Chapter 280: Spring Banquet in the Imperial Garden, Laughter and Noisy
The peonies in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom, their yellow and purple flowers covering half the garden. Little Swallow, wearing a pomegranate-red satin dress with scattered flowers, a corner of her skirt lifted by the wind, squatted on the rockery and gestured to Little Zhuozi, "Look at that crooked tree! I flew a kite there last time, and when the string broke, it flew straight to Shenwu Gate!"
"My dear, long dong! Princess, I can't possibly learn your skill." Xiao Zhuozi held up a food box containing kidney bean rolls that he had just begged from the imperial kitchen. "Prince Yongqi asked you to eat less snacks, because the emperor will be serving imperial food later."
"I know, I know." Xiaoyanzi grabbed a piece of kidney bean roll and stuffed it into her mouth. She caught a glimpse of Ziwei and Erkang approaching together and immediately jumped down from the rockery, her skirt brushing against a peony petal. "Ziwei! You're finally here. Where's Qing'er?"
Ziwei, wearing a moon-white gauze dress and a water-green bodice, smiled and said, "He's talking to the Empress over there." She reached out and brushed the petals from Xiaoyanzi's hair. "I just came from the academy. The children were asking when you'd come to tell them stories about the martial arts world."
"We'll go after a few days!" Little Swallow patted her chest and suddenly lowered her voice. "Honestly, don't you think the Imperial Garden is busier today than usual? There are even several more butterflies."
Erkang smiled and said, "Today is a banquet specially held by the emperor for several newlyweds, so it is naturally unusual." His eyes fell on Xiao Jian and Qing'er not far away. The two were standing by the Taiye Lake and talking about something. Qing'er's hand was held in Xiao Jian's palm. The setting sun shone on their clasped hands, giving them a layer of gold.
"Look at Liu Qing and Jinsuo!" Xiaoyanzi suddenly tugged at Ziwei's sleeve and pointed toward the garden gate. Liu Qing, wearing a royal blue gown, was carefully helping Jinsuo over the threshold. Jinsuo, pregnant and wearing a lake blue maternity dress, had a soft glow on her face.
"Slow down, slow down, don't fall." Liu Qing kept muttering, which caused the eunuchs and palace maids around him to laugh, but he didn't care and just focused on watching Jinsuo's steps.
Xiaoyanzi was so amused by what she saw: "Brother Liu is even more nervous than Jinsuo right now. Last time at the guesthouse, just because Jinsuo ate an extra piece of fat, he had a quarrel with the shopkeeper, saying that the meat was not fresh."
Ziwei smiled and shook her head: "They are now the living signs of the hotel. Everyone knows that Shopkeeper Liu dotes on Shopkeeper Jin."
As they were talking, Ertai and Liuhong also arrived. Liuhong was wearing a red tight-fitting dress with an embroidered purse tied around her waist, and she walked with a breeze. Ertai followed behind her, holding a birdcage with a green parrot in it.
"Little Swallow! Look what goodies I brought you?" Liu Hong exclaimed, pulling out an oil-paper package from her purse. Inside was a freshly baked candied sweet ears. "The other day you said you wanted to eat from the one in the south of the city, so I asked Ertai to run some errands for you."
"You still understand me the best!" Xiaoyanzi snatched Tang's ear and bit it, but Yongqi patted her hand gently from behind.
"If you keep eating these greasy sweets, you won't be able to finish the imperial meal later." Yongqi was wearing a dark blue dragon robe and holding a string of candied haws in his hand, which he had obviously just bought from outside. "I just went to pay my respects to the Emperor, and he asked you to come over and show you something delicious."
"What good stuff?" Xiaoyanzi's eyes lit up, and she spoke unclearly without swallowing the candy ears in her mouth.
"You'll know when you get there." Yongqi smiled and stuffed the candied haws into her hand. His eyes swept across the corner of her mouth stained with sugar residue, and he reached out to wipe it off for her. His movements were natural and intimate.
Ziwei and Erkang smiled at each other, then turned and walked towards Xiao Jian and Qing'er. Qing'er was wiping Xiao Jian's sweat with a handkerchief. Xiao Jian had just picked a big red flower from somewhere and pinned it on Qing'er's bun, making Qing'er both angry and amused.
"It seems that everyone is living a good life." Ziwei said softly, feeling warm in her heart as she looked at the lively scene in front of her.
Erkang held her hand: "This is all thanks to the emperor, and it is also the blessing we have earned ourselves." He remembered that when he first met Ziwei, she was still an orphan with no relatives, but now she can stand so safely in the imperial garden, with her beloved, and he couldn't help but hold her hand tightly.
In a pavilion not far away, Emperor Qianlong was sitting on a dragon-shaped chair, watching the young people playing in the garden with a gratified smile on his face. The empress sat beside him, peeling an orange and occasionally offering a slice to Emperor Qianlong.
"Look at Xiaoyanzi. She's already a princess, but she's still so wild." The queen smiled and shook her head, but her tone was full of doting.
Qianlong took the orange and his eyes fell on Xiaoyanzi, who was jumping and running after the green parrot. Yongqi followed her, afraid she would fall. "That's good," Qianlong said with a smile. "She's more lively and more like her." He paused and added, "Ziwei is not bad either. She and Erkang are a good match."
"And then there are Xiao Jian and Qing'er, Liu Qing and Jinsuo, Ertai and Liu Hong," the Queen enumerated them one by one. "These newlyweds truly each have their own blessings."
As he was speaking, Xiaoyanzi had already dragged Yongqi outside the pavilion and bowed politely: "Good luck to the Emperor! Good luck to the Empress!"
"Get up." Qianlong smiled and waved, "Come and see what I left for you."
Little Swallow leaned over to take a look and saw an exquisite wooden box on the table. She opened it and found a set of small and exquisite bows and arrows, the arrow shafts inlaid with tiny gemstones. "Wow! What beautiful bows and arrows!" Little Swallow's eyes widened and she reached out to take them.
"I had this made specially for you," Qianlong said. "It's lighter than your old bow, and it will save you a lot of effort when you practice archery in the future."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiaoyanzi happily picked up the bow and arrow, weighed it in her hand for a few times, and then gave Qianlong a standard salute. "I will practice hard and hunt a big tiger for Your Majesty in the future!"
Everyone was amused by her. Qianlong pointed at her and said to the empress, "Look at her, she's still the same."
As the sun sets, its golden afterglow bathes the entire Imperial Garden. The shimmering surface of Taiye Pond reflects the pavilions and playful figures along its banks. Little Swallow, holding a new bow and arrow, is teaching Mianrui (oh, he's not even born yet, so imagine she's teaching a young eunuch) how to draw the bow, while Yongqi patiently instructs. Ziwei and Erkang sit on a stone bench, whispering to each other. Xiaojian and Qing'er stand side by side under a willow tree, watching the fish swim in the water. Liuqing carefully supports Jinsuo as they stroll slowly among the flowers. Ertai and Liuhong tease the green parrot, causing it to exclaim, "Little Swallow is the best!"
Looking at the laughter and joy in the hall, Qianlong suddenly felt that this was probably the scene he most wanted to protect in his rebirth. No disputes, no calculations, only family and close friends by his side, a peaceful and tranquil life.
He lifted his glass, looked at the spring scenery and smiling faces filling the garden, and drank slowly. This prosperity, this perfection, had finally arrived.
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