Forbidden City, platform.
The platform bases of the first three halls are very high, and there is a large platform behind the Baohe Hall.
It’s just right to look northward at Jingshan Mountain from here.
Today is New Year's Eve. The moon is not big but the sky is full of stars, which is extremely bright.
The eunuchs and maids were busy decorating the banquet hall.
The floor has been laid with thick felt in advance, and a small carpet has been laid on top. Put them away one by one. Hot pot is placed on top. There are also many briquette iron stoves placed around the seats, with the stove tubes raised high to prevent low smoke from affecting the banquet.
There were also felt curtains surrounding it to block the cold wind blowing around.
The entire platform was very warm, and the concubines from the harem had already arrived half an hour in advance. Princesses, consorts and their children in Beijing, as well as concubines’ family members and relatives with titles, were all invited to the palace to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks.
Xili's chosen attendant is now Concubine Kang. She was just sealed before the festival. She put on light makeup tonight and was in a beautiful mood. She came to the venue with her daughter, Princess Le'an, the eighth sister of the emperor.
Since Xi Li Xuan asked Yang Fan to bring a message to the emperor, he no longer participated in the troubles of the harem struggle. He spent all day tending flowers and plants in the palace and lived a very comfortable life.
After being granted the title of Concubine Kang, the eunuch was specially asked to see Yang Fan to express his gratitude.
Chongzhen's biological mother, Empress Xiaochun Liu, was a lady at first and gave birth to Emperor Sizong Zhu Youjian of the Ming Dynasty. Tianqi's biological mother, Xiaohe, was Queen Wang. She was a talented person at first and gave birth to Zhu Youxiao, Emperor Xizong of Ming Dynasty.
It is said in the court that Xi Li Xuanshi and Xizong's biological mother got into a fight over some trivial matters in the harem, which resulted in her death from serious injuries. However, Xili Xuanshi did not abuse Chongzhen. On the contrary, Liu Shunu died early, and Xili Xuanshi was raising him as long as Chongzhen could remember. Childhood is full of the warmth of Xili's chosen waiter.
He is the same age as Zhu Huiyu, the eighth sister of the emperor who was selected as a waiter in Xi Li, and is one month older than her. They grew up together and have a good relationship.
On the day of the fire in the Luan Palace, Chongzhen was frightened. He watched with his own eyes as some unknown people took Li Xuanshi's son away.
He didn't know who did this.
There was chaos at the time, and no one heard his childish shouts. As a result, the eighth sister of the emperor, Zhu Huituo (chuo), who was hiding under the bed, heard his shouts, was so frightened that she cried loudly, and kept calling her fifth brother.
Chongzhen quickly took Bamei and fled into the yard, hiding in a cave in a rockery he found while playing.
Chongzhen still had feelings for their mother and daughter. Since Xili Xuan was no longer seeking to govern behind the curtain and his son was gone, Chongzhen was still willing to treat them kindly.
Before the Spring Festival, the imperial edict was officially issued to select Li as Concubine Kang in the west of Fengxi. He hoped that she would be in good health and spend the rest of her life peacefully. The emperor decreed that Zhu Hui'ao, the eighth sister of the emperor, should be given the title of Princess Le'an. He hoped that her sister would be happy and safe throughout her life.
He personally cared about her marriage, selected the most satisfactory one from dozens of candidates, and chose Gong Yonggu, a native of Wanping County, as the princess' consort. Preparing to get married after the festival.
At this time, the north city of the capital was divided into two counties according to ancient practice. The east city was called Daxing County (not Daxing District in later generations), and the west city was called Wanping County (not the Wanping City next to Marco Polo Bridge). Chang'an City in the Sui and Tang Dynasties divided Dongcheng and Xicheng into two counties, Chang'an and Wannian.
Concubine Zheng was from Daxing, which is the Dongcheng District of today’s imperial capital. A true Beijinger, the Prince Consort is from Xicheng District.
