The New Year bell rang, and the capital was filled with the New Year atmosphere.

The happiness of the people in this era is very simple. You only need to be able to wear new clothes and have a good meal, and the whole family sits together and talk about everything. This is the biggest joy in life.

As for officials who always think about fighting for power, they all return to their families. No matter how tense they were in the officialdom earlier, they were all silenced in the face of this rare festival and enjoyed this rare leisure time.

At the New Year's Eve, the entire capital seemed to explode.

The crackling sound of firecrackers sounded almost at the same time, from the south to the north, from the inner city to the outer city, a pungent smell of gunpowder was everywhere.

Facing the official arrival of the second year of Longqing, everyone's faces were filled with bright smiles and they had different expectations for the new year.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the officials in the capital and capital were like hardworking little bees, but they brought gifts to all the great people early to celebrate the New Year.

"Yang Zhiqing, the head of the Ministry of Works of the Ministry of Justice, came to greet Mr. Lin!"

"Zhong Moqi, the young minister of the Guanglu Temple, came to greet Mr. Lin!"

"Li Yiyuan, the Minister of the Right Tongzheng, came to pay New Year's greetings to Mr. Lin!"

...

As the years have changed, this year the place that is not flooded is no longer the Xu Mansion in Huaishu Hutong, but the Lin Mansion in Lingshi Hutong next door. A large group of officials handed the gifts in front of the Lin Mansion.

.

Not to mention that Xu Jie's power has declined. As Xu Jie chose to move towards the Imperial Protection Party, more and more officials resolutely chose to join Lin Junran's command.

There are all kinds of things that cannot be said in the officialdom. Although Taizu abolished the prime minister system, everyone hopes that there are leaders who lead them to restrict the eunuch party and the emperor and protect their fundamental interests.

Since Xu Jie chose to please the current emperor, there was no need for them to support Xu Jie anymore, and instead chose this position and ability Master Lin.

A group of Qingliu realized that yesterday's morning court had arranged a lesson for Xu Jie. Although he did not come to pay New Year's greetings in person, he also sent a New Year gift to Lin Qingran.

It is precisely because most officials used their actions to recommend Lin Yanran to replace Xu Jie as the new leader of the civil servant group and lead them to assist the emperor in managing the Ming Dynasty.

The door of Lin's mansion was already open, and the butler Lin Jinyuan received greetings and gifts from visitors from all walks of life at the door, and officials were constantly coming and going around.

Lin Pingchang got up early in the morning as usual. He originally wanted to go out from the gate to play, but he looked at the watery gate, but he had to choose to leave from the back door.

Lin Qingran also got up early and sat upright in the living room, constantly meeting some valuable officials, and also tried to meet as many useful officials as possible.

"The officials are very careful to follow the teachings of the old master!" When many officials faced Lin Shiran's preaching, they bowed modestly.

Lin Weiran is proficient in local governance, criminal investigation, etiquette, financial management and military affairs.

He could talk to officials from all yamen to a few nutritious words. This made these officials secretly admire Lin Weiran's knowledge, but he was even more impressed by Lin Weiran.

When a person's status is high enough, even if he farts, it will be delicious. Moreover, Lin Weiran benefits from the information explosion era in later generations, and can hit the core of things in just a few words.

That's true, even a very short meeting, with his status, reputation and talent, it is enough for Lin Qingran to leave a good image for the other party.

During this period, he couldn't hold back his urge to pee, so he hurried to the cottage to solve the problem, and then returned to the living room to continue to entertain officials who came to the door one after another.

Generally, officials who can take the initiative to come to the door have the intention to surrender, but Lin Weiran intends to become the leader of the civil servant group, which can be said to be "a man has a love, but a concubine has a desire."

Compared with the relative desertedness next door, Lin Weiran was frantically experiencing favorability through this rare festival, and also tacitly accepted the surrender of some middle and senior officials.

When it was almost noon, no officials from the Lin Mansion came to visit, and Lin Yanran also changed into a brand new official uniform and rode a sedan chair to the Forbidden City.

If the Jiajing Dynasty was a period of "abolition of rituals", and the current Longqing Dynasty was a period of "restoring rituals", traditional rituals were being held again and grandly.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year in the second year of Longqing, Beijing ushered in a sunny and good weather.

All officials gathered in front of the Meridian Gate, listing neatly squads like participating in the morning court, and the five cabinet masters stood in front of them in a row.

As the voice of a eunuch "The Emperor Xuan Jian" came from Wulou, the officials walked inside together.

