Chapter 20: Birthday Celebrations Everyone quickly lined up according to their official rank, and then knelt down to the person who walked in. "I see your Majesty, long live my emperor!" "Greetings to Lord Feng. May Lord Feng be healthy, blessed with longevity, and live a thousand years!" The empress looked majestic and solemn in her dragon robe, with a hint of smile on her slightly tired face. A graceful man was beside her, holding her hand as she walked past a group of ministers. After the empress sat firmly on the throne, she raised her hand to support the ministers. "My dear ministers, please stand up." "Thank you, Your Majesty!——" All the ministers stood up. "Today is Lord Feng's birthday. I am very pleased that you, my dear ministers, can come to celebrate. I have specially set up a banquet to entertain you. I hope you will eat as much as you can and have fun."
As soon as the empress finished speaking, ministers came out to congratulate her on her birthday. "I, Liu Shijie, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, present you with a night-shining pearl from the South Sea. I wish you, Lord Feng, a long life and eternal youth." The empress smiled faintly: "Lord Liu, you are thoughtful." Once someone starts, naturally others will follow to wish him a happy birthday. "I, the Minister of Personnel Pei Han, present a jade Buddha statue to wish you good health and a long life." "Your Highness Yan Fei, the Minister of the Dali Temple, presents to you a golden ruyi, and wishes you good health and happiness, and all your wishes come true." "Your Highness, your Highness, ..." "Your Highness, the Minister of War..." The ministers had been taking turns to congratulate him for most of the day when the shouts of palace servants could be heard from outside the hall. "Her Royal Highness is here!——" "The Second Princess has arrived!——" Everyone looked up and saw two people walking in from outside the hall, one after the other. The woman in front was wearing a bright yellow brocade dress. She was thin, had a pretty face, and a fierce look between her brows. The woman behind him was wearing a blue gown with a white jade pendant hanging from her waist. She had a pretty face, eyes as sharp as an eagle, and a gentle smile on her lips. The ministers hurriedly saluted: "Your subjects pay their respects to the Crown Princess, and to the Second Princess!" Ji Fengwu smiled and said, "Everyone, please stand up. Today is my father's birthday, so there is no need to be formal." The ministers: "Thank you, Your Highness!——" The princess glanced at Ji Fengwu, with a hint of hatred in her eyes. Ji Fengwu bowed to the Empress and Feng Jun who were sitting on the throne. "I am late, I hope your mother and father will forgive me!——"
The empress was somewhat dissatisfied with their late arrival, and her voice was somewhat displeased. "What have you two been doing that took you so long?" Upon hearing this, a hint of guilt flashed across the princess' face. Ji Fengwu glanced at her with contempt on her lips, then raised her head to look at the Empress and Feng Jun with admiration and respect on her face. "Replying to the Queen Mother, I am going to prepare birthday gifts for the Queen Father." As he said this, he asked someone to present the gift and the servant opened the box. Inside are twelve large, round pearls with a crystal-clear color, emitting a fluorescent glow. The ministers were surprised when they saw it, what beautiful pearls! The second princess is so generous! "Father, these are the twelve top-quality oriental pearls that I ordered to be brought back from Jiangdong. I know that you like to take care of your skin, so I specially got these oriental pearls for you. I wish you eternal youth and more youth as you grow older." After hearing this, Feng Jun Murong Hua covered his mouth with his handkerchief and smiled. "Your Majesty, look at how sweet the Second Princess is." The empress looked at Ji Fengwu with a slightly softened look after hearing this: "My prince is thoughtful." Ji Xuan's limelight was stolen. She glared at Ji Fengwu and walked forward unwillingly. "Mother Queen, I also have a gift for Father Queen." When she saw Ji Xuan, the smile on the empress’s face faded. "Oh? What did the princess send?" Ji Xuan showed a little joy on her face, but she said calmly: "This gift from your son is a little special, please turn off the lights, mother." The empress frowned slightly: "This..." (End of this chapter)