August is already the beginning of autumn.
On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, at the end of the Youshi period, the banquet in the palace was held as scheduled as in previous years.
At this moment, Tai Le Cheng is directing the dancers and musicians to play the latest Tai Le song of the Wei Dynasty: Taihe.
At this moment, the chime bells jingled like jade, the silk and bamboo orchestras played continuously, and lanterns were decorated up and down the high platform. The emperor and his ministers were all in a happy mood and beaming with joy.
"In the first year of Taihe, the emperor practiced the law. He was holy and benevolent. The virtues were flowing. The plague of locusts was extinct for a while.
Rain and dew come from heaven. Grains nourish the fields.
The four people follow the rules. Business clarification. The world's prisons are judged by love. The head of state is clear.
This is the case with the Wei family. That's not quite right. "
Empress Dowager Guo, Queen Guo, and Queen Mao were sitting on the throne beside the emperor, one on the left and one on the right. Beside the Queen Mother were the concubines of Emperor Wen Cao Pi: Li Guiren, the mother of Cao Xie, the queen of mourning, Yin Guiren, who was born in the Yin family of Nanyang, a wealthy family in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Pan Shuyuan, the biological mother of Cao Rui, the mourning king of Beihai, Yang Huai of Dongwu. Wang Caojian’s biological mother Zhu Shuyuan, as well as Donghai Wang Cao Lin’s mother Qiu Zhaoyi, Yuancheng Ai Wang Cao Li’s biological mother Xu Ji, Handan Huai Wang Cao Yong’s mother Su Ji, Qinghe Qinghe Wang Cao Gong’s mother Zhang Ji, and Guangping Ai Wang Cao Yan's mother Song Ji.
Among all the concubines, except for the current majesty Cao Rui, the heir of Queen Mother Guo, and Qiu Zhaoyi's only son Cao Lin, King of the East China Sea, all the other concubines' heirs died early. The King of the East China Sea, Cao Lin, had also returned to his vassal home a long time ago, so the banquet in the harem was not very lively except for the occasional polite greetings.
Under the high platform, there are the great ministers Kong Yingyinhou Chen Qun, Zhongshu supervisor Liu Fang, Zhongshu Ling Sun Zi, Shi Zhongwei Zhen, Shangshu Wei Qi, Duzhi Shangshu Sima Fu, Shangshu Huanfan, and Sanqi Changshi Kaiyang. Hou Bianlan, Wang Lang's son, Sanqi Changshi Lanlinghou Wang Su, Hua Xin's son Boping Hou Huabiao, Sanqi Changshi Changpinghou Cao Zhao, Sanqi Changshi Changshi Guan Neihou Gaotanglong, Sanqi Changshi Yang Wutinghou He Zenghe Rui Jian, Sanqi Changshi Mao Zeng, Guard Dong Zhao, Guard General Jiang Ji and other important ministers and relatives were seated at the table. Everyone could not stop greeting each other at this moment, and there was only the sound of drinking and drinking.
Xia Houxuan, who was recently demoted to the rank of Yulin Supervisor, has been sitting at the end of the queue. Several younger brothers of Cao Shuang and Cao Xi: Cao Xun, Cao Yan, Cao Ze, as well as Yu Huan and He Kui, as well as the brothers Sima Shi and Sima Zhao who were deposed due to the flashy case, Zhuge Dan, Li Feng, and Li Yi Brothers, as well as Li Sheng, Pei Hui, He Yan, Deng Yang, Ding Mi and others, all have only empty titles and no actual positions, so they are not far from Xia Houxuan's seat. Xia Houxuan is not surprised by favors and humiliations. He was chatting and laughing with everyone at the table, while he was just enjoying the lanterns and drinking wine calmly, ignoring Mao Zeng's joking and mocking gaze in the distance.
