The palace was bustling with activity, largely because the current emperor was preparing to be generous. So, naturally, he wouldn't be stingy at this time. While the palace wasn't exactly opulent, preparations were still being made.
Even though Zhu Yunying took on part of the rituals, it didn't mean he could completely slack off.
Old Zhu, dressed in his imperial crown, walked in front, followed by Zhu Yunying, who also wore the twelve-tiered imperial crown. As for young Zhu, he was also dressed in his crown prince robes; this was an extremely important occasion, as they were to offer sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
Actually, what Little Zhu was holding in his arms was the ancestral tablet of the eldest Zhu. This was to invite the ancestral tablet from the Fengxian Hall to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. This was a formal ceremony, so it was naturally extremely solemn and absolutely could not be taken lightly.
From Zhu Yuanzhang onwards, all eligible members of the imperial clan residing in Yingtian Prefecture were required to come. Of course, there were requirements; only males were eligible. And let's not talk about gender discrimination; even centuries later, in many places, women were still not allowed to go to ancestral halls.
"Your subject, Zhu Yuanzhang, dares to solemnly proclaim to the gods of the land and grain: May you, my lord, assist the emperor, bringing forth abundant harvests for our people, so that we may rely on you for ten thousand generations. In the midst of spring and autumn, we solemnly announce our sacrifices and express our gratitude. We respectfully offer jade, silk, sacrificial animals, and various delicacies to this burial offering, hoping you will enjoy them..."
Old Zhu's face was solemn; this was a sacrifice to the nation and its people. Next, there were numerous ancient sage rulers and philosophers, all of whom also needed to be worshipped. These all required the emperor's personal sacrifice; ultimately, this was a formal ceremony, and there could be no carelessness whatsoever.
Zhu Yunying did not find it troublesome; such a sacrificial ceremony was a serious matter and could not be taken lightly.
After the sacrificial ceremony, Zhu Yunying still needed to ascend the throne in the Fengtian Hall, where all the civil and military officials would pay their respects to the emperor. Such a ceremony was by no means superfluous; this is probably what is meant by a sense of ritual.
"In the third year of Ying Shi, the Emperor received a grand banquet at the Fengtian Hall to celebrate the court, while the officials and their wives paid homage to the Empress at the Kunning Palace!"
Little Zhu spoke in a clear, melodious voice, addressing the assembled officials.
Amidst the sounds of ceremonial music, Old Zhu and Young Zhu, dressed in dragon robes, entered the Fengtian Hall and sat smiling on the dragon throne.
There are specific rules for toasting, and even the dishes served follow certain conventions. This wasn't unique to the Ming Dynasty; China has always been a land of etiquette and music, so people are very particular and attentive to these matters.
Overall, the atmosphere was quite pleasant; after all, this wasn't a court affair, but rather a joyous banquet. However, even at such a moment, one could discern the closeness or distance in the emperor's eyes, or one's status.
For example, Chang Mao and Xu Huizu were both able to receive dishes bestowed by the emperor. This was not only because of Chang Yuchun and Xu Da's status, but also because they were the emperor's and crown prince's uncles.
Marquis Guo Ying of Wuding and Marquis Geng Bingwen of Changxing, these two veteran generals were also rare founding generals in the court, and naturally they were also given food.
This also applies to the descendants of imperial sons-in-law like Mei Yin or other noble families; they are given some respect. Since Fu Youde and Lan Yu are training troops outside, their offspring naturally receive preferential treatment as well.
As for Zhu Yunying's trusted ministers, such as Ru Chang, whether out of trust or because of their positions in court, they were still given food when the time came. This was not just a favor, but also a political signal.
In Kunning Palace, Xu Miaoqing, with her pregnant belly, said to Madam Sang, "When the Emperor first established his own residence, he relied heavily on the care of his maternal grandmother and maternal aunts. Go and offer a toast to the three maternal aunts."
Sang naturally obeyed, and Feng Sheng's daughter, Feng, also quickly got up. Although she was the emperor's maternal aunt, and her eldest son was to inherit the title of Duke of Kaiping, while her second son was to inherit Feng Sheng's title of Duke of Song, she still dared not act arrogantly in front of Sang.
If even Madam Feng was like this, then the wives of Chang Sheng and Chang Sen were even less likely to act like the emperor's aunts. Actually, Madam Sang's status was high enough, even if she came from a middle-class family, but what could she do? She was now the Princess Consort of Wu.
In the imperial court, the emperor and his officials were naturally feasting, and the overall atmosphere seemed quite lively. However, in such an occasion, no one dared to truly relax completely. Although they appeared to be eating and drinking, no one would indulge themselves to the fullest.
Even the seemingly unruly Little Zhu isn't completely unrestrained in this kind of setting.
Children may be young, but don't assume they don't understand anything. At most, they just lack patience and focus, and can't fully comprehend many things.
As for the Kunning Palace, although it wasn't as solemn as in the previous dynasty, the noblewomen could chat and laugh a little.
However, they were all well aware that in a place like the palace, status and position were paramount. Every word and action represented not only themselves but also their families, and the mansions of princes, dukes, and marquises. They could not afford to be careless.
Although they seemed to be restrained, they couldn't be completely free. Many dukes' wives and marquises' wives, who were high and mighty in their own mansions, could only be humble and obsequious in the palace.
However, these noblewomen would never have any complaints.
Being able to attend the banquet at the palace was a sign of status, representing the prestige of their husbands' families. If they weren't allowed to attend the New Year's banquet, people would speculate. They would think it meant either a loss of power or that they were being neglected by the emperor. (Gu Jie)
Xu Miaoqing's feelings were somewhat complicated. Her eldest sister-in-law, Li, her second sister-in-law, Sun, and her third sister-in-law, Mu, could only address her as subjects, each behaving with utmost respect. In the imperial palace, there was only the relationship between ruler and subject, and little familial affection.
The banquet is over, and everyone can finally breathe a sigh of relief and relax a bit. Now, only the family dinner remains.
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