Chapter 52 The Emperor's 50th Birthday Banquet
As noon arrived, three hundred golden-armored guards were lined up on both sides of the hall like statues.
As the nine bell sounds pierced the sky, Emperor Tianqi Helian Cong, dressed in a court robe of bright yellow satin embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon, looked majestic and cold. He supported Empress Su Qinyao's elbow with his left hand and stepped onto the white marble steps side by side.
Empress Su wore a nine-phoenix crown with pearl and jade tassels hanging down, revealing a well-maintained face with graceful demeanor. The pattern of phoenixes playing with peonies embroidered with silver thread on her big red sleeves shimmered with the water as she walked.
"Welcome Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Queen..."
Before the ceremonial officer had finished his words of approval, hundreds of princes, ministers, their families, concubines, princes and princesses in the hall, except for the Regent Xiao Nanyan who bowed slightly, all fell to the ground and performed the ritual of three bows and nine kowtows.
In an instant, the huge Zichen Hall fell silent, with only the candlelight dancing on the gilded candlesticks, casting swaying light and shadows.
Helian Cong and Empress Su walked hand in hand to the main seat, turned around, and slowly swept their eyes over the people lying on the ground, with a look of satisfaction on their faces.
He raised his hand slightly and said loudly:
"Everyone, please stand up! Today is my birthday. Don't be bound by the usual etiquette. Drink to your heart's content and stay out all night!"
Empress Su opened her red lips slightly, her voice soft but clear:
"Everyone, get up. Don't miss this festive occasion."
Everyone thanked him in unison and then stood up in an orderly manner.
After the Emperor and Empress took their seats, everyone took their seats in order according to their rank.
On both sides of the Emperor and Empress, and above the concubines, there was an order of priority. Imperial Concubine Shen, Concubine Li, Concubine Zheng, and several other concubines of higher ranks all attended in their best attire, each of them graceful and gorgeous, vying for beauty.
At this time, the eunuch in charge of ceremonies sang "Let the banquet begin" loudly, and auspicious mist rose from the eighteen bronze tripods in the hall, and the aroma of ambergris mixed with the eight delicacies wafted into the air.
Below the main hall, on both sides of the first seat, there are seats for Crown Prince Helian Feng and Regent Xiao Nanyan respectively. Their black and royal blue court robes are particularly eye-catching in front of the golden screen.
Three hundred rosewood tables are arranged in order at the foot of the steps, with fruits piled up like agate, and wine vessels are all carved from Hetian jade. The amber-colored wine in the cups glows in the candlelight.
The musicians played "Peace and Prosperity", and twenty-eight dancers held peacock feathers and danced gracefully on the cloud-patterned carpet. As their skirts fluttered, it seemed as if the palace was filled with auspicious air.
At this time, Empress Su clapped her hands, and the palace maids came in one after another carrying gilded trays and began to serve food to each table.
Xiyan stood behind Xiao Nanyan, and glanced at the dishes served on Xiao Nanyan's table one by one. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, there is no wealthier family than the imperial family.
The first dish is Dragon Liver and Phoenix Marrow Soup. The soup is served in a mutton-fat jade bowl with strands of golden threads floating on the surface. These are the bone marrow of the rare golden cod fish from the East China Sea, mixed with thousand-year-old ginseng from Changbai Mountain. The soup exudes a mellow and fresh fragrance in the misty hot air.
The second dish, Roasted Fire Tree and Silver Flower, is made with snow leopard humps tributed from Saigon, cut into slices as thin as cicada wings, golden in color, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
The third dish, Yaochi Jade Liquid Stew, uses the night-shining pearl meat that has been nurtured for a hundred years in the South China Sea pearl oysters, paired with Tianshan snow lotus and deep-sea red coral. It sparkles in the amber cup and melts in your mouth.
The fourth dish, "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix," is made with the meat of nine rare birds, including canaries and emerald parrots, and is carved into the shape of a phoenix with its wings spread, embellished with glazed sugar threads. The shape is exquisite...
Dish after dish, with delicacies from land and sea, was dazzling and sparkling, bringing out the luxurious atmosphere of the birthday banquet to the fullest.
The final dish was the longevity cake. Each cake was made from glutinous rice flour ground with premium milk, meticulously crafted by the chefs of the imperial kitchen. The longevity character on the cake was outlined with gold foil. The rich aroma of milk, combined with the unique fragrance of the rare ingredients, instantly filled the hall.
After all the meals were prepared, Xiao Nanyan stood up first, holding the warm Hetian jade cup, and stood at the foot of the steps with steady steps, bowing:
"Your Majesty's prestige and virtue extend far and wide, shining like the sun and moon. Since your ascension to the throne, you have defended the country from external threats and brought peace to the people, benefiting all the people of the world. On this anniversary of your longevity, may Your Majesty live as long as the Nanshan Mountains, enjoy eternal peace, and may the nation prosper for generations to come!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
