After Wu Lord Sun Quan vented his anger, his mind gradually became clearer.
After being persuaded by Prime Minister Gu Yong, Prince Sun Deng, and General Lu Yi, Sun Quan understood that if he rashly attacked Liaodong this time, it would be difficult to isolate rivers and seas from supplies, and it would be difficult to succeed; even if he succeeded, he would not be able to control the "enclave" of Liaodong. ", but instead tried his best to help Cao Wei Jian get rid of his inner troubles.
In the end, he suppressed his anger at being deceived and gave up the idea of conquering Liaodong.
————
Just a few months after the prince Cao Fang was successfully born in the residence of Cao Kai, the king of Rencheng, a child was also born in the residence of Wuyang Hou in Luoyang.
Today, the child has already drunk the full moon wine.
This child was born to General Sima Yi's concubine. According to the ranking, he was Sima Yi's seventh son. On the day of the child's birth, all the horses in the house were neighing. The head of the family, Sima Yi, had already left for Wancheng to guard the city at the beginning of the year. He received a letter from home. After that, it was decided to name the child Sima Jun. As for the affairs of the mansion, Sima Yi left them all to his eldest son, Sima Shi.
Since the emperor has lost his beloved daughter and son in recent years, Sima Shi did not make too much arrangements. The full moon banquet only invited the Grand Sima Kong Yingyin Marquis Chen Qunfu, Sima Zhao's father-in-law Lanling Marquis Wang Sufu, and Sima Shi's uncle Changling Marquis. Xiahou Xuanfu, as well as the two Cao mansions of Shaolinghou and Changpinghou, as well as Dinglinghou Zhongfu, these are the surviving old friends or the children of good friends.
The great Sikong Chen Qun was old and sick, and was inconvenient to move, let alone drink, so he sent his legitimate son Yingyin Hou Shizi Chen Tai and Chen Xuanbo to the Sima Mansion to congratulate him. Lanling Marquis Wang Su came in person this time, not only to attend the full moon banquet, but also to visit his daughter Wang Yuanji and son-in-law Sima Zhao.
Changling Marquis Xia Houxuan, Shaoling Marquis Cao Shuang, Changping Marquis Cao Zhao, Dingling Marquis Zhong Yu [Note 1], these young descendants who have only taken charge of the family in recent years do not dare to abandon the old friendship and etiquette. Everyone prepared gifts in person and came to the banquet.
[Note 1: The Grand Tutor Dingling became a Marquis, the great calligrapher Zhong Yao, Situ and Lanling became a Marquis and Wang Lang, both died in the second year of Taihe. 】
Brothers Sima Shi and Sima Zhao arranged for everyone to sit down at the banquet in an orderly manner, while Xia Houhui and Wang Yuanji's sister-in-law directed the servants to arrange the food and drinks for the banquet.
Dingling Marquis Zhong Yu also brought his eight-year-old brother Zhong Hui with him. Although Zhong Hui is young, he is not afraid of strangers at all. Everyone at the table has long heard about this young son of the Zhong family who is known as a child prodigy. When they saw him today, they all admired this smart child in their hearts.
At this moment, Zhong Hui, a child with two buns on his head, staggered to Xia Houxuan's seat with a glass of wine in his hand, and bowed respectfully to Xia Houxuan.
Although Zhong Hui is young, he is meticulous and extremely serious in his courtesy. Everyone couldn't help laughing when they saw the child's serious and respectful attitude. At the same time, everyone was also a little confused as to why Zhong Hui would just go to Xia Houxuan to propose a toast.
Just when everyone was confused, Zhong Hui turned to Xia Houxuan, respectfully raised his wine hands above his head, half-knelt on the ground, and said in sophisticated words that were extremely inconsistent with his age of an eight-year-old child:
"Zhong Hui, a young man, paid a visit to the Marquis of Changling. He has long heard about your talent and your reputation. He has also read your master's masterpieces such as "Huang Yin Fu" and "Le Yi Lun". You are a talented leader of our dynasty today. , Hui Hui has long admired him very much, and wants to become his disciple. Today, we have the chance to meet him, and I also ask him to accept Zhong Hui as his disciple!"
