On this day of the Lantern Festival, even though Emperor Hongzhi of Xiaomiao passed away less than a year ago, Zhu Houzhao ordered the Lantern Festival to continue from the 11th to the 20th of the first lunar month as usual in line with the original intention of caring for the people.
In addition to this annual excitement, as a powerful man in the DPRK, what he cares about is this rare ten-day holiday.
Li Dongyang, a bachelor of Jinshen Palace and the Minister of Household Affairs, has always been known for supporting juniors. In addition, with his outstanding literary reputation and many talents from the Chaling School under his banner, his reputation in the court was unparalleled, no less than that of Liu Jian, who was the chief minister.
.Every time he takes a rest, Lige Old Alley in Yongfang immediately becomes extremely lively, with young officials and scholars coming and going almost crossing the threshold.
Li Dongyang has presided over several provincial examinations and two more joint examinations during the Hongzhi period. Most of his disciples are now able to take charge of their own affairs. In the small garden where the poetry meeting is held, you can only listen to your words and then I will appear. Even if the cold wind howls, it cannot stop it.
In response to the enthusiasm of everyone, one person worked hard and wanted to win a prize in front of the master. Li Dongyang sat in the main seat and judged one by one. When the final result was decided, everyone looked at the name that was not unexpected, and some people were half-hearted.
He complained half-assedly.
"It's Li Kongtong again. Teacher, he will definitely win nine out of ten times in this poetry competition. It's really biased!"
When he heard someone complaining, Li Mengyang looked nonchalant. He stood up with a smile and bowed his hands on all sides. Then he said confidently: "It's a lucky chance that I can get the first place again. It's all because of my teacher's sharp eyesight!"
Even though Li Dongyang had always been steady, he couldn't help but be amused by Li Mengyang's way of openly praising him and secretly flaunting himself. He immediately laughed and said: "They are geniuses who don't have your eagerness. Someone else can compose a song."
You are good at at least three or four poems. As long as one of them catches my eye, it will be easier than others to come out on top!"
"The teacher is right, but of course I have to add one more thing. Who else understands the teacher's preferences better than me, a student?" Li Mengyang answered proudly, and everyone else was surprised. Li Dongyang also laughed dumbly,
He bowed his hands seriously and said, "The ninth day of June this year is the teacher's sixtieth birthday. Even if the students have worked hard, the truly masterpieces must be presented on that day. Otherwise, if the talent is exhausted all at once, the future will be ruined.
Isn’t it bitter?”
Hearing what Li Mengyang said about being a talented person, Li Dongyang suddenly spit out the sip of tea he had just taken into his mouth. Others also cheered for a while. Some said it was a blessing for you and Li Kong to show off their talents, and some said that they had to hold back their energy by then.
If you want to write a good poem in order to surpass, most of them just whisper in twos and threes. However, everyone knows that Li Mengyang is not only Li Dongyang's disciple, but also his teacher in the provincial examination. The talent recommended by Li Dongyang's friend Yang Yiqing has great affection.
Unusual. Apart from joking and joking, no one dared to show any jealousy.
After the poetry party ended smoothly and all the guests were sent away, the servants of the Li Mansion were busy cleaning up. Only then did Li Dongyang come to the study. In this room, which usually does not receive outsiders, at this time
At this moment, there was a man sitting and reading leisurely, as if he didn't regard himself as an outsider at all. Compared to Li Dongyang, who had black hair mixed with a little silver thread, that man was obviously much older. More than half of his hair was already frosty white, and his face was white.
The wrinkles are also deeper.
"Those young people were really noisy for longer than expected. Meng Yang, you also said that you would wait until the poetry meeting is over before letting me speak, which kept you waiting for a long time."
"Peach and plum blossoms all over the world are the most enviable thing. If someone can mess with me like this, I won't be happy enough!" Jiao Fang put down the book in her hand and stood up to meet Li Dongyang. After the guests and hosts sat down, he
Then he flicked the corner of his robe and said, "Besides, with the imported Liu'an tea, fresh fruits, snacks specially sent from the kitchen, and your new poetry collection from Xi Ya, this time is easy to pass, why bother?"
It ruined the fun of your students. If people find out that you left them to see me, I’m afraid Li Mengyang’s firecracker will be the first to explode!”….
"Where can it be like this..."