Princess Le'an and her mother sat down in their seats after being led by the eunuch. Princess Le'an leaned into her mother's ear and asked in a low voice: "Concubine, do you think the prince-in-law will come today?"
"Little girl, you're feeling hot," Li Kangfei teased, grabbing her cheek.
"Mom, from what you said, I'm just curious. I don't know what he looks like," Princess Le'an said coquettishly.
"Don't be angry with me. Be angry with your brother. I don't know if he will come. I only saw him once on the day when I chose the consort." Li Kangfei looked at the opposite side for a while, then suddenly her eyes lit up and she said: " He’s really here, here, that’s the guy in the blue Huchu clothes opposite.”
Princess Le'an quickly took a closer look. I saw that the consort she had just chosen, Gong Yonggu, was about five feet six inches tall (33 centimeters in a clear ruler). He was quite impressive at the time. He was very restful in his movements and looked like a well-educated scholar.
The lines on his face are relatively strong, but he also shows loyalty and honesty. At first glance, he is a loyal and upright person.
Princess Le'an was a little satisfied, and she felt very happy. She thought that the emperor still loved her as much as he did when he was a child, and would let her eat all the delicious food. He grew up with him and knew himself better, so the prince he chose was in line with his wishes.
"Your Majesty has arrived." As the eunuch shouted, Chongzhen and his concubines came out from behind, and everyone hurriedly saluted.
"Come on, everyone, this is a family dinner, so don't be too polite. Everyone should be relaxed. Just treat it like we are at home, hahaha," Chongzhen said with a smile.
When everyone gathered, Mrs. Zheng had the highest status and took the lead in leading Wanli's harem concubines to toast Chongzhen. Then Concubine Li Kang led Taichang's harem concubines to toast Chongzhen, and then it was Queen Yi'an's turn to lead Tianqi's harem concubines to toast Chongzhen.
After three glasses of wine, the banquet officially began.
The ingredients for this banquet were all purchased at Xinghe Supermarket, including dozens of extremely thin slices of beef and mutton rolls, more than a dozen kinds of mushrooms, and vegetables including mung bean sprouts, cabbage cores, radish strips, lotus roots, pickled cabbage shreds, etc. Vegetables available in winter in this era.
The hot pot is also from Yang Fan, a modern cloisonné copper hot pot. Same style as Donglaishun.
The cups, plates, bowls and chopsticks are all made of cloisonné, with gold-plated copper inside. It looks very luxurious yet elegant.
This elegant appearance is very consistent with Ming people's aesthetics. Many concubines are very fond of cloisonné hot pots and cups, plates, bowls, chopsticks and tableware, and some even can't put it down.
Li Kangfei watched the eunuch open the lid of the hot pot. I was surprised to find that the hot pot was actually divided into two parts. One part was bright red soup, and the other part was milky white soup, both of which were bubbling. For a while I didn’t know how to start.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Yuanyang hot pot. The red soup is spicy, and the white soup is bone soup. You can choose according to your own taste." Wang Chengen saw that no one was taking off their chopsticks, and looked at Chongzhen, who nodded. , said loudly.
"So that's it, let me try it first." Huang Bame picked up a piece of transparent lamb upper brain meat, rinsed it in the red soup for a while, and then carefully put it into her mouth.
"Wow, it's so spicy." Princess Le'an immediately closed her eyes and burst into tears. But after the burning feeling subsided, my whole body felt warm and I was sweating all over. It was so refreshing.
At this time, many concubines began to try red soup hot pot. The food in the palace was bland and tasteless, but the red soup was quite attractive.
Suddenly there were exclamations, gasps, and a lot of coughing. The eunuchs and maids were busy serving tea to soothe the spicy food, and some were busy passing handkerchiefs to wipe sweat.
Looking at the chaos below, Chongzhen laughed loudly, "This mandarin duck hot pot is really spicy when I eat it for the first time. It was like this when I tried it for the first time, but after it is spicy, it feels very comfortable."