Although Xia Houxuan has always enjoyed a high reputation in Luoyang, in his early years he was also a literary leader who talked about scholars. However, since His Majesty issued an edict a few years ago to strictly prohibit forming parties and showing off to each other, his friends Zhuge Dan, Sima Shi and others who once held important positions such as Shangshu Lang and Sanqi Changshi were all dismissed by His Majesty. Now that Zhong Hui said many flattering words to him, Xia Houxuan felt a little unhappy in his heart for no reason.
At this moment, Dingling Marquis Zhong Yu still looked calm, holding up chopsticks, holding a cup, and pouring himself a drink. He was not surprised at all by his younger brother's behavior.
Seeing this, Xia Houxuan already understood more than half of it in his heart. Zhong Hui's toast should be a clever arrangement carefully arranged by Zhong Yu in order to win over him. After all, who would have the heart to refuse such a cute and intelligent prodigy as his wife? Where is the apprentice?
But Xia Houxuan, who saw through Zhong Yu's plan, remained unmoved at all. After a flash of lightning in his heart, he was already planning to refuse Zhong Hui's invitation, but he smiled and raised his hand to take the wine glass from Xiao Zhong Hui's hand.
Seeing Xia Houxuan take the wine, brothers Zhong Yu and Zhong Hui were filled with joy, but they did not expect that Xia Houxuan would say something like this next:
"Second Young Master Zhong, please call me quickly. Young Master is very smart at a young age and is known as a child prodigy. However, Xuan is only a small Yulin Supervisor. However, relying on His Majesty's gift and Xian Kao's contribution, En Yin won the title of Marquis of Changling. How can Xuan dare to tamper with my title? I don’t deserve the praise and love from Second Master Zhong. Xuan will drink this wine, but I hope you will never mention it again about becoming a disciple!"
After Xiahou Xuan finished speaking, he drank the wine in one gulp, while the two Zhong brothers instantly darkened their faces.
Xia Houxuan knew that if he did this, he would definitely offend Zhong Yu, the extremely noble Minister of Huangmen and Marquis of Dingling. But by nature, I don’t want to form a party with others, and I don’t like to hear these kind words of praise. Even Mao Zeng, the emperor’s brother-in-law and the queen’s brother, the minister, can’t force himself, let alone Zhong Yu?
————
Fu Gu, Fu Lanshi, who is the official of Da Sikong Chen Qun, has not come to Da Sikong Mansion for business for several days. Not only that, he didn't go to send congratulatory gifts to the Seventh Young Master of Sima Mansion's full moon banquet.
This was not because he was deliberately rude, but because his uncle who had raised and cared for him, Fu Xun, a veteran minister and minister of the dynasty, suddenly passed away this morning.
Fu Gu, who had always kept his hands on the scroll, was just dazed in the mourning hall today in mourning clothes. His friends Xia Houxuan, Xun Can, Zhuge Dan, Cao Xi, Wei Lie, Gao Xun and others came to express condolences and comfort, but they could not make him feel lonely. Fu Gu is getting better.
Pei Qian and Pei Wenxing, the ministers who were once rated by Fu Xun in the Yuedan Review as "whose conduct is pure and honest enough to be famous all over the world" [Note 2], and their ten-year-old son Pei Xiu came to the Fu family mourning hall together. Fu Xun expressed his gratitude to It can be said that Pei Qian had the kindness of knowing him. At this moment, Pei Qian was leaning in front of Fu Xun's coffin. Recalling the encouragement and praise that his senior had given him back then, the grief in his heart was unbearable and he burst into tears. When Fu Xun saw this, his heart was filled with tears. Grief is like a river that bursts its banks and can no longer be controlled.
[Note 2: This Pei Qian was a famous minister of the Wei State. He had the same name as the Soochow Captain Pei Qian mentioned above, and was not the same person. 】
In one day, Xia Houxuan saw the Sima family's joy at the birth of a new life, the sorrow of the Fu family's death, the pure old man Pei Qian who cried bitterly in front of him, and the hypocritical and sophisticated eight-year-old Zhong Hui at the previous banquet. I don't know why, but I felt a little inexplicable sadness in my heart.
After a long time, the condolences dispersed, leaving only Fu Gu, who was still sad but had vented his emotions.
