The new year comes quietly with the sound of firecrackers. The joy of the people in Chang'an City to celebrate the arrival of the new year has not faded. At about three o'clock, all the civil and military officials from the court gathered in front of Xuanwu Gate. According to the legend passed down from the emperors of the Tang Dynasty According to the rules, on the first day of the new year, the emperor would worship his ancestors in the ancestral temple to pray for the prosperity of the country this year. All civil and military officials would be waiting here, just like in the morning when they went to court in the past, quietly waiting for the palace door to open.
Wearing a third-grade purple official uniform and a goldfish belt, Mr. Meng, who stood out among the ordinary people with his tall and straight figure, appeared for the first time in front of the civil and military officials. In front of him was Du Ruhui, the minister of the dynasty, and the left servant of the minister. Shefang Xuanling and a group of veteran generals such as Changsun Wuji, Li Jing, Qin Shubao, etc. are not far from Meng Xinghe. Everyone in this team has an important position in the court. Now at the New Year's sacrifice ceremony Appearing together, many adults secretly thought about the recent crown prince incident. Could it be that these people are all in the same camp.
While all the officials were speculating, the old prince Li Daozong, Hou Wenhai, and Zhang Shigui appeared with another group of officials who were also from a major camp in the DPRK.
"Hey, Mr. Meng." The old prince Li Daozong walked up to Meng Xinghe and looked him up and down. He patted Meng Xinghe on the shoulder very affectionately. Like an old friend he hadn't seen for a long time, he said: "You're not here. Chang'an. I want to find no one to drink with. Why? I'm back to Chang'an now. How about having a drink at my house another day?"
In my impression, Li Daozong had similar interests to me. And although he was on Li Chengqian's side, he didn't have any evil intentions. As the saying goes, kindness is hard to refuse. How could Meng Xinghe have the heart to refuse the old prince's invitation? He handed it over. He said: "Since the prince wants to drink, I happened to have two bottles of fine wine from the Western Regions in my palace. Legend has it that the color of this wine is like blood. It goes into the throat softly and is much softer than the spirits from the Central Plains. I will bring two bottles with me the next day." At the prince’s house, let’s taste the fine wine from the Western Regions together.”
Mr. Meng's business is now spread all over the country. There are even several branches on the Silk Road of the Western Regions. He not only has fine wines from the Western Regions, but even gems and horses. Meng Xinghe's private collection is very rich.
"Haha." The old prince laughed heartily: It is said that the fine wine from the Western Regions needs to be served in a luminous cup. It just so happens that there is a luminous cup carved with ivory in my palace. It is suitable for the fine wine from the Western Regions, Master Meng."
Meng Xinghe didn't think it was strange at all to have a luminous cup carved from ivory. He still had some time to go to the ancestral temple to offer sacrifices, so he happily chatted with the old prince.
Although the two of them were chatting in front of the Xuanwu Gate, in the eyes of the colleagues nearby, they all thought that Meng Xinghe was supporting Li Zhi. Now think about it, it seems that this guy is maintaining a neutral attitude.
Ever since, the people who had hurriedly stood up began to waver again, trying to get into the right position.
Just as the officials outside were singing in unison, the Xuanwu City Gate in the distance opened a gap with a clang. A man who looked like a minister of the inner court stood in front of the door and loudly announced "Enter the palace." After two words, all the ministers walked in from the Xuanwu Gate one by one and arrived at the palace inside.
The procedures for the sacrifice had been arranged long ago. It was presided over by Honglu Temple. In the ancestral temple, the current saint first offered incense and prayed. Then there was an article praying for good fortune for the country this year. In the sharp voice of a certain Honglu Temple official Read it out. The next thing is for all the officials to kowtow and offer incense.
Although it was Meng Xinghe's first time to participate in this kind of sacrifice, it was as boring as the long meeting in his previous life. He followed the procedures and by the time the sacrifice was over, it was already almost there. I have to say that the New Year's Day for officials in ancient times It was a very tiring day.
Meng Xinghe originally thought that after the sacrifice, he could go back home. Who knew that after the sacrifice, according to the rules, the Holy Emperor would entertain hundreds of officials in the palace. At the same time, on this day, he would also accept the so-called worship from all nations.
The banquet for hundreds of officials is in the Royal Banquet Palace. The ministers have just participated in the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the ancestral temple. When they arrived at the Imperial Banquet Palace, it was already lunch time. The imperial dining room had already prepared a hundred-seat imperial banquet. Li Shimin took the lead. All civil and military officials followed their official positions. The high and low come in one by one. At this time, the princes, princesses or concubines who are rarely seen in the palace will appear in the Royal Banquet Palace. The intention is to celebrate the whole world.
"Master Meng, if you don't mind, how about I sit next to you."
A heroic laughter sounded in Mr. Meng's ears. The old prince Li Daozong had already sat down. The people at this table were not ordinary people. Except for Mr. Meng, whose official position was slightly lower, the others were either Dukes of the State or Ministers. , Prince and the like. He is a new official who has only been the Minister of Household Affairs for half a year. To be honest, sitting in this position, I just feel a thorn in my buttocks.
"Haha." Meng Xinghe smiled to cover up his embarrassment. If Li Shimin hadn't said anything yet, he would have already raised his cup and said to the old guys at the table, "Get promoted and get rich."
After finally waiting for Li Shimin's long formatted speech to end, Mr. Meng, who had been hungry for a long time, had already started to eat without ceremony in front of a table of good wine and tea.
