Chapter 308: The Great Ceremony

On March 18th, Emperor Kangxi spent his life for thousands of years.

In the east of Taihe Gate, there are "five chariots", including jade chariots, big chariots, big horse chariots, small horse chariots, and fragrant chariots.

The jade trunk is in the middle, with a white elephant pulling, green satin hanging on three layers, the twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve twelve

On the east side is the Dalu, which is also a one-shaped elephant, with three layers of yellow satin hanging on the bank, and two-story flags are embroidered with golden dragons. The arch pavilion is covered with gold arches, and the jewel covers are covered with yellow silk covers, which are called Huangwu. In the yellow house is a dragon chair placed under the yellow silk curtain, covered with red woven gold mattresses.

The chariot on the west side is mostly decorated with red eye-catching red horses. Ten red horses with the same fur color are steered, four horses, six horses, and are equipped with a garment ring and bell, and round square pegs. Three layers of red satin hanging, and two large red zithers are embroidered with golden phoenixes. Under the red straps, there are red chariot pavilions with red railings, and there are soft seats covered with plain blankets.

The second east is a small horse chariot, which is black ornament. Six yellow horses are steered, two horses, four horses, and four horses, with a ring and bell, and round square pegs. The black satin is hanging three layers, and the big trumpet has 12 trumpets, each embroidered with Shenwu. The black satin tie is a chariot pavilion, and the pavilion is covered with a golden dragon seat with a large red woven gold mattress.

The second in the West is the fragrant chariot, and the whole body is mostly decorated with white decorations. Four white horses are steered, one horse, three horses, and there are also roams and bells, round covers square pegs. The white satin is hanging three layers, and the white satin is 12 pieces, each embroidered with gold tigers. Under the white satin tie, there is a chariot pavilion carved with agarwood color and gold cloud panels, and the pavilion is also covered with golden dragon seats with red woven gold mattresses.

This is just the beginning of Mao, the sky is dim and the sun is not rising, but the rituals and music are already ringing inside and outside the Forbidden City.

Kangxi sat in the imperial chariot carried by sixteen people, led the kings, Beile, Beizi, Duke, Minister of the Interior, Grand Secretary, General Secretary, Secretary of the State Council, and Guards to pay tribute to the Empress Dowager.

After the ceremony, Kangxi came to the court in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the kings, Beile, civil and military officials and retired officials to restore the reincarnation officials, welcomed the emperor and gave celebration gifts.

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, officials from the Ministry of Rites sing the name, which is nothing more than a certain title or someone in a certain position to congratulate him on his birthday. Then, the officials who were called to the name came forward to perform the ceremony of bowing.

Kangxi nodded sometimes, and sometimes comforted him and encouraged him.

Many old ministers knelt in front of the emperor, crying and choking and unable to speak.

Cao Yong stood in the middle front position on the right side of the hall, looking at the majestic Emperor Kangxi on the dragon throne, remembering what he said yesterday. Alas, it sounds lonely and helpless, and it is also a portrayal of the emperor.

In a blink of an eye, more than half an hour passed, officials of the Ministry of Rites were still singing titles at the top of their voices. Cao Yong thought to himself that there were no thousand officials in the palace, but there were eight hundred. If they were to sing titles one by one, how much effort would it take? I guess the super lord, first-rank, second-rank officers should be divided into batches after finishing the titles.

As expected, in the royal family, Beller and below all bowed in rows. Among the officials, except for the super lords, grand sir, ministers, ministers, governors, and chief ministers, others bowed in rows.

Despite this, the court congratulations were not over until early noon (eleven o'clock in the morning). Kangxi took the imperial carriage to the Meridian Gate and accepted the Eight Banners soldiers. The elders and commoners from all provinces of Zhili celebrated their birthdays.

When Kangxi returned to the Ganqing Palace, he was in charge of the ministers, guards, grand senators, Hanlin Academy, Ministry of Rites, Censorate, Taipu Temple, Zhanshi Mansion and other officials went to the Ganqing Gate to salute.

Kangxi accepted the bowing of everyone, and the birthday celebration came to an end.

Cao Yong was already sweating in the crowd, and his legs were weak. However, it was not the time for the ministers to disperse. After Kangxi finished his imperial meal, he would also serve the Empress Dowager to be happy with Changchun Garden. Princes and Dukes Beile, civil and military officials of Manchu and Chinese, and elders from all provinces still kneeled to send him to him at the various places of chanting scriptures.

