On the first day of the first year of Jiajing, there was a great court meeting.
At five o'clock in the morning, the sound of firecrackers woke up Zhu Houcong and Lin Qingping.
Sister Lin was a little panicked.
The dragon couch was not wide, so the two of them were squeezed together.
Zhu Houcong looked at her with a smile and asked, "If it still hurts, just take a rest."
Lin Qingping gritted her teeth and shook her head: "Slave..."
"Um?"
"...I, my concubine, have to serve His Majesty and prepare for the big court meeting." Lin Qingping blushed, feeling sweet in her heart.
Although he was much younger than her, she had long been accustomed to the emperor's natural and calm demeanor after serving him for so long since he entered the capital, and she always felt that he had more experience than her years.
…
The excitement is quite lively.
The Empress Dowager Jiang already knew about her affairs, but when the Sun Wang family came alone with Sun Ming on the fifth day of the lunar month, the Empress Dowager Jiang still smiled happily and calmly called her son who did not have to deal with state affairs.
Therefore, steamed buns, as "necessary items for worshiping gods", are quite sacred. After the court meeting, a banquet was given, and the emperor also ate some steamed buns symbolically. The excess could be given to ministers as a symbol of glory.
Zhu Houcong shook his head: "What my son has done in the past few months has not been completely ineffective. Now, how can I say which ministers my son needs to rely on? My son wanted to appoint the daughter of Mr. Sun Ge as his queen, and he met Qing Ping.
There is indeed a plan. This plan is related to the great plan of this dynasty, and the queen will understand it in the future."
In the next few days, people of various statuses would come to visit him and give him a banquet.
So there is nothing wrong with the lowest rank. After all, it has not been canonized yet. In the future, His Majesty will change it after he decides. There is no shortage of clothes in the palace.
I heard from Empress Dowager Jiang that the queen-to-be never left the house or left the house. Her usual pastimes included playing the piano and painting, reading poetry and essays, or playing chess with her father and brother.
"...I, my concubine, obey your decree."
But she looked really thin. Her clothes were loose and nothing else could be seen. She lowered her head nervously, and her Jingya bookishness was obvious.
What kind of love is this? He is the only one in charge of the harem.
Your Majesty is very considerate. She dressed so solemnly to visit the Queen Mother. Why didn't the foreigner immediately spread the news throughout the capital when she saw her? The most important thing is that Your Majesty can accept her dress and congratulate her.
After Zhu Houcong was dressed, he said to Lin Qingping: "You should also dress better and change your hair bun. When I come back from the imperial meeting, you can go with me to pay New Year's greetings to my mother. After the wedding, we will be canonized together. We will feel aggrieved for a while."
"
When Zhu Houcong took a surprised look, he felt that her eyes were very clear.
Zhu Houcong was indeed just relaxing and playing.
As for the steamed buns Zhu Houcong mentioned, they are an important part of the Zhengdan Festival banquet.
This was the first time Zhu Houcong saw Sun Ming in person.
So after changing into regular clothes and waiting for Lin Qingping to come out, she looked more graceful and luxurious in front of him, but Zhu Houcong felt that the dress was a bit strange - why was there a pheasant embroidered on the dress?
"...Your Majesty, I wish your Majesty endless happiness and longevity, peace in the world, and admiration from all the people."
But she became worried again: Your Majesty has planned so that the eldest son will not come from the middle palace. Do you really not have to worry about disputes in the future?
When the emperor looked at her with a smile and waited for her to play his cards, Sun Ming was finally infected by his smile and pursed her lips and smiled slightly.
Looking at her posture again, I thought to myself: In the Ming Dynasty, where the etiquette system has increasingly strict requirements on women, the daughter of a high-ranking minister like Sun Ming probably has this kind of character, right?
Or at least that's how it was when I first came into contact with him.
Huang Jin already held up a plate with a very understanding look: "Your Majesty, although your status has not yet been determined, since you are going to visit the Queen Mother, you still need to be more solemn. I have also prepared Zhai Yi."
"Queen Mother, you are all watching here, it seems too solemn. Where are Qingyuan and Qingyi? The four of us will play leaf play together. I will go to court again tomorrow."
Yesterday Zhu Houcong lived a relaxed and happy life, while many eunuchs, maids and officials who needed to prepare for the court meeting were not allowed to rest: after all, this was the first court meeting in the first year of Jiajing.
Zhu Houcong couldn't help but smile.
