Although Guo Kang didn't want to overeat with them, this kind of banquet belonged to the category of official entertainment, so he had to show up.
A few days later, Tuohuan arranged another banquet to entertain those people. This time, everyone has already discussed the general matters, so the banquet is relatively large. In addition to the Mamluk envoys and the people from the Purple tent, Zhu Wenkui's family will also attend the banquet as important participants.
Tuo Huan said that the most important goal this time is to let everyone meet. Therefore, Guo Kang and Shi Ke are also important figures and will be present this time.
Guo Kang has always been in the city and can come at any time. Shi Ke happened to be away at the moment. He was taking the new recruits to practice sailing back and forth between Dadu and several ports in Thrace. But Tuo Huan said the matter was important and sent a ship to call him back.
The banquet was as lively as ever. Tuo Huan personally hosted the ceremony, and Theodora also came to help. Princess Ma still said she was not in good health and could not attend. Princess Jeanne took her place and appeared at the distinguished guest's seat.
Zhu Wenkui looked a little uncomfortable sitting next to him, while Monk Daoyan was at his starting point, looking at everyone with a smile on his face. When little Jeanne saw Guo Kang and Shi Ke standing nearby, she left her seat and ran to chat with him.
"Is your brother dissatisfied with his ranking?" Tuohuan noticed Zhu Wenkui's embarrassment and came over to ask little Jeanne in a low voice.
"Are we going to rank him first over there?" Shi Ke guessed as he didn't seem to understand much of what was going on here.
"Is there anything special about this?" Tuo Huan asked.
"The prince is the acting head of the family, right?" Shi Ke guessed: "Princess Jeanne is his... mother? No, how should this be calculated? Who has the final say between the two..."
"What are you talking about?" Little Jeanne didn't even understand.
"I mean, does the Ming Dynasty have any requirements in this regard?" Shi Ke raised a logical question: "For example, when going out to show off, should we first abide by filial piety and let sons obey their mothers; or should we obey women's ethics and let women obey the head of the family? I always felt like these regulations were contradictory.”
"I don't quite understand these principles, but we'd better be cautious." He told Tuohuan: "People in the Ming Dynasty are very particular about rules, not to mention these are all official members of the Ming Dynasty. If there is no arrangement Well, people will say we don’t understand etiquette.”
"My mother also wants to listen to him?" Before Tuohuan could say anything, little Jeanne was not convinced.
"It's not your mother's problem, it's a problem between the two mothers and each other's children." Shi Ke analyzed: "If we separate the legitimate concubines, then your mother is not your mother, but his mother is your mother; But now, the order between the two of you is irrelevant, and it becomes that your mother is also his mother, his mother is also your mother, and your mother is also your mother..."
"Stop, stop, stop -" Guo Kang quickly interrupted: "We don't need to study other people's special circumstances. We have a special situation here. Even if they care, can we explain it - you see there are so many God worshipers. As for sects, it’s normal to have different understandings of women’s ways.”
"Yes. They are all here." Tuohuan shook his head in frustration and said, "I also hope they can teach the Greeks how to behave as women."
"Next time you are ranked second, ask them first." Guo Kang reminded him.
"I also asked this time." Tuohuan defended, "It was their monk Yao who told me this time."
"Then what are we questioning?" Guo Kang was speechless: "That's it. Let's just let it go."
He said, driving Tuo Huan and Shi Ke back.
"You should go back too." He turned back and said to little Jeanne: "The banquet will start soon. Listen to your mother and your brother. Don't make trouble. This time is very important to your family."
"Of course I know." Little Jeanne pretended to be an adult: "Please care about my brother. By the way, do you know what he is worried about?"
"Ranking?"
"No, it's drinking." Seeing that he was also struggling, little Jeanne shook her head helplessly and said: "He has a bad drinking capacity, and he goes crazy every time he drinks..."
"Then you didn't tell me earlier!" Guo Kang didn't know what to say.
"You didn't even ask." Jeanne shrugged, leaving the dumbfounded Guo Kang and went back.
Seeing that she was angry, Guo Kang didn't know what to do. I looked around and saw that other guests were also entering the venue one after another, so I decided to wait until the banquet was over before talking to her.
Soon, Stan brought the last group of guests to the hall. After they sat down, Tuo Huan waved to the servants outside the door, and they quickly brought in several large wooden barrels.
"Today, we specially invite all distinguished guests to thank them for their visit and celebrate our friendship." He jumped on the table and announced loudly: "Today, let us temporarily forget those troubled trivial matters and despicable villains. Because The cooperation we have reached is fully worthy of this celebration and the joy of this period!"
"We will entertain everyone with a Samarkand palace-style banquet. Believe me, old uncle Timur will regret not being able to catch this banquet in heaven." He laughed and said: "Come, Bring the drinks!"
Everyone cheered. The Mamluks stood up and waved their arms in response, and everyone in the Purple Tent also stood up and clapped loudly - judging from the meaning of the banquet, the banquet was of high standard, so everyone was looking forward to it.
The servants opened the wine barrels, and several Persian maids entered the hall, walked forward lightly, and skillfully filled the wine for each guest in turn with dance-like movements.
Tuo Huan introduced loudly: "This is the first dish of the palace dish, 'thirst-quenching grapes'."
"According to legend, when the old emperor Timur fought with the Eastern Chagatai Khanate, he was defeated because he was outnumbered. The old emperor was separated from his men and when he was thirsty, he met a farmer. The old emperor asked him There is no water, but the farmer is distressed to say that the wells here have been damaged and now there is only some poorly stored grape juice.”
"The old uncle didn't care so much and drank it directly. His piety and determination moved Hu Da, and the corrupted grape juice became sweeter than the clear spring. Later, the emperor drank this unexpected grape juice The method of preserving grape juice was brought to the court, and this is the drink before us.”
Guo Kang suppressed his laughter while listening to Tuohuan's jokes.
Timur certainly did not invent the method of making wine. However, people in the Samarkand Palace probably drank this stuff a lot, so it’s not a lie to say that it was a palace dish...
"High-end goods from France." Li Xuanying whispered to Guo Kang next to him: "This time I spent a lot of money..."
Guo Kang has not yet developed the ability to taste wine, so he can only nod.
"Come!" Over there, Tuo Huan raised his glass: "In the name of Divine Ancestor, Heavenly Father and Hu Da, cheers!"
"Cheers!" Everyone drank impatiently.
(End of chapter)
