Chapter 217 Jade in the Stone, Pearl in the Sea
Everyone took in the loving look of the Emperor and Concubine Hui, and vaguely remembered that the Emperor and Concubine Shu were also so loving and harmonious at the palace banquet on New Year's Eve last year.
At that time, the queen sat next to the emperor, but now the queen has left the palace to recuperate and has not even returned for the New Year.
Everyone had many guesses in their minds, but no one dared to say anything.
The sounds of piano and flute intertwined as the dancer stepped in gracefully, her long sleeves fluttering and her slender waist bending down like a willow branch in spring.
After the dance, He Tingfang was the first to stand up, holding up his glass:
"Your Majesty, I have served as an official for many years and am always grateful for your grace. Today, the court is clear and the people are at peace. This is truly a blessing for Dayu. I wish Your Majesty success in everything and good health."
He Tingfang dared to speak, and Murong Yu dared to listen.
Murong Yu felt relieved when he heard this: "I also hope that Dayu will prosper and the people will live in peace. I am very pleased to have such a good minister as you."
The other ministers also stood up and came forward to toast:
"May His Majesty and all the Empresses have a prosperous new year and a long and blessed life."
"May the Emperor be safe and healthy every year."
"May the Emperor..."
There were so many people coming to toast that the ministers even had to queue up, and the toasts they said were just the same few sentences over and over again.
Murong Xun and his family came forward to toast:
"I wish my brother the emperor a long and happy life."
He Yan and her two children also held wine glasses.
Murong Yu nodded: "Every time I see my seventh brother and his family happy, I feel comforted."
Murong Xun and He Yan forced themselves to smile and express their gratitude.
Murong Wan stood very straight, her manners were dignified, and her studies in the Lihe Hall were also good. She thought that her uncle would praise her.
But the Emperor's uncle just glanced at her, nodded slightly, and then turned to ask Murong Ming several questions, asking about his studies and reminding him not to be naughty:
"Ming'er will be ten years old after the New Year. It's time for him to act like a prince and stop being so reckless and naughty."
Murong Ming said awkwardly, "Ming'er will follow the instructions of my uncle the Emperor."
As he spoke, he caught a glimpse of Zhao Li, the youngest grandson of Duke Ming, looking very proud.
After the Murong Xun family toasted, they sat down again. All four of them were in a bad mood.
The next person to toast was Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuan seemed a bit clumsy in this situation and said a few dry congratulations.
There was a hint of smile in Concubine Shu's eyes as she asked Qin Yuan if everything was okay at home.
The brother and sister chatted about some family matters.
Murong Yu looked at Pei Shu and saw that Pei Shu's expression was always indifferent, neither sad nor happy.
Murong Yu suddenly felt that the wine in the glass had no taste, and the ministers' monotonous congratulatory speeches were also very boring.
At this moment, he suddenly remembered that a villager from Lingnan was invited to the palace banquet this year.
After Qin Yuan finished his toast, Murong Yu first dismissed the ministers behind him and asked Wang Nei Shi to summon the Lingnan man to come over for a look.
Eunuch Wang: "Announce—Hao Ren, come forward to see the emperor—"
Everyone made way for him, curious about who this person was.
Someone explained that the emperor rewarded the people of Lingnan and summoned the head of Heishan Township to the palace to receive the reward.
The word "Montenegro" is no longer unfamiliar.
Everyone looked at the person walking from the end of the table.
The man was wearing a thick cotton robe and had a certain dignity when he walked, but his appearance was really mediocre, and it was hard to say whether he was good or bad.
Not thin, not short, not fat, not beautiful, not ugly.
"I, Hao Ren, pay my respects to the Emperor and all the distinguished guests."
Hao Ren stepped forward and knelt down to pay his respects. He kowtowed very respectfully, as cautious as an ordinary citizen who was seeing the emperor for the first time, but at the same time he was very generous and did not show any fear or nervousness.
Yuan Chi and Qin Yuan rubbed their eyes and looked several times, but they still couldn't recognize Hao Ren's original appearance. They sighed in their hearts at his superb disguise skills.
Hundreds of palace lanterns were lit, making the hall as bright as day and everything was clearly visible.
Many of the people present had lived in Beijing for many years and had seen Pei Dingli and Pei Lingyun in the past.
