Inside the south gate of Luoyang North Palace, a very harmonious scene appeared:
Cao Rui gestured to the women and walked straight inside, while Concubine Mao and Concubine Sun seemed to have received some secret signal and followed him naturally from the crowd, one on the left and one on the right.
The three of them walked inside while talking and laughing. As soon as the emperor left, Empress Dowager Guo began to frown and command a group of concubines to return.
Returning to the North Palace was like returning home. The current scene was not an exaggeration to say that he was surrounded by women. However, Cao Rui was not as anxious as Empress Dowager Guo thought. The first thing he did after entering the bedroom was to lean on the recliner.
"Come, both of you, give me a massage." Cao Rui raised a smile: "Da Hu is at the back, Yan Er is at the front."
Mao Yan and Sun Luban looked at each other, smiled shyly or giggled a little, and then each found their own position and began to rub Cao Rui's forehead and tap his legs lightly.
"Your Majesty has suffered a lot outside. It would be good if you return to the palace. We two sisters can serve you at the same time." Sun Luban's white jade-like fingers pressed gently, her body leaning against the back of Cao Rui's head, lowering her head and whispering in his ear.
Mao Yan raised her left sleeve to hide her smile, then put her hand down and changed from tapping with her fist to rubbing with her palm.
"It's 4,000 miles from Luoyang to Xiangping alone. I've also been to Xuchang, Yanmen, Daijun, and so many other places, so the distance has already exceeded 10,000 miles." Cao Rui closed his eyes and looked relaxed: "After fighting so many battles, I should enjoy myself."
"I remember that when you two set out from Luoyang, you two never called each other sisters."
Mao Yan chuckled: "Your Majesty is not in Luoyang most of the time. When I have free time, I can only chat with Dahu to relieve my boredom. After a while, our relationship has naturally become closer. Isn't it natural for us to call each other sisters?"
Just now, when Sun Luban was coming to greet him, she let Cao Yan go and let Cao Yan run towards her first. Cao Rui saw it but did not remind or direct him.
Compared with the treacherous political struggles, the little tricks in the palace are nothing more than childish. Even if Cao Rui found out, he would just laugh it off. Just let her do what she wants.
"I think it's a good thing that you two have a good relationship." Cao Rui said softly, "I didn't see Su Huan coming to greet her. Is she still recuperating?"
"Your Majesty is right." The emperor spoke in a low voice, and Mao Yan also lowered her voice: "Concubine Su is weak and is still recuperating in the palace. The imperial physician said that she cannot be exposed to the wind or see people. Perhaps she will need another month to recover."
"There are many things going on in Luozhong. I will go see her tomorrow. There is a banquet later today." Cao Rui said, "Do you know the Wuji Zhen family?"
Sun Luban said softly from behind: "I know that the Wuji Zhen family is your maternal family."
Cao Rui said, "After the funeral of Empress Wuxuan, I appointed Bian Lan of the Bian family as the lieutenant of infantry in Yecheng, replacing Duan Zhao. Before that, when I set out from Yecheng, I also appointed Zhen Xiang of the Zhen family as the lieutenant of Yueqi. He is still my cousin."
"Now, I can reward the concubines who give birth to children in the palace with several official positions."
Cao Rui opened his eyes and looked at Mao Yan: "Where is your brother Mao Zeng now? In Luoyang or in Hanoi?"
Mao Yan was more cautious when she heard that she was being asked about her family. "Your Majesty, Mao Zeng entered the Imperial College in the seventh year of Huangchu. After graduating last year, he temporarily stayed in Luoyang. After the New Year, he wrote to me and asked if I could arrange for him to work as an official, saying that no government office in Luoyang wanted him."
"I dare not make the decision on this matter, nor do I dare to act rashly, so I sent Mao Zeng back to Hanoi."
Cao Rui smacked his lips: "He is nineteen years old, right?"
Mao Yan nodded: "I'm nineteen years old now, I can get the crown next year."
Cao Rui laughed disdainfully: "Yan'er, do you know that the sons of ministers in the court have become officials in the state at the age of 22? My brother-in-law was treated as a relative by others at the age of 19, and he had no place to stand in Luozhong."
"You write a letter and send it tonight, asking Mao Zeng to come to Luoyang to see me without delay."
Isn't it that only highly respected and capable people in the state can hold such an official position? How could someone hold such an official position at the age of 22?
Mao Yan knew what to do and didn't ask any more questions. She nodded slightly, and the pendant on the golden hairpin on her head swayed: "I understand. I will call him to Luoyang from home right away."
Cao Rui asked again, "How is your father?" Mao Yan replied, "Thanks to your majesty, my father is in good health. Your majesty, please don't worry about me."
