A cold wind blew, blowing down fine snow.
Zhao Fei blinked and shook off the snowflakes on her eyelashes. Seeing that her father didn't even give her a chance to act coquettishly, she felt very depressed.
"Your Highness Zhou Guo, please move to Renming Palace..." the eunuch urged softly.
Knowing that this person was sent by her father to supervise her, although Zhao Fei was irritable, she did not lose her temper. Over the past six months, her personality has become much more easy-going.
I had no choice but to pretend to be depressed, and was "guarded" by a group of maids and maids, and walked slowly to Renming Hall.
When she arrived, she discovered that Zhao Mengqi and others were already here, talking and laughing with Queen Xie.
"Shiro, I don't have to travel. Wouldn't it be a waste if you gave me a carriage? And it's done so elegantly and elegantly, I'm afraid it's expensive."
Zhao Mengqi looked like a good boy, with a smile on his face, "How can it be said that it is a waste for a son to be filial to the eldest lady? Besides, my son thinks that the eldest lady should not stay in the palace all the time, but occasionally go out for a walk and look at the market. Walking around the garden is good for your physical and mental health. You and your father are happy, healthy, and happy. This is the greatest wish of us children."
While talking about family matters, they all tacitly agreed not to mention Xie Tang, as if this never happened.
The final treatment of Xie Tang was decided by Zhao Guan's family. He was stripped of his official status and ordered to stay at home and reflect on his mistakes. It was not too harsh, and Zhao Mengqi did not intend to kill everyone. It was considered to be lenient.
"You are such a kind-hearted and reasonable child. It's gratifying to see you grow up so much." Queen Xie's eyebrows were filled with joy and she made a double entendre. "Right now, I don't worry about anyone else. You are the only ones I still care about." Regarding the marriage between brother and sister, you can tell yourself what kind of lady you like. I will search hard to find out what kind of lady you like, and I will always make you happy and satisfied...Finiang is here too, just in time, let's talk about it together."
Zhao Fei walked over, pursed her lips and said reluctantly, "I'm still young, so I don't want to get married so early..."
"Oh... come here and let me take a look, tsk tsk... I haven't seen anyone for more than half a year, and my appearance has become more and more beautiful, radiant, and my body has become a lot stronger, but I am still young? Your father has explained it carefully, I must A good talent will be paired with you, and I will never wrong you in the slightest, so why are you so reluctant?"
As Queen Xie said this, she pressed Zhao Fei onto the embroidered pier beside her.
"If you don't want to, you just don't want to... Nowadays, even the daughters of ordinary officials' families usually don't discuss marriage until they are eighteen or twenty years old. Why should they be in such a hurry?... Fourth brother, do you think this is true?"
Seeing that Queen Xie seemed disapproving of his reasons, Zhao Fei quickly asked her brother for help.
Zhao Mengqi spread his hands and said in his eyes, I can't even protect myself, how can I help you?
Please, please.
Zhao Fei looked pitiful, her eyes full of prayer.
Zhao Mengqi stopped teasing her, rubbed his nose and said, "Madam, as for my marriage, you have to take a look at it. Don't be too hasty. A good marriage is destined by God. It may not be beautiful if you force it. If it is really suitable, Yeah, it doesn’t matter if it’s earlier or later…”
He didn't refuse outright, but followed Lao Zhao's style and adopted the procrastination technique. If others want to choose a wife for him, then let them choose slowly. When the person is selected, he will just ignore any faults. Anyway, no one can force him to have sex.
As for Lao Zhao, they had a vague exchange on the carriage just now. Since this matter involves the political situation, they can just follow his son's own wishes, as long as they don't cause him any trouble.
"As for Madam Fen, I think it's best not to go so early. You see, she is only fifteen after the Chinese New Year. Her body is already fragile. If she marries and has a child too early, something big might happen. I have asked the doctor. , there are many women who have difficult labor and miscarriage, just because their bodies are not fully grown...Our royal daughter has no worries about getting married, but it will be a few years later, and it will not be too late to talk about marriage after the mother's essence is strengthened. "
"That's right, fourth brother is right." Zhao Wei nodded frantically like a chicken pecking at rice.
Empress Xie couldn't laugh or cry, "Silang, you are also eloquent. According to what you said, hoping that you will get married soon is actually harming you?"
"How can you say that? Parents must have their own considerations. It's not a bad thing if my son just gives some suggestions and thinks more carefully."
Zhao
Meng Qipei smiled, it seemed like his instinct to "talk to people and talk to ghosts".
Queen Xie believed in Buddhism and worshiped Buddha, and her temperament was actually very Buddhist, so she said noncommittally, "Your father has left this matter to me. I can't do nothing. Besides, Mrs. Cixian has helped me several times." By the way, Concubine Qian also came to the palace many times..."
When she said this, she glanced at Qian Duo standing behind Zhao Mengqi intentionally or unintentionally. Qian Duo's face felt hot for no reason, and he lowered his head in shame.
