Chapter 1112
The Western King's Crown Prince's Congratulatory Memorial
Chapter 1112 The Western King's Crown Prince's Congratulatory Memorial
Chang Le Palace Inner Court
Xia Shouzhong cried out softly, and with a slight movement of the whisk in his hand, thousands of golden threads hung down, radiating light.
Finally, he raised his eyes and glanced at the young eunuch who had delivered the message, his gaze sweeping over him.
"That little brat Gong Huaiyu, the eldest son of the Western King, why is he in such a hurry? He dares to submit a congratulatory memorial at the Meridian Gate. Has he forgotten the rules of the Office of Transmission?"
His voice returned to calm, but the undeniable authority in his words prompted him to ask another question, thinking of the steward on duty at the Meridian Gate that day.
"Li Dequan didn't stop it?"
"Reporting to Steward Xia, Eunuch Li couldn't stop him!"
Xiao Luzi hurriedly replied.
"The young master is holding up the congratulatory letter and refuses to leave. The guards dare not move. Moreover, the young master keeps shouting. Chief Steward Li has already sent Xiao Zhuzi to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to report. Fearing that you might be worried, he specially sent this servant to inform you!"
The words were cleverly chosen. Xia Shouzhong remained silent for a moment. Since the Emperor had received the news, there must be a response. He turned and walked towards the warm pavilion.
"Understood. You wait here, I'll go in and report."
Footsteps were light and slow, the blue satin boots making no sound on the carpet. Incense burned in the warm chamber, dispelling the stuffy heat.
From near to far, the warm pavilion contained nothing else but a bed with a blue gauze curtain, and at the front was a futon. The entire pavilion also had a carpet with a tai chi symbol laid out in front of the bed.
At this moment, the retired emperor sat cross-legged on a futon, holding a scroll of "Strategies for the Northern Frontier" in his hands, studying it carefully by the light shining in through the window.
"Your Majesty, this servant requests an audience."
A soft exclamation came from the entrance. The retired emperor Zhou Shengzhuo slowly opened his eyes. Although his eyes were cloudy, a glimmer of light remained. He put down the book in his hand and spoke.
"Yes, come in. What's up?"
The aged voice was surprisingly strong, and his fingers traced the pages of the book. The treatise on the Northern Frontier was a strategy for the northern frontier written by Wang Shuyi, the top scholar he had personally selected years before.
"Your Majesty, the steward on duty at the Meridian Gate just reported that Gong Huaiyu, the heir of the Western Prince's Mansion, presented a congratulatory letter at the Meridian Gate to wish you a happy birthday."
Zhou Shengzhuo paused in his grip on the book, then looked up at Xia Shouzhong, who was dressed in a Daoist robe, resembling a Daoist immortal.
"This child, like his father, is very headstrong. Since he is going to present a congratulatory memorial, I suppose the emperor has agreed."
As she spoke, a hint of warmth appeared on her originally cold face as she reminisced;
"Twenty years ago, in the battle of Liangzhou in the Northwest, his father was the first to charge into battle and fought to the death until the Xianbei people fled in panic. Now his father is old and has lost his courage, but his son has grown up."
Xia Shouzhong understood the Emperor Emeritus's intentions, but what about the Emperor himself?
“The emperor will surely spread the word about the favor between the emperor and the king, but there are many rules in the palace. The prince’s noise in front of the Meridian Gate is ultimately a violation of the rules.”
"Hmph, rules are rules, but people are flexible,"
The retired emperor snorted coldly, rolled up his wide sleeves, and straightened his posture.
"If he truly didn't understand etiquette, he should have made a scene at tomorrow's birthday banquet when there are many people. Instead, he chose to do it a day early, and even waited for the carriages from the Western Prince's residence to deliver tribute. This shows that he didn't want to embarrass me, but he also wanted me to know his intentions."
Reaching out, they lifted the curtain, revealing the Emperor Emeritus's rosy face. He looked nothing like someone suffering from illness.
"The Northwest is bitterly cold. Gong Ze has guarded the Liangzhou Corridor for twenty years. Even if he has no merit, he has still worked hard. The fact that he remembers my birthday is better than anything else. Since he has come, let's accept him. No matter who comes, we should include him in the list and have that dog of a lackey, Li Dequan, write it down and read it aloud."
"Yes, Your Majesty is wise. Since everyone has come, accepting the congratulatory message would be a way of fulfilling the favor of the Western Prince's Mansion. If we don't accept it, it would make the court seem cold-hearted. This servant will send someone back to deliver the message immediately."
Xia Shouzhong lowered his head, understanding the Emperor Emeritus's intentions. Many things would be easier then. Just as he was about to leave, the Emperor Emeritus tapped the corner of the table, calling him back.
