Chapter 335 - The Birthday Banquet

The world belonged to Lu Chen. Qiao Jinniang really could not think of any good birthday present for Lu Chen.

Lu Chen said, “Think about it, what do I Want?”

Qiao Jinniang thought about it carefully and finally thought of one.

Two days ago, she made a doll for Ang ‘er to play with. Lu Chen kept staring at the doll.

The Tiger Doll that she had given to Lu Chen previously had also been dirtied by Zhou Sisi.

She had also never made a new doll for Lu Chen.

However, it was too late to make a tiger doll at this time. She had to stay up all night to embroider it.

Qiao Jinniang pushed Lu Chen and said, “Go back and read the brochure first. I guarantee that you will be satisfied with your birthday gift when your birthday comes.”

Lu Chen frowned slightly. Fortunately, she had always complained that she was unromantic. Lu Chen felt that the one who was most unromantic was Qiao Jinniang.

He deliberately took a three-day break from the imperial court in order to bring Qiao Jinniang out of the palace to go to the birthday of only two people first. He did not have Xi’er and Ang’er to do a lot of official business..

However, at this moment, she was either busy with the banquet or the dishes. These were clearly done by the people from the Ministry of Rites and the Palace Bureau. There was no need for her to personally work on them!

..

On the day of the birthday banquet.

All kinds of birthday gifts were sent to the palace one after another.

The civil and military officials and their families also entered the palace to pay their respects, and the music was very lively.

On the stage of the banquet, the actors of the teaching workshop also performed eighteen kinds of dance skills, and their graceful dances and melodies also went around the beam for three days to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty.

Lu Chen did not look very good this morning, and Qiao Jinniang did not know what was wrong with him.

The envoys from the small countries who had come to celebrate the birthday all trembled when they saw the look on his majesty’s face..

They did not know if their small country had offended his majesty, but they kept doubling the gifts that they had offered.

After the banquet started, a group of palace people filed in and placed the dishes one by one in front of the envoys, ministers, and their families.

Everyone found that the palace banquet today was very different from the usual ones.

Because the palace banquet could not be lost, this kind of palace banquet, which had hundreds of people attending, usually had the dishes prepared early. To maintain the delicacy and not make mistakes, most of the dishes were cold or cold.

Today’s dishes were mostly warm, and the dishes were not the kind that would not make mistakes.

After the palace maids served the good dishes, there was a menu at the side, the dishes were exquisite and delicious.

All the madams who had held banquets in the manor knew that it was almost impossible to hold such a banquet.

“I Wish Your Majesty a long life, long life, long life.”

After the banquet started, Qiao Jinniang stood up first to toast Lu Chen.

Lu Chen took the wine from Qiao Jinniang’s hand and drank it all. He said, “How many days have you been busy with your birthday gift?”

Qiao Jinniang lowered her voice and said, “Are you sure you want to give your birthday present here?”

Lu Chen raised his eyebrows and said, “Why not?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

He wanted to see just how unromantic Qiao Jinniang could be.

Qiao Jinniang ordered Hong Ling to fetch the birthday present.

Marquis an Yuan also led the officials to toast Lu Chen’s birthday. With marquis an Yuan leading the way, they all presented the birthday present.

It was not easy to present a birthday gift to his majesty. Firstly, it could not be too rich, secondly, it could not be too rich. Thirdly, they had to figure out his majesty’s intentions.

It could be said to be even more difficult. If they presented a good gift, they would be able to make his majesty happy. If they presented a bad gift, they would be laughed at. The most important thing was that they would be disliked by his majesty.

Among the officials, there were also many who wanted their daughters to perform. Performing a birthday gift was the safest way.

When it was the Hong family’s turn, Hong Qifeng took all kinds of cloth, books, and some wheat.

Lu Chen asked, “What are these?”

Everyone was curious as to why Hong Qifeng took out so many strange things at His Majesty’s Birthday Banquet.

Hong Qifeng said, “This is my birthday gift to His Majesty. It’s also a birthday gift from all the female households who inherited the family business.

