The Emperor's Beloved: My Ancestor is the Crown Prince?

Chapter 68 Warm Feast

The 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month is the Winter Solstice.

Chang'an was blanketed in snow, but the imperial city was brightly lit and warmly decorated. The annual Winter Solstice Banquet was one of the most important celebrations in the palace. Tonight, the Liangyi Hall was brightly lit inside and out, and dozens of charcoal braziers were set up in the square in front of the hall. The crackling embers in the copper braziers dispelled the chill of the winter night.

Xiao Qingyi was wearing the winter clothes specially prepared by Empress Zhangsun—a scarlet brocade jacket embroidered with golden plum blossoms, with snow-white rabbit fur trimmed at the collar and cuffs. Her hair was styled into double buns, tied with matching ribbons, and the string of sandalwood beads on her wrist gleamed warmly under the palace lanterns. She held Empress Zhangsun's hand tightly, her little face flushed from the warmth of the palace and her nervousness.

"Auntie, there are so many people..." she whispered, her eyes secretly scanning the hall.

The Liangyi Hall was already filled with court officials and nobles. Civil officials sat to the east, and military generals to the west. At the head of the table was Li Shimin's throne, with Li Chengqian and Li Tai's seats to his left and right, respectively. Empress Zhangsun's seat was slightly below and to the side of the throne, and she was now slowly entering with Xiao Qingyi to take her seat.

Countless gazes were cast upon this rumored "overseas lady." Changsun Wuji stroked his beard, his eyes scrutinizing; Fang Xuanling, on the other hand, had a gentle expression, his eyes filled with curiosity; Cheng Yaojin was already laughing loudly, and although Yuchi Gong was not one to smile, he also looked over.

Xiao Qingyi sat down next to Empress Zhangsun, her little hand secretly clenching the jade rabbit paperweight under the table. She had brought it with her on purpose before leaving home, as if it would give her courage.

The banquet began, and ceremonial music played. Palace maids, like butterflies flitting among flowers, served delicacies and fine wines, and the hall gradually became lively. Li Shimin raised his cup to deliver a speech, wishing for favorable weather, peace, and prosperity in the coming year, to which all the ministers echoed his sentiments.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere relaxed. Suddenly, Cheng Yaojin laughed loudly, "Your Majesty, this year's Winter Solstice banquet is quite lively! I heard there's a young guest from overseas, and I'm very curious about him!"

The Duke of Lu had a booming voice that drowned out the noise in the hall. He was a tall and imposing man with a full beard. Although he was over fifty years old, he was still vigorous and had a pair of bright, piercing eyes.

Li Shimin laughed and said, "Zhijie is still so impatient." He looked at Xiao Qingyi and said, "Yiyi, come and greet the ministers."

At Empress Zhangsun's prompting, Xiao Qingyi rose and bowed respectfully: "Yiyi greets all the esteemed officials."

Cheng Yaojin squinted at her, then suddenly burst into laughter: "What a clever little girl! Come, come here to Grandpa Cheng!"

Xiao Qingyi glanced at Empress Zhangsun, and after receiving her tacit approval, carefully walked to Cheng Yaojin's seat. Cheng Yaojin took something out of his pocket—a small gold amulet carved in the shape of a tiger's head. "This is a gift from Grandpa Cheng! Wearing this, demons and monsters won't dare approach!"

Xiao Qingyi accepted it and sweetly thanked him, "Thank you, Grandpa Cheng."

At this moment, Yuchi Gong also spoke up. This Duke of E was quite different in style from Cheng Yaojin; his face was serious, exuding an imposing aura even without anger: "Little girl, I heard you come from overseas? What are the customs and culture like there?"

The question silenced the hall for a moment. Many people pricked up their ears—this was exactly what they wanted to know.

Xiao Qingyi thought for a moment and said seriously, "In Yiyi's hometown... it snows in winter, but there's something called 'central heating' that keeps the houses warm, so you don't need to burn charcoal braziers. And... there are 'buses' that can carry many people, and 'refrigerators' that keep food fresh..."

Her description was so innocent, yet hushed whispers arose within the hall. Heating? Bus? Refrigerator? These were words she had never heard of before.

At the seats of the officials in Jiangnan, Chen Yuanli, the governor of Runzhou, smiled slightly and was about to speak when he was interrupted by Cheng Yaojin's loud voice.

"Hey! Interesting!" Cheng Yaojin exclaimed, slapping the table. "Little girl, could you get one of those 'heating' systems for Grandpa Cheng too? My old leg aches every winter!"

Xiao Qingyi blinked: "Yiyi, next time try bringing 'hand warmers' for Grandpa Cheng! They're so warm to stick on your body!"

"Very well!" Cheng Yaojin laughed heartily. "Grandpa Cheng, just you wait!"

At this moment, Xiao Qingyi remembered the gifts she had brought and turned to Empress Zhangsun in a low voice, "Auntie, Yiyi has prepared gifts for everyone. Can we give them to them now?"

