seven steps

"I'm sorry, fourth brother." Even if Yinzhen didn't want to, there was no way to prevent Kangxi from asking him to bring fourteenth brother back to Beijing.

The fourteenth elder brother returned to Beijing this time is no longer what he used to be, he was much darker and stronger, with five thousand soldiers and horses as his personal guards, he walked all the way to the foot of the imperial city.Since Yinzhen came to comfort the soldiers of the three armies at the order of Kangxi, it was inevitable that he would greet the fourteenth elder brother, who is now the great general Wang.

"The fourteenth brother is the one who has worked hard. We brothers in the imperial city dare to call it hard work."

"Fourth brother was joking, it's not like I'm idle in the imperial city, but fourth brother is here to take care of Huang Ama and Er Niang for my younger brother." Yinzhen naturally heard the meaning of his words.He smiled casually, and said, "The fourteenth brother is gone, Huang Ama and Er Niang are also my Huang Ama and Er Niang, aren't they?"

"Yes, the fourth brother is right, if you don't mention the younger brother, you will forget." Yin Zhen sneered at what he said, but his face was still very calm.

"You and I have talked for a long time. I think the soldiers of the three armies are tired. Today, I came here to reward the three armies on the order of Huang Ama. Come here, bring the imperial wine."

As soon as the words were finished, some young eunuchs came up carrying wine jars.When all the soldiers of the three armies raised their wine cups.Yinzhen also raised the wine cup and said to the fourteenth elder brother, "Brother, I know that you are all proud men in the army. Don't care about the small cup or cup, today I took this wine bowl to comfort the soldiers." After finishing speaking Drank it down.The fourteenth elder brother always knew that Yinzhen could not drink, so he smiled when he saw him so bold, picked up the wine bowl and drank it with his head up.

The five thousand soldiers followed the action of the fourteenth elder brother and drank all the wine, with a bold and bold style.

After rewarding the army, five thousand soldiers set up camp, and they set up camp outside the capital according to the law, while the fourteenth elder brother entered the palace with Yinzhen to face the saint.The two walked side by side on the way back to the palace.Elder Fourteen spoke first, "It's been a few years since I've been here. Only after I have truly experienced life and death can I know the value of life. Thinking about it now, this Forbidden City is much calmer than the battlefield."

"The Forbidden City and the Forbidden City have always been peaceful. It's the fourteenth brother who thinks too much."

"Fourth Brother doesn't want to?"

"Fourth brother is all about eating vegetarian food and reciting Buddha, so he doesn't care much about government affairs for a long time. If you have free time in the future, younger brother can go to sit in the garden of fourth brother. Fourth brother planted some fruits and vegetables when he was free. A few days ago, Huang Ama Went there and said it was great.”

The fourteenth elder brother turned his head to look at Yinzhen, looked at him for a while without speaking, but then turned his head and smiled, "I can't imagine how long it's been since I saw you, and the fourth brother has such a good temperament. It's no wonder Huang Ama promised to say that you are moody before." The comments have been sent."

The fourteenth elder brother said this is nothing more than a run on Yinzhen to say that he is serious.

"Your Majesty Huang is not joking. If you don't comment on this, it will be inconsistent, and it will damage Huang Ama's prestige. You must mention it."

Now that the conversation has come to this point, I can't help Brother Fourteen to say anything more.The two of them simply remained silent all the way until the gate of Qianqing Palace.

"Hey, fourth master, fourteenth master is here, Long Live Lord is looking forward to it." Seeing Yinzhen and fourteenth elder brother, Li Dequan hurried over to beat Qian'er.

"Get up, is it convenient for Huang Ama to be inside?"

"It's convenient and convenient. Lord Long Live has been waiting for you early in the morning. Let the two masters go in quickly."

After hearing this, the two entered the Qianqing Palace together, and the room was very warm from the burning ground dragon.The two took off their cloaks and handed them to the little eunuch beside them.

"My son kowtowed to Huang Ama, long live Huang Ama."

"Get up, the fourth is fine, but the fourteenth hasn't greeted me for many years."

"My son always wanted to pay respects to Huang Ama when I was outside. Today I finally got my wish." Fourteenth elder brother knew he was climbing up the pole, and Kangxi laughed when he said that.I feel very good.

