King Xiang of the Red Chamber

Chapter 309 Laba Festival

Orthodox ten years, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Today is the Laba Festival. According to the etiquette system, the emperor will give a banquet at Fengtianmen, so Fengtianmen is very lively at this moment.

The civil servants and military officers sat in the east and west, bathing in the cold wind, and the emperor's grace was doubled.

Just because of today's banquet, the Supreme Emperor Zhu Xinkan was able to attend, which was unimaginable in the past.

The emperor performed his father's kindness and son's filial piety, and all the officials below echoed in the cold wind, making Zhu Jinghong feel sorry for these people.

It took a whole morning for the banquet to end, and the officials who were half full left one after another.

It's not that there is not enough food, but that the food is cold in the cold, and that food is simply uneatable.

Zhu Xianming sent his father back to Ningshou Palace, Zhu Jinghong's three brothers went with him, and the rest of the concubines left the palace with the officials.

After sending the Supreme Emperor back to Ningshou Palace, Zhu Xianming left with his sons after some false politeness, and Ningshou Palace became quiet again.

Looking at the disappointed Supreme Emperor in the hall, Concubine Zhen took the medicine bowl from the maid and slowly came to the Supreme Emperor.

"Your Majesty, it's time to drink the medicine!"

Coughing a few times, Zhu Xinkan took the medicine bowl, and then said: "My body is getting worse recently, I'm afraid it won't last long..."

Hearing this, Concubine Zhen couldn't help feeling sad. After all these years of getting along, she still has true feelings for the Supreme Emperor.

After drinking the decoction, Zhu Xinkan said in a deep voice: "Fortunately, now...I have talked with the fourth brother, and you will not have any trouble after I die!"

"Your Majesty..." Dowager Zhen had tears in her eyes, she really couldn't hear this.

When Zhu Xinkan was dying, Emperor Zhu Xianming was leading his three sons to Kunning Palace.

The Fengtianmen state banquet is over, and there is a family banquet at Kunning Palace at noon, and today the juniors are here too.

Right now outside the Kunning Palace, the prince and Prince Rui's children are chasing and fighting inside, followed by more than a dozen court ladies and eunuchs, afraid that these little ancestors will bump into each other.

And in the main hall of Kunning Palace, Princess Rui Chen Zhi and the Crown Prince's side concubine Jia Yuanchun were talking with the queen in the side hall.

"According to my daughter-in-law, we might as well just appreciate the clothes. Firstly, this item is precious and rare, and secondly, it can save money!" Chen Zhi gave her opinion.

What is being discussed now is the end of the year rewards to the wives inside and outside, and Chen Zhi put herself in the queen's shoes.

"My daughter-in-law doesn't mean that's the case. You can still give gold and silver, or wishful gold hairpins if you are below the first rank..."

Chen Zhi talked endlessly, after all, she also had the idea of ​​becoming a crown princess and then upgrading to a queen in the future, and now it was equivalent to adapting in advance.

Listening to Chen Zhi talking non-stop, the queen looked at Yuan Chun who was silent, and asked, "What do you think of this matter?"

If it was in the past, Yuan Chun would definitely say that it is up to the queen mother to decide, but now she is very likely to be the crown princess, so the way of speaking will change.

"My queen, my son thinks that... the gift of silver above the first rank is better as in previous years!"

"Originally, there is not much money, and we can't save a lot here. If the servants think that the royal family is stingy, it will not be worth the loss!"

Hearing that Yuan Chun dared to veto her, Chen Zhi's heart suddenly became furious, but she didn't dare to explode in front of the empress.

"My sister's words are not good enough. Thunder, rain and dew are all the grace of heaven. A subject should have the duty of a subject. Does my royal family still have to rely on it?"

What Yuan Chun said made sense, but Chen Zhi was just trying to argue right now.

At this time Yang Qingyin said: "Each person is given 50 taels of silver, and there are no more than 52 people who have received a first-grade imperial order. The total is only 600 taels of silver, which is not a lot... let's distribute it as usual!"

