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 lotus flowers 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 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.
When he arrived at the entrance of Mingluan Palace, Jun Huailang did not forget to send Fuyi to call Xue Yan.
In the new year, the palace has been decorated anew, except for those special objects for New Year's Eve that have not been put out yet, the rest have been 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 Tower, 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 lamp is quite small, in the shape of a hexagonal palace lantern, but it is exquisitely carved, with bamboo patterns on all six sides, and the bamboo shadow swaying from a distance is particularly clear and delicate.
Jun Linghuan only glanced at it, and was attracted by the silk flowers hanging beside him. 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 speaking, he saw Jun Linghuan waiting quietly beside him, he smiled and rubbed the top of her hair, then turned to Xue Yan and said, "Let's go."
Passing by where Jun Huailang was standing just now, Xue Yan raised his head and glanced in that direction.
Just a broken lamp, transparent, with some green patterns on it. There is no difference except that it looks brighter than other lights.
But why did Jun Huailang look so special when he looked at this lamp just now... so beautiful
Those eyes, illuminated by the clear light, were so amazing that they couldn't hide it.
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.
After taking his seat, Xue Yunhuan saw that Jun Huailang was talking to Jun Linghuan with his head lowered, and he 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.
Transparent glass, glowing light green color.
Xue Yan retracted his gaze and said lightly, "That lamp is very pretty."
Xue Yunhuan followed and looked over, and saw the glazed lamp hanging on the eaves outside the door. It was indeed bright, and he saw it at a glance.
"I heard that it was burnt by a glazed craftsman of the royal father with great difficulty. The royal father hangs it there. I think I like it very much." Xue Yunhuan said.
This time Xue Yan didn't speak again.
Xue Yunhuan didn't wait for his response for a long time, and it was a little strange, so he looked sideways.
Just now, Xue Yan managed to pick up what he said. He must have wanted to chat with him. Why is he silent now
Then, he saw Xue Yan sitting quietly and calmly in the same place, ignoring 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, and if you don't want to talk, just ignore a word, it's really rude!
—
Not long after the princes were seated, the emperor came with a group of concubines.
The princes, concubines 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 successively toasted the emperor 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 had a bit of a drunken eye. He leaned on the table and looked at it for a moment, 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, the palace banquets are all played by the noble children, winning prizes, losing drinks, rewards and punishments are just jokes, and it is a lively fun together.
But according to the rules of Emperor Qingping, every year at the family banquet in the small year, the prince must also throw the pot. This pot throwing is different from normal days. 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.
Among the princes, there has always been a lot of energy, and they want to compete here.
Jun Huailang glanced at Xue Yunhuan, and saw that he was gearing up, eager to try.
... He does know that Xue Yunhuan doesn't have such a great desire to express, but just likes to play the pitcher.
Although throwing pots 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.
After getting the emperor's 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 the Holy Order, and stood up one after another, talking and laughing to the position where the pot was thrown. 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 ready to look at the past. They neatly arranged the cuffs of their robes and would not pull their hips at critical moments.
Xue Yunhuan was eager to try, and 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, but didn't say anything to remind him.
Jun Huailang couldn't help but be a little worried.
He knew that Xue Yan was highly skilled in martial arts, but after all, he had to be dexterous in throwing the pot, and he had a cape on his sleeves. Wherever he hung it, it would affect his grades.
If the spout in the distance is smaller, the difference will affect the result.
Xue Yan has been far away from the customs all the year round, so 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 go forward to remind him, and Xue Yunhuan, who had already run up to the eunuch to pick the arrow, naturally didn't notice.
Jun Huailang had no choice but to think, it was just a little thing to show off, no matter whether he won or lost, it didn't matter.
Over there, several princes stood still, and Emperor Qingping said with a smile: "Then let's start, one person with three arrows, the one with the best results can ask me for a reward."
Xue Yunsu couldn't wait.
Several of their brothers, in terms of martial arts, 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.
With that in mind, he stood on the spot with his hands and waited for the first 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.
Therefore, he didn't make much of a head start, and one of the three arrows hit the mouth of the pot, which could not be regarded as high or low, leaving some opportunities for the younger brothers to show their faces.
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 to the left ear of the pot.
If you hit the pot lug, it is considered to be a "penetrating ear", and the points you get will be doubled compared to those who hit the pot mouth.
His hands were shaking a little, and Quan was taking a risk.
The long arrow flew out and narrowly pierced into the left ear of the pot.
bingo! Xue Yunsu felt happy for a while, raised her head and glanced at her mother-in-law on the seat.
There have always been a few of their brothers throwing pots, and it is rare to be able to 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-in-law had cried with his father about his grounding, although he was released from the grounding, the mother-in-law had also fallen out of favor for a few 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.
The interaction between him and his mother-in-law, Xue Yunhong saw it in his eyes, and his face was not obvious, but he smiled contemptuously in his heart.
Only the second idiot will practice hard in the palace? In order to win the lottery in front of the father, only the idiot who only knows silly music will not work secretly.
Xue Yunhong stood in the position where he was throwing the pot, his expression was light and calm, and nodded at Xue Yunsu with a smile.
It's like admiring him for just throwing well.
Xue Yunsu suddenly showed a smug and contemptuous smile on his face. He was only happy that he had hit the third arrow, but he didn't notice that his expression was in the eyes of Emperor Qingping at this time.
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 penetrates the ear.
As he shot arrow by arrow, the banquet gradually became quiet, and the smile on Xue Yunsu's face next to him also stiffened.
There has never been such an outstanding result for a prince. For a time, even Emperor Qingping showed a surprised look and said happily: "Hong'er's martial arts have really improved a lot!"
"It's just a fluke." Xue Yunhong took back his hand lightly, bowed slowly to Emperor Qingping, and said with a smile.
He knew that his father liked such children the most.
After speaking, he didn't show any complacency, just turned sideways and gave up his position to Xue Yan.
He 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 could hear it.
For a time, everyone looked at each other with different expressions.
Even Xue Yunhong, who was calm, couldn't help but paused when he heard this. Contempt arose in my heart.
But it is a barbarian from Yandi. he thought.