On the wedding day of Chang Tian, the lord of Wanping.

There are still two hours before dawn, and the Chang family is already busy with work.

Originally, Chang Feng wanted to keep his sister's marriage low-key. Not at all going to invite any foreign ministers.

However, the emperor and empress came to congratulate him. It is equivalent to a holy decree: all officials need to come to congratulate.

According to etiquette, Huang Yuan wanted to set off from the county lord's mansion and come to Changfu to greet his relatives. Then return to the county lord's mansion with the wedding sedan chair and the bride.

The ceremony of the big wedding will be held at the county lord's mansion. Emperor Hongzhi, Empress Zhang, and hundreds of officials will also congratulate at the county lord's mansion.

Liu Xiaoyan and Mrs. Jiu, as well as six female court officials, helped Chang Tian arrange her makeup and wear layers of wedding dresses in Chang Tian's bedroom.

There are too many layers in the wedding dress, and Chang Tian is wrapped into a zongzi.

Chang Feng led the brocade robes who came to help clean the courtyard and prepare firecrackers.

The Beicheng Terracotta Division sent 500 soldiers to splash the streets on the streets in front of the Changfu Gate, and the loess mats.

Toss until dawn. Chang Feng had a hasty breakfast with a group of brothers.

Today's Chang family got married, Chang Feng took leave and didn't go to the early court.

They waited from the dawn until the hour. I could only hear the sound of salutes and music in the streets and alleys, and the team to welcome relatives came.

The musicians of Taichang Temple blow the horn in front of them to open the way.

Seventeen-year-old Huang Yuanchun was proud and rode on a tall horse.

In front of him, the officers of the Ministry of Rites played tripartite official cards on the left, center, and right.

The big book on the right official plate is "Hongzhi Nine Years Palace Examination Second Class Gives Jinshi Origin".

On the official plaque on the left, there is a big book "From the second grade of the Zongren Mansion Honor Guest".

The big book on the Zhongguan card is "Zhongfeng Doctor".

The husbands of the golden branches and jade leaves of the Ming Dynasty are all of high grades, but they are only loose and have no real power.

The rank of the horse is from the first product.

The rank of the county lord's guest of honor is from the second grade, and he is awarded the rank of the doctor.

In terms of grade, today's Huang Yuan is older than his eldest brother Chang Fengguan'er. Chang Feng, this brocade guard, Zuotong, is only a military attache from the third grade.

The female official of the palace Shangyi Division said loudly: "The auspicious time has come, and the guests of honor will welcome you!" ”

"Greeting" is one of the formal steps of ancient weddings.

The singer of Taichang Temple beside Huang Yuan shouted: "The guest of honor enters the mansion!" ”

Xu Fatzi and nine-year-old Chang Ponu lit red firecrackers.

Firecrackers exploded, and festive red confetti fluttered in the sky.

There were a lot of people watching the excitement outside Changfu.

Changfu is located in Beicheng, which is a gathering place for officials, nobles, and wealthy people. Most of the people who watched the excitement were people with status.

They whispered: "My God, Jinyi Wei often marries his sister, the pomp is really big!" ”

"Of course, Chang Tu's sister is the emperor's righteous sister. Chang Tu's wife is the emperor's sister-in-law. ”

"The first favorite of the Hongzhi Dynasty, that was blown out?"

The word "favored minister" is different from important ministers and virtuous ministers, and in the final analysis it is a derogatory term.

For political nouveau riche like Chang Feng, those civil officials who are struggling to seek promotion are looked down upon. will be disdainfully evaluated as a "favored minister".

It's another cumbersome etiquette. After about half an hour, Chang Tiancai, supported by the female officials in the palace, covered his face with a fan in his hand, and entered the wedding sedan chair.

Chang Feng was dressed in court clothes and followed on a horse.

Liu Xiaoyan was dressed in a command suit and also entered a small sedan chair as a "sister-in-law" to accompany her.

The Ninth Lady is a concubine and has no identity. You can't sit in a sedan chair, you can only walk behind the female officials and follow the sedan chair on foot.

Xu Fatzi gave up his horse to Chang Ponu to ride. He led the horse and whipped his little nephew.

