In the evening, the banquet was held in a large tent.
The people of the grassland are indeed bold and unrestrained. They served barbecued meat, beef, mutton, and various things made from barley flour, including milk tofu, milk tea, and milk wine, needless to say.
There is a small table in front of each person, with a small curved knife for cutting meat on it. It is said that the chopsticks are made of polished cow bones, which is very local.
"I know that Your Majesty has no shortage of meat, but our Zasak cattle and sheep are all top quality. Your Majesty, please try some. We also have this barley wine. It's strong but tastes really good."
Aoqi was the first to stand up, holding up the wine glass and speaking respectfully.
Ning Chen drank a glass out of respect.
The wine was indeed very strong. Even though I was mentally prepared, I still felt the spiciness. I couldn't show it on my face, so I could only grit my teeth.
Ye Jun was sitting not far from her. She had just tasted the mare's milk in front of her. This was for women on the grassland, so she felt it was strong. She looked at Ning Chen and prayed secretly.
Next, the remaining three princes also toasted in turn.
Some female relatives, such as Dolan, Sudiya, and the families of several princes, also toasted.
However, they were toasting to the emperor's concubines. Except for Concubine Lin who really couldn't drink, everyone else was forced to drink two or three cups.
I haven't even started eating the meat yet, but I've already drank the wine. I'm really not used to it.
After putting down the wine glass, Ye Jun quickly picked two pieces of lean mutton to eat.
After calming down a bit, he carefully looked at the four princes opposite him.
Then he was surprised to find that neither Aoqi nor Qinggertai had any female relatives. It would be fine if the latter was younger, but Aoqi was almost thirty years old, so how could he be without a woman
The other two older princes each brought more than one or two.
It seems that these two people are not interested in women
Ye Jun withdrew her gaze. These were not things she should worry about. She just needed to eat the meat.
Ning Chen did not bring his brothers this time, so the guards who followed him came forward to block the wine for him.
The two young men, Lu Qingyun and Ye Zhe, drank a lot, and soon their faces were stained red.
Although he wasn't drunk yet, he looked very uncomfortable.
Fortunately, the female members of the family were not so enthusiastic. Except for the first time at the beginning of the meal, no one toasted us afterwards.
Ning Chen felt uncomfortable after being forced to drink too much, but when he turned around, he saw Ye Jun eating happily below.
She was directing the young eunuch to cut mutton for her. There was a layer of oil on her little mouth, which was shiny and red.
"It seems that Ming Mei likes this barbecue very much?"
Ye Jun was eating when he was suddenly called and everyone's eyes were on him.
She put down her chopsticks awkwardly, but managed to keep her composure, wiped her mouth, and replied with a smile.
"I have always liked eating meat. The spices used for roasting meat on the grassland are different from those in Kyoto. It has a unique flavor. I really like it. And this wine is also different from the fruit wine I usually drink. I respect the emperor and all the princes for their hospitality."
After he finished speaking, he picked up the cup and drank it all.
In fact, there was only a small sip left in her cup. No one else could see it anyway, so she just acted like that to appear very heroic.
Ning Chen naturally gave her face and also raised his glass. After he took the lead, the four princes followed suit and drank a glass.
"Eating too much meat is hard to digest, so be careful about your spleen and stomach. Take the fruit in front of me to Lady Ming." Ning Chen said.
Yuan Jiu responded and brought the plate of food to Ye Jun.
After expressing his gratitude, Ye Jun ate openly without any restraint, as if he was used to it.
This was the first concubine who received special care from the emperor. Everyone on the grassland immediately believed that this one was favored.
If you think about it carefully, if they were not favored, how could they come out? General Ye who was beside the emperor was there to protect him, and these two were brother and sister.
Because of Ning Chen's behavior, Ye Jun became a target for the concubines in the harem, but even the jasaks did not dare to look down on her and showed her a lot of respect.
After a round of drinks, Aoqi spoke again.
"Your Majesty, I heard that at banquets held in the Central Plains, singing and dancing are required to liven up the atmosphere. The women on my grassland are especially good at singing and dancing. My sister has specially prepared a dance to welcome Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will do me the honor of taking a look."
What is meant to come will come, and Ning Chen is not surprised at all.
"Okay, since the princess has specially prepared it, then let me open my eyes!"
Aoqi smiled brightly, raised his hands and clapped twice, neither too light nor too heavy.
Immediately, the sounds of horse-head fiddle and cowhide drum were heard outside the tent.
Six girls held hands and formed a circle, stepping to the beat of drums, and surrounded the girl in the middle and came in.
This dance is completely different from the dance in the Central Plains. From the dance posture to the expression, it reveals the unique heroism and boldness of the Zasaq girls.
Princess Dolan, dressed in traditional costumes, adorned with turquoise, white jade and other accessories, sparkled as she danced. Her hair was braided with colorful ropes, and her bright almond eyes made her look very charming indeed.
Dolan not only danced, but also held a small silver wine glass in his hand and poured a glass of wine on every table at the banquet.
Finally, Ning Chen was the only one left. The girl turned around with brisk steps, knelt down neatly, and raised the wine glass above her head.
"I am afraid that your Majesty will not like my performance today, so I will shamelessly ask for a glass of wine from your Majesty."
Everyone's eyes were focused on him. Dolan's action was too obvious. It all depended on what Ning Chen would do.
Ye Jun raised his eyebrows, already having the answer in his mind.
As expected, Ning Chen laughed heartily, "I have never seen this dance, Princess. It is truly unique and unforgettable!"
After he finished speaking, he stood up, helped Dolan up, picked up his own wine jug from the table, and filled a glass.
Dolan breathed a sigh of relief, but a hint of loneliness flashed across his eyes, but he still drank it all with a smile.
Qinggertai, who was sitting at the table, had already clenched his hands into fists with veins bulging under the table. He also filled a glass with strong liquor and drank it all in one gulp. The wine, which he originally thought was mellow and fragrant, now tasted bitter in his mouth.
While chewing the mutton, Ye Jun had already begun to wonder what position the emperor would give to Princess Duolan.
I guess she should be the last of the Nine Concubines, or a concubine. As long as she is pregnant, she can be promoted to the Nine Concubines.
In short, it shouldn't be very low, after all, his family background is there.
Apart from her, the one who was most thoughtful was Yao Xiang.
Everything that happened today was the same as before. When the emperor left the grassland, Princess Duolan would be named Lan Jieyu. She would enter the palace for a year and a half, give birth to a princess, and after a few more years, give birth to a prince.
Back then, this princess from the grassland was one of her strong rivals. In this life, she had to find a way to block the princess's way to enter the palace.
After all, there is not only her but also another princess who wants to enter the palace.
It was also at this time that the third prince Zhuo Ligetu spoke at the right time.
"Dolan has finally grown up and is more beautiful than before. Since the emperor is in a good mood today, we should entertain him. My youngest daughter, Sudiya, is quite good at singing and dancing. How about she sing a song to entertain the emperor?"
Huatangxiugeshuo
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