Refuse to trample on the pride of heaven

Chapter 394 Qionglin Banquet

The fine mist covered Zhuque Street like a veil, and the gilded tassels on the palace lanterns flickered in the haze. Lu Wensheng rode on a snow-blue horse, and the golden tassels on the saddle swayed gently with the horse's pace, sweeping across the golden cranes on his scarlet robe, as if they had come alive and were about to spread their wings and fly.

He allowed the Jinwu Guards to escort him through the layers of vermilion archways. The red peony newly pinned in his hair was in full bloom, and the dew on the petals slid down the delicate lines, wetting his chin and bringing a hint of coolness.

If that group of people were here, they would definitely carry their "guns and cannons" for a close-up, and fans would buy a copy even if they had to empty their wallets with tears in their eyes.

When the team reached Zhuque Bridge, a suppressed laugh suddenly came from the carved window on the second floor of the tavern beside the bridge, and the faint aroma of wine mixed with the scent of powder drifted in with the wind.

Lu Wensheng looked up subconsciously, and saw a man in a crimson brocade robe leaning against the window, holding a woman in green with a half-fallen shawl in his arms, twisting a peach petal between his fingers and throwing it downstairs.

The other person was dressed like the son of a wealthy and powerful family, and his gold accessories reflected tiny spots of light in the morning light.

The woman's face was as white as snow, with a cinnabar mole at the end of her eyebrow. The necklace she wore cast a flickering light at her collarbone. Her peach blossom eyes were slightly drunk. When she saw him looking at her, she raised the corners of her lips. Her fingertips did not stop stroking the woman's earlobe, but she whistled at him frivolously. The rouge dot at the end of her eye was shining due to the drunkenness.

Their eyes met for only a moment, but Lu Wensheng saw undisguised interest in the other person's eyes.

That man was a romantic man, with upturned eyes, pupils as if soaked in spring water, and tiny gold foil dotted the corners of his eyes, which rippled as he smiled, causing the woman in his arms to look at him with obsession.

The other party suddenly raised his wine cup and gestured to Lu Wensheng from a distance, his lips moving slightly. Although the words could not be heard clearly, one could make out that it was a teasing "number one scholar".

Lu Wensheng felt nothing inside, and even wanted to laugh: "..." One by one, they just like to tease him, and he looks so honest?

The Qionglin Banquet, a grand banquet held to crown the newly-crowned Jinshi, is the most grand celebration after the palace examination.

If the newly crowned number one scholar leading the other successful candidates in a three-day parade wearing flowers and brocades and riding horses, attracting thousands of people, is just the appetizer, then the ultimate glory will come in the Qionglin Garden - the Qionglin Banquet bestowed by the emperor himself.

This banquet got its name from the rare flowers and trees planted in the garden, such as the jade trees, and it was recorded in history because Emperor Taizong Zhao Guangyi held a banquet here during the Taiping Xingguo period of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Between the carved railings and jade bricks, ancient pines and cypresses hang down like green clouds. The winding path paved with brocade stones winds its way to the Rainbow Bridge. The lotus flowers in the pond reflect the crimson official robes of the scholars, making it seem like a grand event in heaven.

During the banquet, palace servants from the four departments and six bureaus were busy shuttling back and forth. The accounting department arranged the golden nanmu tables into the formation of the Big Dipper, the tea and wine department served the dragon and phoenix tea with the fragrance of agarwood, and the kitchen department made the "Dengke Sashimi" as thin as a cicada's wing with South China Sea shad sashimi.

The newly crowned number one scholar had to present a poem to the imperial throne, such as the one written by Wen Tianxiang, "The clouds present five-colored flags and canopies, and the dew stands in the sky with thousands of officials wearing various jade pendants and rings." Every word and sentence describes the grand scene of the cloud flags covering the sun and the clanging of jade pendants at the Qionglin Banquet.

The emperor's declaration of "the emperor's disciple" made this banquet the ultimate symbol of the lifelong pursuit of scholars - after all, even the female prince consort in the Huangmei Opera had to sing "I have also been to the Qionglin Banquet" to prove her legend of being on the list of successful candidates.

Qionglin Garden is located on the east side of Chengtian Gate. The vermilion lacquered archway is already filled with gorgeously decorated carriages and horses. Even if one is born in poverty, the moment one enters the palace, one is distinguished from the previous class. One does not have to do anything, as there are plenty of people willing to contribute money and effort.

