I, the Ming Dynasty, can still save me

Chapter 134 Private visit on Weibo (please subscribe)

New Year's Day in the Ming Dynasty was extremely grand. On this day, at five o'clock, incense and paper cannons began to be burned in the palace.

The eunuchs of each palace gate will also slam the door bolt or wooden pole three times on the courtyard floor, which is called "dropping a thousand gold coins".

Then in the morning, we would drink pepper wine and eat snacks (that is, dumplings), just like we do now. One or two coins would be hidden in these dumplings, and those who got them would predict good luck for the year.

Then there will be a banquet for hundreds of officials. In addition, many tributary countries such as Ryukyu, Korea, and Danan will also send envoys to pay tribute and congratulate them at this time. Zhu Youxiao will also banquet them.

The banquet ceremony is extremely complicated, with lighting and court etiquette. The banquet requires nine rounds of drinking, and there is also music and dancing during the banquet.

For example, when drinking the first wine, "The Song of Good Luck by the Flame Spirit" and "The Song of Ten Thousand Years of Life" must be played, and at the same time, there must be a dance to calm the world.

It's just that although this banquet for hundreds of officials seems very grand, it is a suffering for everyone involved.

You must know that no palace in the Forbidden City can accommodate hundreds of tables and chairs, so we can only set up tables and stools in the Square of the Hall of Supreme Harmony to entertain officials.

It is very cold in the north now, and the cold wind is biting. In ancient times, there was no good insulation method. If the officials did not wear warm clothes, they would be shivering when the cold wind blew at the banquet.

That is to say, just eat. There are many rules. Whether it is drinking wine or holding chopsticks, the emperor must start the ceremony. Only officials can use chopsticks to drink. After Zhu Youxiao spoke, the food was cold, and it was cold. The wind is so strong that even if you eat it, your body will be damaged.

But even so, there are still censors watching the officials. As long as anyone whispers to each other, or eats and drinks first, he will be fined with a salary at the least, and will lose his official position directly at the worst.

Therefore, this meal was about form, not content. After all, not only Baiguan was tired, but even Zhu Youxiao was exhausted.

But despite this, after the banquet, he still called the four cabinet members over.

"This New Year's Day is supposed to be a five-day holiday. You have worked hard for the country on weekdays. Now is the time to finally rest. There is no need to do anything. You also go back to reunite. In addition, I will reward all the officials. Later, you will ask the cabinet to The rewards will be distributed, so don’t delay.”

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and asked He Ning to start talking.

"As a reward for Zhengdan Festival, the civil and military officers will receive ten silver coins each for the princes and uncles, seven gold coins for the first- and second-grade military officers, five coins for the third- to eighth-grade civil servants, six coins for the second- to sixth-grade civil servants, and three coins for the seventh- to ninth-grade officers. They have not entered the mainstream. Two coins for officials and one for supervisors."

After Zhu Youxiao saw what he said, he continued:

"Don't worry about this money from the cabinet, just come from internal funds. Although it was given to you before the year, but at the beginning of the new year, if I give it again, don't say that I am stingy."

Seeing that the emperor has a reward, everyone is naturally happy.

"Your Majesty is concerned about the blessings of the country and the country, and the ministers are very happy. However, your Majesty has been working hard for the country, and now he has some free time. It is better to take a rest and combine work and rest."

When Liu Yishen said this, everyone nodded.

These civil servants are afraid that the emperor will not care about anything, but they are also afraid that the emperor will care about everything. Now the young emperor just wants to care about everything and worries about everything. Although it is still good at the moment, it is better to relax during the New Year's Day.

"Okay, okay, then I'll just relax."

He immediately asked Liu Yishen to finish the reward distribution, and then asked Luan to drive back to Qianqing Palace and the Nuan Pavilion. He wanted to have a good rest today and watch the lively fireworks with his brothers and sisters in the evening.

But now I suddenly thought that watching fireworks all day long was boring, so I wanted to try something different, so I asked He Ning and Zhang Chang.

"You guys are talking about what people usually do during the Chinese New Year."

He Ning Jianyi asked and thought for a moment, then explained with a smile:

"Long live Lord, this folk New Year celebration is interesting. I heard that from the fifth to the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, there is a lantern market on the east of Wangfu Street in Donghuamen and on the west of Chongwen Street. It is two miles long. There are so many people putting on lanterns. , where you can guess lantern riddles, set off fireworks, and enjoy the market. The lanterns are usually made of gauze and silk glass, and some are painted with ancient and modern figures, which are very beautiful."

"Yes, yes, He Ning is absolutely right."

Zhang Chang also echoed from the side.

