On New Year's Eve, the palace was decorated with lights and was very lively. Everyone wore new clothes and met each other to say hello to each other. The aroma of the east kitchen spread, making people salivate at the smell, and there were sticks on the doors everywhere. On both sides of the door outside, there are red spring couplets written by Zhao Tong himself.
Since morning, the sound of firecrackers in Tokyo City has been constant. The Suiyu Tower naturally called Jian Suyi to celebrate the New Year, and Qi Hongyu also came over. The two of them took care of the internal affairs of the palace, and they were busy for most of the day.
A banquet was held in the afternoon, and everyone in the house, regardless of their status, had to serve it. Although the number of people in Zhao Tong's house was far less than that of other princes and ministers' families, there were still about one or two hundred people.
More than a dozen banquet tables were lined up from the inside of the central hall to the outside. Everyone had a place, no matter the guards, maids or servants, or the handyman and cook.
Zhang Xian and Lei San led people to set off firecrackers outside. Jin'er followed them to watch. After a while, they came back to sit down.
Before the banquet, Zhao Tong began to distribute the New Year's rewards, everyone had a share, everyone thanked them, and then gave the order to start the New Year's banquet.
Zhao Tong sat at the head of the main table, as did Zhenniang, Zhang Xian, Coach Zhang, Qi Hongyu, Jian Suyi, Su Shi, and Lei San.
Qi Hongyu and others were originally unwilling, claiming to be subordinates, so how could they mess with the rules? Zhao Tong only gave orders, and they did not dare to disobey.
The banquet lasted until night, and when the lights of thousands of houses were lit outside and the sound of firecrackers started again, it slowly dispersed.
On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Zhao Tong entered the palace with a large car and a small cart of gifts to pay New Year greetings. Su Shi and Yu Longzhi followed him.
As soon as he entered the palace gate, he saw Zhang Di waiting here. Emperor Daojun was a lively person. Knowing that many people would come to the palace today, he asked Zhang Di to bring dozens of eunuchs to welcome and see him off.
After meeting Zhao Tong, Zhang Di hurriedly came over to pay New Year's greetings. Zhao Tong smiled and said, "Zhang Yaban is very busy today."
Zhang Di couldn't help but hide his face and shouted "Your Majesty, I'm ashamed". It turned out that after the incident at Guifan Tower, the tunnel was dug, and Emperor Daojun got his wish and left the palace to secretly meet with Master Li, so he promoted Zhang Di to an official position and became the governor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Ban still serves as the envoy of Yanfu Palace.
The governor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is equivalent to the governor of the government department, and has great power. In this position, it will probably be no problem to become the provincial supervisor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the future.
First, he went to Emperor Daojun's place to pay New Year's greetings, but a large group of officials were there. Zhao Tong left in a hurry and went to Empress Zheng's place again, only to find that he had an even greater headache.
There were actually more concubines and concubines in the palace than Emperor Daojun who came to pay New Year greetings. After putting down their things, they were about to leave. At this time, Wang Guifei smiled and said: "Second brother and concubine have not been chosen yet. Okay? How about I introduce you?"
Wang Guifei is Zhao Kai's mother. She was one of the two female officials given to Prince Duan by the Queen Mother. One is now Zhao Tan's mother, Empress Zheng, and the other is Wang Guifei, the first of the four concubines.
When Zhao Tong heard this, he didn't dare to answer. He smiled sarcastically, confessed his crime, and left. Behind him, Zhao Fujin said, "Second brother, I'll see you off."
After leaving the Renming Hall, Zhao Tao saw that Zhao Fujin had two double buns tied with red ribbons, and was wearing red clothes. His eyebrows were picturesque and he was very festive. He couldn't help but smile and said: "Fujin is one year older during the Chinese New Year." , she’s going to be a big girl.”
Zhao Fujin smiled and said: "Second brother is joking."
Zhao Tong said: "What kind of joke is this? By the way, the names of the candied cakes and candied fruits I brought are all written on them. I'll go get your share soon, otherwise Zhao Hu'er will see it and snatch it away again."
