prosperous age

Chapter 311 Chapter 310
Through his last visit to the Yan Mansion, Wei Guangde knew that the attitude of the Yan family towards him was no different from what he had expected.

That is, the surface is still the same, but he has been secretly removed from the list of officials that can be trusted by the Yan Mansion.

But that's fine, at least on the surface, the relationship between Wei Guangde and the Yan family has not changed, if the Yan family suddenly becomes warm to him, Wei Guangde must be careful.

Still according to the past habit, it is enough to go to the Yan Mansion every month. I did this before, and I still do it now.

Day by day, Wei Guangde naturally returned to the Hanlin Academy after his vacation was over, but he also went to the Zhan Shifu and the Metropolitan Procuratorate every month, and he still had errands on both sides.

Time soon approached the end of the new year, and the Nine Frontier Towns naturally discovered some problems during this year's inspections, and the memorials were sent to the court, and the cabinet naturally called the ministers to discuss it before submitting it to the palace. Hand in the playbook and draft ticket.

Naturally, everything is not difficult, just follow Jizhen's procedures.

The uproar caused by Tang Shunzhi and Wei Guangde's memorials sent to Xiyuan has gradually subsided, but the storms in other military towns have just begun to brew.

On the first day of November in the 37th year of Jiajing, Wei Yuanji and others, the depositor of Charlie Bian, Ke Youge, impeached all the ministers for invading and dereliction of duty.

Emperor Jiajing issued a decree: In recent years, there have been too many food distributions in the border area, and the food officials have arbitrarily embezzled money, resulting in a loss of money and food.Gao Guang, the former Guanliang doctor, and Liu Chongwen, the principal, were both dismissed and arrested in Beijing for questioning; Ma Jiude, the former governor of Jizhou, and Ai Xichun, the former governor of Baoding, were dismissed from their posts; Lian was demoted to a foreigner; Dong Ce, Cao Lin, Wang Shouzhi, Wang Huizheng, Wang Ji, Li Qiao, Zhang Bangyan, Qiu Wei, Ji Sui, Ji Lian, Li Yu, Zhang Feng, Hu Zhihe, etc. Liu Lusheng and Liu Lusheng were each demoted to the second rank; Yi Jiefu, Zhang Zishun, and Yang Yinxian, deputy envoys of Jizhou military preparations, each lost their salaries for three months.
Wei Guangde carefully read the transcript of the imperial decree, and recalled the officials involved in it.

The list of punishments is certainly not wrong. Officials of the Ming Dynasty were too corrupt these days. If the officials were to stand in a row and kill every other person, almost half of the corrupt officials would slip through the net.

It's just obvious that this time Wei Yuanji and other people in charge of the investigation were merciful and only dealt with a small part. After all, it is impossible to directly sweep the entire officialdom of Ji Town.

At the close of the new year, naturally not many officials are willing to be sent out to the capital at this time. Wei Guangde, who knows the inside story, dare not go to the Metropolitan Procuratorate during this period, for fear that the officials inside will arrest the strong man and arrange him It would be miserable to go to Yansui or Ningxia Town or Gansu Town.

If he disappeared for a while, the people in the Metropolitan Procuratorate would naturally forget him as a non-staff member.

Of course, he is actually not considered a non-staff member. After all, Wei Guangde still holds the badge of Fujian Taoist censor in his hand, and he is considered an official in the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

It's just that the censor of Fujian Province will not be sent out easily now, including Zhejiang Province. After all, when he goes to the local area, the censor can basically lead the army to fight. This will naturally disperse the power of Hu Zongxian and Governor Hu. This is Yan Song and others. What the officials didn't want to see was also what the emperor didn't want to see.

Time has entered December, and the New Year is approaching. This is Xu Jianglan's first Spring Festival in Beijing, so he is naturally full of curiosity.

She had heard about the Aoshan Lantern Festival in the capital for a long time, and naturally she had longed for it, and this time she followed Mr. Wei Guangde to the capital to see it.

When I arrived in the capital, except for the discomfort at the beginning, everything else was fine. After all, there were relatives in the Dingguo Mansion in the capital, so Xu Jianglan quickly became acquainted with the honorable female family members in the capital.

When the Wei family started to prepare for the new year, a large number of officials left the capital full of reluctance, and went to the border towns to investigate the moths that had embezzled the money and grain of the army town. angry.

Was the embezzled money and food really corrupted by the officials below?
Of course not, just kidding, the military salary has already started to disappear when it leaves Beijing, no matter whether the money comes from Taikuang or Changyingku, the Ministry of Households and Taipu Temple have already collected routinely, and then released it to the hands of officials at all levels Another layer drifted up, layer by layer until it reached the hands of the sergeant of the guard.

But by this time, there must still be a scapegoat to take the blame.

"Crackling."

The sound of firecrackers resounded through the streets and alleys of the capital, and children played happily in the streets.

