Chapter 77
In the evening, Lin Xian from the East Factory came in to deliver a summary of the interrogation case, a whole stack of it, including the time and place of the entire case, as well as the people involved in the case. A total of thirty-six people were arrested, and everyone had a confession. The East Factory checked it during the interrogation and found nothing was missed. They all told the truth, so they sorted it out and handed it to the East Palace.
The lights in the main hall of the Eastern Palace were as bright as day, and all the officials in the Eastern Palace were there.
Manyu Fu: “So many people?”
"Your Highness, the last 18 people were the candidates who stayed at the Dongyang Inn with He Chunshu and Sun Jian before the 23rd. I arrested them all and interrogated them for an entire afternoon. I found that those who were not involved were released before I entered the palace."
Xuanyu Fu nodded. The twenty people in front also included the servants and cooks of the courtyard.
"This small courtyard of the Lin family's place?"
"The Lin family rented it to Sun Jian."
Xuanyi Fu sneered, "What a trick! First, they slandered my father's reputation, and then sent this spineless thing to the courtyard to be served."
He was talking about Sun Jian.
Some scholars are stubborn and noble, with their own integrity and unity of knowledge and action. Even if there is a conflict of ideas, they will still be looked up to and admired. But people like Sun Jian talk high-sounding words and act in a righteous manner, but they are despicable in their private lives. The so-called righteousness is also created by using power to make money.
"What's the earliest date?"
"On the 20th, Sun Jian started talking nonsense in the inn. According to Sun Jian, a man contacted him on the 7th of this month. He described his appearance and said he was an ordinary middle-aged man. The man gave him three thousand taels of silver and promised that he would pass the imperial examination if he succeeded. He didn't believe it at first, but the man showed him his past files. He had a history of smuggling cheat sheets into the provincial examination. According to the rules, he should not be allowed to take the imperial examination for ten years. Sun Jian revealed it himself and paid money to bribe the man. This matter was discovered. I think it was premeditated..."
Xuanyi Fu frowned and said that the conflict between him and Lin He happened at the beginning of the month. Sun Jian's ancestral home was quite remote in the south of Fujiang River. After such detailed investigation, the time didn't match up.
But this was definitely done by Lin He.
"Your Highness, you are mistaken. It can only be said that it was an accident." Wen Lianglu said, "The list of candidates for the Spring Examination and the past scores will be sent to the cabinet this year, and they will be investigated if there are any doubts. I dare to guess that according to the convention, Lin He will be the chief examiner and arrest Sun Jian on the day of the Spring Examination, and inform the other candidates of Sun Jian's past cheating record, so that he can gain a good reputation for being honest."
For an official, especially one who holds the position of Prime Minister, even if he or she will never use the chess pieces, he or she should keep them at hand as they will always come in handy.
These are all trivial matters. For Yu Linhe, they are not difficult to deal with. He can always find his subordinates to run errands for him to check the files. If he can use this as an opportunity to dismiss the local officials and leave the vacancy, he can also release people from his own faction.
Something that kills two birds with one stone.
How many people did Wen Erdan know? He was shocked when he heard this. He had never expected the officialdom to be so deep.
"Of course, all of this is just my guess." Wen Lianglu didn't dare to say too much, but he privately felt that it was true. Lin He went to Liuyuan to recuperate, and for more than half a month, His Highness had not visited him and had a tough attitude. If it weren't for Zhou Ruwei, Lin He wouldn't have been so anxious.
Everything is traceable.
Xuanyu Fu said coldly: "I think you are right."
"Fortunately, at the morning court today, His Highness was angry and led the East Factory to investigate." Xu Muyu said slowly: "Sun Jian has been taken to the small courtyard for three days. According to the Lin Party, the matter has been dealt with and His Highness will not pursue it."
There was one thing Xu Muyu didn't dare to say. Minister Lin's move looked impulsive, but the gains were greater. If the morning court today went according to the ideas of the Lin Party, and everything went well, Minister Lin would leave Liuyuan and preside over the Spring Examination. Secondly, he would alienate the East Factory and the East Palace, and seriously injure His Highness's arm.
