This summer is long, and on the fifteenth day, the weather is still hot during the day. Gu Xizhao leaned against the imperial concubine's couch, and Chan'er was wearing a silk fan to her. The father-in-law in charge of the imperial kitchen knelt down and reported to the dishes for today's dinner in fear.

"Empress, the dishes are as you ordered. Except for a boiled meat slice, the other seven dishes are no longer meaty. As for the dessert after the meal, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, mooncakes are considered one, and other... The mama Qiu from the pastry house said that you only arranged mooncakes..."

Gu Xizhao pointed his chin at him, "Hmm? Do you think it's inappropriate?"

"I dare not, I dare not." The father-in-chief quickly moved his eyes away, not daring to look at her. After wandering for a while, he spoke carefully again, "It's just that the palace banquets in previous years have always been particular. This is the first time that the Empress hosts such a big banquet. I'm afraid that it will make people think you..."

The father-in-law in charge was Wu. Since Emperor Gaozong was in power, he has been on duty in the imperial kitchen. His prestige in the palace is not as high as Li Zhongxian, but the imperial kitchen is a fat man. When the harem was lively, most people were rushing to please his concubines.

Although he said this with kindness, he didn't dare to say more blunt words.

Gu Xizhao raised her eyebrows and glanced at him, sat up with Zhu'er's hand, picked up the locust-colored round fan with exquisite jade handles, and sang it all over the place, "This year's autumn tiger is even worse than in previous years. In this hot weather, those sweet and greasy pastries will make a living, and then it will be wasted. The emperor is in the world and is engaged in water conservancy for the people of Jiangnan. I don't know how much money it will cost. The palace lives in the deep palace and has not come up with a way to open up the source. We should always think of some ways to reduce expenses."

Eunuch Wu hurriedly said, "The Empress is thoughtful and she is a slave who is too much."

Gu Xizhao said lightly: "I know you are kind enough, too."

"It is the duty of a slave to protect the Empress."

Gu Xizhao smiled and winked at Zhu'er. Zhu'er knew it and turned around and poured a cup of herbal tea. Eunuch Wu was flattered and dared not take it.

Zhu'er pushed over and said with a smile: "The Empress is the most kind person. It's hot at noon. The Empress is afraid that my father-in-law will get heat when he goes back later. Tonight, my father-in-law is indispensable."

Only then did Eunuch Wu kowtow to Gu Xizhao and respectfully took the teacup with both hands, "Don't worry, Empress, there will be no trouble for the dinner."

"That's going to work hard for you." Gu Xizhao nodded, "By the way, who is responsible for the daily purchase of imperial kitchens now?"

"Back to Empress, this matter has always been under the responsibility of Lord Mo from the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

"Mr. Mo?" Gu Xizhao paused slightly, "Which Master Mo?"

"Mo Hui hopes Lord Mo." Seeing that she was still confused, Eunuch Wu said again: "To be honest, Lord Mo has some relationship with the Empress."

"Hmm?" Gu Xizhao thought about it carefully, but still had no clue. "Tell me, he has something to do with me."

Eunuch Wu said with caution, "It is prepared to say that it is related to your mother's family, Changping Hou. This father of Lord Mo was a subordinate of Lord Changping Hou back then, but in a stop in Mobei, General Mo unfortunately died in the battlefield, leaving only Lord Mo, a fourteen-year-old child. Lord Mo was in poor health and could not replace General Mo to fight on the battlefield. When Changping Hou saw that he was pitiful, he kept him in the capital. Unfortunately, Lord Changping Hou was fighting outside for many years and could not take too much into consideration. Later, when Emperor Gaozong heard about this, he let Lord Mo enter the palace and do some trivial matters in the Interior Office."

Gu Xizhao was a little scheming, but her face remained silent, "So that's it. I have been in poor health since I was a child and have not been by my parents all the time. I really didn't know about this."

Eunuch Wu nodded, "Changping Hou is a low-key and introverted person, and he will not publicize it even if he does good deeds."

Gu Xizhao laughed at it, "The imperial kitchen must be busy today, so I won't leave you for a long time."

He asked his master to issue an order to expel guests, but this was not what he should have been a slave. Eunuch Wu hurriedly curled his expression and took his leave respectfully.

Gu Xizhao watched Eunuch Wu leave the hall, leaning lazily on the couch again, murmured: "Mo-hui-Wang..."

Chan'er listened to her murmur and whispered: "What are the doubts about Empress?"

Gu Xizhao looked up at her, and pointed at the teacup beside her with the index finger coated with impotence juice.

Chan'er quickly brought the tea over and put it in her palm, "If the emperor is curious about this person, the general and his wife will come to the palace today, I will ask you?"

Gu Xizhao waved his hand, "No need. I am just curious."

Not everyone can take responsibility for the purchase of imperial kitchens. They are not the emperor's confidants and will not arrange to go here because there is the most oil and water. If you are not careful, you will be able to lose a lot of money.

