The First Young Master of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 26

Next, the servants of the Hou Mansion brought up the dishes prepared in the kitchen one after another, and set up a large table in a dazzling array. Because of the large number of people, all the utensils for holding the dishes became copper pots and porcelain. There is a set of tableware in front of each seat, including porcelain plates, porcelain bowls, spoons, chopsticks, etc.

After all the dishes were served, Xuan Shijing ordered: "Let's find a seat and sit down. This year is the first time that the big family in the Hou's Mansion gathers to eat together. It's a big Chinese New Year celebration. It's lively and lively. Don't be restrained."

The servants who finished their work all found their seats and sat down, looking at the food on the table. It was something that they never dared to think about in their entire lives, and it was vividly presented to them today.

"Come on, fill it all up." Xuan Shijing first picked up a cup of tea: "This Marquis is young, and I will drink tea with you instead of wine. This cup, everyone in the Jinghou Mansion will serve you diligently this year. Do things in the government and take care of our common home." After finishing speaking, Xuan Shijing drank it down in one gulp.

"Master Hou is polite, it is my duty to do things for the Hou Mansion." Zhong Zishuo said to Xuan Shijing while holding the wine glass, then he raised his head and drank the wine in the glass.

The servants and servant girls sitting at the bottom also imitated Zhong Zishuo and drank the wine in their cups in one gulp.

"For the second cup, today is New Year's Eve, saying goodbye to the old and ushering in the new. This Marquis is here to wish everyone safe and healthy in the new year, and everything goes smoothly!"

"We also respect Lord Hou, and wish Lord Hou a safe and healthy growth." Everyone raised their glasses to drink with Xuan Shijing.

"This is the third cup." Xuan Shijing smiled: "Let our mistress, my mother, say what."

Mrs. Wang smiled, looked at her son, then at the person sitting at the bottom, and said: "Everyone here, some of them followed our mother and son from Shanxi all the way to Chang'an, and some of them were rewarded by His Majesty later. They were sent to the mansion, but after living this year, we get along with each other every day, and we have become a family. Although our Xuanweihou Mansion is not considered a hot honor in Chang'an City, but the people in our mansion Everyone is working diligently for the Marquis Mansion, I would like to thank you all in advance."

"Ma'am is too polite."

"Don't dare, don't dare"

"It's all part of the job..."

"Just like what Jing'er said, everyone is a family, so I don't say much. Today's New Year's Eve, everyone eats well, has fun, and has a good time." Wang said.

"Okay!" Everyone responded one after another.

"Let's eat!" Under Xuan Shijing's loud shout, everyone started to move their bowls and chopsticks, and for a while, they were drinking and drinking, and it was very lively.

Xuan Shijing had been busy in the kitchen for so long, and he ate some of this and that, and he was no longer hungry, so he simply went to the oven to grill meat skewers.

"Young Lord, just leave these matters to us servants." Gao Jun walked over and said, "You should go back to the table and have something to eat."

"I'm not hungry. I ate a lot when I was busy with Long'er and the others in the kitchen. Besides, the fun of this kind of banquet lies not in the eating, but in the process of cooking. You look so There are so many people, eating, drinking and drinking, and they are all so happy, what a satisfaction it is." Xuan Shijing said with a smile.

"Master Hou, sometimes you really don't look like a child." Gao Jun said with a smile.

"I'm not a child at all." Xuan Shijing sighed, and then found that saying this seemed strange to Gao Jun, and then added: "I'm already four years old."

Gao Jun laughed, his Master Hou is still a child.

The warm temperature in the meeting room, coupled with the smell of alcohol in the air, made Xuan Shijing drowsy again. When he saw the child, when the old and the new were changing, the yard had already piled up the explosive sticks he bought. When the time comes, it can be ignited, which means that the new year has begun
Hearing the crackling sound in the yard, Xuan Shijing became much more awake. The people in the room were still talking, laughing, making noise, and returned to Mrs. Wang. Next, Mrs. Wang should give out red envelopes to everyone in the house it's time.

The explosive pole in the yard was ringing, and the atmosphere in the room became lively again because of the distribution of red envelopes. Mrs. Wang was sitting at the head, and Xiaoji was standing beside Mrs. Wang holding a tray containing red envelopes. Line up in front of Mrs. Wang one by one to receive the red envelopes. Everyone will say a few auspicious words, then bow to thank Mrs. Wang, and then accept their own red envelopes.

Xuan Shijing stretched her waist, there is nothing wrong with being a little local tyrant in the Tang Dynasty, there is a mother who loves her, a clever maid, a group of loyal servants, a natural prince, won the emperor Beloved, in the future when it grows bigger, I will fold the fan towel, hold the bird cage in one hand, and shake the folding fan in the other. With two attendants behind me, and a vicious dog on a leash, I will walk on the street to see who the big girl and little wife look like. Handsome, go up to say hello or something, it's not a bad day like this.

"The night is long, and today is the night of the New Year's Eve. Let's have some fun." Xuan Shijing said, thinking of later generations, staying up all night can lift people's spirits, hehe...
"Gao Jun, come here!" Xuan Shijing called out.

"Here you are, Young Master, what's the matter?" Gao Jun ran to Xuan Shijing's side.

"Look for some dice, big ones for Chinese New Year, small ones for fun, I'll be in the house for Master Hou, if you like it, come and play." Xuan Shijing ordered.

"Yes." Gao Jun replied, turned and left.

Xuan Shijing smacked her lips, it seems that there will be a gala or something during the Chinese New Year.

"Jing'er, what are you going to do again?" Seeing Jing'er and Gao Jun whispering, Wang couldn't help asking.

"Mother, I think everyone is full of food and drink, and they are going to have some fun for everyone. Let Gao Jun find some dice. Let's play a few rounds at the beginning. It's a little gambling." Xuan Shijing said: "Don't worry, mother." , we don’t gamble in our house, and whoever wants to play can use drinking instead, and it’s hard to relax once throughout the year, so just play to your heart’s content.”

"Well, well, if Jing'er is sleepy, go to sleep for a while. There will be a grand meeting tomorrow. Although you have no official position, you still have a title. His Majesty will give a banquet in the Taiji Palace tomorrow. Although you have to watch the old age today , but also take good care of your spirit.”

"It doesn't matter mother, the child is not sleepy now. In the past, mother kept watch alone. This time I gathered everyone together to prevent mother from feeling lonely." Xuan Shijing leaned on Wang's body and said: "In previous years, there was only Niangqin alone, so it was indeed cooler."

"Jing'er has such filial piety, mother is very happy, Jing'er is really sensible." Wang said with emotion: "Jing'er, mother's greatest wish in this life is that you can grow up in peace and health. As long as you grow up, come of age, marry a wife and have children, as long as you are happy, your mother will have nothing else to ask for."

"Yes, mother, don't be so emotional when it's Chinese New Year. As long as you are happy, your son will be happy." Seeing the emotion in Wang's voice when she said these words, Xuan Shijing quickly stopped the topic.

Gao Jun quickly found the dice, let everyone have fun, and also found a few copper pots, those who don't like to play dice can play pot throwing and guessing.

Usually, there is no chance for everyone in the Hou Mansion to gather together to play these games. As soon as Gao Jun put the props on the table, everyone became interested, and they began to play in groups of two or three, or four or five. , although it was late at night, everyone's emotions were still high.

(End of this chapter)