In the grand hall, the various dishes presented by the imperial kitchen almost all carried auspicious names with the character "phoenix", and they were all extremely novel. As expected, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor tasted them one by one and nodded frequently.
Especially the dish called "The Phoenix Gives Birth to Nine Chicks". As soon as it was served, it inevitably caught everyone's attention.
The Emperor was the first to pick up a chopstickful. After just one chew, his eyes immediately lit up and he praised it repeatedly.
The Empress Dowager also said, "This dish of 'The Phoenix Gives Birth to Nine Chicks' tastes excellent to me, and the auspicious meaning is wonderful. When did the imperial kitchen come up with such a clever idea?"
The Queen, beaming with joy, then told them that it was she who had ordered Chief Cook Li Ying to prepare the dish.
The Empress Dowager found it rather interesting.
A country woman actually had such a broad - minded and far - reaching vision?
She already intended to reward the cook. In high spirits, she even ordered someone to bring Li Ying into the hall for an interview.
This was not Li Ying's first time dealing with these noble people of the imperial family. She kept her eyes on the tip of her nose, her nose on her mouth, and her mouth on her heart. She respectfully performed the grand ceremony of three kneels and nine kowtows.
The Empress Dowager was kind - looking. She simply called Li Ying over and casually asked a few questions about the creative ideas behind the dishes on today's birthday banquet, then left her to stand beside the Queen to serve.
Li Ying answered all the questions smoothly, thanked the Empress Dowager for her grace, and stood there with lowered eyebrows, fully observing the proper etiquette.
She stole a glance around. Although today was a family banquet in the harem, the Emperor, out of his great grace, had also summoned several trusted court officials to attend.
Below Uncle Pei, there were the couple of the Imperial Textile Commissioner Cao. Su Buchi was quietly sipping his tea.
When Lu Xunguang's eyes met hers, he quietly winked at her.
This little innocent gesture warmed Li Ying's heart. She blinked at him in response.
The entire hall of monarchs and ministers was in a jovial mood. The music started, the curtains were lowered, and a graceful figure slowly emerged.
Li Ying knew in her heart that it was A Man's turn to dance.
The dance costume A Man wore today was painstakingly tailored by the Lu family according to the design drawn by Li Ying.
The close - fitting gauze was embroidered with blue - green peacock feathers. Behind the layered skirt, there was a long, fluffy train.
The train was also decorated with peacock feathers and dyed goose feathers, looking fluffy and elegant, almost lifelike.
A Man wore a high headdress on her head, and her long hair was neatly coiled into a spiral bun, just like the raised crest of a green peacock.
As she lightly jumped and moved her hands and feet, each light peacock feather on the dance costume fluttered in the wind. A Man seemed like a peacock princess who had fallen into the mortal world, lively and full of vitality.
Sure enough, as soon as A Man appeared on the stage, she stunned everyone.
She stretched out her right hand, pinching her thumb and index finger together, while the other three slender fingers mimicked the way a peacock's head looked around. Her shoulders, neck, arms, and waist all swayed to the rhythm of the music, like bulrushes swaying in the wind, soft yet resilient; like a spirit snake wandering in the mountains, mysterious yet charming.
Suddenly, A Man bent down, and her long fingernails fluttered in front of her like a cluster of blooming flowers, blooming wantonly and competing for beauty.
The dance she performed was that of a lively peacock. It was self - admiring, grooming its feathers by the water, and then suddenly standing upright, strutting gracefully through the forest.
Every move of hers vividly portrayed a proud little peacock!
A Man's peacock dance was inspired by the green peacocks in her hometown. It depicted the peacocks looking for a mate, playing, getting close, and flying together, vividly simulating the affectionate and tender moments between a pair of peacocks.
She stepped on the drumbeats, dancing and swirling her skirt with abandon, seemingly never getting tired, like a blazing, strange blue - green fire!
At the end, she even did a handstand, with her legs firmly propping up the skirt decorated with peacock feathers. The skirt fluttered, just like the magnificent sight of a peacock spreading its tail!
Li Ying never expected that A Man could be so self - taught. This was also her first time seeing A Man's peacock dance. The vivid and lively posture was not necessarily inferior to that of the peacock dance masters she had seen!
She was completely captivated. Everyone at the banquet was also stunned, seemingly still immersed in the shock brought by A Man's wonderful dance. After a long while, the Emperor finally clapped his hands and laughed, exclaiming, "Good! Good! It's truly wonderful! Reward her!"
Su Buchi said in a deep voice, "The peacock flies southeast, pausing every five miles. I've long heard that the peacock is a loyal and spiritual bird. Today, seeing Miss A Man's peacock dance, it's indeed so."
He glanced meaningfully at Li Ying and Lu Xunguang.
Li Ying was immediately filled with gratitude.
Although Uncle Su seemed to be making a casual remark, in fact, he was subtly reminding the Emperor that she and Lu Xunguang were in love and their love was as firm as the peacocks in A Man's dance.
If the Emperor insisted on breaking up their good marriage, there would probably be two more pairs of resentful lovers in the world.
The smile on the Emperor's face faded imperceptibly.
How could he not understand the hidden meaning in Su Buchi's words?
He sized Li Ying up and down, and a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.
What a versatile and sophisticated girl!
Although her appearance was not extremely outstanding, she actually had the ability to make Lord Lu, Lord Su, and Lord Pei, three of the best men in the world, fall for her?
Such a woman, with just a bit of cleverness, could easily become a femme fatale who would bring disaster to the country and its people!
The Queen seemed to sense something was amiss. Afraid that Uncle Pei would be involved, she quickly stepped in and said, "A Man's peacock dance today is quite interesting."
She turned to the Imperial Textile Commissioner Cao and said with a smile that defused the situation, "I remember hearing from someone that Lord Cao got a 'Peacock Gold Robe' woven with peacock feathers as a birthday gift for the Empress Dowager. Is this the one?"
The Imperial Textile Commissioner Cao had been sitting there, enjoying the show with great interest, waiting for Li Ying to be punished on the spot. But he didn't expect the Queen to call his name. He had no choice but to get up with a forced smile and respectfully bow.
"Your Majesty the Queen has a really good memory. Yes, the gift I'm presenting to the Empress Dowager is indeed a Peacock Gold Robe. Only the most gorgeous peacocks in the world can match the Empress Dowager's noble and graceful appearance!"
An imperial maid had already presented his heavy brocade box. When it was opened, the thick Peacock Gold Robe was resplendent, shining brightly, grand and steady, and incredibly beautiful.
The Empress Dowager gently stroked the peacock gold threads on the robe that emitted a dim, soft light, and said happily, "Commissioner Cao has put a lot of thought into this. I like this Peacock Gold Robe very much."
The Imperial Textile Commissioner Cao was secretly proud, but on the surface, he still looked humble. He bowed his head and kowtowed, saying, "It's my great fortune to have won the Empress Dowager's favor."
After thanking the Empress Dowager and standing up, he calmly sat back in his seat. But then he heard Uncle Pei say in a lukewarm tone, "The Peacock Gold Robe from the Imperial Textile Commissioner in the South is so exquisitely made. I wonder what gift Lord Lu, the new up - and - coming official in the court, has prepared for the birthday?"