Chapter 536 Birthday Banquet (Part 2)
As soon as Xiao Xixi sat down, she started eating without any hesitation.
She asked while eating.
"Would you like to have some too? This melon is very sweet."
Seeing that she was eating with gusto, Concubine Li couldn't help but saliva wildly, but she still had to put on a fake smile on her face.
"No, I don't."
She actually forgot that Concubine Xiao is a woman who can never gain weight!
It was over. She had a feeling that she was going to be abused again.
Her guess turned out to be true.
When the birthday banquet officially began and delicious dishes were served on the table one after another, Xiao Xixi was like clockwork, with the chopsticks in her hand moving back and forth between the dishes and her mouth at an incredibly fast speed.
Concubine Li was stunned.
There were people performing on the stage, receiving rounds of applause.
Concubine Jing and Concubine Bai were originally going to go on stage to perform, but because Concubine Xiao compared them to actors in front of the Crown Prince last time, they felt embarrassed in front of the Crown Prince.
In order to avoid having to compete with actors for work, Concubine Jing and Concubine Bai declined Concubine Xian's invitation and did not perform at the birthday banquet.
Facts have proved that their choice was correct.
Apart from the low-ranking concubines who were born as singing girls, the only ones performing on stage today were the dancers and musicians kept in the palace, as well as the famous actors invited from outside the palace.
If Concubine Jing and Concubine Bai went on stage to perform, there is no doubt that they would immediately become the focus of everyone's discussion.
After all, the others are dancers and actors, only the two of them have particularly different identities.
It's like standing out from the crowd.
People might not say anything in public, but they will definitely laugh at them in private for being so short-sighted that they actually performed on the same stage with a group of dancers and actors. They really don't care about their reputation just to attract attention.
Concubine Jing and Concubine Bai looked at the dancers dancing on the stage with ugly expressions.
At this time, they already understood.
Empress Xian said before that every palace would have a show, which was a lie.
Concubine Xian deliberately set a trap, wanting them to look bad at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, in order to discredit the Eastern Palace in the eyes of the Empress Dowager and outsiders.
Fortunately, the two of them were provoked by Concubine Xiao and changed their minds temporarily, otherwise they would have fallen into Concubine Xian's trap.
When the two thought of this, they couldn't help but look in the direction of Concubine Xian.
Empress Xian was sitting behind the dining table, her gorgeous dress making her look even more beautiful and charming.
She watched the performance on the stage intently with a proper smile on her face, and never glanced at Concubine Jing and Concubine Bai from beginning to end.
This is the harem, a battlefield without smoke.
There are traps everywhere. If you are not careful, you will fall into a pit dug by others and end up not knowing how you died.
At the birthday banquet, envoys from various countries presented gifts and blessings to the Queen Mother.
The customs and practices of each country are different, and the gifts and blessings presented are also varied.
Some gave jade, some gave cattle and sheep, some gave cloth, and some gave a white elephant.
When the huge white elephant was led out, everyone present was stunned.
Even Xiao Xixi, who was concentrating on eating, couldn't help but raise her head.
She gnawed on a chicken leg while observing the majestic white elephant.
The envoy stood beside the elephant, offered his blessings to the Queen Mother, and said a lot of gibberish.
Xiao Xixi didn't understand a word.
Fortunately, there was someone nearby who helped translate. The general meaning was that elephants represent longevity and health in their country, and white elephants are a symbol of holiness and nobility. They presented the white elephant to the Queen Mother, hoping that she would have good health and a long life.
The words sounded very nice, so the Queen Mother was naturally very happy and she accepted the gift with a smile.
The emperor also gave the white elephant a very down-to-earth name, Changsheng, on the spot.
Xiao Xixi was a little curious. Where should such a big elephant be kept?
Although the palace is large, the environment here is really not suitable for elephants to live.
The white elephant was led away.
Next, the Crown Prince and other princes and nobles came forward to present gifts.
Various valuable gifts were presented to the Queen Mother like a stream.
The Queen Mother is worthy of being the Queen Mother. Even though her eyes are almost dazzled by what she sees, she still maintains her dignified and generous personality, and always has a kind smile on her face.
Due to limited time, the gifts offered by concubines, princesses, civil and military officials were presented one by one, and they were packaged and sent to Changle Palace where the Queen Mother lived.
The sunflowers that Xiao Xixi sent were naturally also sent to Changle Palace, and should now be piled up with other gifts.
After the birthday banquet, everyone followed the emperor and the empress dowager to Changting Pavilion.
Changting Pavilion was built in imitation of a theater, with a special stage and private seats.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor naturally sat in the seats with the best views. The Empress and the Crown Prince sat in the seats on both sides, and the others sat there according to their status.
Xiao Xixi and three other concubines were arranged to be by the prince's side.
Luo Qinghan was wearing a moon-white, wide-sleeved brocade robe with silver patterns today. The edge of his purple undergarment was visible at the collar and cuffs. He had his hair tied up with a golden crown and a jade belt tied around his waist. His exposed fingers were long, beautiful, and glowed with a cold white luster.
His brows are as cold as the winter snow, and his face is as handsome as the cold moon on a winter night.
His eyes were dark and deep, his expression was indifferent.
The whole person looks both aloof and holy, with a bit of ascetic beauty that makes people want to desecrate it.
When his gaze swept over, Concubine Jing, Concubine Bai, and Concubine Li could not help but feel their heartbeats quicken. Even Xiao Xixi, who was used to seeing him like this, felt a little dazed.
Although the Crown Prince is always cold and unkind, and always says words that make people hate him, just because of his face, Concubine Jing, Concubine Bai, and Concubine Li feel that they can still love him for decades more!
Humans are so superficial sometimes.
As long as you are good-looking, you can be easily forgiven even if you make mistakes.
But if you are ugly, let alone being forgiven, you may not even have the chance to make mistakes.
Luo Qinghan's gaze fell on Xiao Xixi and he said calmly, "Come here."
Under the jealous gazes of the other three concubines, Xiao Xixi ran over and sat down next to Luo Qinghan.
Next to Luo Qinghan was a table, on which were fruits, snacks, and notes for ordering plays.
He picked up the letter and asked Xiao Xixi what she wanted to see.
Xiao Xixi has no interest in opera.
"I don't understand this, Your Highness, just choose the song you like."
Seeing that her eyes were fixed on the fruits and snacks on the table, Luo Qinghan pushed the fruits towards her, indicating that she could take some if she wanted to eat.
Xiao Xixi immediately picked up a loquat, peeled it and put it in her mouth.
Luo Qinghan put the letter back.
Judging from his indifferent look, he obviously has no interest in opera.
The main reason they came to Changting Pavilion was because the Queen Mother liked to listen to operas.
Today is her birthday, so naturally everyone has to satisfy her hobbies.
A large group of people accompanied her here to listen to the opera, hoping to have some good fun.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
