Chapter 102

The east wind is thawing, the rain is peach blossoms, the stinging insects are humming, the mysterious bird is approaching, it is another spring, and the cycle begins again and again.

This spring is just the beginning of an ordinary new year, but for hundreds of officials in the capital, foreign palaces, various civil and military yamen, and even thousands of people in the Wei Dynasty, the 26th of next month is a special occasion for the whole country to celebrate Festive day.

This year is the sixth year of Zhaoping, and the twenty-sixth day of the next month is the day of the emperor's five-tenth birthday.

Today, seven years have passed since he ascended the throne. In the private comments of the ministers, although there is a suspicion of severe punishment and harshness and inhumanity, the emperor has cultivated his life and rested for many years, and he has been on the throne for many years, and he has never been happy. , Diligent in government affairs, never slack at night, now the world is at peace, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. This is obvious to all. Therefore, on his fifty-nine-thousandth birthday, ministers continue to submit tables, suggesting that the world should be pardoned. Congratulations, let's pray for the emperor's birthday together.

The emperor has always lacked interest in his own birthday. Every year is on the sun, but he pays sacrifices in the ancestral temple, and the officials do not congratulate him. This is the case every year, but this year, he may be older, or it may be a full birthday Because of this, the emperor was uncharacteristically and did not speak out against it, so after the Lantern Festival, the Ministry of Rites and Zongren House took the lead, the subordinates Taichang Temple, Guanglu Temple, and Honglu Temple cooperated, and the other five departments, the nine ministers of the imperial court, all let go. All things are ready for the longevity celebration on the 26th of next month. The items proposed by the ministers, such as building altars, building rituals, and building temples to pray for longevity, were all rejected by the emperor. Only last year, the southeastern coast also achieved a great victory in the war against the Japanese. Nearly 10,000 Japanese pirates were killed, and thousands of prisoners were captured. The rest were like lost dogs. They fled back to the Japanese country in panic. The Japanese war on the coast that had plagued the coast for many years was finally cleared up. In front of the Chengwu Gate, a ceremony of offering prisoners was held to celebrate the emperor's longevity and publicize the prestige of the country.

In the middle of the night, the third watch was approaching. Li Yuangui hurriedly entered the hall with a watch in his hand. With a slight joy on his face, he quickly walked to the entrance of the hall. down?"

The little eunuch said in a low voice: "Long live is a little short, and there are not many memorials. After the approval of the Hai Shi, I stopped."

Li Yuangui played the watch in his hand, and glanced at the inner hall again. When he hesitated, he suddenly heard the emperor's voice from the depths of the dark inner hall: "Is it Li Yuangui?" The voice sounded slightly hoarse.

Li Yuangui hurriedly responded, put the playing watch in his arms, went inside, lit a candle, walked to the dragon bed, raised a hanging curtain, and hung it with a gold hook.

Xiao Lie opened his eyes and sat up slowly. Li Yuangui saw that there was a layer of sweat on the back of his white shirt, which was attached to his back, and a layer of water light appeared on his forehead, as if he had just woken up from a dream.

Xiao Lie took it and slowly wiped his forehead.

"Long live, your head still hurts? You must take care of your dragon's body. Don't take the stupid words of those confused people! The imperial doctor also said, Long live is the anger of anger and anger in the heart. , the body will naturally be better."

Since last year, Xiao Lie's body has gradually not recovered for the first few years. She sleeps lightly at night and has headaches from time to time. came back from the court today during the day, and it hurt for a while. The reason is the longevity celebration. During the court meeting, when the ministers were discussing the preparations, the Hanlin scholar who was also a Zhan Shi actually played on it, saying that the East Palace is related to the national system, and it is a major event of the court. However, it is vacant so far, and the courtiers are all anxious. The abolished prince has been on guard for many years. hope that the emperor will take this opportunity of longevity to recall him with grace, give him some education, and help him benefit.

Although this memorial did not mention the restoration of the abolished prince, the meaning of it was self-evident.

It has been seven years since the emperor ascended the throne. The only prince, who was abolished from the throne of the prince, was sent to the ancestral land to guard the mausoleum. During these years, there has been no movement in the harem. According to rumors, the emperor's harem seems to be a fake, and it has never been called in the past few years. slept with concubines. The courtiers have no waves on the surface, but secretly have all kinds of speculations, and undercurrents are surging underneath. Especially in the past two years, courtiers have paid more and more attention to this matter, and some people have gradually speculated that the emperor should intend to restore the crown prince, but he could not find a suitable opportunity. There was a watch on the plane, thought would like to figure out the holy will, but never imagined that the emperor heard it, and was furious, and he dismissed Zhan Shi on the spot, the court staff was thirty, and then he went to the court in a rage. , leaving Manchu civil and military or trembling, or inexplicable. When the emperor returned to the harem, he also had a headache, and the imperial doctor came over and tossed it for a while before slowly recovering.

Xiao Lie didn't answer, wiped his sweat, dropped the sweat towel, and asked, "Why did you come here in the middle of the night?"

