In the early years of the reign, on an auspicious day, a grand celebration was held in this magnificent hall. The hierarchy was meticulously arranged, and the proceedings were conducted with solemnity and order.
The “Poetry of Zhenghui” composed by Prince Chen Si, Cao Zhi, in that year was truly splendid. On the first day of the grand court assembly, civil and military officials were arranged in order at the main gate, awaiting entry into the palace once the braziers were lit along the Yunlong Gate and East Zhonghua Gate. They took their seats in the East Pavilion. When the emperor appeared, all officials prostrated, offering congratulations and paying respects, while wine and feasts were presented. During the Taikang era, envoys from various states would also come to court, adding to the grandeur of the occasion.
However, now… Sima Rui looked at the cramped hall, filled with officials almost unable to find standing space, and sighed inwardly.
The palace in Jianye was constructed by repurposing the former site of Eastern Wu’s Taikang Palace, and the number of palace buildings was still insufficient. Such narrow confines truly lacked the majesty of a royal capital. But what could be done? The city walls of Jianye were hastily constructed, even using bamboo fences. The financial resources for building walls were insufficient, let alone constructing palaces, making the idea seem like an unattainable dream.
Once stability was restored, the first order of business would be the reconstruction of the imperial palace! Reflecting on the former grandeur of the Luoyang Palace, with towers of sixteen to seventeen zhang and three hundred and twenty-eight pavilions on the Taiji Hall, connecting directly to the Zongzhang Hall. The palace gardens were adorned with the waters of the Gu River, encircling the Nine Dragon Hall, with toads and dragons sculpted intricately. Not to forget the breathtaking Jingyang Mountain, carved from stones quarried from Taihang and decorated with stones from Mount Gu Cheng, though it was just a small part of the Hualin Garden… The old appearance of Luoyang was truly enchanting and unforgettable.
With fleeting thoughts, Sima Rui dismissed any distractions. It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate the splendid scenes of Luoyang, but no matter how magnificent the palace grounds, they couldn’t compare to his current position. At his side, the young emperor, still groggy with sleep, sat precariously under the weight of the crown, trying to maintain composure on the imperial throne. Below the steps, a sea of people, adorned with various headdresses, filled the space, countless officials and ministers.
To be elevated above ten thousand as a single individual—this feeling was not something everyone could experience.
As the music ceased, the officials began to offer their congratulations and pay their respects according to their ranks. For the grand court assembly, Sima Rui even went so far as to invite several merchants from Da Qin, posing as envoys to enhance the spectacle.
However, the focus of today wasn’t on those foreign guests.
Before much time had passed, a man with a clear and resolute face ascended the platform. After a respectful bow, he declared loudly, “Grand General, Grand Marshal, Supreme Commanders of Bing, Ji, and Si Counties, and the Duke of Shangdang, Liang Feng, extend congratulations to the Son of Heaven!”
This was the moment Sima Rui had been eagerly anticipating!
Since the Han Dynasty, on the first day of the year, envoys from various provinces and counties would be sent to the capital to report to the court on the annual harvest, population, tax revenue, and other matters. They would also present congratulatory gifts as a sign of respect. This practice demonstrated the central government’s control over the regions. However, since the rise of the rebel kings and the establishment of the Xiongnu state, the court’s control over the regions had diminished significantly. Only a few provinces and counties managed to send envoys on New Year’s Day, let alone fulfill crucial tasks such as tax collection and reporting on the harvest.
Just after supporting the new emperor’s ascension to the throne and relocating the capital to Jianye, Sima Rui needed the vassals’ submissive gestures towards the court the most. Unexpectedly, not only did Bing County send envoys, but they also brought congratulatory gifts! This greatly lifted Sima Rui’s spirits.
Seizing this rare opportunity, he promptly arranged the envoy from Bing County at the forefront. Once this person appeared, Bing County’s stance would be unmistakable. Liang Zixi held the prestigious position of the Grand Duke of Beidi, controlling three provinces in the northern region. His respectful attitude was more crucial than anything else.
Ignoring the gazes of others, after the envoy performed the rituals, he presented the gifts. When several eunuchs strained to lift the offerings, the entire hall buzzed with excitement.
“What is this?” Intrigued by the shining objects before him, the young emperor, who had been somewhat lethargic, became interested and asked.
“Report to Your Majesty, this item is called a glass screen. It is a rare treasure of the present age,” the envoy replied with a smile.
The large screen unfolded in the court, each sandalwood panel adorned with a translucent piece of glass. The glass displayed seven different colors with intricate patterns. Placed in the hall, it emitted a radiant brilliance!
According to legend, Sun Liang, King of Kuaiji of the Eastern Wu, once possessed a glass screen carved with one hundred and twenty auspicious images. However, since it could be carved, it proved that the screen was not made of a single piece of glass but rather assembled into a pattern. The current screen before their eyes was entirely different. The glass pieces adorned the screen seamlessly, almost one-third of the size of the entire screen! A large, flat piece of glass like this, who had ever seen such a thing? Not to mention its exquisite colors and intricate patterns.
However, this was not the only congratulatory gift. Following that, there were three hundred rolls of brocade and two white porcelain incense burners placed on the imperial steps. The brocade was gorgeous, and the burners were pure white. The patterns on them depicted cranes and auspicious grass, appearing even more exquisite and otherworldly. Such treasures could not be compared to Shu brocade or Yue kilns, making them precious items not seen in the palace for over a decade.
The court officials, each with eyes filled with envy, couldn’t help but admire. With such offerings, who dared to question Liang Zixi?
