Imperial City

Everyone in the palace has to watch the New Year tonight, so even if everyone is very tired, they still have to support their companions.

The emperor sat and rested for a while, then got up and went to the table to practice calligraphy with a pen.

Although it is getting late, the emperor still needs to change into auspicious clothes and go to worship the ancestors after the time of zi, which has shown his determination to work diligently and govern the country in the coming year.

Tomorrow morning, I have to go to the Chanfu Temple in Beihai to offer sacrifices, go to the Great Buddha Tower to collect blessings, and then write in Chonghua Palace. The first blessing of the new year should not be careless.

The emperor concentrated on writing for a while, then Wang Fugui led two servants in and quietly came in to report the matter.

The three beat each other, "My lord, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has packed up the blessing you wrote a few days ago, and sent someone from the other side of the white room to deliver the things."

Anxi was not there at that time, and Wei Qidai took over the things on his behalf, and only then did he have time to report to the top.

The servant behind Wang Fugui was holding a long red sandalwood box with the inscription "Fu" in his hand. Wang Fugui gently unscrewed the copper lock, took out the dark yellow silk cloth inside, and shook it out.

The majestic and imposing vermilion "Fu" written in running script hangs in the center. It is thick and powerful, and the pen is like a snake, which can give a glimpse of the profound skills of the Holy One.

This was written by the emperor himself a few days ago, so it goes without saying how precious it is.

"Well, send it according to the rules of previous years." The emperor paused with the tip of his pen and stopped. "Send one to Yan Zhengji."

"Whoo."

The emperor said: "Now this is a reward for peace."

Anxi smiled, and walked from the back to the front of the Huanghuali case, "I thank the master for his great kindness. I wish the master a happy new year and good luck. I hope the weather in Dachu will be smooth and the country will be peaceful and the people will be safe."

"En." The emperor nodded, "You old man should take good care of the Qing Palace for me during the New Year, so don't slack off." There was rarely a hint of joke in the words.

His eyes glanced at Wei Qi, and he thought to himself: This is the first person who should be disciplined from now on.

An Xi responded respectfully: "Hey, my servant obeys."

Not long after, the sound of bells and drums came from the Forbidden City. It was the Yongle bell that was ringing.

It's midnight, New Year's Day (11:[-] p.m.).

Fireworks and firecrackers blared throughout the palace, and Anxi led the Qianqing Palace up and down to ask the emperor for a happy new year.

All the people said in unison: "Slaves congratulate the sage on the new year, and wish my emperor a happy new year."

The horseshoe sleeves snapped, and the Wanfu ceremony was tactfully extended from the inside of the hall to the outside of the hall. More than a hundred people from Haohao Tangtang almost overwhelmed the bell.

The emperor said in a deep voice, "Get up."

Send someone to give a blessing bag, painted with red gold, embroidered blessings in the middle, painted peonies all around, all of the same size and weight, inside are gold ruyi, jade ruyi and other things, there is no distinction between grades.

Everyone happily took it, and it was rare to reveal obvious emotions in front of the imperial court.

This is the fourth year, and it is the same in previous years. The emperor once said that since it is a new year, everyone's blessings should be the same, and there should be no distinction between high and low.

So every year at this time, except for An Xi who can get an extra blessing from the imperial pen, the rest of the servants are all big blessings, but no one feels dissatisfied, only feels that the emperor's grace is mighty.

It has to be said that today's son is still quite capable in terms of Yuxia.

Just this year.

The emperor looked at Wei Qi who was kneeling with his head down, and saw that he was holding a lucky bag in both hands with a smile on his mouth. The red silk lining made his cheeks whiter, and his fingertips were transparent, with a crimson soft light.

Although this servant was a bit ignorant, he was still much more well-behaved at the end of the year.

"How many characters are there?" He asked Wang Fugui.

The latter was stunned, Sheng Shang would write a few more pieces for preparation every year, naturally there were many, but he didn't know who to reward.

"Returning to the Holy Master, there are two more."

"Since there are many, I will give it to you." The emperor said: "You are a disciple of Anxi, and your temperament has always been stable. You should be rewarded."

Wang Fugui was so grateful, he didn't expect that he would get this honor one day, he kowtowed repeatedly, couldn't help but be overjoyed.

Anxi thanked him with him, expressing gratitude to the mighty grace.

