Chapter 86 Chapter 86 The Hundred Flowers Banquet is exposed...
The Hundred Flowers Banquet was an open-air banquet, held right beside a pond, with the walls of Kunning Palace behind and the Imperial Gardens beyond. The fragrance of summer flowers, mingled with the scent of rouge, was incredibly pleasant.
The seating arrangements had already been made. This time, the setting was a quatrain of flowing winecups, diverting water from the lotus pond into a man-made canal, with wine cups placed upstream. The guests were seated on either side of the canal, arranged from upstream to downstream: at the top was the Empress's seat, followed by the imperial concubines, the princes and princesses, the ladies of the royal family, the women of noble families with titles, and the families of officials.
The banquet brought together almost all the most noble women in the Great Zhou. Even Hua Qingzhi, the legitimate daughter of the Earl's family, sat in the middle and back.
Qushui Liushang (a game of wine flowing down a stream) was originally a gathering of scholars and poets. A wine cup would flow down the stream, and whenever a guest landed in front of it, that person would be required to compose a poem or essay. Those who couldn't must drink a glass of wine as punishment. However, given the unique nature of the Hundred Flowers Banquet, the rules were slightly modified.
The person who received the wine cup could compose poetry, play music, sing and dance, perform calligraphy, paint, or engage in other crafts. Those without talent could offer a gift to the Empress instead. Those who did not possess any of these skills were punished by drinking one cup of wine or three cups of tea. Empresses of the other palaces and married women of high rank were exempt from punishment if they received the wine cup.
After asking the young eunuch for the rules and waiting for two more incense sticks, Jiang Wan heard the eunuch's shrill voice: "The Empress has arrived—"
Jiang Wan immediately looked up and saw a woman dressed in a bright yellow palace dress entering from the main entrance. She wore a pearl on her head, and her hair and clothing were remarkably elegant, radiant with brilliance, showcasing the majesty of the Queen Mother. She was probably in her thirties, and while her features could only be described as delicate, her expression was dignified and gentle, her every move graceful and measured, and her demeanor elegant.
At first glance, I felt familiar with it.
The guests knelt down and saluted, shouting in unison, "Greetings to the Queen."
Queen Wen glanced at the crowd, paused when she saw Hua Qingzhi's direction, and nodded with a slight smile. Although she didn't look at Jiang Wan, she knew that the nod was directed at her.
Jiang Wan breathed a sigh of relief.
Queen Wen said softly, "Stand up."
After the empress took her seat, the feast began. The sound of stringed instruments rose, and the wine-cups began to flow. The eunuchs pulled back the dampers, and the water from the pond slowly flowed into the canal, and the wine glasses began to move.
Since Hua Qingzhi's seat was near the back, and it wouldn't be her turn for a while, she indulged in a carefree feast, leading Jiang Wan to join in the fun. The guests exchanged pleasantries, sharing newly heard gossip, or, each harboring their own agenda, veiled their words in subtle ways. Hua Qingzhi and Jiang Wan devoured their food, drawing frequent glances from the surrounding ladies.
After half a meal, the wine glass finally drifted to Hua Qingzhi. She stood up, holding the gift box, and knelt to salute. Just as she was about to introduce herself, the man sitting below the queen spoke first: "This is Miss Hua from the Wenyuan Marquis's mansion, right?"
The princes were ranked by age, and the one speaking was the Third Prince. As one of Jiang Wan's targets for today's plan, he immediately caught Jiang Wan's attention.
As the future crown prince, his every move was trained to be dignified, his tone of voice gentle, his attire handsome, and his approachable demeanor. In the eyes of most young ladies, he was a handsome, powerful, and ideal husband; in the eyes of many women of high rank, he was also a gentle and amiable son-in-law.
But Jiang Wan wasn't a woman kept in seclusion, unknown to the world. She had risen from a penniless slave to the top of the celadon industry in just six months. Her eye for both porcelain and people was undeniable. Her words and actions could be changed through education and guidance, especially since the Third Prince was His Majesty's chosen successor. He must have been trained by renowned teachers, so there wouldn't be any major mistakes.
But while it's easy to change a country, it's hard to change one's nature. A person's heart is difficult to alter, and the eyes are the most revealing reflection of the soul, and the hardest to disguise. Although the Third Prince's eyes curved with a smile, they didn't reveal any happiness or tenderness. Instead, they were filled with wariness and malice. Jiang Wan took one look at them, and she was disgusted.
Having been interrupted, Hua Qingzhi could only answer obediently: "That's right. Your humble servant greets the Empress and His Highness the Third Prince."
"Miss Hua Er is indeed gentle and elegant. I wonder if you are here to perform or to offer a gift? If you want to drink, I will drink for you. Girls should not drink outside." The third prince said with concern.
Jiang Wan thought to himself that something was wrong and quickly tugged at Hua Qingzhi's skirt to remind her.
One of the purposes of this Hundred Flowers Banquet was to select a concubine for the Third Prince. Many of the noble ladies present were drawn to the position of future Crown Princess, and the Third Prince's exclusive concern for Hua Qingzhi would make her a target for the other noble ladies.
He and the Marquis of Jing'an teamed up to frame Duke He, and He Wanrong came to overturn the verdict and seek revenge. He trained private soldiers, and Shen Jianqing and Wen Shen had already uncovered many clues. Qingjiangju provided considerable support, and Hua Qingzhi was a shareholder of Qingjiangju. The Third Prince would never truly care about her.
