In the palace, a mountain with a height of more than ten stories was erected, decorated with gold and green, with lights like star cloth, which was extremely luxurious.
Today is the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, also known as the Shangyuan Festival.
It is said that Lantern Festival Lantern Appreciation began in Taiyi Temple of the Han Dynasty. The practice of watching lanterns in the Yuan Dynasty of the Ming Dynasty is a legacy of this tradition.
It was very rare and unexpected that both Zhang Bi and Lin Linyou received the edict from their father-in-law in the palace, went to the palace to pay homage, and attended the Lantern Festival Imperial Banquet in Fengtian Hall.
I had previously said that I hoped to be able to attend a banquet in the palace one day and enjoy the palace delicacies. I didn’t expect that my wish would come true so quickly!
The ministers and family members of the palace all wore lantern and landscape embroidered python robes.
Zhang Bi and Lin Linyou also put on formal clothes, green and embroidered flying fish suits with flying fish patches on the chest, embroidered spring knives, hanging tassel belts, soap leather boots on their feet, and black gauze hats on their heads.
The difference is that Zhang Bi's waistband is made of plain silver with rhodium characters, while Lin Linyou's is a lower level, and his waistband is pure copper with no name.
Ji Gang was dressed in a scarlet python robe, with an ivory belt hanging around his waist.
The two of them followed Ji Gang respectfully and entered the palace with him. They were accompanied by several other high-ranking officials of the Imperial Guard.
"The palace is so big!" Lin Linyou whispered to Zhang Bi beside him. It was his first time to enter the palace, just like Grandma Liu when she entered the Grand View Garden for the first time. She looked around curiously, and everywhere she looked was strange. He was amazed.
"Calm down." Zhang Bi responded quietly.
"I really want to bring my little sister and Rong'er to see..."
"Do you think it's a tour? Just buy a ticket and you can get in!"
Seeing Ji Gang greeting and greeting his fellow dignitaries, the two of them just followed Ji Gang silently, lowering their heads, not daring to look at the dignitaries.
You can't move around in the palace, so Lin Linyou can only think about it if he wants to wander around. Wherever Ji Gang goes, they have to follow.
Lin Linyou and the others set out from the Jinyiwei Yamen. They came out of the Yamen and went straight to the Imperial Road. Now they passed through the Meridian Gate, walked through the Inner Five Dragons Bridge, and finally arrived in front of the Fengtian Hall paved with gold bricks.
Of course, these gold bricks are not real gold bricks, but Zhu Di ordered the five prefectures in Suzhou to specially bake the imperial green bricks. It is said that it takes dozens of steps to beat, dry, pound, grind, wash, dry, knead, and step on... It is made through complicated processes. Each gold brick is two feet long and two feet wide. It is as warm and moist as jade. It shines brightly and is not slippery or astringent when you step on it.
On both sides of the Fengtian Palace, there are seven generals of Jinyiwei standing on the left side, and five generals of Jinyiwei standing on the right side. But I don’t know why the numbers are arranged like this. Is there any meaning?
General Jinyiwei, when Jinyiwei was still the Yiluan Division, was General Tianwu. Later he was renamed General Dahan. Today, he is called General Jinyiwei and is subordinate to Jinyiwei.
Although he has a resounding name, his rank is under the general banner, and he is actually equivalent to a guard of honor. However, the martial arts of the honor guards in front of the emperor and on the left and right are very high! In addition to being highly skilled in martial arts, he also had to be tall and handsome--of course not more handsome than the emperor. There should be no body odor. The most important thing is to have a healthy and healthy body. There should be no stain on yourself or your ancestors... Most people are really not qualified to do this.
At this time, these Jin Yiwei generals were not squinting. They were wearing golden armor, golden helmets and hats, bows and arrows, and holding golden melons in their hands. They looked majestic and majestic, which made Lin Linyou a little envious.
Although it was not dark yet, dozens of two-person high gauze-covered silk lampstands placed in two rows in front of the hall were already lit. The lampstands had upturned eaves and corners like a small attic, and the four walls were decorated with lifelike patterns of landscapes, figures, birds and animals.
