Chapter 4: The Birthday Feast
The sun has just risen in the east, and the Sikong Mansion in Xudu has already begun to get busy, and after Cao Cao was crowned prime minister, the Cao family is in the middle of the sun in Xudu, and even the subordinates are superior. Today is the day of Cao Song's birthday, and everyone in the Cao family has started to prepare early.
Cao Cao's decree to be the prime minister also arrived at the Cao family's mansion today, and Cao Cao took advantage of Cao Song's birthday to feast on the civil and military officials of Xudu to strengthen his authority in the court.
"Husband, husband, it's time to get up, today is grandpa's birthday, it's time for us to go." On the expedition to the northern general's mansion, Lu Rui was still hiding in bed and sleeping, Lu Rui's honeymoon period had not yet passed, and it was still in the vacation stage.
"Otoju?" Lu Rui rubbed his eyes, whose birthday does you want me to go?
"Madam, don't make trouble, I'm still sleepy for my husband, sleep again." Lu Rui waved his hand, covered the quilt, and closed his eyes again.
"Husband!" Cao Jie pouted, took out a small straw from the hanging ornament next to him, and swept it back and forth on Lu Rui's nose. Diao Chan's unique Cao Jie has also learned, and when Lu Rui is sleepy, this trick is the most effective.
"Haqiu!" Lu Rui sneezed and was woken up, I don't know if there are sequelae of crossing, Lu Rui likes to sleep more than in his previous life, as long as he uses straw to snooze, he will wake up!
"Ma'am?" Lu Rui fell into Cao Jie's arms in a daze.
"Husband, today is grandpa's birthday, we have to rush back to Caofu to celebrate his birthday." Cao Jie shook Lu Rui and reminded Lu Rui again.
"Grandpa's birthday?" Lu Rui patted his head, it's bad, Cao Song's birthday. I actually forgot about it. After Lu Ruiguan visited the general of the north. is Cao Cao's adopted son again. The big and small officials of Xu Du all wanted to be close to Lu Rui, and many people who wanted to see Cao Cao invited Lu Rui to a banquet first and asked Lu Rui to be an introducer.
At first, Lu Rui was still happy with this kind of banquet, after all, someone invited him to a big meal for free, so why not do it. But after a long time, Lu Rui got bored, after all, the daily big fish and meat are also a burden on the body.
Right now. For the banquet of the officials of Xu Du, Lu Rui also began to put on the shelf of the general of the expedition to the north, accepted the invitations of others, and also counted the people to see if they were important figures, the bigger the official, Lu Rui also began to learn to put on music.
"Husband!" Cao Jie put the handkerchief into the copper basin next to him, passed the hot water for a while, twisted it dry, and handed it to Lu Rui.
After Lu Rui wiped his face. When I looked up, I saw that Cao Jie had already dressed in a gorgeous costume. was waiting for Lu Rui to get up.
"Ma'am?" Lu Rui smiled guiltily and made a grimace to Cao Jie.
"Husband, hurry up, today's birthday banquet is different, it's grandpa's birthday banquet, no more than an ordinary birthday banquet." Cao Jie handed his coat to Lu Rui, shook his head, married to his husband, his husband is so lazy, and he can't say anything, after all, it's not a big deal.
"Good! Good! Lu Rui hurriedly put on his clothes, ordered Dian Wei to prepare the carriage, and took his family to pay tribute to Cao Song's birthday.
Lu Rui's general's mansion was not very far from Cao Cao's mansion, a quarter of an hour's drive. Lu Rui helped Cao Jie get out of the carriage, and the housekeeper of the Cao family greeted him.
"Uncle, second miss, are you here?" Steward Cao hurriedly greeted him, this was Cao Cao's most powerful uncle and most favored daughter.
"Well, Steward Cao, everything is ready?" Cao Jie, as Cao Cao's daughter, returned to Cao's house, and suddenly felt like a master, after all, this is the home where he has lived for more than ten years.
"Back to the second miss, everything is ready, the eldest lady and the second lady are waiting for the second lady in the backyard." So far, Cao Cao's married daughter is Cao Jie, and when she comes back to pay tribute to Cao Song, Cao Jie should be the last to go to Cao's house.
"I know, I'll go and say hello to my aunt and mother now." Cao Jie glanced at Lu Rui unhappily, she was originally a married daughter, but now she is late to come back, everyone is waiting for her.
"Madame, please!" Lu Rui smiled and brushed his head aside embarrassedly.
