The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

According to court etiquette, on the first day of the first lunar month every year, all officials in Beijing should go to the Fengtian Hall to pay homage to the emperor.

Female relatives who had imperial edicts also had to follow the empress into the palace and go to Kunning Palace to pay homage to the empress.

Perhaps it was because there was too much snow in the twelfth month of the first year of Jianwu, the sky was clear and the sun was dazzling on the first day of the new year.

It is said to be the Tang Chengming system, but in fact it inherited all the customs of the Dashun system.

It is not easy to be an emperor. On this day, Li Hu has to get up early, even earlier than the ministers, and go to the east warm pavilion of the Yangxin Palace at Chou time to hold the opening ceremony.

On this day, people would write a few auspicious words on red paper, such as "New Year's Day starts writing, everything will be auspicious", "New Year's Day starts writing, studies will be beneficial", etc. as a good start for the new year. It is a Spring Festival custom and is called "New Year's Day starts writing".

The royal family's opening ceremony was much more solemn. Li Hu not only had to light the candles himself, but also poured a cup of Tusu wine into a golden cup, which symbolized the eternal stability of the country. Then he began to write auspicious words such as praying for peace and prosperity in the country, a good harvest, and an eternal stability of the country.

After finishing writing, Li Hu had to open the newly received Jianwu Year 2 calendar (Huangli) from the Imperial Astronomical Observatory and take a look at it, and drink a sip of Tusu wine. This ritual symbolized that the emperor had given time and years to the people of the world and prayed to God for the eternal stability of his country.

Next, Li Hu had to go to the ancestral temple to offer sacrifices, and then accept the worship of his ministers in the Fengtian Hall and hold a grand banquet.

After the banquet, it was Li Hu's turn to have some time for himself.

After coming out of the Fengtian Hall, Li Hu took a bath, changed his clothes, and then sat on the dragon carriage with thirty-two bearers to come to the Kunning Palace.

The palace banquet in Kunning Palace had ended long ago, and the ladies who had come to pay New Year's greetings to Lin Daiyu had also left the palace.

The dragon carriage stopped in front of the Kunning Palace, and the fat man immediately helped Li Hu get off the carriage.

Li Hu blew into his palm and asked the little fat boy, "How is it? Is the smell gone now?"

The little fat man smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. There is no smell of alcohol at all. It won't bother Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Hu blew two breaths into his palms before walking into Kunning Palace.

Before entering the bedroom, I heard Shi Xiangyun's hearty laughter, followed by Li Ye's laughter.

Li Hu walked in. Xing Xiuyan was also there, and was playing with Li Ye who was lying in the cradle with Shi Xiangyun.

As soon as they saw Li Hu coming in, Shi Xiangyun and Xing Xiuyan hurriedly saluted.

Li Hu smiled and waved his hand: "Don't be so distant, just call me brother-in-law like before."

Shi Xiangyun and Xing Xiuyan: "Yes."

Li Hu walked to the cradle, looked at Li Ye with a smile, and then clapped his hands gently.

Seeing Li Hu, Li Ye chuckled.

Li Hu picked up Li Ye and realized that Lin Daiyu was not there, so he asked, "Why don't you see your sister Lin?"

Shi Xiangyun burst out laughing, but quickly held it back.

Xing Xiuyan also covered her mouth and laughed.

Li Hu took a look at the new blanket covering Li Ye, immediately understood, and started laughing.

After laughing, Li Hu said to Li Ye: "Don't pee on your mother anymore."

At this time, Lin Daiyu, who had changed into clean clothes, walked out of the bedroom, glared at Li Hu unhappily, and then looked at Nanny Wang.

Nanny Wang understood, walked up to Li Hu, and said softly, "Your Majesty, it's time for the prince to rest."

Li Hu carried Li Ye around for another round before handing him over to Nanny Wang.

Lin Daiyu handed a bowl of tea to Li Hu: "Are you done?"

"Busy working."

Li Hu sat on the chair and said, "The old lady and the others went to Yingchun's place. Hmm? What kind of tea is this? Why haven't I tasted it before?"

Shi Xiangyun smiled and said, "This is called Sanqing Tea. It is made by boiling Shifeng Longjing tea with snow water and adding plum blossoms, Buddha's hand and pine nuts. The fragrance of the tea is refreshing and nourishing to the eyes."

Lin Daiyu: "This tea is Miaoyu's original creation. How is it?"

Li Hu: "Miaoyu? Sanqing is a Taoist. Although she is in Buddhism, her heart is in the secular world. Her six senses are not pure. After all, she is still a disciple of Buddhism. Isn't this betraying the master and ancestors?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun burst into laughter, and even Xing Xiuyun couldn't help laughing, covering her mouth.

Li Hu: "What's wrong?"

Lin Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun laughed so hard that they almost choked on their breath. They sat down on the couch on the south side, unable to speak.

Li Hu turned his gaze to Xing Xiuyan again.

Xing Xiuyan suppressed her laughter and said, "The Three Pure Ones refer to pure fragrance, pure purity and pure clarity, not the Three Pure Ones of Taoism."

Li Hu blushed and said, "This fake nun, why is she so pretentious!" After saying that, he picked up the tea bowl and took another sip. Then his eyes lit up. This fake nun has good taste, really good.