At this time, Chen Tai and Chen Xuanbo, the eldest son of Grand Sikong Chen Qun, walked into Fu Xun's mourning hall. After burning incense and worshiping, Chen Tai leaned down and patted the dust on Fu Xun's body.
Over the years, Fu Gu has become a subordinate of Sikong Chen Qun, and has often received guidance and help from Chen Qun. Chen Qun valued this serious and responsible junior very highly, and Fu Gu naturally also respected Chen Qun, a kind elder.
Fu Gu lost his father when he was young. Later, he was raised by his uncle Fu Xun, and he met Chen Qun, who appreciated and cultivated him. Therefore, in his heart, Fu Xun and Chen Qun were his fathers.
As the eldest son of Chen Qun, Chen Tai has always had a lot of contact with Fu Gu. He knows Fu Gu well and naturally regards Fu Gu as a close friend who loves him as a brother.
"Lan Shi, my father asked me to come and see you. He said that Fu Shangshu has worked hard for the country these years, and it's time for him to take a good rest. Now that the country is in trouble, it is the time when the country is employing people. Lan Shi must not take advantage of his relatives. After a long time, it destroys the body and mind..."
Hearing this, Fu Gu cried bitterly for a while before he regained his composure. He stood up, wiped the tears from his face, and bowed to the ground in front of his brother and friend Chen Tai:
"Brother Xuan Bo, don't worry, Lan Shi will definitely live up to Sikong's high expectations!"
——————
On the Jiashen Day of the first lunar month, which is the 23rd, people in the southern suburbs of Xuchang claimed to have seen a green dragon in the ancient well under Mobei. In early spring in February, Emperor Cao Rui, who was in the palace of Xuchang, personally set out to see the Qinglong in Mobei Well. No one knows whether he actually saw the Qinglong, but the emperor still decided to announce this auspiciousness to the whole world and directly changed it. A new era name was given: Qinglong.
This year is February in the early spring of the seventh year of Taihe in the Wei Dynasty, and it is also the early spring in February of the first year of Qinglong in the Wei Dynasty.
It’s another new year, and under the cold spring weather, countless creatures in the world have passed away on this spring day, and countless creatures in the world have also been born into this world. [Note 2]
[Note 3: In this year, Cao Shu, Cao Yin, Fu Xun, Cao Zhi, Sun Quan's descendant Sun Lu, and Dongwu Yufan died; Cao Fang, Sima Jun, the eminent monk Fotucheng, Shu Han Chen Shou and others were born. 】
Emperor Cao Rui was alone and meditating on the tower of Xuchang Palace.
The icy night wind blew against him, making him feel extremely cold all over.
The night was as cold as water, and the emperor couldn't help but think of the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet where he held his beloved son. Over the years, the beloved sons Cao Mu, Cao Juan, Cao Yin, Cao Shu and other children have passed away successively, making the young emperor suffer the pain of white-haired people giving black-haired people time and time again. He also thought of his uncle Chen Si Wang Cao Zhi's last wish to serve the country that he could not fulfill even before his death. Before he had time to promote and cultivate the power of the clan, the most talented person in the clan passed away suddenly.
Now, although he has only been the emperor of Wei for six years, he already feels extremely tired.
All of this made his heart become riddled with holes and tired.
Gradually, Cao Rui was in a daze and shed tears. It was already dawn. During this period, many concubines, noble concubines, and Zhaoyi came to persuade him, but they were all rejected by Cao Rui one by one. Cao Rui no longer shed tears at this time. He looked at the lights downstairs. After a while, he slowly turned around and looked back behind him.
He wanted to see if that person would come to visit him.
But he saw nothing. Cao Rui's eyes were full of disappointment at this moment.
Sure enough, she would no longer be as considerate to herself as before...
Outside the tower, Queen Mao, who had been waiting outside for most of the night, turned pale with cold, but she did not see the emperor coming down from the tower after all, even if he only came down to look at her.
The night is over and the sky is about to dawn.
Queen Mao bit her lip, sighed in disappointment, then turned and left.
In the palace, the tears on Cao Rui's face had long since dried. At this moment, in addition to a tired look on his face, he had returned to his previous unfathomable face like water.
