Seeing the officials talking, Yuan Lao Shangshu seemed to have some confidence, and said to Sima Changshen: "Marquis Zhongyi, this... does seem to be a little inappropriate."
Sima Changshen glanced at Qi Ning, and suddenly smiled and said: "Old Minister does not know something, this is not the intention of our Sima family. It is the duty of ministers to abide by the national etiquette. How dare we overstep it?" He raised his hands and said: "To be honest, this is the Queen Mother's intention. It is the Queen Mother who specially ordered us to prepare a jade chariot and send the little girl to the palace. How dare we disobey the Queen Mother's order?"
When the ministers heard this, their voices suddenly became quieter.
Sima Changshen said proudly: "Old Minister, the emperor's wedding is a state matter, but it is also a matter of the harem. The Queen Mother is in charge of the harem, and she was considerate of the Sima family's loyalty to the court and gave a special decree. This will not be the Queen Mother's fault. Alright?"
Yuan Lao Shangshu frowned slightly, but Qi Ning already smiled and said: "What Zhongyi Hou said is true. The Queen Mother is in charge of the harem, and the officials of the previous dynasty naturally cannot say much about the harem. What kind of kindness does the Queen Mother have to the Sima family? That’s not something we foreign ministers can ask about.”
Sima Changshen put his hands behind his back and sneered: "It's rare that Jin Yihou still understands this truth."
"I understand this truth. Of course, Marquis Zhongyi also understands another truth, that is, the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics." Qi Ning said with a smile: "Marquis Zhongyi said, the emperor's wedding is not only a state matter, but also a matter of the harem. Right now, in the palace gate Outside, it’s state affairs, and state affairs must be handled in accordance with the country’s laws and etiquette. When you get to the harem, you must follow the rules of the harem.”
Sima Changshen frowned and said, "What do you mean?"
"The meaning is very simple. Even if the Queen Mother has a special decree, you can come up with it if you are loyal and loyal. However, the etiquette system of the country is the etiquette system, and no one can violate it." Qi Ning said lightly: "Is it possible that the Minister of Punishment is just because If you are in charge of the Ministry of Punishments, you can violate the country's criminal laws without authorization? Can the Minister of the Ministry of Husbandry ignore the regulations and dispose of the country's finances at will?"
As soon as Qi Ning said this, all the ministers changed their expressions slightly. Some people thought that Jin Yihou was really bold, and his words were directed at the current Queen Mother.
But they didn't know that in Qining's heart, the most reliable person might be Longtai. As for the empress dowager, Qining really didn't take it seriously. What's more, Qining knew that even Longtai was full of resentment towards the empress dowager, so he didn't Don't care about offending the so-called Queen Mother.
"You... are bold!" Sima Changshen was also a little surprised. He thought he would use his trump card and carry out the Queen Mother, but Qi Ning retreated. Who knew that Qi Ning didn't care at all and said angrily: "Jin Yihou, you are Are you blaspheming the Queen Mother?"
"Whether I have blasphemed the Queen Mother, everyone present can hear clearly." Qi Ning's eyes were cold and he sneered: "I just said that I must follow the country's etiquette, but I don't know which sentence blasphemed the Queen Mother? Zhongyihou, you said Come out and listen.”
Although Qi Ning's tone was stern, there was really not a word of blasphemy against the Queen Mother in his words.
Sima Changshen was speechless for a moment. Qi Ning glanced at Yuan Lao Shangshu and said seriously: "Old Shangshu, you are in charge of the Ministry of Rites. It is not my place to say these words."
Yuan Lao Shangshu pondered for a moment, and finally said to Sima Lan: "Old Duke, this matter is indeed inappropriate, I don't know...!"
Before he finished speaking, Sima Lan said coldly: "Sima Changshen, kneel down for me!"
His voice was not very loud, and his tone was not harsh, but he had an aura of calmness and authority. Sima Changshen was startled, looked at Sima Lan, and said in silence: "Dad...!"
"Kneel down!" Sima Lan shouted coldly again: "There is no father here, only the envoy of the wedding."
Sima Changshen's face turned red, but he did not dare to disobey Sima Lan. In desperation, he knelt down in front of Sima Lan.
"I ask you, who prepared this jade chariot?" Sima Lan said coldly: "I have been busy with other things recently and asked you to prepare for the wedding. Is this how you prepare? Don't you understand the etiquette of the court?"
"Dad... no, Duke, I...!"
"The country has its own etiquette, which has been passed down from our ancestors. How can we violate it?" Sima Lan looked like he hated iron and said: "The Queen Mother has enron and issued a decree, but you should also report it to the Queen Mother. Decline the Queen Mother's kindness." He raised his hand and pointed at the jade chariot, "When I saw it just now, I knew that the etiquette system was abolished, but Yuan Laoshangshu was here, and in order to avoid suspicion, he didn't say much. Jin Yihou expressed his kindness and expressed his kindness to You remind me, but you are stubborn and ineffective. You are really stupid for not changing the sedan quickly!"
Everyone saw it and felt funny in their hearts, thinking to themselves that without your permission from the Duke of Zhenguo, Sima Changshen would have dared to violate the etiquette.
Sima Changshen stood up and shouted: "If you don't let people carry the jade chariot away, why are you blocking it there? Prepare the sedan chair and carry...carry her into the palace!"
