"It's true that this is dough, but is it just ordinary dough?" Fan Wuguo said righteously.
"Yes, yes, it's made by Wuguo himself, so it must be extraordinary. Give me a reward, a big reward." The Queen Mother said with a smile.
"Well, it's extraordinary. I'll add one too."
Only then was Fan Wuguo satisfied and left happily.
However, Prince Heng seemed to have become even more of a joke. He prepared such a generous birthday gift. Although it seemed like he had received a reward, it did not necessarily please the two above him. The reward was only because the birthday gift was so good. It would seem not good not to reward him, as the people behind him would also have a share. Now with Fan Wuguo, he would no longer be the only one to receive two rewards.
The most interesting thing is that he exchanged a reward worth tens of millions of taels, but Fan Wuguo got it with just a few dough balls. The former gift should have pleased the person, but the person did not; the latter thing is needless to say, can it be compared with the chef in the imperial kitchen? Obviously, the person really pleased the two people, and the two above were so happy, but their own sons and grandsons did not have such treatment.
However, no matter how funny it was to laugh at Prince Heng, they were even more jealous of Fan Wuguo. However, no matter how jealous they were, it was useless. They didn't dare to do anything to him. But when they thought about it, it was better for their father to favor an "outsider" than to favor one of their brothers. No matter how favored Fan Wuguo was, he would not compete with them for the throne, right? Considering this point, it was not impossible to tolerate it.
Later on, some people came to present birthday gifts one after another. However, compared with the previous exciting drama, the latter part was really dull and nothing to watch. However, presenting birthday gifts is not a big drama in the first place. Therefore, for most people, they still hope that it can pass in a plain and dull manner without any surprises. At this time, it is good to be outstanding, but if it is too much, it is better to be ordinary.
If it was all over, then it would be over. Apart from Prince Heng, there should be no need to worry too much. However, there was still someone who was upset and drank cup after cup. This person was Prince Dun. After all, because of Prince Heng's incident, everyone after him got a reward, except Prince Dun who got nothing. He ignored his fourth brother, who was completely incapable of competing for the throne. In his eyes, he was an invisible person. He was furious. No matter what the reason for others to get a reward, as long as it was a reward, it was a favor, but he got nothing, nothing! He became the laughing stock of everyone, and those who didn't know him would think he was the most pitiful poor guy!
The look he gave Prince Heng from time to time was like a knife, as if he wished he could torture Prince Heng to death.
Prince Heng was in a bad mood to begin with, but Prince Dun's reaction made him feel a little better. As expected, no matter what happened, it was still a matter of comparison. He gave Prince Dun a cold smile.
Prince Dun was never a tolerant person, and he was almost provoked to jump up by Prince Heng's smile.
If the people next to him hadn't held him down immediately, there might have been a commotion.
Emperor Xuanren seemed to glance in their direction. Because of this, they all became silent and obedient, not daring to do anything.
After all, the entire banquet will last such a long time, so this performance is definitely indispensable. This is basically an indispensable part of every palace banquet. Wen Renying also whispered a lot in Xiaocao's ear.
Xiaocao is no stranger to singing and dancing performances, but this kind of purely ancient performance is not the first time he has seen it today. However, he was more scattered in the past. He watched more folk acrobatics. Not to mention that when he traveled around, he often saw street performers, and there were also large gatherings during special festivals.
There must have been some similar gatherings in the imperial city, and Xiaocao had attended two of them.
The opening show was somewhat unexpected. Various musical instruments were brought up, more than half of which Xiaocao had never seen before, and there were naturally many more that were hard to describe.
From this point of view, she is undoubtedly a bumpkin. Because of this, when this large-scale performance started, Xiaocao listened with great interest even though she didn't understand much. It was definitely completely different from the performance in her previous life. There was no way to comment on which one was better or which one had higher skills. Alas, a bumpkin didn't need to play such high-end things. Just listen and think it sounds good.
Just listen to other people's comments occasionally.
Because it was the Queen Mother's performance, there naturally wouldn't be any provocative dances, and the dancers were also covered up tightly in this hot weather, which made it boring for most people.
There was just one dance in the middle, extending from the second stage, all the way down the steps to the very end of the seats for the many old men and women. It looked quite majestic.
