The babies, still nursing, were being held by their wet nurses, waiting to present birthday gifts to their father, Emperor Mingxi.
【Master, it doesn't matter to us who becomes emperor. I've found a few islands overseas. If Dayan is really doomed, we'll go to sea.】
These people fighting to the death won't stop us from living a good life.
"You're right. It really doesn't matter who's emperor. If it doesn't work out, we'll just leave. Why can't we even last eighty years?"
Emperor Mingxi: Here we go again, here we go again, the little immortal lord wants to abandon me again!
The adults dared not look at the moon's shimmering light, but could only gaze at Yu Chongshan with expectant eyes: their eyes seemed to say, "Take me with you, take me with you!"
Yu Chongshan: Do you want to see if I'm the kind of person who can make decisions? I even need my granddaughter to help out, how could I dare to take on you burdens?
Emperor Mingxi felt annoyed looking at the scheming expressions on his ministers' faces. Was there no one who wanted to live and die with Dayan?
Amidst the complex emotions of the crowd, members of the royal family, led by the prince and the eldest princess, began to present congratulatory gifts to Emperor Mingxi.
Jade artifacts, rare treasures, birds and beasts, the moonlight shimmering on the water as the eunuch's rhythmic recitation of the gift list sounded like a side dish to accompany his meal.
The gift-giving process was quite different from what she had originally planned; she couldn't even see the actual gift!
Wasn't all that glass tea set in the shape of the twelve flower goddesses and the soy sauce-flavored liquor she prepared for Emperor Mingxi for nothing?
Yue Fuguang glanced at the Crown Prince at the head of the table, hoping he would be quick-witted and make sure to properly display the glass artifacts.
Soon the gift list was read to the officials, all of whom were shrewd and tried to show their incorruptibility as officials, so not one of them gave anything particularly valuable.
They all put effort into refinement, ingenuity, and originality. For example, the great calligrapher Yan Hongyan directly gifted Mingxi a piece of his calligraphy, and Mingxi seemed quite pleased.
At this moment, a group of maids entered, each carrying a tray with several exquisite glasses, filled with bright red rouge wine and amber plum wine.
Judging from the faint smile on the Crown Prince's lips, it was clear that he had arranged it on purpose.
Those present were secretly astonished as they looked at the two glasses of wine, one red and one yellow.
Moonlight, too, joined in and picked up the glass to examine it closely.
The red wine is called Rouge Intoxication. Regardless of whether the wine tastes good or not, its appearance is excellent.
The red liquid, contained in a small, delicate, transparent glass, shimmered with a faint red glow under the light, intertwining with the amber-colored light emanating from the glass containing the amber-colored plum wine.
It illuminated the faces of the people at the table; the wine didn't intoxicate, but the people themselves did!
Whether it's the wine that's intoxicating or the glass that holds it, only the person holding it knows.
To Yue Fuguang, this was quite ordinary, but to others, such a clear and crystal-clear cup was simply beautiful.
Seeing that the time was just right, the Crown Prince stood up and said, "Father, there are two rather special gifts among today's presents. I think you would like to open them and take a look now."
Upon hearing the Crown Prince's words, Emperor Mingxi raised an eyebrow and said, "Since the Crown Prince has said so, then I really need to take a good look at what special gift it is."
Upon seeing that the emperor agreed, the crown prince immediately waved his hand and said, "Quickly bring it here."
As the Crown Prince finished speaking, instead of delicate and pretty palace maids, two strong guards walked up steadily carrying a tray.
Seeing the way the two men were acting, everyone became even more curious. What was it that required such strong guards to present it?
After the two guards reached the foot of the jade steps, the crown prince personally took the item from one of them and steadily walked up the jade steps one by one.
"Father, please take a look at this first birthday gift from the Junior Tutor."
As he spoke, he unveiled the red silk covering the tray.
What was revealed was an exquisite rosewood box.
Emperor Mingxi smiled and looked over at Fuguang, saying loudly, "A gift from Fuguang? Then I'd like to see what good things are inside!"
This box was specially made by the Crown Prince according to Yue Fuguang's requirements. Emperor Mingxi opened several key points according to the Crown Prince's instructions.
Except for the bottom, all the other sides of the box were opened, and the contents inside were immediately and completely exposed to everyone.
The moment Emperor Mingxi's gaze fell upon the exquisite tea set, the leisurely air in his eyes suddenly tightened, and his pupils dilated slightly, revealing a ripple of disbelief.
The faint smile that had been on his face faltered for a moment, and then the smile slowly widened.
His no-longer-young, handsome face, reflected the light and shadow refracted by the glass, appeared even brighter.
The moment Emperor Mingxi opened the box, it seemed to everyone else in the hall that all the light in the room and their eyes were focused on those twelve crystal pieces.
It illuminated everyone's faces with a dazzling light, so they could no longer see anything else.
Emperor Mingxi leaned forward subconsciously, but his neck involuntarily shrank back, a natural retreat of the body in the face of ultimate beauty.
The officials and foreign envoys below the jade steps seemed to have all turned into long-headed geese, stretching their necks towards the jade steps.
Their lips parted silently, as if to express their admiration, but they forgot to utter a sound, instead letting out a slow, deep breath that lingered in mid-air.
Emperor Mingxi's right hand, which was suspended in the air, unconsciously reached out towards one of the glass teacups, and his index finger and thumb gently caressed it. The cool and smooth touch was even more delicate than the finest porcelain.
He walked slowly around the tea table, his gaze sliding from the smooth curves of the teapot to the thin rim of the teacup. With each change of angle, the glass refracted different halos of light—sometimes clear as morning dew in the deep mountains, sometimes flowing like the sunset glow, beautiful and pure.
Emperor Mingxi couldn't even imagine how happy he would be drinking tea with this tea set!
He silently declared in his heart that the Twelve Flower Goddess Tea Set was the most pleasing gift Emperor Mingxi had received that day.
A sly glint flashed in Yue Fuguang's eyes, and the expressions of those present, including the emperor, upon seeing her tea set pleased her.
The advertising was effective; seeing the way people craned their necks, practically staring at the stunning and greedy teaware, it's easy to predict that the glassware that followed will sell very well.
Moonlight drifted to the ears of many people whispering amongst themselves. Besides praising the exquisite tea set, most of them were inquiring about its origin.
Yue Fuguang chuckled inwardly. They seemed to be whispering, but their voices were just loud enough for Yue Fuguang to hear. Yue Fuguang would never believe that they weren't saying it on purpose for her to hear!
Yue Fuguang remained unmoved, only giving Yu Chongshan a wink, indicating that this was something an adult should handle, and that she, a child, shouldn't worry about it.
It can be said that Yue Fuguang has the means to be lazy, and if there are no means, he will create them to be lazy.
Thinking of taking a break, she picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and started munching on it. She had already asked Emperor Mingxi for leave today, and she wouldn't have to attend the morning court session tomorrow. She could sleep in all day, and the thought made her happy.
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