A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 1055 It’s rude to lower your arms
The Queen's visit is a grand occasion, and the country is in mourning.

A hundred officials should stay in plain clothes for twenty-seven days and wear plain clothes for a hundred days.

Queen Daxing's last words were that the people would be freed from the disease in three days, and marriages would not be allowed, and everything should be kept simple, so as not to alarm the people.

The emperor decreed that in all houses with nobles, music and banquets should be suspended for a hundred days, weddings should be suspended for one month, and slaughtering should be banned for three days.
Since the day of mourning in the capital, thirty thousand bells and pestles have been sounded in temples and temples.

When the imperial edict came to each state, the officers and commanders would go out of the suburbs to greet them in plain clothes, go to the public house to salute, listen to the announcement of condolences, and serve together for twenty-seven days, and the ordered wives would do the same.

Soldiers and civilians, men and women, were eliminated in three days.

Originally, according to the system, entertainment and weddings were banned in state funerals, and officials were suspended for a hundred days and the common people were suspended for one month. However, the queen's special instructions were to not alarm the common people and be released in three days.

Even though slaughtering was supposed to be banned for forty-nine days, the Queen specifically stated that it would only be banned for three days.

The city is full of plains,

Although Wu Huaiyu was a feudal official, he still had the title of Sikong and Crown Prince Tutor on his head. When he encountered this in the capital, he was too busy to keep his feet on the ground.

After the queen's death, the funeral ceremony was divided into three stages: mourning, burial and sacrifice. As soon as the queen passed away, the palace began to get busy, selecting the mausoleum, setting up the mourning hall, arranging the remains, and preparing the tomb.

From death to burial, it took about half a year.

In the first three days after Beng's death, all officials, including civil and military officials, and wives with imperial titles would come to the palace gate to cry in the morning and evening.

Outside the palace gate,
It was raining and snowing, and the wind was biting and freezing.

Wu Huaiyu covered his sleeves,

"Heaven and earth are grieving together, and the whole country is grieving together."

Xu Jingzong, the Minister of Rites, looked at the crowd of officials in front of the palace gate and was a little stunned.

"I just moved to the Ministry of Rites to be the Minister of Rites, and I encountered the national mourning of Queen Daxing. I must be steady and not make any mistakes." Wu Huaiyu said.

Xu Jingzong's eyes fell on several figures entering the palace. One of them was Wang Gui, the former Minister of Rites, who was now promoted to the Political Affairs Hall with the third rank of Tongzhongshu and was no longer the Minister of Rites. The other one is Hou Junji, the newly appointed Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, who was promoted to the Political Hall as Prime Minister by participating in political affairs.

Looking at these two people, Xu Jingzong felt very complicated.

Last year, when he was inspected by Huangmen Shilang, the official minister, he was very excited and full of energy. He felt that he was finally going to become the prime minister.

But who would have known that after inspecting the Ministry of Civil Affairs for half a year, Hou Junji came back to serve as the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and was promoted to the Political Affairs Hall, but he was moved to the Ministry of Rites as the Minister of Rites. However, he was not able to join the Political Affairs Hall like Wang Gui.

From being the Minister of Huangmen to being the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and now being the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, he has made continuous progress. However, he was not satisfied with the current results despite the opportunity that he almost entered the political hall.

Instead, I felt very lost.

Wu Huaiyu also saw the two prime ministers Wang Gui and Hou Junji who were entering the palace.
Hou Junji is very low-key now. Anyway, I often meet him. This guy no longer has the provocative energy. Instead, he avoids everywhere, and occasionally smiles and nods to Wu Huaiyu.

He also heard that in the previous matter of Shan Yu's protection of the governor's house, Hou Junji, as prime minister, had no different opinions on the appointment of Wu Huaiyi and others.

Of course, he also heard the secret news, which was revealed to him by his sister-in-law Gao Huitong. Hou Junji was secretly interacting with Changsun Wuji, which was very secretive.

After experiencing some failures, this guy has become smarter now. Although he has always gained the emperor's trust, he still found a backer. This time he found his uncle Changsun Wuji. Through his uncle, he actively moved closer to the prince again. .

Although he once fell in love with King Wei, Hou Junji now abandoned King Wei mercilessly.

In fact, the original Party of the King of Wei has long ceased to exist, or in other words, it has not really taken shape, it is just a little bit budding. However, as the emperor's attitude changed and the crown prince's position became stable, those people abandoned the King of Wei one after another. go.