The welcoming procession passed through most of the northern city, and the momentum was huge.

A six-pin official who watched the excitement commented: "Tsk, this face is really big." The last time I saw such a big scene, it was three years ago when the emperor's sister Princess Yongkang got married. ”

"Otherwise, even if you are a dog in the next life, you have to be born by the emperor's side! Rising fast by the emperor's side! ”

Chang Feng was immersed in the joy of his sister's marriage. He didn't expect that this magnificent wedding of the emperor would arouse the envy of a large number of pink eye civil officials.

Civilian officials are literati. The literati are the most jealous, and most of the literati are as small as a needle.

The greeting procession finally arrived at the county lord's mansion.

Chang Tian got out of the sedan chair with a fan in his hand, and was supported by Liu Xiaoyan, the "sister-in-law", and entered the door.

After entering the mansion, all the big wedding ceremonies stopped. Everyone waited for the arrival of the emperor and empress.

To prevent assassination. About 200 people changed into civilian clothes and acted as guests for the wedding.

"Bang bang bang!" The soldiers of the Ministry of Rites honked their bells.

Immediately afterwards, a hundred Han generals who opened the way rode to the gate of the mansion.

Behind were the battalions of the 500th Regiment on foot.

Behind them were two hundred eunuchs carrying buckets and sprinkling water on both sides of the road.

Three quarters of an hour after the ringing of the salute, the imperial chariot on which the emperor and empress rode slowly appeared in everyone's field of vision.

Everyone fell to their knees and shouted "Long live the emperor" to welcome the holy car.

The Imperial Rim finally stopped. Emperor Hongzhi and Empress Zhang joined hands.

Emperor Hongzhi whispered something to Xiao Jing. Xiao Jing shouted at the top of his voice: "Flat!" ”

Then the people got up.

The marriage of the county lord is very different from the marriage of the common people's family.

For example, when a common family gets married, the daughter should wear a red hijab. The county lord replaced the red hijab with a fan.

For example, when the common people get married, they enter the cave house after "three worships" as a sign of ceremony.

The wedding of the county lord is marked by the end of the ceremony.

The so-called wedding ceremony, to put it bluntly, is the newlyweds drinking together.

The hall of the county lord's mansion is nine rooms and eleven shelves. The emperor and empress sit in the nave.

Chang Tian and Huang Yuan, under the witness of the emperor and his wife, carried out the "three salutes in the hall".

Although the old lame man is Huang Yuan's adoptive father, he has no official position because of his humble background, and he can't even enter the hall. You can only stand at the back of the crowd in the front yard.

Rao is like this, he is still happy old tears.

I never thought that I, the son of a snitch, would marry the emperor's righteous sister and become the lord of the court!

Chang Feng was in the hall, and he also shed tears excitedly: Tangtang got married. Father, you have a spirit in heaven, please rest in peace! I fulfilled your entrustment and raised Sugar Candy to grow up!

After the three prostrations in the hall, the most important prayer begins.

The two directors of the Ministry of Rites carried a wooden case. Chang Tian and Huang Yuan knelt on either side of the wooden table.

On the wooden table is a vessel called a "figurine". There was a fat fish in the vessel.

This unlucky fat fish was caught by the Yongding River by the wind a while ago, and it was raised in the water tank in the house to this day, and it was cooked as a ritual vessel for my sister's wedding.

Chang Tian and Huang Yuan symbolically picked up the chopsticks, took some fish meat and put it in their mouths to swallow.

Immediately afterwards, the two of them picked up the gourd and poured some wine from each of them.

The two of them raised their hands at the same time and drank the wine.

Emperor Hongzhi shouted excitedly: "Heyu Licheng!" Chang Tian, the lord of Wanping County, and Huang Yuan, the guest of honor of the Zongren Mansion, are already husband and wife! Send it to the cave room! ”

This voice was originally shouted by Ni Yue, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites. Emperor Hongzhi was overjoyed.

Chang Tian and Huang Yuan were sent into the cave room by the female officer.

