Only a mother is good in the world. After singing the song, Yunxia still couldn't come back to her senses for a long time. She didn't expect the flute to be better than the zither. It could better express the pain of a child without a mother. It also aroused her homesickness.
"Alright, that's all for today. Shall we continue tomorrow?”Red Cloud raised her spirits to ask for everyone's opinion. She was afraid that if she continued, she would really lose control of her emotions. At the same time, she thought to herself that it was fortunate that she had vented yesterday.
After Yunxia and the others left the palace, the palace maids secretly learned to sing "Only Mother is Good in the World." Because the lyrics of " Mother in the Candlelight " were too long, it was a little difficult to remember."Dongmei, Mama in the candlelight, don't learn it yet. Also, you're not allowed to steal the lyrics. Do you understand? You can learn other songs if you want." The reason why Anping said this was because she did not want everyone to know too early about the gift they were preparing for the Empress Dowager's birthday.
"Yes, master, this servant understands.”Dong Mei hurriedly agreed, thinking that the princess knew everything.
While everyone was busy preparing and rehearsing, the Empress Dowager's birthday finally arrived. It was the 18th of December. Coincidentally, this day was also Yunxia's mother's birthday. In Yunxia's mind, it was just a birthday for her mother. Of course, Princess Anping and Princess Changping had already agreed with Imperial Father and Imperial Grandmother to give Imperial Grandmother a gift. The details were confidential and could not be revealed in advance.
On the 18th of December, the capital was a sea of joy. Even the refugees on the outskirts of the city felt like they were celebrating a festival because there were many clothing and food alms set up by the government today. Emperor Xuanwu wanted the whole world to celebrate.
Yun Zaitian's family of three was dressed up to enter the palace to congratulate the Empress Dowager. The Emperor had ordered the civil and military ministers to bring their wives into the palace. Yun Xia was able to accompany them because she wanted to sing to congratulate the Empress Dowager.
The Changle Palace was very lively. The Empress Dowager had woken up early to dress up. He was the birthday boy today and could not be careless. The empress dowager wore a dress embroidered with swastika flowers, a crane-shaped jade hairpin on her head, and a garland-shaped hat inlaid with top-grade pearls. He held a dragon-headed walking stick. With the help of Emperor Xuanwu and the Empress, the Empress Dowager finally walked out of Changle Palace and came to Taihe Palace. Taihe Palace was originally a place for celebrating and banquets. All the officials, madams, princes, grandsons, and princesses were waiting in Taihe Palace to congratulate the Empress Dowager.
"Empress Dowager, thousands of years, thousands of years! Long live our emperor!" When the Empress Dowager and the others appeared, everyone shouted and paid their respects.
"Everyone, rise!" The empress dowager was overjoyed. She raised the dragon-headed cane in her right hand and said loudly.
"Everyone, rise!" The empress dowager said as she was supported by the emperor and empress to sit on a chair beside the dragon throne.
"Your son (Chenqie) pays his respects to mother, wishing mother good fortune and longevity!”The Emperor and Empress knelt down to congratulate the Empress Dowager.
"I wish Imperial Sister-in-law a long and healthy life!"
"I wish Imperial Grandmother to have this day every year, to have this day every year, to have a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand years!”
"The Empress Dowager is a thousand years old, a thousand years old, blessed as the East Sea, and as long as the South Mountain!”
When the Emperor and Empress bowed, the royal relatives, princes and grandchildren, and all the civil and military officials hurriedly kowtowed and said their congratulations. It saved him a lot of trouble as he hadn't even gotten up yet. The Empress Dowager smiled and said,"Your Majesty, get up!" Everyone, rise! Aijia doesn't want to live for thousands of years, only for good weather and peace! This is the blessing of the court and the blessing of the people.”
"Empress Dowager has a heart of Buddha. Thanks to Empress Dowager's blessings, the weather will be good and the country will be peaceful!”Before anyone could get up, an official had already replied. The one who spoke was Prime Minister Gao Wei.
