As soon as Han Yunxi cried out, Rui 'er, who didn't understand, immediately followed suit. "Imperial Father, Imperial Mother is innocent!"
Han Yunxi almost laughed out loud. This son really was her biological son!
"How are you innocent?" Long Fei Ye asked.
"Your Majesty, this concubine doesn't know if this concubine is fit to be Empress or the Crown Prince's mother. However, this concubine is organizing the Crown Prince's birthday banquet without any extravagance or wastage or neglect the disaster victims. "
Before Han Yunxi could finish, Baili Yuanlong angrily interrupted, "Your Majesty, everyone will have a table full of delicacies for today's banquet. One person's meal can fill ten people's stomachs! If this isn't extravagance and wastage, then what is? There are commoners and soldiers in the north who can't return to their homes. It's not easy for them to even have a full meal. Your entire pot of chicken soup only consumes a few mouthfuls of soup. Haha, this really isn't wastage? This is a reckless waste of natural resources! "
Han Yunxi looked at Baili Yuanlong and asked Coldly, "Is there anything else?"
Baili Yuanlong sneered, "Your Majesty, today's banquet is extraordinary. Could it be that Your Majesty doesn't think it's a waste? "
Just as everyone was surprised that Han Yunxi would argue, Han Yunxi actually admitted it loudly. "Official Baili is extremely right! There's a natural disaster in the north. This concubine's grand banquet is a grave mistake, a grave mistake! "
For a moment, everyone was stunned, thinking that they had misheard.
Under the silent gazes of the crowd, Han Yunxi stood up with Rui 'er and walked to Long Fei Ye. Zhao mama and Mu Ling 'er, who had been hiding at the side, finally showed themselves. They walked out from the left and right and stood on either side of Han Yunxi and Rui' er.
Mu Ling 'er personally opened the lids of all the cutlery on Long Fei Ye's table. The kneeling people couldn't see the contents of the pots and bowls, so they didn't know what was going on.
With a smile on her face, Mu Ling'er and Granny Zhao brought the pots and bowls down one by one for the officials to see.
She saw that the pots and bowls were all filled with clear soup with spices. Not to mention fish, she couldn't even find a single tea leaf.
For a moment, everyone, whether they were kneeling or sitting, was stupefied. Baili Yuanlong and Baili Lixiang were dumbstruck, as if someone had sealed their acupoints. They couldn't even move their eyes. As for the members of the Xiao Clan, their expressions were extremely ugly.
Who would have thought that a table full of hot and fragrant food would turn out to be like this!
Han Yunxi … was clearly toying with them on purpose!
Was Han Yunxi playing with them on purpose? It could only be said that these people were too full of themselves! Han Yunxi didn't have that much time on her hands. She was just using this opportunity to give some people a final warning.
Granny Zhao personally brought over the pot of fragrant chicken soup. Han Yunxi said, "Crown Prince, help your imperial father scoop the soup."
Rui 'er was very obedient and brought over the empty bowl with both hands. Han Yunxi personally scooped up a spoonful of chicken soup and placed it in the bowl. Rui 'er carefully placed the chicken soup on the table.
He didn't say a word as he followed his imperial mother to Baili Yuanlong's seat. Granny Zhao immediately followed with the chicken soup, while Mu Ling'er followed closely behind. In front of everyone, she opened all the cutlery on Baili Yuanlong's table.
The table was filled with delicacies, but there was no fish, fruits, or vegetables. There was only clear soup with added spices. Baili Yuanlong couldn't believe or accept this reality.
He stuck his head out to look, but the truth was right in front of him. Rui 'er personally brought over an empty bowl, while Han Yunxi personally scooped up a spoonful of chicken soup.
This scene puzzled the shocked crowd. They couldn't figure out Han Yunxi's intentions, and didn't dare to speculate. Starting from Baili Yuanlong, Han Yunxi and Rui 'er opened all the cutlery on the kneeling officials with the help of Granny Zhao and Mu Ling'er, and left a spoonful of chicken soup for them.
After walking around in a circle, they finally returned to Long Feiye's side. By now, the bowl of chicken soup was almost empty. Granny Zhao respectfully placed the pot of stewed chicken and medicinal ingredients on Long Fei Ye's table.
Granny Zhao and Mu Ling'er withdrew, while Han Yunxi held Rui 'er's hand and returned to kneeling.
Everyone quietly watched the mother and son's every move. Without a doubt, even a small movement from them was enough to set off perilous waves in the crowd's hearts.
Han Yunxi said seriously, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's first birthday celebration is a great ceremony and cannot be abolished! What is a ceremony? This concubine believes that it is a ceremony to share joy and suffering with the people! Today, there is a natural disaster in the north, and the people are suffering. The Crown Prince's first birthday celebration is a ceremony to share the suffering of the people! For today's banquet, this concubine only ordered the kitchens to prepare a pot of chicken soup for Your Majesty and the ministers. This is to tell the world that our imperial family and court are concerned about the suffering of the people, and are always thinking about the disaster victims in the north. "
Long Fei Ye nodded seriously. Han Yunxi, Baili Yuanlong's faction, and the Xiao Clan's faction were all sweating profusely. Their limbs were weak, and their hearts were even weaker! Baili Yuanlong's face was indescribably pale, and Baili Lixiang's stunned expression was still frozen on her face. It took her a long time to recover!
However, there were also many officials who were kneeling on the ground who looked happy and respected the Empress again.
