The birthday of the Son of Heaven is a national celebration. Emperor Zhaowu was very extravagant, and every birthday he had to take good care of himself. This year, he would have a full fortieth birthday, so naturally there should be no ambiguity.
Before dawn, Emperor Zhaowu took all his family members and civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty to the Temple of Heaven to worship and bathe the Buddha. At the same time, slaughter was banned for one day throughout the country, and even the whole city celebrated birthdays within the capital. Outside the palace walls, there were many vegetarian meals, and mats were placed on the road. After tens of miles, more than 10,000 people came to watch and eat.
The ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven didn't end until the afternoon, and the courtiers stood against the scorching sun for a full five hours. Some of the old and frail ones fainted two or three times.
Yan Sikong stood at the very back, reciting the meditation mantra, while staring at the back of Feng Ye's head, he observed that Feng Ye turned his head several times to look for something, he must be looking for him, he counted the total number of Feng Ye in his heart. I turned my head to search a few times, but I didn't feel that the sacrifice was boring anymore.
After the sacrifice, they returned to the palace for the evening birthday banquet.
This time, Emperor Zhaowu took the opportunity of his birthday to pray for the people suffering from floods on both sides of the Yellow River, so the birthday banquet was a full fasting banquet. Yan Sikong insinuated that the cost of a birthday is as little as hundreds of thousands of silver dollars. Does this stupid gentleman really not know how to really relieve the suffering of the people
On the way back to the palace, Yan Sikong and Liang Sui walked together, they were chatting about what birthday gifts they had prepared. Suddenly, Yan Sikong felt someone approaching from behind, and just as he was about to turn his head vigilantly, a strong hand grabbed his shoulder, and a familiar breath came to his nostrils. It is a kind of its own smell mixed with a touch of lavender wormwood, refreshing like a grassland after a rain, and every clump of green is full of vitality.
Yan Sikong turned his face away, and he saw Feng Ye was looking at him with a smile. Under the setting sun, his skin was as translucent as jade.
"Oh, my son." Liang Sui arched his hands.
Feng Ye nodded: "You two must be tired."
Liang Sui smiled wryly, "It's okay, it's okay."
"Master Yan, can you borrow a step and help me see if there are any omissions in the congratulatory speech?"
Yan Sikong respectfully said: "I am willing to serve you."
Feng Ye pulled Yan Sikong to the side, and said in a low voice, "Where are you standing today? I've been looking for you."
"What are you looking for me for?" Yan Sikong twitched the corner of his mouth, thinking to himself, "searched" a total of sixteen times.
"I'm afraid you'll faint from the heat, so I want to send someone to bring you water."
Yan Sikong laughed: "How can I be so weak."
"Look at you, your face is flushed from the sun." Feng Ye looked down at him, "Eat more in the evening, come to me after the birthday banquet, and I'll take you back."
"Okay." Yan Sikong asked, "That scout, what did the interrogation find?"
"Wala sends people to spy all year round, and this time it's nothing special."
Yan Sikong nodded: "That's good."
"You have nothing to say to me?"
Yan Sikong blinked: "You mean..."
Feng Ye curled his lips, not very happy: "You don't miss me?"
Yan Sikong suppressed a smile: "But I haven't seen you in two days."
Feng Ye touched his chin, "That is to say, if I don't see you for a long time, you will miss it?"
Yan Sikong finally couldn't help it, and burst out laughing.
"I can't go back and forth to Jingshan camp every day, so you don't have many chances to see me on weekdays, so if you still miss me..." Feng Ye snorted and said, "I will really take you up the mountain."
Yan Sikong looked around and coughed lightly: "Hush your voice."
Feng Ye grinned, nonchalantly: "I will stay in the city for a few days, I will accompany you."
"Why do I want you to accompany me?"
"Then you accompany me." Feng Ye said domineeringly.
Yan Sikong couldn't laugh or cry.
Taking advantage of his unpreparedness, Feng Ye shook his hand firmly: "Come find me after the birthday party." Then he winked at him and walked away with a serious expression on his face.
