Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Chapter 229 Adult
Liu Che naturally knew what the Guanjun Marquis Mansion looked like. After all, this was the mansion he helped Huo Xian build.

A simple visit will suffice, as there are naturally more important things to do next.

Arriving at the main hall, Liu Che sat down with a smile, "I should go out to inspect the country in a few days. The General of the Cavalry has been fighting in the wars for many years and has indeed worked hard."

This is a compliment, and of course it is true. Huo Xian has indeed not stopped in recent years. Being away from home all year round has almost become the norm, and this situation is likely to continue.

However, all this seemed normal to everyone, because Huo Xian was the Grand Marshal and General of the Cavalry, and the court only had such a general who could command troops, a general in the true sense.

Looking at Huo Xian, Liu Che smiled and said, "My generals of the cavalry now have children, but they have not yet been crowned."

The others also looked at Huo Xian. They all knew about this matter. It was said that the emperor was going to crown him as the General of the Cavalry two years ago, but suddenly he had to go to inspect the border, so the matter was delayed.

Last year, he was at war again, so the matter was naturally delayed. A hasty coronation was obviously not in line with Huo Xian's status, so it must be carefully planned.

Liu Che looked at Huo Xian and said, "Your family doesn't have an ancestral temple. You have grown up in front of me since you were a child. It is only right for me to crown you. Everyone, do you think this is the truth?"

Naturally, no one else had any objection, and some even felt that this was a very reasonable thing to do. No one was more suitable than the emperor to crown Huo Shan.

Normally, it would be the father who came to crown the emperor, but Huo Qubing was long gone. As for the situation of Huo Xian's grandfather Huo Zhongru, everyone knew it well, and Huo Qubing had only met him twice.

Huo Xian certainly had never met Huo Zhongru. The so-called ancestral temple was a bit forced in the Huo family. Now only Huo Qubing was worshipped, which was like a "single page".

Wei Zifu and Princess Pingyang came out from the side hall and said, "General Huqi, come with us."

Huo Xian stood up immediately, and everyone knew what was going on. When the emperor was visiting the Marquis of Guanjun's mansion, many things had already been prepared.

This time, the banquet hosted by the Champion Marquis seemed more like a coronation ceremony, and these guests came to witness and watch the ceremony, which was also a treatment that only close talents could enjoy.

When they arrived at the side hall, Wei Zifu, Princess Pingyang and Wei Ru began to comb Huo Shan's hair. The proper procedures must have been followed. It was nothing more than that the person who crowned Huo Shan was of noble status and looked extremely wealthy.

"Shan'er has grown up, and she will have an explanation when she sees me in the future." Wei Ru was very pleased and said, "She died early, and she is a blessed person. Qubing has ability, and Shan'er also has ability."

Wei Shao'er was the one with the lowest status among the three sisters. She passed away before Huo Qubing became famous and successful, and even after having an affair with Huo Zhongru, she was unable to marry into a good family.

Wei Zifu smiled and comforted him, "Why say those things? Today is Shan'er's big day. We are afraid that we will not see the day when he gets married. Wearing the crown is a big event, he has finally grown up!"

"Aunt, after the Xiongnu is destroyed, I might want to get married!" Huo Xian said confidently, "Besides, don't I already have children?"

Wei Zifu and others shook their heads. How could they have a home if the Huns were not destroyed? Huo Xian took this reason to the extreme. No one could urge him to get married because he had the family motto.

"You definitely don't want to get married. If you really wanted to, you would have already found someone you like." Princess Pingyang said directly, "You just have too high standards and you don't like anyone. As long as you have children, we won't say anything to you."

I really don't plan to talk about it anymore. In the past, I urged her to get married. When urging her to get married didn't work, I urged her to have a baby. Now my goal has been achieved. Even if it's not the most perfect or ideal one, at least I can get it done.

Huo Xian just laughed at this and said, "I am fine the way I am now. No one in the family talks about me, and my two concubines are well-behaved and sensible. This is a relief."

Huo Xian's words made Wei Zifu and others roll their eyes, but thinking about his character, it is completely understandable that he would make such a choice and decision. In the final analysis, this child is sometimes "extremely lazy".

He didn't want to see the family in chaos, so he simply didn't get married. As for saying that it didn't matter if there was no mistress, he would take care of it himself. The Guanjun Marquis's mansion was just loose and didn't seem to have the rules like other powerful people.

It is rare to be truly free and unrestrained in this world. Huo Xian feels that he now has some small capital and can choose some lifestyles that he likes.

