Flowers are happy and laughing, and birds are happy and singing.

It's August, and the osmanthus trees planted all over Kyoto are in full bloom, and the fragrance is wafting for ten miles. There are more gorgeous peonies, competing for strength and beauty, the national color is fragrant, and the flowers bloom everywhere, each occupies a thousand autumns, and it is fascinating and beautiful.

In the imperial city of the Northern Wei Dynasty, pedestrians, merchants, and travelers, people come and go, the river flows endlessly, the business road is full of flowers, and the country is thriving, showing a thriving scene everywhere.

Now, the August of the Imperial City of the Northern Wei Dynasty ushered in a great joy for the whole country to celebrate, the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty are busy for this, and the people are also happy, because it will soon be the birthday of the Thousand Autumns, and the 60th birthday of the Empress Dowager of the Dynasty is naturally a happy event worthy of celebration by the whole country.

Although the Empress Dowager has issued a decree saying that only family banquets can be held, and extravagance and waste are not allowed, but the emperor's filial piety is commendable, and he still wants the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to pay more attention to this matter.

The governor of the state and town is the governor of each state, who receives the military and political power of the state, and is equivalent to the military and political governor of a state. The Northern Wei Dynasty is divided into thirteen states, the state is divided into towns, each state has a state and town governor, in order to maintain the local officials and tranquility, each state has a different number of troops to guard, the small is one or two hundred, generally more than 1,000 people, more than 5,000 soldiers, but none of them can exceed the limit of the imperial court, and must not cross the imperial city guard!

Among the thirteen state towns, only three states are strong, with 5,000 soldiers guarding them, and these three weeks are Xiangzhou, Bingzhou and Chongzhou. The general manager of these three weeks is also a brave general who can fight well, and he can sit in this position not by relying on his military exploits obtained from being born to the death on the battlefield, but by the merits accumulated by the family over the years, and his identity and status are indescribably valuable.

Such a family of military merits, and holding military power, occupying the governor of a state and town, has never put those high-ranking officials in the court in their eyes, even if it is a small emperor, in addition to the emperor's honorable position, according to their seniority, they have to be commensurate with their grandfathers and uncles.

Such a group of generals who grew up in the barracks, they only respect two things, one is a true hero on the battlefield, and the second is the sword in their hands. But there is such a group of highly decorated generals, none of them admire it, but they admire the Empress Dowager!

As soon as they heard about the Empress Dowager's birthday, they all went to Beijing to congratulate the Empress Dowager on her birthday. This made the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty feel empty for a while, and there was no proper way to discuss the deliberations between the DPRK and China.

If they are not allowed to come, no one will be able to survive if this group of soldiers and barbarians makes trouble; if they are allowed to come, how many people will be entourage, and if each person brings one or two hundred people, who will be responsible for the safety of this Beijing division?

In the end, after asking the Empress Dowager, Prime Minister Gao asked the court to send a circular to the governors of various states in the name of the Empress Dowager's old man, and it was okay to come to the capital to celebrate her birthday, only ten servants were needed, and more than one was not waited.

The Empress Dowager personally spoke, which also made Prime Minister Gao breathe a sigh of relief, adding up to more than a hundred people, and there would not be too much threat to the capital, so she readily agreed, just for the sake of safety, or build a few more places for the Empress Dowager to tolerate a few more people, so as to ensure that the governors of various states go all the way to Beijing, add a few more accompanying guards, and also have a guarantee.

When the Empress Dowager heard this, she couldn't help laughing and said:

This group of soldiers and ruffians, it is good if they don't provoke others, how can anyone dare to assassinate them! Even if there is really a bold thief, they have a sword in their hands, and they are still afraid of them!

Ten people are ten people, and they will never increase or decrease, so they will reply to them like this, and they will have no objections!

In this way, this matter was decided in the words of the Queen Mother.

Therefore, it was only the beginning of August, and the capital was bustling with activity, and there were all kinds of advance envoys who quickly entered Beijing to send urgent documents and inform the governors of various states where they went.