The corners of Yan Sikong's lips raised slightly, he straightened his clothes, and strode into the Palace of Preserving Harmony.
The birthday banquet started with the hadith, which was not for the courtiers, but for himself, and the words used were mostly self-effacement words, such as thanking God, caring for all living beings, and seeing his own inadequacy while shouldering a heavy responsibility.
Then, Xie Zhongren, the eunuch in charge of the seal of ceremony, chanted the achievements of Emperor Zhaowu. Yan Sikong listened indifferently, and wanted to shout long live.
Afterwards, the dance and music banquet began, and the courtiers were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief and fill their stomachs that had been hungry for most of the day.
Yan Sikong chatted and laughed happily with his colleagues on the left and right, but he was clearly calculating in his heart that if he was quicker, it would be almost time for Ali to arrive in Qingyang.
After the dance and music stopped, the officials of Honglu Temple held a long list of gifts in both hands, and read aloud the birthday gifts of foreigners, vassal kings, and subjects one by one. When they read one, the little eunuchs would present one. Have to be carried in.
Of course, not everyone has the opportunity to personally present the birthday gift they prepared for the emperor, but it is an indispensable etiquette for the prince. After all the birthday gifts were shown to Emperor Zhaowu one by one, Chen Kui held the scroll in both hands, bowed his body, lowered his head, walked in respectfully, and knelt in front of Danxi.
"Son, I respectfully wish my father a blessing like the East China Sea, a long life without bounds, long live my father, long live my father—"
Emperor Zhaowu was in a good mood today, and smiled at Chen Kui: "Qi'er is flat."
"Thank you, father."
Empress Xu smiled and said, "What treasure did you prepare for His Majesty?"
At the banquet, the eyes of hundreds of officials fell on Chen Kui.
Chen Kui straightened his chest, and the handsome young man carried an irresistible aura of nobility, and he replied neither humble nor overbearing: "I wrote a poem for my father."
There was a sound of astonishment at the banquet, among today's birthday ceremony, there are many rare treasures, and the majestic Prince Dasheng only wrote a mere poem, which is unavoidable.
Emperor Zhaowu smiled and remained silent.
Empress Xu has no children, and has been fighting openly and secretly with the second prince's mother concubine Chang Guifei for many years, so she naturally favors Chen Kui in her heart. She is a little embarrassed when she thinks of how expensive the Nine Dragons Jade Lord was given by the second prince.
Chen Kui arched his hands: "My son thinks that my father is sitting on the world, embracing the country, and any rare treasures are not worthy of praise in the eyes of my father. What my father likes must be my heart. My son's respect for my father The heart of filial piety and love can be learned from the sun and the moon, this poem was written by my son and minister for several months, I only hope that the father and emperor will live as long as the sky."
"Haha, good." Emperor Zhaowu said with a smile, "Come on, Qi'er, read it to the emperor."
Chen Kui unhurriedly spread out the curly leaves, cleared his throat, and began to chant aloud.
This poem is full of restrained and implicit praise, and full of sincere admiration, but not too flattering.
After chanting a poem, Yan Zilian took the lead in clapping his hands, and the courtiers naturally couldn't help but show Yan Ge's old face, so they also applauded.
A satisfied smile appeared on Yan Sikong's face.
Emperor Zhaowu showed joy on his face: "Qi'er's knowledge has improved a lot."
Yan Zilian hunched up and left the table, knelt down, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, although the composition of this ode to the Crown Prince is still a little childish, its talent should not be underestimated. The most important thing is that this poem is full of truth and passion. Respected, and very concerned about the national destiny and the people's livelihood, the veteran heard it... really touched." At the end, the ending trembled.
"Yes, it's really a good poem. His Royal Highness, the pure heart of a child, is invincible but has countless treasures."
There were voices of praise in the hall.
The officials of the Second Prince's faction didn't have any good looks.
