An Jun entered the Jinluan Palace.
The Minister of Rites did not return either.
Qi Huai was sitting at Qi's house, tossing and turning, and simply squatted at the entrance of the imperial city to wait.
Xu Mo did his part to accompany him, and didn't even take a bite of the dumplings at home.
Second, enter the small courtyard.
Jiang Sheng held the dumplings and always felt uncomfortable, "This year is the first day of the Lunar New Year. Why does the emperor have to work? My brothers are not here, and even the meat dumplings are not tasty anymore."
Chang Yan put down the bowl and glanced in the direction of the imperial city.
According to the laws of the Dayu Dynasty, the emperor could take seven days off during the Chinese New Year, four days before and three days after the new year. It was only on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year that he had to go to court early to process memorials.
But who allowed the eldest brother and Qi Huai to take advantage of the years ago to expose the matter of fraud in the imperial examination? With his diligence, he would definitely not worry about it until the fourth day of the new year.
It's a pity that the eldest brother worked so hard to roll out so many dumpling wrappers, but in the end he couldn't even eat a bite.
"Or, we can send some to big brother." Wen Zhiyun suggested hesitantly.
Jiang Sheng and Chang Yan both looked over.
Send the dumplings to the gate of the imperial city?
This sudden suggestion made Jiang Sheng open his mouth, and Chang Yan's expression suddenly changed.
I am willing to enter Fengjing for the sake of my eldest brother's imperial examination.
I am willing to stay in Fengjing to accompany my brother and sister.
But getting close to the imperial city is absolutely impossible, absolutely not possible.
"I...I won't go." Chang Yan struggled to squeeze out three words from his mouth.
Wen Zhiyun, who was hesitating, and Jiang Sheng, who was shocked, turned to look over at the same time, with confusion in their four big eyes.
"Xiaowu, don't you like this proposal?" Wen Zhiyun asked timidly.
He is the most timid boy in the family. Even after becoming a doctor, he is still gentle and shy in front of his family. Even when he makes suggestions, he is small and gentle, for fear of being rejected.
Chang Yan's lips moved, and he vaguely seemed to see the red circles in his fourth brother's eyes, so he quickly swallowed his words.
"Fifth brother is probably afraid that the meat dumplings will get cold, and the eldest brother will run away after eating." Jiang Sheng scratched his head, "There is no place to show respect at the entrance to the imperial city."
This one really doesn't exist.
Seeing the fourth brother being led astray by the younger sister, Chang Yan was in a state of laughter and laughter as they discussed the matter.
That’s all, it’s just an imperial city.
From the age of eight to twelve, four full years had already transformed him beyond recognition. Even if his former relatives looked carefully, they might not be able to recognize him.
Then what does he have to fear?
This trip to the imperial city gate, a long banquet, was just to accompany my brother and sister.
It happened that Aunt Zhang brought another large bowl of dumplings that had just come out of the pot. Jiang Sheng covered them with a shallower plate, wrapped them in a clean coat, and finally took two pairs of chopsticks and drove to the entrance of the imperial city.
As an imperial city, its terrain must be one of the best in Fengjing. Not only is it located in the center of the city, it also occupies an extremely wide area. The west gate alone is larger than their second courtyard.
Jiang Sheng held the dumplings in his arms and looked at them intently, his mouth watering.
Chang Yan chuckled, wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, and warned, "Be careful if you drop it into the bowl, let me eat your saliva dumplings."
Jiang Sheng came back to his senses, glanced at the solid cotton-padded jacket, and glared at Chang Yan, "Fifth brother, bad guy, why am I drooling? I just...I was just thinking that such an imperial city is so big, if it is an ordinary house I don’t know how many beggars there are to live in.”
Even if there is no food, drink, or charcoal fire and bedding, as long as there is a place to shelter from the wind and rain, the beggars can still survive in the winter.
But after all, big houses are for noble people to live in, even if they are not satisfied, even if they are vacant.
Even if there are innocent souls inside, they are no less than those of beggars who freeze to death.
Chang Yan lowered his head and slowly raised the corners of his mouth, as if smiling, and it was a little bit penetrating.
