The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

On the second day of the Chinese New Year, I went to the Eastern Palace in the morning and to the Da'an Palace in the afternoon. It was said that I had a rest day all year round, but in fact I was busier than usual.

Although I often went to the palace on weekdays, the name of the Chinese New Year was different from that of ordinary days, and the etiquette must be observed.

I slept until the evening, and Xiao Tao came to wake Li Fu up and asked him carefully if he wanted to have dinner.

"Eat." Li Fu responded.

Even if he was still sleepy, he couldn't sleep for the time being, otherwise when he woke up, it would not be midnight yet, how would he spend the second half of the night.

In just these two days, Li Fu's work and rest schedule has been completely messed up.

"What do you want to eat, my dear? I will tell the kitchen to prepare it immediately." Xiao Tao said.

"Don't prepare too much. Just heat up the steamed buns at home, make me a dish of sauce, pick a few garlic sprouts, and pick a handful of leeks. I'll eat with the sauce." Li Fu said, "It's simple. I've been eating too much these past two days. I want to eat something refreshing."

"Okay, then I'll let the kitchen know." Xiao Tao responded.

Not long after, a table was set up in Li Fu's room.

The kitchen staff came with a food box and put out what Li Fu wanted.

Li Fu drank some hot water to warm his stomach, picked up the steamed buns and garlic sprouts and started eating.

Xiao Tao served tea and water to take care of Li Fu.

"Has Liu Niang rested in the kitchen?" Li Fu asked.

"She just woke up and had dinner too." Xiao Tao said.

"Let her study the fermented bean curd. How is it going?"

"Ah, come to think of it, a lot of tofu has been wasted in the kitchen. In the end, they all went bad and couldn't be eaten. I don't know how much was thrown into the swill bucket. My dear, what exactly is fermented bean curd?" Xiao Tao asked in confusion.

I started tinkering with it at the winter solstice last year. As a result, a lot of tofu has been wasted, but it has not succeeded yet.

Is it so difficult to make?

"Won't you know when it's done? How can I tell you this?" Li Fu smiled and said, "Don't worry, failure is inevitable, and failure is the mother of success. Just waste a little bit. When it's done, there will be one more food on the table. How great."

Now there are fine salt and strong liquor. As long as the tofu is fermented well, it will definitely succeed. As for the cost, it's for home use, so why mention the cost? When I really want to set up a workshop in the future, Liu Niang's craftsmanship will be mature by then.

After eating and drinking, Li Fu sat on the kang and read a book for a while. He felt sleepy and went back to sleep.

On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, after Li Fu had packed up, he asked Wu Liangye to take him to the Eastern Palace. He did not plan to stay in the Eastern Palace for long. After meeting Li Chengqian, he went directly to Da'an Palace and tried to go home at noon. Then he would have a good rest at home.

Wu Liangye waited outside the palace with the carriage.

Li Fu came early, but even so, some people had already come to the Eastern Palace. Li Chengqian sat at the top and talked with these officials. He looked very mature at a young age.

Since the second half of last year, when Li Shimin had a little free time, he would take Li Chengqian with him to teach him personally, and also reduced a small part of Li Chengqian's courses. The missing part was made up by Li Shimin, who was his father.

Therefore, Li Chengqian, who was with Li Shimin, had learned a lot. At least at a young age, he could receive officials in a proper manner.

When Li Fu came to pay a visit to the prince, he naturally followed the etiquette of the officials in the court.

But in the afternoon, it was the elders who had to bring New Year's money to the younger generations.

Li Fu prepared three carts of gifts and sent them to the palace in the afternoon.

One cart for Li Chengqian, one for Li Tai, and one for Li Lizhi.

The uncle should set an example for the uncle first. If Changsun Wuji doesn't do it, don't blame Li Chengqian and the others for trimming their hair in the first month of the year.

After Li Fu arrived at Da'an Palace, Li Yuan temporarily put aside the conversation with other people and looked at Li Fu.

"Come, come and sit next to me." Li Yuan waved to Li Fu.

Li Fu was confused, but still came to Li Yuan's side. The eunuch brought a cushion and Li Fu sat on it.

"When I had a family dinner here before the New Year, I wanted to discuss your matter." Li Yuan said, "It's a pity that you were drunk and didn't come."

"It's a good thing that you came today, let's discuss this matter carefully, and let people prepare it."

"Ah? Uncle, what's the matter?" Li Fu asked curiously.

"It's only been a few days, and you forgot? Of course it's your crowning ceremony." Li Yuan said, "There is no elder in your Jingyang Palace, so naturally I have to plan for you."

"I also talked about this with your second brother that day. Your second brother said that if there is anything needed at that time, just use it in the inner court. So, you have to hurry up for your crowning ceremony."It was held in a short time. You are the head of the Jingyang Palace, the one who supports the family. You should have held the ceremony of becoming an adult last year."

Normally, it is held at the age of 20, but as the mainstay of a family, you should become an adult as soon as possible, which indicates that it is reasonable and legal to carry on their lineage.

Li Fu has no brothers or sisters in his lineage. Li Fu is the only child in Li Yuan's third brother's family.

"That's right, but I know nothing about it. I will follow your instructions on how to handle it." Li Fu said with a bow.

"Okay, it's good that you have a definite answer. Before the New Year, I asked the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to calculate that the eighth day of the next year is a good day. It happens to be these few days, so the Ministry of Rites can get busy. "Li Yuan said: "Your ceremony of coming of age should be held in the residence of King Jingyang, but you are the only child of my third brother's lineage after all, and you were found from the people, so I thought of putting your ceremony of coming of age in the palace, in the main hall of the ancestral temple."

"I chose the palace for my own selfish reasons. I worshiped the heaven and earth, announced to the world, and informed our Li family's ancestors that you were found and my third brother has a successor." Li Yuan said with emotion: "Although you went to Jinyang to worship your ancestors, the royal lineage still enshrines the tablets of your grandfather and great grandfather in the ancestral temple in the palace, and you have to go and pay your respects."

"Then I will follow your arrangement, uncle. It is also a great honor for my nephew to be crowned in the ancestral temple in the palace." Li Fu said.

"Okay, okay. "Li Yuan responded repeatedly: "Then let's arrange it this way. I will send officials from the Ministry of Rites to the Jingyang Prince's residence to help you prepare everything you need to prepare."

"You don't have to worry about the rest. Let the inner court handle what it can do. With your second brother and sister-in-law here, you don't have to worry too much." Li Yuan smiled kindly.