Chapter Eighty-Three: The Grand Ceremony

Of course, all of the people who have survived until now are human spirits. They represent not only individuals, but also the major families with huge forces behind them. Because of the initial decision of the court, this group of people is in the wait-and-see stage, and they seem to be very low-key and forbearing, but no one dares to underestimate their strength. For more than ten years, or even hundreds of years of rooting and development in this country, the accumulated contacts and wealth are unimaginably huge. This faction is often referred to as the Beijing Party or the Old Aristocratic Faction.

And the opposite of the old aristocracy is the new aristocracy who was promoted by the Sima family. Most of these parts are supporters of the Sima family, or small families that depend on the Sima family to survive, because the Sima family itself is also a famous family in the previous dynasty, and most of them are also children of the nobility, and there is not much difference between them and the old aristocracy in essence, and there are not too many conflicts. In addition to the old aristocratic faction's resentment of the new aristocratic faction's promotion speed, the new aristocratic faction's hatred of the old aristocratic faction's stubbornness in power and refusal to let go, most of the time they can still get along with each other.

As the second emperor of the Zhou Dynasty, compared with Emperor Sima Hongwen of Qianning, Sima Zixia has a habit of being criticized by the aristocratic faction, and he is too eclectic in employing people. Empress Tong is just the daughter of an ordinary wealthy businessman, the general Qi Shangshang was born a pig killer and does not know a big character, and the criminal department is still Gao Sang, although he was Sima Hongwen's favorite general. But because of his tyrannical nature, he was expelled from his home, and he was convicted by Sima Hongwen and almost hanged.

Although this faction is trusted and favored by Sima Zixia, it is the most mixed, and it is inevitable that something will happen.

Because most of this faction are military generals, they are also called the military guard faction by ordinary people, and of course there are those who disdain and contemptuously call them the Dalit Party.

He Jinbao should be regarded as a typical figure in the military guard faction, but he was born in a peasant household, but he became the founding marquis by virtue of his military exploits, and served as the general of the right prison guard, just disdained by the aristocratic faction. And He Jinbao is not the leader of the military guard faction, and he has not been taken seriously by the emperor to that extent, so he can just use He Jinbao to open the knife, which can not only test Sima Zixia's measurements, but also not be too annoying.

As soon as He Jinbao said it, Chen Shuangchuan understood, this is the so-called killing chicken to the monkey, unfortunately, He Jinbao made the chicken of the military guard, and Chen Shuangchuan is He Jinbao's chicken, and I don't know if there will be a trick in the future.

He Jinbao also understood it, and when he saw Chen Shuangchuan's worried face, he felt a little guilty and persuaded: "I have military merits, as long as it's not too much of a mistake." They can't help me, it's just that gossip is always inevitable, you just don't hear it, don't be angry with yourself in vain. ”

"As they say, I can't do without a piece of meat, I'm just fierce, fierce and intolerant, what else can you do with me?" Chen Shuangchuan doesn't care much, this kind of thing is all on He Jinbao, if he likes it, it is naturally all good, if he doesn't like it, no matter how virtuous and virtuous he is, it is useless, if he really can't get by, it's a big deal to leave, take his son to the countryside to live, Chen Shuangchuan has a pair of hands and feet, is he still afraid that he can't support his children.

After going through so many things, and listening to He Jinbao's drunken words, Chen Shuangchuan also slowly thought about it, and these annoying things should be spread out and explained instead of being depressed in his heart alone. He Jinbao is also right, people's hearts are always separated by a layer of belly, and they don't say anything, who can guess whose thoughts.

If He Jinbao also has a heart, then Chen Shuangchuan may also try to live hard together.

Chen Shuangchuan glanced at him, He Jinbao was a little moved, these two little couples had been making a little awkward before, since Chen Shuangchuan was injured, they have been separated for almost two months, Aunt Wang is not happy with him, He Jinbao endured it for a long time, quietly reached out and held Chen Shuangchuan's hand, and immediately saw Chen Shuangchuan's face burning, two red clouds jumped up, lined with a pair of black eyes, there is a moving style.

There are not many auspicious days of the zodiac in September, and there are two major festivals, and they are quite close to each other, so Sima Zixia made people pick a middle day and celebrate the two festivals together.

