Return to the Capital (VI) (M)

Although the progress in the palace is different from the original rumors, the people of the ancient country did enter the palace, but instead of going to the palace of the queen mother, they went to the Chaoyang Hall where the emperor summoned foreign envoys. Not only the queen mother is here, the queen is here, and the members of the dynasty are all there. The crown prince brought two princes and concubines to attend, and of course, Tang Sangongzi. When these people entered the main hall, they caused a lot of noise, and all kinds of discussions came and went. It wasn't until the Queen Mother arrived that everyone stopped a little.

After the Queen Mother came in, she deliberately chose the third prince to come forward to ask questions. Then he commanded him to sit in the column of the nobles' sons, and he did not sit before him or beside the prince.

The envoys of the ancient kingdom entered the hall after being summoned, and after making a great salute, they were taken to a row of guest seats on the right hand side of the main hall. Among them were two women, both pregnant and clumsy. It's just that the long hair and veil block the face, and it is not clear to see. However, many people talk about it, Tang San Gongzi is in the wind and rain, the old rivers and lakes, and women who are not beautiful can't be seen. I think the looks of these two are also very outstanding.

The leader is the ancient emperor's uncle Mo Jie. After the opening remarks of the exchange of courtesies, the imperial uncle said very bluntly: "Dear Empress Dowager of the Great Zhou, the Queen Mother, this time the lord of the country asked me to bring a delegation from the Regina Palace to the Great Zhou, as it is said in the national letter, it is to make peace with the crown prince." When the prince and his entourage went to Gufan, our lord treated the prince as a brother with the most sincere enthusiasm, and provided wine, song and dance and women for the prince and his subordinates. Among these women are Princess Regina, the noblest of my ancient kingdom, and Miss Germena, the daughter of the Prime Minister. Very fortunately, these two girls are pregnant with the children of the prince and his close son Tang Xinjie. The lord of the country could not bear to see the separation of flesh and blood, the young son had no father, and he heard that the prince and the prince of Tang had not married a wife, so he asked me to bring the princess and the girl Germena to promote a hundred years of goodness. Princess Regina and Miss Germena are both the most beautiful and noble girls in my ancient country, enough to match the prince of the Great Zhou and the noble prince of the Tang family. Regina, Germena, hurry up and meet the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager of Da Zhou, and ask the two of them to handle the marriage for you. ”

It's just that before the two of them got up, they heard someone on the opposite table talking: "Lord Mo Jie, there are some things that the official doesn't understand very well, and I want to ask my lordship." ”

"Who is this?"

"This official is Wu Xiaowen, the waiter of the Great Zhou Rite Department."

"A squire also has the courage to interrupt Uncle Ben Huang's words, Da Zhou is really good etiquette."

"That's not true. Sage cloud, threesome must have my teacher, and cloud learning and practice is very happy, the official has some questions I don't understand, I think Lord Mo Jie is the uncle of the emperor of the ancient country, the status is respected, I heard that the old man is virtuous, and the knowledge is outstanding, so the lower official wants to ask for advice, and I hope that the elders will give advice. Since Lord Mo Jie mentioned the word etiquette, it is also related to what the lower officials want to ask. ”

Mo Jie snorted, Before he could speak, Wu Xiaowen spoke quickly, and started again: "Lord Mo Jie just said etiquette, I was very surprised, maybe the lower officials were lonely and unheard, and they didn't know that Gu Fanguo used women to please guests. ”

"That can only say that you are lonely and unheard, in my ancient country, friendship is particularly valued, and it is common hospitality to bring wine and dance and women to VIPs when they arrive."

"Oh, that's a lot like in the Great Zhou, many adults and wealthy merchants have some singers and dancers, and when there are guests coming, they let them sing and dance, I wonder if it's the same reason?"

"I guess so." Marcie frowned, not knowing what he wanted to say.

"In the Great Zhou Dynasty, if any guest fell in love with a singer and a dancing girl at a banquet, or even a concubine of the host's family, as long as the host and guest were willing, they could give these women to each other, and these women were no different from gifts, and I don't know that the customs of the ancient country are the same?"

"It's also common."

"Then the official will understand, after he returns, he must reorganize and improve the records of the ancient country. It turns out that the ancient kingdom is the same as my Great Zhou, and you can let your own kabuki dancers or concubines come out to entertain guests, or you can give them away at will. Thank you for your advice. ”

"Lord Wu, you don't care enough about things in ordinary days, why did you come to ask questions about the occasion of welcoming the Gufanguo mission so ceremoniously." It was his boss who spoke, Liu, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites.

"Lord Liu, you can't say that, this Lord Wu is sensitive and studious, and he is not ashamed to ask questions, which is an example of learning and doing things. It's better than those who are self-righteous and don't know how to pretend to understand. Fu Xiang said with a smile, "What's more, our court in the Great Zhou has always been brainstorming, and Lord Wu can figure out all kinds of things, so that there can be a reference for the Ministry of Rites to do things in the future." ”

"What Fu Xiang said is that the lower officials are narrow-minded." Lord Liu said modestly.

