He planted peonies in the Tang Dynasty

Guan Wen: "The Department of the Ministry of Rites, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, toured the South Dao Tuntian envoy to return to Beijing. Yuanwailang Gu Yue was in An County, Songzhou to appease the people. On the way, he was attacked by bandits and injured his leg, which was not conducive to walking. He also suffered from wind and cold and delayed his arrival in Beijing for half a month. In the 22nd year of Kaiyuan, Gu Yue went to the Department of Kaogong of the Ministry of Shangshu and Officials, writing at the same level."

Once at the fifth rank, the departure and arrival of officials in Beijing becomes sensitive, and not only memorials are required, but also parallel customs documents.

At the Songzhou Posthouse, Gu Yue thought about it, and there were three things to do at hand.First of all, because he has no relatives, the [-] mu of paddy fields in An County have to be rented out to farmers; second, the [-] members of the Su family will arrive soon, so he has to find a post station to accommodate him, prepare a carriage, and prepare fresh and hot dishes for him. Yicheng arranges them according to his own treatment;

Finally, because he is about to move into the Hubu where there are many powerful eunuchs, the immediate boss is Pei Yaoqing, who is also the servant of the family, Zhao Yin, and the servant of the household department. He dare not show off and wants to wait and see for a while.

Therefore, in order not to collide with the mission, he made up a moving document about being assassinated and suffering from a cold.

On that day, the gate city of Zhouzhou was bustling with a stream of Sui River and a mulberry forest, and the bitter but sweet smell of mulberry leaves wafted in the wind.

Pei Yan was about to leave, and was very moved when he saw Gu Yue came to see him off with white gauze wrapped around his legs and a cane.When he went to the villages and counties before, Gu Yue blocked many incidents for him. First, when planning to return the fields, he reminded him to deal with those places that often caused fighting due to uneven distribution; Please ask the state government to issue an official document and send officials to be stationed and sit for certificates, so as to prevent civil disturbances caused by the squires giving benefits in advance and refusing to accept the accounts afterwards.

"Gu Lang, if it wasn't for business matters, I would definitely wait for you to go with me." Pei Yan got out of the car, saw that Gu Yue had something to say, and then sat in the mulberry forest for a while, "In the future, Heyin will have to run errands if he wants to build a warehouse. , you have to take good care of your body."

Gu Yue said: "Brother Pei, my leg is a fake injury." Pei Yan said: "You, why do you say it?" Gu Yue sighed with a smile: "Don't dare to hide it, it's not because I am worried about going back to Beijing to hold a burnt banquet , If you invite all the elders, I am afraid that someone will say that I am flattering, if you invite friends from the poetry club, I am afraid that someone will say that I am arty, tsk, it is better not to do it."

Pei Yan replied: "You have to do it from the sixth rank to the fifth rank. According to the custom, it should be more grand. Zhou Langzhong invited the Supreme Master before, so why bother." Gu Yue patted his leg: "Oh, I'm afraid no one will invite you. Come." Pei Yan thought for a while, and said, "Gu Lang, let me invite you a few scholars who are erudite and macroci.

After spending time with Song Zhou, Pei Yan's words became more and more direct, and Gu Yue felt more relaxed. After the two happily discussed the matter, the mission finally set off.Gu Yue stood on the hillside, watching the flag go away.

From time to time, Ji Yun rushed to tell him that the rental notice in An County had been posted, and five or six farmers were asking. In addition, the letter sent by Gu Jiu said that the convoy would arrive in two hours, and there were 30 servants in total. people.

"Okay, you go to An County to choose a job, you can make your own decision, you don't need to ask." Gu Yue nodded, smiling a little bit bitterly, "It's a pity that the tree wants to be quiet but the wind doesn't stop, and the child wants to be raised but the relatives don't wait. Now I have a family and property , but no one came to bear it.”

After Ji Yun left, Gu Yue untied the white gauze in the mulberry forest, and sorted out the names in his mind.There are seventeen members of the Su family, excluding uncles and aunts, etc., mainly Su's father, Su Ren, and Su's mother, Xiangshi, followed by Su Cheng, a small-character flower slave, and the widowed elder sister, Su Qian, and Daizi's boudoir. Su Mo, the younger sister.Although there are too many people, it is a little troublesome, but Su An wrote back a few days ago, saying that he has bought a large mansion with land in the eastern suburbs of Chang'an, which is all right again.

In fact, Gu Yue didn't know that Su An's attitude towards the family was more complicated than ordinary people.Not to mention that the Su family sent Su An to the Jiaofang when he was eight years old, nor that Su An exchanged gold for Su Cheng to marry him at the Tai Le Department. More recently, before Su An became an official, the Su family was Those who don't mention this son to others, after being appointed as officials, the whole family moved here.

