Mountains and rivers are waiting for you to return

Chapter 14 Palace Banquet
The winter solstice is here in a blink of an eye.

"Spring rain shocks the clear valley sky in spring, summer is full of awns and summer heat is connected. Autumn is dew, autumn is cold and frost falls, and winter snows and snows, and there is a small severe cold in winter."

Since ancient times, the Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumnal Equinox and Winter Solstice among the 24 solar terms have been big days. Unless there are any other problems, banquets will usually be held in the palace to entertain royal relatives, ministers and their families.

As the four seasons arrive, we pray together for good weather, longevity and good harvests.

In the ten years since Your Majesty ascended the throne, there have been no external disputes and no internal strife, and the country can be said to be peaceful and prosperous. Therefore, this year's Winter Banquet should be held as usual, and it is no exception.

Tang Mingzhi was not on the list of people to attend the palace, but Yixi kindly invited Pei Nai to join her.

Pei Nai wanted to see the current situation of Gu Jinheng and Xiao Mingyi, so he agreed.

The events before and after her rebirth were still not clearly investigated, so this time she just wanted to follow the families of the officials from a distance, bury herself in the crowd, and simply see them.

That morning, Pei Nai followed Madam Ju and Ju Liancheng into the palace in the same carriage.

The vermilion lacquered palace gate slowly opened, and as carriages rumbled in, one could see the five ridges and six beasts on the palace roof in the distance, as well as the most obvious, the towering Shenxiao Jiangque in the center of the imperial palace.

Everyone arrived early, it was noon, but the banquet officially started in the evening.

During this period of time, except for a few main halls, the imperial kitchen or some restricted areas, the guests can move freely.

The court is closed this morning and the morning court session is suspended for one day. Officials in important positions who have important matters to report can take advantage of this time to go to the Golden Palace to meet the emperor.

After getting off the car, a palace servant came to lead the way.

After walking a few steps, Pei Nai saw Yi Xi waving and smiling not far away. She must have been waiting for a while.

Yixi walked over quickly. Although her clothes were so complicated, she was still so agile. Pei Nai admired her. However, she didn't run because she was too constrained by the worldly etiquette.

"Hello, Aunt Ju. It's been a long time since we last met. Yixi is here to greet you." Yixi bowed to Mrs. Ju.

Fortunately, although Madam Ju had a bad memory, she still remembered Yixi. She smiled and said, "It's Princess Chenzhao of the Prince of Guangping's Mansion. You are such a lovely girl with a kind heart and beautiful appearance. No wonder my Prime Minister Lian can't forget you."

Ju Liancheng was helpless, "Mom"

This time it was Pei Nai's turn to hold back her laughter. She secretly gave a thumbs up. Madam Ju was truly a good mother. She could forget about mundane matters but remembered her son's preferences clearly.

Yixi was a little embarrassed.

Pei Nai hurried forward and took her arm, then said to Madam Ju: "Aunt, Yixi and I have something else to do, so we'll leave first. See you at the dinner."

Ju's mother smiled and nodded, "Go ahead, but be careful. The palace is not as free as our Ju Mansion. Be careful when doing things and don't go rashly."

Pei Nai acted like a well-behaved child and said with a smile, "As you say, Mingzhi must act carefully and not cause trouble for your aunt."

Ju Liancheng still had no expression on his face, and reminded them indifferently: "Remember to go to Huifang Palace early later."

Huifang Hall is a side hall not far from the main hall of the banquet, Fujiang Hall. Since the completion of the imperial palace, it has long been the place where the empress receives noble ladies.

Pei Nai had been there many times before to chat and greet the women, so he knew the situation.

So far, His Majesty has not taken a queen, and the main palace is still vacant. The power of the harem is in charge of Concubine Yan. His Majesty lost his mother, Concubine Shu, when he was young, and she was posthumously named Empress Dowager Xinde after he ascended the throne.

Therefore, the one who should receive the noble lady guests this time should be Concubine Yan.

After saying goodbye to Madam Ju and the others, Yixi didn't dare to speak for the time being. It was not until they were far away that she excitedly said, "Mingzhi, come with me. I'll take you to a fun place."

