragon Martial Army awaits the orders of the imperial court," they inexplicably wandered around and entered the path most suitable for this imperial flower appreciation banquet.
Ying Xi was lost in thought and picked up her teacup to suppress her saliva.
Little did she know that she had inadvertently blocked Xie Qianli's view of the main seat, a fleeting glance as ethereal as smoke.
By the time the teacup was set down, that gaze had already shifted elsewhere, and Ying Xi was completely unaware.
Sweet Commander: "They're all handsome. Which one of you present does Your Majesty prefer?"
Sweetheart never gives up on tempting him into dating.
However, Ying Xi shook his head. His actions throughout his life were related to the fate of the nation, and he already had his own aspirations. Of course, he could resist temptation: "None of them are good."
"The Grand Master of Ceremonies has come to pay his respects and presents His Majesty with magnolia blossom wine!"
The eunuch drew out his hoarse voice to attract everyone's attention at the banquet. Then, the Grand Master of Ceremonies slowly entered the grounds of Yichun Palace. Behind him followed closely a maid carrying a tray with a jade pot on it.
The jade pot was crystal clear and exquisitely crafted, filled with wine more than halfway. Even from a distance, the fragrance of magnolia blossoms emanating from the pot could be smelled. The delicate and unique aroma of magnolias captivated the senses of almost everyone present.
The flower symbolizes nobility, but this pot of wine is full of flattery.
Because the Court of Imperial Sacrifices hadn't contributed much to the banquet, the Grand Master of Ceremonies felt uneasy and thus had to use his best skills to show the emperor that they also had a presence.
"As spring arrives, the magnolias in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom. We have picked magnolia petals and used a secret method to make flower wine. The aroma of this wine will spread far and wide, just as Your Majesty's grace extends to all corners of the world. We present it to Your Majesty for your enjoyment."
The Grand Master of Ceremonies slowly and deliberately finished speaking.
Fermented rice wine was placed before the emperor.
The jade pot for holding wine is olive-shaped and pure white. The body of the pot is engraved with magnolia flower patterns, which shows the great care put into its creation.
When the Grand Master of Ceremonies presented the wine, he stole glances at the Emperor, but dared not meet the Emperor's eyes to catch Ying Xi's expression.
Ying Xi: "Well done. Fine wine is a rare find and should be shared with all the ministers. I cannot keep it all to myself, so I put it in a wine vessel and mixed it with other wines to share."
Guanglu Xun: "..."
The Grand Master of Ceremonies was shocked, thinking to himself, "What kind of taste could it possibly have?"
But one must know that the emperor's word is law, and his words are imperial edicts. Even if the Grand Master of Ceremonies found it strange and regrettable, he still had to obey.
What the Grand Master of Ceremonies didn't know was that for Ying Xi, drinking one less pot of wine made little difference. Good wine was easy to come by, but opportunities to win people's hearts were hard to come by.
It's not impossible for him to drink this pot of wine alone; at most, he could praise the Grand Master of Ceremonies a few times afterward. As for the taste of the wine, only he himself knows.
However, if the wine is poured into a wine vessel and distributed among the officials, the wine loses its flavor but can still fulfill its maximum value, perfectly echoing the purpose of the flower-viewing banquet to bestow favor upon the officials and gain their favor. Ying Xi felt no regret whatsoever.
really--
As the wine was distributed to the ministers' tables, the sounds of gratitude gradually filled Yichun Palace and even the entire Shanglin Garden.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. We are willing to give our lives to repay your favor."
Perhaps her favorability rating had increased significantly, because Sweetie let out another cheerful hum.
Ying Xi had achieved his goal. With just a pot of wine, he gained greater respect from the court officials. If he thought about it further, it meant that everyone was fulfilling their duties, and the efficiency of the court's operation had improved.
Ying Xi pursed her lips.
He kept his plans a secret from everyone.
After the banquet ceremony, the flower viewing activity officially began.
The court officials rose from their seats and then left the Yichun Palace grounds to enjoy the scenery.
Springtime is delightful, and beyond Yichun Palace, boundless spring scenery awaits visitors to explore.
Some civil officials were even more romantic, already carrying paintbrushes and poetry paper in their sleeves, writing poems about flowers and painting pictures of scenery, all of which were considered elegant pursuits.
Only Ying Xi remained seated in the main seat, not moving.
Because of the location of the main hall of Yichun Palace, it can be guaranteed that as the core of Shanglin Garden, the effects of the Spring Blessing event can be shared equally.
Sitting there bored, Ying Xi was not lacking in patience. This was a rare opportunity to quietly observe everyone, and he was thinking.
At this moment, Yu Jing's lively little apprentice, Cheng Shun, saw an opportunity and carefully stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, are you tired from sitting? This servant has prepared some interesting little trinkets. Would you do me the honor of taking a look?"
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