Yehenala was about to speak, but the eunuch's usual shrill voice sounded again, "The emperor has arrived! The queen has arrived!"
Everyone hurriedly knelt down to Hongli and Xianyue who were entering hand in hand, and said respectfully: "I, my concubines, and others respectfully welcome the emperor, and respectfully welcome the empress!"
Hongli was in a very good mood today and said with a smile: "Today is a family banquet, there is no need to be formal, just keep your clothes on."
After Xie En stood up, Yehenala took a step forward, looked at Xianyue with concern and said, "Is your phoenix body okay if you come here like this?"
"The Imperial Physician of the Song Dynasty checked my pulse this morning. The fetal gas has stabilized. It won't be inappropriate to take a few steps." With that said, Xianyue's eyes fell on Yongyong, until she saw his neck. After receiving the scar, he asked in surprise: "What happened? Why did you get hurt?"
Mrs. Hu recounted what had just happened, then leaned forward and said, "It is really my concubine's fault that Yongxuan and his wife did such a thing. Please punish them, your Majesty and the Queen."
"It's just a joke between a few children. It's not as serious as the imperial concubine said. Since Yongxuan and his wife have admitted their mistake, let's just let it go. What do you say, Your Majesty?"
Hongli nodded and said: "What the queen said is true. Yongxuan and Yongyun are only three years old. It is inevitable that they are ignorant. Let's teach them slowly in the future."
After Mrs. Hu agreed, Yongxuan and Yongxuan wiped their tears and stepped forward, obediently saluting, "Thank you so much, Huang Ama and Huang Aniang, I will be obedient in the future."
Hongli stroked their foreheads and said kindly, "Just be obedient. It'll be fine."
After receiving the birthday gift from Hongli, Yongyong blinked and looked at Xianyue, obviously waiting for her birthday gift. Xianyue smiled and said: "Don't worry, Huang's mother didn't forget the gift she gave you, and she also returned it." It's very unique, but I won't be able to tell you until later."
Yongyong asked curiously: "Why?"
"We will know when the time comes." While they were talking, Yehenala stepped forward and said, "The banquet has been prepared. Please invite the Emperor and the Queen to the table."
Hongli took Xiayue's hand and sat down together. After them, the concubines also sat down respectively. Ning glanced around and said with a bit of surprise: "Hey, why don't you see your concubine? Isn't she coming today? ?”
When Yehenala heard what she said, she said: "My concubine is not at a loss for words. I think there is something that has delayed her." After that, she called Xiao Dezi and said: "Go to Yongshou Palace to see your concubine. Have you come over yet?"
After Xiao Dezi went down as instructed, Mrs. Ning curled her lips and said in a cold voice: "She's really arrogant. She came later than the Emperor and the Queen, not to mention that she had to urge and invite everyone. If everyone was like her, Isn't there going to be chaos in the palace?"
Hongli heard what she said. Although he didn't say anything, his eyebrows showed displeasure and he said in a cold voice: "Let's start the banquet."
Xianyue said softly: "But everyone hasn't arrived yet, so why not wait a little longer."
Hongli's face darkened slightly and he said: "Everyone who is supposed to come has already arrived, who else is there to wait for?" Before Xianyue could say anything else, he already said: "The banquet is open."
Seeing what he said, Yehenala naturally wouldn't stop him without interest, and immediately ordered the palace servants to bring up the sixteen cold dishes prepared early in the morning. Because today is Yongyun's birthday, she was able to meet Yongyun. Sitting at the second table together were Hu, Xia Qing and Chen sitting at the next table.
Just as the palace was filling the wine cups in front of everyone, a voice came from outside, "Your concubine has arrived!"
Mrs. Ning snorted coldly and said, "It's already this time, what else is she doing here?"
While she was speaking, Wei Jingxuan's figure appeared in everyone's sight. She lowered her head and carried the food box inside. After standing still, she bent down and said: "I have met the emperor, the queen, and all of you."
Hongli took a white jade meatball and put it on the Xianyue plate, without raising his eyes, he said: "Did Concubine Shu forget to tell you the time for the banquet to start?"
"Returning to the emperor, Concubine Shu has already told me, but..." before she could finish speaking, Hongli said coldly: "Since you said it, you are late, and there is no one of yours here."
Position, please step aside."
Ever since she was banned from Chang Zai, Wei Jingxuan had never received such a cold reception, let alone in front of so many people. Her face suddenly turned red and tears gathered in her eyes.
Ningshi said happily: "Didn't your concubine hear what the emperor said? Why don't you retreat quickly?"
Wei Jingxuan's face went white and red for a while. Just when it was time to do something good, Yehenala stood up and said: "Your Majesty, your concubine is not an unruly person. She must be here late today. There must be some reason. Why don't you listen to it?"
Let her explain."
Seeing that Hongli was silent, Yehenara turned to Wei Jingxuan and said, "My concubine, why don't you tell the emperor quickly why you came so late."
Wei Jingxuan nodded gratefully, took a breath, and said with sobs: "Your Majesty, today is the third birthday of the eleventh prince. I have been thinking about it for a long time and don't know what birthday gift to give, so I thought about making some with my own hands.
Such snacks, so
I got up before dawn today, but after steaming it, I found that the palace servant had mistaken the salt for sugar, and the pastry was completely inedible. In desperation, I had to make it all over again, so I came late.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Mrs. Ning snorted and said, "The people in your concubine's palace are really interesting. They can't even tell the difference between salt and sugar."
Facing Ning's ridicule, Wei Jingxuan lowered her head and remained silent. In fact, she was also filled with anger. After discovering that the palace man had confused salt and sugar, she was so angry that she immediately gave the palace man a slap in the face.
Yehenala begged: "Your Majesty, my concubine's sister is really not to blame for this matter. Please forgive her this time." Seeing that Hongli didn't speak, she leaned over and said a few words in Yongyong's ear, and the latter
He nodded, stepped on his little boots and walked up to Hong Li, saying in a sweet voice: "Huang Ama, please forgive your concubine just once. I really want to eat the snacks made by my concubine."
"Your Majesty, today is a rare good day. Don't spoil your mood for a trivial matter." Seeing Xianyue also speaking, Hongli finally nodded reluctantly, "Okay, I will spare her this time."
Hearing this, Wei Jingxuan was overjoyed and quickly knelt down and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, the Queen."
After being able to wait until she was gone, Wei Jingxuan quickly took out the snacks she had spent a lot of effort to prepare from the food box, and placed them on the tables where Hongli and Yehenala were sitting. As for the other tables, the palace officials were responsible for placing them.
.
Seeing the plate of jujube and yam cakes, Yehenala's eyes flashed with joy. No matter how shrewd Wei Jingxuan was, she still fell into her trap. Next, it was time to watch the show.
After Wei Jingxuan also sat down at the table, the palace people shuttled around and brought out the dishes prepared in the imperial dining room. Naturally, the crab meat soup dumplings specified by Yehenala were among them. Yongxuan and Yongyue liked this snack the most.
They each ate a few, and then Yongxuan ate a few more jujube and yam cakes. Yongxuan didn't like the taste of yam, so she only ate half a piece.