Chapter 32: Performing at a Palace Banquet, Someone Gets Jealous
Under Qiao's astonished gaze, Ji Qingwu sat down with gritted teeth.
"Thank you, brother."
Ji Changlin thought that his fifth sister’s intense reaction was because she felt sorry for him, and he felt warm inside.
He thought to himself that this little punishment was nothing and he could withstand another twenty strokes of the cane.
"You're still polite to my brother." Ji Changlin's mood brightened up, and he went back to his yard to "recuperate."
On the second day after the emperor went to worship his ancestors, he would hold a grand banquet in the palace to entertain clan members and ministers. This is a custom that has been passed down from generation to generation.
During the day, Qiao had mentioned to her that she should go to the palace to attend the banquet together, and the man who was introduced to her would also go with Old Master Qiao.
Ji Qingwu shook his head like a rattle.
But now, she was really worried about Yuan Heng and couldn't let him go, so she wanted to see him from afar.
Seeing that the time to leave for the palace was approaching, Mrs. Qiao said to her, "Xiaowu, just accompany me and sit for a while. Don't do anything else. The banquet in the palace is the best in Lin'an City..."
Before she could finish her lobbying.
"Mom, I'm going."
*
The palace banquet was held in the Jiying Hall.
Ji Qingwu was given a head full of pearls and jade by Qiao, and a pink lotus flower was specially painted on her forehead. She was also dressed in a precious Xiangyun gauze skirt. In the light, the folds of her skirt shone like moonlight on a snowy night.
Mrs. Qiao looked at her "masterpiece" with satisfaction, and said to her, "The palace banquet is divided into three seats: east, south, and north. The east is the most honorable, where the emperor and the empress dowager sit. The ladies in the palace and the royal family sit in the north, and the officials above the fourth rank and their families sit in the south."
Old Madam Ji has been feeling unwell these past few days, so only the first and second wives of the Ji family came to the banquet.
As soon as he entered the towering Jiying Hall, Ji Qingwu was shocked by the priceless treasures that filled the hall. Just take the large bow hanging on the wall as an example, it should be the Xuanyuan bow known as the divine bow.
Qiao led her to sit at a long table in the south section.
At this moment, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had not arrived yet, but the house was already filled with all the dignitaries and their families in the city.
The female members of the family were all talking in low voices or greeting each other. Ji Qingyuan was surrounded by many young ladies from aristocratic families. She glanced at Ji Qingwu with pride.
"This is my fifth sister. You must have heard of her."
"Qingyuan, she really married a..."
A few people were chirping quietly behind Ji Qingwu, but she pretended not to hear them and looked at the door with a faint smile.
After a while, Qiao Menghan came in with a man. After the man entered the room, the noise in the hall became obviously much quieter.
Ji Qingwu also raised her eyebrows, her eyes slightly widened. She had never seen a white robe worn so...
Seductive man.
Some people may look elegant and graceful in white clothes, but this person is very alluring, mainly because his face is too outstanding and he has an androgynous temperament.
Mrs. Qiao saw that she was staring at him without blinking her eyes. Xiaowu's reaction was just as she expected.
She said with a smile on her face: "Xiaowu, this is what your grandfather and I chose for you. Are you satisfied?"
Ji Qingwu looked at Qiao in surprise and asked, "Is he the top scholar?"
He is talented and has stunning looks, he really has everything. No wonder Qiao said before that this man is too popular and she urged her to meet him as soon as possible.
"This young man is Li Chengxun. His hometown is Xianyang, and he is also from a scholarly family. The palace examination will be held in a month. Your grandfather said that he is extremely talented and will definitely be selected. By then, you must seize the opportunity. Xiaowu, you must hurry up."
Qiao had already made it clear. Ji Qingwu looked at him several times. Normally, she would not be so bold, but there were few women in the room who did not stare at him.
Women are no exception to appreciating male beauty.
Ji Qingwu pouted, and suddenly her gaze met his.
