Volume 1: The great wind rises, clouds fly high

  Volume 2: Mountains have trees, trees have branches

  125: Encouragement to advance

  "What brings you here?"

  He stared at her with his eyes, inquiring with his gaze.

  Zhang Yan innocently rolled her eyes, glanced at the eastern wall of the main hall where Empress Dowager's seat was located, and then used her mouth to remind Zhang Liang, who was washing his hands, that this was a solemn coronation ceremony, and he should calm down.

  Liu Yingqi was furious. However, he also knew that without his mother's help, even if Zhang Yan was the empress, it would be impossible for her to appear in this grand temple with dignity.

  His mother and wife were in cahoots with each other, and they kept it a secret from him.

  Thereupon, Zhang Liang, Marquis of Liu, turned around, descended three steps, and accepted the ceremonial cap.

  Zhang Yan hastily lowered her voice and handed over the wine cup in her hand.

  Seeing the slender and delicate hands of the young servant holding the tray, Zhang Liang was taken aback for a moment, then looked up at Zhang Yan.

  Under his wise and discerning gaze, Zhang Yan couldn't help but feel nervous.

  Although she has been in this era for many years and has seen too many famous people in history, when facing Zhang Liang, who "moved the tripod of Qin with his wisdom and opened the map of Han with his merits", she still can't help but feel reverence.

  Did I reveal something?

  She was shocked in her heart, but didn't dare move slightly.

  He was the young grandson of the Emperor, a position that others might envy, but in the eyes of Lü Hou, he was not worth mentioning. Therefore, although as a young man he often came and went from Lü Hou's mansion and associated with Zhang Liang, he never had any opportunity to meet Lü Hou himself.

  Years later, her social circle in Chang'an was limited to noblewomen. Although she is now the empress, due to the short time, there are not many officials who know her on the court. The official who crowned the emperor, however, was just an insignificant member of this coronation ceremony. That's why she dared to disguise herself as a man and pretend to be an official.

  Zhang Liang quickly turned around and crowned the Emperor.

  Liu Ying got up and returned to the east house. Only then did she grab Zhang Rong's arm and ask, "What's going on?"

  "How did you know?" Chang Ji cried with a sad face and said, "I just saw the empress. I was also startled."

  "The Emperor's Uncle." Zhang Yan changed her clothes and also entered the east wing, softly calling out.

  Still dressed in the attire of a dark-robed attendant, with only the hairpin removed and held in hand, revealing a head of neatly tied black silk, looking elegant and refined, with her head lowered, giving off a somewhat pitiful air.

  Here is the translation:

  Here we go again. Liu Ying's eyes were a bit black in front of her. Every time Zhang Yan only called him "Emperor Uncle" when she was being naughty and wrong, or when she was afraid he would punish her. And every time he heard it, his heart softened, thinking that she was young and had no one to rely on except for him in the deep palace. So he couldn't bear to argue with her.

  It's just this time. This time. She also made a fuss over nothing.

  "Your Majesty," Zhang Yan stepped forward and said sorrowfully, "Don't be angry with me. I just wanted to see your coronation ceremony, so I begged the Empress Dowager to let me come over."

  It's not that she doesn't understand etiquette, it's just that as a wife, she wants to attend and watch her husband's coming-of-age ceremony.

  In the temple hall, the three dukes and nine ministers were slightly suspicious. The Emperor waited for a while in the east chamber. However, it wasn't long before Liu Ying came out with his clothes on.

  According to the ritual, if it were an ordinary man, three additions would be enough. But Liu Ying was the Son of Heaven of Great Han, so five additions were required. The fourth addition was the xuan mi (a type of hat), and the fifth addition was the guan mi (another type of hat). The ceremony of adding hats was solemn and majestic, but few people noticed that in the last three additions, the official who held the crown for the Son of Heaven was the same.

  After the ceremony, Liu Hou descended from the western steps and stood in the western corridor facing east. He took the imperial edict and read it aloud: "The rituals have been completed, and the auspicious day has been chosen. We hereby proclaim your name. Your name is Gong Ji, a virtuous and talented scholar. May you be worthy of this honor, and may you forever receive blessings. Your name shall be Chi Yi."

  Zhang Liang took the character "Yi" for Liu Ying, which is "Ji Yi".

  Zhang Yan stood far away under the temple, listening to Zhang Liang's solemn and dignified words of command, and couldn't help but smile.

  Her husband's name is Chi Yi.

