One of the passers-by

Hearing the words of King Zhuang Xu of Han, Crown Prince Zhuang Xi and Xue Yan subconsciously looked at King Wei Zhuang Tao.

The bear boy jumped up as if his tail had been stepped on, and retorted loudly: "I didn't know he would be so stupid that he wouldn't dodge. And I didn't hit the corner of his eye, he didn't dodge well. Hit by the little eunuch in their palace."

Prince Zhuang Xi's complexion was gloomy, and he said: "It's because of you that this matter is wrong. Although it is said that there is no taboo between brothers, the third brother has been sick since childhood. Although he is the elder brother, he was born more cowardly than you. You We should take care of him more, this is brotherhood. Isn’t that what our father and mother taught us?”

When Wei Wang Zhuang Tao heard the words, he looked at Zhuang Xu unwillingly, and apologized with his mouth pouting.

Concubine Yang smiled and said: "Why should the prince be like this. King Wei is still young, so there are times when he doesn't know the importance of playing around. Besides, he also intends to get close to Xu'er. It's really normal. I brought Xu'er here today because I was afraid that the Queen would reprimand King Wei if she heard about it. If the two brothers get separated because of such a trivial matter, it's not worth it."

After finishing speaking, he stretched out his hand and gently pushed Hanwang Zhuangxu's back.The king of Han unconsciously took two steps forward, turned his head to look at his concubine mother, took Wei Wang's hand and said, "I'm not angry with you. But I was not prepared last night, so I was attacked and injured by you. You still have to do it today. Do you dare to have a snowball fight with me?"

King Wei shook his head, withdrew his hand from King Han, ran to Xue Yan and grabbed Xue Yan's sleeve to show off, "I won't play snowball fights with you anymore. Cousin Yan is going to take us to ride a sledge and smoke ice monkeys." Cousin Yan said, you have to draw inferences when you are studying and doing things, and you have to do it when you have fun, otherwise it will be the same, what's the point."

Seeing this, the King of Han immediately said, "Yes, then I will go too."

Concubine Yang smiled at Xue Yan and said, "This is...?"

Prince Zhuang Xi smiled and said: "This is Xue Yan, the son of Duke Wei and Aunt Pingyang. Cousin Yan has rich experience and knowledge, and even his father praised him."

Xue Yan greeted with a smile and said: "I have seen Concubine Yang and the King of Han."

Concubine Yang nodded and said with a sudden smile: "So it's Shizi Xue. I've heard of Shizi Xue's name for a long time. When I saw him today, it's true that the tree is like the wind, and it's a talent among people."

Xue Yan chuckled, and said a few words in his mouth.Concubine Yang looked at Gongbi who was standing behind the prince and King Wei, holding plum blossoms in a vase, and praised: "The plum blossoms are so handsome, they are proud of their character, and they are full of flowers. They are really gratifying." After the daily snowstorm, the plum blossoms in the imperial garden became more and more beautiful. Blue Bird and I wanted to pick some to present to my father, mother and the Supreme Emperor. My father is busy with government affairs, and my mother is busy with the affairs of the palace these days, and the Supreme Emperor is even more so. I live in seclusion in the Taiji Palace and don't like to move around. It's a pity that such a beautiful plum blossom can't be seen."

Concubine Yang said: "The crown prince and King Wei are filial and pious. Your majesty and queen will be very happy."

Crown Prince Zhuang Xi glanced at the King of Han, then smiled and said: "Third Brother rarely comes to the Imperial Garden to stroll around, why not pick some plum blossoms, and take them back to the palace to smoke the house."

Concubine Yang understood the meaning of parting in the prince's mouth, and said with a smile: "Today I just came to the Imperial Garden casually, and I didn't ask the palace to carry the vase. Besides, I have to go to the Lizheng Hall to greet the queen later. That's all. Let's talk about it another day."

After a pause, he asked Xue Yan with a smile: "I heard that Princess Pingyang likes plum blossoms, why didn't Xue Shizi pick a few to give to his mother?"

Xue Yan waved his hands and said with a smile: "I like to watch flowers and plants grow naturally. If they are folded in a bottle, I feel that the fun will be lost."

Concubine Yang couldn't help but smiled sweetly, and said with rolling eyes: "I didn't expect Xue Shizi to be a person who cherishes flowers at such a young age."

Xue Yan looked at Concubine Yang's nympho trembling with her smile, and felt that her eyes were full of brilliance.Unconsciously, I admire Emperor Yong'an's beauty.

Since Concubine Yang and King Han had no intention of folding flowers, everyone returned to the Lizheng Hall talking and laughing all the way.

