On New Year's Eve, Queen Mother Xie Daoqing hosted a banquet for a large number of family members in Ningkun Palace. Due to the late emperor's visit, the number of people was much smaller than in previous years. In addition to me and Quan Jiu, there were also several other concubines of mine, the beautiful Yang family
, the Xiurong Yu family, the noble concubine Hu family, and the Queen Mother's younger brother, the imperial bodyguard, Xie Daolin.
Except for Quan Jiu, this is the first time for me to meet several other people. Of course, I have seen Zhao Fu before. These three concubines of mine are all excellent choices for their beauty. Although they are not as good as Fang Ling and Quan Jiu, they are also very graceful in their own way.
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Xie Daolin was a tall man, taciturn and didn't talk much to anyone. Apart from kowtowing to me when we first met, he just sat and drank tea by himself.
A group of beauties coaxed the Queen Mother, causing a long-lost smile to appear on Xie Daoqing's face.
Since Quanjiu’s birthday, Xie Daoqing’s attitude towards me has also eased.
Xie Daoqing personally filled everyone's cups of Tusu wine, raised their glasses and said: "Guan family, my brother has always been like this. He is extremely taciturn. Let's drink and talk by ourselves and ignore him. It's New Year's Eve today and the late emperor has gone.
Therefore, our first glass of wine is to honor the spirit of the late emperor."
"I will obey my mother's wishes." We raised our glasses together and drank it all in one gulp.
The maid next to her hurriedly filled everyone's glasses with wine. Xie Daoqing continued: "With this second glass of wine, let's pay tribute to the official family and congratulate the new emperor on his ascension to the throne."
I raised my glass and said, "Please, Queen Mother, thank you Queen Mother."
"This is the last glass of wine..." Xie Daoqing paused for a moment, looked at me and then said, "Let us wish the prosperity of the Song Dynasty together."
"Mother, don't worry, my child will definitely conquer the Central Plains and revive the Song Dynasty."
Xie Daoqing said: "Well, the Queen Mother is waiting for you to sing your whip and point to the north to level the horizon."
Quan Jiu smiled and said: "Queen Mother still remembers this poem. Jiu'er believes that the official family will definitely succeed."
"Remember, I've been looking forward to this day. Everyone is free to come and have wine and vegetables."
After three rounds of drinking, the atmosphere gradually became more relaxed. Fortunately, the alcohol content of Tusu wine was not high, otherwise I would have probably passed out drunk.
Yu Xiurong, who was opposite me, said with a hint of sadness: "The officials haven't visited us for a long time. Have they forgotten us sisters?"
"Ah, Concubine Yu, Concubine Yang, and Concubine Hu. I have just ascended the throne and have many things to do. When I straighten out the affairs of the court, I will spend more time with you. After the New Year, you will all move to my Ningqian Palace.
Well, it’s also convenient to meet each other.”
"That's great." Yu Xiurong and others said together.
Although I have no feelings for these concubines, they are my relatives in this world after all, and I should get closer to them no matter what.
I took out four ornaments and distributed them to Quan Jiu and others, saying, "You can choose these ornaments as New Year gifts."
Quan Jiu said: "Thank you for the official reward."
Yu Xiurong picked out a pair of earrings and said, "Thank you, Guan family, but we still have a small wish."
I smiled and said, "Tell me about it."
Yu Xiurong looked at the Queen Mother and said: "Your Majesty, the officials wrote a poem on Sister Quan's birthday. This New Year is here. Let's ask the officials to write another poem to celebrate the New Year."
"Want to compose poetry again?"
Xie Daoqing nodded and said with a smile: "Concubine Yu's words are very popular with me. Official, please come."
I thought to myself, I have to steal poems again. Anyway, Kong Yiji said that stealing books by scholars is not stealing, and there are many poems describing the New Year, so I can still remember a few. I thought about it and said: "The name of the poem is called Xian
Let’s remember the Chun New Year.” Then he read:
The wind and frost in the heaven and earth are gone, and the atmosphere in the universe is harmonious;
Time adds new years, and spring fills the old mountains and rivers.
The plum blossoms and willows are beautiful, and the pine trees are old and dull;
Tu Su became drunk and laughed happily in the white cloud nest.
This poem is a poem by Ye Yong of the Ming Dynasty. Tu Su in the poem is the name of a kind of medicinal wine. When I studied this poem at the time, I was deeply impressed because I didn’t understand the meaning of Tu Su.
Song Dynasty poet Wang Anshi's poem "New Year's Day" also mentioned Tu Su:
The sound of firecrackers marks the end of the year, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu.
