jdhmnovel Chapter 597 New Year's Attitude
Chapter 597 New Year's Attitude
As the old year gives way to the new, golden tassels sway in the wind, and red palace lanterns are hung high under the eaves, forming a continuous expanse.
In the banquet hall of the palace, a sumptuous feast of dishes and wines was laid out. Officials of the fifth rank and above, dressed in court robes, were seated according to their rank.
Behind high-ranking officials were their female relatives, most of whom were dressed in the attire of imperial consorts.
Unlike previous years, few officials brought their daughters of marriageable age to the palace banquet this year; it is unclear whether this was pre-arranged or just a coincidence.
Perhaps because the emperor had just recovered from a serious illness, the princes had not seen their father for a long time and had not submitted their studies to the emperor for a long time, so they all wanted to make a good impression during the New Year holidays.
To show their filial piety and to demonstrate that they haven't slacked off in their studies, everyone, with different intentions, unanimously chose to offer gifts on this day.
Jiang Xiaoqi was a sixth-rank official and was not qualified to attend the palace banquet.
Previously, solving clues for the Prefect of the Capital was supposed to be rewarded with a promotion, but some clever person said he was too young.
They also said that Jiang Xiaoqi had only been in the Hanlin Academy for a short time and should not be promoted too quickly, so they changed the promotion to other rewards. As a result, Jiang Xiaoqi, who was not promoted, acquired another estate with a much larger area, several times larger than the previous one.
Jiang Xiaoqi didn't care. Being a sixth-rank official was fine. Getting a manor was good too, perfect for growing cold melons.
After all, even if he were promoted one rank, he would still only be a sixth-rank official and would still be unable to attend court assemblies and palace banquets, even though he didn't want to attend them at all.
Qiu Cheng's official rank and position were in accordance with regulations, but without his son by his side, he spent the New Year listlessly, unable to muster any enthusiasm.
Even the most delicious dishes at a palace banquet taste bland and taste no different from turbid wine.
Qiu Cheng's seat was not close to the Second Prince's, but the Second Prince still noticed that something was wrong with him.
Chen Lin's intentions were too obvious, so the Second Prince had no choice but to have Chen Lin find a trustworthy eunuch to deliver a plate of pastries to Qiu Cheng.
"This is?"
"My lord, this is a gift from above. The name is unknown. I hope you will not be saddened. When spring arrives and flowers bloom, it will be a time for family reunions."
"Uh, thank you so much!"
Qiu Cheng realized that his master was trying to comfort him. He thought to himself that he shouldn't have acted like that in public, which had made his master worry.
However, the Second Prince's move to gain favor was so strong that Qiu Cheng was moved to tears.
The second prince didn't drink alcohol; he drank fruit wine, which has almost no alcohol content. He could drink dozens of cups of it without getting drunk.
There's nothing I can do. He's a simpleton. If he drinks more strong liquor, he'll just become even more of a simpleton.
Before the banquet even began, the princes presented their carefully prepared gifts.
Some people offered exquisite calligraphy and paintings, while others presented rare treasures, and a few who were short of money also offered their beloved possessions.
Regardless, it's clear that everyone put a lot of effort into it.
The emperor sat on the dragon throne, a smile on his face, looking very pleased.
At this moment, he treated each son fairly, giving them two or three words of advice, neither more nor less, making it impossible to guess his likes or dislikes.
Halfway through the banquet, Prince Xuan Nan and his wife received another reward from the emperor in the court.
The couple calmly expressed their gratitude and took the opportunity to mention their desire to return to their fiefdom after the New Year.
Looking at the loving couple before him, the emperor couldn't help but think of himself and his empress.
Two days ago, the Empress had privately revealed that her aunt and uncle missed the younger generation, so the Emperor really had no reason to keep them around.
However, before agreeing, the emperor appointed the heir of the Prince of Xuannan as the Grand General of Pacification, and he was to come to the capital to express his gratitude at the end of next summer.
The Prince of Xuannan and his wife realized that this was a one-for-one exchange trick, but they couldn't refuse directly and could only think of a solution later.
Princess Xuan Nan was more optimistic. The Longevity Pill could only extend life by a year at most. Even if His Majesty was lucky, he could only last until next spring at most.
It's not impossible to bring my son to Beijing. Even if he comes and can't leave, he can stay for about half a year.
After receiving the imperial decree and expressing their gratitude, the Prince of Xuannan and his wife rose and withdrew.