Zhu Houcong expressed that he was very shocked, but he should do as the Romans do when traveling through time.
Even though my sister is familiar, she is still a bit tight. This is the case physically, and the same is true mentally.
It can only be said that I have been guarded against etiquette since I was a child, but I don't have a lot of fun.
During the imperial gathering, in addition to courtiers, relatives, and foreign envoys, the appointed wife would enter the palace to congratulate the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress.
A typical lady of the world.
The standard of the Great Chao Hui is a little higher than that of the Synodic Chao Hui in ordinary months. In other words, only the Chao Hui on Zhengdan, Winter Solstice and Wanshou Festival are called Da Chao Hui.
Zhu Houcong nodded: "Let's go. After you come back, you can receive the reward and then go to sleep. But I can't rest for a while. Let's forget about the congratulatory ceremony and the big banquet. Is there someone in the palace who will pay you New Year's greetings?"
She has no identity of her own, so calling herself a folk girl is nothing.
There are too many ceremonial tasks for the Emperor's Spring Festival. Some of the steamed buns were given to the Minister of National Policy and several officials such as Guo Xun and Xia Yan who had "excellent work results" last year, but not all of them.
"I grew up with my older sisters, but usually I only talk to Huang Ban and my brother. Now that Huang Ban is still around, Lu Bingzhen sent him to study hard. After he ascended the throne and became emperor, state affairs became complicated.
"Huang Ban has become the most important person in the palace, and I can't say anything like before." Zhu Houcong looked unscrupulously at Sun Ming, who was probably squeezing his fingers in his sleeves, "I discuss state affairs with the elders and ministers all day long.
I often forget that I am still young. Ming'er can enter the palace from time to time. Besides learning the palace rules and etiquette, I also want to see and talk to you more."
Empress Dowager Jiang's face was full of confusion: "I haven't seen the emperor playing with leaves..."
"Listen to Qianggen," Zhu Houcong scolded with a smile, "I will reward you when I come back. First, go to worship and attend the court meeting. Have you prepared the steamed buns from the past few days?"
The king of heaven and earth is his master, after heaven and earth, the emperor is first.
It was also the first time for Sun Wang to see the emperor in person. At this time, she only felt that he was generous and particularly heroic.
After this "steamed bun" is invited home, it must be placed in a prominent place at home.
"...the daughter of the people obeys the decree."
After her daughter followed the emperor to the back hall where the two eldest princesses lived, Sun Wang smiled at the Empress Dowager Jiang and asked: "It turns out that Your Majesty also likes leaf opera..."
Zhu Houcong replied calmly: "It has been more than eight months since my son ascended the throne, and he has already restrained himself from women. Since Xiaomiao, it has been difficult for the royal family to have heirs. If a prince is born, it is really a blessing for the country. Throughout the ages, it has been common for the eldest son of the emperor to be born in a non-legitimate child.
Don’t worry.”
At least not like the majestic and wise emperor his father described.
Wrapped in yellow cloth.
"...I thank you for your grace."
"Get up..." Seeing how solemn she was, Zhu Houcong remembered something, "At this time, my wife is still in Renshou Palace, and I have an audience with Qingning Palace. You don't have a name, but it is inconvenient to go to see her first. Wait for my wife
After leaving the palace."
According to palace regulations, there is no stipulation on the color of the clothes of the palace ladies. Although Zhu Yuanzhang stipulated that the palace ladies should wear purple clothes with a round collar, narrow sleeves, and small sunflower embroidery with folded branches, but it was not so strict later.
Zhu Houcong also heard what they said. There was an ancient book in the Song Dynasty, which recorded: When Zhuge Wuhou conquered Menghuo, people said: "There are many evil arts in the barbarian land. You must pray to the gods and fake Yin soldiers to help. However, the barbarian customs will kill people."
, with his head sacrificed, the god will go to him, in order to send out troops." Wu Hou refused to follow, because he mixed the meat of sheep and hogs, and wrapped it with noodles to resemble a human head, and used it as a shrine. The god also went to Yan, in order to send out troops.
Later generations called it steamed buns.
Why does he need someone to teach him?
The little slave who has learned your decree from the Queen Mother is not as good as he is!
But Lin Qingping also thought that the emperor was very good.
Sun Ming recalled the emperor's openness and kindness, and felt a little more lucky in her heart.
Only then did Zhu Houcong get closer and show off his words again.
Empress Dowager Jiang had a strange face.
You are so old, how do you know so much?