Shi Xiangyun: "Brother-in-law Lin"

Li Hu took another sip of tea and then looked at her: "What's wrong?"

Shi Xiangyun: "I heard that the Tartar princess performed a stunning dance at the palace banquet yesterday?"

Li Hu: "What's wrong?"

Shi Xiangyun blinked her eyes: "Does it look good?"

Li Hu looked at her and smiled: "I won't tell you."

Shi Xiangyun was startled at first, then she hugged Lin Daiyu's arm coquettishly and said, "Sister Lin, please take care of Brother-in-law Lin."

Lin Daiyu smiled and nodded at her. Li Hu smiled. Unlike the original novel, there was no conflict of interest between the two of them. They had always been good sisters who loved each other.

The reason why Shi Xiangyun was able to enter the palace was because Lin Daiyu sent an invitation. Xing Xiuyun, Jia Tanchun, Jia Xichun and Xue Baoqin also received Lin Daiyu's invitation and came to Kunning Palace to attend the palace banquet.

At the palace banquet yesterday, the Tenth Princess stunned the whole audience with her stunning dance. Everyone's eyes lit up, and even Li Hu couldn't help but applaud.

In addition, the Queen of Japan, who arrived early yesterday morning, performed a Gagaku dance in the Fengtian Hall. It was in the same vein as the Gagaku dance in the palace. Apart from the unique steps, there was nothing special about it.

Shi Xiangyun blinked her eyes a few times: "Brother-in-law Lin, Sister Lin has not seen the Jinghong Dance yet."

Li Hu: "You want to see it!"

Shi Xiangyun blushed: "I, I will watch it with Sister Lin."

"Then thank you!"

Lin Daiyu pointed at her unhappily and then looked at Li Hu.

Li Hu paused and said, "Forget about the stunning dance."

Lin Daiyu: "What's wrong?"

Li Hu: "Heshen was walking with her on Qianmen Street."

"He Shen?"

Lin Daiyu's eyes were ablaze with gossip. "When did they get together?"

"Don't talk nonsense, they are both innocent."

Li Hu rolled his eyes at her and said, "Well, let the Queen and Princess of Japan perform a Gagaku dance."

Lin Daiyu looked at Shi Xiangyun.

Shi Xiangyun shook her head: "I heard from Lian's second sister-in-law that Lian's second brother said that the queen of Japan is short and ugly, her face is as white as a dead person, and she dances like a puppet on strings. I don't want to go back and have nightmares."

Li Hu was slightly stunned. It seemed to be the case.

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Okay, you guys go to Yingchun and chat with the old lady first."

Knowing that Lin Daiyu had something to say to Li Hu, Shi Xiangyun and Xing Xiuyun bowed to Li Hu and left.

Li Hu looked at Lin Daiyu and asked, "When did you become friends with that fake nun Miaoyu?"

Lin Daiyu frowned: "Don't keep calling me 'fake nun'. It's ruining my reputation."

Li Hu laughed.

Lin Daiyu: "Do you know something?"

Li Hu: "You know about Baoyu moving into the garden to study, right?"

Lin Daiyu nodded: "The old lady said that Baoyu will prepare to take part in the autumn imperial examination in two years."

Li Hu rewarded Jia Baoyu with the title of Imperial Academy, allowing him to study at the Imperial Academy. He could directly participate in the provincial examination. If he passed, he could take part in the spring examination the following year.

"Once he entered the garden, this boy became a wild horse that had broken free from its reins. Later, he hooked up with Miaoyu. Whenever he had something to do, they would go to Longcui Temple to drink tea. Once, when it snowed heavily, the two of them even walked in the snow to look for plum blossoms. It was so romantic!"

"He, he is too disappointing."

"Okay, the old lady isn't in a hurry, so let's not worry about it."

"The old lady knows?"

"That Xiren is the old lady's informant."

Lin Daiyu smiled bitterly: "No wonder the old lady is so anxious."

Li Hu: "What's wrong?"

Lin Daiyu: "It's about the third girl."

Li Hu frowned. Grandmother Jia only had this much foresight and placed her hopes on a weak woman.

Lin Daiyu: "What's wrong?"

Li Hu snorted, but didn't say anything.

Lin Daiyu: "There is one more thing. Xue Ke's mother has taken a fancy to Xiu Yan."

Li Hu: "Oh? What a coincidence!"

Lin Daiyu looked at him, as if to say: Are you attracted to him too?

Li Hu: "Who do you think I am? I mean, that's what I mean."

Lin Daiyu curled her lips and muttered in a low voice: "I can't even explain it clearly."

Li Hu changed the subject: "Grandma Liu always wishes us a happy new year on the first day of every year. What will she say this year?"

Lin Daiyu: "I forgot to tell you that when you were not here last year, Granny Liu was visiting Kunning Palace to pay New Year's greetings. This year she is ill and cannot come."

Li Hu nodded.

At this time, the little fat man hurried in holding a cowhide envelope with chicken feathers stuck on it: "Your Majesty, this is an urgent letter from Central Asia, eight hundred miles away!"

Li Hu took it, tore open the seal and read it, and was immediately shocked: Shui Rong accidentally rescued the group of people who were held captive by the Luosha people, and then fought with the Luosha people in West Asia! They are really a disaster. Whoever helps them will be unlucky! This is good, the Tang Dynasty can develop slowly! (End of this chapter)