No, I had just left the imperial city, and I saw a messenger who was fast on a horse to deliver an official document, rode by, and met the person who answered me, so I jumped off the horse and almost fell to the ground because of my unstable footing.

Maybe it's because I've been running back and forth several times, so I hurriedly handed over the official document to the person who answered it, and I sat cross-legged on the ground with some prostration, panting for breath.

After the person who answered took the paperwork, he didn't care about anything else, so he hurriedly entered the palace gate and presented all the official documents in his hand.

I saw that the messenger seemed to be suffering from dehydration, so I asked Ah Zheng to fetch the water bag and handed it to the messenger.

The messenger was a little flattered when he took the water bag, and when he saw that it was given by an adult in official clothes, he hurriedly got up and wanted to thank him, but I stopped him, and said:

"You're welcome, drink water to quench your thirst!"

The envoy nodded, swallowed a few mouthfuls of water, and hurriedly clenched his fists and thanked:

"Thank you, sir!"

I saw that the envoy's etiquette was also thorough, and I couldn't help but go up and talk with him, and said:

"It's a trivial matter, and there is no need to be polite. Little brother, how old are you a few years old, and where is your home?"

The messenger hurriedly replied, saying:

"Adult, the villain is now twenty and eight years old, his home is in Bingzhou, and he has been on an errand in the capital for almost six years, and his parents are in the hall, and he has a wife and children!"

I couldn't help but nod my head and said:

"In this way, you are still the pillar of the family!"

When the messenger heard this, his face was as ashamed as he spoke:

"I'm ashamed, although I have been on an errand in the capital for almost six years, I am still a post messenger, I haven't been home for many years, and I miss my home very much!"

I asked curiously:

"Then you can live in the capital?"

"There is a small house, not big, but it also has a place to live. ”

With this said, I also knew the general situation at a glance, and asked:

"How does your home compare to here?"

"It's even more so here. ”

"Then why don't you bring your parents, wife and children here to make offerings? The future can be slow, there will not be a lot of opportunities to honor your parents and get together with your wife and children, what will be more important than a family reunion?"

The envoy thought about it again and again, and felt that this was reasonable, if he could be reunited with his family, even if he worked hard for a few years, what would it matter?

What the adults said was very true, and after this busy period, the villain went back to his hometown to bring his parents, wife and children here to provide for him. ”

I nodded appreciatively.

Not long after, the person who answered the messenger came out of the palace gate, and urged the messenger to get on his horse quickly and take on the next task.

The messenger clasped his fists and saluted to return the water bag, but I refused to accept it, and said:

"You can use the water bag, it's not a very valuable thing, so I'll give it to you as an official!"

When the messenger saw that I was gracious, and that the messenger had made it more urgent, he saluted again, and said:

"That villain is better to be respectful than to obey his fate, thank you, my lord!"

After speaking, they watched the messenger get on their horses and exchanged precious words, and the messenger rode away with a whip, and his figure became smaller and smaller, and finally disappeared.

Walking on the way home, Ah Zheng couldn't help but get out of his doubts and asked:

"Childe, since you have the heart to help the messenger, why don't you give him something more valuable than a water bag?"

I couldn't help but smile and say:

"Did I ever say I would help the messenger?"

Although the messenger is a small person, the little person also has the ambition and life of a small person!

"Is that Ah Zheng going wrong for Childe?"

Ah Zheng has never seen me talk to such a little person, so he asked.

"Ah Zheng, these hundred taels of silver are not worth mentioning to me, but to the messenger, they are a blessing from heaven. But if I really give him a hundred taels, it will only be his bad luck and not a blessing!"

With a hundred taels, the messenger can bring his parents, wives and children to the capital to enjoy the blessings earlier, no matter how you think about it, it will be more blessings than bad luck.

