In the next few days, Lin Xuan was busy preparing potions and asking carpenters to make some tools needed for papermaking.
It took seven days to get everything ready.
He Xinmin also led people to dig forty pits and purchased a lot of shrubs.
Forty big pits, not even half of the land was used.
Linxuan does not plan to continue digging holes for the rest.
It still needs to be retained and some necessary facilities built.
Including drying rooms and warehouses, some houses need to be built for workers to live in, including those above the ponds, which will eventually be built.
Papermaking in ancient times was usually made when the weather was warm.
The weather is too cold in winter and the water freezes, so the paper will freeze before it dries.
Lin Xuan didn't have this worry, he could just heat it up.
Lin Xuan asked He Xinmin to lead people to throw the shrubs into the pit and then add some water.
After they finished it, Lin Xuan poured the prepared potion into it, and the rest just needed to wait.
…
Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, it is the day when Princess Jinyang is full moon.
"Sister, your queen mother will definitely like your painting." Princess Yuzhang comforted her.
She saw that Li Lizhi was a little unhappy, and thought that Li Lizhi was worried that Empress Changsun would not like her gift.
"I'm not worried about this, I'm worried about the Marquis of Jingyang County," Li Lizhi said.
"Worried about the Marquis of Jingyang County? What does the Marquis of Jingyang County have to worry about?" Princess Yuzhang was a little puzzled.
Li Lizhi said with some embarrassment: "After all, the Lin family was just a businessman before. I'm worried that he won't have anything to offer and will lose face."
It's not that she dislikes Lin Xuan's background, but she is worried that Lin Xuan will lose face and be unhappy.
Princess Yuzhang joked: "It turns out that my sister is worried that her lover will lose face."
Li Lizhi said a little embarrassedly: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Princess Yuzhang smiled and said: "Sister, you don't need to worry about the Marquis of Jingyang County. I have heard about the talent of the Marquis of Jingyang County, but if it doesn't work out, he can also compose poems for his mother."
Li Lizhi thought of Lin Xuan's poems and words, and felt that what Princess Yuzhang said made sense, so she felt relieved.
…
East Palace
Li Chengqian carefully rolled up a set of calligraphy and put it into the brocade box.
"Your Highness, although this calligraphy is Wang Xizhi's early work, it is not as precious as his later ones, but it is still very rare. I think the Queen will definitely like it," Du He said.
Li Chengqian smiled and said: "As long as the queen mother is happy."
…
All those in Chang'an who were marquis or above, or whose official rank was in the fourth rank, rushed to the palace with gifts.
Lin Xuan was no exception. He put on a marquis uniform and rushed to the palace with a "dressing table" as a congratulatory gift for Empress Changsun.
The dressing table was just completed a few days ago. In addition to this one, there are also a dozen smaller ones.
The smaller ones were kept by Lin Xuan to give away.
Logically speaking, the princess's full moon shouldn't be so grand, but the emperor paid great attention to it and held a banquet for the officials, who naturally sent congratulatory gifts.
However, most foreign ministers will not prepare too expensive gifts.
When Lin Xuan came to the palace, he happened to meet Cheng Yaojin.
Cheng Yaojin was carrying a big box, and he was accompanied by two brothers, Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang.
Cheng Yaojin saw Lin Xuan, patted Lin Xuan's shoulder and said, "Boy Lin, why did you come here empty-handed? It couldn't be a gift that you didn't get, right? Why don't you take what I prepared first?"
Lin Xuan smiled and said: "Uncle Cheng gave the gift to my nephew, what should I do?"
Cheng Yaojin said nonchalantly: "I can give you whatever you want, but you are different. You are the Queen's future son-in-law, so don't be stingy with this first gift."
Lin Xuan was very moved by Cheng Yaojin's love and care, and said with a smile: "Uncle Cheng, my nephew has prepared a gift, don't worry."
"Where is your gift?" Cheng Yaojin looked at Liu Da and others behind Lin Xuan and found that they were also empty-handed.
"Uncle Cheng, there are things in the back. There are too many people and the carriage can't get in." Lin Xuan said.
The dressing table was a bit big, so it was pulled here by carriage. Because there were too many people at the entrance of the palace, the carriage was now blocked behind.
"I asked you, boy, did you bring a few carriages of copper coins?" Cheng Yaojin said.
This was the first time he had seen a carriage pulling gifts. This was not a betrothal gift.
Lin Xuan smiled bitterly and said: "Uncle Cheng, you will know what I am sending you soon. It is definitely not copper coins."
"You kid, you gave me a gift and acted mysteriously. Since you have confidence, I won't care about you. I'll go in first," Cheng Yaojin said.
Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang did not follow Cheng Yaojin in.