Inside the palace, palaces of varying sizes are scattered like honeycombs and whirlpools, and the roads are winding and twisting.

Pei Nai followed Yi Xi around while guessing, until Yi Xi brought her into the imperial garden.

"The fun place you're talking about is the Imperial Garden?" Pei Nai raised his eyebrows.

Yixi glanced at her and curled her lips and said, "How could that be? If I came here just to show you this, then I'd be so tasteless. I'm just passing by. It's closer to go through the Imperial Garden and take the path." "Okay, okay, whatever you say is fine." Pei Nai compromised.

After walking aimlessly with Yixi for a long time and turning a few corners, Pei Nai was stunned.

This is a pavilion by the lake in the Imperial Garden. After regular repairs by a dedicated person, it still retains the appearance it had fifteen years ago. She is very familiar with this place because this is where she first met Gu Jinheng.

Still among the trees, but in my memory it was the summer solstice, but now it is winter. The cold has made the branches withered and dry, and the scene has changed.

The old friend is gone, leaving only an empty pavilion.

After walking for a long time, the two finally walked out of the imperial garden.

After passing two corridors, there is a plaque at the top in front of you, which is elegant and graceful, and reads "Yuanxiao Pavilion".

Pei Nai did not recognize this building, but he saw that it was located behind him, so high that it covered the sky and towered into the clouds, and it really lived up to its name.

She had just seen from afar that the top of this pavilion was almost as high as the Golden Palace, which was extremely precious. This pavilion should have been newly built in the past ten years, so Pei Nai did not recognize it.

"What? This is the second tallest building in the entire Chaoyang City. The tallest is naturally the Golden Palace. Normally, you can't enter it, and I have only been summoned there twice. However, the Golden Palace is built high on the basis of a platform, while the Yuanxiao Pavilion is built high by stacking layers upon layers." Yixi said.

Pei Nai nodded affirmatively: "Indeed."

Yixi took Pei Nai's arm and said, "Let's go, let's take a look around."

Yuanxiao Pavilion is mostly filled with bookshelves, with a few places for tea tasting. The furnishings are elegant and luxurious, and there are palace servants guarding each floor waiting to serve the guests.

The bookshelf is almost full, but there is nothing important on it, no wonder it is open to guests.

Yuanxiao Pavilion has two auxiliary buildings, which are slightly shorter and built on the side. They are connected to the main building by a pavilion-style floating bridge.

Pei Nai and the other man picked out a few books and found a seat to sit down on the top floor of the East Auxiliary Building.

This place is next to the window, and Pei Nai feels that the view here is good. There are always people passing by in the main building, so it is quieter here.

The palace maid came over and set up a stove next to the two of them, and they began to read.

About an hour later, Pei Nai was absorbed in reading a play script when Yi Xi suddenly tugged at her sleeve and Pei Nai raised her head.

Yixi pointed downstairs to her, where two girls from aristocratic families were walking towards Yuanxiao Pavilion, talking and laughing.

"They are my classmates from Qingyun Academy, Jiang Qingyue, the eldest daughter of Jingzhao Yin, and Jin Linger, the second daughter of the Minister of Rites." Yixi frowned.

Pei Nai could see that these two people did not have a good relationship with Yi Xi.

"I hope they don't come to the East Auxiliary Building. They talk a lot and are very troublesome." Yi Xi glanced downstairs and said angrily.

But sometimes it's like this, if you don't look for trouble, trouble will look for you.

When Yixi muttered "Don't come" for the forty-eighth time, the two of them stepped onto the floating bridge leading to the East Auxiliary Building.

Pei Nai smiled secretly, she found Yi Xi's reaction extremely interesting.

"Ah!" Jin Ling'er went up three floors and made a surprised expression, "Isn't this Princess Chen Zhao?"

Yixi forced a dry laugh and said, "What a coincidence."

Pei Nai gritted his teeth as he looked at Yi Xi when she said this, and almost laughed out loud. He also used the script in his hand to cover his face to hide the expression on his face at that moment.

"The scenery here is very beautiful. Ling'er and I also want to sit here. Princess Chenzhao should not mind, right?" Jiang Qingyue said arrogantly, leaving no room for Yixi to refuse.

(End of this chapter)