Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun walked up from both sides of the platform. When they stood on the platform together, everyone in the square knelt down.
At the very front were the Crown Prince and Princess Changle. The princes and princesses were clearly separated, and behind them were some imperial concubines with titles. Immediately after, on the right were the civil and military officials led by Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui, and on the left were their wives.
After them was Kong Yan's team. They were all young men and women.
In the end, they had already left a remote corner of the square. There were still dozens of wealthy merchants kneeling on the ground and looking at the front. They could only vaguely see the two supreme existences on the high platform.
Kong Yan squatted on the ground, listening to the eunuch in front of him chanting the words of praise for the Empress. He recalled the scene of worshipping his ancestors when he was young.
In this era, the Seven Sects and Five Families were extremely prosperous. Even the Li family of the Tang Dynasty came from them. The Kong family was more like an auspicious baby used by Li Tang to stabilize the hearts of the scholars in the world.
However, in the Shandong region, the Kong family's influence was still very large. The ancestral worship event was held every year.
Moreover, it was obvious that the Kong family's etiquette of worshipping their ancestors was more formal. Sometimes, some wealthy families would specially go to the Confucian Temple in Shandong to ask for advice.。
After letting his imagination run wild for a while, Kong Yan casually raised his head and found a middle-aged man on the high platform looking at him with a dark expression.
Kong Yan looked left and right and realized that it might really be looking at him. He couldn't help but curl his lips and snort lightly as he lowered his head to look at the ground.
Kneel, it was impossible to kneel!
"This bastard." Li Shi Min's face darkened.
Standing on the high platform, the movements of everyone in the square were clear. It was difficult not to notice someone squatting in the middle.
Empress Zhangsun followed Li Shimin's gaze and saw the squatting youth. She asked in a low voice,""Whose child is that?"
"Who else could it be?" Li Shi Min snorted.”
Empress Zhangsun's beautiful eyes flashed, and she said in a low voice,""Kong Yan?"
Li Shi Min nodded.
Empress Zhangsun's gaze became a little more colorful, but the high platform was a little far from where Kong Yan was, so she could not see it clearly.
"Ask him to come over later. ChenQie wants to see the number one merchant of our Great Tang.”
Li Shi Min nodded and said with some resentment,"Zhen is also a little curious about what kind of gift he will give. When the time comes, arrange for him to give a gift together with Chengqian and the others. Zhen does not believe that a small merchant like him can give a better gift than Chengqian and the others.”
Empress Zhangsun nodded slightly and asked curiously,""Why didn't he kneel?"
Li Shi Min's mouth twitched as he said,"Maybe he's resentful because he donated five million taels of silver?”
Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle. When she realized that the eunuch who was reading the praise had stopped, she couldn't help but look apologetic. She held back her laughter and became serious again.
"... The ceremony is over!" In the end, with a slightly sharp and high-pitched voice, the square was filled with congratulatory voices.
Kong Yan also praised Empress Zhangsun insincerely.
This was slightly different from what he had imagined. He had thought that everyone would have to say such a congratulatory message to Empress Zhangsun alone. He did not expect that everyone would kneel on the ground and say it together.
After thinking about it, he understood why this was the case. If everyone in the square walked in front of Empress Zhangsun once, not only would Empress Zhangsun be raped, but her ears might also get calluses.
The key was that it would take too long, and Empress Zhangsun probably couldn't stand it herself.
"Those who can congratulate her alone are probably those who are really close to her.”Kong Yan thought to himself.
After the congratulations, Li Shiming and Empress Zhangsun left together. Then, according to their status, the people in the square were led away by the palace maids in palace clothes. They could then enter the real banquet venue. However, before the banquet began, there was an important ceremony.
The princes and princesses, as well as the civil and military officials, still had to present their congratulatory gifts before the banquet truly began.
"Young Master Kong Yan, the Empress wishes to see you."
Just as Kong Yan was about to enter the banquet hall with the spoiled young master, a eunuch came up to him with a smile.
"Please lead the way, Eunuch."