"My slave also heard that there are also little figures carved out of ice, with flowers and plants placed on them. Visitors can also make clay figures, eat candy figures, draw pictures, and eat snacks. There are so many people on the street."

These words made Zhu Youxiao feel itchy. He really wanted to take a look. Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up. Why not go out and have a look on the fifth day of the lunar new year? It would be too boring to stay in this palace all the time.

However, this matter was unexpected, because the courtiers would definitely not agree, and they might have to go to court and scold them. They would have to go and come back the same day, so they couldn't delay things.

Thinking of this, he asked the other serving eunuchs and maids to leave, leaving only He Ning.

"What you said made me feel itchy, so I wanted to go out on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year to experience it."

When the two of them heard this, even the brave He Ning screamed secretly in his heart.Leaving the palace was a big deal, so what would they do if the emperor bumped into him? But they also knew that with Zhu Youxiao's temperament, it would be useless to object, so they could only make tactful suggestions.

"Your Majesty, let alone what to do if something goes wrong when you go out, just say that people in the palace are talkative. If you go out, people will definitely know about it, and then the officials will bother you again."

After hearing their excuses, Zhu Youxiao knew that they didn't want to go, but he couldn't help them because he already had a plan.

"What's the point? Just bring a few more guards. As for saying people talk too much, I already have a problem with it."

Then he waved his hand and asked them to lean forward and listen to his arrangements.

"On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, why don't you go to the grass farm and see if there are any noble children staying there. Those people are good at martial arts and are familiar with the fun places in the capital. They can not only protect me, but also have fun. , you find two or three and let them wait at the grass fence. If they all leave, go to Wang Boyu and ask for a few people. I will rush there on the morning of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year in the name of military training, and then change into casual clothes and go out with them."

"As for you two, why don't you come with me? Zhang Chang, you stay in Qianqing Palace. If anyone comes, tell them that I am sick and need to rest. As long as you keep it a secret from me until night, I will come back."

Seeing this, the two could not resist the emperor's stubbornness, so they could only look bitter and nodded in agreement.

Time flew by, and soon it was the morning of the fifth day of the lunar month. On this day, Zhu Youxiao got up early, had breakfast, and asked Zhang Chang to stay in Qianqing Palace at [-] o'clock ([-] to [-] o'clock).

And he and He Ning went to Licaolan Field in the name of military training.When we arrived, there were already three people waiting.

What Zhu Youxiao didn't expect was that Sun Yingyuan was among them. He immediately looked at He Ning, who had a sad look on his face. He was about to kneel down to apologize when he saw Sun Yingyuan explain.

"Please don't blame Eunuch He. This is the meaning of your humble position. Your Majesty still needs someone to protect you when you go out of the palace. Although these new soldiers have military power, they are still worried about their humble position, so I want to go with you and escort you. Your Majesty. Forgive me. If you want to blame, just blame your humble position." Upon hearing this, He Ning knelt down and apologized.

After Zhu Youxiao heard this, he looked at He Ning coldly. He didn't like it most when the eunuchs in the inner court didn't listen to him and made decisions on their own.

If He Ning had asked him for permission in advance, how could he not agree? But now that the matter was at this point, he didn't want to care about it anymore, so he glanced at him.

"Okay, okay, I miss you because I mean well, so I won't argue with you this time. You two, get up quickly."

After saying that, he walked in front of the other two noble disciples, looked them up and down, and smiled in his heart, he had seen these two people before.

"Didn't I give you a holiday? Why don't you go back during the Chinese New Year and you are still training here?"

These two people were Guo Zuoguang and Zhu Daoxin.They were already motivated, Zhu Daoxin had already separated, and there was only one old servant in the family. It was not interesting to stay there, so he just wanted to go back to the hurdles to train as soon as possible to pass the time. Guo Zuoguang's situation was similar. He was a bastard, and his family didn't pay much attention to him. With this selection for military training, I can honor my ancestors.

Unexpectedly, he was treated even more coldly by his father's wife, who made trouble and made him feel uncomfortable at home. Fortunately, he came here to train with Zhu Daoxin.

Unexpectedly, they encountered such an errand by accident and escorted the emperor out of the palace incognito. Now when they saw the emperor and asked why, the two of them explained the situation clearly.

Zhu Youxiao nodded, and then looked at Zhu Daoxin.

"It seems that you are people who study hard and practice hard, especially you, Zhu Daoxin, who has been so perseverant despite such changes in your family. However, I have reduced your family's title. Are you jealous of me?"

As soon as these words came out, Guo Zuoguang couldn't help but sweat secretly for his friend. If he didn't answer well, it would be over.

"The villain complains!"

Zhu Daoxin's words shocked Sun Yingyuan and Guo Zuoguang. Sun Yingyuan reacted quickly, fearing that Zhu Youxiao would be angry, so he quickly reprimanded him.

