Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.
Xiao Yingchun and Zhan Yunfu are both used to plain food, but this is a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, so they can't be too plain.
The mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law both chose clothes and jewelry that were solemn but not complicated, so as not to make themselves feel uncomfortable.
So when the ladies came to the palace to pay their respects, a funny scene occurred.
Many ladies of noble birth brought their daughters who were about to get married into the palace, and each one was dressed more solemnly and gorgeously than the other.
Especially for unmarried girls, their makeup is carefully carved and they use a variety of incense, including flower scents, fruit scents, various sandalwood scents, and exotic scents...
Xiao Yingchun sneezed twice due to the smoke.
The Queen smiled and glared at Xiao Yingchun: "Open all the windows facing the water. It's autumn now and the weather is clear and crisp. It would be a waste of this good weather if the windows are closed."
As soon as the window was opened, the strong fragrance in the room instantly dissipated with the wind and faded away.
The girls were all somewhat dissatisfied.
Their intention of entering the palace today was not to seek out the Crown Princess or the Queen; their target was the Emperor or the Crown Prince.
Preferably the prince.
After all, the prince is young, tall and handsome.
However, they had to wait until dinner time before they agreed to see the prince and the emperor.
They had spent a lot of effort on this incense, so naturally they hoped to keep it until they met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Emperor.
The girls all looked at their mothers.
When the ladies of the imperial family saw this, they also became anxious. The Princess Anping, who was conferred the title by the previous dynasty, stepped forward to pay her respects and make excuses.
"My queen, my daughter is weak and cannot stand the wind. Can you let her hide in a leeward place?"
A slender woman knelt down like a willow in the wind. Her skirt embroidered with gold butterflies sparkled brightly in the morning sun, as if she was about to flap her wings and fly away at any time.
"I am sorry that I have caused trouble to Your Majesty."
Zhan Yunfu smiled as usual: "It's not your fault that you're not feeling well. It's really windy this autumn."
"Heigu, take this young lady to the back room to rest. Don't let her go out and see the wind. Ask someone to prepare a meal for her and send it in later."
After hearing this, the woman immediately became anxious: I’m not even allowed to come out to eat?
Who is she dressing up for?
To show it to this black-faced nanny?
Princess Anping was also anxious: "Your Majesty, you have misunderstood. My daughter is already well. I am just afraid that the condition will relapse after being exposed to the wind. There is no need to..."
Zhan Yunfu's smile slowly faded, and she said nothing, just looking at Princess Anping.
Princess Anping couldn't continue speaking.
We are all thousand-year-old foxes, why are you acting out Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio with me?
Seeing the others who were gloating over other people's misfortune, Zhan Yunfu decided to speak frankly.
"I know that the ladies who entered the palace today must have some plans in mind..."
The ladies of the court knelt down and said “We dare not”.
Zhan Yunfu didn't believe a word of it.
"Everyone wants to take advantage of today's gathering to show their unengaged children to each other."
"As long as everything is done properly, I will strongly support it. I can even grant you marriage if both parties agree."
"But if someone uses dirty tricks, don't blame me for being rude."
After some knocking, she asked everyone to stand up and prepare to go to the front for the banquet.
Men and women sat separately at the banquet, with a screen between them.
But it was vague and I could still see the other side.
There were also some young masters who came with their fathers and brothers to toast, taking the opportunity to get to know and see each other...
After three cups, the emperor and the prince on the high platform looked at each other, and Fu Chenan began to go down to toast on behalf of his father.
He toasted table by table, and raised his glass high: "My father ordered me to toast you on his behalf. Everyone, drink this glass to the full..."
Everyone drank together, and then people started taking turns to toast Fu Chenan.
Fu Chenan stopped this move directly: "You all have your families here today. It would not be good if you lose your composure after drinking."
"Everyone, please stop toasting..."
The prince said no, who dares to force it?
All civil and military officials had no choice but to give up.
The girls in the women's seats were almost crazy about it when they heard the voice.
Their eyes shuttled between the Crown Princess's bulging belly and the Crown Prince's handsome face on the platform.
The prince is young and full of vigor, the princess is pregnant, and he has no concubines...
A civil servant bravely stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Madam, my daughter is proficient in singing and dancing. I am honored to enter the palace today. I want to perform for your Majesty and Madam..."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone fell silent: Here it comes.
The emperor was also curious and asked directly, "Is your daughter married?"
The civil servant was instantly excited: "My daughter is only fifteen years old and unmarried. Qianqian, quickly pay your respects to His Majesty..."
A tall, beautiful woman in a Liuxian skirt stood up, walked slowly to the middle and bowed.
"Your humble servant greets His Majesty, and Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
As expected of someone who has been dancing for many years, she has a slim figure and graceful posture.
The emperor did not ask her to get up, but turned to look at the civil servant.
"You let your daughter dance today, are you trying to find a suitable family in this hall?"
"Is there anyone you like?"
As he spoke, the emperor pointed directly at the civil and military officials and their sons below.
The civil servant is only a third-rank official. How can he have the qualifications and courage to be picky in front of everyone?
Of course, he hoped that his daughter's dance would be enchanting enough to attract the attention of the young masters present, and even the emperor and the crown prince, so that he could pick the best one from among them.
But he didn't dare say that.
I was speechless for a moment.
The emperor understood immediately when he saw that he was silent: "So, you don't have a clear goal?"
The emperor then looked at the civil and military officials and asked, "Do any of you have any unmarried young men in your family who would like to marry into the family of Lord Zheng?"
"If so, I can grant the marriage on the spot."
The civil and military officials looked around and then looked at their own sons.
No one is stupid: the girl was kneeling on the ground and was not allowed to get up until now, which showed that the emperor did not approve of this way of finding a husband by dancing.
Who would dare to say "yes" if they have caused His Majesty's dislike?
So everyone pretended to be a quail.
The emperor raised his hand and asked the frightened girl to stand up and return to her original seat, his tone was gentle.
"I think that if one makes a living from singing and dancing, it would be great to sing and dance in public."
"But the ladies sitting here don't need to perform publicly."
"This kind of gesture is fine between husband and wife in private..."
It was almost like saying that dancing in public was not solemn.
After saying this, the emperor glanced at Zhan Yunfu.
Zhan Yunfu resisted the urge to roll her eyes and had someone give the girl a pair of pearl earrings as a token of comfort.
"During the previous emperor's time, people loved singing and dancing, and dancing at banquets like this was common."
"Your Majesty did not say in advance that it was forbidden. The civil and military officials proposed it out of filial piety, and Your Majesty said this..."
The tone was intimate yet a little bit angry, but it made everyone below feel relieved: The Queen understood everyone.
The emperor also came down the stairs: "I didn't think it through. What the queen said is..."
The banquet continued, but the atmosphere had returned to rationality. Those who wanted to act crazy by drinking, try to make trouble, or sing and dance no longer dared to do so.
After the banquet, each family went home to hold meetings to discuss the abnormal behavior of the emperor and empress at today's Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.
Is there any opportunity behind the changes in the Emperor and Empress?
If the company wants to consolidate its position or even move up to a higher level, how should it adjust its future strategies?
The Emperor is in his prime, he shouldn't be so disgusted with singing and dancing.
Considering the Queen's reaction, could it be that he was afraid that the Queen would be unhappy?
The matter became intriguing: the emperor married this widow as his queen, but he was still henpecked?
In this case, their next strategy should also be adjusted... (End of this chapter)
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