High-class Spring Joy

The Empress Dowager's birthday celebration was held in the palace.

The emperor and his ministers were at the front banquet, while Princess Jing'an and her family were at the back banquet.

Qingyuan followed and served by Old Madam Dou's side.

As soon as they entered the banquet hall, several ladies came up to greet them, chatting with Old Madam Dou with affection in their eyes and expressions.

The title of Marquis Zhenguo is so prestigious that just hearing the name tells you how much the emperor values ​​him. Even though the fifth and third sons of the Marquis's family are either too weak and sickly to take the imperial examinations since childhood and have recovered but haven't had time to participate, or they have voluntarily become merchants and have no chance of official careers, as long as the title of Marquis remains, they are still highly respected.

Moreover, the Zhenguo Marquis's Mansion is not just a family of marquises for generations; it has also produced two Grand Tutors and one General. The old Marquis, who passed away last year, held the rank of Second Grade, a unique position among military officers. These two achievements alone are enough to ensure its enduring strength for a century.

Although the two sons of the Marquis's family had no official titles, there were other reasons for it.

Speaking of Chu Jingyu, now that he's recovered, he'll naturally participate in next year's imperial examination. If he passes with flying colors, he'll be a top scholar, far beyond what a poor family would achieve.

Madam Dou was a skilled and shrewd woman, holding the highest position among the ladies. Yet, she showed no impatience on her face, always wearing a smile and appearing very approachable. Everyone in Bianjing knew of Madam Dou of the Zhenguo Marquis's Mansion; she was renowned for her kindness and virtue, treating her stepsons as her own.

Therefore, at every banquet, most of the ladies treated Old Madam Dou with respect and warmth, and right now she was being fawned over by everyone as she spoke:

"It is said that Princess Jing'an prepared today's birthday banquet, which shows how seriously and important she is to the Empress Dowager's birthday."

"It's really strange. Princess Jing'an has never liked banquets. Usually, when you hold banquets, no one can invite her. But now, this banquet is very well done."

With a smile on her face, Madam Dou gently fanned herself with a round fan in her hand: "Since ancient times, filial piety has been of paramount importance. The princess's filial piety towards the Empress Dowager is as clear as the sun and moon."

……

The ladies chatted casually, while Qingyuan listened only halfway.

Soon, the banquet began, and a loud announcement was made:

"The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

The ladies quickly returned to their seats and rose to bow in unison.

Qingyuan bowed, her eyes lowered.

After the Empress Dowager took her seat, everyone sat down.

The ladies all said the most flattering things to please the Empress Dowager, each one trying to outdo the other, making her laugh non-stop. The difference from before was that the old lady Dou, who was fawned over by everyone, was now the Empress Dowager.

Qingyuan and the other maids were not qualified to stand at the banquet; they were simply arranged to wait in the most peripheral and corner areas.

As they talked, it came time for the ladies to present their gifts.

The old eunuch standing beside the Empress Dowager was someone Qingyuan recognized; he was the head eunuch of the Department of Jewelry who had appeared at the spring outing banquet that day. The other eunuch was Master Liaokong, the Grand Master of Xiangguo Temple, who was the Empress Dowager's most trusted monk. Whenever she went to Xiangguo Temple to offer incense and worship Buddha, she would always have Master Liaokong accompany her.

Master Liaokong was a figure even Qingyuan, who wasn't particularly superstitious, knew of.

The great Dharma Master, whose merits are immeasurable, is an undisputed master of Buddhism and is the most compassionate.

The head eunuch of the Jewelry Department read out the birthday gifts on the gift list one by one. While the ladies were looking forward to their own gifts, they were also secretly comparing themselves with others. The banquet looked harmonious and full of laughter, but in reality, it was filled with countless calculations and treacherous schemes.

Although the pre-banquet and the post-banquet are separate, they are intricately connected. It is no exaggeration to say that pulling one hair affects the whole situation. They can be said to influence the situation in Bianjing City at all times. A casual remark from the Empress Dowager can easily affect the situation.

This is the delicate balance between wealthy and powerful families, which is why the sons and daughters of wealthy and powerful families often cannot marry entirely according to their own wishes. They are not concerned with feelings and love, but with matching social status.

Qingyuan felt that, to put it bluntly, it was an exchange of interests.

As Qingyuan was thinking, she heard the head eunuch of the Treasury read out: "Chu Jingxian, the third young master of the Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion, presents the Empress Dowager with a hundred-year-old Tianshan Snow Silkworm."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the ladies changed in various ways. Most of the knowledgeable ladies from high-ranking families were shocked, while those who were less knowledgeable and did not know what the Tianshan Snow Silkworm was were bewildered.

When Madam Dou heard this, a smile appeared on her face, but Qingyuan noticed that there was no smile in Madam Dou's eyes.

The Empress Dowager looked surprised and asked with great interest, "A hundred-year-old Tianshan snow silkworm? Tianshan snow silkworm, I remember there were only two ten-year-old ones when the Northern Frontier presented their annual tribute a few years ago, right?"

The head eunuch of the Imperial Jewelry Bureau respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, that's right. In all my years in the Imperial Jewelry Bureau, I've only seen it once. I've heard that the Tianshan Snow Silkworm sleeps in the snow all year round. A ten-year-old Tianshan Snow Silkworm has the miraculous effect of curing all poisons when used in medicine. If it's a hundred-year-old one, it's said to have the miraculous effect of bringing the dead back to life and healing flesh and bones. It's extremely difficult to obtain. Finding a ten-year-old one is already extremely rare. A hundred-year-old one is something I wouldn't even dare to dream of."

"This child Xingzhi is too much trouble," the Empress Dowager said, her face showing a loving and appreciative smile.

Inevitably, another round of compliments followed.

After the gift list was read out, the last gift to be presented was Princess Jing'an's birthday gift.

Princess Jing'an rose and bowed, saying, "Mother, please look."

After he finished speaking, a palace maid presented the Amitabha Buddha image embroidered by Jiang Qingge.

In that instant, Qingyuan looked up and saw Jiang Qingge staring at her with an air of domineering disdain and contempt.

Qingyuan clenched her fist and simply raised an eyebrow at her.

Are you so quick to assume you've already won?

Avoid provoking others without proper preparation!