Linque

The twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month is a good day, but it is also Ling Ye's busiest day in the whole New Year's Eve.

Under the sympathy of Taizu, Dayin made the rules when he founded the country, and moved the Taimiao ancestor worship and New Year's Eve banquet to the 29th, so that the princes and ministers could go home for reunion, worship their ancestors and watch the year on the [-]th.

At the beginning of Mao's time, the sky was getting bright, and Ling Ye got up. As soon as he moved, Chu Heng also opened his eyes.

Ling Ye had just got off the ground and put on some clothes, when he turned around, he saw Chu Heng was about to sit up while lifting the brocade quilt, Ling Ye hurried back to the bed to hold him down, and said softly: "It's still early, don't rush to get up, go to bed again I will."

Chu Heng shook his head, looked into Ling Ye's eyes, and said, "Let me dress Your Majesty."

Ancestor worship at the end of the year is one of the most important ceremonies of the year. The emperor needs to wear a full set of crowns, gold jade pendants, and the emperor's sword. Wearing all the clothes, at least half an hour.

Chu Heng was much simpler than him. When he got up, he took advantage of the opportunity to change into the ceremonial clothes he was going to wear today.After the two of them had finished their breakfast, the palace maid came with the Mian Chan gown, and Chu Heng began to change Ling Ye's clothes with his own hands.

The emperor's crown is a crown with a flat sky, gold ornaments, and twelve multicolored beads hanging down. The group is the tassel, the color is like its ribbon, and the jade hairpin guides it.There are twelve chapters in the Xuanyi clothes of Dagonfu, eight chapters of sun, moon, star, dragon, mountain, Huachong, Huo, and Zongyi are woven on the clothes, and four chapters of Zao, Fenmi, Fu, and Fu are embroidered on the clothes.Accompanied by leather belts, large belts, swords, pendants, ribbons, knee covers, middle singles, and red scorpions. ①

Layers of clothes were put on, and the Tianzi Sword and Mianjian were put aside for the time being, and they would be put on again when they were about to drive. Chu Heng picked up a nine-dragon-patterned gold Guanzhu jade pendant from the tray, bent down and tied it around Ling Ye's waist. In the middle of the room, he reached out his hand to caress the lower skirt and the knee cover at last, and straightened the accessories of the clothes.

"All right."

He half-bent his knees, raised his head when he spoke, and met Ling Ye's smiling eyes. Ling Ye stretched out his hand to pull him up. Chu Heng stood up straight and took two steps back. With the sun and the moon on his shoulders and the stars on his back, he is solemn and dignified. Against Ling Ye's handsome eyebrows, he looks like a phoenix and a dragon, noble and unparalleled.

only--

"Don't laugh." Chu Heng couldn't help but bend his eyes and said, "It's not dignified enough to laugh."

"Huh?" Ling Ye raised his eyebrows when he heard the words, but couldn't suppress his smile even more. Seeing that Chu Heng waved his hand again to urge him, he could only flatten the corners of his mouth as he said, and looked at him leisurely.

Chu Heng looked at it for a while, but after a while, he tilted his head and frowned slightly.It doesn't seem good for the emperor to be too handsome. Being stared at by Ling Ye who is wearing the emperor's uniform, Chu Heng felt that not only was he not intimidated, but he even wanted to pounce on him and kiss him. How can this be done?Where is the majesty of the emperor? ②

He glanced at the twelve-pronged crown on the tray that could hide the emperor's face, frowned and said, "Is it because you didn't wear the crown?"

When the words fell to the ground, Ling Ye immediately smiled, raised his lips and gave Chu Heng a meaningful glance, walked to the couch, turned around and sat down, and said nothing.

Chu Heng's gaze followed Ling Ye, and he looked at it for a while, but in the end he couldn't figure out why his Majesty "didn't look majestic enough", so he stood there worrying for a while, sighed softly, and walked to The other side also sat down.

Not long after, the guard at the door lifted the curtain, and it was Qing Yan who came from the side hall, followed by the female official of the East Palace who was holding the crown prince's crown.

