Chapter 465 Palace Banquet
Even the most worthless things can become fragrant after going through the palace.
What's more, the quality of fruit wine is already very high.
But... Lin Zhiqing was a little hesitant again.
The Lin family is now in its heyday, and its relationship with Daliang is not good.
If you stand out too much, you are likely to attract other people's attention.
Moreover, there are many people at the palace banquet and it would be troublesome if someone tampered with the wine and affected the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The emperor's attitude towards the Lin family is still unclear, and Daliang definitely doesn't like the Lin family.
After so many things happened, the Daliang envoys would certainly not like the Lin family. If the Lin family made a mistake, it would be terrible.
Even if there was no mistake, there was no telling whether Daliang would find fault with the Lin family.
Lin Zhiqing had previously considered turning down the palace banquet on the grounds of illness, but on second thought, he felt that it was meaningless.
If you don't go to the palace banquet, you won't be able to get any information, and if something goes wrong, you will be in a very passive position.
Of course you have to go.
Thinking of this, Lin Zhiqing's enthusiasm cooled a little.
She had not yet come into contact with anyone in the palace, but she knew that the person sitting on the dragon throne was no ordinary person.
Forget it, it’s better to have less trouble than more.
The Lin family is relatively stable now. If they are too greedy and reckless, problems will easily arise.
Besides, the fruit wine business was a collaboration with the Hua family, who were under the protection of the Grand Secretary's Mansion. Even if Lin Zhiqing wanted to have a palace banquet, the old scholar, the Grand Secretary, would not agree.
Forget it, the palace banquet route doesn’t work, so let’s take a detour.
Lin Zhiqing can take advantage of this palace banquet to communicate more with others.
If there is a chance to interact with the wives and daughters of high-ranking officials, it would be nice to promote the fruit wine at a banquet in Beijing.
Now that he had an idea, Lin Zhiqing began to prepare.
A palace banquet is not an ordinary banquet, it has requirements on clothing, etiquette, etc.
She asked the best embroiderer in Beijing to come to the Lin family and make new clothes for everyone in the Lin family.
In addition, she also picked out different perfumes for each person and shipped from Yunnan.
This is such a good advertising opportunity, and since it’s one of our own, we should not miss it.
While Lin Zhiqing was busy preparing, the envoys from Daliang entered the city with great fanfare and rested in the Sifang Pavilion.
The person in charge of receiving the envoys was the Minister of Rites.
It was also because of this that Lin Zhiqing was able to find out some information.
After the envoys formally met with the emperor, the Guanglu Temple quickly began to prepare for a palace banquet.
According to the Minister of Rites, Lu Huai, Lin Shi'an and others, Lin Zhiqing had some basic understanding of the envoy from Daliang.
However, you still have to meet the specific person to know.
At least when the envoy came to the audience, he did not show any obvious hostility towards the Changning Marquisate.
Lin Zhiqing felt a little uneasy, and this uneasiness continued until the day of the palace banquet.
At three quarters past noon, the carriage of the Marquis of Zhenyuan stopped outside the palace gate.
The vermilion-lacquered palace gate had not yet been fully opened, and the golden-armored guards on both sides held spears, looking very solemn.
Before getting off the carriage, Lin Zhiqing reminded him again:
"Cousin, let's not separate later. We'll do everything together. Do you remember what our grandfather said to us?"
Lin Yangyang nodded: "Remember, Sister Qing, don't worry, I won't let you down."
Lin Zhiqing nodded.
At the palace banquet, male and female relatives entered through separate doors.
The only people from the Lin family who attended the palace banquet were Lin Qingshan, Lin Shian, Lin Zhiqing and Lin Yangyang.
Lin Congli and others were not of high enough rank to enter the palace.
Lin Zhiqing is the daughter of Wangshu Hou Lin Congrong, and Lin Yangyang is the sister of Lin Shian, so they are also allowed to attend the palace banquet.
After getting off the carriage, Lin Zhiqing saw many familiar faces.
The scene is so lively with many beautiful girls.
When the wives and daughters of the officials saw Lin Zhiqing coming, they all looked at her.
The wife of Duke Pei was accompanied by a very wealthy middle-aged woman. When she saw Lin Zhiqing coming, she hurried towards her.
Lin Zhiqing narrowed his eyes.
Before she came, she had learned about the major officials and the complex relationships between them.
The person walking towards her was none other than the younger sister of the Duke of Pei and the wife of the Hanlin scholar, Lord Qu.
Previously, the Duke of Pei's Mansion was interested in forming a marriage alliance with the Marquis of Changning's Mansion, and sent an ice man to ask for the hand in marriage of Lin Zhiqing, who was referring to the son of Madam Qu.
However, this marriage was rejected by Lin Qingshan.
Mrs. Qu had a smile on her face. When she looked at Lin Zhiqing, she narrowed her eyes slightly, lowered the corners of her eyes, and smiled with her face but not her heart.
He comes with ill intentions.
Lin Zhiqing smiled and bowed according to the etiquette: "Mrs. Qu, how are you?"
Mrs. Qu helped Lin Zhiqing up:
"Qing girl is here? Look at your demeanor, you are indeed a member of the Changning Marquis's residence. With this attire, you look much more dignified than the average girl."
Lin Zhiqing kept his distance from her without making any noise.
Mrs. Qu really held a grudge against her for refusing the marriage proposal, and she was flattering her in every word and every way.
All the ladies who came today are from official families, there are no ordinary women here.
Mrs. Qu's words clearly meant that other young ladies were not as good as Lin Zhiqing, and were trying to create hatred for Lin Zhiqing.
As expected, Lin Zhiqing soon felt many unfriendly eyes falling on her. She smiled slightly:
"Mrs. Qu, you are too kind. Today's palace banquet must be taken seriously."
"I see that the two younger sisters in Madam's house are as beautiful as fairies. They must have put a lot of effort into dressing up."
Divert the trouble away!
Many eyes fell on Mrs. Qu's two daughters, who were dressed very brightly. In comparison, Lin Zhiqing's dress was not so outstanding.
It's obvious who wants to be in the spotlight.
Mrs. Qu knew very well that there was a deeper meaning in Lin Zhiqing's words. Just as she was about to speak, a female voice rang out.
"Xiao Qing'er, Yangyang, you are here!" Lu Nanyue walked quickly towards Lin Zhiqing.
Then, she feigned surprise and bowed, as if she had just discovered Madam Qu: "Madam Qu, how are you?"
After she finished speaking, she pulled Lin Zhiqing and Lin Yangyang forward and said, "Xiao Qing'er, let's go to the front."
This is simply treating Mrs. Qu as air.
Mrs. Qu was very upset, but Lu Nanyue was a girl who did not play by the rules, and her tricks did not work at all.
So she just stared at Lin Zhiqing's back, gritted her teeth, and then returned to her dignified appearance.
Lin Zhiqing no longer paid attention to Mrs. Qu and only talked in a low voice with Lu Nanyue.
"That Madam Qu is so annoying. She used to dislike you, but now she has changed her attitude." Lu Nanyue rolled her eyes quietly.
Lin Yangyang also clapped her hands: "That's right."
Lin Zhiqing smiled slightly.
She could feel many people's eyes on her.
Among them, most of the gazes were unfriendly.
She turned slightly and saw Princess Pingning.
The disgust in Princess Pingning's eyes was very obvious.
Lin Zhiqing pretended not to see it.
"Marquis Changning's Mansion, Lin Zhiqing, Lin Yangyang--" the eunuch who led the way called out the names of Lin Zhiqing and the others.
Lin Zhiqing and Lin Yangyang looked at each other and followed the little eunuch's pace.
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