From the second day to the sixth day, Lu Yao almost always visited relatives, either to this uncle's house or to another uncle's house. He also took the time to go to the Han Mansion. After all, he and Han Yunyu re-drew their engagement and made their own future.
My son-in-law always wants to pay New Year greetings to his father-in-law.
On the fourth day of the seventh lunar month, Lu Yao was awakened by Uncle Fu's knock on the door not even two hours after falling asleep.
Lu Yao held on to exhaustion and opened the door. He yawned and asked, "Why did Uncle Fu knock on the door so early? What happened?"
Uncle Fu said anxiously: "Today is the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, and the grand meeting is this morning."
Lu Yao touched the corners of his eyes and asked, "The Great Court Meeting is my father's business. Why did you ask me to get up?"
"Why is it none of Erlang's business? Erlang is now the county magistrate, and he is considered to be of fifth rank. You don't have to attend the court meetings on weekdays, but this is the first court meeting in the new year. All officials of the seventh rank and above in the capital must attend the court."
When Lu Yao heard this, he woke up instantly, "What? I want to go to court. Why didn't I know about this and no one told me!"
"Everyone knows about this! Didn't Erlang think of it?"
What do you know? Lu Yao doesn't understand the official hierarchy system of the Song Dynasty. It was only today that he found out that his county was originally in the fifth rank.
"Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and get my county clothes."
"Everything is ready, just waiting for you, Erlang, to get up."
Uncle Fu called out, and several maids behind him appeared holding red official robes and white ivory hats. After the maids carefully helped Lu Yao put on his clothes, Lu Yao took a look in front of the bronze mirror. Although he couldn't see clearly,
It's very true. From a temperament point of view, he is still very handsome. No wonder so many people want to be officials. This official uniform feels different once you wear it.
"Where is my father?" Lu Yao asked.
"The master is already waiting for you in the main hall."
In the Song Dynasty, the time to go to court was at the fifth watch. Those like Lu Yao who got up at the fourth watch were considered very late. Some courtiers who lived in the outer city usually got up at the second watch, because the Lu family lived in the inner city and was not far from the imperial city. Even if
It's still enough time to wake up at the fourth watch.
When Lu Yao came to the main hall and did not see Lu Xu's figure, the servants said that Lu Xu had already gone outside the house.
Lu Yao hurried to the mansion gate again and saw a carriage outside.
Lu Yao got into the carriage and saw Lu Xu closing his eyes and concentrating. He was also wearing a red official robe. In fact, the official rank of Lu Xu's minister was not much different from that of the county.
"Here we go, let's go." Lu Xu said softly, and the carriage was pulled by the servants and slowly walked towards the imperial city.
Lu Yao couldn't help but sigh that being an official in ancient times was a tiring profession. He had to go to court on time at five o'clock. Fortunately, the court did not happen every day, otherwise it would drive people crazy.
After the carriage shook for half an hour, it finally stopped.
Lu Xu and Lu Yao woke up from their nap at the same time.
Lu Yao followed Lu Xu's example and rubbed his face with his hands a few times before getting off the carriage.
They were not the first to arrive. Some people in purple robes were already standing in the courtyard early. I don't know what they were talking about. They must be related to today's morning meeting.
Suddenly, Lu Yao smelled a familiar smell. He turned around and saw that some people had already set up a stall outside the courtyard. Sure enough, the fine Chinese tradition of making breakfast early has been around since ancient times.
There were also some officials standing in front of the stall, all buying breakfast. There were not many varieties, only mutton soup, sesame seed buns and steamed buns.
Anyway, Xuandemen didn't open until half an hour later, so Lu Yao excitedly ran to a stall.
Several sixth- and seventh-grade officials in green and blue robes immediately bowed and saluted when they saw a red-robed man approaching, but they did not recognize the young man in red robes.
They still knew very well who held what official position in the court. When did a fifth-rank official appear in the capital, and he was a sixteen-year-old boy.
However, it does not delay them from saluting. Even if a one-year-old child is wearing a red robe in front of them, they still need to salute. This has nothing to do with age, but only with rank.
"How about you invite me first?" asked an official in a green robe.
