After walking in the snow, the atmosphere was just right. In addition, the weather outside was cold, so it was the best time to take off clothes and lie in bed to keep warm. Unfortunately, Emperor Jingren was an emperor, and he had no free time all year round. How could he have time to indulge in lust in broad daylight? In the evening, he would host a banquet for all officials. Emperor Jingren had to discuss the procedures of the annual banquet with the Ministry of Rites throughout the afternoon, and he also had to give gifts to some people who could not attend the banquet for various reasons, such as the paralyzed old marquis of someone's family, and the paralyzed old lady of someone's family. These had to be approved by Emperor Jingren himself and stamped with the imperial seal. It was quite interesting to be able to take time out of his busy schedule to enjoy the snow and plum blossoms with the empress.
When Emperor Jingren was handling state affairs, the Empress could not follow him. Moreover, the Empress was also very busy. He had to reward the ladies of honor at night and entertain the wives of officials in the inner hall. She was no less idle than Emperor Jingren.
After coming out of the Imperial Garden, the two of them went back to the palace to do their own work. Before they separated, the Empress kissed Emperor Jingren on the lips when no one was around, and whispered, "It's a pity that you and I can't spend the New Year's Eve together."
Every year, Emperor Jingren’s New Year’s Eve belonged to the world, not to the empress. He would stay up together with all the officials to spend the new year.
Hearing the queen's words, Emperor Jingren couldn't help but reveal a trace of loneliness on his face. This is what it means to be alone. Because the whole world belongs to him, he cannot belong to one person, so he can only be alone.
It's lonely at the top.
However, the Queen added: "But if Your Majesty can save some space for the banquet, I will prepare a steaming hot supper for you. We can drink hot soup while waiting for the sunrise on the first day of the new year."
After staying up all night, Emperor Jingren would pray for the world, burn the first incense stick of the next year, and accept the worship of all officials. After that, all officials would leave the palace and would not have to attend the morning court until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Although there might be some big and small things to do during this period, it was much more relaxed than usual. Especially on the first day of the new year, after staying up all night, Emperor Jingren would directly accept the worship. He himself had nothing to do. After paying respects to the empress dowager, he could rest for a day. That was why the empress invited Emperor Jingren to stay up all night, so that he would not have to worry about being too tired the next day if he did not sleep all night.
"Won't the Queen accept New Year greetings from the concubines tomorrow?" asked Emperor Jingren.
Compared to him who directly accepted the court worship after staying up all night, the empress was busier. The concubines, both big and small, had to pay New Year's greetings to the empress according to their rank.
"I'm fine." Hearing Emperor Jingren's concern for her, the Queen smiled slightly and said, "I'm strong and healthy, and it doesn't matter if I don't sleep for a few nights."
Emperor Jingren felt that these words were familiar; these were the first words the Queen said when he woke up from hitting his head.
"Well, let's indulge the Queen for a night." Emperor Jingren smiled. His skin looked even whiter against the black cloak, and his smile was beautiful beyond words.
The Queen imprinted this smile firmly in her heart, and then she separated from Emperor Jingren and went about her business.
At this time, the time for the Prince of Huainan to "take a walk" had passed, and he was taken back by Zuo Zongzheng of the Imperial Clan House. The five hundred elite soldiers could not move at all, and the rest of the servants were all sent back to the Prince of Huainan's mansion after handing in the annual gift. The Imperial Clan House found a few people from the Prince of Huainan's mansion to serve the Prince of Huainan. It was impossible for a prince to be left alone in the Imperial Clan House without anyone to serve him tea or water.
"Your Highness!" A scholar in blue followed the servants and eunuchs who came to serve the King of Huainan to the clan residence. When he saw the King of Huainan, he knelt down and said with a look of self-blame, "It's all my fault that I am weak and can't stand the cold weather in the north. I fell ill on the way and had to stay in the post station to recuperate. Your Highness came to Beijing alone, and I was unable to help you in time!"
He is Xu Qingyang, an aide to the Prince of Huainan's Palace, and a clerk of the eighth rank in the palace. He has a beautiful handwriting and usually helps the Prince of Huainan write things, and is highly valued by the Prince of Huainan.
Xu Qingyang caught a cold on the way and was too sick to get up. The King of Huainan had already set out late, and if he waited any longer, he might not be able to reach the capital before the New Year. It would be a shame if he arrived later, but if he didn't arrive before the New Year, it would mean that the King of Huainan was disobeying the order and not coming to celebrate his mother's birthday, which would make him an unfaithful and unfilial person.
Therefore, the King of Huainan could only abandon Xu Qingyang and come with a large group of people. Xu Qingyang was the King of Huainan's think tank. If he was there last night, he would definitely persuade the King of Huainan to temporarily camp outside the city for a night's rest, and then bring people into the city the next day. This way, he could tell Emperor Jingren that he, the King of Huainan, would always be his good brother, abide by the law, and would never rebel; secondly, he could also complain to Emperor Jingren and the Queen Mother about how cold and uncomfortable it was to camp outside in the freezing cold last night, and play the family card. Emperor Jingren would definitely feel sorry for the King of Huainan, and this time he would go to the capital smoothly.
But who would have known that just a brief illness would lead to the Prince of Huainan messing things up to this extent? When Xu Qingyang, who had recovered a little, arrived in the capital, he heard the news that the Prince of Huainan was imprisoned in the clan house, and the fever that had just subsided almost broke up again.