The dinner was set up in Taihe Building. The spacious courtyard was built urgently in the middle of the wide courtyard. The dinner dishes were not rich, but Mid-Autumn Festival was a festival. It was too lost to cry for poverty. The royal show that the royal family should have also demonstrated the stinginess of her, the queen.

At sunset, the palace gate became lively. Zhao Huan personally brought the Imperial Guard to greet the palace gate, saying it was a welcome, but in fact it was more like a cross-check. The palace banquet has always been the easiest way to get involved in the rebels. People who enter the palace, regardless of gender, age, must investigate one by one before they can enter the palace.

Before the sunset was over, all kinds of lanterns in Taihe Building were lit. Li Zhongxian and his palace servants registered at the entrance of Taihe Building to register for the family, and then asked the eunuch to take the male guests to the right, and the little palace maids and the female relatives to the left.

Soon, Taihe Tower was filled with people. People who knew each other bowed and greeted each other from afar, or brought the juniors at home to greet each other, laughing and cheering for a while, and it was very lively.

At the same time, Chengqian Palace.

Xu Yingmin never expected that the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner invited by the little emperor was a "Hongmen Banquet". "Your Majesty, I have taken over the water conservancy matter in Jiangnan. I don't know how many wealthy people have secretly blocked the wealth of the powerful. Today I still have to cry in front of everyone. Sima Zhao's heart is like this. These aristocratic families want me to go there on the spot."

"It's so serious?" Xu Yingmin's acting skills were full of emotion, and Zhao Sansi couldn't stand it. He thought that Lord Xu was also very hardworking and making great contributions in Jiangnan water conservancy. Her original intention was to express her gratitude. Now she treats people as a forceful envoy, which makes Zhao Sansi really feel sorry.

However, everyone in the world can be sorry, and the queen still has to follow her words. Zhao Sansi was so symbolic that she felt guilty, and then changed her face in the next moment, "With me here, what are you afraid of? Do you don't believe me?"

Xu Yingmin's heartbeat suddenly stopped: Mom, the little emperor's words are so arrogant.

After a while, Xu Yingmin lowered his head and said with great effort: "I don't dare."

Zhao Sansi glanced at him and sighed hypocritically, "Let you tell me in front of these rich families that there is too much money to build water conservancy in Jiangnan. This is not considered a cry of poverty, but a fact. This project is huge, and I believe you can't predict how much money you have to invest. Naturally, I have to prepare for it."

This is not difficult to understand. Xu Yingmin actually agreed after understanding it. If this standout person is letting him behave, he will agree with it with both hands.

"The emperor's plan is really far-sighted." Flattering is a slap, but there is also a tactful rejection. "But I am not a good person. Even if I say so, no one will respond. According to me, it is probably better to use the Prime Minister's mouth."

As for good friends, they just sell them.

"Your dear words are wrong." Zhao Sansi refuted him without hesitation, "You are responsible for the water conservancy in Jiangnan. Only You know the most about the specific matters. Let the Chief mention this matter as a court official..."

Zhao Sansi paused and looked at him inexplicably, "My dear, I heard that you are good friends with the Prime Minister?"

Xu Yingmin was puzzled, "That's right."

"Then my dear words are to be injustice. The Prime Minister is the minister appointed by the late emperor. Since I ascended the throne, I have relied on the Prime Minister in much of the affairs of the government. The Prime Minister's position in the court seems to be as solid as a god, but in fact it is in danger."

Xu Yingmin's face darkened. He was a smart man who was wandering outside the whirlpool of power in the imperial city and could see through it thoroughly.

How can you let others snore on the side of the bed?

Throughout history, many famous ministers and generals who supported the emperors to take office, but eventually ended up being destroyed by their families.

This is the true way to accompany the king as if he is a tiger.

Zhao Sansi was silent for a moment and spoke again, "I don't know how many people in the court are staring at the Prime Minister. As long as I am full of wings, those who are secretly waiting for an opportunity will rush to pick his fault and alienate our monarch and ministers. If the Prime Minister says this today, he will inevitably be ginseng again, and he will meddle in other people's business."

What she said was too sincere, and Xu Yingmin could not suspect that she was false.

If the little emperor in front of him had not been so blatant about the former concubine Xi Guifei's current queen, he would have doubted whether the little emperor who would consider his ministers was a broken sleeve, and he would have had no idea about their prime minister who likes to pretend to be a cold flower.

Xu Yingmin's moment of emotion made his throat tighten slightly, "Your Majesty isn't afraid, aren't you afraid that the Prime Minister has been in a high position for too long and has he thoughts that he shouldn't have?"

Zhao Sansi chuckled softly, "Are you apart from me and the Prime Minister?"

Once this big hat is tied, it will be a serious crime to lose your head.