Even if the emperor came back and wanted to investigate, all traces would have been cleaned up by then, and Prime Minister Lin would still say that the old ministers were all thinking about the emperor, and that the emperor's majesty would not allow the people to talk nonsense.
If His Highness investigates the biological mother... even if Governor Xu did not do it, Minister Lin could carefully arrange some "clues". It doesn't matter if there is no evidence. If His Highness becomes suspicious, he will investigate and guess for himself, and perhaps even get close to Minister Lin.
But Lin He underestimated His Highness. After Xu Muyu finished thinking, he looked at His Highness the Crown Prince sitting on the chair. Under the shadow of the candlelight, His Highness's eyebrows revealed a bit of majesty, just like His Majesty.
Not to mention Lin He, even Xu Muyu, who had been an official in the Eastern Palace for several years, seemed to have met the new prince today.
"Lin Xian, let the East Factory disperse the public opinion." Xuan Fu thought, "There is no need to clarify the matter between my father and my dad. Sun Jian has been spreading the news for seven or eight days. People are coming and going in the inn. Some people dare not say it openly, but they dare not gossip behind their backs? It is better to guide than to block. Just guide them and say that my dad and my father lived and died together, shared honor and disgrace, and supported each other through it all—"
"Wang Banban, call Wei Qian from the music academy."
It was based on his simple oral narration that Wei Qian wrote the script for the play "The Monkey King's Journey to the West". What he wrote was simple, straightforward and interesting, and his love story was not the kind of love that a poor scholar would imagine a rich girl to be in that would last forever and cling to him.
It’s a good opportunity to promote the love of my father.
Get positive.
"Another point, don't be hostile to scholars. Some people are temporarily deceived by words. There is no need to call for killing them. Just ignore them. There is no need to arrest them if they have not committed any crime."
"This case..." Xuan Fu was thinking, should he expose Lin He directly or not? Finally, he thought of something and said, "Exposing half of it, insinuating that Lin He was behind it, and then complaining about his injustice, muddying the waters."
Lin He used this trick against him and his father, hoping to make him suspicious and find out how his "biological mother" died, and now he is going back.
The main thing is that right now, this small case cannot bring down Lin He.
…
The Eastern Palace discussed the matter until late at night.
Xuan Fu asked the imperial chef to prepare a midnight snack, but he did not eat here, so that his subordinates could relax a little. He also gave everyone a day off, "You don't have to get up early tomorrow. Everyone is doing work in the East Palace, so go back and rest early in the afternoon."
Everyone should agree.
Xuan Duofu came out of the front hall and turned around to see Lin Xian looking at him with a smile, as if to say "Your Highness has grown up". Xuan Duofu: "?"
"When the governor was at the factory, he often mentioned Your Highness, but to us subordinates, Your Highness sounded like a little kid." Lin Xian deliberately spoke lightly, wanting to please Your Highness.
Xuan Duofu smiled, feeling warm inside, but also a little embarrassed, because his father must think that he is good in every way and would praise him in front of his subordinates. Even if he just doesn't study, his father can still say, "Our Duoduo is lively."
"This is the first time I've met your brother Lin Xian. I met your brother Lin Zheng when I was a child. He looks exactly like you, but if you look closely, you can see that their facial shapes are similar."
Lin Xian smiled and thought that his brother would definitely be happy when he told about it when he got back.
Wei Qian was waiting nearby, listening to the chat between His Highness and the man from the East Factory. Manyu Fu noticed this and said to Lin Xian, "This man is good at writing storybooks and has a straightforward personality. I will send someone to deliver it to the East Factory tomorrow."
He hasn't told Wei Qian about the beautiful love between his two fathers.
Lin Xian: "That's great, I'll go back and make room for this brother."
Then Lin Xian walked out of the palace neatly with the badge in hand.
Xuanfu took Wei Qian to the backyard. He was also hungry, so he ordered some midnight snacks and asked Wei Qian what he wanted to eat. Wei Qian was too humble to eat with His Highness, so Xuanfu made his own decision, "You eat whatever I eat. I dug you out of bed in the middle of the night and it's snowing—"
"Ask the chef to heat a pot of wine."