"Ah Zheng ...... unknown"

I couldn't help but sigh and say:

"Although the life of the little person is hard, if the ambition is not lost, the diligence and progress, although the life is not rich, but also happy and self-controlled, peace of mind. If you give him two taels for no reason, you will cut off his ambition and destroy his desire to strive for progress, because money can be easily obtained, and it is very likely that he will go astray in the future. ”

"In the officialdom, those officials who were originally honest and self-disciplined, but later corrupted and discredited, are in this way. As the old saying goes: it is easy to go from thrift to luxury, and it is difficult to go from luxury to thrift. I have always taught you not to lose your mind to the wine and wealth, the intention is this, you look at that high blessing, isn't it a lesson from the past, if you see the power and wealth more important than your own life, sooner or later, the end will be like this, good life remember!"

Ah Zheng nodded and said solemnly:

"Ah Zheng must remember the Childe Church and dare not forget it!"

I preached so strictly, and I scared Ah Zheng, this kid, not so much that these words are for Ah Zheng to remember, it is better to say these words for myself.

The higher the official position, the greater the power, at that time, can I still keep that indifferent heart?

"Hehe, of course, if you want to harm someone, this plan is also extremely useful, if you want to give favors to others, then you have to see the right time. ”

Saying this, he gave Ah Zheng, this kid, a thick black school.

The insight of the world is all knowledge, and the practice of human feelings is the article!

If this favor is given early, people may not be able to remember it; if it is given late, it is dispensable; only when people are desperate and forced to give favors, can they make the other party happy and surrender, and be grateful to Dade. The official family's art of mastering people has never deviated from this way, do you have to learn it hard, understand?"

Ah Zheng swallowed nervously and spit, such a thick black boy is not common, and hurriedly responded:

"Ah Zheng has been taught......"

Looking at Ah Zheng's somewhat frightened appearance, I couldn't help but wonder if I was too bad, blatantly bringing this honest stupid boy.

Alas, if I am not in his position, I am not in his government, if I am not like this, how can I survive in the treacherous and deceitful court, if Ah Zheng is not smarter, how can I deal with those uncles and brothers of the Gao family who have other plans?

"Okay, let's go back to the house quickly, lest the princess stay at home for a long time!"

As soon as I talked about going home, I came to the spirit, the biggest joy in the court recently is the 60th birthday of the Empress Dowager, the princess respects and loves the Empress Dowager so much, naturally she often enters the palace to help the Internal Affairs Office take care of the birthday banquet.

Although she was busy, the princess would try to return home as early as possible every day, so that she could arrange dinner for me, and secondly, the princess seemed to be waiting for someone.

Although I saw the clues, and my heart was a little uneasy, I didn't ask anything, and the princess was still as gentle and virtuous as before, and I thought that if she had any difficulties, she should consult with me, so I decided to wait patiently for her to propose it herself.

But for several days, the princess did not say anything to me, and I thought that the worries in her heart should not be a big problem, and she felt that she could solve them, so that I did not need to do anything. After thinking about it, I still think that I am torturing myself, and if I am really worried, it would be good to ask the princess directly!

But every time I saw the princess's beautiful and quiet smile, I threw everything I wanted to ask out of the clouds, but in fact, I couldn't ask at all.

Therefore, I can only use the most clumsy way - to go home early and come to accompany her.

Passing by the East Market, I found that there are many vendors and shops on the street, either selling some interesting jewelry sachets, or fragrant powder jade, I looked at the joy in my heart, thinking that if I can see what I like, I can buy it and give it to Her Royal Highness the princess, and make her happy, which is also excellent!

I looked at those small stalls, not far away, I saw a mother-in-law sitting on a flat pole, selling concentric knots woven by herself, she only had two bamboo baskets and a flat pole, one bamboo basket was placed on the concentric knots of different colors that she had braided, and the other bamboo basket was placed with a lot of ropes of different colors, it seems that these are specially used to weave concentric knots!

I saw the old woman's ingenuity, and in her hands for a while, the rope became a concentric knot of different styles but very beautiful, which was really interesting!

I couldn't help but go forward, crouched down, looked at the old woman at eye level, bowed with my fists in a fist, and asked:

"Old woman, are you selling a concentric knot?"

The old woman's smile was very kind, and when she saw that the official in front of her was clear and gentle, she saw that the other party was staring intently at the concentric knot she was weaving in her hand, thinking that she wanted to give it to her sweetheart, so she responded:

"Yes, this big official, but do you want to choose a concentric knot to give to your beloved girl?"