On the inside of the lampstand, with Fengtian Hall Danbi as the central axis, dozens of brocade incense tables are placed in two rows, east and west. On the tables are large vases with newly blooming peach blossoms in them; wine utensils are also placed, large A golden sunflower wine glass like a bowl.
Three drums sounded, and under the guidance of the eunuchs, one by one, one by one, from front to back, left and right, stood beside the incense table to wait.
Ji Gang was first invited to the front row by the eunuch.
Lin Linyou and Zhang Ben were finally separated from Ji Gang, and they secretly breathed a sigh of relief. However, the civil and military ministers were all silent, and they did not dare to talk loudly.
After a while, Zhang Bi was also led away by the eunuch.
Lin Linyou was curious about what these eunuchs used to distinguish each person's rank. Could it be that they remembered everyone's face? At this moment, a father-in-law came forward and stared at Lin Linyou's waist from a distance. With just one glance, he moved his eyes to his face, smiled and saluted: "Mr. Lin Qi, please." Come with me."
"How do you know my surname is Lin?" Lin Linyou couldn't help but asked curiously.
The father-in-law smiled and did not answer. He pointed to the fragrant banquet couch at the end of the queue: "Mr. Lin, please."
Lin Linyou took a step forward and stood next to the banquet table. No one was seated, so naturally he didn't dare to sit down. He wanted to know that everyone who participated in the imperial banquet had a list, and I was the only Imperial Guard Commander who came to the imperial banquet. Of course my father-in-law knew.
Then I realized that I was sitting at the bottom... I was a little proud just now, but now I am not so proud - it seems that I am the lowest grade tonight...
Suddenly, he found that the person on his left looked familiar. When he took a closer look, he turned out to be Xia Di from the Seventh Grade Etiquette Department.
This kid is actually qualified to attend the imperial banquet?
Seeing that he was also sitting at the end of his life, Lin Linyou felt somewhat relieved... He was so relieved, so comforted!
…
The emperor has not come yet, and everyone is waiting with peace of mind.
However, preparations for the imperial banquet had already begun, and Lin Linyou could smell the aroma.
In front of the hall, a large yellow gauze tent is opened and tied on four thin pillars, with a jade table and a golden chair in the middle.
At noon, three blasts of whips were heard at the head of the palace. Emperor Zhu Di finally arrived belatedly. He was dressed in crimson gauze and red leather clothes. Looking from a distance, he couldn't see his face clearly. He could only feel a faint feeling. The emperor's aura hit his face, so heavy that no one dared to raise their head to take a closer look.
Zhu Di sat on the dragon chair, surrounded by palace maids and guards on the left and right.
The eunuchs in charge led the civil and military officials attending the banquet to stand in two rows facing the north, kneel on the ground, put their hands on their foreheads and shout three times long live the banquet.
Xia Di knelt on the left side of Lin Linyou and whispered: "Is this the first time Mr. Lin has entered the palace?"
"How do you know?" Lin Linyou responded softly.
"Look at your unseen look." Xia Di sneered.
Second Austrian! I haven’t seen you for a few days. When did this kid become so arrogant? I dare not touch you because I am in the palace, right?
But this guy has the power of picketing, so I really don’t dare to touch him...
All civil and military officials shouted long live and bowed four times.
"Give me a seat!"
After congratulations, the officials stood up and then returned to their original seats.
Palace music sounded, and the eunuchs and eunuchs filed in with their food boxes on their heads. They all covered their mouths and noses with kerchiefs, as if they were wearing masks; the food boxes were also covered with yellow silk, with a handful of food on them. The small crank-handled yellow umbrella and ten golden bells swayed along the way.
Xia Di turned to Lin Linyou and whispered: "Mr. Lin Qi is so lucky! It seems that the food at tonight's royal banquet is delicious."
"What do you mean?" Lin Linyou was confused.