"Wait a minute. Since we're going to accept it, we should not only accept it, but accept it openly. Tell Li Dequan that I know about it. Considering his sincerity, I will accept the congratulatory letter first. Also, make a copy of the congratulatory letter and send it to Chang Le Palace. I want to take a look at it first."
Xia Shouzhong was taken aback upon hearing this. According to the rules, the congratulatory memorial should first be sent to the cabinet for copying, then presented to the Empress for review, and finally delivered to Chang Le Palace.
"Does Master wish to see first?"
"Hmm! What, I can't bear to see it?"
The authoritative words pressed down, and Xia Shouzhong quickly knelt on the ground, repeatedly saying he dared not. After a long while, perhaps the Emperor Emeritus felt a little tired, his voice softened slightly.
"Shouzhong, you have served me for more than 30 years, you should understand. The Western Prince's Mansion is a big tree that attracts the wind, and there are many people watching it over the years. Today, the Gong family's actions are ostensibly to celebrate the birthday, but secretly they are to show their loyalty. My public acceptance is to tell all the civil and military officials that the Western Prince's Mansion is still the same Western Prince's Mansion as before, and I still remember their contributions."
As people get older, there are some things they can't let go of. Xia Shouzhong felt a warmth in his heart and was moved to tears. He quickly bowed and replied.
"This servant understands, I will go and convey the decree immediately."
Just as he was about to get up and leave, perhaps the Emperor Emeritus remembered something else.
"and many more!"
Stop the person and give them some instructions;
"Tell Li Dequan to open the Meridian Gate to receive congratulatory gifts. Don't let people feel that the court has neglected a meritorious official. If the emperor asks, just say that it was I who ordered them to be received."
"Here!"
Xia Shouzhong nodded emphatically, turned around and strode out of the warm pavilion, leaving behind the lonely figure of the retired Emperor Changsheng. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on him, making him look as if he had attained immortality, and the Northern Frontier Strategy in his hands seemed even more heavy.
outside,
Xiao Luzi had been waiting anxiously under the corridor. When he saw Steward Xia come out, he hurriedly went to greet him. Xia Shouzhong didn't say much, only saying:
"Come with me to the Meridian Gate."
"Yes, Steward Xia."
After yawning, he quickly followed. The two left the corridor covered with vines, where a group of eunuchs and servants were already following them. The group walked very fast, with Chief Eunuch Xia at the head. His graying temples swayed in the sunlight, and the whisk in his hand swayed from side to side. This trip was sure to attract a lot of attention.
At this time in front of the Meridian Gate
Gong Huaiyu had already presented the congratulatory letter and hadn't said much when the Meridian Gate opened wide. Zhou Mingxuan, the Right Councilor of the Court of Judicial Review, hurried over, his boots stepping over the white marble platform. Behind him were three colleagues, their blue egret insignia swaying gently on the steps. The four of them passed through the Golden Water Bridge and stopped below the city gate tower in front of the Meridian Gate.
"Lord Zhou, how should we receive and record the congratulatory gift from the Crown Prince of the West? There's no precedent for this in the established etiquette."
Zhao Xiu, the head of the Ministry of Rites, lowered his voice, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the gold thread on his sleeve, while his eyes glanced at the group of the heir of the Western Prince's Mansion not far ahead.
Before Zhou Mingxuan could respond immediately, a soft tinkling of a copper bell came from the bell tower. The eunuch on duty, Li Dequan, dressed in a purple robe with a python pattern, escorted by two other eunuchs, came over after receiving the congratulatory message.
"Lord Zhou, I have been waiting here for quite some time."
The voice wasn't loud, but everyone around could hear it clearly.
"Uh, Eunuch Li, I just received the news. I came here to collect the congratulatory letter. The Emperor has decreed that the Western King has made great contributions in guarding the Northwest and should be here first."
The message came from the cabinet, and the group practically ran over; they shouldn't be too late.
"Thank you, Your Excellencies. Your humble servant, Gong Huaiyu, is here on the orders of my father, the King, to congratulate the Emperor Emeritus on his sixtieth birthday and to present this congratulatory letter and gifts."
Gong Huaiyu, along with the crowd in front of the Meridian Gate, led the entire Western Prince's Mansion in performing the grand ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows in front of the Meridian Gate. Behind him, the servants opened the boxes containing the gifts one by one. Under the sunlight, the boxes shone brightly, dazzling the eyes of the imperial guards on duty below the city wall.
Li Dequan coughed lightly.
“I will verify the gifts according to the rules, Lord Zhou, let’s go together.”
"Yes, father-in-law."
Zhou Mingxuan stepped forward in response and went to inspect the items with Zhao Xiu and the others who came with him. Everywhere they went, they found rare treasures. In particular, in a gold box, there was a jade ruyi that was pure white and carved with the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. It was so lifelike that even the flute hole of Han Xiangzi was clearly visible. "This is a top-quality warm jade material, made by a famous craftsman."