At that time, the Queen and Princess Pingyang had drawn up candidates for the wife who would jointly establish Anjifang, and they were sitting in the hall to discuss the specific matters of establishing Anjifang.Seeing Wu Yangyang's group returning to the Lizheng Hall, the Queen laughed and said, "Why did Concubine Yang and the Crown Prince get together. It's really lively."

Princess Pingyang smiled and praised the plum blossoms in the vase, and then ordered the palace servants to arrange the vases in the hall.Prince Zhuangxi ordered the palace servants to send the remaining plum blossoms in vases to Taiji Palace.The Queen and Princess Pingyang smiled and praised the benevolence and filial piety of the Prince and King Wei.

As expected by Concubine Yang, the queen was startled when she saw the bruises in the corners of King Han's eyes, and hurriedly asked why.

Hanwang Zhuangxu, under the hint of his mother, told about the snowball fight last night while avoiding the seriousness.He hurriedly said that King Wei had already apologized to him, and asked the queen not to punish King Wei.Concubine Yang and Princess Pingyang also persuaded him. Seeing this, Empress Wei did not punish King Wei, but she also reprimanded him severely.

This matter was thus exposed without mentioning it.

With Concubine Yang and all the young ladies by her side, Empress Wei and Princess Pingyang could not continue to discuss the establishment of Anjifang.Everyone chatted about housework and favors, but the crown prince, King Wei and King Han pestered Xue Yan to ask about riding a sledge and smoking ice monkeys.

Xue Yan couldn't help it, so he had to order the palace servants to fetch paper and pens, and write down the sketches of the sledge and ice monkey on the paper, and then told the prince and others: "After I go to my house, I will order the craftsmen at home to draw out the sledge and ice monkey. , and won’t forget to send your share to the palace, okay?”

When King Wei and King Han heard the words, they temporarily silenced their flags and drums.Russia began to ask Xue Yan when he would enter the palace again.

When there was a lot of commotion, it was suddenly heard that Wei Wuji, the Duke of Zhen, asked to resign from the right servant, but His Majesty did not agree, and everyone in the hall was shocked.

Seeing this, Concubine Yang had agreed that Empress Wei would have lunch at the Lizheng Hall, so she hurriedly took Han Wang Zhuang Xu to leave.

Princess Pingyang looked at Empress Wei who was so calm and dazed, she shook her head and said: "You said that the right servant of Lord Zhen is a good servant, why did you resign? Let me tell you, you and Lord Zhen are the princes. Be cautious. Duke Zhen has a long history of strategy and is loyal to His Majesty. What's wrong with letting him enter the court to share His Majesty's worries? Is it appropriate to let those who don't know what to do with them occupy the high-ranking officials and rich corpses for nothing? gone?"

Empress Wei shook her head hesitantly, but smiled silently.

Seeing Empress Wei's preoccupied and trance-like appearance, Princess Pingyang sighed slightly.He said with a smile: "Forget it, I don't think you are in the mood to discuss the matter of Anjifang right now, Yan'er and I will come back tomorrow."

Princess Pingyang and Xue Yan left the palace and returned home together.Wei Guogong Xue Ji was still studying the art of war in the study, but there was an extra student Wei Ziqi in the study, who was kneeling and listening to his master's teachings.

Princess Pingyang raised her head and asked, "Your father asked to resign from the right servant when he entered the palace today, did you know about this?"

Wei Ziqi nodded.

Seeing this, Princess Pingyang sighed again, and said in her mouth: "Why is this necessary?"

Wei Ziqi said: "In July last year, a courtier secretly reported that my father was too powerful and formed a clique for personal gain. Although His Majesty has a lot of trust in my father, he stated clearly that the monarch and his ministers have no doubts, and even summoned courtiers to defend his father. However, my father deeply felt that the tree was too popular. At that time Already have the intention to retreat."

When Pingyang and Wei Guogong heard the words, they were even more sad.He also ordered Wei Ziqi to stay at Duke Wei's mansion for lunch, and Wei Ziqi nodded and smiled.

Everyone chatted and laughed a few more times, and then someone informed Lu Guogong and his wife to bring their youngest son, Jiang Han, to the door with congratulatory gifts.Princess Pingyang heard about it, she smiled and said to Xue Ji: "This Jiang Zhi never treats himself as an outsider, and he never handed out invitations when he came to our residence."

Xue Ji replied with a smile: "They are all members of the army, how can there be so many poor people?"

After finishing speaking, he suddenly thought of something, and said, "By the way, there are also several princely and noble houses this morning who sent congratulatory gifts and invitations, just remember to deal with it."

