Traveling to the ancient harem

Chapter 239: Banquet at the Palace of Heavenly Purity

Ningyuxuan.

After paying his respects, Huang Ye went to Qiyun Hall to give acupuncture to the retired emperor after dinner. The retired emperor had achieved remarkable results in losing weight these days and looked noticeably thinner, which made the imperial doctors who had been helping him lose weight ecstatic. At this rate, the retired emperor would recover his health in no time.

The emperor was also happy. This man is different after losing weight. His sleep is better and he has more energy when walking. He used to feel dizzy all the time, but now it hasn't happened for a long time.

Also, he could see the prince coming to accompany him every day. Although he was sent by the girl from the Huang family to supervise him, he was happy to see the prince. He always acted up on purpose and made him jump up and down. The entire Qiyun Palace became more lively with the arrival of the prince.

After Huang Ye finished giving acupuncture to the emperor, she argued with him for a while. When she returned to Ningyuxuan, she saw a car parked in the yard and Xiao Anzi was directing the eunuchs to get something from below.

Seeing Huang Ye coming back, Xiao Fu Wang, who was sitting and preparing to drink tea, immediately stood up and said with a flattering smile: "Sister, you are back. Can you help me see if these things can be used?"

Huang Ye looked at the pile of food in front of him and felt a little dizzy: "Why did you suddenly buy so many things?"

The little Prince Fu's expression changed immediately, and he said tearfully, "Sister, you don't know, I will go back to my fiefdom after the Lantern Festival. I was thinking of bringing some food for my father and mother when I go back, so... I beg my sister to help me." After saying this, the little Prince Fu bowed deeply again.

Huang Ye quickly returned the greeting. The other person had helped her so much, so making some food was nothing: "Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, when are you planning to leave?" What she wanted to say was that if they were leaving later, there was no need to prepare so early. Although it was cold now, it would be bad if things were left for too long.

"The day after tomorrow, I'll leave the day after tomorrow. It's a pity that I won't be able to eat such delicious beef noodles anymore." He has been having breakfast at the Huang Mansion every day these days and has gotten used to it. He wants to cry when he thinks that he won't be able to eat his favorite beef noodles after returning to his fiefdom.

"Then when you come to the capital again, I'll ask Lu Dou to cook for you." Huang Ye said as he directed the palace servants to carry the ingredients to the backyard for preparation. How many ducks would have to be killed to get so many duck necks and duck wings?

"It's settled then. I'll come to Ningyuxuan for dinner when I come back." Little Prince Fu was immediately happy. He always felt that the beef noodles made in the Huang mansion were not as authentic as those made by Lung Dou himself.

When the little Prince Fu ran out to play with the prince, Huang Ye called Fang Hua in: "Aunt, tomorrow is the Lantern Festival. I wonder what the rules are in the palace?"

"Every year on the Lantern Festival, the palace will hold a banquet. The emperor, the queen mother, the emperor and the queen, including the concubines in the palace, and the royal family will all attend."

"Then why didn't I feel any movement?" Huang Ye asked.

"There is movement in the palace, and it's quite loud. It's just that Ningyuxuan is too remote, so you can't hear or see it." Fanghua knew that the Empress and Hongdou both loved lively personalities, and she was afraid that the two of them would run around, so she didn't tell them in advance.

"The Lantern Festival is celebrated at night, so there should be a banquet tomorrow night. Didn't they say there would be lanterns in the palace? Why didn't I see any?" Huang Ye still felt that this was not right? She could always see the lanterns, right?

"The lanterns are all hung in the imperial garden. They should be hung up tomorrow morning. Then we can enjoy the lanterns after dinner." Fanghua has been in the palace for so many years, and she is tired of enjoying the lanterns every year.

"Hongdou, let's go watch the lanterns together tomorrow night." Huang Ye became excited. She had watched the lanterns in the capital for several years. This year she could finally see the lanterns in the palace. They should be beautiful and exquisite.

"I'll tell Ludou now and ask her to bake some snacks. We can eat them while watching the lanterns tomorrow night." After saying that, Hongdou ran to find Ludou without waiting for Huangye to reply.

Hongdou felt that she now fully understood the sense of ritual that the young lady had mentioned. Isn't it full of ritual to visit the lanterns and eat? It is also their standard for the Lantern Festival every year. In the past, they bought food on the street, but now there is no place to buy it, so let Ludou prepare it.

Sure enough, after paying respects to the Queen the next day, the Queen announced that everyone would have a Lantern Festival dinner in the Qianqing Palace in the evening, and everyone must attend without delay.

Huang Ye lived in a remote place and didn't feel anything was different. After lunch, he took a rest, picked up Prince and played with him for a while, then let him go out to play by himself. The grove next door was now Prince's paradise. If he couldn't find him in Ningyuxuan, he could just shout towards the grove and he would surely come out soon.

The prince is now used to walking, but the key is that Huang Ye doesn't let him fly during the day. Its wingspan is too large and too conspicuous when it flies. Huang Ye is afraid that it will be noticed by others, and it will be too late to regret if something happens.

"Aunt, do I need to dress up for the banquet tonight?" Huang Ye suddenly thought of this question. If she did, she should start washing now.

"Tonight, even the princess who is getting married and His Royal Highness Prince Qing who has left the palace to build a mansion will come to the palace to celebrate the festival. They will definitely have to dress up, but it's better to be appropriate and not too conspicuous." Fanghua knew that her queen was too beautiful. If she dressed up, she didn't know how much jealousy she would attract.

"Then pick out a suitable dress for me later." Huang Ye didn't say anything else. Her purpose was to see the lanterns. She was not interested in anything else. When she came out, she saw Hongdou putting something into her purse.

"What did you stuff in there to make it so bulging?" This was her largest purse, and if it was filled with too much, it would be too conspicuous.

"I just packed some small cakes." Hongdou replied. Today was the first batch of small cakes that Ludou had baked since she came to the palace. She had to bring more for the queen so that she wouldn't go hungry at night. To put it nicely, she was attending a palace banquet, and the food...tsk tsk, Hongdou felt that it might not be as delicious as the food made in their Ningyuxuan's small kitchen.

"Don't put too much in there, it won't look good." Huang Ye reminded her.

"That's all. I won't pretend anymore." Hongdou agreed and didn't pretend anymore.

Huang Ye went to the small kitchen and saw that Lu Dou was still busy preparing braised food for the little Prince Fu. He would be leaving tomorrow, so everything had to be done today. Looking at the braised black duck, Huang Ye couldn't help but pick up a duck neck and chew on it.

"Your Majesty, it's time to wash up. You can't be late and people will find fault with you." Fanghua called her. Hongdou told her everything that happened in the morning. She was proud and worried. She was proud that your Majesty was much better than Concubine Yi back then and could stand on her own. But she was worried that the Queen would not give up and might counterattack one day and bite her own Majesty.