The two talked about how dusk was beginning to fall, and the palace maids had already begun to light the lamps. There were no other standing lamps, but a copper tree-shaped multi-branched lamp with countless lamp trays stretched out around it. When this lamp was lit, , quite time-consuming.
Liu Ji looked sideways for a while and asked, "Is this lamp also an old thing from the Qin Palace?"
Lu Zhi nodded, Qin's extravagance and extravagance are really staggering.
Lamp oil had to be poured into so many lamp plates one by one. At that time, animal fat was abandoned in the palace and white perilla oil was used instead. It smelled nice and fresh when burned, and produced less smoke.
This Perilla Seed Oil is gleaming green in color. Even under sunlight during the day, it still looks green and lovely. It can be used as decoration, just like the green leaves growing on a tall and shiny metal flower tree, which is very pleasing to the eye.
Seeing the palace maid only lighting half of the lamp plate and walking away, Liu Ji was startled and couldn't help but laugh and said,
"You are now a queen, why are you still so frugal?
No matter how tight life is, you can still afford to light a lamp. "
"This lamp is so luxurious. I have counted ninety-six lamps in it.
If they were all lit up, it would be like a fire tree, burning and burning. I can't stand it in this hot summer. "
Lu Zhi smiled, she only lit this lamp once when she first entered Luoyang Palace.
Ninety-six lamp panels are arranged in different layers. When they are all lit up, the lights and copper light complement each other, and the branches are lush and leafy, like a sacred tree in the sky, which is breathtaking.
When the sea is calmed down, all directions are surrendered, and the people of Lu Yan can afford to light lamps, I will burn the lamps day and night, so as to complement the splendor of the prosperous age. The Lu Pheasant of that day stood as high as this man. Under the fire tree and copper lamp, I secretly made up my mind.
Liu Ji saw that she was wandering away again, so he stretched himself and prepared to go back to Nangong. Before leaving, he said:
"In a few days, when Han Xin arrives, I will discuss the marriage and preparation of the border.
After all, most of us have never seen what the Huns looked like with our own eyes.
This is a big matter and requires long-term planning, and everything will be decided when the time comes. "
Lu Zhi hesitated for a moment, then got up from the new chair to see him off, and added with a smile,
"I am the mother of Lu Yuan, and as a queen, I am both emotional and reasonable. I need to be present when you are discussing this matter.
Besides, I haven’t seen Han Xin for a long time. I only heard about his many deeds in Chu State. "
"Okay, if you want to come and listen, then come." Liu Ji walked out of the hall and waved his hands.
***
A few days later, it was forbidden to discuss matters.
This time many people attended the meeting, including not only the newly arrived King of Chu, Han Xin, but also the new King of Zhao, Zhang Ao, and the Queen Lu Fei who was in attendance.
The emperor was still in the east chamber, and the empress, Lu Zhi, had become acquainted with most of the people present. The elders in the court were familiar with each other and started to chat with each other in an informal manner.
The focus of everyone's discussion was King Chu Han Xin, whom he had not seen for several months.
The story of Han Xin entering and exiting Chen Bing and Xuanxuan in Chu has been known to everyone in Luoyang City for a long time.
At this time, seeing that he could not wait for the imperial meeting in October, he came to Beijing in advance. Everyone was secretly suspicious, but due to the inconvenience of saying it clearly, they had to pick up some insinuations and ask questions.
Fan Kuai, who was outspoken again, couldn't help but said,
“It is said that wealth and wealth do not return to their hometown, and it is very boring to walk around at night in brocade clothes.
What does it feel like to be in the Chu Kingdom and return home rich and wealthy? "
Han Xin lowered his head and thought for a moment, frowned thoughtfully and said,
"To tell you the truth, my little king's pomp has been settled, and all my grudges have been avenged. The so-called feeling of returning home in fine clothes is really hard to describe.
It seems... not as smooth as the legend says. "
Fan Kuai widened his eyes and praised,
"You did those things beautifully, even we in Luoyang heard about it.
Just for your treatment of that evil young man, I feel ashamed and will obey you.
If someone had subjected me to crotch humiliation back then, I would have to make him crawl around Xiapi City three times before he could stop. "
When Lu Zhi, who was sitting in the hall, heard this, he quickly glanced at Han Xin's face and was a little surprised when he saw that the look of sadness on his face did not seem to be fake.
Xiao He, who was sitting at the head of the column, also turned around and asked,
"How long do you plan to stay in Luoyang this time?
