In the following days, Yun Shang was not in the mood to care about the background of Xia Houjing and Liu Yinfeng. The imperial banquet was approaching day by day. Although Yun Shang had two madam to help her, as the Empress, she couldn't completely leave all the matters to others, so she had been busy these days. A few days passed quickly thus.
On the new year's eve, Yun Shang got up early in the morning, but there was no one in the bedroom. Hearing that it seemed to be very lively outside, Yun Shang put on her cloak and walked outside to the hall. The servants in the Weiyang Palace were already there being busy with the spring festival couplet, windowsill, door god and spring painting. Seeing Yun Shang get up, Qian Zhuo ordered Pei Lan beside her, "Her majesty has got up. Put up the window flowers in the bedroom as well."
Pei Lan replied in a hurry. Then she went into the bedroom with the window flowers and the words "lucky" of various sizes. At this moment, Su Mu was standing in front of the door, holding a spring couplet and spreading his hands there, "Sister Qian Zhuo, look at this. Is the picture hanging straight?"
Qian Zhuo quickly stood far away to have a look. Then she waved her hand and said, "It's not right. Move it a little bit to the left."
Su Mu followed, but Qian Zhuo said again, "Oh, too much. Move it back a little more."
Yun Shang was watching there and couldn't help laughing. The snow fell heavily last night, and the yard was covered with a thick layer of ice. Though the snow had stopped, it was colder than usual. But she didn't feel cold at all when she saw the festive atmosphere.
Qian Zhuo commanded Su Mu to put up the spring festival couplet. She then turned to Yun Shang and said, "I've asked someone to prepare breakfast
x crown are so heavy that they are a torture for me if I have to wear it for half a day. I feel tired even by imagining it. "
All the people in the room burst into laughter. Madam Qi responded and said, "Then ask Madam Qiu to tell you what you need to do at the banquet. Prepare everything you need to do first, lest you meet trouble in your work."
Yun Shang nodded. Madam Qiu stood out and said slowly, "The new year's Eve banquet is a little different in time from the other banquets. The other ordinary banquets will start in the evening, but the new year's Eve banquet will start from the noon. The banquet will be held in the Taiji Palace. At the top of the palace, the Emperor's banquet table is set in the South facing the north while the Empress' is set in the East facing the west. At the foot of the stairs, there was a banquet table for the leaders of the inner palace in the East, and a banquet table for the courtiers in the West. From midnight on, music will be played in the corridor. The Emperor will enter the palace, and then your majesty will enter the palace with the concubines. Master Liu will knock on the Gold Bell to announce the beginning of the banquet. "