Naturally, the Ming Dynasty was not a prosperous age at the moment, but the wedding of the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was very grand.
Before the formal wedding, sacrifices must be made to the ancestral temple and to heaven and earth.
But Najib asked the horoscopes to make a betrothal, accepted the levy and sent betrothal gifts, and announced the date to set an auspicious date. Every step was unambiguous.
In the three important ceremonial links, the honorable minister is the chief envoy and the counselor is the deputy envoy.
The wedding day is not only the day when the queen's book and seal are officially distributed, but also the day when the queen is welcomed into the palace and held a grand ceremony.
Xu Guangzuo and Yang Tinghe were very tired from the welcome gift of issuing certificates after rushing back from Guangdong.
One is that traveling on the road is so hard, and the other is that the heroic reform is so hard.
And the emperor's wedding cannot be ignored.
"...We hereby send a special envoy to designate you as the queen with a gold book and a gold treasure. She represents the six palaces and the nine royal palaces. She is benevolent and respectful. She enshrines the nine temples to inherit Tian'u. She is shun and sincere, and her spine is heavy. Xiu Huzheng. Ge Qin curls his ears and sings the style of diligence and thrift; Lin-toed katydids celebrate the flourishing of the branch. Praise me for the perfect governance, and you will always have the sound of Hui."
In the main hall of the Sun Mansion, the announcer read out the gold book on Sun Ming's left hand side, and then received the book. After Sun Ming took the gold book, she handed it to the female official kneeling on her right.
The same is true for the Queen's Seal.
After this ceremony, Sun Ming returned inside.
This time, there is an official "identity document" for the queen.
The Supervisor of Ceremonies was sorting out the supervisory records outside, and she would soon leave the front door and return to the palace again—officially as a queen.
In the main hall, the queen appeared in full dress and stood facing south.
Duke Dingguo said to her left: "Respect the commandments, and never disobey orders day and night."
Mrs. Sun Wang was on her right side. She came over with tears in her eyes and gave her a knot with her own hands: "I respect her with all my strength, and I will do it day and night."
Sun Ming felt a little sour in her heart, but she couldn't cry.
At the end of the ceremony, a loud voice sang: "The Queen is riding in a chariot! Entering the palace!"
There were great rituals and music, and the eunuchs from the inner palace led the way out. The ceremonial guards were in front, the phoenix was in the middle, the chief and deputy envoys were accompanying them, and the eunuchs and maids were crowding behind.
The people of the capital witnessed this grand ceremony, and outside Chengtian Gate, civil and military officials in court uniforms were waiting from east to west outside Chengtian Gate.
They would not retreat until they witnessed the guard of honor entering the Chengtian Gate with their own eyes.
Xu Guangzuo and Yang Tinghe were to be sent outside the Meridian Gate.
Afterwards, only the chamberlains and female officials escorted the queen into Fengtian Gate and stopped at the steps in front of Fengtian Hall.
"Queen, please come out."
Sun Ming heard the sound and remembered the etiquette he had been taught before and got out of the carriage.
The escalation of Fengtian Hall was very high, so she had to go up from the west side.
As she slowly walked past, she also saw the emperor approaching from the east side.
In the middle of Danqi, Zhu Houcong saw Sun Ming again, with a smile on his face.
Here, there is also a ceremony of bowing in.
Zhu Houcong bowed to Sun Ming and said: "Queen, follow me into the palace, put on formal attire, and tell the ancestors together."
"...I, my concubine, obey your decree."
Amidst the sound of ritual music, the two people walked up to Fengtian Hall from east to west, and then each changed into their formal attire.
The emperor wore Gun robes and a crown, and the queen wore Zhai robes and a crown of nine dragons and four phoenixes.
Changing the dress is a complicated etiquette. After Sun Ming is dressed, she has to worship the incense table and reward the female officials.
When they met again, Zhu Houcong's eyes smiled even more when he saw Sun Ming dressed up.
The Kowloon and Four Phoenix crowns are naturally extremely gorgeous, and Queen Zhai's clothes are also specially made to measure. There are two strings of jade pendants on each side of the wide jade belt around her waist, with a jade pendant on top, two jade pendants, one jade pendant, and another pendant hanging from the bottom. There is one piece with jade flowers and two pieces with jade drops. So many accessories, all connected with gold threads.
If she walks slowly, it is a gentle reminder, and the beads on the crown of nine dragons and four phoenixes will sway accordingly.