Zhao Xiu, from the Ministry of Rites, gasped in astonishment. Such a rare treasure was actually in the hands of the Western Prince's Mansion, along with other items, none of which were the same.
Only Li Dequan, who was standing there watching, smiled slightly. He had seen these rare items before; they all came from the Western Regions, especially the jade and jewels, which were quite rare in the Central Plains.
at this time,
Seeing that the officials had already inspected the gifts, Gong Huaiyu stepped forward to Eunuch Li, took out a sandalwood box from her bosom, and handed it over. Li Dequan raised an eyebrow upon seeing the box, knowing it had ulterior motives.
Hesitantly, he reached out and took it, asking softly;
"Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?"
"In reply to your question, Your Excellency, this is the 'Strategy for Pacifying the Western Regions' written by the Western Prince's Mansion after nearly twenty years of integrating the geography and landscape of the entire Northwest. If His Majesty approves, Father should lead the troops as the vanguard."
These words were so weighty that Li Dequan's limbs went weak, and he almost knelt on the ground. Fortunately, two trusted eunuchs were by his side, who quickly helped him up, preventing him from losing face in the palace. However, the box in his hand felt as heavy as a thousand pieces of gold. Did the Western King's Mansion intend to launch a western expedition? But the Xianbei people were not to be trifled with. He was filled with conflict, but he had already clutched the box to his chest.
This scene had already been spotted by those who were interested.
By the window on the third floor of the teahouse, Zhang Jinyu stroked her teacup, savoring the tea. She had been there almost all day before finally noticing the bustling activity; those glittering objects must be rare treasures.
"My lord, it seems the Western Prince's mansion has gone all out. This young master is not only audacious, but he has also brought over items from various Western Regions countries as gifts for the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet."
Ningbian stood behind him with his arms crossed, the tiger head pattern on his light armor making him look particularly majestic. He stared ahead, and the gifts he presented were mostly jade items; the rest were not apparent.
"Don't you think about it? The Western King has been operating in Liangzhou for nearly thirty years, and his influence is deep-rooted. These things are just a drop in the ocean. Remember the gifts that the Emperor Emeritus bestowed upon the Marquis's Mansion? They were all from various countries in the Western Regions, including jade artifacts from the Cheshi Kingdom. These things were clearly tributes from the Western King's Mansion. Although Gong Huaiyu is young, there are many extraordinary people and events in the King's Mansion. He had already planned this all along."
Thinking of the gifts bestowed upon him by the Marquis's mansion, although rare, they were ultimately not worth his attention. If it weren't for the Xianbei people blocking the trade routes in the Western Regions, these things would have been nothing more than ordinary items.
"What you say is absolutely right, my lord. The ginseng and other precious medicinal herbs sent this time are priceless within the Great Wall, but they are just ordinary items outside the Great Wall."
Ningbian understood these principles perfectly well, but as the first person to present gifts at the birthday banquet, he surely wouldn't have only sent these things.
Perhaps as she had thought, just as everyone was watching, a series of hurried footsteps came from downstairs. When the footsteps stopped, Zhang Jinyu turned around and saw that it was him.
"My lord, this humble general pays his respects to you."
With a loud shout,
The people coming downstairs all saluted. Kang Mengyu looked excited, his forehead covered in sweat, clearly having traveled a long way.
Zhang Jinyu waved and smiled.
"You're still so polite, kid. We've known each other for a long time, no need for so many formalities. Get up."
"Thank you, Your Excellency,"
Kang Mengyu quickly stood up, and the imperial guards behind him did the same, standing behind him.
"My lord, you are the commander-in-chief of the southern expedition, and I admire you the most. The battle in the south of the capital has earned you a lot of merits. After returning to the capital, you will be rewarded with a noble title. This is a family heirloom, and I will never forget it. Besides, the imperial decree in the palace has not been revoked regarding your command."
This is what puzzled all the court officials in the capital. Generally speaking, after a victorious battle, the commander-in-chief who led the troops to war would relinquish his military power and take away his position upon returning to the capital. However, Marquis Luoyun did not do this. In other words, although the army that led the southern expedition had dispersed back to various parts of the capital, it was still nominally still in power.
I had asked my father, the Marquis of Baoning, about this, but he just smiled and didn't give me an answer.
"Haha, you little rascal, you're sure to say something nice. Perhaps the Emperor was too busy with official duties and forgot about this matter. Come, sit down and have some cool tea to cool off. What brings you here today?"
Zhang Jinyu laughed heartily, turned around and sat down at the table. She gestured for Kang Mengyu to join her, and Kang Mengyu returned the gesture with a fist and palm salute, then walked over, pulled up a chair, and sat down casually. Seeing the iced tea on the table, she poured herself a large bowl, gulped it down, and finally felt much cooler.