When Wei Qian heard about the wine, he looked embarrassed but was happy in his heart.
Soon the table was served, and Xuanyufu and Wei Qian ate in the warm room. Wei Qian was hesitant at first, but Xuanyufu invited him to drink, and after a few drinks Wei Qian relaxed. The two of them ate from the hot pot, and Wei Qian ate the meat very much. He said that his family was poor when he was a child, his mother died early, and his father married a stepmother. Ordinary people say that stepmothers treat children harshly, but his stepmother treated him as her own son and was very good to him.
His stepmother is diligent and capable, honest and kind-hearted. Although she is illiterate, she thinks literacy is a good thing. It's a pity that she followed a lazy man like his father.
Xuanyuefu listened and thought, no wonder there is some "heretical" in Wei Qian's writing. In today's world, which son dares to say that his father is not his biological father?
"Is your mother in good health? I remember you are from Nanyang."
"Yes, my mother worked hard in her early years, and now I earn money and send it back every year." Wei Qian liked that the Crown Prince called him mother. Outsiders heard about his story and said something about your stepmother.
Xuanyuefu: "Why don't you bring people to Shengdu?"
"My mother is not used to it. She has never traveled far away and is afraid of causing inconvenience to me. I have younger brothers and sisters at home."
Many people were so stupid that they gave a "bamboo shoot" and said, "You can't invite people like this. You can't go back for the New Year, so you can write a letter and tell them how hard it is for you in Shengdu and how you can't get used to the food here. The servants you hired in the courtyard bullied you, and the vegetables and meat you bought were expensive."
Wei Qian's eyes widened immediately.
Many people said: "You used to write letters to say that everything was fine and everything was OK."
Wei Qian nodded.
"You don't want your mother to worry about you, do you?"
Wei Qian nodded.
"If you write as I say, I guarantee that your mother will bring her younger siblings to live with you next year. By the way, where is your lazy father?" Xuanyu Fu asked.
Wei Qian: “Still alive.”
Many blessings: ...
Wei Qian might have thought that this was a bit too much, so he said, "The lazy have good fortune. Now he is healthy and can run and climb walls. My father doesn't drink or gamble, he is just lazy. All the housework falls on my mother. I could do it before, but now I have sent money back home and my life should be better. However, my mother is very thrifty and reluctant to spend it——"
"Then you should bring your mother and the others to Shengdu. You can rest and do some work at home, and you can also look after your father. Since he is in good health, find him a job. He is lazy because you are his son and it is difficult to say so. Find him a job that you can say so that outsiders can take care of him."
"I remember that the yard you bought outside the palace is on the west side. Is it close to the East Factory?"
Wei Qian was excited, "It's not far, just half an hour's walk."
"Your father's legs are fine. He can walk and climb walls, you said."
The more Wei Qian thought about it, the better it seemed. He looked at His Highness with burning eyes, "Your Highness is really smart."
"Okay, okay. I'm just so smart." Xuanyunfu bumped into Wei Qian and talked about his two fathers. "My father loved me the most when he was at home. He praised me for everything..."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince talked about the love between his two fathers. He started by praising himself and saying a lot about how good their father-son relationship was. Wei Qian couldn't help but remind him, otherwise it would be dawn outside!
"Oh, that's right." Xuanyu Fu drank a few glasses and opened up, telling him how his two fathers met and loved each other when they were in low points, and how they entrusted their lives to each other in Wuzhou and on the battlefield. He talked about this and that, but Wei Qian listened carefully and took notes from time to time.
They didn't drink until daybreak. Manyu Fu fell asleep in the second half of the night. Wei Qian was full of energy and was still writing something. He stopped after finishing it. Because he was drunk, the brave one slept in the warm room of the prince for an hour.
It was still early when he woke up. Wei Qian told Wang Zongguan that he would go back to the Jiaofang first. After cleaning up, the palace gate opened. Wei Qian went to the East Palace and was escorted by Guard Xu to the East Factory outside the palace. Wei Qian and Guard Xu also knew each other. Guard Xu was saved by His Highness and was loyal to His Highness.
