Zhuo Qihua

On the night of New Year's Eve, Emperor Yong'an held a family banquet in the harem to enjoy with his concubines and attendants.On this day, whether it is ordinary people, relatives of the emperor, officials and merchants, all families gather together to spend New Year's Eve.But there are so few families, so few people, but they are depressed.

In the Duke's Mansion, Lin Xieshan gathered together with his wife, children, and grandson.Lin Xieshan has a wife and two concubines, and Lin Yi is his only son, born in the main house.The Lin family has few descendants, and Lin Xieshan has only one younger sister, who is Lei Cong's mother.Lin Xieshan was actually young. He originally had two older brothers and one older sister. One older brother and older sister died early, and the other brother died of illness. In Lin Xieshan's generation, only he and his younger sister survived in good health.

Lin Xieshan's one wife and two concubines gave birth to five children in total. Lin Yi was the only surviving son, and the daughters of the other two concubines were married.Lin Yi had a wife and a concubine. He originally had only one daughter. Since Shun Yuchu came out of the West Third Courtyard, Lin Yi had two more sons and one daughter, and one of them was born to his wife.

Lin Xieshan became the Duke of the State, and the tide of the Lin family rose. Many people wanted to marry the Duke of the State, but Lin Xieshan didn't have this idea, and Lin Yi didn't even have it.Edward Lam's eldest daughter is only 4 years old now, and she is also born in the royal family.Lin Xieshan's title of Duke is hereditary, and Lin Yi is the absolute next Duke of Sui. His eldest son will inherit the title of Duke of Sui if nothing happens.Edward Lam himself is the internal commander of the Firearms Battalion, a figure with real power.But today, Edward Lam lacked interest.

After the New Year's Eve dinner in the Duke's Mansion, Lin Xieshan had a good time with his old mother and family members, and then sent his mother back to her room, and he also went back to her room.Lin Xieshan stayed in the wife's house for the night. The wife of the Lin family is an absolute housekeeper, and there will be no such thing as a concubine being favored over the principal.

Mrs. Lin personally took care of the master to wash and change his clothes, worried: "Master, I see that Hengyuan looks very preoccupied. But is it because of Princess Talkin?"

Lin Xieshan: "Let him be bored, and learn a lot of wisdom."

Mrs. Lin was angry: "Speaking of which, it's the fault of Pan Pozhi and Pan Beigu, but Hengyuan was blamed."

Lin Xieshan: "You go to Wu Shao Palace tomorrow. If you have a chance, ask the princess if she knows the situation in the palace."

Madam Lin nodded.

Lin Yi was not in his wife's room at the moment, he was alone in the study.There were a lot of ashes from the burning paper in the charcoal brazier on the ground beside the table. At this time, another piece of paper crumpled by Yi Lam was thrown into it, and it was quickly ignited and burned up.Lin Yi was depressed. He didn't see Yu Zuo in the Zongtang today. He was in a trance all day. Is the injury of Zu Zu still not healed, or... His Majesty punished him?If time could be turned back, Lin Yi would definitely not bring Wan Gushu back to the capital.

Edward Lam was very irritable, and in the end, he still lost his pen.He is a foreign minister, even if he wants to apologize to Zuo, he can't write a letter to Zuo, once it gets out, it will be unclear, and it will arouse His Majesty's wrath.Lin Yi stood up, paced back and forth in the room thinking, and finally, he made a decision and left the study.

Young Mistress Lin had already gone to bed, she thought that her husband would still spend the night alone in the study tonight.Young Mistress Lin understood what her husband was bothering these days, and because of this, Young Mistress Lin often complained to Pan Beigu's wife in private.Husband came over suddenly, Young Mistress Lin got out of bed: "Husband, are you going to sleep here tonight?"

Lin Yi asked his wife to go back to bed, so as not to catch a cold, he said, "Ma'am, I need you to come forward for my husband."

"Husband, just say what you want."

Lin Yi: "Tomorrow, you go to Wu Shao Wang's mansion and ask the concubine Shi Zi to pass a word to Shun Yu for me."

Mrs. Lin Shao immediately said: "I'm afraid this is inappropriate. You are the noble lord of the harem. My husband, you are a courtier, so avoid suspicion."