Empress Zhangsun looked at Li Shimin. Li Shimin nodded: "Granted."

Xiao Qingyi first took out two small boxes from the brocade pouch and walked up to Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong.

Cheng Yaojin received a silver thermos and several packets of ginger tea, while Yuchi Gong received a pair of black knee pads and a small massager. Both renowned generals were delighted to receive these practical and thoughtful gifts. Cheng Yaojin immediately poured himself some hot tea to test the thermos, while Yuchi Gong carefully put away the knee pads, a rare smile appearing on his usually serious face.

This scene made the atmosphere in the hall more relaxed. Even Changsun Wuji, who had been keeping a straight face, had a hint of tenderness in his eyes.

Then, Xiao Qingyi walked to Changsun Wuji's seat and took out an exquisite wooden box: "This is for Lord Changsun."

The wooden box was opened, revealing a pair of reading glasses and a set of modern calligraphy brushes—the brush handles were made of a special material for a comfortable grip, and the nibs had been improved for smoother writing. Xiao Qingyi said earnestly, "Brother said that Lord Changsun has to handle a lot of paperwork, and these glasses can help you see more clearly, and these brushes won't tire your hand when you write."

Changsun Wuji picked up his reading glasses and tried them on, then tried the calligraphy brush, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. As the head of the civil officials, he reviewed countless documents every day, and these two gifts were indeed exactly what he wanted. He rarely smiled, saying, "My dear lady, you are very thoughtful."

Fang Xuanling watched from the side, stroking his beard and smiling. Xiao Qingyi walked up to him and presented him with another box: "This is for Lord Fang."

Inside the box was an adjustable LED desk lamp and a modernly designed notebook—the paper was smooth, the binding exquisite, and it was easy to carry and use for note-taking. Xiao Qingyi explained, "This lamp can be adjusted to brighten or dim, so it won't hurt my eyes when I read at night. This notebook is always with me, so I can jot down whatever comes to mind."

Fang Xuanling had also heard of the "miraculous lamp" in the palace. He had heard that His Majesty's lamp had no smoke, required no oil, and emitted a stable light. He never expected that he would also receive such a "miraculous lamp." He said gently, "Thank you, young lady. I like it very much."

The approval of these two high-ranking civil officials shifted the atmosphere in the hall. The officials from Jiangnan exchanged glances, their expressions grim.

At this moment, Xiao Qingyi returned to the throne and carefully took out a rectangular wooden box from the brocade pouch. The wooden box was exquisitely crafted, with auspicious cloud patterns carved on its surface.

"Father, this is a gift for you." She presented the wooden box with both hands.

Li Shimin took the box and opened it. Inside was not gold or silver jewelry, but a crystal-clear glass bottle with graceful curves, containing a liquid as clear as water. Most remarkably, the bottle's seal was not made of ordinary cork, but a silver, rotating metal cap.

"This is..." Li Shimin picked up the bottle, feeling its weight.

"This is the best wine from my brother's hometown," Xiao Qingyi said earnestly. "My brother said that this wine is called... called 'Maozi,' and it needs to be aged for many, many years before it can be drunk. This bottle has been aged for fifty years."

"Fifty years?" Li Shimin exclaimed in surprise. What kind of wine could be stored for fifty years without spoiling?

Xiao Qingyi nodded: "Brother said that this wine needs to be made using a special process and stored in a special place so that it will become more fragrant with age. And..." She thought about what her brother had taught her, "This wine has been purified using a special technique, so it won't make you feel dizzy or have a headache the next day."

These words drew curious glances from all the officials in the hall. Cheng Yaojin craned his neck, exclaiming, "Your Majesty, quickly open it and let old Cheng smell it too!"

Li Shimin unscrewed the metal bottle cap—a rather novel way to open a bottle. The moment the cap opened, a rich and unique aroma of wine instantly filled the air.

The aroma was rich and lingering, carrying the scents of grains, yeast, and an indescribable aged fragrance, with complex layers that were simply delightful to smell. A chorus of exclamations arose from inside the hall.

"Excellent wine!" Cheng Yaojin exclaimed first. "Just the aroma alone tells you it's extraordinary!"

Li Shimin also looked surprised. He had tasted all the fine wines in the world, but he had never smelled such a unique aroma. He ordered his attendant to bring a jade cup and carefully poured a cup for him.

The wine was clear and transparent, gleaming with a faint amber luster under the palace lanterns. Li Shimin raised the cup, took a light sniff, and then sipped it.

The wine is smooth and mellow on the palate, with a lingering sweetness and a long finish. What's even more remarkable is that, just as Xiao Qingyi said, although the wine is strong, it doesn't feel spicy and goes down smoothly.

"Indeed fine wine." Li Shimin exclaimed, took another sip, and looked at Xiao Qingyi, "I like this gift very much."