In the past, Wei Qian would go to the East Palace from time to time. He knew all the praises the palace maids had for His Highness. His Highness was kind-hearted, good-tempered, and generous, and he showed all kinds of favors to the palace maids. To be honest, Wei Qian didn't take it to heart.
It's not that Your Highness is a bad person, but some of the actions taken by Your Highness, who is a member of a royal family, can buy loyalty and reputation without much effort on your part.
But after last night, Wei Qian could understand why the guards were so loyal to His Highness.
A gentleman will die for his friend.
Last night he was drunk and bold enough to say all kinds of bad things about his father. His Highness did not get angry and scold him for being unfilial. Instead, he gave him some naughty advice. His Highness is really different.
They were like good friends, forgetting the difference in their social status and chatting happily about family matters.
His Highness was filial, and he spoke eloquently about His Majesty and Governor Xu, with admiration in his eyes. Wei Qian, who always claimed that he was a small person and could not help the nobles, sincerely hoped that His Majesty and Governor Xu could return safely as soon as possible.
…
In the Dongyang Inn, the East Factory arrested a group of candidates yesterday. Some scholars did not have a good impression of the eunuchs. They saw that the eunuchs of the East Factory arrested everyone without asking any questions or even any reasons, and they were also loudly angry with the East Factory people in the inn.
"We are all scholars of high status, so we don't have to kneel even when we arrive at the county government office."
The East Factory doesn't care what these people are shouting about. They will report to the authorities and meet their leader. The boss has gone to the battlefield in Qianzhong. What? Send you there too? Use your status as a juren to fight in the war?
Catch them all.
The Dongyang Inn owner was very obedient. He called everyone "adult" and answered all the questions. He followed them to the East Factory and went there. He was very docile and obedient. He also said to these scholars from other places, "Don't worry, gentlemen. The East Factory is investigating a case. Don't disturb them. We will be back soon if nothing happens."
It's not like this hasn't happened before, but not here.
"You are actually in the same group as these eunuchs. You are a shady shop.", "Pah."
The innkeeper was also angry. Why were these stubborn people so stubborn that they wouldn't listen to good words? He followed the team and said sarcastically, "Mr. Juren, don't say you are a master now. Even if you are a second-rank official in the court, the East Depot will handle affairs and arrest people in the same way. If you are not convinced, when you become a first-rank official, you can also take me with you. Let me see whether the East Depot can arrest people based on their official positions."
The scholar who was making the judgment was so angry that his face turned red.
The inn was bustling with people, and naturally there were people outside watching the excitement from afar, which attracted discussions from passers-by. They all said: "What have these scholars done wrong?", "They haven't even touched the official hair, but you see? They are putting on airs.", "Officials can't put on airs in front of the East Factory."
The common people laughed.
Not all of them were indignant and prejudiced against the East Depot. Most of the candidates were honest and fearful. They thought carefully whether they had done anything wrong. Finally, they thought, could it be what Sun Jian had said before?
That’s the only reason. Otherwise why arrest them? They haven’t done anything wrong.
The owner of Dongyang Inn and others also wanted to come, but they were not afraid. When they were interrogated in the Dongchang prison cell, they answered whatever they were asked.
"Mr. Sun's words were really bad, and I didn't want to do business with him. He really didn't know what was good for him. I didn't know how serious the matter was, so I tried to persuade Mr. Sun."
"We common people have said it, too, but everyone is praising it. Mr. Sun said it harshly. Isn't that disrespecting the royal family? Is that what you mean, sir?"
"We also have a good scholar in our inn. When they quarreled, the scholar Pan was very nice. He said that no one could know about the private affairs between the emperor and Lord Xu. He also said that they studied in the official school built by the prefecture and county, which was also the emperor's grace, and they should not forget the name of the official school. "
…
Everyone had their own stories and they all answered honestly. In the evening, the Eastern Depot released the prisoners. The eighteen candidates looked at each other in bewilderment. Their clothes were intact and they were not injured in the torture, but they were frightened and wiped the sweat off their foreheads.
"The East Factory was very scared.", "Their interrogation was really scary.", "But we were delivered food at noon, and the food didn't have any strange smell." In fact, the food was quite delicious, including meat.