The emperor said again: "There is one left." His eyes glanced down.

Everyone is worried and wants to be rewarded.

"Wei Qi."

The people who still had a little thought just now said to themselves: Come on, you'll know it's him.

Without any doubt, Wang Fugui, if there was only one picture left by himself, who would the Holy One reward?

Anxi felt that she was really old and could no longer stand out.

Wei Qi's body froze, it was unexpected, he took a few steps forward on his knees, bowed three times and kowtowed nine times respectfully, folded his hands, and put his head on the back of his hands.

"Slave Wei Qi, thank the sage for his great kindness, I hope my emperor's new year will be smooth, always happy, and enjoy the congratulations of thousands of people forever." Such words as Guotai Min'an are beyond his ability to say.

"Yeah." It's better to be sweeter.

The emperor pursed his lips lightly, and suddenly remembered the scene when this servant was wrapped up and carried into the Xinuang Pavilion for the first time more than half a year ago. If he hadn't broken the blue and white porcelain vase beside the bed that night, he would really have thought he was If you want to refuse, you will welcome.

How did the days go by so quickly.

He put down his pen, brought tea to drink, and enjoined: "In the New Year, be obedient and be on errands."

It seems to be the same as the first few sentences, and they all mean to do a good job, but if you taste it carefully, it still reveals a bit of intimacy that emperors rarely have.

"Hey, the servant obeys." Wei Qi replied in a deep voice, speaking clearly every word, as if he really listened.

The emperor said: "Go to Shoukang Palace."

"Whoo."

"Let's drive - Shoukang Palace!"

The imperial driver got up again, and the inside and outside of Qianqing Palace were decorated with lanterns and festoons. The red lanterns hanging in the corridor illuminated the night as bright as day.

When the guards outside the gate saw the emperor coming out, they all knelt down and saluted in unison, congratulating Sheng on the New Year's Eve.

The servants of Qianqing Palace rewarded all the way in the back, and it was very lively for a while.

In the Shoukang Palace, the queen is sitting beside the arhat couch, accompanying the ancestors to copy scriptures and chant Buddha.

When the emperor arrives, grandparents and grandchildren, the husband and wife each say peace.

Let's go to the ancestral hall to the west of Shoukang Palace to worship the ancestors. There are already several princes kneeling outside the ancestral hall.

Wei Qi followed at the end, and suddenly felt that the old ancestor seemed to be looking at him, but he didn't know if it was an illusion.

It was a long time of busy work, the emperor offered incense, and said in a deep voice that one must always be diligent during the New Year, not daring to slack off would violate the Xiao family ancestor's precept.

It will be Yinshi on the first day of the Lunar New Year when we return to Qianqing Palace. (three o'clock in the morning)

At this moment, there are steaming vegetarian pastries in the palace, implying that the coming year will be quiet and smooth.

The emperor changed his clothes and changed into ordinary clothes. After a few mouthfuls, he gave a big gift to the palace people.

New Year's Eve.

At Maoshi (five o'clock) on the second day, the emperor got up.

Anxi led the people into the Xinuang Pavilion, and after inviting An, he suddenly presented a small square dark red lacquered wooden box.

"Your Majesty, please don't dislike the servant's little care."

"Yeah." The emperor took it, opened it, took a look, and said, "I'll use it tomorrow."

"Hey." An Xi laughed happily.

Among so many slaves, he is the only one who is qualified to send back his own kindness to the Holy Majesty every year.

"My blessings are not given in vain." The emperor cleared his throat, and said again: "Chu people are the most courteous, and reciprocating gifts are the most important thing between people who come and go."

"Returning to what His Majesty said, His Majesty is very true."

Both Wang Fugui and Wei Qi's heart skipped a beat.

Wang Fugui thought to himself: The blessing was not given in vain, Master An did not give it in vain when he returned the gift, then yesterday he himself also got the word of blessing, but...but I didn't expect this to happen beforehand, how can I have the will to repay the saint now? kindness.

Wei Qi is still a little younger after all, he thought: His Majesty's words should only be a joke with Mr. An, not for himself, so don't think too much about it.The Holy Majesty is the emperor, he can get what he wants, so how can he care so much about these two slaves.

Although Anxi felt that the last words of the Holy Majesty were a bit strange, she never expected that he would be so rare in return from a servant.