Han Yunxi's next words were once again unexpected, catching Baili Yuanlong and the Xiao Clan's faction unprepared.
Han Yunxi said, "Your Majesty, this concubine recently obtained food and spices from Mu Ling 'er. Thus, she used the spices to make soup and used the Crown Prince's first birthday celebration as an opportunity to test all the officials. This concubine believes that anyone who dares to leave the banquet and speak out to remonstrate today is a loyal official who cares about the people. "
This …
Is Han Yunxi rewarding them? Isn't she going to pursue the crime of slandering the empress?
Baili Yuanlong looked at Xiao An, who looked back at him. The two of them were even more afraid now!
If Han Yunxi held them responsible for slandering the empress, they could still defend themselves by saying that those who didn't know the truth weren't guilty, and that they'd rather die than speak out to show their integrity.
But!
Han Yunxi actually played such a trick and rewarded them?
This is too unsettling!
What kind of game is Han Yunxi playing?!
Forget Baili Yuanlong, even the experienced and astute Xiao An had to admit that he couldn't see through the empress's tricks.
If you don't know the enemy, how can you fight? How could they win?
At this moment, Baili Yuanlong and Xiao An were truly afraid. They feared Han Yunxi from the bottom of their hearts.
Baili Lixiang finally recovered her wits, her mind still a little muddled. This woman who didn't play by the rules had already messed up all her plans and arrangements!
Besides kneeling, she didn't know what to do or what to do next.
Of those kneeling, some were terrified, while others rejoiced. Those sitting in their original seats weren't in a good mood either. Those who knew the truth naturally weren't afraid, but those who didn't know were no less terrified than Baili Yuanlong and Xiao An.
Esteemed Empress had only said that the kneeling officials were upright officials, but hadn't said anything about the sitting ones! But in comparison, they'd become the ones who'd put their own safety first, and even helped the tyrant!
A single birthday banquet and an empty banquet table. She'd practically figured out all the officials' positions and styles!
"Rise and return to your seats!" Long Fei Ye said.
After the empress and crown prince took their seats, all the officials thanked the emperor and empress before returning to their seats.
Long Fei Ye picked up a bowl of chicken soup and smiled. "This is the best soup we've had since ascending the throne."
He drank it all in one gulp. "My beloved subjects, have a taste!"
Those who'd received chicken soup all stood up to drink from their bowls, while those who hadn't also stood up with awkward looks on their faces.
After drinking the soup, everyone thought that Long Fei Ye would make things difficult for those who'd put their own safety first. But Long Fei Ye didn't.
The matter seemed to have passed just like that, leaving everyone in disbelief.
Baili Yuanlong and Xiao An couldn't believe that the emperor and empress would let it go so easily. Baili Lixiang suddenly remembered something and quickly shot a glance at a young eunuch on the side. The eunuch nodded and hurriedly retreated.
However, as soon as he reached the door, he was stopped by Xu Donglin.
"Where are you in such a hurry to go?" Xu Donglin asked.
"This servant … this servant is going to relieve myself." The eunuch's teeth were trembling.
"This young master just happens to be going as well. Let's go together," Xu Donglin said.
The eunuch's panic was written all over his face. He timidly followed Xu Donglin to the outhouse before returning.
"Is there anything else?" Xu Donglin asked.
"N-n-nothing else." The eunuch shook his head.
"Then go back and wait on her. Esteemed Empress has already given the order. Anyone who dares to run away in the middle of the banquet will be guilty of a great crime! "Xu Donglin warned coldly. The eunuch scrambled back to his seat.
It took time for news of the Imperial Palace to spread to the outside world, and it required many people to spread it by word of mouth. The extravagance and waste of this birthday banquet had already been revealed. But the troublemakers outside the palace had no idea!
The eunuch had just helped Baili Lixiang spread the news, which had already reached the scholars who were causing trouble.
Heaven knows what kind of mess they'd make!
The eunuch wanted to give Baili Lixiang a look when he entered the hall, but she didn't look back. Meanwhile, the banquet hall was silent. The crown prince was about to begin his task.
The wide table was filled with all sorts of things, sixty-six in total. There were seals, books, brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, abacus, coins, account books, food, toys, and so on. Rui 'er was standing in front of the table, looking at the items.
Everyone knew that the crown prince was precocious. Even if he wasn't, the empress would've trained him to only grab the seals.
Thus, no one cared about what the crown prince would grab. Everyone was still thinking about what had happened just now. Those who wanted to protect themselves were all speculating on how the emperor would deal with them. Meanwhile, Baili Yuanlong's and Xiao An's factions were still panicking, trying to guess what Han Yunxi was planning.
It was just a banquet to begin with, but everyone had been tormented until they were hungry and terrified. They were both physically and mentally exhausted!
However, Han Yunxi, Long Fei Ye, and Gu were all looking at Rui 'er expectantly.
Han Yunxi hadn't told Rui 'er what to grab, but Long Fei Ye had told Rui' er to grab whatever he liked. If Rui 'er didn't like the seals and didn't want to inherit the throne in the future, he'd let Rui' er do as he pleased. In any case, Han Yunxi was still young. She could always give Rui 'er more brothers.
Everyone was looking forward to it because they didn't know what Rui 'er would grab, and secondly …
Han Yunxi and Long Fei Ye had made a bet, Gu and Gu Beiyue had made a bet, and Tang Li and Ning Jing had made a bet as well!
If all the civil and military officials in the hall were to know that their masters were actually in the mood to make a bet, how would they feel?
What would Rui 'er grab?
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