The New Year’s Day banquet looked very lively.

All officials were in pain when facing the dishes on the table. At the banquet, Longqing should take the lead in everything, followed by Longqing's actions such as raising chopsticks or raising glasses, and even the order of eating dishes could not be mixed.

Like drinking nine times before and after, listening to nine different music and dances in your ears, they cannot let them get distracted and keep up with the rhythm, and they need to be fully involved.

As for the dishes on the table, they are not very delicious, at least they are far less delicious than the New Year’s Eve dinner last night, and the meaning of the dishes is more important.

That's right, although the atmosphere here seems extremely lively, especially the songs and dances present a joyful atmosphere, the officials in it do not feel any fun.

Lin Weiran has been paying attention to efficiency since he was in charge of the work of Leizhou Prefecture. However, now in this era, he has to succumb to these red tape.

Xu Jie was originally happy with this kind of thing, but after looking at Lin Fengran's python robe that was exactly the same as him, he felt so angry.

Guo Pu, Li Chunfang and Chen Yiqin are both from the Minister of Rites. They are as carved into the depths of their bones, and they are happily following the etiquette.

Longqing was like a puppet carrying a string, and with the help of Zhang Juzheng, the Minister of Rites, he also followed the process to carry out the banquet.

Circle, this is not the patent of men, and women's circles occupy a place in any era.

When the emperor and all officials held a New Year's Day banquet, the harem was also very lively, and a group of maids of imperial decrees also went to the harem to visit Empress Chen, Concubine Li and others.

Because Queen Chen had a conflict with Long Qing, she did not live in Kunning Palace, but moved to Yonghe Palace.

The eldest princess Zhu Luxi also came to the capital for the New Year. Although she had an average relationship with the third brother Longqing, she knew that only by walking more could she enhance the relationship between brother and sister.

The reason why I work so hard is that I want to improve my status by doing this, and the other is that I want to get a good treatment for my son in the future.

Because her husband Li He, whom she married, was a scholar, could not have the opportunity to make military achievements.

According to the Ming Dynasty, only Li He could be hereditary if he got the earl or marquis, but now the son-in-law can only get his son a job in the Jinyiwei.

It was just an errand for the Jinyiwei, no matter what, she could not compare with the count, so she came many times to lay a solid foundation for her son to win the count in the future.

"Mom, I don't want to leave anymore. I want to go to the Gulou to play!" Li Chengen, a very playful big fat boy, said reluctantly.

The eldest princess was afraid that Li Chengen would be fussy, so she immediately comforted her: "Be good, after we meet the Queen and pay New Year's greetings, my mother will allow you to play in the Drum Tower!"

"No, you said that when you were at the Imperial Concubine just now!" Li Chengen seemed very resistant, but resisted.

The eldest princess regarded this only son as a treasure and made a serious promise: "Mom promises it's the last time!"

After getting the guarantee, Li Chengen thought that the queen was indeed better than Concubine Li, so he reluctantly followed her to the palace in front.

What puzzled him was that the place where the queen lived was not as good as that of Concubine Li, and it was obviously not as lively as that of Concubine Li.

"Princess, you are here, please sit down!" Empress Chen also stood in front of the main hall wearing a phoenix crown, and gently invited the princess who came in.

The eldest princess didn't plan to stay for a long time, pointed to her son Li Chengen next to her and said, "Sister-in-law, I won't sit down. I will bring Ener to greet you in New Year's greetings. I will go to Concubine Li later!"

Empress Chen knew that Concubine Li was a mother who was noble because of her son, and the eldest princess always preferred to treat Concubine Li as her sister-in-law. Now when she heard the eldest princess say this, it was not easy to force others to do anything, and she has never been a difficult person.

"En'er kowtowed to the queen's aunt, wishing her good health and good luck!" Li Cheng'en pretended to be obedient and kowtowed, and said seriously.

"En'er, be cool on the ground, get up quickly!" Queen Chen saw Li Chengen's obedient New Year greetings, immediately smiled and raised her head and said gently.

However, Li Chengen did not stand up immediately, but turned his head to look at the eldest princess, who was standing next to him. The eldest princess looked at Queen Chen with a smile and said, "En'er is waiting for your profits to be money!"

