The gift-presentation ceremony officially began, and the princes and ministers at the banquet put down their chopsticks and wine cups, preparing their respective gifts.
The first to present a congratulatory gift was Yun Beiming.
Everyone looked at Yun Beiming, who was standing in the center of the hall.
He wore a light green robe with bamboo leaves embroidered on the cuffs and auspicious clouds outlined in silver thread on the hem.
His hair was tied up with a jade crown, and he looked like a refined young gentleman.
"Mother Empress Dowager." Yun Beiming bowed to the Empress Dowager.
“Your Majesty, I know that you care deeply for the people and worship Buddha day and night. So I found this century-old agarwood from the South China Sea and made this wooden pillow. I also prepared a calming sachet based on your health and put it inside the pillow.”
Yun Beiming had a century-old agarwood pillow brought out, and everyone present seemed to smell a faint fragrance.
The ministers couldn't help but discuss it amongst themselves.
"His Highness Prince Ning is truly filial."
"The sachet inside this wooden pillow seems to have a calming effect."
"yes."
"Your Majesty, I wish Your Majesty good health and peace of mind!"
The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction. A palace maid brought the wooden pillow to Zhang Mama, who then presented it to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager touched the smooth surface of the pillow and instructed, "Mochou, change my pillow. We'll use this sandalwood pillow tonight."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
“Your Majesty, this painting, ‘Scenery of Shu,’ was acquired by your humble servant during his travels in Shu. I found the painting to be skillfully executed and the scene magnificent, capturing all the scenery of Shu in one painting. So I thought I would bring it back for Your Majesty to appreciate.”
Yun Beiming took out a scroll from the painting tube and presented it to Zhao Zhongquan, who was standing next to Yun Beiye.
Zhao Zhongquan bent down to take the painting and unfolded it in front of Yun Beiye. The painting was two meters wide. Yun Beiye held one side of the painting, while Zhao Zhongquan held the other side, displaying "Shu Kingdom Scenery" to everyone.
"Ah, so this is what the Shu Kingdom is like. It seems to have a lot of mountains!"
"Why are there so many slopes on the road? It's not smooth at all! It's hard for the carriage to travel on!"
"That's right, the roads in Nanyang are really good!"
"Good, good, Third Brother is very thoughtful. Zhao Zhongquan, hang this 'Scenery of Shu' in my study!" Yun Beiye clapped his hands happily after carefully looking at the painting.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Third brother, I will reward you with ten thousand taels of gold, so that you may travel throughout the nine provinces and visit all the world!"
"Your Majesty, thank you." Yun Beiming bowed and returned to his seat.
Next to present a gift was Empress Zhaoyuan. Her gift was very grand: a golden Buddha statue. Knowing that the Empress Dowager liked to worship Buddha, she ordered a fully golden Buddha statue to be made.
The gifts from Consort Chen and the other consorts were quite conventional. Consort Chen presented a painting of the Eight Immortals celebrating a birthday, while Consort De presented a painting of the character "福" (fortune) written in various calligraphic styles.
"Your Majesty, this is a painting of the Eight Immortals celebrating longevity, made of celestial silkworm ice silk, which I prepared for you." Consort Chen stood gracefully in the center of the hall, unfurling the vivid painting.
Every detail in the birthday celebration painting is exquisite, demonstrating the effort, time, and dedication put into its creation.
Yun Beiye noticed the white gauze bandage wrapped around her hand. "Did you hurt your finger while embroidering?"
Consort Chen could not hide the smugness on her face. "It is my fault for making Your Majesty worry."
Yun Duoduo couldn't help but gasp. This Consort Chen had such thick bandages wrapped around her fingers, yet she kept holding the painting in front of her father with her injured hand, clearly intending to let him see it. What a cunning scheme!
"Consort Chen, I know your good intentions. Mo Chou, after the banquet, go and send a box of my Jade Complexion Cream to Consort Chen."
"Thank you, Mother!"
After bowing, Consort Chen returned to her seat, giving Empress Zhaoyuan a seemingly provocative glance.
Empress Zhaoyuan acted as if she hadn't seen Consort Chen and ignored her.
"Your Majesty, this is a 'Fu' character that I embroidered myself." Consort De stepped out from the banquet, bowed respectfully, and presented the 'Fu' character to the Empress Dowager.
It was a painting with a red silk background and gold thread embroidered with the character "福" (Fu, meaning good fortune). Each "福" character was different, and they looked like different fonts used in different countries and dynasties.
"Yes, you've put your heart into this. It must have taken you quite a while!" The Empress Dowager nodded happily and had Zhang Mama put away the gifts.
"Your Majesty, as long as Your Majesty is in good health, I am willing to do anything," Consort De replied respectfully.
"Alright, reward them all!"
After the concubines presented their gifts, it was the princes' turn.
"Your subject presents a gift to your Empress Dowager and Father Emperor."
The eldest prince, Yun Yibo, stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Grandmother, this is a painting I drew called 'Longevity Picture.' I wish you good health and a long life!"
"Quickly, bring it here, let me see it."
Granny Zhang presented the painting to the Empress Dowager, who examined it closely. "Hmm, Bo'er's painting skills have improved quite a bit!"
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty."
"Father, this is a map of the Nine Provinces drawn by your son based on the 'Records of Mountains and Rivers.' May Nanyang enjoy peace and prosperity, and may its golden age never decline!"
"Yes, thank you for your kindness, Uncle." Yun Beiye nodded.
"Reward the Crown Prince with silver and ten luminous pearls!"
Following Yun Beiye's instructions, the eunuch brought in a box of silver and presented a plate of glittering, emerald-green pearls.
Listening to Yun Beiye's gifts and looking at the chests and chests of jewels, Yun Duoduo couldn't help but wonder, "With tens of thousands of taels of gold and hundreds of taels of silver being given away so easily, how much money is actually in the national treasury?"
"Build a manor and grant him twenty retainers!" Yun Beiye continued.
"Your subject thanks Your Majesty!" After thanking Yun Beiye, Yun Yibo glanced at Empress Zhaoyuan and returned to his seat.
[Build an estate?]
Yun Duoduo pondered these words, wondering if her eldest brother was going to live separately from his own family.
But thinking about it, it makes sense. Now that the eldest prince is eighteen, it's not really appropriate for him to still be living in the palace.
She turned to look at Empress Zhaoyuan, and sure enough, Empress Zhaoyuan's face was slightly pale. She forced a smile to maintain her composure.
The child I've raised with my own hands for eighteen years is about to leave me like this, and I'm afraid we'll see each other less often in the future.
The imperial harem is inherently lonely, and without the company of her own son, her future days will likely be extremely solitary.
The ministers whispered among themselves, "His Majesty has bestowed a manor and a household servant upon the eldest prince."
"This means the eldest prince is going to build his own residence."
"So, the eldest prince is probably getting married soon?"
"I wonder, Your Majesty, how you will arrange this marriage..."
"Then what about the position of Crown Prince?"
"The eldest prince is the legitimate son, and in principle, he should have a very high chance of being made crown prince. But now it seems that he is living in a separate residence and will not enter the Eastern Palace. Does His Majesty have other plans for the position of crown prince?"
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