Edward Lam: "I just want to say sorry to Zuzu, I was confused this time."

Seeing her husband's gloomy expression, Mrs. Lin Shao knew how difficult the past few days had been for him, she said: "Okay, I will go to Wu Shao Palace tomorrow."

"Thank you ma'am."

Edward Lam stayed in his wife's room at night.At this time, Shi Yu was also discussing with his wife: "You go to the Wu Shao Palace tomorrow, and what's going on in the Wuchu area now, I'm afraid only the princess can find out."

Mrs. Shi was puzzled: "Don't you want to enter the palace in the third year of junior high school?"

Shi Yu: "There are many people in the third grade of junior high school, so it's not good to inquire about it. If you are still not well, and you enter the palace in the third grade of junior high school, you just prepare some supplements for the empress dowager and the noble concubine. You will naturally send things to you."

Mrs. Shi nodded: "Okay, I will go to the palace tomorrow morning."

On the morning of the first day of the lunar new year, the door of Prince Wu Shao's mansion was wide open.A carriage parked in front of the palace, all came to pay New Year's greetings to King Wu Shao.However, all the people who pay New Year's greetings are female relatives.On the first day of the lunar new year, there is a sacrifice to heaven, and all courtiers have to enter the palace.Princess Wu Shao and Princess Shizi greet guests in the mansion.Sui Guogong's wife came with his daughter-in-law, Shi Yu's wife, Nian Qing's wife, Chen Changgeng's wife, Qin Hou's wife brought their daughter-in-law...

The maidservants of the palace presented fresh strawberries and grapes to the wives who came to pay New Year's greetings.Nan Rong Shizhu sent someone to send a small basket of grapes, figs and strawberries to the cabinet, and did not send it to any official's house in particular, which was also Nan Rong Shizhu's caution.Lin Xieshan took home the small portion he had allocated in the cabinet and gave it to his mother and grandson to taste. Others who were not in the cabinet did not have such a blessing.

Seeing such fresh fruit suddenly, all the wives present were very rare. At this time, the princess said: "Successfully, there is a 'Hope Farm' in the suburbs of Beijing, which is currently under the care of the two princes."

The princess mentioned 俍俍, and the wives stopped eating.

The princess went on to say: "These fruits are all grown in the glass greenhouses on the farm. There are many things to do, and not many greenhouses have been built this winter, and the number is really limited. If you ladies eat well, you can join us next year." .”

Mrs. Lin immediately said: "That's natural. My concubine is hoping that my farm can produce more. It's a pity that this year's production is really small."

"Yes." Mrs. Lin immediately followed up, and naturally turned the topic to Chu Chu, "Cu Chu was not in good health before, I don't know if it is better now."

The concubine sighed, and said: "Yesterday, when I worshiped my ancestors, I didn't show up. I asked the queen mother, and the queen mother said that I was still weak. Your majesty was worried that I would catch the cold, so I allowed you to stay here." In the palace. This morning, my concubine and the eldest concubine entered the palace to pay their respects to the empress dowager, only to find out that the palace banquet last night did not show up, and the empress dowager was also very worried."

Mrs. Lin looked worried, but her heart was extremely uneasy. Sure enough, the eyes of several ladies glanced at her.The concubine glanced at Mrs. Lin and said: "I heard from the prince that there are still melons in the warm shed, and they can be picked in a few days. If you want to order in advance at the 'Fuyang Restaurant', we will discuss it in this room." There are not many, so hurry up."

Mrs. Lin answered immediately: "Thank you, Concubine Wang. When I turn around, I will ask the housekeeper in the mansion to order it quickly."

Others immediately said that they would rush to order.The price is secondary, the mind is the most important.And this winter, you can eat melons, no matter how expensive you are, you have to buy some.No one present here lacks that little silver.

The ladies sat for more than half an hour before leaving.Mrs. Lin Shao said at this time: "Princess Wangfei, I have something I want to ask Shizifei."

The Crown Princess asked kindly, "What's the matter?"

Madam Lin Shao shyly said, "Yes, it's about the child."