"My lord, I came to the Meridian Gate today on my father's orders. I didn't expect that the Imperial Guards on the left and right would also move. I thought I didn't have enough soldiers, but I was relieved to see you here."
After all, the Left and Right Guards already numbered ten thousand, plus the Right Guard Commander and Xiao Cheng, elite troops who fought their way out from south of the capital. Anyone facing them would feel pressure.
Hearing this explanation, Zhang Jinyu finally understood why the Imperial Guards were interested. It seemed that the Marquis of Baoning had also received a secret imperial decree.
"Enough of the small talk, let's try these. Bring them here."
"Palace matters should not be discussed here," he said, slamming his hand on the table. Immediately, personal guards brought over plates of chilled watermelon. Kang Mengyu's eyes widened at the sight; forgetting all etiquette, he grabbed a slice and began to eat.
"Thank you, Your Excellency. You're welcome."
I ate three large pieces in one go, and only then did I feel completely refreshed.
"My lord, a scout reports that the procession from the Prince of Nan's residence to present congratulatory gifts has already departed from the manor. The Prince of Nan's heir, Lang Lin, will be presenting the congratulatory memorial. They will arrive shortly."
Her eyes flickered; she had sensed this news upon arrival, but hesitated to speak of it openly. Zhang Jinyu glanced out the window. The presentation of congratulatory gifts by the Western Prince's residence was nearing its end. Palace officials had come to register the gifts and carry them all into the palace. It seemed that after a day of relative quiet, things were finally getting lively again.
"They've come, what can you do to stop them? As the saying goes, once there's one, there will be two. The Western King's Mansion has taken the lead, how can the other mansions fall behind? The Lang family of the Southern King and the Gong family of the Western King are evenly matched. If they fall behind this time, as the saying goes, if you're slow at one step, you'll be slow at every step. It seems that the Lang family also has some concerns."
Thinking of the secret letter from Shen Baoan, the Lang family's defeat in the southwestern countries was probably true, perhaps even more devastating.
"What you say is very true, my lord. Then, my lord, should we also present our offerings this time? If we submit our congratulatory message tomorrow, wouldn't we be falling behind others?"
Seemingly having figured it out, Kang Mengyu became somewhat impatient. The military and civil officials in the capital all followed the established etiquette and were to present their congratulations the next day. However, the Western Prince's Mansion had changed the rules today. If the princes all came to present their congratulatory messages, and the others did not, how would the palace view this?
Thinking of this, Kang Mengyu became somewhat restless, but didn't know what to do.
"The gifts we give are about expressing our feelings, not these gold and silver items. This is just the beginning, so why are you in such a hurry? Tomorrow morning, all the gates of the palace will be opened wide, and there will be plenty of places to present our gifts. Although the Western Prince's Mansion is leading the way today, in general, the Four Kings and Eight Dukes and other nobles have not yet submitted their congratulatory messages. It's not your turn yet, so why are you in such a rush?"
In any case, there are still several princes within the pass who have not been moved at all. According to their ranks, it is not their place to overstep the bounds.
Upon hearing the Marquis's advice, Kang Mengyu suddenly realized his mistake and nodded gratefully.
"Your Excellency sees things clearly. I was too hasty. But we should wait until all the princes and the Duke's mansion have sent their congratulatory gifts before we get to attend. However, Your Excellency, if they all come today, wouldn't the birthday banquet be brought forward? Wouldn't that disrupt the proper etiquette for tomorrow's grand banquet?"
The presentation of gifts by the princes in front of the Meridian Gate is the highlight of the birthday banquet. If the princes present their gifts today, how should the presentation of gifts be arranged tomorrow? Kang Mengyu was not only curious but also had questions, after all, many envoys would be participating. He had heard that even the Jurchens had sent someone to deliver congratulatory gifts and were still on their way. The envoys from Donghu had already secretly taken up residence at the Court of State Ceremonial.
"That is indeed a problem,"
Zhang Jinyu was also taken aback. It seemed there was such a procedure: after the princes presented their gifts, the envoys from various countries would then present their gifts in the hall. If the princes presented their gifts first today, how would tomorrow's presentations be handled? Did they expect the Eighth Prince to lead the way and do it all again?
"It seems that the princes have other arrangements. If all the princes come to present their gifts, then the etiquette for tomorrow will need to be changed."
Just then, another loud shout rang out. The caravan of the Prince of Nan's mansion had arrived at the Meridian Gate. Lang Lin, the heir of the Prince of Nan, dressed in brown clothes, held a sandalwood box in his left hand and raised a congratulatory letter in his right hand, and said loudly.
The Prince of Nan's Mansion presented a congratulatory letter.
"Wishing the Emperor Emeritus a long and blessed life, may he enjoy eternal happiness and live as long as the heavens!"
A loud shout caused the two people inside the building to look at each other in bewilderment.
"This"
(End of this chapter)