There has been no banquets for the Birthday Festival in recent years; the same is true for today. Now the officials of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are busy with the banquets for the Thousand Old Ones in a few days.

Yesterday, Kangxi met the elders and nobles from various provinces who came to celebrate their birthdays and issued an edict, meaning that the elderly in the world crawled from thousands of miles away, how could they be allowed to return empty-handed? They planned to give them a banquet and sent them back. They checked the Eight Banners Manchu, Mongolian, Han army, Han people, and domestic slaves, except for the Grand Secretary and the People above the age of 65, and those who could come were ordered to come. Then check the Eight Banners Manchu, Mongolian, Han army, and even the subordinates of Baoyi, regardless of the officials, the old women over 70 years old, after the old men gave the banquet, they were scheduled to send them to the Empress Dowager's Palace to give the banquet one day.

Because Kangxi said that he would choose one day to give a banquet within 22 or 2 days of this month, and time was urgent, and all the officials were circling around him.

At the chanting place, Cao Yong held his father and saw that his head was covered with sweat. He was a little worried and asked in a low voice: "Father, do you want to go back and find a place to rest?"

Cao Yin wiped his forehead and looked around. Everyone stood, dressed in full, waiting for the sage, and said, "No, it's not a problem for your father, don't worry, don't worry!"

It happened that Li Xu was by his side, and when he heard the father and the other two talk, he felt a little envious. No matter how Cao Yong acted, he could be called the word "filial piety".

However, thinking of the upcoming Banquet of Thousand Elders, Li Xu said to Cao Yin with regret: "Dongting, it seems that we are still young and cannot catch up with this feast. To the descendants of the royal family, in the view of the former elders, how decent it is. If we want to participate, we have to wait for the master's 70th birthday!"

Cao Yin touched his beard and smiled and said, "Long live the emperor, Hong Fu Qitian, as long as we can survive that day, we will always catch up."

At this time, the sound of rituals and music was heard, and Kangxi's imperial chariot was approaching. Everyone bowed their heads and knelt to see the sage. When the sage had gone far away, everyone stood up and looked relieved.

Li Xu also wanted to take Cao Yin to have a drink. Cao Yin waved his hand and said, "Brother, today is not here. When you get up when you are ugly, you have to go back and take a break!"

Seeing Cao Yin's thin body, Li Xu frowned slightly and said, "You have been idle for the past two years. How can you fix your body like this? I will hand in the sign tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Otherwise, you will rest in Beijing for a while before leaving to avoid the fatigue of the journey."

Cao Yin shook his head and said, "It's more than that! I want to hand over the sign tomorrow. If you are not surprised, you will return to the south before 25 days. If you don't stay in the capital, we can go with you together."

Li Xu smiled and said, "If this is the case, I will be in my heart. I will avoid being bored on the boat. I can just come with Dongting for a few plates."

While speaking, the servants of the two families were already leading the horse. Li Xu hugged Cao Yin and smiled at Cao Yong and said, "I heard that Furuo's errands are very proper. I want to stay in Beijing this time. In the future, you will have to worry about your cousin's care."

It's really not good to do it. Cao Yong was secretly amused in his heart. He didn't let those who watched the fun catch the handle. His errands in the past few days became "very appropriate".

On the face, he still replied respectfully: "Uncle, please be polite. Can you still listen to the order of long live in the capital? Maybe there are other appropriate people to take over."

Li Xu had already turned over and heard Cao Yong's words and smiled: "You know that you are a smart child. You will definitely have a great future. My uncle is waiting to lend you all!"

Cao Yong had to say a few more humble words to see Li Xu away. Cao Yin was riding a horse today, but he didn't ride a car. Because there were many heroes and old ministers this time, he seemed a little arrogant when he was less than 60 years old, so he had to ride a horse.

Cao Yong helped Cao Yin on the horse, and he also called Xiaoman to lead the horse over and boarded the horse with him.

When Cao Yin saw this, he frowned and asked, "Don't you go to the Taipu Temple Yamen?"

Cao Yong took out his pocket watch and looked at it. It was already Shen Chu (3:00 pm). He smiled and replied, "Father, it's already been late. Even the yamen is about to close. My son will not make trouble!"

The father and son walked side by side. Cao Yin thought for a while, turned his head and asked, "Yinger, didn't you say you were thinking about Beijing before entering Beijing? Why aren't you happy now?"