Li Dongyang said this, but he knew in his heart that Jiao Fang was telling the truth. They were both Jinshi for the eighth year of Tianshun, and he and Jiao Fang were more than ten years apart in age. He had a smooth sailing, but Jiao Fang had to go through many twists and turns before he was finally promoted to the main hall of the Ministry of Punishment. Even though
Some people in the court still say that Jiao Fang is ignorant and unskilled, but he knows that it is just that Jiao Fang has never looked down on those beautiful and empty things. He is pragmatic and worldly, and he is mean to his colleagues and subordinates, so he is naturally disliked by others.
It was he who had only maintained normal contact with Jiao Fang during the same year and kept a respectful distance from her. It was only when things happened one after another last year and this year that he was tempted by Jiao Fang's unexpected move to hook up with Liu Jin.
Both sides are extremely shrewd people, so those common greeting tests that others often use are useless. After sighing, Li Dongyang asked directly: "Meng Yang specially picked the day of the Lantern Festival to come here. I don't know why?
"
"I just came out of Liu Jin's private house and I came straight to your place. What did you say it was for?" Jiao Fang looked at Li Dongyang and said with piercing eyes, "The Shen family is asking about going to Xing'an Bo Mansion to recognize their relatives. I think you should come."
Got it. The whole city was abuzz with the Jinling Dream, and I don’t know how many people there praised Xu Xun for being affectionate and righteous. But in my opinion, it was just because Xu Xun overthrew Zhao Qin back then, thanks to his fiancée
He used private money to make the slaves motivated, and then surrounded Yingtian Mansion, and then jumped on the Wende Bridge. If he dared to start chaos and end up abandoning it, the woman would most likely cause everything to stir up trouble. He was just afraid of it.
.”
Seeing Jiao Fang's disdainful words, Li Dongyang remembered that he would ask his wife, Mrs. Zhu, about the first time she met Shen Yue in Lingji Palace, and how Shen, using his surname Fang, told Mrs. Li about old events in Jinling without revealing any traces.
He naturally sighed in his stomach. It was true that the couple were both scheming, but with Xu Xun's current status, if he was really ruthless and didn't want someone to expose his old background, he would kill and silence someone else who had the power to do so.
The powerful Yue family can do a lot to help. From this point of view, the young man is very wrong, and the words "love and justice" cannot be faked.
"The deal is done, what else is there to say about this now?"
Seeing that Li Dongyang was disapproving, Jiao Fangben suddenly leaned forward and said word by word: "Do you know that Xu Xun decided to get married immediately after the first month? It is said that the grandmother of the Shen family was seriously ill. If the marriage did not happen, at least
It had to be delayed for a year, so the Shen family and his son rushed to the capital. According to the traditional rules, the Shen family is from Jinling. When the Shen family gets married, they have to return to Nanjing first and then come to the capital to marry. But now they have
I have already set up a residence in the capital, and I plan to make a decision as soon as possible."
Li Dongyang listened and couldn't help but frowned thoughtfully: "You mean... taking advantage of this, let them follow the rules, and let Shen go back to Nanjing to prepare for marriage?"
"That's the marriage granted by the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother is not happy with this back and forth delay. Naturally, I will not do such a stupid thing!"
Jiao Fang sneered, and then said meaningfully: "Let them get married, and then someone will find out that Shen's grandmother is seriously ill, so Xu Xun has to send his wife home to visit relatives... Of course, just
This was not enough to drive him out of the capital. As far as I know, the tomb of Xu Liang's first wife, Xu Xun's mother, is still buried in Jinling. Now that both father and son have been awarded the title of earl, they are as powerful as ever. How can they leave Yuan behind?
Are you worthy of leaving your dead mother alone? It’s both emotional and reasonable. They should also go back to Nanjing together! Then, find something to drag Xu Xun to Jiangnan for three to five months. There will be more room for movement in the capital.
!You know, Liu Jin and other eunuchs are not good at planning, but Xu Xun is their think tank at a young age!"
This is really...a high-sounding chain plan with every move!….
Li Dongyang pondered over and over again, and finally felt that there was no flaw in Jiao Fang's idea. He couldn't help but nodded in admiration: "Meng Yang's idea is to kill all his escape routes, so that he has to follow your plan."
Go and act... If Liu Jin knew about it, I'm afraid he would regret telling you this."
"Liu Jin just used his eloquent words to please the emperor. He has never even entered the inner study hall. What kind of role does he play?" Jiao Fang curled her lips disdainfully and said disdainfully, "I think Wang Zhenruo was serving Wang Zhenru since he was a child.
