Early the next morning, Ziqi was summoned by Shaoshu to Xibohou Inner Mansion.

Although Ziqi wanted to eat some snacks before going, he was afraid that the titular aunt would be in a hurry, so he put up with it. After so long, he still hasn't gotten used to it. The food system of the Yin Shang period was the two-food system, that is to say, two meals a day, seven to nine o'clock in the morning is called a big food, and three to five o'clock in the afternoon is a small food.

When I arrived at Mrs. Shaoshu's inner house, Shaoshu was only accompanied by Princess Ji Huan, and the princess's personal attendant was called Xiao Jiu, an eleven or twelve-year-old girl, who was waiting beside her.

Ziqi hurriedly asked him, "My aunt asked me to come over so early, is there anything urgent?" ”

Shaoshu's face was full of spring breeze, "It's not an emergency, it's a good thing." I told Master Hou last night that you are allowed to participate in the competition. ”

Ji Huan's radiant face was a little shy, Xiao Jiu glanced at her and said, "The princess also told the Hou Ye, if you don't let Your Highness compete, the princess would rather die than marry!" ”

Ji Huan glared at Xiao Jiu fiercely, her ears were red, Xiao Jiu stuck out her tongue and didn't dare to speak again.

Shaoshu took Ziqi's hand, "You stay with me, today we will hold a banquet to entertain envoys from various countries, and you will participate in it." ”

Ziqi nodded, "Auntie, when I came, my mother asked me to bring jade jewelry and silk brocade to my aunt, and I asked someone to bring them over, just waiting outside the gate of Xibohou Mansion." ”

Shaoshu hurriedly said to Xiao Jiu: "Go and get it!" ”

The little girl said yes and ran out, and after a while, she brought in the gifts with the waiter. Shaoshu stroked the familiar silks, her eyes were full of tears, "It's rare that she still thinks about me, is the princess okay?" ”

Ziqi hurriedly smiled and said: "The princess is in good health, but the little princess Ziying is very grinding!" ”

Shaoshu smiled with tears in her eyes, "I haven't seen her yet, how old is she?" ”

Ziqi wanted to laugh when she thought of Ziying, "She is eleven years old, and she will be twelve years old in two months, but she is very naughty!" ”

Shaoshu wiped the corners of her eyes, "I really want to meet her, you come back next time, bring her over for me to see!" ”

Ziqi nodded hurriedly and agreed: "In addition, the ministers of the royal court have also prepared generous gifts for my aunt and Mrs. Taiji, and we will send them together when the banquet comes." ”

Shaoshu nodded and said to Ji Huan: "Let's make a dowry for Huan'er." Xiao Jiu stole to see Ji Huan squeezing her eyes, and Ji Huan lowered her head and pushed her.

Ziqi hurriedly took out a jade pendant from his sleeve, handed it to Shaoshu and said, "Auntie, this is Lord Shangrong's birthday gift to my aunt, and I will give it to you with my own hands!" ”

Shaoshu looked stunned, hurriedly took it, took it in her hand and stroked it for a long time and bowed her head silently. After a while, he said to Ji Huan: "You guys go down, I have something to say to Ziqi!" ”

Seeing that Ji Huan took Xiao Jiu to the West Flower Hall, only she and Ziqi were left in the room, and then asked in a trembling voice, "Is Lord Shang Rong in good health?" ”

Zi Qi told the truth, "Lord Shang Rong works hard for state affairs, and his body is quite tough, but he is much older, and his hair is gray!" ”

Shaoshu stroked the jade pendant and said bitterly: "You don't know, his temples were already white when he was young. ”

"Whitened so early?" The subphase is somewhat unbelievable.

Shaoshu nodded, "When I met him, he had just entered the court. He was only twenty years old, tall, and his eyes were always full of wisdom. If it weren't for the country, my father would have prepared for our marriage. ”

Ziqi didn't dare to talk anymore after hearing it.

