Chapter 954 Palace Banquet
On the twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month, there was a palace banquet.
Officials of the fifth rank and above and their family members are required to attend the banquet in the palace to show the emperor's great favor.
But because Zhang Yishan was pregnant and the winter was not conducive to travel, Baiyunxi prepared to take Yaya to the banquet, while the rest of the people stayed at home.
Although a place like the palace looks magnificent, there are dangers hidden in it, and there are endless intrigues and intrigues. It would be better to go there and risk a half-cold meal than to stay at home, guarding the charcoal basin, and have a warm meal in comfort.
But having said that, the ladies of Kyoto are all proud to be able to enter the palace and attend banquets. Even if they are hungry, they cannot stop them from coming.
Hearing Bai Yunxi's decision, Mrs. Du was startled. She was nervous and excited at the same time. She immediately wanted to prepare clothes and headdresses for her daughter. She must not neglect the palace banquet.
She never dared to dream of the palace, the place where the noble lady lived.
Now her daughter is going to the banquet. What an honor it is.
Du Shi's eyes shone with excitement, and she didn't know where to put her hands.
"Mom, Yaya is going to the banquet with you, what should I prepare for her?"
Seeing Du Shi rubbing her hands nervously, Bai Yunxi couldn't help but shake her head.
"Don't be nervous, just dress more delicately than usual."
When they go to the palace to eat, it's not a sacrificial festival, so they just need to dress neatly. Although comparisons are not recommended, this kind of thing is simply inevitable among ladies.
It doesn't matter if you don't dress well. After all, it is a royal banquet. If you are too shabby, you will be laughed at. If not, you will be impeached, saying that you despise the imperial power.
Bai Yunxi wore several thick layers, a red dress, a quilted jacket, and finally a rabbit fur cloak.
The bun was pulled up on the back of the head, raised a little with a wig, fixed with two white jade hairpins, and a gold hairpin was inserted on the other side.
She put a thin layer of powder on her face and put on light makeup. No matter how she looked, she looked like a graceful and noble person.
Yaya was dressed in a pink and purple dress, with a rabbit skin jacket on her upper body, and embroidered cotton-padded boots on her feet, which reached to the level of her calf. Wearing a pink cloak that matches her figure, white fluffy rabbit fur surrounds her neck, and her cheeks are white and pink, delicate and charming.
Bai Yunxi gently stroked the silk flower on her bun, and the silver stamens swayed, showing a spirit of elf.
"My eldest granddaughter is really beautiful."
"Grandma is pretty too."
Yaya has grown very fast in the past two years and is already as tall as her. Her big eyes are shining, which makes her very attractive.
"It's getting late, let's get going." The night banquet in the palace was entered at the You hour and ended halfway through the Xu hour.
Everyone sent the grandfather and grandson to the gate and watched them get into the carriage and set off before going back.
Xiao Wu is accompanying them today. In the afternoon, Shitou will be sent to tell them to enter the palace on time. Xiao Wu is waiting for them at the palace.
The carriage stopped in the square at the gate of the palace,
When Bai Yunxi brought Yaya down, she saw many carriages parked in the square. Women from various families took their daughters to the palace gate, lined up to check their identities, and entered the palace one by one.
"Bai Shuren, Miss Bai, I looked at the statue from a distance, and sure enough I didn't miss it." Princess Hehui came over with the girl and said hello with a smile.
"The princess is polite." Bai Yunxi chuckled and greeted politely.
"Miss Bai, it's really you."
While they were talking, a little girl wearing a light blue cloak ran up to Yaya and looked at her in surprise.
"Yaya, if it hadn't been for the heavy snow a while ago and my mother wouldn't let me go out, I would have gone to your house to play with you."
Yaya's eyes lit up when she saw Tang Yuan appearing in front of her eyes.
"Me too. Grandma, this is my new friend, Miss Tang."
Bai Yunxi looked at the two people's closeness and trembled at the corner of her mouth. It seems that these two girls have only met once, right?
Before she could speak, an old lady came up from behind, being supported by a girl.
"This girl ran this way as soon as she got off the car. It turns out she met an acquaintance."
Tang family, censor doctor, from the first rank.
"Mrs. Tang is polite,"
Baiyunxi was slightly blessed, and Xiaowu had made connections in Kyoto. She also looked through it and knew that this person had a certain destiny.
"You're welcome, Bai Shu. It's rare for the two girls to have a fate."
Mrs. Tang looked at Baiyunxi's ancestors and grandchildren without leaving any trace, and replied gently.
"Thanks to the princess for inviting me to attend her poetry meeting. I will never forget Miss Tang when I come back."
Baiyunxi chuckled and exchanged greetings.
The Bai family were not very familiar with the noble ladies in Kyoto, and they only exchanged polite greetings.
While the few people were talking, they followed the flow of people towards the palace gate. Kyouto checked the right cards and put the person in.
Pass through the tall palace gate, enter the palace, walk inside the towering red brick palace wall, and look at the palace lanterns hanging on both sides of the wall, illuminating the road.
After a while, the Tang family followed, and the two girls gathered together and muttered again.
The two families looked very helpless.
The group of them was led by the young eunuch all the way to Zichen Palace, which is also the palace where officials entertain guests.
Sit down according to rank, with the younger members of the family sitting behind you. If the official's wife has a whim and asks someone to stand up and talk, there will be no mistake.
As soon as Bai Yunxi sat down, he received visiting glances from around him. It was a new arrival for the Bai family, and his sudden appearance made many people curious.
Some people are exploring, and some are whispering, but this does not affect Baiyun Xi.
Just come here to have a meeting, have a meal, and just go through the motions.
Fortunately, everyone knew what the occasion was, but no one dared to judge it at will.
The Purple Palace is divided into two parts, with a layer of gauze curtain in the middle, and the outer side is the male guest seat.
A quarter of an hour before the banquet began, Bai Yunxi saw Xiaowu walk in, and their eyes met in the air, and Yaya waved to him.
Seeing his mother sitting there with Yaya, Xiaowu was relieved and walked to his seat and sat down. The officials next to him saw him and immediately came over to greet him.
With the eunuch's high congratulations, the emperor and the queen appeared at the door of the hall.
Looking at the young emperor and queen, Bai Yunxi was like watching a play.
As everyone stood up and shouted long live, the young emperor spread his arms and gently asked everyone to stand up.
"Today's palace banquet, all the ministers don't have to be restrained. After working hard for a year, you should drink a few cups."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After that, the emperor gave a speech, the righteousness was to thank the ministers for their hard work for a year, and the year was coming to an end, so that everyone would eat and drink well and continue to serve the court next year.
After the speech, the sound of stringed instruments began to sound, and a group of dancers poured in from the entrance of the hall, swaying their bodies and dancing to the music.
Bai Yunxi looked at the dancers and couldn't help but sigh that they were indeed royal singers, and they were all of high standard. Look at their willow waists and their beautiful faces, they were really pleasing to the eyes.
Especially Yaya, it was the first time she saw this, she opened her eyes wide and admired it very seriously.