prosperous age

Every year on the first day of the first lunar month, it is one of the three major festivals in the Ming Dynasty Han society.

At that time, all officials will have a New Year's holiday, and there will be warm celebration etiquette and cultural, sports and entertainment activities for all officials of the imperial court and civilians.

The imperial court will hold the etiquette activities of congratulating the emperor and the empress by all the officials. The prince, prince and their concubines should also congratulate the emperor and the queen mother respectively. At the same time, the prince should also accept the congratulations from all the officials.

In the local area, there is the etiquette of "worshiping the palace in all the yamen of the world", that is, on the day of Zhengdan, except for the officials in the capital, officials of all kinds of yamen government in the country will wear official uniforms and go to the yamen where they are located to hold the ceremony of "looking at the palace and congratulating them".

The officials danced and shouted, bowed their knees, and verbally paid homage to the emperor for the new year.

The vassal kings from all over the country also performed the ceremony of "looking at the tower to celebrate".After the court congratulations and the palace-watching ceremonies, the officials of the imperial court and the local government also communicated with each other and performed the "New Year's greetings" etiquette.

However, in the middle and late period of the Jiajing Dynasty, such a dense ceremony as the Zhengdan Grand Court Meeting was never held again, and all the etiquette activities such as the congratulations of the emperor and the congratulations of the empress by all officials were cancelled.

Wei Guangde has been an official for several years, and he has never participated in even one grand court meeting. The only time when Emperor Jiajing knew the Imperial Palace was the palace examination every three years.

However, in the past two years, if they chose not to go to the imperial palace, the officials have nothing to say. Now that the reconstruction of the three main halls has not been completed, the emperor can't stand in front of the construction site to receive the congratulations from the officials.

Not holding the Grand Court Assembly does not mean that he can sleep in on the first day of the new year. On the contrary, Wei Guangde got up earlier than usual because he was going to worship the palace outside Fengtianmen.

At Yinshi, Wei Guangde had already got up and washed, dressed neatly with the help of his wife, walked out of the house with the dim night sky above his head, and got into the carriage.

With the sound of the whip whipping the horses, the "creaking" wooden wheel rolled forward with the snow on the ground, Wei Guangde leaned back in the carriage to take a nap at the moment, although hot tea and food were placed on the table, But he doesn't have any appetite right now, he just wants to be drowsy.

It's been a long time since I had such an experience. Fortunately, Emperor Jiajing didn't go to the early court, otherwise the capital officials would not be exhausted to death.

At this moment, Wei Guangde gloated and thought that it was not easy to meet such a good emperor as Jiajing.

A lantern was hung on the front and rear of the carriage, which was the only light in the alley at the moment.

Fortunately, after walking for a long time, lanterns appeared on the front and back of the road after turning out of the alley, and the destination was naturally the same as that of Wei Guangde.

The teams of the morning court joined each other back and forth, forming an ancient version of luxury cars and continued to move forward. Not far ahead was the gate of Fangshi. careless.

At this moment, the people in the carriage and the sedan chair were all big shots that they couldn't afford to mess with.

At this time, in the streets and alleys of Fangshi on both sides of Chang'an Street, there were continuous lines of cars and cars. Everyone gathered together and continued to walk along the main road to Chengtianmen.

When it was still a long way from Chengtianmen, the carriage could not move anymore, the front was already full of sedan chairs that arrived earlier, Wei Guangde had no choice but to drink some hot tea and eat something before getting out of the carriage and walking forward Walk.

Enter from Chengtian Gate, and outside the Meridian Gate, officials stand in line according to their ranks.

The current Wei Guangde is no longer the highest among Jinshi in his class in terms of rank.

Except for the champion who will be awarded the official position of the sixth-rank Hanlin, the other Jinshi will only be the seventh-rank and start from the seventh-rank official position, and will be at least half a year behind the top three before being awarded the official position.

Scholars sent to places outside the country have a long road to promotion, but most of the Jinshi who stay in Beijing and are sent to the Sixth Division will have the opportunity to be promoted within one or two years after being awarded an official.

In fact, in terms of rank alone, there is such a disadvantage in entering the Imperial Academy, that is, the rank rises very slowly, which is not as good as entering the Sixth Ministry in the same year.

When Wei Guangde first entered the officialdom, he quickly caught up with the number one scholar, Zhu Dashou, and indeed made a small reputation, but it is different now.

Wei Guangde didn't go too far, when he vaguely saw the person walking forward in front of him, looking tired from his back.

Now Lao Kan is the head of the Shanxi Qingli Department of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, and he is also the sixth grade, the same grade as Wei Guangde.

After a few quick steps, Wei Guangde caught up with Lao Kan.

"Shan Loan, are you still behind me?"

Lao Kan heard someone calling his name from behind, stopped and turned to see Wei Guangde, said with a smile, cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations on the New Year."

