Chapter 185 The Banquet (1)
The next morning, Li Xiaoxiao took only one bite of noodles and said with satisfaction, "I can recognize the noodles made by Aunt Mao after just one bite!"
With a beaming smile, Mao's mother brought over a plate of snacks: "If you like them, I'll make them for you every day. I've already prepared pickled vegetable and meat pies for dinner, so you can eat them when you get back."
The family is having a wedding tomorrow, and the kitchen is already full of all kinds of meat and vegetables that have been prepared in advance. Even if Madam Mao wanted to show off her skills, she wouldn't have a chance to do so. But now that everyone has returned, there will be plenty of opportunities to cook whatever she wants to eat in the future.
Li Xiaoxiao ate her fill and got into Asheng's car, satisfied, to go to the yamen with Meng Guanqi. Before leaving, Rui Rui had just woken up and was dazedly holding Liu Shi's hand, waving goodbye to them. She looked incredibly cute. Li Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes and instructed Asheng, "Bring Rui Rui with you to pick us up this afternoon."
Aze doesn't know that Rui Rui is back yet; she's going to give Aze a big surprise!
She was in an exceptionally good mood all day while on duty, and even Emperor Hongxing noticed: "It's just a banquet, why are you so excited?"
Li Xiaoxiao looked around and saw that Aze was not there. She thanked Emperor Hongxing and said, "It's not because of the banquet. It's because my father-in-law was transferred back to the capital ahead of schedule. Thank you, Your Majesty, for allowing our family to reunite ahead of time."
Emperor Hongxing chuckled: "The person has already arrived? You're so happy? Isn't it more comfortable to be in charge and unrestrained?"
Li Xiaoxiao shook her head: "No, I like my home to be lively... Oh right!" She said excitedly: "Your Majesty, don't tell Aze about this yet. I've asked Rui Rui to come to the palace gate to pick me up and take me home. I'll give him a big surprise!"
Hongxing Emperor knew how much Aze liked Rui Rui; he would mention it every few days, wanting him to come back, wanting to assign him a tutor so they could study together...
Whenever he thought of this, Emperor Hongxing's eyes would dim. Ke'er was the only child in the palace, and he was too lonely. If only he could have his own younger brother or sister.
The poison stone incident happened a long time ago. According to Li Xiaoxiao, the toxins in his body should have been expelled by now, and his body should no longer be affected. However, so much time has passed, and not a single concubine in the palace, including the Empress, has become pregnant. When the imperial physician was summoned, he either dared not speak or did not know how to diagnose the problem. He stammered and could not give a clear answer. When pressed, he was told not to worry. But how could he not worry?
He only has one son, Ke'er, which is very dangerous. If he attracts the attention of someone and they plot against him in secret, he cannot afford any losses.
Only Li Xiaoxiao could reassure him enough to entrust his son to her and let her take him home to sleep. But as his son grew older, it was time to start teaching him the lessons a crown prince should learn. After the new year, when he turned ten, Emperor Hongxing was no longer willing to let his son leave the palace so freely. As the crown prince, he had responsibilities to bear.
Aze was completely unaware of what the two adults were thinking. When he followed Li Xiaoxiao out of the palace and saw Asheng's carriage waiting for them at the palace gate, he pointed and said, "The carriage is over there!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a small head popped out from behind the carriage curtain, its round eyes looking in their direction.
Aze was stunned.
He rubbed his eyes, then rubbed them again, making sure he wasn't seeing things. Rui Rui was already standing on the carriage rafters, calling out to him loudly, "Brother!"
Aze dashed out like a cannonball, grabbed Rui Rui, and shouted, "Little brother! Little brother, when did you get back?"
He was overjoyed, his eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter. He lifted Rui Rui off the car and squatted down to hug him tightly, refusing to let go.
Rui Rui said, "I came back yesterday. I came back with my mother and Granny Qi."
Aze laughed and jumped around: "Sister Xiaoxiao, why didn't you tell me your little brother is back?"
Li smiled and said, "How could I surprise you if I told you? How about it? Unexpected, right?"
