Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 263: Palace New Year's Eve Banquet

The New Year's Eve banquet officially began only after the Emperor and Empress made their entrance.

After the Emperor delivered his opening remarks and the Empress spoke some festive words, they began having noble young ladies from the capital showcase their talents.

Everyone knew that Prince Pingxi intended to select a Princess Consort at the New Year's Eve banquet, so those young women aspiring to marry into the royal family had specially prepared songs and dances.

Beautiful women sang with enchanting voices, their graceful figures danced lightly, while others played the qin, blew the xiao, or painted—the variety of talents was dazzling.

"Yu Ge'er, that young lady painting is the eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites. She's well-versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—cultured and reasonable," Qinghua Princess whispered softly. "Take the jade pendant to her."

Chu Hongyu looked up toward the Emperor seated at the highest position: "Grandfather, Aunt is telling me to give the jade pendant to this woman who's painting. Is it me choosing a mother, or is Aunt choosing?"

The Emperor shot a cold glance: "Qinghua, you're overreaching."

Qinghua Princess's face turned pale.

She had never been sweet-tongued since childhood and had never been favored by her imperial father, which made her particularly fearful of him.

That one cold glance made her dare not say another word.

When the Minister of Rites' daughter finished painting, an exceptionally vast landscape painting was unveiled before the crowd.

"Excellent!" The Prince of Hongnan Kingdom couldn't help standing up and applauding. "This painting was completed in one go, flowing like clouds and water—truly a masterpiece. I admire it greatly."

The Minister of Rites' daughter curtsied: "Your Highness flatters me too much."

The Empress said with a smile: "The Prince of Hongnan Kingdom appreciates our Great Jin's traditional painting. The Minister's daughter is the most skilled painter among all noble young ladies in the capital. This is what you call 'high mountains and flowing waters meeting a soulmate'."

The Emperor timely asked: "How old is the Minister of Rites' daughter this year?"

"My daughter is sixteen," the Minister of Rites stepped forward. "She currently remains unmarried in her chambers."

Ever since Princess Guli's marriage arrangement with the imperial prince fell through, the Minister of Rites had clearly understood that the Emperor would likely select someone from among important ministers for a political marriage.

He wasn't at all surprised that his daughter had been chosen.

Thus, with both parties fully aware of the situation, the Emperor arranged a marriage between the Minister of Rites' daughter and the Prince of Hongnan Kingdom, creating a new marital alliance.

Originally, it should have been a princess from Hongnan Kingdom marrying into Great Jin, but after so many incidents, that was no longer appropriate.

Anyway, the political marriage was meant to consolidate friendly relations between the two countries—as long as the intention was there, it was sufficient.

Next, the noble young ladies continued presenting their talents.

One after another, soon all the young women who had prepared talents had performed.

Yin Fei grew anxious: "Yu Ge'er, isn't there anyone suitable to be your mother?"

Chu Hongyu shook his head: "I don't like any of them."

"Then what kind do you actually like?" Qinghua Princess was quite worried. "Among the remaining young ladies, only the one wearing the goose-yellow dress comes from the most prominent family. Later you should..."

Chu Hongyu turned his head away: "Grandfath..."

Qinghua Princess immediately covered his little mouth.

Why did this child love tattling so much? It was truly infuriating.

And so, when all the performances ended, the jade pendants in the two children's hands still hadn't been given away.

The Emperor frowned: "Yu Ge'er, you cried and made a fuss wanting a mother. I gave you the opportunity to choose yourself, yet you haven't given it to anyone. What exactly do you want to do?Chu Hongyu pouted his little mouth aggrievedly: "They're all not good.""

"How are they not good?" the Empress asked gently with a smile. "That Miss Zhou—isn't she good enough?""She's not good-looking," the little boy frowned. "Anyone can tell at a glance she's not Changsheng and my birth mother."

The Empress continued asking: "What about that Miss He?"

"She's too thin—definitely can't carry my sister. No good."

"And Miss Li?"

"She's a bit too fat. What if she secretly bullies me and my sister? Father might not even be able to fight her off."

Chu Yi: "..."

This kid truly has no filter.

If these comments spread, would those noble young ladies still be able to show their faces?

He said coldly: "Since none are to your liking, stop making a fuss about this matter from now on."

"There... there is one..." the quiet little girl stammered. "I like one..."

Chu Hongyu tilted his head: "If little sister likes her, then I like her too. Changsheng, tell me which one, and we'll give our jade pendants to her."

He took the little girl's hand and walked toward the crowd.

The hall's lantern light fell on every face, with nearly everyone's gaze fixed on the two children.

Everyone knew those two jade pendants would determine who would become the Princess Consort of the Pacifying West.

The two little ones wandered around the hall, finally stopping before an elderly madam—the First Rank Lady Shanya, who had an excellent reputation in the capital.

The little girl stepped forward, took out her jade pendant, and offered it to the old lady.

Lady Shanya chuckled: "This old woman is advanced in years, even older than your grandmother. I'm afraid I'm not quite suitable..."

Seeing this, Qinghua Princess curled her lips: "Mother Consort, these two are completely unreasonable. Is it really appropriate to leave such an important matter in the hands of children?"

Yin Fei also felt troubled.

These two children actually wanted to give their pendants to Lady Shanya—simply absurd.

Then, something even more absurd happened.

Chu Changsheng took her pendant and offered it to the Grand Princess.

The Grand Princess didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Changsheng, this won't do. You must choose from among those young ladies."

The little girl followed the Grand Princess's pointing finger.

She paused briefly before each noble maiden's face, finally walking to Du Ling and placing the pendant before her.

Du Ling jolted in alarm: "Little Commandery Princess, this won't do! This subject married and had children long ago—inappropriate, completely unsuitable..."

Chu Hongyu took the pendant back: "Changsheng, we need to find a lady without a husband."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Du Ling nodded vigorously. "All those over there are available. Young Son and Little Commandery Princess should look there."

Unexpectedly, the two children stopped directly before Yun Chu, who stood beside Du Ling.

"You're not that old, and you're not from the imperial family," Chu Hongyu declared. "You don't have a husband beside you either—so it's you!"

He placed his pendant before Yun Chu.

The little girl imitated him and set down her pendant.

The two children tossed down the pendants and ran off.

The imperial family members seated in high positions were all struck dumb.

"This is unacceptable!" Qinghua Princess sprang to her feet. "A widow who's been married and lost her husband, a divorced woman—how could she become Princess Consort of the Pacifying West? This is sheer madness!"

Yin Fei caught the running children: "Choose another one, be good, listen to your imperial grandmother..."

Chu Hongyu went straight before the Emperor: "Imperial Grandfather, the Emperor's word is equivalent to an imperial decree. You said that if Changsheng and I liked someone, we could have Father marry her to be our mother. Does that still hold true?"The Emperor spoke calmly, "She was married before."

"But her husband died, and she's divorced. There's no rule saying a divorced woman can't remarry, is there?" The little one pouted unhappily. "You adults always like to deceive children. If I'd known earlier, I wouldn't have chosen at all. Father, you can just stay alone for the rest of your life then, and never marry any Princess Consort! Hmph!"