Chapter 229 Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet
Yuan Hongqu nodded in agreement and walked hand in hand with the Empress toward the banquet. All the previous entanglements and anxieties turned into a gentle warmth at this moment.
As Yuan Hongqu and the Empress walked side by side toward the banquet hall, Yuan Hongqu couldn't help but whisper, "Your Majesty, now that you hold such a high position, are you still at ease?"
The Empress sighed softly: "It is certainly not as carefree as before, but having taken on this responsibility, there is no reason for me to back down."
Yuan Hongqu patted the Empress's hand to comfort her.
Upon arriving at the banquet venue, everyone took their seats, and the palace banquet began amidst a peaceful and lively atmosphere. However, no one knew how many stories would unfold that night.
As you step into the Imperial Garden, the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms fills the air.
The moonlight, like water, poured onto the glazed tiles, refracting a dazzling light.
The officials had already taken their seats, and upon seeing the Empress arrive, they all rose to pay their respects.
"Long live the Empress!"
After everyone was seated again, the musicians played their instruments, and the dancers gracefully entered the arena.
Yuan Hongqu and the Empress enjoyed the song and dance performances while savoring the delicious food and wine on the table.
Daiyu looked around curiously, her eyes full of wonder.
The Empress told her that this was the Empress's territory, and that she should feel at home and not be too restrained.
Zhao Huajing thought that since the master's expectations of her had not been met, it seemed that this junior sister Daiyu was the master's favorite person. If the junior sister Daiyu did well in what she had not done well, the master would definitely feel gratified.
Therefore, after Daiyu was granted the title of Princess, Zhao Huajing proposed that the Imperial Household Department host a birthday banquet for Princess Lin, and also instructed the department to send out invitations widely, so that the entire capital would know that Princess Lin was not without support; she had not only Mr. Yuan behind her, but also the royal family as her backers. Even without her parents by her side, she was still the noble Princess Lin of the capital, carefree and free.
Just as everyone was enjoying the revelry, a young eunuch suddenly rushed over and whispered a few words in the empress's ear in a panic.
The Empress's expression changed, but she quickly regained her composure.
She smiled at everyone and said, "It's nothing, just a small matter."
Then he quietly instructed the people around him to handle it.
Yuan Hongqu noticed something was wrong and looked at the Empress with some concern.
The Empress gently shook her head to indicate that nothing was wrong.
But not long after, a commotion could be faintly heard in the distance.
At this moment, the emperor arrived.
The room fell silent. After the emperor took his seat, his gaze swept over the empress, and he paused slightly when he saw Yuan Hongqu.
Whose wife is this? Sitting in the front row, she is clearly the wife of an important official. However, judging from her attire, she doesn't seem to be from an official family, but rather from a family of commoners.
When did such a person appear in the court?
The Emperor was puzzled, so the Empress quickly explained Yuan Hongqu's identity.
"Your Majesty, this is the headmistress of the girls' academy. It was I who requested an imperial decree from you to appoint Mr. Yuan as the headmistress."
Upon hearing this, the emperor laughed and said, "I have long heard of the Women's Academy. Meeting the headmistress today, I can confirm that she is indeed extraordinary."
Although he appointed the dean, and the empress insisted on giving Mr. Yuan a rank, the highest rank among female officials was only the fifth rank.
However, the Empress disagreed, saying that with Mr. Yuan's talent, a fifth-rank official position was a disservice to him. Moreover, when all nations came to pay tribute, it was thanks to Mr. Yuan's help that the great nation did not lose face.
The Emperor then remembered this matter, and after much discussion with the Empress, it was finally decided that Yuan Hongqu's rank would not be transferred from the female officials' group.
After much deliberation, he finally issued an imperial edict, elevating Yuan Hongqu to the rank of the third-rank Imperial Academy Chancellor.
After all, the girls' academy also trained female officials for the imperial court, and they were no less capable than the scholars studying at the Imperial Academy.
Many students from the Imperial College were not good at studying, while the female officials from the Women's Academy were all trained and qualified before being put into office, making them extremely easy to use.
"Next to Mr. Yuan is Lin Ruhai's daughter, whom we bestowed the title of Princess Jiangzhu. His Majesty is busy with state affairs, and has probably forgotten about her?" the Empress said softly.
The Emperor glanced at Daiyu beside Yuan Hongqu. She was still a childlike little girl, but she already showed signs of her father's character. She truly deserved to be the child of the Lin family, a top-tier family in the Qingliu lineage!
The Emperor admired him in his heart and thought that Lin Ruhai had done a good job recently. He wondered if he should call him back to report on his work and let the father and daughter meet.
This was the second time Yuan Hongqu had seen the Emperor. The last time was during the final competition when all nations came to pay tribute. At that time, they were quite far apart, and she only heard someone shout "The Emperor has arrived." Yuan Hongqu only noticed a bright yellow robe and could not see what the Emperor looked like.
This time, Yuan Hongqu and Daiyu sat in the chief seat, only a few steps away from the Emperor and Empress's high seats. Yuan Hongqu only glanced at them, and the last bit of resentment she felt for Zhao Huajing was extinguished.
Although the Emperor is old, and I heard he is over forty, the royal family is always self-disciplined. He shows no signs of fatigue typical of middle-aged people, and he is not even greasy, which is the most common trait among middle-aged men.
He's a handsome middle-aged man, though.
Yuan Hongqu thought to herself, "No wonder Hua Jing is willing to be trapped in this deep palace."
Hua Jing lost her mother at a young age, and after her father remarried, he sent her to live with her maternal grandparents.
She never experienced any fatherly or motherly love.
Perhaps after realizing her true self, her filial piety towards herself could somewhat fill the void of maternal love, but the lack of paternal love was something she herself hadn't even figured out... Perhaps the Emperor fulfilled all her expectations!
The emperor spoke up: "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. I have heard that the women in the families of my beloved ministers are all very talented. Why don't you show them a few to add to the enjoyment?"
So the women all got up and performed.
Some were composing poems and painting, while others were playing musical instruments.
When it was Daiyu's turn, she calmly stood up, bowed, and began to tell a short story she had created herself.
She was eloquent and her stories were captivating, drawing everyone in.
The emperor couldn't help but praise, "Princess Lin is exceptionally intelligent."
Daiyu had just sat down after thanking the emperor when a cold laugh rang out from the crowd.
Everyone looked over and saw that it was the daughter of the Minister of Rites. She was always proud and looked down on girls' academies.
She stood up and said in a sweet voice, "Your Majesty, although the story of Princess Lin is wonderful, it is ultimately a pastime for young women. I think it is too unserious."
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere at the scene instantly became tense.
Yuan Hongqu frowned slightly, but then heard the Empress say, "The Mid-Autumn Festival is meant to be a time for joy and family reunion. Why is the Minister's daughter so serious? Have you forgotten that today is a family banquet?"
The young lady was still unwilling to give up and was about to say something more when the emperor waved his hand.
"The Empress is absolutely right; there is no need to argue about these things today."
However, after this little incident, the atmosphere at the banquet remained somewhat delicate.
Just then, a spectacular display of fireworks burst into the sky.
Multicolored lights shone on everyone's faces. Everyone's attention was drawn to them, and they temporarily forgot their earlier unpleasantness.
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