Aze nodded emphatically and immediately asked, "Is your younger brother coming back for the banquet? But the New Year is still more than a month away. Can he stay until after the New Year?"
His eyes were full of hope and longing: "It's so cold, the canal will probably freeze over soon, right? We can't sail, can we wait until the snow melts in the spring before we go back?"
Li Xiaoxiao patted his head: "Don't worry, little brother won't leave. Lord Meng has already been transferred back to the capital ahead of schedule and won't be leaving again."
Aze was both surprised and delighted: "Really? You're not leaving?"
He happily hugged Rui Rui and giggled, and Rui Rui also laughed happily. The two children were overjoyed.
A gust of cold wind blew over, and fearing that the children would catch a cold, Li Xiaoxiao picked them up and put them on the carriage, one in each hand: "Let's talk in the carriage, there's a charcoal stove inside, we still have to wait for Meng Guanqi."
A charcoal stove was lit inside the carriage, and with the curtains drawn, it immediately became much warmer. Aze immediately asked Rui Rui, "Have you started your early education since we got home? Have you learned to write yet?"
Rui Rui nodded, then shook her head.
Aze asked curiously, "What do you mean?"
Rui Rui said, "I can write my name."
Aze asked incredulously, "You've been back for so long, and all you've learned is how to write your name?"
Rui Rui said confidently, "I even recited my lessons. If I can't recite them, Daddy will hit me." He held up his little finger and pointed to his palm, meaning that Magistrate Meng had hit his little hand.
Aze said, "What have you learned to memorize? Recite it for me."
When it comes to academics, he immediately transforms into a strict older brother, ready to supervise his younger brother's studies.
Rui Rui then recited the *Elementary Learning Classics* that she had memorized best to A Ze: "In the beginning of chaos, when heaven and earth were first established..."
But after reciting three lines, he forgot them, staring blankly at Aze and Li Xiaoxiao.
Li smiled and said, "Only this much? What about the rest? Have you forgotten?"
Rui Rui lowered her head in frustration: "I forgot."
Seeing his younger brother so sad, Aze immediately felt sorry for him and hugged him, saying, "It's okay, take your time, you'll memorize it after reciting it a few more times."
A clear voice rang out: "What? You've been studying for months and all you can recite are these few lines? Your father is going to beat you up."
It turned out that Meng Guanqi had arrived. He had heard Rui Rui reciting his lessons outside the carriage. He thought Rui Rui could recite at least two pages before stopping, but he forgot after only three sentences.
Aze immediately spoke up for his younger brother, saying, "He's still young, not even four years old yet. It's understandable that he might not remember. I remember the Grand Tutor telling me that it's not advisable for a father to teach his own son, because the relationship is too close, and it's impossible to treat him the same as other students. Although Lord Meng is very learned, with his older brother being such a shining example, it's inevitable that he would place high hopes on his younger brother. If his younger brother doesn't perform as well as he should, it doesn't necessarily mean he's truly bad..."
Meng Guanqi looked at him in surprise, then her eyes crinkled with laughter.
It's astonishing that Aze, at such a young age, could use the Grand Tutor's words to refute him.
He patted Rui Rui's head: "Hurry up and thank Brother Aze, he's pleading for you!"
Rui Rui obediently said, "Thank you, brother."
Aze held his hand and swung his legs: "It's okay, you're my little brother after all. Don't worry, we'll sleep together tonight, and I'll teach you the rest of the book."
Although she had to memorize her lessons, Rui Rui was happy to be able to sleep with Aze, and the two of them soon started playing happily in the carriage.
After a short while, they arrived home. The group got off the carriage and went inside. Tomorrow was the main day of the banquet, and Meng Mao, who was in charge, was staying overnight. He was discussing the details of tomorrow's banquet with Zhao Jian, Liu Shi, and Granny Qi.
He had to leave early yesterday due to some last-minute business and missed meeting Liu and the others. He arrived at the Li residence early this morning only to find that Magistrate Meng had been transferred back. Don't be too surprised! But it's good that Liu and Granny Qi are back. At least the master of the house is back and can help him with the banquet arrangements.