Princess Pingyang smiled and said: "Our family has found Yan'er. This is a great joy. It's hard for them to think about it. I will be free someday. I will definitely be a host and invite these families to the mansion together." get together."

While talking, he got up and went to the front of the hall to meet people.

Lu Guogong Jiang Zhi still looked the same, when he didn't see anyone, he heard a burst of rough laughter, and he entered the door and said: "There is a strong farm cow in Zhuangzi who stumbled and fell off the cliff. , so I sent this cow home. I thought that Yan'er had been in Dachu for so long and hadn't tasted beef yet, so I ordered my servants to unload half a cow and send it over. I also asked Yan'er to try something new .”

Duke Wei and Princess Pingyang thanked him happily after hearing the words.He also led Xue Yan to meet Mrs. Lu Guogong, and Wei Ziqi who was on the side also came forward to pay respects, and then everyone returned to their seats.

Lu Guogong Jiang Zhi still couldn't forget Xue Yan's spirits.Yin said with a smile: "Good Yan'er, when will you start making wine again, don't forget your good father-in-law, my family's beef has not forgotten you."

Xue Yan smiled, and said with a smile: "It's not an important matter. Since the adoptive father likes this strong wine, I will silence the recipe for brewing the wine. The adoptive father will take it back and ask the people in the house to brew it by himself."

Duke Lu clapped his hands in applause when he heard the words, and said with a smile: "This is even better. Yan'er doesn't know that since I ate the strong wine you brewed at the celebration banquet in Youzhou, I will eat other wine these days. I can't taste any taste. I'm so anxious, Lao Jiang's gluttons are almost hooked out."

Mrs. Lu Guogong could not see Jiang Zhi being so noisy, but seeing that her husband was not at all steady in dancing and dancing, she couldn't help squinting her eyes and complained: "Look at how promising he is!"

Pingyang and the others couldn't help but laugh out loud.

However, Jiang Han noticed the two pieces of jute paper that Xue Yan casually placed on the table, and blurted out, "Mr. Xue Xiaolang has figured out something really good again, so why don't you tell me, Jiang Han, to take a look?"

Xue Yan did not expect Jiang Han to be so sharp-sighted, but this is not a secret.So Xue Yan handed the jute paper to Jiang Han indifferently, and said with a smile: "Sledges and ice monkeys for children to play with. I plan to ask the craftsmen at home to make them for the crown prince, King Wei and King Han."

After finishing speaking, let me briefly explain the gameplay of snow sledge and ice monkey.

Jiang Han smiled with great interest: "Sounds very interesting. When will Mr. Xiao Lang make this sledge and ice monkey and teach me how to play?"

Xue Yan naturally agreed.

Princess Pingyang recalled that she was ordered to supervise Anjifang. Lu Guogong Jiang Zhinai was a former minister of His Majesty's hidden residence. He was loyal and made great contributions to the dragon.Mrs. Lu Guogong has a deep understanding of righteousness and is straightforward and capable.Therefore, when the Queen and Princess Pingyang drafted the edict list, Mrs. Lu Guogong had already been taken into consideration.Now that the Duke of Lu and his wife are visiting, Princess Pingyang is also happy to talk to Mrs. Duke Lu and sell a favor.

By the way, he also talked about the donation of one month's monthly salary by the Duke of Xiawei to support the imperial court in helping the victims of the disaster.

The Duke of Lu and the Duke of Wei had an inseparable relationship, and they were inseparable; what's more, this matter was for His Majesty's concern, and he immediately expressed that he would follow the example of Duke Wei and donate one month's salary to support the court in helping the victims of the disaster.

Even after leaving Duke Wei's mansion, he visited Lord Protector Qin Yin overnight, Lord Lin Guo Chen Zhijie, Zhongshu Ling Fang Xuanyi, Household Minister Xu Hui and other former ministers who were familiar with the hidden residence, and several people jointly signed the list, They all offered one month's salary to support the imperial court in helping the victims.

Affected by this, officials and nobles in Beijing and China also offered money and silk to show their loyalty.And because Wei Guogong and others threw stones first, the remaining civil and military officials offered one month's salary regardless of their official positions.The same is true for officials from other provinces who came to Beijing to continue their posts.The aristocratic daughters in Beijing were ordered to hear about Princess Pingyang's actions, and they also donated one month's salary to show their kindness.

On the contrary, those harem concubines and relatives of the emperor, because they are not on duty in the court, don't care much about the old custom of civil and military officials, and donate as much or as little money as they like.However, most of them donate more, not less.

