Chapter 37

This winter is slightly warmer than the one two years ago. As the capital is not far from Jiaozhou, although it is a bit damp and cold, Su Mi can still adapt to it.

Inside the room, Chun Mei lit a green bronze incense burner, which instantly separated the cold wind of early winter outside, filling the room with a warm fragrance.

On the elm couch with chicken-wing patterns, there was a thick mattress. Su Mi was wearing a light pink dress and a plain embroidered velvet jacket, casually leaning on them.

She held a bronze hand stove in her arms, and the other hand flipped through a booklet, selecting candidates for the shopkeeper.

The notice for recruiting shopkeepers had been posted early in the morning, and many people came to apply. Originally, Su Mi planned to screen them in the spring, but the hired carpenters finished repairing the shop early, and leaving it idle was a waste. Su Mi had to start her selection process.

“Miss, do you know that our shop is very lively even before it’s opened? When I went there, many people were looking at it,” Chun Mei said.

Su Mi smiled and looked up. “Yes, there aren’t many people who do business without making money.”

In fact, Su Mi was also self-deprecating. Renting and selling old books could not earn much money. It was the porters who roamed the streets who made more sales, and few people opened bookstores.

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Feng Bao carefully pushed the package towards Su Mi, smiling and saying, “Madam, master said that there will be a palace banquet on the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, and you can wear this.”

“Okay…”

Su Mi responded with a sound and walked to the table, handing the hand warmer to Feng Bao. Feng Bao hesitated for a moment before accepting it with his head down.

Su Mi lightly stroked the pale purple palace dress, feeling the smooth and slippery texture, and the colors of green and red floated up. “It looks really good.”

Feng Bao had mentioned the palace banquet on the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month when Qin Yan had returned two days earlier.

On the last day of the year, the emperor issued an edict, and the officials rested.

The New Year’s imperial banquet was also scheduled for the same day at the hour of the monkey, and all the concubines and courtiers, even the envoys from foreign countries, could become guests of honor. With Qin Yan’s status, of course, he would be among them.

But Su Mi furrowed her brows slightly. “Feng Bao, is this color too bright?”

Not to mention her usual clothes when she went out, Mrs. Yu had advised Su Mi to wear something more solemn to avoid gossip. If she wore something too bright and eye-catching to attend the palace banquet, it would definitely attract attention, and that wouldn’t be good.

“Don’t worry, Madam. Master has arranged everything, and there won’t be any mistakes,” Feng Bao assured her.

Su Mi thought for a moment and nodded.

***

Time flew by quickly, and soon it was the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month.

The winter sun was warm but not dazzling, and Qin Yan stood at the gate of the palace, his tall and straight figure attracting the attention of the palace servants.

He wore a black crown and a blue brocade robe with a jade belt tied around his waist and black leather boots on his feet. The official uniform, which had been dull and lifeless before, seemed to emit a bright light.

The luxurious carriage of the chief’s mansion came into view and stopped not far from the palace gate.

Su Mi was helped down from the carriage by Feng Bao, wearing the light purple satin embroidered palace dress that Qin Yan had given her. The skirt was flowing and swaying behind her.

Her cloud-like hair was lustrous, and her eyes and eyebrows were charming. The red blush on her cheeks was faintly visible.

Even when she walked over, her graceful figure exuded a charming aura.

However, she was not used to wearing such a complex dress and almost stumbled several times.

When she finally arrived in front of Qin Yan, she addressed him as “Lord.”

Su Mi sneakily looked at Qin Yan. The last time she saw him was probably five or six days ago. Since the Eastern Bureau was close to the palace, he came directly to wait for her at the gate.

This was the first time Su Mi had seen Qin Yan wearing a complete set of official uniforms, and he looked handsome no matter what he wore.

Moreover, the combination of blue and light purple seemed to be a perfect match. Su Mi blushed unconsciously. Why did she keep having these fanciful thoughts?

Qin Yan’s eyes slid over her pink neck, and he said, “Hmm, why so slow?”

Su Mi replied softly, “It’s nearing dusk, and the streets are crowded.”

“I meant when you were walking over here, you were too slow,” Qin Yan said.

Slow? Su Mi looked up and met Qin Yan’s gaze, not quite understanding. She had already tried to walk as fast as she could, but Qin Yan didn’t say anything more and turned around.

“Let’s go.”

