Even without Baili Lixiang's introduction, everyone could tell that the tableware in front of them was no small matter. But Baili Lixiang's introduction still surprised everyone.
For example, Baili Mingxiang said that the second seat's tableware wasn't expensive at all. It was made of black porcelain that was hard to find even with a thousand gold taels. There were 59 pieces in each set, and only ten pieces of the Glittering Rainbow Dragon and Phoenix Porcelain had been bestowed.
Another example, Baili Lixiang said that the tableware in the hundred or so seats below the secondary seat was made of a rare white jade porcelain. It was both jade and porcelain, and each set had a total of fifty-five pieces, second only to the four black porcelain tableware in the secondary seat. Leaving aside the value of the porcelain, there were at least tens of thousands of pieces of tableware in the hall. How much food would it take to use all these tableware?
How could a single person finish dozens of servings of food?
Even if Northern Li hadn't suffered a disaster, even if Great Qin didn't lack food, even if Great Qin was already a prosperous nation, there was no need to be so wasteful!
Everyone's table was set with a round plate, a pair of chopsticks, and a wine cup. Aside from these three, the rest of the tableware was used to hold the food. The palace maids brought them up one after another and placed them in front of everyone.
By the time Baili Lixiang finished speaking, the palace maids had already brought out three individual pots of various sizes. Each pot was covered with a lid, making it impossible to see what was inside. But they could see the steam rising from the edges of the lids, and smell the fragrance.
Just by smelling the aroma, everyone could basically tell that these three pots were filled with meat.
Although Long Fei Ye had announced the start of the banquet, he hadn't touched his chopsticks yet. No one else was allowed to touch them, so they could only smell the hot, fragrant food.
Baili Yuanlong and Xiao An looked stern, but their hearts were filled with excitement. Even the impatient Baili Yuanlong was completely patient.
He waited for all the dishes to be served, and for the loyal court officials to be thoroughly disappointed in Han Yunxi.
He knew that the Emperor was already on guard against him, so he might not be able to persuade the Emperor. However, if those loyal officials also joined in, it would at least make the Emperor reevaluate the woman beside him.
He had long heard that the Emperor had told several civil officials in the Imperial Study that he had changed and that the Baili Clan was no longer the Baili Clan of the past.
In that case, he would let the emperor have a look. People changed, just like Han Yunxi, who had risked her life for the sake of disaster relief. She'd changed as well.
In fact, the Emperor himself had also changed, hadn't he? Perhaps, he was the first to change. Ever since he met Han Yunxi, he was no longer the previous master of the Baili Clan, right?
Apart from Baili Yuanlong's group, some of the ministers in the back looked at each other worriedly. They respected the Empress very much and were full of expectations. However, today's banquet had greatly disappointed them.
The Crown Prince's first birthday banquet was indeed a major event and couldn't be shameful. But these were special times, so the Empress had to restrain herself a little.
Of course, everyone kept their worries to themselves. No one dared to speak up. After all, the Emperor had only said one sentence so far. No one could tell what he thought of the Empress's actions. Moreover, the banquet had only just begun. The dishes hadn't even been served yet.
Even if they wanted to persuade the Empress, they had to have sufficient reasons to convince the Emperor.
Apart from Long Fei Ye and Han Yunxi's confidants, the hundreds of people in the large hall were growing more and more dissatisfied with Han Yunxi.
Han Yunxi ignored everyone else, her attention on Baili Lixiang. She was growing more and more satisfied with her.
She chuckled. "It's rare to meet someone who knows what's good for them. Madame Lixiang, take this set meal as a reward from the Crown Prince."
Baili Lixiang hastily walked out of her seat and bowed in thanks.
After Baili Lixiang returned to her seat, the hall fell silent again. Only the palace maids continued to dance gracefully as they served the dishes. Every dish was covered and steaming hot. The aroma was enough to make anyone drool.
The weather was cold, and according to the rules of the banquet, every dish had to be covered. Thus, no one suspected anything.
It was already mealtime, so many people were hungry. Unfortunately, Long Fei Ye still hadn't touched his chopsticks, so everyone could only keep him company on an empty stomach.
Long Fei Ye sat high up in his seat. He was less dignified and less dignified than he usually was in court, but the domineering air between his brows and the noble air of a king didn't diminish in the slightest.
He didn't pay much attention to the people below. Even when Baili Lixiang explained the origin of the tableware, his doting gaze was focused on Han Yunxi.
It was as if he knew Han Yunxi was fooling around, and that everyone was dissatisfied with the empress. But he was happy to let her do as she pleased.
After Baili Lixiang sat down, she couldn't help but look at Long Fei Ye again. She'd heard all sorts of things about this master since childhood, but now she finally got the chance to meet him.
He was handsome, domineering, noble, and aloof. Just like any other woman who'd seen him, she'd be instantly moved.
But she knew very well that she'd missed her chance more than twenty years ago. She could only blame her younger sister, Baili Mingxiang, in her heart. After Baili Mingxiang entered the Duke of Qin's estate as a servant, she'd had so many chances. Why didn't she seize them? Otherwise, there would've been an Imperial Noble Concubine by this man's side today. Her Baili Clan would've gained another bargaining chip.