Zhao Fujin nodded, took out a red purse from his body, held it in his hand and said, "Second brother, this is for you."
Zhao Tong looked exquisite and couldn't help but smile: "Is it a New Year's gift for my second brother? Bought from outside?"
Zhao Fujin said: "The sisters made it together at home. The eldest sister did the best, but I was worse."
The eldest sister is Zhao Yupan, the emperor's eldest daughter, and Zhao Tong's sister is now married.
Zhao Tong put the purse in his arms and said, "Second brother, take it. It's cold outside, so go back quickly."
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, people from Suiyulou came over to pay New Year greetings, and Zhao Tong held a banquet.
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, officials at all levels under the Guards Department, including senior officers in the army, came to pay New Year's greetings. The number of people was huge. Zhao Tong continued to have a banquet and received many gifts.
In this way, it was not until the seventh day of the lunar month that the house gradually became quiet, but when the Lantern Festival came, it became lively again.
There is a lantern festival in Tokyo, and it is quite large. It is roughly divided into three places.
There is one place on the side of Zhouqiao, one in Baotou on Maxing Street, one in Zhuquemen in the south of the inner city, and one on Zhuque Street.
Among them, Zhuque Street is the largest, because it connects the inner and outer cities. You don’t have to go in when entering the outer city. You can just enjoy the lanterns here. However, Zhouqiao and Baotou shops have more stalls and are not as spacious as here, so the inner city Many people are willing to come here.
The Lantern Festival has started on the evening of the 13th. Everywhere in Tokyo is even busier than New Year’s Eve. Not only the Bianhe River and other rivers are covered with colorful lanterns, even some big trees on the roadside, They also hung up lanterns, illuminating the surroundings like daylight.
On the afternoon of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, outside the Zhuque Gate, there was the Yuelai Inn.
Yuelai Inn is the largest inn in the outer city of Tokyo. It not only has bungalows with bungalows, but also has a two-story long building. There are also several independent courtyards at the back, which are specially designed for businessmen from out of town to rest.
Because of the Chinese New Year, most businessmen have gone back to other places, so there are not many people staying in the inn at the moment. There are only about ten people in Tongpu and Changlou.
As for those small courtyards, only one is occupied.
In this small courtyard, there are two large carts of goods near the horse gallery, which are covered by carports. Judging from the corners of the goods exposed in the bags, they seem to be wood carvings or the like.
There are seven or eight rooms in the small courtyard, each with a front and a wing. In one of the rooms at the moment, several people are sitting and discussing matters.
The leader is a middle-aged man wearing a purple robe. This man has thick eyebrows, his temples are slightly bulging outwards, his eyes are shining, and he has a beard under his chin.
There were seven or eight people sitting in front of him. They were all very muscular and had strong arms, unlike ordinary people.
Among them was a woman who was tall, with big eyes and a big mouth, and slightly white skin. She could not be said to be pretty, but she was not ugly if she looked closely. Who could she be if she wasn't Fang Baihua.
One of them clasped his fist at the middle-aged man in purple robe and said, "Holy Duke, this is a serious matter. If we really cause this lantern festival and set fire to Tokyo, how will we escape from the city?"
The middle-aged man in purple robe said: "It doesn't matter. Tian Hu's people will pick up the lanterns tonight. They have a place to hide. They will leave the city in a few days and go to Heimuya, Hebei Province. Then they can see Tian Hu."
Another person said: "Holy Lord, Tian Hu is just a hunter, and he is not a member of our Ming Cult. We are doing our own thing, why should we go to see him?"
Fang Baihua's eyes flashed slightly at this moment and said: "Brother, I think the Lantern Festival is a big deal, but why bother burning Tokyo?"
Fang La looked at her and frowned and said: "Baihua, since you came back from the last competition, you have some different ideas about the Zhao and Song Dynasty. Could it be that you were bewitched by a traitor during the competition?"
Fang Baihua hurriedly lowered his head and said: "Light is in the sky, and darkness is on the earth. Good and evil are eliminated. But because of the light, joy and sorrow all return to dust."
(End of chapter)