"Let's go to Fengxian Hall."
There is also a place where the ancestors and gods are placed in the palace. Only the head wives can go in with their husbands to make sacrifices.
On this day, the two of them asked for three sets of clothes in total.
I was busy until the evening, and the wedding ceremony before the wedding was also a cumbersome process.
This last set of regular clothes is the end of the ceremony, but it is not over yet.
There is one last process before the official wedding.
Zhu Houcong looked at Huang Jin, the eunuchs and female officials of the Qianqing Palace headed by Gao Zhong, and the Kunning Palace staff headed by Zhang Qiaomei, Sun Ming's maid since childhood, and smiled: "Eat it."
The emperor's waiters had to finish the dishes that the queen had not finished during the ceremony, and the queen's waiters had to eat the dishes that the emperor had not finished.
Zhu Houcong didn't bother to think about what this meant.
Let's do whatever we want.
But the closest waiters around the most distinguished family in the world all knelt down with smiles to thank them, and then tasted them one by one.
The ceremony was finally over, the door of Kunning Palace was closed, and everyone probably stayed outside.
"Would you like some more food?"
Zhu Houcong felt that she might not be full.
After experiencing the most noble wedding in the world and becoming the most noble woman in the world, Sun Ming did not eat well because she was afraid of losing her etiquette, but the main thing she felt now was nervousness.
coming soon……
She lowered her head and shook her head slightly, only to see the emperor walking over.
"Let's go, there's something to eat."
Holding her hand, I could feel her shaking slightly and moving very slowly.
Zhu Houcong stopped, turned to look at her with her head lowered, and stretched out his hand with a smile on his lips.
"Ah——" Sun Ming exclaimed softly and was already hugged by him.
"Hide your head if you are shy." Zhu Houcong blinked and carried her towards the dormitory inside.
In the hall, red candles are swaying and lanterns are decorated.
Sun Ming's heart was beating so hard that she could only bury her head on his shoulder as he said.
His steps were steady, stepping on her heart step by step.
"Peanuts, dates..." Zhu Houcong opened the quilt and picked up the things on the inside one by one, "What do you eat?"
He also ate it himself. The complicated etiquette was really tiring.
"...Wouldn't it be better to eat it?" Sun Ming had already been put down by her and sat on the edge of the bed.
"How uncomfortable will it be to sleep later?" Zhu Houcong peeled off the peanuts and brought them to her mouth, "Eat with confidence."
Sun Ming wanted to reach out and take it, but Zhu Houcong avoided it: "Just eat it like this."
The shame in her eyes turned to honey, and she felt like she kissed his finger.
Zhu Houcong fed her one grain at a time, and she ate it one bite at a time. The two of them didn't speak, and just allowed the close feeling to accumulate gradually.
"That's almost it. Clean it up."
Zhu Houhuang quickly prepared to clean up the various peanuts, red dates, etc. that were scattered everywhere on the bed. Sun Ming felt that it was not appropriate for him to do this, so he knelt on the edge of the bed to pick them up together.
Turning his head to see her appearance, Zhu Houcong moved his eyes back and forth, and Sun Ming's face turned red again.
"Drink some more fragrant tea and rinse your mouth." Zhu Houcong took her hand and sat at the table. This time Sun Ming picked up the teapot and poured tea for him and himself.
After eating some dried fruits, I really need to rinse my mouth...
After walking to the basin and spitting out the tea, he was suddenly hugged from behind.
Sun Ming's whole body tensed up and her voice was like a mosquito: "Your Majesty..."
"The big gift starts now."
"...Go to the couch first." Sun Ming begged.
"Are you good or not?"
Sun Ming could only bite her lips: "Hmm..."
Zhu Houcong held her in his arms, and slowly held his hands from her waist to her face. This journey was a gentle climb over mountains and ridges, and the tender soil under his palms was soft and trembling.
Holding her face and turning her head, Zhu Houcong looked forward and saw that she had closed her eyes and pursed her lips tightly, and her trembling eyelashes showed her nervous mood.
It's so unrelaxing.
Just a little bit of water first, Zhu Houcong held her hand: "Okay, okay, let's go to the couch and put down the curtain first, see if you are afraid. However, you can't blow out the candles, I like the way you are now."
The queen was like a marionette, but fortunately the emperor didn't pounce directly to do anything.
In the small world, the candlelight still illuminated the interior through the heavy curtains, but there was a layer of soft light.
