kingnovel Chapter 61 New Year
Chapter 61 New Year
After discussing the matter with the concubines in the harem, Ying Wuyou went to Zhangtai Palace to inform the King of Qin of her plan. The King of Qin was very pleased to see his daughter speaking so eloquently before him.
He patted Ying Wuyou's head and said, "Jiayang, your idea is excellent. Go ahead and do it. Your father believes you will do a good job."
Ying Wuyou accepted the order and left. Watching Ying Wuyou's departing figure, the King of Qin felt gratified that no matter what the system was, Jiayang was wholeheartedly devoted to the Qin Dynasty.
After receiving permission from the King of Qin, Ying Wuyou began to make arrangements. Ying Wuyou felt that at least dozens of programs needed to be prepared. Although it couldn't be as diverse as the Spring Festival Gala in later generations, Ying Wuyou still wanted to increase the variety and entertainment value of the programs as much as possible.
The opening act would naturally be a dance, and with the system's help, Ying Wuyou chose "Spring River Flower Moon Night." The song had a beautiful name, a melodious tune, and a light, cheerful melody. Ying Wuyou felt it was perfect as the opening piece.
Next, Ying Wuyou organized his guards to perform a "Bayu Dance". The Bayu Dance steps were synchronized, and the drumming and stomping were very inspiring.
When the song and dance were halfway through, Ying Wuyou arranged for the piece "Ambush from Ten Sides" to be played. Just like in a certain movie, Ying Wuyou arranged for a dancer to stand on a drum and dance.
Finally, to wrap things up, Ying Wuyou arranged for "Qin Feng: Wu Yi" to be sung by dozens of selected commoners.
The other programs were all devised by the concubines in the palace. There were twelve programs in total. Ying Wuyou had also considered adding skits and crosstalk, but after much deliberation, she abandoned the plan. In the end, the programs were mainly dance and music, along with a folk acrobatic performance.
After the program was decided, rehearsals began. Ying Wuyou didn't personally oversee the rehearsals; instead, she assigned tasks and then stopped following up. She knew how strict the ancient hierarchical system was, and these performers were performing for the most powerful group of people in the entire Qin Dynasty, so they couldn't possibly be careless.
On New Year's Day, the people of the capital joyfully welcomed the new year. However, the ministers in the court all wore worried expressions. The reason was simple: a few days earlier they had received an invitation from Princess Jiayang. The contents of the invitation astonished them: it invited them to a banquet in the palace and requested that they bring their families. This news caused a great stir throughout the capital.
Princess Jiayang had decided to hold a grand banquet in the palace, inviting court officials and representatives of ordinary people to celebrate the New Year together. She believed this would strengthen the bond between the emperor and his ministers, and also allow the poor to feel the warmth of the royal family. However, many ministers disagreed with this proposal. They argued that celebrating the New Year in the palace violated ancestral traditions, and that attending a banquet with the poor was unprecedented. Therefore, a heated debate erupted in the court.
Some ministers argued that tradition should be followed to maintain the court's solemnity and mystique; others, however, believed Princess Jiayang's idea was novel and could bring the court closer to the people. This debate lasted for several days, until finally the King of Qin stepped forward to support Princess Jiayang's plan. He believed that this activity would demonstrate the royal family's care for its subjects and strengthen national cohesion. Furthermore, the King of Qin pointed out that this innovative approach would contribute to social progress and development.
Nevertheless, some ministers remained skeptical. This was especially true when they learned that representatives would be chosen from among the poor to attend the banquet, causing a great uproar. Some worried it would lead to unnecessary trouble and could even affect social stability. However, Princess Jiayang insisted, expressing her hope to use this opportunity to understand the hardships of the common people and improve their lives.
Despite the numerous controversies, Princess Jiayang remained steadfast in pursuing her plan. She believed that only through concrete actions could she truly win the hearts of the people and promote social harmony. Amidst the skepticism, the New Year arrived.
Li Yanran was Li Si's youngest daughter. When she heard that Princess Jiayang was going to hold a banquet in the palace and invite the court officials and their families to attend, Li Yanran was extremely excited. She had never set foot in the palace before and was filled with endless curiosity about that mysterious palace world.
Li Yanran was so excited to be able to accompany her father to the palace that she couldn't sleep all night. After a quick bite at home, Li Yanran couldn't wait to leave with her mother and sisters, while her father and second brother went ahead.
Li Yanran boarded the carriage, intending to take a short nap. Just as she was drifting off to sleep, she felt the carriage stop. Li Yanran knew they had arrived at the palace gates. She quickly alighted, reunited with her mother and sisters, and followed them towards Xing Le Palace.
Upon arriving at the palace, Li Yanran saw that many people were already there. Men were on one side, women on the other. Li Yanran knelt and sat down with her mother and sisters, her gaze sweeping over the arriving people. She recognized some of them—the children of high-ranking officials whom she had seen at banquets before. Most of them were unfamiliar to her, and she wasn't interested in them. Li Yanran's attention was quickly drawn to the grand and magnificent palace. This Xing Le Palace was said to have been recently completed, and Li Yanran estimated that the enormous palace could easily accommodate a thousand people.
As more and more people arrived at the banquet, Li Yanran's gaze was drawn to a group of people dressed in hemp clothing. They stood out starkly against the surrounding dignitaries and nobles. Li Yanran was surprised, for she was unaware that Princess Jiayang had invited representatives of the common people to the banquet.
She couldn't help but speculate about the identities and backgrounds of these people, but she had absolutely no clue. Despite her inner turmoil, Li Yanran maintained her elegant and dignified demeanor, not giving these strangers too much attention. After all, as a well-educated noblewoman, she understood the importance of respecting the privacy of others. So, she shifted her gaze from those dressed in hemp clothing and continued to focus on other aspects of the banquet.
Soon, Li Yanran heard the arrival of the various concubines, who all rose to pay their respects. There were about several dozen concubines, all dressed in magnificent attire, exquisitely made up, and each possessing their own unique charm. Following them were the princesses and princes. Li Yanran paid special attention to the name of Princess Jiayang. When she heard Princess Jiayang arrive, she discreetly raised her head, wanting to catch a glimpse of this only princess with a title. However, not daring to be too conspicuous, she could only manage a fleeting glance. She saw a little girl appear before her, dressed in pink brocade, looking lively and adorable from afar. Li Yanran was quite surprised, as Princess Jiayang appeared to be extremely young.
"His Majesty has arrived!" A loud and clear voice reached everyone's ears, and everyone bowed in unison. Li Yanran came back to her senses upon hearing the voice and followed the others in bowing.
The King of Qin waved his hand, and the little eunuch shouted, "Rise!" The crowd gradually rose. The King of Qin's voice rang out, "Please sit down, everyone!" Then, the King of Qin turned to Ying Wuyou and said, "Jiayang, come here and sit with me."
Upon hearing this, everyone paused, their movements halting as they were about to sit down. No one had expected the King of Qin to have Princess Jiayang sit beside him. What did this mean? They exchanged bewildered glances. Ying Wuyou, however, didn't think too much of it. She obediently sat below the King of Qin, awaiting the start of the banquet.