Chapter 60 Go to bed together
Chang Ying treated Yang Shangyi's birthday banquet as the wedding of the emperor and empress, and personally took care of and arranged every detail.
He specially arranged for Yang Shangyi to stay overnight in Kunning Palace, with the idea of letting his emperor experience the bridal chamber.
After hearing this, the emperor did not comment, but just waved his hand gently to signal him to leave.
The ministers who were originally talking animatedly noticed that the usually cold and stern emperor was now a little more amiable than usual.
Such a change even made them feel a little flattered.
Could it be that the strategy of "forcing the Huai River to flow into the Yellow River and using water to attack the desert" just reported by the Governor of the River Channel pleased the emperor so much?
At the beginning of the You hour, the dusk gradually deepened, and a bright full moon slowly rose, hanging above the tall and short palaces.
In accordance with the specifications of the Queen's Centenary Festival, Yang Shangyi's birthday banquet was held in Baohedian, a magnificent building that is one of the three major halls of the outer court.
The hall was brightly lit, as bright as day. Civil and military officials above the third rank, accompanied by their families, took their seats in order of rank. Musicians from the Shengping Office played ritual music in the inner and outer halls, creating a solemn and lively atmosphere.
Yang Qianxing was sent out to survey the land for several months. The once handsome scholar now looked much more haggard.
Faced with the flattery of the people around them, he and his wife Xue Shulan could only smile awkwardly, feeling uncomfortable all over.
However, their second daughter, Yang Jingzhen, looked very excited and really enjoyed the compliments.
Halfway through the You hour, the sound of ceremonial music suddenly rang out, and the Crown Prince and Yang Manyan came hand in hand. Everyone in the hall stood up and saluted, shouting "Long live the Crown Prince".
After a while, the emperor, wearing the crown with twelve-chapter patterns, stepped into the Baohe Hall accompanied by eunuchs and ascended the throne with majestic momentum.
Many people noticed the subtle weirdness. Although the Crown Prince and Yang Manyan were sitting at the same table, the empress's robes on Yang Shangyi were clearly a perfect match for the emperor's crown...
However, although this birthday banquet was suspected of violating the rules, it was held openly and honestly, so few people thought that there was a secret affair between the emperor and Yang Shangyi.
After all, if they really had a secret affair, it should have been done secretly. How could he celebrate her birthday so openly in front of all the civil and military officials?
More people believe that the emperor's move was to give face to Yang Shangyi's father Yang Qianxing. After all, in the middle and late part of this year, Yang Qian was going to experiment with tax reform in Jizhou.
With the accompaniment of stringed instruments and the backdrop of beautiful songs and dances, everyone took turns raising their glasses to celebrate the birthday of today's birthday girl, Yang Shangyi.
At first, Yang Manyan was a little reserved, but as the banquet progressed, she became more and more at ease, and was even able to respond cleverly according to the different identities of the people.
At exactly 11:00 p.m., there were sudden loud "boom" noises outside the hall, and Yang Manyan shrank in fright.
Xiao Yan didn't care that this happened in front of everyone, and subconsciously reached out to cover her ears, and explained in a low voice that fireworks were being set off outside.
Yang Manyan didn't expect that there would be fireworks to watch on her birthday. Her almond eyes instantly lit up like stars. "Can I go out and take a look?"
"Of course." Xiao Qing raised the corners of his lips slightly, a tender smile spread across his handsome face. Then he helped Yang Manyan stand up and walked out of the hall.
The emperor saw all of this intimate interaction. His face darkened slightly, and the glass cup of grape wine in his hand was almost crushed.
In the dark night sky, bunches of dazzling fireworks bloomed. In addition to the prince and Yang Manyan, people gradually walked out of the palace to watch the gorgeous fireworks.
Chang Ying looked at the emperor sitting alone on the throne and sighed secretly in his heart.
The emperor has such a stubborn temper that if he hadn't acted as a matchmaker, it would have been hard to tell when he would have been able to win the beauty's heart.
After the banquet, Chang Ying hurriedly ordered people to lead the sedan chair that Yang Shangyi was riding in to Kunning Palace, and specially found a cabinet minister to try to stop the prince.
When Yang Manyan stepped into Kunning Palace with the help of Xingyun and Suyue, he found that the bedroom was decorated with lights and big red "囍" characters were pasted everywhere, just like a wedding room.
The two of them carefully took off the heavy phoenix crown on her head and placed it carefully on the dressing table beside her.
Just then, footsteps were heard in the bedroom.
The emperor appeared before him, standing with his hands behind his back.
Chang Ying was holding a mahogany tray in his hand, on which was placed the white jade wedding cup with a dragon pattern, which was used specially for the emperor and empress's wedding.
He smiled and said to Xingyun and Suyue, "Please wait outside the hall first, and don't disturb the nobles to rest."
Xingyun and Suyue were so frightened that they dared not even breathe and looked at their master.
Yang Manyan was also stunned for a moment and wanted to refuse, but when she thought about the fact that today's grand birthday party was specially held for her, she became hesitant.
After hesitating for a long time, she signaled Xingyun and Suyue to leave first.
Chang Ying's smile grew even wider. "Your Majesty and Yang Shangyi, please give me a favor and drink this glass of wine!"
For a moment, the atmosphere became a little stagnant.
This white jade wedding cup with a dragon pattern was a conjoined pair of cups. The emperor picked it up with one hand and handed it to Yang Manyan's lips.
The man has been holding the power of life and death for years. Even if he is deliberately restraining his aura at this moment, the majesty he exudes is still enough to make people feel afraid.
Yang Manyan was so frightened that she trembled slightly and took a few sips cautiously. She didn't expect it to be sake. The spicy taste of the alcohol instantly surged up and choked her, making her face red.
The emperor also lowered his head and drank the sake.
Although the girl had taken off the Nine Dragons and Nine Phoenix Crown, she was still wearing the dark blue queen's robe and sitting on the edge of the bed side by side with the man in the emperor's crown.
Chang Ying was satisfied upon seeing this and also quietly retreated.
The aftereffects of the strong liquor took effect quickly, and Yang Manyan felt his face burning and his whole body felt dizzy.
She was drunk, her face was flushed, her sparkling almond eyes were misty, and she had no idea what day it was.
At this moment, Xiao Yan strode into the hall without being informed, his handsome face shrouded in a bit of gloom.
He forced himself to remain calm and said in a deep voice: "I am willing to follow me back to the East Palace."
Yang Manyan was already feeling dizzy, and was frightened by the sudden intruder.
After seeing who it was, she calmed down and said with drunken eyes, "Zi'an, you're finally back? Come up and sleep with me..."
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