The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Xiao Jing came to Zuoyemen and said at the top of his voice: "His Majesty has decreed that instead of going to the morning court today, hundreds of officials will accompany him to the Renshou Palace to congratulate him on his birthday."

Going to Renshou Palace to celebrate birthdays is different from having a banquet in later generations.

Your Majesty will not give you banquets, just put down your gifts and say a kind word, and then you can come out.

Xiao Jing's sharp eyes saw Yan Chengjin's empty hands, "Master Yan, where is your birthday gift?"

"Excuse me, Eunuch Xiao, please tell your majesty to allow the craftsman to enter the palace. My birthday gift is too big and I can't move it in." Yan Chengjin said.

What a gift, you can't move in alone?

You have a lot to do.

Xiao Jing did not dare to show his disgust and agreed.

Yan Chengjin continued: "I would like to be the last one to present a gift to the Empress Dowager, and I would like to ask my father-in-law to arrange it."

"Okay, I'll make arrangements for you." Xiao Jing said in a long voice.

Li Dongyang and others looked over one after another. What he sent was a handwritten birthday message, but they were curious about what Yan Chengjin sent.

The wide courtyard next to Renshou Palace.

Empress Zhang personally organized the birthday banquet and invited a theatrical troupe outside the palace to entertain the Empress Dowager.

Next to the Queen Mother Zhou sat Emperor Hongzhi, and even the Queen Mother, who was chanting sutras and chanting Buddha's name, also came and sat down.

Emperor Hongzhi said angrily: "Why don't you see the prince?"

This scoundrel will not sneak out of the palace again.

Wei Tai, the eunuch in charge of Kunning Palace, said: "Reporting to your Majesty, the prince is in the dining room, and my servant will go and urge him right now."

Princesses from various vassals came in one after another to congratulate them on their birthdays, and the eunuch in charge of the Renshou Palace read out birthday gifts.

"Prince Xing presented a picture of a lady, a pair of mutton-fat jade walls, and a pair of high-quality jade huangs with animal masks."

Princess Xing walked up to the emperor and bowed slightly: "Prince Xing and Princess Xing, I wish the Queen Mother good health and long life."

Empress Dowager Zhou nodded, smiled and said, "Give me a seat."

Princess Xing also bowed to Emperor Hongzhi and Queen Zhang with all the courtesy.

Emperor Hongzhi glanced at Princess Xing lightly, and Queen Zhang smiled and said: "Sit down."

Princess Xing was overjoyed and wanted to sit next to Queen Zhang.

Unexpectedly, Queen Mother Zhou said: "Princess Xing, that is reserved for Princess Shou."

Princess Xing's face turned slightly red and she quickly stood up to apologize: "I was rude."

Queen Mother Zhou didn't take it seriously, and soon another princess presented a gift. After Princess Ning took her seat, it was Princess Shou.

As soon as Princess Shou arrived, Empress Dowager Zhou's smile grew stronger, and she even invited her to the front of the palace and looked at her carefully for a long time.

Although Princess Shou is not as beautiful as Concubine Lou, she can be seen to be a gentle and kind person.

Queen Zhang took one look at her and liked her too, and chatted with the Queen Mother about her daily life.

"Sun Chen Houzhao, congratulate the Empress Dowager on her birthday, and wish the Empress Dowager a long life." Zhu Houzhao brought up the cake with a smile.

Empress Dowager Zhou smiled with a bright smile on her face: "The Ai family has not seen you all this time, and I am worried about you. Are you going to prepare a birthday gift for the Ai family?"

In her opinion, Zhu Houzhao was lucky if he didn't get into trouble.

"Yes, this is longevity cake. If you eat it, the Emperor and Queen will live a long life."

Emperor Hongzhi was a little worried: "Did you do this?"

"Of course it was done by my son."

Emperor Hongzhi was a little worried. Can the food made by this traitor be eaten?

Zhu Houzhao said happily: "Grandma Huang, please try it."

Xiao Jing tried it and made sure it was not poisonous.

Under the worried eyes of Emperor Hongzhi and Queen Zhang, Queen Mother Zhou took a bite and then said: "It's delicious. The emperor, queen and all the princesses should also try it."

Xiao Jing ordered people to divide it, and Emperor Hongzhi chewed it gently, and it tasted pretty good.

Zhu Houzhao said: "What did Lao Gao offer?"

"Your Highness, Yan Chengjin hasn't come to celebrate his birthday yet." Xiao Jing replied.

