Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 466 Qionglin Banquet 2
"Your Majesty, it's time to move to Qionglin Garden!" At this moment, Emperor Longwu, who was engrossed in reading a memorial, was interrupted by Xiao Xizi's sudden voice.

Emperor Longwu looked up and saw Xiao Xizi standing cautiously at the palace entrance, speaking tentatively.

"Your Majesty, the Empress's palanquin is ready."

"His Highness the First Prince has already gone to Qionglin Garden to oversee all affairs." Noticing the hint of displeasure in Emperor Longwu's eyes, Xiao Xizi quickly added, bowing his head again.

After all, Xiao Xizi knew that her Dragon Emperor was definitely a workaholic! Especially since he didn't like being disturbed when he was busy!
If it weren't for something urgent, the Dragon Emperor would definitely have given him a hard time if he hadn't been disturbed! Little Xizi was a shrewd person; he had served the Dragon Emperor since childhood and naturally knew his master's temper. Therefore, he was unwilling to upset his master!
"Let's set off then!" Looking up at the sky, Emperor Longwu realized that it was getting late, so he immediately stood up and walked out of the palace.

A moment later, on a high platform in Qionglin Garden, Emperor Longwu and Empress Xia had joined forces to ascend this terrace, which overlooked the entire Qionglin Garden.

Overlooking the entire Qionglin Garden at this moment, rows of small single tables are neatly arranged on both sides of the terrace, stretching outwards like a long dragon.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!" The shout of Xiao Xizi, the chief eunuch, echoed across the terrace of Qionglin Garden.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress!" In the brightly lit Qionglin Garden, scholars and officials rose one by one and bowed towards the terrace.

"Rise, my lords!" Looking at the assembled officials and numerous top-ranking scholars below the terrace, Zhu Zhanhe was filled with joy. After all, this was the foundation of his future!

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress!" In this setting, everyone's every move is governed by rules! Therefore, the officials are all very reserved!

"Today's Qionglin Banquet is the grandest event since the founding of our Dragon Kingdom!"

I did not intend to disturb everyone's enjoyment.

However, Her Majesty the Empress prepared a surprise for our newly appointed scholars.

"So, before we begin our formal meal, I'll have to take up a little of your time!" The Dragon Emperor's deep voice, resonating throughout the entire Qionglin Garden, echoed as he looked down at the assembled officials below the terrace.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Upon hearing Emperor Longwu's words, some astute ministers, perhaps already guessing the Empress's intentions, immediately cast a strange light in their eyes as they looked at the group of young princes!
At the same time, Emperor Longwu also discovered that his eldest son was not on the terrace. This greatly surprised Emperor Longwu.

"Empress, is your surprise ready?" Sitting on the terrace, Emperor Longwu looked down at the brightly lit scene below and at the eager eyes of his ministers. He turned to his dignified and elegant Empress Xia and asked softly.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Yu'er is ready and will be here soon," Empress Xia replied softly to her husband's question. No sooner had Empress Xia finished speaking than the First Prince, Zhu Qiyu, stepped onto the terrace. Behind him followed a young eunuch carrying a small box.

"Father, Mother!" After stepping onto the terrace, Zhu Qiyu respectfully bowed to Emperor Longwu and Empress Xia, who were seated in the main seats.

"Yu'er is back~!" Emperor Longwu was overjoyed to see his son. After all, he just hoped things wouldn't go wrong!

"Your Majesty, how about entrusting this matter to Yu'er?" Looking at her respectful son, Empress Xia wore a look of satisfaction. After all, her son was truly diligent!

"Alright, this matter will be left to my son!" Emperor Longwu naturally wouldn't refuse his wife's request. After all, he knew nothing about what his wife had done, so he could only entrust it to his wife and son!

"Thank you, Father Emperor!" Zhu Qiyu was overjoyed to hear that Emperor Longwu had agreed to the matter.

"Go ahead, don't keep the courtiers waiting!" Seeing his son's excited expression, Emperor Longwu gave him his firm support. After all, his son was grown up and it was time for him to take charge of things!

"Your subject takes his leave!" Having received the support of his father, Emperor Longwu, Zhu Qiyu turned and excitedly approached the edge of the terrace, looking down at the court officials below. He carefully avoided seeing his father and mother behind him, ensuring that the officials could see the Emperor and Empress on the platform.
"Yu'er has grown up so much!" Looking at his son, who stood in front of the terrace with a robust figure, Emperor Longwu couldn't help but sigh!
Upon hearing her husband's words, Empress Xia's eyes suddenly lit up! She couldn't help but secretly observe her husband's expression, and seeing that his expression didn't seem to be feigning, she picked up on what her husband was saying!

"Yu'er is still young, Your Majesty should keep a close eye on him!" Empress Xia responded gently to her husband's words, while silently observing his expression as she spoke.

"Yu'er is over twenty now!" Hearing his wife's words, Emperor Longwu noticed her subtle hint of something. He then glanced at his son on the terrace, a sigh appearing in his eyes.

"Fellow officials!" At this moment, the First Prince Zhu Qiyu, standing before the terrace, spoke. Instantly, all the officials focused their attention on the majestic terrace, especially on the First Prince Zhu Qiyu who had spoken!

"Today is the Qionglin Banquet, the first imperial examination for scholars in our Dragon Kingdom, a grand spectacle for our Dragon Kingdom!" Zhu Qiyu echoed the words of Emperor Longwu to enhance the authority of his own words.

"For the sake of the continued prosperity of our Dragon Kingdom, after discussions between Her Majesty the Empress and the Emperor, a special reward will be bestowed upon the top three scholars at this Qionglin Banquet!" Zhu Qiyu's meaning was clear: for the sake of the Dragon Kingdom's continued prosperity! The Emperor and Empress had decided to specially reward the top three scholars! No one else would receive such a gift!

In an instant, the eyes of many scholars lit up. Although they did not know what the reward was, a reward that could be presented at this time must be extraordinary!
As the sages say, "Cultivate oneself, regulate one's family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world!"

Many scholars have now embarked on their official careers, thus beginning their journey of governing the country.

However, after some investigation, the Emperor and Empress learned that many of us top-ranking scholars were still unmarried!
If one's family is not in order, how can one govern a country?
Therefore, after discussion between the Emperor and the Empress, it was decided that a group of outstanding young women would be selected from the eligible young ladies of the palace to be betrothed to some of the scholars! Zhu Qiyu made it very clear that the Emperor and the Empress, knowing that some scholars were not yet married, would be betrothing the top three scholars to young ladies of marriageable age!
"However, not all scholars will be betrothed; it all depends on the luck of you unmarried scholars!"
As for the young women chosen for marriage, they were all carefully selected by the palace!

"Furthermore, these young ladies will be given as dowries by the palace according to the standards for county princesses!" Zhu Qiyu added that the dowries of the palace maids were all made according to the standards for county princesses of the imperial clan!
The meaning is clear: she has the status and dowry of a county princess, but lacks her magnanimity. This ensures that no one worries about her being too domineering to be subdued after marriage!
Furthermore, these young women have all been personally inspected by the palace matrons, so there's no need to worry about anything else!
The moment the eldest prince Zhu Qiyu uttered these words, the scholars below the terrace were filled with joy!
(End of this chapter)