Do you know: I am Qi Heng

Seeing Qi Heng helping Princess Pingning out of the carriage, some familiar noblewomen came forward to greet them.

"Your Highness, Happy New Year!"

A gentle and graceful woman, with a smile on her face, curtsied.

Qi Heng's eyes flickered slightly when he saw the person who had arrived. This woman was none other than Gu Tingye's stepmother, Madam Qin.

To be honest, if I didn't know her true colors, it would be hard to believe that she was hiding her true nature so well, just by looking at her gentle temperament.

"Wishing Madam Gu a Happy New Year!"

Princess Pingning returned the greeting and turned her head, saying, "Heng'er, why don't you pay your respects?"

"Greetings, Madam Gu. Happy New Year! May you enjoy good health and longevity!"

Qi Heng bowed deeply and sang a double nod in greeting.

The term "singing greetings" refers to the auspicious words spoken to people at the beginning of the new year.

When Lady Qin and Princess Pingning greeted each other with "Happy New Year," it was just a simple greeting, indicating that they were of the same generation.

Shuangnuo is a greeting from a younger person to an elder.

Although the Qi and Gu families were related, that was a long time ago.

Therefore, even though Lady Qin was a generation older than Princess Pingning, they were actually still considered equals.

This is quite normal. Powerful families intermarry with each other, and if you really want to talk about relationships, you can find connections with almost every powerful and wealthy family in Bianjing.

Generally, unless there is a long-standing family relationship through marriage, it is not discussed in formal occasions, but only in private conversations.

Qi Heng remembered that Princess Pingning and Madam Wang could even discuss marriage. Later, when he sent his son to the Sheng family to study, he even discussed it with Madam Wang.

But Madam Wang didn't dare to take it seriously, and the two families didn't visit each other.

Lady Qin chatted with Princess Pingning for a few words before leaving.

Later, a number of people came to speak with Princess Pingning, and Qi Heng could only keep bowing.

Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long. The palace gates opened, and the noblewomen, led by eunuchs, went to the inner palace.

While Qi Heng accompanied his mother to the inner palace to pay New Year's respects to Empress Cao, Qi Xuan and the officials and nobles were left out in the cold wind.

The main gate of the palace opened a little earlier than the side gates.

When officials went to court, there was a waiting area called the Shilou Courtyard.

Arriving early for court was a must; no one dared to be late. But waiting outside the palace gates in wind and rain was also unpleasant.

The Shilouyuan was the place where officials rested before going to court.

After entering the palace, officials would wait in the Shilou Courtyard. When it was almost time, they would line up and go to the outside of the Daqing Hall.

The same applies to the grand assembly on the first day of the new year.

But today, after the officials entered the palace, the eunuchs conveyed the Emperor's decree, instructing them to line up directly outside the Daqing Hall and wait.

Some officials were delighted upon hearing this, feeling that the emperor had come to his senses and had returned to his previous diligent ways.

But when they arrived at the Daqing Hall and lined up to wait for a long time, the palace eunuch did not notify them to enter the hall.

It should be noted that there was absolutely no cover outside the Daqing Hall.

The morning court session is already early, and the winter is already cold; the early morning hours are even colder.

Officials should not wear overly bulky clothes when attending court. They should ride in carriages with stoves, and there should also be stoves in the servants' quarters.

Only the section from getting off the carriage to entering the palace and going to the Shilou Courtyard, and from the Shilou Courtyard to the Daqing Hall, requires walking.

Therefore, they weren't dressed very warmly, and they could just bear it.

But the emperor was slow to summon them, which was agonizing.

Only about an incense stick's time had passed when some officials were shivering from the cold, their noses running.

Even so, they dared not wipe it. Officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate were nearby, responsible for monitoring the situation.

Officials who are not properly dressed or who make other movements while lining up will be recorded.

Although it wasn't a major crime, he couldn't escape the offense of disrespecting the emperor in front of the palace.

Not only will their salary be docked, but their performance evaluation will also be affected.

But if I don't wipe it, it seems impolite.

The officials in front smiled bitterly to themselves, knowing that the emperor was retaliating against them out of spite.

But this can't go on forever. Some of the officials are quite old, and it would be troublesome if they caught a cold.

