I am not a deposed emperor of Han Dynasty

On the first day of February in the first year of Dingxin, the north gate of Weiyang Palace was wide open without any obstruction. Three hundred soldiers and one thousand Mingguang soldiers were ready.

At this time, there was nothing under the double towers. Even the birds did not dare to stop and rest because they were afraid of the bows and arrows in the hands of the soldiers.

Spring and Jingming are another excellent weather, but for some reason, the southeast, northwest and northwest of Weiyang Palace are shrouded in a chilling atmosphere.

At the beginning of the morning, Chang'an City woke up earlier than usual, and the doors of all the alleys opened one by one to the sound of the bell.

In the past, people who had to work were always the first to go out, but today there is something different.

The first people to rush out from the gate of Luxiang were the Confucian scholars.

As if after a silent discussion, all the Confucian scholars rushed towards the Beique Square in silence.

Silk and satin, coarse linen and linen, riding in a carriage and riding a horse, walking on two legs...

No matter whether their status is high or low, their destination is the same.

It didn't take long for Beique Square to be surrounded by Confucian scholars.

Although there were not as many people as the day when firecrackers were set off on the first day of the first lunar month, it could already be described as a sea of ​​people.

In today's Chang'an City, except for the northern city wall and a few fixed markets where goods can be sold, business is not allowed in other places.

But today, many clever people pretended to have made rice cakes overnight and started selling them quietly among the Confucian scholars.

A Xuan Cake costs five cents, which is almost twice as expensive as the Xuan Cake sold in Beicheng Guo. Normally, people would definitely call it a treacherous one, but now people are flocking to it.

After all, Confucian scholars got up early today, and had not had time to eat at all. Their bellies were empty and their feet were empty. They would buy it for not only five pennies, but even ten pennies.

It didn't take long for many Confucian scholars to chat enthusiastically while gnawing the cakes. The spit and cake crumbs were sprayed several feet away, but the listeners didn't care.

It started as a simple conversation, then became more and more intense, and eventually turned into a dispute.

The common people from poor families and the gentry from noble families almost clashed again.

Fortunately, Zhijinwu Anle, who was in charge of the suppression, made a prompt decision and sent out soldiers patrolling the city, using explosion-proof shields and iron-clad wooden sticks to disperse them.

And not only could they disperse them, dozens of Confucian scholars who made too much noise were taken away and taken to the county jail in You Fufeng.

Under this renovation, the entire Beique Square finally became quiet.

After that, the soldiers patrolling the city lined up in two rows, blocking a passage in the North City Square, and along the way divided the noisy Confucian scholars on both sides.

The ones on the left are the common people who were born into poor families, and the ones on the right are the nobles who were born into wealthy families: maybe it won’t be long before someone calls them leftists and rightists.

Although the scene was very lively, these Confucian scholars were not the protagonists today - they were not even supporting roles.
  The debate in Shiqu Pavilion was scheduled for Chen time, and it was around Maozheng time that the protagonists appeared one after another.

Freshly painted cars came speeding down Huayang Street. The stamps and flags on them caused the onlookers to exclaim.

No matter how fast the car is or who's stamp is on the car, it will invariably slow down when it is about to arrive at Beique Square.

It was as if they had all hit a formless wall.

Of course there can't be a wall here, and it's not just the wall they hit...

It is the majesty of the Han emperor that radiates from every palace wall, every tile, and every cornice in the Weiyang Palace.

In just a quarter of an hour, dozens of large and small cars, old and new, were parked in Beique Square.

Confucian scholars, old and young, got off the car. Everyone would look up at the towering North Tower, and then walk towards the north gate of Weiyang Palace anxiously.

No matter how high a person's status is, he has to get off the car and walk in Beique - unless he has permission from the emperor, there are no exceptions.

The last time the person received this treatment was the "rebellious traitor" Huo Guang: after leaving here that day, he embarked on a path of no return.

There were a total of eighteen Confucian scholars participating in the Shiqu Pavilion debate this time—including the emperor, a total of nineteen.

Because many great Confucian scholars had reached old age and were sick, the emperor authorized each Confucian scholar to bring two children or servants into the palace.

Not only for them to take care of the elderly Confucian scholars, but also for some disciples to watch the grand spectacle of the Shiqu Pavilion debate.

Regardless of whether they are masters, children, or servants, everyone must walk into the palace from the North Tower.

Fortunately, Shiqu Pavilion is not far from Beique, so old people like Wang Shi and Wei Xian will not suffer.

At about the right time, finally no more cars came.

At this time, the entire Beique Square became quiet again.

All the eyes of the Confucian scholars turned to the back of the two palaces...looking thoughtfully at the palaces deep in Weiyang Palace.

They all knew that news would come from inside today - news that could determine their fate.

……

When the Confucian scholars calmed down, Liu He had already put on the emperor's crown uniform in the Greenhouse Hall and was standing at the door waiting quietly.

Wearing such a costume was already a very hard task. After only wearing it for a moment, he already felt a little tired.

Next to Liu He was the Queen Huo Chengjun, who was also dressed in a dress.

Since Huo Guang's downfall, Huo Chengjun has been reclusive and rarely appeared in front of the public. Except for the young master, she has never met any important officials in the court.

The same is true today: In order not to arouse the attention and fear of those courtiers, Huo Chengjun still will not go to Shiqu Pavilion.

