"It's getting late, Your Highness should head to the Qionglin Banquet."
The voice of Liu Xi sounded. Song Yu looked up at the sky, then turned his gaze to Song Shihuan.
Song Yu was just about to suggest that Song Shihuan accompany him when he saw her beaming with joy. "Father, you should go ahead. I'll wait for you at the Eastern Palace with Yuntuan."
She showed not a hint of reluctance.
Song Yu suddenly felt a pang of discomfort.
It suddenly seemed unwise to have found a kitten to divert Ah Huan's attention.
Song Yu left somewhat dejectedly, missing the sly look that flashed in Song Shihuan's eyes behind him.
"Let's go find Grandfather."
How could she not appear at such an important occasion for Father?
Meow—
"Yuntuan, you also want to see how dashing Father looks today, right?"
Song Shihuan, holding Yuntuan, headed towards the Zichen Hall.
Meanwhile, Song Yu, upon seeing Shen Qingping who had been waiting, merely nodded.
Shen Qingping raised an eyebrow.
As the guest of honor at the Qionglin Banquet, why did His Highness seem in low spirits?
"Shen San, do you think I've been neglecting Ah Huan lately?"
"Not at all..."
Shen Qingping was baffled. He had even taken the princess along for the parade on horseback, so how could that be considered neglect?
"Then why didn't Ah Huan ask to come with me to the Qionglin Banquet today?"
"Your Highness... you're troubled because of this?"
Shen Qingping was at a loss for words to describe his disbelief. He had seen people lovesick, but never so troubled over a child.
Your Highness, set your mind completely at ease. The princess's heart is entirely devoted to you.
Shen Qingping would have vouched for it with his head.
Seeing Shen Qingping so earnest, Song Yu felt somewhat better. After straightening his robes, he set off for Qionglinyuan with Shen Qingping.
If anyone asked why Shen Qingping was tagging along, they would likely receive a glare from him.
If a Crown Prince's official doesn't follow the Crown Prince, who should he follow?
...
By the time Song Yu arrived at Qionglinyuan, all the other newly appointed Jinshi scholars were already present.
Upon seeing Song Yu, they all knelt down:
"Greetings to the Crown Prince."
"Please rise, everyone. Today, we set aside formalities; we are all fellow graduates." Song Yu spoke with great amiability, then in the next second, he darted over to Zheng Fang and familiarly clapped him on the shoulder.
This clap nearly scared Zheng Fang out of his wits.
"Crown... Crown Prince..."
"The Tanhua (Third-Ranked Scholar) looks exceptionally handsome today."
Song Yu watched as Zheng Fang's face turned from nervous to crimson, like a boiled shrimp, and he was amused.
"Thank you... for the praise, Your Highness."
Zheng Fang felt like crying but had no tears. So it wasn't Guo Feng who had the odd sense of humor all along, but this Crown Prince before him.
Having found his amusement, Song Yu then darted over to Ling Ming and Feng Kuizhi.
"Why aren't you two saying anything?"
He made no attempt to hide his preferential treatment towards his own people.
Only Feng Kuizhi retained some composure, suppressing his wildly beating heart. "Congratulations, Your Highness."
"You're a clever one."
Shen Qingping watched the Crown Prince bouncing around and helplessly rubbed his forehead.
Your Highness, your dignity... your dignity is almost gone.
"His Majesty the Emperor arrives! Princess Fu'an arrives—"
The familiar raspy voice of Wu Qi rang out. Song Yu's eyes immediately lit up. Shen San was right; Ah Huan's heart truly only held him, her father.
And she came with His Majesty.
Everyone knelt in unison, proclaiming, "Long live the Emperor!"
"Rise."
Emperor Yuanyou spoke cheerfully, looking like a man with a worthy successor. "Today, we feast at Qionglin. Everyone, enjoy yourselves to the fullest."
The banquet began, and toasts were made.
But the minds of all the new Jinshi were fixed on the next crucial ritual: the Flower Pinning and Toasts.
According to Daqi's rites, at the Qionglin Banquet, the Emperor would personally pin golden flowers on the hats of the Zhuangyuan (Top Scholar), Bangyan (Second-Ranked Scholar), and Tanhua. The other Jinshi would have flowers pinned by officials.
After the pinning, the Zhuangyuan would lead all the Jinshi in toasting the guests in turn. This was the scholars' first step in building their network within the official circles.
It was of utmost importance.
The golden flowers were presented by palace attendants on trays. Song Yu and the other two knelt before Emperor Yuanyou.
Emperor Yuanyou took a golden flower, his smile deepening the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.
Years ago, he had also pinned a flower for Fen'er—a peony in full bloom.
Today, he would pin a flower for his and Fen'er's son.
Song Yu knelt on the ground, leaning forward slightly. Emperor Yuanyou pinned the golden flower onto Song Yu's crown, then turned to look at Song Shihuan. "Ah Huan, what do you think? How does your father look with it?"
"Extremely handsome."
Song Shihuan gave a very face-saving reply.
Song Yu grinned, revealing his white teeth.
Lin Xia and Zheng Fang also had golden flowers pinned by Emperor Yuanyou in turn, though both held their breath the entire time, fearing any lapse in decorum.
Once everyone had received their flowers, Song Yu led everyone in beginning the round of toasts.
By convention, the officials being toasted only needed to drink together in response.
But today...
Every official being toasted first knelt and said, "A thousand years to the Crown Prince," before rising to drink the wine in their cup.
Emperor Yuanyou did not stop them, watching cheerfully as Song Yu received congratulations from each one.
After the collective toasts, everyone could begin eating or move around to offer individual toasts.
A gentle breeze blew, causing the golden flower on Song Yu's head to sway.
Shen Mingwen and Ye Shijie exchanged a glance, then simultaneously stood up with their wine cups and headed straight for Song Yu.
"Your Highness, allow your humble official to propose a toast..."
With these two old men leading the way, Song Yu was soon surrounded.
What was supposed to be scholars toasting officials had completely turned into officials rushing to toast Song Yu.
Cup after cup of fine wine went down, and a rosy hue spread across Song Yu's cheeks.
Zheng Fang, standing awkwardly to the side, suddenly felt a poke in his waist. Turning, he met a pair of shrewd, almost cunning eyes.
"What are you standing around for? Go help His Highness ward off some of the toasts."
Shen Qingping looked at Zheng Fang with exasperation. Where had all his usual cleverness gone?
"I... am I qualified to help His Highness ward off toasts?"
"Otherwise, if he gets drunk, you'll be the one carrying him back to the Eastern Palace tonight."
Carrying such a big man all the way would be exhausting.
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fang was stunned for a moment, then actually led the other new Jinshi to help Song Yu ward off the toasts. This not only helped Song Yu out of a tight spot but also gave the other Jinshi a chance to be noticed.
"This Zheng Fang truly has a heart with seven apertures—exceptionally clever."
Emperor Yuanyou nodded, committing Zheng Fang's name to memory.
After several rounds of drinks, just as Emperor Yuanyou was about to rise and return to the palace, a commotion arose outside.
Moments later, a man dressed as a yamen runner knelt before Emperor Yuanyou and proclaimed loudly:
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Ancestral Temple in Yong'an County, Ji'an Prefecture..."
"Emitted green smoke yesterday!"
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Felicitations, Your Majesty!"
He had run three horses to death on the way, not even stopping for a bite to eat, all to deliver this auspicious news to the Emperor with the utmost speed.
"Is it true?"
Emperor Yuanyou was both astonished and delighted:
"It must be the ancestors of the Song family knowing that Yu'er has achieved the title of Zhuangyuan!"