Yingmiao, after all, once served as a teacher in the inner study hall and was a scholar. How could they be like the group around the emperor now? Among these people, except Gao Feng, who was originally a ceremonial eunuch and came from the inner study hall, the others were
They are vulgar and uncivilized, but if you leave them a loophole, you won't have to worry about them getting carried away! As long as they commit a crime, when the public is angry, won't it be easy to deal with them?"
During the Lantern Festival, some people are talking about some embarrassing conspiracies in the house, while others are preparing wholeheartedly for the annual Lantern Festival lantern viewing. Compared with Zhengdan, which has a more solemn atmosphere, the Lantern Festival can be said to be a festival celebrated by the whole country.
Starting from the Yongle period, from the 11th to the 20th of the first lunar month, the yamen were sealed, officials went on holiday, and the people mostly rejoiced all night long. A whole lantern market alley was used as a city during the day, and lanterns were put out at night. The soldiers of the five cities came out at night all year round.
Ma Si has been turning a blind eye these past few days, allowing the people to have fun.
It gets dark early in the first month of the year, and not long after Youshi, the sky becomes dark. By Xushi, the lantern market alley where hundreds of merchants gathered during the day had completely disappeared from all kinds of vendors, replaced by lanterns and colorful decorations.
There is a lantern tower, and there are countless people bringing all kinds of tied lanterns to sell.
These lantern towers are used by powerful people to spend huge sums of money to compete for beauty. In the past, Xing'anbo Mansion, which could only be regarded as second- or third-rate among the nobles, would not attract much limelight, but this night
, the three-story-high colored lanterns were dazzling, and there were countless onlookers crowded around.
Not only the lights, but the most amazing ones are the fireworks that are so smart that they seem to be completely alive. With the hard performance of a few men, these fireworks are several times more exciting than the ordinary people swallowing fire and spitting fire.
The crowd of onlookers cheered one after another, not counting the various fireworks that flew up into the night sky.
And next to a carriage outside the crowded crowd, Xu Xun held Shen Yue in one hand and suddenly smiled and said: "How do you like it? Is it a bit like a sparkling tree and silver flowers?"
Although the Shen family used to put up lanterns and streamers during the Lantern Festival when they were in Nanjing, it was mainly because they were in their own backyard. How could they be so generous? At this moment, although Shen Yue was very happy that Xu Xun took her out to watch the lanterns. , but still couldn't help but whisper: "It's too extravagant... Will someone show you off?"
"Participate in my ostentation?" Xu Xun raised his eyebrows, as if he didn't care much. It wasn't until someone pinched his waist lightly that he turned his head and smiled and said, "I don't know when I stopped showing off. ? If you have too many lice, you won’t be itchy. What’s more, I got the money cleanly. I don’t eat empty wages and I don’t greedy for military supplies. Even if I spend my own money, some people will make trouble. Then let them run around."
Shen Ke, who was a few steps away from the two of them, saw the unmarried couple cuddling together and talking as if no one was around in the public. He was stunned and nervous for a moment. His eyes swept around from time to time, for fear that someone would recognize them and cause trouble. What unnecessary trouble. However, on this Lantern Festival night, the female relatives of various families also came out to watch the lanterns. There were more folk women and girls. Xu Xun and Shen Yue were both dressed in ordinary clothes. There was no sign on the carriage, and they were crowded with each other at the moment. He was not too conspicuous in the crowd. Even so, he endured it again and again. Finally, he couldn't help but stepped forward and coughed heavily...
"Today is the Lantern Festival. There are too many people coming out to watch the lanterns in the capital. Should we go back early?"
"Why go back? It's still early!" Xu Xun glanced at Shen Ke and smiled disapprovingly, "From last year to this year, I have been busy with all kinds of things. I didn't even have a good time during the New Year. Why don't I take advantage of the Lantern Festival?" How about relaxing for a while? Brother, don’t worry. I gave all the boys in the avant-garde of the army a holiday, and now there are at least dozens of people around here watching, so nothing will happen!"
Shen Yue also smiled and said: "Brother, don't worry. Nothing will happen. If the emperor hadn't had to watch the lanterns in the palace with the queen mother, I guess he would have slipped out at this time."