If someone had been careful, they would have noticed that one of the candidates had changed his pants because he was so scared that he peed his pants, so the people from the East Depot found him a clean pair of pants and threw it over.
This experience was really a bit strange. The innkeeper and others even boiled hot water and made tea for the returning scholar after returning, saying, "This is a treat for everyone today, no need to pay."
The boss was very excited. He had a trip to the legendary East Factory and would have something to talk about in the future.
Sure enough, after a while someone was peeking in at the door of the inn. When the boss saw that it was an old neighbor, he happily let him in and asked the waiter to bring a plate of peanuts and heat a pot of wine. It was obvious that he was going to have a good chat.
More and more old neighbors came, and they were all curious.
"Old Dong, I heard that you were taken to the East Factory? Were you tortured?"
"Look at how I am being beaten. Our old boss and I are all clean families. We have run this inn for many years. I will answer whatever the master of the East Factory asks."
…
The innkeeper was bragging and chatting with the old neighbors, and the scholars, who had calmed down after taking a bath and drinking hot tea, seemed to have just realized that some of them had not returned.
"He Chunshu?"
"It really is related to what Sun Jian said."
"It's really an unprovoked disaster. Sun Jian is a man with a mean face and I didn't like him from the beginning."
Some people shared the same idea as Sun Jian. If the emperor is a wise ruler, he should abolish the East Factory and stop using eunuchs. If a eunuch can become an official, then what are the scholars who have worked hard for so many years and failed several times to get to where they are today?
But at this time, this man didn't dare to be stubborn anymore, for fear of being sent to the East Factory again.
In the lobby on the first floor, the boss and others were talking louder and louder. Someone said, "They didn't commit any crime. You don't know. Some people didn't know about it but helped and were tortured." "I heard that the torture room in the East Factory is very scary. Those officials can be skinned alive after entering."
"Fortunately, it has nothing to do with us ordinary people."
"Have the scholars upstairs been quiet? They were showing off their power before. Not to mention that they are not officials now, even if they are officials, they should be good officials. With the East Factory here, those corrupt officials who do evil will suffer a lot."
Yes, when Sun Jian said that, there were also scholars who agreed with him, because they were afraid of the East Factory. Common people were not afraid of it, because when common people committed crimes, they would go to the Taichang Temple, and if they were involved in a murder case, they would go to the Tianying Temple. Going to the East Factory like today has nothing to do with you, and you can get out safely. If you are involved, you deserve to be beaten.
Over the past four years, the reputation of the East Factory is no longer what it used to be in the previous dynasty. In addition to the ten official schools in Manchuria, official schools in the north and road construction, most of the candidates are able to distinguish right from wrong and are grateful in their hearts.
The East Factory arrested the man and released him on the same day, and did not force the people not to chat about this matter. It was as if they had forgotten about it and did not tell them to keep silent. Ding is Ding, Mao is Mao, and they only checked a few people who were related. Boss Dong was in charge of the inn, and he had seen a lot of people coming and going. He saw the attitudes of several officials in the East Factory, and tried to figure it out before he dared to chat with his neighbors.
Naturally, no one dared to talk about the matter between the emperor and the Ninth Thousand Year Old Man anymore.
Little did they know that the next day there would be someone who was not afraid of death and told the story in the teahouse about the arrest of the scholar from Dongyang Inn yesterday, which implicated Sun Jian in defaming the emperor and Lord Xu.
"Sun Jian's words are outrageous and disrespectful to His Majesty. What does he know?"
"I have a cousin who is a businessman. You have seen him. He likes to go to Wuzhou to buy some sheepskin wool blankets and cushions. He said, and I heard it too, that when our current emperor was still Qianlong, he was indeed close to Lord Xu in Wuzhou."
"Ah? You can't say that."
"That damn Mr. Sun is wrong. Our Lord Xu used to be a young eunuch in Wuzhou. Wuzhou was poor back then. It was winter when the current emperor first arrived. I heard that charcoal was unaffordable. The current emperor's hands were frozen and swollen. The local gentry colluded with local officials to control the charcoal business. The current emperor, a prince, couldn't make a living. You can imagine how the people lived at that time. Many people died in winter. Lord Xu was born in a poor family, but he was smart and courageous. He treated the 14-year-old current emperor as his younger brother and went out of his way to tear open the stomachs of those local gentry who were full of fat and greasy food..."