Li Yuangui hurriedly said with a smile: "Long live, the birthday congratulations from the Longyou Jiedu yamen were delivered overnight. The slave remembered the order of Long live and did not dare to press it down, so she brought it here..."

Xiao Lie immediately turned his head and looked at Li Yuangui. Li Yuangui took out the lacquered congratulatory form from his arms and presented it with both hands respectfully.

The emperor stared at it for a moment, took it slowly, turned on the paint, made a decision, and finally took out the congratulatory form inside.

A thin piece of paper with only a few words on it. The emperor glanced at it, his eyes were fixed for a moment, and he remained motionless for a long time, and his eyes gradually showed a kind of anger mixed with disappointment. He threw the congratulatory watch in his hand on the ground, and sneered: "I knew it! It really is!"

The congratulatory watch fluttered to the ground and fell in front of the dragon bed.

The emperor's longevity and grand celebration, all the provinces outside the palace and the civil and military yamen of the seventh grade or above that cannot enter the capital, according to the system, all the chief officials will lead the subordinates to perform birthday celebrations on the spot, and after the completion, they will be sent to the table.

Li Yuangui held his breath, glanced at the congratulatory form, and caught a glimpse of the last line of words: "...respect the emperor's longevity and holy festival, honor the gods, and honor the heavens. ."

It is the general speech that officials of this dynasty have always used to congratulate the emperor on his longevity. There are not many words, not many words. During these days, dozens of similar congratulatory forms are sent from various yamen and yamen in each province every day. The content is the same, the only difference is the name of the chief.

Li Yuangui knew Pei You'an's font and recognized that it was written by him himself, not by his staff, so he was a little relieved, picked it up, and smiled: "Long live, don't think too much. This is a longevity congratulatory table, which has always been used in all provinces. There are regulations, how can Mr. Pei be ingenious and different? I must not forget it in my heart. Long live, you look at the font. It is written by Mr. Pei. Every word, the handwriting can be followed. Respectful."

Xiao Lie didn't say a word, he settled down slowly, walked to the north window with his shoes on, pushed open the window, facing the dark night sky, and stood facing the north.

Li Yuangui didn't dare to speak any more, he just stood by with his hands down, and suddenly he heard the emperor say, "Cui Yinshui, is there news about the child recently?"

"Long live, it was the letter that came at the end of last year. The servant has already forwarded it to Long Live. There is no new news. If you miss Long Live, the servant will send the letter and order him to report it."

The emperor was silent for a moment, then said: "The child was born in Zhaoping in the third year of spring, and now he is three years old. I really want to see him."

"I will be fifty years old next month. My grandson, it's time to come back."

He turned around, looked at Li Yuangui, and said slowly.

Li Yuangui knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "The slave and maid lead the order."

...

In the spring, in Suye City, the snow and ice gradually melted, and in a few days, it will be the Spring Festival.

At the Spring Festival, merchants from all over the Western Regions and customs will gather in Suye City to exchange goods. Wine, jade, medicinal materials, iron and iron from the Western Regions, silk, cotton cloth, porcelain, and even Hu people and horses from the customs, all kinds of goods, all kinds of goods, in the half month, the merchant camel team and the horse caravan came and went. Incessantly, people from all over the world have come to the market with their families and their mouths. The liveliness of Suye City is almost comparable to that of Guanzhong City.

Because Suye City is located at the intersection of the main roads, this kind of spring fair where merchants gather to trade, has existed more than ten years ago, but the scale has not been large and there are not many people, and it will be completed in three or two days. It was during the past three years that Pei You'an took office as the Jiedu envoy of Longyou, and became famous in the Western Frontier. He moved the government office to this place, and encouraged merchants from the Western Regions and Guannei to come and trade here. The Spring Festival in Suye City attracted many people. The businessmen who came here expanded rapidly and lasted for ten days last year. Although there are still a few days left before the fair this year, but in the past few days, businessmen have begun to arrive one after another. point.

All businessmen who come to the city to trade must first go to the Jiedushi Palace in the north of the city to register and make a register. Therefore, in the early morning, the documents with tables and chairs placed in front of the gate of the government are busy, and the merchants come and go. Incessantly, there were quite a few people who were reluctant to leave after registering, staying nearby, looking for a way out, hoping to be introduced in, so that they could meet the well-known Jiedu envoy.

The front of the government office was so lively, but in a small school field behind it, it was very quiet. A boy came here early in the morning and started his daily practice.

The boy was only three or four years old. He was wearing a light blue shirt, with a handsome face, and his hair was combed in two knots. It was placed on the left and right sides of the top of his head, like two little horns. He looked very cute. A stick of incense, put up a horse stance.

This is the homework given to him by his father. His father said he had turned three since last month. To start school. Every morning, read a book and write a word, and every day, went to the small school field to put a stick of incense sticks on the horse, and then practiced shooting twenty arrows.

Today's meeting, his father couldn't accompany him for business, the little guy came by himself, as usual, according to the posture taught by his father, he put on a horse stance, and he looked like he was.

