Chapter 190 Banquet
After the parade, the new scholars will be invited to attend the Qionglin Banquet held in Furong Garden tonight.
Generally speaking, this banquet is considered the closing ceremony of the imperial examination.
The end of the banquet also means the official end of this imperial examination. Starting tomorrow, the Ministry of Personnel and the three provinces will assign appropriate positions to the successful candidates based on their ranking and specialties.
Li Anning and Song Yiren followed Li Nuo back to the Li family. Along the way, they held hands, greeted the people with a smile, and looked closer than real sisters.
As soon as they stepped into the house, the two of them suddenly shook off each other's hands, snorted coldly, and turned their heads in different directions.
But the next moment, they sensed something again and linked their arms together again.
The doctor of the Ministry of Rites came in holding the imperial edict in his hand and said, "Mr. Zhuangyuan, this is the imperial edict for the madam's canonization. Please accept it, madam."
The imperial edict was the highest honor the emperor could give to the wives of officials or dignitaries.
Not all wives of officials and dignitaries could receive imperial edicts. Only a very small number of women could receive this honor.
Although the title of Lady of Imperial Noble Consort has no real power, it is the highest honor for a woman. Countless high-ranking officials and noble families would love to have it.
Song Jiaren had robbed her husband and her imperial edict. When Song Yiren was feeling extremely bitter, Li Anning gently poked her waist and said, "Sister Jiaren, please accept the imperial edict quickly..."
Song Yiren came to her senses and realized that she was now Song Jiaren.
She took the imperial edict directly from Lu Sheng, the doctor of the Ministry of Rites, which not only made Li Anning speechless, but also dumbfounded Lu Sheng.
Who taught her to respond in this way?
The doctor of the Ministry of Rites was still unable to say anything in the end, and said loudly: "The daughter of the Song family is a beautiful lady, gentle and respectful, intelligent and virtuous, dignified and graceful, outstanding as Lanzhi..., she is specially conferred the title of the sixth rank, I respect you."
He composed a passage for the enthronement ceremony, and after reading it, he stood there waiting.
But he waited for nothing.
Li An Ning poked Song Yiren again and whispered, "Hurry up and thank your majesty for his grace."
Song Yiren quickly said: "Oh, thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
Lu Sheng heaved a sigh of relief and ordered a clerk behind him to hold up a tray tied with red silk in both hands and said, "This is the crown and clothing of the imperial wife. If it is lost, damaged, or broken, please go to the Ministry of Rites to replace it in time."
Li Nuo took the imperial edict and nodded.
The imperial crown and clothing include the crown, clothes and shawl, all of which are made of the finest materials and embellished with various pearls and jades.
In fact, being a lady of noble title means one has entered the ranks of the powerful and wealthy.
However, unlike the real dignitaries, whose titles can be inherited, the privileges of a lady of noble title are only enjoyed by her.
Lu Sheng bowed to Li Nuo and turned to leave.
When I left, I was still muttering in my heart, the champion is well versed in etiquette, but how come his wife, who is obviously from a famous family, is like a wild girl who just came out of the mountains and doesn't know the etiquette at all...
Li Nuo, holding the imperial edict and the crown and robes, walked into a small courtyard, where his wife was arranging flowers.
From the choice of flowers, the overall layout, and the color matching in this vase, Li Nuo could feel that she was in a good mood.
Flower arrangement is an art. Through some details, one can sense the mood of the flower arranger when arranging flowers.
He walked up to the lady and said, "This is the dress of the Imperial Madam. Try it on to see if it fits you."
Song Jiaren was still trimming the details of the flower branches. Hearing this, she said, "Wait a moment."
Song Yiren took the crown and clothes from Li Nuo and said, "Let me try it. We look the same and have similar figures. It will be the same if I try it..."
Li An Ning rolled her eyes at her and said, "You are not the imperial lady, what are you trying to do?"
Song Yiren glared back at her and said, "I want to try, what do you care about me?"
After saying that, she ran into the house alone, and Song Jiaren did not stop her.
Li Nuo discovered that although they were both twin sisters, perhaps because of the Yuqing Heart Technique, his wife was much more indulgent towards Yiren than Murong was towards Ning'er.
If it was Mu'er's clothes, she could let Ning'er wear them, but she would never allow Ning'er to wear them first.
After a while, Song Yiren changed into the imperial robes and came out.
I have to say that the imperial court's imperial robes are really beautifully designed. While being grand and solemn, they can also show off the beauty of a woman's body very well. When Song Yiren wore it, Li Nuo knew what it would look like on a lady.
Li Anning looked at Song Yiren. Although she didn't like her, she had to admit that she was still a little... pretty.
Song Yiren held the hem of the imperial dress and turned around a few times. She really liked this dress. She looked at Li Nuo and asked, "Can we ask them to give us another one..."