"How did you fight? You haven't explained it clearly yet."
"I heard it, you just need to listen to it. It is said that Lord Xu was a traitor who wanted fame and fortune. The local officials colluded with the local officials and were afraid of being investigated by the vassal king, so they wanted to harm our current emperor--"
"So vicious? How bold."
"Wuzhou is a remote place, and those people are really local tyrants. Our current emperor was also pitiful at that time. He only had a few eunuchs around him. I heard that the army was also in a mess and couldn't be supported. That, it was that Zhongrui and the imperial concubine who plotted to kill our current emperor, but the true dragon emperor is the true dragon emperor after all..."
Soon the teahouse was filled with cheers and praises.
Taiji Palace, East Palace.
Xuan Xuanfu slept until noon before waking up, his mouth was dry and his head was a little painful, so he drank a bowl of warm water before drinking the hangover soup. Wang Yuanyuan waited for His Highness to feel much better, and reported that Wei Qian had arrived at the East Factory, and that Lord Zhou from the Xuanzheng Hall had sent someone to ask for him to come over.
"What time is it?"
"Your Highness, lunch is still half an hour away," said Wang Yuanyuan.
Many blessings: ...
He really couldn't work too hard, and he had to take a break after working a little harder. Manyu Fu found an excuse for oversleeping, and didn't blame his partner for not calling him, as his partner must have felt sorry for him.
"First, send someone to Chongming Palace to tell Yan Jinjin that I'm in the East Palace, and tell him to make sure he doesn't leave. If he wants to have dinner with me, he can come to the East Palace to find me."
"Go to Xuanzheng Hall and tell Lord Zhou that I have a headache and feel unwell. Lord Zhou and the cabinet will have to take care of the government affairs for the past two days."
Wang Yuanyuan must have gone to deliver the message.
Xuan Fu stretched himself lazily, and did not ask about the public opinion in the East Factory. It would take time for public opinion to ferment and be discussed. The East Factory has been very professional in this in the past few years. In addition, besides the East Factory, there would be people who would step in and add fuel to the flames, and pin Lin He in this incident. Even if Lin He cleared himself, he would still have some stigma.
Who asked his son to take action personally?
It is only right for Zhou Ruwei to work hard on government affairs and let him take care of Lin He.
Xuanyunfu felt more confident. He went out to get some fresh air and then thought of something. "Has Ling Guan come back?"
"Your Highness, Guard Xu is in the front yard. Shall I go and ask Guard Xu to come over?"
"No need, I'll go by myself, it's a good opportunity to exercise."
Xuanyuefu walked forward and met Xu Lingguan. Xu Lingguan greeted him. Xuanyuefu asked anxiously, "Yesterday I showed my power and ordered the Jinwu Guards to go to the Lin Mansion and beat Lin He's son with ten boards. Did they do it?"
"Yes." Xu Lingguan smiled and said in detail: "Captain Huai took the people to the Lin Mansion to execute His Highness's order after handing over the people."
Manyu Fu asked, "Did you fight smoothly?"
"When Captain Huai arrived, he didn't explain his purpose. He first said that the prince wanted to question the son of the horse-riding Lin family in the downtown area. When the son arrived without any precautions, Captain Huai waved his hand and the Jinwu Guards pinned him down, stripped his pants, and beat him ten times in public, leaving his buttocks bleeding." Xu Lingguan described it vividly, mainly to make His Highness feel better. "He left after the beating. Maybe Liuyuan is far from the front yard, so Lin He was not seen."
Xuan Xuanfu clapped his hands when he heard this, "Captain Huai is worthy of being my father's confidant!"
Really smart, witty and decisive.
His father did not take this skilled fighter with him when he went to war, but left him in the palace for him to use, so he decided to use him more.
"Tell the palace gates not to let anyone related to the Lin family in. I was so angry with Lord Lin's son that I fell ill. Prime Minister Lin is not good at educating his son, but I think of him because he is old and sick, so I let him recuperate in Liuyuan and teach his son at the same time."