"The weather is good, the country is prosperous and the people are at peace!" Everyone shouted in unison again. Then, they stood up.
"Empress Dowager, please act." Eunuch Wang held the play book and asked the Empress Dowager to pick a scene. After the Empress Dowager read it, she said,"I'll order Guo Ziyi's Birthday." Aijia has never heard of 'Mother in the Candlelight' before. Ruhai (Eunuch Wang) What kind of show is this?”
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, this was arranged by Princess Anping and Princess Changping. This servant isn't sure either. The Emperor asked Lord Fang (Minister of Rites) to write it down and told him not to ask. He only said that it was prepared by the two princesses.”Eunuch Wang replied.
"Is that so? Aijia is a bit curious, let's sing this first. Then we'll sing 'Guo Ziyi's Birthday Celebration'." the Empress Dowager instructed Eunuch Wang. The Emperor, Empress, and the others also picked a few scenes.
"Empress Dowager, please leave the hall. A stage has been set up outside Taihe Palace. I'm just missing you, the birthday girl!" Eunuch Wang told the Empress Dowager. Because there were many people today, a stage was set up outside.
"Oh? It was nice outside. The weather was warm and sunny. He told everyone not to stand on ceremony when they watched the show later. Everyone is free to do as they please." The Empress Dowager was in a good mood and gave everyone special permission to not distinguish between monarch and minister. Eunuch Wang hurriedly announced,"The Empress Dowager has decreed that we move out of the palace!" Everyone, there's no need to be so formal!"
When everyone arrived outside the hall, eunuchs and serving girls had already arranged the seats. The guzheng was already set up on the stage and the seats were placed. Behind the stage was the door to the side hall. At this time, the side hall was just for the people who were performing on stage to rest and put on makeup. Yun Xia and the others were sitting inside waiting, waiting to sing for the Empress Dowager. What they didn't expect was that the Empress Dowager would pick them first.
"The princess is lucky. The empress dowager chose the scene that the two princesses prepared first. This servant has come to ask Princess to prepare!" When Eunuch Wang came to the door to announce the decree, they felt very nervous.
"There are so many people, I'm really a little nervous.”Princess Anping said nervously.
"Royal Sister, me too."
"Seriously, who knew there would be so many people.”Liu Ruyan said.
"Yeah, Cai Xia, why don't you seem nervous at all?”Su Mengmei couldn't help but ask as she looked at Yun Xia who seemed to be fine.
"Actually, I'm a little nervous too, but thinking about it, it's good to be the first to go up. After singing, we can watch the show in peace. Everyone, don't be nervous." Yun Xia smiled unhurriedly, persuading everyone. Actually, she was not nervous at all. Didn't the school often hold competitions, such as singing competitions, recitation competitions, and so on? Red Cloud had participated several times, and there were no fewer people than this time. She just took it as if she was participating in the competition at school.
For this birthday celebration, Red Cloud and the others had prepared brand new clothes. They were all Qipaos that Yunxia had seen on TV in school. She had drawn the patterns and then found the embroiderers in the palace to make them. She had designed phoenixes on Princess Anping and Princess Changping's clothes, and peacocks on her, Liu Ruyan, and Su Mengmei's clothes. The fabric used was bright yellow and light yellow brocade. There were phoenixes and peacocks embroidered in the clouds. It was really lifelike. When the five of them filed out and walked lightly, everyone was too surprised. They felt as if auspicious clouds were floating along with their footsteps. Phoenixes and peacocks were flickering as if they were about to spread their wings and fly. Looking at the five of them again, Anping and Changping were still wearing their palace hairstyles, each wearing a phoenix jade hairpin. The three people from Red Cloud Sect had two braids, and they used the same yellow silk ribbon as their clothes. They tied their hair into a bow.
"I wish the Empress Dowager (Imperial Grandmother) a long life, good fortune, and today every year!”The five of them bowed to the Empress Dowager in unison."Let's sing a song for the Empress Dowager (Empress Grandmother), Mother in the Candlelight."”
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