He ordered his eunuchs to pour a small cup for each of the high-ranking officials present. After tasting the cup, Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, and others all praised it.

"This wine is fragrant but not overpowering, mellow but not harsh; it is truly a top-quality wine," Fang Xuanling commented.

Cheng Yaojin was even more direct: "Your Majesty, you'd better drink this wine sparingly! If Old Cheng gets a craving later, he won't be able to find it anywhere!"

Laughter filled the hall. Seeing that everyone was happy, Xiao Qingyi smiled happily as well.

Just then, Chen Yuanli, the prefect of Runzhou, suddenly stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."

The hall fell silent. Everyone knew the main event was about to begin.

Chen Yuanli raised his cup and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince has proposed a strategy for flood control, showing your concern for the people's livelihood. This is truly a great fortune for the country. However, the project is massive and will require a huge amount of money and grain. I have heard that this young lady's hometown has many unique skills. I wonder if they can be used for flood control? If so, it will be a blessing for the people of Jiangnan."

These words sound grand and dignified, but they actually contain a hidden meaning—if Xiao Qingyi cannot answer, it means that her "tricks and tricks are useless"; if she can answer, it is equivalent to admitting that her background is not simple.

Xiao Qingyi blinked blankly. Flood control? She didn't understand.

Cheng Yaojin slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Prefect Chen! You, the official in charge of the people of Jiangnan, don't think about how to do a good job of flood control, but instead expect a four-year-old child to do it? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at if word gets out!"

Changsun Wuji slowly spoke: "Governor Chen, water management is the responsibility of the Ministry of Works and the local authorities. If there are indeed difficulties in the area, you can submit a memorial to the court, and the court will consider it. It is not the way of a subject to use a child to make a point."

Fang Xuanling also said gently, "Young lady, you are innocent and naive. Although the gift you gave is novel, it is just a child's sentiment. Governor Chen, please do not overinterpret it."

After the three senior officials expressed their opinions in succession, Chen Yuanli turned pale and could only sit down awkwardly.

Li Shimin, sitting at the head of the table, watched with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. He raised his cup and said, "Very well, today is the Winter Solstice, let's not discuss official business. Gentlemen, let's drink to this!"

The banquet continued, filled with singing and dancing. Xiao Qingyi quietly breathed a sigh of relief and ate her snacks in small bites.

At the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), Li Shimin announced the end of the banquet. The officials took their leave in turn.

Xiao Qingyi led Empress Zhangsun out of the Liangyi Hall, the night breeze carrying the crisp chill of the snow. Moonlight shone on the snow, making it gleam.

In the warm pavilion of Lizheng Hall, Empress Zhangsun removed her hairpins and said softly, "Yiyi did very well today."

"Auntie," Xiao Qingyi looked up, "Lord Changsun, Lord Fang, Grandpa Cheng, Grandpa Yuchi, they are all good to Yiyi."

"Because they are all sensible people," Empress Zhangsun said softly, "They understand what is genuine and what is feigned."

Xiao Qingyi nodded as if she understood, then lay down, hugging the jade rabbit paperweight. She was indeed tired today and soon fell asleep.

Meanwhile, in a side hall of the Liangyi Hall, Li Shimin was discussing matters with several important ministers.

"Although Chen Yuanli's attack today was thwarted, the situation in Jiangnan is probably not so simple," Fang Xuanling pondered.

Changsun Wuji nodded: "Controlling the floods involves too many interests; they won't give up easily. Today's attack using the young lady is just a test."

Cheng Yaojin angrily said, "Your Majesty, send old Cheng to Jiangnan! Let's see who dares to play tricks!"

Yuchi Gong said in a deep voice, "That's inappropriate. If military officers interfere in local affairs, it will only give them ammunition to criticize us."

Li Shimin slowly said, "Chengqian is ready to personally go to Jiangnan to supervise the construction. I will send a team of imperial guards to escort him, and I will also have the Dali Temple send people to accompany him to investigate the accounts and severely punish corruption."

He paused, looking out at the moonlight: "As for that child... after today, no one in the court should dare to openly make things difficult for her."

This is true. At today's banquet, both the top civil officials and the top military officers expressed their goodwill towards Xiao Qingyi. Anyone who wants to cause trouble by using her will have to think twice.

Night fell. Snow began to fall again, covering the footprints on the palace path.

Meanwhile, inside the Jiangnan post station, Chen Yuanli was writing a secret letter by candlelight. Although he had suffered a setback at today's banquet, he had also figured out some of the tricks of the trade.

The gifts the child gave were all exquisite and practical, far beyond the reach of ordinary people. If those "overseas" items could truly be used for flood control…

He paused, then added a sentence at the end of the letter:

"Details of the interactions between the Crown Prince and 'overseas' sources may provide a breakthrough."

Snowflakes fell onto the windowpane, quickly melting into water droplets that dripped down the windowsill.