Cao Rui nodded slightly: "I remember your family is in Boping Township, Yewang County, Hanoi County, right?"
Mao Yan thought for a few moments, then smiled softly and said, "When I was still in the palace, I told Your Majesty this once, and I never mentioned it again after that. Your Majesty still remembers it."
"I remember it." Cao Rui said, "For those who are granted a title of nobility, it is the most honorable to be granted the title in their hometown. I will grant him the title of Marquis of Boping Township, with a fief of 800 households."
"Your Majesty," Mao Yan looked at Cao Rui with a pair of soft eyes. She did not refuse or thank him at the first moment. Instead, she blinked and said, "I don't quite understand."
Cao Rui extended his right hand and stroked Mao Yan's face: "There is nothing you need to know, Yan'er, I love you, and I love your dog, is this okay with me?"
Mao Yan stood up gracefully, knelt down and kowtowed, saying: "I would like to thank Your Majesty for the reward on behalf of my father!"
Cao Rui sighed and said, "Why are you worshipping me? Come and rub my legs."
"Yes." Mao Yan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she stood up and returned to her previous seat. Behind her, Sun Luban was rubbing her but her movements slowed down unconsciously, perhaps because she was distracted.
Cao Rui did not ask Sun Luban, but looked at Mao Yan and said, "The late emperor was wary of foreign relatives, but it was just to prevent the powerful ministers from taking power in the Han Dynasty. When Mao Zeng comes to Luoyang, I will arrange for him to be an official in the Ministry of Finance, or to be in charge of carriages and horses, or to be in charge of ceremonial guards. At least he will not be deprived of a single bite of the Wei Dynasty's rice."
Mao Yan pursed her lips, and her eyes began to turn red. Although she was in the Heavenly Palace, her brother was not welcomed, and was even teased by scholars in Luoyang. How could she not worry? Now that her husband had returned to Luoyang, she had a backbone. In less than half an hour, everything was fine under the golden words.
"As for Yan'er's father," Cao Rui paused, "he is the maternal grandfather of the eldest prince after all. Besides, his talents are not suitable for being an official. A marquis is enough to comfort the ancestors."
Mao Yan paused and stopped pressing. She directly hugged Cao Rui's right arm in her arms and leaned against Cao Rui's side: "All is up to you, Your Majesty."
Sun Luban had not received any orders, and she could not stop what she was doing. Seeing this scene, she couldn't help feeling a little upset.
Not only was it because Mao Yan's father and brother had received rewards, but her family was the number one enemy of Wei. It was also because of Mao Yan's methods - she had gradually suppressed herself to half of His Majesty's body!
What does the little trick I just played at the South Gate matter?
……
The Chongde Hall was brightly lit at night, just like day. Hua Xin was ill at home and could not come, so all the other ministers and officials were present.
Dong Zhao of the West Pavilion, Sima Yi and Wei Zhen of the East Pavilion, and all the nine ministers were present, including the newly appointed Grand Herald Cao Zhi and Cao Zijian. The six ministers Wei Ji, Fu Xun, Wu Zhou, Yang Ji, Xu Xuan, and Xu Miao were all present, as were the Right Supervisor Liu Ye and the Left Supervisor Wang Guan. General Cao Hong, who was at home, Gao Tanglong of Chongwen Temple, and Zheng Cheng of the Imperial College were also present.
Two attendants, Xin Pi and Pei Qian, were also present.
The 10,000 infantrymen led by General Wang Ling were still on their way from Yecheng to Luoyang and were unable to attend the banquet.
It can be said that except for Man Chong and others who were still on their way back, all the high-ranking officials in Luoyang City had arrived.
The banquet gradually began, and naturally there were words of celebration. Drinking one bottle after another, the scene soon became lively. Thanks to the process of the Cao family rising from obscurity and gradually rising, whether it was Cao Cao, Cao Pi or the current Cao Rui, they were able to drink to their heart's content with their ministers.
He would not isolate himself from his ministers like the emperors in the deep palace of the Han Dynasty.
When everyone was drinking enthusiastically, Cao Rui raised the wine jar with his right hand and looked towards Dong Zhao with a smile: "Mr. Dong, why don't you drink? I just saw you only drank but didn't pour the wine. Are you pretending to drink?"
The emperor was never the kind of person who would change his attitude in an instant. When the emperor was smiling, it was okay for his ministers to laugh along with him.
Dong Zhao stood up and bowed with a somewhat helpless look, raised his head to empty the wine jar, and then turned the jar over to show that he had drunk it all.
Cao Rui smiled and patted the table: "I asked Mr. Dong, and Mr. Dong just drank. This is not appropriate. It seems that I should add more burdens to Mr. Dong!" (End of this chapter)
