Chapter 198 Just Watch the Show
The Linde Hall was quickly filled with people.
Looking at the elegantly dressed young ladies and the pretentious young gentlemen, Shangguan Jin couldn't help but sigh.
Sigh, if Hua Yueniang and Hua Wanli were here, they'd probably all be ranked and sorted out...
Who's pretending to be virtuous? Who's wearing two pounds of powder on their face? And whose young master doesn't love women...?
As the banquet began, rows of palace maids carrying lanterns filed in, and everyone quickly quieted down.
"His Majesty has arrived! Everyone kneel!" As Wu Youde's shrill voice rang out, everyone immediately rose from their seats and knelt on either side of the table.
Emperor Xiao Jing and Empress Xu supported Empress Dowager Zheng, with Consort Zheng and other concubines following closely behind.
Next came the Crown Prince, the King of Qin, and all the other princes...
The Seventh Prince followed behind the Fifth Prince. He spotted Shangguan Jin's location at a glance and then winked at her.
Emperor Xiao Jing helped Empress Dowager Zheng to her seat.
Empress Xu sat next to Emperor Xiao Jing, slightly lower than him.
Consort Zheng was next to the Empress Dowager, and slightly lower than Empress Xu.
Next up are the concubines and princes...
"No need for formalities!" Emperor Xiao Jing said calmly.
The kneeling crowd then rose and sat down.
Shangguan Jin gently touched her knee.
Great, Dongmai's cooking skills are getting better and better. This kneeling aid, made according to her instructions, is quite easy to use...
As usual, Emperor Xiao Jing made some polite remarks.
It's simply that the prosperity of Chongqing depends on everyone here. We must all continue our efforts to ensure Chongqing becomes even more prosperous.
Only in this way can each family's wealth and prosperity be preserved...
Shangguan Jin echoed everyone else's sentiments, but in her heart she was thinking, "This must be the annual meeting of the Great Yu Dynasty!"
The chairman was rambling on and on, while the employees below were eating and making a huge fuss...
"Oh dear, the Empress Dowager has glanced at you several times!" Lady Huangfu gently nudged Shangguan Jin.
Shangguan Jin nodded slightly.
You should take a better look at yourself!
She had made such an undisguised display of her disdain for the Zheng family girls that Empress Dowager Zheng was surely curious to see how she would react.
However, Shangguan Jin also secretly glanced at Empress Dowager Zheng.
Empress Dowager Zheng seems to be sixty-five years old this year.
She was considerably older than Madam Shen.
But she looks better preserved than women her age...
Although I am old, most of my hair has turned white and I have a lot of wrinkles on my face.
But his skin was fair, without the various spots that other elderly people have on their faces.
Furthermore, although the Empress Dowager was old, her eyes were very sharp.
She glanced down and almost no one dared to speak.
Shangguan Jin didn't look at the Empress Dowager, but smiled at the Empress sitting next to Emperor Xiao Jing.
Empress Xu nodded slightly to Shangguan Jin, and then the two exchanged no further words...
As Emperor Xiao Jing finished speaking, everyone rose together to express their gratitude for the imperial favor.
Shangguan Jin thought for a moment, and realized that this must be the same as the later expression, "Thank you, boss, for treating me..."
The palace maids served dishes to each table in an orderly manner.
They're served in tiny dishes, barely enough for three bites at most.
Shangguan Jin made a point of glancing at the old lady of the Duke of Anguo's house.
Accompanying her to the banquet in the palace were the sisters Zheng Mengli and Zheng Mengdie.
The two sisters didn't interact much.
Zheng Mengdie, in particular, didn't eat a single thing, but kept glancing at the side door of the main hall.
Soon, two groups of gorgeously dressed dancers walked in lightly.
Shangguan Jin understood; this must be the famous Moon Chasing Dance of Dayu.
A group dance themed around Chang'e in the Moon Palace.
After watching for a while, Shangguan Jin couldn't help but nod in admiration.
Indeed, that was a great jump!
Each one of them had a slender waist and long legs. The young men who were originally sitting upright were not only staring at them intently, but also swallowing hard.
Their waists are amazing; they clearly work out a lot...
As Shangguan Jin continued looking around, trying to see which palace maid had the longest legs, Lady Huangfu gently tugged at her again.
"You'd better watch yourself! The Empress Dowager has been glancing at you several times."
"Why is she looking at me? I've been behaving myself enough, what else does she want?"
"Are you thinking of bestowing upon me another Duke title?" Shangguan Jin retorted with a smile.
Lady Huangfu...
"Be careful, the Empress Dowager just glanced at you, and then glanced at her grandniece."
I reckon she'll bring this up soon.
"Do you believe it or not? After a few rounds of drinks, she'll definitely start asking you questions," said Madam Huangfu.
"What will you ask me? Will you ask if I've eaten? Or will you ask how I'm feeling?"
"It's alright, I can just say I haven't eaten yet, I'm enjoying my meal, thank you for the meal," Shangguan Jin continued to joke.
Lady Huangfu glanced speechlessly at the few luminous pearls mounted on the top of the Linde Hall.
Well, judging from Madam Shen's expression, she must know what's going on.
Otherwise, people wouldn't have said they would go to the meeting alone.
After she came to terms with it, Lady Huangfu also watched the dancers dance attentively.
Once she saw it, she couldn't take her eyes off it.
Wow, they danced so well! They all look so fresh and young; no wonder everyone was watching in silence...
As the Moon Chasing Dance came to an end, the dancers received their rewards and slowly withdrew.
Empress Dowager Zheng glanced at Shangguan Jin, about to speak, when she saw Emperor Xiao Jing rise with the help of Wu Youde.
"Mother, I will go change my clothes and come right away."
"Father, I will accompany you!" The King of Qin immediately stood up with a smile.
Emperor Xiao Jing smiled, waved to the Prince of Qin, and then led the Prince of Qin to the back of the Linde Hall.
Empress Dowager Zheng, who was about to speak to Shangguan Jin, had no choice but to put down her original words.
With Emperor Xiao Jing absent, there's no point in saying anything.
Some things are only meaningful when said in front of Emperor Xiao Jing.
It was at this moment, while many people were watching Emperor Xiao Jing's departing figure, that Zheng Mengdie, the second young lady of the Zheng family, also quietly got up and left.
Empress Dowager Zheng patiently spoke a few words with Empress Xu.
He then gave his comments on the Moon Chasing Dance.
"The Empress has put a lot of thought into this, but since this palace banquet is a rare occasion, I have also prepared some songs and dances to entertain the ministers and their families."
We'll all take a look when His Majesty returns.
I don't know how you all felt after seeing it, but I was absolutely blown away!
"Your Majesty must take a good look later," Empress Dowager Zheng said with a smile.
Seeing Empress Dowager Zheng's obvious provocation, Empress Xu nodded respectfully.
"Yes! The Empress Dowager has always had good taste. When His Majesty returns, he will surely like it too."
Empress Dowager Zheng smiled and stopped looking at Empress Xu.
After waiting for quite a while, the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Emperor Xiao Jing still hadn't returned.
Everyone was getting restless.
Shangguan Jin looked at the composed Empress Xu, then glanced at the empty seat of the Prince of Qin.
Also... Zheng Mengdie's seat is empty...
"Why did it take His Majesty so long to change his clothes?" Lady Huangfu also felt something was amiss.
"Maybe something has gotten in the way!"
"Just wait and see!" Shangguan Jin said calmly.
Lady Huangfu immediately sat up straight.
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