"Fu Xiang, Lord Liu, since the two adults said so, the lower officials still have some questions, and I still want to ask them to understand." Wu Xiaowen stood up again and said.

The people of Gu Fanguo were already alert at this time, and someone pulled Mo Jie's sleeve, signaling that the other party might be talking to the whole set, and Mo Jie also realized it, but at this time he didn't know where the set was, so he could only wait and see.

"Lord Mo Jie, regarding the etiquette of the ancient kingdom, this official would like to inquire about it. In the ancient kingdom, the head of the family is the elder of the family? ”

"Yes."

"If it's a trivial matter in the backyard of a house, who is usually in charge? But the housewife? ”

"Yes."

"So if you buy and sell servants, slaves, and things like that in the market, you're also in charge of the housewife, right?"

"Yes."

"It seems that the ancient kingdom is similar to the Great Zhou in many rituals."

"The officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty are really corrupt, this kind of simple truth is not understood, the so-called common sense of people, although our ancient country is not like the Great Zhou in the Central Plains, but since the ancestor has educated the people in many ways, these common sense of governing the country are of course transparent. Lord Wu asked again and again, Could it be that my ancient country is a barbarian who does not know etiquette and rules? It was a civil servant who was next to Mo Jie: "If this is the case, the etiquette of today's welcome is also false." ”

"This guest from the ancient country misunderstood. The official is just more careful in doing things. Since Lord Marc Marceur mentioned the matter of treating guests with women, I only want to understand the etiquette and customs of your country, so as not to lose my honor in future entertainment. ”

"Now it's to receive the envoys of the Gufan Kingdom, so don't ask about these trivial things." Yiqing suddenly interjected.

"That's it, let the people of Gufan Kingdom hurry up and say something, let's disperse after that, after standing for so long, even young people like me are tired, presumably the Queen Mother and the Queen Mother are also tired." Prince Yiheng also spoke suddenly.

The Queen Mother glanced at Yi Qing and Yi Heng lightly, and the Prince also glanced at them warningly, but these two seemed to be stunned like two stunned people who didn't understand anything, and they didn't seem to feel anything. Xinjie continued to sit there and slowly play with the teacup in his hand, without raising his eyes at anyone.

The difference between the two princes' words. The sage cloud is morally benevolent and righteous, and indecent is not successful. Since we are entertaining guests, we must first understand the etiquette and habits of the other party, so as not to give the wrong gift or the like when we get it. ”

"Come on," Yi Heng interrupted impatiently, "Wait until you want to give a gift, and then ask them if they are suitable." Let them talk first. Master Major, you continue what you just said. ”

Mo Jie gave him a slight gesture and said, "Mo Jie brought two girls this time, they are about to give birth, and I also asked the Empress Dowager of Great Zhou and the Queen Mother to arrange a marriage for them as soon as possible." With a wave of his hand, several servants quickly helped the two pregnant women to the middle of the main hall.

"Wait, Queen Mother, Queen Mother. Xia Guan had already asked Master Mo Jie just now, These women were gifts from Gu Fanguo to the crown prince and Tang Sangongzi. In order to prevent the two of them from ignoring the ancient customs and fearing loss of etiquette, as a person from the Ministry of Rites, the lower officials have the obligation to remind the two masters that these gifts are the private property of the crown prince and the third prince of Tang, and they are their own things, and have nothing to do with the court and state affairs. It's like two people receiving a gift, and you can deal with it according to your preference. This is not a state affair, there is no need to do any discussion and disposal in this hall, let them be sent directly to the side hall to wait, and when the state affairs between the two sides are finished, when they are dispersed, the prince and the third prince of Tang will each take it back to dispose of it, and before the results of their disposal come out, it is not appropriate to meet the queen mother and the queen mother here. ”

"Wu Shilang, why is this?" The master of the Hongbunkan asked, his face full of curiosity.

"This is because if the crown prince and the third prince of Tang accept this gift, they are the private property of the two of them, and before the two dispose of them, they have no name and identity to meet the queen mother and queen. If they weren't gifts to the crown prince and the third prince of Tang, then in what capacity did they meet them? Envoys of the Ancient Fan Kingdom? That's Lord Marc Major. Then he said, If the crown prince and Tang Gongzi accept this gift, if the two of them don't like these women and sell them to the Qinglou, then they will be lowly and filthy Qinglou women in the future, how can they meet the noble Queen Mother and the Queen Mother? Isn't it a violation of royal dignity? Our Great Zhou and Gufan Kingdom are both ceremonial countries, how can we let this kind of unexplained thing happen? When they knelt down to meet the Queen Mother and the Queen, it was a dilemma for the two of them. As a vassal, the subordinate is just doing his duty. ”

"How can it be!" Mo Jie stood up angrily: "How can the princess and the daughter of the prime minister of my ancient kingdom be so slandered by you. ”

"Lord Mo Jie, are you sure that these two are the princesses and daughters of the prime minister of the ancient kingdom?"

"Of course."

"It turns out that the official still hasn't figured out the etiquette of the ancient fan country, and the princess and the daughter of the prime minister of the ancient fan country are also the same as the lowly singers and dancers, which can be used to entertain guests and give people away?"