serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 251 New Years
Every year in the early morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, all the ministers would go to the Fengtian Hall to pay homage, and the wives of officials and wives who had orders would also enter the palace to pay their respects.

The lanterns of Ningrong and Rongfu were lit all night, and at five o'clock, Jia Mu got up to wash and dress up, put on the official clothes ordered by the Duke and Madam, and sat in a sedan chair for eight people, leading Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Wang, You Shi, and Wang Xifeng. He and Qin Keqing went to the palace to congratulate and wish Jia Yuanchun a thousand years.

Every year at the beginning of the year, the emperor was in a good mood this year, and he didn't hold all the officials to freeze in the cold Fengtian Hall. He said a few words appropriate to the occasion, and let the officials who were fine go home for the festival.

It was snowing and cold outside, but it was as warm as spring in the upper study.

Emperor Jianwu, wearing the emperor's dress, sits on the dragon chair in front of the imperial case, with Song Chengliang, the chief minister, in front, cabinet ministers Yang Gelao, Wang Hetang, Zhao Zixun, and Qian Shangshu behind, and Jia Hu and Niu Jizong standing on both sides of Song Chengliang , the seven people bowed to the emperor three times very solemnly, and then stood up very solemnly.

Emperor Jianwu stretched out his hand to support him: "Sit down and sit down. These ceremonies will be avoided in the future."

Song Chengliang sat on the chair next to the case, and everyone sat on the chairs on both sides.

Jia Hu didn't wear the five-clawed python robe bestowed by the emperor, but was dressed in a red auspicious suit, and sat on the chair beside Niu Jizong.

Emperor Jianwu cleared his throat and said, "The Marquis of Ningyuan sent an expedited six hundred miles from Liaodong. The Manchus in Liaodong and the Manchus in North Korea started a war in North Korea. Jiangjie City, where Baiqi Qiding was stationed, ambushed the five thousand Zhengbai Banner armored soldiers who came to support them.

In addition, the Manchu Qing Tartars in Liaodong gathered 5 to [-] horses in Shengjing. Li Chengyang guessed that Prince He Shuorong was going to conquer North Korea himself. "

"It's a good thing."

Song Chengliang continued: "The Tartars in Liaodong just took advantage of the negligence of the Emperor Tartars and caught the opponent by surprise. After all, he has been the emperor for more than ten years, so he will definitely have a backup. This battle is not so good. call taxi."

Niu Jizong: "We must prevent the Manchu Tartars from attacking the Yanshan Fortress!"

Emperor Jianwu nodded: "Don't worry, Li Chengyang has transferred five thousand elites from Shanhaiguan." After speaking, he glanced at Dai Quan.

Dai Quan understood: "E Bi handed over the list of secret agents lurking in Gyeonggi, and the Criminal Prosecution Division has searched all the Tartar secret spots in the city last night."

Is this frightening?Song Chengliang, Wang Hetang and others all showed surprise.

Emperor Jianwu said: "I promise that they can move freely in the capital."

Everyone was startled at first, and looked at the emperor together, suspecting that they had heard it wrong.

Emperor Jianwu changed the subject: "I heard that the king of Yizhong County has gone to sea."

King Yizhong went to sea?
Everyone was startled again.

Emperor Jianwu went on to say: "I drew up a secret decree for the old man who is recovering from illness in Jinling, asking him to supervise the construction of warships, recruit young men from the coast, and train sailors to prepare for the imperial court's conquest of Nanyang."

As soon as this remark came out, except for Wang Hetang, Jia Hu and others were blindsided.

Emperor Jianwu smiled: "Don't reveal this matter for the time being, it's not yet time. Well, it's cold, I won't keep you, go tell the officials outside, don't think about anything, live this year well."

Song Chengliang: "Your Majesty, what should the Nanzong Kong family do?"

Emperor Jianwu hesitated for a moment, and said: "The first month does not kill people. I will confer the new generation of Yan Shenggong at the Shuo Ri Dachao Meeting, and use their heads to pay homage to the spirit of the previous Yan Sheng Gong."

Song Chengliang: "Yes."

Emperor Jianwu waved his hand: "You all go back. I'm going to pay my respects to the Queen Mother too."

Song Chengliang and those five people all stood up: "Yes." They bowed deeply to the emperor and slowly backed out.

Watching them go out, Emperor Jianwu turned his eyes to Jia Hu who was still sitting there: "I won't leave any food today."

Jia Hu stood up: "I heard that Qin Tianjian has calculated the auspicious time for all the ladies to visit the palace on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. I wonder if I can take a look."

Emperor Jianwu glanced at Jia Hu with a smile, then turned his gaze to Dai Quan: "Give it to him."

New Year's greetings in Fengzao Palace is another scene.

Jia Yuanchun is the emperor's concubine. Jia's mother, Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Wang, Youshi, Wang Xifeng, and Qin Keqing must bow down and bow to the emperor.

But Jia's mother and Mrs. Wang are Jia Yuanchun's elders and relatives. After they performed the ceremony of a monarch and minister, Yuanchun also paid a half-respect to them and paid New Year's greetings.