"Zhu Daoxin, what are you talking about? Your father intends to rebel, triggering turmoil in the capital, and intends to rebel. If your Majesty hadn't thought of the old love of the Duke, your house would have been ransacked. You are not satisfied now, and you actually said such things to resent your Majesty. It’s such a treasonous thing to say, why don’t you apologize quickly.”

However, Zhu Youxiao became interested in his words. He waved his hand to shut up Sun Yingyuan and asked with interest:

"Then what do you blame me for?"

Unexpectedly, Zhu Daoxin knelt down and said suddenly:
"What I'm complaining about is why my father did such a stupid thing. What I'm complaining about is that I don't have the ability to revive the lineage of the Duke and continue to dedicate myself to Your Majesty and the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Youxiao was stunned for a moment, then laughed, patted him on the shoulder and said:
"Very good, very good. You are capable. I also believe that you will be able to regenerate into the lineage of the Duke in the future. Work hard. I am optimistic about you."

Zhu Youxiao actually doesn't care whether Zhu Daoxin's words are true or not. As the saying goes, no one is perfect in terms of his deeds but his heart. Even if he hates himself in his heart, it doesn't matter to Zhu Youxiao.

Because for him, Zhu Daoxin was an example he set, a sign that showed that he was broad-minded regardless of past grudges, and an example for those who had been hit by nobles to make a comeback.

Since this Zhu Daoxin is so ambitious, I should support him more. If he can really revive the British line again, it will definitely make the nobles grateful to him for his virtue of disregarding past grudges, and thus they will be more loyal to him. .

Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao praised Sun Yingyuan and Zhu Daoxin.

"Ying Yuan, the soldiers you taught are very good. You must take care of them in the future."

"Okay, it's not too early now. Let's leave quickly. Remember, after you go out, you can only treat yourself as master and servant, and your identity cannot be exposed."

Sun Yingyuan did not expect Zhu Daoxin's answer. The emperor did not blame him but was very sure. He couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded quickly to greet everyone.

Therefore, the group of people left the Licaolan Farm and headed straight to Dong'an Gate. On weekdays, Dong'an Gate would be busy with traffic, but because of the New Year's Day holiday and the government offices were not open, it seemed particularly deserted now.

This Sun Yingyuan was originally an officer of the military training camp in Licaolanchang. He had been in and out of the imperial city many times. The guards at Dong'an Gate were very familiar with the eunuchs at the palace gate. When they saw Sun Yingyuan leading four people out of the imperial city, they quickly came forward to greet them. They knew He does not dare to offend the famous people in front of the emperor now.

Now I saw Sun Yingyuan leading four people out, two of whom I had not seen much, so I thought of simply stepping forward to ask.

At this time, Sun Yingyuan saw the eunuch from the palace approaching and had already prepared his words:
"Eunuch Chen, Your Majesty came to Licaolanchang today and asked me and my two father-in-laws to go out to buy some things. We will come back as soon as we go. This is my token. Please take a look at it."

Upon seeing this, the palace eunuch named Chen took the token and looked down at it, but he was even more interested in the two eunuchs Sun Yingyuan mentioned.

"Of course you can go out if you have the token, but why do these two father-in-laws keep their heads down? Everyone in the family knows very well about the people in the palace. I don't know which father-in-law it is, but the young one is so familiar with it."

He Ning originally didn't want to be exposed, otherwise Zhu Youxiao would be unhappy, but seeing that the palace eunuch was unwilling to give up, he raised his head and looked at eunuch Chen.

He Ning has always been one of the two eunuchs serving Zhu Youxiao. Everyone in the palace knows it. There are many people inside and outside the palace who want to curry favor with him. Naturally, the palace eunuch has also seen him. Seeing He Ning, he was shocked and immediately knelt down.

"No one can say anything wrong about this today. Wait here tonight. I will come back later. If you say anything about it, I will beat you to death with sticks!"

The palace eunuch said yes again and again, gave the token to Sun Yingyuan respectfully, and sent them out with a nod and bow.

Once you leave Dongyang Gate, you really leave the imperial city.

This also made Zhu Youxiao extremely curious. This was the first time he left the imperial city since he traveled through time. However, as soon as he came out, everyone looked at each other and saw Sun Yingyuan asking:

"His Majesty"

"Call the young master!"

Sun Yingyuan had a big head, so he could only speak bravely.

"Master, I guess we won't be here until the evening. It's just noon now, so where should we go now?"

Zhu Youxiao had already thought about this problem.

"Where else can I go? Of course I'm going to the temple fair during the day."

　A four thousand word chapter, guaranteed to be updated regularly tomorrow!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)