When Lu Wensheng dismounted from his horse, he happened to meet fellow Jinshi candidates chatting in groups of three or four, their sleeves filled with the scent of agarwood and ink.

When everyone saw him coming, they all smiled and bowed, but there was scrutiny and speculation in their eyes.

Lu Wensheng smiled politely: This social etiquette is very real.

"The new number one scholar has arrived—"

The eunuch's singing of "hello" startled the birds in the garden.

Lu Wensheng walked along the bluestone road. The gilded peonies on the columns on both sides peeled off their gold powder in the sun, revealing the dark red wood grain underneath. He inexplicably thought of the saying "Prosperity is all illusory, and the rich are filled with bones."

The banquet was held at the end of the Nine-Curve Corridor. Thirty-six rosewood tables had already been set up, and on each table was a piece of Chengxintang paper and a wolf-hair brush, which was the custom of "impromptu poetry" at the Qionglin Banquet.

Thirty-six bronze Boshan furnaces emitted wisps of white smoke, making the gilded beams hazy.

When Lu Wensheng was surrounded and escorted through the Nine-Curve Flower Corridor, what lingered in his nose was no longer the fragrance of agarwood, but the mixed aroma of peony stamens and roasted venison.

When Lu Wensheng was led to the first seat, he discovered that the banquet was actually held in a water pavilion in the center of Taiye Lake. Thirty-six glazed lamps were hung beside the Nine-Curve Bridge, reflecting the water surface like flowing gold. Each dish was supported by a flower tree carved from ivory. Peony fish fillets bloomed in a jade plate, and lychee paste water was served in an agate cup.

The golden cups and silver plates on the banquet table reflected the light. The crystal plates were piled with agate-like cherry biro, the jade bowls were filled with mutton-fat crab meat tofu, and there was a whole golden roasted peacock on the gilded roasting stove. The gold foil on its tail feathers peeled off with the heat and fell on Lu Wensheng's scarlet sleeves.

The gilded eaves of the Qionglin Banquet Hall melted into a dazzling gold foil in the midday sun. Just as Lu Wensheng sat down in the first seat, he saw a bright yellow chariot coming from the end of the Nine-Curve Bridge.

Three of the jade beads on the emperor's crown were missing today, revealing half of his wine-stained face. The three gold rings inlaid with rubies on his fingers shone glossily in the light of the glass lamp, which made Lu Wensheng's eyelids twitch.

"My dear ministers, there is no need to be so polite." The emperor waved his hand lazily, his crown and jade belt hanging loosely on his knees, as if he had just been taken out of some beauty's warm room. "I just want to have some fun today. Let's see if the new champion's "Thanks for the Qionglin Banquet" can be as amazing as the palace examination."

There was a sudden rise and fall of responses in the hall. Lu Wensheng lowered his eyes to look at the Chengxintang paper spread out on the desk. The ink from the wolf-hair brush tip was slowly spreading along the paper texture.

The "Qionglin Banquet" that he had found in the study yesterday was now memorized by heart, but his fingertips could not help trembling as he gripped the pen.

The moment the pen tip fell, the koi in the Taiye Lake suddenly swung its tail, stirring up the golden fragments in the lake into a mess.

Lu Wensheng held his breath and wrote quickly. The scent of ink mixed with the scent of agarwood from the Boshan furnace in the corner of the hall rushed into his nostrils. In a trance, he felt that he had become a top scholar as high-spirited and ambitious as the original owner.

When he finished the last stroke, the glass lamp brought for viewing at the banquet was lit by the palace maid, making the golden cranes on his scarlet robe come alive, spreading their wings as if ready to peck at the wet ink on the desk.

"Good!" The emperor took the lead in clapping his hands, and the smell of alcohol and rouge hit his face. "I said that the champion is not only handsome, but the upright spirit between the lines of this book is much more pleasing to the eye than the articles of those old pedants on my desk."

He waved his hand casually, and an eunuch came forward with a gilded plate. Inside the plate, in a mutton-fat jade box, there lay a jade pendant. "I grant you the purple gold jade pendant, and you are allowed to enter the Imperial Academy in three days."

Suddenly, there were faint sounds of envy coming from behind Lu Wensheng.