One by one, the palace maids filed out, serving delicacies and fine wine to every guest present. All the palace maids were dressed in the same festive colours. They had clearly been trained, their footsteps light as if they were dancing. The procession seemed to have been quietly rehearsed, one in and one out, the speed was balanced, elegant and orderly.
The originally undecorated hall became lively and festive because of the dance of the palace maids.
Long Fei Ye and Han Yunxi sat high up in the main seats. Long Fei Ye, who always had a cold and solemn expression, had a faint smile on his lips. He should be in an extremely good mood. Han Yunxi was actually not a person who liked to smile, but ever since she became the Empress, she basically wore a harmless smile when she appeared in public.
How many people in the court wanted to see her cry, so how could she not smile?
At this moment, Han Yunxi's smile was very bright. Looking at the palace maids coming in and out, watching the empty tables gradually being filled with large and small tableware, she became more and more satisfied.
She turned back to look at Gu and asked with a smile, "Prince Yu, how is this place? This Empress has carefully prepared for several days, and also spent a lot … "
When Han Yunxi said this, all the officials looked over. Almost everyone thought that the Empress would say "spent a lot of money". However, Han Yunxi said, "Also spent a lot of effort ah!"
"Good! Excellent! "
Gu Qishao replied as he clapped. If this place was prepared by someone else, he would definitely dislike it for not being grand enough, lively enough, or gorgeous enough. However, as long as it was prepared by Poison Lass, it was the best in the world.
"Imperial Uncle Li, what do you think?" Han Yunxi asked again.
"No one can match the Empress's taste!" Tang Li said with a smile.
"Of course, how can the Crown Prince's first birthday banquet be shabby?" Han Yunxi pretended to be proud.
Not to mention Baili Yuanlong and the Xiao family, even the other two dukes, as well as those officials who had always respected the Empress and supported the Crown Prince, were dissatisfied.
The herdsmen of Northern Li were still in dire straits. There was not much food in the national treasury that could be used for disaster relief. The common people spontaneously organized disaster relief. Han Yunxi was the mother of the country and the birth mother of the crown prince. How could she hold such a lively banquet at this critical juncture?
Of course, everyone was angry in their hearts, but they didn't dare to say anything.
Seeing the Empress look towards Gu Beiyue, everyone became expectant and waited for the Empress to ask Grand Tutor Gu. Everyone hoped that the Grand Tutor could speak out their grievances and persuade the Empress, or even the Emperor, who spoiled the Empress too much.
Baili Yuanlong's old face was gloomy and his heart was filled with anger. If it weren't for his daughter's constant persuasion, he would've stood up to denounce Han Yunxi as soon as she arrived.
At this moment, he stared coldly at Gu Beiyue. He wanted to see how Gu Beiyue would evaluate this banquet. He was waiting. If Gu Beiyue objected to the Empress's actions, he would immediately stand up and agree.
Baili Lixiang was puzzled. She thought, the Emperor had listened to Han Yunxi's pillow talk and agreed to hold this banquet. Could it be that Gu Beiyue had been bewitched by Han Yunxi as well?
With Gu Beiyue's personality and style, he should've stopped the Emperor and Empress long before the banquet began!
Baili Lixiang waited patiently, not forgetting to secretly tug on her father's robes to remind him to stay calm and observe the situation. There was still something fishy about this situation. She had to be on guard against Han Yunxi setting up a trap for them. After all, Han Yunxi had cheated quite a bit of grain for the people of the disaster areas during the empress dowager's birthday banquet.
Everyone was waiting for Han Yunxi to ask Grand Tutor Gu, but Han Yunxi only stared at Gu Beiyue for a long while before turning to look down at the crowd below without saying a word.
This time, everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet her gaze.
The people sitting in the first row to the left and right were ranked in descending order of status. The four Guogong dukes, three generals, and the ministers of the other five ministries besides the Ministry of War were all seated in the first row. Almost all of them had brought their wives with them, who sat with them on the side.
Baili Yuanlong was an exception. His first wife had long passed away. Sitting next to him was Baili Qiyu, who had been conferred the title of general. Behind him sat his eldest daughter, Baili Lixiang, while behind Baili Qiyu sat his wife.
Han Yunxi's attention fell on Baili Yuanlong and his family.
Of the ten empty red envelopes she'd given out, three were for the Baili Clan.
Although the Guogong Duchess of the Baili Clan had passed away, Han Yunxi still prepared red envelopes for them. She'd sincerely wanted to give them this red envelope. Rather than saying it was out of respect and remembrance for the Duchess, it was more of a show of respect for the Baili Clan. This was a special treatment. To put it bluntly, she was telling the other three Guogong Duchesses that the Baili Clan was different from them.
However, Baili Yuanlong and Baili Lixiang didn't understand Han Yunxi's meaning. Their resentment only grew when they realized that the red envelopes they'd received were empty.
There were also two red envelopes. One was for the general's wife behind Baili Qiyu, while the other was for Baili Lixiang! Baili Lixiang had performed meritorious service in Northern Li as a spy, so she'd been conferred the title of first rank madam.
Baili Lixiang's title of first rank madam was another special treatment the imperial family had bestowed upon the Baili Clan.
A first rank madam was the highest rank among the titled madams, so they received the best treatment. Madams of the first rank were usually the mothers or wives of high-ranking officials. Baili Lixiang was the Noble Consort of the Northern Dynasties Emperors, so she couldn't accept such a title at all.
