Although the ministers all had their heads down, a closer look revealed that the ministers standing in the front row were furtively peeking at the concubines who had appeared before them.
Yun Duoduo found it all amusing. Just moments ago, she had been marveling at how virtuous these elders were, but it turned out they were all scoundrels! Their own wives and children were still sitting at the table, and they were even stealing glances at their father's women!
After the emperor and empress were seated in their seats, everyone immediately bowed and shouted, "Long live the emperor! Long live the empress! Long live the empress!"
Yun Beiye sat in the main seat and gestured with both hands to indicate the seats of the concubines. The Empress sat next to him, while Consort De and Consort Chen sat to his left and right respectively.
"My beloved ministers, please rise." Yun Beiye raised his hands and spread them in front of him, indicating that the ministers should rise and take their seats.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" the kneeling crowd shouted in unison. After they finished speaking, there was a rustling sound as the ministers straightened their clothes and sat down at their seats.
"Before the Spring Festival, when families reunite, I am holding this New Year's Eve banquet in the palace. Firstly, it is for us to gather together to review the past year, and secondly, it is to thank everyone present. It is thanks to the joint efforts of all my beloved ministers that Nanyang is now a prosperous and peaceful place where the people live and work in peace and contentment!"
Yun Duoduo found her father's official rhetoric rather boring.
She disliked listening to leaders speak when she was in school. Ceremony that could have ended quickly would often drag on all night after the leaders' speeches, leaving her starving every time.
"My dear ministers, please don't be so formal. Come, let's raise our glasses and welcome the new year together!" Yun Beiye raised his glass, and the ministers followed suit, drinking their glasses down in one gulp.
After exchanging pleasantries, the imperial relatives took out carefully prepared gifts one after another and stepped forward to say auspicious words.
Empress Zhaoyuan ordered someone to bring in a silk fabric covered with the character "福" (fortune/blessing). After bowing, she respectfully said, "Your Majesty, this is a 'Ten Thousand Blessings' scroll specially prepared by your concubine. May Your Majesty live a long and happy life!"
As he spoke, the eunuch behind him unfurled the red "Ten Thousand Blessings" painting, which was covered with the character "福" (fortune) written in gold thread.
"Yes, Your Majesty is very kind." The Empress Dowager nodded, and the eunuch carefully put away the painting of ten thousand blessings after hearing this.
Then, Consort Chen stepped forward and lifted the red cloth covering the gift, presenting a large, crystal-clear pearl. "Your Majesty, I have obtained a fine luminous pearl from the East Sea. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless happiness and longevity!"
The Empress Dowager nodded, followed by various gifts from other members of the imperial family, such as a blue crystal jade bracelet, a silk peony-patterned outer garment, and a jade screen—all rare and unusual items.
The Empress Dowager also symbolically returned some gold and silver jewelry as New Year's gifts for the younger generation.
[It turns out that gift-giving was a regular part of the New Year celebrations in ancient times, and this tradition has been passed down since then.]
Yun Duoduo watched as gifts were taken to the storeroom one by one, and pieces of gold and silver jewelry were taken out of the storeroom one by one.
She strongly suspected that the things her grandmother had given her were likely gifts from the imperial concubines a few years ago. She wondered if any of the concubines had received the things she had given away back then, and that they had ended up back in her hands after going around in circles.
Everything was in a harmonious atmosphere, and after the gifts were presented, the ministers began their meal.
Anqing Palace returned to silence, and at this time, Grand Historian Zhen of the Imperial Observatory was frequently glancing at the emperor, trying to find a suitable opportunity to offer his advice.
He still has one task to complete tonight.
"Your Majesty, should the congratulatory gifts from the vassal states such as Wusun be presented at this moment?" The Vice Minister of Rites, after taking a few bites of rice, stepped out from the table, bowed, and respectfully asked Yun Beiye.
Outside the northern border of Nanyang, there seemed to be mainly small states such as Wusun, Xiongnu, Yuezhi and Rouran. Last summer, Wusun suddenly launched an attack on Nanyang. Yunbei Ye was so angry that he ordered a counterattack against Wusun and captured the six states of Wusun. Since then, Wusun has become a vassal state of Nanyang.
"Well, let's put the gifts in the storeroom first. Have you checked the quantity of the gifts and the amount to be presented as tribute?" Yun Beiye looked down at the Vice Minister of Rites standing in the center of the main hall.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial have jointly counted the tributes. All the vassal states have paid their tributes according to their quotas, and there is no shortage."
"Okay, how is the situation in Wusun this year?" Yun Beiye continued to ask.
"Your Majesty, this year's heavy snow and unusually cold weather have caused all of Wusun's cattle and horses to die," the Vice Minister of Rites continued, his voice heavy with emotion.
“Some of the disaster victims gathered at the border between Wusun and Nanyang in northern Xinjiang to beg for food, while some refugees from Wusu wanted to cross the northern border to escape to Nanyang.”
"I received news today that some refugees from Wusun forcibly crossed the border and were stopped by the Zhenbei Army, resulting in several deaths and injuries."
Although Wusun was a vassal state of Nanyang, there were clear boundaries between the states, and one could not enter or leave freely without a travel permit.
Upon hearing this, several ministers froze, their hands holding chopsticks still.
If border refugees flood into Nanyang, it will not be a good thing.
Listening to the ministers' discussions, Yun Beiye asked with some dissatisfaction, "Well, do any of you ministers have a good idea?"
These ministers usually submit memorials about trivial matters like jealousy and petty squabbles, never discussing such important issues. Now that someone has brought it up, they realize it might threaten their interests and start to panic.
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, the little princess is dressed in fine clothes. It would be more appropriate to use this money to appease the herdsmen." When the Vice Minister of Rites mentioned the Wusun, Grand Historian Zhen of the Imperial Observatory felt that this was a good breakthrough. After taking a sip of wine, he also left the banquet.
Originally, he was considering whether to directly offer advice, saying that the Imperial Observatory had observed the nation's fortunes at night and discovered that the little princess was a jinx that would affect the fate of Nanyang. But now it seemed there was a better way. As long as the little princess became the target of public anger and the object of venting, his goal would be achieved.
After Grand Historian Zhen finished speaking, the ministers' eyes all fell on Yun Duoduo. They saw that Yun Duoduo's dress was gorgeous, and the precious jade on it glittered under the candlelight.
[My goodness! All the cattle and horses of Wusun are dead. Although it's a heartbreaking thing, what does it have to do with her?!]
[Is this some kind of unexpected disaster?!]
Yun Duoduo glared angrily at Zhen Taishi.
"What Grand Historian Zhen said is true. The situation in Wusun is not optimistic. If things continue like this, the border will be in chaos!" A minister shuddered at the thought of the possible influx of refugees.
"Yes, I heard that His Majesty spent a lot of manpower and resources searching for something for the little princess, and what kind of flowers to drink nectar from? If that money had been given to the suffering people of Wusun, it could have helped many disaster victims!"
The ministers present began to whisper among themselves, their anger directed at Yun Duoduo, and their gazes towards her became less friendly.
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