Chen Shuang's phoenix spread its wings and was quickly embroidered, and it was handed over to the craftsman to frame, and even Mama Fang admired the exquisiteness of the embroidery, and Chen Shuangchuan breathed a sigh of relief. For Sima Zixia's gift, He Jinbao picked a jade Ruyi, the jade quality is quite good, and it is not too conspicuous in a heavy gift.

On the day of the banquet, Chen Shuangchuan specially brought He Ruyu with him, and the two of them were dressed in stone blue embroidered clothes, holding hands when they left. It looks like a pair of sister flowers.

He Jinbao was going to the main hall, Chen Shuangchuan and He Ruyu were going to the inner palace to see the queen, and when they broke up at Dongchangmen, He Jinbao confessed: "Wait a minute, maybe someone will be embarrassed, you try to endure it, it's not good to make trouble at this time." ”

After answering them all, He Jinbao watched Chen Shuangchuan enter the door with the little eunuch.

Sima Zixia's banquet is set in the Evergreen Palace, and the banquet of the female dependents is set in the side hall, which is a little different from the usual road, not only He Ruyu, but even Chen Shuangchuan is the first time to come, I only feel that the scenery on this side is more majestic and atmospheric, which is very different from the prosperous splendid scenery on the side of the Middle Palace.

He Ruyu had never seen such a scene, and always felt novel, holding Chen Shuang's hand tightly, but a pair of eyes couldn't help but look left and right, and from time to time let out such a soft exclamation, and whispered: "The palace is much bigger than at home." ”

When he walked in the door, looking at the high roof and the pale gold painted walls, He Ruyu was a little timid, pulling Chen Shuang's skirt and hiding behind, refusing to come out.

"Who is this beautiful little girl?" Suddenly, I heard a voice say. When I looked back, it was Lu Sufen, pretending not to know, and she was teasing He Ruyu to talk.

He Ruyu smiled shyly, and finally came out from behind Chen Shuang, and called people very obediently.

After chatting with Lu Sufen for a few words, I listened to the eunuch sing until the queen's mother arrived, and Queen Tong, who was wearing a red and gold-trimmed court dress, came in, quickly stood up, and saluted with everyone.

Empress Tong excused herself from the courtesy and sat down in their respective positions. Then they gave gifts to Queen Tong according to their respective identities.

This send, really let Chen Shuangchuan open his eyes, antique treasures, famous paintings alone, think of the unexpected, everything, the most conspicuous is the wife of the long history Du Qiutang, the gift is actually a golden tree trunk, decorated with a lantern strung with pearls, hung all over the tree, it is said to be a fire tree silver flower, as soon as it is taken out, it will dazzle everyone's eyes.

"Mrs. Du is so generous!" Lu Sufen sat close to Chen Shuangchuan and couldn't help whispering.

Chen Shuangchuan was curious: "I don't know if Lord Du gave the emperor another gift?" ”

The emperor and queen celebrate their birthday on the same day, and each household has to give out two gifts, but everyone is a little measured in their hearts, and they are careful not to let the gift to Queen Tong cross Sima Zixia.

Although he was curious, it was not good to go over and see what was going on now, so he could only wait for the banquet to end and ask He Jinbao for clarification.

After Mrs. Du's fire tree and silver flower, the gifts after that were a little overshadowed, and no longer attracted people's attention, Chen Shuang's phoenix wings were just a routine admiration from Queen Tong, Chen Shuangchuan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, such a season, it's better not to be too eye-catching.

Finally, when the banquet began, someone came to open the door of the side hall, put on a silk screen in the blue color of the rain, and vaguely saw the side of the main hall, and after a while, a group of palace maids came in and performed songs and dances.

It was the first time He Ruyu had seen such a scene, and she felt novel at first, but He Ruyu was not a girl who didn't know the importance of it, and before she came, she was taught by Chen Shuangchuan and had been sitting honestly. It's a bit boring.

Finally waiting for the banquet to start, He Ruyu was not interested in those songs and dances, and concentrated on tasting the food set up on the table.