How can one relax? A nervous girl is like a helpless lamb.
Zhu Houcong knew that her mouth would inevitably tighten, so naturally he could only try something else first.
Sun Ming suddenly forgot his feelings.
After a long time, she finally recovered.
Now that I am a married woman, I no longer have so many restrictions after getting intimate. I just want to be closer to him.
Zhu Houcong was still fiddling with certain places contentedly and chanted: "Do you like your husband, Xing Sheng Feng Mei Su?"
Sun Ming's cheeks were red and she pulled out his restless hand: "Your Majesty has ruined a good poem!"
"I'm very impressed." Zhu Houcong chuckled, recalling the feeling from her.
He wrapped his arms around her and made her half-fold in his arms before saying: "Don't worry, we have cleaned up all those peanuts, red dates and so on. Today I will tell you about the Yin and Yang Dao. Please tell me, when was the last menstrual period?"
of?"
"……His Majesty!"
Sun Ming was extremely shy and her menstrual period was not auspicious. Why did he ask this?
"I have something important to say about my legitimate son." Zhu Houcong held his hand again.
Sun Ming trembled and could only reply: "Before the eleventh day..."
Zhu Houcong felt relieved: "That's okay, I probably won't be able to get pregnant this time..."
Sun Ming was dumbfounded and looked at him blankly.
Is this a good thing?
Zhu Houcong hugged him tighter and whispered: "You see you are so light, your body is not in good shape to begin with, and you are still young. In the next few months, you must continue to practice physical fitness and eat more good food."
, I will also pay you many tributes to Duke Zhou!"
He also deliberately smashed his mouth.
"...What does this have to do with menstruation and the legitimate son?" Sun Ming didn't understand.
"Think about the way of yin and yang." Zhu Houxuan compiled seriously. "You can't have sex during menstruation, just like when it is yin. Then the time between two menstrual periods is like looking at the new moon every month. When it's time to look at the moon, isn't it the end of the month?"
The yang time? It must be suitable for conception. Therefore, in the next few months, we must avoid the yang time first."
Sun Ming almost burst into tears: "Your Majesty, don't you want me to get pregnant?"
"It's because you haven't matured yet! I feel sorry for you!" Zhu Houcong gradually became moved when he saw her fragile appearance, "Didn't I tell you? I will only touch you before you are pregnant."
Lin Qingping just wanted to prove that he had the talent in time, but the risk of disputes between concubines and concubines in the future must be guarded against.
In the next few months, the Empress of the Palace will be favored alone, and she can also wait for the other concubines and the nine concubines to mature a little more.
The emperor arranged everything clearly. Sun Ming listened to what he said to her many times, and enjoyed the Zhou Gong's gift again which was far more relaxed and comfortable than the last time. Now she finally felt relieved.
Looking at him with admiration, he asked: "Where did your majesty get this knowledge?"
"I realized it." Zhu Houcong was very happy and said in one sentence, "I have learned so much knowledge..."
…
The wedding ceremony will be arranged every day for the next few days.
Then Wen Zhengming arrived in Beijing, and as the biological father of the royal concubine, there was a ceremony to enshrine him.
The biological father of the ninth concubine will also receive a reward.
The courtiers looked at the current concubines and concubines of the new dynasty. Except for Lin Qingping, who was an "orphan" and was born without a maternal family, only three of them could be called ordinary good families.
The emperor's purpose is also relatively clear: the maternal family of these people can be appointed.
Needless to say, Sun Jiao, apart from Wen Zhengming who was granted the title of Taihebo and presided over the Wanfa Hall, there are two most important relatives among the other relatives of the New Kingdom.
One is Cao Cha, the father of the Duan concubine Cao family, who was born as a Jinshi and is now the most respected person in Fujian.
One is Ma Yong, the father of the Anpin Ma family, who is now the chief military officer of Jizhou.
Among the remaining few, Zhang Ji, the father of Li concubine, and Chen Wanyan, the father of concubine Jing, were only scholars, the father of De concubine was a civil servant without any official position, and the fathers of the other five were all civil and military officials.
After this round of rewards, naturally everyone can be appointed to an official position and promoted.
When a scholar is appointed as an official, he can only be sent to Guangdong. This is not the case in other places for the time being.
When Sun Jiao went south, he took these two talents with him, and Cao Cha and Ma Yong also transferred to Guangdong.
