In the silence of everyone's own thoughts, the motorcade arrived in front of a manor that fell against a low hill.
This should be the northernmost part of the former imperial palace.
The damaged city wall stands not far away, silently telling the majesty of the past. The overgrown weeds cover up the ruins at the foot of the city wall. The ivy and moss that have withered for many years cling to it, vividly interpreting the dynasty.
Rise and fall is an eternal melody that comes back and forth.
In front of the city wall, a large area was surrounded by wooden fences.
A large part of it is paved with sand, leaving no trees or houses, which makes the surrounding area particularly empty.
No need to guess, it is clear that this place is definitely reserved for entertainment such as driving, horse racing, archery, stone throwing, and wrestling.
The other small part is scattered with several pavilions and cottages, connected by twists and turns of corridors, which also divides the site into multiple small spaces, including stone tables, tea stoves, pens and ink.
, piano tables, chess boards, wooden swords, throwing pots and other elegant and interesting things are left idle among them.
The combination of the two can be regarded as encompassing both the joy of martial arts and the interest of elegance.
Naturally, it is incomparable to the Western Garden of the previous Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, which included a market, a school ground, an amusement park, a canopy of donkey carts, Hu Fengquza, and Wanjin Hall.
Xia Houhui, who followed the emperor's arrival, had no interest in these leisurely and elegant things.
However, the attendant who stayed at the manor here learned the news in advance, and the banquet prepared early made him quite happy.
Not only were drinks and dried fruit preserves placed on every table, but whole lambs and sparrows were roasting not far away. The faint aroma made him move his index finger, which was already ravenous.
It's just a pity that the emperor came with a full meal and didn't ask anyone to serve the barbecue.
"Now that I have some free time, I can have fun with you all."
Emperor Cao Rui, who was sitting high on the desk, raised his wine cup and invited everyone to drink as soon as he sat down, "This is not a court, and you don't have to be restrained. You should act as you please and come back with a good time! Come and drink.
Win!"
"only."
Everyone who had just sat down at the table straightened up, raised their wine bottles with both hands to congratulate the emperor, and drank them all in one gulp.
The supervisor of the manor who was waiting outside did not wait for the emperor's instructions. When he saw the emperor congratulating everyone, he quickly waved his hand and signaled the artists to come in. For a moment, the drums and zithers were quarreling, the silk and bamboo were flowing, and the graceful artists came in one after another.
The singer stretched his neck and stretched his voice to sing, which also made the people who usually pay great attention to their manners feel very happy and started drinking and mingling among each other.
Among them, the emperor who drank several cups in a row was quite dissolute.
Perhaps it was because he had not yet reached a stable age, or perhaps because he had experienced too many bad things before he succeeded to the throne. At this time, he was not only leaning on the edge of the desk without any dignity, but also changed into a very uncomfortable posture.
Sitting cross-legged elegantly, raising his knees and supporting his forehead with his hands, sometimes he raised his palms to give a shout of approval, sometimes he waved his hand to signal others to drink. His appearance was no different from those dandies who were intoxicated with wealth and wealth.
When the monarch sets an example, his subordinates will naturally welcome him.
There may be people who repeatedly raise their glasses to invite others to drink, there may be those who gently knock the table and shake their heads and sing along, or there may be those who just twitch their beards and close their eyes to think, all of which are different.
At the moment, Xia Houhui was eating dried fruits out of boredom.
He originally wanted to eat roasted mutton.
After the emperor declared that everyone could act as they pleased, he, who was at the end of the table, secretly waved to the supervisor not far away and asked him to get some roasted mutton.
Unexpectedly, the supervisor refused.
He claimed that before the emperor stopped people from eating meat, he would not dare to offer it to everyone.
It is even more impossible to get meat for Xiahou Hui alone.
However, there was no limit to the accompaniments of dried fruits and candied fruits. If Xiahou Hui felt hungry, he would ask for more.
Xia Houhui could only do better than nothing.