Li Chengxun naturally recognized Qiao. The girl sitting next to her should be the fifth daughter of the Ji family, and the woman who was running in the corridor the day before yesterday.
He watched her smile gradually grow wider, her face as bright as the moonlight, her smile radiant, and the flower ornament on her forehead made her look like a lotus fairy who had fallen into the mortal world.
Li Chengxun looked slightly stunned.
It was at this time that Emperor Wu Su entered the palace.
A bright yellow suddenly appeared in front of Ji Qingwu's eyes, and she didn't have time to hide the smile on her lips.
He was caught off guard and met Emperor Wu Su's eyes again.
Ji Qingwu's heart beat irregularly as if he had been caught.
In his eyes, this man's appearance was no worse than Li Chengxun's, especially the fierce look in his eyes with anger and slightly wrinkled eyebrows.
I want someone to give me my heart and let me ravage it.
A terrible thought suddenly came to Ji Qingwu's mind. He really wanted to see him so angry that he couldn't control himself.
But she immediately realized that this man was the emperor, who could kill her at any time.
It makes you feel good for a moment, but in the blink of an eye, you lose your head.
Their eyes met for just a moment, and Ji Qingwu lowered his head guiltily.
After Emperor Wu Su sat down in the main seat at the East Hall, the people around him dared not make a sound.
Li Yuzong's head was sweating. The Emperor was fine in the Qinzheng Hall earlier. He looked over the guest list presented by the Ministry of Rites with great interest. After reading it, there was a faint smile in his eyes.
Why do you feel bad as soon as you come to Jiying Palace?
Concubine Wei, who was sitting on the right, didn't say much. She just picked up the wine pot and added wine to the emperor's cup.
The empress dowager was sitting on the left side of the emperor and also felt the pressure released by the emperor. She thought that he was still angry because of the dispute between the Ji family and the censor in the court yesterday.
She was surprised and grateful that Emperor Wu Su protected the Ji family, but this also made her have an even worse impression of Ji Qingwu. He was really a troublemaker who only caused chaos in the family.
Sure enough, Qingyuan, who has been raised by my side since childhood, is better.
The Queen Mother said, "The Emperor has been very busy with government affairs recently. I have seen that he has lost some weight. At today's banquet, why not invite a talented young lady to perform and liven up the atmosphere."
Emperor Wu Su did not object.
The Queen Mother gave Ji Qingyuan a look in the audience.
Ji Qingyuan stood up. She was wearing a red phoenix-tail skirt embroidered with golden crabapple flowers. She looked as bright and beautiful as a red peony in the garden. She was no less beautiful than the beautiful Concubine Wei.
"Your servant is willing to perform a dance."
Ji Qingyuan has practiced this Qingping Dance for more than half a year. She gently waved the feather fan with both hands, moved to the melody of the musicians, and jumped lightly...
Ji Qingwu tapped the table lightly with her fingers. Qiao's asking her for instruction was not in vain, as she could tell the pros and cons of the dance. Although the dance was beautiful, it still lacked artistic conception, which meant that the dancer's state of mind was not "peaceful" enough, so naturally she could not dance out the feeling of a grand and magnificent event.
With Ji Qingyuan taking the lead, the noble ladies who followed showed off their talents, some painting and reciting poems, and some playing the piano and the flute.
Even Concubine Wei left the stage. She held the snow sword in one hand, and her jade hand rotated flexibly. The sword light flickered in time with the drum beats, just like stars.
Ji Qingwu nodded intoxicatedly and said softly, "Top grade."
No wonder Concubine Wei is the emperor's favorite concubine. Not only is she stunningly beautiful, but her sword dancing skills are much higher than her fourth sister's.
However, as the women performed, Emperor Wu Su's expression did not ease, but became even darker.
After such a long time, Chief Steward Li finally figured out the problem.
His Majesty's gaze would always inadvertently fall on a certain position in the South Seas - the audience at the palace banquet who looked the most relaxed and contented, already immersed in the performance.
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