Winter of the ninth year of the reign of Emperor Fuxi of the Qian Dynasty.
Despite the biting wind, the palace hall was warm and inviting.
The approaching Spring Festival brings a unique vitality to this solemn palace. Lanterns are hung high, colorful ribbons flutter, palace servants are busy moving between the corridors, and laughter can be heard all around.
As a concubine of Prince Jing, Wang Xiuxiu will also attend the palace's New Year's banquet today, along with the principal wife, Su Yingxue.
This was her first time attending such a grand court banquet, and she felt both excited and apprehensive.
Early in the morning, Su Yingxue personally led Granny Li to Lanyue Pavilion.
Su Yingxue personally selected a gorgeous palace dress for her.
The pale gold brocade was embroidered with intricate patterns, and the cuffs and hem were adorned with tiny pearls. A deep red ribbon was tied around her waist, which accentuated her graceful figure and made her look even more noble.
Wang Xiuxiu sat in front of her dressing table, looking at herself in the mirror, and couldn't help but sigh, "This all-gold outfit looks really expensive!"
I was worried that my attire was too flashy and might attract criticism, but when I stepped into the banquet hall, I realized that my worries were completely unnecessary.
The women inside the hall were all exquisitely made up and dressed in gorgeous clothes, their gold hairpins and jade hair ornaments gleaming in the candlelight.
Wang Xiuxiu chuckled inwardly: "Why would we need to light candles? The jewelry on the women's heads alone is enough!"
At the banquet, Lu Jingze, as the emperor's younger brother, naturally sat in a prominent position, while Su Yingxue accompanied him.
Wang Xiuxiu was arranged to be in a place not far from them. Although not as prominent as the principal wife, her position was still equally noteworthy.
Worried that Wang Xiuxiu would feel awkward, Su Yingxue specially brought Lu Yunian out from the children's section and had him sit next to Wang Xiuxiu to keep her company and keep her company.
Lu Yunian sat next to Wang Xiuxiu, his big, round eyes curving into crescents, his little hands tightly covering his mouth, unable to help but let out a "giggle" laugh.
"What are you laughing at, you little rascal?"
"Auntie, you look so beautiful today!"
Wang Xiuxiu laughed at his words and gently pinched his cheek: "You, you're so good at talking at such a young age, what will you be like when you grow up?"
Lu Yunian was a little embarrassed by the praise, and his face turned slightly red.
---
The banquet was lively and bustling. Although Lu Jingze usually disliked being polite, he had to exchange a few words with the court officials who came to toast him during the Spring Festival.
Su Yingxue sat beside him, smiling as she chatted with the wives of various ministers. Her demeanor was proper, her words elegant, and she displayed the grace of an empress.
In contrast, Wang Xiuxiu had a much more leisurely life.
She sat with Lu Yunian, enjoying the food on the table while chatting and laughing in hushed tones.
Lu Yunian held up a cup of tea, mimicking an adult's manner, and solemnly extended it: "Auntie, let's have a toast!"
Wang Xiuxiu couldn't help but chuckle, and she also picked up her glass and gently clinked it against his: "Okay, cheers!"
The two smiled at each other, as if shutting out the splendor and hustle and bustle of the palace.
----
The palace banquet was a grand affair, with a palace eunuch standing behind each table in the hall, ready to serve tea and water, serve dishes and hand out towels to the dignitaries at any time.
Sitting at the table, Wang Xiuxiu's gaze was drawn to the crystal-clear sweet soup on the table.
The drink was served in an exquisite glass, its color crystal clear, and it emitted a faint sweet fragrance.
She was just curious when she picked up the cup and took a sip, but she never expected that one sip would amaze her!
The sweet drink is sweet but not cloying, refreshing on the palate, and carries a faint floral fragrance, as if the essence of spring is condensed into this one cup.
Lu Yunian sat down next to her and, seeing how engrossed she was, imitated her and pretended to smack his lips.
The next moment, his little face immediately showed the same surprised expression as Wang Xiuxiu's, his eyes sparkling as if he had discovered some incredible treasure.
"So sweet! So delicious!"
The two exchanged a glance, as if they had found kindred spirits, and simultaneously raised their glasses, gently clinking them together.
This scene was witnessed by the eunuch behind him, who couldn't help but lower his head, his shoulders trembling slightly, clearly struggling to suppress his laughter.
Wang Xiuxiu and Lu Jinnian, however, were completely unaware and remained immersed in the deliciousness of the sweet soup.
Seeing how adorable the two girls were, the eunuch felt a pang of affection for them and quietly retreated to the back to fetch a pot of kumquat tea.
The pot was small and exquisite; although it was called "one pot," it only filled a little over two cups.
Wang Xiuxiu picked up the cup and took a small sip.
The kumquat drink has a sweet and sour taste, and a lingering aftertaste that keeps the refreshing fragrance in your mouth for a long time.
The imperial chefs in the palace are indeed exceptionally skilled!
Lu Jinnian also enjoyed the drink. After thinking for a moment, Wang Xiuxiu turned her head and quietly called over a eunuch, asking, "Does this sweet drink come in other flavors?"
The eunuch respectfully replied, "Your Excellency, the palace has prepared many kinds of drinks to cater to your tastes, including honey water, fruit juice, and flower dew."
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuxiu's eyes lit up immediately.
"We've been idle for a while, so we'd like to try these drinks. Could you please fetch us a little of each one?"
As she spoke, she took out a silver ingot from her sleeve and stuffed it into the eunuch's hand, saying, "This is for you as a reward."
Before she left, Su Yingxue deliberately slipped her a lot of silver.
People in the palace are snobbish, and Su Yingxue was busy today. Fearing that Wang Xiuxiu might encounter trouble at her first palace banquet and have no one to turn to for help, she told her to bring some money with her in case of emergency.
Unexpectedly, Wang Xiuxiu spent all the money on "eating".
The young eunuch was quick-witted. After receiving the silver, his smile widened, and he turned to bring over many different kinds of drinks.
Ginger honey water is warm and mellow, perilla drink is refreshing and crisp, amber drink is sweet and rich, bayberry drink is sweet and sour and appetizing, sesame drink is cooling and refreshing, and peach syrup and osmanthus syrup are even more fragrant and delicious, making them irresistible...
The two of them sipped one cup after another, completely immersed in the world of delicious drinks, not even glancing at the dishes on the table.
When the waiters served all sorts of delicacies, Wang Xiuxiu and Lu Jinnian were already full from drinking and couldn't eat anything more.
Meanwhile, Lu Jingze and Su Yingxue were extremely busy.
As Prince Jing and his principal wife, they not only had to deal with the court officials who came to offer them toasts, but also had to keep an eye on Wang Xiuxiu and Lu Jinnian's movements from time to time.
At first, Lu Jingze was worried that Wang Xiuxiu would feel awkward attending the palace banquet for the first time. When he glimpsed her and Lu Jinnian holding cups and secretly tasting the drinks, he almost couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Su Yingxue also noticed this scene and couldn't help but whisper to Lu Jingze, "Look at the two of them, don't they look like two little mice stealing food?"
Lu Jingze laughed helplessly, "You're really pathetic. You didn't eat the delicacies at the palace banquet, but instead filled up with a few drinks."
Despite saying that, there was a hint of doting in his eyes.
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