The concubine Shizi stood up with a smile. After Mrs. Lin Shao saluted the concubine, she followed the concubine Shizi and left.The concubine Shizi brought Mrs. Lin Shao into the garden, and shunned the maids around her.Mrs. Lin Shao didn't let her personal maid follow her. After saluting to the concubine, she said apologetically, "I want to see the concubine, not because of the children."

The concubine Shizi said clearly: "I know Mrs. Lin Shao is definitely not doing it for any child. Tell me."

Mrs. Lin Shao saluted again, and said: "My husband has been blaming himself since he returned to Beijing. I would like to ask the concubine Shizi to send a word to me for my concubine. The husband knows that he has no face to face him. He was confused for a moment and hurt him. , Lived up the trust of His Majesty and Zuo Zuo in him, he knows he was wrong."

The concubine said: "I will bring Mrs. Lin's words. It's just that Mrs. Lin still needs to persuade Lin Nei to be more in charge in the future. Lin Nei is in charge of the harem. As a man, he should be less involved." .”

Mrs. Lin Shao: "My concubine, please remember."

Emperor Yong'an had been busy all morning and was finally able to take a breather.Every year during the New Year, the most tiring thing is the ancestor worship on New Year's Eve and the heaven and earth sacrifices on the first day of the new year.Zhuo Ji stopped bleeding, but it was still too early to get out of bed normally.When Emperor Yong'an returned to Fengtian Hall, he went to see Zhuo Ji in his bedroom without changing his clothes.Zhuo Ji was lying on his side, with a wrapped gift box by his hand.

Emperor Yong'an: "Go and get my gift."

Zhang Xian went out with a smile on his face.

Emperor Yong'an asked Feng Xi to undress him first, he was wearing a formal crown today, which was very cumbersome.After taking off his clothes and putting on "home clothes", Emperor Yong'an washed his hands, then sat down by the bed and opened the presents.

Emperor Yong'an asked while tearing it down: "When did you prepare it?" Zhuo Ji had been busy in the cold palace before, and then went to Tongling to stay for nearly three months. He couldn't think of where Zhuo Ji would have the time to prepare for him.

Zhuo Ji said: "When I was in Tongling, I wrote a letter and asked Quan Sheng and Liang Qi to do it."

Emperor Yong'an smiled.

Unwrapping the gift, Emperor Yong'an opened the sandalwood box and saw what was inside, he was a little dumbfounded.The box turned out to be a golden mouse.Emperor Yong'an picked up the mouse, looked at it, and asked, "What is this mouse carrying on its back?"

Zhuo Ji said: "This year is the Year of the Rat, I will give His Majesty a golden mouse handle. The mouse has a bazooka on its back, blasting all the monsters into pieces. This year is a good year, and the country is safe and peaceful."

Emperor Yong'an liked it: "Okay, the bazooka is good, I like it."

After playing with it in his hands, Emperor Yong'an put it back into the box.Zhang Xian also came back at this time, and he handed over a palm-sized lacquer box.Emperor Yong'an took the box, opened it, and took out the contents.It's a string of gold beads.Emperor Yong'an put the box aside, took Zhuo Ji's left hand, put it on for him, then held Zhuo Ji's hand, looked at him and said: "I don't have as many rare things as you, such as jewelry, antique calligraphy and paintings, etc. You don't like it either. When Emperor Shenzong was alive, he would give his mother a bracelet every year. I just thought, this year I will also give you a bracelet as an annual gift. This bracelet is not long, you can wear it anytime will get in the way."

Zhuo Ji: "Unless it is necessary, I will not take it off, thank you Your Majesty, I like it very much."

Emperor Yong'an: "I have already told the Queen Mother that I will not go to Shoukang Palace today, and I will accompany you."

Zhuo Ji patted the bed: "Your Majesty, go to sleep, you woke up early this morning."

Emperor Yong'an took off his shoes and went to bed.

On the first day of the lunar new year, Emperor Yong'an never came out after returning to his bedroom.On the second day of junior high school, officials from various ministries in the DPRK have their own group worship activities.The relatives of the emperor will also enter the palace to pay New Year's greetings to the empress dowager, the imperial concubine, and other nobles.On the third day of junior high school, the imperial court ordered women to enter the palace to pay New Year's greetings.In short, all the activities in the palace will continue until the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, but most of them have nothing to do with Emperor Yong'an, he is only responsible for attending a few important occasions.

