Upon hearing this, everyone expressed their deepest gratitude and vowed to serve His Majesty faithfully in order to repay His Majesty's kindness.
As melodious music filled the air, the birthday banquet officially began. Emperor Wenyuan stood up and raised his glass to the guests present. The envoys from various countries also stood up and raised their glasses in response.
The Empress Dowager, seated to the right of the Emperor, then spoke up, "Your Majesty, I have prepared a birthday gift for you."
Emperor Wenyuan was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Mother, I am naturally very much looking forward to your gift."
The Empress Dowager smiled slightly and then gestured to the palace maids behind her.
The palace maid immediately brought out an exquisite brocade box, knelt down in front of Emperor Wenyuan, and presented it with both hands.
Emperor Wenyuan took the brocade box, gently opened it, and inside was a painting.
He unrolled the scroll and saw that it depicted a secluded valley.
A clear stream flows through the valley, its waters babbling and shimmering. Dense bamboo groves grow along the stream's banks, their leaves a vibrant green that sways gently in the breeze.
Deep in the valley, an ancient temple can be vaguely seen, its roof covered with thick white snow, resembling a mysterious fairyland.
Emperor Wenyuan stared at the painting, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"This is..." Emperor Wenyuan looked at the Empress Dowager with some surprise.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Yes, this is the work of the Immortal Painter, who painted the setting sun with ink."
She knew that this was the emperor's favorite painter, and one of the most renowned painters of the time.
Emperor Wenyuan couldn't help but exclaim, "The painting artist's skills are becoming more and more exquisite. The scene in the painting seems to be right in front of us, making us feel as if we are there."
The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement: "Indeed, every piece of the Immortal Painter's calligraphy is a masterpiece, and this painting is even more rare."
Emperor Wenyuan's gaze was deep, as if he were lost in memories: "I remember when I was a child, I also admired the calligraphy and paintings of the Immortal Painter with my father. At that time, I was amazed by his painting skills. Now, when I see his paintings again, I can still feel that strong visual impact and spiritual shock."
The Empress Dowager smiled gently: "The Emperor has excellent taste. I'm relieved that you like me."
Emperor Wenyuan felt a surge of warmth in his heart upon realizing that his mother had always been thinking of him.
Next, the other princes and princesses also brought out the rare treasures they had collected, offering their filial piety to Emperor Wenyuan.
Inside the main hall, the dazzling jewels seemed to illuminate the entire palace with a radiant glow.
The fifth prince held a stack of scriptures in his hands and said, "Father, I have personally copied these prayer scriptures. May Your Majesty enjoy good health and the country be peaceful and prosperous."
The emperor took the scriptures and turned the pages one by one. The neat handwriting on each page revealed the fifth prince's dedication and piety.
He nodded and said, "Good, I am very pleased. Your dedication to praying for the country and its people is truly a blessing for our Great Jing Dynasty."
Emperor Wenyuan glanced at Consort Shu, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
He said softly, "Yu'er has turned sixteen this year, it's time for him to come back. I will announce the division of his residence on a chosen day and bestow upon him the title of Prince Jing, so that he can assume the responsibilities of the royal family."
Upon hearing this, Consort Shu gracefully leaned forward slightly, a gentle smile spreading across her face.
She replied softly, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. I also look forward to Yu'er's early return."
"Thank you for your grace, Father Emperor." Qi Yu bowed his head respectfully.
"Alright, let the banquet continue. I'm getting a little hungry." Emperor Wenyuan rubbed his stomach.
The music grew increasingly lively, the dancers moved gracefully, and the guests drank heartily.
The brightly lit banquet hall was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation, creating a joyful and peaceful atmosphere.
The melodious sounds of string and wind instruments rose and fell, and the dancers, dressed in gorgeous costumes, danced gracefully, like fairies descending to earth. The guests raised their glasses and drank merrily, and bursts of laughter and chatter could be heard from time to time.
In this joyful atmosphere, Meng Zhelan was immersed in the delicious food. The dishes in front of her were dazzling, with excellent color, aroma and taste, making her mouth water.
She picked up a slice of Eight Treasures Duck meat, put it in her mouth, and the melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness instantly exploded on her tongue. She couldn't help but exclaim, "This is truly a delicacy!"
She had eaten too much and felt a little unwell. The Empress Dowager asked a palace maid to take her to change her clothes.
She felt much better after using the toilet, and the fresh air and breeze outside also made her feel much more comfortable.
Seeing that she had stopped listening, the palace maid urged, "Doctor Meng, the Empress Dowager instructed me to make sure you return home safely, otherwise I will not be able to bear the responsibility if anything happens."
Meng Zhelan smiled, knowing that the palace maid's worries stemmed from her duty: "Don't worry, I'll go back with you now, nothing will happen."
She straightened her clothes to make sure everything was in order, and then followed the palace maid back.
A gentle breeze brought a touch of coolness, and her mood lightened accordingly.
Just then, cries for help came from not far away, and the two quickly ran behind the artificial hill.
There was a person lying there, who appeared to be injured.
The palace maid was terrified, but she calmly approached and discovered it was a young man dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, clearly a young master of considerable status.
"Quick, help me lift him up." She instructed the palace maid, and the two of them together helped the man up. They found that he was pale and had a weak breath, clearly indicating that he had been seriously injured.
Only then did the palace maid see the man's face clearly, and she exclaimed in a panic, "What is Your Highness Prince Jing doing here?"
Her heart skipped a beat. The person in front of her was none other than Prince Jing, the Fifth Prince, whom the Emperor had just conferred the title of Prince Jing upon her that day.
Just now, her mind was completely absorbed in the matter of refining medicine, and she did not pay much attention to the scene of people coming and going in the main hall.
"Go and call someone immediately," Meng Zhelan's voice was calm, but somewhat flustered. She was afraid of getting into trouble because of this.
She quickly took out a tiny pill from her purse, gently pinched Qi Yu's chin, and fed the pill into his mouth.
The palace maids dared not delay and quickly summoned the guards. Upon seeing this, everyone was astonished and immediately escorted Prince Jing to his palace. Meanwhile, another group rushed to report to the Emperor.
Seeing that there was nothing for her to do, she went back with the palace maid.
Seeing that she looked flustered, the Empress Dowager was about to ask her something when she saw the Emperor and Consort Shu make an excuse that they were a little drunk and hurriedly leave the birthday banquet.
"What happened? What's wrong with you?"
After calming down, Meng Zhelan spoke to the Empress Dowager about rescuing Prince Jing.
Looking back now, I feel a bit scared. At the time, I didn't consider whether the assassin was still there or not, but I rashly went forward.
"I understand. It seems you have quite a connection with the royal family." The Empress Dowager pulled Meng Zhelan away from the banquet.
The King of Liang was in charge of receiving envoys from various countries, and the Queen was also supporting the overall situation.
When Emperor Wenyuan returned to Qinghe Palace, he was shocked to see Qi Yu's pale face.
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