The craftsmanship of the imperial kitchen is naturally excellent, a plate of colorful dishes, just like a painting, extraordinarily good-looking, but the imperial diet is to be specially commissioned by a small eunuch to be responsible for testing poison, and when it is passed on, most of them have been cold, and the taste is naturally much worse, and the imperial diet has a lot of exquisiteness, not if you want to do it, you can do it, it is decent, and it does not conform to the taste of He Ruyu.

He Ruyu was a little tired after eating a few bites, thinking that it was not as delicious as what she made at home, but she didn't dare to say it to Chen Shuangchuan, and after sitting for a while, He Ruyu quietly pulled the corner of Chen Shuangchuan's clothes and asked, "Sister-in-law, can I go there to play?" ”

At this time, it was already dark, and countless lanterns were lit in the palace garden, all kinds of shapes, He Ruyu was really a little greedy, and when he heard the voices of some children over there, He Ruyu couldn't sit still.

Chen Shuangchuan also participated in these gatherings for the first time, and thought it was fun, so he thought about bringing He Ruyu to see it, but he was also disappointed, seeing He Ruyu's boring appearance, Chen Shuangchuan thought about it.

Queen Tong's birthday banquet, Chen Shuang didn't leave the table halfway, Mama Fang was not very flexible because of her age, so the maid who came in this time was Chunhong, and this girl also followed up several times, and the taboos that should be known are still known, and it is also quite appropriate, thinking that something should not happen. Chen Shuangchuan nodded, and instructed He Ruyu a few words, have fun, don't quarrel with others, and let Chunhong follow her out.

There are many lanterns outside the Evergreen Palace, and most of the children brought by each family gather here, jumping and jumping around a big lantern that slowly rotates like a lotus flower.

He Ruyu was a little afraid of life, and when she saw so many people, she didn't dare to step forward, but she also liked the big lantern, and watched it from afar for a long time before she ran to the side, where there were few people, to see those smaller lanterns.

was looking at it, and suddenly felt that there was one more person on the side, and when he looked back, it was a seven or eight-year-old boy, wearing a black and brown dress, frowning, puffing out his cheeks as if he was angry with someone, squatting on He Ruyu's side without saying a word, staring at the lantern and looking fiercely.

"The one there's bigger and better-looking." He Ruyu felt that this kid was a little strange, and he was inexplicably a little cold, but He Ruyu was thin-skinned and embarrassed to let that person leave, so he pointed to the lotus lantern in it very sincerely.

"Okay, why don't you go and see it?" The kid asked coldly.

He Ruyu was embarrassed to say that he was afraid of life, so he kept his mouth shut and didn't speak, and counted the tassels on the lantern intently, and the kid didn't speak, just stared at the dark place, lowered his head, and squatted there silently, making small noises from time to time.

After a while, He Ruyu reacted, that kid should be crying.

It was the first time He Ruyu met someone crying in front of her, and she was a little panicked, and just wanted to call Chunhong, who was sitting not far away and watching, over, but the kid raised his head with red eyes and whispered, "Don't shout." ”

He Ruyu came back, squatted beside him, hesitated for a long time, and comforted him in a low voice: "It's okay, sister-in-law said, only crying children have pain, don't be ashamed." ”

"Did anyone bully you, where did you fall, or are you hungry?" He Ruyu saw that this kid was crying pitifully, and she happened to have some small snacks on her, and Chen Shuangchuan was afraid that she would be hungry on the road, so she specially packed them for her. Just at the right time, I took it out, took one of the kid's hands, wiped it clean with a handkerchief, put a piece in the palm of his hand, and said with a smile: "I won't be hungry after eating, it was specially made by my sister-in-law, but it is delicious, taste it." ”

"For me?" The kid hesitated a little, saw He Ruyu nodded, and was about to say, when suddenly a little eunuch appeared from behind and screamed: "Your Highness, you can't eat it." ”

He Ruyu was startled, staring at the little eunuch who suddenly appeared, the kid wiped his eyes, and shouted at the little eunuch: "Be bold, retreat!" ”

The little eunuch knelt down with a plop, kowtowed and said that he didn't dare, but he refused to let a step, seeing that the kid's face was getting more and more ugly, he could only take a step back, take half a piece, eat it, and wait for a while before nodding and saying, "It should be okay." ”

After such a mess, He Ruyu didn't dare to invite him to eat, put this snack in the palm of his hand, rubbed it back and forth for a while, or stuffed it into his mouth, and said vaguely: "You live in the palace, it's so pitiful, you eat those cold foods, and you are not allowed to eat when you are hungry." ”

"You think I'm pathetic?"

