Shen Yi pretended not to see the invitation from Prince Yue's Mansion and ignored it.
As for the banquets held by other officials, he just pretended that he had not seen them and avoided them all. He only stayed at home with his wife, children, and family members, and occasionally went out to drink with Old Man Gu or borrow books from Liquan Tower.
In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.
Time has come to the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month in the eleventh year of Hongde.
As usual, on this day, His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress will host a banquet for civil and military officials in the palace to celebrate the New Year.
If the emperor was in a good mood, he would climb the walls of the imperial city to meet the people of Jiankang, which was regarded as being close to the people.
This morning, Shen Yi received several letters from Huai'an and other places at home. He spent most of the morning replying to the letters. It was almost noon before he asked Jiang Sheng to send these letters one by one.
After having lunch at home, Shen Yi changed into court clothes under Lian'er's service.
Court uniform is a kind of official uniform, and it is the most solemn among official uniforms. Because today he is going to the palace to participate in "team building", so he has to wear something more grand.
After they were almost dressed, Master Shen looked back at Lu Ruoxi who was sitting next to him, and chuckled softly: "We can't enter the palace together this year. We will bring my wife into the palace next year."
Because she was about to give birth and had a big belly, it was really inconvenient for her to go to the palace.
Lu Ruoxi sighed softly and said, "It doesn't matter whether you go to the palace or not. It's just that in the half month since your husband came back, several children from big families have come to look for you. Next year, they will go to Huai'an to fight with you..."
She looked at Shen Yi and said, "Husband, is there going to be a big war next year?"
Shen Yi hesitated for a moment, but still did not lie to his wife, and said softly: "Absolutely."
"But don't worry, Madam. The Huaihe River is very close to Jiankang, and it's only two or three days' journey by horseback. During the New Year's Day, I'll try my best to come back to accompany Madam."
Lu Ruoxi nodded silently and said nothing.
After a pause, Shen Yi asked, "Father-in-law, haven't you arrived yet?"
Because another grandson was about to die, Lu Anshi, who lived in Jiangdu, could not sit still. After Shen Yi's repeated invitations, he finally agreed to come to Jiankang to celebrate the New Year, but the little old man left too late. We haven't arrived yet.
Lu Ruoxi also looked a little sad and said, "I should have arrived yesterday, but it snowed on the road the day before yesterday, which delayed the journey. I don't know if I can arrive today. If I can't arrive today, wouldn't my father have to celebrate the New Year on the road?"
Shen Yi thought for a moment and said, "Madam, don't worry. I'll tell Jiang Sheng later and ask him to bring some people to greet my father-in-law."
The entourage Shen Yi brought back to Jiankang this year was an entire hundred-household camp, that is, one hundred people. There were many people he could use.
Lu Ruoxi stood up with Lian'er's help, walked to Shen Yi, helped him tidy up the wrinkles on his clothes, and said softly: "After your husband enters the palace, you should be more careful with your speech and behavior so as not to offend others. One day, Cheng Bin, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, offended someone and was convicted by His Majesty..."
"I heard that all the property was confiscated."
"For officials in the past two years, even if they were demoted to Jiankang, few of them had their homes confiscated. I heard from the ladies that it was probably the Minister Cheng who had offended some important person."
"That's why my house was confiscated."
She frowned and said: "Our daughter's family, even if they are angry, just ignore each other, you men are holding back the evil in your heart, and you may do something evil at some point."
Shen Yi burst into laughter and said, "Madam, please don't talk nonsense. The court has its own laws. It's no wonder others are there. Let's talk..."
"Speaking of fights, political fights in the court are far less ferocious than fights in the harem."
After the couple chatted for a while, it was already afternoon. Mr. Shen lay on Lu Ruoxi's belly. After listening to the sound of the child kicking his belly, he left Shen's house in his own carriage and entered the palace.
This afternoon, most of the yamen in the imperial court have gone to bed.
Many officials hurried home to bathe and change clothes. After changing into new clothes, they rushed to the palace and waited for the banquet given by His Majesty the Emperor.
However, like the court meeting, the officials who are qualified to attend are all Beijing officials of fifth rank or above. What is different from the usual court meeting is that today the Queen Mother and the Empress will entertain the ladies of Jiankang in Kunde Palace. In other words, Your lord's wives can also enter the palace to participate in team building.
