In March of the fifth year of the Ming Dynasty (1440 AD).
The night is full of moonlight, and the stars are silent. The night that has been silent for a long time has pulled down the deepest curtain on this piece of the sky.
After three more years, Xin Yi did not see sleepiness, and walked alone in the courtyard of the Longzhou Wang's Toast Mansion. There were no people in the courtyard, but a ray of moonlight seeped in, reflecting poignantly on the cobbled path. Xin Yi was accompanied by the song of insects and the unquenched oil lamp.
Longzhou Wang's Tusi Mansion is located in Panlongba, Longzhou, located in northwestern Sichuan, upstream of the Fujiang River, deep in the Longmen Mountains, with a vast area. It is bordered by Guangyuan to the east, Mianzhou to the south, Songpan to the west, and Wenzhou to the north. Longzhou is located in the border area between the Han District and the distribution of White Horse Fan, White Grass Fan, Papaya Fan and Hui Hui Fan, and the fanyi composition is complex and the strategic position is extremely important. In view of this, since the Southern Song Dynasty, all central dynasties have set up toasts in Longzhou. The establishment of the post of Toastmaster was basically held by the local Fanyi Hao chief. However, Longzhou is one of the few places where Han Chinese serve toast, which is a unique feature of Sichuan West Toast. In the ninth year of Ming Xuande (1434 AD), the people of Songpan, Maozhou, Diexi and other places rebelled, and the Ming court was credited with quelling the rebellion, Shenglong Prefecture was the Longzhou Xuanfu Division, subordinate to the Sichuan Chengcheng Political Envoy Department, Xue was the Longzhou Xuanfu Envoy, Li was the Deputy Envoy, and Wang Wei was the Minister, respectively, commanding the three divisions of Yuxi, Mapan, and Ningwu, and the Yuxi Division of the Yuxi Division of the Longzhou Xuanfu Division. Since then, The power of The Sichuan Envoy Silong Prefecture Xuanfu Xue Zhongyi (from the Title of Four Pins), the Deputy Envoy of Xuanfu (from the Title of Five Pins), and the Xuanfu Si Shi Wang Xi (正六品 title) have been expanded to an unprecedented extent, and the three toastmasters have fought each other, standing on three feet in this vast and rich land of Longzhou, each leading the way.
The moonlight is like a gentle tulle, and everything is lost in the haze, swaying gently in the cool evening wind. The mist veil envelops everything, leaving no gaps. The residual fog flashed like silver light on the frozen green of the grass. The Longzhou King's Tusi Mansion is one of the best in the mansions under the jurisdiction of Longzhou. The whole mansion is fresh and elegant, unique, good wood and onions, strange flowers, probably contaminated with aristocratic habits, and the grass and trees in the courtyard grow densely and vigorously. Between the gaps in the rockery, a clear stream pours from the depths of the flowers into the stone crevices, the water pavilions, the pavilions and cloisters, all of which are exquisitely designed and exquisitely carved. The breeze, the running water, the fog, the moonlight, add a little emotion. It is the season of the silkworm moon, and a tall Xinyi tree in the courtyard blooms just right, elegant and moist, prosperous and gorgeous.
Taking advantage of the glimmer of light in the middle of the night, Xin Yi stared at the northern galaxy with some small expectations: "I don't know what new and interesting things my father will bring back to Xin Yi when he goes to the Beijing Division to pay tribute?" ”
Xin Yi was the younger daughter of Wang Xi, the tenth hereditary Xuanfu Si of Longzhou, with the surname Xin Yi. Wang Xi, zi tingzhang, has a total of three rooms. The eldest lady is Cai Qiuniang, who is married by the Ming Media, and has two daughters and a son, the eldest queen Hibiscus and the second queen Kapok have been married far away, and the eldest son, Wang Jian. The second lady,concubine Cao Yuniang (曹鸢娘), had a second son, Wang Fan (王樾) and a third son, Wang Ji (王吉). The third lady's concubine, Tian Wenniang, had four sons Wang Huan, five sons Wang Tan, and Queen Xin Yi. Wang Xi has always loved Xin Yi as a daughter, and Xin Yi is almost at the age of Ji Zhen, and has not found a suitable marriage partner for her. Although Wang Xi and Xin Yi's birth mother, The Third Lady Tian Wenniang, said that they were in a hurry, they always felt that Xin Yi, who was as splendid as Chunhua and Jiao Ruoqiuyue, should be promised a good family with the right door.