  She asked Lv Hou, and secretly ran to Gao Temple. In addition to wanting to see Liu Ying's coronation ceremony, she also wanted to know his new character as soon as possible. At this point, her wish had been fulfilled, and if she waited any longer, it would be seeking trouble. She poked out her tongue, beckoned to Zhang Ji, "I'll head back to the palace first, you tell His Majesty later," ignoring Zhang Ji's worried expression, she responded and left Gao Temple with a smile on her face.

  "Your Highness," Tong Hua waited outside the temple, helped her onto the carriage, patted his chest, still feeling a lingering fear, "You acted so rashly, won't His Majesty truly blame you?"

  Zhang Yan glanced at Lü Hou and smiled, "How can he blame me? He would have to scold the Empress Dowager as well. Besides, Your Majesty is not really angry." After all these years of closeness, she knew Liu Ying's emotions very accurately, and it was precisely because she had calculated that he wouldn't be angry that she dared to speak to Lü Hou.

  The horse carriage passed through the high city, and a voice came from the market. The merchant was working hard in the market stall, his wife walked to his side and wiped his sweat with a handkerchief. The old couple looked at each other, their faces calm, but it made Zhang Yan want to cry. She put down the carriage curtain and ordered, "Zhu Mei, after returning to the palace, order Qian Niang to make some dishes that His Majesty likes to taste every day, and simmer them first. Hmm, also take out that jar of plum blossom wine that Zhang Zhan sent to the palace a few days ago."

  "Your Majesty," Zuo Si reminded, "today is the ninth day of the month." It was not originally a day for the emperor to visit the Pepper Chamber.

  "Go then."

  He will come here.

  After the emperor's coronation, he bowed to his brothers and those who congratulated him. The first decree issued afterwards was the abolition of the law on false accusations.

  After returning to Xuanshidian Hall, Liu Ying ordered the invitation of Sun Shu and mentioned the matter of establishing the Imperial Academy.

  Sun Shangxiang was stunned, looking at the emperor student in front of her, Liu Ying had just added the Yuanfu, more majestic and mature than before, and from then on, he would be considered a true adult, ruling the whole world. He seemed ambitious, wanting to make a name for himself.

  Sun Shu Tong was originally a Confucian disciple, and the great Confucius had traveled to various countries, later promoted education, having 72 disciples, 3,000 followers, always revered by Confucians. If he established the Imperial Academy in the name of the imperial court, whether for Han or Sun Shu Tong himself, it would be a great merit.

  At this time, Sun Shu Tong, who was getting older, was also very excited. However, there were many details in the establishment of the Imperial Academy, so he asked with a bow, "I don't know what Your Majesty is thinking. Who can hold the position of Doctor of the Imperial Academy and be invited to teach at the Imperial Academy?"

  "This," Liu Ying thought for a moment and sighed, "has been the case for so many years since the book was written. Although there are talented people among the common folk, they are not well-known. We still need to carefully search for them, that's my intention. Better to have none than to have unworthy ones. And don't investigate their academic background, just like in the past when the Qi state had the Linzi Academy where a hundred schools of thought contended with each other, it was also a delightful thing."

  Sun Shu Tong felt somewhat disappointed. The previous emperor and Liu Xiang both respected the quiet and non-action of the Yellow Emperor, and they were more fond of Huang Lao. Confucianism was just one of many schools of thought. To be honest, Liu Xiang had been taught by him since childhood, and he could barely be considered a Confucian disciple. If this could lead to favoring Confucianism, then in the Imperial Academy, Confucianism would flourish, and it would not be long before it became widespread throughout the Han Dynasty.

  He just sighed and said there's still a long way to go, no need to rush.

  This day, Liu Ying was quite energetic and repeatedly summoned the officials. It wasn't until the sun's color turned westward and the dusk shrouded the earth that Zhang Rong reminded him several times before he put down the memorials in his hands. Rubbing his eyes, he asked, "What time is it?"

  "It's already half past nine." Chang Ji said. "Just now, the slave servant saw that wooden official from the Pepper Chamber come to the front of the room and take a look around. She just didn't come up to ask questions."

  Liu Ying smiled and said, "In that case, let's go to the Pepper Chamber then."

  When he entered the chamber, Zhang Yan was reading a volume of scriptures and had not come out to greet him. He followed the sound into the inner hall, saw Zhang Yan holding a bamboo scroll and finishing his reading, "Holding it full, is not as good as already; guessing its sharpness, cannot be kept for long. Gold and jade fill the hall, no one can guard them; rich and noble yet proud, self-inflicted blame. Achieving success and retiring, this is the way of heaven." He looked up at him, called out "Already held" with a smile on his lips and eyebrows.

