My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 211 Birthday Banquet (2)

Amidst the hustle and bustle, Gao Chi's birthday banquet arrived.

The guards from the prefectural garrison started preparing several days in advance.

Under the direction of the Ministry of Rites, the landscape design and location were arranged...

In the past, I also participated in and organized various banquets, both large and small, but compared to now, I was just a junior member.

The birthday party was held in a large garden called Chunhe Garden.

The garden is filled with pavilions and towers, their glazed tiles gleaming in the sunlight. Exquisite jade stones are inlaid among the carved beams and painted rafters. Artificial hills and flowing water are arranged in a well-organized manner among the pavilions and towers, and the lake reflects the white clouds in the sky and the palace not far away.

In the middle of the lake stands a pavilion, surrounded by lotus leaves and blooming buds.

A stage was set up in the garden courtyard, and fruits and snacks were placed on the tables on both sides for people to enjoy.

The main venue for the birthday banquet was a larger area in the garden, which was also the place guarded by the Prefectural Guard today.

Lin Ziping and his group arrived two days in advance. They first arranged their positions and then familiarized themselves with the various procedures of the banquet.

The general requirements are to kneel when it's appropriate to kneel, to clap when it's appropriate to clap, to be polite and to convey emotional value.

The area was about the size of a basketball court, and it was separated from the outside world by a light gauze curtain. Lin Ziping and others stayed outside the gauze curtain.

The center of the venue was left empty, presumably for song and dance performances.

The highest position in the entire venue is at the very top, while the other positions are arranged in a circle with tables placed in a staggered manner.

Given Lin Ziping's previous experience in setting up tables and chairs,

Having perhaps become a familiar face, Lin Ziping was fortunate enough to become an unofficial member of the event team, continuing to move tables and arrange chairs.

Once he got started, Lin Ziping discovered something extraordinary.

Although Lin Ziping appeared calm, he felt like a country bumpkin visiting the Grand View Garden, occasionally letting out a screeching sound like a groundhog.

The desk and chair were made of huanghuali wood and were carved with exquisite patterns.

The small ornaments on the table next to me are from Ru ware, and the chopsticks and spoons are made of silver.

The flowers displayed in the corner were actually peonies, herbaceous peonies, and azaleas in full bloom...

When setting the table, Lin Ziping didn't dare to use too much force. This was all money; what if he bumped or knocked it over?

They were very careful when placing the flowerpots, because at this time of year, if even one of these flowers broke, there was nowhere to buy it again.

Looking at the scene before him, Lin Ziping guessed that this might be the imperial garden of the palace.

The main birthday banquet begins at 5 PM.

But Lin Ziping started guarding the place from the hour of Chen (7-9 AM).

This time, the location was close to the main entrance, and there was a sweet osmanthus tree overhead, its lush branches and leaves perfectly blocking the sunlight.

As the hour of Wei (1-3 PM) approached, Chunhe Garden gradually began to come alive.

The sounds of opera singing drifted from the stage, occasionally mingled with the melodious sounds of musical instruments and the laughter of young girls.

Laughter and cheers could be heard from the neighboring courtyard.

Although no sound could be heard from the pavilion in the middle of the lake in the distance, the shadows and figures moving about made it look quite lively.

At this time, no one had come to the courtyard where Lin Ziping was guarding, and everyone was not standing very properly.

When no one is watching, move your body to scare away the mosquitoes and flying insects around you.

At 3:15 PM, musicians and singers, each carrying their own instruments, followed the officials from the Imperial Household Department into the room in an orderly fashion.

At 3:45 PM, eunuchs dressed in blue palace robes entered the courtyard carrying trays of ice, followed by palace maids in cyan palace skirts, carrying fresh fruits and sweet snacks.

At three quarters past Shen time, plates of delicacies wafted past Lin Ziping, the lingering aroma making his mouth water and his stomach rumble.

To avoid going to the toilet, everyone has only taken turns drinking a sip of water since Chenshi (7-9 AM), and we didn't feel anything was wrong until now.

Now, smelling the aroma of food filling the air, I feel both hungry and thirsty.

