The weather in the past few days has been as expected by Li Hong. After the cold wind raged throughout the Guanzhong area for more than a day, the temperature also dropped further. The cold wind mixed with the icy temperature made people completely aware that The twelfth lunar month of winter arrived so silently.
In Chang'an City during the day, the businessmen who were still walking on the bustling streets were all requisitioned by the Ministry of Household Affairs to bring a batch of winter cotton clothes and daily necessities. They set off from various city gates in Chang'an and were sent to All Chi counties under the jurisdiction of Jingzhao Prefecture.
The surrounding roads, prefectures, and counties that may be affected also began to prepare nervously to withstand the colder weather because of the documents from the Shangshu Province. At each inn, there were officials from various governors waiting, from business travelers to The government's winter supplies were unloaded from the carriage, and after a certain amount of compensation was given to the business travelers, the winter supplies were rushed back to the government offices and began to be distributed to some poor people who could not survive the severe winter alone.
The next night at Yinshi, deep in the Qinling Mountains, the roaring tigers roared. The horrifying roar seemed to shake the layers of dark clouds in the night sky. Snowflakes danced gracefully in the silent night sky. Slowly landed on the ground.
The silver-covered world quietly formed under the cover of night. As the bells of the Drum Tower of Chang'an City rang and the city gates opened as scheduled, the whole world seemed to be covered with a layer of silver clothing.
Snowflakes are still falling from the sky, and the snow on the ground has disappeared from the people's feet. The entire Chang'an City seems to have become quieter with the snow. There are so few pedestrians on the streets that the snow on the road has become It still retains its most primitive and untrodden state.
The students from the Chongwen Hall and the officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs were probably the first group of people to go out besides the Chengwu Guards. Everyone took the tools in their hands and began to measure the thickness of the snow to see if it would continue to fall as the snow continued. , and initiate higher-level emergency measures.
In front of the Penglai Hall of the Daming Palace, the little figure Li Lingyue, carved in pink and jade, is like an elf in the snow. Her crisp laughter adds a touch of life to the slightly silent palace.
Her hands and little face were red from the cold. After playing with snowflakes for a long time and feeling bored, she wanted to go to the East Palace and ask the emperor to build a snowman for him. Wu Mei looked at the big tree that had reached the eaves of Penglai Hall. At this moment, the branches of the tree were intertwined. It was covered with snowflakes, as if it were decorated with a coat.
Just when Li Lingyue was pestering Wu Mei to go to the East Palace, Yang Wu's figure slowly walked over from the snowflakes flying in the sky: "Queen, Your Highness, please go to the East Palace to have dinner with your Majesty at noon."
"Why didn't he come in person?" Wu Mei looked at the excited Li Lingyue. After hearing Yang Wu's words, she made the same "oh yes" sound as Li Hong did when he was a child, and asked with a frown.
"Uh... Back to the Queen, His Royal Highness is personally preparing lunch for you and Your Majesty, so I sent my maid over to ask you to move to the East Palace."
"Mother, go, little rabbit... Brother Huang must be preparing delicious food for you." Li Lingyue looked up at Wu Mei excitedly, and her little hand naturally shook Wu Mei's warm hand in begging.
"Okay, then let's give him the honor of being a prince, and let's see what he's going to do. Now that the snow is falling, he doesn't go to Shangshu Province to deal with government affairs and cares about the sufferings of the people, but he still has the heart to treat me to a meal." Wu Mei thought in her mind There was also a trace of curiosity. For some reason, she, who was still worried about the snow situation, suddenly felt much more at ease after hearing Li Hong's invitation.
At Danfeng Gate, Wu Mei met His Majesty the Emperor Li Zhi, who was walking slowly along the way to enjoy the snow-covered scenery. So the two of them were on the left and the other, and Li Lingyue held one hand between them. Walking through the thick snow towards the East Palace.
After Li Zhi was forced by Li Hong to exercise for some time, he gradually felt that his body was much better than usual, so he began to exercise consciously during the period when Li Hong was supervising the country.
He originally had to ride in a sedan when leaving the palace, but today he chose to walk to the East Palace under the snowflakes flying in the sky, which was as expected by Wu Mei.
Whether it is the Jinwu Guards of the Imperial Palace or the Taizi Guards guarding the East Palace, the time of changing defenses has been adjusted due to the heavy snow, so that rows of Jinwu Guards and Taizi Guards will not appear like snowmen.
However, when the two of them arrived at the entrance of the East Palace, they still saw Li Hong's hard work. The snow on the road from the entrance of the East Palace to Li Zheng Hall was quickly swept away on both sides, and they also took a rest attentively. Even the snow that was swept away The winding path reveals a sense of elegance at this moment.
But Li Lingyue, the middle one between the two, didn't pay attention to this. She glanced over and didn't see the snowman in her imagination, but she was a little unhappy.
As they walked to the lawn of Li Zheng Hall, Li Lingyue's eyes suddenly became brighter. On both sides of the entrance of Li Zheng Hall, there were exaggerated toys piled up. Although they did not meet the aesthetics of Li Zhi and Wu Mei, they were Li Lingyue was filled with joy, and she immediately let go of their hands, and with the two palace ladies guarding her, she rushed towards the two exaggerated cartoon character-like snowmen.
Li Zhi and Wu Mei slowly walked into the Lizheng Hall under the respectful welcome of Xiaoxue, Xia Zhi and others. The doorway extended to the living room and other rooms. On the road that had originally been a precious Persian carpet, a layer of red carpet was now covered. , apparently newly laid for the two of them.
