Inside Yuqing Palace in the Eastern Palace.
The whole place was filled with joyous excitement.
Crown Princess Zhang, the birth mother of both Zhu Zhanjun and Zhu Zhanji, was holding her eldest son Zhu Zhanji's hand, beaming so broadly she could barely close her mouth.
"Good! Wonderful! My Ji'er, you rendered meritorious service accompanying His Majesty this time, and His Majesty praised you in front of everyone. Mother is so happy for you!"
Although Zhu Zhanji was smiling as well, his smile was somewhat forced.
He knew that his so-called "merit" was utterly insignificant compared with his younger brother's unparalleled achievement of "sweeping across Mobei."
"Mother, it was only what your son ought to have done."
Zhu Zhanji spoke modestly.
"By the way, Mother, where's Zhanjun?"
"How could he not show up for such a grand occasion?"
He finally voiced the question troubling him.
"That little monkey!"
At the mention of Zhu Zhanjun, the smile on Crown Princess Zhang's face grew even wider. She spoke with exasperation and amusement mingled together.
"He thought there were too many people outside and that it was too noisy, so he slipped away from the army on his own. He just sent someone back to say that he'd take a bath and change clothes first, then come over directly for dinner later."
"This... This is going too far!"
Zhu Zhanji frowned.
"His Majesty and all the officials are waiting for him. He..."
"Enough, enough. Don't you know what he's like?"
Crown Princess Zhang waved her hand, cutting him off.
"Even your father indulges him, so stop worrying about it."
"I've already sent someone to inform your grandfather as well."
She pulled Zhu Zhanji down to sit, then turned to her daughter-in-law beside her—Imperial Grandson's Consort Hu Shanxiang.
"Shanxiang, your grandfather and your father will both be coming tonight to welcome Zhanjun back and celebrate his return."
"You must handle this family banquet celebrating his victory properly. We mustn't lose the Eastern Palace's dignity."
Hu Shanxiang hurriedly rose and replied respectfully.
"Yes, Mother. Your daughter-in-law understands."
She immediately took out a menu and itinerary she had prepared long ago and handed them over.
"Mother, please look. This is the menu your daughter-in-law drew up according to the highest palace standard, the 'Longevity Banquet.' It has a total of one hundred and eight dishes, all made with the finest ingredients."
"There will also be music and dances from the Music and Dance Bureau during the feast to liven things up. I guarantee that Grandfather and His Majesty will both be satisfied."
Hu Shanxiang's plan could be called proper and beyond reproach, completely in keeping with the dignity and ceremonial rites of the imperial family.
However, Crown Princess Zhang merely glanced over it before setting it aside.
She turned to a steward eunuch beside her.
"Go and bring me the 'banquet plan' Steward Wang from Zhanjun's residence delivered a few days ago."
Before long, a plan written on snow-white paper, covered in all sorts of strange illustrations, was brought in.
Crown Princess Zhang handed it to Hu Shanxiang and Zhu Zhanji with a smile.
"Take a look at this."
Zhu Zhanji and Hu Shanxiang accepted it curiously.
The moment they glanced at it, both of them froze completely.
"Outdoor... self-service cold buffet?"
"Large-scale... music and fireworks show?"
"Twelve Zodiac Signs-themed... ice sculpture exhibition?"
"French baked snails, a Japanese sashimi boat, German roasted pork knuckle... What... What sort of dish names are these? I've never even heard of them!"
The plan contained not only these terms they could not understand at all, but also exquisite hand-drawn illustrations.
There were pictures of people holding plates and freely helping themselves to food in a garden; pictures of multicolored "fireworks" blooming across the night sky in all kinds of beautiful patterns; and pictures of crystal-clear ice blocks carved into lifelike animals and human figures.
What left them most breathless was the budget attached to the end of the plan.
"Materials procurement... thirty thousand taels of gold?"
"Venue arrangements and labor... fifty thousand taels of gold?"
"Fireworks... one hundred thousand taels?"
"Total budget... two hundred thousand taels of gold?!"
Zhu Zhanji sucked in a sharp breath. His hand trembled, and the plan nearly fell to the ground.
Two hundred thousand taels of gold!
That would be enough to equip the armies of several garrisons!
His younger brother was going to spend this much money just throwing a family banquet?
This was no longer extravagance. This was simply insane money-burning!
"Mo... Mother, this... This is far too extravagant and wasteful!"
Zhu Zhanji hurriedly spoke up.
"How could Second Brother... How could he be so utterly lacking in restraint?"
"Extravagant?"
Crown Princess Zhang merely smiled, completely unconcerned.
"Your younger brother said that this money was all earned by him himself. It isn't silver from the national treasury, so he can spend it however he wants."
"He also said that after fighting for so long, everyone is nearly exhausted to death and needs to enjoy themselves properly."
"Besides..." A trace of pride flashed through Crown Princess Zhang's eyes. "My son has rendered unparalleled service. Let alone two hundred thousand taels—even if he spent two million, he would deserve it!"
"Proceed according to this plan!"
"Have Steward Wang from your younger brother's residence take full charge. Everyone from the Eastern Palace is to cooperate with him completely!"
"Yes!"
Hu Shanxiang, standing to the side, was already utterly speechless.
She looked at the fantastical banquet plan, then at her own prim and proper "Longevity Banquet" menu, and suddenly felt like an unsophisticated country bumpkin who had never seen the wider world.
Zhu Zhanji was also dazed.
He suddenly realized that he had perhaps never truly understood this younger brother of his.
Just how much money did he have?
And where had all those utterly baffling ideas of his come from?
Just then, a clear and resonant voice came from outside the hall, interrupting his thoughts.
"Mother! I'm back!"
Zhu Zhanjun strode in, wearing a clean sapphire-blue brocade robe, his hair still carrying a trace of moisture.
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