Chapter 1514 Toast
Through a curtain, Nan Yan looked at the people outside.
The Gu family's main branch was in Henan. Because Gu Tingqiu was an official in the court, his branch was moved to the capital to establish a residence.
Although there was only one team, he had many disciples, and there were also some nephews and nieces who followed him to learn the rules and how to do things, so the mansion seemed to be prosperous. The team lined up outside the gate and there was no end in sight.
Men and women stood separately, kneeling on both sides.
At a glance, she saw her mother, Mrs. Si Gu Tingchun, and her sister Si Mulan kneeling in the front on the right.
These people were dressed quite formally, but at the moment they were all kneeling on the ground and didn't dare to look up, especially Gu Tingchun and the others, who were trembling a little.
They certainly didn't expect that the emperor would suddenly show up when they were just welcoming the imperial concubine home to visit her family.
Now, I’m afraid he hasn’t come back to life yet.
At this time, Gu Tingqiu led the group in kowtow and said in a deep voice, "Your servant, Gu Tingqiu, and the rest of the family respectfully welcome the Emperor to long live His Majesty, and the Imperial Concubine to long live His Majesty."
People also prayed in unison and knelt on the ground.
Although Zhu Feng said that the formalities were excused, it seemed that Gu Tingqiu did not dare to refrain from doing so.
Nan Yan thought about it and turned to look at the people around her, but saw Zhu Feng looking at the people below with a cold expression.
He was a fierce person by nature. If he didn't smile, he would look like a Shura statue, which was scary enough to kill people.
Nan Yan couldn't help but squeeze his hand.
Why are you so scary?
After being pinched by her, Zhu Feng finally turned around and looked at her, but the cold expression on his face did not fade. He just waved his hand lightly, and the eunuch Yu beside him immediately said, "No need to be polite, please stand up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, and thank you, Your Majesty."
Everyone then slowly stood up again.
Gu Tingqiu took another step forward and said carefully, "I didn't know the emperor was coming. I failed to welcome him. I deserve the death penalty. I deserve the death penalty!"
Zhu Feng then glanced at him and said, "Don't be offended, Master Gu, for coming here uninvited."
"How dare I."
"Well, you don't have to be restrained. I just heard the imperial concubine talk about the 'interesting things' she experienced when she was a child celebrating the New Year, so I followed her to see what it was like. Do as you please, and let me see how you celebrate the New Year."
As soon as he said this, Nan Yan frowned.
Interesting thing?
I think I only told him about it once, that I was wrongly accused of stealing pickled fish from the kitchen and was later locked up in the woodshed for the New Year.
Is this what he said?
Regardless of whether this is what he said or not, just looking at the pale faces of Gu Tingchun and the others, you can tell that this is all they can think of.
Especially Si Mulan who was kneeling behind Gu Tingchun.
At this moment, she was so angry that her teeth were itching. She clenched her fists tightly on the ground. She wished she could beat the skinny and annoying Si Nanyan into the cold pool like she did when she was a child, so that she would never get up.
Just because she entered the palace, she acted pitiful in front of the emperor and talked about how wronged she was in her childhood.
What kind of skill is that?
If I could enter the palace, I would definitely be a hundred times more favored than she is now!
Thinking of this, and recalling the hard days he had spent in the laundry department, he felt even more resentful.
But I heard a faint voice behind me——
"Being a royal concubine is so noble."
Hearing this voice, Simulan couldn't help but frown.
But they were too close to the emperor and the imperial concubine's seats, so she didn't dare say anything more. She could only hold her breath and continue kneeling on the ground.
After Gu Tingqiu finished his conversation with the emperor, his wife Lin Rufang came forward with someone and whispered a few words. Gu Tingqiu then said, "The banquet is ready. Your Majesty, please ask the imperial concubine to move to the garden."
Zhu Feng nodded: "Let's go."
After saying that, he stood up with Nan Yan and walked out together.
The Gu family held the dinner for the visit of the emperor's daughter in the garden, in a spacious warm room. Although the doors and windows were wide open, it was very warm because there was a floor heating in the room and there were several stoves around it. There were musicians in the distance behind the warm room, and when the emperor and the imperial concubine walked along, they could hear very melodious music.
As Zhu Feng walked, he said, "Your uncle is really taking the trouble."
Nan Yan said: "It's just that the emperor scared him."
Zhu Feng smiled and said, "It's not him I want to scare."
“…”
Nan Yan was fine, she could only smile bitterly and shake her head.
When we entered the warm room, we found that the tables and chairs here had been neatly arranged. Probably because the emperor had arrived, a main table was temporarily added in the front, parallel to the main table previously set up for the imperial concubine, and the chairs on both sides were pushed to the sides one after another.
Outside the gate, a stage has been set up in the spacious garden.
This is also the custom of a wealthy family like theirs to celebrate the New Year. Moreover, the imperial concubine is back, so the play cannot be sloppy. Nan Yan took a quick look and found that the stage was also very interesting. It was divided into three floors, naturally divided into heaven, earth and man. I'm afraid they will have to perform a "Havoc in Heaven" tonight.
As soon as the emperor and the imperial concubine sat down, a team of maids began to serve the dishes.
Every time a dish was served, it was first handed to Eunuch Yu. After he and a few young eunuchs checked it, it was sent to Zhu Feng. Everyone watched as the dishes were placed in front of the emperor one by one, and they were all very nervous.
After all, he is the emperor.
If anything goes wrong, none of them will be able to save their lives.
Zhu Feng looked at them standing in front of their seats, looking nervous, and couldn't help but smile faintly.
"Why aren't you sitting down yet?"
Everyone then hurriedly said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the invitation to sit down."
After saying that, he sat down.
Zhu Feng glanced at the people on both sides. Although Gu Tingqiu had become his cabinet minister, he didn't have much contact with Nan Yan's family and could only barely recognize a few of them.
There are a few others who are very unfamiliar.
However, there is no rush.
Now that I'm sitting down, I can naturally slowly figure out who these people are.
As soon as the banquet started, it was naturally Gu Tingqiu who led everyone in the family to first toast the emperor and the imperial concubine with a glass of wine, and said auspicious words for New Year's Eve.
Zhu Feng and Nan Yan also had a drink.
But then, the atmosphere became a little tense.
It was not for any other reason. On normal days, Gu Tingchun, as a mother, would naturally be close to the imperial concubine, as a daughter. But there was really no affection between them, and no matter how close they were, they would not be that close.
As for Simulan and Simuyun——
Simulan naturally didn't have such thoughts.
Although Si Muyun has now become the Minister of Works, he is not in a position to say much at this time.
After all, I'm still unsure of Nan Yan's attitude.
Just then, a young woman sitting in the seat behind Gu Tingchun and Si Mulan stood up.
Holding the wine glass in her hand, she smiled and said, "This humble woman only offers this cup to wish our emperor a long and long life, good health, and prosperity for our country."
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