I stole divine power in Daxia

Chapter 515 Kunning Palace
On the last day of the first year of Taihe, the winter snow from the north stopped.

The warm air from the south caused the temperature around Yujing Mountain to rise abnormally. The white snow melted quickly, and the winter wheat grew well. It seemed that in just an instant, winter had passed and spring had come, and all things were revived.

Inside the Zhou Mansion in Tianjing, there is naturally a prosperous scene. The peach trees outside the Moon-Watching Tower are in full bloom. The blooming peach blossoms are like clusters of fireworks, burning away the last bit of winter's cold. By the flaming sea of ​​peach blossoms, the pear blossoms in the Qilin Pavilion have turned into white spring snow. A gentle breeze comes from the north, dispersing the spring snow and blending with the peach blossoms.

In the courtyard, Zhou Tieyi and Bai Mei had already prepared a banquet, and the shiny, red bacon wafted its fragrance from miles away in the sea of ​​flowers.

When the spring breeze blew from the north, Zhou Tieyi stood up and smiled brightly, "Senior Sister, you're back."

In the falling snow, the gentle breeze turned into a graceful figure in a dark yellow Taoist robe. As soon as she landed, she gazed at the spring scenery in the garden, but sighed with melancholy.

As the mother of Mother Earth and the gate of Xuanpin, she knew too well what this scene meant.

Although it is the last day of the New Year, winter has gone and spring has arrived, and a new year has begun.

But there is also a process.

The winter snow in the north this year was partly due to the intensification of Xuanwu, so it was extremely fierce. Now with the retreat of Xuanwu and Yuanmeng's army, the battle on the front line of Sunset Pass not only affected the changes in the earth veins, but also because of his attainment of Xuanpin and Xuanwu's loss of Xuanming, this year's winter became short.

At this time, the dragons along the southern coast took advantage of the situation to stir up the warm ocean currents, thus creating this scene of blooming spring flowers within a few days.

This is not a reversal of the weather, but it is better than a reversal of the weather.

Because this is a theft of half a winter, next year's summer will be especially long and extremely hot.

Seeing Miaoyu sighing with melancholy, Zhou Tieyi knew what Miaoyu was thinking. He stepped forward and pulled Miaoyu to sit down. "Sister, it's going to rain and my mother is going to get married. This situation is not your fault alone. Besides, there are solutions. Come, eat some bacon that Sister Baimei has smoked herself. After we have dinner at my mother's place, we can go to the Taoist temple to pray for blessings together. We haven't been out together for a long time. I have agreed with the Taoist priest in Mingde Palace that I will ring the first bell this year."

On the last day of the Lunar New Year, major Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries are bustling with incense. Everyone is observing the New Year's festival and wants to burn the first incense stick and ring the first bell, hoping that everything will go well in the coming year.

As the Marquis of Great Xia, Zhou Tieyi certainly had some privileges, such as ringing the first bell of the Mingde Palace in the new year.

Seeing Zhou Tieyi's carefree look, Miaoyu seemed to have really returned to this spring, when the flowers were in full bloom and there was nothing to worry about.

She put aside the worry in her eyes and smiled as peacefully as a mountain spring again, "Okay, I will go and pray for the world, and pray for good weather and good harvests in the coming year."

Zhou Tieyi smiled dumbly, "Senior sister, this wish is really big..."

Then he patted his chest and promised, "But even if I can't fulfill this wish 100%, I will do 80% of it."

In the evening, the family dinner was ready in Zhou's mother's Shouyi courtyard.

However, at this time, the chief eunuch in the palace, Su Xibi, came to summon him.

Invite Zhou Tieyi, Zhou's mother, and Miaoyu into the palace to keep vigil and offer sacrifices.

This is the tradition of the Great Xia Dynasty.

The main sacrifice on the first day of the new year is particularly important, and the rituals are extremely complicated. It starts with the sacrifice to the land and grain, followed by the Three Saints and Five Emperors. It usually starts at midnight and is busy all day long.

In addition, on New Year's Eve, the Emperor of Daxia would also host a banquet for his ministers in order to show his closeness to them. Therefore, close and honored ministers and their female relatives would be summoned into the palace on New Year's Eve.

The Emperor entertained his ministers in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, while the Empress entertained her female relatives in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. It was almost midnight, when other ministers outside entered the palace to pay their respects and then began the New Year's sacrificial ceremony together.

Zhou Tieyi looked at Su Xibi who was summoned, "Go back and tell His Majesty, the Queen Mother, there are no lights in the Yuandan Palace. I will not join in the fun. I will go to Mingde Palace to ring the bell and pray for the people of the world."

Su Xibi looked embarrassed. This New Year's Eve banquet was a great honor, and there had never been a precedent of a minister refusing a New Year's Eve banquet.

However, the meaning of Zhou Tieyi's words made him somewhat alert. The Great Xia Palace was the most prosperous place in the world. How could there not even be lights?
However, considering Zhou Tieyi's identity and what His Majesty the Great Xia and Ke Anran were going to do, Su Xibi also vaguely understood what Zhou Tieyi meant, and could only say helplessly, "I will bring Marquis Zhou's words back to Your Majesty."