"Haha... The Ai family has already prepared the benefits for Ener, reward!" Queen Chen explained immediately, and then ordered the palace maid next to her.

The close-fitting palace maid next to her brought a tray with a red brocade bag on it, and the word "光" was embroidered on it. Because she had no children under her knees, she had a love for children and specially sewed this beautiful brocade bag.

Li Chengen was like a little money-loving fan. Even though he opened the brocade bag in a hurry, he took out something from the exquisite brocade bag and threw it directly on the ground.

this……

The personal palace maid looked at the brocade bag sewn by the empress and was so disgusted that she couldn't help but frown slightly, and her favorability towards the eldest princess's son immediately decreased.

Empress Chen looked at Li Chengen's face so greedy, and she felt secretly displeased, but she didn't have to say much.

Li Chengen looked at a small silver tael in his hand, but said in great disappointment: "Mom, I thought it was a big pearl like the imperial concubine and aunt? I have a large box of this silver tael, which is not worth anything at all!"

Although the sound is not loud, it is particularly harsh.

When Emperor Chen heard these words, he couldn't help but look embarrassed on his face.

In the eyes of the people of the world, she was the noble queen of the Ming Dynasty, but her life was really difficult. Because she did not receive any heavy rewards, and she also wanted to help her parents' home from time to time, she was not well-off.

This time, in order to reward the palace ladies and relatives, she also took out her only private money, hoping to spend this rare Spring Festival with a decent decent look.

In addition, she learned a message from Li Chengen's mouth: the eldest princess did not come to pay New Year's greetings to her queen, but instead went to the imperial concubine to pay New Year's greetings first.

But I never expected that things would turn out like this, and the profits I carefully prepared were actually disliked by Lee Chengen in person.

When the eldest princess saw the small silver ingot in Li Chengen's hand, she seemed to be in the same heart as the mother and son, but she immediately said with a look of a black face: "Sister-in-law, you can't say much in Prince Yu's Mansion, but how can you still be so stingy now as the queen?"

this……

When the palace maid heard the eldest princess criticizing the queen, she couldn't help but look at the other party in anger. Although she had known that the eldest princess was so arrogant, she wouldn't have been too disrespectful to the queen!

For a moment, the atmosphere in the entire Zhengtang became a little nervous, and the eunuchs on both sides seemed to be so arrogant that they didn't dare to breathe heavily.

"Princess, the Ai family is tight this year, and I will give Ener a big red envelope next year!" Queen Chen forced a smile and promised the princess.

"En'er, let's go!" The eldest son shouted to Li Chengen who stood up, and then he said: "My Li family is not short of money, and I don't care about your big red envelopes. You just use this kind of profit to send my En'er. Even my emperor brother's face has been lost!"

While talking, she pulled Lee Seung-en away.

"Empress, this eldest princess is too bullying..." The personal palace maid saw the eldest princess saying this and was about to stand up for Empress Chen, but she found that Queen Chen's eyes were filled with tears in grievance, but she couldn't help but be stunned.

But she knew that it was not that the queen was not generous enough, but that the emperor had no reward since he ascended the throne, but the queen still had to take care of her parents' home and was always tight on her hands.

Even this ingot of silver has been saved and kept by saving money.

But for the sake of the royal face, the queen did not choose to sell it outside the palace for the only precious gold and silver jewelry that the emperor rewarded.

"Xiaoli, do you still say that the Ai family is not in good health and will not see guests today!" Queen Chen's heart was cut like a knife, and she ordered the palace maid whom she trusted the most.

The palace maid named Xiaoli nodded silently and ordered the matter. It should have been a happy Spring Festival, but it had just begun and it was over.

But the matter has come to this point and is not finished yet.

"The queen's profit is less than three taels of silver!"

"The clothes that the Queen wore in New Year's Day were all sewn!"

"The queen has no disease, it is obviously malnutrition!"

...

After the eldest princess left, the first thing the queen had given away was to be announced, and then the Yonghe Palace seemed to have no secret, and all kinds of news came out.

After all, Empress Chen is the lord of the inner palace. When these things are promoted from the eldest princess, they will inevitably flow into Empress Chen's ears.