Shaoshu had tears in her eyes, "He heard that his father was going to marry me to Xiqi, and his temples turned white overnight that night, and I hurt him." Does he have any children now? ”

The sub-period is a little blindsided, and he hasn't eased up yet.

Knowing that Shaoshu asked again, he said, "Lord Shang Rong has a daughter named Shang Qingjun, who is only seventeen years old this year. According to Qingjun, her mother died when she was five years old. ”

Shaoshu sighed, "It seems that he got married very late, he is in his sixties, and the child is only seventeen years old." ”

Ziqi rolled his eyes and said, "Auntie, you sacrificed yourself for your family and country, and you also harmed Lord Shangrong, so that you can't see each other from afar." You must not let Cousin Huan'er go your old way again! ”

Shaoshu raised her head suddenly, stared at Zi Qi and said, "I didn't think like this, Zi Qi, your cousin's life depends on you to find a way, Hou Ye and Ji Fa They will not give up easily." ”

Ziqi said confidently: "Aunt rest assured, the reason why Master Hou agreed to me to compete must be that he thought that Zhai Si and Cangxu were both brave and good warriors, and we were not their opponents at all." That's fine, I'll find a way to do them while they are underestimating the enemy. ”

Ziqi still wanted to go on, but Ji Kao walked in, "Ziqi, the court banquet is about to start, let's go quickly!" ”

Shaoshu hurriedly wiped her tears, "Hurry up!" ”

Bo Yi Kao accompanied Zi Qi to the main hall of the second entrance hall of Xibohou Mansion, and the children of nobles from all countries had already arrived.

There are a few or three sheets on the front hall, and the child period guesses that it should be the main seat of Xibo Hou Jichang and the Hou Concubine, and there are nine long sheets on each side, which should be the seat of the envoys of all parties.

Bo Yi Kao walked to the chief on the right side with the sub-period, and before he could come to the front, he saw Zhai Si, the prince of Yiqu, swaggering to the table and sitting down.

Bo Yi was displeased when he saw it, but he didn't say anything. Ziqi walked up to Zhai Si and patted him on the shoulder, "This brother, are you sitting on the wrong seat?" He said with a mocking smirk.

Zhai Si looked up at him and asked arrogantly, "I'm the prince of Yiqu, don't I deserve to sit here?" ”

Ziqi pretended to be surprised and asked, "Is Yiqu Country very big and good?" ”

There was immediately laughter on the side of the table, Yiqu Fangguo is a branch of Di Rong, its subordinates have been hunting for a long time, fierce and aggressive, and their combat effectiveness is extremely strong, first and many times with the Southern Zhou Yuan, the Northern Zhou Yuan, Kunyi cruel and bloody battles, encroaching on a lot of land. The three Fang countries were frightened by the Yiqu Kingdom, so they could only bend their knees to curry favor and form allies, until they were subdued by Ji Li, and then they attached themselves to the Ji family.

Seeing Ziqi's provocative remarks, he was furious, and Ji Kao snorted beside him, "If I am not worthy, will you accompany me?" Which country are you from? ”

At this time, Ji Chang walked out of the apse with Shaoshu and Taiji, came to sit on the chairman of the hall, looked over here, and frowned slightly.

The hall immediately fell silent, and the envoys of all countries immediately stood up and saluted Ji Chang. Ji Chang waved the sleeves of his robe, and the envoys from various countries returned to their seats one after another. Ziqi Shili raised his head and caught a glimpse of Ji Chang lining up more than five in front of him, and there were also five-story seats under him, and he couldn't help but feel unhappy.

You must know that in the Yin Shang era, the banquet etiquette system was very strict, and only the king was eligible to enjoy the banquet of five or so. The seats under him are also very particular, and this kind of mat is made of woven reeds, and it is spread several times and under the body during banquets. The etiquette system stipulates that the seat of the Son of Heaven has five layers, the princes have three layers, and the doctor has two layers. This is the origin of the banquet that later generations often called the wedding banquet and birthday banquet as the seat, and the origin of the seat originated from the Yin Shang.

