Chapter 191: "Notice to the Vassal States"

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, Ou Zanghua and Liu Qing both got up very early.

Ou Zanghua was going to the Honglu Temple to lead the envoys of various vassal states to pay homage, while Liu Qing was going to wear gorgeous and heavy crown and clothes and enter the palace to celebrate the New Year with the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress.

Before leaving, Ou Zanghua looked at Liu Qing who was still putting on makeup, walked over to hug her, and said, "Don't worry, I visited Xia Dongqing yesterday and asked his wife to take care of you. You just need to follow her when the time comes."

"Don't worry, my husband. I've been practicing for two days in a row. I'll be fine." Liu Qing smiled and nodded, looking very calm.

"Haha. I believe Qingqing, you can do it." After hearing this, Ou Zanghua gave her a light kiss on the face and turned away.

Liu Qing's pretty face flushed. Li Shuyan and Li Huaiwei were still here!

After finally getting dressed, Liu Qing arrived outside the Xuanwu Gate in a sedan chair, holding a letter stamped by the Ministry of Rites.

This is the north gate of the Forbidden City. It has a bell and a drum on two floors. It is managed by the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Observatory directs the watch. A doctor takes turns on duty every day.

Every day after dusk, the bell is rung 108 times, and then the drum is beaten to start the shift. After that, the bell is rung and the drum is beaten every shift, and the bell is rung again at dawn.

Since Empress Xiaocigao entered and exited the palace through this gate to perform the silkworm ceremony, the Xuanwu Gate became the exclusive gate for empresses, concubines, royal family members, and ladies of honor to enter and exit the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

When the emperor went on a tour, he left the palace through the Meridian Gate, but his concubines had to leave through the Xuanwu Gate. If the emperor accompanied the empress dowager out of the palace, they would leave through the Xuanwu Gate together.

It is worth mentioning that the last emperor of China, Puyi, was driven out from Xuanwu Gate.

However, in order to avoid the name of Kangxi, the Qing Dynasty changed the Xuanwu Gate to Shenwu Gate.

At this moment, Liu Qing's sedan stopped at the location designated by the Ministry of Rites.

After getting off the sedan chair, they came to the square outside Xuanwu Gate under the leadership of Li Shuyan and Li Huaiwei.

"Madam, we can't go any further ahead, so we'll wait for you here." Shuang Li stopped and said softly, "Just follow the path inside."

"I'm the female hero of Hengshan, I can do it!" Liu Qing took a breath, silently encouraged herself in her heart, forced a slightly stiff smile, and turned to walk towards Xuanwu Gate.

After walking a few steps, I heard a gentle voice from the side: "But is it Madam Ou, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites?"

Liu Qing turned his head and looked, with a stiff smile on his face and a bit of timidity and confusion in his eyes.

A middle-aged woman wearing the fifth-rank lady's hat and robes walked slowly towards her. Seeing Liu Qing's appearance, the woman smiled and patted her arm, which felt like patting on wood.
The woman's smile froze. Why was this little girl so stubborn?

She put down her hand and asked gently, "I am Xia Dongqing's wife. Your husband should have told you, right?"

Liu Qing's eyes lit up and she nodded immediately, then asked curiously, "Madam Xia, my husband told me how did you recognize it was mine?"

"Because your husband said it well, those who are taller than you are not as nervous as you, and those who are more nervous than you are not as tall as you, so the tallest and most nervous sixth-rank An person in the audience must be his wife." Mrs. Xia is only 1.6 meters tall, and she looks much smaller when standing next to Liu Qing, who is 1.72 meters tall.

"No way. I'm not nervous at all." Liu Qing pouted, and her whole person became lively again.

Madam Xia looked at it and reminded with a smile: "When we enter Xuanwu Gate, you can't look so good!"

Liu Qing was stunned, and quickly restrained her expression, turning back into the dignified Mrs. Anren.

In fact, in the early Ming Dynasty, the range of officials and their wives who could participate in these grand ceremonies was quite wide.

In December of the 24th year of Hongwu, "the Ministry of Rites reported that on the first day of the first lunar month, the winter solstice, and the birthday of the Crown Princess, the wives of dukes, marquises, and earls, the wives of civil officials of the fourth rank and above, military officials of the fifth rank and above, and the wives who have not yet been given titles, should all wear mourning clothes and go to the Rouyi Palace to pay their respects, and the ceremonial notes should be set for submission. The Emperor ordered that military officials of the sixth rank should also be included in the list, and the rest should follow."

