Although it was broad daylight, the light in the cell was very dim. Although Shang Quji had a good drinker, he could not withstand the fierceness of burning a knife. At this time, his face was red and he was swaying for more than ten steps. He turned around and smiled bitterly: "This is the imperial edict."
He should be in jail, didn’t the governor say before that the young ones were not qualified enough to be admitted here?”
Chang Yu behind him smiled dullly: "Although I promised you a way to live, you can't escape the death penalty. After all, you have to give an account for those three lives. There is no good place to keep you now, so
I will make an exception for you to enjoy the preferential treatment of the Yamen."
Shang Quji lowered his head and exclaimed: "Explain? This is the only life I've got for you. Since the governor won't kill me, how can I give you an explanation?"
"I'll leave you here sober for seven days. During this period, you have to think clearly whether you should leave or stay. If you leave, you will pay a sum of money to the family of the deceased and make sure you will not commit any crime in the future. If you stay..." Chang Yu said to him.
He glanced at the innermost cell and said, "Stay in that cell for a day and night. If you are still alive, I will keep you here!"
Shang Quji followed his gaze and glanced at the innermost cell, nodded slightly: "Young man understands, the yamen does not support useless people." Then he smiled bitterly and said: "Young man really wants to leave, but where can I get the money to pay compensation?
If you pay the money as compensation, you can only stay and work hard.”
"Then stay and work for three years to make up for it. Of course, you also said that the yamen does not support useless people, so you have to survive first." Chang Yu said coldly. Shang Quji looked at the innermost cell and narrowed his eyes:
"What the governor said made me more curious. I want to go and find out..." As he was about to stagger towards the cell, Chang Yu reached out and grabbed him: "You are here now."
"Situation, if you go in, you will be killed." Bian Ranfanzi said and put him into the cell next to him.
"You are treating me as a touchstone?" A voice came from the dark depths.
Chang Yu chuckled without looking back: "I am willing to admit defeat, you are a man of faith."
Back in the hall, Chang Yu was in a daze for a long time with his teacup in his hand. Kuang Ren was pacing back and forth in the yard, occasionally glancing towards the hall. At this time, a fan walked into the yard and whispered to him. Kuang Ren waved him away and then
Entering the hall: "Sir..."
"But the emperor summoned our family to the palace?" Chang Yu came to his senses, and Kuang Ren shook his head gently: "It is said that Wu Sangui's favorite concubine, Xing, came to your house to give gifts."
Chang Yu was a little surprised: "What gift?"
"A box of mooncakes".
Oh, Chang Yu picked up the teacup, took a sip, and smiled: "Xing's family is not simple."
The Xing family is Chen Yuanyuan.
Chen Yuanyuan's real name is Xing Yuan, with the courtesy name Yuanyuan. She adopted her uncle's surname Chen when she was growing up with her aunt, and later took the stage name Chen Yuanyuan. After several years of confusion, she finally changed her real name back to her real name after marrying Wu Sangui.
The great eunuch Chang Yu has great power in the government and the public. There are many officials who want to curry favor with him, but they all know that he does not invite private invitations and does not accept gifts. No one dares to be presumptuous. As a result, during the New Year and festivals, the house is empty, and even if someone comes, they only pay attention.
posts.
But today, the Wu family has come to give gifts. Is this breaking the rules?
But it seems that they didn’t come. Wu Xiang didn’t come, and Wu Sangui didn’t come either. She was just a concubine of the Wu family.
And the so-called rites are not considered rites. During the Mid-Autumn Festival in the Ming Dynasty, there was a custom of giving mooncakes to each other among neighbors.
To put it bluntly, this behavior is more like Chen Yuanyuan coming to visit.
Of course Chen Yuanyuan is not here to give gifts. Chang Yu knows her purpose, and Chen Yuanyuan also knows that Chang Yu knows her purpose.
"Let Lao Hu go to the Wu Mansion to return the favor." Chang Yu sighed and said, "Wu Sangui is truly blessed to have this daughter from the Xing family in his previous life." Kuang Ren grunted and went to the door to ask for an explanation.
Before he could turn around, he saw a eunuch rushing towards him: "Is the Governor here?"
