Chapter 262 Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet
The court meeting ended at noon.

When Li Longji left Xingqing Palace, Yang Zhao immediately approached Li Xuan and said, "Prince Tianshui, Li Linfu is treacherous. I have no choice but to say that!"

Yang Zhao was afraid that Li Xuan would abandon him because of what had just happened.

"How can I blame you without solid evidence? If we work together, Yang Duzhi will have great potential."

Li Xuan expected such a result.

This incident made the relationship between Yang Zhao and Li Linfu extremely hostile.

It would be difficult for Yang Zhao to jump to Li Linfu from now on.

"When the new law is implemented, I will fully support King Tianshui!"

Yang Zhao said to Li Xuan with a firm face.

After leaving the hall, Li Linfu saw Yang Zhao kneeling in front of Li Xuan and secretly cursed him as a villain.

In recent years, he has seen all kinds of despicable and shameless people, and he is far from being as despicable as them.

From now on, he will no longer trust anyone easily.

"May I ask, Lord Tianshui, the world is prosperous, why would you want to change it? Aren't you afraid of going too far?"

At this time, Pei Zunqing, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Personnel, bowed to Li Xuan outside the Xingqing Palace and then asked.

"Can it be called prosperity just because it is richer than during the Kaihuang and Zhenguan years? The people are still far from having enough food and clothing. Reform is to enrich the country and the people. Isn't this what we officials should do?"

Li Xuan asked Pei Zunqing back.

Among the minor officials in the court, Li Xuan was most impressed by Pei Zunqing, because Pei Zunqing was a famous prime minister in later generations.

"That's not true! Reform is a form of confrontation and will inevitably cause turmoil, and the people will suffer even more at that time." Pei Zunqing insisted.

Reform is to replace the old with the new. The powerful families will not let Li Xuan manipulate them.

"If you are thinking about how your family can annex land and maintain its power, then don't talk to me because we are not on the same path."

Li Xuan said slowly. He didn't want to waste his breath. What had been decided long ago could not be changed.

"I hate the actions of the powerful, and I will not do anything unjust. It's just that good policies should be implemented slowly, so that they can save the people. The King of Tianshui accepted the source of the Yellow River as China, and he should know that the Yellow River can nourish all things, but it can also roar and rage."

Pei Zunqing replied to Li Xuan.

Although he cannot be compared with great figures like Li Xuan, he is dedicated to the country.

Because Li Xuan had a strong personality, the laws he issued must have been very radical.

Li Xuan dared to openly mock the chief prime minister Li Linfu in the court.

He had already foreseen a bloody storm in the implementation of the law.

"The idea of ​​Xiao following Cao following Xiao's rules only appeared in the Han Dynasty. Each prime minister has his own mission. It is like a fantasy to want a decree to be implemented for several generations. People of our generation should solve it ourselves and cut the Gordian knot. When the decree is issued, you can carefully judge whether it is right or wrong."

Li Xuan did not argue with Pei Zunqing.

Chima Manto, Nishi-North-South-North.

He has already stepped half a foot into the door of becoming prime minister, and he has been waiting for this day for a long time.

Pei Zunqing couldn't convince him, nor should he.

"No matter what, I believe that King Tianshui cares about the people!"

Pei Zunqing sighed, bowed to Li Xuan and left.

Although Li Xuan is young, no one has ever shaken his will.

After leaving Xingqing Palace, Yang Shenjin waited in front of the Xingqing Gate.

By this time, most of the ministers had already left.

"Greetings to the King of Tianshui!"

Yang Shenjin bowed to Li Xuan cautiously.

"You've done something like this and are still alive. Don't you feel lucky?"

Li Xuan spoke to Yang Shenjin in a stern tone.

"I admit my guilt! Thank you, Lord Tianshui, for saving my life. From now on, I will follow your lead."

Yang Shenjin lowered his head and said that he was extremely humble in front of Li Xuan.

It was not until he was in the court that he realized that he had been deceived by Shi Jingzhong.

The guy cheated him out of ten taels of gold to pray for his deceased father.

When he thought about this matter, he even wanted to die.

He had believed in Shi Jingzhong like a possessed person.

"Don't think about those weird and evil ways. If a disaster really comes, it will be useless even if you run to the ends of the earth. Man can conquer nature, not nature can conquer man."

“Remember, this won’t happen again!”

Li Xuan warned Yang Shenjin.

The official position that Yang Shenjin holds concurrently is too important to him, and he will use Yang Shenjin for the next period of time.

Fortunately, Yang Shenjin did not bully the people, otherwise Li Xuan would not care about him.

Li Xuan was speechless about these officials who were obsessed with "prophecies".

There are so many examples in history, and these people are well-read in history books, so how can they still be so stubborn?

