Chapter 580: Beauty's Courtesy
The banquet was held in Mingle Palace in the harem, but before the banquet, they had to go to the observatory and wait for Xiao Jin to pray for their blessings.
Only after the blessing ceremony will we go to Mingle Palace.
Su Ying did not go to the observatory immediately, but waited outside for Xiao Jin to go in with him.
Just as they were about to go in to get warm and avoid the cold wind, they saw Xiao Jin, wearing a crimson dragon robe, walking towards them with his men.
Xiao Jin looked in Su Ying's direction and stretched out his hand towards her.
Su Ying walked over slowly and placed her hand in his palm.
Even in the coldest days of winter, Xiao Jin's hands were warm. His big palms wrapped around her hands, giving her an inexplicable sense of security.
"Your Majesty, the Queen has arrived..."
As the loud singing began, everyone present stood up and saluted.
"Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, and a thousand years and a thousand years of the empress."
Xiao Jin and Su Ying came up to the crowd.
"All the nobles, please stand up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After everyone stood up, people from the Imperial Observatory came out holding red and yellow flags and began to perform a sacrificial dance around the observatory.
When the sacrificial dance was almost over, Xiao Jin let go of Su Ying's hand and whispered, "I'll be right back."
"Be careful."
Xiao Jin nodded slightly and walked up to the observatory with the Imperial Astronomical Observatory.
The Observatory is also called the Astrological Observatory, and the Imperial Astronomical Observatory would usually come here to observe important astronomical phenomena.
Almost everyone looked up in the direction of Xiao Jin.
The sound of copper bells rang out "Ding-ling-ling" and there was a buzzing sound in the ears, and the ceremony began.
Su Ying withdrew her gaze. It was too tiring to keep looking up at people like this.
The ceremony was not complicated and was over in less than two quarters of an hour.
The group of ministers and their families standing below were already shivering with cold, but no one dared to show any abnormality.
After the ceremony ended, Xiao Jin walked down from the observatory.
"Let's go to Mingle Palace."
"Your Majesty, please move to Mingle Palace."
It's finally over!
Mingle Palace is located on the south side of the imperial palace, which is well protected from the howling north wind. As soon as they entered the palace, they felt the warm wind blowing on their faces.
"Everyone, please take your seats."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Xiao Jin clapped his hands lightly, and the palace maids came in one after another carrying hot soup and hot dishes. Although the cost of today's palace banquet was reduced a lot, the dishes that were served smelled particularly fragrant.
Maybe it was because most of the dishes served at previous banquets were cold, but the bowls of soup served today were still steaming hot.
The first thing served was a bowl of chicken soup that looked particularly refreshing. At first glance, the soup looked like a chicken stuck in clear water, but once you take a sip, the fragrance will linger in your mouth.
What the imperial chef cooks is indeed different; even an ordinary dish can be made to taste delicious.
The second dish was a cold dish, which was the spicy and sour radish that Su Ying had tasted after getting up. As soon as the dish was served, the whole hall was filled with the sour smell of radish.
Many ministers and ladies from aristocratic families frowned, thinking that the taste was very pungent and not presentable enough.
This palace banquet is supposed to be economical, but this is a bit too shabby. Who would let people eat pickled cabbage and radishes at a banquet?
“Click, click”
Just as the ministers and their wives were looking disdainful, a crisp sound was heard.
Maybe it was because the hall was too quiet, the crackling sound was impossible to ignore.
They looked in the direction of the sound and saw the honorable Queen eating with a very satisfied look on her face.
The Queen is the daughter of the Prime Minister after all, how come she can eat radishes so happily?
Someone curiously picked up a piece of radish and put it in his mouth. After chewing it slowly, he discovered the secret.
This radish is particularly crisp and refreshing, and it doesn’t have a very pungent taste of vinegar. I don’t know how it was pickled, but it tastes particularly appetizing.
No wonder the Queen Mother was so satisfied with the meal, it was really delicious.
For a moment, the whole hall was filled with the sound of people biting radishes.
The third dish was a fried mushroom, with only a few pieces on a plate. The presentation was nice, but there wasn’t much to eat.
I don’t know if it’s only after losing something that we understand the importance of cherishing it.
All the dishes served today were actually eaten by the guests.
They actually thought a small fried mushroom was so delicious!
There are only eight dishes in a banquet, and the portion of each dish is not large.
A melodious music sounded in the hall, and a graceful woman stood slowly and walked to the center of the hall with light lotus steps.
The woman had a round, full and blessed face, big, bright eyes, and every smile was pleasing to the eye.
"Your humble daughter Lian Rong pays respect to His Majesty. Today is the winter solstice, and I would like to take this opportunity to dedicate a song to His Majesty and His Majesty. Please don't laugh at me, Your Majesty."
Su Ying was eating the last snack served to her seriously. To be honest, if her skirt hadn't been tight enough today, this little snack would not be enough to fill her stomach.
There was food and drink, and there was also a free performance. Su Ying had no reason to refuse, "Okay, you play."
Seeing that Su Ying agreed, Lian Rong felt that she was also willing to give her a chance to perform, so she worked harder.
The sound of the guqin was melodious but a little heavy, but the person playing the guqin was much more lively than the sound of the guqin. His eyes would always give Xiao Jin a look of affection in the intervals between playing.
It was a pity that Xiao Jin was influenced by Su Ying and kept his head down eating the whole time, not noticing the pair of eyes that were about to cramp from blinking.
It was just one song, and Lian Rong returned home disappointed. After all, she didn't even get a glance from the emperor!
Just because she can't do it doesn't mean others can't do it.
Many of the elegantly dressed ladies present were eager to try. God knows how long they had been preparing for this opportunity to show their faces.
The next person to come on stage is a dancing beauty.
After Su Ying finished her snacks, Zhou Qing handed her a cup of hot tea and asked her to drink it to help digest the food.
She also enjoyed the beautiful woman's graceful dance.
The beauty was dancing the peacock dance, and every movement was so lively and lifelike.
After the dance, the beauty walked lightly to Xiao Jin, took the wine jug from the palace maid with a smile and poured a glass of wine for Xiao Jin, "Your Majesty, please drink."
Xiao Jin had just finished eating the last piece of dessert that Su Yingteng gave him when he suddenly saw a face approaching and his sword-like eyebrows twitched.
Then he rebuked her mercilessly, "Back off."
The beauty's face changed slightly, and Su Ying sighed. This beauty's expression changed faster than turning the pages of a book. She looked like the world was at peace just now, but now it was as if her whole family was going to be exiled.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Yes, it is you who offended me. Please calm down."
Xiao Jin really didn't like getting too close to strangers, especially when there was an unfamiliar aura invading him, he would instinctively want to take action.
The emperor's expression was very cold, and no one dared to come out and plead for the beauty.
Just when the atmosphere in the hall was tense, Su Ying spoke.
(End of this chapter)
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