Although the people in the northern border towns and the southern coastal areas are still suffering from the trauma of the war, the people in the capital cannot feel all this. The adults have already started to go to the market to prepare for the New Year.

The three major festivals of Winter Solstice, New Year's Day and Lantern Festival are very close. With so many holidays, Wei Guangde naturally took Xu Jianglan to visit various houses in the capital.

Early on, Xiyuan made a decree that this year's palace festival will be the same as in previous years, that is, the Zhengdan Grand Court will not be held, and everyone will go to kowtow to the empty throne and it will be over. As for the matter of ordering the wife to enter the palace to greet the queen, it is natural nor.

Since the 26th year of Jiajing's palace was on fire, which resulted in the death of Empress Xiaolie Fang in the sea of ​​fire, Emperor Jiajing no longer canonized the queen, and the women in Beijing did not have to enter the palace to greet the queen. In fact, even when there was a queen, Emperor Jiajing would Often these ceremonies are avoided.

Of course, events such as the fireworks and the Aoshan Lantern Festival will not be cancelled. Who made Emperor Jiajing like it very much.

Fast forward to the 38th year of Jiajing, and on the night of the Lantern Festival, Wei Guangde took Xu Jianglan to Chengtianmen to watch the lanterns.

Today Xu Jianglan naturally dressed up carefully as usual. In fact, Wei Guangde doesn't like the cosmetics of this era very much, but Xu Jianglan can't stand it.

She went out in a full dress, but she had to wear a veil on her head, and her whole face was covered by a light veil, and she didn't know who could see it when she was dressed up.

But in the past, Wei Guangde also saw many noble ladies dressed like this at the Aoshan Lantern Festival and came out to watch the lanterns surrounded by maids, so naturally he didn't pay much attention to them.

Tens of thousands of lanterns built into more than ten stories high "Long Live Aoshan Lantern" are undoubtedly the most eye-catching existence in the whole lantern festival. With the song, dance and performance of Gong'e and musicians, Xu Jianglan soon fell into the ocean of colorful lights.

Wei Guangde has been watching it for several years. To be honest, the first time I saw it, I was shocked. The second and third times, the shocking effect naturally diminished. Now I don’t feel much after seeing it. I can only do a good job of protecting the flowers with peace of mind. Watching the daughter-in-law pace in the sea of ​​lights, slowly moving forward with the crowd.

Not long after, they entered the center of the Lantern Festival surrounded by servants and maidservants, and walked to the foot of Mount Ao.

There were Zhao Hu, Li San and other guards opening the way in front, pushing away the people in front to give Wei Guangde and the others a space.

For such a family, the people of the capital are also used to it. When they are squeezed away by these big and thick men, they can only curse a few words in their mouths, but they cannot be heard by the other party.

In the capital city, there are too many such people, how can ordinary people afford to provoke them.

At this time, the best place to watch the lanterns under Aoshan Mountain has been taken by such crowds, and the common people are lucky to stand behind them to watch the lanterns.

After Wei Guangde stood still, he looked around and saw many familiar faces.

Well, most of the people standing here are the family members of officials from various yamen in the capital, and Wei Guangde also kept smiling and bowed all around.

Not long after, there was another commotion behind him, which temporarily overwhelmed the sound of drums and music on Aoshan Mountain.

Wei Guangde didn't need to look back to know that it should be another dignitary or a Beijing official like him who brought his family.

Although he knew what was going on, Wei Guangde still had to look back, and if he knew him, he had to say hello there.

Today is the first day of the opening of the Aoshan Lantern Festival. Naturally, there are many people here. It is also good to meet acquaintances when you go out the next day. This is the same for officials.

It's just that when Wei Guangde looked back, although the guards outside the group were all dressed as ordinary servants, one person inside caught Wei Guangde's attention.

Isn't that a high arch?

Isn't that white face next to Li Fang?

They guarded a young man in his 20s from left to right, hiss.
As for the female relatives who followed behind the three of them, Wei Guangde didn't take a second look. Needless to say, he knew that they should be Princess Yu Zhang and other concubines. Although they couldn't see their clothes clearly, they all had the same hairstyle as Xu Jianglan. Wearing a veiled hat.

Guessing that this new group of people is Yu Wang, Wei Guangde's heart was moved, he had never had a chance to meet this highness, and it seems that he came to see the Aoshan Lantern Festival today.

In fact, when Wei Guangde came here in the past, he would choose to go on the second day of the Lantern Festival, because the traffic on the first day was too large, and it was not convenient to move around under the crowd.

But this year, it was Xu Jianglan who came out to look at the lights. Well, in the inner house, Xu Jianglan has always had the final say in the Wei family, and Wei Guangde would give her three points most of the time.

A little petite, but for the sake of Xu Jianglan's pretty face, Wei Guangde endured it.

But today, Xu Jianglan dressed up in the afternoon, and jumped up to Wei Guangde with a veiled hat, and either walked around him a few times, or spun around twice on the spot. to the skirt under the gauze.