Although dried fruits can't stand hunger, they can be used as a cushion at least.
Thanks to the Emperor, who was in high spirits and would raise a glass to drink with everyone from time to time, he drank a lot of wine on an empty stomach. He had too many things hidden in his heart and did not dare to let himself get drunk.
After a while, the singing and dancing stopped.
Cao Zhao, who was sitting on the right side of the emperor, called for some cattails. Taking advantage of the wine, he smiled and invited the emperor, saying: "Three days ago, your majesty bet with your clothes, and I was lucky enough to win. However, when I returned home, I found that There are still few clothes among the clothes won. I wonder if your majesty can gamble with me again so that I can collect all the clothes and clothes for traveling?"
"Hahaha, why not?"
Emperor Cao Rui, whose face was already a little red, laughed loudly when he heard this, "However, if you think long and hard about yourself, you must overcome evil? I will definitely get back my robe today!"
Ai Pu, originally a game of chess.
It evolved from Liubo and became one of the drinking culture after being combined with banquets.
They are five wooden signs, each with two sides, one side is painted black, depicting a calf; the other side is painted white, depicting a pheasant. The one with five stones all black is the Lu, which is the best; the one with five stones, four black and one white is the pheasant, which is The second is the best; and so on.
In the early days of banquets and drinking, the loser was fined with alcohol, while the winner was exempted from the banquet.
However, as the world changed, it gradually became a gambling game that was popular among the common people, and the outcome was determined by money.
Among the people, there are many wealthy people who are arbitrary in their country music. They open cipu fields and induce the common people to participate in it, so as to achieve the purpose of lending money and seizing other people's land or property.
It has become a bad habit that wise people do not do.
But now, as a close minister, Cao Zhao actually invited the emperor to play and made a bet. This shows that he is not a direct minister.
But the emperor Cao Rui was not aware of this, but actually enjoyed it.
Not only did he respond happily, but he also invited He Yan, who had never sat at the same table and played with Qin Lang and the other three regardless of their dignity.
Didn't it mean that this time I left the palace to hold a banquet and enjoy poetry?
Why are you playing with acanthus?
Xia Houhui couldn't help but feel dumbfounded when he saw this scene.
When he turned his eyes away from Wang Su, who was not involved, he found that he had already closed his eyes and wandered away, turning a blind eye to such ridiculous things, and did not give any advice according to his duty.
Perhaps, he had some advice before.
But the emperor did not listen and still enjoyed it, so he did not do unnecessary things.
well.
It seems that if I want to extend my life for Cao Wei, the difficulties I face are not limited to growing the gentry.
With a sigh in his heart, Xia Houhui suddenly felt that the slightly fragrant dried fruits had become unpalatable, so he simply imitated Wang Su and closed his eyes to rest his mind, so that he could be out of sight and out of mind.
I do not know how long it has been.
A burst of hearty laughter interrupted Xia Houhui's quiet thoughts.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Cao Zhaozheng happily holding his hands in thanks, while the emperor shook his head with a hint of regret. It turned out that the winner had been decided.
"That's all, that's all."
Emperor Cao Rui waved his hands angrily, with a somewhat unwilling tone, "The play of Ao Pu is not my specialty, Chang Si can win without using force. If you want me to grant you a bachelor's degree, Chang Si will need to dance with a sword to add to the fun." "
"Dare you refuse to accept your fate?"
Hearing this, Cao Zhao suppressed his smile and stood up to salute, "Your Majesty, it's boring for me to dance alone. Why don't I let Uncle Ping sing with me to congratulate Your Majesty?"
"Okay, it's up to you."
The emperor nodded and looked sideways at He Yan, "Uncle Ping is happy with you."
"only."
He Yan bowed in salute, returned to his seat, poured himself a glass of wine to moisten his throat, and then walked into the center of the banquet. At this time, Cao Zhao also took the wooden sword handed by the attendant and laid it out in front of him. He slightly bent his knees and prepared it. Dancing posture.
