The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching, and the palace is starting to get busy. Empress Dowager Dou's interest this year was particularly high, and she specially instructed Liu Zhao to have a dragon boat race.

In the first lunar month, the troops sent to the border continued to hear that the three kingdoms of Qiuzi, Gumo, and Wensu, which had been opposed to the Han Dynasty for many years, all surrendered to the Han Dynasty. In order to stabilize the situation, Liu Zhao ordered the squad to protect the Western Regions, Xu Gan to be the long history, stationed in Qiuzita Qiancheng, and Xu Gan to garrison Shule. For a time, the court was happy, and there was an unprecedented joyful atmosphere. Liu Zhao also obeyed the queen mother's wishes and ordered Cai Lun and Zheng Zhong to prepare for the dragon boat race.

Cai Lun and Zheng Zhong discussed holding it in Cangchi, the main water vein in the palace, running from west to east, crossing the entire palace. Cangchi is ten acres around the circle, the blue waves are rippling, and "Penglai, abbot, Yingzhou, Huliang, like the turtle and fish of the sacred mountain in the sea." There is a god platform and Jingganlou that is as high as 50 zhang in the northwest of the pond, which is the place where the emperor worships the gods, and can be used to watch the dragon boat race.

There were nineteen ships that could be used in the palace of ships, and it was too late to rebuild them, so all the ships were refurbished. The question is the question of who will row the dragon boat.

Zheng Zhong said: "I think the eunuchs in this palace can be divided into two teams, the palace maids can be divided into two teams, and the Imperial Forest Army can be divided into two teams, so that the two teams can compete, and it is still to be seen, and the game is fair."

Cai Lun smiled: "That's a good idea. However, there are many people in the barracks, and there are only two teams too little, so I think it is better to let the five battalions each have two teams, and the five battalions play at the same time, and the scene is even more amazing at that time. ”

Zheng Zhong applauded, but his eyes rolled and he had another idea, "I think the ministers are just watching the game, it's not interesting, how about the end of the competition?" Those over the age of 40 can not participate, but under the age of 40 can come and join in the fun. They have been in the court for a long time, and they have a good time to celebrate the festival! ”

Cai Lun laughed and said, "Your idea is a bit rancid, but it's really wonderful, and it will be interesting when the time comes." But this has to be decreed by the emperor, and the two of us can't be the masters. ”

Zheng Zhong said: "Okay, this is nature. But. After dragon boat racing, I still have an idea, since it is Le Yile. Why don't you have another tug-of-war? It can be attended by all ages, and it is sure to be a fun affair. ”

The two of them reported the results of the plan to Liu Zhao, Liu Zhao is also a fun-loving age after all, but he mobilized the soldiers in the fifth battalion. Still, he considered it, and only forty men from each battalion were selected to participate. And when you enter the palace, you have to be checked. Liu Zhao found it very interesting to let the ministers participate in the competition, so he decreed that all officials under the age of 40 in the DPRK and Central China could participate. Will. The capital was a sensation, and it was jubilant, waiting for the arrival of the Dragon Boat Festival.

And the hardest ones at the moment are Zheng Zhong and Cai Lun. The two simply divided the work, one in charge of the various items of the banquet. The allocation of seats, as well as the preparation of items. The other is responsible for arranging the friendship of the people entering the palace, mobilizing manpower, the position of signs, the placement of guardrails, and the selection of people to lead the team.

Empress Dowager Dou was still relatively idle in the palace, from the day to the early summer, her body gradually improved, and her spirit was better, so she often called the concubines to ask for peace. Seeing that a group of flower-like girls were all left out in the cold, I couldn't help but sigh very much in my heart. He called Liu Zhao to the Jiade Hall and asked, "The emperor has only been going to see Yin nobles recently, is he too diligent." There are so many girls in the palace, you can't just take one of them! ”

Liu Zhao's favorite thing to mention was the matter of the inner palace, so he replied: "Queen Mother, you also know that the sons are very disappointed in the concubines in the palace because of Li Meiren's affairs. I really don't want to cause trouble in vain, and if there is anything bad, it's better to be calm in the palace. ”

Empress Dowager Dou had long understood this answer, and said with a faint smile: "As an emperor, whether you can make the harem stable is like governing the country is a truth." Your courtiers are suspicious of each other, accuse each other, frame each other, how do you deal with it, how do you deal with this harem. If an emperor has a headache even for several concubines in the harem, how can he govern the country? ”

"What the queen mother said is that the sons and daughters also understand this reason, but the affairs of the court, the sons and daughters are already too busy to take care of them, and they really don't want to make trouble in the palace again. At the time of the assassination of Erchen in Layue, there was a child named 6 Chengfeng, and at that time, I suspected that he was in league with the bandit who assassinated me, so I imprisoned him. Who knew that he could not stand the torture, and finally died violently. The most infuriating thing is that when he was dying, he painted symbols and marks on the wall, saying that it was a curse that the sons and daughters were not prosperous, there were more women than men, and they would either die or be disabled, and they would not live for a few days if they ascended the throne. Although Erchen didn't believe this, he was very angry and afraid that someone in the palace would get pregnant again! ”

Empress Dowager Dou laughed when she heard this: "Emperor, do you believe this kind of thing?" Don't say how many women there are in my palace, even if it is impossible to say that it is dead or disabled, which born child is not covered in the palm of his hand, who will have the courage to damage the prince, you can rest assured, this is all witch Gu theory, not credible. However, the emperor, the queen mother still advises you, although you trust the Yin nobles, but she is still not pregnant, and the Song nobles in the cold palace will never come out, the mourning family still advises you, pamper the palace people more, don't let the Han family break off. ”

"The queen mother and sons have written it down, and on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, all the concubines will watch the dragon boat race with the queen mother and drink the feast together!"