After all, one or two months' salary is nothing to these princes and princesses who have fiefdoms and real food towns, but to those affected by the disaster, it is like coal in the snow.

Gather sand to form a tower, gather armpits to form a fur, before the Queen and Princess Pingyang's Anji Square opened the first auction, the money and silk donated by a single Beijing official was enough for the imperial court to relieve the disaster victims in Guanzhong, and for those who sold their sons and daughters ransomed.

However, the Empress and Princess Pingyang still led the imperial eunuchs who joined Anjifang to collect a lot of old winter quilts and old clothes that were not used by households overnight. The old clothes are disliked by the family members.The style is old or has various flaws, but it is the most suitable thing to keep warm for those disaster victims who are disheveled and homeless.

When everything was ready, Emperor Yong'an immediately appointed Xu Yan, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, as the imperial censor, and sent three hundred imperial guards to escort the disaster relief food and grass materials to the pass to comfort the victims.

After finishing this matter, Emperor Yong'an finally ordered the court to seal the pen, and all officials can rest for the New Year.

Da Chu's New Year's customs are very different from Xue Yan's customs in later generations.But certain traditions are all the same.

For example, worship ancestors on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month.

The Xue family is a family of eunuchs, but not a prosperous family.In Xue Ji's generation, the total number of offshoots of the direct lineage is no more than four or five households.In addition, on weekdays, the men of each house and their families take office in various state capitals, and the mountains and roads are far away. Except for giving gifts on New Year's Day, they seldom come and go.

Being able to gather in Chang'an this year to offer sacrifices to the ancestors is thanks to the blessing of Emperor Yong'an who wanted to assess the officials and ordered them to go to Beijing to report on their duties.

As the eldest grandson, Xue Yan participated in ancestor worship for the first time.

The male and female relatives of the second, third and fourth bedrooms of the Xue family were also quite curious about the missing sons of the big family.Everyone is an official of the imperial court. Those who haven’t read the proclamation when the king of Yan County conspired against him last year have heard of it. Although he doesn’t believe that Xue Yan, a boy, has the ability to force the king of Yan County, Xue Yan is good at accounting. , presumably true.

Even after Xue Yan presented the double-entry bookkeeping method, Emperor Yong'an also issued an imperial edict, ordering all state governments in the world to use this method to record accounts and check the treasury.I heard that the imperial envoy Yu Shi will be sent to various states and counties tomorrow.Now that they are close to the water, they can ask Xue Yan for advice.

As for the female relatives, they focused the attention of the gossip on the matter of confessing their relatives by dripping blood.That day at the Youzhou camp, Xue Ji, Pingyang and Xue Yan recognized their relatives by dripping blood, but Xue Yan denied that he was the heir of the Xue family after the blood melted, and dragged a soldier beside him to drip blood with him. Compatible.This matter has been spread all over the world, but all the female relatives have not seen it with their own eyes, so they can't believe it.However, I heard that there are also curious people in other states, who privately learned the method of blood recognition and asked the servants of the family to test it. It turns out that there are people who are not from compatriots but whose blood can dissolve.

After this method was confirmed by people and spread, it caused an uproar all over the world in an instant.Especially those families whose children have been trafficked are even more desperate.

The world is so big, is there really no way to confirm your own flesh and blood?

While the common people were terrified, some even resorted to extreme measures.It is tattooing or branding on inconspicuous places on the bodies of their own children.Although the body, hair and skin should not be easily damaged by the parents, it is better to damage the skin a little at this time than to lose it in the future and never see each other again.

All these gossips were heard by Xue Yan from the female relatives in the other rooms of the Xue family.There may be some strange things that make people dumbfounded.

Even the female family members of the Xue family took advantage of Xue Yan being called to the front hall by the lords to ask questions, and quietly asked Princess Pingyang: "Since the method of recognizing relatives by dripping blood can't guarantee that the biological father and son will recognize each other, you just recognize it like this." Xue Yan, please make him your son?"

Princess Pingyang laughed lightly when she heard the words, and slowly explained how to recognize the scar behind Xue Yan's ear.Because what Xue Yan said was not very accurate in the recognition of relatives by drops of blood was too shocking, so everyone did not pay attention to the follow-up matters of the recognition of relatives when word of mouth spread.Now listening to Princess Pingyang's detailed explanation, the doubts in her heart were immediately resolved.

Then someone clapped their hands and said with a smile: "Fortunately, Her Royal Highness had foresight that day, otherwise, even if I found Yan'er, I'm afraid I would have passed by after being tossed about by him like this."

