After chatting with Zhou Yuji and others for a moment, Chang Yu bowed his hands to everyone. Everyone, please rest first. Our family has to go inside to serve the emperor. After saying that, he left. Everyone behind him had different expressions.
Outside the Palace of Qianqing, Wang Chengen and other senior eunuchs were gathering together and talking. There were more than ten palace maids and eunuchs surrounding them. Such a big scene today made the senior eunuchs like Si Li Jian very busy, so they were always cautious. I'm afraid something will go wrong.
Seeing Chang Yu coming, everyone hurried to greet him.
"When will the banquet start?" Chang Yu asked after returning the gift.
"It's almost time. The time has not come yet. We have to wait for the queen and the concubines to tidy up."
It seems that it is the same in ancient and modern times, both at home and abroad. Women have to dress up and dress up when they go out to show their faces. It does not happen all at once, and men also have to wait for them.
All the concubines also want to attend the banquet? ...Chang Yu was a little surprised. Wang Chengen chuckled and said: "Although today is a banquet for hundreds of officials, it is also the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is not only a reunion day for ordinary people, the royal family also has to have fun."
Chang Yu nodded in agreement, thinking that it was a good thing that Emperor Chongzhen had few concubines. If it were another emperor, even the concubines would not be able to sit inside the Qianqing Sect, and the elders would have to squat outside.
How many concubines were there in Emperor Chongzhen's harem?
There are nine people, Empress Zhou, Concubine Tian, Concubine Yuan, and three concubines named Wang, Concubine Liu, Concubine Fang, and Concubine Shen.
At this time, there were only seven people left, among whom Tian Guifei and a concubine named Wang had passed away.
In the Palace of Qianqing, Emperor Chongzhen and Crown Prince Zhu Cihong were changing their attire. The father and son were sitting upright, drinking tea and whispering. They were probably teaching the prince some rules for attending the banquet later. When he saw Chang Yu pushing the door open and coming in, with a glance, Emperor Chongzhen chuckled. Said: "It's a big festival today, you should change your clothes."
Chang Yu was startled for a moment. He was dressed as usual. He was neither an official nor a slave, just casual clothes.
"I dress like this on weekdays. Whether it's a festival or not, I serve the emperor. It's convenient and comfortable to wear this." Chang Yu smiled faintly. Emperor Chongzhen shook his head with a wry smile and pointed at him: "You, you. , I really don’t know what to say about you. Sometimes you are very brave and fearless, and at other times you are very timid. You don’t fight or grab, you don’t take what you give, and you are afraid that others will gossip. You used to be unafraid of what others say.” .
Chang Yu smiled bitterly: "That's just youth and ignorance."
The reason why Emperor Chongzhen said this was because Chang Yu was too cowardly in some aspects.
The Governor of the East Factory has always been held by the second-ranking Supervisor of Ceremonies, whose rank is equivalent to that of a third-grade official.
Why is it said to be equivalent? This is because I refer to it from the Jinyiwei side. Under normal circumstances, the governor of the East Factory is filled by eunuchs, and the remaining positions are filled by people from Jinyiwei. Jinyiwei is a serious yamen. It is an official title, but Dongchang is actually only equivalent to the internal yamen, the inner yamen, which belongs to the emperor's private yamen, and according to ancestral regulations, eunuchs cannot be officials.
Therefore, it is said that he is equivalent to a third-grade official, but in fact, there is no historical data clearly recording the grade of Dongchang Governor.
Although Chang Yu is equivalent to a third-grade official, he has never worn an official uniform. Whether he is in the palace or leading troops to fight, he either wears casual clothes or battle uniforms.
It’s not that Emperor Chongzhen never thought of giving him official uniforms, but the resistance was too great, and Chang Yu repeatedly refused, so he gave him a set of Feiyu uniforms. When he said Feiyu uniforms, he immediately thought of Jin Yiwei, and everyone thought it belonged to Jin Yiwei. As standard, he carries an embroidered spring knife on his waist and wears a picture of flying fish.
In fact, it is only half true. The flying fish suit is not a flying fish, but a imaginary creature with a dragon head and a fish body. Moreover, it cannot be worn by ordinary imperial guards. Only officials of a certain rank are qualified to wear it.
Dongchang can take charge of Jin Yiwei, and Chang Yu, as the governor of Dongchang, is qualified to wear Feiyu uniform.
But this stuff has never been worn.
Although he also thinks it's handsome.
"When it comes to military achievements, all the generals in the whole dynasty combined are not even half as good as you, but what can I do to you... Hey, I really have no reward for you, and I feel guilty. It happens to be a big festival today, so I will give it to you. A python suit."
"Thank you, sir." Chang Yu hurriedly bowed and saluted, thinking, Hey, I gave you a sweet treat when I first came, but I don't know what trouble I will make later.
The python suit is more noble than the flying fish suit. "Wanli Yehuobian·Supplement" records: the python suit is like a dragon suit, similar to the royal robe of the Supreme Being, but minus one claw and ear.
