The next day, Chu Jiao asked Zhong Jinchun to help her prepare for the birthday banquet. They went to the warehouse early in the morning and asked for 5000 silver coins as the budget.
Although having held several birthday banquets before, Chu Qiao was still exhausted by its miscellaneous details. Everything had just been arranged properly when the birthday banquet started.
Decorated with lanterns and festoons, and brightly lit with fancy candles, the whole Prince Palace was enveloped in a joyous atmosphere. With the arrival of numerous guests, the Palace looked like a bustling fair.
The banquet was set in Ningde Hall and at this time, all the people had taken their seats and begun to converse with each other, which formed a lively and bustling scene.
Then there came a loud announcement: "The Prince, the Attendant Consort and two Madams have arrived."
Wearing a court dress embroidered with a four-clawed golden python and a crown decorated with a crane, Dantai Yunhan came into the banquet hall in stride. Chu Jiao was dressed in a dark red tulle dress, holding his arm affectionately, while Zheng Ruir and Li Chenxiang followed behind on both sides, which made them look more like a perfect match.
The guests hurriedly stood up to salute the Prince Regent and the Attendant Consort, "Your Highness."
Having taken the main seat, Dantai Yunhan waved and said: "There’s no need to stand on ceremony at our family banquet. Please feel free to help yourselves."
The guests took their seats after expressing their gratitude.
There were three seats on the host's side, while Chu Jiao took the liberty and sat on the left side of Dantai Yunhan, holding his arm and saying, "Why isn’t my sister here on such an important day?"
Zhong Jinchun, who was sitting at a lower seat, hurriedly stepped forward, curtsied and replied: "Your Highness, the Princess has been so occupied with preparing the birthday banquet recently that she is not feeling well. She asked me to send her apology to Your Highness for her absence."
Dantai Yunhan frowned, wondering what Chu Qiao was plotting by not coming to the banquet, since apparently she was as strong as a horse. Was she planning to embarrass him? However, it was inappropriate to argue much on such an occasion, so he decided that he would settle with her later. Dantai Yunhan was just about to speak when Chu Jiao raised her voice first.
She asked with concerns, "Has she sent for the imperial physician yet?"
"The Princess said that she was just feeling a bit dizzy, which was nothing serious, so she didn't send for the physician."
A good idea suddenly popped in Chu Jiao’s mind as she sighed: "Maybe my sister is still holding a grudge against me for what happened last year at the birthday banquet. I should apologize to her in person and invite her here."
Dantai Yunhan snorted and said: "Why would she still hold a grudge for losing in a dancing contest? Just send someone to invite the Princess here."
"Don’t bother. Here I am." Wearing a long dark purple satin dress and a hairpin decorated with a seven-tailed phoenix, Chu Qiao entered the hall with Qin Luo and Zhe Liu on both sides.
In fact, she had been waiting outside the hall for a long time. Chu Qiao was sure that Chu Jiao would do everything to get her here. After all in the drama Chu Jiao had set up, things would not go as planned if Chu Qiao was absent.
After several steps, Chu Qiao curtsied calmly: "I’m feeling much better. Please forgive me for arriving so late."
Dantai Yunhan eased up a little bit and said softly: "I’m glad that you are feeling better. Please be seated."
Chu Qiao stood still. Instead, she looked straight at Chu Jiao sitting to the left of Dantai Yunhan and said deliberately, "You took the wrong seat, didn’t you, my dear sis?"
Chu Jiao turned sullen in an instant. She managed to put on a smile and answered: "It has always been me who served the Prince during the banquet."
Chu Qiao immediately interrupted her: "This year is quite different, for the Emperor will come in person. As a concubine, do you think you are qualified to sit with His Majesty?"
Speaking of the devil, the eunuch announced in a shrill voice, "The Emperor has arrived."
A man in a bright yellow Dragon Robe strode into the hall. His face was as fair as the jade with delicate features. Holding a sandalwood fan gilded with gold, he has a scholar’s style, which was quite opposite to Dantai Yunhan.
He is the Emperor Dantai Xihe, the elder brother of Dantai Yunhan.
Dantai Yunhan hurriedly got off his seat to greet the Emperor, saluting respectfully with both hands folded and raised in front, "Your Majesty."
All the other people immediately knelt down and saluted in unison, "Your Majesty."
Dantai Xihe spoke softly with a smile: "Please forego all formalities." Looking at Chu Jiao and Chu Qiao, he joked with Dantai Yunhan, "What's the matter, brother? Are you too busy with public affairs to handle your private ones?"
Dantai Yunhan slightly frowned but soon answered in a loud and clear voice with a big smile: "There is no such thing. Please stop pulling my leg, brother. Please come and take your seat."
Dantai Xihe sat down in the middle and snapped his fan shut, "That’s great. Now all of shall be seated, and let the feast begin."
Dantai Yunhan sat down on the right side of Dantai Xihe, and signaled Chu Jiao to sit in a lower seat. Then Chu Qiao went straight past Chu Jiao and unhurriedly sat on the left side of Dantai Xihe.
Chu Jiao had to swallow her grievances and find somewhere else to sit. She swore at Chu Qiao in her mind, and comforted herself that she would get Chu Qiao into a huge trouble soon. She signaled Li Chenxiang with her eyes, and saw her nod slightly, which indicated that everything had been set in place.
The singers and dancers entered the hall in succession, accompanied with a concerto of all kinds of musical instruments. Guests were all merrily indulging in drinking, whereas Dantai Xihe shook his head slightly and said: "I thought there would be something new outside the Imperial Palace, but it turns out to be the same."
Dantai Yunhan poured a glass of wine and responded: "Brother, if you feel that these entertainments are boring, just ask them to get something new. Have you arranged other performances, darling?"
Chu Qiao was enjoying delicacies when she heard him asking. So she quickly wiped her mouth clean and answered: "The Opera Theatre rehearsed ‘The Peach Blossom Fan’."
"It's a novel piece but indecent. I’m afraid that’s not a good idea." commented Dantai Xihe.
Chu Jiao smiled, "Your Majesty, I have an idea. Today is the Prince’s birthday and all of us, present company included, have prepared gifts for him, so why don’t we take a look at all our gifts? Your Majesty have seen countless treasures, which makes you the most qualified judge. Maybe you can pick out the most precious one and broaden our horizons."
Chu Jiao’s suggestion caught Dantai Xihe’s attention, and he nodded: "Sounds intriguing. What do you think, dear brother and sister?"
Oh, she is so impatient eager to take revenge. Chu Qiao sneered in her mind, but still said with a gentle smile, "I totally agree with my dear sister."
Dantai Yunhan immediately nodded and said, "Bring in the gifts."