It is the annual Mid-Autumn Festival again. As one of the most important festivals in the second half of the year, it is reasonable and reasonable to organize it carefully. In the twenty-five years since Kaibao, except for the Lantern Festival, there has really not been much happening inside and outside the Han court. It was lively.
How to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival has long been established by the government and the public. After all, it has been decades, and there is nothing wrong with saying that it is the same. Therefore, this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival does not have any new tricks, but it is larger in scale and enhances the atmosphere. It must be more lively so that Emperor Liu can celebrate the festival happily.
Although Emperor Liu repeatedly warned him to be frugal and not to be extravagant and wasteful, as long as he wanted to do so, the one million yuan jointly allocated by the Shaofu and the treasury was still fully spent, and even there was still insufficient money.
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a grand imperial banquet was held in the Qianyuan Hall. The dignitaries of the Han Dynasty attended in costumes, all well-dressed and smiling. This was a gathering of the elite ruling class of the Han Dynasty.
Outside the palace are fireworks that are constantly exploding. The bright light is enough to illuminate the night sky of the entire Luoyang City. Inside the palace is a lively scene. The banquet with three thousand seats is extremely spectacular. The palace music is melodious. The singing, dancing and wine are especially special. intoxicating.
Emperor Liu was always the center of the banquet, still sitting on that high and highly anticipated throne. Different from those richly dressed dignitaries, Emperor Liu wore very simple clothes tonight, just a white robe with a black fur coat on the outside. He did not wear a crown, and his hair was only tied up with a simple bamboo hairpin. He looked casual. What a shame, in the aristocratic palace banquet, Emperor Liu suddenly became the most out of place person.
The space inside the Qianyuan Hall is very open, and the buildings are specially designed to have amplification effects. The voices of thousands of people gathered together, which inevitably made it a little noisy. However, Emperor Liu obviously blocked out these noises and just drank while drinking. While drinking, he observed the performance of the courtiers in the palace.
Emperor Liu, who is nearly sixty years old, has poor eyesight. He can't see clearly close up or too far away. He also looks a little hazy at other distances, just like his old eyes. Of course, today's Emperor Liu basically doesn't use his eyes to see people. He really starts to use his heart, his suspicious and jealous heart.
Across the imperial steps, the one closest to Emperor Liu was naturally the Crown Prince Liu Yang. Among the entire palace, he was the only three people with a separate seat. The other one was Prime Minister Zhao Pu. This was the special treatment given to him by Emperor Liu. .
Liu Yang did not participate in the celebrations in the palace, and seemed more reserved when changing cups and cups, as if he was independent of the lively atmosphere. Only his eyes glanced at the throne from time to time. In the whole palace, Emperor Liu seemed to be the only one he cared about.
However, observing that calm face, Emperor Liu couldn't help but think that Liu Yang was becoming more and more calm. After all, he was no longer confused. The city seemed to be deeper. As the crown prince, this was necessary and could not be easily seen through. However, at this moment, does he care about me or the seat under my butt?
I don't know whether it was because Emperor Liu's intimidation was not as good as before, but Liu Yang never seemed to notice that Emperor Liu was observing him. He moved his eyes away from Liu Yang and turned to the other side. That was the area for the concubines in the harem, with the seats of the noble and virtuous concubines at the front.
After the death of Empress Fu, these two are the two most noble women in the world today. After all, they have been accompanying Emperor Liu for nearly forty years. This kind of relationship is beyond the reach of the most beloved Concubine Zhou Yica at the moment. Than. Although Emperor Liu has made it clear that he will no longer have a queen, someone must take charge of the affairs of the harem, and this de facto "power of the queen" is divided between the noble and virtuous concubines.
In Emperor Liu's life, there were a total of five women who had important influence on him, Empress Dowager Li, Empress Fu, Concubine Geng Chen, as well as Concubine Gao Gui and Concubine Zhe Xian who are still alive.
At this time, looking at these two concubines, the old emperor couldn't help but have some complicated emotions in his heart. Power is a good medicine that can cure diseases and beautify people, regardless of men or women. This is also fully reflected in Concubine Gao.
Ever since Liu Wenhai fell ill due to Liu Wenhai's mission, Concubine Gao's health has been not good. Coupled with her age, she even felt like she was dying. However, since the queen of the talisman collapsed and she took control of the harem again, the imperial concubine has become obviously energetic, her illness has gradually improved, her energy has gradually improved, she can eat and drink, and the word "proud" has been written on her aging face again.
Obviously, Concubine Gao suffered from heart disease in the past.
How can a woman have a stronger desire for power than a man? This was the emotion Emperor Liu felt in his heart when he looked at Concubine Gao. In the past few decades, I have been suppressed for a long time. It might as well be a way to vent my feelings. I will be sixty soon. How long can I continue to struggle?
