" Summon the Selection Attendants into the palace…" The high-pitched voice of a eunuch came from inside Taihe Palace.
The selected attendants stood outside the hall in unison, waiting for the decree to be announced. The leading father-in-law and aunt of each household were at the front of the line. Outside Taihe Palace stood a crowd of attendants, staring blankly into the distance with empty eyes. The servants lowered their heads, not knowing what they were feeling at the moment. Perhaps they were excited, nervous, or excited, or perhaps they were afraid, nervous, or uneasy. However, from their solemn expressions, their mixed emotions were completely drowned out.
Dusk had already passed into the darkness of the night. Only the wind was still quietly stirring the silk hanging from the slender hands of the attendants. The handkerchief fluttering in the evening wind became the only trace of freedom in the solemn and silent air at this time.
" Xuan..." When the voice traveled from the hall to the outside of the hall, the eunuchs slowly signaled them to enter the hall. Suddenly, their skirts rustled. They wore palace shoes, had flag heads on their heads, and waved their handkerchief. They looked even taller and slender, and their posture was elegant.
When they entered the palace together, Eunuch Xiao Shunzi waved his hand," Stop…"
The candidates stood still and stood neatly in two rows, waiting with their heads bowed.
Xie 'er secretly peeked into Taihe Palace from the corner of her eyes. She saw the golden blue glazed tiles, the tall lamp tiles, and the bricks under her feet were all flowing with light and color. They were so clear that they almost reflected her lowered face. He stole a glance and saw dozens of red pillars supporting such a huge palace. Among these dozens of pillars, there were countless round tables covered in gold and carved with flowers. Beside each table, there were carved stools of the same style. It was extremely luxurious.
Xie 'er thought to herself," These gorgeous tables and chairs, the soft blanket under my feet, and the golden walls and green tiles in my eyes are really extravagant. I never thought that I would have the chance to eat in such a magnificent palace…The food made in the imperial kitchen is already drooling just by listening to it…"
Just as Xie 'er was lost in her thoughts, the rustle of clothes suddenly sounded outside the hall. She turned her head and saw the row of attendants kneeling down in unison. The eunuch waiting outside the hall immediately shouted," The Empress has arrived…"
Eunuch Xiao Shunzi and the other eunuchs and aunts hurriedly knelt down. The selection attendants also knelt down with a handkerchief. Immediately, the hall was filled with people kneeling.
Xie 'er kowtowed on the ground. Through the gap between her forehead and the ground, she could only see a pair of palace shoes with golden and black soles and bead-inlaid shoes slowly walking past her eyes. Then, countless pairs of palace shoes followed closely behind. However, not a single sound was made. The surroundings were as silent as a deserted temple.
"There's no need to be so polite. Just treat it as an ordinary family banquet. "Everyone, rise…" The Empress had already ascended to a high position. She stood in the hall and said gently.
" Thank you, Empress…" Everyone in the hall stood up and bowed.
"It's time, why isn't Little Sister Consort Tong here?”The Empress glanced at the empty seat in the hall and asked the eunuch beside her softly.
" Your Highness, Concubine Tong has gone to invite the Emperor…" The eunuch lowered his head and said respectfully.
"Oh?" The Empress was obviously shocked, but she quickly calmed down." The Emperor has never participated in this banquet…Why would Consort Tong invite the Emperor for no reason…"
" Your Majesty, I heard that…the Emperor personally said that Concubine Tong would like to attend the banquet personally…Concubine Tong has just received the Emperor's decree and is inviting Master Wansui…" The eunuch bowed and replied.
"Wansui personally coming is also a good thing.”The Empress nodded thoughtfully, her expression turning to joy.
" It's just that we didn't prepare anything for today's family banquet…If Wansui is not happy…" Just as the Empress was thinking about what to do for this family banquet, the Emperor and Concubine Tong entered the palace.
" The Emperor has arrived…" A loud voice rang out, and everyone knelt down in panic.
"Consort Tong has arrived…"
There was another round of kowtowing in the hall. The attendants were so shocked that their faces turned pale. They knelt down and trembled slightly. Because the eunuchs had not told the Emperor to come, they were all frightened and only stared blankly.