At the beginning of the lanterns, Luoyang Palace City was ablaze with lights. At the banquet, there were plenty of fruits and vegetables and delicacies. After a feast, Emperor Cao Rui was already slightly drunk. He stood up and left the banquet. He held the wine glass and came to the side of the high platform, looking at the bright lights outside the pavilion. , he suddenly remembered his childhood brothers and playmates. He thought of his good uncle Cao Yu, who was actually only a few years older than him. He also thought of Cao Rui, the mourning king of Beihai, Cao Jian, the mourning king of Dongwuyang, Cao Li, the mourning king of Yuancheng, Cao Yong, the mourning king of Handan, Cao Gong, the mourning king of Qinghe, and Cao Yan, the mourning king of Guangping, all his brothers who died young. . Suddenly, the emperor was filled with emotion:
"I remember that when I was young, I had a banquet with King Yan and all the kings and brothers at the Mid-Autumn Festival in Yedu. Now, it has been almost twenty years since the brothers were separated and the kings returned to their countries, and they have not been with me. My uncles and brothers had a good gathering..."
"Yin'er, it's time for you to meet these elders." The emperor held his beloved son Cao Yin in his arms and said with a smile: "I know that my Yin'er will definitely become a wise king in the future."
In recent years, his princes have always died young one after another. Now that Cao Yin was born safely for more than a month, Cao Rui naturally doted on his only son.
The child looked at his father's expectant eyes and chuckled innocently.
Cao Rui suddenly felt that his poetry was waning, so he walked in the palace with his beloved son in his arms, looked at the bright lights in the south of the palace, and recited in a low voice:
"The bright moon shines brightly, and its radiant light candles my bed. I can't sleep because of worries, but how long the night is. The breeze blows in the boudoir, and the curtains are fluttering. I hold my clothes and drag my long belt, and my clothes and shoes go down to the high hall. The east and west are in peace, and I wander around and hesitate. . The spring bird flies south, soaring gracefully and alone. It calls out to the couple with a sad voice, and its lamentation hurts my heart. Feeling about things and thinking about things, tears suddenly touch my clothes. Standing still, sighing loudly, feeling relieved and complaining to the sky. "
Cao Rui was originally in a good mood today. He originally wrote a festive poem, but he felt sorry for the kings and brothers in his heart, so he added a few sighs of regret without realizing it.
Everyone gradually turned from tipsy to intoxicated during this banquet.
Xia Houxuan held up the wine glass in his hand. He was slightly drunk and listened to the Wei Dynasty drum music "Ying Di Qi" sung by the musician. At this moment, his heart was like a river and sea rushing, and he couldn't help but follow Huang Zhongda Lu's song. The voice sang:
"In the reign of Emperor Ying, he came to Zhaowo Emperor Wen. He followed the order of heaven. Long Fei came from Xuchang. His wisdom showed his four expressions. His kindness touched Xia Fang.
The stars shine. The sun and moon are the most important light. Heluo spits out Fu Rui. The vegetation is very beautiful.
Qilin walks in the countryside. Huanglong travels to Jinliang. The white tiger nestles in the mountains and forests. The phoenix sings high.
Examine the pictures and determine the chapter. His merits are worthy of those of the ancient Xi Emperor. Emperor Xi left no writings. Benevolence and saintliness follow each other.
The fortune is three thousand years old. A saintly king for life. Yao granted Shun all the kingdoms. All nations are attached to each other.
The fourth door is Mu Mu. Education is always like God. The Wei Dynasty prospered. Be a neighbor to it. "
Listening to the sound of singing and music, Xia Houxuan's thoughts were wandering. Although he was relegated now, the expectations and encouragement of his father Xia Houshang, master Yu Gui, and Emperor Wen still seemed to be in his ears. At this moment, in his heart, like Zhuge Dan, Sima Shi, Sima Zhao and others, he not only had the ambition to make great achievements, but also a trace of depression and sadness.
Although Xia Houxuan had a lot of thoughts in his heart, at the moment he just smiled and sang "Ying Di Qi" in a low voice and drank one glass of rice wine after another.