When the lotus steps are moved at first glance, the dress is wearing a long skirt, and the breeze blows the cover, and the skirt flutters like flowers blooming when turning in circles.

Well, Wei Guangde knew that Xu Jianglan's performance was to go to the scene to see the grand occasion on the first day of the opening of the Aoshan Lantern Festival.

Unexpectedly, it was only because of Xu Jianglan's willfulness that he had the opportunity to meet King Yu for the first time.

In the past, most of King Yu stayed in the palace and basically did not go out. This was also to avoid suspicion and save himself and others less trouble, but today is different.

Wei Guangde looked at the crowded crowd behind him, motioned Zhao Hu over there to make room for him, and at the same time stared at that side intently.

The guards of Prince Yu's Mansion also noticed that there was a bit of space here, and the location for viewing the lights was also good, and the forward line was slightly shifted and squeezed in.

As he approached, Wei Guangde saw Li Fang's eyes flicking to his side, and unconsciously cupped his fists and made a bow to that side.

Li Fang has sharp eyes, he recognized Wei Guangde the moment Wei Guangde cupped his hands, the smile on his face appeared and disappeared instantly, he turned his head and whispered something into the ear of the man in the middle, the young man dressed as a nobleman in the middle had natural eyes Turn to Wei Guangde.

Wei Guangde was clasping his fists to salute there right now, the young master followed Wei Guangde's example and bowed to him.

Ok?
Is it appropriate for King Yu to salute me?

This is the first sentence that came to Wei Guangde's head.

Although there is no emperor in later generations, Wei Guangde was still deeply poisoned by the braid drama.

In fact, the Ming Dynasty and the Song Dynasty were similar, and the relationship between the emperor and the ministers was still very casual.

Although the emperor holds the power of life and death, whether it is the emperor of the Song Dynasty or the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he generally chooses to treat ministers with a more tolerant attitude.

Wei Guangde soon came to his senses, now is the Ming Dynasty, and these ministers are not the emperor's slaves.

Immediately Wei Guangde raised the hand that had just been put down again, and bowed to His Royal Highness King Yu in salute.

Soon, people from Prince Yu’s Mansion crowded to stand next to Wei’s family. The female family members of Prince Yu’s Mansion were just like Xu Jianglan, watching the maids dancing on Aoshan Mountain with great interest. Only women are interested in the Aoshan Lantern Festival every year. For men That's the way it is for us.

In the capital city, there is a Jiaosifang, so officials like Wei Guangde naturally cannot do without the Kabuki of the Jiaosifang when they have a banquet.

However, Yu Wang stood still in the guards, pretending to watch the grand occasion on Aoshan Mountain with interest, and Gao Gong beside him had squeezed out the crowd of Yu Wang's mansion and entered Wei's side.

The guards of the Wei family saw Gao Gong familiar, and did not stop him.

Gao Gong also visited several times after Wei Guangde returned to Beijing. Although many guards didn't know who he was, they also knew that he had been to the house, so they happily gave up a passage.

"Master Gao, Ya is very happy."

Wei Guangde joked when he saw Gao Gong approaching with two lanterns in his hands.

"This is a colored lantern made by the craftsmen of the palace. I specially brought it here as a gift to Guangde Shandai."

Gao Gong said with a smile, approached while speaking, and passed the colored lantern in his hand to Wei Guangde.

In the Ming Dynasty, the Lantern Festival was also known as "Shangyuan Festival", "Yuanxi" or "Lantern Festival". In addition to the custom of eating glutinous rice balls, the most important activity was to watch lanterns, which is the so-called Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

According to historical records, after Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang established his capital in Yingtian, in order to celebrate the Lantern Festival that year, he recruited wealthy businessmen from all over the world and set off lanterns for 10 days.

At that time, colorful buildings were built in the city of Nanjing, and tens of thousands of water lamps were set off on the Qinhuai River, which was very spectacular for a while.

The city of Beijing is located in the north, so naturally it does not have the same conditions as Yingtianfu in the south. Although there are rivers, it is not suitable for large-scale lighting of krathongs. Therefore, the Aoshan Lantern Festival that existed in Nanjing was moved outside the Meridian Gate, and the scale was multiplied. .

When the Wei family came out to see the lanterns, they naturally prepared them, but they were all high-end goods bought on the street, so the lanterns were naturally not as exquisite as the ones handed over by Gao Gong.

These two are revolving lanterns. Craftsmen light candles inside the lamps, and use the heat generated by the candles to create airflow and rotate the axles.

There are paper-cuts on the wheel shaft, and the candlelight projects the shadows of the paper-cuts on the screen, and the image keeps moving. Because many pictures of ancient generals riding horses are drawn on each surface of the lamp, and when the lamp turns, it looks like several people are chasing each other. Hence the name Revolving Horse Lantern.

(End of this chapter)