“This cloth is the first batch of Shu brocade woven by the daughter of the Gan family of Shu brocade after she inherited the family business. As soon as she came to Chang ‘an, it was robbed.

“This book is the first batch of shipbuilding records printed by the daughter of the He family of Chang ‘an when she took over the bookstore..

“Also, these rice grains were sown by the female households in the countryside of Chang ‘an who had just received relief fields. In a few months, they will be yellow and shiny wheat...”

Lu Chen finally revealed his first smile today. “Your gift is deeply appreciated by me.”

Hong Qifeng also smiled faintly and said, “It’s good that his majesty likes it.”

After all the officials sent the birthday gifts.

Fu Lu looked at Qiao Jinniang and said, “What birthday gift did the Empress Give His Majesty? Why didn’t she take it out and show it to us?”

Qiao Jinniang took the box handed over by Hong Ling and saw that inside was a white jade headband.

Qiao Jinniang took out the white jade headband and said, “This is the White Jade headband that I gave to his majesty.”

Fortunately, Hong Ling was smart enough not to bring the Tiger Plushie. Otherwise, she would have lost all her face.

Lu Chen saw that the white jade headband was frowning and looking deeply at Qiao Jinniang. Qiao Jinniang actually saw the grievance in Lu Chen’s eyes..

All the officials were discussing in low voices.

Madam Lin said to Madam Hong, “His Majesty has been frowning ever since he received the Empress’gift. He hasn’t smiled today..

“On the contrary, he smiled when he saw Qifeng’s gift just now. It’s clear that Qifeng has won his Majesty’s Heart.”

Madam Hong only gave a faint smile. Hong Qifeng quickly said, “His Majesty is also happy because the people are having a good time.”

Madam Lin Xiang said, “His Majesty and the Empress have always been in love, but now his majesty seems to be angry with the Empress...”

Second Madam Qiao also whispered to Zheng Xiao that the empress seemed to have quarreled.

Zheng Xiao was worried about Qiao Jin. Qiao Jin’s gift was indeed somewhat inappropriate.

Even the young lady of the Hong family’s birthday gift was much more thoughtful than Qiao Jin’s.

Second Lady Qiao said, “Sister-in-law, you should also advise Lady Qiao not to be petty. After all, she is His Majesty.”

Zheng Xiao planned to talk to Lady Qiao after the banquet.

..

After the banquet, in the Changle Palace.

Lady Qiao followed Lu Chen into the palace. She said unhappily, “Lu Chen, today is your birthday. I don’t want to argue with you, but why have you been acting so weird these past few days?

“I gave you a gift, but didn’t you even smile when you received it in front of the officials?”

When the palace maids heard this, they were so scared that they didn’t dare to move. Hong Ling wanted to go up and persuade them, but she didn’t dare..

Lu Chen waved his hand to dismiss the palace maids and palace maids. He asked Qiao Jinniang,

“So you still know it’s my birthday? When we were in Lin ‘an, you would solemnly prepare a birthday gift for me, but now? What about the white jade hair and crown? Are you sending beggars away?”

“I rested for three days. I wanted to bring you out of the palace and spend a day in the hot spring imperial manor to celebrate my birthday early. But what about you? Are you either busy with the dishes at the birthday banquet or avoiding me?

You said you were avoiding me to prepare a birthday gift for me. Is this white jade crown your birthday gift that you’ve been preparing for many days?”

Qiao Jinniang finally understood Lu Chen’s awkwardness.

Outside the Changle Palace, Zheng Xiao came to seek an audience with Qiao Jinniang. However, he saw that Hong Ling and the others had been chased out by the emperor.

Zheng Xiao went forward to ask Hong Ling. Hong Ling only said that the emperor was very angry. Zheng Xiao was extremely anxious.

Hong Ling could not go in to pass the message either. Zheng Xiao had no choice but to leave the palace first.

Madam Lin saw Zheng Xiao’s worried face outside the palace gates and was delighted.