Empress Dowager smiled and said, Rise. Ladies, please take your seats!
Thank you, Empress Dowager! But no one moved. The Empress Dowager entered the main seat. Sitting beside her were the Empress and Consort Hui. Although the Empress was smiling, she still looked dignified. Consort Hui was the mother of the Fifth Prince Ling Yin and was the head of all the concubines. She had always been doted on by the Emperor. Other than the Fifth Prince, she also had a daughter and a son. They were the Third Princess and the Sixth Prince. After the top seats were taken, the other concubines also sat down at the bottom seats. Only then did everyone take their seats.
Lan Qin followed her mother to sit at the lower table of the concubines. Those invited were the families of the three dukes and nine ministers. The wife of Grand Marshal Lin, Wang, was also sitting opposite him with her daughter, Lin Zixi. Lin Zixi was no longer as lively and mischievous as before. He was sitting obediently beside his mother.
The Empress Dowager said,"Let the ladies drink!"
Here. The palace servants behind the banquet went forward to pour wine and then retreated.
The Empress Dowager said,"This widow has called all the madams into the palace today because we want to take advantage of the Dragon Boat Festival to put out lanterns and pray for the Han Dynasty." The emperor and the officials work hard for the country every day. We women can't share the political affairs with them, so we can only pray for the gods to bless our Han Dynasty.
Everyone said,"The Empress Dowager is right."
Then, they toasted each other. After three rounds of wine, the Empress said," Mother, there are many young ladies here today. I think all of you are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Why don't you all come here for a short while to liven up Mother?"
The Empress Dowager was old and naturally liked the liveliness. She smiled and said," Good, the Empress 'suggestion is very good!
Therefore, all the young ladies performed their talents. First, the Prime Minister's granddaughter, Xue Yuhua, played the zither, then Lin Zixi danced with the sword. The next few young ladies were nothing more than zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. There was nothing new about them. The Empress Dowager was happy and everyone praised her.
It was Lan Qin's turn. She thought to herself,"The four arts have already been performed, if it's still this set, even the Empress Dowager would not be interested." He walked to the center and bowed. Lan Qin greets the Empress Dowager, the empress, and all the other niangniang.
Rise, the Empress Dowager said, You are Lord Taichang Lan's daughter? Yes, Empress Dowager.
Consort Hui smiled and said,"Mother, ChenQie heard that Lord Lan's daughter is not only beautiful, but also intelligent!"
Is that so? Alright, alright. Lanqin, what are you going to perform for everyone today?
Replying to the Empress Dowager's words, just now all the sisters had already performed zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. It was truly superb, so Lan Qin would not be ugly again. Today, Lanqin would recite a poem she had composed.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said,"Then let's read it aloud for everyone to hear."
The water is still and the lotus fragrance is pleasant.
After the chess game at the dark window, I spit out my heart again
The jade tower, the red face, the flying moon, the flowing wine cup
High mountains and flowing water, guests answer the spring river
Good, good. It's hard for a girl like you to have such ability at such a young age. The Empress Dowager smiled and said,"Come, come forward. Let this widow take a closer look at you."
Lan Qin lowered her head and walked forward.
Raising your head to let aijia see you, the empress dowager's kind voice rang in Lanqin's ears.
Lanqin slowly raised her head and lowered her eyebrows, not daring to look at the empress dowager.
The Empress Dowager said,"Aiyo, what a wonderful person!" How old are you this year? When is your birthday?
Lanqin replied,"Replying to the Empress Dowager, Qin 'er is thirteen this year, and it's the fifth day of the fourth month."
Hui Fei, Ling 'er hasn't married yet, what do you think of this girl? The empress dowager smiled.
Hui Fei said: Mother, I also like this child very much. If mother is willing to make the decision, that would be the best.
The Empress smiled and said," Mother, little sister doesn't know. Although this child is good, he is already engaged." Although we are the royal family, we can't do something like snatching the bride!
The Empress Dowager sighed,"Ai, aijia still wants to be a matchmaker today!" Haha.
Consort Hui said to the Empress: Elder Sister, Younger Sister really didn't know about this matter. Fortunately, Elder Sister pointed it out. He turned his head to the table and asked,"Madam Lan, I wonder which young master your daughter has betrothed to?"
Madam Lan hurriedly stood up and said,"Replying to Consort Hui Niangniang, when my daughter was just born, she was already engaged to the third young master of the Lin family."
The Empress Dowager smiled and said,"So you promised it to the marshal's family!"
Hui Fei said: Mother, ChenQie likes this child very much and wants to reward this child with something.
Empress Dowager said: It's rare for you to have such a heart. You should be rewarded.
Consort Hui stood up and placed a golden hairpin inlaid with jade on her head. This was given to bengong by the emperor when bengong first entered the palace. After saying that, he inserted the hairpin into Lan Qin's head.
Lan Qin thanked him and left.
After a while, the sky darkened.
The empress dowager said that she was going to start lighting up the lanterns. The palace servants lit up the torches, and a few servants carried over lanterns. They were lotuses made of gauze and silk, with a small piece of incense in the middle. Lanqin held it in her hands, unwilling to put it into the water.
At this moment, someone knocked on her back. She turned around and saw that it was the Fifth Prince, Ling Yin. Shocked, she was about to bow when he pulled her back. No, come with me.
Fifth Prince, where are you going? If Mother can't find me…Lan Qin whispered.
Don't worry, I'll definitely send you back later! Lingyin held her hand and left the crowd.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]