The snow is falling one after another and the weather is getting colder, but it cannot stop people's beaming smiling faces.
The Chinese New Year is coming, and both ordinary people and dignitaries have to buy New Year's goods and visit relatives and friends. It's a busy time.
At this time, the capital becomes more and more prosperous. There are all kinds of hawkers and shops with banners, and there is a dazzling array of things to deal with.
However, when buying new year's goods, many people are surprised to find that the market prices of various things this year are about 10% higher than in previous years.
In the capital, there were many more luxurious carriage teams than in previous years.
In front of Zhengyang Gate.
Unlike in the past, where people were allowed to come and go freely, at this moment, a team of people were under full martial law in front of Zhengyang Gate.
In front of the main entrance, there were more than a dozen officials wearing various colored robes. The north wind blew on people's faces, and the common people coming and going all wore fur hats.
But these pampered elders stood solemnly, their official robes neatly arranged, as if they were waiting for something.
At the front, two people were wearing crimson official robes, and one was wearing ordinary eunuch clothes, standing quietly. Not far away were many people watching.
The common people in the capital have seen a lot of the world.
These days, many dignitaries have come to the capital, and they have seen many welcoming scenes.
However, it is really rare for an old man in a scarlet robe to greet someone like this.
The so-called layman sees the excitement, while the expert sees the door.
The common people at most know that those wearing scarlet official robes are the most powerful figures in the court, but if other court officials are here, they will truly understand how big this battle is.
One of the two elders in crimson official robes is Yang Shan, the minister of Honglu Temple, and the other is Hu Ming, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, the young master.
As for the person wearing eunuch robes, it is none other than Shu Liang, the eunuch of Dongchang who has recently become famous in the capital!
The whistling north wind has weakened a bit, and the sun in the sky has slowly climbed to the top of people's heads, but there is still no sign of the person the bosses are waiting for.
Hu Hui raised his head and glanced at the sky, turned sideways and asked, "What time is it?"
Immediately, a junior official followed him and replied: "Uncle Zong, there are still two quarters of an hour, it will be noon."
Hearing this, Yang Shan, the minister of Honglu Temple on the side, spoke.
"Uncle Zong, we've been waiting for most of the morning. I'm afraid Prince Min won't be able to arrive in a while. I've already ordered people to prepare wine and food. How about we go and have a meal first?"
As he spoke, several clerks on the side made a growling sound in their stomachs.
They were all officials of Honglu Temple or the Ministry of Rites. They were already very busy during this period. But early this morning, Uncle Da Zong took them with him and said he would come to the city gate to greet the noble. As a result, it was almost noon. This noble not yet.
From morning to now, they have not had any water. Now when they heard Yang Shan's words, they couldn't help but look longingly at Hu Hui who could make the decision.
This eldest uncle has always been kind to his Majesty. I think he wouldn't be so unkind...
On the other side, Shu Liang was also moved and said.
"Uncle Zong, it's indeed almost noon at our house, and everyone down there is very hungry. I'm afraid it's going to be a joke to welcome the nobleman in this state. Why don't we go to eat first, and then continue to welcome you when you come back?"
Facing so many people's suggestions, Mr. Hu Hui raised his eyelids and said.
"If you want to go, just go. I can still hold on."
this……
A group of officials and petty officials suddenly became exhausted.
Da Zongbo said so, but his rejection was extremely obvious.
The seven dignitaries of his old man's family are still here to greet him. How can they dare to go to dinner? Is it possible that they are more valuable than the eldest uncle?
But that was the idea of the officials below. Shu Liang felt a hint of displeasure in his heart after being rejected directly.
After all, he is the admiral and eunuch of Dongchang, and for him to speak like this, Mr. Hu is too disrespectful.
Hu Xi seemed to be aware of this. He reached out and brushed the folds of his robe, looked at Shu Liang up and down, and said calmly.
"Speaking of which, I am very curious about something. If I remember correctly, Eunuch Shu has a python robe given by His Majesty. How come I don't see Eunuch Shu wearing it today?"
Shu Liang was slightly startled, but said nothing.
After he was promoted to the admiral of Dongchang, the emperor specially gave him a navy blue and gold-woven three-clawed python robe as a show of favor. This was known to both the government and the public.
Normally, he regarded it as a gift from the emperor, so he often wore it, but he didn't wear it every day, so it was actually a bit strange for Hu Hui to ask this.
However, Shu Liang knew that people like him would never ask a question without any reason.
As for the answer to this question, it is naturally...
"You go to greet someone on my behalf. Remember, this person is different from the ordinary clan. The etiquette must be thoughtful and respectful. In addition, this person attaches great importance to the ancestral system and may not have a good attitude towards the eunuchs. Remember, don't have any A place of transcendence.”
This is what the emperor specially told him before leaving the palace today.
It was precisely because of these words that Shu Liang came here wearing the plain robe of an ordinary chamberlain.
As soon as he thought of this, any trace of dissatisfaction in Shu Liang's mind immediately disappeared.
The emperor did not tell him who he was waiting for. He only knew that it was a prince, but he did not know who he was.
However, after taking another look at the welcoming formation, Shu Liang felt very energetic.
This time the clan's visit to Beijing was jointly planned and arranged by the Ministry of Rites and Honglu Temple, but there was also a division of labor between the two.
Specifically, the Ministry of Rites is mainly responsible for formulating plans, and Honglu Temple is responsible for executing, running errands, and doing chores.
These days, there are also princes coming to Beijing, but without exception, Honglu Temple is responsible for welcoming them.
For ordinary auxiliary generals, Honglu Temple would send a small official to greet him.
Only when one reaches the level of a county king, a formal ceremony will be prepared. Generally speaking, the young minister of Honglu Temple will come out to welcome him.
When the prince arrives in Beijing, he is usually greeted personally by Yang Shan, the minister of Honglu Temple.
For a battle like this, Hu Hu, the eldest uncle of the labor force, personally took action and waited all morning.
Shu Liang let out a breath and had some vague guesses about the identity of the visitor.
The emperor did not tell him who he was, only that he was a prince.
But I am afraid that the only one who can ask Hu Hui to come out to greet him personally...
A group of people slowly appeared in the distance.
A team of about three hundred people slowly came in from a distance. They were dusty but couldn't conceal their dignity.
In the center is a huge carriage, all luxurious and decorated with gold and jade.
Followed by several large cars, containing more than a dozen large boxes, they should be daily items carried by nobles.
The team moved forward slowly, and anyone approaching within two hundred steps would be immediately driven away by the escort.
This is a royal guard of honor.
There are a hundred people in the guard at the front, and there are about a hundred people in the rear guard.
At the front of the team, a royal flag with the character "Min" was held high, fiercely facing the wind.
Following the carriage, there were also hundreds of servants and maids, but except for the groom driving the car, no one was riding in the carriage.
Even though the dozen or so large trucks were filled with boxes, there was still a lot of room left.
Seeing this scene, Shu Liang took a deep breath.
As expected, among the clans in various places, this is the only one who dares to show off like this.
King Min!
The eighteenth son of Emperor Taizu, the great-uncle of His Majesty, and the only surviving descendant of Taizu among the existing clan!
