There is a black lotus in the deep palace

Chapter 18
In the 20th year of Jingyuan, the fifth day of May.

During the Dragon Boat Festival, the palace banquet is held in the main hall of the Queen's Fengyang Palace.

Both the emperor and the empress, together with concubines in the harem and members of the royal family, will all attend.

This was also Tang Wanning's first time participating in a royal family banquet.

at dusk.

She dressed up and appeared in Fengyang Palace on time with Xia Houjue.

The spacious hall is regal and magnificent.Arm-thick candles were lit on rows of finely carved copper lampstands, huge beams and pillars were decorated with colorful silks and satins, and on top were delicate palace lanterns.

All the lamps and candles complement each other, illuminating the main hall like daytime, and the lights are bright.

Right above the main hall is the throne of the empress, and on the left and right sides are the seats of the empresses and the royal family members.

When they arrived, there were already many people sitting on both sides of the hall, talking and laughing in twos and threes.

Tang Wanning looked around for a week, and all she saw were unfamiliar royals and nobles, so she lowered her eyes and didn't say a word.

He just followed Xia Houjue, greeted each other in front of the elders, and then sat down in their seats.

……

after seated

Tang Wanning let out a long breath.

She was born in the Northwest and grew up in the Northwest. She is used to a free and easy temperament, but suddenly she has to pretend to be virtuous in front of so many people, and the pressure is still quite high.

After taking a sip of tea to suppress the discomfort in her heart, she set her eyes on the table full of melons, fruits, dishes and snacks.

'This melon and fruit is not bad, it looks like it was brought here in a hurry from the south! '

'And this zongzi, it looks small and exquisite!I just don’t know what kind of stuffing it is, so I really want to try it! '

'Is this roast duck? '

She saw Tang Wanning beside her staring curiously at the delicacies on the table.

The corners of Xia Houjue's lips curled up in contempt.

"Daughter of the Tang family, just so promising? '

Tang Wanning didn't want to talk to him, and continued to stare at the food and dream about it.

In half a cup of tea, the little eunuch notified him.

"The emperor is here! The empress is here!"

Surrounded by the palace people, the emperor and empress walked in slowly.

Everyone in the hall immediately left the table and knelt down to greet him.

The emperor said cheerfully.

"Be flat!"

"Today's Dragon Boat Festival family banquet, you don't have to be polite!!"

The voice is a little old, but without losing the majesty of the emperor.

Everyone thanked them and got up to take their seats. The emperor and empress took their seats high and high.

The emperor was about fifty years old, with a slightly fat body, his face was amiable, his facial features were regular, and he could vaguely see the beauty of his youth.

He was dressed in a bright yellow tuanlong robe and sat on the upper seat. He was a little bloated but also somewhat regal.

The queen sat next to him in a bright yellow phoenix robe and a phoenix crown, with a gentle and peaceful face, virtuous and dignified.

The emperor and empress greeted everyone cheerfully.

The people below also spoke pleasing and auspicious words wisely, and the hall was full of joy.

……

Tang Wanning sat beside Xia Houjue, with a decent smile on her face, silently watching everything in front of her.

All the people and things here are strange to her, except the emperor.

Even though it's the first time she's officially seen the emperor (the last time was the big wedding and she couldn't see anything with the red hijab on).

However, she was no stranger to the king who ruled the Great Xia Dynasty.

Dad always said.

The mission of our Tang family is to guard this pass for the emperor, to guard this piece of land and people.

Father also said that as long as the emperor needs it, the sons of the Tang family will die in battle, even the shrouded body in horse leather will not hesitate.

Even when she was given a marriage to the prince, Dad didn't feel "restricted" at all.

Instead, he told her.

"When you enter the palace, you must stick to your duty and assist His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"You have to tell the Emperor and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! Father is here in this land, and none of those bastards from other countries will even think of stepping into it!!"

"Ning'er...don't be homesick!"

Tang Wanning suddenly felt her throat ache, and her eyes were swollen and sore.

Say you don't want to go home, you promised Dad will be fine!

Can't cry, must not cry!

Tang Wanning took a few sips from the teacup, trying her best to hide her emotions.

Xia Houjue had a panoramic view.

He looked away expressionlessly, but handed over a white silk handkerchief.

"Women are so troublesome!"

Tang Wanning looked up at him in astonishment, but heard him say impatiently.

"Do you want it or not!"

"What is there to cry about?!"

Tang Wanning was a little annoyed, she pouted and snatched the silk handkerchief.

"Thanks!"

The corners of Xia Houjue's lips curled up unconsciously, without even realizing it.

……

The feast begins.

The melodious sound of silk and bamboo spread, and the dancers jumped onto the dance floor in neat rows with long sleeves and slender waists.

Everyone was drinking fine wine, eating delicious food, talking and laughing in twos and threes.

The palace people shuttled back and forth, and the smell of rice dumplings wafted in the air from time to time, making the atmosphere even more joyful than when they first came.

Tang Wanning sorted out her complicated mood, and began to enjoy food and wine, and of course, there were all beauties on the dance floor.

She used to go to see beautiful orchids dancing, but everything is always fresh.

Besides, the dancers in the palace are indeed better-looking than those dark-skinned orchids with big arms and round waists!

While eating fresh fruit, she admired the beauties on the dance floor, leisurely.

She couldn't even help but wonder, what would those rough men in the barracks who'look at sows look good when they saw these beauties, what would they look like?
Drooling, still can't walk?Or...haha, it's funny when you think about it!
Xia Houjue looked at the woman beside her crying and laughing for a while, feeling very puzzled, thinking for a while, but to no avail.

He picked up a glass of wine and drank it down, and came to a conclusion.

"Women's heart, sea needle!"

The fruit on Tang Wanning's plate was quickly finished.

She fell in love with a plate of fresh lychees on Xia Houjue's table.

This season, I am afraid that only this palace can eat lychees.

She has never seen these southern fruits in the northwest, so it must be...very precious.

Seeing her greedy look, Xia Houjue couldn't hold back.

If others saw it, they would only think that they had wronged her.

He brought over the whole plate of lychees and said calmly.

"Send it to you!"

Tang Wanning pretended to be surprised.

"This is……"

"litchi!"

"You haven't seen it?"

Tang Wanning shook her head, she had never seen it in her life.

Xia Houjue thought about it, and yes, no matter how extravagant the Northwest is, he would never see such a thing.

His eyes softened a little, and he wanted to say something, but he never spoke.

"Thank you!"

Tang Wanning smiled and reached out to peel it off.

Xia Houjue stopped her subconsciously: "This thing is hot in nature, don't eat too much!"

Tang Wanning was a little puzzled.

This person...is he caring about her?

Don't be too lazy to think so much, just eat!
The sky is big, the food is the biggest!There are so many delicacies, what to do with those nerve-wracking things?
……

on high.

The queen smiled and leaned beside Emperor Jing Yuan and said.

"Your Majesty, look!"

"How good is the relationship between Jue'er and the Crown Princess!"

Emperor Jing Yuan followed her gaze and looked here, just in time to see the scene of the young couple just now.

He smiled cheerfully.

"Jue'er has grown up!"

"In the past, I always complained about not wanting to marry a wife, but now that I have married, it's very good!"

The queen quickly agreed.

"Exactly!"

"It's still your majesty who is wise and martial, and knows how to plan for the children!"

(End of this chapter)