Li Xuan did not scold Yang Shenjin too much. After all, he was wearing purple clothes so that he would not feel insulted.

After saying goodbye, Li Xuan took a carriage back to Duke Song’s Mansion.

Li Xuan decided not to ride a horse in Chang'an in the future as it would be too ostentatious.

Carriages are much safer!
After returning to the Duke of Song's Mansion, Li Xuan saw that Pei Lingxi had indeed come to the Duke of Song's Mansion to find Pei Ying.

At this time, Pei Lingxi put on the little dragonfly hairpin that Li Xuan gave her.

Without any jewelry, two dragonflies, one big and one small, showed off the girl's lively temperament as Pei Lingxi walked slowly.

Li Xuan put aside the unpleasantness in the court and invited Pei Lingxi to the back garden.

Li Shizhi was very happy when he learned that Li Xuan had taken the initiative to invite an unmarried woman into the Duke of Song's mansion.

He thought Li Xuan had finally come to his senses and remembered her lifelong affairs.

Li Shizhi pretended to be casual and went to the back garden to take a look.

Li Xuan was playing the piano in the back garden while Pei Lingxi sat beside her and listened quietly. It was as peaceful as a painting.

Pei Lingxi saw that Li Xuan was playing a song she had never heard of before, and she played it very well, so she couldn't help but become obsessed.

Li Xuan's talent in both civil and military affairs made countless young girls and ladies unable to control themselves.

When Li Shizhi arrived, Pei Lingxi saluted politely.

When Li Shizhi learned that Pei Lingxi was Pei Yaoqing's granddaughter, he felt that this was a match made in heaven.

It doesn’t matter if the family is poor, as long as they have the identity of Wenxi Pei family.

With Li Xuan's power, he doesn't need the woman's family to be prominent.

When Pei Yaoqing was alive, Li Shizhi met Pei Yaoqing many times.

Pei Yaoqing left behind a good reputation.

Three days later, Li Xuan gave Pei Ying a holiday and allowed him to return to Yishou to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Pei Lingxi and Pei Ying went back together.

Li Shizhi couldn't wait to ask Li Xuan when she would get married, and he planned to find a matchmaker to arrange a marriage.

Li Xuan’s answer was after becoming prime minister.

It's the final step, so don't be distracted.

Li Shizhi thought about it and agreed!

……

In the blink of an eye, it is August 15th and it is time for vacation again.

These days, after Li Longji's warning, the court was very quiet.

As soon as he entered the court, he dealt with the affairs of the Secretariat and local governments.

There are no extra big events to play.

It seems that the civil and military officials are in harmony.

The tranquility in the court made Li Longji in a good mood, and he summoned Li Xuan to Xingqing Palace for fun from time to time.

He wants to hold a grand Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.

The lights beside the Dragon Pond have been set up and can illuminate the night.

In addition to offering sacrifices to the moon, this banquet also invited foreign envoys, such as Wusumishi, Chidaizhudan and other captives holding official positions, to attend.

In addition, there were some famous literati and poets in Chang'an who wanted to recite poems and compose couplets at the night banquet and have fun together.

Although the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet started in the evening, many people had already arrived at Xingqing Palace in the afternoon.

The banquets were held one after another. Li Xuan didn't like them very much, but Li Longji liked them, so he could only attend them with a smile.

At dusk, Li Xuan was sitting in the carriage, still with his family.

Li Xuan was carrying his Jiuxiao Ring Pendant, and the Yulin Lang only gave him a quick inspection before letting him enter Xingqing Palace.

People gathered in groups of three or five beside the Dragon Pond, where the fragrance of osmanthus filled the air.

They smelled the intoxicating fragrance of osmanthus and looked forward to the fun at the banquet.

"Prince Ge Luofeng of Nanzhao Kingdom greets King Tianshui."

Li Xuan just arrived at Longchi and greeted the ministers.

At this time, a foreign envoy immediately came to pay a visit to Li Xuan.

The great battle between Li Xuan and Tubo had the greatest impact on Nanzhao.

Ge Luofeng has been wanting to meet Li Xuan these days, but it was not appropriate to go to Duke Song's Mansion. Now he finally has the opportunity to pay his respects to Li Xuan.

"No need to be polite, Prince!"

Li Xuan returned the greeting.

The current Geluofeng has not yet inherited the throne. In history, he is more famous than Piloge, who unified the Six Zhaos and established Nanzhao.

It’s a pity that it eventually broke with the Tang Dynasty and went to war.

As the King of Nanzhao, Piloge once went to Chang'an to pay a personal visit to Li Longji and was named Shangzhuguo.

Today, my son Geluofeng has come to the Tang Dynasty again, and he seems more sincere than other tribal countries.

