As the end of the year approaches, Jinling has entered an atmosphere that is quiet on the surface but deeply restless.
Beijing officials who live in other places began to buy gifts. They would take leave to return to their hometowns during the Chinese New Year. Because of the inconvenience of the road, officials from Daoyuan usually only returned home once every two years, but even last year
They have been back before, and they plan to return home this year. This year, the old year and the new year are over, the dynasty has changed, and after a great turmoil, the officials who survived were deeply touched and cherished the existence of family ties even more. The filial sons wanted to show up early.
In front of the parents' court, so as not to make the elderly people miss you.
All the six departments and offices are busy with the year-end inventory and summarizing the year's affairs. Although they are busy, because the new year is approaching, the people coming in and out are full of peaceful joy, and the faces of people who are usually serious about talking and laughing are also different at this time.
Soften down.
If we say busy, then the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites are busier. The Department of Examination and Examination of the Ministry of Personnel is busy conducting examinations and evaluations of officials at the central and local levels so that the emperor can reward them, especially as the New Year is the first year of Yongle.
, after this period of familiarity, the emperor must re-adjust the officials of the six ministries and nine ministers, and each department. The merit examination is an extremely important reference, so that even a small official in the official department now has a bustling family, constantly
There were various officials coming in and out, many gifts were received with smiles, and the officials in the Ministry of Human Resources were smiling more.
The Ministry of Etiquette is also very busy. At the beginning of the new year, the royal family celebrates the New Year, worships ancestors, and reunites the clan. It has its own set of royal etiquette. After the Yongle period of Yuan Dynasty, the celebration etiquette became more complicated. Princes and feudal officials from all over the country have successively sent
People have returned to the court to see their emperor. After receiving the notice from the Ming court that the new emperor has ascended the throne, some foreign envoys have also sent envoys. The envoys are rushing to the capital in a hurry, hoping to catch up with the grand celebration of the first year of Yongle and make a pilgrimage to the country.
Son of Heaven.
Xia Xun has been quite busy these days. During the day, he spends most of his time at the construction site of the Great Baoen Temple. There are now 60,000 to 70,000 migrant workers here. In that era, it was very important to summon so many migrant workers to participate in the project.
The city is extremely vast, especially at the feet of the emperor. The emperor is also very concerned about the place where so many people suddenly gather. If someone takes the opportunity to cause chaos, or mismanagement causes a fire, Xia Xun, the official in charge, will be imprisoned.
.
Every day, he has to urge officials from the Ministry of Industry to settle money and food, stop construction projects one after another, and repatriate service workers in batches to their hometowns for the New Year. Accompanied by the Wucheng Military and Horse Division and Yingtian Mansion, he also inspects the residential areas of the workers to ensure that they use
Fire safety. In the evening, he also listened to his subordinates who came from Shuangyu Island to report to him the various profits obtained from radiating smuggling by his smuggling network to Japan, North Korea and even the entire Southeast Asia, and reviewed the income and expenditure accounts.
After calculating the income and expenses and profits, rewards must be paid. Qianlong members are also human beings. Even if they work as ground mice, they still need to reunite with their families during the Chinese New Year. The salaries that should be paid must be calculated clearly one by one and paid in advance.
Go out. In the past, Xie Yufei helped him with these things, so Xia Xun almost didn't have to intervene, but now that Xie Xie is pregnant, excessive mental use is not good for pregnant women, so basically he can only do this alone.
The Feilong secret agent is a private soldier affiliated with the emperor. It is a force that does not exist publicly but the emperor is very aware of its existence. This aspect is easy to handle. Xia Xun only needs to ask the relevant personnel to calculate the various expenses for the New Year.
Just ask the emperor for approval and the internal treasury will allocate funds. Now that I think about it, although Luo Kedi's free-range method of raising secret spies is not very efficient, it does not have these troubles, which makes Xia Xun very envious.
Everyone in the court is busy, and so are the people.
