"Including His Majesty and the women of the harem, we need to prepare rations for at least a hundred people."
"Furthermore, people from Beiliang, Shu, Wusun, and Loulan will also be coming, which will bring up another hundred or so people!"
"At the current market price, a bunch of scallions costs three coins, and potatoes cost ten coins..."
"Eighty people would need one shi (a unit of dry measure) of vegetables, which is about fifty taels of silver. Adding in meat, wine, and pastries, the total would be..."
Aunt Wu paused here, unable to say for a long time how much money she wanted.
"It'll cost about a thousand taels of silver?" Xia Xiazi said, fiddling with the abacus in his hand.
"Don't worry about the amount of silver yet, we'll calculate it all later," said Eunuch Li.
Aunt Wu nodded and continued, "Although the pastries and wines from the Imperial Kitchen are not bad, if we have enough manpower, money, and time later, we should still buy the pastries from Qinxiang Pavilion and Pinxiangzhai, and the wines from Manjianghong Restaurant. The pastries and wines there are the most authentic and have the most of the taste of the capital."
"Since it's the Ninth Princess's coming-of-age ceremony, it can't be too shabby. Everything should be done to the best of our ability. Perhaps envoys from other countries will come to offer their congratulations. We can't lose face at this time."
"We must also let the people of Beiliang and Loulan taste the food and wine of Nanyang and see the produce of Nanyang!"
"Also, the Ninth Princess's clothes need to be made at the Brocade Weaving Workshop, which takes the longest time."
"The styles in the palace are too conservative. It's the outsiders who know the most fashionable styles in the capital, with jewels and jade sewn on them. A set of clothes like that would cost at least a hundred taels of silver."
"Xiao Xiazi, quickly go and invite the aunt from the Imperial Pharmacy over!" Zhao Zhongquan thought to himself that only the Imperial Clothing Bureau could make the decision regarding these clothes.
It seems I need to notify everyone in advance for the next meeting and bring in all the relevant people.
Organizing a banquet is no easy task.
"You're calling Auntie over for a meeting, right?" Xiazi said, popping a piece of meat into her mouth.
"And please also invite the head of the Imperial Music Bureau!"
Alright!
Xiazi dashed out again, first going to the Shangyi Bureau to ask the head lady, and then to the Jiaofangsi to ask another head lady.
...
Eunuch Li fished a piece of meat out of the pot and threw it into his mouth. There must have been singing, dancing and instrumental performances at the coming-of-age ceremony.
The musically illiterate group couldn't come to any conclusion, so they started chatting idly, mainly about how the princess had come of age and it would be difficult to see her in the future.
The one who was most heartbroken was Aunt Wu.
Aunt Wu still held the oil-dripping spatula in her left hand. She rubbed her cloudy eyes, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart.
“Ninth Princess, I raised her from a baby, feeding her bowl after bowl of rice porridge and bowl after bowl of meat soup…”
"Fifteen years have passed. The princess has grown up, and this old woman... will find it difficult to see her again in the future!"
Seeing that Aunt Wu was in low spirits and seemed to have tears in her eyes, Manager Li and Zhao Zhongquan quickly comforted her.
"Don't be too sad. The Ninth Princess said she will come back to the palace often."
...
A moment later, the head of the Imperial Clothing Bureau and the head of the Music Bureau also came over. The group sat around the table, eating the meat in the pot while discussing their plans.
"The music troupe of Yihong Courtyard will rehearse together with the Shangyue Bureau of the Palace, and will also invite some famous dancers."
"This is the Ninth Princess's first coming-of-age ceremony. With so many foreign envoys in attendance, it has to be a grand affair."
Zhao Zhongquan nodded as he spoke, feeling that what he said made a lot of sense.
"Xiaxia, make a note of this."
Xiazi nodded and quickly took notes.
...
On this day, Yun Yishu went to Duoduo Money Shop to discuss with Su Buqing and Song Yuanbao what gifts to give to a girl when she comes of age.
He hoped that the two could provide him with input from a different perspective than that of his royal relatives and friends.
“It’s winter now, and I see that the women and young ladies going in and out of the money shop are all carrying hand warmers.”
“A few days ago, I saw a young lady holding a hand warmer, which was very beautiful. I inquired about it and found out that He Mingqi is a famous hand warmer maker in the capital.” Su Buqing said to Yun Yishu.
"He Mingqi?"
Yun Yishu was somewhat puzzled, as he had never heard of this name before.
"His works are known as 'He Lu' (He's Furnace), and the hand warmers he makes have exquisite patterns and uniform copper quality."
"Moreover, the most amazing thing is that even if the charcoal fire in the stove burns very brightly, it will not be hot to the touch. The heat is just right, making the user feel very comfortable. It can be said that it has reached the pinnacle."
"This old man He can actually make such a good hand warmer?"
Yun Yishu clicked his tongue, explaining that it was precisely because hand warmers conduct heat so quickly that too many charcoal blocks couldn't be placed inside.
According to Su Buqing, if this hand warmer is really that good, then more charcoal blocks can be put in, and the hand warmer can be used for a longer period of time without having to replace the charcoal blocks frequently.
"The common shapes of these hand warmers are octagonal, round, square, and waist-shaped."
Su Buqing spoke while gesturing.
"More refined and well-made ones come in shapes such as flower basket, pumpkin, plum blossom, begonia, and tortoise shell."
"It is carved with the elegance of a classical garden wall and latticed window, and is decorated with pictures of landscapes, figures, flowers and birds. Therefore, it can be used to warm your hands and also as a desk ornament."
Yun Yishu's eyes lit up as he listened; he had never imagined that this hand warmer had so many intricacies.
"Uncle He also makes some silver and porcelain hand warmers, which are very exquisite and beautiful."
"Brother Su, please help me inquire about Uncle He. Could you ask him to make a hand warmer for me?"
"Oh no, make two... make three!"
Give one to Duoduo, one to Mother, and one to that little fool.
"Any amount is fine, the money can be drawn from the interest earned by the money shop first."
Su Buqing nodded: "Alright, leave it to me. Since our young master is coming of age, my brother and I should also prepare a gift."
Su Buqing glanced at Song Yuanbao, who nodded repeatedly.
Yun Yishu glanced at the sun outside the window, stood up and said, "Let's go, it's already noon. I'll treat Brother Su and Brother Song to lunch!"
"I heard a new restaurant recently opened in town, let's go check it out!"
As Yun Yishu spoke, he remembered that Yun Duoduo had returned from Ganye Temple, so they could go out for a meal together and help her relax.
"Shi Tou, go tell Duo Duo that we've opened a new restaurant in Beijing called Cai Xiang Ge, and ask her to come and try it with us."
"And Ziwan, Pin'er, Brother Chu, Brother Qiming, Brother Shangyan, please come over too. It's been a long time since we've seen each other. Let's have a meal together."
"Let's get together and have some fun."
Upon receiving the order, Shi Tou dashed out to fetch someone.
Yun Yishu and his companions chatted as they walked, and soon arrived at the restaurant. Looking at the table and chair arrangements inside, they remarked, "The decor of this restaurant is truly elegant."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
