Chapter 136: Flower Viewing Palace Banquet
The music of metal, stone, silk and bamboo interweaves into a beautiful melody.
Amid slanting mist and flying silk ribbons, a beautiful dancer in peach-pink silk clothes dances gracefully in the pavilion in the center of the lake, her sleeves fluttering and her skirt like clouds, just like a lotus swaying in the breeze. The scene is pure and beautiful.
The flower-viewing palace banquet was held in the Imperial Garden.
Above the lush green, hundreds of flowers are in full bloom.
The invited guests walked in groups of three or five, some enjoying the dancing, some chatting and laughing, strolling on the cobblestone path and heading towards the depths of the garden.
Yan Yu was like an emperor, and could ride in a carriage or sedan chair anytime and anywhere in the palace. Ning Yunxi, as a princess, could only ride in a carriage on designated roads after entering the palace, and had to get off and walk at the gates of various palaces and imperial gardens.
Yan Yu got off the carriage and walked into the imperial garden with Ning Yunxi.
Along the way, people saluted.
After walking for about two cups of tea, we finally arrived at the banquet place.
"Emperor Jin Wang Long Riding!"
Following the announcement, the invited guests who arrived first stopped talking, put down what they were doing, stood up and bowed deeply.
"Welcome King Dijin Wan'an!"
Yan Yu allowed him to stand up and then sat down.
Ning Yunxi's seat was still arranged next to Yan Yu.
Upon hearing that Yan Yu had gotten off the carriage and walked, Gu Mengzhen also ordered the sedan chair to be removed and walked there. His every move while outside was in accordance with the duties of a subject.
"The Emperor is coming!"
Hearing the eunuch's shout, everyone stood up again and performed the same salute.
"We sincerely welcome His Majesty the Emperor!"
Yan Yu just stood up, smiled and greeted briefly.
"My royal brother is well."
Gu Mengzhen first responded to Yan Yu, bowed, and then gave a light support, signaling to everyone.
"My royal brother is well."
"My lords, please make peace."
Everyone stood up in response.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
When all the distinguished guests arrived, the flower-viewing palace banquet officially began.
After the walk, his feet felt a little sore. Gu Mengzhen adjusted his unnatural sitting position and sighed silently.
"I heard that my brother has been busy looking for his relatives recently and has helped dozens of people find their long-lost relatives."
"Meet the peaches and plums, and enjoy the happiness of family. My brother, the emperor, has a great reputation and can be recorded in history, but finding his relatives is like looking for a needle in a haystack. It is really hard. I am willing to share my worries, but I don't know how to help?"
Yan Yu understood what he meant.
This is another attempt to get a piece of the pie.
When the wind blows, he smiles leisurely, spreading the clear dust far away.
"My brother's love for the people is something I am ashamed of."
"In order to find my relatives, we still need an official to sort out the documents and an official to contact the local authorities."
"The person who sorts the documents is responsible for summarizing and categorizing them. Based on the personal information provided by the person seeking relatives, he or she will look for people who may be related to the person for reference."
"The person who contacts the local area is on official business outside the country and is responsible for contacting local officials and collecting and reporting information on people who are looking for their relatives in various places."
"Brother, please take a look. Is there a suitable candidate?"
Gu Mengzhen thought for a while and then made a recommendation.
"The work of sorting out documents is in-depth and meticulous, so civil officials should be assigned; the work of contacting local people is wind and rain, so military officials should be assigned."
"In my opinion, the former can be entrusted to the Minister of Secret Affairs, and the latter can be entrusted to the Minister of Copper Affairs."
"What do you think, my brother?"
Yan Yu nodded slightly and smiled calmly.
"There are ten chancellors and ten chancellors respectively. I wonder which one you are interested in, my dear brother?"
Gu Mengzhen responded as a matter of course.
"In case we are short of manpower, ten Secret Secretaries will be in charge of organizing the documents, and ten Copper Secretaries will be in charge of contacting the local authorities. If there is a shortage of manpower, we will arrange for Secret Secretaries and Copper Secretaries to assist."
Yan Yu raised an objection.