Qin Yan walked ahead and quickly pulled ahead by a few steps. Su Mi couldn’t keep up, so she had to lift up her skirt and run to catch up. But her palace dress was heavy, and if she walked too fast, she had to be careful not to trip and embarrass herself.

Between being careful and cautious, Su Mi saw Qin Yan’s right sleeve suddenly pull down, leaving a discreet gap for her to hold onto. Seeing the sleeve sway back and forth, Su Mi thought that if she could borrow Qin Yan’s strength, she might be able to keep up with him.

So she tentatively pulled on Qin Yan’s sleeve hem, and when he didn’t react, Su Mi felt more at ease and pulled a few more inches. With this slight support, Su Mi’s walk became smoother, and she gradually caught up with Qin Yan. Of course, she didn’t notice the gradual slowing of Qin Yan’s steps or the faint arc at the corners of his lips.

***

The palace banquet was held in the East Palace Main Hall, which was used for royal banquets. As the time for the banquet approached, the hall was bustling with palace maids and eunuchs.

At the top was the emperor’s golden throne, and a large golden dragon banquet table was placed a few feet below it. In between the two was a “long table,” and the cold dishes had already been served.

The positions next to the throne belonged to the concubines of the harem, and there were twelve short tables on the left and right sides of the jade steps, which were given to the emperor’s relatives, courtiers, and envoys from foreign countries.

When the bell in the palace rang at the appointed time, a bright yellow phoenix sedan chair was raised at the end of the marble-carved royal road, and Emperor MingShun,Zhu Jingyu, appeared on it. He wore a jade hairpin and a crown, a black dragon-patterned robe, and a red skirt. His handsome face was solemn, and his thin lips were pursed.

The jade sedan was carried steadily up the jade steps from the dragon relief on the Chi altar, and wherever it went, the officials kneeled and the bells and drums rang out, the sound of music echoing endlessly.

The concubines of the harem were also supported by eunuchs from the side hall at this moment, following the emperor into the East Palace Main Hall.

After the two were seated, it was the turn of the imperial relatives and foreign courtiers to enter the hall to express their thanks and take their seats. Qin Yan and Su Mi were in this group.

It was Su Mi’s first time seeing such a grand scene, and though she was amazed, she always remembered the etiquette she had learned as a candidate and followed Qin Yan behind, bowing her head and trying not to make any mistakes.

The East Palace Main Hall was made of sandalwood beams, and a crystal jade disc hung from the treasure peak in the middle of the hall as a light. The floor was made of lacquered solid wood inlaid with earth dragons, and the warm air filled the entire hall.

The eunuch leader, Lu Dehai, dressed in the scarlet court dress of the Bureau of Rites, walked up the steps with a smile on his face, holding a red lacquer carved dragon banquet box and a pearl-inlaid gold cup.

Emperor Zhu Jingyu was gentle and smiling and turned to the lower seats, saying, “Today is New Year’s congratulations, and I wish for my world to last forever!”

“Let’s begin the feast.”

As soon as Zhu Jingyu’s voice fell, the officials gathered around, the palace windows slowly closed, sandalwood incense was lit under the dragon throne, and the musicians began to play. The palace banquet had finally begun.

After all, it was a New Year’s banquet, and the officials were slightly more casual than usual, occasionally whispering to each other at the table. Even the emperor seemed to be chatting happily with the empress dowager.

Qin Yan and Su Mi sat on the second yellow pear wood tenon table on the right side. They were both outstanding in appearance, and their attire was more luxurious than others, which naturally attracted attention.

There were mostly men in attendance, but because of Qin Yan’s behavior, they could only steal a glance at Su Mi, feeling regretful that she had married an eunuch and wasted her beauty.

Su Mi was oblivious to these gazes. She looked at the lacquered food boxes and abalone delicacies in front of her, but for some reason, she had no appetite. She randomly picked up a few chopsticks and looked around nonchalantly.

She had seen the emperor before, and she had heard of the empress dowager from her maidservant. She was disappointed that there was no Lady Yue’er among the imperial concubines, and she had hoped to meet her this time.

She recognized Zhang Huaian across from her, the prime minister who wanted Qin Yan to marry someone else. Su Mi looked at him once and then turned away, not wanting to look at him again. But as she withdrew her gaze, she caught a glimpse of a teenage boy in fancy clothes sitting among the guests, closest to the emperor.