Emperor Hongzhi estimated that it was time for all officials to come to celebrate his birthday.

At this moment, Xiao Jing trotted in and said, "Your Majesty, the officials are waiting outside."

"Let's get started, Her Majesty can't wait to watch the show."

Before the play begins, all the officials have to celebrate their birthdays, and there is no banquet in the harem to avoid extravagance and waste.

All the officials may not be willing to spend a day with the Queen Mother here.

Therefore, Emperor Hongzhi summoned the princesses to the capital to make it more lively.

Xiao Jing hesitated and said: "Yan Chengjin begged Your Majesty to allow the craftsman to enter the palace. He said that the birthday gift was too big and he couldn't move in."

What does this boy want to offer?

Emperor Hongzhi raised his head slightly, looked at Xiao Jing, and said, "It's accurate."

After a while, it was the officials' turn to congratulate them on their birthday.

First, Liu Jian, the cabinet scholar, and then Li Dongyang and Xie Qian put down their birthday gifts, said another birthday greeting, and then withdrew.

Yan Chengjin was waiting in the team.

It was only when the birthday ceremony was held that I found out how rich the officials were.

Emperor Hongzhi was a little impatient after hearing this. There was nothing special about these birthday gifts, but he wanted to see Yan Chengjin's.

"Why haven't you seen Yan Chengjin yet?"

Xiao Jing hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, Mr. Yan said that he will not give the gift until the end."

Emperor Hongzhi looked puzzled. What was this guy going to do? The prince was nowhere to be seen.

He was a little angry and didn't want to show up at the birthday banquet, so he winked at Mou Bin.

About half an hour later, all the officials congratulated themselves on their birthday.

Li Dongyang, Xie Qian and others did not disperse, but surrounded Yan Chengjin.

Yan Chengjin bowed and said, "Masters, why don't you go on duty?"

"I want to see what you have to offer. Today is the Queen Mother's birthday banquet. You are not allowed to mess around." Wu Kuan said.

Li Dongyang and Xie Qian were interested in Yan Chengjinxian's things.

I'm not in a hurry to return the room.

I saw four craftsmen carrying something in the distance, which looked like a bed, but it was different.

Li Dongyang was surprised: "What is this?"

"Sofa." Yan Chengjin said.

Xie Qian and Li Dongyang were a little confused. They had never heard of a sofa among the many household items.

And it looked ordinary.

Yan Chengjin bowed slightly: "I am going to celebrate the birthday."

At this time, in front of Renshou Palace,

Emperor Hongzhi waited for a long time. Seeing that no officials came up to celebrate the birthday, he curiously said: "Is it Yan Chengjin's turn? I want to see what he presents."

The eunuch in charge of Renshou Palace began to sing.

"Yan Chengjin, the censor of the Censorate, presents a set of sofas."

Yan Chengjin bowed slightly: "I wish the Empress Dowager a long life and many great-grandchildren."

Emperor Hongzhi and Empress Zhang looked confused. What is a sofa?

I saw four craftsmen carrying something forward. It looked like a chaise longue, but it was very different.

The princesses were surprised that someone was presenting household items at the Empress Dowager's banquet.

Yan Chengjin said: "The throne in the palace is hard, so I want to make this set of sofas and present it to the empress dowager."

The sofa is made of cowhide and mahogany, and is filled with sponge.

The most important thing is the shape. Sitting on it is much more comfortable than the chaise longue and Luohan bed.

Zhu Houzhao took two steps forward: "I will try it for the empress dowager." As he said, he sat on the sofa and rolled on it, enjoying it very much.

Emperor Hongzhi coughed dryly.

Zhu Houzhao knew that his father was angry, so he got up quickly, and Empress Dowager Zhou sat down with the help of everyone.

The princesses stared at Empress Dowager Zhou's face closely.

I saw that Empress Dowager Zhou actually smiled, and Princess Xing was jealous. She had just presented three heavy gifts, but she had never seen Empress Dowager Zhou smile like this.

"I don't want this sofa." Empress Dowager Zhou said.

The princesses had different expressions, and Emperor Hongzhi's face was stiff. Zhu Houzhao was thinking about how to help Yan Chengjin out.

Yan Chengjin's heart skipped a beat, and he was ready to offer the spare gift, the black jade.

At this moment, he heard Queen Mother Zhou say again: "This sofa is excellent, send it to Kunning Palace. The Queen is pregnant with royal blood, and there can be no mistakes."