When Lin Jue stood up and walked out of the front hall, Guo Kun had already strode into the courtyard with a riding crop in hand. Lin Jue bowed his hands and saluted, but when he was about to ask, Guo Kun had already shouted: "Don't delay, follow me into the palace."
"Entering the palace?" Lin Jue said in astonishment.
"Yes, today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and the emperor has summoned all the royal family members to have a reunion dinner. Originally, you were not a part of it, but when the queen mother talked about Caiwei, she thought of you, so she allowed you to enter the palace to attend the banquet to represent your sister's status. Hmm.
...I can bring one of your concubines into the palace to serve the Queen Mother and concubines at any time. Please pack up quickly and follow me into the palace."
Lin Jue was stunned for a long time, speechless. Others would be extremely happy to get this opportunity, but Lin Jue didn't care at all. Besides, he was completely favored by the little princess and attended as a substitute. It was originally the occasion of the royal New Year party.
There is no role for him at all. If he goes by himself, he will not be welcomed by others. Lin Jue would rather stay at home and spend this New Year with a group of people around him, but now it seems that he has to go.
Lin Jue told everyone about this, and everyone looked disappointed. Qianqian was the most disappointed and shouted: "It's true that this emperor is still disturbing people during the Chinese New Year."
Lin Jue scolded: "Don't talk nonsense. Lu Wu, go clean up and accompany me into the palace."
Green Dance pointed at her nose and shouted: "Me...me?"
Lin Jue said: "Isn't it you or who is it? If I want to bring my concubine into the palace, I may ask you to accompany the queen mother and concubines in the palace. Just be more careful, talk less and serve more. There are palace people around, actually.
You don’t have to do much.”
Lu Wu sweated on the tip of her nose, looked around, and suddenly realized that she seemed to be the only one with an identity. Although she knew that both Xie Yingying and Bai Bing had an ambiguous relationship with the young master, she was the only one who really had an identity. Suddenly,
Green Dance felt a little proud.
"Don't delay, it will be troublesome if you are late." Guo Kun paced in front of the steps and shouted anxiously.
Lu Wu didn't dare to delay any longer. Although she was worried about it, she could only bite the bullet and go. Immediately, she tidied up and changed her robe. Lin Jue also changed his clothes, put on a cloak, and went to Guo Kun's house.
Under constant urging, he went out.
The streets are crowded with people, the sound of firecrackers, the sound of toy trumpets, the noise of the people, and the voices calling for their children and daughters. Various colorful lanterns, colorful windmills, and colorful silk lanterns hanging under the eaves of the shops on the street add to the usual solemn atmosphere.
The streets are decorated with vitality. At the end of the year, the New Year is the most comfortable time, with good clothes and good food. No matter how poor people are, they spend money regardless of the cost during the New Year, to say goodbye to the difficult year in the past.
, secondly, to have a good start for the coming year and have the happiest start.
The palace guards shouted at the front to clear the way, and the people on the bustling street were squeezed out of a passage. The crackling whips in the hands of the guards became the most discordant sound on the street.
Lin Jue and Guo Kun walked side by side. Guo Kun frowned, as if he was worried.
"Brother, how have you been lately?" Lin Jue asked softly.
Guo Kun glanced at Lin Jue and frowned: "Why do you ask?"
Lin Jue thought for a while and said: "It's nothing, I just want to ask. The prince has returned to Hangzhou, but my brother stayed here. I heard that the emperor asked my brother to stay. My brother must not be willing. Although he is here now
There is a good official position in the Forbidden Army, but I think it is always better in the capital than in Hangzhou. Letting my brother lead the Forbidden Army is not as good as taking the position of commander of the Ning Navy. What do you think?"
Guo Kun scolded: "You are just trying to be clever. Can Commander Ning of the Navy be compared with the official position of Yuhou, the Forbidden Army? I don't understand what you are talking about."
Lin Jue whispered: "The canary in the cage is beautiful, but it is not as free as the old bird outside the cage. Although it is uglier and its cry is more unpleasant, it can go wherever it wants to go."
Guo Kun was startled, glared at Lin Jue and said: "If you like to have random thoughts, that's up to you, but don't involve me. You should mind your own business. What bullshit reforms your Ordinance Department has made has made everyone from top to bottom complain.
Before leaving, my father told me to find an opportunity for you to be transferred out of there, so as not to be implicated, and Caiwei would also suffer. I was about to ask you what you meant, I want you to go to the Privy Council as an official, Privy Council
The stable is short of a horse officer. Although it is only a sixth-grade official, it is a good job. He is in charge of the allocation and feeding of horses in our Zhou army. What do you think? If you agree, I can make this request to the emperor's uncle today. Today's
The occasion is very suitable, just say it as a family matter, and the emperor will probably agree."
Lin Jue was stunned and said with a smile: "Forget it, I thank my father-in-law and brother for their kindness. But I don't want to leave the Ordinance Department yet."
"Don't be confused. The Department of Ordinance seems to be very popular right now, but this enthusiasm may not last long. If Yan Zhengsheng and Fang Dunru are unlucky, you will also be unlucky."
Lin Jue frowned and said, "Brother, what news did you hear?"
