A heavy snowfall overnight turned the capital into a world covered in silver.
The sky was getting bright, the snow had stopped, and it was good weather again. The elders arrived outside Jinshui Bridge in high spirits early, waiting for today's Zhengdan Dynasty.
Different from last year, this is already the second year of the emperor's accession to the throne, and the Zhengdan Dynasty has truly become a ceremonial court meeting.
If there is any difference, then naturally, after the court meeting, the courtiers have one more ritual, and that is to meet the Supreme Emperor!
In fact, according to the etiquette system, the emperor should lead his ministers to pay homage to the Supreme Emperor.
However, Zhengdan is different from the Winter Solstice. It does not need to be as complicated as worshiping heaven and ancestors. It is equivalent to the emperor and the emperor receiving congratulations from the world.
Therefore, based on the lessons learned from previous events, the Ministry of Rites specifically asked the emperor if he wanted to lead his ministers to pay homage to the emperor in person.
As expected, the emperor said that it would be enough for the officials to lead the officials there.
So, everyone was happy.
You know, every time you meet the Supreme Emperor, the Emperor behaves like a scoundrel and does not kneel, which makes it difficult for the Ministry of Ceremonies to do, and makes the bosses below feel uncomfortable.
Since the emperor doesn't have to go this time, it would be easier for everyone not to go.
Of course, it was not only the emperor and the courtiers who felt satisfied. When they arrived at the Nangong Palace, the Supreme Emperor ascended to the throne in the Chonghua Palace and listened to the sound of the mountains shouting "Long Live the Mountain", they were obviously much happier than at the Winter Solstice.
However, after all, it was the Supreme Emperor and the Emperor was not here, so all the ministers were obviously more cautious than usual and followed the ceremonial procedures in an orderly manner.
However, just when the ceremony in the Ministry of Etiquette came to an end and everyone was about to retire, the Supreme Emperor, who was sitting on the throne, suddenly smiled and said:
"Today is the New Year's Day. I haven't seen you for a long time, so I ordered someone to prepare a palace banquet. It won't be too late for you to retire after the banquet."
This was not the original rule. The courtiers were a little dazed for a moment. When they realized what they were doing, they wanted to refuse, but they found that the Supreme Emperor had already stood up and left the Chonghua Palace.
As a result, a group of elders looked at each other in disbelief, and then unanimously turned their attention to Hu Ming, the Minister of Rites.
This kind of thing should have been handled by the Ministry of Rites.
And, more importantly, the banquet given by the Supreme Emperor has a somewhat sensitive meaning.
If you accept it, you are afraid that the emperor will be displeased. If you don't accept it, you will be suspected of resisting the decree. At this time, you need someone to take the lead in refusing or agreeing.
There is no doubt that Hu Hui, a veteran of the Five Dynasties, is the most suitable.
Mr. Hu smiled and looked like it was nothing serious. He turned to look at a few ministers standing close to him and said.
"After paying homage to the Supreme Emperor, there is no formal process. I happen to be hungry. Since the Supreme Emperor is so kind, we can't refuse. How about we have a banquet here?"
As soon as the words fell, there was a burst of low discussion below.
Before the other seven ministers could speak, Wang Zhi, the Minister of Personnel Affairs, snorted softly and said.
"I think it's not necessary. Although the Supreme Emperor is of his heart, after all, this is the Nangong Palace. It will be inconvenient for us to walk. We may accidentally bump into the nobles. After the court ceremony, we should leave as soon as possible."
Wang Tianguan not only said this, he also did it.
After he finished speaking, he glanced around, then cupped his hands towards Hu Hui and said.
"Uncle Zong, I still have something to do, so I won't stay here any longer. If I have disrespected the Supreme Emperor, I will apologize to the emperor after the festival."
After saying that, Mr. Wang turned around and strode away without hesitation and neatly.
The scene suddenly became awkward. Ruan Lang, the eunuch who stayed to arrange the palace banquet on behalf of the Supreme Emperor, was obviously trembling with anger.
Although I have known for a long time that it may not be easy for the Supreme Emperor to speak in the court now.
However, now it is just a banquet, and it does not involve the government affairs of the court. Wang Zhi, as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and the head of the hundred officials, actually so blatantly regarded the words of the Supreme Emperor as if they were nothing and left in such a arrogant manner. It is really arrogant.
.
However, all Ruan Lang could do was get angry.
After all, that was Tianguan Zhongzai, the emperor's confidant. If he was so shameless, he could do nothing but stare.
Listen to what people say.
"...If there is any disrespect to the Supreme Emperor, I will apologize to the emperor after the festival..."
That means that even if I am guilty, it is not Nangong’s turn to deal with it.
Recalling the way the Emperor stood up without hesitation just now, Ruan Lang finally understood why the old man didn't stay.
I'm afraid that I've already expected this kind of scene, and I'm afraid that if I stay, it will make the trouble even worse.
Grinding his teeth, Eunuch Ruan gave a dry laugh and said.
"I think the official affairs department is very busy, so Lord Tianguan doesn't have time to spare, but it doesn't matter. The Supreme Emperor just felt that he hadn't seen you for a long time, so he gave me a banquet to show his appreciation."
"The Supreme Emperor also gave instructions before he left. If your lords are busy, you can go ahead. Our family will send a few people to make more trips to deliver the gifts to each mansion."
Although he said this, looking at Eunuch Ruan's stiff face, the elders knew that this was not true.
As expected, next, the eunuch in charge of Nangong said with a smile.
"If you adults need to leave first, you can do so now. We will write down the list and arrange for someone to deliver the gifts."
This is obviously irony. Anyone who steps forward at this time will definitely be recorded in the Emperor's notebook.
What's more, it doesn't matter if Wang Zhi is gone, this guy is famous for being unreasonable.
However, if too many people leave, the Emperor's face may really be gone...
Therefore, after hesitation, most of the courtiers still stood where they were.
It was just a palace banquet, not a big deal. Based on their understanding of the emperor, since they were asked to come to court, they would not care about a banquet anymore.
Of course, not all are left behind.
With Wang Zhi taking the lead, several more people quickly stood up among the ministers below.
Yang Yu from the Ministry of Husbandry, Yu Gang from the Ministry of Punishment, and Yu Yan from the Ministry of War, all the officials who came from the Palace of Prince Xin, did not hesitate much, handed over their hands, and left in silence.
But in the end, including Yu Qian, Chen Yi, and Yu Shiyue, who were also regarded as the emperor's confidants in the court, none of them left.
Again, the court still needs to be decent.
Then it would be okay if a few people left. If too many people left and word spread, wouldn't it cause public discussion, and the Ming Dynasty would lose even the dignity of superiors and inferiors.
Seeing this scene, Eunuch Ruan finally looked much better. He stretched out his hand and said with a smile.
"My lords, the banquet has been prepared and is in the side hall. Please come with us."
After the words fell, the smiling Master Hu was the first to follow. The other ministers were two steps behind, but they also stepped forward and entered the side hall.
Since it was a banquet and the Emperor was not here, the atmosphere was relatively relaxed and everyone was not so formal.
However, if you are careful, you will be able to find that when the ministers are walking to the side hall, there are several ministers who deliberately stay a few steps behind.
Then, while everyone was entering the palace, these ministers turned a corner and walked in another direction...