In Longzhou, only the Xue family and the Li family could be paired with the Wang family, and no other clan could have the power of the Xue, Li, and Wang families. The Kang family was also a toastmaster, but because kang Jinzhong was promoted to governor of the tuguan under the protection of Xue Zhongyi, and it was not hereditary, the Kang family naturally only had the Xue family as the head of the horse and was attached to the power of the Xue family. The three families of Xue, Li, and Wang have been cultivating the boardwalk and secretly Chen Cang, and the three toastmasters are polite on the surface, but secretly they are holding each other back and fighting for power. Because of this, suffering from the lack of a suitable candidate, the marriage of Xinyi was delayed.
Xin Yi was not aware of the shifting stars above the firmament, and everything was quiet and quiet.
Someone gently draped a layer of mulberry silk shawl on Xin Yi from behind, and Xin Yi, who was looking at the galaxy in a daze, was startled and turned his head to look: "It turned out to be a mother, you can frighten Xin Yi!" ”
The third lady, Tian Wenniang, tied a shawl to Xin Yi and asked, "Xin Yi, why don't you sleep?" Come out so late, don't get cold. ”
"If you can't sleep, you can come out and breathe, when will your father come back?" They've been gone for months. Xin Yi muttered.
The Third Lady smiled, "Today I heard the Grand Madame say that your father's carriage and horse have passed through Guangyuan and are fast." ”
"Great, it looks like I'll be able to see my father soon!" Xin Yi suddenly smiled.
"Then go to sleep." After saying this, the third lady instructed the maid Anlan to send Xin Yi back to the room.
Xin Yi nodded, said goodnight to the Third Lady, accompanied by a little starlight, and returned to the boudoir to sleep.
Seven days later in the morning.
The mist had not yet completely dissipated, the leaves of the sword orchid in the courtyard were stained with cool morning dew, and a few magpies stopped on the Xinyi tree, singing a brisk song to welcome the owner of the courtyard home.
Xin Yi got up early and wanted to go with the servants of longzhou to pick up Wang Xi at the official pavilion to take Wang Xi home, but was blocked by the third lady at the door: "Xin Yi, where are you going?" ”
"Mother, I want to go to the official pavilion to pick up my father and go home, but brother Jian has gone." Xin Yi took a small sip of cherry, and twisted the ribbon with the index finger of his left hand, hoping that the third lady would agree.
"There are many people today, you are a big girl, just stay in the house honestly, don't go out all day to show your face!" The Third Lady does not eat this set of Xinyi.
Those lively scenes of red flying green dancing, Xin Yi especially wanted to get together. Xin Yi was a little upset and pouted.
"A few days ago, I said that I missed my father, but I actually wanted to go to see the liveliness." The Third Lady couldn't help but expose Xin Yi and covered her mouth with a snort and smiled.
Xin Yi was guessed by the Third Lady, and his little face turned red: "Where there is, I really miss my father, by the way, I want to see the liveliness." ”
"Okay, well, when the old man comes back later, you go to see him and let him tell you about the bustle of the Beijing Division, which is much more lively than our Panlongba." The Third Lady said and laughed, sending Xin Yi, who had some small emotions, back to the boudoir.
The sun gently shines on the black hair of the river, and the green mountains in the distance are even more lush under the blue sky. Xin Yi sat in front of the bronze mirror in the boudoir, sulking, bored to fiddle with the hairpin in the jewelry box.
