MTL - The Crown Prince Chases His Wife-Chapter 107 winter solstice

On the winter solstice, the qi of the end of the store reaches the extreme, and the yang qi begins to be born.

According to custom, on the day of the winter solstice, the emperor should sacrifice to the sky in the southern suburbs of Shangjing and pray for good luck and peace in the coming year.

On the grounds that the dragon's body was not healthy, Emperor Hui asked the prince Feng Zhan to preside over the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven on his behalf.

Two days before the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the heavens, the prince should be escorted by the guards of honor to go to the Taimiao Temple and spend the night there.

Feng Zhan was extremely displeased with the process listed by the Ministry of Rites, while Qin Yan was happy to relax, but after Feng Zhan left, Qin Yan received an oral order from Emperor Hui calling her to enter the palace on the winter solstice.

Qin Yan had some guesses in his heart, that day in the imperial study, Emperor Hui said half of the words...

One day before offering sacrifices to heaven, the prince Feng Zhan set up the fasting palace and fasted and bathed here.

Taichang Temple notified all the yamen to prepare for the suburban sacrifice. From noon, the altars and the lantern poles will be set up. From this time on, the nearby temples will not be allowed to ring bells and drums, and use expressions of respect and sincerity.

On the day of the winter solstice, at the third watch, all the sounds are silent, only the sound of the light wind ringing around the Pei can be heard.

Wearing a golden crown on his head, wearing a cyan tunic, and wearing a black cloak, the crown prince drove to the suburban altar.

Drums and music blared in unison, reporting the arrival of the Emperor of Heaven to enjoy the sacrifice.

The ceremony began with the sound of music. Civil and military officials dressed in court clothes listened to praise, and the atmosphere was solemn and solemn.

After the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the heavens, then offering sacrifices to the gods of the twelve palaces and the hundred stars. 【1】

Then the prince drove back to the Zhai Palace. At this time, the day was about to break. After rewarding his servants, the prince drove back to the city.

In these days, with the opening of the Prince’s Palace, the grain has gradually returned to the price at the beginning of the year, and the various yamen have successively allocated funds, the operation of the government has stabilized, and the people have returned to the normal winter. There is the thought of "He Dong" on the winter solstice.

From today onwards, the courtiers will rest for three days, so along the way, in addition to the tent prepared for the prince's rest, there are also sheds for officials and wealthy merchants, which is very lively.

There was no shortage of people buzzing in the crowd:

"At the beginning of the winter, the sacrifice in the northern suburbs was performed by His Royal Highness on behalf of the Holy Prince. Today, the Holy Highness should preside over the ceremony of sacrificing the heavens, but the Crown Prince came down. Although it is only a name, His Royal Highness can be regarded as a firm seat. The crown prince."

"This new crown princess Zhaoren County Lord, but at the same time backed by the Zhenguo Gongfu and the Right Prime Minister's residence, is also a popular man in the front, and holds the No. 1 Bank of Daxia in his hand. It makes His Royal Highness even more powerful."

"I heard that this Zhaoren County Lord is still a peerless beauty. His Royal Highness is really a blessing."

"Yeah, no man would be envious of marrying such a woman."

"That's right…"

Several low-level officials who were talking to each other were silent for a while, and then someone spoke again:

"However, His Royal Highness has decided on the right concubine, and he should accept the side concubine Liang Di. There are many people who are tempted."

"I heard that His Royal Highness is not good at women, and there are even rumors that His Highness is masculine. Recently, there are rumors in the court that His Royal Highness likes Zhaoren County Master, this Crown Princess, and it is said that His Royal Highness is these days. They all live in the county master's mansion. Then, there must be no mistake in finding a woman for His Royal Highness."

"This man will get tired of looking at a woman for a long time. When His Royal Highness has passed the novelty of the Crown Princess, will he not accept the woman sent to the Prince's Mansion?"

"Eh? That's to look for Zhaoren County Master?"

"You are beautiful, where can you find it, even if you study according to the master of Zhaoren County, you may not learn like you, but you can find it..."

