Yan Zhang's birthday banquet
Qi Hui smiled and said, "Then I will follow your advice, Chief Minister Qi."
Now that things quieted down, Ji Shao looked at the sky and said with a smile, "It's getting late, everyone should rest. We still have to travel tomorrow morning."
Everyone then returned to their tents to rest.
Inside the Cining Palace, a petite woman was kneeling on the ground, with Shi Hui and Shun Hua in front of her. At this moment, there were only the three of them in the room.
Shi Hui rubbed her forehead and said, "What do you want with me so late at night?"
She looked extremely tired, as if she had just fallen asleep and been woken up again.
The woman said respectfully, "This servant did not mean to disturb Your Majesty's peaceful sleep; I only wished to share Your Majesty's burdens."
After hearing this, Shi Hui glanced at her and said, "Oh? How can you share my burdens? Little girl, do you know the consequences of deceiving me?"
The woman replied neither servilely nor arrogantly, "This servant understands."
Upon hearing this, Shi Hui became somewhat interested in her and said, "Raise your head."
The woman obediently raised her head, and Shi Hui looked her up and down.
They look quite good.
Shi Hui asked, "What's your name? Which palace are you from?"
The woman replied, "My name is Tingyu. I work as a sweeping maid in Cining Palace. My mother is known as Granny Jing."
Shi Hui and Shun Hua were shocked when they heard the name Jing Mama. She was actually the daughter of the nanny who tried to harm Shi Yan in Yonghe Palace!
Shi Hui slammed her hand on the table and stood up angrily, saying, "I haven't even settled accounts with you yet, and you've already come here yourself. Luckily, Yan'er is alright, otherwise your head would already be separated from your body!"
Tingyu bowed again and said, "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. I have come here to apologize for the wrongdoings my mother committed. I am sure I can help you."
Shi Hui looked at her and said, "Heh, you're quite confident. Your mother tried every means to get you into the harem. If I had agreed to your request, wouldn't that have been exactly what you wanted?"
After listening for a while, Tingyu realized that she really had no reason to be trusted by Shi Hui, and she had no leverage. She could only say, "It is understandable that Your Majesty has such concerns. This servant... is willing to obey your judgment."
Shi Hui thought about it carefully.
I am in dire need of manpower right now. The knife I present will either be held firmly or it will be used to cut you. The quality of the knife depends on how the person holding it uses it. I am that person holding the knife, so naturally I must hold it firmly.
Shi Hui said sharply, "If you want to become my blade, you must tell me why you want to become a blade?"
Tingyu said, "My mother was killed by the Empress's brother, so naturally I am here to avenge her."
It turns out she's a double-edged sword; using her is somewhat risky, but I'm willing to take the gamble.
Thinking of this, Shi Hui said, "Tingyu, I'm willing to give you a chance, but it depends on whether you can seize it."
Tingyu quickly replied, "This servant thanks Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. This servant will certainly not let you down."
Shi Hui said, "I will create a new identity for you, and you can participate in the talent show as an ordinary citizen."
Tingyu replied, "Yes."
As night deepened, each party harbored their own secrets, and their schemes and calculations were revealed.
Finally, April 11th, today is Li Yanzhang's birthday. The Ministry of Rites' mansion is holding a grand banquet. The gate is crowded with people bringing gifts, and ordinary people are also among them. The young man in charge of the accounts in the mansion is all smiles and records the gifts from the people one by one, without any bias or disdain.
Outside, the steward led the guests, and Li Fengtan, the Minister of Rites, and his wife, Lady Li, greeted them together. Li Yanzhang, meanwhile, was being carefully dressed by his servants in his room, and was ready in a short while.
Li Yanzhang was already handsome, and this outfit made him even more dazzling, like a star in the night sky.
There is a folk saying: "The Li family in Chang'an has a daughter who is pure and beautiful, with a face that can rival the sun and moon, a voice like a silver bell, and a heart as kind as a fairy; and a son who is handsome and dashing, with a face that can rival the stars, a voice like the sound of jade, and a kind and charitable nature."
Zizheng was stunned for a moment when he saw this. He said, "Young master, tell me how you grew up? How come you are so handsome?"
Li Yanzhang flicked his forehead and said, "Alright, stop flattering me. Besides, you're not bad looking either."
Zizheng rubbed his forehead and said, "Young Master has good taste."
He even gave a thumbs up as he spoke.
Li Yanzhang: "..."
He then said, "I suspect you just want me to praise you."