Since Yuan Chun is to be established as the crown princess, the queen must protect her face, so she must speak to her at this moment.

"What the queen mother said is very true, it's my daughter-in-law who is short-sighted!" Chen Zhi quickly admitted her mistake, but she didn't dare to tell the queen the opposite.

"According to the time, they should come here, let's go out too!"

At this moment, in the main hall of Kunning Palace, the maids and eunuchs are busy, and the banquet has basically been arranged.

In addition to the position of the empress and empress, eight tables were set up on the left and right sides of the hall to accommodate the princes and grandchildren.

As soon as Yang Qingyin arrived at the main hall, she heard someone outside reporting that the emperor was coming, so everyone rushed out to greet her.

When Yang Qingyin walked out of the door, she saw Zhu Xianming holding Prince Rui's youngest son, talking and laughing walking in.

Behind him are the three princes, and then the other grandsons (daughters), and Zhu Yunsheng who is among them.

Being called aunt by mouth, Zhu Yunsheng didn't mention how beautiful she was, so she liked being with the children very much.

"Oh...the queen came out in person, this is really rare!" Zhu Xianming was quite surprised.

But the queen said: "You said that I don't respect you all day long, but now I come out to meet you in person... Could there be something wrong!"

"If it's freezing cold today, why do you have to come out in person? What's wrong with being cold!"

Hearing that the old couple showed affection, Zhu Jinghong only felt sour in his heart. He is a dignified figure like a prince and prince, but now he doesn't even have a woman.

This damn royal rule...Zhu Jinghong could only feel angry in his heart.

Ignoring the emperor any more, Yang Qingyin waved to the back and said, "Chun'er, come here quickly!"

Zhu Muchun is the eldest son of the crown prince and the eldest grandson of Zhu Xianming, so he is naturally dissatisfied with being treated coldly by the empress.

The two children came to the queen's side, respectfully called grandmother, and were led into the hall by the queen from left to right.

Looking at the little grandson in his arms, the emperor naturally understood what the empress meant, although he was dissatisfied, he could only keep it in his heart.

"What are you doing in a daze, let's go in!" Zhu Xianming put down the little grandson in his arms.

No one dared to disobey his will, they all went into the hall one by one, and took their seats under the guidance of the female officer.

The ones sitting in the front are naturally the prince and Prince Rui, the next two tables are Zhu Jinghong and Zhu Yunsheng, and the next one is the emperor's grandchildren.

Don't look at these children chasing and playing just now, everyone in the hall is sitting upright at the moment, and even their voices have become extremely quiet.

Zhu Jinghong has also taken his seat, opposite her is Zhu Yunsheng, and behind him are several waiters.

After the emperor and empress were seated, Zhu Jingyuan was the first to stand up with his cup in hand, and the rest of the people followed suit.

This is a routine etiquette for family banquets. I saw Zhu Jinghong facing the seat of honor and respectfully said: "I wish my father and queen mother good health and long life!"

The rest of the people also followed suit, and after the emperor and empress raised their glasses in response, they all toasted and drank, and then returned to their seats.

"Fourth brother, how is your health recently?" The queen spoke with concern.

Zhu Jingyuan replied: "After reporting to my mother, my son is still healthy, but he coughs from time to time!"

The prince didn't tell the truth, and everyone at the scene knew it well, and the queen's question was just to find a reason to talk.

In the next moment, she heard her say: "It seems that Yuan Chun, this girl, took good care of you. I didn't misjudge you!"

Praising Yuan Chun at this time made Chen Zhi who was beside Prince Rui feel even more sour. After all, she was the only serious daughter-in-law at the scene, and Yuan Chun was just a side concubine.

"The mother's empress is too famous. It's my son's duty to take care of the crown prince. How dare my son take credit for it!"

Yang Qingyin smiled, then looked at the emperor beside her, and said, "Look, this kid is so sensible!"

Zhu Xianming responded without saying a word, he knew what the empress meant.

He is still in a state of entanglement about the matter of enshrining Yuanchun as the crown princess.

(End of this chapter)