Queen Xie kept talking, "There are many nobles and nobles who have entrusted people to deliver messages to me. How do you want me to shirk them?"
In order to protect the imperial power, the Song Dynasty learned many lessons from the previous dynasties and established a very strict political system. It was very strict in restricting the concubines. Just talking about the selection of the concubine, it required "the first is the family name, the second is the female virtue, and the third is Long." "Etiquette, the fourth is called discussion." Chinese website
The most important family name among them means choosing a famous family, which emphasizes Confucian rules and etiquette.
There were also queens who came from common people, such as Liu E, Emperor Gaozong's Empress Wu, and Emperor Xiaozong's Empress Xia, but they were not the first wives, so they were exceptions. After all, there were no absolutes in the world, so Zhao Yun became the emperor by accident.
Nowadays, Zhao Mengqi's status cannot be said to be certain, but it is almost certain. Regarding the candidate for his wife, he naturally has strict requirements and is widely concerned.
Zhao Mengqi has made up his mind, but he is currently unwilling to expend energy on this, so he does not intend to express his position. He will only wait until he can fully control the overall situation, and then he will make a final decision.
So they asked, "Why is Mrs. Cixian so interested in my marriage?"
Mrs. Cixian is the biological mother of Zhao Yun and Prince Rong, and the biological grandmother of Zhao Mengqi, the Quan family.
Queen Xie explained, "Madam said she has a great-niece named Quan Jiu who will be fourteen next year. She has been smart and beautiful since she was a child. She is also well-educated. She is extremely filial and kind, and is virtuous and virtuous. She is a perfect match for you. Your father also thinks that she has a great-niece. Yes, but I haven’t seen anyone yet, so I can’t make any conclusions.”
When Qian Duo heard this, his face turned pale and he clenched his fists tightly.
Quanjiu?
Could it be that she was the queen in history?
Zhao Mengqi felt a little dazed in his heart, but he soon woke up and said with a frown, "You're only thirteen, just a little older than Jian Niang. This can't be done... We have to wait for at least three to five years."
He had changed his mind and felt that using Quanjiu as a shield would be a good delaying strategy.
It's just that Qian Duo didn't understand his thoughts and thought that he had agreed to this candidate, so he couldn't help but feel more and more sad. If he hadn't been so arrogant, he might have shed tears.
Queen Xie added, "Her father is now an official on Jinghu North Road, and she will be with him. How about calling her back to Lin'an, and you can meet him first?"
"How can we let a little lady run all this far by herself? Don't be in a hurry. We'll talk about it in a few years." Zhao Mengqi pushed his hands.
If they really want to be recalled, they will definitely make arrangements. There will be no situation of running alone, but it is just an excuse.
Queen Xie nodded, "Okay, since you insist that women should not marry and have children too early, then let it go and see if there is a better candidate."
Faintly, Queen Xie was also leaning more towards Quan Jiu. I don't know if it was because of Mrs. Cixian and Zhao Guan's family, or something else.
Then she said, "As for Fen Niang... I also respect your opinion, but even if you are not in a hurry to get married, there is no need to delay looking at your options now. The final decision will still depend on your father's wishes, understand. Yet?"
Immediately, Zhao Mengqi gave Zhao Fei a look, "My brother can only help you so much, but my father can't help you..."
Zhao Hui twisted her handkerchief and looked sad.
After sitting for a while and chatting some more, Zhao Mengqi left. Zhao Fei wanted to follow him out of the palace, but was stopped by Queen Xie.
After returning to the carriage, Zhao Mengqi noticed something strange about Qian Duo, "Why are you so depressed all of a sudden!?"
He didn't know that Qian Duo had already finished the whole story about Zhao, a scumbag who started out in chaos and finally gave up. He loved the new and disliked the old, and had a love affair with someone else. He was sulking at this moment.
"I want you to take care of it!?"
Zhao Mengqi didn't think much about it, "Oh... you must be homesick, right? After leaving the palace, you and Xiaopang can go home. I'll treat it as a holiday for you and have a good New Year."
But hearing Qian Duo's ears was different.
OK! You can't wait to drive me away?
Hum, just leave, no one wants to stay!
"Stop the car, I'll change cars now."
Perhaps he was used to Qian Duo's outbursts of temper from time to time, so Zhao Mengqi didn't take it seriously and simply asked her to change cars.
Not long after they left the palace, the Qian brothers and sisters left the convoy in carriage No. 7 and headed for the Qian Mansion under the escort of a small team of Ban Zhi.
Brother and sister Zhao Mengqi and Zhao Jian left Lin'an City and returned to Prince Yan's Mansion after a long absence.
Zhao Mengqi felt a little confused when he saw busy figures everywhere inside and outside the palace, cleaning and decorating with lights and decorations, creating a joyful atmosphere.
"I'm just coming home from a long trip, so there's no need to be so grand..."
Huang Gou explained with a smile, "Alang, today is the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, and you happen to be going home, so I simply arranged to celebrate the New Year today and have a double happiness."