The group chatted about the details of tomorrow while waiting for Magistrate Meng to return. However, they were greeted by Li Xiaoxiao and Meng Guanqi returning with the Crown Prince, but Magistrate Meng and Steward Zhao were nowhere to be seen.
In winter, darkness falls quickly. Seeing that her son and daughter-in-law had left the yamen but Magistrate Meng had not yet arrived, Liu became somewhat anxious: "Your father said he would arrive by this afternoon at the latest, why hasn't he arrived yet?"
Meng Guanqi asked, "Has anyone sent someone to wait at the city gate?"
Liu said, "Mao left in the afternoon and hasn't come back yet."
She couldn't help but complain: "I advised him not to stop on the way, what if we missed it? But he insisted that it was not easy for colleagues to meet, and there would be even less chance to meet after he returned to Beijing to take up his post. The roads are difficult to travel in the dead of winter, what if we miss tomorrow's time?"
Magistrate Meng was accompanied by Steward Zhao and several attendants. She wasn't too worried about their safety, but the couple were supposed to attend the banquet the next day, and missing it would be a great pity.
Winter nights fall quickly, and Mao Neng hadn't been able to wait for Magistrate Meng and his party until the city gates closed. He had no choice but to return to the Li residence and tell everyone the truth. Liu Shi couldn't help but worry again, fearing that they had missed their lodging and would freeze to death.
Meng Mao comforted her, "Fourth Sister-in-law, don't worry. Fourth Brother isn't a child. How could he get frostbite? Maybe the ship is delayed. Don't worry, I'll send someone to the Tianjin dock first thing tomorrow morning to see if we can wait for him."
Meng Guanqi was also a little worried. Magistrate Meng was definitely not such an unreliable person. He would travel a long way to attend his son and daughter-in-law's promotion banquet. If nothing unexpected happened, he would never be late.
Apart from the two children, the adults did not sleep well that night. Early the next morning, Meng Mao sent someone to accompany Mao Neng to the Tianjin Wei Wharf to find Magistrate Meng.
Although Liu was anxious, she had to suppress her unease and put on a smile to greet the guests.
The first to arrive were the Meng family's relatives. They entered before noon and learned that Liu had returned. Magistrate Meng had been transferred back to the capital, but he had disembarked halfway and had not yet arrived.
Minister Meng sat upright in his high hall, quite displeased: "How could the fourth prince treat such a big matter as a joke? How could he get off halfway? Where did he go?"
Liu frowned slightly: "He disembarked in Mianzhou to visit his fellow graduate Zhuang Yingxian."
Zhuang Yingxian was serving as a Sima in Mianzhou, and the two had not seen each other for many years.
Liu said, "But the master promised us that he would take a boat a day later to catch up and would not stay in Mianzhou for long. He is also concerned about Xiaoxiao and Qige'er's important matter. There must be something holding him back."
Not long after the Meng family entered, the guests began to arrive one after another. Meng Mao and Meng Guanqi greeted the male guests in the front courtyard, while Liu Shi and Li Xiaoxiao greeted the female guests in the inner courtyard. Not only did all those who had received the invitations from the young couple come, but many unexpected people also arrived. Many of the young princes from the Imperial Study brought their mothers or fathers with them. Meng Guanqi greeted several princes, while Liu Shi and Li Xiaoxiao greeted several princesses. Liu Shi quickly arranged for the princesses to sit at the table with Old Madam Meng and Nie Shi, so that they could keep them company and have something to talk about. The two of them were the highest-ranking people in the room, and the princesses had more to talk about with them.
Several princes sat together, and soon after, Lord Min and his wife arrived with Min Yu and Meng Liniang. They happened to run into a colleague from the Ministry of Personnel at the door, who was also an unexpected person. Meng Mao had already gone down to arrange for additional seats when he was halfway through receiving the guests. Although he had anticipated that many unexpected people might come, he realized that he was still not well prepared after everyone arrived.
