The state banquet on Chinese New Year's Eve is a rare relaxation for the ministers who have experienced the previous catastrophe, because today they do not need to live in fear, and they do not have to worry about whether they will provoke the emperor's dissatisfaction, in short, today they can enjoy the imperial grace.

The winter in Yongjing City is extremely cold, so this state banquet is naturally placed in the Jinluan Palace, and the huge palace is full of people.

This time can be different from the single table on Prince Rui's birthday, the little emperor arranged several large round tables, ten people per table, sometimes this family can occupy a large table, such as the Zhongyong Marquis's family.

When the Marquis Zhongyong's family arrived, there were already many people in the Jinluan Palace. Gonggong Cao was ordered to greet him at the door, and when he saw the Zhongyong Marquis and his family coming, the smile on his face immediately brightened, "Lord Wang is here, sit inside quickly, it's strange cold outside, don't freeze your body." ”

"There is Lao Cao's father-in-law."

Afraid of freezing these ministers and their families, the Jinluan Hall has lit a brazier, and there is one under the table on both sides, and the silver charcoal is burned red, and the entire hall is baked warm. Duan Qingyan felt the heat as soon as he came in, and hurriedly took off the fox fur.

"It's so warm!" Duan Qingyan couldn't help but sigh.

Gonggong Cao, who was leading the way in front, said with a smile: "It is also Your Majesty's thoughtfulness that the servants have prepared a lot of charcoal basins, but they can't be frozen by the nobles." There is also a hand stove, and after a while, the slave will take a few for the county lord and Mrs. Hou and Mrs. Shizi. ”

"Then thank you so much to Gonggong Cao."

Gonggong Cao led the family of the Marquis of Zhongyong to the bottom of the steps of the dragon chair, and under the steps there was a vacant middle of the hall, with only two tables on the left and right, and the table on the right was in front of the Marquis of Zhongyong. This position is obviously very eye-catching and different, symbolizing identity and status.

Duan Yaozong couldn't help but raise his eyebrows when he looked at the table in front of him: "Gonggong Cao's position ......"

"The location is not wrong, Your Majesty ordered, this table is from the Hou Mansion. Your Majesty attaches great importance to the Hou Mansion, so the Hou Ye should not postpone it. ”

The words had already been said about this, Duan Yaozong didn't say anything else, and asked his wife and children to sit down first, while he walked around the hall and greeted some ministers who could talk to him on weekdays.

At this time, there were more and more people in the main hall, and there were more women and children. Duan Qingyan held his chin and observed the shapes and shapes of people in the hall with a lot of boredom. Many officials were never seen by Duan Qingyan, and they were obviously re-promoted after that incident. Duan Qingyan felt that it was also the creation of people, it was their creation, if it weren't for Yun Suiyi, these officials would have to stay up for a long time before they would have their first day!

Tut-tut, it's a good life.

However, Duan Qingyan did not see the previous Qin Xiang in the main hall, and after hearing that Yun Suiyi's mutiny failed, Qin Xiang still resolutely resigned and returned to his hometown with his family. Duan Qingyan shook his head, with some regret, but also felt that Qin Xiang's decision was very wise, but he didn't make it to his own future.

Just when Duan Qingyan was bored to the point of being cranky, the eunuch's sharp voice sounded, the little emperor, the emperor, the queen mother and the queen mother came together. The officials of the main hall and the families of each family hurriedly got up and bowed, and the little emperor waved his hand to make everyone stand up.

The little emperor looked very happy today, the smile on his face was extraordinarily bright, he waved his hand to let everyone sit down, and said a lot of words, which was nothing more than a summary of the year, and then the prospect of the coming year. The officials said long live and auspicious words to the little emperor.

A table has been placed next to the dragon chair at this moment, the emperor's family has just sat down, and the palace maids are rushing in, holding trays in their hands, and bringing the dishes on the plate to the table in an orderly manner.

Duan Qingyan glanced at the table above the steps, and then was stunned, but he didn't find Yun Shumo.

"What are you looking at?" Duan Qingying turned her sister's head over and nodded at the table, "Eat, this is made by the chef in the imperial dining room, and you also learn to study." ”

"Why didn't Ah Yi come?" Duan Qingyan ignored his brother's ridicule, and felt very strange that Yun Shumo did not come to the state banquet.

"You girl, I'm afraid I don't want anything else every day except Prince Rui," Duan Qingying hated that iron could not be made of steel, and rewarded Duan Qingyan with a brain meltdown, "I see, you were eaten to death by him, this is not good, you are my sister Duan Qingying, how can you be so unproductive!" ”

Duan Qingyan dodged to the side, directly rewarded his brother with a roll of the eyes, and then turned his head and didn't want to bother him anymore.

At this time, the sound of silk and bamboo was remembered in the hall, and it was full of ears and threads. With the sound of silk and bamboo, more than a dozen brightly dressed dancers came out of the side hall, waving their water sleeves and dancing to the music.

Singing and dancing with delicious food, this state banquet was extraordinarily lively.

Duan Qingyan didn't have much interest in these, she was only thinking about the problem of Yun Shumo not coming.

Today's state banquet, Yun Suiyan was present, and even Yun Zixi, who had already married outside, also came, and brought Jin Nanshu, Yun Shumo had no reason not to come. Moreover, Duan Qingyan had only seen Yun Shumo yesterday, and he had never heard anything from him, nor did he have any abnormalities.

