The moon is getting rounder and brighter one night, and the Mid-Autumn Festival is here. This is my first Mid-Autumn Festival after time travel, and it is also the first Mid-Autumn Festival after my host Zhao Fu ascended the throne.
The Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the sacrificial activities of ancient emperors. Ancient emperors had the ritual system of worshiping the sun in spring and worshiping the moon in autumn. Later, admiring the moon became more important than worshiping the moon, and the serious sacrificial ceremony turned into a relaxed and joyful activity. In the early Tang Dynasty, Taizong Li Shimin accepted Yuan Tiangang's proposal and designated August 15th as the Mid-Autumn Festival, which has been passed down ever since.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival of reunions. Fang Ling had already left home three days ago. Xiao Tian was even more busy. The Mid-Autumn Festival was the peak sales season for the restaurant industry, and the seats in Tongle Building had already been reserved. It was completely empty, but there were still many people coming, hoping to book a table. As the reputation of Tongle House grows, this year’s Tongle Mid-Autumn Mooncakes are also very popular. Starting from August 11 , customers who buy mooncakes line up in front of the restaurant every day to buy several boxes, so Xiao Tian can only order a limit of two boxes per person.
In the palace, under the arrangement of Queen Mother Xie Daoqing and Quan Jiu, a knotted pavilion was erected in front of the Moon Worship Pavilion. The maids offered mooncakes, watermelons, pomegranates, dates and other fruits on the table. There are four tall red candles stuck in the corners. Just waiting for the bright moon to rise, everyone will sit around the table, eat and talk, and enjoy the bright moon together. This custom became popular in the Song Dynasty, whether in the homes of poor people or in People in the royal family are accustomed to celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in this way.
According to Xie Daoqing's wishes, on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, I canonized four new talents who entered the palace and named them "the four ladies of spring, summer, autumn and winter," plus the original concubines Quanjiu, Yang Meiren and Yu Xiurong. Wait, the number of my concubines has reached nearly ten.
In the evening, the bright moon appeared, and the breeze blew gently, mixed with the fragrance of sweet-scented osmanthus. Although the weather became slightly cooler, it did not affect everyone's happy mood at all. Xie Daoqing happily sat on a large table in front of the Moon Worship Pavilion. Go up, I and a group of concubines are surrounding me.
"Guan family, now that the late emperor has passed away, this year's moon worship ceremony will be kept simple and my family members can only get together. The court ceremony will be resumed from next year."
"Everything is decided by the queen mother,"
"Well," Xie Daoqing said cheerfully, "Come here, have some wine."
The maids serving on the side shuttled between the wine tables like butterflies, filling everyone's glasses with wine.
Xie Daoqing picked up the wine glass, stood up and walked to the desk. I stood next to him, and Quan Jiu and others stood behind us. , May heaven bless us with good weather in the Song Dynasty, peace and prosperity for the country, and peace for the people,"
After Xie Daoqing finished speaking, he sprinkled the wine in the cup evenly on the ground, then took the second cup of wine handed by the palace maid and said: "This second cup of wine is a tribute to the late emperor's spirit in heaven. May the late emperor protect us on the road to the rejuvenation of the Song Dynasty. "
We also followed Xie Daoqing's example and spilled the wine in our glasses on the ground.
Xie Daoqing turned around and walked back to his seat, picked up another glass of wine, and said with a smile: "This is the third glass of wine for everyone to drink together. I hope that my Zhao family will be in harmony and everything will be happy."
"Thank you Queen Mother,"
After everyone finished drinking, I said: "Mother, my son, please give me a drink first. May your mother be safe and healthy."
"Okay," Xie Daoqing drank it all in one gulp. At this time, Xie Daoqing had a smile on his face, and he was kind and cheerful. He was clearly an old lady in an ordinary family, and she didn't seem to have anything to do with the Queen Mother or anything like that.
Quan Jiu gave Xie Daoqing a piece of food with chopsticks and said, "The Queen Mother will eat some food first. Later, Jiu'er and her sisters will pay respect to the Queen Mother and the officials."
