Chapter 70 Tribute
The birthday banquet begins.
A group of palace maids and eunuchs, carrying dishes, rushed into the hall like fish leaping over a dragon gate, moving quickly and silently in front of everyone's table.
Yuying looked at the exquisite dishes placed in front of her and couldn't help swallowing. After all, she had eaten a few snacks in the morning in order to prepare a birthday cake for Kangxi. Now it was almost afternoon and those snacks had long been digested.
She didn't feel it just now, but now that the food came, Yuying realized that her stomach had been empty for a long time.
But you can't pick up your chopsticks yet, you have to say birthday wishes first.
First it was the Crown Prince, then the other princes. Even the youngest prince present, the Eleventh Prince, who had just learned to speak, stuttered out "Happy birthday, Han Father."
Kangxi responded cheerfully and praised Concubine Yi for her good teaching. Although he did not love his concubines, he still loved these children sincerely. Although their fingers might be different in length, they were all his own children after all, so there was still some affection.
Then it was the turn of the eldest princess to bring several other princesses to wish Kangxi a happy birthday. The 15-year-old eldest princess was now tall, and she led a group of younger sisters, with the demeanor of a royal princess.
Kangxi looked at Chunxi, who had grown up beside him since childhood, and his mind was filled with thoughts. Although Chunxi was not his biological daughter, she was better than his biological daughter. He thought that Chunxi would be married in a few days. As a princess of the Qing Dynasty, she needed to be nurtured.
Kangxi couldn't help but feel reluctant.
"Is Chunxi used to living in the garden?" Kangxi asked.
"Thank you Khan Ama for your concern. My daughter is used to everything."
"That's good. If you need anything, you must come to find Khan Ama."
"My daughter knows."
After hearing about Kangxi's concern for Princess Chunxi, everyone felt that Kangxi's favor for Princess Chunxi was well-deserved. Didn't they see that even other princesses and princes did not receive any concern from Kangxi?
The concubines who had princesses looked at Chunxi and wondered why their own daughters were not favored. The emperor was the same, favoring an adopted daughter instead of his own daughter.
Finally, Imperial Concubine Niu Hulu led all the concubines to stand up and raise their glasses, "Your Majesty, I congratulate you on your birthday. May your Majesty be as evergreen as the pine and cypress, and as eternal as the sun and the moon; may the Qing Dynasty last forever and prosper."
Then everyone drank it all in one gulp, and Kangxi also took a sip out of courtesy.
Only after this set of procedures is completed can the banquet officially begin.
Musicians and dancers entered the hall, and there was singing and dancing, and the atmosphere was very lively.
From time to time, eunuchs would walk around, and it turned out that they were Emperor Kangxi bestowing dishes.
Yuying also got a secret dish of water chestnut ham, which Kangxi specially asked someone to serve to Yuying because he knew that Yuying loved it.
Yuying looked up at Kangxi who was sitting far away from her, smiled knowingly, picked up a piece of food with chopsticks and ate it.
Kangxi watched Yuying eat, raised his eyebrows at her, raised his glass, and motioned for Yuying to take a sip with him.
Yuying responded without hesitation and picked up the wine glass and did as she was told.
The eye contact between the two was seen by everyone. Some were indifferent, while others curled their lips in disdain.
When everyone had almost finished eating, the eunuchs and palace maids came in and took away the plates, and it was finally time to present gifts.
The eunuch who had been registering the birthday gifts in the side hall came in and began to sing the ceremony.
Once again, the prince's gift was presented first, and Yinreng presented a painting.
Kangxi happily asked Liang Jiugong to put it away, saying that he would hang it in the study of the Qianqing Palace day and night. He even gave his own dragon jade pendant to Yinreng.
Anyone who came would know that Kangxi was very satisfied. But everyone also knew that Kangxi would be happy no matter what the prince gave him, and no one would compare with the prince in Kangxi's heart, except the eldest prince.
When Yinzhi saw that Yinreng got the reward, his face was full of dissatisfaction.
Next came his gift. He thought that what he gave would be more to Khan's liking than what the crown prince gave.