Dabai Tuanzi has already put on the crown prince's ceremonial clothes. According to the system of Dayin's ancestors, the crown prince wears ten crowns and wears ten chapters to go to the sun and the moon.Since Tuanzi was young, Ling Ye took the initiative to remove many accessories from the uniform, and only let him wear a pair of jade pendants.But no matter how deleted, the ceremonial attire was still complicated and grand, and it was the female officer of the East Palace who held him when he entered the door, so that Tuanzi was able to cross the threshold steadily.

He walked up to Ling Ye calmly, looked at Chu Heng, then looked at Ling Ye straight up, called "Father Emperor", stood upright, and looked decent.

"En." Ling Ye responded, patted his head, and said, "That's right, let's go."

Tuanzi was praised by his father, his eyes lit up, his face was filled with excitement, he trotted a few steps sideways to Chu Heng, obediently held Chu Heng's sleeve, and waited for the departure to the Taimiao.

The identity of Dabai Tuanzi is here. Since Xuanxi was formally established as the crown prince in the seventh year, he has to be involved in the four-season sacrifice.Visiting the Taimiao is to pay respect to the ancestors and ancestors. To show respect, the emperor has to step down and walk in front of the main gate of the Taimiao. From the main gate to the hall of worship, he has to walk a long section of the royal road, and then climb the 81-level white jade danbi. , before you can enter the hall to pay homage.

Tuanzi is just a boy with long hair, and he usually has to be watched so as not to fall when he runs fast. Let him wear a heavy prince crown and follow Ling Ye all the way down like this, it is simply fantasy.Therefore, in the past several sacrificial ceremonies, the dumplings were held by people or directly hugged to Xiangdian.

And the person who attends the temple to accompany the sacrifice is very particular.

At the first moment of the hour, the royal clan, civil and military officials gathered and waited in front of Taiji Gate.Yiluan Guard has already set up a full set of laws and regulations, and the emperor is promoted to Yu, and the horses and horses are marching out from the Danfeng Gate.

The Taimiao is located to the east of Jiuchongque, and the guard of honor marched slowly, and at the moment of Chenzheng, the imperial chariot arrived.The deputy commander of the emperor's shadow guard Rong Shan, the minister of Taichang Temple, and Su Lang in ceremonial attire led the rest, kneeling in front of the main entrance to greet him.

Many of the people serving the emperor's Fajia are imperial guards, and they all belong to the Hall of Martial Arts, and no one does not recognize Su Lang.As soon as everyone saw the distinctive ceremonial clothes on him, they knew that Su Lang was ordered to serve the prince again in the Taimiao ancestor worship.

——This is really an errand that makes everyone's eyes turn red with envy.

Visiting the Taimiao to worship ancestors at the end of the year is a national rite, and clan relatives, nobles, ministers of civil and military affairs, as long as they have rank and official titles, all get it.But it has come, but not everyone is qualified to step into the Temple of Enjoyment with the Holy Majesty and offer sacrifices face to face.

Not to mention ordinary officials in the court, even the [-]th family of Zhongming Dingshi, only the heads of the families can enter the hall to worship, except for the son of the Marquis of Yong'an, Xiao Gaomin, the heirs of other families can only sit on the platform outside the hall. salute.

As for the officials of the side branch clans and below the third rank, even Bi Dan couldn't go up, and they all knelt on the square in front of the hall of enjoyment at the foot of the stone steps outside the sill.Originally, according to the rank of the emperor's guards in the Wuying Hall, it was the same. Only those who had served the imperial court for a long time and could be named by His Majesty could go to the platform—and only in the name of the royal guard.

And what is the job of serving the prince?

According to the etiquette, when visiting the Taimiao, the emperor and empress are the first, followed by the crown prince, and he is accompanied by the imperial way and Deng Dan, ranking before the prince.

No matter how young the prince is, his status above ten thousand people will not change.Qingyan walked all the way, and the people who held him and hugged him from the left and right of the shrine naturally followed his position.

Until he stepped into the hall of enjoyment, when the Prince Yin knelt down behind the emperor and bowed three times and kowtowed nine times in front of the ancestral tablet to salute, the attendants of the temple still had to kneel on both sides behind him, in case he got up because of the crown. Too heavy to stand still.

