The concubine is extremely cautious

Chapter 259: Longevity Chapter, Presentation

On the ninth day of June, there is a birthday banquet.

The emperor and the imperial concubine attended together, which attracted everyone's attention.

There was a new sachet hanging around Helian Qi's waist. Everyone was familiar with this item now. The Imperial Concubine gave it to him every year, and His Majesty never left it.

But today, the emperor and the imperial concubine actually had a pair of heart-shaped jades tied around their waists.

Although the concentric jade is not as extravagant as the phoenix and peony in terms of shape, it is generally not possible for the emperor to give such a thing to his concubines, otherwise where would the empress be placed?

This represents the concentric jade that is in tune with the emperor's mind. In a sense, it is more precious than the dragon and phoenix jade pendant.

All the courtiers and concubines could not help but marvel in secret.

Your Majesty's favor towards the Imperial Noble Consort is as great as ever, and even greater than before.

"The Imperial Noble Consort is truly still favored. She has been in the palace for seven years, and His Majesty still loves her so much." A rich girl in the back row of the banquet sighed with envy.

Another daughter lowered her voice and said indignantly, "In order to ensure her own favor, she actually refused to allow His Majesty to select a concubine. If a new person enters the palace, she may not be able to maintain her favor!"

"Indeed, there were many newcomers who were favored in the palace before, but most of them died...so she was especially wary of newcomers. Your Majesty is so heroic, but it's a pity that in another three years, I won't be able to catch up."

In the eyes of some people who didn't know the emperor well, the emperor suspended the selection of concubines because he favored the imperial concubine alone.

The suspension of the talent show has caused complaints from some marriageable-age women from official families.

The emperor's reputation spread far and wide, and many women admired him. In addition, his majesty favored the imperial concubine, and many women fantasized that they could become the second Ning Wanyin after entering the palace.

Stringed music started and the dancers danced gracefully.

The court officials congratulated His Majesty on his birthday.

At this moment, Nanyang Marquis was very tactless and asked in public:

"I heard that the palace has suspended the selection of concubines this year. Your Majesty, this goes against the ancestral rules!"

Helian Qi glanced at him coldly and said, "The treasury is empty, so let's put it aside for now."

"I heard that Daliang's compensation was generous..." The Marquis of Nanyang looked suspicious.

Nanyang Hou will jump out today...

This was because several colleagues with whom he had a good relationship privately instigated him.

Among the three hereditary marquis families of Dayan, one has a concubine, one has a third prince, but your Shi family has nothing.

If the talent show was held this year, wouldn’t the Shi family also have this opportunity?

The Marquis of Nanyang coveted the position of concubine of the Tang family, and even more coveted the prince of the Dong family, so he secretly thought of picking a good day that would please the emperor to mention this matter.

The emperor is celebrating his birthday today and he looks very happy.

Then bring it up today!

"It's taken from Daliang, so it should be used for the people. How can this money be used in the harem?" Helian Qi rejected it lightly.

Nanyang Hou was speechless for a moment.

The emperor spent all the money he earned from the wars on the state. This was beyond reproach.

Although you think he was bewitched by the witch and refused to participate in the talent show, his excuse is really good.

Minister Ye looked at this scene and thought that this was something he had expected.

Arranging someone to instigate Marquis Nanyang is the first step.

He is ready, if there is no draft, he might as well make a contribution.

Now as long as I can enter the palace, everything else is just trivial.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty on your long life. I have specially invited dozens of famous musicians to compose the "Longevity and Longevity Song" for Your Majesty. I wish Your Majesty a long life!" Minister Ye stepped forward:

"Please allow me to perform, Your Majesty."

Helian Qi said calmly, "Yes."

The daughter of the Ye family, who had entered the palace with Minister Ye to celebrate his birthday, walked forward holding a guqin, bowed with a blushing face.

Everyone saw this scene and whispered to each other.

"Is Minister Ye preparing to present the gift? Or is he just quick to react? Why didn't I think of that?"

"Performing in public, as the daughter of a minister, this is somewhat disrespectful of your status..."

"Compared to being able to enter the palace, this is nothing. There is no selection this year, so there is no other way except to present the title."

Ms. Ye presented a song.

She plays the guqin very well, and the sound is as melodious as the sound of a clear spring.

She is very pretty and charming.

Minister Ye made careful preparations and specially selected a talented daughter from his family, hoping that she would be favored by the emperor.

Generally speaking, the emperor would also give this kind of grace to important officials.

Otherwise, if he performed in public but was not chosen by the emperor in the end, his reputation would be damaged and it would also be a disgrace to the Ye family.

But this time...

Helian Qi just listened to the song calmly and did not mention letting the Ye girl enter the palace.

Ms. Ye had some confidence at first, but when she saw that the emperor didn't mention it at all, she became a little anxious and looked at Minister Ye in a hurry.

"Your Majesty, this is my daughter..." Minister Ye hadn't finished his words.

Helian Qi interrupted impatiently, "I appreciate Minister Ye's birthday congratulations, but I don't like this song."

The Ye family thought that the emperor valued them, so they would definitely give them this grace...

But I didn't expect to be rejected in public.

The other court officials who were ready to make arrangements for tribute immediately became obedient.

The feast ended with singing and dancing.

……

The next day.

Capital, Ministry of Rites.

"Master Yao, the list of the third batch of lecturers to be sent to the southwest has been prepared." The doctor of the Yizhi Qingli Division presented a list with a hint of hesitation in his eyes:

"But there are two people on this list who don't meet the requirements."

The emperor issued a proposal for teaching in the southwest, ordering the Ministry of Rites to select some officials to go to the southwest to teach for a period of one year.

Appendix 1 contains the criteria for appointing officials, three of which are not allowed.

Those who are over fifty years old are not allowed to go.

Those who are ill will not go.

Those who have matters to attend to in the three families will not go.

The third article specifically states that if there are elders who need care and there is no one at home to help take care of them, it is inconvenient to leave Beijing.

The first two are for the health of the officials who give lectures. After all, it is a long journey, thousands of miles away, and there is a lot of miasma in the southwest.

Therefore, it is more appropriate to select young officials who are in good health.

At the same time, an imperial physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau will accompany him.

This report is written in great detail, and the arrangements all the way to the southwest are also very appropriate. If you strictly follow this report, it will surely be very safe.

But when it comes to practical implementation, it’s different.

Most Beijing officials do not want to be sent to the southwest.

Minister Yao was very clear about everyone's thoughts, so he also set up the appointment criteria. Those who sent him money would stay. Those who did not send money and those who did not get along with him were all sent to the southwest.

He had to deal with the emperor in the first batch of names, so he carefully selected them to make sure that those sent away were people who did not give him money and met the requirements.

By the third batch, it was impossible for the emperor to pay attention to everything, so he became even bolder.

Two people on this list are included in the "Three No-Go" regulations.

"Who is not suitable? Then you go in his place?" Minister Yao asked back.

The emperor stipulated the number of officials that the Ministry of Rites had to send. If someone didn't want to go, someone else had to take their place.

The Langzhong of the Yizhiqinglisi immediately shut up.

"Don't worry, they are just looking for an excuse not to go to the southwest." Minister Yao didn't care too much about this matter.

The Ministry of Rites usually presided over major events such as national ceremonies and imperial examinations. Now he was going to give lectures to a group of peasants, a job he looked down upon.

If he were to preside over the imperial examination, he would certainly do it meticulously and gloriously.

What's the point of sending officials from the Ministry of Rites to the southwest? They can't achieve anything even if they endure hardships.

You can also take the opportunity to make some money.