The back hall of Chongzheng Hall.
The curtains on all sides were lowered, and even though it was a hot summer day, the palace was still airtight.
The official sat in the middle of the palace, wearing a jacket. There was only a small attendant beside him. He did not wave his fan, but just stood aside with his head bowed.
According to folk rumors, the official family is the reincarnation of a barefoot immortal. He only wears jackets at all times, but does not use stoves to keep warm in winter or wave fans in summer. This is why he emits the harmonious energy of heaven and earth.
Therefore, the attendants also suffered a lot and could not wave their fans to warm themselves to the fire.
In fact, the official's health was not good. He fainted in the palace three years later, and his condition deteriorated after a serious illness.
In March of the seventh year of Jiayou's reign, the officials seemed to be even less willing to interfere in the affairs of the court, leaving everything to the two governments. On weekdays, court meetings were always silent.
After the morning court today, the officials and the back hall listened to the minister's performance.
After meeting Zhongshu, Privy Council, the Third Division and the Third Squadron, the officials remained silent as before, and at most they only said a word of "please" when they were doing something. Today Japan was going to see the second squadron again, but the officials said no. In the end, only a few people were left hanging. The ministers who have passed the banquet stay to report the matter.
Usually at this time, officials will say a few words to their trusted ministers. Ouyang Xiu retired after serving a letter to the officials, and served with Han Qi and Wang Gui.
The official said: "I spent twenty days to take a look at the newly built Li Yuan, Taichang Yin Li Reform. It's very good! I remember that there is a Li room under the Zhongshu Gate, and the Li Yuan is nominally affiliated to Taichang Temple, but In fact, I listened to Zhongshu's wishes. In this matter, Zhongshu and Taichang's errands are all meritorious."
Han Qi said: "Etiquette affairs are always complicated, and the Taichang Liyuan presides over their duties. This compilation is just a matter of duty due to changes in etiquette."
The official said: "Although it is a matter of duty, this time is unusual. In the past, the ceremonial court's resolutions to present gifts to the Queen Mother, as well as the appointment of Princess Fukang and the matters of Queen Wen were not in line with my wishes, but this time The writing of the book was very satisfactory, not only the details are appropriate, but also the lightness and weightiness of the text."
Han Qi and Ouyang Xiu knew that the officials were talking about three things about the Liyuan.
The Empress Dowager Zhang Xian has been in charge of government for ten years behind the curtain. This incident is comparable to that of Si Chen. How to make the Empress Dowager appear above the official family and comply with the etiquette system. Taichang Liyuan has been very serious about wiping her butt. Work.
There is another matter about the princess registration, which is about Princess Fukang, the eldest princess of the official family, who was granted the title of Princess of Yan Kingdom.
In the Song Dynasty, princesses in the Song Dynasty only received canonization documents and there was no canonization ceremony. However, because Princess Fukang was the favorite daughter of the official family, the official family must perform the canonization ceremony.
However, there was no old practice in this matter in the three dynasties of Taizu, Taizong and Zhenzong. How to create a set of etiquette suitable for the canonization of a princess? The officials of the Liyuan were afraid of taking the blame, so they pushed back and forth.
Another thing is that Empress Wen Cheng established a temple. Empress Wen Cheng was Concubine Zhang. Building a temple for Concubine Zhang was also against etiquette. At first, the ministers were very dissatisfied with the official favor of Concubine Zhang. When a temple was built for Concubine Zhang, the officials in the ceremonial court were unsatisfied, which made the officials very dissatisfied.
However, in Taichang's book on Geli, Empress Dowager Zhang Xian's arrogant etiquette was deleted, but several gifts were still recorded to reflect the official's filial piety to Empress Dowager Zhang Xian. This matter was done very appropriately, which made The officials were very satisfied.
At the same time, regarding the canonization of Princess Fukang and the establishment of a temple by Queen Wencheng, these two events were recorded in the ritual book for the officials. The ritual system was not deleted, but it was noted in the ritual notes that this was not a classical system, giving The official family lost face in this matter.
This time, Taichang Yinge's compilation not only made the officials very satisfied, but also the detailed textual research on the ritual notes after careful reading made the emperor unable to put it down.
He increasingly felt that he would not die soon, so he paid special attention to books such as ritual books that were left for future generations to read, for fear of being stigmatized.