The birthday gift prepared by Ningrong and Rongfu for Jia Yuanchun was sent to the palace a few years ago. After joking around, Yuanchun sat down on the upper couch, and added chairs on both sides, covered with a big white fox fur mattress. Please invite Jia Mu and others After sitting down, he asked Baoqin to move a backrest guide pillow embroidered with clouds and dragons in red to lean on Jiamu.

Mother Jia bowed her body and said with a smile to Yuan Chun: "It's the Lantern Festival when we talk, and my mother can finally go home to visit relatives."

Mrs. Wang continued: "For my mother's family visit, the master has spent a lot of time, especially the family-saving villa. Such a big garden was built in just over a year, and it is difficult for the master and the others.

According to Baoyu, the garden is very big and beautiful, like a fairyland.When the time comes, let Baoyu accompany the empress to have a good tour of the garden.By the way, the plaques and couplets in the garden were all mentioned by Baoyu."

"Sure enough, it has benefited."

Yuan Chun smiled and remembered the rules of the palace again. The light in his eyes dimmed immediately, "The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival. Everyone will celebrate the festival, and the palace will also hold a palace banquet. I can't do it until very late." out of the palace"

Yuan Chun's words were like a basin of cold water, extinguishing Mrs. Wang's excitement, and Jia Mu and others were also silent.

Yuan Chun was silent for a while, then smiled again, and asked Madam Wang: "If I remember correctly, Baoyu's birthday will be fifteen, when do you plan to take the scientific examination?"

Mrs. Wang's face turned red, and Mother Jia didn't know how to answer.

The silence turned into embarrassment for a moment.

At this moment, a loud cry of a child came from the bedroom, Yuan Chun said to Bao Qin: "Go and see what's wrong."

"Yes." Baoqin hurried in.

Li Zhong, the eunuch in charge of Fengzao Palace, came in from the outer hall and said, "Your Majesty, Uncle Guo is here."

Yuan Chun smiled: "Let him in quickly."

Li Zhong: "Yes." After answering, he bowed and retreated.

After a while, Jia Hu, who was dressed in a bright red auspicious suit, strode in, walked up to Yuan Chun, and hugged her hands together: "Niang Niang."

Yuan Chun stood up and asked with a smile, "Why are you here so soon?"

Jia Hu smiled: "The emperor said, there will be no food left today." After speaking, he turned around and saluted Jia Mu and others.

Yuan Chun smiled, and said to the female officer at the side: "Go tell the imperial dining room that Ning Guogong wants to eat here, and let them prepare the food and wine."

The female official: "Yes!" She answered and walked towards the outer hall.

In the bedroom, the Ninth Prince's cries became louder.

Jia Hu shouted loudly to the inside: "What's going on?"

Baoqin came out of the bedroom in a hurry, bowed his head and replied: "I don't know, even a few old nuns can't coax her well."

Jia Hu: "Hold it out."

Baoqin glanced at Yuanchun first, saw her nodding, and then replied: "Yes." He went in again.

After a while, an old nanny came out holding the Ninth Prince who was still crying.

The old mother approached Jia Hu with the Ninth Prince in her arms. It was strange to say that the Ninth Prince stopped crying when he saw Jia Hu, and stared at Jia Hu with his two small eyes wide open.

Jia Hu smiled, stretched out his hand to take the Ninth Prince, held it with both hands, and let his face look at his own, suddenly, the Ninth Prince smiled.

The old mother and the female officers all breathed a long sigh of relief, and said with a smile: "It is said that nephew and uncle are close, this is not false at all."

Yuan Chun nodded with a smile.

There was a hint of relief on Jia Mu's face.

Mrs. Xing smiled, and couldn't help but glance at Mrs. Wang.

Mrs. Wang had already turned her head away, unable to see her expression clearly, but the handkerchief she was holding was shaking all the time.

Jia Hu hugged the Ninth Prince and walked around twice, then handed it to the old woman, and then took out a big red note from her sleeve and handed it to Yuan Chun.

Yuan Chun took the paper and looked at it, then he was a little surprised: "The emperor agrees?"

Jia Hu nodded: "The Qin Tianjian said that there is no auspicious time in the morning, and you have to avoid the noon time, so you have to leave the palace before the hour."

Hearing this, Yuan Chun had tears in his eyes, and looked at Jia Hu: "It's hard for you again!"

Jia Hu smiled: "If I don't say this, His Majesty should be worried."

Yuan Chun burst into laughter: "You're talking nonsense again!"

Mother Jia came over and said with an apologetic smile, "I made your empress laugh."

Yuan Chun waved his hands: "Grandmother doesn't know, and even more outrageous things he said in front of His Majesty."

As soon as the words were finished, the female official came in and said: "Your Majesty, the banquet is ready."

Jia Yuanchun: "If you have anything to say, talk slowly while eating." As he spoke, he supported Jia Mu with one hand and Jia Hu with the other, and walked towards the side hall.

(End of this chapter)