Shen Ke thought that Xu Xun tried his best to persuade them to wait until the Lantern Festival before moving out. While his father was recuperating, he gave him a thick stack of land deeds and asked him to go to several gold and silver shops to redeem some of them for his dowry. , but after Shen Yue learned about it, she quietly told him that the dowry had been prepared a long time ago, including Xianyuan and the surrounding real estate. He had been in the capital for a while, and he almost didn't blink out of his eyes, and then he understood what was going on. Why did "Jinling Dream", which shocked their father and son, premiere in Xianyuan? Only his brother-in-law-to-be could do such a bold move, and only his sister was willing to nod in agreement! It's the same now, how can anyone do it these days? How dare an unmarried couple appear in public like this?
This couple... really don't live in the same family!
Although Xu Xun and Shen Yue are dressed in ordinary clothes, the man is handsome and the woman is as delicate as a flower. When they stand together, people always take a second look. There are also some prostitutes who are itching to come forward and strike up a conversation, but they show so little. Meaning, there was either someone's evil hand behind it or someone's bricks. In the dark alleys around, the sound of being gagged often came out.
After standing like this for a long time on the crowded Dengshikou Street, Xu Xun saw someone on the other side gesturing to him, and then he smiled at Shen Yue and said, "Look carefully, the show is coming. !”
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a commotion among the crowd watching the lantern tower, and then someone shouted: "Look, look at those lanterns! Isn't that the Kongming Lantern? There are words on it !”
“It’s a match made in heaven!”
"There are four more words...hero and beauty!"
Following the uproar in the crowd, Shen Yue looked at the eight slowly rising lights, her face flushed with joy, and she couldn't help but grab Xu Xun's arm: "Hey, there are so many lights in this busy city If the Kongming Lantern falls down, something big will happen!"
"Don't worry, madam. My husband has already tied the strongest fishing line under the lamp, which is enough to keep the lamp hanging on it for a while."
Xu Xun smiled slightly and saw various exclamations in the crowd. He looked at the dumbfounded Shen Ke and said: "These eight lanterns were made with great effort by the skilled craftsmen in the palace. They are big and bright. It can burn for an hour or two. For this, the emperor even gave me a thousand taels of silver. It's a pity..."
"What's the pity?"
A head suddenly appeared next to him, causing Xu Xun to cut off his words. He looked at the young man holding the hand of a beautiful woman, Rou Xi, in astonishment. He only felt his scalp numb, and it took him a while to stutter. Said: "Xiao...Xiao Zhu, how did you sneak out?"
Zhu Houzhao saw that Xu Xun seemed to have seen a ghost, but after all, the title was correct. He then said proudly: "You can sneak out, why can't I sneak out? Seventh sister, did you see it? It's not just me." He sneaked out to play during the Lantern Festival. All the famous father-in-laws in the palace were like this. Isn't this guy just like me and directly kidnapped all the maids from Chengqian Palace? Hey, luckily the lantern in the palace today It was put on late, it was said to be put on at midnight. We had seen the lanterns on Dengshikou Street and returned to the palace, just in time to see the palace lanterns!”….
Hearing that the little emperor directly gave herself the title of a palace maid of Chengqian Palace, Shen Yue was angry and funny for a moment. This was the first time she met Zhou Qiniang, and when she saw him looking at her in surprise, she nodded openly with a smile. , then raised his eyebrows narrowly at Zhu Houzhao: "Don't just worry about arranging Xiao Xu. I got the emperor's permission to leave the palace in an open and fair manner, what about you?"
Zhu Houzhao almost stared out of his eyes when he heard that Shen Yue was so eloquent. He found that the little hand he had managed to hold was struggling to break free. He hurriedly thought about it and quickly said confidently: "Of course I am the celebrant. Eunuch Li is allowed to leave the palace. This is a great time for the whole world to rejoice. There are so many people and lights at Dengshikou. It would be bad if something goes wrong, so Eunuch Li asked me to keep an eye on it. As for Seventh Sister, then. Of course, Rong Shangyi felt that she had been working hard at the Queen Mother's side for many days, so she let her out to relax. Seventh sister, you see the Emperor is so considerate to the people around him. Of course Rong Shangyi is not excessive. "
Zhou Qiniang was used to being coaxed by Zhu Houzhao these days. Although she was becoming more and more suspicious, she came back safely last time when she went out to the palace to watch a play, but this time she went out to watch the lanterns. So, after thinking about it, she simply stepped forward with a smile. Lifting Shen Yue's hand, he said: "Sister, is it from the Chengqian Palace? I have been in the palace for so long, but I have never been to the Chengqian Palace. Can you tell me about it, sister?"