Jinling was the imperial capital of the Ming Dynasty. There were many merchants and travelers from all over the country. Nowadays, people are returning to their hometowns one after another. There is an endless stream of people on the water and dry roads who are in a hurry to return home.
The common people want to celebrate the New Year, and it seems that the Japanese pirates also want to celebrate the New Year. The common people want to buy new year's goods during the New Year, but the Japanese pirates celebrate the New Year while carrying out larger-scale plundering. After the Fifth Army Governor's Office formulated a plan to exterminate the Japanese pirates, it has already joined the Ministry of War and conveyed the order to
He mobilized the coastal guards and carried out a coordinated attack on land and water. However, according to what Xia Xun heard from the people who came to Shuangyu to report the accounts, the results seemed not to be ideal.
The Ming Dynasty's maritime territory was so long that it was like a giant sleeping there, and the Japanese pirate gangs were like a swarm of mosquitoes, harassing them everywhere and impossible to guard against. Once the coastal guards gathered heavy troops, they had no deterrent effect, but they were unable to deal with them.
Japanese pirates caused effective damage.
The Japanese did not want to capture military fortresses, but to rob money, food, women, and even children. Once the officers and soldiers were assembled, they could not defend such a large area of land. Often after they heard the police and sent troops, the Japanese would have burned, killed, looted and fled.
.If the troops are dispersed, the small Ming army will be at a disadvantage in the confrontation due to the bravery of the Japanese.
The Guanhaiwei, Taicangwei, and Shuangyuwei who own sea ships are even more exhausted. A general who has never touched the sea or even seen a larger lake can't think of anything he can do even if he uses his imagination to the fullest.
How difficult it is to find a team of Japanese pirates in the vast sea that don't want to confront you. Even with the speed of ships, radar scanning range, and aircraft reconnaissance radius hundreds of years later, it is almost impossible.
The task was accomplished, not to mention relying on those wooden sailing ships.
Xia Xun didn't know very carefully, but what he heard about the situation already gave him a headache. However, there was nothing he could do about it, and he couldn't even discuss it. Because ordinary people, if they heard that the war was not going well, they would
He could drink a few cups of yellow soup and talk happily while drinking, but due to his special status, he couldn't.
When he reaches his position, there are too many relationships that need to be maintained in all aspects, up and down, and he must be especially careful not to interfere in matters outside his own field. Unless he goes to the Metropolitan Procuratorate to be the imperial envoy, he will not be able to ask everything. You can
Imagine that the Minister of Land and Resources went to the Ministry of National Defense to criticize the military leaders about a conflict between the two countries on the border. Has he ever commented on it?
If he wants to be a superman who can take care of everything, he will definitely leave nothing but scum in the end. However, he is trying his best to pay attention to all aspects of things, whether inside or outside Beijing, including everything that happens in the East China Sea, because he is looking for
An opportunity to break away from the whirlpool of contention. The tree wants to be quiet but the wind is not stopping. As long as he stays in the capital, with the energy he possesses, he will inevitably become the target of competition between the two sides. He cannot stay aloof.
Of course, getting involved and supporting a certain prince, given his status, may not necessarily lead to death, but the risk of losing is far greater than what is gained, so what reason is there to get involved?
"Chong'er can survive outside!" His best choice was to go out. But to go out, he needed an opportunity and a name. Before that, he could only walk carefully between the two princes, neither
Act too enthusiastically, get stuck too deep, and be unable to get out even if you want to, and don't make them feel like an "enemy."
These days, Xia Xun tried his best to deal with the two princes carefully. Fortunately, nothing happened. However, the patience of the two princes was gradually running out, and the pace of forcing him to express his stance was getting faster and faster. Xia Xun
Xun could hardly stand it any longer.
All these things have made Xia Xun feel a little depressed recently, and she feels really exhausted both physically and mentally.
Xie Xie and Zi Qi noticed that their husband had been worried recently, so they became extra gentle and considerate towards him. Although Zi Qi's eyes were hot and Xie Xie was pregnant, she still pestered her husband all day long in all kinds of ways. Although she was still the overbearing five-year-old in front of others.
