Ming Jiajing: Starting from Immortality

Chapter 128: The birthday party is coming, send the king off from the capital!

There is a lot to do in the cabinet.

The most important thing at the moment is the emperor’s birthday.

This was called the Wanshou Festival in the court.

According to etiquette, a grand celebration should be held in the capital, and the emperor should accept congratulations from civil and military officials in the palace.

But for well-known reasons, the segment of ministers congratulating each other was omitted, but not completely omitted.

What was exempted was the audience, but not the gift.

You don't have to be there in person, but the gift must be there.

The court officials could not help but complain that the emperor had previously made up the arrears of salaries for officials in the two capitals and thirteen provinces, probably just to allow the officials to give better gifts on the Emperor's birthday.

After colleagues jokingly asked each other about their gifts, they changed their own gifts, vowing to surpass each other.

This is the officialdom!
This is the way of the world!
In order to celebrate the emperor's birthday, the Ministry of Revenue allocated 100,000 taels of silver to decorate the palace and the streets of the capital with colorful decorations.

Colorful paintings, flowers, silks, etc. fill the streets and alleys, making people feel festive just by looking at them.

Moreover, the cabinet reported to Yuxi Palace, allowing opera troupes from all over the world to enter the capital to add to the festive atmosphere.

By the Ming Dynasty, there were already many types of folk entertainment, especially opera, with a large number of repertoires of southern and northern operas.

However, Emperor Taizu Gao loved southern opera, especially the southern opera "Pipa Ji". There is a saying that "what the superior likes, the subordinates will like even more."

Southern opera was able to flourish, and even in its later development, on the emperor's birthday, only southern opera troupes were allowed to come to Beijing to celebrate the emperor's birthday.

Nanxi is the predecessor of Kunqu Opera, which is the Kunshan dialect that combines opera and Wu dialect.

With successive emperors supporting southern opera and Kunqu opera, the Ming Dynasty banned other operas for a time.

But the limitations of Kunqu Opera are too great. Even a scholar has to flip through the "Twenty-one Histories" to understand the content and allusions sung in and out of the play. How can the poor people who work hard in the fields understand it?
It is so elegant, but when it reaches the extreme, no one listens to it anymore and it becomes something for the amusement of a small circle.

The court's enthusiasm could not cover up the people's indifference, and the banned operas that were truly sought after and loved by the common people gradually returned.

However, other opera troupes were never able to enter the capital, so the cabinet's memorial this time was bold.

The reaction of Yuxi Palace also frightened many people. The emperor approved the cabinet's request, and all opera troupes in the world could come to the capital to perform.

Southern opera, northern opera, any kind of opera is fine, everyone makes a living based on their own abilities.

These were merely changes made by some actors and geishas; the high and mighty officials in the court only sighed that morals were going downhill, and no longer cared about them.

The "Golden Dragon Banquet" on the day of the birthday party included a total of 109 dishes, including hot dishes, soups, side dishes, fresh fruits, melons, candied fruits, and snacks.

If it really had to be prepared on the same day, the chefs in the imperial kitchen would not be able to make it even if they worked their butts off. Everything had to be prepared in advance, and the officials from the Ministry of Rites had to oversee the presentation of the dishes, making sure it was perfect.

The Ministry of Justice had the easiest job. During the emperor's birthday, the public was prohibited from slaughtering livestock and the court would not execute criminals, as a sign of the grace of heaven, earth and the emperor.

All ceremonies are completed.

Just when all the civil and military officials were relieved, they did not expect that Yuxi Palace issued an edict to shuffle all the gifts sent by the officials and return them to them at random.

The emperor did not look at the gift list, nor did he accept any gifts, so the gifts were returned to him. However, the gifts were not given by him, so only the officials themselves knew whether they had made a profit or a loss.

The court officials also discovered their colleagues' little tricks. They had agreed to send ordinary gifts, but everyone's gifts were extraordinary.

The court was no longer a stagnant pool, and gradually began to have some liveliness.

Yuxi Palace only received two gifts.

One comes from Prince Yu’s Mansion.

One comes from Prince Jing's Mansion.