There is something interesting about it, but there is only one thing that Gu Yue is sure of, that is, from childhood to adulthood, every time Su An received a letter from his family, he would become radiant. On the surface, he said he was busy arranging the music, but in private he would play it several times .

When the sun was setting, a group of carriages slowly drove up the avenue. Gu Yue woke up and stood in the forest waiting quietly.

Gu Jiu was walking in the front on horseback. While looking after the car beside him, he rummaged through the document: "Today is the same as yesterday, staying at the posthouse. Don't get out of the car now, don't panic, and don't make trouble..."

Cheng Menlang made a routine inspection, and immediately after, the curtains of the convoy were lifted one by one.Su Ren's hair was still black, her cheeks were thin and dry.Xiang Shi next to her was plump, and she shouted enthusiastically: "Master Ninth, Manager Ninth has worked hard." Behind them were Su Cheng and Shen Niang who were glued together, and Su Qian and Su Mo were joking with each other.

After seeing the situation, Gu Yue didn't interfere. Instead, he called the officials over and ordered a few purchases.

It is night, the moon is sparse, and the courtyard of the building is as bright as washing.Because Gu Yue was there, the process of settling in was saved a lot. After Gu Jiu had finished distributing the supplies in each room, he quickly found time to return to Gu Yue's room.

After the door was closed, Gu Yue felt that Gu Jiu's voice was not only hoarse, but also his expression was a little tired, so he laughed: "Master Jiu, there were floods and bandits along the way, you really worked hard, sat down and said, Sit and talk."

Gu Jiu was still not relaxed, and said: "Ah Lang, Su Bo and Mrs. Xiang haven't fallen asleep yet, they have been pestering for a long time, and they said they would come over to thank you." Gu Yue replied: "Don't do it, what are you going to do?" Just distribute things."

When they approached Chang'an, the clothes of the seventeen people were already decent, but they were careful, and prepared a few small items according to the custom: leather scorpions for the head of the family, and hairpins for the newlyweds. Considering the dry weather in the north, the female relatives naturally I am more particular about it, so I newly boiled red jade ointment, and specially put it in a small clam shell inlaid with gold chiseled flower box, so that it is convenient to moisturize the skin with you.

Gu Jiudao: "This is this, but they are always asking..." Gu Yue said: "What are you asking about?" Gu Jiudao: "Ah Lang, Mrs. Xiang is a real person. What she means is that she wants to send Su Mo to us. Mansion, I will serve you by your side from now on." Gu Yue said: "How can I do that?" Gu Jiu sighed: "I said, then I have to ask Su Fengfeng."

Gu Yue leaned back, and listening to the laughter coming in from outside, he replied calmly: "Gu Jiu, you can reply to the lady truthfully now, but I dare not, because all the expenses of my mansion are paid by Su Feng. going out."

As soon as these words came out, it was hard to get overwhelmed.

In just seven days from Songzhou to Chang'an, Gu Yue deeply felt the change in Xiang Niangzi's attitude towards him from Gu Jiu's mouth—"Mr. ..."

Sitting in the official car, Gu Yue felt like a saint every time he recalled what he had said to Gu Jiu.

In March of Yangchun, the apricot blossoms by the Quchi Lake, Gu Yue and Su An made an appointment to accompany the Su family to the new house next to the river flowing with golden light, on the river bank covered with pure pink.Of course, Gu Yue also had some selfish intentions, he wanted to take this opportunity to make Su An happy, and then asked Su An to play music for him for free at his home burnt banquet.

But they didn't expect that after entering the city, this long-planned meeting would not go smoothly since they stepped into the Furong Garden.

When Gu Yue got off the car, he was stunned in place.Today is not what it used to be, times have changed, people no longer pay attention to the former Xingyuan Tanhualang, but instead, the garden is full of men and women, all wearing Su An's mask of phoenix-tailed butterflies painted Kunlun slaves.

Gu Yue couldn't find Su An again.

Gu Yue tried all the tricks, but in the end, he broke into a net that had been laid long ago.

In the Furong Garden, there was a sound of firecrackers, and the Nuo dance was all over the sky. A row of officials came in and gathered around the carriage of the Su family.The one at the head, with a square face and hooked nose, is dignified and majestic. It is Cui Shao, the chief guest of the Ministry of Rites who took office as the new official.

Cui Shao walked up to the Su family, and helped Su Ren out of the carriage, who was full of confusion, and said, "Master Uncle, you have worked hard. Today's junior's "Hibiscus in Spring" will clean up the dust for you!" After speaking, the accompanying party invited Xiang Shi out again, let the two couples sit on the chariot, and were carried by the servants to enjoy the flowers while walking.

Gu Yue: "..."

The main department of the ritual department, the temple department, the dining department, and the four departments of host and guest. Gu Yue is in the headquarters and takes care of everything. Naturally, he also recognizes this young master of the Cui family who was once a member of the temple department and is his equal. However, he is more convinced What's more, neither the ancestral hall nor the host and guest has any entry for receiving the family members of fifth-rank prose officials with this kind of spectacles.

