Chapter 157 Birthday Banquet
Today is the Empress's birthday banquet, and the entire palace is filled with joy.
Early in the morning, all the ladies of the palace and noblewomen gathered at Jingren Palace to pay their respects to the Empress in celebration.
The luncheon was held in the Imperial Garden to entertain the civil and military officials who came to offer their congratulations. Princes, nobles, and ministers of the Imperial Household Department all wore python robes, presented ruyi scepters, and offered food as a sign of celebration.
Palace maids moved about, serving exquisite dishes and fine wines. Guests raised their glasses to wish the Empress a happy birthday, their blessings echoing throughout the room.
Throughout the banquet, melodious music filled the air, and dances, operas, and acrobatic performances took turns on stage, creating a lively and festive atmosphere. Yixiu, dressed in a magnificent phoenix robe and wearing a phoenix crown, sat regally with Yinzhen in the main seat. Facing the congratulations of the court officials and the praise of the noblewomen, she was in high spirits, her face beaming with joy.
Finally, the luncheon ended amidst laughter and cheerful conversation.
The officials took their leave, but this did not mean that Yixiu's birthday banquet had come to an end. Yixiu knew perfectly well that the Emperor valued the evening family banquet more than the public luncheon.
Therefore, rather than wearing the luxurious and auspicious robes befitting the Empress's status, she opted for a more approachable and gentle everyday outfit, only adorning her hair with a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin, a symbol of her Empress status. When she emerged after changing, judging from Yinzhen's expression, Yixiu knew he was satisfied.
The couple arrived at the Qianqing Palace hand in hand. The palace was brightly lit, and the women of the harem and the princes were already in place.
"Greetings, Your Majesty ......"
Everyone in the hall rose to greet him. Yinzhen led Yixiu to sit at the head of the table, then turned and said, "No need for formalities, please rise. This is a family banquet, so please don't stand on ceremony."
"It's a family banquet, but it's also my sister-in-law's birthday, so I can't leave out this gift."
Yunzhen was the first to step forward, raising his wine glass to Yixiu and delivering his congratulatory speech with great enthusiasm. He radiated joy, which even caught Yuntang's eye. Yuntang couldn't help but pull Yunzhen aside and complain, "What good news is the Fourteenth Prince doing? He's like a peacock spreading its tail, looking even happier than the Empress."
"Who knows? He's been like this for days now, like he's on steroids." Yun couldn't help but complain too, because Yunzhen had been like a peacock these past few days, smiling at everyone he met, which made Yun feel uneasy.
"There's a problem, there's definitely a problem."
Yun Tang stroked his chin, which he had finally managed to get back in shape, and made his judgment in a low voice. Yun, who was standing next to him, rolled his eyes in annoyance, "Ninth Brother, you're talking nonsense. Anyone can see that there's something wrong with him."
"Who said anything about him?" Yun Tang rolled his eyes. "With Fourteenth's cunning, what could he possibly keep to himself? Judging from his expression, he's definitely had something good happen to him. But the key point is that he actually held back from bragging to anyone. What does that mean?"
"What does that mean?" Yun was stunned by what Yun Tang said and couldn't help but follow his train of thought.
“This means it must be a huge benefit, and… it hasn’t completely fallen into his hands yet.” Yun Tang smiled slyly. How could he miss out on something so good? “No, I have to go and find out.”
"No, Ninth Brother, you're already so rich, why would you care about something like Fourteenth Brother's?" Yun tugged at Yun Tang's sleeve, trying to stop him. It's the Empress's birthday celebration; no matter what you're thinking, you should do it in private.
"Tenth Brother, you don't understand. I have a feeling that what Fourteenth Brother is hiding is more interesting than gold and silver." Yun Tang patted Yun's shoulder, got up, and headed straight for Fourteenth Brother with a clear goal.
"Hey, Ninth Brother..." Yun wanted to follow, but was pulled back by his wife.
The Tenth Prince's wife smiled, but under the cover of the table, she reached out and pinched Yun's waist, warning him through gritted teeth, "Ever since you entered the palace, you've been chatting and chatting with the Ninth Prince. Now you want to run off with him? Anyone who didn't know better would think he was your wife..."
