Moonlit Calamity: The Dragon Girl's Life of Idleness is Broken

Chapter 294 Attending the Birthday Banquet

That day, after Xiao Han came out of the palace, Uncle Zhong stepped forward to report.

"Your Highness, I have prepared the birthday gift for the Grand Princess."

"Yes, I understand." Xiao Han nodded slightly. "You should move the gifts into the carriage first. I will set off after I change into my court robes."

"Yes, I will arrange it right away."

After Uncle Zhong left, Xiao Han returned to Qinli Courtyard. He changed into a luxurious dark blue brocade robe and wore a matching cloak.

On the way to the door, they ran into Long Chuqing and Ziguang, who were also heading out.

"Chu Qing..." Xiao Han called out to Long Chu Qing, who was walking in front of him.

Upon hearing Xiao Han's voice, Long Chuqing and Zi Guang stopped in their tracks.

Zi Guang bowed and said, "This servant greets Your Highness."

"No gift."

Xiao Han looked Long Chuqing up and down. Today she was wearing a black dress, a black cloak, and her hair was styled in a neat bun.

This outfit... looks completely different from what I wore that night when I went to catch the Dream Monster.

This feeling... he had a strange feeling that Chu Qing was about to cause trouble again.

Judging from the maidservant with her, she probably wouldn't be going to any dangerous places.

"Chu Qing," Xiao Han asked, "Are you going out? Where are you going?"

"Ziguang and I are going out for a bit; we need to buy some things," Long Chuqing replied. "You're going out too? Didn't you just get back?"

Long Chuqing knew that Xiao Han had gone to court today, and should have just returned from the palace at this time.

The clothes they were wearing didn't look like they were going to a military camp.

Xiao Han replied, "Yes, today is my great-aunt's birthday, and I'm going to her residence to offer my congratulations later."

"A birthday banquet! It must be very lively! Please wish her good health and a long life for me..."

The two walked side by side toward the gate of the mansion.

"Then we'll be going now, you should hurry over too!"

Xiao Han replied, "Yes, be careful."

Long Chu waved to Xiao Han and then got into the carriage next to him.

This time, it was Uncle Chen who drove the carriage to take Long Chuqing and Ziguang.

Xiao Han stood at the gate of the mansion, watching the direction the carriage had gone.

Rather than attending the birthday banquet, he would prefer to go sightseeing with Chu Qing.

Never mind, maybe next time!

"Let's go!" Xiao Han turned to Qing Qingying beside him and then stepped into his carriage.

-

At this moment, the Grand Princess's son, grandson, and other family members were standing at the door to greet the guests.

The gatekeeper and steward on the side greeted them with smiles, holding red silk registers, and occasionally announced loudly: "A pair of auspicious jade ruyi from the Duke of Deng's mansion."

"A large carved screen of sandalwood with cranes and longevity motifs from the He family of Longnan."

Xiao Han's carriage soon stopped in front of the Grand Princess's residence. He lifted the curtain and looked towards the entrance of the residence, where a lively scene unfolded.

"His Highness the King of Qin has arrived—"

With this announcement, Xiao Han slowly stepped down from the carriage, his dark blue cloak embroidered with gold thread patterns lightly brushing against the footstool.

"Greetings, Your Highness, the King of Qin."

The host family members who stood at the gate to greet Xiao Han, along with the guests who had just arrived, all bowed to him.

Xiao Han: "No need for formalities..."

Everyone: "Thank you, Your Highness..."

Bronze handed over the prepared birthday gifts.

Uncle Zhong prepared a jade ornament depicting the auspicious symbols of fortune, prosperity, longevity, pine trees, and cranes.

After a few brief greetings, the steward led Xiao Han into the mansion.

"His Highness Prince Qi has arrived!"

Hearing the announcement behind him, Xiao Han stopped and turned around.

Fifth Brother is here? Perfect timing, we can go in together.