Could it be that Qingping had other ideas and taught her how to be more fertile at an older age?
After nightfall, if Lin Qingping knew that the Queen Mother was thinking about her in this way, she would have no choice but to cry out that she was wronged.
Sun Wang quickly took her to visit Zhu Houcong.
The fifteen-year-old Sun Ming was completely at a loss as a real girl in a boudoir. After hearing what Zhu Houcong said, she even hid half of her body behind the Sun Wang family with blushing cheeks, and replied in a low voice: "... A daughter of the people... take a look boldly."
pass……"
On the plate held by Huang Jin, this piece of Zhai clothing is naturally the lowest grade.
Since you are going to a big court meeting, you must dress in a grand manner.
But not every married woman can wear Zhai clothes as a dress.
What an honor is this? Now that the emperor has no concubines or heirs, he does not have to accept the salutes of his concubines, princes, and grandsons on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Zhu Houcong laughed. Is this called bold?
She had been living in Qianqing Palace before the canonization ceremony... Her chances of giving birth to the emperor's eldest son were much higher than others.
In the relaxing Spring Festival life, Lin Qingping, who is already in her twenties, looks rosy to the naked eye.
But by this time, cross-collar short coats and horse-faced skirts were the common configuration. In addition, female officials also wore black gauze hats, which were different from the exquisite and complicated headdresses of real harem concubines.
Mr. Sun and Wang didn't care so much, and kept giving encouraging glances.
So far, in the palace, in addition to queen, there are also various titles such as concubine, concubine, Zhaorong, nobleman, etc. However, the women behind the concubine have titles but no canonization ceremony.
Although I never thought about what kind of status I would get after "teaching" His Majesty, last night I heard that Your Majesty seemed to have another plan, which was a turning point in Lin Qingping's fate.
After he finished speaking, he smiled and said: "Besides, the number of concubines selected for the palace this time is probably only around fifteen. My son wants to stabilize the country as soon as possible, how can he worry too much? Qingping is very good."
But as he played each game and listened to the emperor and the two eldest princesses arguing, Sun Ming gradually looked at him more and more, and she felt a little more like "he is also a person of flesh and blood" in her heart.
Lin Qingping felt happy again and agreed.
So when she got there, Sun Ming saw that her mother was there, and she felt a lot more at ease.
Lin Qingping also took the opportunity to send her only New Year greetings. After next year, a group of concubines from Wuyangyang will come to congratulate him.
At this time, Lin Qingping only had a simple silver hair net.
According to the Ming Dynasty palace rules, all women in the palace who are worthy of the emperor's title are wives of internal orders.
But today, this special New Year’s Day, will there still be this link?
Before she could think too much, when she saw the emperor and her coming out, Huang Jin had already knelt down with a smile: "I wish your majesty a happy new year! May your majesty live forever, be peaceful all over the world, and be praised by all people. I also wish your majesty a happy new year! May your majesty wish you a happy new year!
The beauty will last forever, and the dragon will be born early."
According to legend, the original name of steamed buns is "mantou".
Seeing Huang Jin turn around and wink at her when His Majesty left, Lin Qingping stopped thinking about it.
In other words, on the first day of the first lunar month, the first thing that all officials in the capital do is not to pay New Year greetings at home, but to kowtow to the emperor and congratulate him. Outside the capital, there is also a ritual of worshiping from a distance.
Among them, Xuanzong did not have any concubines before, and there were concubines under the queen.
Among the four young people, Sun Ming was probably the only one who always felt nervous.
"Pah! Pah! Pah!"
After she and her mother left the palace before nightfall, she heard her mother sigh again: "Ming'er, although the marriage has been decided before we met, your majesty intends to get closer to you. In the future, you and your majesty will have more love in the harem."
Some friendships. Even if you marry into another family, you will probably be like your mother. You won’t know what your father is like until you get married."
Huang Jin's face glowed brightly and he said, "Your Majesty, everything is ready."
This is very good for you, don’t you mean anything else?
Lin Qingping had not yet adapted to the change in status. When she heard Huang Jin greeting her with this New Year greeting, and thinking about what this guy's ears heard last night, she felt her body heat up again.
Zhu Houcong invited them to get up very affectionately, and then said: "My father never forgot about me when he was alive. When I see you today, I can comfort my father and I also like it very much. You don't have to be so restrained. I'll call you Ming'er. Although I already have parents."