Seeing Shen Yue giving him a reassuring look, he was immediately dragged aside by Zhou Qiniang to talk. Xu Xun then looked at Zhu Houzhao, who was breathing heavily and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, you are too bold, Yuanxiao During the festival, we brought people out to have fun with the people. We even postponed the time to watch the lanterns in honor of the Queen Mother. Aren't you afraid of being accomplices?"
"As long as you cooperate with me, how can you betray me?" Zhu Houzhao looked at the two women on the other side who were whispering and laughing from time to time. His teeth itched with hatred for a moment, "Who knew you would hide it from me?" "Look, Sister Shen almost scared me to the point of breaking out in a cold sweat. She was so inconsiderate and inconsiderate to me. How difficult it is to abduct someone out of here!"
"Who wants the emperor to bring people here even though he knows she knows me? If Yue'er hadn't asked a question and people would have looked at me standing here with her, they would have suspected it now if they didn't look back. Just forget it just now If you are choked, she can come up with countless reasons to excuse you." Xu Xun pursed his lips in that direction, and when he saw Zhu Houzhao sneaking a look at the two women, he said softly, "Yue'er knows this. I will never let her see any flaws. I am more gentle and generous. Miss Zhou is determined to be better than her. But if I want to be smart, Miss Zhou will probably be deceived by her in a few words."
Zhu Houzhao saw that the two of them were really getting along more and more as they talked, and pointed at them and snickered. He subconsciously believed Xu Xun's words, but hummed softly: "I hope so...otherwise you will pay for my beauty!" "
Shen Ke on the side saw a young man and woman claiming to be from the palace suddenly appeared. Xu Xun and Shen Yue were talking and laughing with each other without any scruples. Shen Yue was still swearing that he was a palace maid from Chengqian Palace. He suddenly felt confused. He wanted to go forward and ask more carefully, but when he suddenly caught a glimpse of Xu Xun, he saw the person waved his hands calmly to him again. Now he was in a dilemma. Just when he was wondering, he felt someone pulling him. Pulling his sleeve, he turned around and found that it was the driver of the carriage.
"Mr. Shen, don't say anything. Also, be sure to pretend you didn't see anything... Hey, you might as well get in the car. Out of sight, out of mind!"
Jin Liu dragged Shen Ke into the car without any explanation. After putting down the door curtain, he still felt uneasy, so he simply closed the car door and locked the pin. Then he pressed his chest and felt relieved, but his eyes were still looking around.
The Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month is indeed a lively event that is rare all year round, but the majestic emperor actually brought the palace attendants around the queen mother out to watch the lanterns. This is really too ridiculous and chaotic!…
The two women over there had laughed enough. After all, Zhu Houzhao was unwilling to abduct the person and wasted the beautiful scenery. He interrupted with saliva on his face. He grabbed Zhou Qiniang and gave Shen Yue a haha before saying nothing. He ran away. Seeing the pair running very fast, Shen Yue returned to Xu Xun and said with lingering fear: "It doesn't matter if you don't let anyone follow you?"
"Don't worry, the West Factory used by Guda is not a decoration. I can even take the boys from the avant-garde of the government to this street to enjoy the lanterns and have fun, let alone the people of the West Factory? We are happy with ours and treat it as nothing. I didn't see anything and didn't hear anything. The king of a country is also a human being, and besides, the emperor is about the same size as me. How can I stand being depressed in the palace all day long?"
After saying this, Xu Xun suddenly found that Shen Ke was missing. After looking around, he found Jin Liu making a gesture toward the back of the carriage, and he finally understood. Although this uncle was quite close to him, Xu Xun didn't want anyone to be there. Being a lightbulb during times like today, after giving Jinliu a thumbs up to express his appreciation, he immediately pulled Shen Yue in the opposite direction to Zhu Houzhao.
He didn't want to bump into the little emperor again!
Along the way, I looked at the lantern towers of Bao Guogong, Ying Gong and Ding Guogong. After appraising the quality of each one, I found that there were far less people than the lantern tower at home. Xu Xun was full of joy and lowered his head from time to time. Shen Yue said something. Just when he was immersed in this rare relaxed and festive atmosphere, he suddenly noticed the few people in front of him blocking his way.
"Uncle Ping Bei, the late emperor has long issued an order. In recent years, on the first day of the first month of the first lunar month, military and civilian women go out in the streets and mix with men and women from night to day. It is strictly prohibited for the two capitals to merge with the whole country. As an official of the imperial court, you actually ignore the order of the late emperor and lead you. Walking through the market wearing a woman!"
ps: This chapter is not easy to split, two in one...()