Chapter 440: Winter Solstice Banquet, the Concubine is Outstanding
The Winter Solstice Banquet is held in Tianen Hall.
Although there was half a foot of snow on the first day, everything from outside the palace to everywhere in the palace was kept clean.
The eunuchs and maids wore newly made palace clothes, and those selected to serve the banquet were all good-looking and smiling.
There are bonsais of wintersweet and longevity bamboo placed in the hall. The charcoal is scarlet and the warm fragrance overflows.
There was also a group of musicians playing carefully in the northwest corner of the hall, which not only added interest but did not hinder people's conversation.
Later, the emperor arrived. After looking at the scene in the palace, he couldn't help but praise: "This year's Winter Solstice banquet is well-prepared and not extravagant. It's very good."
The Concubine Xian quickly humbled herself and said, "Your Majesty, I am very complimentary. My concubine's abilities are really limited. I am very lucky to be able to avoid being so good and ugly."
At this time, the concubines, princes, emperors, grandsons, and invited ministers had all arrived, greeting each other and greeting each other.
Concubine Li also arrived today and asked with a smile: "Why can't you see the Sixth Prince alone? Why are you so late on a day like this?"
"Going back to Concubine Li, the Sixth Prince and his people set up a stove at the four gates of the capital before dawn and distributed dumplings and bait soup to the officers and soldiers coming in and out. So I arrived a little late, but I thought it would be soon, and I can always be there
Come back before the banquet starts." Kang Guang said.
"Oh, that was really hard work," Concubine Li glanced at Concubine Xian and praised, "Sister Concubine Xian taught her well."
"Gan'er has never been careful enough, but this time it was his own idea," Concubine Xian said with a smile, "Children always become sensible inadvertently."
Just as she was talking, Concubine Rong came in holding Xue Hengzhao's hand, while Aunt Ningcui supported her on the other side.
Everyone rushed to greet her. Concubine Rong panted several times and said with a smile: "Old man, I'm out of breath after walking these few steps. But I just want to join in the fun, and I don't want to be offended."
"My ancestor is in a good mood and is willing to have fun with everyone. This is really great." The emperor said happily, "Please take a seat."
Concubine Rong sat down and smiled at Concubine Xian: "The banquet you prepared this year is really good. I heard them say how good it was a few times before, so I couldn't help but come too. In previous years, I would have been afraid of the cold.
Reluctant to leave the house."
"I am really happy that my ancestors have shown me such favor." Concubine Xian blushed slightly, "There are many shortcomings, please forgive me, ancestors and everyone!"
"Did you see? Now the Concubine Xian is in charge of the Sixth Palace! The Dowager Empress is here to support her. After all, she is the Concubine recommended by the Imperial Concubine and the Emperor." Someone with knowledge of the matter whispered.
"Don't tell me, Concubine Xian is really capable. She is usually quiet, but when the time comes, she can do anything." Someone else said.
"Do you know why the Dowager Empress recommends a virtuous concubine in front of the emperor?" Someone lowered his voice to show off.
"I know that Concubine Xian recommended Dr. Guo to cure the concubine's headache." Someone immediately came up and said, "The concubine's headache was very dangerous. I heard that the medicine can cure the disease this time."
, it is no longer as lingering and lingering as before, and it cannot be cured after a long period of treatment."
"You only know one thing but not the other," the person next to him said with a smile, "the concubine has only one biological daughter, Princess Guangling, and the concubine Xian..."
The voice from behind was too low and was covered up by the sound of silk and bamboo.
Later, the sixth prince also rushed over and complained about being late.
"You are doing a good deed to accumulate merit for the Emperor." Concubine Rong said, "Sit down quickly! Look at your cold hands and face that are red."
At this time, Concubine Fu, the fifth prince and others were also present, but everyone looked at her coldly, but Concubine Rong did not joke with them. Whenever her eyes touched her, the expression on her face was indifferent.
Everyone suspected that they must have lost Princess Rong's favor.
The banquet began immediately.
According to the rules, the first dish must be dumpling soup.
The emperor personally brought a bowl to Concubine Rong, and Concubine Xian brought another bowl to the emperor.
Then distribute it to everyone according to their order.
Then the fruit dishes came out like water, exquisite but not extravagant, with the right amount of meat and vegetables, and good color and taste.
The emperor was very satisfied with today's banquet. The long-term fatigue and boredom were relieved a lot by the delicious wine and delicious food and the joyful atmosphere.
"It's a rare gathering today. Everyone raises their glasses and takes a sip!" The emperor took the lead in raising his glasses, and everyone quickly followed.
At this time, the sound of the music was much louder than before, and a group of dancers in colorful clothes came up to perform the dance. Their clothes were flying and their bodies were graceful. They were really happy to help.
Immediately, many people stood up to toast, and some ministers were very humorous and made everyone laugh.
When the wine was half drunk, Concubine Xian stood up, held the cup in both hands and said to the Emperor: "Today is a great banquet, and I would like to invite someone to come to entertain His Majesty."
"Oh?" The emperor was already half drunk. He didn't care much when Concubine Xian said this. He just said casually, "Then let him come up!"
Everyone looked towards the entrance to see who would come on next.
But I saw an old man in a cloth shirt walking in slowly.
"Who is this?" Everyone couldn't help but wonder.
"He doesn't have anything with him, so what is he doing for fun? Is it a trick?"
The old man stepped forward, saluted, and said: "The common people gave a speech on the spot today, which can be regarded as a congratulation to His Majesty."
As he said this, someone brought pen, ink, paper and inkstones to the side. The old man gently rolled up his sleeves, dipped his hands in thick ink and started writing on the paper.
The emperor signaled, and Zhang Ze, who was next to him, walked down, stood next to the old man, and read out the words he had written one by one.
"Haotian Dao is born, and the king is sage.
The beauty of Qiuxu has fallen, but how can it remain unchanged for thousands of years..."
After reading these few sentences, everyone couldn't help but be shocked, and even the emperor's expression changed.
"Is this gentleman the Jingshan layman who is best at writing Qing Ci?" The emperor couldn't help but stood up from his seat.
The emperor was obsessed with Taoism, and one of the most important things in Taoism was to use green words to worship heaven.
Although there are countless scribes in the country, not everyone can write good Qingci.
It is recognized that the person who has written the best Qingci in the past hundred years is Jingshan layman Feng Zhimian.
However, more than 20 years ago, Feng Zhimian lived in seclusion in the mountains. The emperor sent people to search for him many times but could not find his whereabouts.
Some people even say that he has died a long time ago, otherwise why can't he be found even with the power of the monarch?
It can be said that this man is both a great writer whose writing is astonishing, and also a hermit who never sees the end of his life.
But no one expected that he would appear at the Winter Solstice Banquet today.
Although the old man never admitted it from beginning to end, and just concentrated on writing Qing Ci, everyone knew that there would never be another person with such excellent writing skills.
Just like Li Taibai's poems, others cannot imitate them even if they want to.
"Oh, wow, that's amazing! Concubine Xian is so capable, she was able to find the layman Jingshan."
If today's banquet made everyone look at Concubine Xian with admiration, then the appearance of layman Jingshan was enough to make people respect Concubine Xian in awe.