Amidst the clinking of glasses, not a single minister recognized him.
Even Master Zhang, who was holding a wine glass, just glanced at him from a distance with an indifferent look.
Only one person had a huge wave of fear in his heart.
The shadow of the phoenix on the palace lantern was cast on Pei Shu's skirt.
She put her hands on the chair arms and said nothing.
She always pretended to be very good in front of Murong Yu, but at this moment she knew that her hands were shaking, shaking uncontrollably.
She didn't even dare to speak, for fear that she would burst into tears if she did.
During these years of living in the cold palace, she always told herself that her parents and brothers might still be there, living well in a corner of Lingnan.
But she didn't dare to think too deeply about it. How could those who were exiled survive in such a chaotic situation where people were eating their own children?
Until Murong Di came back from Lingnan and told her that Ling Yun was still alive.
Only Ling Yun is still alive.
Fortunately, Ling Yun is still alive.
Time was like a stone, smoothing out all his edges and corners. At the age of thirty, Ling Yun no longer had the sharpness in him.
Pei Shu remembered that when Ling Yun was a teenager, he had lofty ambitions and was determined to succeed.
He likes to wear bright clothes, likes to write poems on the walls, and likes to ride a horse and look back and smile at the spring scenery.
When he was young, he was proud and knew that he was born with good looks. He said privately at home: "My sister and I are both born with beautiful faces, just like jade in stone and pearls in the sea, our brilliance cannot be concealed."
Later, Pei Xuan mocked him and called him "Pei Yuzhu", and he was so embarrassed and angry that he never mentioned it again.
When he was young, he was very confident and vowed: "I will definitely get into the top three in high school and become an official in the same court as my father and elder brother."
Pei Shu cried until her eyes were swollen before entering the palace. Her fourteen-year-old brother said to her with certainty:
"Sister, don't be afraid to enter the palace. When I enter the officialdom, my father, my elder brother, and I will all support you in the previous dynasty. No one can bully you. Xue Dalang is gone, but we are all here."
Three years later, Ling Yunzhen was ranked in the top three in high school and was selected as the third place.
That year, the top 20 students on the imperial examination list entered the palace for a banquet. Pregnant Pei Shu was granted special permission to watch from behind a screen on the side of the hall.
That was the last time she saw her brother before the Pei family's accident, and it was also in this Changsheng Palace.
She saw the seventeen-year-old Ling Yun, full of vigor and vitality, with the sun and moon in his eyes and mountains and rivers flowing on his brocade robe.
He is aware of his talent, confident but not arrogant, so outstanding that it seems that he will always be young and remain a young man for the rest of his life.
The golden dragon on the red pillar was so dazzling that Pei Shu's nails almost scratched the armrest.
"This humble servant enters the palace for the first time, and I am extremely frightened. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me for any mistakes I have made."
The kneeling man remained kneeling, his forehead pressed against the cold jade brick.
Pei Shu's eyes fell on the back of his collar and shoes.
The gray cotton robe has a well-cut back collar and the soles look very thick.
His face is easy to be frayed, but his body is not thin.
I was well dressed and didn't go hungry. My younger brother had grown up, started a family, and was taking good care of himself even in such a remote place.
Good, very good.
Pei Shu suppressed her tears and smiled slowly, like a suddenly blooming ephemeral cereus.
Murong Yu was in a good mood when he saw Pei Shu smiling:
"Shu'er, what are you laughing at? It's interesting to meet a Lingnan person."
Pei Shu was silent for a moment before she smiled and said:
"I'm used to seeing these people in the capital, so I find it funny to see these Lingnan villagers being so honest and cautious."
Murong Yu smiled: "I also think it's quite interesting."
He originally thought he would be a businessman with rough manners, but he turned out to be elegant and polite.
Murong Yu said to Hao Ren, "Black Mountain Ink and Black Mountain Cloth have both done well. This time, your Black Mountain Township has again made outstanding contributions in resisting the enemy. I have specially summoned you to receive your reward. I hope you will remain committed and continue to work hard to achieve new achievements for my country."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Hao Ren stood up for a moment, then bowed his head and kowtowed:
"I, a commoner, also have something to offer as tribute today."
Hao Ren presented a box.
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