"Seeing is believing. The King of Tianshui is even more heroic than the legend says. Tibetan soldiers are everywhere, and their armored cavalry are invincible. They have hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and they bully the weak with their strength. They are invincible."

"Fortunately, King Tianshui appeared out of nowhere and almost completely wiped out the vicious Tubo, bringing peace to our Nanzhao. I am deeply grateful for this kindness."

The prince bowed to Li Xuan again to show his respect for him. In addition to meeting the emperor and presenting tribute, his father also asked him to meet Li Xuan if he had a chance to see what kind of person he was and whether he would continue to attack Tubo.

"The Tang Dynasty and Nanzhao are neighbors, and we are very close. Tubo has repeatedly violated our borders, leading to the current situation. As long as Nanzhao helps the Tang Dynasty to secure the southern border, the two countries will remain friends for generations."

Li Xuan responded to Ge Luofeng.

He felt that the war between Tang and Nanzhao could have been completely avoided.

Especially now that Li Xuan’s reputation is so great.

If Nanzhao wants to become an enemy of the Tang Dynasty, it should think about the fate of Tubo.

"Of course! If the Great Tang Saint calls us, Nanzhao will do its duty."

Ge Luofeng said seriously.

He heard that Tubo was ready to submit to the Tang Dynasty and ask for the title of Tang emperor.

So he no longer asked about the attack on Tubo.

I just hope that King Tianshui has a good impression of Nanzhao.

"I heard that the Tang generals in the north would take the initiative to start a war for military merit. You should think twice before doing anything. Nanzhao was rewarded by the Tang Dynasty and is also an official of the Tang Dynasty. If you feel unfair, report it directly to the saint. Don't do anything impulsive, it will be too late to regret it."

Li Xuan solemnly reminded Ge Luofeng.

No matter what happens in the future, as long as Nanzhao does not use military force against the Tang Dynasty, it will have room for maneuver.

If Nanzhao used military force against the Tang Dynasty, it would be enough to capture even one county.

Then the war between Tang and Nanzhao was inevitable.

If we really wait until that time, we won’t bother to figure out who is right or wrong.

"I will keep in mind the words of King Tianshui."

Ge Luofeng didn't understand why Li Xuan said that, but he nodded in response.

There were not many Tang troops near Nanzhao, and they had no ambition to march northward into the Central Plains.

Geluo Fengtian naively thought that the Tang Dynasty and Nanzhao would remain friendly from generation to generation.

Li Xuan chatted with Ge Luofeng for a while and then left.

He still moved among the ministers with whom he had a good relationship, wishing them a happy holiday.

The day after tomorrow, Li Xuan will go to Hedong to handle a case.

He will rush back as soon as possible, and when he comes back, it will basically be the time for him to be appointed prime minister.

It was getting dark.

Fortunately, it is a sunny day today, and the moon at the banquet will definitely be very bright.

All the ministers who were supposed to arrive have arrived.

All the invited scholars were present.

It is an honor for scholars to be invited to a banquet by the court.

Especially for some students who are about to take the imperial examination.

If you can figure out a poem, you will definitely shine and greatly increase your chances of passing the imperial examination.

Unfortunately, famous quotes have rarely appeared at banquets since ancient times.

"Dang Dang Dang..."

According to the system, when the sky and the earth are covered with darkness, the bell will ring.

It foreshadows the imminent arrival of Li Longji and Yang Yuhuan.

The lights beside the Dragon Pond were bright. There were candles covered with lampshades on the trees, rockery, in the Dragon Pond, on the tables, on the landscape, and on the surrounding pavilions.

If you are on the top floor of the Hua'e Xianghui Building, you can see a grand and magnificent light show.

Once a candle was about to go out, the beautifully dressed palace maids would bring a new lamp.

Make every place at the banquet bathed in light.

Outside the Xingqing Palace, people seemed to be able to see countless lights, making the Xingqing Palace as bright as day.

"During the Mid-Autumn Festival, do you appreciate the bright moon in the sky or the lights on the ground?"

Li Xuan looked up at the night sky.

The Mid-Autumn moon is like a shining jade plate, hanging high in the night sky, and its gentle and cool moonlight is intoxicating.

At this time, you should watch the moon with your family in a dark place and feel the brightness of the Mid-Autumn moon.

"The Saint and the Imperial Concubine have arrived..."

The master of ceremonies shouted loudly.

Dozens of eunuchs around shouted.

Li Longji and Yang Yuhuan walked out of the Chenxiang Pavilion.

"Meet the Saint..."

"Greetings to the Imperial Concubine..."

Regardless of whether they saw it or not, everyone shouted in unison.

After the greeting, he stood up.

There are too many people attending the Longchi Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet today.

All officials of the ninth rank in Beijing could participate, and those above the fifth rank could even bring their families along. Princes, grandchildren of the emperor, princesses, their husbands, and literati and scholars, totaling thousands of people.