At this moment, a child wearing peacock feathers and holding a wooden fish bumped into his leg and ran past, beating the rhythm from slow to fast.Gu Yue raised his head, and saw another pair of golden boys and girls playing five strings sitting on the opposite side of the apricot tree branch.

The chant on the right: draw

The singing word on the left: flower

As soon as the crisp strings sounded, the sonorous flute sound followed, and the masked people began to perform "Hibiscus in Spring".

Riding past the man with fur on his shoulders, he took off the maroon mask: "One paper painting." The old woman who planted bonsai sighed: "Two pools of flowers." The scholar who was stained with water and ink shook his head and added two strokes with a smile Then said: "Three gardens show the roots, and the four seasons urge them to grow." Behind him, the old man raised the gold paper, brushed his beard and said: "Five years of spring and autumn, and a family in sixty."

Phoenix-tailed butterflies with various patterns danced in front of them, and Kunlun slaves in various postures ran wildly in the garden. The scene was extremely lively.At this time, a handsome man with light brown pupils and wearing peacock feathers sang along.

One paper painting, two pools of flowers

Sanyuan Xiudi, Four Seasons

Five years of Spring and Autumn, six arts settle down

"My lords."

Su An was wearing a red official robe and double ribbons, so that when he took off his mask and saluted in public, Gu Yue almost didn't recognize him.Supporting the chariot, Su Ren straightened her back, looked at Su An carefully, hesitated and did not move.

"Ye Nu?" Xiang Shi called out, letting go of the support of others, his breath trembling, "Are you really Ye Nu?"

"Master, this is Gu'er, Amin and Alan." Su An stood up with a smile on his face, took the golden couple and the child of Namuyu behind him, and looked at the singing man again, "Who is that?" It's Chen Hanlin."

Xiang Shi didn't say anything, but suddenly burst into tears, rushed down the chariot and hugged Su An, it was at this moment that Gu Yue saw the true feelings flickering in Su An's eyes, however, everything followed Cui An very quickly. Lang Zhong appeared and stopped.

Cui Shao let the walking chariot team go to the eastern suburbs mansion, waved his sleeves to greet him, and said, "My lord, Su Gongfeng is a pillar of the imperial court. He is not only proficient in poetry, etiquette and music, but also embodies filial piety. Everyone in Chang'an knows you Come."

Su Ren coughed her throat, as if she had woken up, her skinny face glowed red.The sisters of the Su family shrank their necks shyly, folded their hands with Shen Niang, and cuddled together.Xiang Shi returned to the chariot, wiped away his tears, and looked at Su An with a smile.

Su An walked in front of Su Cheng, couldn't help stepping his feet slightly, and compared his height: "Wu Nuo later, take care of Auntie." Su Cheng's stature is indeed taller, but the childishness of his voice has not faded: "rest assured."

After admiring the song that catches the wind, and having a feast of washing the dust, the Nuo Dance lion galloped all the way to the luxurious Su residence.

In front of the house of the door god of painting, green smoke was lingering. Liang Qiaozi held up a torch to finish burning Ai Ye, and greeted Su Ren with a smile.

"Brother Su! Oh, do you still remember that dog official Song Chengqi? Ye Nu can really do things now!"

Hu Wu was invited to make trouble in the house, and the courtyard and rooms had to be allocated according to Feng Shui. During this period, Su An was like a shadow puppet, and he had no time to say anything else, but ran back and forth, performing the sacrificial ceremony amidst the praises of the crowd, and followed the steps. The Way of the Ancestors...

The most exciting thing is the congratulatory gift, five strings, four strings, two strings, single strings, 23 strings, a dazzling array of musical instruments, hanging on more than a dozen walls.

And ever since Cui Shao said "Master Uncle" in front of Su's father, Gu Yue had no intention of interrupting.He asked Gu Jiu to hand over the luggage to the servants of the new house, and then rushed to the Ministry of Officials to report to the official department. After Su Shiba and Gu Bo checked the previous details several times, he ran back to Su's house with the cheek, and continued to stand by.

The huge manor house is divided into east, middle and west courtyards, surrounded by a hundred acres of land, and there is a pink and tender peach blossom forest in the north.When there is no one around, the petals in the forest fall into rain, which has a special artistic conception, but it is a pity...

It wasn't until the sun slanted to the west that the dim light permeated the grassy land, and the noisy mansion gradually became quieter.

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Note: Burning Tail Banquet was a special banquet popular in Chang'an in Tang Dynasty. It refers to the banquet where new scholars took office or officials were promoted, and entertained relatives, friends and colleagues who came to congratulate them.There are three theories about its origin: one is that when a tiger becomes a human, its tail must be burnt off; Turn into a real dragon.