The three talked casually, and Kangxi let them go back.The fourteenth elder brother is naturally going to the Yonghe Palace to pay his respects to Concubine De.Yinzhen has no such plan.

"Fourteenth brother greets Erniang for me today. Erniang must have a lot to say to Fourteenth Brother today, and fourth brother will not go today. You can talk to Erniang well."

The fourteenth brother didn't force it, he cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Okay, the fourth brother will go back earlier. The younger brother will definitely pay his respects to the fourth brother."

After speaking, the two parted ways.As soon as Yinzhen returned to the mansion, Gao Wuyong greeted him.He leaned closer to Yinzhen and whispered, "Master, Eighth Master is waiting for you. He said that Yongzheng Gege sent a letter."

"Well, I see, you go down, if someone comes later, you just say what the Lord said, and no one is allowed to disturb."

"Yes, the slave knows, don't worry, Lord." Gao Wuyong knew that if Yinzhen met with Yinhu from the secret room, he would be guarded outside, and no one would be let in.One day, Nian Fujin insisted on going in, but he stopped him, and angrily said that he wanted to sue, but the master found out, but he grounded Nian Fujin for a month.Even saying hello to Fujin is avoided.After that time, no one dared to touch the bad luck again.

Yinzhen entered the secret room, and saw Yinhu sitting alone, holding a letter in his hand, as if he wanted to open a hole in the letter.Yinzhen knew it was the letter from Ma Jia Yongzheng.Yinzhen didn't say much, and asked directly, "What did you say in the letter?"

Yinhu handed the letter to Yinzhen, "Look for yourself."

I saw only four short words "preparing to sacrifice to heaven" written on the letter, but I don't know what Ma Jia's chanting of the zither was trying to express, whether there was a change when preparing to sacrifice to heaven, or preparing for Kangxi to sacrifice to heaven by himself, or preparing to let The fourteenth elder brother went to sacrifice to heaven?There are all three possibilities.Instead, both Yinzhen and Yinhu fell into speculation.

"Has the letter arrived?"

"Return to Grid, delivered."

"Okay, you can go down." After Ma Jia Yongzheng finished speaking, she still stood quietly.The long eyelashes were trembling by the cold wind, like a resting butterfly flapping its wings.Now she doesn't know what mood she is in, she guards Kangxi every day, so she naturally knows that Kangxi's health is gradually getting worse.Not to mention how Kangxi treats others, but to her, he is a thousand good and ten thousand good.Ma Jia Yongzheng couldn't even say a single bad thing, she knew that Kangxi made up for the money he lost to her mother on her own.Now I have to count him.Sometimes I even feel like I shouldn't.

"Emperor Niang, is it really right for my daughter to do this?"...

When November was approaching, Kangxi completely started to linger on the sick bed. Although he did not describe it as haggard, his appetite was extremely poor and his energy was also much weaker.The morning hours were also shortened.Most of the memorials for review in the court were crooked on the soft couch, dictated by Zhang Tingyu, instructed by Kangxi, and then written by Zhang Tingyu.

And the riddle that made Yinzhen Yinhu puzzled before also revealed the answer.

Wuzishuo in November of the 60th year of Kangxi.

○ Xinmao.winter solstice.Worship to heaven in Yuanqiu.The fourth son of the emperor and Prince Yinzhen of Shuoyong were sent to salute. Officials were sent to Yongling, Fuling, Zhaoling, Temporary Fengdian, Xiaoling, Xiaodongling, Empress Renxiao, Empress Xiaozhao, and Empress Xiaoyi.

○Stop next day Asahi.

○The Ministry of Officials, Zonghe Zhao Shixian, now in Henan, came to Beijing from Henan to write.He is the chief printing officer and the author Chen Pengnian is the acting agent.

As soon as this edict came out, the court was in an uproar.Sacrificing to heaven has always been done by the emperor.Today, Prince Yong was asked to sacrifice to heaven on his behalf, but the emperor also asked the general Wang to establish military merits, and the guard of honor for the expedition was regulated by the emperor.Thinking about it, it doesn't matter who the emperor is among the two brothers.Concubine De must be seated as Empress Dowager.So it was indispensable to curry favor with Concubine De.Kangxi saw it all, but didn't know what to do.