The female descendant of Hu Duanmen Sword, but several years of marriage have turned her into a gentle and considerate young woman who knows both cold and hot.
Today, Xia Xun had a busy day at Dabaoen Temple. When he returned to his house, Zuo Dan was already waiting there.
Xia Xun asked Zuo Dan to sit down together, had a quick bite, and then went to the study together. Zuo Dan followed Xia Xun's instructions and collected all aspects of information every day and reported them to him one by one. This has become a routine. Xia Xun
While drinking tea, I listened carefully and jotted down the key points on paper if I was interested.
At the end, Zuo Dan said: "By the way, there is one more thing. The queen has revealed that she wants to recruit a county horse for the little princess of Zhongshan Palace."
"oh?"
Xia Xun paused with his pen tip and made a big black dot on the paper. Huo Di raised his head and asked: "Recruiting a county horse?"
Zuo Dan smiled and said: "Yes, today is the day when Mrs. Gaoming enters the palace to pay her respects to the empress. The empress revealed the news. Now the news has spread in Jinling City. All the civil and military ministers who have marriageable men at home are here.
What about Zhang Luo? Duke Ding and the Duke have always been close to each other. I thought that the Duke should also pay attention to this matter. If the princess marries an official who does not get along well with the Duke, what will happen?
There will always be some influence with Guo Gong."
"Um!"
Xia Xun lowered his head again and scribbled on the paper, but he had no idea what he was writing. He hesitated for a moment and asked: "How many people want to get married to this family...how many people do you want to marry?"
Zuo Dan said: "Yes, this commander's horse is different from the prince's consort. There are not many restrictions. The princess's sister is also the queen of the dynasty. This marriage is very hot. Even the princes and nobles who do not want to marry the princess, the first grade
The officials are all very enthusiastic about this matter. Some officials who heard the news are not qualified to tell the Queen, and are now looking for connections to make peace with others."
"knew!"
Xia Xun responded lightly, feeling so confused that he didn't even know how to answer Zuo Dan when he stood up to say goodbye.
It wasn't until there was a soft "click" from the door that he calmed down and took a closer look. He saw that a piece of paper had been painted into a black fan surface and was ready to be used to write gold letters.
Xia Xun put down his pen, balled up the paper, threw it into the wastebasket, leaned back on the chair and let out a long breath.
His mind kept replaying Ming'er's voice and smile, from the little girl dressed in fluffy clothes like a little white rabbit, waddling lively on the snowy peak of Yanshan Mountain; to the cat-like charming sneaking up on him
Next to him, with a pair of small hands, she cupped his cheeks, and with a soft, dreamy voice, she sweetly confided to him, "Uncle, I like you so much!"...
Aren't you thinking, long-term pain is worse than short-term pain? Hasn't the goal been achieved? Why is it that my heart feels empty and has a feeling of loss?
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
Xia Xun was wandering boredly in the courtyard when a melancholy flute sound suddenly came to his ears. He listened for a while and then walked along following the sound of the flute.
The flute is a Qiang flute, and the music is full of an exotic style, with a sad and sad feeling.
Xia Xun walked over and realized that the sound came from the residence of two Qiuci girls. Their residence was to the west of Su Ying's courtyard, in the most remote corner of the mansion. At night, there were few people there and there were no lights, which made it look more complicated.
Xia Xun then remembered that he had left them here to fend for themselves since he took them back to his home, and he hadn't even bothered to do anything about them these days.
He walked to the small courtyard where the two of them lived, and saw a ray of light coming from the main room, so he walked over. When he reached the door, he heard the sound of the flute stop inside, and the two girls exchanged questions in a language he did not understand.
Say something, there was silence for a while, and then the faint sound of the flute sounded again.
Xia Xun pushed the door open, and the door creaked. The two girls inside heard someone and exclaimed "Ah". One of them turned around and hurriedly tied the veil on her face, while the other lost it.