The emperor felt that it was in place, so it would be stupid if he didn't understand it so obviously.

I rewarded so many things by myself, but that slave didn't pay any attention to his intentions, how can there be such a reason.

He got up and went out, "Set the meal."

"Whoo."

After the emperor had breakfast, he led the people to Chanfu Temple to pray for blessings and start writing, leaving Wei Qi and a few personal eunuchs with less seniority to stay in the palace.

Before leaving, the emperor left a sentence, "The Hall of Mental Cultivation is fine now, there is no need to move any more."

Wei Qi responded, thinking secretly, the Holy Majesty must have felt that he was well groomed, so he didn't add any more things, and rewarded me with blessings when he was a son yesterday.

After the emperor left, everyone packed up the gold and silver utensils left by breakfast, and after a while, someone outside suddenly called out: "Xue Luo!"

Wei Qi pushed open the window and looked outside, as expected, white snowflakes were falling from the sky one after another, accompanied by the cold wind blowing into the palace, chilling his face.

He closed the two carved windows, fearing that Hongmei would be damaged by freezing.

After a while, the snow fell heavily. It was just a thumb-sized snowflake, but now it has become a goose feather snow.

I don't know if it's convenient for Mr. An and the others, they don't fall sooner or later, but they are born today.

Several personal servants in front of the emperor gathered together to discuss, saying that they should prepare the charcoal basin, hot water, ginger tea and other things earlier, and the earth dragon must also keep an eye on it, as well as the clothes of the holy majesty must be prepared first, for fear of snow outside Big, soaking the Holy Majesty's fox-fur cloak.

But what was strange was that they all stopped to look at Wei Qi after saying a few words, Wei Qi felt strange and looked at me for everything.

"what's wrong"

"You guys feel that this matter should be decided by you, Master Wei."

After all, their identities are different, and they got lucky yesterday.

Wei Qi sighed silently, knowing that he was the youngest and the least experienced.

But he also understands everyone's concerns, knowing that everyone doesn't want to offend him.

Therefore, I agreed, "I have the shortest time to accompany you in Qianqing Palace. In terms of experience and qualifications, I can't compare with everyone present here. I hope all seniors can make some small suggestions."

Everyone naturally said that he was polite, and flattered him again.

Wei Qi had no choice but to give orders one by one.

After the matter was explained, he looked around to see if there was anything missing.

Walking to the West Nuan Pavilion, I suddenly saw a black fox fur cloak hanging on three golden silk and wooden screens.

There is always something wrong in my heart.

Cloak!The Holy One is not gone!

Ouch!How could it fall.

Wei Qi turned pale with fright, now it's cold and windy outside, and the snow is falling heavily, if the Holy Majesty is only wearing auspicious clothes, even in the sedan chair, it is inevitable that he will suffer from the cold sometimes.

In case of a cold, the New Year's Eve would have to ask the imperial doctor to make a fuss, and it would definitely alarm the ancestors, and the trouble would be big.

Wei Qi took off his cloak and went looking for someone.

Several personal servants were also at a loss, and someone said: "It's because the Holy Majesty doesn't want to wear a cloak. He should feel that he is wearing a cloak outside to block the auspicious clothes. It is not solemn enough to go to the temple to pray. Besides, it has not snowed yet, and the wind is not blowing." Great, my lord, martial arts practitioners, I think they are not afraid of the cold."

"It's one thing for the Holy Majesty not to be afraid of the cold, but if it gets cold, it's not good. None of us can afford it." Someone retorted.

In fact, they are all waiting for Wei Qi to come forward, so they should not intervene in such a matter, lest they be the first to be questioned, the left and right saints dote on Wei Qi, and it would be best to ask him to do it.

Several people discussed in low voices.

Wei Qi didn't like to listen any more, and thought: "It's such a big deal, if you send someone to send it over quickly, it will be over."

He got up, hastily wrapped the cloak, and stuffed Mrs. Tang inside to keep warm, and asked someone to find the guards who stayed outside to see him, explain the situation, and asked him to send the things to the imperial court as soon as possible.

The guard knew the identity of this person, so he readily responded, saying that it will be delivered soon, and please rest assured.

On the contrary, Wei Qi felt a little awkward, and thought: I don't worry about it, I'm just afraid of being questioned.