It seems that Ji Chang's heart of disobedience has been a long time, although he is humble and polite to Wang Ting on the surface, he is ambitious in his bones.

Ziqi was unhappy in his heart, but he didn't show it at all on his face, and pointed at Zhai Si and asked loudly, "You say I'm not qualified to sit here?" I am the fourth prince of Yin Shang, do you think I am qualified to sit here? ”

Zhai Si pretended to be stupid and shook his head, "Yin Shang? Haven't heard of it! With that, he looked at the child with a look of contempt and defiantly.

Ziqi put his hands behind his back and walked to his side with a smile on his face, "No wonder you haven't heard of it, your Yiqu country is a couple, like a toad at the bottom of a well, you have only seen a piece of the sky above your head, how do you know that the outside world is far away?" If you don't know you, I can tell you. ”

After saying that, he glanced at Ji Chang on the main seat, and said with a smile: "Xiqi is the country of the father, and your Yiqu is the country of the son." "The young lord of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Ji Luxury, the prince of Kunyi, Hetuo, heard Zhai Si being scolded, and couldn't help laughing. The two of them were bullied by the Yiqu State a lot, and a lot of land was occupied.

Ji Chang couldn't help but laugh when he heard it, and Shaoshu looked at Ziqi and loved it.

Zi expected Zhai Si to continue: "Our Yin Shang is the country of the Son of Heaven and the country of your grandfather, do you understand now?" In other words, I'm your grandfather! ”

The laughter in the palace stopped abruptly, and they looked at Ji Chang together, Ji Chang's face suddenly darkened, and he was about to accuse when he raised his hand, but Shaoshu grabbed him, "He is only nineteen years old, what are you talking about with a child?" ”

Although Ji Kao was a humble gentleman, he was also a little unhappy, but he didn't have a seizure on the spot. At this time, after seeing the iron pear wood screen behind the hall, Zi Qi revealed a corner of Luo skirt, and Ji Huan showed half of her head to peek.

Zhai Si has always been brave and ruthless, so after suffering this loss, he stood up suddenly, and reached out to grab Ziqi's shoulder. When it comes to fighting, I haven't been afraid of anyone before the sub-period crosses, and before I touch the sub-period's clothes, the sub-period raises his hand and is a slap. Zhai Si's face hurt, and before he could react, Ziqi raised his leg with a kick and kicked under Zhai Si's crotch. Zhai Si lay on the ground with a snort, covering his lower body and rolling on the ground.

Ziqi pursed his lips and scolded in his heart: "I still want to marry Ji Huan, I will abolish you first!" ”

Which one is stronger in Shang and Zhou Kung Fu? Xiqi cattle people are afraid of hooligans, hahaha!

The palace guards hurriedly came over and helped Zhai Si up. Zhai Si couldn't straighten his waist anymore, and he couldn't speak. Ziqi was like no one, and raised his hand to let Ji Kao sit down. Ji Kao shook his head with a wry smile and sat down with Ziqi.

Ziqi pressed the seat with his hand and said to Ji Chang in the palace: "Uncle Xibohou, these three-layer seats are comfortable, and they are not knees at all. Ji Changru was stuck in his throat, glared at him and ignored him. Ji Fa sat beside Ji Hao, the young master of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, staring at a pair of triangular eyes angrily, and gritted his teeth at Zi Qi.

Jiu'er, who was hiding behind the screen, stuck out her tongue at Ji Huan, "Princess, your cousin is really ruthless, it's so scary!" Ji Huan pursed her lips, "What do you know?" This is the real man! ”

Ji Chang asked below, "Have the envoys of various countries arrived?" ”

A chamberlain hurriedly replied: "Master Hou, only Nanzhou Yuan Ji has not arrived yet!" ”

Ziqi laughed in his heart, "Still looking for Ji Xian, Lao Tzu buried him a long time ago!" ”

Ji Chang waved his hand to him, "Then don't wait, let's have a banquet!" ”

A feast, the music is everywhere, nine dancing girls walk to the front of the hall and dance, the dance of the feast has an ancient tradition, the legend has been very prosperous in the Xia Dynasty. The dancers are barefoot with their hair and peacock feathers on their heads, and their animal skin tops are tight and narrow, and their lower bodies are short skirts made of five-colored feathers. Stretch your limbs and sway to the cheerful rhythm of the music.