Although he could not accompany the emperor, Huo Chengjun had dressed Liu He up early and dressed up himself.

She is expressing her support for her husband Liu He in this way.

When it was still a quarter of an hour, a visitor hurried into the courtyard in front of the Greenhouse Hall and whispered something in the ear of Fan Ke, who was standing at the courtyard gate.

Fan Ke didn't dare to waste any time and jogged all the way to the emperor again. He bowed and paid homage immediately.

"Your Majesty, all the Confucian scholars have arrived and are waiting outside Shiqu Pavilion. Do you want to move to the main hall of Shiqu Pavilion?"

The so-called main hall of Shiqu Pavilion is the main hall on the first floor of Shiqu Pavilion. It was originally used to store books, but now it has been vacant. "Chengjun, I'm going to Shiqu Pavilion now." Liu He looked at Huo Chengjun beside him and said softly.

Huo Chengjun did not immediately answer the emperor's words. She took a step forward and gently held the emperor's hand.

It was as gentle as the emperor holding her hand for the first time that day in the general's back house.

"Husband, just go, I will stand here waiting for you, waiting for your triumphant return today."

"Okay." Liu He smiled and nodded, with a bit of pity in his eyes.

"Fan Ke!" Liu He suddenly raised his voice and shouted.

"Wei Chen is here."

"Show off at Shiqu Pavilion!"

"only!"

The emperor's guard of honor has naturally been prepared.

Although the Greenhouse Hall is not far from Shiqu Pavilion, the emperor's guard of honor today is very neat and without any frugality.

Amidst the sound of bells and drums, the guard of honor marched towards Shiqu Pavilion with overwhelming imperial power.

Liu He sat on a chariot carried by eight people. He was much taller than everyone else. He didn't need to forcefully pretend, and he showed his imperial aura.

The larger the ceremony, the slower the speed.

Normally, Liu He would only need to walk for half a quarter of an hour with a Shichang Yilang and a small internal official, but today he walked for a full quarter of an hour.

When Liu He's chariot, surrounded by honor guards, arrived outside the gate of Shiqu Pavilion, he happened to hear the sound of the clock.

But here, there are already people kneeling here.

There are cabinet scholars, Confucian scholars of all ages, officials, and military and military servants...

There are people Liu He knows, and there are people Liu He doesn't know.

It was bustling with hundreds of people.

The deserted place of Shiqu Pavilion was almost completely blocked.

"I wish your Majesty well."

Under this overwhelming sound, everyone bowed down in unison.

Liu He stepped off the chariot with Fan Ke's support.

He took a step forward, and the warm spring breeze blew towards his face with a ray of morning sun.

Such a vibrant atmosphere is what the big man will look like tomorrow.

Liu He took a deep breath and then walked to the front of the crowd.

He said in the emperor's characteristic indifferent and calm tone: "My lords, please come to Shiqu Pavilion with me."

"promise!"

……

Shiqu Pavilion has seven floors, [-] feet high, open at the bottom and narrow at the top. It is very majestic.

Although the area is not small, the space is not spacious because there are many columns and beams inside.

Even the most spacious first floor is only the size of the main hall of an ordinary government office, not as good as the Greenhouse Hall, and only a quarter of the front hall.

In addition, there are stacked bookshelves on the east and west sides, which take up a huge part of the space, making the space even more compact and cramped.

First the emperor entered the pavilion, and then all the Confucian scholars entered the pavilion. Under the leadership of the emperor, everyone worshiped the portrait of Confucius who was the first person in the pavilion.

Although the process of worship is very simple, everyone's respect is not slack.

After all the preliminaries were completed, all the monarchs and ministers finally took their seats one after another.

After Liu He and a group of great scholars were "packed" into the main hall, the place became even more crowded.

Although the positions of everyone are still hierarchical, the distance between them has also become much closer.

Especially Confucian scholars and Confucian scholars are almost right next to each other.

Fortunately, the weather hasn't gotten hot yet, otherwise it wouldn't be a good place to stay for a long time.

In addition to the emperor, Confucian scholars, secretaries and officials, the cabinet bachelors, the second government of the Jiuqing and the ministers also have a place in Shiqu Pavilion.

However, these two-thousand-stone courtiers who were usually aloof were not the protagonists today, so the couches were arranged near the door.

As for the disciples and servants who came with the Confucian scholars, they could only sit on the ground outside the courtyard.

It was an honor for them to participate in this important event of Shiqu Pavilion's scripture debate. Even if they could not join the pavilion, they were all satisfied.

After sitting down, it was natural for the emperor and his ministers to greet each other.

First, all the Confucian scholars came up to salute. After they all retreated, those Confucian scholars who met the emperor for the first time came up one by one to greet the emperor.

Kong Ba, Yan Pengzu, Cai Qianqiu, Shi Yu, Meng Xi...

Their emotions towards the Emperor were very complicated, some were resentment, some were admiration...

But no matter what they were thinking, their expressions at this moment were all respectful and submissive, without any disobedience or dissatisfaction.

Just like Meng Xi, he shouted more than once on weekdays, "The great Han Dynasty died in the imperial examination, and died in the popular version of Confucian classics." It seemed that the anger in his heart was like an endless river.

But today, when he bowed down to say hello, his back was bent more submissively than anyone else's. (End of chapter)