Another person who was transferred to Guangdong was Zhu Wan, who performed well during the Jiangnan hurricane disaster last year.
The decree arrived faster than people, and together with the decree came the reform of Guangdong government offices and the quota list for the establishment of officials, which were rushed out by the Ministry of Personnel.
One year after he was promoted, Zhang Fujing made great achievements in "quelling the rebellion". He was promoted to the right deputy imperial envoy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and was appointed governor of Guangdong. The temporary office was removed.
But what was before them was that Guangdong would have a governor, and the powers of the three departments would be greatly adjusted.
According to His Majesty's decree, Guangdong Province has set up a provincial affairs meeting. Currently, only Zhang Fuking, Zhang En, Wang Hong, Jiang Xiuyi and Huo Tao are confirmed to be able to attend the meeting.
After the tax envoy from the Department of Taxation and the director-general of the Department of Public Security arrived, the seven-person provincial meeting was held to discuss matters.
"Jing'an Hou Sunge is on his way south." Zhang Fujing looked at them, "The New Law Propaganda Group is about to arrive, but the five of us have to understand His Majesty's will and the intention of the court first."
Among them, Huo Tao was an unexpected surprise.
The patrol censor will become a higher-ranking official, directly assigned to the fifth rank instead of the previous seventh rank. The most important thing is that although he will still be responsible to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, he will have a Ducha Si Yamen in the province
, under the jurisdiction of the sixth-rank censor for patrolling roads and the seventh-rank censor for patrolling counties.
He is now very grateful to Huang Zuo.
But Zhang En, Wang Hong and Jiang Xiuyi had complicated moods.
Among them, Wang Hong will be the most affected. The responsibilities of the Procuratorate and Envoys Department are divided the most. The Criminal Prosecution Department is dedicated to the Criminal Investigation Department. In other places, the Public Security Department is set up for the police department. Academic administration will also be handed over to the Chief Envoys Department.
.
The Chief Envoy Division separated the rather important tax collection function and established the Taxation Department.
The Dusi originally also had the function of patrolling and inspecting roads, but now it will be assigned to the Public Security Department.
Zhang Fujing looked at them and said: "Your names are directly heard by heaven. Regarding the new law in Guangdong, you should understand what is light and what is important. Zhang Fantai, Your Majesty has made a decree. Most of the important tasks in Guangdong next year will be with the Chief Envoy.
If you have any concerns, we will discuss them as soon as possible."
"The first thing to do is naturally to conduct the deputy provincial examination, inspect the province's civil servants, and promote the new system of officials in Guangdong." Although the Chief Envoy will take away the tax affairs, his actual power will expand very quickly this time.
Zhang En said, "The investigation of Zheng Cunzhong and other treason cases in Futai has not yet been completed, and the Guangdong gentry is panicking. It is better to carry out this action as soon as possible."
Such a large-scale expansion in Guangdong will generally only target two groups: the unsuccessful Guangdong scholars and Juren, as well as the many officials and government officials currently serving in Guangdong.
Zhang Enzhen did not expect that the imperial court would be so courageous. The number of people included in the establishment of Guangdong Province would exceed the total number of officials in the country.
"I don't know how the propaganda team will be arranged. However, at this time, there are so many new officials in Guangdong, and the policies for determining their grades, salaries, and promotions should be widely publicized. Although the chief examiner of the provincial examination has returned to Beijing,
The deputy list has been set up to promote education. Can we consult as soon as possible to see if there are any students in various prefectures and counties who are willing to give up the examination and be appointed as officials through the deputy list? "
Zhang Fujing nodded, but said to Wang Hong: "Wang Jiantai, the company has changed a lot, do you have any doubts?"
Wang Hong frowned and thought, then shook his head: "Your Majesty must have made proper arrangements."
The original Inspector-General was a third-rank official, but now the Sentencing Department, Sentencing Envoy and the Chief Secretary of the Public Security Department have become a fourth-rank official. I am afraid that Wang Hong will have another appointment after the restructuring.
He doesn't need to talk much.
"Chief Jiang?"
Jiang Xiuyi, the chief military officer of Guangdong, also had meritorious service this time. He did not dare to say anything about the division of duties and powers for the capital department - Duke Dingguo had just arrived, and Marquis Funing was still the chief military officer of Guangdong and Guangdong.
"Huo Xun press?"
Huo Tao only said: "I have no doubts."
The governor can directly manage the censor, but the censor also has the right to report directly.