Before the words fell, someone said again: "I don't know where Yan'er and his master have wandered. These ideas are too unbelievable."

While talking, another servant girl came to report that the snow sledge and ice monkey that Xue Yan asked the craftsman to make a few days ago had been finished.Since there are three pictures of sledges and ice monkeys that were designated by the crown prince, King Wei and King Han, have they been prepared and sent to the palace for a banquet in the palace the next day?

Princess Pingyang nodded in agreement, and ordered her maid to put away the masks and outfits she had prepared for the children at home to participate in the exorcism tomorrow night.It's cold on New Year's Eve, so don't freeze Yan'er.Before the words were finished, the servant girl covered her mouth and said with a smile: "Madam, don't talk about it. You go to see the little man first, who is leading the other ladies in the courtyard, making a fuss about getting confused. Lanterns. This is to make New Year’s Eve the Lantern Festival.”

Princess Pingyang heard the words, she didn't think about anything else, she just asked the waiter beside her to go back to the room and took a cloak, got up and said: "It's such a cold day, if you want to paste lanterns, you have to go into the room to paste them. What are you doing in the yard?" .”

Without saying a word, he stretched out his hand to take the fox fur cloak from the servant girl, and went out without touching the ground.

All the female relatives looked at each other in the hall, and couldn't help but smile at each other.

Besides, Xue Yan, who had popularized the double-entry bookkeeping method with the elders in the family, was taking the family's big and small radish heads in the yard and was only a craftsman to paste lanterns.The head was wrapped in the fox fur cloak of Princess Pingyang, and the whole body felt warm.Then I heard Princess Pingyang say from behind: "In such a cold day, there was just a snowfall last night, so you don't need to wear more clothes. It's unlucky if you get sick during the Chinese New Year."

Xue Yan chuckled, stretched out his hands to gather the cloak, and said, "It's okay, I have great firepower."

"You can't ruin your body." Princess Pingyang reprimanded Xue Yan while complaining to Duke Wei: "Don't learn from your father. You wear single clothes to practice in the martial arts field in winter. When you come back, your nose is red and your hands are cold. What's the meaning."

Wei Guogong Xue Ji came out of the study with the men from the other rooms.Hearing what Princess Pingyang said, she coughed heavily.Princess Pingyang turned her head, seeing the men of the Xue family behind Xue Ji wanting to laugh but not daring to laugh, she couldn't help laughing.

Princess Pingyang looked away as if nothing had happened, smiled at Wei Guogong Xue Ji and said: "In previous years, our family had no children, and the people in the other houses had to guard the state capitals and could not return to Beijing. The New Year is deserted and quiet. This year, we finally had a reunion, so I have to choose a team for exorcising Nuo at home, and on New Year's Eve, the children of our Xue family will also enter the palace to exorcise the Nuo for His Majesty and Queen."

Xiaolang and Xiaoniang, who were surrounded by Xue Yan, jumped up and said to go when they heard the words.

Xue Yan took the opportunity to ask the craftsmen in the yard to leave first with the lanterns.He was carried into the inner hall by Princess Pingyang, and was stared at by Princess Pingyang and poured two bowls of ginger soup.

The next day is New Year's Eve.

In the evening, under the service of the servant girl, Xue Yan put on the outfit for going to the palace to exorcise Nuo, and was playing with a child's mask in his hand.In front of him, Wei Guogong Xue Ji and Princess Pingyang were also busy dressing up.

In order to ensure that the exorcism team of the Xue family can enter the palace smoothly, the regrets of the Shangyuan Festival that year will no longer happen.Xue Ji and Pingyang decided to go to battle in person. The two played the Nuo man and the Nuo mother. The guards and the 36 Kunlun slaves who were skilled in martial arts at home surrounded the exorcism team with all kinds of ghost masks. The descendants of the Xue family in the team should not be left behind because of their fun, and at the same time prevent outsiders from coming in to fish in troubled waters.Even though the preparations were so thorough, Princess Pingyang was still a little nervous, and kept asking Xue Yan to follow behind the two of them and not to wander around.

Xue Yan looked at Princess Pingyang and Xue Ji's unease, and answered seriously with a smile. "I'm already grown up, I won't get lost."

After the words fell, the family of three looked at each other and smiled.Xue Ji shook the Nuo mask in his hand and said with a smile, "It's getting late, let's go out too. I haven't participated in the exorcism for many years, I'm afraid I forgot how to dance."

The young men and women of the Xue family all dressed up and stood in the courtyard, chattering so loudly that Duke Wei's mansion was much more lively than usual.The elders of the second, third and fourth bedrooms widened their eyes in astonishment when they saw the always majestic Xue Ji and Princess Pingyang coming out fully armed.