"Ouch—what are you saying? Let go!" Yun winced in pain, but dared not speak harshly to the Fujin.
"Still running?"
"I'm not running anymore, I'm not running anymore."
"That's more like it. Go, come with me and toast Her Majesty the Empress."
"I know, I know, you're such a tigress..."
"Hmm, what did you say?"
"It's nothing. I just meant that it's all thanks to the Princess Consort."
"It's good that you know." The Tenth Princess rolled her eyes at her good-for-nothing prince, then turned around and resumed her gentle and dignified demeanor, pulling Yun forward to congratulate the Empress on her birthday.
On the other side, Yunzhen, after finishing his congratulatory speech, stirred up the atmosphere of the entire family banquet under Yinzhen's helpless gaze. He was completely at ease and pulled several brothers to drink.
Perhaps he had been too ostentatious these past few days, because his brothers exchanged glances and tacitly began to pour him drinks. The eldest and thirteenth brothers were the main force, the second and eighth brothers provided verbal support, and the third, fifth, and seventh brothers, who happened to be passing by, also chimed in. It's easy to imagine how much "heaven and man resentment" Yunzhen had been displaying these past few days.
The banquet hadn't been going on for long when Yunzhen was already a little tipsy. Yinzhen, who had a clear view of everything above, swirled his wine glass without saying a word and noticed that the shrewd Ninth Prince had also wandered over.
Yinzhen blinked. He was just doing nothing. If the Fourteenth Prince let something slip, it wouldn't be his problem.
"Come, come, Fourteenth Brother, let Ninth Brother toast you."
"Ninth Brother... um..."
Before Yunzhen could say anything, Yuntang poured him a glass of wine.
"Alright, Fourteen has a good capacity for alcohol, have another cup." Yun Tang squeezed next to him, warmly put his arm around Yun Zhen's shoulder, and poured him another cup.
"Wait, wait a minute..."
"What? Another one? Okay."
Another glass of wine was gulped down, causing Yunzhen to cough violently. He quickly pushed away the glass Yuntang offered, "Cough cough cough... I can't take it anymore, Ninth Brother..."
"Tsk, Fourteenth Brother, you've had too much to drink?" Under the watchful eyes of his brothers, Yun Tang stared at Yun Zhen's obviously dizzy face, lowered his voice, and asked softly, "Fourteenth Brother, did something good happen to make you so happy?"
"That's... I'm telling you..." Yunzhen, who had drunk too much and lost most of his vigilance, almost blurted it out. But suddenly noticing so many eyes watching him, he paused and held back, "It's not time to say it yet."
The group exchanged glances. This kid is so patient now? That shouldn't be the case. It seems like he's benefiting a lot.
Yun Tang raised an eyebrow and gestured to Yun Xiang, "You two are on good terms, you go first."
Yunxiang: "..."
Noticing the same knowing look from his brothers, Yunxiang sighed silently as he looked at Yunzhen. It wasn't that he was being unfair; it was just that his brothers were pressuring him. There was absolutely no element of his own curiosity involved.
With a friendly smile, Yunxiang put his hand on Yunzhen's shoulder. "Fourteenth, can't you tell me what's wrong?"
“Thirteenth Brother…” Yunzhen saw a double image before his eyes. He shook his head to make sure it was Yunxiang in front of him. He opened his mouth, but then suddenly remembered that Yunxiang also had the idea and ability to lead troops. He immediately stopped talking. “We’ll talk about it later, we’ll talk about it later.”
After saying that, he slumped onto the table, as if he were drunk.
"..." Yunxiang was speechless. He hadn't expected that Yunzhen had kept it from him as well.
So, it really is an incredible benefit!
The brothers exchanged glances, confirmed the answer, remained silent for two seconds, and then turned to look at Yinzhen.
"..." While watching the play, Yinzhen suddenly met several pairs of probing eyes. He was momentarily stunned, then pretended not to have noticed anything and turned to look at Yixiu, "Xiao Yi, eat your food."
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