Chapter 3: Chaos (3)

The New Year banquet for officials in Jixian Hall is about to begin. The entire hall has already been decorated with lights and flowers, and is decorated with dazzling and gorgeous. In order to create a warm atmosphere of festivals, the prince specially issued an edict so that all officials do not have to stand in front of Mingfu Gate like they usually go to court, and wait for the summons in the cold wind. Instead, they go directly to meet outside Jixian Gate and then enter the hall in order to enter the hall. Old ministers like Di Renjie, or princes and marquises, were even given to Jixian Academy not far from Jixian Hall, to incense and tea, discuss and chat, which can not only enjoy the elegance of the atmosphere and the feelings of colleagues, but also make them feel relaxed throughout the year.

Di Renjie did not go to Jixian Academy to wait for the banquet with everyone, but sat alone in the deserted Secretariat Province with Chen Huai. As the prime minister, he had been dealing with socializing with others during the New Year banquets as a official business. He had never liked it, but he had never escaped it. But this year, he suddenly had a reason to avoid all those faces that were flattering, cunning, insidious or arrogant, and as the organizer of the banquet, he hid in this suddenly seemingly secluded place. He said that he was dealing with various affairs of the banquet, but in fact he was enjoying an unexpected tranquility alone.

Of course, because he was hosting the entire New Year celebration, Di Renjie could not feel relaxed even if he was hiding here. Unlike the New Year celebrations tomorrow, the process of staying up in the palace does not have a formal etiquette procedure. To put it bluntly, the monarch and ministers gathered together to eat, drink, and enjoy optimistic dances. But after all, it was a festival in the palace, and every move was still not careless. The list of officials and princes who attended the banquet was appointed by the emperor, and the seating of the entire banquet was also arranged, and there was no room for mistakes.

The space inside Jixian Hall is limited, and the adults must keep a certain distance. They cannot be decent, and they can't be decent. They have to place ninety-ninety-one seats in full swing. The remaining officials, bachelors, monks, etc. who are not in the turn of entering the hall can only attend the square outside Jixian Hall. On such a cold winter night, it is not easy to stay outdoors all night. Of course, compared with Wu Shang Honor who can welcome the New Year with the emperor, getting a little freezing is nothing. No one will give up the opportunity to enter the palace to stay in the New Year because of this opportunity. Therefore, every year, an elderly, weak and overestimated one's ability will be affected by the cold and sickness after this New Year's Eve night.

In order to arrange the seats inside and outside the hall, the Ministry of Rites has been thinking about it. It must consider the height and lowness, and also take into account the relatives and distantness. Therefore, once someone is absent for any reason, the arrangement of seats must be adjusted accordingly. Obviously, except for the emperor himself, the person who is granted full authority by him can decide the change of seats. Even if others use them with one hundred courage, they will never dare to act rashly. At this moment, Di Renjie was sitting in the Secretariat, and there was nothing else to be busy with. What needs to be worried about is whether the person who finally attended the banquet had changed. If so, how should the seats change accordingly. Just after the You hour, Yuchi Jian rushed over from Jixian Gate, holding the list of everyone who finally arrived at the table. Chen Huai came forward, took the list from Yuchi Jian, and turned around to present it to Di Renjie.

Di Renjie slowly tasted a sip of tea in his mouth, and then spread the list, looked carefully, and smiled on his face. Chen Huai and Yuchi Jian couldn't help but look at each other, looked at Di Renjie again, and then put it down, sighed and said, "There are strange things every year, and there are so many this year."

Chen Huai stepped forward and said, "Sir, you..." Di Renjie shook his head, picked up his pen, circled the list, and then folded the list again in a moment, handed it back to Yuchi Jian, and smiled and said, "Sir, thank you for your hard work." Yuchi Jian took the list with both hands, bowed and left quickly.

Di Renjie picked up the teacup again, took a sip, and then said to Chen Huai with suspicion, "Chen Huai, do you want to know how many officials are missing today's banquet this year?" Chen Huai did not answer, but just looked at Di Renjie quietly.

Di Renjie sneered and said, "Tell me, there are only a list of 200 people, and there are 37 people absent. Isn't that a strange thing? It seems that many people are not flocking to this New Year's Eve banquet this year, but instead avoiding it."

Chen Huai asked in surprise: "How could this happen? This is a matter of extraordinary glory, how could it be avoided?" Di Renjie glanced at him and asked calmly: "What do you think?" Chen Huai asked hesitantly: "Is it because of the prince..." Di Renjie snorted coldly: "The Zhang brothers used the excuse to accompany the emperor and not attend to tonight's New Year banquet, which is actually a sign of their attitude of not taking the prince seriously. They believe that welcoming the King of Luling is their credit, and the prince should be grateful and commend him, and they themselves do not have to respect the prince at all."

Chen Huai asked again: "Then those other people..."

"I saw the rest of the people. Most of them were originally Zhang's followers, and they all relied on welcomeing the Zhang brothers to be promoted. They naturally followed their leaders. Oh, and there was another strange thing. Fu Min, the Minister of Personnel, died suddenly last night. He was the brother-in-law of King Liang, so King Liang also refused to go tonight's banquet on this ground."

Chen Huai was even more shocked and shouted: "Mr. Fu is dead?! It's too sudden, what is the cause of death?"

Di Renjie shook his head and said, "I don't know. I just learned the news from this absentee list. This Fu Min was just the son of an ignorant wealthy businessman. He relied on his wealth to get close to King Liang. He was promoted to a high position like the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in less than two years. It's really a pity!"

Chen Huai hesitated and said, "However, since Fu Min is the imperial official, he died suddenly, so he should ask the reason." Di Renjie smiled slightly: "The King of Liang will pursue this matter. He has to give his sister an explanation, so you and me don't have to worry about it. However, Fu Min's death gave King of Liang an excuse to not attend the New Year banquet, which is quite strange."

Chen Huai frowned and thought: "Will the King of Liang not come? Is it because of this that a group of Wushou officials won't come?" Di Renjie nodded in praise and said: "Chen Huai, you are very experienced. You are right, otherwise there wouldn't be so many people." After a moment of pause, he continued: "In addition, there are two absentees, namely Lord Zhou and Lord Liu, who we all know."

Chen Huai's head was silent. Di Renjie pondered for a moment, and suddenly smiled: "It's good, it's less trouble. You don't have to socialize with those people. I'm in the mood to attend this year's New Year banquet."
Chapter completed!