New Year Family Banquet

Following tradition, every New Year's Eve, the Jian'an Emperor held a "family banquet" in Qianqing Palace.

All members of the Zhao Clan who remained in the palace were summoned to celebrate the festival with him.

Even some princes who had already been granted their own domains would occasionally receive the Jian'an Emperor's permission to return to Daliang and attend such a banquet.

At this moment, the grand hall of Qianqing Palace was festooned with lanterns and colored decorations, brimming with a lively air.

The princes summoned back to Daliang, along with royal descendants who, like Zhao Hongming, had little sense of presence, were all visibly excited.

In their eyes, this was the annual family banquet hosted by the Son of Heaven of Great Wei, the very heart of Great Wei's court.

If they were lucky, they might receive a miraculous pill, be permitted to enter the Martial Repository Pavilion to select a superior cultivation technique, or be rewarded with gold, silver...

One dazzling performance could change the fate of themselves or their subordinates.

To them, this family banquet was a rare opportunity.

As for those ambitious princes, there was even less need to mention them.

But to be fair, Zhao Hongming had little interest in this kind of "family banquet."

There were too many familiar yet unfamiliar faces at this so-called family banquet, without the slightest atmosphere of a family.

The Clan Elder, the many consorts living in the palace, the recalled Second Prince and Third Prince—now Bi Prince and Dai Prince—had all arrived.

Logically speaking, these people were all Zhao Hongming's relatives, but in truth, even though they lived in the same palace, there was little affection between them.

They were scarcely more than nodding acquaintances.

Thus, in Zhao Hongming's eyes, this "family banquet" was mostly a hollow name.

"Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived."

Around the hour of Shen, the Jian'an Emperor, Zhao Yongxu, and Empress Tu Huali entered the grand hall of Qianqing Palace together amid Feng Dabao's announcement.

The many consorts, princes, and Imperial Daughters who had long been waiting all rose to welcome them, crying out in unison, "Long live Your Majesty!"

"Rise, all of you." The Jian'an Emperor, Zhao Yongxu, waved a hand and led the Empress toward the seats of honor.

Only after the Jian'an Emperor had taken his seat did the rest of the banquet guests sit down one after another.

Zhao Hongming raised his head and looked toward his father, whose features bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to his own, yet whom he hardly ever saw.

He felt only an intense unfamiliarity.

He withdrew his gaze, his expression becoming neither sorrowful nor joyful.

Within the grand hall, closest to the Son of Heaven's seat was the Crown Prince's family.

Then came the Clan Elder, the consorts, and the princes who had already been granted domains. Only after them came princes like Zhao Hongming, who had yet to leave the palace, along with some other imperial relatives.

Zhao Hongming's rank was not high, so his seat was relatively far back, tucked away in an overlooked corner.

Other princes might have been depressed by this, but Zhao Hongming had never cared much about it. Instead, he was happy to have some peace and quiet.

After taking his seat, the Jian'an Emperor began delivering words of encouragement.

They were nothing more than what achievements the court had made over the past year, what developments the Zhao Clan had seen, and what prospects awaited in the coming year.

Finally, he voiced some reflections on life and offered blessings for family harmony.

Only after all the congratulatory words had been spoken did the family banquet officially begin.

The Eunuchs from the Imperial Kitchen, who had long been waiting outside the hall, carried bowl after bowl of dishes inside at Feng Dabao's command and set them before everyone.

Soon, as the family banquet proceeded, several ambitious princes—the Crown Prince, Fourth Prince, Seventh Prince, and others—stepped forward one after another to pay their respects to the Jian'an Emperor. Some recited poetry, some composed couplets, all intending to win his attention.

At such a special time, the Jian'an Emperor naturally had no intention of dampening the mood. He even joined them in games of finger guessing, thumb wrestling, and drinking games.

Later on, the Clan Elder joined in as well.

However, the game he played was rather more refined—guessing allusions.

By "guessing allusions," the Clan Elder meant that he would casually pose riddles and have those present identify the corresponding classical allusion. Some were difficult, some easy.