Jiang Sheng was still looking outside dreamily, unaware.
Wen Zhiyun saw this and felt strange in his heart. At the same time, he vaguely felt that he had made the wrong proposal, let alone asked when Xiao Wu refused, so that Xiao Wu changed his original decision.
But now that I have come, I cannot turn back.
He could only move over, patted Chang Yan on the shoulder reassuringly, then stepped forward and whispered, "Don't be afraid, Xiao Wu, fourth brother is here."
Although he is weak, he is timid, he is always timid.
But he also wants to protect his younger siblings.
Chang Yan felt something in his heart, leaned gently on his brother's thin shoulder, and said "hmm" through his nose.
Wen Zhiyun smiled happily.
Soon the carriage was stopped.
Xu Mo and Qi Huai were standing in front of the Qi family's carriage, looking solemnly at the gate of the imperial city.
When they noticed that someone else was coming, they turned around at the same time and saw Jiang San and Jiang Si driving the car.
"The eldest son, Mr. Qi."
After Jiang San and Jiang Si said hello, one got out of the car and tied the horse, the other opened the curtain and held the little girl steadily while she jumped out of the car in excitement.
As soon as his feet were on the ground, Jiang Sheng rushed to Xu Mo and held out the bowl and plate in his arms like a treasure, "Brother, here are the dumplings for you."
Xu Mo took it and found that it was still warm.
He took out a pair of chopsticks and handed them to Qi Huai, "You always have to eat dumplings during the Spring Festival. Don't worry about etiquette. Just try them."
After saying that, he picked up a piece and stuffed it into his mouth. The rich aroma of meat filled his mouth.
"Does it smell good, brother?" Jiang Sheng asked, raising his head.
Xu Mo swallowed it and said with a smile, "It smells good, it smells really good."
The aroma of the dumplings is second, and the most important thing is the company of family members, which makes people feel at ease and comfortable. Even in the cold and windy January, they can stand upright and fearlessly.
Qi Huai Zhanguang ate half of the bowl, and when he put down his chopsticks, he was still not satisfied, "Brother Xu, could it be that he was blessed in his previous life?"
"How do you say this?" Xu Mo was surprised.
Qi Huai's eyes couldn't stop the envy, "It's because of the blessings I gained in my previous life that I can meet such a younger brother and sister."
Xu Mo was stunned for a moment, then quickly smiled and looked back at the three little people behind him.
The dumplings have been eaten, but the brothers and sisters still haven't left, making it clear that they want to wait here with him.
This is how family members advance and retreat together, share joy and sorrow together.
"It is indeed a blessing obtained in the previous life." Xu Mo raised the corner of his mouth and murmured softly.
It was just that the wind in January was really cold, so he was ready to persuade his younger brothers and sisters to get into the carriage and wait, at least not to get sick from typhoid fever.
But before he could turn around, the west gate of the imperial city opened.
Countless people walked out.
There are the Prime Minister of the current dynasty, the Minister of Rites, the Fang family, the Jiang family, the Zhu family, the Tao family, and other Fengjing family members. They are wearing official uniforms of first, second, and third grades, wearing black gauze hats with two wings on their heads, or with solemn expressions. Or chat in twos and threes.
Xu Mo frowned. He didn't see An Jun inside.
Chang Yan also frowned. He saw many familiar but unfamiliar people.
The twelve-year-old boy turned around and tried to hide in the carriage.
But Qi Huai saw the Minister of Rites, his eyes were bright and he shouted, "Father."
Most of the officials in Jinluan Palace turned their heads.
The Minister of Rites looked solemn, but with a faint smile in his eyes, he scolded, "Why are you here, why don't you go home quickly to celebrate the New Year?"
Qi Huai bowed and saluted, "I am here to take my father home."
The most important thing is that the father is kind and the son is filial.
Xu Mo suddenly felt that he also envied Qi Huai.
He bowed and saluted, and when he saw the Minister of Etiquette, he was ready to retreat.
Suddenly, an angry roar came from my ears.
"Xu boy, what did I tell you back then? How did you agree to this?"