How did I hear that you have bought a house in Yonghe, east of the city? "
Han Xin smiled,
"The Prime Minister has very long ears, you all know that.
Yes, before I left for Luoyang this time, I had sent my family to look at a mansion. Yesterday I went to see it. It has a large courtyard with three entrances and a garden across the courtyard. There is a waterway in it. It is very suitable for living. So I went down. Settled.
From now on, my younger brother will live in Yonghe. "
Everyone was surprised, "You are not going back to Xiapi? You are the king of Chu, how can you not be the king of Chu?"
"I don't want to go back. That King of Chu also thinks it's boring."
Han Xin answered casually, and suddenly caught a glimpse of Zhang Cang's bright white face. He nodded slightly in greeting, but was suddenly shocked:
Hasn't Zhang Cang been in Daibei all these years? How come he was summoned to Luoyang for no reason?
Even if it was planned for October, it would be too early. There must be something important for him to come back so urgently.
He immediately thought of the rumors he had heard after entering the capital about King Zang Tu of Yan claiming to be ill and refusing to go to court. In just a moment, a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.
It turns out that in just a few months after the emperor ascended the throne in Dingtao, the undercurrents in the court were surging, and the sky had already changed.
It was not until this moment that Han Xin fully realized that Zhang Liang's letters urging him to return to the capital quickly had profound meaning. He was far away in Chu and had no news. He was like a fish on an anvil and could only sit back and wait for death.
***
There was a cough in the east chamber, and everyone immediately stopped making noise and took their seats.
Liu Ji frowned deeply and his face turned dark. He walked slowly to the hall and sat down on the big bed with a screen in the middle.
Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and suddenly raised his eyes to search among the many faces in the hall. When he found Han Xin, he squeezed out a smile and said,
"Oh, you came so quickly.
Why, don't you feel happy to be the King of Chu? "
Han Xin's head jumped rapidly, he took a few steps and bowed down, saying,
“This is exactly why I came here this time.
Every word I wrote in my memorial to Your Majesty was expressed from the bottom of my heart.
I... don't want to be the king of Chu anymore, and I hope your majesty will allow me to live in Beijing permanently from now on. "
Everyone in the audience was shocked. Even though Han Xin was usually a good-natured person and often acted like a noble prince, it was still unbelievable that he had clearly been granted the title of king but did not want to be the king.
Liu Ji remained silent and took a jade rice bowl (zhī) from the lacquer plate presented by the maid. The rice bowl contained freshly brewed tea, which was steaming faintly.
He lowered his head and blew on it, took another sip, and then said slowly,
"Isn't it good to be a king?
I heard that your pomp is quite grand. "
"To be honest with you, Your Majesty, I used to dream about carving out a feudal country and establishing a country, returning my homeland, and honoring my ancestors.
But since arriving in the Chu region, we not only have to set up staff and govern the people, but also collect land taxes, calculate taxes, and oral taxes, as well as manage salt affairs and corvee affairs. Every day is very trivial and a headache.
What your Majesty said about the coming and going of Chen Bing was indeed there, but the King of Chu's pomp and display became boring after a few days. "
Listening to Han Xin's extremely sincere words, Liu Ji raised his eyebrows slightly, stared at Han Xin's face with his dark eyes, and said slowly,
"So, what do you think now? Are you going back to Chu State?"
"I don't want to go back to the Chu Kingdom, and I don't want to be the King of Chu anymore.
I have chosen a mansion in Luoyang City. If Your Majesty approves, I will bring my whole family to the city, and from now on I will live the life of a rich man who doesn't worry about anything. "
Han Xin bowed deeply again.
"You are really weird, what's wrong with you?
Anyway, if you really don’t want to go back, I can’t force you, so just stay in the city for a while and see what happens. "
Liu Ji put down his jade bowl, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and said after careful consideration,
“I’m here today to find you all because of the Xiongnu affairs.
Yesterday, reports came from both Yunzhong and Wuyuan counties. Although the Huns' looting this year was slightly less than in previous years, it was only May and they had already committed three border raids.
Every time they robbed them, they ran away. Even our men and horses couldn't catch up with them, and we couldn't beat them again and again. We could only let them spin by like a gust of wind, like monsters and monsters. "
Liu Ji said with confusion,
"I believe everyone has heard of the old stories about Modun Shanyu.
But can any of you explain clearly to me, what is the origin of this Xiongnu clan, and where does it belong to? "
