freenovelworld Chapter 282 End of 226 BC
Chapter 282 End of 226 BC
After fulfilling her duties of presenting red paper to the King of Qin and posting couplets at Zhangtai Palace, Ying Wuyou did not linger. Instead, she hurriedly returned to Chaohua Palace with the couplets bestowed upon her by the King. Upon arriving at the palace, she eagerly took out the couplets and summoned a young eunuch to post them at the main gate outside Chaohua Palace. Afterward, Ying Wuyou began to gather Ying Yunman and others to make dumplings together.
Before long, Ying Yunman, Ying Gaolu, Ying Gaoshan, Ying Lingyuan, and others arrived at Chaohua Palace one after another. As soon as they reached the palace entrance, their eyes were drawn to the striking couplet. Ying Gaolu, filled with curiosity, couldn't help but ask, "Jiayang, who wrote this couplet?"
Ying Yunman, who was standing to the side, couldn't suppress her questions either, and pressed on, "That's right, none of us wrote such an exquisite couplet yesterday! And look at the calligraphy, it's much better than any of ours."
Faced with the curious gazes and questions from the crowd, Ying Wuyou smiled and replied softly, "This was written by my father himself!"
Upon hearing this, the group gasped in unison. Ying Lingyuan exclaimed excitedly, "Wow, it was actually written by Father! That's amazing!"
Ying Gaoshan smiled and exclaimed sincerely, "Jiayang, it has to be you! Only you are so deeply loved by the King!" The others cast envious glances at Ying Wuyou, feeling immense admiration and envy for the couplet bestowed upon him by the King of Qin.
For a time, the entire Chaohua Palace was filled with laughter and joy. Everyone talked about the couplet and then enthusiastically went into the palace to make dumplings together.
The idea of making dumplings was new to everyone present, and they were incredibly curious! Under Ying Wuyou's guidance, the experienced chef prepared a variety of fillings, colorful and fragrant, making them truly mouthwatering. Meanwhile, several other people were busily kneading dough and making wrappers, creating a lively scene.
Seeing that the preliminary preparations were almost complete, Ying Wuyou smiled and said to everyone, "Haha, let's officially start making dumplings!" Hearing this, everyone responded enthusiastically and followed Ying Wuyou's actions. They carefully picked up a dumpling wrapper, then used chopsticks to place a suitable amount of filling on it, and then began to try their best to pinch the dumpling closed.
However, these seemingly simple steps were actually quite difficult to complete! Some people put in too much filling, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't pinch the dumpling opening closed; others accidentally used too much force and tore the dumpling skin, spilling most of the filling out; even more interestingly, some people made dumplings with bizarre shapes that didn't resemble dumplings at all. Nevertheless, although things didn't go smoothly at first, and doing such manual labor was indeed a bit "unbecoming" for these pampered young masters and princesses, they still felt a great sense of accomplishment when they saw their dumplings becoming more and more beautiful.
Just then, someone, unable to resist the temptation, suggested that everyone try some. So Ying Wuyou had the dumplings prepared and cooked in boiling water. Once cooked, the dumplings were brought to the table, and everyone began to taste them. And once they tasted them, they all devoured them with gusto. After all, there was still plenty of time before the evening banquet, so they ate the dumplings they had made themselves, praising them endlessly as if they were the most delicious food in the world.
After enjoying the steaming hot and delicious dumplings, the group rested briefly before getting back to making dumplings. Although the initial novelty and fun had worn off after a long time, and they were even a little tired, they became increasingly skilled and happy with each task. Their hands moved with increasing dexterity, their fingers deftly manipulating the dough and filling, and soon they had created exquisitely shaped, beautiful, and tempting dumplings.
Time flew by, and finally all the dumplings were made. Before they knew it, night fell, the lights came on, and the annual New Year's Eve banquet was about to begin. So, the group returned to their rooms, carefully dressed and groomed themselves, and then excitedly headed to the feast.
The banquet was arranged exactly the same as last year, featuring a sumptuous feast alongside a spectacular performance. Attendees included not only noble princes and nobles, but also the families of high-ranking officials. However, this was not all; representatives of the common people were equally indispensable at this grand banquet.
Recalling last year's banquet, due to the rushed schedule and hurried preparations, most of the invited representatives could only be found from the surrounding areas of Chang'an. This year, however, is quite different. Through meticulous organization and arrangements, many representatives have traveled from all over the Qin Dynasty, some even traversing mountains and rivers, enduring long journeys, just to personally participate in the Qin New Year's banquet. They are filled with anticipation and excitement, hoping to experience the prosperity of the Qin Dynasty and express their hopes and wishes for a better life in the new year to the court.
On stage, musicians played melodious tunes, dancers performed captivating dances, singers sang their hearts out, and acrobats performed daring and thrilling acts... The spectacular program kept the audience entertained.
Ying Wuyou sat at the table, watching the performance with great interest. Suddenly, scenes from the Spring Festival Gala she had watched before flashed through her mind. For her, the most anticipated part of the Spring Festival Gala every year was the humorous and witty skits. However, at this moment, in the Qin Dynasty, although the banquet was exceptionally lively, the lack of skits made it seem slightly lacking in a joyful atmosphere.
Just as everyone was immersed in the joy of the show, and as the performance drew to a close, plates of steaming dumplings were carefully brought to the table by the waiters. Upon seeing this, Ying Wuyou quickly stood up and stepped forward, smiling as she introduced the dishes to the guests: "Ladies and gentlemen, this final, grand finale is the dumplings we just made ourselves. Dumplings symbolize good fortune and abundant wealth. We hope you all enjoy them!"
Upon hearing this, everyone turned their curious gaze to the plates of glistening dumplings before them, eagerly picking one up and savoring it. As the rich, delicious flavor spread across their tongues, satisfied and happy smiles appeared on everyone's faces, and they praised the delicacy endlessly. For a moment, the banquet hall was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation, overflowing with a festive atmosphere.
As the wonderful performance came to a close, the plates of delicious dumplings were all eaten clean. King Qin, pleased with the scene, stood up and delivered a passionate speech to the assembled ministers and representatives of the people. He reviewed the glorious achievements of Qin in the past year, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for everyone's hard work, and encouraged them to continue their courageous advance and expansion in the new year.
The King of Qin's words resonated in everyone's hearts, filling them with immense excitement and pride. Amidst enthusiastic applause, the grand banquet finally came to a perfect end. And in this jubilant atmosphere, time quietly slipped away, and in the blink of an eye, 226 BC had come to a close. Looking back on this year, the Qin state had weathered countless storms and challenges, yet it still maintained its formidable strength and vigorous development.