At the same time, the NingwuSi Panlongba Receiving Pavilion in Longzhou was full of people, the alleys were empty, and the dense flow of people was blocked so that the area around the Receiving Pavilion could not be drained. Holding up honor guards that were "quiet" and "avoidant," the servants held official title plates, black sheath whips, golden melons, tail guns, black fans, yellow umbrellas, and other accompanying honor guards, and knocked the gongs and drums deafeningly. Despite the sound of the gong opening the road, the crowd of people who heard the gong continued to squeeze forward, and they all wanted to join in the fun. An old woman in a blue coarse cloth shirt held her little granddaughter, and even one of her new cloth shoes was squeezed out. In the face of the crowd of shoulders, the cloth shoe that fell did not know where it had been stepped on, and the old woman gave up and lamented her bad luck. The crowd of people surrounded the reception pavilion like a flood of beasts, leaving only a side road through the palanquin.
A tall horse waiting for the lead made a long roar and slowly stopped, followed by four four-wheeled cars and more than ten horses driving Li.
On the second palanquin, a toastman dressed in a silk robe and painted with a tiger on his patch came down, and this person was Xue Zhongyi, the envoy of Longzhou Xuanfu. Xue's toast was in charge of the Yuxi Pacification Division, which was governed by Jiangyouguan, and the Yuxi Division had jurisdiction over Jiangyouguan, Pingyibao, Shimenshan and other places, with a large population, a large number of soldiers, and a great deal of power. Its seat of governance in northern Shu is called Guanjiang Oil Pass, which is inherently dangerous and has always been a place where soldiers and families must fight. I saw that he was tall and burly, born with square ears, a straight nose, and a pair of eyebrows like a sword, obliquely inserted into the broad forehead. Although he was almost a flower armour, his eyes under his gray hair were still sharp and deep, giving people a sense of oppression and exuding a majestic and domineering attitude.
On the third palanquin, a toastman dressed in a green robe and painted with a bear on his patch came down, and this person was Li Fan, the deputy envoy of Longzhou Xuanfu. Li's Toast division was in charge of the Mapan Pacification Division, and its seat of governance was in Qingxi City, which administered the area around the Qingchuan Shouyu Qianhushou, the Modao River Valley, and the Tangjia River Valley, adjacent to Guangyuan, straddling Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu, and was an important pass on the Yinping Road. Ma Pansi is rich in rice, coal, granite, merchants gathered, and the people's livelihood is rich. Li Fan's jaw was square, his eyes were cloudy, his face was dark, he had not yet reached the age of knowing his destiny, and his face was full of vicissitudes and fatigue. The eye bubbles are slightly swollen, there is a faint black shadow under the slightly drooping eyelashes, and the cheekbones are high and protruding, lining the entire face with thin bones. Li Fan, who was too thin, did not have any spirit and showed a sick face.
Coming down from the fourth palanquin was Wang Xi, the Xuanfu Si of Longzhou. Wang Xi was long in stature and wore a green robe painted with herons on the patch. Wang's Toastmaster was in charge of the Ningwu Pacification Division, which was located in Panlongba, and had jurisdiction over the baima, huya, and huangyang three villages in the upper reaches of the Fu river, and the area around the Panlongba, Guchengyi, and Qingyi river basins. Ningwu Sidi is sparsely populated and rich in products, especially placer gold, nan wood, medicinal herbs and tea. Wang Xi's skin is white and pure, his eyes are like Dan Feng, his eyebrows are like Liu Yue, his forehead is wide and flat, and his ears and shoulders are unusual. He was not yet in the age of confusion, and since the "Xuande Qiqi", he was promoted by the imperial court from the judge of Qipin congshilang to the rank of Zhengliupin Xuanfu Sishi (正六品宣抚司佥事) for his military merits. As a young leader in the Northwest Sichuan Toast Group, Wang Xi has a hint of calmness and sophistication between his eyebrows.