"Erlang, can you really tolerate Hou Sanshui? Although this guy is not as arrogant now, he is more of a threat. Only dogs that don't bark bite." Xu Jingzong said bluntly.

Although he is senior, he was an eighteenth-year bachelor of the Qin Dynasty, and he was from the famous Gaoyang Xu family. His father served as Minister of Rites in the Sui Dynasty. However, Xu Jingzong relied on his talent and arrogance when he was young and offended many people. Even the emperor did not like him very much.

Although he has made a comeback, he has already been deeply marked by the Wu family.
No one in the world knows that he is from Wu Huaiyu.

Wu Huaiyu and Hou Junji were originally brothers from the same school and students of Li Jing, but in fact they were enemies.

Xu Jingzong was not willing to let Hou Junji steal his position, but he was also worried that he would be attacked by Hou Junji in the future in the court.

He wanted to strike first.

"It is His Majesty's will that Hou Junji return to the DPRK this time to return to the throne." Wu Huaiyu reminded him.

Xu Jingzong said, "Hou Junji paid homage to the Prime Minister last time. Wasn't it His Majesty's will?"

The subtext is that since Hou Junji was able to somersault before, he can also fall again. As long as an opportunity is found and enough charges are found, the emperor cannot be saved.

"Do you really want to mess with him?" Wu Huaiyu asked.

"Those who strike first will gain the upper hand, and those who strike later will suffer disaster. This guy must be thinking about murdering us all the time." Xu Jingzong said frankly.

"If you really have the fighting spirit, I can give you an idea."

"Oh?"

"The Queen was leaving, and the Zi Palace stopped in the front hall of the Zhengzheng Hall. Hou Junji went to see the saint yesterday, and when he passed by, he actually lowered his arms and passed by."

Xu Jingzong's eyes lit up when he heard this.

"Has anyone else seen this?"

"Of course, there were many people in front of the palace yesterday, and they all saw it."

It is very rude to pass by Daxingzi Palace.

Just like in history, during the funeral of Empress Changsun, Xu Jingzong saw the eighty-year-old Ouyang Xun, who was as old and thin as a macaque in clothes. The guy couldn't help laughing for a moment, and then was Impeachment by the censor,

Xu Jingzong was angrily demoted to Hongzhou Sima by Li Shimin.

Xu Jingzong became excited,
"Pay attention to your expression, Mr. Xu." Wu Huaiyu warned, don't get carried away and laugh out loud. If others see it, you will be impeached first, and you will be extremely happy and sad.

When Xu Jingzong came back to his senses, he was also a little scared. He had really lost his mind just now.

So he quickly changed his expression to a serious one,

"I'll start making arrangements right away,"

"You should think carefully before you act. Even if you impeach him for being rude, the emperor may not really punish him. It is more likely that His Majesty will suppress the matter or reprimand him lightly. Sentence. If you fail to impeach him, you will have to bear the wrath of a prime minister. Can he bear his revenge? "

Xu Jingzong licked his lips, with excitement in his eyes.

"I can find a censor to write a letter to impeach him for being disrespectful by lowering his arms. There is no need for me to write a letter myself."

Huaiyu smiled and said, "Hou Junji is not a brave and foolhardy soldier. This matter cannot be hidden from him after all."

"Since we are enemies, we will have to compete sooner or later, so why hesitate," Xu Jingzong said boldly.

Wu Huaiyu didn't stop him.

When the two armies are fighting, they don't directly fight directly. They always have to conduct various reconnaissance and testing to find the opponent's weaknesses.

It's not a bad thing that Xu Jingzong is willing to charge forward.

He was right. There was no possibility of resolving the conflict between him and Hou Junji.
Although he is unwilling to act against the emperor's wishes now, it may not be a bad thing if he touches it. As long as he is within the rules, and even within the emperor's bottom line, his fight with Hou Junji will be what the emperor is happy to see.

Xu Jingzong raised his fighting spirit,
He looked at Wu Huaiyu. With this person in Chang'an, he felt confident that Hou Junji could not defeat Wu Huaiyu.

Saying goodbye to Xu Jingzong in front of the palace gate, Wu Huaiyu took a carriage home.

The thirty thousand pestle bells of Chang'an Temple rang for three days and three nights.

When the bells stopped ringing, the soldiers and civilians in Chang'an were relieved and life continued as usual.

Fangshi market in Chang'an has also reopened for business, and slaughtering is not allowed.

However, brothels and restaurants such as Pingkangfang are not yet open for business and will be closed for at least twenty-seven days.

