Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 211: Celebrating Longevity (7)

"You," she said as she extended her jade finger and gently tapped Tinglan’s little nose, causing Tinglan to giggle sweetly.

"Ladies and young miss, the banquet officially begins at You Time. Please follow me now," Momo Liu, a palace maid beside the Empress Dowager, said, bowing in greeting to everyone.

A noblewoman dressed opulently stepped forward and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Momo Liu."

"Zhennan Princess overpraises me; this is but the duty of a servant," Momo Liu said humbly, bending deeply as she addressed Xiao Hanyun.

She then led the crowd towards the great banquet hall.

"Sister Feng, is this your first time here? The Imperial Palace is so vast," Tinglan said, looking around in wonder, finding it much larger than her own home.

A woman dressed in white couldn’t help but laugh, covering her mouth with her hand.

"What are you laughing at?" Tinglan asked the woman beside her, clearly displeased.

With an apologetic look, Duanmu Yiwei turned to Tinglan and said, "I’m sorry, it wasn’t intentional. I just couldn’t help myself for a moment."

Tinglan glared at Duanmu Yiwei and pouted, "Fine, just be more careful next time."

Feng Xuxu nodded at Duanmu Yiwei, who also nodded back at Feng Xuxu.

Arriving at the great hall, they saw rows upon rows of tables with palace maids leading people to their respective seats.

"Sister Feng, I don’t want to leave your side," Tinglan said, unhappy about the thought of being separated from her Sister Feng.

"Be good, Tinglan. If your brother can’t find you, he will worry. We’ll have plenty of time together later," Feng Xuxu coaxed.

After giving it some thought, Tinglan nodded in agreement, "Okay, I’ll listen to you," and reluctantly followed the palace maid to her seat.

She had just taken her seat when her older male cousin promptly sat down next to her.

"Cousin, who was that young miss just now?" Jueqing, who had just taken his seat, asked his cousin beside him.

"She is the legitimate daughter of the Zongzheng Hidden Clan, Zongzheng Tinglan." The first time he heard the name Zongzheng Tinglan, he was looking through the data on the Hidden Clan and found very little mention of such a daughter; the information was almost negligible, merely knowing she existed.

"Zongzheng? Zongzheng Zehang is a very reserved man, always cautious in his actions, yet the outside world holds him in high esteem," Jueqing murmured, recalling what he knew about Zongzheng.

"Hmm."

"His Majesty has arrived, the Empress Dowager has arrived, the Empress has arrived." A eunuch in dark purple attire announced loudly while holding a horsetail whisk.

Feng Xuxu saw that everyone knelt down, and she too reluctantly knelt down along with the crowd, chanting, "Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years. Long live the Empress Dowager, a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand a thousand years. Long live the Empress, a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand a thousand years."

The Empress Dowager, adorned in a long gown embroidered with thousands of flower patterns, wearing a unique hairpin, a forehead ornament, and a strand of exquisite Eastern Pearls around her neck, holding a dragon-headed cane, finally walked into the great hall with the help of Emperor Kangze and the Empress. She took her seat to the left, below the Emperor, looking at the kneeling ministers with happiness, lightly patting the Emperor’s hand. Her jubilation was self-evident. Afterwards, the Emperor, dressed in bright yellow imperial robes, took his place on the nine-tiered throne, with the Empress Dowager on his left, and the Empress to his right.

"Rise," the Emperor’s voice, old yet imperious, resonated throughout the hall as he looked down at the kneeling crowd.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Once everyone was seated, the Emperor spoke again.

"Today, we celebrate Mother’s birthday and have invited all officials to the banquet. Our dynasty has always governed with filial piety. Therefore, this cup of wine is to wish Mother health as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountains." Then he looked at those present and said, "As I drink this cup, may heaven bless Mother, may heaven bless our dynasty!"

At that moment, all the ministers and their families rose up, raising their glasses and exclaiming loudly, "May heaven bless our dynasty, may the Empress Dowager have boundless longevity." After finishing the wine in their glasses, they looked towards the Emperor.

"Hahaha, very well, be seated!" The Emperor set down his glass, his piercing eyes scanning the ministers below him.

"Mother, your daughter-in-law offers you a toast, wishing you health and endless blessings," the Empress, clad in a bright red dress embroidered with soaring phoenixes and wearing a Phoenix Crown, her lovely face betraying none of her years past four decades, raised her glass.

At her words, the Empress Dowager turned to look at the Empress, with a hint of a smile deep in her eyes: "Hehehe, Your Majesty, your daughter-in-law has such a sweet mouth," she said, looking affectionately at Empress Song Jing.

"Indeed, the Empress is always considerate. With the harem well-managed, I can rest at ease," the Emperor replied.

"Your Majesty, these are all part of your concubine’s duties. Only with a harmonious harem can Your Majesty focus more on governing our dynasty," the Empress said, laughing behind her handkerchief.

"Your Imperial Grandson pays respect to the Empress Dowager, wishing you fortune as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountains," the Crown Prince said, leading Dugu Chen, Dugu Mo, Dugu Hai, Dugu Feng, and Dugu Xuan, all kneeling in front of the Empress Dowager.

"Good, good, rise," the Empress Dowager said with a beaming smile, looking down at her grandsons, each more outstanding than the last, her heart filled with comfort.

Once the princes were seated, the Empress’ maid gestured toward a corner. Shortly after, the melodious sounds of strings and flutes filled the air, and from the corner, a group of gracefully-dressed dancers emerged, their delicate wrists adorned with floating ribbons, lightly dancing through the hall.

After paying their birthday respects, the ministers returned to their seats. In small groups, they raised their glasses from afar, exchanging smiles, drank down their wine, and watched the dancers’ vibrant performances. The spectacular scene dazzled all who beheld it, leaving them awestruck.

As the ministers exchanged toasts and pleasantries among themselves, the Crown Prince, Dugu Han, rose to his feet.