Meng Guanqi stood there from the hour of Si to the beginning of Wei, and finally no more people came to the alley entrance. Just as he was about to take his seat to entertain his guests, he suddenly saw several people walking towards him from not far away. He was greatly surprised and quickly stepped forward to bow: "Greetings, Your Majesty, greetings, Grand Secretary Yang."
It turned out that Emperor Hongxing and Grand Secretary Yang had come together!
Emperor Hongxing casually gestured to Wan Quan, who then presented his congratulatory gift. Yang Shimin smiled and said, "I have been impolite. Your Majesty invited me to dinner on a whim, but I did not prepare anything."
Meng Guanqi hurriedly said, "It is already a great honor that the Grand Secretary has graced us with his presence. Please do not be so formal. Your Majesty, Grand Secretary, please come in this way."
Emperor Hongxing and Grand Secretary Yang actually came to the banquet at the Li residence hand in hand!
The guests who were already seated were all stunned. They knelt down in unison to pay their respects to Emperor Hongxing. The ladies of the inner court also rushed out to greet him, but Emperor Hongxing said, "No need for formalities. There are too many people. Please return to your seats, ladies."
After everyone finished their greetings and took their seats, they couldn't help but feel secretly glad that they had come. Emperor Hongxing had come to the banquet at the Li residence without saying a word. It seemed that he hadn't informed the Li residence in advance. Even the main table had to be cleared out at the last minute for the emperor and Grand Secretary Yang to sit down. How much must this young couple be favored for the emperor to come to the banquet in person?
Meng Guanqi quickly told Li Xiaoxiao to call Aze out to sit with Emperor Hongxing. When Aze heard that his father had arrived, he quickly pulled Rui Rui out of the inner courtyard and rushed into Emperor Hongxing's arms, exclaiming with delight, "Father, why are you here? You didn't even tell me you were coming!"
Emperor Hongxing caught his son, touched his hand, and found it warm to the touch. A smile appeared in his eyes: "Did you sleep well last night?"
Aze nodded emphatically: "I slept very well, and I even taught my younger brother to recite the 'Elementary Learning Classics'."
Emperor Hongxing watched with great interest the short, chubby boy that Aze was holding. This was the youngest son of Magistrate Meng and the younger brother of Meng Guanqi. He was chubby with a rosy face and looked at Aze without any shyness while holding his hand.
A hint of sadness flashed in Emperor Hongxing's eyes, and a pang of pain shot through his chest. It was so true. If his mistress hadn't died, she would probably look a lot like him, right? No wonder Ke'er liked this child so much.
He couldn't help but ask Rui Rui, "Can you recite the 'Elementary Learning Collection'?"
Rui Rui held out her little palm: "I can recite five sentences."
A smile appeared in Emperor Hongxing's eyes: "Only five lines? Recite them for me?"
Rui Rui started reciting aloud, but sure enough, she couldn't finish after only five lines. Aze sighed, "She already knew three lines yesterday, but after teaching her all night, she only managed to memorize two more..."
Minister Meng's heart skipped a beat. He'd taught him all night, and he'd only managed to memorize two more lines. So dull-witted! Was he even worse than Meng Mao? Could it be that all nine sons of the dragon are different? After all, Meng Guanqi was a genius…
But Aze immediately said, "It's okay, my little brother is still young. I will teach him in the future. And it doesn't matter if he can't study. Father, you don't know, he's small but he's very strong. Even if he can't study, he can learn martial arts from Sister Xiaoxiao."
Minister Meng nodded in agreement. If that were true, it would be a way out, especially since Li Xiaoxiao was now a third-rank military officer. The Meng family had never had a path to martial arts before, but with her, things had opened up. Not bad, not bad.
Moreover, the Crown Prince and this grandson are so close, his future is bound to be bright.
They didn't deliberately lower their voices when they spoke in the room, and some of the guests who were nearby had already heard what they were saying. They were so envious that their eyes turned red. At only three years old, she was already favored by the Crown Prince and favored by the Emperor. This was a favor that many people could only dream of. What good fortune did the Li family have to burn incense in any direction to have such good luck?
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