The sixth day, at the Golden Palace.
"Speak if you have something to say, otherwise the court is adjourned!" Hua Quan announced loudly.
The officials below looked at each other, as if they had nothing to report, and all lowered their heads.
Li Qiji looked down and saw that all the officials below were of the fifth rank or above, meaning they would all be attending the banquet tomorrow.
"My beloved ministers, you have worked hard for the affairs of the Southern Kingdom for a whole year. To express my gratitude for your efforts, I will host a banquet for you in the Wuqin Palace tomorrow."
"I have made some changes to this year's banquet. Officials of the third rank and above may bring their families, including their wives, sons, and daughters. In addition, all my beloved ministers are requested to report the names of the talents that their sons and daughters are willing to perform to the Minister of Rites before the end of the court session. I want to see them tonight."
As soon as Li Qiji said this, all the court officials below started discussing it. Wasn't this a bit biased?
"Your Majesty, this might be somewhat inappropriate."
"Your Majesty, isn't this a bit unfair? In the past, even fifth-rank officials could bring a wife and child into the palace. Why has it changed this year?"
"Yes, isn't His Majesty being too disheartened?"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
"Your Majesty~~~" The ministers chimed in, one after another, and soon the entire court turned into a marketplace.
Li Qiji stared coldly at the ministers below the stage, not saying a word, waiting for them to chatter on and on.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, seeing that the emperor hadn't said anything and was just looking at them, the ministers obediently shut their mouths.
"My beloved ministers, why do we stop here? I have plenty of leisure time today and can continue our discussion with you all."
"Since you ministers have such objections, then I will reward you according to your merits," Li Qiji said casually, looking at the ministers below.
The ministers were getting impatient. Rewarding meritorious officials was something that even officials of the first rank might not be able to attend, let alone officials of the fifth rank. In an instant, everyone changed their tune and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, we will follow your instructions."
"Ah, that's right! Wouldn't it be wonderful for everyone to eat, drink, and enjoy the song and dance together? I heard from Lord Li of the Music Bureau that there's a surprise for the Music Bureau at tomorrow's palace banquet," Li Qiji said, looking at everyone.
Is Li Leyi here?
Li Leyi, dressed in a blue official robe, calmly stepped forward from among the officials, bowed and said, "Your subject is here."
"Tell my ministers, has your Music Bureau recently rehearsed a new dance piece?"
Li Leyi said loudly, "Your Majesty, yes, and this dance piece was provided by Her Majesty the Empress. Yesterday, Her Majesty saw the results of the rehearsal, and she praised it highly and was very satisfied. If you gentlemen do not come, wouldn't you miss such a visual feast?"
"What? Her Majesty the Empress can dance? I never knew! Your Majesty is always full of surprises!"
"Yes, yes! Then I'm really looking forward to the palace banquet tomorrow."
"Hahaha, we have to thank His Majesty for this."
"Thank you for your generous treat, Your Majesty!"
"Thank you for your generous treat, Your Majesty!"
The officials bowed and thanked them again, still huffing and puffing.
Li Qiji looked at the officials below and nodded in a good mood. The method the Empress mentioned was truly effective. It couldn't be more satisfying; these old fogies were obediently following orders.
Thinking to myself, I should be able to save a lot of money at this palace banquet. The number of people has been reduced so much, it's just too great.
——
At night, Guan Zhiyue had just returned from cutting corn seedlings on the back mountain and was washing her hands to prepare dinner.
Then Bilian came to report that the Emperor was coming and that she should prepare herself.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has arrived. What do you think of this?"
Guan Zhiyue wiped the water droplets from her hands with a towel, then pouted and said, "Okay, go prepare another set of bowls and chopsticks!"
"Is this guy here to freeload? Why did he have to come at the perfect time—when Pianpian is eating?"
****
However, on their way to the Cold Palace, Li Qiji and his companions were quite puzzled. Why did their emperor insist on personally delivering the program list? Wouldn't it have been better to send someone else?
"Your Majesty, what kind of program list is this? Wouldn't it have been easier to just send a eunuch over? Why do you have to make the trip yourself?" Ji Wu was always eager to ask questions when he didn't understand!
Upon hearing this, Hua Quan rolled his eyes at Ji Wu and said, "I am Lord Ji. If you don't understand, then don't speak."
"Is His Majesty here to deliver the program list? His Majesty sees that the Empress is working hard and has come to comfort her," Hua Quan said.
Li Qiji was still wondering why he had come in person after hearing Hua Quan's words. Now, after hearing Hua Quan's explanation, he seemed to agree with him. He felt that the Empress was working too hard, and it was only right for him to come and see her.
Who told him to be the ruler of a country? It's only right that he comes to see his legal wife.
“I think Hua Quan is right!” Li Qiji said.
The three of them arrived at the Cold Palace chatting and laughing. Hua Quan was going to announce their arrival, but Li Qiji refused, wanting to go in directly to see what the Empress was doing.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the backyard, he saw Guan Zhiyue and a group of people waiting for him there.
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!" the servants in the courtyard replied respectfully.
Li Qiji looked around and said, "Rise, you may leave!"
Guan Zhiyue stepped forward and said softly, "What brings Your Majesty here today, right at mealtime?"
"I'm sending you the program list." He said, taking out a folded piece from his sleeve and handing it directly to Guan Zhiyue.
Guan Zhiyue shrugged, took the memorial, glanced at it casually, and then said, "Since you're here, Your Majesty, please have a meal with me."
"I will stay with the Empress tonight."
Guan Zhiyue: "Your Majesty, isn't this inappropriate? It's the first and fifteenth of the month, why are you resting in my palace?"
"I am the rule!"
Guan Zhiyue was speechless and didn't want to say anything more to him. She walked straight into the house and plopped down on the round wooden table where food had already been prepared.
Li Qiji followed him into the house and saw six dishes laid out on the table, three meat and three vegetable. Each dish looked very exquisite: Mapo Tofu, stir-fried loofah with red peppers, steamed spare ribs with fermented black beans, lychee pork, Longjing shrimp, and stir-fried bamboo shoots.
"The Empress has a very good appetite tonight!" Li Qiji said.
Guan Zhiyue retorted directly, "What Your Majesty said is rather unpleasant."
"I only prepared so many dishes because I was seeing the Emperor. Normally I only eat two dishes."
"So, it seems I've missed out on you?"
Guan Zhiyue didn't want to talk to him about the number of dishes anymore; she just wanted to eat and didn't want to say anything more.
"Have you seen the program schedule? What does Your Majesty think the order of events should be?" Li Qiji asked.
Guan Zhiyue picked up a piece of tofu with her chopsticks and said dismissively, "Who said we had to sort them? Let's try something new tomorrow."
"I just took a quick look, and it's truly a vibrant exchange of ideas! Tomorrow is sure to be incredibly exciting!"
"Oh, right, let's invite my uncle's family too, so that Mother and Aunt can have a good chat." Guan Zhiyue didn't even realize that she had said it so naturally.
After hearing what Guan Zhiyue said, Li Qiji felt a strange sensation. It had been more than half a year, and this was the first time he had heard her talk about his family so matter-of-factly. It seemed that he would have to visit the Cold Palace more often in the future.
Guan Zhiyue would never have imagined that a casual remark would cause her so much trouble!
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