Facing Jiang Shang's inquiry, Emperor Chu remembered that the first couplet in ancient times was in the hands of Meng Chang, the king of the Later Shu Kingdom in the Five Dynasties.
Meng Chang was a king who liked to be unconventional. On New Year's Eve at the end of 964 AD, he had a sudden idea and asked one of his bachelors named Xin Yinxun to write two sentences on a peach board and hang them in his residence as a peach charm.
on the door frame.
These two sentences are "New Year's greetings, good festivals and Changchun". They not only ward off evil spirits and drive away disasters, but also add blessings and wishes. This became China's earliest Spring Festival couplets.
Until the Ming Dynasty, because Zhu Yuanzhang admired it very much, ordinary people would post couplets in every household.
"Ziya, couplets, also known as couplets, are a kind of duality literature, which mainly pays attention to the neatness of contrast and the coordination of level and obliqueness."
"Xiao Guizi, open the couplets I gave to Zilong and let all the ministers see it. From now on, all ministers can try to write the couplets. During the New Year, the people in Chang'an City can also post Spring Festival couplets on their doorsteps."
"Every household puts bright red Spring Festival couplets on their doors, which not only adds to the festive atmosphere, but also serves as a yearning for a better life in the coming year."
Emperor Chu's majestic voice spread, and some merchant families among the crowd instantly sensed a business opportunity. Emperor Chu encouraged the people to post Spring Festival couplets. The New Year was approaching. I believe this year's Spring Festival couplets will be popular throughout Chang'an City. They must prepare early to ensure their success.
We cannot lose such a good business opportunity.
at this time.
Xiao Guizi signaled to the servants behind her that she had opened the couplet written by Emperor Chu to Zhao Yun. All the ministers crowded forward and began to observe attentively.
First couplet: Being both civil and military, prudent and prudent, fighting on the battlefield for a long time, the fame of one generation will be passed down to all generations.
Second couplet: Be wise and courageous, be strict and calm, perform extraordinary feats many times, and vibrate the Kyushu for a lifetime.
Horizontal batch: Changshan Zhao Zilong.
Jiang Shang moved forward with his sleeves fluffed, and spoke the couplet loudly. Everyone exclaimed in surprise. In these two simple words, Zhao Yun and his achievements were summed up in detail.
"Kowtow to my emperor for his grace, the humble ministers are terrified!"
Zhao Yun, Li Xiangjun, and Mu Guiying knelt down and saluted one after another. The evaluation given by Emperor Chu was indeed too high. There were many generals present whose military achievements were not inferior to those of Zhao Yun.
"Zilong, don't be too polite, this is my wedding gift to you!"
How could Emperor Chu not notice the change in the expressions of the ministers present? But he did not expect that a couplet would cause such an uproar.
Raising his hand to signal Zhao Yun and the others to stand up, Zhang Liang said, "Your Majesty, this couplet is extremely mysterious, rich in meaning and neat and orderly."
"Today is Zilong's wedding. Your Majesty might as well make another couplet so that I can learn from it!"
As soon as Zhang Liang said this, hundreds of officials gathered on both sides echoed their words, and Nangong Xi also said: "Your Majesty, this is the first time I have heard of this couple, so your Majesty made another couplet based on General Zhao's wedding.
It is also a good way for all the officials to truly understand the profound meaning of the couplets, and a banquet will be held in the palace during the New Year so that the officials can make couplets to entertain them."
"That's fine!"
"I will make another couplet, and Zilong will order the housekeeper to prepare the Four Treasures of the Study!"
Zhao Yun signaled the butler to go down and prepare the Four Treasures of the Study. The group of people moved to the main hall of the Zhao Mansion. After a while, pens, inks, paper and inkstones were ready. Emperor Chu quickly wrote a couplet with his pen, dragon and snake, and iron strokes with silver hooks.
First couplet: Traveling across the seas and thousands of miles to get married.
Second line: Flying across five continents to his hometown to marry someone new.
Horizontal batch: perfect combination.