"Miss Lu!" Steward Cao asked An Er behind Lu Rui to say goodbye.
"Hello Steward Cao, An'er is polite." An'er also returned the salute to Steward Cao in a proper manner.
Instantly petrified, instantly petrified! Lu Rui's footsteps stopped again, and An'er followed him. As Lu Rui's daughter, An'er is a junior, and when she pays birthday to her juniors, Lu Rui usually brings An'er, after all, this is the rule. But it's really uncomfortable for such an old daughter to follow behind him, and she is still older than herself!
"Okay, An'er, go with your mother to say hello to grandma." Cao Jie is very happy to be a mother, how good it is to have a daughter as big as An'er, the ancients are the ancients, and they are calm about the difference in generation.
"Yes, mother!" Cao Jie ignored Lu Rui's petrification and led An'er directly into the backyard.
Looking at the two of them in the distance, Lu Rui smirked, he really wanted to handle An'er's marriage, otherwise it would be really uncomfortable to have such a big daughter at home.
Cao Song's birthday banquet began in the morning, in the morning is the congratulations and gifts of the officials, at noon Cao Song came out to thank you politely and then returned to his yard, after all, people are old, physical strength is not good. In the evening, Cao Song, who had rested for an afternoon, returned to the main hall, and the host of the dinner party still had to appear.
"Thank you, old man, for coming to celebrate my birthday, thank you here!" After the dinner, Cao Song expressed his gratitude to the guests present, and it was a song and dance performance later.
"Congratulations to Cao Gongshou for being better than Nanshan and living a long life!" Everyone also returned the salute to Cao Song.
"Good! Good! Gongda, Fengxiao, Zhongde, you are all here. Cao Song heard everyone's congratulations, and was very happy, and began to recite the names of the guests.
"And Boda, Wenruo." Cao Song shouted Xun Yu out casually.
"This?" Everyone was stunned for a moment, Xun Yu did not come to celebrate Cao Song's birthday, Cao Jun knew Xun Yu and everyone knew that this was Xun Yu's silent protest after Cao Cao was crowned prime minister, Cao Cao restored the prime minister hundreds of years ago, and his ambition to monopolize power has been revealed.
"Cao Gong, my uncle is unwell and couldn't come to the birthday banquet, please forgive Cao Gong, and my uncle told you to come and congratulate!" Xun Yu hurriedly stood up and helped Xun Yu round the field. Xun Yu must be loyal to the Han family. Xun You also has to think about the Xun family.
"Oh! Then let Wen Ruoduo take care of his body. "Although Cao Song is old. But there is still a sense of scheming.
"Thank you for your uncle, Gong Cao!"
"Mengde?"
"Yes, Father!"
"Zixiu, let the singer perform."
"Yes, Father!" Cao Ang signaled to Mi, and Mi immediately called out all the singers to perform for the guests.
"Cao Gong, this is the Korean ginseng I gave to Cao Gong, please Cao Gong smile. Congratulations to Gong Cao on his birthday! While singing and dancing, everyone told Cao Song about the gifts they gave to Cao Song, and handed over the stickers to Cao Song.
"Thank you!" Cao Song also returned the salute to everyone one by one.
"Cao Gong, Rong offers a word to congratulate Cao Gong!" The guests informed Cao Song of their gifts as if they were looking at the flowers, and now it was Kong Rong's turn.
"Huh?" Cao Song was stunned for a moment, generally this kind of return gift is that the guest writes the list of his gifts into a document and hands it to the host's family, which is to prevent his gifts from being confused by his subordinates. After all, in ancient times, the great clans received gifts in the thousands.
Gift return posters generally have their own gift details, including packaging, to prevent the same gift from being given. Confusion arises.
Kong Rong actually broke this rule, it seems that he wants to take the opportunity to make trouble.
"Hahahaha! After Wenju is a saint, the words written must be priceless. ”
"Xie Cao Gong!" Kong Rong offered his own words.
"Longevity is as young as pines and cypresses, and blessings are inherited from hundreds of generations!"
"Good words, good words! The characters of Wenju are getting better and better. Cao Song took Kong Rong's words and praised them happily. The so-called reaching out and not hitting the smiling person, Cao Song praised Kong Rong's words, just waiting for you to make a move.
"I wish Cao Gong a great birthday, Cao Gong is the son of Lord Cao Teng, Lord Cao Teng is loyal to the Han, and Lord Cao and the Prime Minister will definitely uphold the will of their ancestors and assist Your Majesty!"