For many people, they will still try to avoid weddings during this period, and no one will hold banquets and entertainment at this time. This is the respect that should be paid to Queen Daxing.

The Wu family also strictly abides by the rules during national mourning.

For one month, banquets, entertainment, and marriages were prohibited. Even Wu Huaiyu would live alone in his study for a month, not living with his wives and concubines.

The laughter and laughter of the past are gone at home.

It will last until the end of the first month.

Because of the national mourning, in the first month of this year, although Wu Huaiyu was in Chang'an, the Jin Duke's mansion also found rare peace.

Relatives and friends also try to move as little as possible during this first month and stay at home as much as possible. Even the officials who came to Beijing and the scholars who were rushing to take the exam were honest and did not run around.

It’s rare to have such a quiet first month of the New Year.

Give up drinking and sex, thank guests behind closed doors, eat vegetarian food and drink tea.

In the first month of the year, when he was originally busy with social activities, he could calm down and spend time with his wife, concubines, and children. Wu Huaiyu could even write more Tongjian every night.

The book has not yet been completed. Each volume is presented to the emperor and the prince for reading first, and then the manuscripts and engravings are printed by the Wu family's printing and bookshop. Because this book is highly praised by even the emperor and prime ministers, it is very popular among scholars. Welcome, they are selling very well, and they smell like expensive paper in Luoyang.

Therefore, there are both advanced editions printed with movable type and hardcover collector's editions printed with woodblock printing on the market.

Although the cost of engraving is higher, it is more exquisite and high-end. When the printing volume is large, engraving is actually very cost-effective.

Sure enough, Xu Jingzong found someone to impeach Hou Junji.

But after the censor's bullets were sent, there was no result.

The emperor suppressed the matter.
Xu Jingzong was a little unwilling and asked someone to continue the impeachment, but the emperor still remained silent.

It is obvious that the emperor intends to protect Hou Junji.

Although it is indeed rude for Hou Junji to walk with his arms down in front of Queen Zi's palace, Hou Junji was specially promoted by the emperor to serve as prime minister, and he had encountered many objections before.

Now Hou Junji has just become the prime minister, but he was impeached. If the punishment is public, then Hou Junji may not be able to be the prime minister. Many people will take the opportunity to attack.
The emperor must protect him at this time, and cold treatment is the best way.

The main thing is that this is actually not a big mistake.

Xu District Zong also wanted to end it personally.
Wu Huaiyu stopped him in time. The emperor's attitude was very obvious. If you continue to insist, it is no longer an attack on Hou Junji, but a violation of the emperor's will.

If you can't even understand this, then how can you be the Minister of Rites?

Wu Huaiyu didn't want to destroy the general first, but Xu Jingzong was still worthy of his protection.

After some reminders, Xu Jingzong finally calmed down and the matter was stopped.

In this first round of testing, their attack was ineffective, but of course it was not really ineffective. The emperor also knew about Hou Junji's disrespect, and the emperor's points must have been reduced.

The prince has been keeping vigil for Queen Daxing these days and has lost a lot of weight. The eyes of the three brothers are all swollen from crying.

"Your Highness should also pay attention to your health. Queen Daxing's spirit in heaven does not want to see you like this." Wu Huaiyu felt Cheng Qian's pulse, and then prescribed some warm and nourishing medicinal food for the prince to take on time.

Cheng Qian's eyes were red and swollen, and his gaze was dull. After many days, he still couldn't accept the fact that such a young queen mother left suddenly like this.

"I can understand the grief of having a son who wants to be taken care of but not being treated by his family, but I still hope that His Highness can take good care of himself, so that Queen Daxing can rest in peace in heaven."

"Thank you, teacher," Cheng Qian responded in a low voice, "When will the teacher return to Lingnan?"

"Early February,"

It's not that Wu Huaiyu is in a hurry to leave Beijing.
Returning to Lingnan in February was the original plan, and when the emperor was giving him acupuncture yesterday, the emperor also chatted with him for a while, and the emperor asked him to return to Lingnan as scheduled. There was still a lot of trouble there.

Cheng Qian very much hopes that Wu Huaiyu can stay in Chang'an at this time. He has just lost his mother, which makes him particularly need to rely on. If the teacher stays in Beijing, he will be much more at ease.

"The King of Wei will stay in Chang'an for another three years." Cheng Qian said, his voice rough.

"Your Highness, there is no need to worry about this."

Cheng Qian thought to himself, it would be great if Wu Huaiyu was left behind and King Wei left the capital.

(End of this chapter)