In other words, the prince of the imperial court is almost always in line with the prince, and sometimes even ahead of the prince.

So think with your toes and know that not just anyone is qualified to go.In order to protect Prince Quan's face, he should have been directly appointed from the direct lineage clan, but the former emperor's princes took over the lineage too tragically. Involved and estranged.

Anyway, among the princes, the queen mother's second son Jing Wang Lingyi is the first one. Of course, the emperor doesn't need to care about his face. So from the first big sacrifice that Qingyan participated in as the crown prince on New Year's Eve last year, the people who served the shrine did not follow the ancestors. Pro pick.

Gu Yanshi, Su Lang, and Han Chengmiao were all targeted, without exception, they were all trusted and trusted ministers of the emperor.Even if they don't serve the prince, at least they are qualified to stand on the platform outside the palace.

But this time when the ancestors were worshiped at the end of the year, everyone had only seen Su Lang, who was dressed in ceremonial attire to attend the shrine. The other possible aristocrats and courtiers of the emperor were all dressed according to the quality, obviously not.

The number of accompanying sacrifices must be even, and there must not be only one person. Everyone was guessing in their hearts. The color of Chu Jun's clothes is red and black, with jade belts on the luan belt, and the hem of the clothes is embroidered with auspicious clouds and auspicious patterns with gold and silver threads.

He stepped down on the car seat, and when he raised his head, he showed a face that stunned everyone.

Except for the shadow guards of the Son of Heaven who escorted them all around, starting from Su Lang, to the guards of the Hall of Martial Arts who served in front of the imperial court, and then to the courtiers of aristocratic families lined up on both sides of the imperial street, including Mu Xiyun and Ye Shuli, everyone was stunned. on the spot.

I just watched Chu Heng stretch out his hand into the car, and hugged the little prince who was holding the crown, and then bent down to straighten the clothes for him, straightened the crown, and then took his hand, calmly Walking to the emperor's side, he lowered his eyebrows.

Ling Ye's face was calm, his eyes flicked over Chu Heng.Qingyan was still young and needed someone to take care of him, so it was very common for someone from the shrine to accompany him in the car.For the time being, he can only take the next best thing and bring Chu Heng to see his ancestors in this roundabout way.It's just that I still can't help but feel a little regretful. The emperor and empress visited the Taimiao, obviously they should wear the crown of the crown and ride the emperor's law.

While waiting for the auspicious time, Su Lang regained consciousness from the shock as quickly as possible, walked quickly to the other side beside Qingyan, couldn't help turning his head to look at Chu Heng's face a few times.

The Zanying families lined up on both sides were much more straightforward, their eyes seemed to poke a hole in Chu Heng's back, even if everyone wanted to break the sky, they couldn't expect that they would always be "not happy for the emperor" The imperial servant Mo won the great honor of accompanying him.

Su Lang is the son of the emperor's wife, the son of the emperor, a close minister of the emperor, and has a friendship with the emperor. His family of Wentao, Wulue and Wulue are all second to none, so it is a perfect fit for him to go.

But this Chu Heng...he, what does he have?How can one's background and talents be obtained?Is it because of his face that he looks better than others?That shouldn't be the case!

Many people present had witnessed the emperor's dislike for him earlier, and no one would think that it was Chu Heng himself.After careful consideration, everyone quickly thought of the same thing - Lishan Dongjun assisted the emperor's shadow guards to kill Qiannuolou. I am afraid this is the crux of the problem.

For a moment, everyone looked at Zhong Pinghou and Mu Xiyun in unison.

As Chu Heng's father, Zhong Pinghou Chuhong should have had something to do with Rong, but at this moment, the degree of shock and bewilderment on his face was no better than that of other families, and even when he looked around, he couldn't hide it in time. Frowning and looking at Chu Heng's back, his complexion was a little dark.

In contrast, Mu Xiyun seemed much calmer, and met the not-so-friendly gazes of the big families calmly, with an expression neither humble nor overbearing, as if it was only natural for her ordinary disciple to accompany her at the temple.