Zhang Fujing went on a killing spree twice without any objection from His Majesty or the court, and his prestige in Guangdong was completely established.
"The new system in Guangdong has many implications, and the imperial court will also select many colleagues to come to Guangdong. Everyone, please take matters in front of us. Let Guangdong be stabilized before the end of the year!"
Soon, the new law propaganda team arrived in Guangdong before Governor Sun Jiao, and the news about the reform of the government office and so many new official positions were announced.
"In the future, there will be a list of candidates for both the main and deputy positions in the provincial examinations? Brother Zhao, what do you think about what the teaching said?"
"It is possible to make up for the secondary list of candidates' background...but they can't take the exam again..." The person who was asked was very hesitant.
"At least for the officials in Guangdong, the imperial court has said that promotions will only be based on merit, not family background."
Someone sneered: "I don't have a Jinshi background, so that's just nice to say."
"...I have taken the exam five times for my brother, and I feel really cold."
"So what if it's just a flash in the pan? If you agree this time and the new law fails to come into effect, won't your future be ruined?"
Scholars in Guangdong have different thoughts, while many unofficial candidates in Guangdong have the same thoughts.
Those who want to take the imperial examination can only spend their own money to go to Guangdong to take the exam. Those who want to take the exam have almost already left, and the rest are not planning to take the exam again.
But now a serious problem is before them: Thirteen families were destroyed in Zheng Cunzhong's rebellion, 27 families were implicated, and a total of ninety-three people in Guangdong were expelled from their jobs.
Can these remaining old juren still rely on their former juren status to evade taxes and servitude in Guangdong?
"The old party has not fallen! We still don't know what the new law will be like in Guangdong. My mentor is Fei Dutai. He advised me to protect myself wisely and not to cause trouble."
"... With such great changes in Guangdong, the imperial court has made up its mind, and His Majesty did not stop it." Some people hesitated. The new treatment for officials seems to be quite good. Although it is not as good as the past without having to bear taxes and services, it is better than having peace of mind.
.
Some officials or government officials held gatherings because of the news that dropped from the sky.
"Brother Qi, can our clerks, clerks, and team leaders really have official status? Are our capable people also paid by the government?"
"...That's what the text says, but you must be able to read and write."
"...I'm already this old, how can I learn to read and digit again?"
"Will there be arrangements?" The county clerk's eyes were glaring, "I wonder if it is true that the article says that an eighth- or ninth-rank official without any background can be promoted to the sixth rank."
"Ouch! Brother Qi, could it be that you can also be the county's respected master?"
"What nonsense! Brother Qi can at least pass judgment on the master!"
Are there any officials in the office who are illiterate? The Brother Qi they mentioned was just that he failed to pass the examination to become a scholar.
But now, some of the window paper on the bottom floor seems to have been punctured, allowing some people to see some light.
In Yuanying Tower, Wei Bin was entertaining some people.
"Thanks to your majesty's openness to the world, the Ming Dynasty is changing with each passing day. If you manage the people and many servants you brought, how much will it cost? You will not be short of it at all!"
"Thank you Eunuch Wei!"
Wei Bin asked kindly: "How have you been looking around in Guangzhou these past few days?"
"This is truly a heavenly kingdom, and it is an eye-opener for us all."
"In the past, only tribute envoys could come to the Ming Dynasty, but now our family is under the emperor's order, but we have provided you with this opportunity." Wei Bin said proudly, "The Ming Dynasty is rich in the world and has abundant products. You have done meritorious service, except for property.
Young Master, our family will also inform His Majesty."
"Eunuch Wei, can't we live in the Ming Dynasty forever?"
Wei Bin smiled and shook his head: "No. It is a special favor to allow you to go to the Ming Dynasty to serve in exchange for goods without paying tribute. It will last for two years, and then a group of people will need to be replaced. Naturally, our family
There is actually no difference between the people recommended by you who can be considered first, only those who are worthy of my Ming Dynasty and so on."
These local leaders who brought "refugees" from Southeast Asia understood clearly that this business could continue.
"His Majesty likes to eat Annan rice. Our family has purchased it a few times, and it will become a regular practice from now on. You still need to go back to raise more money, and the price is not a problem. Your Majesty is already married. If the ladies feel good after eating it, I will send you a special favor in the future.
, it may not be possible for you to become people of the Ming Dynasty. However, you need to study the etiquette of the Ming Dynasty more."
"Father-in-law, are you serious about what you said?"