Besides lying down, I also know a little about power struggles

Chapter 158 Yaotai Banquet

There is no free lunch in the world, Fang Tong understands this truth. Everyone present is a smart person, so who wouldn't understand this?

Someone immediately said, "Third brother, I don't like calligraphy and painting, I just like wine and food. You invited us here, you won't just let us watch, right?"

Feng Yuyang laughed: "Of course not."

He raised his white jade cane, and several beautiful maids came forward with smiles and invited the guests to sit down.

Nowadays, there is no such thing as different seats for men and women. Fang Tong was arranged to sit on the right side of Feng Twelve. There was a low table in front of him and a cushion behind the table. Everyone sat on the ground, each occupying a table.

Soon, the table was piled with delicious wine and delicacies, and the place was filled with singing and dancing, and the sound of stringed instruments, and soon the atmosphere of a lively banquet was created.

Fang Tong carefully looked at the maids moving around the table, but did not find any suspicious figures.

Looking at Feng Yuyang again, he was sitting in the main seat, his posture was relaxed, with a smile on his lips, no different from usual.

Maybe she was really overthinking it, Fang Tong had this thought in her mind.

Why doesn't Feng Yuyang just do his job as a prince, but comes here to stir up trouble? Is he tired of his good life?

Just as she was thinking about it, she saw Feng Yuyang noticed her gaze, turned his eyes over, picked up the wine glass on the table, and raised it towards her with a smile.

Before Fang Tong raised the cup to return the gift, his sight was suddenly blocked. It was Feng Twelve's back.

She laughed inwardly.

Feng Twelve has been on guard since he left home today. She wanted to tell him not to be too nervous, but she couldn't help but think he was cute.

She cursed herself silently in her heart, picked up the wine glass, covered it with her sleeve, and pretended to take a sip.

It’s not that I’m worried about the alcohol, it’s just that drinking when you’re out can easily cause trouble.

She had discussed this with Feng Twelve before coming. Today's guests are all people of distinguished status. If there is a problem with the food and wine, no matter who suffers, the organizer will be responsible. Unless Feng Yuyang wants to ruin his reputation, there is no need for him to tamper with the food and wine.

Fang Tong put down his wine glass, picked up his chopsticks and picked up a piece of honey-glazed venison.

Feng Yuyang is indeed the richest among the princes. This pair of chopsticks is inlaid with gold and jade and feels quite heavy in his hand.

Perhaps to reassure those who attend the banquet, the tips of the chopsticks are all made of silver, so that if there is poison in them, it will be detected as soon as they touch them.

Fang Tong looked at the chopsticks and became even more curious about the purpose of Feng Yuyang's invitation.

His frank behavior does seem to indicate a certain openness, but it may also be an act of pretense.

She took a bite of each dish on the table, and when she saw that no one was paying attention, she whispered to Feng Twelve, "The fried mandarin duck tripe and stir-fried vegetables are good, the five-treasure sashimi is OK, but don't try the osmanthus lotus root and lychee cake, they are too sweet and not to your taste."

Feng Twelve tilted his head slightly: "Yeah."

He did as she said and tasted the delicious dishes: "It's really good."

Fang Tong pursed her lips, picked up the wine glass again, and covered the upturned corners of her lips with her sleeves.

It was terrible, she criticized herself in her heart, thinking about other things in such an important occasion, it was not serious.

She glanced at Feng Twelve, hid her smile, and sat up straight.

"Not eating anymore?" Feng Twelve asked softly, even though he didn't look at her. He seemed to know what she was doing. Fang Tong saw that his lips barely moved, but his voice came through clearly, and she felt that they were like classmates whispering in elementary school.

She chuckled and quickly replied, "Take a break before eating."

After all, the purpose of her trip was not to have a banquet. Now that everyone was drunk and excited, if Feng Yuyang had other plans, it was time to bring them to light.

Feng Yuyang raised his glass to everyone, and after toasting, he said with a smile, "I have been away from Beijing for many years, so I don't know much about the customs in Beijing. But drinking and having fun today would be boring. Do you want to try something else?"

"What does Third Brother want to play?" Someone asked while he was drunk, "Why not tell me?"

Feng Yuyang smiled and pointed at the calligraphy and paintings floating in the air: "Although these are works of famous artists, we are members of the royal family. Who hasn't learned calligraphy since childhood? In my opinion, it is better to write on the spot and leave a masterpiece on this Yaotai. What do you think?"

"Haha, I thought Third Brother had some good ideas, but it turns out he wants us to write and draw," said a princess. "Are all the habits in the south so pedantic? I don't have the patience to write poems or compose couplets."

"Don't worry, ninth sister," Feng Yuyang said, "The way of calligraphy and painting depends on nature. If you don't have the heart, don't force it. But I suddenly thought that if everyone left their calligraphy here today and presented it to His Majesty on the day of the Wanshou Festival, it might please His Majesty."

The Ninth Princess paused as she raised her wine glass: "What do you mean, Third Brother?"

Feng Yuyang smiled and said, "I know that you have brought all kinds of rare treasures to celebrate His Majesty's birthday, but His Majesty is very wealthy, and these gifts are just ordinary things in his eyes. What's so special about them every year?"

"So you want us to write and draw?" asked the Ninth Princess.

"It's not what I want," Feng Yuyang said, "Have you ever thought about what His Majesty likes the most?"

"What do you like?" someone asked.

“Of course it’s about brothers and sisters living in harmony and enjoying family happiness.” Feng Yuyang said.

As soon as these words were spoken, some people immediately showed expressions of disapproval. If the brothers could really live in harmony, why was Prince Ping Feng Wuqiong imprisoned in the palace? Although Feng Wuqiong's attempt to force the emperor to abdicate was suppressed by the emperor, after so much time has passed, anyone who wants to find out can always find out something.

However, although everyone was thinking this, no one said anything and only looked at Crown Prince Feng Yunxi.

Feng Yuyang saw that everyone's eyes were focused on Feng Yunxi, and smiled, "What do you think, Prince?"

Feng Yuxi smiled gently: "Prince Jing is right."

"Your Majesty, I am just being considerate." Feng Yuyang said, "I have not seen you all for many years. I feel really relieved to be gathered here today. If Your Majesty could see this scene, he would be even more pleased."

"What the King said does make sense," someone said, "There are many good things in the world, but nothing can compare to our love for Your Majesty."

"That's right." Feng Yuyang said, "Why don't we each write a poem on the theme of 'longevity' and present it to Your Majesty. What do you think?"

"I'm not good at writing poetry," the Ninth Princess muttered, "I'm better at writing calligraphy."

Feng Yuyang laughed: "Then write, write down all the auspicious words in your heart, as long as they are sincere, His Majesty will definitely like it after reading it."

Fang Tong was sitting behind the crowd. When she heard this, she suddenly remembered the "Centenarians' Chronicle" that Feng Yuyang had prepared for the emperor. She had heard from Feng Twelve that it was a book written by many centenarians that Liu Congwen had visited among the people on orders. The book was filled with auspicious words written by the elderly themselves. This was a great idea.

Feng Yuyang asked everyone to write poems, obviously wanting to follow suit, but he already had the "Centennial Chronicle", and everyone's poems would not do him much good, at most they would just earn him a compliment from the emperor.

For this compliment, does he need to make such a big fuss and invite everyone to gather at Yaotai?

Fang Tong and Feng Twelve exchanged glances.

Feng Twelve's lips moved slightly: "Wait and see what happens."