——————
On the second day, Cao Rui issued an imperial edict to recruit Wang Shizi from the princes to join the court:
"In ancient times, the princes hired people from court, so they maintained good relations with each other and harmonized all the countries. The late emperor issued an order and did not want the kings to be in the capital. He said that when the young master is on the throne, the mother will be the regent to prevent the slightest progress and control the rise and fall of the kings. I can't see it. The kings have been in their arms for ten or two years, how can they not think about it! They ordered all the kings and the clan princes to bring the suitable son into the court. Later, if there are young masters and mothers in the palace, they will be like the previous emperor's order, which is stated in the order. .”
[Note 1: Shizi means the same as legitimate son. 】
During the reign of Emperor Wen, in order to prevent the kings and clans from having different ambitions, there were many restrictions on them, so it was difficult for the kings to meet each other.
Now, although Cao Rui wanted to relax his administration, he did not dare to change the laws, so he only ordered the kings to send suitable sons to live in the court.
This is the second time Cao Zhi, the youngest son of King Cao Zhi of Chen, has come to the capital city of Luoyang. His father has never brought him to the capital city again since he met the solar terms when he was a child. And now, he is nearly a weak man, so this time When he came here, he felt a little strange.
To the south of Luoshui outside the city, the newly built guest house in the southern suburbs is a place for the sons of princes and marquises from all over the world to stay. Cao Zhi looked at the Luoshui passing by in the north, as well as the magnificent city gates and towers, as if he had lived in another world. I haven’t been to Luoyang for more than ten years. I wonder if my old childhood friends in the capital are all still well?
"Big brother."
At this time, a clear child's voice sounded in Cao Zhi's ears.
When Cao Zhi turned around and looked down, he realized that it was a five or six-year-old child. Judging from his clothes, he was also a member of the royal family. Cao Zhi speculated that it should be one of his clan brothers or nephews.
"Whose child are you from?" Cao Zhi smiled and touched the child's little head.
"My name is Cao Qi, and my father is Cao Lin, the King of the East China Sea." The child was not afraid of life. He took out some crumpled pieces of silk paper from his arms, handed them to Cao Zhi, and then said: "Brother, I heard others say that you are a child of King Chen’s uncle’s family. My father always scolded me and said that I couldn’t write poetry. I wrote this on the way to the capital. It’s a pity that I couldn’t show it to my father. , I heard that Uncle Chen Wang wrote very good poems and essays, could you help me read the poems I wrote?"
"It turns out that he is the child of His Highness the King of the East China Sea. Then you can't call me big brother. You should call me uncle." Cao Zhi opened the silk, looked at the slightly childish verses on the silk, and said with a smile: "I see Your writing is very good. You are only so young. When you stay in the capital for a few more years and grow up, your writing will definitely get better and better. When you return to the fiefdom of His Highness the King of the East China Sea, he will definitely I will be very happy.”
Xiao Cao Qi was extremely happy after hearing what this young cousin said. His father Cao Lin has a very bad temper. Although he has worked hard since he was a child, he has rarely received praise from his father. Now even the uncle of Chen Wang's family says that his poetry is good and will be even better in the future. How could he possibly Not happy yet.
"My young prince, it's getting late. Follow me back to the guest house quickly." While Cao Zhi and Cao Qi were having a pleasant conversation, an old woman with gray hair came behind them.
"Grandma Mo, Qi'er wants to chat with his uncle for a while. You can go back first. Qi'er will go back by himself later." Cao Qi said to the old woman very respectfully. This Granny Mo is said to have been the wet nurse who served Cao Lin, King of East China Sea. She did not go to the feudal country with Cao Lin, King of East China Sea, but stayed in the palace and was in charge of some miscellaneous items. Therefore, she never interacted with her old master again. How to contact. This time the King of Donghai sent his eldest son to the capital, so he entrusted Grandma Mo to take more care of Cao Qi and teach him not to cause any trouble in the palace.
When Granny Mo saw that the young master was chatting happily with Cao Zhi, she didn't bother him anymore. She casually told Cao Qi a few words and left.
Next to the guest house, there was a small little conspicuous little house. When Grandma Mo saw no one around her, she quickly walked into the house. After a while, a white pigeon flew out of the house and saw it hovering at low altitude. After meeting and identifying the direction, they headed towards Donghai County.