After the two of them looked at each other, they started singing and dancing.
He Yan had delicate features and fair skin, which was better than that of a woman. He also had a crown and belt. When he stepped and sang, he looked like an independent fairy in a painting. However, Cao Zhao had a slender figure and a delicate face. It has the majestic power of a military formation, but it is more pleasing to the eye. It is as vast as Feng Xu Yufeng.
The two of them had fun together, and no matter who had the chance to attend the meeting, they would sincerely praise them: What a perfect couple~
Emperor Cao Rui was also quite satisfied with this.
At the end of the song and dance, he was happy and said, "It's wonderful! You should reward it!"
I finally remembered the original intention of today's trip, and invited everyone, "Today I enjoy poetry and poetry. All of you are talented, so I cannot refuse. If you please me with your Chinese calligraphy, I will reward you!"
"only."
After everyone accepted the order, they all bowed their heads and frowned, thinking.
The only exception was Xia Houhui.
Because the emperor finally asked the supervisor of the manor to serve the roasted mutton and distributed it to everyone in turn.
Therefore, a very strange scene appeared at the banquet - the emperor Cao Rui was drinking slowly, accompanied by his ministers who were searching for manuscripts for literary thoughts, while Xia Houhui was feasting.
He was quickly noticed by the Emperor.
However, based on the lessons learned in the East Hall, he did not feel that Xia Houhui was contemptuous of the emperor's authority.
On the contrary, there was something new and strange in his heart at this moment.
I heard that Xiahou Zhiquan had a literary reputation when he was young. However, after the disaster in Luoshui, he no longer liked literary things and no longer had any literary activities. Now everyone is thinking about it, but he is different. Could it be that he already has articles in his mind?
Emperor Cao Rui was thinking to himself, and his eyes were fixed on Xia Houhui.
You must have felt something.
Xia Houhui, who was seventy percent full after eating, took out the silk from his sleeve and wiped his mouth. While pouring himself a drink, he raised his head and looked towards the emperor's seat, and happened to meet the emperor Cao Rui's eyes.
"Xia Houqing, how delicious is the wine and meat here?"
Emperor Cao Rui showed a faint smile and asked.
After drinking all the wine in his hand, Xia Houhui stood up from his desk and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, the wine and meat are very delicious."
"Um"
With a slight nasal sound, Emperor Cao Rui still asked gently, "I am a man of fine wine and meat, but I wonder if your poems are beautiful?"
At this time, everyone at the banquet was interrupted by the conversation between the two, and they all waited quietly for the next step.
However, Xiahou Hui didn't squint his eyes. After listening to the emperor's question, he answered without thinking, "Your Majesty, since Hui came here, he saw that the palace walls of the previous dynasty were still there, and he felt something in his heart. He recalled that in his early years, Hui visited Chang'an and visited Emperor Qin Afang. Regarding the ruins of the palace, your majesty has ordered me to compose a poem with the title of Afang Palace. Whether it is beautiful or not is up to your majesty to decide."
After finishing his words, without waiting for the emperor to ask questions again, he sang loudly.
"After the completion of the six kings, the four seas are one, the Shu Mountain is Wu, and A Fang comes out. It covers more than three hundred miles, and the garrison soldiers scream in the isolated sky. The grain is raised, and the Chu people use their torches. The pitiful scorched earth!"
Speaking of this, Xia Houhui paused briefly, turned his voice into an passionate one, and spoke almost every word.
"Ugh! The one who destroys the six kingdoms is the six kingdoms, not Qin; the one who belongs to Qin is Qin, not the world."
"Sigh! If you make the six countries love their own people, it will be enough to reject Qin; if you make Qin love the people of the six countries again, you will be able to rule for three generations and be king for eternity. Who will win and the family will be destroyed?"
"The people of Qin have no time to mourn for themselves, so that future generations will mourn for them; for future generations to mourn without taking note of it, they will also make future generations to mourn for future generations again!"