In the early morning of the second day, Emperor Yong'an went to Shoukang Palace to greet the Queen Mother and then returned to Fengtian Palace.Zhuo Ji was going to bed, Emperor Yong'an was reading a book and chatting with Ai Shi in the bedroom.While chatting, Emperor Yong'an said: "The foreign thieves from Dengzhou have been escorted to Beijing, and I have ordered the principal criminal to be imprisoned in the East Fourth Institute. When you recover from your injuries, I will interrogate you personally."

Zhuo Ji: "Did they spread the drugs to areas outside Dengzhou?"

Emperor Yong'an: "Nothing has been found so far. Their goal is the capital city, and you have seen through it before they have time. Other things seized later will also be sent to the capital city after the new year. Some documents were seized, Mi Wanzhong I don’t have anyone who understands Haixi Mandarin around me, so I can only wait for you to check if there is anything important to us after sending it to Beijing. As for the sea chart... Mi Wanzhong’s memorial did not mention it.”

Zhuo Ji: "Take all the things on the ship, and you can always find some clues. Except for the main criminal, other people can stay and help us train the sailors. Once His Majesty decides to go to sea, you need to set up a special shipping department, and the Ministry of War also needs to set up A dedicated naval department. Your Majesty needs to think about these things in advance."

Emperor Yong'an thought deeply: "I have been thinking about this for a while. How do you think this maritime government office should be set up?"

Zhuo Ji: "Maritime transportation is related to the country's economy, and it is also the key to the country's future external expansion. Why not set up a separate maritime department and still set up an internal capital? Although shipping is also a kind of trade, it is important for the country. I think it would be better for the new type of trade to be managed by more professional people than to be assigned to the Ministry of Household Affairs. Nian Shangshu has already run out of skills, and if he is asked to take charge of the Maritime Affairs Department, I am afraid that he will not be able to devote his energy. As for the person in charge... Those who need to be familiar with the coast of Mata country and have been in touch with maritime trade have at least been in touch with offshore trade, and it is best to have a certain family history and knowledge.”

Emperor Yong'an nodded slowly: "I asked the cabinet to pay attention."

In the third day of junior high school, the monarch and his ministers had fun together.Although Zhuo Ji stopped bleeding, his "internal injury" hadn't healed and he couldn't sit for a long time, so Emperor Yong'an didn't mention letting him attend the palace banquet.In the morning, before the wives entered the palace, Emperor Yong'an routinely went to Shoukang Palace to greet his mother.Zhuo Ji also woke up, lying down every day for the past few days, his bones were crisp.

"Xiaohui, I want to take a bath."

Xiaohui worriedly said: "Can master's wound be washed?"

Zhuo Ji: "The wound on the outside is already healed, I won't wash it for too long."

"The slave will be prepared."

Xiaohui went out.Aunt Hua said in a low voice at this time: "Master, the concubine Shizi entered the palace yesterday to pay New Year's greetings to the Queen Mother. The concubine's personal maid has found a servant girl, and asked the servant girl to give you a few words for the master on behalf of Lin Neidu."

Zhuo Ji was surprised: "Shi Zifei's personal servant?" A message to Lin Yi?

Aunt Hua: "It is said that Lin Nei Dutong's wife invited the Shizi Concubine to help deliver a message."

Chang Jing snorted coldly: "What can Lin Nei Dutong say to the master?"

Aunt Hua: "Mrs. Lin Shao's original words are: 'My husband knows that he has no face to face the scorpion. He was confused for a while, and he hurt the scorpion. He failed His Majesty and the trust of the scorpion in him. He knows he was wrong.'"

Chang Jing was so angry that he didn't interrupt, Zhuo Ji smiled: "Lin Nei is too worried."

Aunt Hua: "Master, this servant has brought this word. However, this servant thinks that the master should not respond, otherwise His Majesty will be unhappy if he finds out."

Zhuo Ji: "I dare not make His Majesty angry anymore."

Zhuo Ji didn't make any statement about Lin Yi's apology, and Aunt Hua and Chang Jing didn't take it seriously. In their view, Lin Nei Dutong owed his master an apology.If he hadn't brought Wan Gushu back to the capital, the master wouldn't have suffered such an innocent disaster.