"Congratulations on the new year."

Wei Guangde also hastily cupped his hands.

According to folklore, in the ancient times, there was a ferocious monster with a big head and a small body, with a ferocious nature. When it howled, it made the sound of "Nian~", so it was named Nian.

As time passed, people gradually discovered the pattern of activities of the Nian Beast. It turned out that it would rush to the town every 365 days, and it would come and go in the dark, and leave when the rooster crowed and the dawn broke. It's called "year pass".

Later, people discovered that the Nian Beast was afraid of three things, namely red, fire and loud noises, so later people would gather together when the Nian Beast was coming on New Year's Eve, and paste red paper (later gradually changed to paste peach charms or red stickers). Couplets), hanging red lanterns, setting off firecrackers, etc., the purpose is to drive away the Nian beast.

After New Year's Eve, it is naturally a smooth New Year's Eve.

The two were of the same rank, so they naturally stood in line together. They were both dressed in green robes, and they were considered to be the last in the line.

"If you don't go to the queue of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, you can still walk around."

Lao Kan knew that Wei Guangde was restless and restless, and the officials all behaved themselves after standing in line, only the picket censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate wandered outside to record the violations of the picket.

"I didn't get it."

Wei Guangde laughed, not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't get the job.

Not long after, the sound of three-way drums sounded from the top of Wufeng Tower, which means that the time has come.

The line of officials in front still stood there motionless, but the line of generals and lieutenants on duty on both sides of the line of officials started to move, and they quickly entered it through the Meridian Gate to lay down the guard of honor.

Although Emperor Jiajing didn't come here, there was no lack of necessary procedures. It's just that all officials don't need to enter Fengtianmen, and they can complete today's court meeting after bowing directly outside Fengtianmen.

The weather was a bit cold, but Wei Guangde could only stand like this until the bell rang, and the civil and military officials who had lined up entered from the left and right, and passed through the Meridian Gate to the Fengtian Gate.

Cheng Guogong Zhu Xizhong stood at the forefront of the officials and relatives. Under his leadership, hundreds of people bowed five times and kowtowed three times to Fengtian Gate.

Originally, in a normal court meeting, all the officials had to enter Fengtian Gate to Fengtian Hall, and after congratulating the emperor, there were many ceremonies, and there were even activities such as receiving foreign guests, and finally giving a banquet, but now the whole province is covered.

Around Wei Guangde, many of them were his familiar colleagues and contemporaries. After the court meeting, they naturally went out together. They had to find a place to drink and warm up first. Now it was holiday time, and the emperor had no control over what to do during the holiday. .

When a group of people walked out slowly, they passed the Youshun Gate, and saw an official in green robes arguing with the servant guarding the gate.

Wei Guangde knew that person, he was from the Sixth Division, maybe he planned to go to the Sixth Division to check the house.

Wei Guangde was not interested in him going to the value house during his annual vacation, he just chatted and laughed with others and walked out, but when he got closer, the conversation over there still drifted into his ears.

"Lord Nie, just wait a little longer. Ladies still have to go from Xihuamen to Xiyuan. Wait a little longer. I'll let you in after the guard of honor passes over there."

The servant stopped him and refused to let him in, but Wei Guangde also heard that it must be Emperor Jiajing's harem who rushed to pay his respects to the emperor, so he temporarily closed the Youshun gate.

Wei Guangde didn't take it seriously either, and after leaving the Forbidden City with his colleagues, they found a restaurant along Chang'an Street, and the sky was bright at this time.

According to the tradition of these years, the restaurants near Chang'an Avenue chose to open their doors on the first day of the new year, because their first customers were officials who had just completed the etiquette of the Great Court Meeting from the palace.

If it is the grand court meeting of other emperors, of course they have nothing to do. Thank you Emperor Jiajing for letting these officials come to eat early.

As soon as Wei Guangde walked in front of the restaurant, he heard the people who entered first inside already shouting loudly for the store to bring some hot food.

It snowed all day on New Year's Eve yesterday, but it stopped this morning, but it feels even colder.

However, the shop owner had already made preparations. When Wei Guangde entered, not only the brazier was already burning, but also the steaming food and drinks were ready.

"Guozhen booked a private room here two days ago, haha"

Lao Kan behind him laughed.

"I really forgot about this."

Wei Guangde was delighted when he heard it, thinking about it, this is not the first time he has encountered it.

When I was an official in the capital in the first year, I didn’t know where to go when I left the palace early in the morning. I saw that some restaurants along the street were open, but I didn’t know until the past that they were full and they had already been booked in advance.

When Wei Guangde and others were eating delicious food and drinking hot wine in the restaurant, the Yongshou Palace in Xiyuan was also extremely lively, with many more maids and servants.

