Early the next morning, Li Qing came to the Ministry of Rites. The items needed for the sacrifice were ready. After a brief greeting, the group rushed to Xiaoling.
Electronic businesses such as Didi sweeping graves, visiting graves, burning paper... were all the rage in later generations. When Li Qing first heard about it, he felt that human nature was distorted and morality was corrupt. He never imagined that it would also happen in this feudal era.
Li Qing was a little speechless, and what was even more annoying was... there was no tip.
…
Xiaoling.
The altar is set up.
Li Qing cleaned his hands and stepped forward; the sacrificial officials cleaned their hands one after another and stood behind Li Qing. Everyone looked solemn and sad.
After half an hour of silence, the Ministry of Rites gave Shizhong a loud and clear voice filled with pathos: "Kowtow, bow~!"
Li Qing took the lead in paying homage, and other officials followed suit.
Then, stand up and be silent.
"Kowtow and bow again."
…
After three prostrations and nine prostrations, he raised his voice and said, "Fire the cannon!"
"Plop, crackle..."
A burst of firecrackers went off, and the air was filled with a strong smell of gunpowder smoke. Li Qing was the first to bear the brunt. His nose felt itchy and he almost wanted to sneeze, but he held it back.
"Deacons, please take your place as deacons." The voice in charge sounded again.
Then, more than ten people carried food boxes and placed tributes and wine in sequence.
At the same time, the musicians took their places.
Li Qing and other officials observed a moment of silence, and after about three minutes, they sang: "Prostrate yourself."
Everyone bowed their heads to the ground with expressions of worship.
"ups and downs."
Everyone stood up.
"Welcome the gods and play music."
Li Qing took out the lines he had prepared and recited them emotionally, mainly to report his work to Lao Zhu.
Expeditions to Jiaozhi in the south, expeditions to the grasslands in the north, opening of canals, voyages to the West, and compilation of the Yongle Canon... Li Qing described every detail, except for moving the capital, and Lao Si specifically asked not to talk about it.
Zhu Di's achievements are indeed brilliant. This series of measures will have a profound impact on both the current Ming Dynasty and the future Ming Dynasty, and will even last hundreds of years later.
If Lao Zhu really has a soul in heaven and his son is so promising, I would be happy to think about it... Li Qing was talking meticulously.
~
After the complicated and lengthy ceremony, the officials took out the congratulatory messages and put them into the small baskets in front of the sacrificial altar. Then, they returned to their original positions and stood in silence.
Li Qing entered the ancestral hall carrying a small basket.
Originally, only the emperor Zhu Di or the prince Xiao Pang could enter Lao Zhu's ancestral hall, but the Zhu family did not come, so only Li Qing, a capable imperial envoy, came to do it.
Burn incense, burn congratulations, burn paper money...
Li Qing, Didi’s tomb-sweeping brother, can be said to be conscientious in his duties.
There is a spiritual tablet of Lao Zhu enshrined on the altar table, and the portrait of Lao Zhu on the wall is lifelike, not angry and intimidating.
After burning the paper money, Li Qing looked up at the portrait and remained silent for a long time.
Time flies so fast. It still seems like yesterday when I first came to Beijing and met this grassroots emperor for the first time. In the blink of an eye, Lao Zhu has been dead for more than 20 years.
After a long time, Li Qing said softly to the portrait: "Don't worry, it is very good, and he...is also very good."
…
Back at the Hou Mansion, it was already afternoon. Li Qing simply ate something, asked Xiao Lizi to go shopping, and then took the three girls to visit the capital.
Although the capital was moved, Jinling was the birthplace of the Ming Dynasty, and Zhu Di still retained its title of capital.
Accompanying Du is also Du.
The city of Nanjing is much more prosperous than the city of Beijing, and the climate is also very pleasant. At the end of the first month, when the sun is shining, the temperature is already 16 or 7 degrees Celsius, and the atmosphere of spring is strong.
All things come alive and are full of vitality.
On the streets, shops are lined up next to each other, and there are all kinds of shops.