Guo Kun shook his head and said: "I haven't heard any news, but I believe everything my father said. And I can see it myself. The more you are on the cusp of the storm, the scenery seems to be unlimited, but in fact the more dangerous it is. I
I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Lin Jue thought for a while and said: "Besides, it would be disadvantageous for Mr. Fang if I leave the Ordinance Department at this moment. Others will say that all his students have left him, and some unnecessary words will inevitably arise. Mr. Yan and Mr. Yan are both of the same mind.
For the people of the country, I will help as much as I can, and I will do my best to avoid feeling guilty."
Guo Kun scolded: "You don't think about yourself? You should also think about Caiwei. I can tell you that once the news is wrong, I will transfer you, and I don't care whether you agree or not. I
It’s for you, and even more so for Caiwei. You can’t let Caiwei live a peaceful life, but I, as your brother, can’t ignore her. Don’t be stubborn with me then.”
Lin Jue smiled bitterly and was speechless, and thought to himself: "You should be honest. In the end, my life and death don't really matter. You mainly do it for your sister."
The motorcade did not enter the palace through Daqing Gate, but instead detoured through Chenhui Gate at the east end and entered Yanfu Palace directly. Today's New Year's banquet was held in Ankang Hall in Yanfu Palace, which is the palace of the old Queen Mother Wei. The Queen Mother is old.
It was inconvenient to walk, so I chose to hold a banquet nearby.
The young prince Guo Kun and his wife Ma Shi walked side by side, and Lin Jue followed behind with Lu Wu. They walked in the middle of the tall palace, looking at the eunuchs and maids passing by, as well as the strict imperial guards in front of each door.
, Lu Wu grabbed Lin Jue's hand tightly like a frightened deer, obviously feeling extremely panicked inside.
Lin Jue felt that Lu Wu's palms were full of sweat, and knew that she must be very scared. After all, she had only served him in the Lin family's courtyard since she was a child, and had never seen any big scenes. She suddenly wanted to see him in the palace.
In such a weather and attending the royal family's New Year's banquet, it is inevitable to be nervous, even my own heart is pounding.
"Lv Wu, don't be afraid, just be careful with your words and actions. You and I are not the protagonists, and the Queen Mother and the Queen may not even look at us. You don't need to be too nervous. Understand?" Lin Jue comforted in a low voice.
"I know..." Lu Wu nodded with a trembling voice. The young master's words made her feel better. She would rather disappear in the eyes of these people and sit in a corner for a while. As long as she survives this banquet, that's it.
In the spacious vestibule of Ankang Hall, the winter sunshine fills the courtyard. The scenery in the courtyard is extremely beautiful, with several plum trees blooming brilliantly, and the flower beds are full of flowers in this season. Colored lanterns are hung high on the corridors on both sides, and the courtyard
Colorful silk was hung in the middle, and the atmosphere was very warm. Under the corridor of the main hall in front, there was an exquisite yellow soft couch. There was no one on it, but it was obvious that this position was that of the emperor or the queen mother.
Someone soon came and told Guo Kun and Lin Jue that the female family members should go to the side courtyard alone, and the male and female guests would have separate banquets. This is not surprising. Although it is a large gathering of the royal family, people like Prince Consort and Junma
He is still a man from a foreign race, so naturally he cannot sit together with the women in the palace at will. That means that from now on, Lu Wu will be separated from Lin Jue.
When being led away by the female officer, Lu Wu took a pitiful step and turned around. Lin Jue smiled and gave her a cheering gesture to encourage her. He thought to himself: If she can pass this test today, Lu Wu may be a different person in the future, and she will no longer be the same.
That timid little girl. Although such scenes are scary, they also exercise people.
When Guo Kun and Lin Jue walked into the sunny courtyard, a large group of people were already bustling in the courtyard. Lin Jue immediately saw the eldest prince Jin Wang Guo Mian standing on the steps gesticulating and talking.
The men were all laughing, leaning back and forth to listen. On one side of the table, Huai Wang Guo Xu was sitting alone, looking thoughtful. Just like at the banquet in the palace, Guo Mian's personality was the same as Guo Xu's.
Their personalities are completely different. Guo Mian's personality is outgoing and enthusiastic. He is like a little sun wherever he goes, attracting people around him to gather around him. But Guo Xu is always as calm as a rock, sitting silently aside. Of course, since that day,
After a long conversation in the Grand Theater, Lin Jue's perception of Guo Xu changed. He felt that Prince Huai was only calm on the outside, but in fact he was magnificent and passionate in his heart. Otherwise, how could he bring up that shocking thing?
What's the plan?
Lin Jue didn't want to join in the fun, so he turned around and walked to the corner. Because he didn't want to be the target of everyone's attention, especially after he rejected Guo Xu, Guo Xu became angry and said harsh words to himself, although he didn't do anything after that.
, but it was always a bit embarrassing to see them at this moment. Lin Jue thought it was better not to appear in front of them.
However, Guo Mian's voice sounded loudly over there: "Lin Jue, is that Lin Jue? Where are you going? Come here, come here."
Lin felt there was no way to escape, so he had no choice but to walk over and bow his hands in salute. At the same time, he turned to salute Guo Xu. Guo Xu slightly cupped his hands in return.
