Dressed in a rich attire, Zhao Junchen rode outside Cui's house with a thoughtful expression on his face.
The horse under Zhao Junchen looked tall, but in fact it was just a docile mare. Fang Ru also knew that Zhao Junchen was not good at riding, so she specially selected a horse that was easy to control.
But even such a docile mare was not easy for Zhao Junchen to control. If someone hadn't been pulling the bridle all the time, he might have lost control halfway.
This incident also reminded Zhao Junchen that he should take time to practice riding skills.
After all, Zhao Junchen will soon go to Shaanxi and Gansu, which is about to become a battlefield and is full of dangers. If he does not know how to ride, he will not even have the chance to escape if he encounters danger.
For Zhao Junchen, it is certainly necessary to gain some benefits on the battlefield, but saving his life is his first consideration.
After making a decision in his heart, Zhao Junchen came back to his senses, stopped thinking wildly, and looked up at Cui Zhai.
The most important thing now is his marriage, and Cui Yu and others have been waiting for him outside the house for a long time.
*
In Cui's house, there were also several officials from the Ministry of Etiquette who were responsible for the etiquette process, but Zhao Junchen directly ignored them and had no intention of letting them interfere.
Without the dictation of officials from the Ministry of Etiquette, a lot of unnecessary red tape was omitted. Everything just followed the ordinary etiquette process, and things became much simpler. Although there were still many rules to pay attention to, it still made Zhao Junchen feel much more relaxed.
.
On the other hand, Cui Yu also took the initiative to cooperate and kept everything simple. It only took half an hour for the "welcome" session to be over.
Finally, with the support of Chu Jiayi, Cui Qianxue, who was wearing a red hijab, entered the Zhao Mansion's eight-carriage sedan. Then, under the leadership of Zhao Junchen, the wedding team returned to the Zhao Mansion, with gongs and drums roaring and firecrackers blasting all the way.
, there are more than 30 people in the band alone, and Zhao Junchen, as the groom, is even more present, which is quite powerful and attracts the attention of countless people.
Some officials of the Ministry of Rites did not want Zhao Junchen to come out to greet the bride in person, and they were indeed worried. After all, Zhao Junchen had a poor reputation among the people. If Zhao Junchen was allowed to go through the market with great fanfare, people might collide and cause chaos.
Sometimes Zhao Junchen's wedding will turn into a joke.
Regarding this situation, Zhao Junchen did not dare to neglect. He was always cautious on the way to and from the wedding ceremony, and also arranged for the officials of Shuntian Prefecture to maintain order. Fortunately, no accidents occurred along the way, although the people gathered around both sides of the road.
Watching the fun, but just watching the fun, and not doing anything extraordinary.
Seeing this scene, Zhao Junchen remembered a year ago, when he returned to the capital after relieving the disaster in Lu'an Mansion. After the people in the capital saw Zhao Junchen's chariots and horses, everyone looked panicked, as if
The scene where the birds and beasts dispersed was enough to prove how disastrous Zhao Junchen's reputation among the people was at that time.
But in the past year, Zhao Junchen has not only never done anything that directly harmed the people, but has also been trying every means to turn around his reputation. Finally, he has gradually achieved results. He only saw the people watching curiously, which was different from the original surprise.
His appearance was completely different, and he knew that Zhao Junchen's hard work was not in vain.
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen's heart moved, but he turned around and said loudly: "Xu Qingyan!"
Hearing Zhao Junchen's call, Xu Qingyan quickly trotted to Zhao Junchen's horse and asked, "Master, what's the matter?"
Zhao Junchen ordered: "This year is my big wedding, and the people should also celebrate it together. You go find a spacious place, hire all the famous chefs in the capital, and put out a hundred and eighty tables of running water banquets."
If you want good wine and good food, we will entertain the people for free!"
Xu Qingyan couldn't help but be surprised when he heard Zhao Junchen's instructions.
Such a flowing mat is naturally a big deal, but it also costs a lot of money.
So, Xu Qingyan hesitated and said, "Master, isn't this noise too big?"
Zhao Junchen laughed, and then lowered his voice and said: "The louder the noise, the better. Today I am getting married according to the decree. No matter how loud the noise is, no one dares to say anything. If I act like a squanderer and a more complacent person, your Majesty, maybe he will be...
It will make people happy, and it can also make the people say a good word, which is the best of both worlds."
After all, Xu Qingyan was reluctant to part with the money, especially since the current expenses of the Zhao family were really too high, but since it was Zhao Junchen's decision, he reluctantly nodded and said: "Then I'll do it now!"
*
Cui Residence and Zhao Mansion are not far apart, both are located in the west of the city. Just by talking, Zhao Mansion is already in sight.
With Zhao Junchen's current official status, today's marriage is no longer that simple. It is an important opportunity for Zhao Junchen to get closer to the major factions and develop connections. There must be no negligence.