Thousands of households exchange old talismans for new peaches every day.
"Tusu" refers to Tusu wine. Drinking Tusu wine was also a custom during the Chinese New Year in ancient times, so Xie Daoqing also used Tusu wine to entertain everyone to celebrate New Year's Eve.
The author of this poem, Ye Yong, also had someone with the same name and surname during the Song Dynasty, but I don’t know if they are related.
After listening to it, Quan Jiu first said: "Although this poem is not as powerful as the last one, it is close to the scene, relaxed and happy. This "Xian Chun Xin Years" is also a good poem. Since the official came to the throne, this poem has
My poetic attainments have made great progress, and it seems that it won’t be long before I can publish a collection of poems.”
Xie Daoqing said: "That's true. I hope our country in the Song Dynasty can be as peaceful as the official poem says."
I smiled and said, "With the support of my mother, my appearance will become stronger every year."
"As long as it is beneficial to the rejuvenation of our court, my mother and queen will support it. Officials, are you ready to go to Kuaiji to visit relatives on the third day of the Lunar New Year?"
"After returning to my mother, everything is ready."
"The officials should bring more guards to ensure safety on the road."
"Don't worry, mother, my child is not going to fight."
"Officials, just be careful. Tomorrow morning, you will have to accept the congratulations of hundreds of officials. Let's go to bed early today."
"Yes, Queen Mother."
This was the first New Year's Eve after the death of the late emperor. No fireworks could be set off in the palace, and even the ditty that Xie Daoqing liked to listen to was suspended.
According to the etiquette of the Song Dynasty, the emperor had to receive congratulations from hundreds of officials in the morning on the first day of the lunar month, and then the emperor led hundreds of civil and military officials to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, and to ancestors, praying for good weather in the coming year and peace for the country and the people. Then there was a 15-day break, and the festival resumed on the 16th day of the first lunar month.
North Korea discussion.
In ancient times, the emperor was also very hard-working and could not sleep in late on the first day of the new year.
"Long live my emperor, long live your Majesty. Your Majesty has a new year and a new look. He will lead our court to a higher level." During the morning court, Jia Sidao, the leader of the officials, led the officials in congratulations.
I saw that most of the courtiers were beaming with joy, and even Jia Sidao showed a smile. It seems that the traditional Chinese New Year atmosphere is really contagious to people all over the world.
"My dear friends, I would like to wish you all good luck in the New Year."
Ma Tingluan came out of the class and said: "Your Majesty, according to the etiquette of our court, today is the first day of the first year of Xianchun. Your Majesty has issued an edict to grant amnesty to the world."
Since ancient times, there has been a saying of amnesty for the whole world. Except for death row prisoners, most people can have their sentences commuted. But I am extremely opposed to this. The law is the law. How can it be changed at will just because of this matter?
I thought about it and said, "What are the intentions of my teacher and minister?"
"Your Majesty, please make your own decision." Jia Sidao said lukewarmly.
"Ma Aiqing, this matter will be put on hold for a while and will be discussed again after going to court on the 16th."
Ma Tingluan insisted: "Your Majesty, this is the law of our ancestors. I hope your Majesty will think twice."
"My dear, there is no need to say anything." I said, "Xiao Qi, please go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and don't let the Queen Mother wait. All my dear friends, follow me to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices to heaven and ancestors."
"Lord Ma, since the emperor's decree has been issued, I'd better invite you." Jia Sidao naturally hoped to see friction between me and Xie Daoqing's faction. Seeing Ma Tingluan's New Year's memorial was shrunk, he gloated and laughed.
Although Ma Tingluan was a good character, he was too upright and unconventional. This can be regarded as what the literati of this era called high moral integrity. His thoughts were restricted and he always believed that conforming to the laws of his ancestors was correct.
The Imperial Ancestral Temple is next to the imperial palace and is a place where the royal family worships their ancestors. When we arrived, Xie Daoqing was already waiting for us in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple. I took the important officials of the court and entered the Imperial Ancestral Temple first, and together with the Queen Mother Xie Daoqing, we worshiped heaven and earth and our ancestors. I hope God will bless you and bring you abundant harvests and peace and prosperity in the coming year.
Afterwards, all the ministers entered in order of rank to worship.
This was also the only public appearance of the Queen Mother every year. The worship service was lively and lasted until after noon. The ministers one after another bid farewell to the Queen Mother and me and left the Ancestral Temple.
The first year of Xianchun is here, and the first year of Jingding is probably just my internship period.
Xianchun, this is my reign, my era, but what kind of era will this be?
I returned to Ningqian Palace and stood in silence in front of the window.