Xiao Han stood there waiting. The group had already discussed it in the palace and planned to set off after changing into their court robes upon returning to their residences.

Prince Qi also saw Xiao Han standing inside the door. He exchanged a few polite words and then walked towards Xiao Han.

Prince Qi wore a moon-white brocade robe with a beige cloak over it, the collar trimmed with sable fur, which made his features appear even more sunny and handsome.

Prince Qi smiled and said, "Seventh Brother, I didn't expect you to be faster than me."

Xiao Han: "We just arrived, so we won't be much faster."

Prince Qi asked, "I wonder if my second brother and sixth brother have arrived yet?"

Prince Jin was busy with affairs. He only talked to a few people in the palace for a while before he had to go to the government office. He was afraid that he would not come so soon or not at all. However, someone from his residence sent a birthday gift.

Prince Yu was injured and has not fully recovered. He needs to rest and recuperate, so he will not be attending today's birthday banquet.

Princess Yu did bring gifts to offer her birthday wishes.

The steward said, "His Highness Prince Xuan has arrived at the residence and is currently in the hall talking with the Grand Princess! Please follow me, Your Highnesses."

"Oh, Sixth Brother, you've arrived so quickly. Seventh Brother, let's go in quickly too!" After speaking with Xiao Han, Prince Qi looked at the steward and said, "Please lead the way."

The steward led Xiao Han and Prince Qi through the triple hanging flower gate and into the corridor. They heard melodious music coming from the direction of Wanyi Garden on the left.

The Grand Princess loved plum blossoms, and her birthday happened to fall at the end of December, the season when winter plum blossoms are at their best.

She had people plant a large area of ​​winter plum blossoms in Wan Yi Garden, so her birthday banquet every year was also called the Plum Blossom Banquet.

There must be many guests admiring the plum blossoms in the plum garden right now!

Upon entering the Huasong Hall in the courtyard, one can see a red carpet laid on the ground. Inside the hall, a gilded "longevity" character hangs, flanked by couplets that read, "May your life be as long as the pine trees of the Southern Mountain, and your fortune as boundless as the Eastern Sea."

The tables in the hall are decorated with longevity peaches, longevity cakes, longevity wine, and pagoda cakes, all symbolizing long life.

Due to the cold weather, the Grand Princess received the guests in the warm pavilion of the side hall and accepted everyone's blessings.

The steward led Xiao Han and Prince Qi to a side hall: "Please, Your Highnesses..."

Inside the warm pavilion, the Grand Princess sat regally on a carved rosewood chair, dressed in a magnificent dark red silk brocade robe, with the words "fortune and longevity" embroidered on the hem, adorned with auspicious clouds and pine trees.

Her head was covered in silver hair tied in a high bun, and she wore a red-gold phoenix hairpin with a pearl in its mouth, a gift from the late emperor.

Although she was old, one could still feel the dignified aura of a princess, while also exuding nobility and elegance. With a smile on her face, she looked even more kind.

The eldest daughter of the Grand Princess was granted the title of Princess of Jiaxu by the late emperor, while her eldest son inherited the title of Marquis from his husband.

Princess Jiaxu is currently accompanying the Grand Princess.

Princess Jiaxu was a true beauty in her youth. Perhaps due to a happy and carefree life, she began to gain weight after the age of fifty, becoming plump and radiant, exuding an air of nobility.

The steward announced: "Grand Princess, County Princess, Prince Qi, and Prince Qin have arrived."

Upon seeing Xiao Han and Prince Qi enter, the Grand Princess greeted them with a smile, "Have Han'er and Mo'er arrived?"

Xiao Hanqi stepped forward and knelt down, saying, "Your grand-nephew greets Your Majesty, wishing you good health, longevity, and happiness."

"Alright, alright... You're so kind. Get up now!"

Prince Qi: "Thank you, Grandmother."

Xiao Han: "Thank you, Grandmother."