When I heard this, my face couldn't help but blush, but I still nodded very happily and said:

"I really want to give it to my sweetheart......

Touching the jade pendant that had been worn close to his chest, I thought that since the princess was willing to promise me the phoenix as a token of affection, should I also give it back!

Actually, I had already thought about what I was going to give to the princess, it was a verdant peace clasp, although it was not a priceless thing, but it was something I had worn since I was a child.

Since I can remember, this piece of peace buckle has always been by my side, the word "morning" in my name, in fact, originated here, because this piece of peace buckle, engraved with a "morning" word!

I thought that although this peace buckle is not a valuable thing, it is also of great significance to me, and giving it back to the princess as a love object is also to take its meaning of 'far-reaching and extraordinary'.

It's just that I've been entangled in business recently, and I'm a little shy and shy, so I haven't had a chance to give this thing to the princess. Today, I happened to see this concentric knot here again, and I immediately had the idea of tying this peace buckle and concentric knot together and giving it to the princess together.

When the old woman saw that I was so frank and that I was a good lad who valued affection, she said to me with joy:

"Okay, then you can see what color and style you like, your mother-in-law will make it up for you, let you take it back and send it to your beloved girl, bless you with this festival, heart to heart!"

After I heard it, the smile on my face became stronger, I looked at the old woman's dexterous hand, and then looked at the colorful rope in the bamboo basket, thinking that the princess usually likes to wear white clothes, she wears white clothes like a fairy of the nine heavens, beautiful things, this pure white color is very lined with her, then choose white rope!

"Mother-in-law, I will pay the money, but I would like to ask you to teach me how to weave a concentric knot, and I would like to make one for her ......."

I scratched my cheeks embarrassedly, but it made more sense to make it myself!

"Haha, yes, yes, it's rare to see such a good child with affection and righteousness, that girl is really blessed, tell my mother-in-law what style you want to make, my mother-in-law will teach you, ah!"

After speaking, the old woman took my hand enthusiastically, and then chose what color and style to choose, I chose the white and satisfactory style, and under the careful teaching of my mother-in-law, I slowly learned to weave concentric knots.

This concentric knot is really interesting, fortunately I am still smart, as long as I master the method and practice more to learn it is not difficult, I took off the piece of peace buckle that I carried with me, tied it to the concentric knot, and under the guidance of the old woman, the tassel of the same color was also braided, and it took almost half an hour to finally weave the concentric knot!

Gently hold it in the air, the white concentric knot is tied with the green and transparent Ping An buckle, and under the Ping An buckle is a beautiful tassel of the same color, the breeze blows, the white tassel flutters lightly in the wind, looking at the elegant appearance, I can't help but stir up ripples in my heart......

Although this concentric knot is not as beautiful and delicate as the old woman's weaving, it is a token of love that I knit very carefully and want to give to the princess, and the princess should be very happy if she receives this gift!

When I think of the touching smile on her face, my heart is like a warm current.

"It's so beautifully knitted that your sweetheart will love it!"

The old woman was so happy that I felt a little embarrassed to hear her praise, so I carefully withdrew the concentric knot into my arms, took out the silver money and handed it over to the old woman, and said:

"Thank you old woman, borrow your auspicious words, if you have the fate to see you again, I will definitely agree with her to come and see my mother-in-law!"

The old woman nodded happily and beckoned me to come more often in the future.

I smiled and saluted the old woman, waved goodbye, called Ah Zheng, who had been waiting nearby, and hurried to the direction of home.

Through the clothes touched the concentric knot in my arms, as well as the phoenix, my heart suddenly felt full, that is the feeling of happiness, this happiness seems to be overflowing, I suddenly want to see the princess earlier, I want to represent my heart of the concentric knot, personally sent to her hands, personally tied for her......

Acacia buckle, buckle Acacia, think think interlock, who understands the meaning?

Concentric knots, knots concentric, heart to heart, affection and mutual understanding!

Princess, princess, this deep affection wants to be shared with you......