After a simple wash and dressing, and of course a change of clothes, there are still many details that need to be paid attention to in such a crowning ceremony.

Huo Xian needs to pay attention to these things, and Liu Che and others also care about such things very much. These are also related to their face, so naturally they will not take these things lightly.

Everything is ready, and the next step is naturally the most important crowning ceremony.

Huo Xian was not an emperor, so he naturally did not need to go to the Taimiao, but at this moment the spirit tablet of Huo Qubing had already been enshrined in the hall.

Huo Guang led Huo Shan into the hall in an orderly manner. Liu Che had a serious expression on his face. After Huo Shan knelt down, he said, "I am crowning you today. You have become an adult. You should be an adult now. You should stop being childish."

Huo Xian replied with a serious expression, "I will obey your majesty's order."

Liu Che smiled and raised his hand, and Wei Qing immediately knelt down with the tray in his hand. The emperor untied Huo Xian's hair, after all, in that era, both men and women had long hair.

Previously, Wei Zifu and others had helped Huo Xian to weave his hair and put it into a bun, but the emperor was obviously not very satisfied. Some things had to be done personally, only then would he be satisfied.

Carefully helping Huo Xian put his hair into a bun, he said in a clear voice, "The purpose of wearing a cap is to distinguish one from an adult. When a gentleman first wears a cap, he must be blessed with the ceremony, and the capping is put on to strengthen his heart."

The normal age for crowning in the Western Han Dynasty was 20 years old, but there were some special cases. Liu Che's crowning was "early", and now Huo Xian's crowning was slightly delayed, but this is not a big problem.

Liu Che took a black linen crown from the tray.

After carefully helping Huo Xian put it on, Liu Che said, "On this auspicious day of the month, you will be wearing your first clothes. Abandon your childish ambitions, follow your virtues, and live a long and healthy life. May you enjoy great fortune and prosperity."

Huo Xian kowtowed respectfully. This was the emperor's message. Wearing a black cloth cap meant that he was qualified to participate in politics and could shoulder social responsibilities.

After bowing, Huo Xian immediately stood up and walked towards the side hall. Wei Zifu and others immediately helped him take off the black cloth crown, and then asked Huo Xian to change out of the long crown and put on the crown and hat.

After Huo Xian changed his clothes and knelt in the main hall, Liu Che took out a white deerskin hat from the tray and said, "A real man should protect his master and assist the country!"

This is the "Wu Guan", which means to perform military service to defend the country and territory.

After Huo Xian finished his kowtow, he returned to the side hall, took off his leather cap and put on a crown and robe. There are rules for this. The long crown and robe are worn in ceremonies such as offering sacrifices to the ancestral temple and various minor sacrifices, such as the Five Mountains, the Four Rivers, the mountains and rivers, and the land and grain. The crown and robe are also called the Weimao crown and robe, which are the clothes for hunting and military training.

As for the crown and robes, they are the most honorable sacrificial ceremonial dress, worn by the emperor, the three dukes, princes, and ministers when they offer sacrifices to heaven and earth.

Liu Che solemnly took out a plain crown with red and black colors. This was a ceremonial crown, which also meant that Huo Shan could participate in sacrificial ceremonies in the future.

The ceremony of crowning is like this, different clothes are matched with different crowns, and clothes are changed and crowns are put on constantly. Although Huo Xian has put on three crowns now, it does not mean that the crowning is over.

He returned to the side hall and changed into his casual clothes. In fact, according to the ritual, he should have put on formal attire and a ceremonial hat and immediately went to worship at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and visit his elders.

It’s just that sometimes plans cannot keep up with changes and special matters have to be dealt with specially. Now the elders are all in his residence, so there is naturally no need to visit them specially.

As spectators, many people felt bad. The crowning of the Champion Marquis was the real crowning, which meant that the crown prince was treated better than the Champion Marquis when he was crowned.

The emperor personally presided over the crowning ceremony and the general was treated as a "VIP". Only the Marquis of Guanjun could enjoy such treatment.

Seeing that he had changed his clothes, Liu Che smiled and said, "Xian'er, what do you think of your courtesy name?"

This is also an important part of the ceremony of crowning a child. Now that the crown has been crowned, it is natural for the elders to give a name to the child.

Huo Xian smiled and said, "Didn't Your Majesty give me a name before? Zihou, that's how I was called before."

Liu Che smiled and said, "To be honest, the courtesy name Zihou is not very suitable. You were young at that time and acted foolishly in front of me, so I gave you a courtesy name. Now that you have been crowned, change it."

