On the Mid-Autumn Festival, at the end of the Youshi period, the banquet in the palace was held as scheduled as in previous years.
At this moment, Tai Le Cheng is directing the dancers and musicians to play the latest Tai Le song of the Wei Dynasty: Taihe.
At this moment, the chime bells jingled like jade, the silk and bamboo orchestras played continuously, lanterns were decorated up and down the high platform, and the emperor and his ministers were all in a happy mood and beaming with joy.
"In the first year of Taihe, the emperor practiced Taoism, was holy and benevolent, and had great virtues. The locusts were extinct for a while.
Rain and dew come from heaven, and grain nourishes the fields.
The four people follow the rules. Affairs are clarified. The world's prisons are investigated based on emotion. The head of state is clear.
If the Wei family is like this, it would be unfair."
The Empress Dowager Guo, Queen Guo, and Empress Mao were sitting on the throne beside the emperor at this moment. Beside the Queen Mother, there were various concubines of Emperor Wen Cao Pi: the concubines praised Wang Cao
Xie’s mother Li Guiren, a Yin Guiren from the Yin clan of Nanyang, a wealthy family in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Pan Shuyuan, the biological mother of Cao Rui, the mourning king of Beihai, Zhu Shuyuan, the biological mother of Cao Jian, king Huai of Dongwu Yang, Qiu Zhaoyi, the mother of Cao Lin, king of Donghai, and Cao Li, the mourning king of Yuancheng
His biological mother is Xu Ji, Su Ji is the mother of Cao Yong, King Huai of Handan, Zhang Ji is the mother of Cao Gong, the king of Qinghe, and Song Ji is the mother of Cao Yan, the king of Ai in Guangping.
Among all the concubines, except for the current majesty Cao Rui, the heir of Queen Mother Guo, and the only son of Qiu Zhaoyi, Cao Lin, King of the East China Sea, all the children of the other concubines died early. And the King of East China Sea Cao Lin also returned to the vassal country long ago, so
The banquet in the harem was not very lively except for the occasional polite greetings.
Under the high platform, there are the great minister Kong Yingyinhou Chen Qun, the minister Liu Fang, the minister Ling Sun Zi, the minister Wei Zhen, the minister Wei Qi, the minister Duzhi Sima Fu, the minister Huan Fan, and the Sanqi Chang minister Kaiyang.
Hou Bianlan, Wang Lang's son, the Sanqi Changshi, Lanling Marquis Wang Su, Hua Xin's son, Boping Hou Huabiao, Sanqi Changshi, Pinghou Cao Zhao, Sanqi Changshi, Guan Neihou Gaotanglong, Sanqi Changshi, Yang Wutinghou He Zenghe Rui
Remonstration, the Dispatched Cavalry Chang Shi Mao Zeng, the Guard Dong Zhao, the Guard General Jiang Ji and other important ministers were sitting at the table. Everyone was chatting with each other at this moment, and there was a sound of drinking and drinking.
Xia Houxuan, who was recently demoted to the rank of Yulin Supervisor, was always at the end of the queue. Cao Shuang, Cao Xi's younger brothers: Cao Xun, Cao Yan, Cao Ze, Yu Huan, He Kuan, and others.
Sima Shi, Sima Zhao brothers, Zhuge Dan, Li Feng, Li Yi brothers, as well as Li Sheng, Pei Hui, He Yan, Deng Yang, Ding Mi and others who were deposed in the pompous case all only had the title of a lieutenant.
He was on duty, so his seat was not far from Xia Houxuan's.
At the beginning of the lanterns, Luoyang Palace City was ablaze with lights. At the banquet, there were plenty of fruits and vegetables, and delicacies continued. After a feast, Emperor Cao Rui was already slightly drunk. He got up and left the banquet, holding a wine glass and came to the high platform.
Looking at the bright lights outside the pavilion, he suddenly thought of his childhood brothers and playmates. He thought of his good uncle Cao Yu, who was actually only a few years older than him.