Watching the bustling crowd below, Sima Rui narrowed his eyes, feeling a sense of relief throughout his body. Even if the envoy from Bing County didn’t present taxes, he didn’t care. The three provinces were already in constant turmoil, unable to pay taxes, which was not surprising. Moreover, aside from the gift to the emperor, there was also a gift sent to his residence. Such rare treasures were worth at least millions of coins. How could any provincial governor or military commander willingly present such treasures?
Liang Zixi did indeed keep his word, following the new emperor and his Prime Minister. This attitude was more important than anything else!
With this reassurance, not only Sima Rui but also the entire court was in high spirits. Achieving his goal, Sima Rui completely let go of his worries and continued to accept the congratulations from court officials alongside the emperor.
The ceremony proceeded neither quickly nor slowly. When the shouts of “Long live the emperor” resounded, Sima Rui’s joy reached its peak. This year was indeed different from the previous one. No disruptions from solar eclipses, no disturbances from rebel forces. Hearing that Shi Le had once again initiated a massacre in Yan County, Sima Rui wondered how many relatives he had eliminated. If Shi Le could clear obstacles for him, the throne of the Ninety-Five would be within easy reach.
It seemed that heaven was favoring this new dynasty!
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Another year had passed. Liu Yao sat in the grand hall of Chang’an Palace, his thoughts somewhat chaotic.
Now, the Han Dynasty also followed the old tradition and held the New Year’s ceremony. Many officials from the Jin Dynasty had surrendered, and both the scene and the atmosphere were impressive. However, no matter how grand the ceremony was, it failed to arouse Liu Yao’s interest.
The establishment of the Council of Affairs in Yong County had caused him quite a bit of trouble. It even led to a siege of Chang’an at one point. However, since the Xiongnu had just moved the capital, how could they abandon this precious land? Putting in great effort, they ultimately defeated the rebels. However, the pseudo-emperor from the Council of Affairs was not overthrown.
The pseudo-emperor Sima Ye didn’t know where those bandits had hidden him. After the upheaval in Qin County, it was likely to fall into chaos again and needed to be pacified anew. Coupled with the restive noblewomen of the Xiongnu in the court, it was a headache.
Yu County and Yan County were still under control. However, Shi Le’s repeated requests for food and troops were becoming unbearable. The issue was that these troops couldn’t be withdrawn. If the restraint was removed and the army of Bing County set out, taking Pingyang and Hedong, not to mention the old capital, the profits from the salt pool were immense. Would they just hand it over without a fight?
Everything was vexing, but sitting in this position, there was no escaping it. If he dared to step back, someone might seize the opportunity to attack him relentlessly. Until when would he be able to control the court inside and out?
Frustrated in his heart but unable to show it on his face, Liu Yao sighed inwardly, hoping that the new year would be smoother.
※
At the same time, Bing County was also holding its New Year’s ceremony. This year’s ceremony was grander than ever before. Not only were the civil and military officials of Bing County present but also officials from Ji County and Si County attended.
Different from other New Year ceremonies, Bing County’s ceremony followed Liang Feng’s tradition from the previous year in Shangdang and became a comprehensive year-end review session. Everyone had to discuss politics, and each had to present their strategies. If the answers were inappropriate, they might even be punished with standing and dismissal. Fortunately, many of them had come from Shangdang and were accustomed to this, so there were no idle officials or officials skilled only in rhetoric.
After the evaluations, there was a banquet. With singing and dancing, toasting and congratulations, when the grand feast ended, it was already dark.
Despite a year of rest and recovery, Liang Feng’s knees were still tortured after sitting all day. When he returned to his residence, he truly didn’t feel like moving.
“Lord, would you like to bathe and relieve your fatigue?” Yiyan hadn’t left and returned to the main courtyard with Liang Feng.
Taking a bath in the dead of winter was not particularly enjoyable. Moreover, with long hair, even with maidservants attending, it was still quite troublesome. However, after hesitating for a moment, Liang Feng nodded, “A soak would be good.”
With his consent, servants quickly brought in the bathing tub. The room was heated with ground dragons, making undressing more bearable. Sitting in the warm water, Liang Feng couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief.
Yiyan had already rolled up his sleeves, massaging and loosening Liang Feng’s muscles and bones. His strength surpassed that of most maidservants, kneading and rubbing as if he wanted to disperse the entire bone structure. However, after this session of manipulation, all the soreness disappeared, and exhaustion retreated, leaving only a deep sense of weariness.
Pulled out of the water, carefully dried, and wrapped in an inner garment, Liang Feng collapsed onto the couch, feeling as if he couldn’t lift a single finger. The grand New Year ceremony in Jianye should have concluded smoothly by now, right? He had spent a considerable amount on this tribute. But with the display of the glass screen and white porcelain crane incense burners in the hall, who wouldn’t be interested?
Among the gifts for Sima Rui, a complete set of newly developed essential oils, fragrances, and cosmetics were included. In this era where even men wore makeup, not having some profitable by-products would be a waste. With influential figures like Sima Rui leading the trend, it would be challenging to curb the consumption wave in Jiangdong. Away from their homeland, drifting in a foreign land, those high-ranking families would likely need more alcoholic beauty products to conceal various emotions.
Where there’s a desire to purchase, there’s revenue. Bing County has yet to experience snow, and the news from Si County and Ji County is still unclear. In the new year, likely, there will still be challenges to endure.
By his side, the bed sank as a body leaned over. Liang Feng yawned and curled into that warm embrace.
The person didn’t dodge but subtly shifted, making him more comfortable. A large hand caressed his back, soothing him like a lazy cat. Before long, the breaths of both individuals slowed, and they sank together into the realm of dreams.