At this time, these ladies will gather together and gossip.
His Majesty the Emperor entertained the civil and military ministers at a banquet in Deqing Palace.
Although it was a dinner party, His Majesty the Emperor was hosting a banquet, so the officials in the court naturally did not dare to neglect it. Before evening, almost all of them had already arrived.
At this time, low tables had been set up in Deqing Palace, and the eunuchs were busy going back and forth, preparing for the evening banquet.
The ministers who arrived early were in groups, talking about things in the yamen or the court.
A hot topic is the matter of Cheng Bin, the left minister of the Ministry of Industry, who was dismissed from his post by the emperor. The reason was that when the left minister was responsible for building a palace in the palace, he used the funds for building the palace to occupy the emperor's money. Quite cheap.
His Majesty the Emperor, Long Yan, was furious. He ordered the dismissal of his posts and ransacked his homes, and "received" all the benefits that Cheng Shilang had taken advantage of from the royal family.
This is a popular event in Jiankang in the past month.
because…
The punishment is a bit harsh.
After all, he was already an official at the rank of Minister of the Sixth Ministry, not a small person. According to the old rules, he usually would be demoted to the local magistrate and become the county magistrate.
And His Majesty the Emperor directly ordered the house to be searched, which made officials from the Ministry of Industry and the imperial court feel a little scared.
After all, who can not be greedy?
If you are not greedy, your household income may not be enough!
While these people were chatting and gossiping, Mr. Shen walked into the Deqing Palace. He looked around and found the location of the Ministry of War. He found a low table and sat down, and began to close his eyes and rest.
At this time, Mr. Shen was wearing a crimson official uniform, and he was so young, so he was very conspicuous in Deqing Palace.
However, after everyone knew his identity, no one came to talk to him.
Because of unfamiliarity.
Jiang Shangshu of the Ministry of War and Zhao Shangshu of the Ministry of Hubu, who are familiar with him, are both Dajiuqing level figures, but they have not arrived yet.
Mr. Shen sat behind the low table, closed his eyes and calmed down, waiting for the meal to be served.
After a while, it became dark.
Mr. Shen closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Until a sound right in front of him woke him up from his sleep.
"Master Shen."
The voice was young and unfamiliar.
Shen Yi slowly opened his eyes and saw a young man sitting on his knees opposite his low table.
A young man wearing an apricot-yellow four-clawed python robe.
Very young, looks less than twenty years old.
Master Shen was stunned for a moment before slowly waking up.
He glanced at the young man silently.
When the young man saw that Shen Yi had woken up, a smile appeared on his face, and he bowed his hands to Shen Yi and saluted: "Master Shen, Xiao Wang..."
Shen Yi didn't wait for him to finish speaking, and stood up without saying a word.
Because he had been kneeling for too long, Mr. Shen's legs were already a little numb. He suddenly stood up and felt as if there were needles on the soles of his feet.
Master Shen quickly glanced at the entire Deqing Palace.
Try to find an acquaintance.
An acquaintance that the young man did not dare to approach.
Soon, Mr. Shen locked onto the target. He endured the pain and limped towards the target.
Soon, he walked to the target.
This "target" is also wearing an apricot-yellow four-clawed python robe, with a calm face and no anger.
Mr. Shen quickly raised his hands and lowered his head slightly: "Prince Jin, would you like to use your precious land to escape?"
Jin Wang Li Rui glanced at the young man not far behind Shen Yi, then looked at Shen Yi with a half-smile, and pointed to the opposite side.
"You're welcome, Mr. Shen, please take a seat."
Shen Yi carefully sat across from Prince Jin, then looked at his nose and heart, and began to "sleep", taking a deep breath from time to time.
Seeing his appearance, Prince Jin poured him a glass of wine with a smile, pushed it in front of him, and said with a smile: "Come, have a glass of wine to calm down."
Shen Yi took the glass of wine, bowed his head and thanked: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"You are Welcome."
Prince Jin smiled and said: "Your family and I have a deep connection. You are half of my junior, so I should help you."
As he said that, Prince Jin raised his head and looked at the young man not far away who seemed to want to come over but didn't dare to come over.
"That unlucky boy, don't say you are afraid now, this king's biological uncle..."
He himself lowered his head and took a sip of wine and said calmly.
"I'm a little scared..."