"In this case, what should we do if the official business of the two prime ministers is delayed?"
Gu Mengzhen flicked his sleeves and smiled in the breeze.
"Don't worry, my brother. We have the Secret Secretary and the Copper Minister. As long as they make the proper arrangements, official business will not be delayed."
"The imperial decree to find your relatives is of utmost importance. I must support you. How can I bear to see my brother suffer alone?"
Yan Yu remained calm and nodded in agreement.
"Thank you for your kindness, my brother. I will respectfully obey your orders."
As soon as he finished speaking, An Pengyi, the copper official, came quickly with his head down and knelt on the ground in panic.
"Your Majesty, Prince, something terrible has happened."
"The palace guards reported that thousands of people were kneeling outside the palace gates, filing complaints to the emperor in unison!"
"I briefly inquired about the situation."
"They said that their family members became even sicker after being treated by the doctors at Huichun Hall. Some suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, some were unable to get out of bed, and some were even dying."
"The people were very angry and first went to Huichun Hall to cause trouble, but were then stopped by Tinghetai. So now they are kneeling outside the palace gate, asking the emperor and the prince to make a decision for the people."
Yan Yu's expression changed and her starry eyes were startled.
"Rejuvenation Hall?!"
An Pengyi responded in a deep voice.
"Yes, it is Huichuntang."
Yan Yu turned her head and looked at Ning Yunxi with worry.
Feeling his gaze, Ning Yunxi immediately acted terrified.
Gu Mengzhen and Gu Nianting smiled secretly without showing it.
Ning Fengzhe expressed his concern for his sister in a proper and appropriate manner.
Fang Zhixuan suppressed his worry, and a hint of gloating appeared on the corner of his mouth.
An Pengyi was neither humble nor arrogant, and presented the imperial complaint and petition with both hands.
"This is a joint petition signed by the people. Please have your Majesty and the Prince take a look."
Xiao Fuzi bowed, took it solemnly, and passed it on.
Gu Mengzhen and Yan Yu were flipping through it at the same time.
Then, Xiao Fuzi read it out and made it public.
Gu Mengzhen followed the plan and went with the flow.
"Since the people have petitioned, let's hand this matter over to the Bronze Court for trial."
"All the officials of Yinsitai and Tinghetai should avoid suspicion."
"During the imperial trial, the Copper Affairs Office has no right to make a final conclusion. All evidence must be reported to the emperor."
"All doctors involved in Huichuntang are arrested and await trial."
"Princess Yuexi, as the head of Huichun Hall, stays silent at the copper desk and cooperates with the investigation."
An Pengyi bowed.
"Yes."
Yan Yu stopped it in time.
"Wait a moment."
An Pengyi stood up halfway and then knelt back down.
"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
Yan Yu did not respond, but turned to Gu Mengzhen and directly raised his objection.
"Why was this matter handed over to the Tongshitai?"
"Didn't the people's petition only ask Yin Sitai and Ting Hetai to recuse themselves?"
"In my opinion, it would be more appropriate to hand it over to the Supervisory Office."
Ning Yunxi was stunned when she heard this.
I didn’t expect that he would disregard the people’s wishes and speak out to protect them.
Is she so important in his heart?
Gu Mengzhen's eyes were shocked at first, and then he raised a fake smile.
"The officials of the Supervisory Office are busy with the imperial edict to find my relatives, and I'm afraid they are too busy to spare time."
Yan Yu hit back directly.
"Isn't my royal brother interested in sharing your worries?"
"Right now, the Supervisory Office, the Secret Office, and the Copper Affairs Office are all busy looking for my relatives. If they are too busy to do it, then let the Provincial Governor Office handle it."
Gu Mengzhen politely declined.
"Aren't the officials of the governor's office busy with the imperial decree for divorce?"
Yan Yu is determined to protect him and will never let go.
"I have some free time lately, and I am not as busy as I was back then."
Ning Yunxi felt worried.
If I continue to talk like this, I am afraid it will arouse public anger and make people think that I am close to villains, alienate wise ministers, and ignore the country and the people.
While she was thinking, she had already turned her head quietly and signaled to Zhuang Wei with her eyes.