Cao Yong said, "I have encountered many things this year my son went out. I understand. There is no difference between the capital and outside." Speaking of this, he said with a sad look: "Father, don't you think of a way to go back to Beijing? Although Jiangnan is good, our family has been in business for fifty years, and we have been there even if we stay there!"

Cao Yin smiled bitterly when he heard this, lowered his voice and said, "Long Sui is older and better than before. He is the one who is designated to be 'benefit' to the end. Besides, Jiangnan is rich, and half of the taxes in the world are taken from Jiangnan. After all, he is a used old minister and still has some trust. If he changes to other officials, he may not be able to rest assured. What your uncle did a few years ago hurts Long Sui's heart, but you see, it's not still used now."

Cao Yong was speechless, and Cao Yin was saying the truth. The reason why Kangxi took advantage of the old ministers and did not use new people was to guard against his sons. He was afraid that the new ministers would have another master behind them and would not be dedicated to him, the emperor master.

Speaking of Li Xu, Cao Yong remembered something and said to Cao Yin: "Father, my son heard that his uncle has been in Beijing recently and has frequently entered and left the powerful mansions. Is this... Should I persuade him?"

Every time he gets along with Li Xu and his son, Cao Yong can detect the other party's intention of inquiry. To be honest, it's not that he is cold-blooded, but he really can't have any relationship with his uncle and cousin. The reason why he is worried about them and is just because he is afraid that something is wrong with them and that it will implicate the Cao family.

Cao Yin pondered for a while, sighed, and said, "Didn't he meant to make a marriage for your second cousin before heading south? Maybe it's for this reason!"

Even though he said that, he himself did not believe it, but it was hard to say what Li Xu was right and wrong in front of his son.

Li Ding wants to get engaged? Cao Yong remembered that when Chu Yu mentioned yesterday that Dong E Jinghui came to visit with her grandmother. When Li Ding's marriage was completed, he didn't know how this lady from the Dong E family should deal with her.

When he returned to the mansion, Cao Yong and Chu Yu mentioned that Li Ding wanted to get married. Although Chu Yu had a few relatives with Dong Ejinghui, because the Li family was Cao Yong's relatives, it was hard to say anything, so he could only sigh.

*

After dinner, Hongshu brought his two younger brothers to visit, and came to send invitations to Cao Yin and his wife, sister and brother-in-law. Prince Chun and Fujin will host their in-laws, daughter and son-in-law at the royal palace tomorrow.

He welcomed several young princes to the living room, and Cao Yin and his son came out to meet the guests. Cao Yin came out to socialize for a few words, and saw that the young princes were also reserved, so he left Cao Yong here and left first.

After Cao Yin left, the princes had smiles on their faces, not as straight as they were just now.

Seeing that Hongzhuo and Hongxin were both joking and happy, Cao Yong asked, "What's the pleasure of this? Tell me quickly."

Hongzhuo smiled and scratched his head without answering. Hongxin clapped his hands and said, "Brother-in-law, my second brother and I were selected by the clan mansion. I will go to the birthday party of Emperor Mafa in a few days!"

"Oh, this is a good thing. It is very decent to be able to participate in such a grand ceremony!" Cao Yong said.

Hongxin nodded proudly and said, "No, Hongxi from the Third Uncle's family was not chosen, so she was so unhappy. Seeing Hongshi from the Fourth Uncle's family, she almost rolled up her sleeves."

Hongzhuo curled his lips disapprovingly and said, "Every child is from a family, I don't know anything, how happy I am! I'm just pouring wine for a group of old men, just think it's so happy?"

Hongxin glanced at his brother and muttered, "Why are you unhappy? You only choose fifty ones in total, not everyone can go there."

If Hongzhuo was not happy about the Qianshou Banquet, there must be other good things. Cao Yong looked at Hongshu with a little confusion, then saw Hongshu nodding, and said with a smile: "Forget about the concubine, I'll find someone. Tomorrow is a good day, I'll have to hold a wedding for my second brother."

Cao Yong smiled and said to Hongzhuo: "That's really congratulations to my second brother-in-law. If we don't bother with my sister and brother-in-law, then we must ask for a wedding wine."

Hongzhuo was a little embarrassed, blushed and laughed a few times, saying, "Of course, even if you don't invite others, your sister and brother-in-law will come here! I just agreed first that this gift cannot be missing. Even if it is not as good as the brothers and sisters-in-law before the New Year, it cannot be too bad. Otherwise, I will not agree!"
Chapter completed!