In the fifth year of Qingli in the Northern Song Dynasty (1045), when Han Qi was appointed governor of Yangzhou, there was a kind of peony called "Golden Daiwei" in the back garden of the government office. It had a branch with four branches, and a flower bloomed in each pot, and the petals were red up and down, with a golden circle. The pistil is in the middle, so it is called the golden waist, also called the golden belt.
Not only is this flower beautiful and unique in color, but it is also said that once the flower blooms, a prime minister will appear in the city.
At that time, Wang Gui and Wang Anshi, who both worked at Dali Temple, happened to be in Yangzhou, so Han Qi invited them to watch it together.
Because four flowers were in bloom, Han Qi invited the envoys from the prefectures and Guizhou provinces to come. However, he suddenly lost his temper before attending the appointment and temporarily invited Chen Shengzhi, who was passing by Yangzhou and serving at Dali Temple, to attend.
While drinking and admiring the flowers, Han Qi cut off these four golden flowers and put one on each person's head.
Strangely enough, in the next thirty years, the four people who participated in the flower viewing event all became prime ministers one after another.
This story from "Mengxi Bi Tan" is actually the origin of today's Hairpin Banquet.
Hairpins are a custom of arranging flowers in buns or hats. They appeared as early as the Han Dynasty and were most popular in the Tang and Song Dynasties.
The custom of men wearing hairpins is said to have originated from the Dogwood Festival during the Double Ninth Festival in ancient times.
"Fengtu Ji" written by Zhou Chu of Jin Dynasty said: "On September 9th, there are no shots in the law but the number is nine. The custom is to break the dogwood room and use a plug to ward off the bad odor and ward off the early cold."
In the Tang Dynasty, some history books began to record the emperor giving hairpins to ministers, and such etiquette gradually became complete in the Song Dynasty.
There is a passage in "Jiegulu" written by Nanzhuo of the Tang Dynasty. It is about Ning Wang Li Jing traveling with Emperor Ming. Emperor Ming picked a hibiscus flower and put it on his silk hat. He used Jiegu to play "Dancing Mountain Fragrance". On the hat The flower did not fall.
Yang Wanli's "Birthday Celebration Slogans" from the Song Dynasty: "Why does the spring scenery need to be urged by drums? The king welcomes spring back on the first day of the year. Peony, peonies and roses bloom on the hats of thousands of officials."
But time has changed, and in the Wei Dynasty, men's hairpins are no longer popular, but are somewhat close to the aesthetics of later generations. The world thinks that men's hairpins are quite "evil rule".
Except for hairpin feasts and wedding customs, men no longer have the habit of arranging flowers on their heads.
But as the real protagonist of this hairpin feast, Xu He had to arrange flowers on his head.
Yang Yinqiu reluctantly accepted the golden belt that Peng Ruyu brought specially from Yangzhou with an expression like a dead mother.
Under the gaze of everyone, he took a pair of scissors and cut off the peony with red flowers and yellow pistils, and then inserted the gold belt around Xu He's head without any eye contact with Xu He.
Xu He clearly felt that the great master was unwilling, but no matter how hard he scratched his head, he couldn't figure out why the master gave him the position of head of the case if he was so unhappy with him.
After putting on the flowers, Yang Yinqiu called four other people. Five people, including Xu He, were the [Five Classics Leaders] of the Academy of Sciences.
The imperial examinations of the Great Wei Dynasty were divided into five classics to select candidates. The person who got the first place in each classic was called the chief of classics, so it was called "the chief of five classics".
The five classics masters are usually among the top five in the provincial examination, but this time Yang Yinqiu in the college examination has high standards and strict requirements. He selected those who did well in the five classics and listed the first to fifth in the college examination.
The five people stood in the famous fan pavilion in Zhanyuan. Yang Yinqiu took out five sets of Lan shirts from the tray held by the officials on the side and handed them to the five people.