"That's right…"

"That's just another way to go..."

…

------

Prince Yi drove to the Donghua Gate of the imperial city, and, as a rule, performed a winter solstice amnesty, also known as "suburban amnesty".

The general secretary read out the decree of pardon for the suburbs and read out the prepared list of prisoners who were pardoned.

The Dali Temple supervisor named the sinner in front of the Donghua Gate with a list notified in advance.

After the decree was announced, the drums were trumpeted, the jailers took off the shackles for the sinners, and the crowd cried out for thanks.

"Long live the Holy One, and His Royal Highness is a thousand years old."

Then the prince's car drove into Donghuamen and left.

This amnesty involves a wide range of criminals, including some prisoners who were originally detained in Lingnan for less serious crimes.

In the list, there is also the fourth master of Qin.

When the news reached the **** team to Lingnan, many people sighed and sighed.

Why can't the fourth master of Qin think about it, if he continues to endure it, will he be freed soon?

The sergeant who was only in the lead was fortunate. Fortunately, he moved quickly. If they waited for the imperial decree of amnesty to come to them, then the matter that Qin Xiangye explained would not be so easy to handle.

------

Imperial city, forbidden, imperial study.

From time to time, there was a crisp sound of falling in the hall, and occasionally a few soft coughs were heard.

Emperor Hui clenched his fist with one hand, pressed against his lips, and held a chess piece with the other hand, and was playing against the prince Feng Zhan, who was sitting opposite the chessboard.

Emperor Hui asked the prince to perform the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the heaven on his behalf because he was unwell. It was really not to pave the way for the prince, but that he had indeed contracted the cold, and it has not been improved for a long time. Recently, he has become more and more tired.

Not long after, the game was over, and it was still the prince who had the upper hand.

Emperor Hui sighed, took the delicate yellow teacup with dark dragon pattern handed over by Li Fuquan, and drank it lightly.

After drinking, Emperor Hui looked at the prince and said slowly:

"I heard that you have been staying in the county master's mansion these days?"

Feng Zhan didn't answer, half closed his eyes, and couldn't see his emotions.

Emperor Hui also felt that it was a little embarrassing for him to bring up this topic, but he added,

"Prince, you still have to be restrained."

Feng Zhan raised his eyes, looked at Emperor Hui's slightly puffy eyelids, and said coolly:

"Is your father unrestrained?"

Emperor Hui was startled when he heard the words, and some anger instantly rose in his heart, but in the end he drank another cup of tea to calm down.

The prince never spoke much, but when he opened his mouth, he often choked people to silence, and Emperor Hui didn't want to continue to entangle this topic with the prince, otherwise he would have to find his own way.

Emperor Hui asked the prince to come over today because he wanted to ask something, so he began to enter the theme,

"I heard that Qin Xiang's state has not been right recently. It seems to be because of personal affairs. Does the prince know why?"

Feng Zhan was holding up the tea cup and glanced at Emperor Hui before continuing to drink lightly without answering.

Emperor Hui learned from the mouth of Wang Xian, the left minister. Wang Xian and Qin Wenzheng did not deal with each other, but the news would not be false. Emperor Hui still wondered whether it was related to Shen Shiying.

It's also just right, using this to see if we can get some news about Shen Shiying from the prince.

But after Feng Zhan finished drinking the tea, he didn't mean to open his mouth. Emperor Hui also understood that he couldn't ask anything from the prince.

------

Feng Zhan put down the tea cup, looked at Emperor Hui, and commented on Qin Xiang, who was also Prince Feng Zhan's father-in-law, in two sentences.

"Qin Prime Minister acts conservatively, even a little too pedantic."

"My father used him just to balance Wang Xian?"

Emperor Hui coughed a few more times, took a sip of tea, and then said:

"The separation of powers between the two phases is a balancing act."

"In order to stabilize the aristocratic family in Beijing, one of the aspects must be the son of an aristocratic family in Beijing."