The Xiaonian Festival is the traditional day of worshiping stoves of the Han people. The specific day it is celebrated may not be the same in different places. In the Central Plains, it is mostly on the 23rd, and in the south, it is usually on the 24th.
After the Song Dynasty moved to the south, they gradually followed the local customs, and more and more people celebrated the Spring Festival on the 24th, but it is not impossible to celebrate the 23rd.
After listening to Huang Gou's words, Zhao Mengqi slapped his forehead and said, "Hey, luckily you reminded me, otherwise I would have almost forgotten something and asked someone to call Xue Jin, Zhao Heyun, Fang Lu, Mo Chunfeng, and Lu Derun. I have something to arrange. "
Early the next morning, every household in Lin'an City was preparing to celebrate the festival. Suddenly, there were many Eastern Guard soldiers on the street. They wore military uniforms that were different from other Forbidden Army soldiers. They were driving bullock carts or handcarts in the Military Patrol Courtyard. Accompanied by soldiers, they walked through the streets and entered the houses, and visited the houses from house to house.
Zhao Mengqi knocked on the door of a shabby-looking house. When the host was still full of shock, his round face was filled with a smile, "Excuse me, today is a small year. On behalf of the official family and His Royal Highness, Prince Yan, I would like to wish you a happy New Year. I wish you and your family all the best and good luck, and I would like to send you a small gift to express my New Year greetings."
Immediately, the soldiers behind him moved a bamboo basket from the bullock cart and placed it in front of the still confused owner.
"Here are a bushel of rice, ten pieces of briquettes, two kilograms of cured fish, two ounces of refined salt, two feet of red silk, two kilograms of sugar cane wine, a box of Dingsheng cakes, one hundred Wen Royal Bank vouchers, and a pair of Spring Festival couplets."
"The briquettes can be burned like charcoal, and the exchange coupons can be used as party notes. If someone doesn't accept them for a while, don't worry. They will be used to pay taxes. The government will definitely accept them. As for the Spring Festival couplets, just stick them on the door like peach charms."
"We have to go to the next one, so we won't stop here. I wish you a good New Year."
After speaking with a crackle, the host was left looking at a basket of gifts in a daze, thinking that he had not woken up and was still dreaming, "The official and His Highness wish me New Year's greetings?"
Some people think that there was no coal in the Song Dynasty, and they don’t know what they think. Why can’t coal be mined if copper or iron mines can be mined? In the Song Dynasty, even oil was exploited.
Although it is difficult to determine when coal was first discovered, the use of coal was already very common in the Song Dynasty.
In the early years of the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhuang Chuo recorded in "Chicken Ribs", "In the past, there were millions of households in Biandu, all relying on coal, and not one of them burned firewood."
It is also written that at the beginning of the southern crossing, Emperor Gaozong "stationed in Wu and Yue, and the mountains and forests were not wide enough to provide woodcutters." People at that time "thought about the benefits of charcoal but could not get it."
In fact, a large number of coal mines had been discovered in Jiangxi at that time, and Huainan had records of mining and use in the Northern Song Dynasty.
The vegetation in the south is relatively lush, and it is easier to obtain vegetation and reeds. Coal is used less often in normal seasons, but in winter, briquettes and briquettes are also used as fuel, which is called "charcoal fuel." It is not only used in Lin'an, but also in the Suhu area. As the proverb goes, "Nine-nine or eighty-one, every family is burning charcoal."
Even if coking coal was not available at this time, it was just not widely used. Later archeology discovered an iron-making site around 1270, which used coking coal to make iron.
As for sugarcane wine, it is brewed from sugarcane bagasse after pressing the sugar juice. After two distillations, the alcohol
The temperature is still only a dozen degrees, and the taste is not very good, but it is still a good use. The final residue can also be used for papermaking. It is still in the experimental stage and will serve as a technical reserve for the future development of the sugar industry.
As for Spring Festival couplets, there was no such name at this time. In the past, wooden peach charms were used. At this time, some people also used paper instead. It would not become a unified custom until the Ming Dynasty.
Zhao Mengqizheng asked people to improve the printing technology and printed some Spring Festival couplets to give to the people, which was regarded as promoting this custom in advance.
Sending exchange coupons also has a certain purpose, which can speed up Lin'an people's awareness of the Royal Bank and lay a foundation for currency reform.
Of course, it would definitely cost a lot to pay New Year's greetings to all the people in Lin'an, but Zhao Mengqi was not afraid of being said to be a prodigal.
Lin'an Prefecture has a population of nearly two million. There are about 180,000 households living in Lin'an City alone, with a population of almost 430,000. In addition, there are dozens of towns and cities to the north and south outside the city, some of which are even comparable to some A small prefecture-level city.
Therefore, Zhao Mengqi spent about 400,000 to 500,000 guan this time. Materials were distributed in the city, and outside the city, they could only give money directly, 500 guan to each household. In addition, people in the army gave a little more.
This was not a last-minute idea on his part. He had already made preparations more than a month ago.