Zhu Houcong had to accept the filial piety of his son (daughter-in-law), and the Golden Dragon Banquet could not be left unattended, so he simply summoned Prince Yu, Concubine Li, Prince Yu's son, and Prince Jing to the palace for a family banquet. This was the first time in decades.

After receiving the news, Prince Yu's Mansion and Prince Jing's Mansion immediately set out to meet the emperor.

On September 16th, the sky was clear and the weather was crisp in autumn. The sun was dazzling white. The ridges of the palaces and walls of the Western Garden Forbidden City reflected the sunlight. The weather was so bright that people could hardly open their eyes.

From the steps of the Yuxi Palace to the door leading into the palace, there was a path every three steps on both sides, filled with eunuchs and palace maids, and it was completely silent.

At the other end of the carriage road, two sedan chairs carried by four people came slowly. Huang Jin hurriedly walked down the stone steps from outside the palace gate and went forward to greet them.

The sedan stopped at the stone steps outside the palace gate. Two palace maids opened the curtains, and Prince Yu and Concubine Li came out holding the Crown Prince.

King Jing also came out from the sedan chair at the back.

Huang Jin knelt down: "This servant pays homage to Prince Yu, Princess Yu, the Crown Prince, and Prince Jing!"

Prince Jing Zhu Zaizhen hurriedly said with a smile: "Eunuch Huang, please stand up quickly."

This move.

Obviously, he passed Prince Yu Zhu Zaihou, but Prince Yu, who was suffering from a difficult-to-cure heart disease, was gradually unable to bear the burden. He smiled palely and also signaled Huang Jin to stand up.

Huang Jin still kowtowed, then stood up with a smile, "Your Majesty has been waiting in the hall for a long time, the two princes, princess, and prince, please come in quickly."

talking.

Huang Jin went over and supported Prince Yu, who had difficulty walking independently, and led the way to the side. Behind him followed Princess Li, who was holding the Crown Prince, and finally Prince Jing, as they climbed the stone steps and walked into the palace gate.

As an exception, four incense burners were added to the main hall, with sandalwood burning inside, and the windows were closed.

The whole hall is filled with fragrance.

Smelling the fragrance, the people who came in suddenly felt lighter. Prince Yu gradually withdrew his arm, broke away from Huang Jin's support, and walked steadily into the hall.

Zhu Houcong wore a Taishang Daojun Zhenyan robe over his silk gown today.

This Taoist robe is the gift from Prince Yu’s Mansion.

The robe is embroidered with the true words of the Tao Te Ching, with each word and line embroidered in a single line from the collar to the sleeves and then to the front, showing that a lot of effort was put into it.

The calligraphy was written by Prince Yu and the needlework was done by Concubine Li.

Maybe it is not expensive, but it is rare to have such a thoughtful thought.

Prince Yu knelt down as soon as he entered the hall.

Concubine Li put the Crown Prince down and knelt down with Prince Yu. It was unknown how many times Ma Daban had taught her this in Prince Yu's mansion, but Crown Prince Zhu Yijun actually knelt down next to Concubine Li.

Prince Jing walked over to Prince Yu's level and knelt down.

"I, your son, kowtow to your father and wish you long live your father! Long live your father! Long, long live your father!"

The prince supported himself on the ground with his two little hands and actually bowed his head.

An eight-month-old child could do this. Zhu Houcong couldn't tell whether he was happy or sad. "Stand up!"

"Yes."

Prince Yu and Prince Jing stood up and bowed slightly.

Concubine Li wanted to help the prince, but she saw Huang Jin came forward, knelt down on one leg and helped the prince up and said, "Princess, just leave the prince to me."

Concubine Li looked at Huang Jin for a while and let go of her hand. Zhu Yijun, who was held by Huang Jin, stared at Huang Jin and did not cry or make a fuss when seeing a stranger. He was very well behaved.

The dishes at the Golden Dragon Banquet were cold, so there was no rush to eat them. Zhu Houcong looked at his two sons and said in a shocking tone, "I have thought about sending you out of the capital..."

(End of this chapter)