After Cheng Yaojin left, Cheng Chumo asked, "What did you give me?"
Lin Xuan smiled and said, "You'll know in a moment!"
Cheng Chu muttered silently: "Mysterious."
"By the way, where are Qin Huaidao and the others?" Lin Xuan asked.
"I didn't see it either, they should have already gone in." Cheng Chumo said.
Lin Xuan waited for a while and saw that there were finally fewer people at the palace gate. Lin Xuan asked Liu Da to notify the coachman and drive the carriage over.
"Lin Xuan, what the hell is on your carriage, and why are you covering it with a cloth?" Cheng Chumo thought he could see what Lin Xuan was sending, but he didn't expect that the carriage was also covered with a layer of cloth.
"Don't ask any more questions, we'll find out in a moment." Lin Xuan said.
Cheng Chuliang said: "Brother Lin, this gift is not about size."
Although the carriage was covered with cloth and you couldn't see what it was, judging from the bulging shape, the things Lin Xuan sent were not small.
"Don't worry, my gift is definitely the Queen's favorite." Lin Xuan said confidently.
The Cheng Chumo brothers were a little speechless. They didn't know where Lin Xuan got his confidence.
Lin Xuan went to the entrance of the palace, called a few forbidden people, and asked them to carry the dressing table.
…
This time the banquet will be held at Tai Chi Palace.
A princess was full moon, and she held a banquet in Tai Chi Palace, notwithstanding the officials.
Princess Jinyang is not said to be unprecedented, but she is certainly unprecedented.
The entire Tai Chi Palace was also decorated with a brand new look.
Lin Xuan originally thought that he was a marquis, and his position was probably in the middle.
However, he thought wrongly. His position cannot be further back.
But thinking about the two brothers Cheng Chumo who were not even allowed to stay in the main hall and were taken directly to the auxiliary hall, Lin Xuan felt much better.
The front hall is lively, but the back hall is even more lively.
The noble ladies from Chang'an and the married princesses have all arrived.
These female relatives came earlier than Lin Xuan and the others.
Empress Changsun is wearing a phoenix crown and a garland, sitting on a high throne, looking very graceful and luxurious.
Next are the concubines, princesses, and finally the imperial wives.
While Li Lizhi was talking to the other princesses, she was thinking about what gifts Lin Xuan would give.
"I would like to report to the Queen, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, all princes and princesses, the congratulatory gifts from the Prince Consort have been delivered." A eunuch came in to report.
The princess of Hejian County said with a smile: "Oh, it's the most lively time."
At such a banquet, the civil and military ministers would not give particularly expensive gifts.
Civil servants such as Wei Zheng usually wrote a congratulatory note themselves.
Kong Yingda and other great scholars usually wrote their own subtitles or sent ancient books to express their feelings.
As for those nobles and relatives of the emperor, the gifts should be more precious.
But the biggest attraction is the gifts from the princes and princesses, because they represent their filial piety.
"No matter what you give, it is the filial piety of the children." Empress Changsun said with a smile.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince presents a copy of Wang Xizhi's copybook."
"His Royal Highness the King of Wei presents a copy of Wang Xianzhi's "Yatou Wan Tie"."
"His Royal Highness the King of Shu presents a Jade Buddha."
…
Queen Changsun's eyes lit up when she heard that Li Chengqian and Li Tai had presented them with copybooks.
She and Li Shimin both loved calligraphy, especially Wang Xizhi's calligraphy.
Concubine Yang smiled and said: "The prince and Qingque are interested. They know that your majesty and empress like calligraphy the most."
Wang Xianzhi is the son of Wang Xizhi, and they are known as the two kings.
But Li Shimin didn't like Wang Xianzhi's calligraphy very much, and Wang Xianzhi was a little worse than his father Wang Xizhi, so Wang Xianzhi's calligraphy was not as precious as Wang Xizhi's.
But everything should not be viewed this way. "Yatou Wan Tie" is Wang Xianzhi's masterpiece.
The copybook of Wang Xizhi presented by Li Chengqian does not have a name. It is probably a work of Wang Xizhi's early years of practice and is not particularly precious.
"These children are very filial. No matter what you give me, I will be very happy." Empress Changsun said with a smile.
In the end, Li Zhi personally copied the Buddhist scriptures and won a round of applause.
After the prince and the princes presented their congratulatory gifts, it was the turn of the princess and the consort.
As the eldest princess, the first thing Li Lizhi thought about was her gift.
"Princess Changle presents a pair of autographed paintings."
The gifts given to the consort who had been given a marriage but not yet married were put at the end. Therefore, after reading Li Lizhi's gifts, Lin Xuan's was not read.
The next gifts from the princess and the prince-in-law are more precious.