Chapter 610 Jixian Zhengzi, what do you think?
They toured many places in the inner court, chatting and laughing, seemingly very lively. However, no one could hide the depth in their eyes and the wariness in their hearts, which made the atmosphere among them, though warm and spring-like, inexplicably reveal a bit of cold and murderous intent.
Finally, as dusk approached, a eunuch came to deliver a message, saying that Yuwen Yuan had finished dealing with the day's affairs and was about to set off for the banquet at Baifu Hall, and asked them to hurry over as well.
At this moment, the six of them walked back and forth along the Thousand-Step Corridor and returned to the vicinity of Anren Gate. If they walked further, they would see the Hundred Blessings Hall not far away. In the twilight, the Hundred Blessings Hall was brightly lit, and lanterns were lit outside the hall, illuminating the entire palace with a radiant glow, almost more dazzling than the setting sun.
In the sunset, a somewhat familiar, slender figure slowly walked towards the Hundred Blessings Hall from the other side, and bumped into them at the entrance of the hall.
Shang Ruyi looked up and immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Lord Su?"
The person walking towards her was dressed in a dark blue official robe, with delicate features. In particular, her slightly drooping eyes looked like translucent glass in the setting sun, exuding a gentle and kind aura. It was none other than Su Qinglan, the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau, whom she had become acquainted with in Chang Le Fang!
Upon seeing Shang Ruyi, Su Qinglan's face lit up with joy, but she did not lose her composure and hurriedly stepped forward to bow respectfully: "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Han, Your Highness Prince Qin, Your Highness Princess Qin."
Yuwen Qian and Yuwen Ye didn't say much, only Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "Please rise."
Su Qinglan slowly stood up, looked up at Shen Wuzheng and Pei Xingyuan, her eyes flickering slightly, and bowed her head, saying, "Greetings, Lord Shen and Lord Pei."
Pei Xingyuan smiled broadly, seemingly unconcerned about the things that hadn't happened yet. He looked Su Qinglan up and down, then laughed and said, "Lord Su, you've been promoted."
Shang Ruyi then noticed that Su Qinglan's official robes were no longer those of a medical officer.
Su Qinglan's fair cheeks were flushed in the sunset, and she lowered her head and said softly, "I have just been appointed as the Imperial Physician Assistant by His Majesty's special appointment."
Shang Ruyi stared at her with wide eyes, both surprised and delighted.
It should be noted that Su Qinglan was just a physician before, but after experiencing a plague, she was promoted two ranks and directly appointed as the Imperial Physician Assistant, which was truly a joyous occasion.
Of course, it was also because she was able to shoulder heavy responsibilities and not be afraid of dangers when the plague was spreading.
Shang Ruyi said, "Congratulations, Lord Su."
Su Qinglan lowered her head and said softly, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Shang Ruyi then asked, "So, what are you doing today—"
"Your Majesty is so kind as to host a banquet for me today. However, I just took office today, so I spent half a day on business at the Imperial Medical Bureau and only just had time to come over."
"Of course, we can't let this interfere with our important business."
As they were speaking, Eunuch Yu had already come out of the Hundred Blessings Hall, cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Your Highness Prince Han, Your Highness Prince Qin, Your Highness, and Your Highness the Princess, and other esteemed guests, please enter the hall first."
Upon seeing him, the group didn't say much and immediately turned and walked into the Hundred Blessings Hall.
The Hundred Blessings Hall was built to be very spacious. The main hall was used to entertain officials, and it could accommodate almost a hundred officials at the same time. The side halls on the east and west sides were one large and one small, respectively used for family banquets and banquets with relatively fewer people.
This time, Eunuch Yu led them into the side hall on the west side.
Although not as grand as the main hall, this place is still quite spacious. In addition to the main seat at the top, there are four tables arranged on each side below the main seat, which is just right for the number of people attending the banquet today.
So everyone prepared to go to their respective positions according to their status and rank.
But this caused a problem.
Logically speaking, the brothers Yuwen Qian and Yuwen Ye should naturally sit in the first position to Yuwen Yuan's left and right. To their right, Yuwen Ye would naturally sit next to his wife, Princess Qin, Shang Ruyi. Although Yuwen Qian and Yu Mingyue were not formally engaged, everyone was aware of this, so she would naturally sit next to Yuwen Qian as well.
When it came to the third position, I hesitated a bit.
In terms of closeness and distance, Shang Ruyi's next target should be her cousin. Shen Wuzheng and Pei Xingyuan have been inseparable these days, so they should naturally sit together as well. But if that happens, Su Qinglan will have to sit next to Yu Mingyue.
However, Su Qinglan was not only unfamiliar with Yuwen Qian and Yu Mingyue, but in fact, given the secret rivalry between Yanzuofang and Changlefang, they could even be considered acquaintances.
Therefore, Su Qinglan hesitated immediately when facing the position where Yu Mingyue was about to strike.
After all, she wasn't someone who could navigate social situations with ease. If she were to actually sit next to Yuwen Qian and Yu Mingyue, this banquet would likely be a difficult one for her.