The flute, whose veil had just been half covered, saw Xia Xun coming in. She was surprised and happy. She quickly put down her veil, hurriedly walked to him, knelt down on her knees, and said respectfully: "Master!"
"Get up."
Xia Xun looked at her. This was the first time he saw the appearance of this Qiuci girl, with deep eye sockets, straight bridge of nose, fair complexion, and clear facial features, with a unique charm of young European women.
"Who are you……"
"I am your slave girl, Master!"
"No, no, no, I mean...what is your name?"
"My name is Siren, Master."
"Oh, Siren, I don't have so many rules here. There's no need to keep saying "Master, Master, Master." Get up and talk."
"Yes, Master."
Xia Xun had no choice but to look at the other girl who had just knelt down. Her veil had already been tied. When he saw Xia Xun raised his chin towards her, he quickly stood up and stood with his hands down respectfully. Xia Xun walked away from them.
After passing through and sitting on the chair, two Qiuci girls immediately followed him, knelt down on the left and right, and gently tapped his legs.
They had been trained as female slaves since childhood, and the rules of serving their masters had become natural. They did it very naturally, without any artificiality at all. Xia Xun originally wanted to wake them up, but raised his hand, but was too lazy to correct it.
, just looked at them and said: "Why are you still wearing a veil at home? If you go around the courtyard this late at night, be careful that the guards will treat you as a robber."
The two girls obviously understood the joke. They looked at each other with smiles in their eyes. The girl who was still wearing a veil took off her veil. This girl was even more beautiful, with a slight smile on her lips.
The ground was tilted upward, and she seemed to be born with a sweet smile. Her beautiful appearance looked a bit familiar. Xia Xun thought for a while, and suddenly remembered the Jessica Alba from "The Fantastic Four", really
Very similar.
Xia Xun asked: "What is your name?"
"My name is Jeanne."
"Jean, why are you always veiled?"
Jeanne replied meekly: "Master, except for the hands and feet, a woman's body is shameful. Only her biological parents and her man can see it, and no other people can see it."
"oh……"
Xia Xun rubbed his nose and said awkwardly: "Then...you should cover up."
Xilin said seriously: "Master, we just mistakenly thought we were someone else, so we tied up the veil in a hurry. Everything about us belongs to the master, and there is no need to hide it in front of the master."
Xia Xun was a little overwhelmed, so he changed the subject and said, "Were you playing music from your hometown just now?"
Jeanne replied: "Yes, master, this is the music of our hometown. We...we are far away from our hometown. It is deserted at night, very lonely, and in a bad mood, so we played the music of our hometown without thinking that it would disturb the master."
.”
"home……"
Xia Xun was lost in thought for a while, looked at them, and suddenly asked: "If... I can send you back, are you willing to go back to your hometown?"
The two girls looked at each other and lowered their heads slightly.
Xia Xun asked: "What?"
Xilin replied softly: "This slave can see that the master's kindness comes from the heart. However, although we miss our hometown, it is just because that is where we grew up. We do not want to go back, we do not want to go back."
Xia Xun frowned and asked, "Why?"
Jeanne said quietly: "Wise master, what do you think, if we two girls go back, how will we survive and how will we protect ourselves?"
Xia Xun was silent for a moment, thinking of Ming'er who wanted to take it but couldn't get it, and wanted to give it up. He couldn't help but sigh deeply and murmured: "Unfortunate things happen all the time, but it's the same as the speaker..."
The two Qiuci girls didn't quite understand this poem, but they could tell that their master didn't seem happy. Although they had spent most of their time in this yard these days, they also got to know their master well.
They learned a little bit about him and found out that he was a very powerful noble lord in this great Eastern Empire. They were worried about being far away from their hometown, worried about being hungry and full, and worried about their uncertain destination. What worries did a powerful person like the master have?
Woolen cloth?
They were very curious, but they politely didn't ask.
Xia Xun ordered: "Play the piece just now again. I want to hear it too."
Jeanne, who looked a lot like Jessica, was more lively than Siren, and asked boldly: "Does the master like this piece of music?"