In fact, Mu Xiyun also had many doubts in her heart, she didn't know the truth of the inside story, but now was obviously not the time to think about it - Chu Heng was in the spot where the arrows were shot, and the backing of Lishan had to be erected for him immediately.

At this moment, Mrs. Mu, who came here on behalf of the master of the Eastern Capital, seemed to be standing behind her apprentice, casting all jealous, sly, or resentful gazes—whether aimed at Lishan or at Chu Heng—all blocked back.

"Why," she seemed to have these words written between her calm and solemn eyebrows, "Aren't we Lishan people worthy?"

In the imperial capital, they were used to Zhong Pinghou's mansion not caring about their second son, so many people really thought that Chu Heng was helpless, and even forgot that he had lived in Lishan for 16 years.

Whether the relationship of these 16 years has water, Mu Xiyun's undisguised protective posture has already given the answer.

Those who are at the front of the queue to visit the temple are not fools. Dongjun shot Qiannuolou, whether Lishan was preparing to stand in line, or just reached a short-term deal with the emperor, at least from today onwards, there will be no more "not for the emperor" "Happy" imperial servant Mo, everyone has to weigh Chu Heng's catty again.

This will inevitably cause many people to feel turbulent.

Needless to say, Zhong Pinghou, although the calm and calm that should have been restored on the surface, his heart was already complicated beyond words.

Xu Ao, Marquis of Jiayong, didn't have a good face either. At the beginning of the month, Chu Heng was one of the people who put his son Xu Shao in the sack, so Xu Shao couldn't even go to the Qianqiu court banquet, and he was ashamed to be thrown at the court meeting!And it's not over yet!A few days ago, Xu Shao recovered from his injuries and went out to give New Year gifts to relatives, but on the way back, he met a group of sacks again! ... was beaten with a black nose and a swollen face, and had to miss today's New Year's Eve banquet again.Marquis Jiayong gritted his teeth with hatred, and almost fainted on the spot, but that group of people moved so fast that he couldn't find out which family they belonged to.Now the Marquis Jiayong sees Chu Heng, Ye Shuli, Su Lang and Xiao Gaomin as extremely unpleasant to the eye, without even thinking about it, he knows that he will not be able to get away from them! ③

In front of the family team, the head of the princes, Jing Wang Lingyi was absent-minded, with a relaxed and leisurely look, and the sleeves of Prince Dagon's robe were wide, covering his clenched fists completely.Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Chu Heng. Others didn't know, but Ling Yi already knew from the queen mother that this Chu Heng was not disliked by the emperor at all, he was the emperor's favorite.The emperor does not marry into a family, but favors a man. Ling Yi is happy to see such absurd things come to fruition, and he can't wait to applaud, but the premise is that Chu Heng is irrelevant!But what is going on now?Ji Wuyue made an inexplicable move, and Mu Xiyun defended him calmly, which made Ling Yi have to re-examine, what if this Chu Heng could really shake Lishan's neutral position?

Prince Jing's heart was as heavy as a rock. Among all the princes and nobles present, the only one who could match his mood was Wen Xinhou's son Shen Yingbai.

But the difference is that Shen Yingbai really hoped that the emperor gave Chu Heng the honor of accompanying the sacrifice at the shrine because of Lishan's face, and not for some other unexplainable reasons.

On the thirteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, after the face-to-face at the Hall of Respect, he sent someone to investigate Chu Heng's deeds.There is nothing to investigate in Lishan and Zhongpinghou's mansion, but it is difficult to find out what happened in Jiuchongque, especially when Chu Heng is still in front of the imperial court.Over the past few days, Shen Yingbai also knew some bits and pieces, and it seemed that His Majesty really didn't like Chu Heng very much, and he was often blamed for minor punishments.

But when Shen Yingbo recalled the scene of facing the saint in the Jingcheng Hall that day, he always felt that something was wrong.If it happens, Chu Heng and His Majesty really have something... and Lishan Mountain is behind him, it will be a bit tricky.