"No." Huo Xian said with a smile, "I was called Fengchezihou when I was a child. It has been more than ten years. Now I am not used to it."

Zihou, this courtesy name is really too rough and cannot be considered "beautiful". Liu Che, who has a good literary accomplishment, also understands that this courtesy name is just to explain Huo Shan's identity.

Liu Che became serious and said to Huo Shan, "Shan'er, calling you Zihou is not a good idea. Before you get married, you can be considered a child. Now that you have children, it is not very decent to call you that."

Huo Xian said carelessly, "I'm only in my early twenties, what's the point of being respectable or not? I'm the son of Marquis Jing Huan, why should I be afraid of what others say?"

Zihou, this is the simple literal meaning. As a courtesy name, it is indeed not very nice.

However, think about how Huo Qubing was treated. His title, official position, etc. were all named and conferred by the emperor himself. Even after Huo Qubing passed away, his posthumous title was unique.

The posthumous titles of ministers in the Western Han Dynasty only had one character. Apart from Zhang Liang's "Wencheng" and Xiao He's "Wenzhong", Huo Qubing was the only one with two posthumous titles, "Jinghuan".

In Liu Che's view, only in this way can Huo Qubing's achievements in defeating distant enemies, fighting bravely, and expanding territory be demonstrated.

Even Wei Qing is not good enough, and in the future he will at most be the Marquis of Changping.

The others were also more or less numb. The emperor often called Marquis Guanjun by his nickname, and everyone was used to it. And it was also common for Marquis Guanjun to often disobey the emperor.

Huo Xian continued to say to Liu Che, "Your Majesty, I really don't need to choose a new name. It's fine as it is now. I have to go to pay homage tomorrow. It's such a big thing that I can't miss."

Liu Che smiled and nodded, "Since you don't want to take another courtesy name, then don't take one. I think it makes sense after thinking about it. You already have a courtesy name, so it's not appropriate to take another one."

Wei Qing and the others remained silent, because some things really cannot be taken seriously, otherwise it would be hard to explain.

Most other people would have their crowning ceremony earlier, but Huo Xian delayed it for two more years. Everyone was used to it and didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

Huo Xian did not wear a crown, but he had a courtesy name. And it was not a courtesy name that he had when he was fifteen or twenty, but a courtesy name that the emperor had bestowed on him when he was ten years old, which was obviously too early.

The emperor had broken many rules with Huo Qubing and his son Huo Shan, and everyone seemed to be used to it as they had placed all the best words and expectations on them.

Seeing that it was almost time, Huo Xian said, "Your Majesty, since you have already been crowned and the guests are all here, let's have a feast and enjoy the singing and dancing!"

Naturally, Liu Che would not have any objection. Others also had to celebrate with the guests after they were crowned. These were all standard procedures. There was naturally no problem with Huo Shan doing this.

As for enjoying singing and dancing and so on, naturally everyone has no objection, and this is what should be done.

Of course, the Champion Marquis's Mansion had no shortage of fine wine, delicacies, etc. They already had quite a bit of inventory. In addition, they had purchased a batch in advance to prepare for this banquet, so everyone could drink as much as they wanted.

The fact that the Marquis of Guanjun's mansion had no dancers, musicians, etc., did not matter. When the prince came here before, he brought a lot of dancers, etc., all of whom were brought out from the palace.

Huo Xian liked Chu dance and had a very high level of appreciation for it. This was no secret in Chang'an City and many people knew about it.

The Chu dance that could satisfy the picky emperor and the discerning Marquis Guanjun is indeed worth appreciating. After all, even the powerful and wealthy cannot often see the dancers in the palace dancing.

After Huo Xian poured wine for Liu Che, he said, "Your Majesty, I looked carefully and found that my house is still a little small. It's a bit too small to use."

Liu Che nodded slightly and said, "It's a little inappropriate to look at it this way. The two sides don't match. This is originally a palace dance. It lacks some of the rich and noble atmosphere in yours. The scene is not enough."

Huo Xian nodded in agreement. There were many types of Chu dances, and the grand palace dances naturally required sufficient space to be able to be truly performed.

However, judging from the current situation, the Marquis of Guanjun's Mansion is already extremely magnificent in the eyes of ordinary people, but it is far inferior to the Jianzhang Palace.

No one had any objection to this. If the Marquis of Guanjun's mansion was built to look like the imperial palace, that would be the most terrifying. Even if the emperor liked the Marquis of Guanjun, he would not allow such a thing to happen.

Having been crowned and having children, Huo Xian is now an adult both morally and legally!

(End of this chapter)