After the dance, Emperor Xuanren and the Empress Dowager left their seats, followed by a line of servants, and walked to the seats for the old men and women, apparently intending to toast these elderly people personally.
For an emperor to be able to do this, even a thick-skinned person like Xiaocao cannot help but sigh that Emperor Xuanren was really good at "winning people's hearts". Of course, the practical things he did to benefit the people definitely made him worthy of being called a "wise ruler".
Even from a distance, one could seem to feel the excitement of the old folks; a "banquet for the old folks" would probably allow them to show off for the rest of their lives.
The actions of the Empress Dowager and Emperor Xuanren seemed to have opened the prelude to toasting.
First, the princes followed the example of their father and toasted the elders. Some of them did a better job and even talked to some of the elders at close range to express their care and concern, which added to the elders' "showing off" topics.
However, Xiaocao couldn't help frowning slightly. Except for the little prince who was only a few years old, even those who were seven or eight years old followed their brothers to toast. Looking at the back, they were afraid that there were court officials. With so many people, even if each person only had a small cup, it might not be a big deal for those old people who could drink. However, for most of the old people, drinking this wine was not a good thing and might cause trouble.
If something happens to an old person at the Queen Mother's Thousand Years Banquet...
Xiaocao couldn't sit still anymore, so he stood up, took two steps, and whispered something in his mother's ear.
Han's heart also jumped, not sure if anyone had thought of this in advance, "Xuan'er, go find the old concubine."
The old concubine and her companions had their seats on the second stage. Xiao Cao listened to her mother and left the seat without hesitation, not walking slowly.
Naturally, she couldn't just barge into the old empress dowager's seat, so she asked the palace maids to help her invite her.
When she learned that it was Xiaocao who was looking for her, the old concubine did not delay for a moment and met Xiaocao, "What's the matter, girl Xuan?"
Xiaocao expressed her concerns.
The reaction of the old concubine and Han was similar. They were naturally taken care of, and usually no one would toast them. They would just lick their lips for the sake of courtesy. But it was different for the old ladies. Most of them were entering the imperial city for the first time, meeting the emperor and so many nobles. How could they just be perfunctory when these people toasted them? They would definitely drink one cup after another. If they hadn't thought of this in advance and prepared low-alcohol drinks for them, the consequences would be...
"Follow me!" The old concubine pulled Xiaocao and walked away, climbing to the highest position from the side.
The old empress dowager's identity was clear, so she called the nearby palace maids and summoned the eunuch chief of Emperor Xuanren's entourage. This person was naturally Eunuch Hong Yihong.
When Hong Yi saw the old concubine, he was naturally respectful and was also quite friendly to Xiao Cao.
The old concubine did not speak, but let Xiaocao speak.
After hearing this, Eunuch Hong hurriedly sent someone to ask what kind of wine was prepared for the old people. He was the chief steward beside Emperor Xuanren, so it was naturally easy for him to ask about such things. He soon got the news, and the news made him feel dizzy and his heart pounding. "What idiots!" He couldn't help but curse.
Xiao Cao's breathing was a little rapid. He rubbed his brows and looked back to see another minister coming down from the second stage. "Hurry up and stop them. Don't toast again. Eunuch, call someone over. I'll give you a recipe for the rescue soup. Have the imperial kitchen prepare it quickly."
Hong Yi responded hurriedly, pulled someone over nearby, and then hurried to Emperor Xuanren.
Hong Yi whispered a few words quickly in Emperor Xuanren's ear, and Emperor Xuanren's expression changed immediately. He asked the ministers who had come down from the second stage to block him back, and he stood up directly.
Xiao Cao was the fastest to get the paper and pen, and quickly wrote the prescription. Because there were so many people, the amount of each medicine needed was very large, even dozens of kilograms. In order to be on the safe side, they boiled it in a large pot, and the amount of each pot was still noted.
"Put cold water in the pot and bring it to a full boil before use. Also, call all the people from the Imperial Hospital to the palace immediately, and hurry up."
After he finished speaking, he looked up and saw Emperor Xuanren, and hurriedly greeted him, "Your Majesty."
"No need to be polite." Emperor Xuanren waved his hand. "Daughter of Minister Wenren's family?"