On the first palanquin, supported by the attendants, he walked down to a Chincha dressed in a green robe embroidered with a partridge. The young Chincha looked like a young man who had just entered the army and was not long ago, and he was full of energy, without the slightest tiredness of the boat. The official standing at the front of the palanquin shouted, "The Holy Will has arrived!" The crowd fell to their knees and listened! ”
After the crowd bowed down in fear and fear, Chincha carefully opened the holy will and read it out in public: "Emperor Fengtian, edict: Longzhou Xuanfu made Xue Zhongyi meritorious in the 'Pingsong Rebellion', and gave the title of 'Gongbu Waiter'. Longzhou Xuanfu's deputy envoy Li Fan (李蕃) was credited with the 'Pingsong Rebellion' and was given the title of 'General of Wuluo'. Wang Xi, the Xuanfu Commander of Longzhou, was credited with the 'Pingsong Rebellion' and was awarded the title of 'Lieutenant zhaoxin' and rewarded with 40,000 taels of silver. Thanks. ”
"Lord, lord, thank you!" Long live our Emperor! Xue Zhongyi, Li Fan, and Wang Xi bowed their heads in unison.
"Congratulations to the three toast lords! Hurry up please! After receiving the will, Chincha greeted Xue, Li, and Wang, and the three of them slowly stood up to receive the holy will.
The pot suddenly exploded around, and various sounds filled the gaps in the air. The local people of Ningwusi, Longzhou, talked about this holy will.
"Logically speaking, our Longzhou Xuanfu Division is located in Jiangyouguan of Xue Tusi, and the official positions of Xue Tusi and Li Tusi are higher than that of Lord Wang Tusi, and lord Wang Tusi in Longzhou can only rank third, so why did the emperor let Qin Cha read out the holy will in Ningwusi, where lord Wang Tusi was in charge?"
"Well, although the three toasts have all been given titles, why is it that only Lord Wang Toast is rewarded with silver?"
"Our orthodox emperor is only fourteen years old, and it all depends on Empress Zhang to bow the curtain and listen to the government, how can Empress Zhang's mind be known to us ordinary people with flat heads?"
"You say, could it be that Xue Tusi and Li Toast annoyed Empress Zhang, and the imperial court wanted to support Lord Wang Toast to replace him?"
……
The noisy chatter rose and fell throughout the reception pavilion, and it seemed that it would spread after the people of Longzhou for a long time after the tea and dinner.
"Silence! Quiet! The head of the servant shouted loudly.
When the whole audience was quiet, Xue Zhongyi, Li Fan, and Wang Xi, the three toastmasters, led the heads of papaya fan, Hui Hui fan, white grass fan, and white horse fan to respectfully hold exquisite trays, which were filled with bear bile, deer antler velvet, musk, cordyceps, tianma, tea, honey, walnuts, plum dumplings, jujubes and other local products, and prostrated themselves to the east where the emperor was located, and worshiped them reverently.
After the worship, the leaders of Baima Fan, Bai Cao Fan, Papaya Fan, and Hui Hui Fan led their respective Fan people to sing and dance to celebrate the emperor's kindness to Xue Zhongyi, Li Fan, and Wang Xi of Longzhou.
The white horse fanren, wearing a white rooster lingshaga hat, danced in harmony with the joyful crowd around them, and formed a large circle in the reception booth to dance the "round dance".
The white grass fan people with men's heads, women's braided hair, and foot pedals "cloud shoes" danced the "sharon dance". Men and women inside, lined up in circles, with the song and dance swirling, shaking hands and shoulders, leaning on the body, footsteps leaping, the dance style is simple and rough.
Dressed in Tibetan robes, wearing fox fur hats, legs wrapped around his feet, and wearing red belts, papaya fan people sang and danced enthusiastically and boldly, dancing "Pot Zhuang", "Velvet Azhai" and "Ma Zhide".
The man wore a beanie-free little white hat, and the woman wore a white hijab, excitedly sang "Flowers" in the Reception Pavilion, and danced the "Feast Song Dance" and "Soup Bottle Dance".
The time of the receiving pavilion suddenly turned into an ocean of joy, and the people who came to see the liveliness happily joined in it, singing and dancing with the people of baima fan, white grass fan, papaya fan, and hui hui fan, and the area around the receiving official pavilion was shrouded in a pleasant and harmonious atmosphere.
No one saw the dark tide surging beneath this ocean of joy.