Kuang Ren responded and saw Chang Yu walking out of the hall: "But you want to enter the palace?".
The eunuch quickly said: "The emperor summons you, old man, to the palace."
Chang Yu pouted and laughed and cursed: "Our family is not as good as the crown, when did we become old people?" The eunuch immediately became nervous: "Damn it, the little one, the little one can't speak..." Chang Yu interrupted him: "The banquet But has it started?"
"Come on, the officials are waiting..."
"Where is it, Baohe Hall?" Chang Yu asked as he went to the backyard to change clothes. The little eunuch followed behind: "At the Qianqing Gate..."
This surprised Chang Yu.
In ancient times, during festivals, the royal family would hold a grand royal banquet to entertain hundreds of officials. It can be regarded as the annual meeting of the company in later generations. The difference is that not all officials can participate. It requires Beijing officials or local officials. Although it is known as the hundred officials, Sometimes the officials were dissatisfied and sometimes there were more than a hundred people. Just like the Thousand Old Man Banquet in the Qing Dynasty. Do you think it was a thousand people? The first time there were more than 1,900 people, and the last time there were more than 5,000 people.
Where are so many people meeting?
In the Ming Dynasty, it was mostly in the Baohe Hall. This place was where the emperor changed his clothes and rested before some major ceremonies were held, or where the emperor was congratulated when he was crown prince. It was also used to hold royal banquets during festivals.
As for Qianqing Gate, it is the main gate of the inner court of the Forbidden City. The emperor of the Qing Dynasty listened to politics at this royal gate. The emperor of the Ming Dynasty only occasionally held small meetings or held small banquets with cabinet ministers. This time it was used to entertain officials. Second-rate.
As for why the officials are suddenly invited to a banquet here, it is actually easy to understand. During this period, the emperor and the officials were arguing and scolding every day. This is to lighten the atmosphere, give a slap in the face and give a candy. Look, I invite you to come to my door. It’s time to eat. What a favor. Just accept it when you see it. Don’t be shameless...
To put it bluntly, it is to take advantage of the festival to whitewash the happiness of the king and his ministers. Besides, after so many years, internal and external troubles have broken our hearts. In previous years, the festivals were all about whitewashing peace and happiness. Now, although the world is not at peace, it is I can finally breathe a sigh of relief, and at least I can really smile from my heart.
Perhaps it was a great favor for Emperor Chongzhen to invite hundreds of officials to have a meal in front of his house, but he would not have thought that the emperor of the Qing Dynasty was so generous and enthusiastic. The Qiansou Banquet mentioned was first in Changchun Garden (today's part of Peking University) during the Kangxi period, and the second and subsequent Qianlong periods were both in the Palace of Qianqing (the two in Jiaqing were in the Huangji Palace), which can be considered real. Please come over to your home to have some fun.
After changing his clothes, Chang Yu left the yamen and went to the palace. He didn't take a car or a sedan. He walked slowly with his hands behind his back, followed by six or seven personal guards.
Except for the patrolling officers and soldiers, there are no pedestrians in the imperial city. However, looking towards Anding Street in the north, you can see the crowds of people. The later the hour, the busier the market will be. Throughout the ages, the busiest time for festivals has always been at night.
However, it is only in the evening now. Most of the people who have seen the excitement are busy at home. The city is full of smoke and birds. After dinner, they go out to visit the lanterns and flower markets. They also find teahouses and restaurants in groups of three or five, gossiping about today's events. lively.
Today is lively enough and there is enough to talk about.
For example, the court announced to the world today that Li Yan was knighted, the prince chose to marry, and Prince De won the favor of the emperor and went to Beijing alone to celebrate the festival...
There are thousands of kinds of excitement in this world. The common people are lively, the dignitaries are lively, and the palace is also festive. Chang Yu looks extremely small walking under the towering imperial city. He knows that entering the palace today,
Tomorrow I will become the talk of the people.
As the old saying goes, there is no good wine and no good banquet.
The emperor offered sacrifices to the emperor and the queen did not allow him to follow him, but invited him to the palace to accompany the officials at the banquet. There must be a deep meaning in this. This banquet was by no means a simple banquet where people drank, drank, talked and laughed.