In the constant confrontation with Xun Yu, Liu Wei unconsciously walked through the last winter of the fourth year of Zhongping.

After checkers were quickly mastered by Xun Yu, Liu Wei immediately came up with other chess games to continue to arouse Xun Yu's interest.

Military chess, Japanese shogi, chess, and even beast chess, as long as Liu Wei can think of the chess in his previous life, even if he only knows a little bit of rules and moves, he will make it to play against Xun Yu.

The two are not only monotonous chess games, sometimes Liu Wei will also ask Shangren Hongchang to cook tea or sing and dance to help the fun, or discuss the current situation in the world while playing chess with Xun Yu, and unconsciously the relationship between the two has become deeper and deeper over time.

When the time came to the last day of the year, the Han Empire ushered in the New Year of the fourth year of Zhongping.

Ancestor worship was the most important activity and custom of the New Year in the Eastern Han Dynasty. From the emperor to the common people, they all had to worship their ancestors at this time. It's just that the offerings offered by the poor people may only be the three pillars of fragrant incense, while the offerings of the scholars and bureaucrats are corn, cloth, pig and mutton, sacrificial wine, and greetings.

If it is changed to the emperor's house, it will be more luxurious and cumbersome.

On a cold day, Liu Wei was called up early to follow Emperor Liu Hong of the Han Dynasty to the temple to worship the ancestors of the Eastern Han Dynasty. After the worship is over, it is not over, and it is necessary to run non-stop to the shrine to worship the heaven and earth in order to have a bumper harvest in the coming year. Then he ran to the altar to pray to heaven, in order to achieve the sense of heaven and man to cultivate the virtues of the emperor.

At the end of the day, Liu Wei, who was dissolute by nature, had long been tossed impatiently. However, he also saw the importance of this series of sacrificial activities to an empire and an emperor. Even Emperor Han Ling, who had always been obsessed with the sound of dogs and horses, did not dare to slack off in the slightest.

Finally, at the end of this series of sacrificial activities, it was almost evening when Liu Hong feasted the ministers in the Chongde Palace.

This meal was paid for by the Shaofu, which was regarded as the benefit of the emperor at the end of the year to reward the civil and military ministers. Although it is a big banquet, it is impossible for all ministers to participate. The people who came to eat were all the three princes and nine kings, the heavy generals, and some of the big men in the DPRK and China, such as the direct clan in Luoyang. Even members of the royal family such as Liu Wei, Liu Xie, Princess Wannian, Empress Dowager Dong, and Empress He, as well as the ten permanent attendants, are also in his position.

Although the emperor's banquet was extremely glorious, no one here really wanted this meal. What everyone values is that this meal shows their close relationship with the emperor, and besides, the emperor is here, and no one really dares to throw off his cheeks and eat. Everyone watched the emperor's actions: when the emperor started eating, the ministers moved their chopsticks; The emperor raised his glass, and the ministers immediately toasted. A meal is eaten without taste, half full and not hungry.

Thinking about it, Emperor Liu Hong of the Han Dynasty was also choked by this day, so he quickly ended the banquet hastily and took the ten permanent servants to Xiyuan for his own entertainment.

The ministers also dispersed, Queen He seemed to have something to say to He Jin, and instructed Liu Wei to say a few words, and the two walked while chatting and walking to the Changqiu Palace.

Liu Wei was disgusted with He Jin as a person and was unwilling to go with him, and when he saw Liu Xie and Wan Nian walking side by side with the guards, he hurriedly shouted at the two of them in the back.

Since the last time I met Liu Wei, Liu Xie's attitude towards him has been very entangled. Seeing him shouting to himself, he said hello solemnly.

Liu Wei's attitude towards Liu Xie is also very entangled, but he is full of weak family affection, and he desperately longs for the return of family affection, and he is both eager and afraid of getting along with Liu Xie.

Seeing Liu Xie greeting him with a glance, Liu Wei had no choice but to bow squarely. The two of them are not like brothers, but like colleagues. Liu Wei felt that between him and Liu Xie, there were always those pimples separating the distance between the two.