The family started to buy, buy and go shopping like crazy.
Li Qing bought five sets of seasonal clothes for each of them in a clothing store.
Knowing that the three girls liked sweets, Li Qing bought two large baskets at once. Not to mention, the taste was really good, not inferior to the pastries produced by the palace.
After shopping until evening, the family finally returned home after enjoying themselves. Dongchang Fanzi, who was pretending to be a servant, finally breathed a sigh of relief and looked relieved.
People say that Marquis Yongqing has a strong body, and they have seen it today. Even though he is on crutches, he has a lot of physical strength, and even the ladies are not less generous.
Early the next morning, Li Qing went to Cao Guogong's mansion.
"Leaving so soon?" Li Jinglong was a little reluctant.
"Well, the time is limited." Li Qing smiled, "After finishing the work, let's have a good drink."
Li Jinglong was dissatisfied: "Next time I drink, I will definitely throw up on you."
"That's not necessarily the case," Li Qing waved his hand, "Let's go."
"Let's go, let's go." Li Jinglong looked disgusted, "I've been busier than a dog all day long, and I haven't seen you asking for anything."
"Haha... see you next time."
Li Qing crossed his fists and turned to leave.
"Wait a minute." Li Jinglong called.
Li Qing turned around: "What's wrong?"
"As you get older, don't act as impulsively as you did when you were young." Li Jinglong warned, "You have to change your temperament that never suffers any loss. It doesn't matter if you suffer a loss occasionally or give up.
There will be less pieces of meat;
There's nothing wrong with being cowardly. If you live a long life, with your merits, even if you can't handle the case, the emperor will not punish you. You have to have a strong balance in your heart and think about yourself in everything."
"Hey, I got it." Li Qing sniffed, looked at Li Jinglong, whose hair was already a little gray, and squeezed out a smile, "Take good care of your health."
Li Jinglong was a little sad, "Well, don't die in Jiangxi."
"..."
~
Li Qing set out again, still taking the water route.
Arriving in Jiangxi seven days later, he transferred to a horse-drawn carriage and traveled for two days before arriving at Xingan County.
When the county magistrate Wang Yuan received the news, he immediately put aside all the matters at hand and came to visit him.
That kind of diligence made Li Qing, who had been in official circles for many years, feel uncomfortable.
Appropriate flattery can make people feel happy, but excessive flattery can make people unhappy, and that's the case right now.
Wang Yuan's posture... is almost worthy of being called Li Qing's ancestor.
"The imperial envoy will stay here for a while." Li Qing couldn't stand this guy anymore, so he interrupted, "I'm going to arrange a place in the government office. You should go about your business and don't miss your official duties."
"Yes, yes, I'll do it right now." Wang Yuan hurriedly handed over his hand, "Just a moment, your Majesty, it only takes half an hour."
After that, it went away like a storm.
"Master Hou, what can we do for you?" Xiao Lizi asked.
Li Qing took out a wad of treasure notes and said, "Ask Fanzi to find a place to stay nearby, rest for a day, and meet at the county government office tomorrow."
After a pause, he said, "My father-in-law, please work hard and live with me in the county government office."
"You're welcome, Lord Marquis. It's our family's responsibility to run errands for the Emperor, so why bother?" Xiao Lizi's tone was passionate and his mood was agitated.
Li Qing could tell that this little eunuch was not just pretending, but really wanted to do something.
Who doesn’t want to leave something behind when he or she lives forever?
Eunuchs have no heirs and do not enter their ancestors' graves after death, so they have a greater desire for fame, even more than that of civil servants.
Especially the success of Sambo has given some individuals hope.
What happened to the eunuch?
Who says eunuchs can't accomplish anything?
Which of the ministers dared to speak lightly of the Three Jewels?
We are all eunuchs. If the Three Treasures can do it, we may not be able to do it!
The more a person lacks something, the more he cares about it. The eunuch's crotch is a little lower and his waist is also a little bit wider. What little self-esteem he has left is incomparable.
They want to be recognized more than ordinary people!