On this day, Zhao Junchen had to play the role of the groom and participate in the wedding process, and he also had to play the role of the host of the Zhao Mansion, entertaining the guests. It was inevitable that he was a little worried about one thing and not the other, and he was in a hurry.
At this time, the Zhao Mansion was already very lively and crowded with guests. After Zhao Junchen returned to the Zhao Mansion, he did not dare to delay. He first responded enthusiastically to the congratulations of all the guests, and then asked the sedan bearers to carry Cui Qianxue's sedan to enter.
Zhao Junchen went to the main entrance of the Zhao Mansion and sent someone to send Cui Qianxue into the wedding room to wait. After all this was done, Zhao Junchen stood in the vestibule of the Zhao Mansion and took on the task of welcoming the guests.
Most of the guests who came to the Zhao Mansion in advance were close friends of Zhao Junchen, as well as some less important fringe figures. The most important guests were often the last to show up and needed to be received by Zhao Junchen personally!
These distinguished guests were also interesting, as if they had been hiding in the dark waiting for Zhao Junchen to return home. After Zhao Junchen personally greeted the guests, they appeared one after another.
Soon, Wang Shou, Minister of the Ministry of War, personally came to the Zhao Mansion to congratulate Zhao Junchen on his wedding, and sent two large boxes of gifts. The various gifts in them were worth thousands of taels of silver. Zhao Junchen and Wang Shou said
After a few polite words, just after welcoming Wang Shou into the Zhao Mansion, he saw the sedan chair of Lin Wei, the Minister of Rites, parked in front of the Zhao Mansion, and also sent two large boxes of congratulatory gifts. When Zhao Junchen finally brought Lin Wei
Welcome into the mansion, Zhang Bochong, the Minister of Justice, and Song Qiwen, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, arrived together again...
It can be said that on this day, almost all the important officials in the center of the temple were gathered in the Zhao Mansion. Except for those Qingliu officials who were incompatible with Zhao Junchen, almost all the powerful figures above the fifth rank in the capital were present, even Zhou Shangjing.
, Shen Changmao, Cheng Yuandao and other cabinet ministers, although they did not personally come out to congratulate him, they also sent envoys and sent valuable congratulatory gifts.
Under the gathering of guests, amidst the continuous sound of silk and bamboo and the sound of firecrackers, Zhao Junchen was greeted and sent off. Although he was extremely busy, even the disciple of the Zhao family who was responsible for singing the promise was hoarse on this day!
"Cabinet Assistant Minister Li Ge is very experienced~"
"The left deputy of the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Censor Wang Youlun, is here~"
"Master Zhang Cheng and his son, Master Zhang Qian, have arrived~"
"'United Shipping Company's chief shopkeeper Lin Yunpu, second shopkeeper Bai Mingyu, and third shopkeeper Dai Fengfu have arrived~"
"Master Huang Chengwen, the grandson of Mr. Huang, the governor of Southern Zhili, has arrived~"
"Master Dai, the minister of Taichang Temple, has arrived~"
Every time the disciples sing a promise loudly, it means that an important guest has arrived at the Zhao Mansion.
Finally, after the new cabinet minister Liang Fuchen arrived at the Zhao Mansion, the atmosphere in the Zhao Mansion reached a climax.
Coupled with the fact that Zuo Lanshan, the cabinet minister, who arrived at the Zhao Mansion in advance, and Li He, another cabinet minister, Zhao Junchen received personal congratulations from three cabinet ministers on his wedding, but it was also an official rumor, which is enough to show that Zhao Junchen
How powerful is Junchen's influence now?
Liang Fuchen was almost the last heavyweight guest to arrive at the Zhao Mansion, so after welcoming Liang Fuchen, Zhao Junchen no longer greeted the guests in person, but walked side by side towards the mansion with Liang Fuchen.
As he walked forward, the guests around him all spoke congratulations to Zhao Junchen, and Zhao Junchen also looked friendly and easy-going, smiling in return.
At the same time, Zhao Junchen said to Liang Fuchen: "Senior Liang, today's wedding of the younger generation is really a bit embarrassing, because the younger generation doesn't even have a reliable family elder in the capital, but his status is a bit high, so
You can't just find someone to preside over the wedding...Now that Senior Liang has come to the Zhao Mansion in person, I have no choice but to count on you! With Senior Liang's qualifications and reputation, if you can serve as the officiant of the junior's marriage, it will naturally be more than enough.
The most pressing concern is the glory of this junior, but I don’t know what Senior Liang’s intention is?”
After hearing Zhao Junchen's request, Liang Fuchen pondered for a moment, and then nodded and said: "I didn't prepare in advance, so I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it well. But if Mr. Zhao has no other candidates, then it won't be unreasonable for me to make a temporary cameo."
hinder."
After seeing Liang Fuchen agreeing, Zhao Junchen was overjoyed and said quickly: "In that case, I'll leave everything to Senior Liang!"
