The Daxiangguo Temple was built during the Northern Qi Dynasty. During the Taizong period of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizong personally gave a plaque reading "Daxiangguo Temple".
Since then, Daxiangguo Temple has become a royal temple in the Northern Song Dynasty.
Daxiangguo Temple is located on the east imperial street of Bianliang City, which is the passage through which the emperor visited Yichun Garden, the east imperial garden of the capital. It passes through the North Bank Street of Bianhe River, exits the old Song Gate of the inner city, and ends at the new Song Gate of the outer city.
The south side of the east-facing Imperial Street is adjacent to the Bianhe River, and there are mostly restaurants on the north side. Standing on the sidewalk of the east-facing Imperial Street, you can stop and overlook the Bianhe River. There are willows on both sides of the Bianhe River, and there are countless water boats going on the river.
The small one is like riding on a awning with three or five people on it, the big one is like a grain boat loaded with tens of thousands of dendrobiums, the extravagant one is like a three- or four-story building boat, the vast one is like a hundred boats competing in the current, and a thousand sails competing in the river.
The Didian on the north side of the street connects guests from the north to the south. Most of the officials, merchants and travelers from the south stay here.
Among them, Wang Yuanwai's residence is the most famous because of its tall houses and deep courtyards. Many foreigners who come to Beijing live here.
The most famous landmark in the Eastward Royal Street is the royal temple - Daxiangguo Temple.
The incense in Daxiangguo Temple was very prosperous, and there was a large flow of people in front of the temple. Over time, the open space in front of Xiangguo Temple gradually turned into a tile market (commercial center).
The tile market in front of Xiangguo Temple is open five times a month. People from all over the world can buy and sell goods here, and the complete range of goods is the best in the capital.
Eat, drink, have fun, everything is included.
There are three gates in Xiangguo Temple. The items sold in front of the second and third gates are all daily necessities, mainly open-air stalls. The categories are varied and orderly, including daily necessities, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and even bows and swords.
Everything you need.
Compared with the double doors outside, the stalls inside the first door are basically fixed stalls with names.
In addition, there is a tile market in front of the Zisheng Gate at the back of the palace. Most of the products sold here are the Four Treasures of the Study, books and antiques and other high-end products. Most of the people who come and go here are literati.
Although Daxiangguo Temple is a temple, its commercial atmosphere is no less than that of later commercial complexes.
On this day, a new shop officially opened in front of the first gate of Daxiangguo Temple. On the plaque at the door were the words "Taiping Huimin Bureau".
If you are knowledgeable, you will definitely notice the small seal on the lower right side of the plaque.
This plaque was written by the emperor of the day!
At the door of the store, there are two long wooden signs with regular shapes, which read, "Directly affiliated with Hanlin Medical Hospital" and "Direct sale of cooked medicines at affordable prices."
From ancient times to the present, there has been no shortage of people joining in the fun. Curious people gathered in front of the shops, including richly dressed nobles and ordinary peddlers.
"Young, isn't this Liu Lang of the Cao family?"
Outside the crowd, a young man wearing gold and jade, carrying two beautiful servants and three servants, walked up to Cao Qian and said sarcastically.
"Why, you are not studying at home today?"
Cao Qian glanced at the other party indifferently, and then withdrew her gaze.
Obviously, he was too lazy to communicate with the other party.
This young man's surname is also Cao, but his Cao and Cao Qian's Cao are not the same Cao. This man's name is Cao Rui, and he is the nephew of Privy Councilor Cao Liang.
To be honest, the two families are related by marriage. Cao Cong and Cao Lili are related by marriage, Cao Qian is Cao Cong's nephew, and Cao Rui is Cao Lili's nephew.
However, the in-laws did not bring the relationship closer between the two. Otherwise, Cao Rui would not have ridiculed Cao Qian in person, and in front of the Daxiangguo Temple.
At this time, the onlookers on the side had unconsciously distanced themselves from each other.