The sun gradually rose, and the incense became shorter. As soon as he practiced, the boy's forehead soon burst into sweat. An attendant next to him, with a white face and a shrill voice, was the eunuch Cui Yinshui, who is now with him. This young master has been struggling for three years, and he is very distressed when he sees it. He looked around and saw that the male master was not there. He hurried to the front of the incense, puffed up his two cheeks, and helped blow the incense vigorously. He was out of breath and rolled his eyes. In this weather, sweat broke out from his back, and he could be considered to have finished blowing the incense. He took a long breath, turned around, and said happily: " Little son! Look, I'll blow the incense for you! Today's horses are ready!"

The boy was Pei You'an's son, but he didn't seem to hear it. He continued to squat on Ma Zha, his body motionless, and his eyes only looked at the black shadow cast on the ground by the weapon rack in front of him, until the shadow and the corner of the wall touched the ground. Together, I stood up straight and kicked my slightly sore calves: "Cui Ban'er, if my father comes and asks me if I have practiced a stick of incense, I will say you blow the incense for me. , I have to look at the shadow of the sun the day before yesterday, and I don’t know if I am full of incense sticks.” There was also a milky voice in the voice, which sounded soft, but Cui Yinshui was not too frightened, and said “oh” , squatted and knelt on the ground, smacking his mouth alternately with both hands, "I'm calling you a bitch!" with a sad face, "Little son, please forgive me this time. Next time I won't dare!"

The boy watched him slap his face a few times, then went up, took his hand away, and said, "Cui Ban'er, I know you are good to me, but I don't like this. I promised my father's business, I It must be done! I was just trying to scare you. But next time, if you do this again, I will be really angry!"

Cui Yinshui nodded vigorously, and the boy smiled. He picked up a small iron bow that his father had made for him from the weapon rack, stood on the ground a few feet away, shot an arrow, and pulled the bowstring. The target in front, shoots arrows.

With a sound of "Boom", the arrow nailed into the target, although it was two inches off the center of the bullseye, but at a young age, his eyes and posture were unusually calm, and he had the demeanor of everyone.

The boy shot an arrow. Seeing that the arrow missed the center of the target, he continued to practice arrow after arrow. He had already reached 20 arrows, but he seemed to be suffocating and continued to practice. , took off his coat again.

Cui Yinshui watched, and felt distressed for a long time. He wanted to go up and do it for himself, but this time he didn't dare to make a sound. He just stayed by the side and helped the child pass the arrow. A slender woman in her early twenties, with bright eyes and misty temples, wearing an autumn-colored bottom skirt, it was a little cold because of the wind, so she came out and put a short white fox-collar shawl with a goose-yellow bottom embroidered begonia pattern on her shoulders, which was extremely beautiful. , come this way. Hearing the footsteps, Cui Yinshui turned his head and saw that the mistress was coming, with a happy expression on his face, he hurried up to meet her, and made a gesture.

Ci'er just turned three years old last month when she was carried by Pei You'an to the school grounds. Jiafu was also distressed. She stopped her at first, but her son didn't accept her love. The grown-up went out for something, and was worried, so he came over by himself, saw his son laying arrows and arrows there, and called out. When Ci'er heard that, seeing her mother coming, she hurriedly put down her bow and arrow and ran over.

Jiafu hugged him, saw the sweat on his face, touched him, and the back was also sweaty, distressed, and hurriedly took out the handkerchief to wipe the sweat for him, asking if he was tired.

In front of her father, Ci'er looked like a little adult, but when she arrived at Jiafu's place, she returned to the appearance of a soft little person, hugged Jiafu's neck, leaned her little face over and nodded.

When Jiafu saw the red marks on the palms of his small hands by the bowstring, she felt very distressed, and couldn't help complaining about Pei You'an in her heart. asked Cui Yinshui, knowing that he had already shot the twenty arrows prescribed by Pei Youan, so he took his son back to the house, helped him wipe his body, and changed his clothes inside and out.

Muxiang brought a bowl of dim sum, Jiafu personally fed him, Ci'er ate two bites, Yang Yun came to ask to see, saying that the birthday gift and the birthday banner had been sealed, handed over to Kuaiyi, and sent to the capital.

The emperor passed his 500,000th birthday, and the whole world congratulated him. The news reached Longyou early, but Pei Youan only sent out a congratulatory form in the form of an official document. Other than that, he didn't say anything, and he was still busy every day. Jiafu hurriedly made a birthday banner, and made a longevity suit by herself. In the name of the Longxi Jiedu envoy, she asked Yang Yun to send it back to Beijing.

She made birthday banners and clothes, and she did not hide it from Pei You'an, and she specifically told him to see it that day. He glanced at it, then walked over with a straight face. Seeing that he didn't object, Jiafu asked Yang Yun to send it out.

After Yang Yun finished reporting, he backed out. Jiafu continued to feed his son, but saw Ci'er blinking her eyes and asked curiously, "Mother, where is the capital? What is the emperor like? Why does Mother give it to her on his birthday? He makes clothes? I saw it that day, why is Daddy so unhappy?"