Chapter 437 Lively New Year
A clan child took the initiative to apply for an envoy to the West. This was a major event. Han Ruzi could not make an immediate decision to let Han Xi go back first and report to the Hou residence as a regular attendant of Sanqi.
As for whether the appearance of Han Xi was a gain for the emperor or a small farce, it was difficult for Han Ruzi to determine.
Liu Jie, the supervisor of the Central Division, only hoped that the emperor would return to the palace as soon as possible, so that he could give the Empress Dowager Cining an explanation.
After all, there was nothing to do in the House of Marquis Juan, so Han Ruzi had to drive back to the palace, not even a horse, and all the guards of honor had to come according to the rules.
Even the emperor has to pay the price for walking without saying goodbye.
Empress Dowager Cining led all the concubines, including the pregnant Tong Qing'e, kneeling together in the courtyard of Tai'an Palace, and asked the emperor in tears why he despised himself, "Your Majesty doesn't care about mothers or concubines, doesn't he even care about the unborn prince?"
Empress Dowager Ci Ning said more, the empress and others mainly focused on consolation, but at the same time they also showed the same hatred of the enemy, and no one dared to stand on the emperor's side at this time.
Han Ruzi hurriedly stepped forward and helped his mother in person. The mother couldn't afford it, so he also knelt down. Empress Dowager Cining got up only then. When she got to the house, she still kept scolding. Blame it on drinking.
The Empress Dowager Ci Ning gradually calmed down, Concubine Shu Deng Yun was bolder, and after telling a few jokes, the atmosphere returned to normal.
After everyone left, the Empress Dowager Cining put away her smile, looked at the emperor, shook her head, and sighed.
Han Ruzi stood in front of his mother respectfully, just like when he was a child. At that time, mother and son depended on each other. The thing he was most afraid of was to make his mother sad. Whenever her mother was angry or wept, he was at a loss.
"Remember? You sneaked away once when you were five."
Han Ruzi thought for a while, then shook his head, five years old should be the age to remember, but he didn't have any impression.
"It was an afternoon, I was taking a nap in the house, and the maid couldn't take care of you, so you ran out of the yard. We were still living in the palace at that time, I was really frightened, I was afraid that you would be seen, I'm afraid that you will accidentally anger someone. The maid and I are looking everywhere, but we can't go too far. That hour is the most fearful moment in my life. "
"I am young and ignorant, so the queen mother worries."
"You were still a child, how did you understand this? An hour later, you came back by yourself, covered in mud, happily telling me about the flowers and plants outside. I wanted to punish you severely, but I couldn't. Because of that, you can't remember the past."
Han Ruzi blushed slightly, took a step forward, and said, "Mother, there is really a vast world outside, but just sitting in the palace, I will never be the true master of the world."
"Are you the only emperor in this world? How did the emperors of all dynasties do?"
"Most emperors of all dynasties broadened their horizons and cultivated their trusted ministers during the prince's period, and there is rarely a crisis in Great Chu today. Mother, even in the palace, you can feel the changes outside, right?"
Empress Dowager Cining was silent, her son was no longer a child after all, and it became increasingly difficult for her to gain the upper hand in words.
"The officials of Da Chu also hope that I will stay in the palace and hand over the world to them to govern. Mother, just because of this, I have to go out. Han Chou is not the only corrupt official, they are the root of all problems in Da Chu. "
"How far will your majesty go?" Queen Mother Cining asked.
The emperor was silent, he wanted to travel all over the world, and he didn't want to scare his mother now.
"I have to discuss with the ministers before making a decision." Han Ruzi finally replied.
Empress Dowager Cining sighed again, "Okay, I will not embarrass Your Majesty, and let outsiders think that I am an unreasonable empress dowager."
"Mother!" Han Ruzi was surprised and delighted.
"But I have conditions." Empress Dowager Cining said immediately.
"Mother, please."
"At least five princes."
Han Ruzi was stunned for a moment, and then he understood, feeling rather embarrassed, "Mother..."
"Five princes, establish the prince early, the court will be at ease, and I will be at ease, then go crazy with His Majesty."
Empress Dowager Cining was serious, Han Ruzi thought for a moment, "Two princes, it depends on the situation whether to establish a prince."
The Empress Dowager Ci Ning was also stunned. Her son actually bargained with her. It was both angry and funny. "Your Majesty has more than a dozen concubines. Although not many, they are not many."
"It's hard to say whether you will have a child, or a daughter, or not."
"Well, the three princes can't be less. It's not easy to raise children. I think the three are too few. As for whether to establish a prince, I'll talk about it later."
The Empress Dowager Cining was also tired. She called the palace maid and went back to her bedroom to rest. She won a temporary victory. The emperor could not leave the palace at will for at least ten months. Stop thinking about running around.
Han Ruzi understood his mother's intention, but he couldn't anger her any more, he had to take a step back, and the prince was indeed very important. Among the two problems raised by Zhao Ruosu, this was one of them.
Next, there must be a trustworthy prime minister.
Tong Qing'e is pregnant, and it is uncertain whether it is a man or a woman. When will the three princes be ready? Han Ruzi finally understood why the emperor's private affairs always turned into public affairs and major affairs.
After thinking about the dozen or so concubines, Han Ruzi still went to Qiuxin Palace to see the queen.
