Returning to the Forbidden City, it was also filled with lanterns and colorful decorations.
Since the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month of the previous year, after offering sacrifices to the kitchen stove, the imperial courtiers who stayed in the palace were given gourds and python robes to wear. The imperial dining room steamed snacks and meat to reward the courtiers.
During the Chinese New Year, ordinary people's families pay attention to having adequate food and clothing. No matter how poor they are, they must have a decent appearance. During the Chinese New Year in the palace, it is even more important to have a heavenly atmosphere and show the power of God.
Because during the New Year, it was not only the two of them but also the Zhu family's own business. The emperor's relatives, meritorious ministers, and even the envoys of the vassal country all wanted to give rewards.
But in terms of rewards, the old man is also quite stingy. Not to mention the money and red envelopes, just entertaining the ministers is five dishes, one soup, and a glass of wine.
When Empress Ma was still alive, she once advised the old man that he should be so shabby and it was beneath the dignity of the Heavenly Family.
The old man replied: Only when the king and his ministers are poor can the people be rich!
Zhu Yunxi was dressed in regular clothes. As soon as he walked behind Fengtian Hall and in front of the courtyard of the side hall where the old man lived, he heard the old man's voice from a distance.
"The east side is higher, then higher!"
As I got closer, it turned out that Pu Bucheng was leading a few young eunuchs, posting Spring Festival couplets under the supervision of the old man and several bachelors.
Thousands of households always replace old talismans with new peaches, which is called Spring Festival couplets.
The old man was wearing a brand-new cotton robe and new shoes, with his hands in his sleeves. A group of eunuchs were walking around under the command of the old man, fearing that the old man would be angry if they didn't fit well.
Surrounding the old man, Liu Sanwu, Fu Youwen, Zhan Hui, Fang Xiaoru and other courtiers looked on with smiles.
In the past dynasties, every Chinese New Year was closed for a week in advance, but here, the old man has only one day, New Year's Eve, and has to go to court on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Although the yamen are a little relaxed during the Chinese New Year, they still work as usual.
"When you come to court at the end of the year, check the number of people who have taken the stolen goods, so that you can depose Zhi. If you don't take the stolen goods, you will be punished with a serious crime."
At the end of the year, people come to worship and check the number of people who have committed crimes and corruption, and based on this, they can be dismissed or demoted. If someone who is corrupt is not punished, and whoever is found to have let him go will be severely punished.
Not only does the old man have to work during the Chinese New Year, he also has to fight corruption!
"Grandpa Huang, your grandson is back!" Zhu Yunxi saluted and said with a smile.
The ministers greeted each other and said, "I have met Your Highness!"
"Look at this couple!" The old man smiled at Zhu Yunxi, "The one on the east door is written by Liu Sanwu, and the one on the west is written by Fang Xiaoru. I don't know a few of them, and I can't tell if they are good or bad. Please take a look!"
The palace is a complete set of building complexes. In addition to the main hall, there are many side halls around it.
On the east doorframe, five clouds welcome the dawn, and thousands of blessings welcome the new year.
The couplets in the palace must have an extraordinary meaning. They are all written in neat large characters, dignified and solemn.
On the door frame on the west side, there are three yangs in heaven and earth, and spring in the universe and all nations.
Zhu Yunxi thought about it in his mind. The one in the west was better than the one in the east. The one in the west had the atmosphere of a great country and was more magnificent. However, he could only say it in his heart. Liu Sanwu didn't look good when he said it out loud.
"The knowledge of the two bachelors is naturally excellent!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile, "Both are good, both are good!"
"Grandson, we haven't posted one on the front door of our dormitory yet? The bachelors all praise you for your good study. Please write one for us!"
Looking at the old man's expectant eyes, Zhu Yunxi felt a little embarrassed. This really stumped him. Although he studied hard, literature requires talent.
Under the inquiring eyes of the old man and his ministers, Zhu Yunxi thought for a long time. It was all about ordinary sentences such as "spring fills the world and brings happiness to the family".
"Yes!"
Zhu Yunxi pretended to be deep in thought, walked a few steps forward on the ground, and slowly said, "The dancing phoenixes are auspicious in the sky, the moon is bright, the wind is bright, and the bright spring is bright!"
"Okay!" After Zhu Yunxi finished speaking, Zhan Hui, the Minister of Civil Affairs, shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, this couplet of Your Highness Taisun is magnificent and has great meaning. The unicorn and phoenix in the first couplet are mythical beasts, which can only appear in the prosperous times. The second couplet
The clear moon and gentle winds also indicate that the Ming Dynasty will be prosperous, the country will be peaceful and the people will be safe."