The imperial pen was gently lowered. Fang Xuanling, Zhang Liang, Zhuge Liang and others on both sides were all impressed by the couplet written by Emperor Chu. They all raised their fists and saluted, and loud sounds rang out.
"My emperor is both civil and military, unprecedented in history and unparalleled in history!"
"Ziya, the time is approaching. Zilong's wedding is about to begin. All the ministers are busy. There will be a long time to dance and write couplets. You can all come to the palace to discuss it with me!"
I came here today to attend Zhao Yun's wedding. Emperor Chu didn't want to delay the wedding because of the couplet, so he gave the order and all the officials began to get busy.
Zhao Yun specially asked Jiang Shang, Zhang Liang, and Zhuge Liang to help prepare for the wedding. After everyone retreated, the wedding began. Emperor Chu and Nangong Xi sat down in front of the wooden case on one side.
"The couplets made by Your Majesty are really magical. After returning to the palace, Your Majesty will make a pair of couplets for Ningxiang Palace and Xi'er."
"Don't worry Xi'er, making couplets is not easy. As long as Xi'er likes it, it doesn't matter how many pairs you make."
Emperor Chu felt the adoring look in Nangong Xi's eyes, smiled lightly, and secretly said in his heart: "A couplet can make Xi'er so happy, how can I not be satisfied with her."
Zhao Yun's wedding began and ended slowly at dusk. Emperor Chu and Nangong Xi did not stay too long and left the Zhao Mansion before the wedding banquet began.
However, the two of them did not return to the palace, but drove to the outside of Chang'an City in a chariot. Perhaps they were affected by Zhao Yun's wedding in the Zhao Mansion just now. Emperor Chu could not help but think that he had not been with Nangong Xi for a long time since he followed him.
She has never been alone with her.
So today, Emperor Chu decided to take Nangong Xi out of the city to play in the snow. It was just the two of them, and Xiao Guizi was in charge of driving. The chariot left Chang'an City and appeared beside the wilderness jungle outside the city.
Not long after.
Laughter like silver bells echoed under the sky. Emperor Chu and Nangong Xi ran wildly and played in the snowy wilderness. The flying snow kicked up by the two of them lingered in the sky around them like elves.
The cold wind blows, and the snow falls on the ancient trees. In the snow, Emperor Chu stands tall like a spear, and Nangong Xi leans on his shoulder. At this moment, time falls into silence. Time seems to have stopped, leaving only the two of them in the white snow.
.
Dusk is late, and the cold wind howls.
In the wilderness outside Chang'an City, Xiao Guizi drove a chariot toward the city gate. Inside the carriage, Nangong Xi leaned closely on Emperor Chu's shoulders, with a happy smile on her cheeks.
After returning to the palace, before Emperor Chu arrived at the imperial study, Cao Zhengchun came towards him, raised his fist and saluted, saying: "Your Majesty, Master Shen has been waiting outside the imperial study for a long time."
"Shen Wansan?"
Emperor Chu felt strange that Shen Wansan should be busy with the stove and coal business at the moment, so how could he have time to enter the palace.
Instructing Nangong Xi to return to Ningxiang Palace first, Emperor Chu took Cao Zhengchun to the imperial study. When he was young, Shen Wansan looked forward to the stars and the moon and finally waited until Emperor Chu.
He followed Emperor Chu into the royal study, raised his fist and saluted, and said: "Your Majesty, I have a heartless request. I hope your Majesty can fulfill it."
"Shen Qing, you don't go to the Three Treasures Palace for anything. Tell me what your unkind invitation is?"
"Today, His Majesty made two couplets one after another in General Zhao's Mansion, which caused an uproar in Chang'an City. Only a few hours have passed, and the Spring Festival Couplets have become completely popular throughout Chang'an City. Many merchants have begun to sell Spring Festival couplets."
"Wei Chen came here to ask His Majesty to personally inscribe a couplet for Tianyizhuang Yubi, and to explain to Wei Chen the secret of the Spring Festival Couplets."
"Shen Qing is really a businessman who wants to do any business." (To be continued)