Originating from the fine tradition of the Chinese nation, the emperor, as the head of the imperial family, would also invite the ministers below to attend the family banquet, thereby bringing the relationship between the monarch and the minister closer.

But after all, it is an imperial family, but it cannot use "invitation" like ordinary families, but it is called "giving a banquet".

There are many different types of banquets, such as Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, while New Year's Day, Winter Solstice, and Wannian Holy Day are three major festival banquets, which are also the most solemn banquets.

Last year, we should have returned to routine, but it happened to be in the funeral period of Jiajing, so it was delayed for a year. This year was the first New Year's Day banquet in the Longqing Dynasty.

Following the morning court, all civil and military officials walked into the Forbidden City one after another, and came to the Huangji Hall, and shouted long live to the mountain that appeared next.

Long Qing thought it was a bird that could fly, but he didn't expect that he would face the officials today. He couldn't help feeling a little bored, but he raised his hand helplessly and said, "Flat!"

Fortunately, today is not a court meeting, and there will be no quarrel between officials below, and then they will insist on asking him, the emperor, to judge them for them.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xu Jie and other officials got up from the ground one after another, but faced a Emperor Longqing who was finally a little energetic, rather than the sleepy bug sitting on the dragon throne and yawning all over the sky.

Longqing finally enjoyed the comfort of sleeping in today. He just came from Man Meiren, and his mental state was unprecedentedly good.

Chen Hong, standing next to the red lacquer cylinder, looked at Zhang Juzheng, the Minister of Rites, and said with all his heart and responsibilities: "The officials began to congratulate you!"

"I wish you good luck and prosperity to the throne and the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty!" Under the leadership of Xu Jie and five other cabinet ministers, all the officials immediately knelt down again and congratulated each other.

Long Qing was about to make the officials flatten, but as if he suddenly remembered something, he put down his half-lifted hand again, secretly sweating for almost making a mistake.

Chen Hong faced the officials kneeling on the ground and sang in his unique voice: "The officials gave me a congratulation gift, please ask the five ministers to lead the officials!"

However, it is impossible for all officials to present congratulations one by one, so this specific ceremony has always been completed by several tyrants of the current dynasty.

Lin Weiran, Guo Pu and other cabinet masters did not make any noise, but they turned their heads and looked at Xu Jie on the far left, and still wanted to put the cabinet chief first.

Xu Jie still knelt on the ground and raised the congratulations and gifts that had been prepared long ago and said, "Your Majesty, the old minister knows that the priests are good pearls. Now I offer a hundred pearls to wish the priests good health and prosperity, and the country of Ming Dynasty will flourish!"

Hundred pearls?

When the officials in the hall heard Xu Jie present the gift, they couldn't help but look at each other. Although they didn't know the size of the pearl, they would definitely be extraordinary for Xu Jie to take it out, and they couldn't help but feel secretly shocked.

However, they knew in their hearts that Xu Jie was no longer willing to seek fame as a virtuous minister, but he wanted to win the holy family and completely defeat Lin Junran.

Now that he is interested in Longqing, he is already nakedly fighting for the holy family, just like he forcibly rebuilding the Wanshou Palace for Jiajing when he was under some infamy.

"This gift... I have accepted it!" Long Qing looked at the box of huge pearls in surprise. After a little hesitation, he chose to accept it directly.

Although he is the lord of a country, the Ministry of Revenue has blocked his expenses and has been unable to ask for money from the Ministry of Revenue, which has always been difficult for him to ask for money.

Now seeing this heavy gift from Xu Jie, I couldn't help but feel a lot more favorable to Xu Jie. However, I found that this old assistant is really good, and I don't blame my father for using it all the time. I am a capable person.

A good prime minister who can share his worries.

When Chen Hong saw Long Qing being happy, he couldn't help but reminded softly: "Emperor!"

"Yes, reward, and reward jade Ruyi!" Long Qing immediately reacted and rewarded him.

It is not polite to come but not come back. Now that Xu Jie presents a gift, Long Qing also needs to give a gift back. However, compared with Xu Jie's gift, this gift back undoubtedly seems very shabby.

"Thank you for your kindness, long live my emperor!" Xu Jie naturally knew that today was a loss-making business, but he obviously felt Longqing's kindness, but he knew that this move won the emperor's favor.

Li Chunfang and Guo Pu seemed to behave properly and gave appropriate gifts.

Although they also knew that Longqing loved money, they were all considering their reputation and it was impossible to give him a heavy gift. Besides, they did not have the financial resources of Xu Jie, nor did they have the ambitions of Xu Jie.