He looked at Song Yiren and shook his head, "No."
There is only one set of crown and robes granted by imperial decree. If they are torn or dirty, one must take the old one to the Ministry of Rites to exchange for the new one. After the new one is exchanged, the old one will be destroyed.
Li Anning silently rolled his eyes at Song Yiren again.
She is so beautiful and powerful, but how can she act like a bumpkin who has never seen anything?
Everything in Chang'an really made Song Yiren feel new.
There is nothing like these on Mount Sanqing. Apart from practicing, there is more practice. There are not so many beautiful clothes, and not so many fun things to do.
She was wearing the imperial dress, but she felt that Li Anning's clothes seemed to look better.
She walked up to Li An Ning and said, "Let me wear your clothes for a while, I'll give mine to you..."
Li Anning was almost laughed out of anger by her.
Are they familiar with each other? Why would he let her wear his own dress?
She said calmly: "Call me sister and I will put it on for you."
"elder sister."
Song Yiren's straightforward call of "sister" made Li An Ning stunned.
No, did she really scream?
This woman really has no principles at all.
But since she had already said it, she couldn't go back on her word, so she had to go into the room with her and take off her court dress.
Song Yiren took off her imperial robe and saw Li Anning still sitting there. She asked, "Aren't you going to wear it?"
Li Anning waved his hand and said, "I can't wear it."
Song Yiren looked at her chest and stopped talking.
This more beautiful dress seemed a little loose on her, especially at the chest, but other than not fitting her properly, it was really beautiful, and if it was altered, she would still be able to wear it.
She looked at Li Anning and said, "If I call you sister again, can you give me this dress?"
Li Anning said speechlessly: "No!"
Although Song Yiren was a little disappointed, she didn't insist.
The world outside is really great.
Whether it was Song Jiaren or the big-breasted woman, they were both so easy to talk to. As long as she was willing to ask them, they would agree to her request.
Not like in Sanqing Mountain.
Even if she knelt in the wind and snow for three days and three nights, her mother would not change her decision.
After a while, they changed their clothes and came out.
Li Anning glanced at Li Nuo. The matter was finally settled. In fact, she had a lot of things to say to him, but now was obviously not the time.
She walked to Song Jiaren, took her hand, and said, "Sister Jiaren, let's go to the banquet at Furong Garden tonight. The night view of Furong Garden is very good, and there will be singing and dancing to watch..."
Song Yiren watched from afar and began to feel sad again.
She is obviously Song Jiaren's sister, but she is an outsider, yet she calls her sister so affectionately...
But she soon realized that among the four people here, she was the only outsider...
…
It's not dark yet.
A carriage stopped at the gate of Hibiscus Garden.
As the largest and most luxurious royal garden in Chang'an, Furong Garden often hosted various large-scale banquets. After each imperial examination, Furong Garden was usually chosen as the venue for entertaining new scholars.
Li Nuo and two figures got off the carriage.
Li Anning and Song Yiren looked at each other, and although they were reluctant, they still linked arms with each other.
My wife doesn't like this kind of occasion. Li Nuo has advised her many times, but she is unwilling to come.
In this case, Song Yiren, who likes to join in the fun, took the lead.
At the Qionglin Banquet, newly-appointed scholars were allowed to bring female companions. Generally speaking, bringing a female companion meant that the man was already taken, and the dignitaries would not be interested in him.
If you go to a party alone, in most cases you are sending a signal.
Unmarried, come quickly!
When the powerful and wealthy families in Chang'an saw a Jinshi attending a banquet alone, they would let the young women in their family approach him. If the two were attracted to each other, a new marriage would soon be arranged.
In this way, the powerful and wealthy have an additional network of contacts in the court, and the newly-appointed Jinshi can not only get a desired official position more easily with this backstage, but also have a smoother career in the future...
Li Nuo walked to the entrance of Furong Garden. Before he could show his invitation, the official in charge of welcoming him at the entrance smiled and said, "Mr. Number One Scholar, please..."
The gate of Furong Garden is magnificent. When the three of them walked in together, several figures came from another direction.
The leader was a handsome young man who looked to be less than 30 years old. He was dressed in gorgeous clothes and looked very noble.
Li An Ning saw him and bowed, "Greetings, my brother."
The young man nodded slightly to her, his eyes swept over Li Nuo, stayed for a brief moment, and then walked away.
A slightly feminine voice reminded: "Your Highness, be careful of the steps ahead..."
As the voice sounded, Song Yiren's footsteps suddenly stopped.
Li Anning turned to look at her and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Song Yiren looked forward and asked, "Who is that person?"
Li Anning said: "That's Prince Rui, what's wrong..."
Song Yiren watched those figures go away, shook her head and said, "Nothing, let's go..."
(End of this chapter)
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