Xue Ji smiled, waved his hands and said, "It's Chinese New Year, so let's join in the fun."

When everyone heard the words, they subconsciously looked at Xue Yan who was standing between Xue Ji and his wife, and they understood.

The servants of the family lit several fires in the courtyard long before dark, and the flames soared into the sky, rendering the whole courtyard as if it were daytime. Red lanterns were also tied on the porch, on the dead branches and on the Wutou gate in the outer courtyard. It was tied with several fishing lines, and lanterns were hung on them.Little lanterns are red like fire, and like a sky full of stars.Xue Ji quietly looked at the newly-decorated Duke of Wei's mansion, held Xue Yan's hand and said with a soft smile, "After so many years, I'm finally getting a little popular."

When the sound of dancing and music could be faintly heard from the street outside Chang'an City Square Gate, Xue's exorcism team also walked out of Duke Wei's mansion and followed the flow of people all the way north.

Xue Yan jumped up and down following everyone's movements, and heard someone recite the "Exorcism Ci" aloud in his ears, as well as the noise of children screaming excitedly. His eyes were full of people wearing masks, shoulder to shoulder, It's messy and you can't see anything at all.

I just feel very lively.

All the way to the imperial palace, it was dark all around, and I couldn't see His Majesty, Queen and other concubines, princes and princesses.I just felt like wandering around in the outer palace, and then turned to go home.

I saw the elders in the other rooms of the Xue family sitting by the fire in front of the courtyard drinking wine and eating meat.A marinated gazelle was placed on the fire, and the tongue of fire licked the gazelle's skin brushed with honey, and the air exuded a strong smell of barbecue.Xue Yan, who had been tossing all night, swallowed subconsciously.

The second uncle Xue Yi smiled and cut a piece of meat from the roasted leg of lamb and handed it to Xue Yan, and said with a smile, "You are hungry, eat some roasted lamb to warm yourself up. Can I have wine?"

Xue Yan nodded, so his second uncle Xue Yi poured another sip of wine for Xue Yan, and said with a smile: "Your family's newly brewed wine is really strong, and people who drink it for the first time may not be used to it. But after drinking two glasses , on the contrary, I feel that the taste is mellow and sweet, and I am afraid that it will not be strong enough if I drink the wine next to it."

Princess Pingyang smiled and said, "If the second uncle likes it, there are still a few jars at home. Just bring some more when the second uncle returns to his post."

Hearing this, Xue Yi was not polite to Princess Pingyang, but just cupped his hands and thanked her.Princess Pingyang smiled and gave way to the men in the other rooms, and she didn't politely shirk.On the contrary, the female relatives kept laughing and said that after they left home, they would have more local customs, and they also asked Dafang and his family to try something new.

Pingyang smiled happily.

Xue Ji took Xue Yan back to the room to change clothes.They forced him to drink two big bowls of ginger soup, as if they were afraid that he would catch a cold.

When the father and son returned to the courtyard together, it was almost the time of the child.There was a faint sound of firecrackers outside.The servants of Duke Wei's mansion had already carried the prepared bamboo knots to the fire in the courtyard, and the other young men of the Xue family gathered around the fire and threw bamboo knots.Throwing small bamboo knots into the fire will make a crackling sound, clusters of sparks splash, and it looks very lively.

This is the firecrackers of the big Chu season.It is completely different from the firecrackers during the Chinese New Year in later generations.

The "well-informed" Xue Yan is of course not interested in such a game of throwing firecrackers.However, Princess Pingyang's kindness was hard to bear. Seeing his mother holding the bamboo knot and walking to him with a hopeful look, Xue Yan had no choice but to put away the expression of disapproval on her face, and took the gift from Princess Pingyang. Throw the bamboo knots into the fire.

Then Princess Pingyang sat on the side and clapped her hands, Xue Ji also commented in a serious manner: "It's better for Yan'er to throw it, the sound is louder than others."

Xue Yan felt that throwing firecrackers was actually quite fun.

After throwing the firecrackers, it was halfway through the third watch, and the weather became colder and colder.Everyone in the Xue family also returned to the inner hall to eat melons and fruits and chat.While listening to everyone chatting, Xue Yan always felt that something was missing.

It was only at the end that I remembered that what was missing was an entertainment activity that was hailed as the quintessence of the country in later generations——

How can Chinese New Year be without mahjong?

So Xue Yan made a fuss about making mahjong.

