Chapter 47 Queen's Birthday Banquet
On the morning of the second day, Yao Yulu got up, but her head was still slightly dizzy, but her spirit was much better than last night. In recent summer, it was early. At this time, the sun had found the house. Ji Shuidong also went to bed very late last night. The preserves had been placed in the prepared six-sided wooden box. Yao Yulu saw that Ji Shuidong was still addicted to sleep and woke her up, that is, she was busy dressing up.
After a detailed drawing, it has been almost cleaned up. At this time, Ji Shuidong also woke up and said, "Sister, the preserves are ready. See if there is any problem."
Yao Yulu looked at Ji Shuidong with a smile and said gratefully, "Of course, my sister is relieved, but you are already tired like this, and I'm sorry."
"What's the matter? Today's sister's birthday party is also in front of everyone. Of course, you have to prepare properly."
At this time, someone summoned outside the door, and the sedan chair to pick up Yao Xiunu and Song Xiunu had arrived. After Yao Yulu hurriedly said goodbye to Ji Shuidong, she got into the sedan chair with Song Jinzhi.
On this day, Song Jinzhi was also very plainly dressed. A simple grass-green smoke gauze dress, slightly pink, is not eye-catching. At such a queen's birthday party, it is not a good thing to dress up gorgeously. Only decentness is the most important thing.
The two of them sat in the same sedan chair and greeted each other.
"Yao Xiunu, the preserves are ready?" Song Jinzhi looked at the hexagonal wooden box in Yao Yulu's hand and asked.
"Thanks to Shuidong's help, I have time to do it well."
"The queen's 30th birthday banquet today, it seems that the palace is going to be busy today."
"But it's like this. I heard that a concubine has been pregnant these days, and the Empress Dowager is called Double Happiness."
"What Yao Xiunu said is a noble concubine, right? But it is."
"This kind of scene makes me a little nervous."
"Does Yao Xiu feel the same way? I'm not very secure either."
As the two chatted, the tension in their hearts eased a little.
As the sedan chair went all the way to the door of Fangyuan, the two got off the sedan chair one after another. At this moment, the Fangyuan is already very lively. The beautiful women and the concubines who have arrived are waiting outside the park. The not far from the garden are already full of sedan chairs. The concubines, concubines, beauties present, promised, and often waiting for them are dressed carefully, but most of them are worn. Su Dan, I don't want to steal the limelight of today's queen.
Only Xiao Shufei in the distance wore a bright pink dress and her makeup was even more gorgeous. She sat on a sedan chair and looked down at the people in front of her.
Yao Yulu saw a concubine with a slightly raised abdomen. Presumably this is the noble concubine, which does not look very flamboyant.
At this time, Yao Yujiao's sedan chair came far away. Yao Yujiao got off the sedan chair. Seeing Yao Yulu standing behind the crowd, she stepped forward and warmly said, "Sister, you are here today."
Yao Yulu looked at her sister in front of her also wearing a goose-yellow skirt, which was a little different from her. She was still afraid that Yufei would not like it and said, "Yes..."
Unexpectedly, Yao Yujiao said first, "My sister thought of going with my sister today and also chose a yellow skirt, but our sisters have a good heart." She said with a shallow smile, but relieved Yao Yulu's worries.
"Yulu is afraid that the Empress will not like it. When the Empress said this, Yulu will feel at ease."
"Who cares about these little things between sisters? What gift have you prepared today?" Yufei Yao Yujiao patted Yao Yulu on the shoulder and then asked.
"It's just some homemade preserves, and I don't know if the queen likes it."
"The queen is used to seeing good things, and she is also decent to be careful."
"I don't know what the Empress is preparing?" Yao Yulu asked curiously.
"It's a living red coral." Yao Yujiao instructed the maid beside her to bring the coral forward. Yao Yulu saw a living coral in a glass bottle. The coral branches were neat and powerful, and the color was red and charming, which was really a treasure.
"I'm afraid only the Empress can send such a valuable thing."
Yao Yujiao didn't care: "There are many such things in the house. If my sister likes it, I'll ask my father to help you choose a few pieces another day."
Yao Yulu has lived in the house for many years and has never seen such a treasure, but usually, as her status, how can she have a chance to see such a good thing in some vulgar places in the house?
While the two were talking, they only heard the report of the internal supervisor at the door: "The emperor is here."
From afar, Li Qingxiao and the queen got off the sedan chair with the help of the built-in. The queen smiled charmingly at Li Qingxiao, and the two walked towards the courtyard together.
On this short journey, everyone was blessed with their blessings. When the queen walked in first, the other concubines and concubines entered the garden in order.
But today, the Empress Dowager was in poor health and did not appear. Liu Feifei also came in a hurry and entered the garden with Yao Yulu and Song Jinzhi.
At this moment, Fangyuan has been decorated in a unique and magnificent style.
The emperor sat in the middle of the garden, while the queen sat next to the emperor. The concubines sat on both sides in order from high to low, thinking that Yao Yulu's status as a beautiful woman had reached the second row.
The peonies in the garden are fragrant and charming, and the first step of this banquet is to give gifts.
First of all, the inner prison beside the emperor took out a pair of jade bracelets. This is a good jade, with a charming green color. I heard that it is a tribute to the Western Regions, and this is the only color in the palace.
"Queen, do you still like this pile of emeralds?" Li Qingxiao took it from the internal supervisor and showed it to the queen.
The queen covered her face and smiled, "Thank you, my concubine. I have never seen such a good emerald."
"If you like it, come on, I'll put it on for you." After saying that, Li Qingxiao picked up the bracelet and put it on the queen's jade hand, and the queen smiled even more touchingly.
Next is Xiao Shufei. She took out a rare glazed gold mirror, which is different from the usual bronze mirror. The mirror is exquisite in workmanship and the portrait is clearer. The inner prison around her went forward. The queen picked it up and saw that the person in the mirror was really much clearer, but the corners of her eyes could be seen in this clear mirror. I got a few fine lines. She was a little unhappy, but on the surface, she could only pretend to like it and said, "Thank you, sister, for your heart."
Xiao Shufei has always looked virtuous in front of the emperor. She smiled and said, "The empress is polite. This is what my concubine should do."
Li Qingxiao was even more satisfied.
Although the concubines sent the prepared gifts one by one, as the taste decreases, the gifts given are getting lighter and lighter, and it will also be the turn of the lowest-grade beauty.
First, Liu Feifei sent a golden pillow. When the queen saw it, she didn't expect a beautiful girl in the district to take action like this, so she accepted it happily and said in front of everyone, "Liu Xiunu has always been virtuous and beautiful, and today she thinks very well."
Li Qingxiao, who was beside him, said, "Liu Xiunu has been taking care of the Empress Dowager. I'm afraid she doesn't have time to make some gifts with her own hands, but the lotus fragrance is also a lot of trouble to hear that it is good for sleep."
Finally, it was Yao Yulu's turn. She was timid and a little nervous. She offered the hexagonal wooden box in her hand. When the queen saw that the vessel was very unique, she opened the lid of the box and contained three kinds of preserves, which looked very delicious. She picked up a golden plum orange and put it in her mouth to taste. The golden orange smelled of dates, which was really delicious.