It is really cumbersome for the Son of Heaven to offer sacrifices to Heaven.Just because all the dynasties, from the princes and ministers down to the common people, believed that the Jade Emperor and all kinds of gods lived in the sky and under the earth, including the sun, moon, stars, clouds, rain, wind, thunder, land and other gods of heaven and earth, They obey the Jade Emperor's instructions and orders, and display their abilities on the human world.Water is the source of life, and all things are nourished by water.Ancient China has always been dominated by farming, and the creatures who have depended on the sky for generations can only pin their hope of a good harvest on the gift of heaven, so they have to constantly pray and worship these gods who they think can bless them.So the "Yu Festival" came into being.Yu (yu, reading fish) sacrifice, also known as Yu sacrifice, is a sacrifice held in ancient times to pray for rain.When did it originate, there is no way of textual research. It can only be summarized as "a long history".Its explanation is: The dragon star appears in the eastern sky every April (lunar calendar). At this time, everything on the earth is in a period of vigorous growth and urgently needs more rainwater, so it is the right time to hold the ritual of offering sacrifices to the sky and praying for rain. .With the development of history, yu sacrifices have gradually risen from folk prayer activities to national ceremonies under the rule of imperial power. In the capital, the emperor personally sacrificed or sent princes to sacrifice, and in local jurisdictions, the highest local officials worshiped. Formed the most complete ritual system, there are two types of ceremonial ceremonies: "regular yu" and "big yu".Changyu, the ancient meaning is "a ritual that is often performed every year, offering sacrifices to the gods of heaven and earth, and praying for the anointing and rain for the hundred grains."It also includes two categories: regular and irregular.The regular period is the month of Mengxia every year. The dragon star appears behind the sky, and the divination date is held for sacrifices.Irregularity means that the rainfall is insufficient, and the rain falls due to drought.The big yu is a yu ceremony specially designed for severe drought. After Meng Xia often yu, if the drought is severe, the big yu—the big yu ceremony should not be held lightly.

As the ceremonial officer sang praises of "burnt wood to welcome the god of the emperor" and played the Kagura to welcome the emperor, the green smoke from the burnt wood stove slowly rose into the sky, and the worship ceremony officially began.

On the sacrificial day, at dawn, the emperor, dressed in sacrificial attire, led the guard of honor, followed by the accompanying officials, and took a chariot from the Zhai Palace of the Temple of Heaven to the Circular Mound Altar.

On the first floor of the Circular Mound Altar, that is, the uppermost floor, facing south, there is a tablet of the God of Heaven; on the first floor, from east to west, there is a tablet of the Holy Ancestor (the late emperor of the Qing Dynasty).The four gods are on the second floor, with Daming (the god of the sun), stars facing west, Yeming (the god of the moon), and wind and thunder facing east-this is set up in accordance with the "system of the mound" for worshiping the sky during the winter solstice.There are green tents (tents) in front of each god.Sacrificial utensils and sacrifices are placed in front of each god according to a fixed number, including silk, calf, 簠, gui, 笾, bean, statue, jue, furnace, lamp and so on.The music department is set up under the altar for Zhonghe Shaole, which are hung on the left and right.The emperor first came to the second floor of the altar to pay his respects, the accompanying kings and Baylor stood on the third floor, Beizi and the Duke stood at the bottom of the steps, and the Baiguan station was located outside the Xingxing gate of the outer palace, arranged in order from left to right. All face north.