Fortunately, tonight is New Year's Eve, and the craftsmen, servants and servants in the mansion all follow the master's house to watch the new year, except those who cook on the stove and who are on duty the next morning.Xue Yan then called the craftsman to give some instructions like this, and then called the pen and ink to draw the sketches one by one, and told the craftsman not to do too well or too finely, but to dig out a pair with wood and immediately.

This is not a difficult task, but within an hour, a skilled craftsman made a mahjong according to the blueprint given by Xue Yan.It took another half an hour to polish the rough edge and paint the color, so everyone was shocked to find that... the sky was already dark.

On the first day of the first month of the first lunar month, there was a banquet in the palace. Wei Guogong Xue Ji was a high-ranking member of the imperial court, and Princess Pingyang was a member of the royal family, so they should enter the palace for the banquet.So the husband and wife urged Xue Yan to go back to the room and put on the prince's court clothes angrily and amusedly, and the family of three entered the palace to congratulate them.

Wei Guogong Xue Ji went to Xiande Hall to meet Emperor Yong'an, and Princess Pingyang took Xue Yan to Lizheng Hall to meet the Queen and other concubines.The Crown Prince, King Wei, King Han and several other princesses, as well as the concubines, county masters, and Gao Ming of various families in Beijing also brought their young lords and daughters to chat with the queen in the Lizheng Hall.

Seeing Xue Yan enter the palace, the bear boy Wei Wang said first: "Brother Yan, are your snow sledge and ice monkey ready?"

Xue Yan nodded with a smile, and said, "I've already brought them here."

King Wei got up and said, "Mom, I'm going to ride a sledge to smoke ice monkeys!"

The queen smiled, and smiled at the concubines present, beckoning Xue Yan, and introducing him to the elders and peers in the palace.Among them, Wei Jin, the youngest son of the Duke of Zhenguo, was only about three or four years old, and his round face was still a little baby fat, but the overall outline seemed to be printed out of the same mold as Wei Ziqi's stuffy gourd.Seeing Yuxue's cuteness, Xue Yan couldn't help teasing him a few words.

But the little bun Wei Jin said solemnly: "I know you. My father and elder brother have mentioned you. They said you are very smart. Are you smarter than my brother? Then why don't you keep a straight face? My mother Said that smart people have a straight face, just like my brother and father."

Xue Yan was really happy when he heard the words, he quickly knelt down and hugged Wei Jin, rubbed him in his arms, and said with a smile: "This child is so funny, why is he so cute."

The Wei Jin little bun didn't know the word cute, but he noticed a clue from Xue Yan's attitude, and he opened his moist eyes and said angrily, "Are you saying I'm stupid?"

"No, I think you're smart." Xue Yan said with a smile, but Xiao Baozi Wei Jin felt that his self-esteem was a little hurt.He hurriedly twisted his body to prevent Xue Yan from hugging him, and opened his arms to ask Mrs. Zhen Guogong for help: "Aniang, Aniang. I don't want Brother Xue's hug, he is bad!"

Seeing this, all the female relatives in the palace laughed even more.

Mrs. Zhen Guogong looked at the youngest son with a smile, and coaxed: "But Brother Xue has something interesting. The snow sledge and ice monkey he asked the craftsman to make must be interesting. If you don't let Brother Xue hug him, he won't What should I do if I ask you to play? When the time comes, everyone will go out to play, so you want to stay in the hall with A Niang and talk to the queen and other wives?"

When Xiao Baozi Wei Jin heard the words, it was like being struck by lightning on a sunny day. He was stunned for a long time, pouted aggrievedly, turned his head, and hugged Xue Yan's neck reluctantly with a pair of chubby arms like lotus roots.The small head with the double-ringed bun was rubbed cautiously.

Seeing Wei Jin's appearance, everyone laughed and trembled, hairpins and bracelets jingled.

Crown Prince Zhuang Xi couldn't bear to look straight at him and turned his head away, "He's not my cousin! No!" written all over his face.

Wei Wang Zhuang Tao ignored the laughter of the crowd, and persistently begged the queen to let him sit on the sledge and smoke ice monkeys.

The queen naturally agreed.

So Xue Yan took the prince and others, and carried Wei Jin to the courtyard outside the Lizheng Hall.

The snow in the Lizheng Hall had already been cleared, Xue Yan stood in the courtyard with Wei Jin in his arms, and ordered Xiao Huangmen to lead them to a place with a lot of snow.He also popularized with the prince and others that horses and well-trained hunting dogs can be used to pull the sledge. If there are no domesticated animals, people can also use people to pull the sledge in front.