Usually, there are not many people in the Yongshou Palace, so Emperor Jiajing wanted to practice here, so he naturally liked to be quiet and not noisy.

But today is different, Zhengdan, Concubine Shen Gui and Concubine Lu Jing brought a dozen or so concubines here to pay New Year greetings to Emperor Jiajing.

After Empress Fang, Emperor Jiajing did not have another empress. The power of the harem naturally fell into the hands of the only imperial concubine, Shen Shi. The palace is also not low, the status surpasses other imperial concubines and is second only to Concubine Shen.

Of course, after King Jing's matter of the vassal was put on the agenda, Concubine Lu Jing's dream of the Empress Dowager was over, and her status in the palace began to decline. Back then, she was the one who dared to directly challenge Concubine Shen's harem.

After all, even many civil servants couldn't see clearly the real thoughts of Emperor Jiajing. Some people really thought that because of Concubine Lu Jing's favor, Emperor Jiajing might choose to pass the throne to King Jing, and it was even more difficult for other people in the harem. so it is.

But at this time, in the main hall of Yongshou Palace, the previously festive atmosphere had disappeared.

After Concubine Shen took the other concubines to salute Emperor Jiajing, Emperor Jiajing was naturally very happy, instead of giving rewards as usual, he gave a lot of riches as rewards.

Concubine Shen was concubine in March of the tenth year of Jiajing, and was appreciated for her cleverness and prudence.

In the 13th year of Jiajing, Empress Zhang was abolished, and Fang was canonized as empress because of "being cautious and not slack, so called the emperor's will".

In the 15th year of Jiajing, Concubine Shen Chen was promoted to noble concubine, and in the 19th year of Jiajing, she was promoted to imperial concubine on the same day as the crown prince's mother, Wang Guifei.

She was able to become an imperial concubine step by step in this way. She was naturally extraordinary. Knowing that Emperor Jiajing was good at cultivating Taoism, she would never disturb him if he had nothing to do on weekdays.

But once the emperor summons or the solar terms, she will do everything that should be done well.

However, as a noble concubine, Shen's fate is not good. She has no birth in her life. After Cao Duan was executed in 26 years of Jiajing, Shen raised Cao Duan's second daughter, Princess Ning'an, Zhu Lumei. In 35 years of Jiajing, Ning'an When the princess got married, the etiquette of entering the Shen family was the same as that of her biological mother, so she had an adopted daughter.

After leading the concubines in the harem to pay their respects, Concubine Shen said a lot of festive words. Naturally, she hoped to make Emperor Jiajing happy. For the New Year's Eve, she naturally hoped that everyone would be happy.

It was supposed to be the rightful lord, and the ones who could please the emperor the most should be King Yu and King Jing, but these two princes could only kneel outside the gate of Yongshou Palace and then left.

But now, Concubine Shen Gui, who is known for her eloquence, can only retreat to one side, not daring to vent her anger, and the other concubines also hide at the sides like frightened birds, leaving only Concubine Lu Jing kneeling in the middle.

"The vassal king's fiefdom is the state affairs, when is it the harem's turn to interfere?"

Emperor Jiajing sat at the head, looked at Concubine Lu Jing and said every word.

"Your Majesty, I just hope that Zhen'er can get closer to me, please allow me."

Concubine Lu Jing's eyes were red at this time, and she was prostrate on the ground while speaking.

Maybe she also found that she did something wrong today, at least the occasion was wrong, but she had already said her words, and she could only try her best to calm down Emperor Jiajing with family affection.

"The feudal kingdom I found for King Jing is naturally not bad. The construction of the palace is nearing completion, and these are all handled by the court. If you have anything to say about major national affairs, he, Zhu Zaizhen, can speak up if he is dissatisfied."

Emperor Jiajing was not affected by Concubine Lu Jing's performance at all, and still spoke coldly.

Previously, after Concubine Shen Gui spoke, Concubine Lu Jing also came up to say a few words, but soon brought the topic to King Jing's feudal kingdom.

De'an Mansion in Huguang is thousands of miles away. Concubine Lu Jing is naturally unwilling to send her only son there, and wants to change King Jing's feudal state to Beizhili, or Shandong.

However, what seemed to be just the idea of ​​wanting to bring his son closer to him really touched an iron law of the harem of the Ming Dynasty, that is, "the harem must not interfere in politics."

It is said that these words were first told by Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang to Empress Ma, and later became the iron law of the harem of the Ming Dynasty.

Maybe it was because Emperor Jiajing was too kind to Concubine Lu Jing in the past, so she dared to talk about this matter with Emperor Jiajing, but after seeing the emperor get angry, she didn't dare to say any more.

"If you have a message for him, if you have any ideas, you can make a statement yourself, and don't engage in those petty tricks."

Emperor Jiajing looked at the woman kneeling in the hall coldly. He looked very shrewd before, but he made such a mistake at this time.