Emperor Zhaowu was highly praised, and he was obviously very satisfied with the poem: "It's rare that Qi'er has such a heart, I like it."
Chen Kui knelt down excitedly: "Thank you, father."
The birthday banquet lasted until midnight that day. All the officials were exhausted, and hurried home after the birthday banquet.
Yan Sikong walked out of the hall unhurriedly, thinking that the new history has been presented and will be made public tomorrow, Cai Zhongfan will never let go of the opportunity to impeach Wang Shengsheng, the court will inevitably usher in a storm, As for whether it was a violent storm or a slanting wind and drizzle, he couldn't estimate it. But it doesn't matter even if you can't achieve your goal, let's try the depth of the water first, sooner or later, he will be able to turn the clouds upside down.
"Sikong." A voice came from behind.
Yan Sikong paused, and quickly turned around: "Teacher."
Yan Zilian came over, walked side by side with him, and said in a low voice, "You wrote His Highness's poem, right?"
Yan Sikong smiled lightly: "You can't hide anything from the teacher."
Yan Zilian stroked his beard with a smile and said: "The poem is watertight, Your Highness does not have such talent and learning, He Xuan, it is too rigid to do such a thing, who else but you."
Yan Sikong made a slightly uneasy look: "Did the student do something wrong?"
"You have done a good job, and you will do your best to assist His Highness in the future."
"Students understand."
"By the way." Yan Zilian seemed to think of something, "I heard that you have gotten a little close to Prince Jingyuan's son recently?"
Yan Sikong avoided the seriousness and said lightly: "Thanks to your son for not being disgusted, Yuzun made friends with the students, and we drank together."
"Well, not bad." Yan Zilian stood still and patted Yan Sikong's shoulder, "Sikong, teacher has high hopes for you, don't let me down."
"yes."
When the two walked outside the palace gate, they saw Feng Ye leaning against the wall with his arms folded, obviously waiting for him.
Yan Sikong hurriedly explained: "Oh, it's already late at night, I just begged the prince to give me a ride."
Yan Zilian nodded, and cupped his hands towards Fengye, Fengye also returned the salute: "Mr. Yan Ge has worked hard today, be careful on the road."
"Thank you, son, the old man is one step ahead."
After Yan Zilian left, Feng Ye dragged Yan Sikong aside, squinted his eyes, and said displeasedly: "What did I say? I asked you to come to me, but you kept poking your head out of the palace. How could you look for me?" ?”
Yan Sikong comforted: "I want to go to a place where there are few people and wait for you."
Feng Ye raised his eyebrows: "Really?"
"of course it's true."
Feng Ye snorted softly: "Let's go."
After getting into the carriage, Feng Ye asked, "Did you write the little prince's poem?"
Yan Sikong is not surprised that everyone can guess, after all, it is not difficult to guess, he said: "I am His Highness's attendant, and it is also my duty to guide His Highness."
"Don't do this with me." Feng Ye said in a deep voice, "My father said that sooner or later this party struggle will break out, and I don't know where the flames of war will burn. You are a little servant, so don't go too deep gone."
Yan Sikong looked at Fengye firmly: "What about you? His Royal Highness King Jingyuan, I'm afraid it will be difficult to stay out of it." Feng Jianping holds Dasheng's greatest military power in his hand, and whoever can get his support will be able to sit firmly among the crown princes. position, but he is currently not leaning on any side, which is actually a wise move.
Feng Ye said: "The Feng family is only loyal to the Holy One."
Yan Sikong nodded: "His Royal Highness King Jingyuan is wise."
The carriage stopped, Xiao Liu said: "Master Yan, you are here."
Yan Sikong cupped his hands and said, "Farewell."
Feng Ye's bright eyes flickered in the darkness, looking at him, but didn't speak.
Yan Sikong hesitated for a moment, there was a voice in his heart urging him to make a decision, but in a single thought, he had an answer, and said softly: "Today, there is a banquet but no wine, it is not enough to enjoy yourself, how about...go to my house for two drinks. cup?"
Feng Ye showed joy.