Wu Mei and Li Zhi were confused. What did this little brat want to do? It's okay if he doesn't go to the palace to invite him. Now that he's arrived at his east palace, he still can't be seen. Even Bai Chun didn't see where he went.
"Where is the prince?" Wu Mei always felt like she was being cheated, and there was always a dark cloud surrounding her heart.
"Back to the Queen, Your Highness is preparing lunch for you and Your Majesty. It will be ready soon." Xiaoxue said obediently.
Li Zhi looked around, and since he entered the East Palace, he always felt that there was something weird everywhere, and he couldn't guess what Li Hong was going to do.
While the two were still thinking, Li Hong and Bai Chun walked over slowly, with comfortable smiles on their faces. They walked half a step in front of Li Zhi and Wu Mei.
"My son Li Hong has met his father and his mother."
"My slave Bai Chun has met your majesty and the queen."
The two of them saluted at the same time, so naturally they each saluted in their own way.
Wu Mei and Li Zhi turned their heads at the same time when they heard the voice. After seeing Li Hong and Bai Chun, the eyes of the emperor and the queen couldn't help but light up at the same time. Their first reaction was as if they were a pair of golden boys and girls.
Both of them were wearing white clothes. Li Hong's slender figure was wearing a round-neck narrow-sleeved robe, coupled with his handsome facial features, deep eyes, and his elegant temperament, which made everyone look at him. It looks so graceful and graceful.
The pure white narrow-sleeved floor-length shirt and skirt, the beautiful face and the indifferent temperament, combined with the snowy sky outside, make her look like a fairy descending from the mortal world.
Both of them had the same hair tied into a ponytail and hung loosely on the back of their heads. Wu Mei was completely numb to this hairstyle. As long as he didn't do it when he went to court, he could just let him do it the rest of the time, especially in the East Palace.
Li Hong smiled calmly and indifferently. Seeing that Father Long and Mother Long were not angry because he was dressed the same as Bai Chun, he bowed slightly and said, "Father and Queen, please come here. I have prepared a sumptuous meal for you." Please enjoy your lunch.”
Wu Mei was muttering something unknown. Li Lingyue was being played with by Xiaoxue and the others. It would not affect the atmosphere at this moment, but she always felt that there was something abnormal about her son.
Li Hong walked up to Wu Mei, put one arm across his back, and then placed his other hand in front of Wu Mei while bowing to greet Wu Mei.
Wu Mei was no stranger to him. The little bastard had done this all those years when he acted coquettishly. Therefore, he naturally put his hand on Li Hong's arm, then stood up and took Li Hong's arm. Under the empty invitation of Li Hong's arm behind his back, he slowly followed Li Hong to another room.
Li Zhi looked at the mother and son as if they were acting, and looked at Bai Chun, thinking that he would get the same treatment, but he only saw one arm of Bai Chun lying across his lower abdomen, and the other arm was empty invitation, inviting him Get up and go to another room in person.
"Why are my etiquette different from the queen's?" Li Zhi was very dissatisfied and asked, looking at the queen and the prince, and then at Bai Chun.
"Father, men don't need to be like that. Only women can be treated like this." Li Hong had no choice but to explain.
"Okay, if you don't like me today, let's see how I deal with you." Li Zhi put his hands behind his back and took the initiative to go to the restaurant of Lizheng Hall.
Li Zhi and Wu Mei came to the restaurant in Lizhengdian. They knew that this restaurant had never entertained anyone except Li Hong himself. It was also their first time to eat here.
The huge restaurant was surrounded by lights, illuminating the entire room without even a human figure. A long dining table was placed in the middle, covered with a thick layer of red tablecloth. In the middle of the tablecloth, there was a The candlesticks with red candles were placed on both sides with some flowers that were hard to see in winter. The entire restaurant is splendid and resplendent, but it does not lose elegance and connotation. Every detail naturally reveals the nobility and grandeur that a royal family should have.
Under the greetings of Li Hong and Bai Chun, the two people moved the chairs on both sides of the long table with the emperor and the empress back at the same time. Then the emperor and empress stood face to face, and at the same time, Li Hong and the empress slowly sat down. Bai Chun gently pushed forward on the chair.
Li Hong stood at Wu Mei's left hand and said with a smile: "Father and Queen, do you still remember what Erchen said a few days ago, to invite you some royal chefs from Lingnan cuisine? Now after Erchen's training and selection, It’s finally a success. Today, I want my father and my mother to experience it first, but to show my filial piety towards you, my son and I will serve you and your mother for dinner today.”
Wu Mei and Li Zhi didn't know whether they heard Li Hong's words. They picked up the two beautifully made lists placed in front of the table and looked at them. They saw the names of some wines written on them, and others. On a list, it looks like it should be the name of the cuisine.
After the two of them read the two orders, they began to notice the plate in front of them. It was made of pure gold. Even the table knife and the fork Li Lingyue was eating were made of pure gold. They were spotless and bright. people.
Li Zhi frowned, and suddenly said after a long time: "I'm afraid this crystal cup and this pure gold tableware cost a lot of money, right?"
"Well… ."
"Tomorrow we will deliver one hundred sets each to the palace. As for the cost, you, the rich and filthy East Palace, will pay for it."
"Well… ."
Li Hong felt a little short-circuited. He invited the two of them to have a meal and enjoy high-end service, not to let them come over to tie knots or clean up.
(End of chapter)