Kong Yan didn't show any surprised expression. Kong Yingda had already informed him before he came.
Empress Zhangsun had always loved the people like her own children. Kong Yan had donated five million taels of silver in one go, solving the urgent need of the court. The possibility of being summoned was very high.
"It's good to be rich." Cheng Chumo said enviously as he watched Kong Yan's back getting further and further away.
The rest of the people also looked at him with envy and jealousy.
Du He said with some jealousy,"It's also possible that the Empress knows about Zhangsun Chong's injuries and wants to punish him."”
Qin Huaiyu shook his head and said," The Empress has always been virtuous. She has always distinguished between public and private matters. Now that she has summoned Kong Yan, she will only reward him and not punish him."”
“……”
Kong Yan didn't know that the group of rich kids behind him were envious of him. He followed the eunuch to a huge palace.
"Young Master Kong, please wait for a moment.”
Kong Yan stopped and nodded slightly. He stood in front of the palace and looked inside.
The civil and military officials in the palace were seated one after another under the guidance of a group of palace maids. They should be seated according to the civil officials and generals.
In front of them was a group of young men and women in embroidered clothes. They were also sitting on the left and right. They should be Li Shiming's sons.
At the front were Li Shiming and Empress Zhangsun. They hadn't entered the banquet yet. They were sitting together facing the officials. They were obviously waiting for the gifts from the officials, princes, and princesses.
Not long after, the eunuch who had just left returned.
"Young Master Kong, please come in."
Kong Yan heaved a sigh of relief. He lowered his head and tidied his Confucian robe before following the eunuch in.
As soon as he entered the hall, he found that the entire hall was filled with a pleasant fragrance.
When they passed by the officials, most of them revealed doubtful looks.
"Which prince is he? Why haven't I seen him before?”A general asked.
"That kid from the Kong family!" Someone recognized Kong Yan.
When he passed by Kong Yingda, Kong Yan nodded slightly.
Kong Yingda stroked her beard and chuckled, her eyes revealing a hint of pride.
"Old Kong, why are you still hiding at a time like this? What gift did your nephew give?”A general asked.
Kong Yingda smiled but didn't say anything. He couldn't just say that he didn't know either.
As he walked past the officials, Kong Yan felt the atmosphere change.
He couldn't ignore the cold gazes from the front and back.
He stopped in his tracks and looked back. Finally, his gaze locked onto a middle-aged man standing at the forefront of the civil and military officials.
"May I know who this lord is?" Kong Yan cupped his hands and smiled.
In his heart, he was guessing who this person was and why he had such a murderous aura towards him.
"Brat, his name is Zhangsun Wuji. You just beat his son into a pig's head!”A loud voice laughed from the ranks of generals.
Zhangsun Wuji's face was as black as iron.
Kong Yan understood. He smiled apologetically and said,""So it's State Uncle Zhangsun. When I fought with your son, I didn't know his identity. Otherwise, I definitely wouldn't have slapped his face.”
"If you don't hit his face, then where do you plan to hit him?”It was still the same loud voice from before.
Kong Yan looked at this person and found that he was 60% similar to Cheng Chumo. He guessed that he should be the legendary Demon King Cheng Yaojin.
"If I knew that those six people were from the Zhangsun Clan, I wouldn't have dared to retaliate even if I were beaten to death.”Kong Yan sighed.
" Cough cough…" Li Shimin coughed lightly.
Cheng Yaojin, who wanted to say something, suddenly laughed dryly and swallowed his words.
Kong Yan turned around and glanced at the prince and princess.
Li Chengqian's face was dark, Li Tai was smiling like a Maitreya Buddha, Li Ke had a complicated expression, and the other princes were either curious, disdainful, or indifferent.
Kong Yan was attracted by Princess Chang Le. Her big eyes seemed to be on fire, and her small hands were waving secretly.
Kong Yan coughed dryly and turned his eyes to Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun.
Naturally, Li Shiming didn't have anything to look at. His gaze was mostly on Empress Zhangsun.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。