In Han Qi, Taichang under the leadership of Ouyang Xiu received high praise from officials for his compilation of Ge Li.
Seeing that the officials were in a good mood, Ouyang Xiu said: "To compile the book of Taichang Yinge Li, I entrusted it to Taichang's co-presidents Lu Xiaqing and Zhang Yue, Su Xun, the chief administrator of Wen'an County, and the chief administrator of Xiangcheng County Let Yao Pi and two others assist him."
The official said: "You know people by participating in politics. Lu Xiaqing's revision of the New Book of Tang Dynasty shows that he is knowledgeable. Before Su Xun, I asked him to try to live in the hospital, but he refused to accept the imperial edict because he was old and sick. I thought he was afraid that he would not be as good as his two sons. , now it seems that the young phoenix may not be as good as the old one."
"As for Zhang Yue...he is very good at taking part in politics. I think he has contributed the most to this matter."
Ouyang Xiudao: "It is known to both the government and the public that after Jiayou of this dynasty, he is the most popular. Officials and common people often select more than ten people, but no matter what they do, there must be Su Shi, Su Xun, Zhang Yue, etc. among them."
The official said happily: "You have done great work in repairing books. How do you think Mr. Han will reward you? Zhongshu will make a plan."
Han Qi reported: "Taichang has a total of one hundred volumes due to the reform ceremony. Now that he has only completed twenty volumes, it is not enough to reward him. If your Majesty really wants to reward him, it is better to wait until the completion of the hundred volumes."
After hearing this, the official said leisurely: "After completing the hundred volumes, I can't see it anymore."
Han Qi, Ouyang Xiu, and Wang Gui hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the Spring and Autumn Period is in full bloom, don't talk about it."
The official smiled lightly and said: "It's okay, I just mentioned casually. I tried my best to recruit scholars from Jiayou. I regard the imperial examination as an important ceremony and intend to retain the prime minister for the benefit of future generations."
"These people are all useful talents. If they are remembered by the secretary, they will be of great use in the future when the political affairs hall is declaring their duties."
"As for Zhang Yue, I feel that it is really rare for this person to have made such achievements within a few months of entering the Liyuan. I want to give him a Jingyan official. What do Zhongshu and Xueshiyuan think?"
Han Qi and the three of them were all surprised.
It was not just once or twice that an official wanted to appoint Zhang Yue to the court. Could it be that the prime minister he intended to leave to future generations was Zhang Yue?
If Chongwenguan is a close official of the emperor, then Jingyan official is a close official among close ministers.
However, Zhang Yue was still too junior, and it was difficult for Han Qi to refuse, because he had already refused the official reward to Lu Xiaqing and the others just once, and if he refused again, it would be disrespectful to the official.
Therefore, he looked at Ouyang Xiu, and Ouyang Xiu said: "Zhang Yueqi became the number one scholar, entered the third class of the system department, and then entered the imperial office. Now he is given the title of Jingyan officer. It is too fast."
Han Qi glanced at Ouyang Xiu and thought, are you so 'objective' to this? This was clearly speaking for Zhang Yue.
The official laughed and said, "The Jingyan Officer is not an actual official, but he can often go to the palace to serve on the emperor. What position do you think Zhang Yue should be given, Scholar Wang?"
Wang Gui knew the emperor's intention and had made up his mind. According to the ancestral system, talents should be selected and tested for office first. If they are suitable, they would then be inspected by the officials of the banquet. The emperor wanted Zhang Yue to serve as his chariot, which was for further inspection.
Wang Gui is Zhang Yue's leader. The two of them have no contact with each other publicly, but they have contact with each other in private.
Wang Gui considered Han Qi and Ouyang Xiu's intention and said: "I think that as Ouyang Shenzheng said, Zhang Yue is now a low-ranking official. If he is suddenly promoted to an attendant, and the attendants are not convinced, it is better to let him serve as a storyteller for Chongzheng Hall. This way you can disappoint the public.”
The official nodded after hearing this and said, "Very good. Let's plan a story in Chongzheng Hall."
Seeing that the official's mind had been made up, Han Qi could no longer object and said, "I also think it's a blessing to have Zhang Yue as my attendant. This is also his good fortune and grace."
The official smiled and said, "Then it's settled."