The Empress was just like them. She did not expect that this young Lord Wansui would suddenly visit. He always did things unexpectedly. She didn't think much and bowed respectfully, going down the steps to welcome the Emperor.
Time was silent like the rising smoke of a candle. The Emperor carried the incomparably gorgeous Consort Tong up the high hall. He looked anxiously at the servants of His Highness and hurriedly called out,"Rise." When they all slowly got up, the Emperor swept his gaze from head to toe again, as if he was looking for someone. However, from his disappointed expression, it seemed that he did not find it. The Emperor went over one by one…and the attendants all lowered their heads in panic. Kang Xi wished he could go down the hall and look up one by one…
Seeing this, the Empress did not understand and felt awkward. She did not know what the Emperor was thinking, so she looked at Consort Tong solemnly. Concubine Tong was fiddling with her bright red nails, not paying attention to the matters in the palace. The Empress could only look at the Emperor and whisper in his ear," Long live, everyone is here. Can we start now?"”
"Ah?" The Emperor came back to his senses." Alright, alright. Let's begin."”
"Yes." The Empress looked at the Emperor worriedly and then gestured to Eunuch Li beside her.
" The banquet begins…" Eunuch Li stood in the hall and announced.
"Take your seats." The Emperor said to His Highness's attendants that he was already sitting on the throne, and the Empress and Consort Tong had also taken their seats.
The selected attendants also entered their seats, and the palace maids filed in, each presenting a brocade plate. In a short while, the large round table was filled with all kinds of dishes. Chicken, duck, fish, exotic delicacies, and seasonal vegetables were decorated exquisitely and brightly. The table was full and looked extremely sumptuous.
Xie 'er was drooling as she looked at the food. However, due to the solemn silence and the deathly atmosphere, she was not in the mood to eat. She only lowered her head and put away her chopsticks like the hundred attendants beside her.
"Everyone, there's no need to be so formal.”The Empress smiled gently and said.
"Everyone, start eating." The Emperor took the lead and picked up his chopsticks. When everyone saw the Emperor move his chopsticks, they slowly picked up the jade chopsticks in front of them. They pretended to pick up some vegetables and put them into their bowls, but they did not eat.
Seeing that everyone had started eating, the Empress nodded in satisfaction. She then turned her head and gestured to a eunuch beside her. The eunuch stood in the shadows behind the Empress. It was impossible to see him clearly from His Highness's point of view. He held a jade archive and a brush, observing the movements of the attendants at each table. Occasionally, he would write something down on the archive.
There were sixteen people at each round table, which was exactly the number of people in the two rooms. The East First and Second Houses were currently surrounding a table, looking at each other. The atmosphere seemed to have turned frosty for no reason.
" Wansui, I was negligent. I didn't know that Wansui is here…" The Empress was about to continue speaking to the Emperor, but Concubine Tong stopped her and said coquettishly," Sister Empress, the Emperor has his own arrangements."”
The Empress looked at the Emperor in confusion. The Emperor then looked at the tables of gorgeous attendants, searching for the figure that was like a blooming begonia and a stunning red.
" Long live, long live…" The Empress became increasingly suspicious as she called out softly.
"Empress, what's the matter?" The Emperor quickly regained his senses and was a little impatient.
" This concubine has not prepared any banquet programs. I wonder what Consort Tong's younger sister is saying…" The Empress looked at Consort Tong, then at the Emperor hesitantly.
"Zhen wants to test their talents.”The Emperor put down his chopsticks and smiled.
"Talent?" The Empress was shocked and almost knocked over the plate beside her. She said anxiously," Long live, the three months of training have not ended yet. Isn't it too early to test talents now?”
"Empress, don't worry. It's just a joke. Let them not take it seriously and do as they please.”The Emperor waved his hands and smiled.
"Empress jiejie, the emperor's intention is to kill the boring atmosphere of the banquet, why take it seriously? The election had its own rules. This was just a family banquet and everyone was just joking.”Concubine Tong came forward, and a strong fragrance drifted past her nose. She covered her mouth with her hand and smiled.
" Since the Emperor has spoken, I dare not disobey. It's just that…they…" The Empress was worried that the Emperor's test questions were too tricky and would cause too much psychological burden on the candidates, so she hesitated.