In Kunning Palace, Su Xibi replied to the Queen Mother first.

As the empress, the Queen Mother is in charge of all arrangements in the palace for New Year's Day, so there is nothing wrong in replying to the Queen Mother first. At least it will give this matter a buffer zone and we can see the Queen Mother's reaction first.

After hearing Zhou Tieyi's words from Su Xibi, the Queen was silent for a while before asking the people around her, "Gao Wencan, how do you think this matter should be handled?"

As the current North Gate Scholar, Gao Wencan's status has risen rapidly in more than a month. Although he is a flatterer, he is indeed good at handling mundane affairs.

Not only did he help the Queen Mother build the framework of the North Gate Scholar, but he was also able to put aside his face and really study each of Zhou Tieyi's policies carefully. Even if sometimes he was just imitating others, in the eyes of the Queen Mother, he was much better than those old Confucian scholars who could not accept the change. Even if he was just following others, it was still progress. Not to mention surpassing his teacher Zhou Tieyi, at least he was able to maintain the framework built by Zhou Tieyi at the critical moment.

Hearing the Queen's question, thoughts emerged in Gao Wencan's mind.

Zhou Tieyi's decision not to attend the night banquet could be a big deal or a small one. When Su Xibi went to summon him, he didn't bring a public vehicle with him. He knew that Zhou Tieyi was now extremely powerful and would definitely cause some trouble...

No, it's not a small thing!

A thought flashed through Gao Wencan's mind like lightning.

Although the abolition of the worship of the Five Emperors had already become a fact, Zhou Tieyi even directly supported it, thus driving away Tang Anshi, the Minister of the Imperial Academy, and weakening the power of Confucianism.

But it doesn't mean that abolishing the sacrifice to the Five Emperors will not cause any harm to Zhou Tieyi. He takes the Five Elements of Ancestral Qi as his foundation. Formal abolishment of the sacrifice to the Five Emperors will definitely have a direct impact on his Taoist tradition.

During the New Year’s Day sacrifice, I don’t know how many masters were present and how many eyes were watching.

Therefore, Zhou Tieyi did not come because he did not want to show weakness in front of the world and let people see how much his strength had been depleted.

"Reporting to the Queen Mother, I believe that Marquis Zhou is a pillar of the country, and Taoist Miaoyu is the main contributor to the victory over Yuan Meng's army on the front line. The country cannot underestimate him. Since Marquis Zhou wants to pray for the people of the world first, why don't we appoint him as the bell-ringing messenger in the palace? After the Mingde Palace bell rings, he will be escorted to the palace by an official car to participate in the New Year's Day ceremony."

Mingde Palace is located on the eleventh floor of Yujing Mountain, just across the street from the twelfth floor where the imperial palace is located.

The Queen did not jump to conclusions and looked at Zhang Yuesong from the strategist on the right. This was both a test and a training.

As a diplomat, Zhang Yuesong considered things differently from Gao Wencan. Gao Wencan was a famous scholar who liked to use rhetoric and often put others in a difficult position.

For example, Gao Wencan's suggestion was to wait for Zhou Tieyi to do what he mentioned, and then invite him on the bus in public. This was naturally reasonable, but in fact it was also pressing.

However, this kind of coercion actually has a certain probability of leading to escalation of conflicts, and people from famous families are often beaten to death because of verbal disputes. Zhang Yuesong thought for a while and said, "I think that Zhou Hou said there are no lights in the palace. Why don't the Queen Mother reward Zhou Hou with a lamp from a hundred families as a New Year's gift."

The Queen of Heaven looked a little interested, "What do you mean by Hundreds of Lanterns? Will he come to the Grand Ceremony if we do this?"

Zhang Yuesong stood up and knelt before the Queen of Heaven. "I dare to ask the Queen of Heaven to forgive my sins."

Zhang Yuesong's next words obviously seemed to be deceiving the emperor, so he had to ask for instructions in advance.

"There is nothing wrong with offering advice and suggestions."

The Queen waved and said.

Ever since the North Gate was opened and foreign ministers were summoned, the Queen Mother's power has grown day by day. Many etiquette that people originally dared not to cross has now been directly crossed. She is truly like a second sun rising on Yujing Mountain.

"The Duke of Zhou is a minister of Daxia. He does not participate in Daxia's sacrifices, which is actually a crime of deceiving the emperor."

The palace maids nearby held their breath slightly. This was the first time someone said that Zhou Tieyi was guilty of deceiving the emperor, and it happened at this critical moment when Zhou Tieyi's Taoist partner Miaoyu was resisting Yuan Meng's army.

"But this crime of deceiving the king can be forgiven."

"Why?"

The queen asked expressionlessly.

"The affairs of the world are nothing more than alliances and seeking common ground while reserving differences. The reason why Marquis Zhou did not come to the palace is because removing the Five Emperors' sacrifices would be detrimental to his career. He does not trust the ministers in the court, nor does he trust Your Majesty, the Queen of Heaven. If he does not come, then the rift between the ruler and his ministers in Daxia will be announced to the world, which will only make his relatives sad and his enemies happy. At this time, inviting him with the official car representing the imperial power is not an honor, but coercion, which will inevitably cause unexpected reactions."