Lu Yao shook his head and said: "Everything is first come, first served. Since you come first, you buy first."
Those people left after taking breakfast. They didn't know Lu Yao and didn't want to talk to him too much.
Lu Yao bought two breakfasts, four mutton buns for each person, and two bowls of mutton soup.
I have to say that the economy of the Song Dynasty was really developed. Now there are disposable cups, which are simply processed from bamboo joints. It is not very troublesome. However, Lu Yao still feels that it is a bit wasteful. Isn't it good to make paper from bamboo? He plans to
Make disposable paper cups and they will definitely sell well.
Also, the current breakfast is too monotonous. There is no egg pancakes, pies, fried noodles, or fried rice. He has to make it quickly. Almost people are waiting to sell it outside the hospital. It is definitely popular.
The breakfast outside the hospital was not cheap. Two servings cost Lu Yao twenty cash.
As soon as Lu Yao came to Lu Xu and handed a breakfast into his hands, he heard a burst of laughter: "I said why can't I find you? It turns out you went to buy food."
Lu Yao looked up and saw that it was Uncle Cao Guo whom he had not seen for many days.
"I've met Uncle Cao Guo!"
"Boy Lu, is this the food you bought for me?" Cao Yi didn't care whether Lu Yao agreed or not, he snatched the breakfast from Lu Yao's hand and ate half of the buns in one bite.
He finally understood why his father said that Cao Yi was withholding goods and even wanted to grab a breakfast.
Then I heard a cold snort coming from the side.
Han Yonghe also arrived, and his cold snort just now was due to his dissatisfaction with Cao Yi.
Lu Yao bowed respectfully and said, "Uncle Han, you can eat it. My nephew will buy you a portion too."
Han Yonghe said "Yeah", there is nothing wrong with his future son-in-law being filial to him.
Then a fat middle-aged man wearing a purple robe came over and said with a big smile: "Brother Lu Xian, you are well."
Everyone's attention had long been attracted by their laughter. When they saw that the person coming was Ouyang Xiu, they were not surprised. Ouyang Xiu's character was like this.
This time, Lu Xiandi, everyone thought he was calling Lu Xu, but they didn't expect that Ouyang Xiu was patting Lu Yao on the shoulder.
Many people wonder if they haven't woken up yet. They rub their eyes and realize that they saw it right. What is going on?
Even my jaw dropped in shock. Ouyang Xiu actually called Lu Yao his wise brother. This was explosive news.
Several people in purple robes in front also turned to look.
Lu Yao found that they were all acquaintances.
Wen Yanbo, Fu Bi and Zeng Gongliang stood together, while Bao Zheng stood alone.
Han Yonghe also looked at Lu Yao in surprise. When did this happen? They didn't even have any news.
Lu Yao smiled and said, "Brother Ouyang didn't eat either. I'll buy you some food too."
"Go ahead, go ahead." Ouyang Xiu nodded and said.
Lu Yao ran back to buy breakfast again.
This time he bought not three but seven copies. Bao Zheng and the others must also buy one.
When the breakfast was placed in Wen Yanbo's hands, they accepted it with a smile, and even said a few words of praise for Lu Yao. Bao Zheng hesitated for a while, took a look at Wen Yanbo's delicious meal, and also took the breakfast.
He put it on his hand and warned: "Don't do this again next time, so as not to be criticized by others."
Bao Zheng's words can be regarded as words of concern. Don't think it's okay to give breakfast to central ministers like them now. Later, when you commit a crime and impeach you, giving breakfast to them will be regarded as colluding with the ministers.
As a representative figure of Yanguan, Bao Zheng naturally understood this and reminded Lu Yao by the way.
Lu Yao said yes and then left.
The breakfast was finally finished, and he was so hungry that his chest was pressed to his belly, but he could still manage to take a bite.
Lu Yao had just finished eating a bun when he heard the bell ringing.
A eunuch shouted: "Go to court!"
"So fast?" Lu Yao quickly drank two mouthfuls of mutton soup and swallowed the buns without even having time to wipe his mouth.
Lu Yao didn't know where he should stand. He was about to stand behind his father, but he was pushed out by Lu Xu.