After a polite pleasantry, the two men fell into an awkward silence. Liu Wei hesitated again and again, and finally mustered up the courage to invite Liu Xie and Princess Wannian and said: "I have some food in the dormitory, and I want to come to Brother Xie, and Sister Wannian have not eaten well after the end of the day, like me." Why don't you come to me for something to eat? ”

Liu Xie really didn't eat anything well this day, and he almost nodded in agreement to Liu Wei's invitation. However, the innate city government still made him shake his head vigilantly. Not to mention that he still has a grudge against Liu Wei in his heart now, just Liu Bian's dormitory is next to Queen Dehe's Changqiu Palace, which is the Longtan Tiger's Den that he neither wants to go to nor dares to go.

rejected Liu Wei, Liu Xie still behaved very politely. "The emperor's bedroom has already prepared food, and if you go back late, I am afraid that the queen mother will punish you. Why don't you go to the royal brother to bother you another day? ”

Seeing Liu Xie's refusal, Liu Wei's disappointment overflowed on his face. Turning his head and asking Princess Wannian with his eyes, Wannian was not as afraid of him as he was when he first met Liu Wei at this time, but he was usually close to Liu Xie after all, and he was afraid of Queen He, so he also declined with the same politeness.

was rejected one after another, and Liu Wei was unhappy. Suddenly, he saw that Princess Wannian was still wearing a single dress in the winter season, so she asked curiously: "Now that the weather is so cold, why is Sister Wannian still wearing such thin clothes?" ”

Listening to Liu Wei's question, Wan Nian turned red, and timidly lowered his head and did not speak. Liu Wei had no choice but to turn his attention to Liu Xie, who had a good relationship with her.

Liu Xie sighed and replied on her behalf: "Sister Wannian originally had her own Tang Muyi (that is, fiefdom), but her princess Ling relied on herself as the nephew of Zhang Rang, the tenth permanent servant, and deceived Sister Wannian into being honest and powerless in the palace, so she often privately withheld Tang Muyi's offerings, and Sister Wannian's life was naturally a little urgent. ”

Then Liu Xie asked Wan Nian again: "Didn't I send you winter clothes and money and food the month before last, how could this still be the case?" ”

Wan Nian's voice was like the sound of mosquitoes, and he replied timidly: "My maid Cherry and I are like sisters, and her family is seriously ill and has no money for treatment, so I will take the things you gave me to her for emergency treatment." ”

Liu Xie heard Wan Nian say this, and sighed heavily. In fact, it is more than enough to clean up a princess order with his status, but the ten permanent servants Zhang Rang has a huge power, and he is the one who supports him, he is afraid of his power, and he is embarrassed to tear his face with him, so he has to secretly give some money and food for ten thousand years.

Liu Xie was afraid of the Ten Standing Attendants, but Liu Wei didn't like them at all. I have been at odds with them all the time, but now I see my sister, the dignified princess of the Han Dynasty, being bullied like this. Liu Wei, who was already a little unhappy in his heart, couldn't help but be furious, and said in his heart that I can't deal with you ten permanent servants now, can't I fix those dogs under your hands?

Thinking of this, he roared angrily: "Where is Jiang Qi? ”

Jiang Qi, who had already been standing aside, replied loudly: "The subordinates are here!" ”

"You take someone to arrest this dog slave who dares to bully the princess and humiliate the royal family! Discount the left hand first, then the right hand, and then the doglegs. Then tell him one thing for me - no matter how awesome the backer behind him is, the surname Liu in the Han Palace has never been bullied casually! Liu Wei was anxious, and he was already incoherent when he spoke.

Wan Nian saw that his face was about to turn purple, and she was so frightened that she hurriedly comforted Liu Wei, and even said that she was okay like this. Liu Xie showed envious eyes to Liu Wei on the side. Liu Bian's true temperament is something he has never and dare not have.

Thinking of this, he was unconsciously afraid that Liu Wei would suffer if he provoked the Ten Standing Attendants, so he also spoke out to comfort him, and tried to stop Jiang Qi and others.

It's just that Jiang Qi has always obeyed Liu Wei's orders, and he has heard about the encounter of 10,000 years on the side just now, and he has long been unhappy when he is good at hoeing the strong and helping the weak. ignored Liu Xie's obstruction, and led people to roar away.