No one can get the python suit easily, unless they are the emperor's cronies and give it to him. In addition to the royal guards, there are also some eunuchs who specialize in dressing up for the emperor, and they often wear python suits.
To put it bluntly, anyone who wears these clothes is a symbol of his trusted accomplices.
"Don't be in a hurry to thank me. I haven't finished my words yet." Emperor Chongzhen smiled and said, "In addition to the python suit, I will also give you a bullfighting suit. From now on, you can wear whichever one you want to save others. They said I was stingy because the dignified governor of the East Factory didn’t even have a few decent clothes.”
Chang Yu smiled bitterly and quickly thanked him again. Today, instead of giving a candy, he just stuffed a handful into his mouth. This bullfighting suit is different from the other two costumes in terms of decoration, but it is more similar to the Longgun suit often worn by the emperor. This shows the nobility of these clothes. Except for the Jin Yiwei, they are often used in the court. Only high-ranking officials of the first or second rank can get this kind of rewarded clothing.
However, if Chang Yu's illustrious military exploits were in later generations, he would have all kinds of glory and wealth, but in this year, he was rewarded with a house, a military memorial arch, and three sets of clothes...
However, people in this era are particularly concerned about the sense of honor. A set of clothes can last for several lifetimes. A memorial arch is the glory of eighteen generations of ancestors. It gives them a sense of accomplishment than being rewarded with gold and silver mountains. They care more about these.
"I didn't go with you today to offer sacrifices. Could it be because I don't have any clothes to wear?" the prince joked beside him. Chang Yu quickly said: "My lord, I have some urgent business to deal with..."
Emperor Chongzhen interrupted him: "The prince is teasing you. Although I have to be busy with official duties, today is a festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival is all about reunions. You don't have to come to worship during the day. How can we miss this reunion banquet?" What about you?" Then he asked casually: "Tell me what you have been busy with this day."
This stopped Chang Yu from asking. It couldn't be said that he was lying in the yamen all day, or that he had caught a thief? This is nothing serious business.
He blurted out: "Things are a bit messy. Let's talk to the emperor after the festival."
But it made Emperor Chongzhen curious: "Even you think it's embarrassing, so I can't wait to hear it." The prince next to him also became curious and raised his ears.
Chang Yu had no idea and said: "Gao Qiqian was arrested, but he committed suicide in fear of crime during the escort!"
Emperor Chongzhen's face darkened instantly. The prince next to him bit his lip and glanced at Chang Yu secretly. He saw that he had his hands lowered and his eyebrows expressionless.
After a while, Emperor Chongzhen snorted coldly: "Damn it, it's a good death! This guy has betrayed my trust in vain. I wish I could kill him with my own hands." After saying that, he glanced at Chang Yu: "He is fake and really a waste. He is not as good as you." If anything happens, my loyalty will not be as good as yours!"
"My lord, I'm afraid." Chang Yu quickly expressed his stance. Emperor Chongzhen then returned to his original demeanor: "You are loyal and sincere and have my trust, so what is there to be afraid of?" He paused and asked, "How did that guy die?" Hanging himself or stabbing himself? Since he knew he was committing suicide, he must still feel guilty towards me."
As soon as he heard this, Chang Yu knew that he was right to kill Gao Qi and kill quietly.
Although Emperor Chongzhen and his son hated Gao Qiqian, they still cherished their old feelings. After all, this was the closest person around them, and they had been close for decades. Gao Qiqian, like Cao Huachun, had started serving Emperor Chongzhen when he was in Prince Xin's Mansion. , and was later assigned to serve the prince, and later became "the eunuch who is best at fighting." However, when there is a war, he must be there, so both father and son have great trust in him, and they also have old feelings for him.
In this case, then... Chang Yu thought something bad in his heart: "In fact, he was poked."
Um? Emperor Chongzhen was startled.
"On the way to escort, he was ambushed by his party members. In order to rob the prison car, he took advantage of the chaos and stabbed the escort... He was later shot by random arrows and died..." Before he could finish his words, Emperor Chongzhen was furious: "I don't know how to repent. It’s a shame to die, but it’s not a pity to die!”
"Your Majesty, please calm down," Chang Yu quickly consoled him, "Now that he has surrendered to the law, there is no reason for him to get angry and harm himself again. It's strange that I am not talking about inappropriate things during the festival."
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen turned from anger to joy: "I think this is good news and very appropriate for the occasion. I should sacrifice his head to heaven today. It's very good!"
Hey, it can be said that the companion of the king is like a tiger, and the king is moody. Just a moment ago, he felt regretful and nostalgic, but in the next moment he wished to eat his flesh and drink his blood.
Emperor Chongzhen had just lost his breath a little when Wang Chengen came in and said that the time had come. The queen and several concubines were also waiting outside. Emperor Chongzhen stood up and strode out of the palace with his head held high. Prince Zhu Cihong followed him. Later, when he passed Chang Yu and winked, Chang Yu made a move to kick him... In Wang Chengen's eyes, he couldn't help but smile. The child was naughty and playful, but he was also envious.