Han Zhang stepped forward and said to the eunuch beside him, "I trouble you, Your Majesty, to inform you that today is the grand court assembly on New Year's Day. Not only will officials come to pay their respects and offer their congratulations, but foreign envoys will also be entering the palace to pay their respects and offer their congratulations."

It's getting late, and the foreign envoys will soon be arriving at the palace. Your Majesty, please summon us as soon as possible!

"Please wait a moment, my lord!"

The eunuch bowed and left in haste.

A short while later, Eunuch Li from the Palace Attendants Bureau came out of the palace.

"His Majesty's decree!" Eunuch Li announced.

The officials, upon hearing the imperial decree, immediately bowed and listened attentively.

Eunuch Li announced loudly: "His Majesty's decree: I am unwell and unable to receive my ministers and foreign envoys; therefore, today's grand court assembly is cancelled. Furthermore, from this day forward, the reign title shall be changed to Shaotong!"

Upon hearing this reign title, everyone frowned slightly.

The reign titles used by emperors were not chosen arbitrarily, but rather carried certain symbolic meanings.

Emperors who used reign titles containing the character "武" (wu) were usually the founding emperors of their dynasties.

If he was not the founding emperor, it meant that the emperor would subsequently place great emphasis on military preparedness.

It could be either internal reorganization or external military action.

If it contains the character "文" (wen), it's easy to understand; it generally means recuperation, promoting culture and education.

Shaotong means to inherit the lineage. When used in the reign title, it represents the meaning of "the ancestral temple has a master, and the state has a successor".

However, in addition to reflecting the emperor's political inclinations, reign titles could also express aspirations.

For example, when there is turmoil in the world, the emperor will use an era name related to peace and prosperity.

The reign title Shaotong could indicate that the emperor already had the intention of establishing an heir apparent.

It can also be seen as the emperor praying for a son to succeed him.

The officials were momentarily unable to fathom the Emperor's thoughts—whether he was seeking a son or had already decided to adopt an heir.

If it is the former, they will definitely have to continue to petition for adoption.

After all, the Emperor is not young, and it's hard to say whether he can have children or whether the child will be a prince.

They couldn't wait any longer.

But if it's the latter, they can't continue to submit petitions.

Regardless of their thoughts, after Eunuch Li read out the Emperor's decree, they had no choice but to leave the palace.

…………

The New Year ended with visiting relatives and friends, and this year's Lantern Festival was much quieter than in previous years.

Although Qi Heng had memories of the Lantern Festival, he had never experienced it firsthand.

I had hoped to experience it firsthand on the night of the Lantern Festival, but I was greatly disappointed.

There's no way around it; the emperor is the barometer of the nation, at least in Bianjing.

If the emperor were to celebrate the Lantern Festival with great fanfare after the death of his son, what would he think?

Once the Lantern Festival is over, the New Year celebrations are considered to be over.

Government offices in Bianjing began to reopen and gradually returned to normal.

Princess Pingning then began to worry about Qi Heng's studies.

After the emperor changed the reign title, most people believed that the emperor was preparing to adopt a son.

For a time, those members of the imperial family who were closely related to the emperor became a hot topic of discussion among the people of Bianjing.

With the clan members secretly fueling the flames, the streets and alleys of Bianjing were abuzz with discussions about which member of the imperial clan was more virtuous and more suitable to inherit the throne.

Under these circumstances, Princess Pingning was even less willing to let Qi Heng study at the Imperial Academy.

There are many great scholars in Bianjing, but these scholars cherish their reputations, and Princess Pingning could not persuade them to tutor Qi Heng individually.

…………

Yangzhou Wharf.

Gu Tingye bowed and said, "I am truly sorry for troubling you during this time!"

"What are you saying, Zhonghuai!"

Sheng Changbai feigned displeasure and said, "You promised to take me to Fanlou for drinks in Bianjing, are you trying to renege on your promise?"

"How could this be!"

Gu Tingye smiled and said, "If Zecheng wants to go, I'll invite you every day until you get tired of it!"

"Forget it, even if I eat delicacies every day, it's no different from eating simple meals. Just let me try something new!" Sheng Changbai said with a smile.

"Young Master Gu!"

Just as Gu Tingye was about to speak, a shout came from the side.

Gu Tingye turned around and saw Xiao Minglan walking towards him accompanied by her maid.