The Empress gave a few instructions to the maidservant beside her. The maid nodded and quickly emerged from the pavilion. She glanced around and announced, "The rules for today's game have been determined. Your Majesty and the two princesses have discussed and decided that today we will choose the most talented woman through a drinking game."
As soon as these words were spoken, the ladies began to discuss in low voices.
Drinking orders are a game used to liven up the atmosphere at banquets. Generally, one person is nominated as the order officer, and the others take turns to recite poems, couplets or other similar games. Those who disobey the order or lose the game are punished by drinking, so it is also called "drinking after orders".
These are games played by literati at the dinner table. They are all women, and you can't let the losers drink a few glasses. Otherwise, everyone will be drunk.
If it happened at home, it wouldn't be a big deal, but this happened outside, so everyone is naturally afraid of losing face.
The maid said: "The wine we drink today is the royal wine of the palace, the finest wine, which is not available outside. The Queen brought it out to share with everyone to liven up the atmosphere."
Drinking orders are divided into elegant orders and general orders. Since they are played by talented women like these, they are of course elegant orders.
However, there are many types of elegant orders, including Four Books Order, Flower Branch Order, Poetry Order, Riddle Order, etc. No one can guess what we will play today.
The method for performing the "Ya Ling" (齊令) is to first elect a leader, who will compose a poem or couplet. The others must follow the original leader's lead, matching both the content and form. Failure to do so will result in a drink. Performing the "Ya Ling" requires quoting from classics, reciting rhymed poems, and developing and improvising responses. This requires both literary talent and agility, making it the most inventive and ingenious way to showcase the drinker's ingenuity.
"Today's game is divided into two stages. The first is the Spring Poetry Order. The second is the Daughter Order. Those who can't continue will lose, and the one who remains to the end will be the champion of today." The palace maid's voice was crisp and pleasant, and she spoke very clearly. It seemed that she was not an ordinary maid, but had some talent.
The Spring Poems and Daughter Poems mentioned by the palace maids are both common among literati, and they test not only literary talent, but also reading volume and reaction ability. It doesn't seem difficult, but with so many people competing, those who can persevere to the end can be considered a great talent among women.
Before the palace maid finished speaking, a young eunuch suddenly came. The Empress recognized him as the Crown Prince's servant, so she asked him to come closer to talk.
After the young eunuch said a few words, the Queen Mother looked surprised, but nodded, and then asked another palace maid beside her to call back the palace maid who announced the rules.
No one knew what had happened. After a while, the palace maid came out again and continued what she had not finished saying with a calm expression.
"The Empress saw that many young men had come today, and with the addition of the princes from the palace, they could form a perfect match with the ladies to play the game of Go. So, the young men and ladies drew lots to form teams, and they would play Go together. The Empress said that since we need to rank them, we should learn from the imperial examinations. The top three will be the top three, the top three, and the bottom three. The prize for the winning group today will be a plant of Ou Jia Bi, a rare copy of the Purple Lotus Monk, and an incense book from the Painting Smoke Monk."
Everyone was surprised by the sudden change in the rules.
"Does anyone have any questions?"
The palace maid had explained it clearly, and the rules were set by the Queen Mother. Moreover, the prize was so valuable, so naturally no one had any objections and nodded in agreement.
Some noble ladies who originally had no hope of staying until the end seemed to see hope again. These gentlemen were all outstanding men. If the man they drew was a great one, then even if they themselves lacked literary talent, they would still have a chance of winning.
"In that case, I will go and invite you and the princes to join us in the game."
A moment later, the princes and young men from noble families, led by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, came here in groups. There were many handsome men in the Da'an Dynasty, and those who were able to enter and leave the palace were all handsome and outstanding in appearance. When they gathered together, they were really a dazzling sight, which made people dazzled and overwhelmed.
All the noble ladies blushed, and only a few of them dared to look up and look at them.
And His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who was walking in the front, was the most attractive man among these people. He did not wear casual clothes in the palace, but an apricot-yellow crown of the Crown Prince, embroidered with an eight-clawed dragon, a moon-white corset around his waist, his black hair tied up, and a crown with thirteen oriental pearls. There was dignity and pride between his brows, which was truly dazzling.
Following behind him were several equally handsome princes, all of whom were outstanding. Among them, the most outstanding in appearance was the fifth prince, with a warm temperament, eyes like morning stars, and a gentle smile on his lips, but this smile did not reach his eyes, which made him look a little mysterious.
Yu Rou didn't look at it for long. She only heard the exclamations and whispers of the noble ladies around her, and she knew how popular her fiancé was.
Judging from the original owner’s memory, he was not as popular as the Fifth Prince before his rebirth. Now his demeanor is different, which makes him even more fascinating.
Yu Rou secretly glanced at He Yulian and Yan Wanyun. They were both staring at His Royal Highness the Crown Prince with obsession and longing in their eyes, as if they were deeply attracted to him.
Yu Rou couldn't help but find it amusing. These two seemed to have such a good relationship, but they both liked the Crown Prince? Were they planning to share a husband and be best sisters for life?
Everyone thought the prince would also join them in the drinking game, but he casually said, "There are so many of you, I won't join in. I'll be the official."
Except for Yu Rou, everyone was surprised. They didn't expect that the prince would take the initiative to be an official.
The commander-in-chief plays the role of both question setter and referee in the game of drinking games, but usually they play the game of passing the flower while beating the drum. It seems a bit of a waste of talent for the commander-in-chief to call a halt and let the prince do this.
The Queen was also stunned, but quickly recovered her composure and said, "Why is the Crown Prince so in a refined mood today?"
"On a whim, mother, please agree to my son's request." His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said in a deep voice.
Yu Rou raised her eyes and looked at the prince, her gaze meeting his. The prince had no expression and quickly looked away.
The author has something to say: His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's journey of true fragrance...
Men in the ancient world really had Su Qi
We arrived at the B&B around 7 o'clock. We had hot pot for dinner. The three of us ate five servings. We were really starving. Haha
After returning home, the three of us wrote together in the guesthouse until three in the morning.
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