"Wow, hula! It's tempting! "Zi Qi's eyes widened, and they all said that Xibohou advocated thrift and promoted agriculture and animal husbandry, where is this, who is fooling?

Ji Kao couldn't help but laugh dumbly as he stared at Zi Ji's staring eyes and staring at Mai Ji's beautiful legs.

With the sound of music, the waiters rushed in, placing cutlery and food on each table. The tableware is made of bronze, including daggers, spoons, buckets, sharpeners, knives, forks, chopsticks (chopsticks), and the types are very rich, including almost all the tableware of Chinese and Western food in later generations.

There are two types of containers: bronze and pottery, and there are many differences in shape and style depending on the food. There are circles and squares, and some utensils have three legs under them, and there are many casseroles that resemble casseroles.

The drinking utensils are common bronze utensils in the court, which are drinking utensils, and there are warm wine utensils, which are also made of bronze.

The food and wine were ready, and the music stopped abruptly. The envoys of various countries stood up one after another to toast Ji Chang and the two ladies. Then, offer a gift jade to Ji Chang. Gift jade is the most noble gift of this era, between the kingdom, between the nobles there are many gifts of jade.

The envoys of all countries gave gifts of jade and returned to their seats one after another. The young master of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Ji Hao, saw that Ziqi was sitting motionless in place, and deliberately made it difficult and sarcastic: "Ziqi Gongzi, I don't know what gift you gave to Hou Ye?" ”

Ziqi looked dazed, "Gift, didn't you give it earlier?" ”

Ji asked puzzledly, "When was it delivered?" Why didn't I see it? ”

Ziqi smiled slightly and stood up, "Or as a gift, the gift given to Xibohou by my Dashang royal court is the most valuable. The former king Wending and the current king successively married the two princesses to Xiqi and became good marriages with Xiqi. He also named Hou Ye as Uncle Fang, ranking first among the princes in the world. If you talk about the favor and favor of the royal court, who can be more noble than the Hou Ye? Isn't that the best gift of all? ”

Ziqi said it soundingly, and Ji Chang heard this.

The implication is that everything you have is given to you by the Shang court, what kind of cow are you?

Seeing that Ji Chang's face was a little green, Zi Qi smiled, and said that it was hot.

Turning to Ji Chang and the two ladies, he said, "The favor of the royal court is the royal court's, but Ziji, as a junior, has prepared the most exquisite gift jade from both sides to the two aunts. With that, he took out the exquisite jade pendant that the two parties had already prepared from his arms and presented it to the two ladies, Shaoshu and Taiji.

When the two ladies saw that the jade color was crystal clear and their hands were warm, they immediately smiled and thanked them again and again. When Ji Chang saw it, his face looked much better.

Ziqi smiled lightly when he saw it, and said in his heart, Lao Tzu will take money and stone you to death. Then he continued to say unhurriedly: "In addition, the royal court prepared thirty-six squares of beautiful jade, thirty-six pieces of silk and satin, and seventy-two pearls for the marquis. Later, I'll send the chamberlain to the house! ”

After that, he returned to his seat and sat down, without raising his eyes, as if he had been hungry for a few days.

Ji Huan hid behind the screen and whispered, "Cousin is so bad!" Xiao Jiu scraped his face with his index finger, and Ji Huan's face turned pink with shame.

The child period was ugly, Ji Kao looked at him and smiled, and he couldn't say anything, so he ate gently. The culinary skills of the Yin Shang era were already quite superb, and the use of various condiments had been mastered. It is recorded in "Saying Destiny" that there are five kinds of cooking seasonings in the Shang Dynasty, salt, plum, wine, starch syrup, and spice pepper.