He also thought of Cao Rui, the mourning king of Beihai, Cao Jian, the mourning king of Dongwuyang, Cao Li, the mourning king of Yuancheng, Cao Yong, the mourning king of Handan, Cao Gong, the mourning king of Qinghe, and Cao Yan, the mourning king of Guangping, all his brothers who died young.
.Suddenly, the emperor was filled with emotions:
"I remember that when I was young, I had a banquet with King Yan and the brothers of the kings at the Mid-Autumn Festival in Yedu. Now, the brothers are separated and the kings have returned to the country. It has been nearly twenty years, and they have not been with me. My uncles and brothers had a good gathering..."
"Yin'er, it's time for you to meet these elders." The emperor held his beloved son Cao Yin in his arms and said with a smile: "I know that my Yin'er will definitely become a wise king in the future."
Over the years, his princes have always died prematurely one after another. Now that Cao Yin has been safely born for more than a month, Cao Rui naturally loves his only son.
The child looked at his father's expectant eyes and chuckled innocently.
Cao Rui suddenly felt that his poetry was waning, so he walked in the palace with his beloved son in his arms, looked at the bright lights in the south of the palace, and recited in a low voice:
"The bright moon shines brightly, and its radiant light candles my bed. I can't sleep because of worries, but how long the night is. The breeze blows in the boudoir, and the curtains are fluttering. I hold my clothes and drag my long belt, and my clothes and shoes go down to the high hall. The east and west are settled, and I wander around and hesitate. .The spring bird flies southward, soaring gracefully alone. It calls out to the couple with a mournful cry, and its lamentation hurts my heart. Feeling about things and thinking about things, tears suddenly touch my clothes. It stands and sings loudly, expressing its anger to the sky."
Cao Rui was originally in a good mood today. He originally wrote a festive poem, but he felt for the kings and brothers in his heart, so he added a few sighs of regret without realizing it.
Everyone gradually turned from tipsy to intoxicated during this banquet.
Xia Houxuan held up the wine glass in his hand. He was slightly drunk and listened to the Wei Dynasty drum music "Ying Di Qi" sung by the musicians. At this moment, his heart was like a river and sea rushing, and he couldn't help but follow Huang Zhongda Lu's song. The voice chanted:
"In the reign of Emperor Ying, Emperor Wen of Zhaowo was listed in the order of inheritance. The dragon flew from Xuchang. His wisdom showed his four expressions. His kindness moved Xia Fang.
The stars are shining brightly, the sun and the moon are shining brightly, the rivers and rivers are glowing with fortune, and the grass and trees are standing tall and auspicious.
The unicorn walks in the countryside. The yellow dragon travels in Jinliang. The white tiger clings to the mountains and forests. The phoenix sings in the high hills.
Examine the pictures and determine the chapter. The merit is worthy of the ancient Emperor Xi.
He is destined to be three thousand years old. He will be a wise king throughout his life. Yao granted Shun all the kingdoms, and all the kingdoms are attached to him.
The four gates are Mu Mu. Education is always like a god. The Wei Dynasty is prosperous and it is a neighbor."
Listening to the sound of singing and music, Xia Houxuan's thoughts were wandering. Although he was relegated now, the expectations and encouragement of his father Xia Houshang, master Yu Gui, and Emperor Wen still seemed to be in his ears. At this moment, his In my heart, like Zhuge Dan, Sima Shi, Sima Zhao and others, I not only had the ambition to make great achievements, but also a trace of depression and sadness.
Although Xia Houxuan was thinking a lot in his heart, at the moment he was just singing "Ying Di Qi" in a low voice with a smile and drinking rice wine one glass after another.