“He is Prince Qi, the empress dowager son,” Qin Yan said, seemingly noticing Su Mi’s curiosity.

The late emperor had only two sons, the emperor and Prince Qi. But this had nothing to do with Su Mi, and Qin Yan didn’t think it was necessary to bring it up.

Su Mi nodded and let the matter drop. She was just bored, and the affairs of the imperial family had nothing to do with her.

As the banquet ended and the drinking began, the atmosphere in the hall became livelier.

A Tubo envoy in a fur-trimmed tunic stood up from a low table, and his deep and exotic features caught the attention of the Mingyin dynasty’s officials.

Speaking in slightly accented court language, he said, “Your Majesty, on behalf of the king of Tubo, I have brought tribute to present to you. In addition to what was presented earlier, there are also some live animals. I hope Your Majesty will take a look.”

Although they were called live animals, everyone knew that the barbarian countries only ever presented women’s dances as tribute. They were just different women every year.

This type of dance was actually granted permission by the Emperor early on, but the performance still had to be done. With a light clap of his hands, the Tubo envoy summoned over a dozen Tubo women dressed in exotic attire from behind the animal and bird screens.

These young women were dressed provocatively, with well-defined figures. Compared to the ladies of the Mingyin dynasty, they naturally aroused greater desire among the men present.

They formed a circle, and as the musicians started playing, the music suddenly became lively.

With the upbeat music, the beauties swayed their waists and hips, striking bold poses. Watching them, the onlookers couldn’t help but feel their mouths go dry and their hearts itch with desire. However, it was evident that the majority of the women’s gazes and dance moves were directed towards Emperor Zhu Jingyu and Qin Yan.

Emperor Zhu Jingyu had the authority of an emperor, but as for Qin Yan…

Those who are invited to the palace banquet are mostly veteran court officials like Zhang Huaian. There are rarely young and handsome men like Qin Yan who possess both grace and good looks.

The women present do not know Qin Yan’s identity, but they know that they are being sent away and want to choose a good-looking man to be sent off with. As a result, their eyes are fixed on Qin Yan, and even Su Mi beside him can feel their attention.

Suddenly, Su Mi has a bad feeling and secretly glances at Qin Yan. She sees that his smile is faint, and it is hard to tell whether he likes it or not.

After a dance, the Tubo women step back behind the envoy, and the Tubo envoy bows to Emperor Zhu Jingyu and asks, “Your Majesty, what do you think of the Tubo women?”

Emperor Zhu Jingyu smiles and says, “The dance was beautiful, and so are the women.”

“If Your Majesty likes, please choose one or two. It would be my great honor as a representative of Tubo.”

Emperor Zhu Jingyu looks down with a trace of impatience, and then says with a smile, “All right. I’ll choose the lead dancer. As for the others, it’s better to share the joy with my officials.”

As soon as this was said, the audience below became noisy, and there were constant shouts of excitement.

Zhang Huaian is sitting opposite Qin Yan, and because of the previous incident in Quanzhou, he has been at odds with Qin Yan lately.

Moreover, he is already old and is no longer interested in these beautiful women. What he wants to see now is Qin Yan’s embarrassment.

He raises his voice to Emperor Zhu Jingyu and says, “Your Majesty’s kindness is too much for me, an old man in his twilight years. I can’t afford the favor of these beauties. The official with the fewest wives here should take more back home.”

Zhang Huaian is deliberately provoking Qin Yan; after all, he is an eunuch, and having wives or not is not a big deal for him. If he refuses, he is likely to be seen as an eunuch, but if he agrees, it would be even better to bring more women back, give him something to do, and not cause trouble in court.

Emperor Zhu Jingyu hears Zhang Huaian’s words and suddenly has a genuine smile on his face. He looks towards Qin Yan as if he is also waiting for his answer.

The palace suddenly becomes quiet, and everyone’s eyes are fixed on Qin Yan. Some are afraid that he will choose too many and they will miss out, while others simply want to see him embarrassed.

However, Qin Yan seems to be indifferent to these gazes.

He looks at the group of alluring women standing behind the envoy with a playful smile on his lips. He lightly wipes the edge of the jade cup filled with wine with his finger, and the amber wine ripples out in circles.

He is about to speak when he feels a tug on his sleeve.

Qin Yan’s gaze falls on Su Mi’s blushing ears, and she lowers her head, her voice weak like a mosquito. “Lord… can you please not choose them?”