As the ceremonial officer sang praises of "burnt wood to welcome the god of the emperor" and played the Kagura to welcome the emperor, the green smoke from the burnt wood stove slowly rose into the sky, and the worship ceremony officially began.Under the respectful guidance of the praise officer, before ascending to the first floor of the altar, the emperor offered three sticks of incense, and then offered three petals of incense, and then went to the saints in turn to offer incense, and returned to the second floor to worship. position, kneel three times and bow nine times, and all officials kneel and kowtow.The second item is laying jade and silk: playing sacrificial music, the emperor ascends the altar, and presents jade (cangbi) and silk.The third item, kneeling into the zu: playing sacrificial music, the emperor ascends the altar, and presents the 胙 (zuo, reading sitting, sacrificial meat) cattle.The fourth item, offering gifts at the beginning of the trip: the emperor ascended the altar to the throne of God, knelt down to offer his title, and placed it in the center, and then everyone knelt down, and the officer stood on the "Tianxin Stone" in the center of the altar, knelt and read and wrote to God After reading the letter of congratulations, I knelt down and put them in the silk box in front of the throne of God, and the emperor led his officials to bow three times.Then, before the consorts are enthroned, they will present their titles one by one and perform three prostrations.During this process, sacrificial music is played, accompanied by dancers.Fifth item, Xingya presents: The emperor ascends to the altar, kneels and presents the nobles one by one, all placed on the left, the ceremony is the same as the ceremony at the beginning of the ceremony, but the blessings are not read, and the sacrificial music is still played, accompanied by dancers.The sixth item is the end-of-line gift: the emperor ascends to the altar, kneels and presents the nobles one by one, all placed on the right, and presents the same rituals.The four offering incense, laying silk, presenting nobles, and saluting in front of the god tablet are completed by the designated sub-official officials.Drinking blessings and receiving sacrifices: Playing sacrificial music, the emperor kneels down to receive blessings, wine and meat, and bows three times.In the end, the emperor led his officials to thank Fu Xun, kneeling three times and bowing nine times.The seventh item is to remove the food: to play sacrificial music, the hall officials of the Ministry of Rites go to the God's case, kneel down and kowtow three times, and withdraw with the green jade.The eighth item, Sending off the God of the Emperor: Play sacrificial music, and the emperor leads his ministers to kneel three times and bow nine times.Item [-], Wang Liao: There are ministers who send blessing plates, silk, food, and incense to each burner (the burner is used to burn the offerings of the throne and the throne, and the burnt wood stove is used to burn the offerings in front of the God's throne), and the music is played by the emperor. Go out from the left door in the south of the inner chamber, and go to Wangliao.When the Zhuban and silk were half burned, the ceremony was finished by the tribute officer, and the emperor changed his clothes and returned to Luan.

The etiquette system of Dayu and Changyu is slightly different.The day before the sacrifice, the emperor sent ministers to tell only the ancestors of the Taimiao, so when the Circular Mound Altar was set up on the second day, only the throne of the emperor and the four servants were set up.On the sacrificial day, the emperor wears rain crown plain clothes and enters the altar to offer sacrifices. The princes and officials below all wear rain crown plain clothes.At the end of the three offerings, the sacrificial music stopped, and sixteen dancers dressed as a whole, holding feathers in their hands, entered the altar, performed the "imperial dance", and sang the eight chapters of Yun-Han poems written by Emperor Qianlong at the same time.The rest of the ceremonies and movements are the same as Chang Yuli.

When it rains, send ministers to wear court clothes and go to salute according to the usual rituals, which is called "reporting sacrifices".

Yinzhen is going to follow such a set of procedures.After he went through this whole set of procedures, he also understood why Kangxi no longer insisted on doing it himself, it was really strenuous.After offering sacrifices to heaven, Yinzhen also felt exhausted.

Yinzhen met Yinhu at night, seeing his tired face, Yinhu couldn't help joking, "Fourth brother feels tired now, if he becomes emperor in the future, maybe he should sacrifice to heaven."

Yinzhen half-closed his eyes while drinking tea and said, "If the day really comes, the fourth brother would rather do more for the people of the Li people than to ask the heaven of this troublesome son."

"The fourth brother's words are disrespectful."

"It's not disrespectful, but I just don't want to be the emperor who doesn't ask the common people and asks the ghosts and gods. If God blesses you, you should also regard it as an emperor who works hard. If a good emperor benefits the people, God will naturally favor him. If he is a fool, he will sacrifice every day. The sky worships the gods, but the heavens that are not seen show mercy. If the fourth brother really has that day, he will not sacrifice to the sky, but let the people have enough to eat and drink." What Yinzhen said at this time, even he himself did not think of it, A prophecy.And this time offering sacrifices to the heavens became his only activity to worship the heavens.

From the establishment of the Temple of Heaven in the Ming Dynasty to the demise of the Qing Dynasty, only Yongzheng was the one who went to worship the heaven.And only him.