The ringing of the bell from the Taimiao interrupted everyone's thoughts, and everyone focused their attention.The auspicious time has come, the guards of Luan are playing music, the minister of Taichang Temple is leading the way, the principal and deputy of the emperor's shadow guards are leading the way on both sides, the emperor wears the emperor's sword in his uniform, and holds Yuzhengui in his hand, leading the prince on the royal road , to Xiangdian.

Ling Ye intentionally slowed down his pace so that Qingyan's short legs could keep up.Dabai Tuanzi has made a lot of progress. Last time he went back to the summer festival, he only walked halfway by himself. This time, he didn't encounter any difficulties until he was in front of Xiangdian Danbi.

A small face was flushed with exhaustion, but she was a bit unwilling to admit defeat, but unfortunately things backfired. The hem of Dagon's uniform was too heavy, and as soon as she lifted her short legs to step on the white marble steps, she lost her footing and almost fell back.

Chu Heng kept his eyes on Tuanzi, supported his back, bent down and hugged him.Tuanzi was a little embarrassed, hugged Chu Heng's neck, and hummed twice on his shoulder.Chu Heng's brows and eyes stretched, and when he saw this, he lowered his voice and comforted: "Next year, if you grow a little taller, you can come up by yourself."

"Well," Qing Yan nodded heavily, and whispered: "A Yan will eat well."

"Good." Chu Heng said.

Ling Ye walked in front of them, turned his head slightly when he heard the words, and slightly raised the corners of his lips.

"..." Su Lang was walking behind on the right, and this scene happened to come into view.He looked sideways at Chu Heng who was holding the little prince, and involuntarily glanced back and forth between Chu Heng and His Majesty.

I don't know why, but Su Lang faintly feels that he seems to be extra redundant.It's not like I haven't done the thing of accompanying the sacrifice before, so why is it that this time I feel uncomfortable all over?

The sacred cards of the emperors and empresses of Dayin are enshrined in the center of the Xiangdian, and the ever-burning lamps last forever.In front of the door, Chu Heng put Qing Yan down, and under the guidance of the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, he led him to stand behind Ling Ye.Inside and outside the main hall, royal family members, civil and military courtiers stood respectfully according to their ranks.

With the sound of sacrificial music, the emperor stepped forward to offer incense, and led all the officials to bow down. The ministers of Taichang Temple recited the blessings, and the emperor offered soup, tea, silk, wine, food, and burning blessings. Finally, three bows and nine kowtows are performed. ①

The emperor first bowed to pray for the prosperity of the country, and the second to pray for the people's livelihood and safety. He got up and made the last bow. Ling Ye didn't ask for anything. He looked at the amulet of his mother, Empress Chengde Gu Huiyin, and bowed down together with the people behind him. Kowtow three times.

From today onwards, there is finally no imperial servant who "is not happy for the emperor", only Chu Heng who "has the most sacred heart".

The halo of the ever-burning lamp was reflected on the divine tablet. After the ceremony, the emperor took three steps back and turned around. The twelve beads hanging from the crown vainly covered his face. As far as his eyes could see, there were courtiers standing with bowed heads.

Chu Heng felt Ling Ye's eyes fall on him, and he couldn't help raising his head. Under the light of the candles, the twelve chapter patterns on Tian Zi Dun's uniform were glowing dimly, Ling Ye's expression was flat, and the hall was so quiet, Everyone bowed their heads deeply, and it seemed that even their breathing had become a tune.

At this moment, Chu Heng suddenly understood that no matter what clothes he wore, whether he wore a crown or not, and no matter whether the Sacred Heart was happy or not, the emperor was always the lord of the world who made all the officials bow their heads.

But Ling Ye was the only one who was alone.

So laughing and scolding, and wearing regular clothes, he can't be majestic anymore.

Just like now, even though he couldn't see Ling Ye's eyes clearly, Chu Heng was absolutely sure that when this person looked at him, his eyes must be full of soft light.

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This chapter has been reworked~

①The style of ceremonial clothes such as the emperor's crown and jade pendant can be found in the Yufu records of the Tang and Ming dynasties, mainly the "Old Tang Book" and "Da Ming Hui Dian", all kinds of miscellaneous.See Encyclopedia for the part of the sacrificial process at the end of the article.

② Versailles. (my nonsense)