"After Zuo Prime Minister Wang Xian became Zaifu, he has a lot of education and knowledge, and he is also a royal in-law. Even if he is a little arrogant, he is also the best choice for Prime Minister."

"On the other hand, Qin Wenzheng, the Right Prime Minister, acts cautiously, and usually doesn't take a step forward, just to neutralize Wang Xian's aggressiveness."

"More importantly, Qin Wenzheng represents the literati of the Southern School, and with him he can stabilize the southern gentry."

Feng Zhan understood the default rule of choosing one person from the north and the south when the powers were divided between the left and the right.

However, there were many talented Southern literati in the Hanlin Academy back then, and in the end, Emperor Hui chose Qin Wenzheng, and this reason alone was not sufficient.

Emperor Hui picked up the tea cup again, hiding the look in his eyes.

What he didn't say was that Shen Shiying was also the reason for choosing Qin Wenzheng back then.

Qin Wenzheng is in the phase, and Shen Shiying, as his first wife, has the title of First Rank.

So many palace banquets and sacrifices, Shen Shiying had to come.

Emperor Hui coughed a few more times, raised his hand to stop Li Fuquan from stepping forward to smooth his back, and asked:

"Did the prince like that kid from the An family?"

Feng Zhan didn't say anything, and seemed to sense that his father and emperor was talking about him, and according to the news he got, it should be because of Qin Yan's mother.

Thinking of the outrageous words and deeds of that Miss Shen, Feng Zhan frowned slightly.

Fortunately, Qin Yan was separated from her mother for more than ten years. Otherwise, Qin Yan would have been taught something.

Emperor Hui asked again:

"Nanbian, does the prince have a candidate?"

Feng Zhan was still just frowning slightly and didn't make a sound.

Emperor Hui didn't ask any further questions. The Crown Prince had always acted calmly and reliably. He didn't need to say more, and he didn't need to interfere too much.

Moreover, Emperor Hui was indeed in poor health. With the prince in charge of government affairs, he just put his mind elsewhere.

Feng Zhan came out of the imperial study and was about to get into the sedan chair when Song Zhi stepped forward and said in a low voice:

"His Royal Highness, Lord Ji has spread the news that he wants to meet His Highness."

After a stick of incense, the prince framed out of Donghua Gate and headed to Qianshui Lake in the south of the city.

------

At this time, Qin Yan just got off the bus at Shenwumen of the Imperial City, put on a seat prepared by Li Fuquan and went to the imperial study.

Not long after, he met Concubine Shu who was approaching him.

It has been more than half a year since the last similar scene.

At that time, Qin Yan's identity was really only a county master, and she should salute to Concubine Shu.

But this time, Qin Yan was already the Crown Princess. If Concubine Shu was not one of the four concubines, Concubine Shu had to bow to Qin Yan.

After the palace servants on both sides greeted the master on the opposite side, the guard of honor continued to move forward.

As time passed, Qin Yan suddenly spoke in a low voice,

"stop."

Hearing the sound, the palace servants on both sides stopped.

The two sitting on the table turned to look at each other, their eyes met, and there was a coldness inside.

Concubine Shu didn't think Qin Yan wanted to greet her aunt, but just waited quietly to see what Qin Yan was going to do.

Although the weather was clear and clear today, it was still a cold day. The air was filled with white air from breathing. The palace people didn't feel it clearly when they walked, but they all shivered a little while standing still in the cold wind.

Qin Yan lightly opened her red lips, her voice was cold:

"I heard that there is a tea in Jingzhou called Songfeng Yulu?"

Concubine Shu was a little puzzled at first, what was Qin Yan talking about? Then his pupils shrank suddenly.

Qin Yan did not miss the sudden change in Concubine Shu's expression, and she was a little more certain in her heart. She retracted her gaze, raised her hand slightly, and the honor guard continued to go to the imperial study.

Concubine Shu turned her head to look at the back of Qin Yan who was sitting and leaving, feeling a little uneasy.

What did Qin Yan know when he mentioned Jingzhou?

