Three days later.
It was still dark, around three or four in the morning.
Officials in the suburbs of Beijing had already gotten up and started getting ready.
One by one, the officials who lived far away began to turn on their lights.
The women in the house all hurriedly got up to wash and dress up, all for the sake of meeting the Emperor's face today!
Although Guan Zhiyue doesn't have to get up so early, Chang Le is awake!
Crying and looking for her father and mother, Li Qiji was sleeping soundly with Guan Zhiyue in his arms!
The noise at the door woke him up.
She walked out groggily, opened the door and saw Chang Le, her little face red from crying.
"Father, Father, hug me! Father, hug me!" Chang Le broke free from Bi Lian's embrace and crawled toward Li Qi Ji.
Seeing Chang Le like this, Li Qiji's morning grumpiness vanished instantly. He knelt down, caught her, picked her up, and wiped away her tears.
He asked in a gentle voice, "My darling, what's wrong?"
"Father, Chang Le misses Father and Mother, and wants to sleep with Father and Mother," Chang Le said between sobs.
The eunuch and Bilian both lowered their heads, not daring to say anything, fearing for their lives.
Li Qiji looked around and then said, "Everyone, go down. Keep your voices down. The Empress hasn't woken up yet."
"yes."
Li Qiji pinched Chang Le's little face and said, "Don't cry. Quietly follow your father inside."
If you behave well, your father will take you to find your mother. If you don't, you'll have to sleep alone from now on.
Chang Le, who was less than a year old, blinked her big eyes and then nodded.
She raised her hand to cover her mouth, trying not to make a sound.
Li Qiji was very satisfied. Those who drank the spiritual spring water were indeed different; they were smart and obedient.
Back on Guan Zhiyue's bed, he placed her in the middle and told her not to kick or thrash around, and to sleep obediently!
As it turned out, Chang Le really did find Guan Zhiyue's embrace.
He snuggled into her arms, finding a comfortable position, and remained in that position until dawn, only waking up when Li Qiji got up.
Guan Zhiyue felt something wriggling in her arms.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Chang Le sitting between her and Li Qiji, staring at her with wide eyes and a smile on her face.
"Chang Le, what brings you here?"
"How long has it been? I didn't feel anything at all," Guan Zhiyue said, reaching out to touch Chang Le and looking at Li Qiji.
Li Qiji said, "Midnight."
Guan Zhiyue was somewhat annoyed; how could she have slept like a log?
There was no sound at all; it seems they were really exhausted these past few days preparing for this flower-viewing banquet.
****
Changlan Hall.
The main hall was now filled with the families of officials, who had all come here instead of attending court today.
When Li Qiji arrived with Guan Zhiyue, all the officials were already present. Hua Quan's loud announcement...
However, all the ministers and their families in the shop knelt down neatly on the ground.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"
Li Qiji helped Guan Zhiyue slowly walk to the main seat on the high platform and sat down slowly, before he could even tell the officials to rise!
The eunuch at the door announced loudly, "The Empress Dowager has arrived, and Prince Rong has arrived."
The ministers, along with their families, began to sing again: "Long live the Empress Dowager, may the Prince be blessed."
Li Qiji and Guan Zhiyue quickly stood up, clasped their hands in greeting to Empress Dowager Xin, and said, "Your subjects pay their respects to Your Majesty."
Just as Empress Dowager Xin sat down, and Li Qiji was about to tell his ministers to rise, the eunuch's announcement came from the doorway.
"The Prince has arrived!"
At this moment, the ministers were thinking, "Will this ever end? This isn't a banquet; it's a kneeling ceremony."
"Greetings, Your Highness. May Your Highness be blessed."
Li Qishang strode forward, clasped his hands in greeting to the people on the stage, and said, "Your subject pays respects to the Empress Dowager, Imperial Uncle/Imperial Brother, and Imperial Sister-in-law."
Looking at the dignified Li Qishang, Empress Dowager Xin quickly raised her hand and beckoned, "Come here to your mother quickly."
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Li Qiji stood up.
He raised his hands high before saying, "My beloved subjects, please rise. Today is a flower-viewing banquet hosted by the Empress. Please don't be shy. This is also a New Year's banquet for our dynasty."