After a long silence, everyone began to count the dishes in front of them. There were still so many dishes left to be served. His Majesty wouldn't wait until all the dishes were served before starting the banquet, would he?
Gu and Gu Beiyue had rushed over today, so they had no idea what Han Yunxi and Long Fei Ye were planning. Although Gu often ruined Long Fei Ye's plans, this banquet was Rui 'er's, so he naturally kept his mouth shut.
He sat with his arms crossed, carefully sniffing the table full of fragrances, as if he'd discovered something.
But Gu Beiyue didn't seem interested in the food on the table. He stood up and broke the silence.
"This official has prepared a meager gift for His Highness the Crown Prince. I hope His Highness will kindly accept it."
There were two ways to give gifts at birthday banquets. One was to 'give' them before they entered the banquet, while the other was to 'present' them. Giving gifts was the rule of ordinary households. 'Present gifts' was the etiquette of the imperial family.
Of the nearly 100 people present, those of low status had already handed over their birthday gifts to the eunuchs as soon as they'd entered the palace. As for those with high statuses, they would present gifts in front of everyone at the banquet.
Generally speaking, the gifts would begin after the banquet had begun and after three rounds of wine.
Since Gu Beiyue had started it and everyone was hungry, no one fussed over etiquette with Gu Beiyue. After all, there weren't many people who needed to present gifts in court. Perhaps His Majesty would start eating after the gifts were presented?
Everyone was looking forward to seeing what Gu Beiyue's Grand Tutor would give His Highness the Crown Prince for his birthday.
Gu Beiyue had someone deliver the gift, but it was none other than a giant map!
He and his servants unfurled it and showed it to the emperor, empress, and crown prince, as well as the various officials.
The map was even taller than him and two meters wide. It was a map of Cloud Realm Continent.
"Your Highness Crown Prince, this official spent three months drawing this map with my own hands. It includes every county and town in Cloud Realm Continent. Places prone to floods, droughts, fires, snowstorms, and other rare disasters have all been marked out. "
Gu Beiyue paused before sighing. "This year, the Great Qin's north has been plagued by disasters. Famine, plague, and snowstorms have alternated, leaving the people in dire straits. Your Highness is one year old today, so this official presents this gift to the victims of the north and the people of Great Qin. May the imperial family take pity on our Great Qin and wish for no more disasters. "
Rui 'er didn't understand, but he'd long been captivated by the map. He glanced at his imperial father, who nodded, and jumped off his seat to walk in front of the unfurled map.
He was only one year old and small to begin with. Standing before the map made him seem even more minuscule. But he wasn't intimidated by its size. Instead, he put his hands behind his back and raised his head to look at every spot on the map.
Everyone fell silent, including Long Fei Ye and Han Yunxi. They watched Rui 'er's back as he stared at the map of Great Qin with the same thought in their hearts.
Time flew by in the blink of an eye. Rui 'er would grow up one day and no longer look at this map. He'd stand at the peak of Great Qin and look down on the world beneath his feet! At that time, Great Qin would be a prosperous and powerful country, and there would be no more wars or disasters!
In Long Fei Ye and Han Yunxi's eyes, Gu Beiyue was pinning such hopes on Rui 'er.
Unfortunately, many of the people present had a different understanding. In their eyes, Gu Beiyue's mention of the disaster victims at such a grand and extravagant banquet must be a way to remind the emperor and express his dissatisfaction with the empress!
Baili Yuanlong stroked his beard, thinking that he'd respected the right person after all. Of all the people in Western Qin's camp, Gu Beiyue was the only one he admired. Baili Lixiang smiled faintly as she secretly sized up Gu Beiyue. She couldn't believe it when she heard that the medical academy's head had married a woman whose legs were crippled!
Xiao Dong kept shooting looks at Xiao An. In his eyes, since Gu Beiyue had already expressed his stance, they naturally had to strike while the iron was hot and use this chance to speak up.
But Xiao An only glared at Xiao Dong's impulsiveness with a displeased look.
It was really hard to say who would be the one to take the lead and who would be the first to stir up trouble in the coming days!
Gu Beiyue had just returned to his seat when Gu presented him with the title deed to No. 7 Teahouse, while Tang Li and Ning Jing presented him with a special concealed weapon toy.
After the imperial family, it was time for the four Guogong to present their gifts.
Baili Yuanlong often considered himself the head of the four Guogong dukes. This time, he was the first to stand up. Under everyone's expectant gazes, Baili Yuanlong presented a pearl with both hands.
"Your Highness Crown Prince, this is this year's new white pearl from the East Sea. It's a small wish, I hope you'll kindly accept it!"
At this moment, everyone looked at each other in dismay, and they began to panic.
Official Baili was giving a pearl as a Guogong, and a very, very ordinary one at that. What did he mean by this? He was clearly provoking the crown prince and empress!
Rui 'er didn't understand, but he could sense that Official Baili's attitude wasn't good, so he didn't move.
Baili Yuanlong maintained his posture, but Han Yunxi's tone soon turned cold. "Official Baili, tell us, what's so special about this white pearl? Is it worth His Highness Crown Prince's goodwill? "
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