Chapter 54: My son carefully prepared a great gift
At this time, Princess Helian Shu gently put down the wine cup in her hand, casually adjusted the pearl hairpins on her temples with her jade fingers, glanced at Xiao Nanyan beside her, and smiled:
"Brother Yan, actually, Shu'er has also prepared a big gift for Father today!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Nanyan raised his drooping eyes slightly, and a hint of interest flashed in his dark pupils:
"The princess has always been thoughtful and considerate. The gift she has prepared must be extraordinary. Why not tell me about it?"
Seeing that Xiao Nanyan rarely took the initiative to answer, Helian Shu was delighted, and even her pearl earrings trembled slightly:
"I originally wanted to keep it a secret and give you a surprise tonight. But, since you asked, Brother Yan, how could Shu'er not tell me?"
Xiao Nanyan smiled slightly: "Very good!"
"A while ago, Shu'er specially collected a hundred boxes of fireworks from Jiangnan. When night falls, we will set off a fireworks feast outside the palace. When the fireworks illuminate the night sky, the emperor will be very happy when he sees it!"
Xiao Nanyan picked up the Hetian jade cup, took a sip, nodded and praised:
"The princess's filial piety is admirable. This fireworks display not only aligns with the joy of today's birthday celebration, but is also thoughtful and thoughtful. Your Majesty will surely enjoy it."
Helian Shu's eyes sparkled, her carefully drawn willow-shaped eyebrows raised high, and her tone was full of pride:
"Not only that, after the fireworks have dispersed, Shu'er has also prepared an extra-large Kongming longevity lantern, wishing the emperor heaven's blessing and a long life!"
"Wonderful, wonderful!"
Xiao Nanyue narrowed his eyes, clapped his hands and smiled.
Xiyan listened attentively to what Helian Shu said, and quietly pinched the corner of her clothes.
Her gaze slowly fell on something not far away, and her eyebrows slightly frowned.
At this moment, beside Concubine Li Shu's desk, the Sixth Prince Helian Ji was playing a prank on the palace maid.
It turned out that he took advantage of the time when the palace maids were serving the dishes, secretly stretched out his feet, and tripped one of them. The delicacies in the celadon tray scattered all over the floor. The palace maid fell in a mess, but he crossed his arms and laughed with glee.
Instead of intervening, Concubine Li Shu was annoyed by the maid's clumsiness and dared to break cups and plates at the emperor's birthday banquet, which was very unlucky, so she ordered people to drag the maid out and give her forty lashes of the cane.
…
The birthday banquet lasted from afternoon to dusk, and until night fell, with the bright moon hanging high in the sky, and was still in full swing.
At this time, hundreds of gilded candlesticks were added to the hall, making it as bright as day.
When the wine was in full swing, Helian Shu suddenly stood up, looked up at Helian Cong, and said in a clear and melodious voice:
"Your Majesty, I have carefully prepared a great gift. Please join us outside the palace."
Upon hearing this, Helian Cong looked at Empress Su beside him, and a hint of curiosity flashed in both of their eyes.
However, looking at his daughter's smiling and mysterious face, Helian Cong laughed heartily and raised his hand to agree:
"Alright! I want to see what kind of surprise my precious daughter has prepared!"
After saying this, he shook his robe and stood up, and with the help of Empress Su, he slowly walked down the golden steps.
At once, everyone in the hall stood up.
Helian Cong and the empress walked side by side in front, followed by the princes and princesses, nobles, ministers and their families. They walked out of the hall in a mighty procession and stood under the wide eaves.
The evening breeze blew by, ruffling everyone's clothes and also arousing everyone's curiosity.
"Father, reveal it immediately!"
Helian Shu shouted in a delicate voice: "Get ready!"
At this moment, a dull sound suddenly came from the distance.
Immediately afterwards, golden flames streaked across the night sky and soared into the sky.
In an instant, a huge golden lotus exploded in the night sky, with its petals spreading out layer by layer, dazzling and brilliant.
Before anyone could recover from the stunning sight, several more streaks of fire shot up into the sky, interweaving into a dazzling meteor shower. Green like graceful weeping willows, red like blooming peonies, and purple like a dreamy nebula...
Every time a firework explodes, it is accompanied by exclamations and praises from the crowd!
Helian Cong was very pleased and nodded with a smile:
"Shu'er, I like this birthday gift very much!"
Helian Shu looked very proud:
"Father, there are even bigger surprises to come!"
"oh?"
Helian Cong raised his thick eyebrows, becoming more curious.
Empress Su looked at her precious daughter with a loving expression and said angrily:
"Girl, why are you keeping us in suspense? If you have any surprises, just show them to your father!"
"Your son obeys!"
Helian Shu chuckled:
"Father, Queen Mother, everyone, please turn around and look up!"
Everyone looked in the direction she pointed, and saw an oversized Kongming longevity lantern at the back of the hall, spreading across the hall and slowly rising.
The lamp body is like a moving pavilion, and the Shu brocade around it glows with a dreamy silver light under the moonlight and fireworks.
A huge "Shou" character and auspicious birds and beasts are embroidered on the lantern, as if they are given life. As the Kongming lantern rises, it seems to be about to fly through the air.
Gradually, this giant lamp, like a silver plate chasing the moon, passed over the more than three-meter-tall Zichen Palace, soaring up and flying higher and higher.
Suddenly, colorful fireworks burst out from the four wings of the lantern, outlining the four brilliant characters "Long Live the World" in the night sky.
Everyone craned their necks, exclaiming in surprise.
Helian Cong stood with his hands behind his back, looking at this wonderful sight and praising it highly:
"Shu'er's thoughts are even more ingenious than the Western Region magic I saw during my Western Expedition!"
A smile appeared on Empress Su's well-maintained face:
"It's incredible that you could imagine using ice silk and whale oil together to make this lamp able to carry a hundred pounds without falling."
Helian Shu twisted the sash around her waist with her fingertips, and her eyes and eyebrows were filled with unconcealable pride.
At this moment, she looked at the gratified expressions of her father and mother, and then caught a glimpse of Xiao Nanyan not far away, who stopped and looked up with a smile on his face, and could not help but curl her lips slightly:
"As long as Father and Mother are happy, all the preparations I've put in are worth it!"
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