Long Fei Ye could make her a Princess or give her a large reward, but Long Fei Ye had made an exception to show his special treatment of the Baili Clan.
When the country was first founded, the south was strong while the north and west were filled with all sorts of unstable elements. Long Fei Ye could use his power, military might, and iron-blooded policies to suppress them. But Cloud Realm Continent still needed at least three more years to settle down before they could start rebuilding. The commoners would need at least five or six years to live a peaceful life. It'd take at least 10 or 20 years for them to prosper and prosper!
Long Fei Ye didn't want to waste any more time. It wasn't just his time, but the people of Cloud Realm Continent! He'd spent countless days deliberating before bestowing the titles of Duke and Prime Minister. More than that, he'd spent countless nights talking with Gu Beiyue and a few of his trusted aides.
In the end, they decided to wrong the Baili Clan and choose four clan heads from the south, west, and north to share the title of Guogong with Baili Yuanlong. This way, the Baili Clan wouldn't be given too high of a title or salary, but would be able to highlight the status of the other three clans. At the very least, the other three clans would accept it wholeheartedly.
Long Fei Ye didn't tell Baili Yuanlong the reason, because he'd wronged the Baili Clan while giving the man a test. After all, the man had disappointed him before.
The result was regrettable. Even now, Baili Yuanlong still didn't understand the special treatment he and Han Yunxi were giving him. He even colluded with the southern generals.
Han Yunxi recovered from her thoughts with a smile on her face. Her gaze rested on Baili Lixiang. "That's Lixiang, right?"
Baili Lixiang quickly rose to her feet. "This subject's daughter, Baili Lixiang, greets Esteemed Empress."
Han Yunxi sized her up. She'd never seen Baili Lixiang before, so today was the first time. It had to be said that Baili Lixiang was much more beautiful than Baili Mingxiang. Even at her age, she was still beautiful.
But Han Yunxi could tell at a glance the difference between her and Baili Mingxiang. Baili Lixiang didn't have the kindness of Baili Mingxiang, but lacked the ruthlessness of Baili Mingxiang.
Han Yunxi had seen Baili Yuanlong's temper and brain many times. She'd always discussed with Long Fei Ye how he'd become a completely different person in the past year. Why was he so much calmer and shrewder than before? Moreover, his collusion with the Southern Army was done in a rather secretive manner. They still couldn't find anything to use against him.
All of this had happened after Baili Lixiang's return. How could Han Yunxi not suspect her?
"Lixiang, you're very knowledgeable. You should've seen banquets even bigger than this one. Tell me, this banquet held for the crown prince's first birthday isn't a disgrace to him, is it? "Han Yunxi said with a smile.
Baili Lixiang was indeed very knowledgeable. She'd wanted to wait a bit, but since Han Yunxi had given her the chance, she didn't mind explaining to everyone how much Han Yunxi had spent on today's banquet.
So far, Han Yunxi's biggest expenditure had been on the tableware in front of everyone!
"Yes, this subject obeys."
Baili Mingxiang nodded and said seriously, "The banquet today looked simple, but there was a lot of thought put into it. It's clear to see Esteemed Empress's intentions. This subject will talk about the tableware. "
Han Yunxi smiled and indicated for Baili Lixiang to continue.
"The tableware used by His Majesty and Esteemed Empress is the rarely-seen Glittering Jewel Rainbow Dragon and Phoenix Porcelain. The entire set is divided into dragon and phoenix porcelain, with sixty-nine pieces each, "Baili Lixiang said loudly.
As soon as these words were spoken, many people present revealed looks of shock.
Glittering Jewel Rainbow Dragon and Phoenix Porcelain!
They'd all heard of the name before, but almost no one had seen the real thing. So these two treasures were in the imperial family!
Guogong Xiao An gave Baili Lixiang a look of admiration. He'd had his suspicions when he saw the emperor and empress's tableware, but the tableware hadn't been fully arranged yet. There were only about ten pieces, so he couldn't be sure. As expected, Baili Lixiang's knowledge and eyesight were excellent.
Han Yunxi clapped her hands happily. "It's rare to see someone who can tell, hehe!"
Although everyone was shocked, it was only shock. After all, the emperor and empress had the right to enjoy tableware of this standard.
But Han Yunxi's next words immediately displeased everyone.
Han Yunxi said, "Today, we'll let everyone bask in the Crown Prince's glory and broaden their horizons. Later, the entire set of Glittering Jewel Rainbow Porcelain will be displayed!"
The entire set of Glittering Jewel Rainbow Dragon and Phoenix Porcelain would be displayed. That meant sixty-nine tableware of all sizes, bowls, plates, pots, spoons, chopsticks, plates, spoons, and so on. Everything would be used!
Looking at it this way, how many types of delicacies would there be tonight?
In Northern Li, the soldiers were starving as they sent disaster relief. The herdsmen were starving as they sought refuge from the cold. Han Yunxi, as the empress, actually spent so much money on a single meal?
Everyone looked at each other in dismay. Some of the more upright people had already started discussing.
A trace of craftiness flitted past Baili Lixiang's eyes as she said, "The tableware used by Prince Yu and the rest is also not ordinary. Esteemed Empress is generous and bestowed everyone with tableware of great origin … "
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