Lu Xu whispered: "Go to the red robe and stand at the end."
Lu Yao ran back and jumped in line between the red robe and the green robe.
The official who was originally ranked at the end of the red robe looked at Lu Yao in surprise.
Lu Yao could only apologize in embarrassment.
The team of officials moved slowly, passing through Xuande Gate, Daqing Gate and the huge front gate square of Daqing Hall, and finally arrived at Daqing Hall.
This was the first time Lu Yao came to the morning meeting place.
Later generations said that the imperial city of the Northern Song Dynasty was small, but the Daqing Palace that Lu Yao saw was no smaller than the later Palace of Supreme Harmony.
It was not that the emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty did not want to expand the imperial city, they were eager to expand the area of the imperial city.
Song Zhenzong's several proposals to expand the imperial city were rejected by civil servants for various reasons.
Song Zhenzong really wanted to say, you ministers all live in such a big house. Do you think I, an emperor, live in such a miserable condition? Is this reasonable?
The civil servants all agreed that it was reasonable.
Song Renzong also wanted to expand, but the civil servants saw that this was not possible. What your father couldn't do, you, as a son, can't even hope to do.
However, every emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty never gave up this ideal.
Anyway, the matter of expanding the imperial city is brought up every year, and every year civil servants disagree.
Another very important reason is that the demolition costs around the imperial city are very expensive, and the emperor's internal funds may not be able to afford this cost.
The emperor's family has no food left.
After all the ministers stood up, Song Renzong Zhao Zhen walked into the Daqing Hall.
Today is the first day of the New Year. Zhao Zhen put on a dragon robe. On ordinary days, he would wear a red robe like the officials.
After Zhao Zhen sat down, he said some New Year blessings and then asked: "Do you have anything to report at home?"
There are certainly things, and there are quite a few.
Wen Yanbo took a step forward while holding the wat board. What he was reporting was about the Yellow River bursting its banks in the first year of Jiayou's reign. Now victims are everywhere, including Bianliang. Post-disaster reconstruction was discussed last year.
This year, there is no solution. The main reason is that the state treasury has no money.
Song Renzong sighed, "Where are the three envoys?"
Zhang Fangping, who was the third envoy at the time, wiped the sweat from his forehead and walked out of the queue.
"The Zhang Qing family cooperated well with Xiang Wen in dealing with the victims."
"I obey."
Zhang Fangping had no choice. There was no money in the treasury and he could only deduct some money from other places to solve the problems of the victims.
Next, some courtiers raised the issue of establishing an heir again because of Zhao Zhen's sudden illness last year.
Almost all the courtiers seconded this matter. The prince is the foundation of the country. Only by establishing an heir early can these courtiers rest assured. It is well known that Zhao Zhen is in poor health. Who knows that one day Zhao Zhen will become seriously ill and die.
The sooner this happens, the better.
Zhao Zhen had a headache over this matter. Several of his sons had died young and he had no son. If he wanted to have an heir, he could only adopt a son from a relative of the emperor. The most suitable one was Zhao Zongshi, the thirteenth son of Zhao Yunrang, Prince of Runan County.
Zhao Yunrang's family is also very sad. Zhao Yunrang has been raised in the palace since he was a child. He thought he was going to be the emperor when Zhao Zhen was born. There was no way Zhao Zhen became the emperor, so he was sent out of the palace. His son Zhao Zongshi had been raised in the palace since he was a child.
He was also raised in the palace and trained as the next emperor, but Zhao Zhen gave birth to another son, and Zhao Zongshi was sent out of the palace again, but Zhao Zhen's son died before he could live long.
After that, Zhao Zongshi was not brought into the palace again.
Everyone wants their own son to be the emperor, and Zhao Zhen is the same. He has always wanted to have a son, and he is still insisting on it. Unfortunately, he works hard every day, but he does not have a son, but he has many daughters.
Of course he cannot accept the suggestions of these courtiers. Maybe I will give birth to a son next year.
"This matter will be discussed later!" Zhao Zhen dismissed these courtiers with just one sentence.
Unless you are about to run out of gas, there is no need to discuss this matter.