Yan Junyu, lost in thought, watched Mo Yan across from him enjoying his meal, and suddenly understood why Xiao Ruiyuan would force himself to eat what he disliked, and also realized where his own defeat lay.
He would never, for the sake of a woman, like his friend, force himself to eat things he didn't like, to do things he didn't enjoy… This outcome, perhaps, had been determined long ago!
As Xu Time arrived, over a hundred palace maids and eunuchs carried trays of delicacies, bustling through the grand hall. Mo Yan, attending the Imperial Family's New Year Banquet for the first time, was full of curiosity about the banquet's cuisine but to prevent the dishes from cooling, they were all covered, concealing the food and leaving only the wafting aromas to hint at their ingredients.
Only after Emperor Huian raised the first cup of wine and drank together with the civil and military officials, did the New Year banquet officially begin!