Empress Dowager Dou nodded, her mood suddenly became dazed and sour, if the child in front of her was her own, then now she will do her best to support his palace affairs, where will it be like now, looking forward to what will happen. I also blame myself for my miserable life, but I didn't come out, I hope this secret will always be a secret!

The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching in a flash, early in the morning, before dawn, the whole palace began to be busy. Liu Zhao slept very well at night, his spirit was refreshed, and he was standing in front of him, with a shallow smile on his face, and the string of beads fell on his sideburns because of her movements, as if with infinite style. Because he was close, he could still vaguely smell her body fragrance, faint, with a light fragrance of osmanthus. Yin Li was serving him to dress, a pair of small hands touched his body, Liu Zhao grabbed it with a smile, put it on his lips and kissed it lightly, Yin Li blushed and pulled it back hard.

"The emperor will bully others, be obedient, and get dressed! Today, all the officials in the capital came to see the Queen Mother and Her Majesty, this dress cannot be sloppy, and the concubines were ready for Your Majesty a few days earlier. ”

"Hehe, I know, Concubine Ai, today you are the head of the harem, follow me."

In a word, Yin Li was stunned for a moment, since she entered the palace, she has always been the emperor's favorite, but she didn't expect that she is now the master of the harem. may be due to the presence of the Queen Mother, so I always feel that I can't raise my head. Now that I think about it, there is indeed a queen in the palace, and the nobles are respected, and the nobles are only themselves, so although they are not queens, they are no different from queens.

My heart was so beautiful that she smiled at Liu Zhao, "The concubine knows!" But after saying this, his back straightened, and the arrogance that had been buried for a long time and refused to come forward began to move.

Wait for Liu Zhao to put on the crown clothes, put on the jade crown, and tie the group ribbon. Yin Li also came to the bronze mirror and said to Lian'er: "Lian'er, wear my phoenix Qibao Jinhuasheng, and the cloth will also be replaced by those two pomegranate factory gilded ones." "Sure enough, after the change, it looks rich and generous, and the elegance is peerless.

Liu Zhao smiled when he saw it: "Why are you giving me a long face, hehe, yes, my concubine is extremely beautiful, very suitable for me." ”

"The concubines have taken out the best of those ornaments, if the emperor loves the concubines, let the craftsmen give the concubines some good ones in the future." Yin Li took the opportunity to be coquettish.

"Okay, good, my concubine must be the most beautiful, what style you want to do, let Cui Jing go to them to do it, and say that I agreed." Liu Zhao petted her snow-like skin.

"The emperor has to say something, Li'er can remember it."

"That's natural, I don't know what I say, how can I rely on your little girl's account."

The two of them talked and laughed, and after breakfast, they saw Cai Lun coming to report, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother has already set up, ask the Emperor when he will go!" ”

Liu Zhao pulled the yin glass up and said, "Prepare for it, I and my concubine also get off!" ”

At the gate of the palace, hundreds of officials and five battalions of sergeants waiting to enter the palace have been gathered, entering from the twelve gates of the imperial city, and there are eunuchs on duty at the gate to check their resumes and seals. Then a few eunuchs guided along the way, and street signs and signs were set up, but they were also orderly and not chaotic at all. Twelve long processions were formed, all of which converged on Cangchi.

Of course, the sleeping palace of the queen concubine and the queen mother emperor was fenced, and armor-piercing warriors were not allowed to pass.

Several of Liu Zhao's brothers and the Liu royal family have been specially released, and they sat in the Jinggan Building early, and the attendants have already set up the fruit plates, dried fruits, and several people salute each other, smiling, and do not sit, they all stand at the railing in front of the building, looking down.

Nineteen dragon boats in the pond are ready and swing out side by side in the pool. Red silk was placed at the ferry crossing as the start and end of the race. The water in the lake is like a mirror, clearly reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, red flowers, and green trees. Layers of waves rise with the wind, and countless waves are chasing and playing. The sun seemed to be sprinkled with broken gold on the surface of the lake, and the golden light was brilliant and sparkling. From time to time, a small boat rowed by, breaking the calm of the lake, like a curtain on the stage being lifted from afar, waiting for the exciting moment to come. Several small islands in the distance echo each other, like a layer of fog, looming, as if thousands of miles of rivers and mountains are condensed in this small pond, which is very spectacular.

Liu Qing came the earliest, and Liu Yan died early before the first month, before he was seventeen years old. Therefore, there are only a few younger brothers. Liu Shou, King of Jibei, Liu Kai, King of Hejian, Liu Shu, King of Chengyang, and Liu Wanzai, King of Guangzong. Since Liu Qing was the biggest, he called them, but a few younger brothers, who were so interested in this game that they all gathered in front of the railing to watch, so they had to laugh and laugh.

Seeing that the officials were still coming in at 6, they were also happy to have a moment of leisure, looking at the charming scenery in the lake, and thinking about their thoughts in a daze. (To be continued)