Although the lights were bright, it was still difficult to find someone familiar.

Fortunately, the banquet is also divided into different levels and areas.

The area in front of the Chenxiang Pavilion was where Li Longji, Yang Guifei, ministers, princes and princesses feasted and drank.

The singing and dancing performances here are even more beautiful and exquisite.

At three quarters past the hour of Xu, Li Longji led the ministers to worship the Moon Goddess.

There is an altar behind the Chenxiang Pavilion.

When offering sacrifice to the cold and aloof Moon God, no animals may be used.

In addition to fruits, there is also a snack similar to "moon cake".

The mooncakes in the Tang Dynasty were specially made to worship the moon god.

It was not eaten in the palace, but was eaten by the common people.

Li Longji prayed, hoping that the Moon Goddess would bless the Tang Dynasty with good weather and rain, and protect it from disease and disaster.

After offering sacrifices to the Moon Goddess, Li Longji returned to the dragon couch under the Chenxiang Pavilion.

He sat with Yang Yuhuan.

There was a jade table in front, on which were placed various fruits, snacks and fine wines.

Yang Yuhuan was wearing a palace dress with wide sleeves, her hair was combed into a bun, her face was as beautiful as a flower, and she wore no makeup.

She is like a fairy from the Moon Palace, cool, bright, noble, and has an aura that cannot be desecrated.

"Notice to everyone, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to admire the bright moon and compose poems. All poems and songs about the moon, as long as they are the first to be published, can be submitted. If there are good lines, the civil and military ministers and scholars will circulate them, and the one who is convinced by everyone will be the first, and I will reward him generously!"

After Li Longji sat down, he conveyed his first order to those attending the Longchi Night Feast.

This is incredible!
If anyone wins, the news will spread throughout Chang'an the next day.

Sure enough, when all the participants received this news, they sharpened their knives and fell into deep thought.

They no longer lingered on the lights, but looked at the moon in the sky.

However, those who wanted to write poetry at this time were restricted by the atmosphere of the banquet.

Like Zhang Jiuling's "The bright moon rises over the sea, and we share this moment across the world", like Li Bai's "The bright moon shines on my bed, I wonder if it is frost on the ground", "I raise my cup to invite the bright moon, and my shadow and I become three people", all of these require the emotions to settle.

Once a poet writes a poem, he will spread it among his friends, and few people will keep it in secret.

Unless you write satirical poems like Du Fu, you dare not show them to others.

At the same time, the banquet began.

The first piece is Zhang Ruoxu's "Spring River Moon Night", a large piece played with the yaoqin and flute.

Many people can't even see clearly and can only hear the beautiful sound from afar.

The poets tried to imagine a stunning poem starting from the performance, the moon, and the surrounding lights.

After a while, the first poem was presented to Li Longji by the eunuch.

"It's elegant but bland. It's probably not a masterpiece!"

After Li Longji finished reading the poem, he handed it to Yang Yuhuan.

"Sanlang, let Qilang take a look."

After the banquet started, Li Xuan left his seat and disappeared.

Yang Yuhuan looked around, wondering where Li Xuan had gone.

Li Longji asked Gao Lishi to find Li Xuan.

Li Xuan knew that Li Longji would look for him, so he left early and went to drink with poets such as Wang Wei, Wu Daozi, and Cui Hao.

He also specifically inquired and found out that Du Fu was also among the invited guests.

Just based on the line "I will climb to the top of the mountain, looking down on all the mountains below", it is impossible for Du Fu not to be famous.

All the friends he made were famous poets.

However, the style of poetry changed drastically later on, turning into realism, and the notes that were not in line with the "prosperous times" made it difficult for the poetry to be circulated.

After drinking with Wang Wei, Wu Daozi and others, Li Xuan was about to go to the ordinary area to meet Du Fu when Gao Lishi sent a young eunuch to find Li Xuan: "King Tianshui, the saint invites you to take a seat."

"Okay, I'll go right away!"

Li Longji personally invited Li Xuan, so he could not delay.

The fat guy An Lushan has never left, and he cannot be allowed to take away his position as the most loyal minister.

"Qi Lang, do you have any good poems about the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

Yang Yuhuan looked at Li Xuan expectantly.

When Li Xuan came to Li Longji's side, he read a few poems and felt that they were as boring as the poems written in response to imperial orders.

He could also write poems in response to imperial orders and in response to poems, but it was very difficult for him to have that flash of inspiration and find the source of the Yellow River.

"In reply to your question, I wrote a poem at the frontier, but I have not shown it to you yet. I have composed a melody for it. I will play it for you and me later."

Li Xuan answered to the stunningly beautiful Yang Yuhuan.

(End of this chapter)