I couldn't help it. I played too late in Aunt Yun's room last night. When I got up early this morning, I even put on my clothes in a hurry. The reason was that I was afraid of being late on the first day of the New Year. However, arriving in such a hurry caused The direct consequence is that Mr. Meng did not eat breakfast.
"Not bad. Not bad. The taste of the imperial dining room is authentic." This year, Mr. Meng has been traveling outside. There is a chance to eat such delicious food. He is like a person who has been hungry for many days and suddenly discovers food. .To describe it as gobbled up is not an exaggeration.
The old prince saw that Mr. Meng actually had such a genuine side in front of all the officials. He directly picked up the cup under his hand and said: "My colleagues, borrowing the auspicious words of the Holy One, let's drink to our unity for the country."
Du Ruhui picked up the quilt. Fang Xuanling also picked up the quilt. Changsun Wuji also picked up the quilt. Even the two generals Qin Shubao and Li Jing picked up the cups without hesitation.
"Work together for the country. May the Tang Dynasty endure for thousands of years and its foundations endure forever. May all of you be strong and prosperous and live long and prosperous. Congratulations on getting rich." Although Mr. Meng was very hungry, he still picked up the cup and the food on the table at this time. The adults touched one. He was not just someone who cared about eating. He still understood the proper etiquette.
The adults were silent at first, but they were dumbfounded by Meng Xinghe's words. What kind of blessing was this? I'm afraid only a freak like Meng Xinghe could say such novel words.
There was the sound of wine glasses clinking. Under Meng Xinghe's adjustment of the atmosphere, several adults still drank the wine in the glasses.
"Eat the food. Eat the food." After drinking the wine, Mr. Meng couldn't wait to become enthusiastic. He was embarrassed to wolf down this table alone. It looked like an outsider was watching, and he said that he did not respect the elderly and cherish the young.
None of the adults was as young and strong as Meng Xinghe. They ate very little. They came to the Royal Banquet Palace just to feel the atmosphere. But Mr. Meng, on the other hand, really seemed as if he hadn't eaten. He looked like he was starving to death. Ghost reincarnation.
"Uh." Everyone at this table was looking at the wine glass that Meng Xinghe put in front of him. Except for having a drink just now, he never picked it up again. Anyone with a discerning eye can tell at a glance. In fact, the atmosphere at this table is the dullest. After all, we are different and do not seek each other.
Inadvertently, the officials in the Royal Banquet Palace may have set their sights here intentionally or unintentionally. This is a secret competition between the two camps. And the most leisurely one between the two is of course the neutral Meng Xinghe. He felt most relaxed at this moment.
"Hey Mr. Meng."
Just as Mr. Meng was trying hard to eat the food without intervening in the secret competition between the two camps around him, a woman's voice fell in his ears: "I spent the whole night in the palace last night. Why didn't I see the fireworks you set off?" Woolen cloth."
Little Sizi, wearing a white princess dress, slowly appeared next to Master Meng. Then she treated all the adults at the table with court etiquette.
"Princess, a thousand years old." Several old men returned the greeting at the same time.
Mr. Meng wiped his mouth. It's not that he doesn't set off fireworks, but that I don't let me set off fireworks. He would never say what he said in his heart. He smiled and said, "It's better to have fun alone than to have fun together." I distributed those fireworks to many places in Chang'an City to share the joy of the New Year with more people."
"No wonder it is so. Everywhere in Chang'an City was so lively last night." Xiao Sizi smacked his lips lightly, revealing a touching arc. But in the eyes of all the officials, this was undoubtedly some kind of message. In front of him was His Majesty the Emperor's most beloved child. My daughter actually seemed to have a slight affection for that guy who was full of oil.
"Hey, pity that brat of mine. Even if I want to be a frustrated prince-in-law, I have no chance." Immediately, this resentment arose in the hearts of many ministers. In their eyes, Meng Xinghe had evolved into the culprit who destroyed the development of the family.
Xiao Sizi originally came here to present a gift to her father. Who knew that when she entered the Royal Banquet Palace, she saw Master Meng there too. She reluctantly left the Meng Mansion last night. She kept thinking about the most beautiful fireworks in her heart. Then I came over and asked. But Meng Xinghe's answer was very funny. It reminded Xiao Sizi of his silly look when he met this reckless guy in Jiangdu. The corner of his mouth naturally curled up into a smile, as if he was very happy. .Who knows that the revelation of his true feelings has chilled the heart of many ministers here who have handsome young men at home.
Looking farewell to Meng Xinghe, Xiao Sizi came to the top of the Royal Banquet Palace in front of the powerful old man.
"Father." She said the court etiquette. The little Sizi, who has learned court etiquette since she was a child, did it according to the standards. Every gesture and gesture was the nobility of a princess.
Li Shimin said "hmm" and gave up half of his throne: "Jinyang, come up quickly to accompany your father."
"Yeah." Princess Jinyang, who grew up in Li Shimin's study as a child, was luckier than all her brothers and sisters. From the time she could walk, she sat on the throne and watched her father review memorials. When she grew up a little, When he gets older, his father will give him some memorials for review. And his white calligraphy is also learned from his father. When he hears that sentence, come up quickly and accompany his father. Xiaosi Zi's eyes turned slightly red. He nodded and walked up.
"Hey, my daughter has grown up." Li Shimin's eyes were full of bitterness as he looked at the daughter whom the eldest grandson still couldn't let go of even when he was dying. Li Shimin looked around at all the people present in the Royal Banquet Palace. He chuckled and said, "That's what I should do for you.
My Jinyang has found a consort. Otherwise, the father's heart will never be at ease."
Li Shimin said this and immediately shocked everyone.
At the same time, the officials immediately focused their attention on the man in purple robe.