novelAbuy Chapter 1058: Noble Ladies Present Birthday Wishes at the Longevity Festival
Chapter 1058: Noble Ladies Present Birthday Wishes at the Longevity Festival
Longevity Festival, a gracious time from the Heavenly Family, a general amnesty is given to those with serious crimes and death sentences, and several policies benefiting the people and soldiers are issued to accumulate virtue.As in previous years, the entire population celebrates the Longevity Festival. Every household takes the initiative to hang red lanterns or the character for longevity to wish the Emperor well and blessings. The streets of Shangjing are brightly decorated, with dragon stages set up to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday.
Celebrating the Emperor’s birthday also requires avoiding taboos. To prevent bloodshed during the Longevity Festival, slaughtering livestock and handling criminal punishment cases are prohibited a few days before and after. Funerals are even more delayed to avoid bad luck and the ill will of the Heavenly Family.
The Longevity Festival is intricate. As Emperor Chu puts it, he’s weary. He would prefer to quietly enjoy a bowl of longevity noodles to mark his birthday. Of course, everyone cannot skimp on the birthday gifts.
However, the Emperor’s birthday is never a personal matter; it’s a matter for the entire world. If it weren’t celebrated with great fanfare and decorum, people might quietly wonder if something was wrong with the Emperor, so much that he doesn’t even celebrate his own birthday.
Moreover, the Longevity Festival is attended by officials and friendly nations’ envoys, so it can’t simply be canceled.
Emperor Chu dislikes the complexity and weariness; which Emperor isn’t tired? Lying down is only for the truly incapable.
Thus, no matter how much he dislikes it inside, he must put on a show, reveal a smiling face, and complete all the required procedures and ceremonies, no matter how grudgingly.
Emperor Chu goes through the ceremony purely for the birthday gifts that have already entered the private treasury or are still on their way.
Every year, the birthday gifts are meticulously prepared by civil and military officials and foreign envoys. Naturally, birthday gifts for the Emperor are no ordinary items: rare treasures, ancient books and paintings, Buddhist statues, antiques, famous jewelry, and more, are registered and stored in a dazzling array of boxes.
This is considered a small birthday; if it were a decade or major birthday, the scale would be even larger, and the gifts even richer. Indeed, it is a festival for all the officials and merchants of Great Qing to compete or form beneficial alliances.
After completing the tribute ceremony, there is a palace banquet. At the banquet, birthday celebration performances are indispensable. However, this year was different; the Empress Dowager arranged for several noble ladies of a certain age to congratulate the Emperor.
Song Ci was puzzled, considering herself to be an old confidante of the Empress Dowager. Not understanding, she asked directly.
"I dreamt of the late Emperor." Empress Dowager Wang said sadly, "Now, the Emperor is in his prime, and apart from those who died prematurely, he only has six sons and four princesses. It’s too few. The late Emperor scolded me in my dream, reminding me that expanding the Heavenly Family is of great importance and cannot be overlooked. I am thinking of selecting consorts for the Emperor next year. For now, merely choosing a few as birthday offerings."
Song Ci was visibly astonished: isn’t ten children enough?
"Well, if expanding the family is the goal, why not entrust this task to a few princes? In my opinion, at the Emperor’s age, he should focus more on maintaining good health. Isn’t there a saying, a drop of essence is worth ten drops of blood?"
Oh my gosh, saying this is truly embarrassing for the old lady.
Empress Dowager Wang also blushed somewhat but shook her head, "Ah Ci, the Heavenly Family is not like ordinary households. If the Emperor’s harem doesn’t have new additions, subordinate officials will rebel and also pressure the Emperor to add more."
There’s no such thing as an Emperor with just a few concubines, which is detrimental to the balance of court politics.
Song Ci was silent for a moment, then said, "You can’t force a cow to drink, but to balance the court’s power, there can be other ways, such as intermarrying with the royal family."
Honestly, a young girl being made a concubine to someone old enough to be her grandfather is a distressing thought. However, she dared not voice this aloud.
Empress Dowager Wang said, "That is equally valid, but adding new members is inevitable, and the harem must observe balance as well."