serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 144
Fast forward to February [-]nd.

Before dawn, the gate of Ningguo Mansion opened.

Then, Lin San led a group of personal soldiers to escort Jia Hu's carriage out of the gate and drove towards Yongding Gate.

On February [-]nd, the dragon raises its head, also known as Spring Plowing Festival, Farming Festival, Qinglong Festival, etc., is a traditional folk festival.

On this day, the folks will worship the dragon and celebrate, praying for the dragon to eliminate disasters and bless them, to have good weather and good harvests.

The royal family also attached great importance to this festival. On this day, the emperor not only led his officials to worship Xiannong at the Xiannong Altar on the west side of Yongdingmennei Street, but also plowed the fields himself.

The emperor also had strict etiquette in plowing the fields. Zhou followed the Ming system. The emperor held the plow with his right hand and held the whip with his left hand, and plowed the field four times.

Today is Yingchun's birthday.

It was almost daylight.

The huge gate of Yongdingmen opened slowly.

Then, with a "click" sound, the heavy suspension bridge was lowered.

Under the suspicious gaze of the guard of Yongding Gate, a wrapped military envoy lashed his fast horse with a whip and galloped towards the imperial city.

Its daybreak.

Zhengyang Gate, also known as "Dragon Gate", is not open at ordinary times, and it is exclusively for the emperor to pass through. Officials and people can only go through the east and west gates.

In order to demonstrate the privilege and prestige of the royal family, the emperor had to "pave the road with loess and sprinkle the street with clear water" when traveling, which was actually for cleaning.

The morning wind in early February was still very cold. Jia Hu stomped his feet. It was almost half an hour, and the Zhengyang Gate hadn't opened yet.

Outside the Zhengyang Gate, on both sides of the loess-covered path, there were many officials accompanying the sacrificial ceremony. Except for Mr. Yang Ge who stayed behind at Wenyuan Pavilion, everyone who should have come came.

Suddenly, there was a "click" sound, and the huge gate of Zhengyangmen slowly opened.

Great drumming.

24 yellow dragon flags cleared the way, followed by [-] foot soldiers of the Imperial Army marching neatly and vigorously, and then the majestic guard of honor with yellow umbrella canopy banners and spears came.

A quarter of an hour later, the emperor's frame came.

Under the escort of a group of imperial cavalry, the tall chariot slowly drove out of Zhengyang Gate, without stopping, and drove straight to Xiannong'an.

The chariots were far away, and the officials who were looking for chariots were looking for chariots, and those who called for horses called for horses. It was more than ten miles from Zhengyangmen to Xiannongtan, and it was definitely not possible to walk there.

At this moment, Dai Quan, the chief eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, hurried over and whispered a few words in Song Chengliang's ear.

Song Chengliang's face turned pale.

Dai Quan spoke a few more words with the other members of the cabinet, finally pointed to Jia Hu, and then strode towards the chariot.

Song Chengliang and the others followed Dai Quan closely.

Jia Hu froze for a moment, then chased after him.

All the officials were stunned on the spot.

The tall chariot was parked on Zhengyangmen Street, and two eunuchs from the Criminal Division stood beside a pale-faced messenger.

Several people followed Dai Quan to the chariot.

At this time, the car door opened, and King Zhongshun stepped down from the carriage, and Jia Hu finally saw the emperor.

Emperor Jianwu glanced at everyone, then pointed at Jia Hu.

Jia Hu stepped forward quickly, bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty."

Emperor Jianwu showed endless emotion on his face, then sighed deeply, and said: "The rebels of the Cao Gang attacked Xuzhou Mansion to divert the attention of the court, and did not attack Tongzhou. Their goal was Anhui. The main force is besieging Fengyang."

Jia Hu was startled, and asked anxiously, "Where's Anhui Wei? What are they doing?"

Emperor Jianwu was silent.

"."

All right, Jia Hu understands, this is planning to drive the Lianghuai Cao gang rebels to Anhui, blurted out: "This is breeding tigers!"

King Zhongshun's face sank: "Have you ever talked to the emperor like this?"

Jia Hu ignored him, still looking at the emperor.

After a while of silence, Emperor Jianwu spoke: "Zhongshun will go to the Xiannong Altar to offer sacrifices on my behalf, and you will lead the nobles and officials to accompany the sacrifices."

Jia Hu glanced at King Zhongshun before replying, "Yes."

Emperor Jianwu said to Dai Quan: "Help up some elders!"

"Yes." With a wave of Dai Quan's hand, several eunuchs who were appointed to the punishment department ran up and helped Song Chengliang and others into the chariot.

Under the escort of the imperial cavalry, the chariot drove to Zhengyangmen.

Jia Hu looked at the chariot that disappeared inside the Zhengyang Gate, then turned and walked towards the chariot.

With a "hum", King Zhongshun took the reins from the guards, got on his horse, waved his hand, and led the team towards Xiannongtan.

Rongguofu

Jiamuyuan

Baoyu put on her clothes and didn't wait for Xiren to come in to serve her. She bent down to wash her face, and wiped it casually with a towel.

Xiren came in and saw such a scene, he smiled and said, "It's still early! I'll go later, just right."