  Liu Ying felt slightly embarrassed and asked, "Are you reading 'Tao Te Ching'?"

  "Hmm." Zhang Yan nodded, put down the book in her hand and stood up, standing before him with her hands clasped together. "Originally, I didn't think it was that good, but reading it again today, it has a different flavor, and I feel that it really makes sense."

  He scolded with a straight face, "You're really being absurd today."

  "Uh, Ah Yan knows she was wrong and won't dare to do it again." There won't be a next time unless you add another crown. "Otherwise, Your Majesty, Ah Yan invites you to drink wine as an apology."

  "What's that?" Liu Ying smiled, "What good wine is there in the palace that you need to invite someone over to make amends."

  "You don't know, do you?" Zhang Yan shook her head and said, "Recently, a new method of brewing wine has been popular in Chang'an. The brewed wine is particularly fragrant and mellow. I tried it with Ye'er when I was at home, and now it's been three months, take it out, Father drank it and praised it as the best he's ever had."

  "Oh?" Liu Ying had known that Xuanping Hou Zhang Kai was good at wine, and upon hearing this, his interest was piqued. He said, "In that case, I'll have a taste."

  In the spring, it's suitable to nourish the liver with food. Pungent and sweet foods can disperse and assist the yang energy of spring. Also, Liu Ying has just finished fasting and recently worked hard, so for dinner in the Peony Pavilion, dishes like celery and red dates, pig liver lotus seed soup, and dried wolfberry steamed eggs were prepared, all light and refreshing.

  Liu Ying didn't notice her intention, took a sip of wine, and praised with a smack of his tongue, "This wine is much stronger than the usual clear wine."

  This is natural. Zhang Yan thought to herself, the wine of the Han Dynasty was only naturally fermented, but her own wine had been distilled, how could they be mentioned in the same breath?

  "But it has a slightly cool and icy sweetness, and another hint of plum blossom's clarity within, as if it had bones. Liu Yingqi said, "A Yan, how did you brew this?"

  "It's not that special once you say it out loud." Zhang Yan smiled and said, "It's just made by boiling the snowmelt from winter days into a brew, burying it under the old plum blossom tree in Xia Xiang's courtyard, so it also absorbs the fragrance of the plum blossoms."

  Most men have some fondness for liquor, and Liu Ying was no exception. The plum wine had a clear and refreshing taste, and he took a sip and loved it, but saw Zhang Yan drink only one cup and stop drinking, and couldn't help but ask, "Don't you drink yourself?"

  Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she smiled as she shook her head. "Your Majesty knows that I don't drink well, if I have another cup, I'll get drunk." Many years ago, in the courtyard of that mansion in Fangli, a six-year-old girl had only tasted a bowl of clear wine and got so drunk that she fell all over the place, sleeping for an entire afternoon before she could get up.

  The two of them exchanged a glance and both thought back to past events. Then they both laughed.

  Plum wine is sweet and mellow at first, but its aftertaste is far stronger than ordinary wine. Moreover, Zhang Yan was on the side, diligently urging him to drink. By the time Liu Ying realized that his mind was getting dizzy and sleepy, he had already drunk a whole tank.

  "Your Majesty." Zhang Ji was startled and hurriedly went to support him.

  Yes, Uncle's coming of age ceremony, how can our family's Ah Yan be absent?

  But still feel a little guilty. Wipe sweat.

  Actually, I originally planned to let Ah Yan be the crown ceremony's eulogist (the position of Liu Yi Ke, the Crown Prince of Chu, who combs Liu Ying's hair and ties her bun before each coronation). But as soon as I brought it up in the author group, everyone immediately shot it down. So, taking a step back, let's just muddle through with being a crown bearer or something.

  Alright, this actually may not conform to etiquette either.

  However, he looked up at the sky and laughed loudly three times.

  Who told me to write about the beginning of the Han Dynasty?

  The three ritual classics of later generations, "Zhou Li", "Yi Li" and "Li Ji", were all written or widely circulated after the Emperor Wu. Therefore, in terms of rituals, the early Han dynasty was actually a rather barbarous and uncivilized era.

  So you won't bother me anymore?

  Come on, have another cup of wine. Ah, guess what Yanyan from our family got someone drunk for?

  Looking up at the sky, still 20 votes away from first place, clasped hands continue to pray for Pink.