"Empress need not worry too much. Zhen's question is very easy, anyone can answer it.”The emperor explained.
" Then... Your Majesty, please set the question..." The Empress gave in.
"Hehe, alright!" The Emperor laughed heartily and stood up. Seeing this, everyone quickly put down their chopsticks and lowered their heads to listen.
"I have a game that I want to play with you to relieve the boredom.”The Emperor said loudly, and His Highness's chosen attendants were all shocked. They heard him say," There's no need to be too serious. It's just a game."”
Although the Emperor had said so, they all knew in their hearts that this banquet would not be so easy to pass. The Emperor's sudden arrival was already unexpected. Now that the Emperor had a sudden impulse to play games, it made them even more flustered and at a loss. Even so, they still listened attentively to the Emperor's questions, afraid that they would miss out on anything. If they were to embarrass themselves later, the election would be hopeless.
"Please choose a poem or phrase to describe the delicacies on the table.”The emperor smiled.
"Ah?" Although everyone tried their best to restrain themselves, they still let out a series of exclamations. They were completely in a state of nervousness, and everyone's expressions were gloomy.
"Let's start according to the order of each room." The Empress stood up and added.
"East First House." Little Shunzi hurriedly shouted when he heard this.
"Ah!" Wanzhen rolled her eyes and almost fainted. She looked at the dozens of dishes on the table in panic, searching for the few poems in her mind. The few people at the table were also shocked. They stared at the dishes and thought nervously.
Wanzhen's eyes searched for the dishes and finally saw a plate of red and green dishes. She stuttered," This plate is braised with hump and jade. Wanzhen's thoughts can be described as 'the lotus leaves are infinitely green, and the lotus flowers reflect the sun are unusually red'…"
When the Emperor heard this, he shook his head.
Xiu Rong quickly took it," This plate of white fungus jade pear soup, Xiu Rong thought, can be described as 'flying down three thousand feet, suspected to be the Milky Way falling from the nine skys'…"
The Emperor frowned slightly but did not say a word.
" Pei Lan thought that this golden lotus root and green lotus crisp could be used as a poem of 'Two yellow orioles sing in the green willows, a line of egrets ascending to the sky'…"
The empress looked at the emperor anxiously, hoping that he would have some reaction, but the emperor continued to eat quietly with a pleasant expression. The Empress couldn't guess what the Emperor's actions meant, and Consort Tong didn't tell her either. She could only suppress her curiosity and worry and wait and see.
Soon, it was Xie 'er's turn. Xie' er was not nervous. She did not want to be in the limelight. She just wanted to say a few words to avoid it. However, Liu Huan, who was beside her, held her hand tightly and signaled her to help her with her eyes.
Xie 'er pointed at the jade bamboo fungus bass soup in front of her and quietly wrote a poem on Liu Huan's palm. Liu Huan understood and nodded slightly.
"Xie 'er thought that this plate of phoenix tail deer meat should be boiled with expensive branches and should be summarized as' the red flowers of the river surpass the fire at sunrise, and the river water is as green as blue in spring.”
When the Emperor heard this, he snorted disdainfully. Xie 'er pursed her lips and sat down leisurely. Concubine Tong covered her mouth and laughed. The Empress was still worried. She looked at Xie 'er and then at the Emperor.
" I chose to serve Liu Huan. I thought that the dish of green bamboo fungus and jade perch soup in front of me should be summarized as 'green bamboo shoots welcome the boat out, white river fish enter the meal'…"
The gentle voice had just stopped when the Emperor's golden chopsticks slowly landed on the plate. He finally raised his eyes and carefully tasted the poem. Then, he looked at the same plate of bamboo shoots and jade perch soup in front of him. He thought, I can't think of such a beautiful poem at the moment. This woman's voice is so graceful. I'll try her again. Perhaps it's the woman I met in the Crimson Snow Pavilion...
"Slow down." Just as Zi Xun was about to answer, the Emperor suddenly stood up to stop her. He looked at Liu Huan and asked," You are Liu Huan?”
"Replying to the emperor, this servant is." Just as Liu Huan was about to get up and kneel, the Emperor pressed his hand down." Sit down for now." I want to try you again."
Liu Yan's face suddenly turned pale. She grabbed Xie 'er's hand in panic, trembling in fear.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]