The prince admired his father's bravery, so he naturally chose horses to pull the sledge.King Wei and King Han were quarrelsome by nature, so they chose hunting dogs to pull the sledge.

In the end, the little Huangmen who went to the AMTD Bureau to find the little pony were pretty reliable, but the little Huangmen who were looking for the hunting dog came back with a petite Fulin dog in their arms... using Xiaojing Things like Ba Sledge were too cruel, even though King Wei didn't take it seriously, Xue Yan still tried his best to dissuade King Wei.

The bear boy King Wei became a little annoyed, and turned his head to scold the little Huangmen who were looking for dogs.Xiao Huangmen could only knelt on the ground and apologized with a bitter face: "King Wei calm down, the servants are also worried about the safety of King Wei, the hounds in this palace are used by His Majesty and the nobles for hunting, and they are very cruel. After being domesticated, the servants really dare not ask them to drive the plow for King Wei. If the King of Wei does not give up, he will treat the servants as domesticated hounds and let them pull the plow for King Wei."

King Wei was still full of anger.Xue Yan patted King Wei on the shoulder with some guilt and said: "Don't blame them, it's because I didn't think carefully. The hounds haven't been domesticated. If something happens, how can I explain to His Majesty and the Queen? Even if you do it for Let me stop thinking about it for the time being, okay? Take the servants in the palace to tame the hounds well, and it won’t be too late for you to pull the sledge with dogs... Actually, it’s safer to use people to pull the sledge. It’s just that it will take a lot of hard work.”

Xiao Huangmen, who was kneeling on the ground, heard the words, and hurriedly leaned over and laughed, "Senior Xue is serious. I don't dare to be servants."

After all, King Wei was a child at heart, and it was fine to lose his temper for a while when he was not happy.In the end, I still feel that having fun is more important.

Several little yellow gates hurriedly got up and helped King Wei sit on the sledge, and the two stood by to maintain, and they pulled up the reins and ran forward.King Xide Wei repeatedly yelled and cheered on the sledge, urging the two to speed up.

Seeing that King Wei was fine, the prince smiled with Xue Yan, and carefully got on the sledge himself.The little pony who pulls the plow for him is the most docile in the AMTD team specially hired by Xiao Huangmen.Although the speed is not as fast as that of Wei Wang's people, it is not interesting.

Seeing that the crown prince and King Wei had started to play, Zhuang Xu, the king of Han, ordered Xiao Huangmen, who was serving in the palace, to help him sit on the sledge.

The other princes and princes watched and applauded, and they all enjoyed it.The prince sat on the snow sledge and circled the imperial garden twice, then came down and gave the sledge to the eldest son of a prince's uncle's family.Later, King Zhuangxu of the Han Dynasty also followed the example of the prince's brothers and friends, and gave up the sledge to other princes and children.Only the bear boy Wei Wang didn't enjoy himself, and he cried endlessly when the prince asked him to come down.It's not easy for everyone to rush him.Fortunately, there are still prince and Hanwang's sledges for everyone to play with.Everyone played for a while as much as possible.

When they got down, they went to Xue Yan's side to make friends and say good things, and asked Xue Yan to make them a snow sledge too.Xue Yan smiled and said that he would send the drawing of the sledge to the various houses, and the children became more and more happy when they heard this.

Less time for jokes.When Empress Wei sent someone to urge everyone to return to the palace for the banquet, it was already lunch time.

Xue Yan was still hugging Wei Jin. The little guy had just sat on a horse-drawn sledge under the protection of the little yellow gate. His face was flushed with excitement, and he kept talking while hugging Xue Yan's neck.After returning to Lizheng Hall, he begged Mrs. Zhen Guogong to make him a sledge too.

After everyone chatted a little more, Empress Wei brought the concubines, princes and princesses and concubines of various families into the Taiji Palace to meet the Supreme Emperor, and then had a banquet.

At the banquet, Duke Wei Wuji repeatedly mentioned the matter of resigning from You Pushe.Emperor Yong'an tried his best to persuade her to stay, but Princess Zhenguo had made up her mind.Emperor Yong'an had no choice but to agree to Zhen Guogong's resignation.However, he was still named Kaifu Yitong Sansi.

Seeing this, Xue Yan could only lament that Emperor Yong'an really trusted Wei Wuji.But thinking about Emperor Yong'an's temperament of emphasizing love and righteousness, it seems that after he ascended the throne, he often violated the court regulations for the affairs of these subordinates, and look at the honorable officials who followed Emperor Yong'an at the banquet all with faces of "the scholar dies for his confidant" "The touch...

Xue Yan felt that such a loving and righteous immediate boss