Chapter 42:
The palace has always waited until the New Year's Eve to entertain the ministers. And every year in the small year, the concubines and princes in the palace gather together, which is regarded as a family banquet in the palace.
The two brothers and sisters Jun Huailang lived in the palace and went to the banquet together this year.
The banquet was held in the Changchun Building in the northwest corner of Taiye Lake. The Changchun Building is three-storey high, half facing the water, with a terrace for viewing the view above. It is very elegant to watch the lotus in summer and snow in winter. The family banquets in the palace have always been set here.
Seeing that it was time for the banquet, Jun Huailang led Jun Linghuan out of the door together. The concubines and concubines had to greet the empress first, so Concubine Shu went an hour early and did not join them.
Arriving at the entrance of Mingluan Palace, Jun Huailang did not forget to send Fuyi to call Xue Yan.
When the new year came, the palace was already decorated. Except for those special objects for New Year's Eve, the rest were all decorated. It was the first time that Jun Linghuan saw the sight of the Chinese New Year in the palace, and it was the first time he saw many things.
So, the three of them walked together, and it was very lively along the way. Jun Linghuan has always talked a lot, and everything he sees is novel. There are many words along the way, and Jun Huailang listens carefully and responds to her with a smile.
Xue Yan silently walked beside him.
When he arrived at the entrance of Changchun Building, Jun Huailang suddenly made an "eh" and stopped.
"Brother what did you see?" Jun Linghuan hurriedly followed his gaze and looked there.
On the corner of the flying eaves of Changchun Tower, there is a clear glass lamp hanging. The lantern was quite small, in the shape of a hexagonal palace lantern, but it was exquisitely carved. Bamboo patterns were fired on all six sides. From a distance, the bamboo shadow swayed, which was particularly clear and delicate.
Jun Linghuan only glanced at it, and was attracted by the silk flowers hanging next to her. On the contrary, Jun Huailang stopped there and glanced at it several times involuntarily.
For a moment, he smiled and said to himself: "There are still many skilled craftsmen in the palace."
After he finished speaking, he saw Jun Linghuan waiting quietly beside him, he smiled and rubbed the top of her hair, turned to Xue Yan and said, "Let's go."
Passing where Jun Huailang was standing just now, Xue Yan raised her head and glanced in that direction.
It's just a broken lamp, transparent, with some green patterns on it. There is no difference except that it looks brighter than other lights.
However, when Jun Huailang looked at this lamp just now, it was so... beautiful?
Xue Yan involuntarily glanced at the unremarkable broken lamp again.
When they arrived at the banquet hall of Changchun Building, Xue Yunhuan was already sitting in it. He slipped down according to the seat order, and he happened to be sitting next to Xue Yan, with Jun Huailang and Jun Linghuan sitting on the other side.
Taking a seat, Xue Yunhuan saw Jun Huailang talking to Jun Linghuan with her head lowered, and turned to ask Xue Yan, "Hey, you didn't come in at the door for a long time, what are you looking at? ?"
Xue Yan looked up. Looking out from this angle, he could just see the corner of the palace lantern.
The transparent glass is light green.
Xue Yan retracted his gaze and said lightly, "That lamp is very beautiful."
Xue Yunhuan followed and looked over, and saw the glazed lamp hanging on the eaves outside the door.
"I heard that it was burnt by a glazed craftsman of the father emperor with great difficulty. The father emperor specially hung it there. I think I like it very much." Xue Yunhuan said.
Xue Yan did not speak again this time.
Xue Yunhuan didn't wait for his response for a long time, it was a little strange, so he looked sideways.
Just now Xue Yan managed to pick up on his own words, presumably to chat with him, why is he silent now?
Then, he saw Xue Yan sitting in the same place quietly and calmly, and didn't pay any attention to him at all. Seeing Xue Yunhuan looking over, Xue Yan raised his eyes and met his questioning gaze without panicking. He nodded lightly with him, indicating that he heard it.
Xue Yunhuan: "…."
…Who is this evil star!
If you want to talk to someone, just say it, if you don't want to talk, just ignore a word, it's really rude!
—
Not long after the princes sat down, the emperor came with a group of concubines.
All the princes and concubines greeted the emperor, and the banquet began. This palace banquet is somewhat of a family banquet. The dishes are exquisite and rich, and there are not too many restrictions on etiquette.
The concubines and princes toasted the emperor one after another, and said some auspicious words for the toast, and a lot of time passed in a lively manner, and most of the banquet was carried out.
After a round of toasts, Emperor Qing Ping also felt a little drunk. He leaned on the table and looked at it for a while, then smiled and said, "These emperors are all outstanding. In previous years, during the new year, I had to test your kung fu, and this year is no exception, and I can't fall behind. ."
On weekdays, palace banquets throw pots, and it is all about the children of nobles playing around, winning prizes, losing drinks, rewards and punishments are just jokes, and it's a lively fun together.
According to the rules of Emperor Qing Ping, every year at the family banquet, the prince should also throw the pot. This throwing pot is different from the usual one. It is the result of the princes practicing martial arts at the end of the year. Those who win can not only get rewards, but also win glory in front of Emperor Qingping.