The matchmaker's words also determine the person, but you still have to see that I like it. If you hadn't had this fate in the dormitory, you wouldn't be able to meet me before the wedding. You have secretly glanced at me.
No?"
After working on state affairs for so long, I finally tasted the joy of the imperial palace for the first time on the occasion of the New Year.
Sun Ming suddenly felt horrified: Why do we have to play cards when we meet for the first time? She only knows this leaf opera, but she doesn’t play it very much!
The rank of Zhai clothes is determined by the number of long-tailed pheasants embroidered on it. Two are a pair, and the queen is in twelve rows, with twelve pairs in each row.
After the tedious etiquette of the court ceremony was over, when Zhu Houcong returned to Qianqing Palace, Lin Qingping had already put on a more festive outfit and changed her bun.
So even with Lin Qingping's understanding of Huang Jin in the past, she couldn't help but look at him one more time now, with a look of gratitude in her eyes.
Empress Dowager Jiang pulled him over and asked in a low voice: "Tell the truth to the empress. Since I specifically propose marriage to Mr. Sun Ge and haven't gotten married yet, if Qingping gets pregnant first..."
This is a very strange feeling. It feels like a little daughter's embarrassment when facing an elder, but she also feels his strong blood.
"...It's a loss of a thousand gold." Lin Qingping explained in a low voice, "The door latch fell into the gold paper of firecrackers. This is called 'a loss of a thousand gold', and I hope that the wealth will come rolling in."
For Zhu Houcong, a very special point is that every time he passes through a gate of the palace, he must light firecrackers.
"You can't come over and leave after just one meeting, right? What if you misunderstand that your son doesn't like her? Besides, my son also needs to change his mind. He thinks too much about state affairs, and sometimes he can't help but want to carry out one or two things."
Sun Ming was pulled by her sleeves, lowered her head and moved two steps to the side, then finally raised her head and took a bold look at Zhu Houcong.
Hearing three faint sounds in front of the main hall door, Zhu Houcong asked doubtfully: "What is the sound?"
Zhu Houcong didn't quite understand the difference between their treasures, titles, and numbers when it came to the harem levels, but Lin Qingping knew that to be able to wear Zhai Yi, at least he had to be canonized.
Furthermore, with the dignity of an emperor, it is indeed a matter of taking and asking for everything.
In the palace, the Empress Dowager Jiang was asking Zhu Houcong doubtfully: "Your Majesty, when did you become interested in leaf opera?"
On the plate is a piece of Zhai clothing.
After the big court meeting, there will be a banquet.
"Today's change of Yuan will make me happy and not sleepy."
Zhu Houcong didn't care what she was thinking: "Before the canonization ceremony, you will still live in Qianqing Palace. We will make arrangements in the future."
She didn't know what kind of medicine her son was selling in his gourd, and she was bored sitting here: "Let's go and see together."
His figure is surprisingly slender. I heard he is one year younger than him, but he is almost...over 1.6 meters, right? In this era, he is considered tall.
Now, although Lin Qingping is still wearing her usual clothes, although she has chosen clothes with very different colors and more exquisite embroidery, her hair has been combed into a bun that symbolizes marriage. The so-called bun means that after the hair is tied up, she wears various materials. The braided hair net can be easily worn with a hat or decorated with other jewelry.
The emperor is the emperor, and the mother-in-law has to salute when she sees her, not to mention that the wedding has not yet been officially held?
Did she want to get closer to him first? With this smile, she also had a clear face in her heart.
This time, he was just as frightened as a deer, and then he quickly lowered his head again, his face even redder.
Heaven and earth are the emperor's business. Before the great dynasty meeting, the emperor would go to the Ancestral Temple to worship his ancestors and worship heaven and earth.
After Zhu Houcong listened to his introduction, he smiled and patted his shoulder: "Okay, you are so smart, go get some more jewelry."
Empress Dowager Jiang sighed slightly: "Gong Zhongde is no longer here. I thought that the emperor would rely on Mr. Sunge..."
"Before Ming'er entered the palace, I was afraid that this would be unethical. Now that I heard His Majesty's words, I am no longer afraid. Ming'er, please stand aside..."
She had lived in the palace for more than twenty years without thinking about anything, and only in these days did she know what it was like to be a woman.
I don’t know if it’s because His Majesty is running, or because he is too energetic now.
Sometimes I feel like I'm dying.
——Zhu Houcong lived his first "Spring" Festival as emperor in such a relaxed and refreshing way.