When it was Lin Qiran's turn, many officials behind couldn't help but look at Lin Qiran with concern. Although they hoped that Lin Qiran could give Xu Jie a heavy gift, they knew that this was inappropriate. After all, even if Lin Qiran won, he would lose.

Xu Jie's mouth raised slightly, and he turned his head and looked at Lin Yanran provocatively.

Lin Junran seemed not to notice Xu Jie's complacent gaze, and presented the congratulatory gift seriously and said, "Your Majesty, my family is not well-off, but only some literary talent. I am presenting a new work to wish you good health and prosperity to the Ming Dynasty!"

When Pan Sheng, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, and others heard Lin Xuran's gift, they couldn't help but nodded secretly. They already favored Lin Xuran more. This is the style that the leader of the civil servant group should have.

When Xu Jie heard Lin Weiran's calligraphy and paintings, he first showed a hint of disdain on his face, and then he seemed to suddenly think of something, and his face looked very shocked.

Longqing was disappointed when he heard that Lin Weiran had only given him a painting and calligraphy. He found that Lin Weiran was not as generous as he was when he was in Prince Yu's Mansion.

"Your Majesty, the starting price of this calligraphy and painting in the joint auction house is 50,000 taels, and it will never fail to sell it!" Chen Hong reminded in a low voice when he presented the calligraphy and painting.

"ah?"

Longqing's eyes lit up slightly. Although he had known that Lin Weiran's paintings were valuable, he did not expect that they were worth as much as 50,000, and he couldn't help but feel ecstatic.

Seeing that Longqing was happy again, Chen Hong had to remind him softly again: "Emperor!"

"Gemaster Lin, you have made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty. I will give you a python robe!" Long Qing realized that he wanted to reward Lin Qingran, so he announced the reward he had already finalized.

Give a python robe?

When the officials in the hall heard this reward, they were stunned and then felt relieved again.

Although this reward is surprising, thinking about the great victory in Shanxi hosted by Lin Weiran last year, coupled with the stability of the nine sides in the second half of the year, it can only be said that this is a belated reward.

"Damn it!"

When Xu Jie heard this reward, he clenched his fists and said angrily.

This python robe was given by Long En, who had never been before from Yuan Wei and Wu Shan. Now it has been obtained by this kid, and Lin Weiran's status will be even more prominent in the future.

As soon as he thought of this, his murderous intention became even stronger. He knew that Lin Qingran would never be left. If he did not try to get rid of Lin Qingran now, his Xu family would definitely take the next step in the Yan family.

When Guo Pu heard of this reward, he was also a little jealous.

Just thinking about Lin Junran’s actions over the years, especially presiding over the great victory in Shanxi to rescue tens of thousands of people from water and fire, he undoubtedly deserved this gift of a python robe, at least he is more qualified to wear a python robe than Xu Jie.

"I thank you for your kindness, long live my emperor!" Lin Qingran was actually quite surprised, and even said with kindness in a regular manner.

As the five cabinet elders presented congratulations and gifts, then the officials presented their congratulations and gifts directly, which was considered to have completed the congratulations of the officials.

When Chen Hong saw the congratulations and gifts from all officials, he immediately said with a loud voice: "The emperor has an order! All officials are loyal and sincere. Now I will give you a banquet to all officials!"

Unlike the five cabinet masters who gave the gifts in kind, other officials could only get a "feast".

"I thank you for your kindness, long live my emperor!" Under the leadership of Xu Jie and five other pavilions, he thanked him again.

As Longqing left, all the officials followed the officials of Guanglu Temple who were in charge of the New Year's Day banquet to the banquet place and came to an open area full of banquet tables.

The banquet table is divided into four grades: serving table, top mid-table, middle-table, and lower-table. The meals on each table are also different.

Lin Weiran is on the table, and the table is placed on the table: "Tea food is like raw small flowers, fruits are like five kinds, fried five kinds, phoenix chicken, double stick bones, large silver ingots and big oil cakes, wine is like five kinds, dishes are like four colors, soup is three kinds, cluster two

Big steamed buns, horse, cattle, sheep, meat rice, and five minutes of wine.”

But everyone's attention is not focused on the food and food, they are all paying attention to their words and deeds, but they follow Longqing's eating rhythm.

Etiquette has long penetrated into the bone marrow of this dynasty, and many things have a fixed process. A big banquet requires nine wines, and music and dance are required during this period.

Longqing looked in a good mood while sitting above. He was already his home court. He also raised his glass and shouted: "Drink!"

"Drinke together!" The officials followed and raised it up and responded.
Chapter completed!