The banquet for the old madam began at mid afternoon and every free servant in the house was running around to design the family hall. The pillars in the hall were
freshly polished until they gleamed in the lamplight and at the far end of the hall stood the seat of honor upon a slightly raised platform. Behind the seat of honor hung a large silk screen painted with a serene landscape of mountains and mist, symbolizing wisdom and endurance and before the seat rested a long lacquered table decorated with vases of plum blossoms and chrysanthemums. Plates of longevity peaches made from sweet dough, along with ceremonial fruits and incense burners, were arranged carefully as offerings of respect. The ceiling beams were draped with ribbons of red and gold silk that swayed lightly whenever servants passed through the hall. Along the walls stood tall bronze candle stands and lantern poles, ensuring the room glowed warmly even after sunset. Fine woven mats and carpets covered the floor so that the footsteps of guests remained soft and graceful. Throughout the hall, low banquet tables were arranged in orderly rows with a set of porcelain cups, jade colored bowls, and polished chopsticks resting on carved holders shaped like tiny dragons.
As the sun continued to drop, invited guests began to fill the family hall and by late afternoon the party was in full swing. After some light refreshments and entertainment, the time arrived for relatives and distinguished guests to present their gifts and the first guest to present their gift was the Grand Chancellor who was a good friend of Ye Shin Ye's father.
Standing up with regal posture and a humble aura, the Grand Chancellor said "I, along with everyone else gathered here today, knows that the Old Madam of the Ye family values gifts that embody true sincerity." and the old madam and Ye Shin Ye's father smiled.
"So I spared no expense in getting this one of a kind jade sculpture made from the best sculptor in all of the Da Xia region." The grand chancellor said and a servant came forward with a jade sculpture thrice the size of a fist.
"The Grand Chancellor is most gracious. Your sincerity and generosity honor our household deeply." Ye Shin Ye"s grandmother said with a smile of gratitude.
"Greetings to the old madam." said a court official with his hands before him in a standing bow.
"I know that the old madam values gifts with sincerity so I hope that the old madam will accept this humble gift." said the court official as he presented rows of the finest fabrics to the old madam.
"Your generosity honours our household deeply." The old madam said with a smile as her servants took his gift also.
Court official after court official, and noble men and women, presented their gifts one by one and not long after, it was time for relatives to present their gifts.
The first relative to present her gift was Ye Shin Ah. Stepping up with a cream hanfu with light pink accents and a peach blossom hairpin, Ye Shin Ah drew eyes with her innocence and femininity.
"Greetings to Grandmother." Ye Shin Ah said as she did a standing bow.
"Don't stand on ceremony." The old madam said with a fond smile.
"Ye Shin Ah thought long and hard about what to give you on this very special day but could only come up with this-" Ye Shin Ah said as her personal maid brought the embroidery work of Ye Shin Ye that featured a mighty crane with golden thread that almost looked life-like, pine trees and the Sun.
"It's beautiful." whispered a noble lady as the man beside her nodded.
"The old madam is truly favoured." whispered another noble woman in the crowd.
"Like a crane, I wish grandmother long life and longevity. With the pine trees in the background, I wish grandmother harmony with nature and with the sun in the background I wish grandmother a wise life lived in balance." Ye Shin Ah said as she did a formal bow to show filial piety.
"With this humble gift Ye Shin Ah wishes grandmother a happy 60th birthday." Ye Shin Ah said with a smile and everyone in the hall clapped.
"What filial piety!" a scholar said as he clapped.
"Now this is how a daughter of the Minister of Revenue should behave." a noble woman said in the crowd.
"With talent and beauty like this there isn't anyone who won't be lucky enough to marry her." another noble woman said as the males nodded in agreement.
"The Old madam is so favored" said another noble woman and the Ye family glowed with pride.
The next relative to present their gift was Ye Shin Ye and her appearance alone left a deep impression on the guests present. Stepping up with a light purple hanfu with silver accents and dangling tassel hairpins that dangled along the side of her face, Ye Shin Ye created an imposing but elegant aura that drew everyone's attention.
"Greetings to Grandmother." Ye Shin Ye said as she did a standing bow.
"Don't stand on ceremony." the old madam said as she took in Ye Shin Ye's appearance.
"The gift Ye Shin Ye presents you today is an embroidery piece that has been prepared by Ye Shin Ye and great monks across the Da Xia region." Ye Shin Ye said and the audience looked at Ye Shin Ye with anticipation.
"Knowing that your birthday banquet will be soon, Ye Shin Ye went to thirty monks with ages above fifty to stitch the characters for longevity and prosperity with gold wrapped silk thread." Ye Shin Ye said and everyone gasped.
"Gold wrapped silk thread." whispered guests.
"Isn't gold wrapped silk thread hard to find for even the princesses of the Da Xia region?" guests muttered.
"The Ye family has yet another filial daughter." the crowd whispered as they marveled at the Ye family's luck.
Clapping her hands to signal her personal maid to bring in the scroll, Ye Shin Ye and everyone in the crowd waited for the scroll to be brought in but when nothing happened after twenty seconds the air in the banquet stilled and Ye Shin Ah asked the question that had popped up in everyone's mind.
"Big sister, are you sure you prepared a gift for grandmother?"