Zhang Yuesong's words made people think of the three hexagrams in the palace.

For some reason, the hexagram given by the Xiang Department for this year was kept secret and not passed on to outsiders.

However, due to changes in Confucianism, the three hexagrams were eventually passed down.

The first hexagram, Kan on top and Li on bottom, represents the harmony of water and fire.

This is also a hexagram of mutual assistance between the ruler and his ministers, and it talks about what will happen this year.

In general, although there have been many twists and turns this year, first the emperor practiced Taoism, then the Confucianists died for their remonstrance, and then Zhou Tieyi appeared out of nowhere and finally turned the tide. Not only did he stop the chaos in Tianjing and the disaster in Shantong Mansion, but now even Yuan Meng's army was forced to retreat by his Taoist companions.

It is indeed a hexagram that represents the harmony of water and fire, and the ruler and his subjects working together. It is an auspicious hexagram.

However, the second hexagram is the emperor's comment. At the end of the year, everything changes, and after water and fire complement each other, the hexagram happens to be Kan below and Li above, which means water and fire are not yet in harmony.

This also indicates that the emperor and his ministers will fight with each other next year and will not be able to work together. It is also a symbol of a year of severe drought.

And if next year's annual grand sacrifice is held, and if such important figures as Zhou Tieyi and Miaoyu do not participate in the sacrifice, then the comment on this hexagram is indeed verified.

This is the source of the current crisis.

Gao Wencan frowned and asked, "The Hundred Lights you mentioned are useful?"

Zhang Yuesong glanced at Gao Wencan with disdain. This guy was good at fighting but not at the overall situation, so he was not worth worrying about.

"The lights of a hundred houses come from the fires of a hundred stoves. If the rulers and ministers of the world admire the holy way, they will naturally put the people first. Marquis Zhou said that there are no lights in the palace, but the people of the world have lights. For the sake of the lights of the people of the world, Marquis Zhou will naturally give in. Otherwise, he is not worthy of being called the Marquis of Shengshi and is not worthy of seeking his holy way."

"it is good!"

The Queen's voice was loud and clear, and her joy was evident.

"What Mr. Zhang said is very clever. Even if there are no lights in the palace, the people of Daxia have lights. Mr. Zhang has already mastered the art of forming alliances!"

Then she smiled and said to Su Xibi, "You understand what to do, now go and ask for the lights from hundreds of families, and wait for the New Year's Day festival to serve as a pass to summon you."

The Queen Mother was very happy. The last problem of this year was solved, and the first problem of next year was solved. Su Xibi was naturally very happy too. He bowed and said, "I will do it right away. I promise to do it properly."

Influenced by the Queen Mother, the feeling of joy in Kunning Palace rose again, but there was only one person who was not truly happy.

Zhang Yuesong and Gao Wencan both left the palace together. Gao Wencan flattered Zhang Yuesong with a fake smile, saying, "Brother Zhang's lofty ideas really put me to shame."

Zhang Songyue naturally saw through Gao Wencan's fake smile, but he didn't care. Although the world is in chaos now, it is the time for them, the strategists, to show their strength. The Queen Mother knows how to appoint people, and those scoundrels who flatter her are nothing more than jesters.

Now the Queen Mother keeps Gao Wencan to show the world that she is wise in selecting talents. When Gao Wencan's lack of talent and wisdom becomes increasingly apparent, the Queen Mother will get tired of him and will naturally drive him away.

Thinking of this, Zhang Songyue simply bowed to Gao Wencan, then went out of the north gate and got on his own carriage.

Gao Wencan stood in the warm spring sunshine for a moment, then got into his carriage without saying a word.

It was not until Gao Wencan's carriage had reached the twelfth floor that a loud clapping sound was heard from inside.

That night, after people had their New Year's Eve dinner, the ground lamps on Yujing Mountain were lit up amid the sound of firecrackers. The bright lights competed with the blooming fireworks on the ground for splendor.

Because the New Year's Eve was exceptionally warm this year, there were many more people who were preparing to go into the temples to burn incense and pray for blessings. After the hour of You, the streets outside the major temples were crowded with people, and there were all kinds of operas and acrobatics, as if everyone had returned to the Spring Fish and Dragon Festival in an instant.

"Senior sister, sister, look!"

Among the crowd, Zhou Tieyi, Miaoyu and others changed their appearance and walked slowly among the crowd.

At this time, Zhou Tieyi happened to buy three lanterns from the stall next to him. This was different from the fish dragon lanterns during the Fish and Dragon Festival. Inside was a small firework, which, once ignited, would burst into brilliant fireworks.

Zhou Tieyi lit the lanterns as if he was offering a treasure, then turned around and handed the two lanterns to Miaoyu and Baimei. From the small lotus lanterns, beams of flames gushed out like stars, shining in harmony with the surrounding lotus lanterns.

Miaoyu looked at the lanterns all over the street and Zhou Tieyi hidden among the lanterns, and smiled. For a moment, a spring breeze blew, thousands of lanterns swayed, and stars fell like rain.

(End of this chapter)