He said with another smile, "I have been studying for decades, and I have never heard of or seen such a pair. What's even more rare is that, although His Highness is young, he has a heart of caring about the country and the people. It is a blessing for Your Majesty to be like this, a state-owned prince.
Blessings to you, blessings to all peoples, blessings to your ministers!”
"Haha!" The old man smiled happily and said to Liu Sanwu and others, "Really? You all tell me! Don't praise him blindly!"
Liu Sanwu, a member of Zhongshushe, smiled and said, "Your Majesty, what Zhan Butang said is true. Your Highness's couplet is not only magnificent, but also rare, it has the aura of an emperor. It cannot be done without a generation of heroes!"
Fang Xiaoru's stern face also showed a smile, and he said, "Excellent! It's heroic and majestic, and it can be called a famous saying throughout the ages!"
Seeing that the bachelors from the Hanlin Academy were all full of praise, the smile on the old man's face became even bigger, and his beard twitched, "It's all your teachings! You all have merit!"
Zhu Yunxi breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had watched a lot of TV dramas before, so he happened to use it.
Liu Sanwu is right, this couplet has an imperial air.
It was written by Kang Mazi. It would be strange if it didn’t have the spirit of an emperor!
(The imperial pen of Kangxi and the couplets of the Changchun Palace of the Forbidden City. In many crude Qing palace dramas, they are also displayed at the entrance of the concubine's palace. How can this be unreasonable)
"However, isn't it a bit inappropriate to use the couplets of the heroes of the Qing Dynasty to post in my palace of the Ming Dynasty?" Zhu Yunxi thought to himself.
No matter what, take the path of the Ming Dynasty and leave the Qing Dynasty with nowhere to go!
At this time, Zhan Hui, the Minister of Civil Affairs, said again, "Your Majesty, His Highness Taisun is a talented scholar. I can't wait to see the couplets in Huagai Hall and other places..."
"Grandpa Emperor!" Zhu Yunxi quickly interrupted, "Have you come to see the tribute presented by Goryeo?" He said, giving Zhan Hui a reproachful look.
This old boy is usually very good at flattering, but why is he so expressionless at this time! He only has this little ink in his mind, if he writes any more, wouldn't he make a fool of himself?
Poor Zhan Hui wanted to flatter him, but he didn't want to slap him on the horse's leg. He suddenly became frightened and wondered over and over why the emperor's reproachful look came from him.
"What are we looking at? They are all things that are not suitable for eating or drinking!" The old man said casually as he looked at the side, where a Hanlin bachelor with good calligraphy was writing the couplet Zhu Yunxi just said with his brush and ink.
Zhu Yunxi came closer and said with a smile, "My grandson saw it yesterday. The twenty pearls sent by Goryeo are crystal clear and better than those in our palace!"
"Oh!" The old man still looked at the couplet and said calmly, "If you like it, take it to your palace!" After saying that, he frowned and said to the Hanlin bachelor who wrote the couplet, "If you are not good at this word, our grandson's
The couplet is majestic and regal. Look at your characters, they are shriveled and thin, like a crawling dog. Can you write big characters?"
It's pity that Hanlin bachelor, with his thin golden body that has a lot of heat, is so unworthy in the eyes of the old man.
What's even more pitiable is Goryeo. The tributes they put so much effort into are not as good as Zhu Yunxi's couplets in the old man's heart.
Although the old man did not pursue Goryeo's embezzlement of Liaodong land in the frontier, he was very harsh on Goryeo. Every year during the Spring Festival, Wanshou and Zhu Yunxi's birthday, Mid-Autumn Festival and other major festivals, Goryeo must send envoys to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, and they must do their best to do everything possible.
Not only Goryeo, but also surrounding Annan, Siam, and even Ryukyu sent envoys to pay tribute during the New Year.
"Grandpa Emperor!" Zhu Yunxi stood next to the old man, "Officials from Honglu Temple reported how to return gifts to Goryeo and other vassal states!"
The old man withdrew his gaze and thought for a moment, "Just give me some cotton cloth, wine and other worthless things!" After saying that, he smiled at the ministers, "It's not that we are stingy. The thought of taking the things of the people of the Ming Dynasty and enriching those small countries will be enough."
, we feel uncomfortable!"
The ministers smiled bitterly, and no one dared to say anything.
The old man has such a personality. Don't mention anything about the heavenly kingdom's natural treasures and rewards to the vassal state. If you say it, you will be scolded easily. In my opinion, you should deserve my share. In order to show your sincerity, you must also
Offer the best. But on the other hand, if I give it to you, that's enough. Even if I give you a needle, you have to go home and offer it.
There is not much difference between giving a needle or a cart of gold to a vassal state. Anyway, it is an offering. What you offer is not an offering.