The female official violated the etiquette system and said more in the cave room: "The candle night in the cave room and the rain in the long drought are the two of the four joys of life." The county lord and guests of honor please enjoy the good time. ”

After saying that, the female officer withdrew from the cave room.

Chang Tian put down the fan in his hand and sat on the wedding couch with Huang Yuan awkwardly.

After a long time, Chang Tian spoke, breaking the awkward silence: "From today on, I will not be a child. ”

Huang Yuandao: "In the future, we must respect each other as guests, raise our eyebrows, and respect each other."

"Smack!" Chang Tian actually took the initiative to kiss Huang Yuan.

No one dared to listen to the county lord's bedside. Today's cave house belongs to Chang Tian and Huang Yuan.

On the Changfeng side, he was busy sending off the holy driver.

For the sake of safety, Emperor Hongzhi did not eat wedding wine in the county lord's mansion. If someone poisons the party, it's not a joke.

After sending off the holy car with the hundred officials, Chang Feng was busy entertaining the officials, nobles, relatives and friends who attended the wedding banquet.

It was busy until the evening. The guests left one after another, and Chang Feng breathed a sigh of relief.

Dinner often has to be eaten at home, and cannot be eaten at the county lord's mansion.

Because nominally, Chang Feng, a brocade-clothed guard slave, is the courtier of the county lord.

Willow tops on the moon. Chang Feng had mixed tastes and returned home with his wife and concubine.

Liu Xiaoyan suddenly heard Chang Feng's stomach make a "gurgling" sound. Chang Feng ate two fried juniper in the morning and never ate again.

Liu Xiaoyan said with a smile: "The people who set up the wedding banquet are hungry. ”

Chang Feng said: "Let the kitchen serve." Oh, and remember the first dish of pork head with garlic. Sugar candy was a favorite when I was a child. ”

The Ninth Lady heard that Chang Feng was a little lost. She comforted her husband: "Tangtang is not a distant marriage. You can go back to our house at any time in the future. ”

Chang Feng said: "It's always self-reliant." Alas, I still remember how chubby she looked when she was a child."

The Ninth Lady smiled: "Look at you. Today is a day of great joy for sugar and sugar, and you can't be sad. Gotta laugh! ”

Chang Ponu chewed the candy in his mouth and said, "That's it! The little lady is right, Dad, my aunt is overjoyed, and she is happy. ”

Nine-year-old Chang Ponu is already very sensible. He is now the companion of the crown prince Zhu Houzhao. Their teacher is Li Dongyang.

Chang Feng squeezed out a smile: "Yes, what's wrong with me." I should be happy to get married. ”

That being said, Chang Feng still felt like he had lost something.

The next day, Chang Feng, as usual, came to the Jinshui Bridge to prepare to participate in the early court of the Imperial Gate.

Ma Wensheng walked over: "Chang Xiaoyou." Yesterday, the Chang family can be described as extremely gracious! The Chang family's marriage of daughters is exactly the same as the regulation of the royal family marrying princesses. ”

Chang Feng nodded: "Yes, the emperor's grace is mighty." It is difficult to repay the death of the Chang family. ”

Marven lowered his voice: "However, I heard some rumors. ”

Chang Feng asked, "Oh? What's the rumor? ”

Ma Wensheng said: "It's not a good word anyway. The civil officials in the capital are all 'as long as you live better than me, I can't stand it'. ”

Chang Feng was stunned: "Ma Butang is saying that the Chang family is extremely gracious, which has aroused the envy of civil officials?" ”

Ma Wensheng smiled: "I didn't say that. Anyway, when you are in a high position, you must always be cautious and beware of villains. There is a lack of everything in the court, that is, there is no shortage of villains. ”

Early dynasty begins.

Zhou Jingyu, the new head of the household department, reported on the collection of autumn grain.

Compared with the 23 years of Chenghua at the beginning of Emperor Hongzhi's accession to the throne, the total amount of autumn grain collection this year has increased by two times and sixty percent.

The prosperity of Hongji reached a new peak in the autumn of the ninth year of Hongji.

A group of courtiers began to pat the dragon's fart, praising the Holy Monarch in the court, the peace of the Taixia, and the prosperity of the times.

