Time flies, and today is already New Year's Eve of this dynasty.
The banquet was scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Ministers and officials began lining up to enter the palace in the morning. Since it was a celebration for all the officials, and this year was the first year that the emperor had conferred the title of empress, the emperor decreed that all ministers who could attend the morning court could bring their families into the palace, but only two family members could be brought.
In other words, each court official could bring two family members into the palace. These family members had to be direct relatives; they could not be concubines or illegitimate children. Only the principal wife and sons of the principal wife could enter the palace.
Guan Zhiyue also got up very early today. After putting on her empress's court dress, she headed towards Cining Palace. Today, she was going to the Empress Dowager's palace to wait for the wives of the ministers and their children to come and pay homage.
Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager got up very early today to dress up and put on her Empress Dowager court robes, waiting to receive the ladies' homage today.
Guan Zhiyue, accompanied by Bilian, arrived at Cining Palace with a bowl of nutritious porridge that had been cooked the night before.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress..."
The palace maids of Cining Palace were still sweeping the courtyard when they saw Guan Zhiyue enter with her servants, and they quickly bowed to her.
Guan Zhiyue was all smiles today because she would soon be able to see her grandparents. She had heard that her second brother had also brought her maternal grandmother's family over, so their whole family could finally meet. Especially while waiting for the banquet to begin in the evening, she could take her whole family back to the Cold Palace for a good chat and some tea.
"Your Majesty, your daughter-in-law greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be well!" Guan Zhiyue walked in and looked at Empress Dowager Xin, who was still wearing a crown flower.
"Oh my, Yue'er, why are you here so early? Did you get a good rest last night?" Xin Peilin, with the help of the palace maids, put on her crown and looked at Guan Zhiyue, who was kneeling on the ground and bowing to her.
"Get up quickly! Are you feeling any better? I seem to have lost weight again!"
Guan Zhiyue got up from the ground, smiled, and took small steps to Empress Dowager Xin's side. She reached out and took her arm, saying, "Mother, your daughter-in-law hasn't lost weight. She's actually gained a pound or two."
"You, I haven't seen you since the last family banquet. How heartless of you! You haven't even come to see me." Empress Dowager Xin looked at Guan Zhiyue with some sadness.
Guan Zhiyue said with a smile, "Mother, I was just afraid of bothering you. You've already exempted me from the morning and evening greetings, so it wouldn't be right for me to come and disturb you, would it?"
Empress Dowager Xin pulled Guan Zhiyue to sit on the phoenix couch, rubbing her hand as she said, "I excused myself from the morning and evening greetings because I dislike the noisy chatter of those women. I've heard that you've also excused yourself from those greetings, and that you've been farming lately. Is that true?"
Since Hua Quan reported back, the entire palace, and even the homes of the ministers, now know that their empress is a peasant woman who doesn't care about palace affairs and only knows how to farm.
"Mother, food is the most important thing for people. There's nothing wrong with farming. Besides, you know my personality. She wouldn't be jealous or fight with me."
Empress Dowager Xin was very pleased. This was also why she liked Guan Zhiyue. She never got involved in these things. What was hers was hers. So she liked this girl more and more, especially that glass vase that was brought to her a few days ago. She absolutely loved it.
The vase and the set of glass teacups were also beautiful, so beautiful that one couldn't take their eyes off them. They were the only ones in the harem. The key was that the girl herself drew the flower patterns and fired the teacups herself. They were simply a unique and precious possession.
"Mother, let's not talk about this for now. Let's have breakfast, otherwise we'll go hungry when those noble ladies come to pay their respects."
"Hahaha, yes, yes, Granny Fan, quickly serve the meal." Empress Dowager Xin stood up and, supported by Guan Zhiyue, walked towards the round table to the side.
"Mother, no need. Your daughter-in-law brought breakfast today. I cooked oat and white fungus porridge all night. It's sweet, soft, and sticky, and there are also delicious side dishes. I also made some steamed dumplings and buns this morning. Let's eat this today." Guan Zhiyue smiled and asked Bilian to bring over the two large food boxes she was carrying.
Empress Dowager Xin nodded with satisfaction, pulled Guan Zhiyue to sit down and began to eat breakfast. After about an incense stick's time, the two finished their breakfast and sat back on the phoenix couch, waiting for the women of the harem to come and pay their respects.
———
The Emperor had already prepared everything at the front court, waiting for the ministers to bring their children to pay homage. This was a good opportunity for the ministers' sons to show their faces before the Emperor. The Emperor sat at his desk, waiting for the ministers to enter the palace.
"How is the Empress Dowager doing?" Li Qiji asked.
Hua Quan respectfully replied, "I heard from the servants in Cining Palace that Her Majesty the Empress has already had breakfast with the Empress Dowager. The concubines should have gone to pay their respects as well. Her Majesty the Empress's family is waiting at the palace gate for Your Majesty's order to register and enter the palace one after another."
"Well then, send someone to check on Cining Palace. Once the concubines have finished their greetings and returned to the inner palace, order the guards at Zijin Gate to start registering and letting people in," Li Qiji said after thinking for a moment.
Li Qiji then remembered something and said, "The number of people entering the palace this year is more than twice that of previous years. Go and send someone to inform Commander Zhang, who is on duty today, and tell him to ensure the safety of the palace today."
"Send more people to patrol everywhere, and send reliable people to do the body searches."
"You should also send someone to quietly remind the Empress Dowager and the Empress about the women in the harem, so that they can send reliable people to patrol the entire harem to ensure that this year's banquet can proceed normally."
Hua Quan quickly bowed respectfully and said, "Yes, Your servant obeys."
After Hua Quan left, Li Qiji summoned Ji Shang, who was hiding in the darkness, and gave him some instructions. He then had Ji Wu make some arrangements as well. Only after he felt that many things were in order did he relax and wait for the ministers to enter the palace.
——
At Cining Palace, all the concubines were dressed up in their finest attire, making them look like butterflies in a flower garden. In particular, the women had applied some kind of perfume, the fragrance of which made Guan Zhiyue dizzy.
I just wanted these women to hurry back to their palaces. The various fragrances mixed together were enough to make me wish I were dead. But I couldn't get angry on this day. I could only endure it.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress..."
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress..."
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress..."
Led by Consort Shen, everyone knelt respectfully according to their rank, and they all shouted in unison, "May the Empress Dowager and the Empress enjoy boundless blessings and peace!" The sound was loud enough to lift the roof off the house.
This was the first time Guan Zhiyue had ever received such intense kowtows from these women. So this was the allure of being an empress! It was incredibly satisfying. Watching these women kneel fiercely before her, wanting to punish her but unable to, felt... well, not so bad...
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