Cui Xiaojun was anxiously waiting for the emperor. It was not expedient to stand with the queen mother before. She really thought that the emperor should not be so casual.
"It was fine for the first time, but when His Majesty develops the habit of going out from time to time, others will know about it and look for opportunities from it. The assassin has been hiding in Cui Mansion for several months, and they are patient." Thinking of what happened at that time, Cui Xiaojun shuddered. .
Han Ruzi held onto the queen's hands, "I also have patience. If a few assassins can defeat me, what's the point of the emperor? What I'm most anxious about now is that the queen will give birth to a prince as soon as possible."
The first half of the sentence was still very serious, but the second half changed suddenly. Cui Xiaojun didn't get used to it for a while, and then blushed, "Your Majesty... What's the matter today? You're not serious in your work."
"This is a serious matter, and it is a serious matter that is related to the stability of the country." Han Ruzi said solemnly.
Cui Xiaojun's face turned even redder, and he could no longer express his full of complaints.
Han Ruzi kept his promise and did not leave the palace at will. In the next two days, he had a rare time to relax. The memorial, Han Xi, ministers, and the world could all wait. He held a real family banquet in the palace. Only the empress dowager, queen and concubines To be able to participate, the Empress Dowager Shangguan still stays out of the way, away from all the excitement.
When New Year's Eve arrived, the royal habit was no different from that of ordinary people, except that the pomp was bigger and more solemn. It took an hour to worship the ancestors, and a large number of officials rushed to the Taimiao to pay homage to the ancestors of all dynasties together with the emperor.
In the afternoon, most of the officials could go home. They took three days off. There were only a few people on duty in the yamen. Of course, the palace could not relax. So that the soldiers can rest.
It was a lively New Year's Eve. Han Ruzi tried to bring the excitement to his mother as much as possible. Everyone understood the emperor's intentions and went to the Cining Palace in turn to congratulate him. On the first day of the first lunar month, the congratulations reached their peak. The ministers and nobles also sent their wives from their families to pay New Year's greetings to the Queen Mother.
This is the New Year of the Empress Dowager Ci Ning. After years of hardship, she finally came to this moment. Even so, she still did not get carried away. She went to the Cishun Palace in the early morning to congratulate her, and in the afternoon she led a large number of wives to congratulate her again.
The royal family also gave gifts to each other, all of which were borne by the young mansion. Qiao Wanfu sent a detailed list. Han Ruzi was shocked when he saw it. Only on New Year’s Eve and the first three days of the first month, the gold, silver and silk he wanted to send out would be enough. One-year military pay.
Fortunately, I can still get some gifts back. After doing all the calculations, it is probably less than half of the value sent.
"No wonder everyone likes to give gifts to the emperor, it turned out to be profitable." Han Ruzi was very satisfied with the gift list and did not make any adjustments.
"Everyone thinks that the emperor is rich in the world, but they don't know that the emperor also has a tight hand." Qiao Wanfu said with a smile, he had a very happy year this year, the merchants' IOUs have been destroyed, and the Shaofu has saved a lot of money, enough to cope with the reception. expenses over a period of time.
The palace also gave gifts to each other. The emperor gave the palace servants mainly clothes, gold and silver, while the eunuchs and maids gathered together and gave some special small items. The emperor gave the empresses jewelry, and the concubine also gave them Only Concubine Shu Deng Yun was different in writing, ink, paper, inkstone and other items, and gave the emperor a treasured sword.
"There are many strong men in Yanzhao, and naturally there are many sharp weapons. This knife is not ordinary. It originally belonged to the former King of Zhao Zhuangchui. He killed countless people in his hands. When I was searching for this knife, I have treasured it for many years, and I present it to Your Majesty today."
Han Ruzi didn't really believe in Deng Yun's story, but admitted that it was really a good knife.
Empress Dowager Cining didn't like this gift, thinking it was a murder weapon, so she immediately had it taken away and stored properly.
Han Ruzi and the queen jointly gave the two empress dowagers a small opera troupe, which was purchased by the Cui family long ago and has been cultivated for more than half a year.
The empress dowager Cining gave the emperor a hand-sewn robe, and the empress and the Cui family were given gold and silver cloth, nothing special. Empress Dowager Cishun's repayment of gifts is all handled by the female official, and she doesn't care about anything.
For a few days, the New Year atmosphere was strong inside and outside the palace, and Da Chu had a bit of peace again. Han Ruzi and his mother finally felt the real life in the palace.
On the fifth day of the fifth day, the grand ceremony begins with the Taizu. Every day, an emperor's tablet will be paraded around the city, and finally sent back to the Taimiao. By convention, the noble families and the palaces of various yamen will build a colorful shed in front of the palace to compete for wonder and beauty, attracting a large number of people to watch. It is comparable to the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
Han Ruzi felt that he didn't do anything, but he kept busy until after the 16th day of the first lunar month, when he finally got free and could review the memorials normally.
There are not too many memorials accumulated, only one noteworthy.
Officials from the Western Regions reported that a team of envoys came from the extreme west, claiming to represent the gods and ghosts, Da Chanyu, and they were going to visit the Emperor of Chu.
Han Ruzi made a rough calculation. This team of envoys should have arrived in the capital two days ago, but he had not been notified.