Living at the foot of the emperor, where hundreds of officials gathered, the people of Bianliang City had long known how to avoid danger.
Whether it was Cao Rui, who was accompanied by many people, or Cao Qian, who was alone, just by looking at the clothes on their bodies, one could tell that these two people were definitely untouchable by the common people.
On the other side, a middle-aged beautiful woman also noticed Cao Qian and the two of them, but she did not pay too much attention. Her attention was more on the Taiping Huimin Bureau.
Not long after, the beautiful woman left the scene.
On the way back, she whispered to the palace attendant beside her.
"Caiwei, I am going to the palace to visit the official family tomorrow, please go and make arrangements."
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…
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The next day.
Funing Hall.
Li Jie learned that the eldest princess of the country of Hebei was coming to see him today. He was quite surprised by this matter.
The emperor's daughter in the Song Dynasty was called the princess, the emperor's sister was called the eldest princess, and the emperor's aunt was called the eldest princess.
The eldest princess of Ji is also Li Jie's aunt, Zhenzong's sister, and Taizong's daughter.
Li Jie's memory of this aunt was not very deep. After getting married, the eldest princess of Hebei rarely returned to the palace.
Even when they return to the palace, they mostly meet in public places, and the number of times the two of them meet alone is extremely rare.
Are you here for your uncle Li Zunxu?
Li Zunxu was the husband of the eldest princess of the country of Hebei, and he was the queen of the generals. His grandfather Li Chongju was a famous general in the early Song Dynasty, reaching the rank of privy envoy.
His father, Li Jichang, was also a military leader and participated in quelling the rebellion of King Jun of Shu.
When it came to Li Zunxu's generation, he did not join the battlefield like his ancestors and fathers did, but turned to join the imperial examination.
Li Zunxu studied under the famous minister Yang Yi, but his qualifications were not good. He took the provincial examination but failed.
(PS: Please explain, there should be an error in the encyclopedia entry about Li Zunxu’s Jinshi qualification. The biography of Li Zunxu describes “Jinshi promotion”, that is, taking the Jinshi examination. If he wins the Jinshi exam, he should write “Jinshi qualification”)
However, not being a Jinshi did not affect Li Zunxu's wealth. In the first year of Dazhong Xiangfu (1008), Zhenzong granted a marriage, and Princess Wanshou Chang was married to Li Zunxu (the eldest princess of Hebei).
After that, Li Zunxu rose and fell until the third year of Tianxi (1019), when Li Zunxu's father died of illness. According to the ritual system, he should mourn his father for three years.
Counting the days, the three-year period has expired. Therefore, Li Jie felt that the eldest princess of the country of Hebei entered the palace this time, most likely because of Li Zunxu.
In the Song Dynasty, it was not uncommon for princesses, eldest princesses, and eldest princesses to seek official positions for their husbands and sons.
In fact, logically speaking, even if she wanted to ask for an official position, the eldest princess of the country of Ji should go to the Queen Mother.
But Li Zunxu studied under Yang Yi.
As we all know, Yang Yi and Kou Zhun were from the same faction. At that time, Yang Yi also participated in the establishment of the crown prince and the deposed Empress Liu.
Li Zunxu had a very good relationship with Yang Yi. When Yang Yi died, he even served as a mourner for Yang Yi.
Therefore, if you want to seek an official position for Li Zunxu, it will not work to take the Queen Mother route.
Not even three moments later.
The eldest princess of Ji came to the Funing Palace and looked at the palace in front of her, with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
The late emperor was her brother. When he was alive, the late emperor was very fond of her. Otherwise, the late emperor would not have chosen her carefully to marry Li Zunxu.
Although the consort had made mistakes (I don’t know whether he and the eldest princess’s wet nurse), no one has made mistakes, and they were husband and wife after all.
What's more, that was more than ten years ago, and the prince-in-law had long since changed his mind.
What's there to worry about when sesame seeds turn into rotten millet?
Therefore, overall, the eldest princess of Hebei is very satisfied with this marriage.