Watching Jiang Qi take someone to clean up the princess order who had been bullying for ten thousand years, the anger in his heart disappeared a little. I was going to talk to Liu Xie and them again, but I saw Empress Dowager Dong coming over with the palace people.

Thinking that Empress Dowager Dong had always been cold to herself, she looked at each other with white eyes, and she didn't want to have any quarrels with her, so she hurriedly said goodbye to Liu Xie and walked away.

Empress Dowager Dong came to Liu Xie's side and asked, "What was the son of the butcher's daughter talking to you just now?" ”

Empress Dowager Dong has always been dissatisfied with the dictatorship of Empress He and He Jin, and she also looks down on Empress He's background, so there has never been any respect between words and titles.

Hearing Empress Dowager Dong's question, Liu Xie replied respectfully: "Brother Bianhuang just invited me to sit with him. ”

Empress Dowager Dong reprimanded: "Didn't you not let you have any dealings with that side?" Who knows what the hell the hell that slut son has in his heart! ”

Liu Xie listened to the reprimand of Empress Dowager Dong, so he had no choice but to say yes, but he had a strange feeling about Liu Wei in his heart.

*******************

By the time Liu Wei returned to the dormitory, the sky had completely darkened.

Tang Ji had already hung red lanterns in the palace according to his previous instructions, and peach charms carved with the appearance of gods and Yu Lei were also hung at the head of the door. What's more, there are two Spring Festival couplets on the two pillars on the left and right outside the door, and the screens and furniture in the house are also pasted with the word Fu.

It's just that Liu Wei has studied poetry, but he rarely asks about the Spring Festival couplets. I only thought of the Spring Festival couplets posted by the neighbors during the New Year in my previous life:

The sound of firecrackers bids farewell to the old year

Red plums welcome the New Year

After writing it, although I felt a little nondescript, I had to reluctantly let Tang Ji post it. The New Year is to be festive, and you don't need to worry so much.

Although Tang Ji didn't understand the meaning of Spring Festival couplets and Fu characters, there were too few entertainment activities in this era, and Liu Wei felt lively when he did this. Besides, the word Fu and Fu Zhi sound auspicious.

Wei Yi asked Liu Wei to rush home to reunite with his mother. Jiang Qi and the others had no home in Luoyang, and after returning from the princess after teaching the princess order, Liu Wei wanted to keep them to celebrate the New Year together, but these straightforward warriors felt restrained. Liu Wei no longer forced them, rewarded them with more than a dozen jars of freshly brewed pear wine, prepared some pork and mutton, and let them drink wine and eat meat in big bowls, and Hu Tianhai went.

The two of them, Liu Wei and Tang Ji, were left and called Ren Hongchang over stiffly. The three of them got together, and Liu Wei proposed to wrap dumplings.

The second daughter is familiar with Liu Wei's character, and she will never mention any words about the gentleman's cooking. It's just that I've never seen dumplings like before, and I was very curious after Liu Wei wrapped one.

At this time, the crops of the Han Dynasty were already diverse and varied. There is not only wheat grown in a large area, but also soybeans, which are called "soybeans", and Chinese cabbage, which are called "woad". It's just that the production process is a little monotonous, which is as dazzling as the Chinese cuisine in later generations.

Liu Wei ordered people to grind the wheat into flour, squeeze the soybean into oil, mix it with pork and woad, and then roll out the dumpling skin with Tang Ji and Ren Hongchang, and wrap the pork and cabbage stuffed dumplings.

Liu Wei has a fun personality and will not honestly make dumplings there. smeared flour on their faces during the fight with Tang Ji and Ren Hongchang, and he also ended up like a face.

After wrapping the dumplings, Liu Wei poured all the dumplings into the kettle of boiling water. After boiling a few times, the dumplings are fished out.

Soy sauce and vinegar have been invented at this time, but they have not yet been applied to the food by the Chinese people. Garlic has also been introduced by Zhang Qian from the Western Regions for a long time, but it is difficult to find spicy products. However, Liu Bian, who wanted to open a restaurant business, checked a lot of books, and finally saw in a book that the court of the Zhou Dynasty had the habit of medicinal mustard, and only then did he remember that yellow mustard originated in China.