If a woman was not granted the title of a legitimate wife, she could not be called a noblewoman. This shows that in the Hongwu Dynasty, participating in grand ceremonies was not just a privilege for noblewomen. But during the Yongle period, only noblewomen could participate in such grand events.

In the second year of the Yongle reign, Emperor Taizong ordered that "after the enthronement ceremony is completed... the ladies of honor shall appear before the Kunning Palace, and those above the third rank shall be given a banquet, and those below the fifth rank shall be given an ingot of banknotes."

Liu Qing followed Madam Xia into the imperial palace compound, while Ou Zanghua had also made preparations at the Honglu Temple.

He led envoys from various countries to line up outside the palace gate, holding the "Notice to the Vassal States" in their hands. As for the tribute, it was still on display in the Honglu Temple.

Emperor Zhengde ordered the Minister of Personnel Liang Chu to perform sacrificial ceremonies in the southern suburbs of the capital. When Liang Chu returned, the grand court meeting began, and civil and military officials began to enter the palace under the maintenance of officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple.

On both sides were the processions of honor displayed by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, not far away were the music displayed by the Jiaofangsi, and nearby were the Imperial Censors who supervised all officials.

They walked all the way to the outside of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and stood according to their ranks.

At this moment, Emperor Zhengde also left the Qianqing Palace, and ascended the three platforms in his golden sedan chair amid the Jinyiwei team. After passing the Jinshen Hall and the Huagai Hall, he arrived at the Taihe Hall.

Amid the sound of drums and music, civil and military officials, and envoys from various countries bowed three times and kowtowed nine times, saying in unison: "Long live the emperor!"

Zhang Yong stood up, opened the imperial edict and said loudly:
"The Emperor, in accordance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: At the beginning of the new year, I hope that good news will be reported soon. The people are safe and happy. Sincerity is the common happiness of the world, not the private happiness of one person or one family. The high officials in charge of the civil and military affairs must ensure that the people in their jurisdiction have enough food and clothing, and live happily and peacefully. This is the happiness of a province, and it can be extended to the whole world. I hope that all the ministers will work together to do this. I decree this!"

"I will obey your orders!"

Ou Zanghua mingled among the civil officials, and he knew as soon as he heard the imperial edict that it was processed by the Hanlin Academy.

But it can also be heard that the primary goal set by Emperor Zhengde for the new year was to quell the rebellion in the country, and then to persuade his ministers to do their jobs well and not neglect official business for their own selfish desires.

After all the ministers had finished their homage, it was Ou Zanghua's turn to come forward.

Holding the "Notice to the Vassal States", he walked out of the team and saluted to Emperor Zhengde. After receiving permission, he stood up, opened the document, and said loudly:

"Since the creation of the world, there have been rulers and subjects, and there have also been differences in distance. Your Majesty covers us like the sky, carries us like the earth, and caresses the four seas. Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever the frost and dew fall, all of us will pay tribute to you. Please think about it. Your Majesty is so great. How can we repay you?"

All the civil and military officials were very satisfied with the newly appointed Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Look at his appearance, temperament, talent, and strong physique. Isn't he a replica of himself when he was young?
As the ministers saw their younger selves through Ou Zanghua's shadow and listened to his rhythmic recitation, they felt that life was like a dream and time passed by quickly.

But as I listened, I felt something was not right.

Who taught him to write this?!

Where is the demeanor that my country should have? !

Emperor Zhengde, on the other hand, listened with great interest to Zhang Yong's translation. He felt that what Ou Qing said was right!

As the ruler of the world, rich as the world, these vassal states have done nothing but come and shout at him every year. Shouldn't they reflect on themselves?

If Ou Zanghua knew the doubts of the big guys, he would definitely tell them that this was the work of him, the third place winner of the imperial examination. Is there any problem?

The envoys from various vassal states lowered their heads. The smart ones already knew what to do, while the stupid ones were still trying hard to understand what "cover it like the sky, carry it like the earth" meant.

later?

Sorry, I don’t understand the first three sentences!
Do you still expect them to listen to what comes next?

(End of this chapter)