Those people all went to Huangquan back then, so Qin Yan couldn't possibly find out.

Qin Yan, he should be deceiving her...

Now that the prince is in power, Qin Yan has become the prince concubine again, and he must never face Qin Yan again.

I just hope that His Majesty can let Xian'er leave as soon as possible, that is her only reliance...

------

Qin Yan was outside the imperial study, and heard a few soft coughs inside. After Li Fuquan reported it, Qin Yan stepped in and saw Li Fuquan walking down the back for Emperor Hui. It seemed that His Majesty was really sick. .

After some salutes, Qin Yan took a seat under the imperial case.

After only a few words of greetings, Emperor Hui went straight to the topic:

"Do you know where your mother is?"

When Qin Yan came, he was mentally prepared for Emperor Hui's purpose of calling her into the palace, so he was not surprised by Emperor Hui's question.

Seeing that Qin Yan was only silent and did not respond, Emperor Hui slowed down and said:

"You don't have to worry, I won't be bad for your mother."

Qin Yan had no doubts about this. If she guessed right, Emperor Hui would have that kind of thought towards her mother...

Emperor Hui continued to ask:

"Is she coming back?"

This time Qin Yan did not remain silent, but replied with a word,

"Yes."

Emperor Hui got the answer he wanted, but it was inconvenient to talk about this junior.

There was silence in the hall for a moment. Emperor Hui and Qin Yan were drinking tea each, and the atmosphere was a little stagnant.

Emperor Hui thought of the matter that Concubine Shu came to beg him, so he casually brought up a topic to ease the embarrassment at this time,

"Concubine Shu just came here. She mentioned that the prince is about to get married. Should the second prince and the third prince also decide on the concubine and the title, and let them leave the capital and become vassal?"

"What do you think of it?"

These things should not have been discussed with the Crown Princess, let alone the opinion of the Crown Princess, but as Qin Yan, the former city lord of Gucheng, and she is still dealing with Northwest intelligence, Emperor Hui will not avoid government affairs. With Qin Yan.

Qin Yan didn't intend to interfere in political affairs, but was it Concubine Shu's suggestion?

Let the second prince be a fan and run his own power?

If Emperor Hui had an accident, Concubine Shu would go to the second prince's land next, and what's more...

Oh, Concubine Shu still wants to retreat...

Qin Yan was silent for a moment, then admonished Emperor Hui:

"The situation is unstable, and it is better for a few His Royal Highnesses to stay in the capital."

Emperor Hui nodded with satisfaction, which is exactly what he meant.

If there are external worries, it is even more necessary to guard against internal troubles.

People are indeed the safest under their noses.

------

When Qin Yan left the imperial study, he met Feng Yuyao, who was waiting there, rubbing his hands together and breathing in white air.

Feng Yuyao stomped over and said anxiously:

"Yanyan, hurry up, accompany me to Qianshui Lake to see the folk ice play, now it's getting dark early, and it's too late."

Qin Yan's expression was light, and he was rubbing a gilded stove in his hand, but he didn't say anything.

Seeing Qin Yan's lack of interest, Feng Yuyao added:

"Just now I met Feng Subei, the prince of Duan Wang's mansion, coming out of Kunning Palace. I seem to have heard him say that he is going to the Qianshui Lake to find the prince's brother."

"Yanyan, don't you worry that the prince and brother will be hooked by some goblin?"

Seeing the light in Feng Yuyao's eyes and the undisguised excitement on her face, Qin Yan still doesn't know her thoughts?

This girl wanted to see the liveliness, but also to see the liveliness of her Qin Yan.

Qin Yan's face was still calm, she didn't think that Feng Zhan would not avoid meat and vegetables.

However, the goblin by the Qianshui Lake?

Qin Yan chuckled, and Feng Yuyao immediately understood that this was considered an agreement.

The author says:

[1] In the winter solstice suburban ritual in this article, "Taichang Temple Announces... Twelve Palace Gods and Hundred Stars." Adapted from pages 273 and 274 of "Chinese Court Rituals and Customs".