The envoys of all countries were busy toasting each other, and the toasts at that time were not like the toasts of later generations, running around and shouting everywhere. It's a verbal exchange, a toast from afar. Only the child period is alone, and he only occasionally talks and laughs with Ji Kao.

Cangxu, the prince of Canghou, said sarcastically to Ziqi: "Ziqi Gongzi, I heard that Shangguo is a state of etiquette, why didn't I see a little etiquette in Gongzi?" Shouldn't we be toasted and entertained? ”

Although the children of the royal family and nobles at that time could also be called Gongzi, the other party did not call His Royal Highness Gongzi, which was an intentional provocation.

He said calmly and unhurriedly: "Of course, how can we be rude? You keep saying that you know that my Yin Shang is the state of the kingdom, and if you don't respect my envoy first, do you want my envoy to respect you first, a minister of the wilderness? Although it is said that the salute is extremely humane! It is the top priority of being a person, but it also depends on who the other party is. Bow to the salute, and the courtesy is still reciprocated. If you salute oxen and horses, are you not like livestock? ”

Cangxu was scolded so red-faced, speechless, and gritted his teeth in anger.

The prince of Kunyi, Hetuo, glanced at Zi Qi contemptuously, and chewed a piece of lamb chop with his hand, "The gift of Zi Qi Gongzi is only used on the sharp teeth and sharp mouth, and everyone doesn't have to worry about it, hahaha!" ”

Although it is not against etiquette to share tableware and hand food during the Yin Shang period, whether or not Hetuo will use tableware is between the two.

Ziqi smiled and scolded: "The barbarian clan of father and son who share a wife, regardless of heaven and reason, is it worthy of talking to me?" ”

The Kunyi people are the ancestors of the Xiongnu people, after the death of their father, their wives and concubines are inherited by their sons in addition to their biological mothers, and this custom is still prevalent until the Western Han Dynasty.

Hetuo was scolded so much that a piece of mutton choked in his throat, he couldn't cough up and swallow, and his face turned red. There was a burst of laughter in the hall, and Hetuo was so ashamed that he almost found a crack in the room.

Ji Huan stomped her feet angrily behind the screen, turned around and ran, and Xiao Jiu hurriedly followed.

Halfway through the banquet, the two ladies Shaoshu and Taiji also retreated first.

On the top of the main hall, the envoys of various countries have suffered the loss of the sub-period, and no one dares to provoke him anymore. The child period is happy and pure, and he drinks happily with Ji Kao.

The banquet lasted until the end of the day, Ziqi said goodbye to Ji Kao, and was just about to leave the main hall, when a small chamberlain followed behind him and shouted: "Your Highness Ziqi, go slowly, Mrs. Shaoshu invites His Royal Highness to the inner house." ”

[Tsing Yi says in this chapter]

The pronunciation of the surname Zhai in Yiqu is pronounced as (Di) in the south, so Mozi's name is Mo Zhai (Di), and the north is pronounced as (house), everyone depends on their own habits, and reads what they are willing to read.

Yiqu Guofang is located in the west of the Western Zhou Dynasty Haojing, as a branch of Dirong, still in the barbaric era of the nomadic people, only the royal family has a surname, and the people have no surname, until the Warring States Period was exterminated by the Qin State Zhaoxiang King, and the Qin State was integrated together.

Liang Qichao believes that Kunyi and the Xiongnu are on the same branch, so there is a saying that the father and wife inherit the custom. In addition, this ethnic group did not have a surname until the Western Han Dynasty, so the characters in the book only gave him a name. Friends who have expertise in this field are welcome to correct them.

The description of the banquet in this chapter is not made up by Tsing Yi out of thin air, it is based on the seventh volume of the "History of the Shang Dynasty".

I wish friends who read Tsing Yi's "Falling in Love with Su Daji" a happy life, a prosperous family and everything, and accompany Tsing Yi through the ancient years of "Falling in Love with Su Daji".