"yes."
"She is indeed a good girl. Fortunately, you have considered this, otherwise the consequences may be disastrous. I will reward you handsomely afterwards."
"It's what I should do." Xiao Cao looked a little anxious, "Your Majesty, please allow me to take a look."
"You are so thoughtful, so go ahead. Hong Yi, take some people and go with Miss Wenren."
Xiaocao and Hong Yi agreed one after another. Xiaocao didn't even bother with etiquette and turned around and walked away. Her pace became faster and faster, and finally she started to trot. Hong Yi didn't dare to be negligent and called for help quickly.
Then only Emperor Xuanren and the old empress dowager were left.
"This girl is a good one." Because Wei Tingyu had "reported" to him, Emperor Xuanren knew "a lot of things". Thinking of Wei Tingyu, it seemed that her life was indeed bumpy, but she was not without luck.
"Yes, this girl has the words 'a doctor's benevolence' engraved into her bones."
No one had considered these things, but she had thought of them. But she could have pretended not to know and not gotten involved. After all, if anything really happened, it would do more harm than good to her. Not to mention whether Emperor Xuanren would vent his anger on her if something happened to the old man, as long as she got involved, she would definitely be the target of public criticism, and she didn't know how many people would target her.
"Your Majesty..."
"Old Concubine, there is no need to say more. I know what you want to say. After all, I am also at fault in this matter. I naturally cannot let people feel disappointed for those who have made great contributions."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"What are you talking about, old concubine?"
Emperor Xuanren was the target of everyone's attention. He just changed his face and left the table. Some people noticed it, and in order to avoid causing unnecessary unrest, Emperor Xuanren returned to his seat.
The Queen Mother was listening to Hong Yi's words just now, and she couldn't help but feel worried, but she was not the kind of person who could not keep calm. Even when Emperor Xuanren left the table, she could not.
When Emperor Xuanren came back, "Your Majesty, how is it going?"
"Mother, there is no need to worry." Emperor Xuanren explained the matter briefly.
The Queen Mother took a deep breath and asked, "Has no one thought of this?"
Emperor Xuanren remained silent. Perhaps someone had thought of it but for some reason did not report it, or perhaps it did not attract enough attention.
The Queen Mother was originally very happy, but now she was filled with anger.
"Don't worry, mother. Everything will be fine."
"I hope so." If something went wrong, she, as the queen mother, would be condemned by everyone.
At this time, it is easy to imagine that these old people would just endure it even if they felt uncomfortable. However, Xiaocao obviously did not want to cause a disturbance. Since he had good eyesight, he only scanned the four directions of each square formation as a whole. Once he found a serious situation, he immediately asked someone to help them down.
There were too many people, and it took quite a while to check them all. By the time Xiaocao hurried back to the place where the elderly with problems were temporarily placed, a bad smell had already spread. There were dozens of elderly people who had been helped down from the table. They had been enduring it at the table, but most of them could not hold it in any longer once they moved around, and vomited directly. This was actually a good thing.
However, Xiaocao found that the conditions of two of them were particularly serious.
Obviously, Hong Yi also noticed that the man was in shock. "Miss, Miss, ..." Following Emperor Xuanren, he was also a person who handled important matters, and at this moment he couldn't help but tremble.
Xiaocao ignored him and rushed to rescue the person. However, she was alone and couldn't do everything at once. She had to put the two people together, rescue one herself, and let Hong Yi rescue the other one as she asked. It was really a helpless move.
CPR and silver needles followed. After one of them stabilized a little, he quickly went to see the other one's condition. The one who did it moved his mouth, and there was almost an afterimage. Even so, it looked extremely precise.
It was a hot day, Xiaocao's hair and clothes were soaked with sweat. He looked up and asked, "What are you guys standing there for? Are your pens and ink ready?"
This person is sick, so naturally he needs to be prescribed medicine. Does he need to be reminded? Every time this happens, Xiaocao becomes particularly irritable.
Fortunately, there were some smart people this time who were already prepared. Xiaocao opened his mouth and they started to write down the prescription quickly.
Just because these two are in the most serious condition doesn't mean that the others are fine. "Where are the people from the Imperial Hospital? Haven't they arrived yet?"