Under the prosperity of successive dynasties, there are actually hidden crises.

The crisis of the Hongzhi Dynasty was that the civil official group began to rise strongly; The group of relatives is arrogant and lawless.

Let's talk about a few days later. Chang Feng came to Jinyiwei on duty.

Qian Ning entered his duty room and said angrily: "Master Chang, you can make me angry!" ”

Chang Feng asked, "Oh? What's up? ”

Qian Ning vomited bitterness: "A director of the ministry said a few taboo words. Originally, I was going to take him to Beizhen Fusi, reprimand him, and make him clean his mouth. ”

"But I'll go to the ministry to get someone. was scolded by Ma Wensheng. He scolded me for being nitpicky and making a fuss about nothing. ”

"I'm also the left of Jinyiwei. There's always the right to rebuke a six-grade principal, right? ”

Chang Feng was stunned: "Is there such a thing?" ”

Qian Ning said: "I didn't say that I would punish him. It's just that I can't do it under a verbal warning! ”

"After I came back, I told Commander Mu about it. Mu commanded the envoy to go to the cabinet and negotiate with the cabinet elders. ”

"The elders are tough. Just don't hand over people! ”

"It's a joke, don't warn anyone. Even if it's arresting, beating, or killing, do you need the nod of the elders? ”

This matter is often a little difficult to evaluate. After all, he has a good relationship with Ma Wensheng, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian.

Chang Feng could only comfort Qian Ning: "That master just doesn't know how to clean his mouth." It's not a big case, so don't pay too much attention to it. ”

Qian Ning said: "Master Chang, I'm not just angry because of this incident. ”

"To put it mildly, Commander Mu is a . People who are too merciful. When encountering anything, it is taboo to civil officials, and they have to go to the elders to discuss. ”

"Grandpa Cheng set up the Jinyi Guard to supervise and balance civil officials."

"For most of the past six months, Jinyiwei has to look at the faces of the elders."

Chang Feng sighed: "Alas, you are very right. ”

The head of the house slaves, Mu Bin, was more lenient, and his master, Emperor Hongzhi, was even more lenient.

Sometimes Kuanren is a double-edged sword.

Emperor Hongzhi treated civil officials too well. As a result, the civil officials were dragged like 2580,000.

In recent months, some people in the capital have even said: "The civil officials have been afraid of the Jinyi Guard for a hundred years, and today the son is a holy monarch, and he will not suppress the civil officials with domestic slaves." Civil officials can finally raise their heads and be human beings in front of the factory guards! ”

This is a very bad start. The so-called situation of the DPRK pays attention to the balance between the forces of all parties. The strength of the civilian officials upset the delicate balance of the situation.

At this moment, Xu Fatzi also walked in: "Master Chang, I can't do that job!" ”

Chang Feng asked, "What's wrong?" What's not to do in the work of raising elephants? ”

Xu Fatzi said: "The household department sent a Lang Zhong to the elephant training center. Said to cut the cost of the mahout by 60%. ”

Chang Feng frowned: "." What authority does the household department have to manage the expenses of the thousands of households under the command of Jinyiwei? ”

Xu Fatzi said: "Originally, they couldn't control it. But the household department handed the emperor a note to reduce the expenses of elephant taming. The emperor approved it. ”

"That egg is doing things according to orders."

Channing interjected: "Listen. Master Chang, after you were idle, those civil officials really kicked their noses in the face! ”

Chang Feng was a little helpless: "Since there is a holy decree, we can only reduce the expenses of elephant taming according to the holy decree." ”

"In this way, the deficiencies of the mahout will be allocated by the private treasury."

Xu Fatzi lowered his voice: "Master Chang, the household department is not only eyeing the elephant training center. Eyeing our private treasury again, he said that he would check the accounts of Jinyiwei for the second time! And I've heard that this time it's not like last time, so it's going to be real! ”

Chang Feng's complexion changed: "What? Endless? ”

The situation is changing, and power is changing. An era in which the civilian-bureaucratic group overwhelmed the factory guards is quietly coming.

(A new volume of "The Case of Li Guang" will open tomorrow)

(End of chapter)