Chapter 242: Palace Banquet
The palace banquet prepared for the scholars is not something anyone can attend. Besides the families of the top three scholars, only the families of the top thirty presented scholars can enter the palace. Additionally, the palace banquet invitation list includes heavy ministers from the imperial court bringing their families. Therefore, many high-ranking officials and noblewomen will appear at today’s palace banquet.
Su Yaoguang, Zhang Zhaodi, and Zhang Yingdi looked up at the magnificent palace in front of them, their eyes full of admiration.
Su Yaoguang had attended various banquets in her previous life, but she had never attended a banquet in the imperial palace. Xiao Yanci said the deep palace was full of crises, with traps everywhere, and he feared she would be bullied by those high-ranking officials and noblewomen because she didn’t understand palace rules. In reality, it was because she was a farming woman and couldn’t hold her own, and he didn’t want her to embarrass him.
As soon as they entered the palace, Zhou Wangshu and Wang Huanzhi came to greet them. The palace had arranged seats according to their rankings. Wang Huanzhi and Zhang Yingdi’s seats were towards the back, while Zhang Zhaodi and the Zhou Wangshu couple’s seats were towards the front. Opposite were the seats for high-ranking officials and noblewomen, directly corresponding to the scholars on the right.
Between Zhou Wangshu and Xiao Yanci sat the second scholar. The second scholar was nearly fifty years old, and the family he brought included his old wife and son.
Xiao Yanci exchanged glances with Wang Ruyan opposite him, as if afraid others wouldn’t know there was something fishy between them.
Xiao Yanci occasionally turned back to glance at Su Yaoguang and saw her chatting and laughing with Zhou Wangshu, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
Zhang Zhaodi’s gaze lingered on Su Rende opposite her. As the top martial official, Su Rende’s seat was towards the front. At this moment, he was drinking gloomily with his head down, looking not very happy. As if sensing something, he looked up and saw Zhang Zhaodi’s curious gaze. His expression stiffened, and he stopped drinking.
Su Rende was indeed not very happy. The mansion servants had finally found his old belongings in an abandoned courtyard, but those old things had been neglected for too long, and the courtyard was dilapidated, so his old belongings had been gnawed by rats until almost nothing remained, making their original appearance unrecognizable.
Without evidence, there was no way to prove the problem in his heart. He feared he had made a mistake, and in the end, he would be disappointed while adding another wound to the other party.
It would be good if he could remember.
“Daughter, these are all high-ranking officials and noblewomen we wouldn’t even bump into on ordinary days. Wangshu just became the top scholar and gets to meet these people. How do I feel like this isn’t real? Pinch me, let me see if I’m dreaming.”
“Mom, our Wangshu is amazing. Don’t look at him being the top scholar now without an official position yet, but everyone knows the top three scholars are future pillars of the state. Just wait and see, in a bit, there will definitely be many people coming to win him over.”
“It’s not unusual for officials to win him over; our Wangshu should have such treatment. But you need to watch him closely, don’t let someone snatch him away.” Zhang Zhaodi said, “Look, there are so many daughters of officials here, each as pretty as flowers, their eyes staring at your man like tigers and wolves.”
Su Yaoguang sat in the middle, with Zhou Wangshu, as the protagonist, sitting on the far left. She turned back to look at Zhou Wangshu, her gaze dangerous.
Zhou Wangshu peeled a grape for Su Yaoguang and fed it into her mouth, coaxing her sweetly: “My eyes only have Yaoguang, no one else.”
At this time, the young ladies in the palace most focused on Zhou Wangshu and Xiao Yanci. When one magnificently dressed woman entered the palace, everyone showed expressions of anticipation for a good show.
“That is Princess Qinglan. His Majesty originally wanted to betroth her to the top scholar.” Someone said.
Su Yaoguang heard this voice and turned to look, seeing Princess Qinglan with arrogance all over her face.
Princess Qinglan coldly looked at Zhou Wangshu opposite her.
Zhou Wangshu ignored her completely, only focusing on talking with Su Yaoguang and feeding her food.
“This top scholar really doesn’t know what’s good for him. What’s so great about that bumpkin’s farming wife who shared hardships? He actually refused a royal noblewoman.”
The emperor, empress, and crown prince strode in.
Everyone stood up to pay respects.
“My subjects, no need for formalities.” The emperor said with a smile, “Be seated.”
The emperor’s gaze lingered on Zhou Wangshu’s side, and upon seeing Su Yaoguang’s serene and delicate beauty, he nodded.
“The top scholar’s wife and the top scholar can indeed be called a talented man and beautiful woman.”
“Your Majesty, you’ve just arrived and are already paying attention to the top scholar. Be careful not to make the other ministers jealous.” The empress said from the side.
“Haha… I just wanted to know what kind of woman could make the top scholar refuse the marriage I personally granted. Seeing her today, she’s very good.”
Princess Qinglan’s gaze became even fiercer.
Su Yaoguang responded generously: “In reply to Your Majesty, this common woman has also been wondering what the monarch who had the wisdom to spot my husband is like. Seeing you today, you’re different from what I imagined!”
“Oh? Tell me, what did you think I would be like in your eyes?” The emperor didn’t expect this village girl to be so bold and became curious.
“The ruler of a country must be like a deity in the heavens, to be revered but not violated. I thought you must be very stern, because you need dignity. You govern the world, so you must frown all day. Ordinary common families with a pair of parents managing two or three children sigh daily, but you are the father of the world, all the people are your children, so you must worry a lot! But upon meeting Your Majesty, I realized I was wrong.”
“You are the king of the world and also the father of the people, but you are a kind father. A kind father governs with benevolence, so your children live such happy lives.”
“Haha… Am I such a kind father?” The emperor was amused and laughed heartily. “Minister Zhou, your wife is excellent. No wonder you refuse to change her. If it were me, I wouldn’t want to change either.”
“My wife comes from the common folk, with a straightforward temperament, saying whatever she thinks. Please do not blame her rudeness, Your Majesty.” Zhou Wangshu said.
“The empress and I are also a married couple from youth. You treat your wife so well, so you must also handle the errand I arranged well.” The emperor waved his hand, “Alright, everyone stop standing around. Eat, drink, and let the song and dance begin for me…”
“His Majesty likes lively atmospheres, so don’t be restrained, feel free to move around.” The empress said, “This palace and His Majesty have other matters, so we’ll leave it to the crown prince here.”
With the emperor and empress, these two great Buddhas, sitting in charge, the civil and military officials and their families were inevitably restrained. Only after they left could they relax.
As for the crown prince, as the heir, he was supposed to interact with the civil and military officials anyway, so everyone was happy to use this opportunity to show solicitousness to the crown prince.
Seeing someone come to toast, Zhou Wangshu said to Su Yaoguang and Zhang Zhaodi: “If you feel bored here, go play in the pavilion outside for a while. Today there are palace maids serving here, so as long as you don’t go far, it’s fine.”
“Good.” Zhang Zhaodi said, “I really want to see the scenery in the palace. Maybe I’ll only enter the palace once in my life, so I can’t come in vain.”
Once the emperor and empress left, everyone relaxed, turning the entire palace into a socializing venue.
Su Yaoguang pulled Zhang Zhaodi to stand up and went to Zhang Yingdi’s seat, taking Zhang Yingdi out to play as well.