For Zhao Junchen, once Liang Fuchen serves as the officiant of Zhao Junchen's wedding, it will not only bring the relationship between the two closer, but through this incident, the officials will also misjudge the relationship between Zhao Junchen and Liang Fuchen, and bring them together.
Treating people as one entity will undoubtedly bring many additional benefits to Zhao Junchen.
And just when Zhao Junchen was about to announce the news, a shout suddenly came from outside the door.
"The imperial edict has arrived! Zhao Junchen, the Minister of Household Affairs, receives the edict!"
Hearing this shout, everyone in the Zhao Mansion was shocked. They all looked towards the door of the Zhao Mansion, only to see Zhang De, the eunuch of Emperor Deqing, stepping into the Zhao Mansion holding the imperial edict in his hand. Zhang De's
Behind him were a group of young eunuchs, all carrying many things.
Obviously, the congratulatory gift from Emperor Deqing has arrived.
As a result, the silk bamboo and firecrackers in the Zhao Mansion stopped one after another, and the guests also stopped making noises. The Zhao Mansion quickly became quiet, and Zhao Junchen quickly came to Zhang De to salute and receive the order.
I saw Zhang De unfurling the imperial edict and saying loudly: "It is the destiny of heaven. The emperor said: The country is benevolent and the people are the first. Money and food are indispensable. Zhao Junchen, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, has been managing the national treasury for many years. He has made outstanding contributions, proclaimed his kindness, and kept the integrity.
In order to ensure the peace and stability of the country, I am very grateful to him. I specially awarded him the title of Zide doctor, and the honor of Zhengzhi Shangqing. I also gave him an imperial plaque written in my hand, ten pairs of jade bis, and hundreds of pearls...
The ministers had the honorary title of serving the public, and borrowed their inner virtues to pay for repairs. The imperial court had the favor of sparing nobility and regarded all husbands as equals. Yi Fan Mi Zhang worshiped Jiayong, and also granted Zhao Cui, the wife of Zhao Junchen, the Minister of Household Affairs, the second rank of imperial edict. Madam, I will appreciate two pairs of jade bracelets and ten pieces of gold objects; I will confer Cui Yu, the father of Cui family and a lecturer of the Hanlin Academy, as a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy...
Kudos to this!"
After hearing the content of the imperial edict, everyone present was moved.
Emperor Deqing's reward is more amazing than imagined!
It’s enough to confer Cui Qianxue as the Imperial Lady of the Second Grade. Zhao Junchen is the Minister of Household Affairs of the Second Grade. Such an award is also the proper meaning in the title. But at the same time, Cui Qianxue’s father, Cui Yu, is also conferred the title of Bachelor of the Hanlin Academy. It feels like a chicken or a dog ascending to heaven.
In addition, Emperor Deqing conferred the title of Zide Doctor on Zhao Junchen and the title of Minister of Zhengzhi, which is also a great honor.
Zide doctor was a casual official of the second rank in the Ming Dynasty. Casual officials were divided into three levels: initial grant, promotion, and additional grant. The grade was the same as the official position. For example, after Zhao Junchen became the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, he At the same time, he became a first-grade casual official of the second rank and a senior official. This is the lowest level of a second-grade casual official. However, only after he has made outstanding achievements can he be promoted to a senior official. If he has made outstanding contributions in consecutive years and has deep qualifications, , has a very high reputation and has been recognized by hundreds of officials, so he will be awarded the title of Zide Doctor.
Now, Emperor Deqing skipped the senior official position and directly awarded Zhao Junchen the title of senior official. This not only affirmed Zhao Junchen's achievements in recent years, but also was a great honor.
You must know that among the six ministers today, only Zhao Junchen has been awarded the title of senior official. Apart from Zhao Junchen, even Song Qiwen, the official minister, has only been promoted to senior official. This means that Zhao Junchen has been promoted to senior official. He became the first person to write six books.
As for the Zhengzhi Shangqing, it is a civil service title, which is also difficult to obtain. Every minister with a civil service title must be a person deeply loved by the saints.
However, compared to the surprise and envy of all the guests, Zhao Junchen was a little disapproving and did not have too many surprises.
How should I put it? Emperor Deqing's reward this time still adheres to his consistent style. To sum it up in four words, it is "gaudy and flashy." No matter whether it is a casual official or a honorary title, it cannot bring actual benefits and benefits to Zhao Junchen. Power is just looking at glory.
However, on the surface, Zhao Junchen looked like he was crying with gratitude, and kowtowed: "I accept the order and thank you!"
When Zhao Junchen reached out and took the imperial edict, Zhang De smiled and said: "Master Zhao, come and see the royal plaque given to you by His Majesty!"
After saying that, two young eunuchs came to Zhao Junchen carrying a plaque covered with red cloth.
After Zhao Junchen reached out and lifted the red cloth, he saw two large golden characters engraved on the plaque.