Hanjing, on the west side of the Great Li Imperial Palace.
Inside a magnificent and splendid palace bearing the sign ’Weiyang Palace in Brocade.’
A grand court banquet was in progress.
The young Emperor of Great Li hosted the Sealing and Sacrificial Confucian Scholars from Linlu Academy, who had co from afar, inviting the Fifth Grade and above civil and military officials of the Li Court, as well as the nobles of Viscount rank and above, to welco and cleanse the dust off Zhao Rong, Gu Yiwu, and other scholars.
When Zhao Rong entered the palace at dusk, he did not bring little Qian’er or Su Fairy with him, only Li Bai.
The latter disguised himself as a guard and entered the palace with him. Zhao Rong knew that he liked to drink, and tonight there would certainly be enough fine wine from Great Li. In Li Bai’s words, ’You’re rather considerate this ti, kid.’
Gu Yiwu and the students of the Justice Hall also did not bring any casual female companions.
At that ti, they thought that this kind of social interaction among n was sowhat inconvenient to attend with female family mbers.
However, upon arriving at the scene, Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu exchanged glances.
At the Weiyang Palace banquet, aside from the young unmarried Emperor and the serious Regent King Li Mingyi, most of the civil and military officials brought with them their decreed wives or children and other family mbers.
Moreover, shortly after the banquet began, Zhao Rong felt that the customs of Great Li seed quite open...
But it didn’t matter. Later in the feast, they were indeed accompanied by beautiful won who were adept at dancing and pouring wine.
At the Weiyang Palace banquet, the regent Empress Dowager of the Dugu clan did not attend.
It made sense, after all, for such a lively social feast, as a widow and the motherly figure of Great Li’s Empress, she needed to keep a respectable distance.
Furthermore, on all occasions, she needed to avoid being alone with vigorous n, just as she was when she greeted Zhao Rong and the others outside Hanjing at noon today.
’They say a widow’s doorstep often breeds scandal,’ Zhao Rong thought to himself.
Hmm, it’s even more so for a beautiful widow, and for a beautiful widow with wealth or power... Zhao Rong would call it, the ultimate demise.
From his reading of history, in any dynasty, n have always been greatly intrigued by any gossip concerning widows.
So for a widow like the Empress Dowager Dugu, if she were even slightly careless, for instance, summoning a military commander or minister for a talk, and accidentally closing the door...
Then the suggestive rumors that leak out could probably spread throughout Hanjing overnight, provoking hot debate among the citizens of Great Li.
If sothing like this happened to Empress Dowager Dugu, it would definitely end up in unofficial histories for future generations of Great Li to gossip about over tea and rice.
By then, behind that closed door, countless little stories would be imagined.
Spread with vivid detail, this is what’s called ’rumors becoming truth through repetition.’
Hmm, even if the door is closed only briefly, but even briefly, one can finish a deed, can’t one?
Zhao Rong couldn’t help but nod his head.
Well, if that is the case, probably the ministers of the court are also afraid to talk and et with Empress Dowager Dugu, their hearts filled with trepidation. A careless mont could tie them to so sort of idiom about speed, and maybe even create a proverb, becoming infamously enshrined in history?
At that mont, regarding the absence of the Empress Dowager Dugu, Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu glanced at each other before moving their gazes away, each going to find their seats.
They were not in a hurry.
The matter of the sealing and sacrificial ceremony was greatly pushed forward by the Empress Dowager herself. With ti pressing, inviting them tonight ant that there would definitely be a eting and discussion.
At the mont, facing the group of Confucian scholars, the young Emperor was especially enthusiastic, addressing them repeatedly as ’Teacher’ and seating Zhao Rong and the others extrely close.
Especially Zhao Rong.
The highest position in the Great Hall naturally belonged to the young Emperor, and the position to the left under the head seat was where Zhao Rong sat.
Across from him, to the right under the head of the young Emperor, sat Li Mingyi. The imposing Regent King of Great Li was tall and powerfully built, with a square face that commanded respect even without anger.
Before long, the banquet began, and graceful dancers slowly entered.
Zhao Rong, Gu Yiwu, and the other scholars were waited upon by the beautifully poised won, drinking wine and eating dishes.
Nobody took the lead to talk about the sealing and sacrificial ceremony, as if they had all forgotten, only focusing on the banquet itself.
They say that Li won are known for their slender waists, the talk of Wangque for its beauty, unsurpassed even by the countries below the mountains, and the waist-slender Li won are all adept at dancing. The dancers trained in the courts of Great Li were indeed exceptional.
Zhao Rong couldn’t help but take several extra looks, speaking of a woman’s dancing posture...
Qing Jun’s waist was also very slim, she would probably look very nice dancing, but it seed she hadn’t learned much, probably not as good as her cooking skills. As for little Little, well, dancing? Does hopping count? She was quite good at hopping around, and she also kicked him in her sleep...
The young Confucian scholar silently thought of the won in his heart, comparing them for a while, feeling a bit regretful.
Yet although he felt this way, he wasn’t that concerned, still finding his own won the best. Besides, practicing dance seed to be quite hard on the feet, so Qing Jun, Little, and Qian’er’s delicate... Zhao Rong was quite reluctant to have them endure that.
So it was, in the hall of Weiyang Palace.
String music, splendid garnts, beautiful won, fine wine, poetry, and verse.
For a mont, opulence abounded, a scene of lively festivity.
However, Zhao Rong didn’t drink much, striving to stay sober and observant of everyone in the Great Hall.
Although the banquet was raucous, there were so scenes that he found rather interesting.
For example, the young Emperor at the head seat, wearing a purple Five-clawed Dragon Robe, frequently spoke to lift the spirits of the banquet, acting like a little adult. The scholarly officials of Confucian background were very cooperative, while the nobles and military generals were mostly half-hearted, their minds elsewhere.
Li Mingyi at the lower head seat, dressed in a simple Python Robe, didn’t talk much either, quietly sipping his personally brewed drink.
Yet within the hall, many gazes involuntarily settled on Li Mingyi, especially those of the nobles and military generals.
Sotis, even the young Emperor couldn’t help but glance at Li Mingyi when speaking, gauging his reactions.
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