After a period of silence, someone finally went over and invited Sima Wanqiong to come down from the jade chariot. Sima Wanqiong was obviously unwilling to get out of the jade chariot. She ignored the presence of the ministers and slightly raised her red hood and looked towards Qining. She glanced around and her eyes finally fell on Qi Ning. She obviously guessed that it was Qi Ning who had just stopped her from riding the jade chariot.
Qi Ning put his hands behind his back, calmly, and looked at Sima Wanqiong. He vaguely saw that Sima Wanqiong's appearance was not bad, but those vicious eyes were really uncomfortable.
A group of people quickly lifted the jade chariot away. Everyone in the Sima family looked ugly. Many people hated looking at Qi Ning, but Qi Ning was smiling and calm.
The ministers never expected that there would be such a scene today, and many people secretly thought that now the Jinyi Qi family and the Sima family had truly formed a life-and-death feud.
Dou Kui's remnants of Huainan King's party were actually quite excited, thinking that this young marquis was very courageous and unafraid of the power of the Sima family. In the future, if there is such a person in the court, the Sima family will have to do whatever they want. I have some scruples.
It's just that the Sima family has been preparing a jade chariot from the beginning. It's not easy to find a large sedan chair at this time. The Sima family was busy. Yuan Laoshang looked up at the sky, with a trace of anxiety on his brows.
Qi Ning came closer to Yuan Lao Shangshu and whispered: "Old Shangshu, are there time regulations for all the procedures of this wedding?"
Mr. Yuan Lao Shangshu sighed and said: "Yes, each item has a fixed auspicious time. Logically speaking, it cannot be delayed."
Qi Ning nodded slightly and said: "Your Majesty's wedding is a state matter. If there is a mistake, it is not a big deal if the old minister is convicted. If it loses the national prestige of our country, it is not a small matter." He looked towards the Qi State not far away. Prince Duan Shao took a look and whispered: "The prince of Dong Qi is also here. I don't say anything. If it really delays the queen's entry into the palace, I'm afraid the whole Dong Qi will be dissatisfied. Let's get married to Dong Qi. This is for the good of the alliance between the two countries, but if the people of Qi are dissatisfied because of the marriage, it will be counterproductive."
Yuan Laoshangshu nodded repeatedly and said in a low voice: "What the Marquis said is absolutely true, I am also worried about this." He glanced at the other side of the Sima Mansion and said softly: "But we can't leave the eldest lady of the Sima family behind. Welcoming the queen into the palace."
Qi Ning smiled slightly and didn't say much.
Because of the delay of the Sima family, although the honor guard remained motionless, the ministers were not as arranged in an orderly manner as before, and those who were closer gathered together to whisper.
Sima Changshen had a livid face. It was not like he was marrying his daughter on the big day, but someone owed him money and refused to pay it back.
Suddenly he saw a person hurriedly coming out of the mansion, whispering a few words in Sima Changshen's ear. Sima Changshen said angrily: "Look, keep looking. You can't find a sedan in Sima's mansion? If you really can't find it, give it to me immediately." I made it.”
Qi Ning glanced at him sideways and said with a smile: "Zhongyi Hou, the Emperor's wedding, the auspicious time is approaching, can we let everyone wait for you to start building the sedan now? It doesn't matter to us, if we miss the Emperor's auspicious time, Wouldn’t that harm the old prince?”
Sima Lan is the official envoy of the wedding. If the auspicious time is really delayed, Sima Lan will naturally be the first to bear the blame.
Sima Changshen's eyes flashed. Although the Sima Mansion had many carriages and sedans, it did not have the twelve sedans for the wedding, not to mention that it was impossible for the Sima Mansion to go to other mansions to borrow twelve sedans. Come on, even if you really go to borrow it, you won't be able to borrow it.
Even for officials, the highest etiquette for marriages can only be an eight-carriage sedan chair. Unless the empress is welcomed into the palace, a ten-carrying sedan chair is possible, and the twelve-carrying sedan chair requires a special order from the palace. Not to mention ordinary people, even the residences of princes and nobles cannot prepare twelve sedans to carry the sedan.
At this time, Mr. Yuan Lao Shangshu couldn't help but said: "Zhongyi Hou, the auspicious time cannot be delayed, we should think of a way quickly, we must return to the palace as soon as possible." He glanced at Sima Lan, who was calm and composed not far away, and took a few steps forward. He cupped his hands and said, "Old Duke, look...!"
Sima Lan nodded slightly, and then said to Sima Changshen: "Don't worry about it. There are many sedan chairs in the mansion, just pick a sedan and let others carry it. She has not been canonized as the imperial concubine, there are not so many Be particular about it.”
Sima Changshen said anxiously: "Dad... the Duke of the state is also a major event for our Sima family, how can he...!"
"Today's big event is that the emperor marries the queen." Sima Lan said coldly: "Other than that, there is no other big event." He raised his head and looked at the sky, and said: "If you are not ready in half a stick of incense, Lao Shangshu , the team to welcome the bride set off immediately without any delay."
Yuan Laoshangshu knew that Sima Lan's words contained some anger, so he said cautiously: "Old Duke, there is no need to be so anxious. It will only take you a moment to board a stick of incense. Let's go back and walk faster. It should be fine.”
"Old Shangshu is kind to people." Sima Lan said: "But don't mess up the priorities in everything. Sima Changshen, why don't you prepare quickly? After half a stick of incense, we will set off immediately. No one needs to say more."
Sima Changshen was helpless, glanced back at Qining, cupped his hands and said, "Yes!"