The closer it gets to the end of the year, the less cold the weather becomes. Perhaps it is because spring is approaching and the snow has stopped falling. Apart from the frozen ice, there is less snow on the streets.
The Bianliang canal is long and the water flow on the river has decreased. The canal ships coming and going have disappeared, making the river seem particularly slow and not as lively as before.
Only the towering treetops in the city and the seven-story iron tower beside Fantai Chunxiao still retain a touch of snow-white that catches the eye.
There were fewer pedestrians on the streets, but it was very lively near dusk, especially outside Donghuamen. The government and the people celebrated together, distributing porridge and charcoal every day, and on New Year's Eve, there were fireworks and bonfires.
It was New Year's Eve. In the early morning, many officials had a meal at home, then went out around noon and walked into the palace.
At this moment, the palace was decorated with lights and colorful lanterns. The Bianliang Palace was a bit small and did not occupy a large area. There were not many eunuchs and palace maids in the palace, only a few hundred people in total, and most of them were guards at the palace gates. Therefore, there were not many people walking around in the palace.
But today, the people coming and going into the palace, in addition to the prime ministers, are the families of many ministers, the wives of various dukes and county dukes, who bring their young children and grandchildren to the palace.
Every year during the Chinese New Year, many princes and nobles would come to the palace to celebrate. Especially this year, the concubine was pregnant with a dragon seed. The emperor was overjoyed and held a grand banquet in the palace, inviting everyone to celebrate together.
However, the official time for everyone to enter the palace is usually at noon. Now Lu Yijian and others entered the palace first. On the one hand, they wanted to handle some government affairs, and on the other hand, they wanted to participate in some celebrations. For example, every New Year, the emperor would hold celebrations in the Daqing Hall.
At three quarters past the hour of Chen, everyone had gathered in Chongde Hall, which was Zhao Zhen's study. In the morning, many eunuchs inside and outside the palace were setting up the venue. At about the end of the hour of Chen, that is, at nine o'clock, a grand sacrificial ceremony would be held.
While there was still some time, the prime ministers of the Constitutional Council and Zhao Zhen gathered together to chat.
In the Chongde Hall, Zhao Zhen sat behind a desk with an incense burner and a charcoal basin placed in the center below him, and many prime ministers sat on both sides.
Yan Shu was not there. He was invited by the Minister of Rites Wang Fan to help plan the process of the celebration ceremony because Wang Fan had just been transferred back from another place, and Yan Shu had served as the Minister of Rites before and had experience in this area.
"Today is New Year's Eve, and a new year has arrived."
Zhao Zhen's face showed joy. Not only did the two concubines in the harem become pregnant this year, but the situation in Bianliang also improved a lot. At least the national treasury was quite sufficient at the moment.
In addition to the successful collection of autumn taxes, Zhao Jun beheaded many people and confiscated many properties at the end of the year. All these things added up to more than 10 million strings of cash contributed to the national treasury, which was almost enough to cover expenses at the beginning of next year.
"Yes, this year the weather has been good and the harvests have been good everywhere. Although there have been some civil unrest, nothing has gone wrong. This is all due to the great fortune of the government and the protection of heaven."
"Furthermore, both the Empress and Concubine Zhang are pregnant with a dragon seed. The possibility of having children is very high. The country is stable and the people are safe. This is indeed a series of happy events for the emperor."
"I wish your Majesty good health, a successful birth of your dragon offspring, and even greater prosperity for the Song Dynasty next year."
Lu Yijian, Wang Zeng, Wang Sui, Cai Qi, Song Shou, Sheng Du and others all offered flattery.
These guys have always been like this. They flatter Zhao Zhen in front of him, and then when they start fighting among themselves, they flatter Zhao Zhen while telling tales and belittling their opponents. It's really a bit outrageous.
Zhao Zhen was indeed a little flattered by everyone's praise and his face showed his joy.
But after feeling proud, he saw Zhao Jun's calm expression and asked in confusion, "Grandson, aren't you happy about the arrival of the new year?"
"Of course I'm happy."
Zhao Jun sighed and said, "I just miss home a little bit. I wonder how my parents are doing now."
Seeing that he seemed a little depressed, Zhao Zhen quickly comforted him, "Grandson, since the future is still in the future, why worry about it? Even if their world still exists, I believe your brothers and sisters can be with them."
"I'm an only child, and in response to the national family planning policy, I can only have one child."
Zhao Jun said expressionlessly.
"ah?"
Zhao Zhen stepped on the landmine accurately and everyone looked at each other in surprise.
They really didn't know that Zhao Jun was an only child, because they had never asked before, so they always took it for granted that Zhao Jun must have brothers and sisters.
The main reason is that there was no concept of family planning in ancient times. Having many children has always been a tradition of the ancients, so they have never really thought about this aspect.
Now we know that Zhao Jun was an only child. Parents in later generations who have lost their only child must be unhappy about this. Zhao Jun and his parents in later generations are probably unhappy too.
After hesitating for a moment, Fan Zhongyan comforted him, "Even though we are far apart, you and they are still alive. Getting married and having children soon, leaving behind a bloodline, will be the greatest comfort to your parents."
"Um."
Zhao Jun nodded without saying anything.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Zhao Zhen said, "There's still some time before the sacrifice. My eldest grandson will be leaving the capital soon after the New Year, and Mr. Fan will be leaving soon too. Why don't we talk about business?"
"What shall we talk about today?"
Fan Zhongyan also changed the subject, looking at Zhao Jun and said, "How about we talk about the Western Xia situation? Although I have made a lot of preparations, it would be nice to talk a little more."
"Hmm."
Zhao Jun pondered for a moment and said, "This is indeed a core contradiction. Only by resolving this problem first can we truly do other things well."
"The core contradiction?"
Zhao Zhen was confused and said, "Grandson, you mentioned the main contradiction and the secondary contradiction before. What is this core contradiction?"
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