"Hey, it's your first time to participate, so you can be forgiven for not knowing!" Xia Di said proudly. It sounds like this guy has participated many times? Why!
Lin Linyou was even more unhappy.
"Normally, Guanglu Temple is responsible for banquets," Xia Di said, "Today, it seems that I am the Shangshan Superintendent."
"What? Isn't the food cooked by Guanglu Temple delicious?" Although Lin Linyou was unhappy, he still asked curiously.
"Articles from the Hanlin Academy, swords and guns from the Arsenal, tea soup from Guanglu Temple, and prescriptions from Imperial Hospital—the four most unreliable things in the capital, haven't you heard of them?" Xia Di glanced sideways at Lin Linyou.
Damn it! You've only had a few more palace banquets than me, look at you, you look like a villain!
You really make yourself the protagonist, right?
If brother hadn't stopped me, I would have beaten you to death a long time ago!
The eunuchs first brought the food boxes to the emperor, and then there were special food tasting eunuchs waiting beside the emperor.
Three food boxes were served one after another, each with three dishes, so there were nine dishes in total.
The maids stepped forward and thoughtfully opened the food boxes for the officials, arranged the dishes, and then removed the food boxes in an orderly manner.
Lin Linyou smelled a faint fragrance from the palace maid who opened the box for him. Although it was light, it seemed to overwhelm the fragrance of the food. The person was also very beautiful, a very natural beauty...if it were not for the emperor. In front of her, he teased her a few words.
Yuanxiao dumplings are naturally indispensable during the Lantern Festival. In addition, there are braised puffer fish, Fuli duck soup, charcoal grilled lamb legs, pan-fried tofu... There are also a few dishes that Lin Lin has never seen before that are not famous. In short, there are There are meat and vegetables, cold dishes and hot dishes, staple food pastries and fruit sweets. It is really rich!
"Gudu", Lin Linyou swallowed a big mouthful of saliva.
Of course, if the emperor didn't move his chopsticks, no one else would dare to move their chopsticks.
The wine is "Taixi Bai" brewed by the palace's royal wine house, Shangshan Supervisor.
Lin Linyou smelled the aroma of wine and meat, and really wanted to taste what this royal banquet was like, but there were many rules in the palace, and he didn't know when he could start eating.
I don’t know how long it took, but I finally saw the people in front and Xia Di on the left using their chopsticks to eat and drink. The table was finally not as serious as before. There was chatting and laughter, and the official in front spat on the ground, just in time. Saw by Lin Linyou...
Not in the way, not in the way, not affecting your appetite...
He couldn't wait to pick up a piece of puffer fish and put it into his mouth, chewing it slowly and savoring it...
He felt tears welling up in his eyes. Under the light, his eyes must be shining with stars like the characters in the comics!
fresh! tasty!
"Mr. Lin, eat slowly, don't choke." Xia Di said something strange again.
Lin Linyou's heart was momentarily occupied by the delicious food, and she couldn't care less about arguing with him. She responded: "It's so delicious! I didn't expect my father-in-law to have such skills!"
Xia Di: "Of course! You think it's easy to be a eunuch!"
He picked up the wine glass and took a sip...
The image of Brother Ji running on the beach wearing a mosquito net emerged in his mind: He had never experienced such a fresh and refined feeling...
“Good wine!”
"Mr. Lin, please take your time and drink." Why does Xia Di talk so much nonsense! Even the delicious food could not stop his mouth: "Oh! This is the royal wine of the palace, don't just pour it in like drinking water..."
The maids danced in the banquet.
Sitting at the end, the emperor and the others should not notice.
Lin Linyou stood up suddenly, walked to Xia Di, raised his hand and pressed the back of his neck.
"You...what are you doing? This is the palace, don't mess around!" Xia Di shrank her neck and became nervous, "If you don't go back, I'm going to scream...I just want to tell you, the staying power of this imperial wine It’s a bit big…”
Lin Linyou leaned down, leaned into Xia Di's ear, and whispered: "Don't be nervous, I just want to ask you...can this food and wine be packaged?"
