Chapter 160 Desperate Peace
Princess Chun was a beautiful lady with an elegant demeanor. It was the first time that Li Nuo had seen her. She called her to her side, held her hand, and said something to her with a smile...
Prince Chun was right when he said that a reunion dinner is only lively when there are many people.
If they were to have dinner at the Li family tonight, Li Nuo could imagine how deserted the scene would be.
But it’s different in Prince Chun’s Mansion.
The table was filled with carefully prepared dishes, and below, dancers were dancing to the music.
Sitting next to Li Nuo was his wife, and opposite him was Li Anning.
Prince Chun looked at Li Nuo and the other two and said, "Li Nuo, Jia Ren, and An Ning, please don't be polite. Just treat the palace as your own home..."
He raised the wine glass in his hand and said with a smile: "Cheers, everyone. I wish you a happy new year. May Li Nuo pass the imperial examination, may the beauty's cultivation reach a higher level, and may An Ning find a satisfactory consort..."
Li Yun, who was sitting in the corner, looked at his father, waiting for his father to toast him, but Prince Chun was already drinking.
In front of Li Nuo and the others was a pot of fruit wine. The taste was not very spicy, but the aftertaste was long and it was quite strong after drinking.
Watching Li Anning drinking cup after cup, Li Nuo silently moved the wine jug to his side.
Although it’s okay to have a little wine on New Year’s Eve, you can’t drink it like water.
During the banquet, Prince Chun asked Li Nuo, "How are your preparations for the imperial examination going?"
Li Nuo said: "Do your best."
Prince Chun looked at Li An Ning again and asked, "An Ning, the Ministry of Rites has selected so many princes-in-law, but you are not satisfied with any of them. Which one do you like?"
Li Anning said calmly, "I'm not in a hurry to get married. Li Yun is older than me and he hasn't gotten married yet, so why should I be in a hurry?"
Li Yun, who was eating in the corner, trembled when he heard this and buried his head even lower.
Speaking of Li Yun, Prince Chun's face showed anger.
What kind of son is this? He can choose any of the beauties in Chang'an, but he doesn't want any of them. He insists on treating a wooden woman as a treasure...
Because of this incident, Prince Chun often scolded him.
Today is New Year's Eve, An Ning and Xuan Jing's family are all here. Let's give him some face and not say anything about him.
After dinner, my father and Prince Chun played chess in the study, and Li Nuo and his wife came outside.
The two held hands and stood in the yard, looking up at the bright fireworks that occasionally bloomed in the sky.
Not far away, Li Yun was also holding a figure in his hand.
The fireworks all over the sky reflected brilliant colors in her glass-like eyes.
In the darkness, the lifeless eyes seemed to have a little more spirit, but even Li Yun, who was closest to her, did not notice it.
Further away.
Li Anning stood there alone.
It's very lively outside today, but this liveliness has nothing to do with her.
She looked at the figure standing next to Li Nuo, with a hint of envy in her eyes...
There is no curfew in Chang'an on New Year's Eve.
There is no curfew in Chang'an from New Year's Eve to Lantern Festival.
People can revel in this period of time.
Although it is still in time to return to Li Mansion, going back at this time will always feel like the end of the party and the separation of people. Prince Chun has already arranged a place for them to stay in the palace tonight.
The next morning, when Li Nuo got up, his father and Prince Chun had already left the palace.
Li Anning also went with them.
Every year on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the imperial court would hold a grand court meeting.
At the grand court meeting, the chief officials of each state and department must go to the palace to report on their work, so that the court can summarize the past year and start looking forward to the new year.
All the princes must attend this annual court meeting, and princesses and their husbands-in-law cannot be absent either.
Even some low-ranking officials who are not qualified to attend the court on weekdays have the opportunity to attend the grand court meeting.
Because there are so many people participating in the grand court meeting, it usually lasts for three consecutive days.
When Li Nuo and Song Jiaren returned to Li Mansion, the court meeting had been held in the palace for a while.
Today's court meeting is very different from previous ones.
Not only were there a huge number of officials attending, but more importantly, His Majesty, who had not appeared in public for a long time, rarely appeared in front of the ministers.
Sitting on the dragon throne was a handsome middle-aged man.