The five people took it and went down to change it. When they stood in the fan pavilion again, the hairpin feast officially began.
Chu Yuan and other students couldn't help but look envious in their eyes when they saw Xu He and the other five people wearing Lan shirts walking into Jingmiao Hall.
Although they will soon be able to receive the Lan shirt that represents the identity of the students, there is no way for the grand master to personally award it to receive the honor.
Chu Yuan pushed Xu He with his arm and whispered: "Xu Anshou, how does it feel to wear this Lan shirt?"
Xu He smiled slightly, "Chang'e Jian wore a green cloud and broke off the first branch of the Toad Palace. The palace flowers were placed diagonally with the brim of her hat low, and she became famous all over the world in one fell swoop."
Chu Yuan, who was an upright man, rarely laughed and cursed after hearing such a coquettish poem by Xu He: "You little crane, your tail is sticking up to the sky!"
While talking and laughing, Xu He, the winner of Xiao Sanyuan, was naturally the focus of the audience.
As the head of the case, he would lead everyone to toast Yang Yinqiu.
Yang Yinqiu was sitting high at the head of the table, watching Xu He come over with wine in his hands. He didn't know how uncomfortable he felt, especially when he thought of the letters from Yongxin Gong and his eldest brother, he felt mixed emotions.
A group of big bosses from the state capital nearby thought that he had always been a serious person, so they all stood up to smooth things over and compliment him.
Peng Ruyu looked at Xu He, feeling happy in his heart that his Yangzhou Mansion actually produced Xiao Sanyuan, and during his tenure, he even gave Xu He the title of head of the case in the Mansion.
In other words, Xu He is worthy of his name, and he is also the creator of the Xiao Sanyuan myth.
Thinking of this, he raised his glass to Yang Yinqiu and said: "Grand Master, when Xianguan saw you for the first time, I saw that you were unsmiling and serious in appearance. I thought you didn't like me, Yangzhou. But what Xianguan didn't expect was that , the Grand Master’s discerning eyes actually named Xu He from Hailing as the head of the case, which really surprised me. With this cup, I hope the Grand Master will forgive my villainous heart!”
Yang Yinqiu felt like crying when he heard this.
That's right, I was just unhappy with you in Yangzhou at that time. However, I was stupid, but I was smart enough to appoint the person I least wanted to see, the Xu family, as the head of the crime.
Lao Peng, what do you mean? To rub salt in the wound?
The officials of the state governments did not know the twists and turns, and even Xu He did not know Yang Yinqiu's mental journey.
Everyone raised their glasses together and toasted to Yang Yinqiu sincerely.
Yang Yinqiu sighed at this moment: "Let's let it go, it's a done deal, it's useless to think about it too much. Since you can't refuse, just try to enjoy this process!"
Finally, the Grand Master managed to smile for the first time during today's Hairpin Banquet.
"Everyone drink this cup to the fullest!"
"Drink this cup to the full!"
"Drink this cup to the full!"
After three rounds of wine and five dishes, the officials, including Yang Yinqiu, left the table early.
Without them, the newly promoted scholars were more relaxed.
Students from many prefectures and counties came up to toast Xu He.
Just when Xu He was drunk, a servant of the Hou Mansion walked up to Xu He and said, "Mr. Xu, the young Marquis invites you!"
When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but look envious at Xu He.
The Xue family is the home of the founding nobles of the country, and Xu He actually got to see the Xue family in person, which really made this group of scholars who usually refused to bend their waists to the powerful and powerful jealous!
Xu He frowned and said, "I don't know your little marquis!"
The servant said: "There is also Mr. Shen from Songjiang!"
"Shen Xuan?" Xu He was slightly surprised, not expecting to meet him here.
Hearing this name, several students at the tables around him who were dressed in either rich or noble clothes stopped their chopsticks and listened.
The servant nodded and said: "Exactly!"
Xu He nodded, stood up and walked outside with him.