Compared with Concubine Gao, Concubine Zhexian obviously pleased Emperor Liu more. For decades, this female general and tiger girl from Fuzhou has always practiced the word "xian", adding virtuousness to virtuousness, and knowing deeply. Righteousness is the most appropriate evaluation of Concubine Zhe.
If all the women in the imperial palace are like concubines, why should they be afraid of the restlessness in the harem?
While drinking wine slowly, Emperor Liu turned his attention to Zhao Pu again. This old fox was also reserved! Pushing the glass to change the cup, the wine only touched my lips. Could it be that I was quitting drinking to maintain my health? The old guy is also sixty-five and sixty-six years old. He really needs to pay attention to the reform. The old guy still needs to control the overall situation. Nothing can happen in recent years.
When did I need to rely on a minister so much? While drinking and thinking, a thought suddenly appeared in Emperor Liu's mind, which quickly cast a haze over his mind.
Those who were singing, dancing and rejoicing there must be Liu Yun and Liu Shu. These two brothers are really the weird ones in the Tian family, and they never make people worry.
Liu Yun has been smart since he was a child, but unfortunately he is too smart. How can he be so cautious? In the early days, I felt that Liu Xi liked to hide things, but now it seems that "Ninjutsu" must be practiced the most by Liu Yun. Even now, it is difficult to see what this kid really thinks, with his carefree appearance. Under the pursuit, what kind of motive exists.
Liu Shu, this bastard, is obviously not stupid, and he even has a lot of cleverness. If it were to be ruined, it would probably be ruined by that bastard's generous character. Whether this kid can succeed or not is still a mystery. After all, he really wasn't given much chance to perform. I only remember the bastard things he did.
Although the errand in Liaodong two years ago has not changed its absurd style, there are still some shining points. This time I have sealed him to the Indochina Peninsula. Although I have made an explanation, I am afraid that he will not be able to truly understand my intentions, and I don’t know where his and Lin Yi’s future will go. So I won’t be unable to persevere and escape in embarrassment, right?
It shouldn't be the case, even if I go, there is still Liu Yang. Although Liu Yang is a bit tortuous, he still has a basic bottom line in the overall situation, otherwise I will be blind. On the other hand, his Eastern Palace ministers and the princeling bureaucrats should perhaps clean up their affairs and help him prune the branches and leaves.
Liu Shu's only son, Wenyan, seems to be a gifted child. Those eyes are lively and energetic! Maybe it can be used to support me, but I'm still too young, not yet ten years old, and I don't know how many years my body can last.
Body?
When these two words appeared in his mind, Emperor Liu froze as if his acupuncture points had been tapped, and the wine glass in his hand also froze. How much wine have you drunk? No one tried to dissuade me. Sure enough, after the Great Talisman, no one really cared about me anymore.
"Official! Official!" The nervous and worried call finally awoke Emperor Liu from his thoughts. When he looked up, he saw Yantuo looking at him with a worried face.
Facing his concerned gaze, Emperor Liu smiled and said, "You old guy is still loyal to me!"
Yantuo just saw that Emperor Liu was in a bad state and wanted to comfort him. He never expected that Emperor Liu would come up with such a sentence out of nowhere. Although his words were full of joy and recognition, Yantuo always felt a little frightened. Emperor Liu's behavior was really too abnormal. .
Emperor Liu ignored the old eunuch and took another sip of wine. He looked down at the scene in the Qianyuan Hall with drunken eyes. It was full of noise and bustling, and there were many friends and guests, but there were only a few old people who belonged to Emperor Liu. There are only three or two, so few that it seems as if the era of Emperor Liu has passed.
That must be Zhao Kuangyi, socializing again! This person still has to be on guard, his thoughts are a little sinister. Do you really think that those secret hands and feet can hide it from others? But he does have the talent, and it is more than enough to be a prime minister and engage in civilian politics.
I don’t know if Liu Yang can suppress this person in the future. To be safe, should we help Liu Yang eliminate this disaster in advance?
His eyes were hazy from drunkenness, and his head was a little dizzy. The only thing that was clear was Emperor Liu's insight into the world.
On the left side of the hall, painter Huang Quan, as always, was observing and recording. This was his duty. I almost lost my head because I painted Emperor Liu's portrait, but in the end I couldn't grasp Emperor Liu's thoughts, and the portrait I painted still beautified him a lot. Fortunately, Emperor Liu did not issue an edict to kill Huang Quan because he painted himself pretty, and his anger was just a temporary emotion.
At this time, Huang Quan had already silently sketched out the picture of this Mid-Autumn Royal Banquet in his mind. The colors were bright and vivid, but behind the feasting, singing and dancing, there was endless loneliness. At this moment, Huang Quan felt the same way about the aloof Emperor Liu.
(End of chapter)