"yes, yes." He Ruyu nodded, patted the crumbs of dim sum on his hand and said, "The dishes in there, they look beautiful just by looking at the flowers and greenery, and they taste greasy and greasy, but my sister-in-law is still much more delicious." ”

The boy slowly nibbled on half of the snack in his hand, and nodded his head as he listened, and the two children had a good conversation.

But after a while, the little eunuch came over and reminded him that it was time to go in when it was cold. The kid took a few steps forward, and suddenly turned back to He Ruyu and asked, "You...... Which one? ”

"Huh?" I have rarely heard this kind of statement, He Ruyu couldn't react for a while, and only opened her mouth stupidly.

Seeing that the little eunuch had all looked over here, the kid suddenly became annoyed, blushed, and scolded in a low voice: "Why are you so stupid!" He turned around and ran away.

"What a strange child."

When He Ruyu returned to the side hall, she didn't forget to tell Chen Shuangchuan that she met a very strange child in the courtyard, but she talked to him well and invited him to eat half a piece of snacks, but a little eunuch also ate half a piece.

"Next time, don't just ask someone to eat." The people in the palace have several thoughts, there are many rules, and they are even more particular about eating, and there are special drug test eunuchs, and every meal must be tasted to prevent people from being poisoned. It's just that she told He Ruyu about these things, and she probably didn't know much, Chen Shuangchuan just said, "Eating indiscriminately will hurt your stomach." ”

He Ruyu nodded, it should be.

Seeing that her face was stained with some dirt, Chen Shuangchuan took a handkerchief and wiped it for her, but He Ruyu suddenly stretched out his hand and pointed to the front and said, "Ah, it's that child." ”

Chen Shuangchuan looked up and saw that there was a little boy next to Queen Tong, raising his chin slightly, looking very arrogant and cute, it was Sima Zixia's son Sima Yi.

When he got home and put He Ruyu to sleep, Chen Shuangchuan told He Jinbao about it, and sighed: "Ruyu has met a great character. ”

He Jinbao didn't care, and said: "How can a child's things be done accurately." ”

"I'm afraid that not everyone thinks so, you didn't see it, the lady of Changshi hated it at that time, and she was about to stick out her eyeballs."

After sitting in danger for a night, Chen Shuangchuan only felt that his waist was almost straight, so he sat on the bed, and beat it with his hand, thinking that Mrs. Du had sent a fire tree and silver flower, I don't know, Lord Changshi sent it again, and asked curiously.

"The whole green jade screen is really magnificent, and I still feel that my eyes are shining and dazzling." Speaking of which, He Jinbao also had a look of admiration and yearning.

Chen Shuangchuan calculated very casually, how many jade pieces should be used to string such a screen as high as a person, and how much silver should be spent, and he couldn't help but admire: "It turns out that Du Changshi's family background is so rich." ”

"It's too eye-catching, it's not necessarily a good thing." He Jinbao said that he had followed Sima Zixia for several years, and he always felt that he should not be a person who liked such luxury, but after all, he was a person who had already become an emperor, and the emperor's heart was unpredictable.

Chen Shuangchuan thought about it simply, if you don't make a big mistake, you can make a small mistake by chance, otherwise the too perfect subordinates, how can the emperor deal with himself?

"Meritorious Shock Lord?" As soon as Chen Shuangchuan said this, He Jinbao understood, but he didn't care much, "It's still early for that." ”

walked around the palace, and when asked about He Ruyu's coming, He Ruyu intuitively didn't like it, but Mrs. He and Chen Shuangchuan both told her that everything was good there, and it couldn't be said bad, so Mrs. He taught He Ruyu that the golden nest and the silver nest were not as good as their own kennels, so they were often taken by He Ruyu.

I don't know where Mrs. He heard about this, so she came over to interrogate curiously, because she came to find He Ruyu, and Chen Shuangchuan couldn't refuse, so she only called Mama Fang to accompany He Ruyu.

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