"The Empress and I were unable to return from the banquet before the New Year due to the bumpy journey. Today is a belated banquet for the emperor and his subjects to enjoy themselves together. Everyone, please eat and drink well!"
For the family members of officials below the third rank in the audience, this was their first time entering the palace.
In the past, only high-ranking officials of the third rank or above could enter the palace to meet the emperor.
Now even those of the fifth rank can enter the palace to see the emperor's face; it's simply wonderful!
"Mother, is that the Emperor? He's so handsome!"
"Is that the Empress over there? She's so beautiful too. Even though she's six months pregnant, she's still the most beautiful woman in the entire palace."
"Yes, no wonder the Emperor dotes on her alone!"
"They are truly beautiful. Now that the Empress is pregnant, shouldn't we be selecting concubines for the Emperor?"
"after all..."
The people below were all harboring their own secret thoughts, chattering amongst themselves.
Li Qishang has been driven crazy by Xiao Tuantuan these past few days. That girl has absolutely no sense of propriety, righteousness, or shame!
She actually sneaked into his room while he was showering and sleeping, teasing him like this, and he couldn't do anything about it. It infuriated him.
Li Qishang turned his head to look at Guan Tuantuan, who was sitting behind Guan Hongsheng, eating heartily with a completely unrefined expression. He gritted his teeth, his eyes practically spitting out murderous flames.
Guan Hongsheng instantly felt a prickling sensation on his back. He straightened up immediately, having been slouching, and looked towards the high platform.
He saw the prince looking at him with a murderous gaze. Confused, he tilted his head back and found that the prince's gaze was still fixed in one direction.
Mechanically turning his head, he saw Guan Tuantuan sitting below him, his daughter's little sister. Looking at her adorable face...
Looking at how popular she is now, Guan Hongsheng felt his blood pressure rise. No wonder the prince looked at him with a murderous gaze.
It turns out this girl is a glutton! She's eating so much it's making even the prince feel sorry for her.
Guan Hongsheng gently tapped Guan Tuantuan's desk under the table with his hand. Guan Tuantuan's little face was puffed up, like a little hamster hoarding food.
Confused, he looked up and stared blankly at Guan Hongsheng, his face showing a bewildered expression.
With wide, staring eyes and chubby cheeks,
She blinked at Guan Hongsheng, hugging the food plate in front of her, and asked, "Father, what's wrong?"
Looking at her adorable appearance, Guan Hongsheng couldn't bring himself to say anything harsh.
But when he caught sight of the prince's murderous eyes, he quickly said, "Eat less, you can eat more at home."
Guan Tuantuan didn't understand, but she nodded nonetheless, slowly swallowed the food in her mouth, and looked around.
Upon seeing Li Qishang sitting above, she grinned with a big, sweet smile, making Li Qishang too embarrassed to look at her anymore.
Guan Zhiyue and Li Qiji also noticed the situation here.
Li Qiji leaned close to Guan Zhiyue's ear and whispered, "See? I told you, these two are definitely a good match."
Guan Zhiyue turned her head and looked over, seeing Li Qishang's uneasy hands and feet.
And Xiao Tuantuan's smile, which hadn't faded, made him nod in satisfaction.
The ministers and their families below the stage, seeing the emperor and empress so affectionate, couldn't bear to separate their daughters and send them into the palace.
Of course, only a few people with unclear thinking would think that way.
Those with clear minds are already looking for sons-in-law or daughters-in-law; who would be eyeing the emperor?
When the eunuch beside her announced the auspicious hour, Guan Zhiyue stood up from her high position, one hand on her hip and the other gently stroking her belly.
She said softly, "Today, I am holding this flower-viewing banquet because I want to see our Nan Ding Kingdom..."
What are the key skills that the future pillars of society will possess?
However, we won't be comparing anything like music, chess, calligraphy, or painting today.
Let's play games. Those interested in becoming future pillars of society can register under the palace staff's registration section. Both men and women are welcome to register.
As soon as Guan Zhiyue said this, everyone in the room understood.
This isn't a flower-viewing party, it's clearly a matchmaking event!
This is a game that allows my son and daughter to play together and increase interaction!
No wonder they wanted unmarried legitimate sons and daughters; now I understand!
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