It was both a game and a test of everyone present.

For this, the Jian'an Emperor had prepared small gifts such as jade pendants, jade bracelets, pills, and treasured swords as rewards, meant to enliven the banquet.

Thus, under the Jian'an Emperor's encouragement, the many princes, Imperial Daughters, and princes who had returned from outside all became eager to try.

For those among them with ambitions, the rewards themselves might not matter much. What mattered was whether they could win the Jian'an Emperor's favor.

The Clan Elder stroked his goatee, pondered for a moment, then said, "Do not fall for a beauty trap. Guess a line from the Analects."

After he spoke, Zhao Hongming felt as though he had been cast into clouds and mist, completely unable to understand its meaning.

"Analects, Ji Shi: 'When young, one's blood and vital energy are not yet settled, so one must guard against lust.'"

Very quickly, Fourth Prince Zhao Hongli guessed the answer.

"Excellent. Reward him!" the Jian'an Emperor said with a smile.

A Little Eunuch standing guard in the grand hall carried over a jade box and presented it before Zhao Hongli.

He accepted the jade box and opened it. Inside was a Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Zhao Hongli was quick-witted and immediately realized that this was recognition for his Actions in the Imperial Study that day.

He said excitedly, "Thank you, Father Emperor. May Father Emperor enjoy boundless longevity."

With Zhao Hongli taking the lead, everyone else also strained every nerve, eager to have a try.

"Puppets. Guess a line from Mencius."

"Mencius, King Hui of Liang: 'Would the first maker of funerary figures have no descendants?' It refers to making human likenesses and using them."

"Fond of learning. Guess a line from the Analects."

"Analects, Shu Er: 'To silently retain knowledge, to study without growing weary, to teach others without becoming tired.'"

"Every citizen a soldier. Guess a line from the Art of War."

"Sun Tzu, Marching Chapter: 'Lead them with civility, align them with martial discipline.'"

One riddle after another was posed. The Crown Prince Zhao Hongwen, Second Prince Zhao Hongwu, Seventh Prince Zhao Hongsheng, and the other princes and Imperial Daughters all guessed the answers correctly, gaining quite a bit.

The atmosphere in the hall grew ever more heated.

Suddenly, Eighth Prince Zhao Hongguang, seated behind Zhao Hongming, leaned forward and lowered his voice. "Fifth Brother, why aren't you going up to say something? All I see is you stuffing your face."

Zhao Hongming spread both hands and honestly said, "I don't know how to play this game. Why would I blindly join the excitement?"

"Meeting walls everywhere. Guess a line from the Analects."

At that moment, the Clan Elder posed another riddle.

Eighth Prince's eyes lit up. "Fifth Brother, I know this one. Analects, Zizhang: 'The Master's wall rises several ren high. Those who cannot enter through its gate cannot behold the beauty of the Ancestral Temple or the abundance of its officials.' Fifth Brother, hurry, go say it."

"Uh..." Zhao Hongming had not expected Eighth Prince to tell him the answer outright and ask him to take the spotlight. After a long pause, he said awkwardly, "Eighth Brother, that answer is too long."

Not long after his words fell, Seventh Prince stepped forward and gave the answer.

Seeing this, Eighth Prince's gaze carried a hint of frustration at iron for failing to become steel. They had missed the opportunity for nothing.

Zhao Hongming picked up a braised pig trotter and gnawed on it with utter seriousness, seeming thoroughly out of place amid the fierce atmosphere in the grand hall.

After finishing the pig trotter, he picked up an entire roast duck, dipped it in sauce, and carefully tore into it.

As Zhao Hongming ate, he said with a smile, "Eighth Brother, if you knew the answer, why didn't you say it yourself?"

Eighth Prince Zhao Hongguang shrank his neck. "There were so many people. I was a little scared..."

Hearing that, Zhao Hongming immediately laughed.

Eighth Brother had grown a year older, yet sure enough, nothing had changed. He was still such a coward.

New book—please recommend it and keep reading~