Officer Xu Ling said: "Lin He's son was taken away by the East Factory at noon today because he was involved in the case."
"Okay, okay." Xuan Fu was not speaking in anger this time. He was so happy that he almost jumped up. He said hypocritically, "Prime Minister Lin can't teach his son while he is recovering from his illness alone. There is nothing we can do."
Two days later, Duo Xinfu gave himself a "sick leave", and even Master Hu took it seriously. Zhou Ruwei handled state affairs with the cabinet, and would come to the East Palace every afternoon at 3 p.m. to report on the day's government affairs.
The prince was diligent in his work and worked on state affairs despite his "sick body". Word of this spread throughout the court and he received a lot of praise.
I stopped writing on the 29th as it was the New Year.
Xuanyi Fu issued an edict, saying that his father was away on a military expedition, and that this year's palace banquet should be kept simple.
The palace banquets are kept simple, but that doesn't mean they are not held anymore. Because every year the list of guests at the palace banquet, whether the officials are accompanied by their families, where they sit, and their seats are all a symbol in the court and the circle of nobles, symbolizing which family is popular and well-off in the current dynasty and in the coming year.
The palace banquet on New Year's Eve was cancelled this year, but Xuanyi Fu wrote many Chinese characters for "blessing" and gave them to everyone - an old tradition of his father. Because his father was sometimes a little stingy, he was not stingy with him and his father, and was also very generous to some of his favorite ministers.
But my father said: Just because it's New Year's Eve, I should give them rewards regardless of whether they are good or bad? Some idiots have done a bad job for a year, so they should pay me compensation.
Of course, it is not acceptable for the emperor to accept gifts from officials.
His father is very concerned about his reputation.
Many people think: Same as me.
Generally, they are words of praise and blessing, and everyone has one, but the difference is: the ones for the ministers he values are written by his father himself, while most of them are written by him, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
He wrote all of them this year.
There is also the imperial meal in the palace, called Fucai.
The preparation of the list of guests for the palace banquet during the New Year had actually begun a month in advance. The Internal Affairs Office and the stewards of the two palaces had also come to inquire about it. The person in charge of reviewing it was Chief Steward Zhao. The closer it gets to the end of the year, the busier it gets. There were still some things that needed to be confirmed and eliminated, for example, who would have wanted to come a month ago, and the Lin family suddenly couldn't be included.
At this time, in the warm room of Xuanzheng Hall.
Wen Lianglu, the director of the Internal Affairs Office, Zhao the chief steward, and the stewards of the two dowager concubines' palaces were all there.
"It's New Year's Day and the weather is cold. Prime Minister Lin is still ill, so he should not come to the palace to pay his respects. If he falls or breaks his arms or legs, I will be in trouble." Xuan Fu said sarcastically.
On the first day of the new year, the ministers who are highly valued will come to pay New Year's greetings to the emperor. There are relatively few people, and they are all high-ranking officials and their wives. In the past, there was always the Lin Mansion every year, and the wife of the Prime Minister was a first-rank imperial lady.
Now, if His Highness says that we cannot enter, then we cannot enter.
At the family banquet on the second day of the New Year, Prince Li and Princess Changping’s residence were still in the front…
On that day, the list was finalized, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent people to deliver invitations to various mansions. Lin's mansion was close to Taiji Palace, but surprisingly, there was no one there, not even a single invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
On New Year’s Eve, the palace awarded lucky characters, but the Lin family didn’t have any.
Those seventh-rank officials in the Eastern Palace all received the word "Fu". The Lin family...
The noble circles were all watching and thinking about it. Some families took the invitation to visit Prime Minister Lin this year, while others were not in a hurry. Maybe when the Holy Master returned, the Lin family would rise again. After all, he was an old minister who had served in three dynasties, and His Highness was still young and had a bad temper.
It is now the Ningwu period, and the crown prince is not in power.
Wait and see.
The author has something to say:
Emperor Ningwu: During the Ningwu period, you said that Fu became even lazier. Do you really want me to work until I live to be a hundred years old?
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