——————
On the second day, Cao Rui issued an imperial edict to recruit Wang Shizi from the princes to join the court:
"In ancient times, the princes hired each other, so that they could maintain good relations with each other and harmonize all the countries. The late emperor issued an order and did not want the kings to be in the capital. He said that when the young master was on the throne, the mother was the regent, to prevent the slightest progress and to control the rise and fall of the kings. But I did not see the kings. The king has been twelve years old, and he has been in his arms for a long time. How can he not think about it! He ordered all the kings and clan princes to bring a suitable son into the court. After the young master and the mother are in the palace, he will be as free as the previous emperor's order, and he will declare it in the order. "
[Note 1: Shizi means the same as legitimate son.]
During the reign of Emperor Wen, in order to prevent the kings and clans from having different ambitions, there were many restrictions on them, so it was difficult for the kings to meet each other.
Now, although Cao Rui wanted to relax his administration, he did not dare to change the laws, so he only ordered the kings to send suitable sons to live in the court.
This is the second time Cao Zhi, the youngest son of King Chen Cao Zhi, has come to the capital city of Luoyang. His father has never taken him to the capital city again since he met the solar terms when he was a child. And now, he is already nearly weak, so this time When he came here, he felt a little strange.
To the south of Luoshui outside the city, the newly built guest house in the southern suburbs is a place for the sons of princes and marquises from all over the world to stay. Cao Zhi looked at the Luoshui passing by in the north, as well as the magnificent city gates and towers, as if he was in another world. He did not expect that he had already I haven’t been to Luoyang for more than ten years. I wonder if my old childhood friends in the capital are all still well?
"Big brother."
At this time, a clear child's voice sounded in Cao Zhi's ears.
When Cao Zhi looked back, he realized that it was a five or six-year-old child. Judging from his clothing, he was also a member of the royal family. Cao Zhi speculated that it should be one of his clan brothers or nephews.
"Whose child are you from?" Cao Zhi smiled and touched the child's little head.
"My name is Cao Qi, and my father is Cao Lin, the King of the East China Sea." The child was not afraid of strangers. He took out some crumpled pieces of silk paper from his arms, handed them to Cao Zhi, and then said: "Brother, I heard others say that you are a child of King Chen’s uncle’s family. My father always scolded me and said that I couldn’t write poetry. I wrote this on the way to the capital. It’s a pity that I couldn’t show it to my father. , I heard that Uncle Chen Wang wrote very good poems and essays, could you help me read the poems I wrote?"
"It turns out that he is the child of His Highness the King of Donghai. Then you can't call me big brother, you should call me uncle." Cao Zhi opened the silk, looked at the slightly childish verses on the silk, and said with a smile: "I see Your writing is very good. You are only so young. When you stay in the capital for a few more years, your writing will definitely get better and better when you grow up. When you return to the fiefdom of His Highness the King of the East China Sea, he will definitely I will be very happy.”
Xiao Cao Qi was extremely happy after hearing what this young cousin said. His father Cao Lin had a very bad temper. Although he had worked hard since he was a child, he rarely received praise from his father. Now even the Chen Wang family My uncle said that his poems were good and would be even better in the future. How could he be unhappy?
"My young prince, it's getting late, follow me back to the guest house quickly." While Cao Zhi and Cao Qi were chatting happily, an old woman with gray hair came behind them.
"Granny Mo, Qi'er wants to chat with his uncle for a while. You can go back first. Qi'er will go back by himself later." Cao Qi said to the old woman very respectfully. This Granny Mo is said to have served in the past. The wet nurse of Cao Lin, King of East China Sea, did not go to the feudal country with King Cao Lin of East China Sea. Instead, she stayed in the palace and took charge of some miscellaneous things. Therefore, she never had any contact with the old owner. This time King of East China Sea sent his eldest son He came to the capital, so he entrusted Grandma Mo to take more care of Cao Qi and teach him not to cause any trouble in the palace.
When Grandma Mo saw that the young master was having a pleasant conversation with Cao Zhi, she didn't bother him anymore. She casually told Cao Qi a few words and left.
Next to the guest house, there was a little conspicuous small house. Seeing no one around, Grandma Mo quickly walked into the house. After a while, a white pigeon flew out of the house and saw it hovering in the low altitude. After meeting and identifying the direction, they headed towards Donghai County.