Xu Yingmin knelt down, "I dare not."

Zhao Sansi raised his hand and helped him up, his smile faded, "Don't doubt people, no doubt people. Even if he really goes to this point in the future, I must believe in the prime minister at this moment and cannot doubt him. Everyone in the court knows that I am a powerless prince. I can hold the throne firmly and rely on the prime minister. My dear, what do you think I have to be afraid of? In the past, I was vulnerable, and the prime minister did not have any unfair intentions. In the future, I will fight with him again. If he hadn't been too stupid as an emperor, the prime minister would have been in a bad mind."

Xu Yingmin felt ashamed for no reason when she said it, but she was more respectful to the little emperor who seemed to have not grown up in front of her. "It's my stupidity."

Zhao Sansi shook his head, "I am a smart person. Since I trust the Prime Minister, I naturally trust the Prime Minister's vision of others. He can regard you as a confidant, which shows that I am the same person as the Prime Minister."

Xu Yingmin lowered her head and smiled, "I finally understand."

What he understood, Zhao Sansi probably guessed something, but she didn't want to ask now, because Xiao Liuzi came over to report to the empress who was waiting outside.

The first banquet that the emperor and the empress attended together naturally would attend together.

Zhao Sansi, who didn't want his queen to wait for a long time, looked much more relaxed than before, "It's getting late, my dear, let's go to the banquet together."

Xu Yingmin nodded and said respectfully: "I will do my best to serve the emperor."

Zhao Sansi smiled, without saying a word, but looked at Hua Rong outside, "Let the queen wait for a moment, and I will come soon."

When it was dark, Zhao Sansi and Gu Xizhao were in Taihelou. After receiving a gift from the people present, she raised her hand and asked someone to lift her up. She helped Gu Xizhao to sit down and then sat aside.

"Mid-Autumn Festival is a good day for every family to reunite. I think that everyone is reunited. It is better for our monarchs and ministers to gather together to become a reunion for everyone. This is why this moon-watching banquet was born." Zhao Sansi said, waved his hand to the people below, signaling them to sit down, and then secretly went to peek at Gu Xizhao.

Seeing Gu Xizhao looking over with a smile, she quickly shrank her eyes back, looking at the crowd who could not tell who was who, pressing her lips, pretending to clear her throat, and continued: "As the saying goes, it is better to have fun than to have fun alone. Today's festival is gathered, everyone should let go. Finally..."

This time, Zhao Sansi looked at Gu Xizhao openly, reached out to her, and her hands overlapped together. She said loudly: "I work hard every day, and the moon-watching banquet is all up to the queen. Thank you for your hard work."

She accepted it calmly when she was praised by the little fool in private. She listened to these irritable words in front of outsiders, and said, "What the emperor said is the honor of my aunt to share the worries of the emperor."

As soon as she fell, everyone below stood up and knelt down to them to thank him, "Thank you, the Empress."

The cool breeze blows by, and the full moon has climbed into the night sky at some point, with stars dotted, as beautiful as a painting.

Zhao Sansi listened to the thank-you voices below, and then held Gu Xizhao's hand tightly, "Empress, it's Mid-Autumn Festival today."

"Yes, it's Mid-Autumn Festival today."

Zhao Sansi looked at her and said softly: "Chang'e should regret stealing the elixir, and her heart is always in the blue sea and the sky."

This is what the two said last year when they were lying on the roof to watch the moon.

It’s only one year, but now I think back on it, it seems like a long time has passed.

Gu Xizhao lowered her eyes. She never thought that one day she would be able to sit next to the little fool so openly and accept the worship of the world.

"I will not regret it. Last year, this year, every Mid-Autumn Festival or other festivals of all sizes, I will celebrate it with the emperor."

"Yes, I lived together." Zhao Sansi nodded and looked at the person who was still kneeling below, "Flat."

After everyone sat back, Li Zhongxian said in a sharp voice, "The moon-watching banquet begins now, and the rituals and music begins."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone sitting in the corner of the stage played the instrumental music in their hands, and the melodious and cheerful music swept away the solemn atmosphere just now.

Immediately afterwards, a group of eunuchs and palace maids came in one after another with things, which was the dish at the moon-watching banquet.

In fact, few people who came to the banquet came to enjoy the delicacies in the palace, most of them came for this honor, but when they saw the various vegetarian dishes in front of them, they were still surprised. The people next to each other looked at each other with an incredible look, "This..."

Zhao Sansi and Gu Xizhao pretended that they didn't see the reactions of the people below. After the palace servant put all the things on, Li Zhongxian next to him secretly tried the poison with a silver needle and started to dish food for others.

Although they are all vegetarian dishes, Eunuch Wu from the Royal Kitchen still showed his unique skills. The dishes are all full of color, fragrance and flavor. Two of the cold dishes are spicy and delicious, and very appetizing.
To be continued...