Baoyu ignored her, and hurriedly asked for green salt to wipe his teeth, rinsed his mouth, and when he was done, he sat by the mirror and asked Xiren to comb his hair.

Xiren: "Just now I heard from Mrs. Zhou that my uncle and wife are coming, so why don't you go and say hello?"

Baoyu snorted softly in his nostrils, but did not speak.

Xiren could only smile.

At this time, Sheyue came in, and Baoyu got up, took the cloak, and said, "Come with me to the second sister's room." Then, he strode out.

Sheyue looked at Xiren, and then chased Baoyu out.

Xiren stayed for a while, feeling bored, and lay down on his own bed.

Yingchun was the same year as Baochai, only a few days younger than her, and it was also the year of Jiangji. A few days earlier, Jia's mother had said that she would celebrate her birthday.

Baoyu hurried into the Sanchun Courtyard and heard laughter in the room. It turned out that Baochai, Xiangyun, Tanchun, Xichun and Xing Xiuyan were all here.

When everyone saw him coming in, they all laughed and said, "Here comes another one."

Jia Baoyu smiled: "Today is the second sister's birthday, I'm here to pay my respects to the second sister's birthday." As he spoke, he stepped forward to bow to Yingchun.

Yingchun hurriedly welcomes out, and returns Wanfu.

Baoyu said with a smile: "I just met my sister-in-law on the road. I heard that the troupe is ready. Let's go to dinner and wait for the show to start."

Baochai said, "What are you busy with? You're not complete yet."

Only then did Baoyu realize that Lin Daiyu hadn't come: "Where's Sister Lin?"

Before saying a word, Lin Daiyu also came, walked in and said with a smile, "I'm late. Let's pay my second sister's birthday first." After saying that, she went down and Yingchun hurriedly returned the gift.

Lin Daiyu gave Yingchun the two-color needle and thread that had been prepared long ago, and asked Zijuan to put down the box in her hand, opened the lid, and said with a smile: "This is a birthday present prepared by your second elder brother."

Everyone gathered around, a set of dotted emerald head jewelry, and a golden phoenix hairpin inlaid with blue and gold.

Looking at this big phoenix hairpin, Yingchun was slightly taken aback, "This, let's forget about this phoenix hairpin."

Lin Daiyu was amused: "How can you take back the birthday gift you sent out? Besides, your brother has his reasons for giving it to you, so you can take it with peace of mind."

Yingchun hesitated for a moment, then asked Si Qi to put it away.

Xichun squeezed over: "Where's brother?"

Lin Daiyu blinked her eyes, and said imaginatively, "Your brother is barefoot in the mud right now, holding the plow with his right hand, and holding the whip with his left hand, driving the old yellow ox to plow the field."

Everyone was surprised: "Plowing the field?!"

Xiannongtan

This is the place where the emperor worshiped the first farmers, and it is also a symbol of the royal family's emphasis on agriculture.

This place, which has always been solemn and solemn, is like a bustling market, with all the officials gathered around the plowing fields, discussing and talking, and it is very lively.

In the plowing field, King Zhongshun's face was flushed red, holding the wooden plow with his right hand, he waved the whip, but the ox remained motionless.

One person and one cow are so frozen, it has been more than half a stick of incense.

King Zhongshun was so angry that his eyes were red, he threw down the wooden plow, angrily walked up to the cattle, and whipped the cattle's legs with a whip.

All were silent.

A contemptuous smile appeared on the corner of Jia Hu's mouth.

After a long while, the cow still didn't move. King Zhongshun's eyes flashed coldly, and with a "snap", a whip hit the cow's cheek. The cow knelt down in pain, and tears flowed from the corners of his eyes.

All the officials were taken aback. It was an ominous omen for the cattle to kneel down!

King Zhongshun's face turned pale, and he fell to the ground.

All the officials were a little uneasy.

Jia Hu whispered a few words in the ear of Shun Tian Fu Yin Li Mingbo.

Li Mingbo's eyes lit up, he turned around and strode out.

Jia Yucun came over and said in a low voice, "This year's drought!"

Ok?
Jia Hu narrowed his eyes, is he so godlike?
The two clan princes stepped forward to support King Zhongshun, and walked out slowly.

All the officials looked at him silently.

At this time, Li Mingbo came back, followed by two guards carrying clear water and fodder.

Jia Hu took off his boots and socks, lifted his official robe and tucked it into his belt, took the water and fodder and walked towards the cow.

All the officials stood silently looking at Jia Hu.

Walking up to the ox, putting down the water and fodder, Jia Hu reached out and touched the ox's head.

In the astonished eyes of everyone, the cattle lowered their heads and ate the fodder. Jia Hu smiled. In order to make the cattle docile and obedient, the servants of Shuntian Mansion did not feed them. After nearly an hour, the cow was so hungry that of course he would not leave.

Of course, Jia Hu would not let the cattle eat too much. He felt that it was almost enough, so he put the water and fodder aside, picked up the bullwhip that King Zhongshun had dropped on the ground, held the wooden plow, and swung the whip. The ox walked forward pulling the wooden plow, and the soil turned and fell where the plow knife passed.
The official of the Ministry of Rites came back to his senses and shouted loudly: "Let's start plowing!"

(End of this chapter)