"Well, let's eat. Spring, summer, autumn and winter, the four of you have just entered the palace. Don't be restrained. From now on, we will all be a family. Tonight is a family banquet, just like it is in your own home."
"Yes, Queen Mother,"
"Guan Jia, you have completely changed since you came to the throne. Your mother is completely relieved now. However, Guan Jia, you also need to be more cautious. The history of our dynasty is too deep, and some things cannot be changed overnight. What can be changed is that the Mongolians from the north are currently looking at them from outside, so we must be more cautious and make gradual changes on a stable basis."
"Don't worry, mother, the child understands,"
Xie Daoqing nodded slightly and said: "It's good to understand. The queen mother was originally worried that you were unwilling to do your best, but now she is also worried that you will be too impulsive."
"Look, the moon has risen, it's so bright," said Yang Meiren, who was sitting opposite Xie Daoqing.
Xie Daoqing looked up and said: "Well, the moon is really bright this year. Jiu'er, you go to the Moon Worship Pavilion to enjoy the moon. I'll talk to the officials."
"Well, sisters, let's go and enjoy the moon."
I also looked up at the sky. The moon in this era does look brighter than in later generations. The unpolluted sky gives people a deep and fresh feeling. Looking through the pure sky, a bright moon hangs in the sky. It is rising slowly and there is no feeling of mist covering it at all.
"Guan Jia, the war in Luzhou has almost subsided,"
"Mother, it should be soon. According to the battle report received today, our army has recaptured the twin towns of Anhua and Anfei outside Luzhou City. General Xia Gui is currently leading his men to rebuild the two towns,"
"Well, the officials should reward the soldiers of Luzhou well,"
"Yes, I am waiting for Xia Gui's summary of the war. I will definitely reward you according to your merits."
"Those who have meritorious service are rewarded, and those who are guilty are punished. The way to run an army is to make clear rewards and punishments. By the way, officials, are you going to restructure our army?"
"Yes, Mother, my child has been too busy recently and I haven't had time to report this to you. Mother, my child originally planned to only start with the navy this year, but since the Luzhou War, my child feels that it is urgent for me to change the army. "
Xie Daoqing thought for a while and said: "Guanjia, it's been almost a year since you took the throne. You should be very clear about the situation in the court. In the court left by the late emperor, there are the so-called prime minister's power, queen's power and imperial power. The queen's power is an official Don't worry, my mother is fully supportive, but the prime minister has to be careful. The prime minister of our dynasty has always had great power. Regarding the changes in government affairs, my mother is not worried at all, although the prime minister has great power in government affairs. He is also powerful, but after all, it is only half. However, most of the military power of our dynasty is in the hands of the prime minister, not to mention the imperial army. Among the three major frontier armies, the two generals Sichuan High Speed and Zhang Jue are not part of the prime minister's party. , Lu Wende and Li Tingzhi were both promoted by Jia Taishi. It can be seen that the power of the prime minister in the military is definitely greater than that of the imperial power, so the officials must be particularly careful when making changes in military affairs," Xie Daoqing was worried. said.
Xie Daoqing was half right. Although Yangzhou Li Tingzhi was promoted by Jia Sidao, he has already stood on my side. Lu Wende is duplicitous, but it is still unknown whether he will follow Jia Sidao in the face of "righteousness". As for For the Forbidden Army, I will divide it first and then rectify it.
"Mother, Hai'er has also considered this matter carefully. From the outside, if it were not for the Mongolian raid on Luzhou, Hai'er would not have immediately rectified the army. This Ah Shu gave Hai'er a good excuse to rectify. From the inside, Li Tingzhi He is loyal and courageous. Although he was promoted by Jia Sidao, his heart is the same as that of Marshal Meng Gong back then. He will naturally show his heart to me. I should convince him with reason. Lu Wende is cunning by nature, and I think he is that person. If you are a snob like this, I will take advantage of you. As for the Forbidden Army, I will divide it and break it. Queen Mother, Xia Gui's taking away 20,000 Imperial Guards this time is the first step in my plan to divide the Forbidden Army. Queen Mother, don't worry. "A child will not do anything he is not sure of, unless, unless he wants to rebel,"
Xie Daoqing said: "That's not true. The Queen Mother still understands the Grand Master."