Queen Chen was born in a beautiful and beautiful state. When she thought about these rumors, her heart felt like she was cut by a knife.

She is a very traditional woman who also follows etiquette and law, but refuses a luxurious life. She once wanted to advise her husband to be a diligent and wise ruler.

But things didn't go as expected. Her husband was addicted to women, and the dignity she tried hard to maintain was trampled on by the eldest princess, and she felt indescribable.

Queen Chen's tears seemed to have dried up. While listening to the palace maids next to her reporting the latest rumors, she was staring blankly at the white wall in front of her.

Xiaoli came in from outside, but she looked like she was making a mistake.

Wu Qiuyu appeared behind Xiaoli. Because she was born into a family of officials, she is now the wife of Lin Qingran, a great scholar in Wenhua Palace. She was enthroned by a first-class lady of the imperial edict, and she also had a noble temperament all over her body.

She came to the bed and looked at the queen lying on the head of the bed, and said earnestly: "You... should accept the gift I gave you!"

"I will not receive any reward without merit!!" Empress Chen did not blame Xiaoli who put Wu Qiuyu in, but insisted on the principle and authenticity.

Before the New Year, Wu Qiuyu also gave her tens of thousands of taels of silver, which was almost a routine tael of silver on holidays, but she refused.

If she really took the silver gift from Wu Qiuyu, then her life would be much more abundant. She would not have to accept the princess's face today, nor would she have to listen to such rumors.

Wu Qiuyu shook her head gently, as if talking about an irrelevant thing: "This was originally something that my Lin family should respect you. Over the years, our Lin family has given Concubine Li tens of thousands of taels, and only you always don't take advantage of our family! I know that Queen, you are a kind person, and you have always been difficult to force it. The father who is good at gambling is afraid of harming him, but your brother is the same temperament as you refuses to accept it!"

"I think about my usual relationship with the queen, and I don't want to take this money and I'm looking down on her. I also want my relationship with you to become purer!" Queen Chen looked up at the queen and said seriously.

"You really treat our Lin family like this. I really treat you as my sister!" Wu Qiuyu looked at Empress Chen calmly with her eyes, and immediately made a decision and said, "Xiaoli, how many people are there in your Yonghe Palace now?"

"There are thirteen people in total!" Xiaoli said without hesitation.

Wu Qiuyu took out a stack of silver notes from her sleeve and ordered to Xiaoli directly: "Call them all in, take two, and give them the rest to them, and say that this is the reward given to them by the queen!" After a pause, he emphasized: "You ask them to do their business well in the future, and think about everything that can be spread and what cannot be spread!"

In this storm, it was not only the princess' humiliation, but also the Yongning Palace had no secret. Even the queen could wear sewn clothes during the New Year to let the outside world know.

Xiaoli took the stack of silver notes and saw that each one was a thousand taels. She couldn't help but swallow and spit secretly, but immediately responded: "Yes!"

Queen Chen also saw it, but her lips opened slightly, and finally chose to remain silent, and at the same time felt the huge support from the Lin family.

Perhaps it was because of the humiliation in the morning, but now I saw the assistance from the Lin family, I felt no resistance and even felt more moved.

"Master, it is natural for us to serve you. How can we receive such a generous reward!" A group of palace maids and eunuchs came in, but they expressed their loyalty to Queen Chen.

However, Empress Chen felt unprecedented loyalty and ordered lightly: "You can accept it with peace of mind. The Ai family will only look at your future performance in the future, and withdraw!"

"Yes!" Thirteen palace maids and eunuchs were secretly happy when they heard this, and immediately saluted them in a regular manner.

But no matter who they were, they had already made up their minds to follow the queen at this moment. Not to mention that the queen has always treated them well, just because of the money of this thousand taels, it was enough to buy their loyalty.

Queen Chen looked at Xiaoli, including her personal palace maid, who looked happy, and felt the power of money, and at the same time discovered her own insignificance.

As if she made a great decision, she looked up at Wu Qiuyu and said, "The Ai family knows what you want, but I really don't like to owe you such a big favor. I wonder what the Ai family can do to help you Lin family?"
Chapter completed!