The princes have always tried their best to compete here.
Jun Huailang glanced at Xue Yunhuan and saw that he was gearing up for a try.
... He did know that Xue Yunhuan didn't have such a great desire to express, but just liked to play bowling.
Although the pot throwing is only used for feasting and entertainment among noble children, there is a great way to do it. If a pot thrower wants to win, he must not only have arm strength, but also need to have a sharp head and be skillful.
It is elegant and ingenious to test the prince at the banquet in this way.
Obtaining the imperial order, some palace servants cleaned up the large space in the middle of the banquet hall and set up the double-eared copper pot.
Several older princes received holy orders and stood up one after another, talking and laughing to the position where they would throw the pot. The concubines and concubines next to each other also laughed and discussed each other, but in the light of the conversation, they had already come and gone, and I did not know how many tricks.
Jun Huailang saw that Xue Yan was walking beside him, quietly and not speaking to anyone. Although the few princes were joking, they were all prepared after a closer look. They neatly arranged the cuffs of their robes and would not pull their hips at critical moments.
Xue Yunhuan was so eager to try, he could not wait to put his sleeves on his shoulders.
On the other hand, Xue Yan didn't even take off his cloak. The heavy fox fur cloak wrapped around him looked graceful and luxurious, but if he wanted to act, it would always be a lot of burden.
The fourth prince, Xue Yunhong, stood beside him and glanced at him with a half-smile, without saying a word to remind him.
Jun Huailang couldn't help but be a little worried.
The spout in the distance is smaller, and the difference will affect the result.
Xue Yan has been away from the customs all the year round, and naturally he has never played the trick of the young master of Beijing. Horseback archery is not the same as throwing a pot. Xue Yan didn't even know how to come here, so he went on the field without any preparation.
But Jun Huailang was naturally unable to step forward to remind him, and Xue Yunhuan, who had already run to the **** to pick arrows, naturally didn't notice.
Over there, several princes stood still, and Emperor Qingping smiled and said: "Then let's start, one person and three arrows, the best scorer can ask me for a reward."
Xue Yunsu couldn't wait.
A few of them are brothers, in terms of martial arts, they are all on the same level, there are winners and losers. If he has good luck this year and comes out on top, he will definitely ask the emperor for a will to give his mother-in-law a promotion.
Thinking like this, he stood on the spot, waiting for the eldest prince to cast first.
The eldest prince is now in his twenties and has entered the dynasty as an official. Being an official is naturally different from other princes. Not only does he have more frequent contact with Emperor Qingping, but the relationship between the two is also more monarch and minister.
So he didn't make much of a head start. One of the three arrows hit the mouth of the pot.
The Emperor Qingping nodded with satisfaction.
When he stepped aside, Xue Yunsu came on stage.
He has been practicing in the palace for a long time, and now he is quite confident. The first two arrows, he was throwing into the mouth of the pot, and on the last arrow, he took a risk and threw it on the left ear of the pot.
If you hit the pot lug, it is considered a "through ear", and the number of points you get is double that of hitting the pot mouth.
His hands were shaking a little, so he should take a risk.
The long arrow flew out and pierced into the left ear of the pot.
Hit! Xue Yunsu felt happy for a while, raised her head and glanced at her mother-in-law at the seat.
There have always been several of their brothers throwing pots, and it is rare that they can hit the mouth of the pot with three arrows. This time he got a slap in the ear, and he must have the top spot tonight.
Since the last time, his mother and concubine cried with his father about the grounding of his feet. Although he was released from the grounding, his mother and concubine also fell out of favor for several days. He just wanted to take advantage of today to give his mother and concubine a long face, so that the father and the emperor could look at him and see more of the benefits of their mother and son.
Seeing his mother and concubine on the table, she couldn't hide the joy on her face, so she nodded at him.
Xue Yunsu stood to the side and gave way to Xue Yunhong.
Only the second idiot will practice hard in the palace? In order to win the jackpot in front of the father, only the idiot like Lao Liu who only knows silly music will not work secretly.
Xue Yunhong stood at the position of throwing the pot, with a calm expression, smiled and nodded at Xue Yunsu.
It's like admiring him for doing well.
Xue Yunhong withdrew his gaze, picked up the arrow, and threw it lightly.
The first arrow goes through the ear.
The second arrow goes through the ear.
The third arrow goes through the ear.
As he threw arrow after arrow, the banquet gradually quieted down, and the smile on Xue Yunsu's face next to him also stiffened.
There has never been a prince who could throw such an outstanding result, and for a while, even Emperor Qingping showed a surprised look and said happily: "Hong'er's martial arts have really improved a lot! "
He knew that his father liked such children the most.
After he finished speaking, he didn't feel complacent at all, he just turned sideways and gave his position to Xue Yan.
But I heard Xue Yan standing next to Xue Yunhuan, glanced at the place where the pot was thrown, and asked Xue Yunhuan, "How is this rule calculated?"
It was not loud, but everyone around heard it.
For a time, everyone looked at each other with different expressions.
Even Xue Yunhong, who was calm, couldn't help but pause when he heard this. Contempt arose in my heart.
It's just a barbarian from Yandi. he thought.