The little emperor had already said that everyone should not be restrained, and some ministers just couldn't sit still and began to carry wine jugs and glasses, and toasted all over the hall. Duan Qingyan quickly grabbed Wei Xiao, who was just about to walk past him, and asked directly, "Where is your lord?" ”

Wei Xiao blinked, and actually smiled mysteriously at Duan Qingyan: "Don't worry, the county lord, my prince is fine." ”

"Then why didn't he come?"

Wei Xiao smiled so much that he couldn't see his teeth: "Don't worry, the county lord will be fine, the county lord can eat at ease, he will come in a while." ”

Seeing Wei Xiao's relaxed and determined expression, Duan Qingyan's anxious heart also relaxed. She chatted with Wei Xiao casually for a few more words, and then let Wei Xiao go to work by herself. Wei Xiao didn't go far, holding a wine glass to toast Duan Yaozong and Duan Qingying, and actually laughing.

Wei Xiao said: "Master Hou, do you still have a daughter, Wei Xiao I haven't married a wife yet, I am looking forward to finding another girl like the county lord in this life, of course, I am satisfied with one-third of the county lord, of course, it is best for you to give birth and raise!" ”

Duan Yaozong was still a little dazed before, and then he laughed, he patted Wei Xiao's shoulder and smiled: "Good boy, you have vision." I'm working hard to see if I can give Qing Yan another sister. ”

Mei Yu was dumbfounded when she heard this, and when she saw Duan Yaozong looking at him, she glared at him viciously: "You are an old man, what are you talking about in front of the child!" ”

Duan Qingying drove Wei Xiao away like a fly, and muttered: "Even if you have a sister, you won't think about you, and you don't look at how old you are, you still want to miss my child!" Go quickly, if it weren't for today's Chinese New Year's Eve and Prince Rui's face, I would definitely beat you all over the ground to find your teeth today! ”

"Hey, I said Shizi, don't be so stingy, my Wei Xiao is still very good!"

"Phew! Come on! Otherwise, I'll really beat you! ”

Duan Qingying didn't know that Wei Xiao was just joking, but he just responded in his heart, slapped Wei Xiao several times in a row, and kicked twice, and only after Wei Xiao ran away did he sit down angrily, and then taught his father a serious lesson, which made Mei Yu and Le Xin feel very funny.

Duan Qingyan just wanted to laugh at his brother, when he saw Yun Shumo walking in from outside the hall. At this moment, the music had stopped, and the dancers stood respectfully on both sides, with their eyebrows bowed, but many of them glanced at Prince Rui, who was slowly walking in, with anticipation and admiration in their eyes.

Yun Shumo saw Duan Qingyan at a glance, he winked at her, and then walked to the bottom of the steps. Before Yun Shumo could speak, Yun Suiyan had already jumped over to himself, "Uncle Huang, what good things did you bring?" Show me! Yun Suiyan didn't dare to lean on Yun Shumo's shoulder, so she could only stretch her neck to look behind Yun Shumo.

Hua Qingyan found that there was someone behind Yun Shumo, pushing a boxy thing and walking in, because it was covered with red silk, so it was not clear what was inside.

Yun Shumo pushed Yun Suiyan away, "Go and see for yourself." Then he went up the steps and said a few words to the Emperor Empress Dowager, because of the distance, Duan Qingyan didn't hear what they were talking about, but judging from the smile on the Empress Dowager's face, she was obviously happy.

"Wow! Is this a cat? ”

At this time, Yun Suiyan let out an exclamation, and he had already quickly walked to the boxy box with his hands and feet, and lifted the red curtain. Under the curtain was an iron cage with two cats lying inside!

Duan Qingyan had a natural love for small animals, and when he heard Yun Suiyan's exclamation, he couldn't help but look over.

It's actually a "Persian cat!" ”

Yun Suiyan heard Duan Qingyan's voice, turned her head and asked curiously, "County Lord, do you know these two cats?" Snow-white, with such strange eye color, they are called Persian cats? ”

It is indeed a Persian cat, with a snow-white body, long and fluffy hair, and the biggest feature is a gold and a blue heterochromatic double pupil.

"The Persian cat is the breed of this cat, not their name." Duan Qingyan said, "As for the rest, you have to ask the prince." "I don't know where Yun Shumo got these two cats, they are very well-behaved when they are locked in cages, lazy lying on their stomachs, staring at people with big eyes, they seem to be very curious, but they see Yun Shumo the most.

Yun Shumo had already walked over and took Duan Qingyan's hand in front of everyone.

"What's wrong?" Duan Qingyan was puzzled, why did this person lead him?

"Follow me."

Yun Shumo pulled Duan Qingyan to the cage, and the subordinates who came with him had already opened the cage at his signal. Yun Shumo stretched out a hand and beckoned, only to see the two kittens who were still lying on their stomachs immediately stood up, got out of the cage, and obediently stretched out a hand to put it on Yun Shumo's hand.

Duan Qingyan was overjoyed: "It's so cute!" What a good job! ”

Yun Shumo twisted one of them with one hand and put it in Duan Qingyan's arms, Duan Qingyan was stunned and hurriedly hugged the cat, "For you, a New Year's gift." ”

"Send me?" Duan Qingyan's eyes widened, and his smile became even brighter.