"Gu..."

Suddenly, a sound came from the side.

Lin Ziping was not the only one suffering from hunger, as they were all in the same boat.

Lin Ziping secretly glanced at the person next to him.

To everyone's surprise, he was covered in sweat, and his body trembled from time to time.

"What's wrong?" Lin Ziping asked quietly when no one was paying attention.

The man slowly turned his head and forced a smile: "I'm fine."

He doesn't look like he's alright. Could this guy have caught a cold?

Lin Ziping frowned slightly: "Why don't you tell the manager that you should go and rest first?"

"Need not."

"Alright," Lin Ziping turned around and silently took a few steps.

Keep your distance, or the virus might fall to the ground.

At 3:45 PM, people gradually entered the courtyard, and the place became lively behind them.

Lin Ziping lowered his eyes, trying to make his presence less noticeable.

The banquet officially began at 5:00 PM.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

With a shout of agreement, the sound of a stool being moved could be heard from behind.

This has been practiced; it's time to kneel!

Lin Ziping quietly wiped the sweat from his hands and glanced at the ground for any small stones.

If I kneel down and bump my knees, it will affect my work efficiency later.

A splash of bright yellow came into view.

"Long live the Emperor!"

Lin Ziping mouthed the words and quickly knelt down.

I glanced to the side and thankfully I was in rhythm with the group.

"All of you, rise. Today is the sixth prince's birthday banquet. There is no need for such formalities. Please rise."

"rise--"

Another voice sang in response.

This is also a code; it's time to thank them and get up.

"Thank you, Your Majesty—"

Lin Ziping mouthed the words and slowly stood up.

At this point, you must carefully control the speed at which you get up; too fast and it will seem insincere, too slow and it will seem too unconventional.

Lin Ziping kept to the rhythm, following the key points of the movements, lifting his leg, straightening his back, raising his hand...

Just as he was about to stand up, a dark shadow pressed down on Lin Ziping!

"Ah—" Lin Ziping exclaimed, instinctively backing away, but lost his balance and fell to the ground.

"How dare you!" A rebuke followed Lin Ziping's exclamation.

Lin Ziping's mind went blank, and he stared blankly as he raised his head.

After a long pause, he realized the occasion, scrambled to his feet, knelt, and kowtowed repeatedly, crying, "Your Majesty, spare my life... Your Majesty, spare my life..."

The courtyard was silent, and Lin Ziping could hear his own voice pleading for mercy.

"What's going on?" This was Gao Chi's voice.

Lin Ziping touched the ground with his forehead and lay prostrate on the ground, motionless.

As the loud noise subsided, I felt someone approaching from the side.

Instantly someone answered, "That person fainted!"

"Where is the manager?" That was the voice that had been chanting earlier.

A moment later, a man came out trembling and knelt beside Lin Ziping: "Your Majesty... forgive me... it was... it was me... it was this servant who failed to discipline him properly..."

This is an undeserved misfortune.

Lin Ziping kept his forehead touching the ground, his mind clearer than ever before, and he even had the mood to observe the ants crawling on the ground.

At this moment, a child's voice rang out: "Father, when is Sixth Brother going to eat? I'm so hungry!"

"Chi'er, today is Xiaoman, which is also your birthday. Don't let this trivial matter spoil your mood. Everyone is waiting!"

This must be the emperor's voice.

"Yes, Father." Lin Ziping raised his head slightly and saw Gao Chi bowing to a figure in bright yellow robes.

I heard soft footsteps.

It must be His Majesty the Emperor entering with his entourage; I could faintly hear a bell ringing.

Suddenly, Lin Ziping felt something touch his foot.

As I was thinking, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

"My ball—" came the child's voice from earlier.

Lin Ziping pressed his forehead closer to the back of his hand.

"Fourth brother, he's lying down just like the dogs in my palace, hahaha..."

Lin Ziping was taken aback upon hearing this, slowly straightened his back, and looked up just in time to see Gao Chi waving his sleeve: "Take him away..."

Someone immediately stepped forward and dragged Lin Ziping away.