Xu Qingyang knew that the King of Huainan was a person who disdained etiquette and was very casual. Such a character was not suitable for being an emperor. However, Xu Qingyang felt that these things could be taught slowly. The King of Huainan had not received orthodox imperial education, so he was naturally a little careless. What he valued was the King of Huainan's kindness to the people.
The King of Huainan never abused his servants. He was tolerant and generous, and was particularly caring for peddlers and hawkers. The King of Huainan had been a vassal for three years, and he never collected excessive taxes and fees. He also checked the officials under his jurisdiction one by one, and arrested many corrupt officials who exploited the people. He also treated the wise with respect and recruited talents. In just three years, he improved agricultural tools and seeds, greatly increasing the per-acre yield in Huainan, and the people were able to eat and wear warm clothes. He also encouraged farmers to grow medicinal herbs on land that was not suitable for growing grain, reclaimed countless wastelands, and fed countless people who lived in the mountains and could not grow grain and could only sell their children. The year before last was a disaster year, and the King of Huainan had just been vassalized. For the sake of the people, he brought heavy troops to suppress those black-hearted businessmen and asked them not to raise grain prices, saving countless people. It was for this reason that court officials impeached the King of Huainan for raising private soldiers and having a rebellious heart. He was all for the people!
Xu Qingyang felt that a royal family like the King of Huainan, who was kindhearted, righteous and loved the people, was the only choice for the emperor. It didn't matter if he didn't follow the rules of propriety. Those who achieved great things didn't care about small details. As long as the people benefited, that was enough. Xu Qingyang hoped that the people of the entire Xia Kingdom would be as happy as Huainan, and he hoped that the King of Huainan would become the emperor.
So since entering the Huainan Palace, Xu Qingyang has been trying to persuade the Huainan King to ascend the throne. Now that Emperor Jingren has no heirs, if something happens to him, the Huainan King is the most likely successor. There is no need to mobilize troops, as long as Emperor Jingren dies. But the Huainan King is soft-hearted and has always been thinking about the brotherly feelings and is unwilling to hurt Emperor Jingren. Even during the last assassination in the hunting ground, he strictly ordered his men not to hurt a hair of Emperor Jingren and must capture him alive. If not, how could so many specially trained assassins be wiped out!
"Your Highness," Xu Qingyang whispered in the ear of the King of Huainan, "You consider our brotherly feelings, but His Majesty obviously does not regard you as a brother. Otherwise, it is obviously just a small matter, just a matter of His Majesty's words, but he wants to lock you up in the clan house until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month for trial. This is clearly treating you as a prisoner, Your Highness!"
Prince Huainan was annoyed by Xu Qingyang nagging him every day about wanting to be the emperor. He was not here to be the emperor. He was... Well, it was useless to say anything now. Who knew that Emperor Jingren was such a rigid person? He would have to spend the whole year in jail. Well.
"Isn't this... I was wrong first..." Huainan Wang replied listlessly, "In order to shut up those censors, my brother had to let me live in the clan residence temporarily, even if it was just for show. It's just a change of place. I can go anywhere as long as someone from the clan residence is with me. They won't stop me, so it's not much different from living in the palace."
Today, the Queen Mother called him to talk alone, and told him how hard his brother worked, how annoying those censors were, and that he must listen to his brother and mother, and be good and filial during this period. The Queen Mother also said that she would pretend to be sick after the New Year, and that she would have to cut flesh and bleed to treat the disease as a medicine. Emperor Jingren was an emperor and he must not damage his body. When the time came, the King of Huainan would bleed, and filial piety would be the most important thing. How could such a loyal and righteous King of Huainan have the heart of rebellion? Emperor Jingren would have a way out and could release him from the clan house, and the censors would not be able to say anything.
The Prince of Huainan was immediately shocked by the Queen Mother's method. He felt deeply that it was extremely difficult to raise a woman who could be the Emperor's wife. This woman was really scheming!
So he roughly told Xu Qingyang what the Queen Mother said. He knew Xu Qingyang, and his values were very positive. He was loyal to him and cared about the people. He just liked him too much and wanted to give the whole world to him. Xu Qingyang would not like anyone sitting on the throne, unless it was him, Shen Junyi. The King of Huainan still trusted Xu Qingyang very much.
After hearing the Queen Mother's proposal, Xu Qingyang thought deeply and said, "The Queen Mother is worthy of being the Prince's biological mother. She is indeed an extraordinary person. In this way, the Prince can not only clear himself of the suspicion of committing a crime, but also make a name for himself in the capital, letting everyone know that the Prince of Huainan is a filial person. The Prince has a pure bloodline. As long as he has a reputation, he does not need to form a clique and bear the name of being a traitor. He is the only candidate for the throne."
Upon hearing this, the King of Huainan got a headache. He said, "My brother is a very good emperor. Look how well he governs the imperial city. This year he has implemented new policies to suck blood from those bad businessmen and give it back to the people. What a wise emperor he is. I get a headache when I read books. I can't read memorials at all. I'm not cut out to be an emperor."
"Your Highness is a man of great talent who can benefit the people, not a mediocre person who only studies books!" Xu Qingyang said with admiration, "Besides, doesn't Your Highness always want to return to Beijing and think about what it's like in the palace?"
He didn't want to be the emperor at all. He was just in Huainan and was anxious because he couldn't conquer the young emperor!
The King of Huainan was very tired as he was unable to persuade Xu Qingyang.