novelhk Chapter 282: Bolai Cocktail
Chapter 282: Bolai Cocktail
On the night of New Year’s Eve, there is a family dinner in the palace.
According to custom, Emperor Lin summoned royal relatives and noble ministers to celebrate the New Year together.
The Mingde Hall was brightly lit and filled with people. Those who arrived first gathered in groups of three or four to chat.
Under the guidance of the eunuch, Zhou Chang walked to the third table at the bottom left of the front row and sat down, looking around.
Prince Rong and Prince Duan had not arrived yet, and Prince Xian had not shown up either. Even the twelfth prince Feng Suo, who should have been sitting next to him, had not arrived yet.
Duke Gu Yan of Xiguo, who considered himself the "uncle of the emperor" and the elder brother of Concubine Yi Gu, was naturally invited and was talking to Marquis Wu'an Jiang Rui.
Behind Jiang Rui, standing by his side was his son Jiang Meng.
Jiang Meng had just returned to Jindu with Prince Xian.
Prince Yi Fengming had a very vague memory of this person, and it was the first time Zhou Chang saw him.
However, when I saw this father and son, my memory automatically thought of another marquis from the family of “two marquises and three generals” - Marquis Guanjun Jiang Qin.
Jiang Qin is Jiang Rui's elder brother, but Prince Yi has only heard of him and has never seen him.
Further to the side, Shangshu Ling Ding Mao, the elder brother of Concubine Jin Ding and uncle of Prince Xian Fengzheng, had also arrived early and was chatting excitedly with the commander of the imperial guards, Sun Chuliang.
In addition, the six ministers and important officials from various provinces also participated.
In the main hall of Jingming Palace, people gathered in groups of three or four.
There were crowds of people behind the curtains on both sides, all of them were concubines from the harem and ladies of high rank from various mansions. From time to time, whispers, laughter, or chatting could be heard.
Everywhere you look, you see a lively and harmonious scene.
"Ding, ding, ding..."
No one paid any attention to Zhou Chang. She didn't feel bored sitting there alone as she could hear orders coming in from the viewpoint system.
I thought that after shopping a few days ago, the customers were already tired of placing orders, but I didn't expect that the royal items were the most attractive. Since entering the Jingming Palace, the reminder sound for placing orders has never stopped.
Zhou Chang also lowered his head and fiddled with the cups, bowls, and plates in front of him.
The items ordered just now are nothing more than these things, because today is New Year's Eve, and the utensils used in the palace banquet are either made of gold or jade.
She also secretly made up her mind that before the New Year's Eve banquet was over, she must take away everything she could. If that was not possible, she would openly "rob", not only the table in front of her, but also any utensils on the table that could be moved or carried away, and she would not let go.
This is the last chance to “live stream and sell goods” this year.
Just as I was daydreaming, someone suddenly bumped into me from the side and said, "Brother Jiu, Happy New Year."
The twelfth prince Feng Suo tilted his head, his beaming expression really looked like the boy distributing money in the New Year pictures.
However, when the wind turned against her, she was the one who wanted to spend her money.
"Here, this is a red envelope." Zhou Chang adhered to the principle of giving early and completing the "task" early.
Feng Shuo was very surprised and took it with both hands: "Thank you, Brother Jiu. I always forgot about it in previous years. It's rare that I remembered it this year."
"Uh..." Zhou Chang was annoyed. How could she remember that Prince Yi didn't remember?
If she had known this, she should have pretended it didn't happen.
I wrote this red envelope just before going out. I just remembered it and gave it to her on the spur of the moment.
At that time, he didn't have much silver to give the red envelopes, and Feng Suo was a prince and had no shortage of money.
Zhou Chang had no choice but to find the most colorful sachet that Aunt Jing usually made for Prince Yi, put the various candies bought by Skinny Monkey in it, and added three copper coins as a lucky charm.
The seats at the palace banquet were long, wide, low tables and low stools, the kind that were almost touching the ground, so there was still plenty of room for two people to squeeze together.
Feng Shuo took the sachet and sat down next to Zhou Chang. He opened it and liked it very much, especially the candies inside. He had never seen them before, so he put a few of them into his mouth immediately.
"If you like these candies, I'll bring them to you next time." Zhou Chang sometimes felt sorry for Feng Suo. Although the food in the palace was exquisite, it always tasted the same, and he could never get to know folk food.
"Thank you, Brother Nine... Mother told me to eat less sweets, because the imperial physician who diagnosed my pulse said that eating too much sweets is not good for me." Feng Suo ate very contentedly, and took out something from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Chang, "Brother Nine, I have a gift for you too."
Zhou Chang took it and found it was a rectangular wooden box the size of a pencil case.
When I opened it, I saw a painted clay figurine inside.
The clay figurine of a general wearing armor and holding a sword looks lifelike.
"This was given to me by my uncle some time ago. Now I'm giving it to my ninth brother." Feng Suo said in a low voice.
Zhou Chang knew that the uncle Feng Suo was referring to was the commander of the imperial guards, Sun Chuliang, but he was not interested in things like clay figurines.
But he didn't want to reject the child's kindness, so he took out the clay figurine and looked at it carefully: "This general is very lifelike, you must like it, why did you give it to me?"
Feng Suo leaned his head closer, lowered his voice, and said seriously: "Brother Xian Wang came back victorious this time. He is the Grand Commander-in-Chief and was given the title of 'General Yaowei'. Even the Deputy Commander-in-Chief was given the title of 'General Taolu'. Everyone is praising them, but I know that Ninth Brother also contributed to this, but no one else mentioned it. Therefore, I want to give this to Ninth Brother, because you are also a great general."
"Uh..." Zhou Chang didn't know what to say. Children's thoughts are sometimes really... He could only feel touched.
Zhou Chang was not surprised that Prince Xian appointed him as a general, but he guessed Prince Duan would not be in a good mood.
As for the general who was in charge of suppressing captivity, Zhou Chang subconsciously looked at Jiang Meng again.
Compared with his family background of "two marquises in one clan", it is probably nothing.
Zhou Chang put the clay figure away and put it into his sleeve.
At this time, Prince Rong and Prince Duan also arrived at the same time and sat in opposite positions at the top.
The palace servants also began to serve snacks and drinks, removed the tea cups, and placed four colors of fruits, four colors of cakes, and a silver wine pot and wine glass.
As soon as Prince Rong sat down, he stood up again and walked towards Zhou Chang and Feng Suo.
Just as Zhou Chang and Feng Shuo were about to stand up and salute, Prince Rong put a hand on Zhou Chang's shoulder, then walked to Feng Shuo's table next to him, bent down, picked up the silver wine pot on Feng Shuo's table, opened the lid and smelled it.
Upon hearing this, he immediately frowned: "These palace servants are too careless. How come they also served wine to my twelfth brother?"
"Yes, you are a child and cannot drink alcohol." Zhou Chang admired Prince Rong for being the eldest brother and being so meticulous.
Prince Rong turned around and walked to Zhou Chang's left again, throwing down the wine pot in his hand and saying, "But this is a bargain for you, so I'll give you this pot as well."
"Brother Prince Rong, you know that I can't drink much." Since Zhou Chang never drinks, he didn't plan to make an exception tonight.
"This wine is different..." Prince Rong also sat down next to Zhou Chang. The three of them sat side by side and blinked. "This wine is the tribute wine from the Mirage Kingdom for my fifth brother's great victory. It is very rare and tastes special. You should try it."