Step by step lotus flower

Chapter 180 The Palace Banquet (4)
Hearing this, Lu Mingfu hurriedly shook her head and waved her hands and said, "I don't dare, it's just a question to Big Sister, it's just a matter of time to see the ladies, I'm afraid I'll be so nervous that I won't even be able to walk. It’s no use losing the face of Big Sister and Duke Dingguo.”

Lu Mingfeng didn't just say that casually, seeing that Lu Mingfu was quite sensible, he immediately pushed it away, so he stopped insisting, and explained to a few people the status of the ladies in the palace and the palaces they lived in, " The queen empress is the lord of the six palaces, so she naturally lives in the Fengyi Hall, the noble concubine is the head of all the concubines, so she lives in the Chonghua Hall, the second prince's birth mother, Shu Concubine, lives in Yunyi Hall, and the third prince's birth mother, Dingfei, empress Qixiang Hall, and several empresses of Xu Zhaoyi also live in the main halls of their respective palaces. In the harem, only the empresses who live in the main halls of each palace can be called the master of the palace, and can be called the "empress" in charge of the affairs of the palace. ', others can only be called 'little master'..."

Lu Mingfu and the others listened with gusto, but Lu Mingxuan couldn't help but sneered to herself, saying something like 'the current sage is a wise king who never came from the world', if he was really a wise king, he wouldn't do such a thing as seizing a minister's wife , and he didn't choose a newcomer to enter the palace, he just wanted to spend a double night with Concubine Luo, who knew that he won a good reputation of "diligence in government and love of the people"!
Talking gossip, the time was unknowingly wasted, and soon Mrs. Lu and other wives who were qualified to receive the banquet came back, and under the arrangement of the servants, they were divided into civil and military according to their husbands' titles and ranks. The high and low were seated one by one, those with seniority and status like Mrs. Lu and Mrs. An Guo were arranged to sit in front of the long table closer to Bi Dan, and the others were arranged at the big round table and those like Lu Mingfeng and others who didn't have an imperial order and just came into the palace with the elders in their family, they sat closer to the gate of the palace.

After everyone was seated, the wives were surrounded and continued to arrive one after another, but they seemed to be of low rank, and finally the servants heard the voice loudly: "The empress is here——, Mrs. Empress Concubine arrives—— Concubine Ding arrives—”

Everyone in the hall hurriedly knelt down on the spot with their heads bowed and their chests in their chests. Although there were many people, they didn't hear a single sound.

Under the ceremonial guards of the heavenly family with a canopy and grace, neatly dressed female officials and servants surrounded the empress in a high bun and two other beauties in palace attire walked in slowly, until Empress Xu walked in front of the throne above Majesty Dan After taking their seats, the other two beauties in palace costumes, Concubine Chen Shu and Concubine Xiao Ding also took their seats in front of the long table below, and the servant sang loudly again: "Get up—"

All His Highnesses gradually stood up and sat back in their respective seats, and the palace banquet began.

Delicacy on a jade plate, sake in a golden bottle, listed in order... It is self-evident how high the specifications of the palace banquet are. Everyone first toasted together to wish Empress Xu a blessing and longevity. Let's drink.

Royal banquets naturally require singing and dancing to add to the fun. After everyone had toasted Empress Xu, a dozen or so slender dancers walked in and danced to the melodious sound of zithers around them. It became more and more enthusiastic.

Lu Mingxuan, Lu Mingfeng and the others were sitting at the round table in front of the hall door. All kinds of water and land treasures were within reach. When one looked up, one could see singing and dancing. It was a harmonious and peaceful scene, but Lu Mingxuan's whole body and mind was always tense. Stretched, not in any mood, I only hope that the palace banquet will end soon, so that I can leave the palace, a place of right and wrong, sooner.

After eating for a while, seeing that the high-ranking wives had already offered a round of wine to Empress Xu, Lu Mingfeng got up and left the seat with the wine glass in hand, and walked toward the Feng seat.

Not long after Lu Mingfeng left, someone came to their table and asked, "I wonder who is Miss Xuan from Dingguo's mansion?"

Those who can walk between palace banquets can only be palace maids or female officials.

Lu Mingxuan's heart skipped a beat, what was supposed to come would come after all... But she didn't show any mountains or waters on her face, she put down her chopsticks with a smile, stood up with a smile just right and bowed her body in response: "I am."

The person who asked the question was a slightly plump court lady in her twenties. Seeing Lu Mingxuan standing up, she smiled and said, "The Empress sent the girl to come forward to ask questions. Please come with the slaves."

Lu Mingxuan hurriedly leaned back and said "yes", and walked towards Majesty Dan one by one with the female officer. Many people sitting around their table heard what the female officer said just now, and those who knew Lu Mingxuan's identity all rushed forward. She pursed her lips, envious, jealous, and disdainful. Those who didn't know her identity quietly inquired about her identity: "Who is this? When will the Dingguo Mansion have this girl again?"

Even Lu Mingli and Lu Mingxin couldn't help showing a look of envy. Being able to be passed by the empress to ask questions in person at the palace banquet, even if she couldn't be the first prince in the end, she couldn't be the companion of Princess Dingyi , that can be regarded as plating a layer of gold on the body, so why worry about not finding a good marriage in the future?I don't know where this side girl got such good luck!
Only Lu Mingfu was full of worries, secretly praying in her heart that the old lady would definitely stand up to the empress and not let her sister enter the palace!

Naturally, Lu Mingxuan didn't know about this. After she followed the female officer to the Majesty Dan, she knelt down on her knees with a low eyebrow and said: "Minister Lu's Mingxuan has seen the empress, and I wish the empress a long life." , Chitose Chitose Chitose Chitose!"

Soon there was a gentle voice from above: "Excuse me!" After Lu Mingxuan got up, she heard the voice say again: "I often hear that Feng girl said that you have a very good birth and a good temper, and she likes you very much. First let me show it to Ben Gong, see if it is really as good as your sister said!"

Hearing this, Lu Mingxuan could only slowly raise her head.

On the throne, Empress Xu was wearing a purple gold Zhai phoenix pearl crown, and a crimson gold and silver silk phoenix embroidered court dress. When a person seems to be able to see through people's hearts, people can't help but feel awe at the first glance.

Lu Mingxuan's heart pounded when she was watched. No matter how much she tried to restrain herself, she still couldn't help showing a little nervousness. However, under the circumstances, her nervousness was just right. No one would feel that different.

After a while, Empress Xu finally smiled and said: "You really look good, no wonder your sister is full of praise for you! Thank you!"

There was a palace man who carried a pair of bracelets on a tray and presented them to Lu Mingxuan with his hands above his head. The bracelets were all made of tourmaline jade stones of the same size as lotus seeds, and every twelve pieces were inlaid with thumb-sized flowers. The pink jade lotus, the lotus is extremely exquisite in workmanship, not to mention the stamens made of yellow jade, even the faint veins on the lotus petals are carved out, and it is priceless at a glance.

Lu Mingxuan hurriedly put on a look of sincerity and trepidation, knelt down and thanked her for her kindness: "The daughter of the people thanked the queen empress for her long grace!" But in her heart, she didn't feel lucky to have won the honor of the current empress empress. Show courteousness—the feeling of rape or steal".

(End of this chapter)