They knew that this was already the biggest concession His Majesty could make.
The New Year celebrations inside the palace were solemn and grand, while those outside were warm and lively.
For example, the Jiang family, and Jiang Xiaoqi's family.
The married daughters returned home one after another, bringing their husbands to pay New Year's greetings to Landlord Jiang and his wife.
Jiang Xiyue took Li Haisheng and the child home, while Jiang Lan'er followed behind Xue Xu, carrying her infant son in her arms.
Newlyweds Jiang Lian'er and Jiang Fei'er also returned home with their new son-in-law Wang Jue and Xiao Ming for a family reunion.
It was a sign of a thriving family. Jiang Xiaoqi had already prepared a large red envelope and sent last year's gifts to her eldest sister Jiang Xiwen and her brother-in-law Dong Jin, who lived far away in Linhai County.
Of course, there were also gifts and large red envelopes for nephews and nieces whom I hadn't met yet.
Jiang Wenqing returned from Tongzhou Prefecture with Aunt Pan. After Master Qian and Master Xing came to the city to pay their respects after the New Year, Jiang Xiaoqi gave them year-end bonuses and red envelopes.
The two happily went home for the New Year, and they wouldn't see each other again for another fifteen days.
In the spacious warm hall that the Jiang family had rearranged, large charcoal braziers were placed in each of the four corners.
Red ribbons are hung high, connecting red lanterns, and the character "福" (fortune) is pasted all over doors and windows, creating a festive and joyous atmosphere.
Men and women sat at separate tables, with the landlord, Mr. Jiang, in the center of the men's table and Mrs. Jiang in the center of the women's table. It wasn't that the Jiang family had strict rules, but rather that there were too many people and one table simply couldn't accommodate everyone.
Landlord Jiang wanted to say a few words of advice to his good-for-nothing son, but a look from his grandson stopped him in his tracks.
Forget it, it's the Lunar New Year, let's talk about it after today.
Jiang Xiaoqi knew she couldn't avoid being pressured to get married, so she didn't try to escape it. She simply said she would take things as they came and listen to her elders' arrangements.
After all, he knew that his grandfather was focused on his work in the Ministry of Revenue and had just been promoted to the sixth rank, and was now in the prime of his career.
His grandmother valued him too much, feeling that he was worthy of being with a celestial fairy, and was quite conflicted, not easily arranging a marriage for him.
Feeling confident and fearless, Jiang Xiaoqi naturally shifted the topic to the construction of ocean-going vessels at Tongzhou Wharf.
Jiang Wenqing was unaware that the shipbuilding project was related to his son. Taking advantage of the large crowd, he boasted about the great achievements of his territory.
"Oh dear, Lord Qiu has such good judgment to choose our Tongzhou Wharf for shipbuilding. Once the ship is built, it can be launched and tested immediately."
You have no idea how wealthy and powerful Lord Qiu's superiors are. They have over a hundred craftsmen who eat better than the officials in the yamen every day.
Two dishes, a soup, and a staple food—a hearty meal, plenty of oil and fat. Ah, these craftsmen are truly blessed.
"Father, can we go to Tongzhou Wharf to see the shipbuilding after spring? Um, are unauthorized personnel allowed to watch?"
Jiang Lian'er boldly asked the question, and Jiang Wenqing was taken aback. This... he really didn't know; he himself had never been there even once.
However, one cannot lose face in front of younger generations; one must put on an act.
"Ahem, how can you be considered unauthorized personnel when you go?"
"Let's wait until the weather warms up and the willows sprout, then you can all come over. I'll make the arrangements!"
Jiang Wenqing stroked his beard, which he had painstakingly grown, and exuded the air of a patriarch.
However, only Landlord Jiang and Xiaoqi knew how guilty their son/father was at this moment.
"Really? Thank you, Father. It's true that having connections in the court makes things easier. No, no, I misspoke. It's more like a local official is more powerful than a distant one. Father is an official assisting in shipbuilding, so you're both a local official and a powerful figure!"
Jiang Lian'er's flattering words made Jiang Wenqing a little carried away, and he couldn't help but add, "When the time comes, all of you sisters can go. Just think of it as a spring outing. I, as your father, will arrange everything!"
"Thank you dad!"
"Thank you, father-in-law!"
"Thank you, thank you, Grandfather!"
Jiang Xiyue and Li Haisheng's eldest child had only recently learned to speak. While speaking, the child bowed to his maternal grandfather, Jiang Wenqing, which was very cute and endearing.