I found yellow mustard and ground it into flour, and all kinds of spices filled the table. Tang Ji and Ren Hongchang were not used to the spicy taste of garlic and mustard, so they only ate soy sauce and vinegar together and dipped in dumplings. Not to mention the taste, it was really fresh, and the two couldn't help but admire.

Liu Wei didn't care what the taste was, broke open a packet of garlic, threw it in his mouth and chewed it. Soy sauce, vinegar, and wasabi were all dipped one by one, and I burst into tears while eating. Tang Ji and the others thought they were choking on mustard, but only Liu Wei understood in his heart that he had been intriguing in this cold palace this year, and he finally felt at home one day.

There were a lot of dumplings cooked, and the three of them couldn't eat them, so they beckoned the palace maids and Huangmen around them to come over, and they divided the bowl one by one. Who knew that after each of them took the bowl, they were all moved to tears of pain. After all, living at the bottom of the palace, how unimaginable it is that they can eat the food made by the prince himself. This shows that the prince of debate they have been waiting for does not treat them as human beings like others!

A meal of dumplings, many people eat naturally lively. Originally, Liu Wei also wanted to make a few firecrackers to make a lively scene - although this was not a problem for him, but he was afraid that the premature appearance of gunpowder would attract the attention of others, so he had to ask someone to put the bamboo tube in salt and throw it in the fire to burn.

Listening to the crackling sound of bamboo burning in the fire, Liu Wei finally found a little bit of the atmosphere of the New Year in his previous life. Although the guards patrolling around heard Liu Bian's noise here, they all turned a blind eye and pretended not to see under Liu Bian's big money.

It's just that Liu Wei was also afraid of alarming Queen He, so he didn't dare to play too much, and after being happy for a while, he asked everyone to disperse. But even so, everyone's faces were filled with happiness and hope.

Ren Hongchang also got up to say goodbye, and Liu Wei took the two yellow doors and personally sent her back.

Outside, the moon and stars are scarce, and two yellow doors carry lanterns to explore the way in front. Liu Wei and Ren Hongchang walked side by side. While walking, we chatted, and naturally talked about the dumplings we ate today. Ren Hongchang was full of praise that he had never eaten such a delicious food, and Liu Wei smiled and said that it was not as delicious as dumplings, and it was better to lie down than comfortable, which made Ren Hongchang giggle and tremble like a flower branch.

"Although dumplings are delicious, they may not be eaten at any time, and not everyone can eat them." Ren Hongchang remembered the upheaval life before entering the palace, and the poor people he had met couldn't help but look gloomy.

Liu Wei was silent for a while, and suddenly said with a serious expression: "I, the people of the Han Dynasty, will be able to reunite with my family at the end of the year and eat dumplings!" ”

Liu Wei's words seem to be making a promise to the world.

Is the whole family reunited? Listening to Liu Wei's words, Ren Hongchang couldn't help but think of his hometown. I can't go back now!

Homesickness welled up in my heart, and I looked up at the moon, only to see a floating cloud quietly covering the moon.

Seeing Ren Hongchang frowning slightly, Liu Wei knew that he remembered some unpleasant things, and joked about the cloud covering the moon: "Sister Ren is so beautiful that even Mingyue is ashamed of herself and hides behind the clouds." ”

Ren Hongchang's cheeks turned crimson when he said this, and he said angrily: "Your Highness is making fun of me again!" ”

Ren Hongchang was shy and timid, in the flickering moonlight, peerless elegance, Liu Wei was fascinated for a while, and couldn't help but hold her hand.

Ren Hongchang was startled, and just wanted to withdraw his hand but was tightly clenched by Liu Wei, and his face couldn't help but turn even redder.

In the dark night, Liu Wei's eyes were as quiet as a deep pool, looking directly at her heart through Ren Hongchang's eyes.

Ren Hongchang didn't dare to look at Liu Wei, lowered his head in shame, and hesitated not knowing what to do.

"Hongchang ......," Liu Wei called her name softly.

Not daring to continue listening, Ren Hongchang suddenly shook off Liu Wei's hand and fled without looking back.

Liu Wei was stunned. looked at the back of Ren Hongchang running away; glanced at the palm that had only been held for a moment, but was already soaked in sweat; Recalling the moment of the handshake, the throbbing heartbeat.

Is this love?

To be continued