In addition, the Three Jewels, Jewels and Jade are in front and have been successfully recognized. These young eunuchs are full of energy and strive to be the second among the Three Jewels.
"Master Marquis, just ask us if you need anything from us, and don't be polite."
"Well, good." Li Qing smiled and nodded, and as a matter of habit, he said casually: "I am a real person, and I have never been greedy for merit. I will work hard..."
Barabara...
Half a quarter of an hour later, Xiao Lizi was successfully captured by the CPU.
Wang Yuan was very efficient in his work. He rushed over in less than half an hour and said, "Your Majesty, the residence has been sorted out. Please move on."
"Well, please lead the way."
There are three rooms in total, one living room and two wing rooms. The rooms are clean and the bedding is brand new. The east wing room is much more exquisite. The two beds are put together and a temporary bed curtain is made.
"I'm determined." Li Qing was very satisfied.
"It's all the responsibility of the lower officials." Wang Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and finished it in half an hour. He mobilized almost all the yamen servants in the yamen and said cautiously, "The conditions of the county yamen are limited. I have wronged the prince.
Already."
Li Qing smiled and said, "That's good. Go and find the gold ingot used for making porcelain for this imperial envoy."
"Yes..." Wang Yuan simply agreed, then came back to his senses and asked: "Now?"
"Why, he's not here?"
Wang Yuan said dryly, "Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy, that... this... he is not in prison. I heard about the smuggling from Yu Du Shizhong before, but...
He didn't break the law!
The handling of cases requires evidence. He only fired the porcelain and sold it in the Ming Dynasty. He did not go out to smuggle it out to sea, and it is not easy for a lower official to take it directly."
"Are you taking advantage of others?" Xiao Lizi's sinister voice sounded.
Wang Yuan's heart trembled, and he smiled stiffly, "Where do you start talking about this, father-in-law?"
In the past, if an incompetent person dared to talk to him like this, he would have just returned, but things are different now. Although Dongchang has only been established for two years, its momentum is catching up with Jinyiwei.
Even though I was unhappy, I didn't dare to say it out loud.
Xiao Lizi continued to be arrogant: "Whether Wangzhi County has any benefits from accepting people, our family will check it out. I hope it is as you said."
"Uh-huh..." Wang Yuan smiled a little bitterly. These days, there are no local officials who are not willing to take bribes. "My father-in-law can go and investigate."
Li Qing asked directly: "The imperial envoy of Japan wants to see this gold ingot tomorrow. Can he do it?"
"Yes, yes." How dare Wang Yuan refuse to agree, "Don't worry, sir, I will go and invite him right now... ah no, go and catch him."
"Well, let's do it." Li Qing looked worried and waved his hand casually.
Seeing this, Wang Yuan felt extremely stressed, bowed his head flatteringly, and left in a hurry.
"Master Hou," Xiao Lizi couldn't help but speak as soon as Wang Yuan left, "Look, this man just accepted bribes. Why don't we go and investigate him immediately?"
Combating corruption is also a credit, and Xiao Lizi is dedicated to making great achievements.
"Take care of important things first." Li Qing shook his head slightly, "We are not familiar with the place, and this prefect is still useful. I have something to do, so I have to trouble my father-in-law to go there in person."
"Master Marquis, please tell me."
"Go to Hongdu and inform Prince Ning," Li Qing muttered for a moment, then said domineeringly, "Let him come to see me."
"Ah? This..." Xiao Lizi was shocked: He knew that Marquis Yongqing was awesome, but he didn't expect him to be so awesome. That's the vassal king, and you want him to come see you?
It is true that the imperial envoy represents the emperor, but he does not have such grandeur.
"Go and do it. Your Eunuch Li's contribution will be indispensable when we return to Beijing."
"Hey, let's go right away." Xiao Lizi is smart enough to do things as he is told, even if he is guilty, he will not be held accountable. This business is a sure profit without loss.
There will be meat to eat with the Marquis... Xiao Lizi, who was being censored by the CPU, thought happily.