I smiled slightly: "Then there is no need to worry. Queen Mother, this country of the Song Dynasty belongs to my Zhao family. If I were still the former prince, it would be better to hand over the power to Jia Sidao, but I have realized the power of the emperor." Tao, you will personally take charge of the power of the country. This is the so-called ability. Of course, the child also understands that doing things needs to be done step by step. There is no good way to reach the sky in one step. The child will remember the mother's teachings and strive for success on a stable basis. develop,"
Xie Daoqing stared at me for a moment and suddenly said: "Guanjia, your expression reminds me of the time when the late emperor brought peace and prosperity. Guanjia, I will also go to the pavilion to see the bright moon."
The bright moon gradually rose to the sky. The moonlight was like water, as light as gauze mist, and fell quietly on the palace grounds. It was quiet and peaceful. I seemed a little intoxicated, and my thoughts couldn't help but return to the future life.
"Brother, look, the moon is so round,"
"Well, this year's moon is the most beautiful I have ever seen in my life,"
"Tch, I don't believe it. Do you still remember the moon in the past?"
"Haha, Hibiki, because this year's Mid-Autumn Festival is different,"
"What's the difference,"
"Ben Lingshan, you are here this year, so of course it will be different. As the saying goes, love comes from the heart, and the moon tonight is naturally the brightest and roundest,"
"Well, I hope we live forever and share the beauty of the moon thousands of miles apart. Brother, you will spend time with me next year,"
"Of course,"
"Pull the hook, don't regret it,"
"Your brother, when have I ever spoken without counting,"
"That's true. I knew you were the best, brother."
This was the scene when I spent the Mid-Autumn Festival with Le Lingshan in the first year. In the following two years, no matter whether I had something to do or not, I would enjoy the bright moon with Lingshan on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Time flies so fast, especially happy days.
It's a full moon night again, Hibiki, are you okay? I know that it is almost impossible for me to travel back in time. I also know that even if I come back to you, you will never go back to the past. But this is for what.
Since we are not destined, I can only silently miss you and silently bless you in another space in this world.
It has been a year, are you the same as before, full of joy every day?
Hibiki, we are more than 800 years apart, but I don’t know if the bright moon is still the same. If it is under the same moon, let it bring my greetings.
"Guanjia, it's time to eat moon cakes," Quan Jiu came to me and brought me back to reality.
"Mooncakes, oh, it's time to eat,"
"Officials, light candles," Xie Daoqing ordered.
"Well," I know the procedure of worshiping the moon in the late Song Dynasty. First, the men in the family light red candles, then the whole family worships the moon in turn. Finally, the housewife cuts the reunion moon cakes. The person who cuts them has calculated the share of the whole family in advance. How many people, whether at home or out of town, must be counted together. You cannot cut more or less, and the sizes must be the same.
The breeze was still blowing, so I carefully lit the red candle, and the maids immediately used lampshades to cover the candlelight.
Quan Jiu said happily: "The red candles are lit and it's booming. Queen Mother, it's your turn to cut the moon cakes."
"Wait," Xie Daoqing said, "I think there is still one more procedure to go."
Quan Jiu said: "No, this is the custom of our dynasty."
"This is the custom of my dynasty, yes, but the custom of our family is slightly different. I suggest that we let the great talent in our family compose a poem. Do you think it is okay?"
Quan Jiu and others immediately understood and said, "Okay, the Queen Mother is wise."
The four talents of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter who had just entered the palace did not understand, but were too embarrassed to ask.
All the poems about the moon were written in the Tang and Song dynasties, and I couldn’t remember any famous poems from later generations. I thought about it and said, “I’ve run out of poems, so I’ll sing a little song about the full moon for everyone to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.”
"The officials can also sing," Xie Daoqing said with some surprise.
I smiled and said, "I'm just playing around with it when I have nothing to do. Su Dongpo's water-melody song "When will the bright moon come?" I took a sip of tea and moistened my throat and sang, "When will the bright moon come? Ask the blue sky for wine,,, ","
Perhaps Faye Wong never dreamed that this song was covered by me more than 800 years ago.