"Song has always educated his children with loyalty and filial piety, and Cao'er and I will definitely be loyal to the Han and Your Majesty!" Cao Song's body is old, his brain is not old, what Kong Rong wants to do, Cao Song still knows a thing or two.
"Rong believes in the loyalty of Cao Gong and the Prime Minister, but the Cao family has been loyal and good for generations, and they should be the pillars of the country for generations, but unfortunately, the Cao family has a disloyal behavior, please correct it for Cao Gong." Kong Rong replied loudly to Cao Song.
"What!" Everyone was taken aback when they heard Kong Rong's words, Cao Zhang was even more young and vigorous, and he wanted to go up and beat Kong Rong directly, but was held down by Lu Rui. Lu Rui wanted to see how Kong Rong was doing.
"Kong Rong, you are too presumptuous, my Cao family is loyal and martyrful, how can you be disloyal?" Steward Cao got Cao Cao's signal, shouted, and rebuked Kong Rong. Cao Cao is the prime minister, and he has to weigh it, and use a subordinate to throw stones to ask for directions, and test Kong Rong, which is just right.
"Presumptuous, Steward Cao, why do you talk to Wenju like this? Who are you? As soon as Cao Cao sang, Cao Song drank, and the father and son cooperated seamlessly.
"Wenju, please point out the disloyalty of my Cao family, Song will definitely correct it, but today everyone gathered in my Cao Mansion, if Wenju doesn't say it well, I'm afraid?" Cao Song is scheming and calm, even if he is angry in his heart, he will not show it.
"Cao Gong, if Rong doesn't speak well, he is willing to be punished!" Kong Rong confidently replied to Cao Song.
"Please give me advice!"
"Cao Gong, since Teng Gong, the Cao family has always been the pillar of the imperial court, Teng Gong is the great Changqiu, Cao Gong used to be a captain, and now the prime minister is the leader of the hundred officials, the Cao family has been loyal and good for generations, and there are many talents, but unfortunately after Cao Gong, what about the younger generations of the Cao family?" Kong Rong looked at the junior of the Cao family and showed a smug smile.
"Master Kong's words are wrong! My Cao family juniors are still talented, elder brother Cao Ang official residence Wupin Zhonglang general, younger brother Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu are all court generals, pillars of the country, although Pi is not talented, literary style is also famous in Shilin. How can you say that there is no one in my Cao family? Cao Pi arched his hand and shot back at Kong Rong.
"And my little brother Cao Chong is even more famous in the Han Dynasty, and now he is also a prodigy in Xudu, how can I say that there is no one in my Cao family? I'm afraid that Master Kong Rong is also wrong! Cao Pi flicked his cuffs to express his dissatisfaction.
"Oops!" Lu Rui listened to Cao Pi's counterattack and suddenly found that he had fallen into a trap.
"Second brother!" Cao Chong also thought of Kong Rong's trap and stopped Cao Pi.
"Hahahaha! Pi Gongzi is really a handsome talent, what he said is true, the sons of the Cao family are also handsome, and even the adopted son of Lord Sikong is also a handsome man in the world, which shows that the prime minister teaches well. It's just that the prime minister taught him like this, and he could have grandchildren? If there are no children, how can they inherit them? ”
"The son of Lord Sikong is so outstanding, wouldn't it be a misfortune for the Han Dynasty if there were no descendants as heirs? If the Cao family has no descendants to be loyal to the Han Dynasty, is it disloyal to the Han Dynasty? Unfaithful to His Majesty? Kong Rong laughed proudly, Cao Cao, Cao Song, see how you guys deal with it!
"This?" Cao Cao and Cao Song were stunned, and everyone else was stunned. Kong Rong's trick is wonderful, it's really wonderful! If Kong Rong accused Cao Cao of being disloyal to the Han and not doing his best for the country, it was nothing, it was just a bad strategy. But using no grandson to attack the Cao family is a trick.
Kong Rong first praised the merits of the Cao family and the heroes of the Han Dynasty. But in ancient times, when there was no queen, the heir was very particular, which was not only the inheritance of the family, but also the contribution to the country. The so-called monarch is the minister, your Cao family is so outstanding, but now there is no fourth generation, how can you be loyal to the monarch and the Han from generation to generation?
At the birthday banquet, there was a sudden silence, and everyone in the Cao family was thinking about how to deal with it, either to lose the face of the Cao family, and to fight back against Kong Rong. (To be continued......)
PS: Thank you for your great support!