Pei Xingyuan seemed to have seen this scene as well, and was about to say something, but then seemed to hesitate.
Just as Shen Wuzheng was about to sit down, he saw him like this and then looked at Su Qinglan, who was standing on the other side with a troubled expression. He then stepped forward and said to Su Qinglan, "Lord Su, you haven't seen the Princess for a while. Sit down next to her and have a chat."
Su Qinglan was extremely grateful: "Thank you so much..."
Shen Wuzheng gently shook his head, then sat down to Yu Mingyue's left. When he looked up and met Pei Xingyuan's smiling gaze, he simply glanced away.
Just as everyone had taken their seats, Eunuch Yu's voice suddenly rang out from outside—
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Upon hearing this, everyone hurriedly stood up and bowed their heads in greeting.
A series of heavy footsteps approached from outside. Although no one dared to look up, the familiar, imposing aura was still very familiar to them. Shang Ruyi held her breath almost immediately.
Yuwen Ye, who was beside him, couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Then, the footsteps slowly approached the top of the side hall. After a rustling sound of fabric being rubbed, Yuwen Yuan's smiling voice rang out: "Rise, please sit down."
Everyone then expressed their gratitude, stood up, and slowly walked to their respective seats.
Yuwen Yuan slowly took his seat.
He was dressed in casual clothes—because the official coronation ceremony was tomorrow, so he hadn't put on his dragon robe beforehand. But at this moment, his majesty and aura were incomparable to that of a dragon robe. As soon as he sat down, the entire Hundred Blessings Hall gained an extra sense of composure.
Yuwen Yuan glanced at them and then ordered, "Go to the bar."
As soon as he finished speaking, a group of young and beautiful palace maids slowly walked up, each carrying a wine pot and jade plate filled with fine wine and various dishes, which were placed in front of each person's table. Naturally, they were all delicacies from land and sea, and fine wines and delicacies.
Yuwen Yuan poured himself a cup of wine, raised it, and said, "Come, this cup is for you all."
Upon hearing this, everyone dared not delay and hurriedly picked up their wine glasses as well.
Yuwen Yuan smiled and said, "This plague came suddenly and is a matter of national importance and people's livelihood. I entrusted the matter to the Prince of Han and the Prince of Qin. Although I trusted them, I was really unsure of the outcome. I never expected that with your help and support, we would overcome this difficulty and save millions of people. I toast to all my ministers. Let's drink together!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Several people raised their glasses and drank them down in one gulp.
The wine was clearly aged, with a rich aroma but a mild flavor. Shang Ruyi took a sip and felt her blood flow more smoothly, and couldn't help but sigh softly in her heart.
However, Su Qinglan, who was sitting next to him, was clearly not good at drinking. After finishing this cup, her eyes were a little red.
For someone like Yuwen Yuan, who came from a military background, such wine was no different from drinking water. He drank it all in one gulp without the slightest hesitation. After placing the wine cup on the table, he raised his head, his piercing tiger eyes scanning every young face in front of him as if he were inspecting his own territory.
Although he had been dealing with government affairs all day, he seemed to be in good spirits, even more so than the group of young people who had just gone sightseeing but whose minds were actually quite different and who found the trip more tiring than a battle.
After examining each face, Yuwen Yuan suddenly smiled and asked, "How is the scenery in the palace?"
Everyone was taken aback.
Today is a banquet to reward the heroes who helped control the plague. Everyone thought he would say a few words about the plague, but unexpectedly, he changed the subject and started talking about the scenery. Everyone was caught off guard and didn't have time to respond.
For a moment, there was a moment of silence in the side hall.
In normal times, a gap in the exchange between questions and answers would be a minor matter. But now, Yuwen Yuan is the emperor, and if no one answers his questions, that would be a great disrespect!
Yuwen Qian and Yuwen Ye immediately exchanged a glance.
However, before the two of them could speak, Shang Ruyi, sitting to Yuwen Ye's left, smiled and said, "Father, the palace does indeed have beautiful scenery, quite different from what I've seen before."
"oh?"
When Yuwen Yuan saw her, his eyes were full of smiles, and he asked with great interest, "How is it different?"
Shang Ruyi lowered her head and thought for a moment, then raised her head and said in a slow but clear and powerful voice: "A winding path leads to a thousand-step corridor, and a hundred herbs bloom by the mountain pond; though it is the old color of the Forbidden City, look at the radiant light of the new dynasty."
As soon as she finished speaking, Yuwen Yuan's eyes lit up.
He said, "Okay!"
Shang Ruyi's poem is not particularly exquisite, and the first two lines, which describe the scenery, are not particularly ornate. However, the beauty lies in the last two lines, which perfectly capture the scene of Yuwen Yuan's ascension to the throne the next day. The old palace will be illuminated by him, a new emperor who is as bright as the rising sun. That is why Yuwen Yuan praised it as "good".
After praising her, he beamed with joy and said repeatedly, "My daughter-in-law's literary talent is more than enough to make her a Grand Scholar in the Jixian Hall."
Then, he turned to look at Yu Mingyue: "Jixian Zhengzi, what do you say?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com