He was using someone else's hands to embarrass her.
Meeting Jiang Wan's worried gaze, Hua Qingzhi quickly grasped the meaning. She opened the gift box and spoke loudly, "I am a mischievous servant with no talent. I came to the Hundred Flowers Banquet simply to try the palace delicacies and join in the fun. I have no other motives, and I dare not trouble Your Highness to hold back the wine. This is a humble gift from your Highness for the Empress. I hope Your Highness will not despise it."
Jiang Wan also stood up, took out a porcelain pillow and continued, "This gift box contains a porcelain pillow produced by Qingjiangju. Please allow me to introduce it in detail, Your Majesty."
This porcelain pillow is azure in color, with smooth, rounded corners that won't scratch the user. The pillow's surface is streamlined with modern ergonomic design, perfectly fitting the contours of the face and neck for a more comfortable sleep.
The pillows of this time and space are vastly different from those of the past. Nobles valued a high pillow for peace of mind, and pillows were significantly higher than those of the past. To prevent cervical spine problems, people often slept sideways, and pillows primarily supported the neck, not the back of the head.
Therefore, the shape of the pillow designed by Jiang Wan is different from those in her previous life. In order to achieve the best effect, she specifically asked Wen Shen for the Queen's shoulder width, height and other data, drew more than a dozen sketches, and applied them one by one after they were fired. Only then did she select this final version, which can perfectly fit the Queen's sleeping position and reach the maximum height of a hard pillow while ensuring comfort.
The Hundred Flowers Banquet was her first time to showcase and promote Qingjiangju's products in front of so many noble ladies. It was a rare opportunity, and she would not allow any mistakes.
The ladies could all see the care taken in the appearance. When Jiang Wan held the porcelain pillow high in her hands, many guests looked in her direction, examining it curiously.
"To give you the best experience, Your Majesty, I tried dozens of recipes and fired over ten porcelain pillows before selecting this perfect one. This celadon not only has the basic formula, but also incorporates heat-dissipating materials, along with a small hole design to maximize the heat dissipation effect. Even in the height of summer, you won't feel stuffy when you use this pillow."
The Queen nodded gently. "You are the boss of Qingjiangju, right? What's your name?"
Jiang Wan lowered her head and said, "I am Jiang Wan."
"What a nice name," said the Queen. "Bring this pillow up here so I can see it."
Jiang Wan walked forward holding the gift box, stopped five steps outside the queen's seat, bent down, and raised the gift box above her head.
The eunuch next to him was about to step forward to take it, but was stopped by the Queen's gaze. The eunuch stood up and slowly walked over to Jiang Wan.
Jiang Wan lowered her head, watching the hem of the bright yellow palace dress move towards her. The three or four steps were graceful and winding, but she nervously held the gift box tightly.
Is this Wen Shen's sister? I have been out of the palace for a long time and know nothing about the etiquette of the palace. My manners are not as elegant as those of the noble ladies, and my talents are not outstanding... I wonder if the queen will like it.
From a foot away, Jiang Wan could already smell the orchid fragrance on the other person.
A pair of soft hands took the gift box, and a finger gently touched the back of her hand. The owner of the finger slightly bent down and whispered softly, "Thank you for saving Ah Shen in Xiaofangpan City. Sister is rooting for you."
The last sentence ended with a rising tone, a playful teasing. Jiang Wan felt relieved, then realized his cheeks were a little hot.
She straightened up and saw Empress Wen take out a porcelain pillow and gently stroke it, revealing a hint of appreciation: "It feels cool to the touch, smooth and delicate, and I like the pattern too. Miss Hua is thoughtful, and Miss Jiang is also skilled."
Over the past month, Qingjiangju's reputation has soared. Especially after developing a sales channel for high-end porcelain, it has become a porcelain supplier to many prominent families. The noble ladies present had all heard of Qingjiangju's porcelain, but since the porcelain pillow was presented to the Empress, and the Empress hadn't spoken, it was difficult for others to say anything.
Now that the Empress had praised it, the guests no longer had any reservations and came forward to take a closer look. Some of the bolder ladies even touched it and couldn't let it go. They kept shouting that they would go back and buy a pillow from Qingjiangju.
However, amidst the chorus of praise, a disdainful voice echoed: "The workmanship is acceptable, but Miss Hua Er, His Majesty just gifted the Empress a soft gold-thread pillow three months ago, and you're giving her a porcelain pillow instead. Are you trying to steal His Majesty's limelight? Which one do you want the Empress to use?"
Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw a noble lady sitting near the front seat, about fifteen or sixteen years old.
"The Empress doesn't just use one pillow, so stop accusing me." Hua Qingzhi pouted in dissatisfaction. "He Yi County Master, I have no grudge against you, why are you targeting me?"
Princess Heyi was the eldest daughter of the Minister of Personnel. Because she had become a sensation at the Hundred Flowers Banquet two years before, the Third Prince sought an imperial decree to confer the title of Princess Heyi. The Minister of Personnel was close to the Marquis of Jing'an, and the Marquis of Jing'an's mansion was the Third Prince's natal family. Therefore, Princess Heyi had grown up with the Third Prince and had long been enamored with him.
At this Hundred Flowers Banquet, she was determined to secure the position of the Crown Prince's Consort. The reason she targeted Hua Qingzhi was simply because the Third Prince had previously expressed concern for her.
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