Zi Zheng quickly changed the subject, saying, "Young Master, it's getting late. Let's hurry to the front hall. I heard that Young Master Ji will also be coming today."
As Li Yanzhang walked out, he said, "Why doesn't he rest and recover at home? Why does he have to come here to suffer? Never mind, remember to have someone prepare a soft cushion for him, not a hard one, understand?"
Zizheng replied, "Yes, young master, I will have someone prepare it right away. I will make sure everything is arranged."
Li Yanzhang said, "Okay, go ahead."
Zizheng then went to make preparations.
Just as Li Yanzhang reached the door, he heard a familiar voice say, "Give me a gift."
For some reason, Shi Yan's face appeared in his mind. He turned his head and saw that it was not Shi Yan, but Princess Huimin!
...Yes, they are cousins, so it's normal for their voices to sound a little similar. But why did I think of her?
Qi Min had brought more than a dozen gifts, all of them high-quality items. The first few baskets contained exquisite dishes prepared by the imperial chefs, the middle baskets contained self-defense weapons, and the last baskets contained medicines from the Imperial Medical Academy. Servants carried the gifts into the residence of the Minister of Rites one after another.
Everyone said, "Her Highness is so generous! Yes, yes, and she doesn't seem as spoiled and willful as the rumors say..."
Qi Min felt proud after hearing this.
I specifically asked around, so there's nothing I can do if you don't like it, hmph.
Qi Min wore a pink hair ornament, a pink and white dress, a pink tassel at her waist, a cherry blossom bracelet on her wrist, and pink and white shoes with tassels on the front. She looked like a well-behaved and gentle woman, perhaps because of the colors of her clothes.
When Qi Min saw Li Yanzhang, she walked towards him, her pink lips slightly parted, about to speak, when Li Yanzhang bowed and said, "Your subject Li Yanzhang greets Princess Huimin."
Upon seeing this, everyone immediately followed suit and bowed, saying, "Your humble servants pay their respects to Your Highness."
Qi Min looked at them, somewhat at a loss, and sighed, "Get up."
The crowd said, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Then they got up, and everyone looked at Qi Min, waiting for her next instructions.
Qi Min felt somewhat embarrassed and confused.
Why are you looking at me?!
Qi Min forced a smile and said, "Go do what you're supposed to do! I'm here to attend your birthday banquet, not to boss you around!"
Everyone was stunned. Seeing that they didn't move, Qi Min snorted and went into the inner hall, where she casually found a seat.
Seeing this, Li Fengtan said, "Alright, everyone, please take your seats quickly. The banquet is about to begin."
Everyone then returned to their original positions.
Li Yanzhang was puzzled.
What's going on? What was she trying to say to me? Never mind, I'll stop thinking about it now. Where's Ji Xiren?
As if on cue, Ji Xi presented a sword. Li Yanzhang looked at it and could tell from Ji Xi's attire that he had dressed up carefully. He stood there straight and tall, making everyone forget that he was injured.
Li Yanzhang quickly smiled and walked towards him, "Ji Xi, you understand me best!"
Ji Xi said helplessly, "If I didn't understand you, wouldn't I be betraying the bond we shared growing up together?"
Li Yanzhang smiled and said, "That's true, but why did you still come? Didn't I tell you you didn't have to come if your injury hadn't healed?"
Ji Xi said, "How could I not come to your birthday celebration? If it were my birthday, you would definitely be there too. We've never missed one over the years, so we definitely can't be absent this time."
Li Yanzhang smiled and said, "Alright, I specially prepared a soft chair for you, it should be more comfortable."
Ji Xi replied, "Thank you."
Li Yanzhang waved his hand and laughed, "It's nothing, it's nothing."
The two walked into the inner hall and took their seats. Just as Li Fengtan was about to announce the start of the banquet, he heard the steward say, "Master, Eunuch Zhao has arrived."
Zhao Hongxing was Qi Dou's man; he would never have come without Qi Dou's orders.
Li Fengtan and the others hurriedly went out to greet him, saying, "We were unaware of Eunuch Zhao's arrival. Please forgive us for any shortcomings in our hospitality."
Zhao Hongxing smiled and said, "My lord, there's no need to be nervous. This servant is here to deliver a congratulatory gift."
Li Fengtan breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Hongxing looked at Li Yanzhang and said with a smile, "This servant, on behalf of His Majesty and the Empress, wishes Young Master Li a happy birthday."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