What Yinzhi gave was a complete tiger skin.
Seeing the eunuch carrying the tiger up, Yinzhi quickly stood up and introduced, "Khan Ama, this tiger skin was hunted by me personally. There is no scratch on the fur. Please take a closer look, Khan Ama."
Yinzhi also did not forget to look at Yinreng proudly.
What do you think, second brother? Isn’t the thing I gave you better than yours?
If I asked you to hunt a tiger, you probably wouldn't be able to do it, right?
Yinreng understood what was meant in Yinzhi's eyes: the eldest brother was a reckless man.
Kangxi clapped his hands and cheered, "Well, well, well, my Baoqing is indeed the Baturu of the Qing Dynasty! Liang Jiugong, fetch the precious sword that I often use and give it to the eldest prince!"
"Thank you, Khan Father!" Yinzhi quickly knelt down to express his gratitude.
Concubine Hui watched from the side with a proud look on her face, and she shared the honor.
He is worthy of being her Yinzhi!
The gifts continued. The third prince Yinzhi gave an ancient book, and the fourth prince Yinzhen gave a paperweight...
Everyone's gifts were just average, and no one received any rewards or praise from Kangxi.
Then it was the concubines' turn, and they presented their gifts one by one according to their rank.
Although Imperial Noble Consort Tong Jia, Consort De and others did not come, they had prepared gifts and sent them over early.
Gifts were presented one after another like water, Yuying was dazzled and began to worry whether the birthday cake she prepared was too simple.
Kangxi watched with boredom. It was the same every year, nothing new, and he was tired of it. So he couldn't help but look forward to what Yuying would prepare.
"A gift from Lady Jin: a birthday cake."
Finally it was her turn and Yuying cheered up.
I saw several eunuchs carrying a table and carefully placing a box on the table.
Everyone was confused and looked at the huge box in the center of the hall, looking at Yuying with curiosity.
"Lady Jin, why don't you open it? Stop keeping us in suspense."
Kangxi stared with the same curiosity.
Yuying asked everyone to open the box, revealing the three-layer cake inside.
Everyone looked at this festive cake and thought that Yuying was just trying to attract attention.
Although Kangxi also disliked the cake, he couldn't let Yuying feel embarrassed, so he tried to make up for her, "Not bad! Lady Jin's gift is very unique. I am very satisfied. Give me a reward!"
Since the emperor has said it, everyone else can only agree.
The emperor is always partial! The gifts they sent are better than those given by Concubine Jin.
But the emperor didn't reward them!
Seeing that Kangxi actually signaled the eunuch to take the cake away, Yuying quickly spoke out to stop him, "Your Majesty, a birthday cake is not a birthday cake unless it is shared by everyone!"
"Oh?" Kangxi signaled the eunuch to stop, "Then divide it as you said."
Although this was different from what Yuying had imagined, with candles and cake cutting, at least she could still eat it.
The eunuch first served one piece to Kangxi and the crown prince, and then distributed the rest to everyone.
It smelled sweet, but no one ate it.
Out of trust in Yuying, Kangxi and Yinreng tasted it together.
Seeing that Kangxi and the Crown Prince had tasted it, everyone gritted their teeth and took a small bite.
Unexpectedly, it tasted surprisingly good.
Concubine Xi ate one mouthful after another, not forgetting to look at Yuying with surprise.
Yinzhi looked at Yinreng eating one bite after another and curled his lips. Only the second son liked to eat these sweet and greasy things.
But in fact, the cake was more popular than expected. At least the concubines and young princes and princesses loved it very much. The ninth prince Yinzhen even rushed to get Concubine Yi's piece.
Hearing the noise, Yuying looked over and Concubine Yi smiled embarrassedly.
After eating the cake, the birthday party came to an end.
Once again, Kangxi took the crown prince and left first, followed by the others who walked out in twos and threes.
Yuying also got up and went back to Qingxi Book House with Qingtao and Luchen.
Unexpectedly, Kangxi was waiting for her on the roadside.
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