Xia Xun sighed: "I'm just...in a bad mood..."
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
The desolate sound of the Qiang flute, which makes people feel homesick after listening to it, is still floating leisurely. Xia Xun has left the girl's residence in Qiuci and strolls towards the back house.
When passing the Hongqiao across the pond, Xia Xun leaned on the railing, looked up at the moon, and stood there for a long time, perhaps...reminiscing about Ming'er's fragrant kiss.
This feeling can be recalled later, but it was already at a loss.
In the back house, a window in the flower hall was ajar, and from a distance I could see a gleam of light coming from the crack of the window.
The winter in Jinling is not too cold. There is a brazier in the house. Although it is warm, the air is not very good. Although it is made of good animal charcoal, Xia Xun told Xie Xie not to close the doors and windows too tightly.
After getting some air, I didn't expect that Xie Xie said he didn't understand anything, but he really remembered it in his heart.
Xia Xun looked at it, with a smile on his lips, and quietly walked over to the window.
There are three people in the room, thank you, Ziqi and Xiaodi.
Xie Xie was sewing a piece of clothing. It was a crotch coat for children. Xie Xie, who had never done needlework before, was doing every stitch carefully, with a happy smile on her lips and eyes.
Xiao Di was eating. There were several fruit plates in front of her, which were filled with various dried fruits. Xiao Di enjoyed eating them. While eating by herself, she peeled some melon seeds and walnut kernels and peeled them.
Put it in front of Xie Xie, and Xie Xie will take every opportunity to eat one.
Zi Qi lay lazily on the table, pouting as he thanked her for sewing clothes.
Thanks for looking at her, he chuckled and said: "Don't you need to do this? Look at your resentful look. Haha, when my baby is born, I will call you mother. You don't have to work hard to give birth to a child.
Hug, aren’t you happy yet?”
"Really?" Zi Qi's eyes lit up: "You said that when the child is born, you will also call me mother. No, no, no, you have to call me mother first. Well! When he is born, I will teach him how to speak.
, the first time I say mother, it must be mine, hahahaha..."
Xiaodi wrinkled her nose and said seriously: "Madams, is having a baby so fun? I heard my mother say that giving birth is painful! I won't have a baby when I get married!"
Xie Xie glanced at her and sneered: "Ghost girl, stop pretending in front of me. Who are you going to marry in the future? Aren't you the one your young master has chosen?"
Xiaodi's face suddenly turned red, and she said with a smile: "Madam, you...what did you say!"
Zi Qi suddenly became energetic. He sat up and said, "Really? Why didn't I know when it happened?"
Xiaodi chuckled and said: "No, Mrs. Yu is just... joking."
Xie curled his lips and said, "Humph, I have a sharp eye, and all the evil spirits and monsters can't hide from me!"
Xiaodi's face was like a big red cloth, and she hurriedly defended, "It really doesn't happen..."
The three women were laughing and joking in the room. Xia Xun stood outside the window and couldn't help but laugh softly.
"I run around every day just to be hungry, so I have to eat and think about clothes. I put down the silk clothes to wear, but I don't think the house is too low when I raise my head. I build tall buildings and mansions, but there are few beautiful wives in front of my bed. I have married all the beautiful wives and concubines, and
There is no horse riding in front of the gate... As soon as I climbed to the senior position in the pavilion, I thought about ascending to the throne every day. One day, I sat in the south and thought about the world, and I thought about the gods coming to play chess... If I didn't have this limit, it would be too low to climb up the ladder to heaven!
"
Chanting the song "Ten Insufficiencies" in his heart, Xia Xun felt much happier: "The past is gone, let go of everything that should be let go!"
He adjusted his mood, opened the door and said with a smile: "What are you talking about, so happy?"
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
p: New Year is coming, 2012 is coming, thank you for staying with me so far, Guan Guan is here to wish everyone a happy New Year, and wish you all the best, put aside all worries, and welcome the future happily! Happy New Year!