Your Majesty is over sixty years old this year, but he does not look old at all. He has black hair and no beard, and there is not a single wrinkle on his face. Compared with several older princes, he looks more like a brother than a father and son.
According to the order of reporting at the grand court meeting, the three provinces and six ministries came first, then the nine temples and various guardhouses, and then the chief officials of each place.
While officials were reporting on their work, the powerful people of Daxia could make reports at any time.
Today is the first day of the court meeting. Generally, after the three provinces, six ministries and nine temples report on their work, today's court meeting will end.
During this period, taking advantage of the fact that His Majesty finally appeared, the powerful and influential people began to impeach Li Xuanjing, the Minister of the Dali Temple.
Such things as corruption, murder of loyal officials, disregard for human life, abuse of power, threatening court officials, interfering in royal affairs..., one by one, the evidence is conclusive and the facts are correct.
"During the time when your Majesty was not in power, the Dali Temple Minister relied on his power to act recklessly and lawlessly!"
"I don't know how many officials he arrested on trumped-up charges and took to the Dali Temple and Mingjing Bureau, causing panic among the people in the court and a chaotic atmosphere..."
"Your Majesty, please take back his control of the Mirror Department!"
"Your Majesty, please understand!"
…
Li Xuanjing, the Minister of Dali Temple, who was standing in front of the court officials, showed no expression when he heard these words.
Those high-ranking officials above the third rank also had blank expressions on their faces.
Some officials in the back of the court showed a slight look of anticipation on their faces. The Dali Temple Chief Justice was too intimidating to these low-ranking officials.
Just a thought from him could make all their previous decades of hard work go to waste. Without him in the court, they would not be able to sleep well.
However, officials who had experienced the previous grand court meetings did not have any hope for this matter.
Every year there are people who impeach Li Xuanjing.
Until now, he is still standing here well.
However, those who impeached him kept changing one after another.
Sure enough, His Majesty ignored these dignitaries. After a long silence in the hall, the Minister of Rites had no choice but to stand up and begin to report on behalf of the Ministry of Rites.
This year is the year of the imperial examination, and it is the busiest year for the Ministry of Rites. The content of the performance reports is also more than in previous years.
At the end of his report, he mentioned in passing that Princess An Ning was already eighteen years old and it was time to choose a prince consort.
Somewhere in the hall, a look of nervousness appeared on Li Anning's face.
This time, the figure sitting above the Golden Palace did not remain silent. He rarely spoke and asked, "Has the Ministry of Rites selected the list of candidates for the future prince consort?"
The Minister of Rites said respectfully: "We selected a few before, but Lord Li, the Minister of the Dali Temple, felt that their talents and looks were not worthy of Princess An Ning, so the Ministry of Rites is already reselecting..."
The Great Xia Emperor spoke again: "Who did the Ministry of Rites choose?"
The Minister of Rites said, "The son of the Right Minister of Personnel, the grandson of Zhang Lian, the Grand Secretary of the Hongwen Academy, the son of the Junior Secretary of the Imperial Household... These people are outstanding among their peers in terms of family background, talent and appearance. If they are not good enough, there will be few people left to choose from."
The Great Xia Emperor thought for a moment and said, "My daughter should marry the most outstanding young man in Great Xia. The imperial examination is coming soon. As for An Ning's husband, let her choose one of the top scorers in this imperial examination or the top scorers in the six subjects."
Li Anning turned pale when he heard this.
Most of the court officials were impressed in their hearts that His Majesty really doted on this little princess.
Designating the number one scholar as the prince consort was already a precedent in Da Xia. Letting the princess choose her own prince consort was unprecedented and even against etiquette.
But your majesty’s words are golden, and no one dares to object.
The Minister of Rites bowed and said, "As you wish."
Although His Majesty did not issue an edict, what he said in front of all the officials was no different from an imperial edict.
Now that His Majesty has spoken, the Minister of the Dali Temple cannot stop him, right?
If he dared to stop it again, he would be disobeying the order, and even His Majesty would not protect him.
After the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel continued to report on their work. All the officials had long forgotten the incident just now. Only Li Anning, who was standing among the princesses, bit her lower lip tightly, her face extremely pale...
The emperor spoke personally. This time, no one can help her...
(End of this chapter)
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