Twelve brothels in Caiyufang, Chang'an, jointly hosted this music, song and dance party.
In fact, they didn't dare to make too much noise. They originally thought that just like last year, they would make some exquisite lanterns to show the lady in the building, which would be great. After all, it was the imperial city, not some other place.
On weekdays, if it weren't for the summons of the nobles, how could anyone in the dusty world dare to set foot here?
It's just that this year is different. The government took the initiative to ask Caiyufang to make its due contribution to the prosperity of Chang'an, and relaxed the control on them. What they want is a lively and bustling atmosphere every year.
So the merchants in Caiyufang started to think about it. After the news came out, people from the brothel simply came out in droves.
They were a little worried at first, but gradually the government's attitude made them completely let down their guard, and they simply joined forces to select the lantern chief. They were familiar with this matter. Every summer of two or three years, Caiyufang would select the oiran, and
That's actually pretty much it.
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Because the government has given the place, it is more convenient to operate.
In order not to interfere with each other, large brothels surrounded several abandoned mansions and occupied various intersections. Small businesses were interspersed among them. Everyone also raised funds to temporarily rent the mansion for one night, and on the one hand, they had a place to escape the cold.
, on the one hand, it can be regarded as paying full filial piety to the government.
Of course, allowing people like them to rent a mansion in the imperial city for a temporary stay is definitely an unprecedented creative move...
This alone is worth a try for brothel merchants.
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Li Shangde came in search of the news. He came earlier. Although there were many people, they dispersed to a stage and there were not many people in front of it.
Needless to say, the merchants who opened the building were definitely not stupider than the later generations. For the sake of "reputation", they must hire some people to support them.
This is what they do when they choose courtesans, and they also invite some "celebrities" to come over and comment.
Especially in the past two years, the famous prostitutes from the south have shown signs of moving north, and they are not abiding by the rules. They seem to be unwilling to have their names in the buildings of Caiyufang, and prefer to play by themselves...
For example, Lu Xiangjun and Li Keqing, who came here last year, are famous in Chang'an, but they have little contact with Caiyufang.
This puts a lot of pressure on the brothels in Caiyufang, so everyone wants to take this opportunity to name a few ladies to show that the beauties from the north are not bad either.
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Li Shangde looked up, not looking at the people at first, but looking at the stage.
The colorful flags were fluttering, which didn't look very serious at first glance. The lanterns were connected in a string. Those hanging on them and those placed on the ground were all swaying in the cold wind, illuminating the area around the stage very brightly.
Li Shangde took a closer look and knew that this was the flower stand of the Yinxian Pavilion. He didn't know which Yinxian Pavilion it was. There had been wars in Hebei for many years, and there were no more tricks to play.
There was a young lady performing a dance on the stage. What made Li Shangde very satisfied was that the merchant made some fish lanterns, and people carried them around the young lady, making the young lady shine brightly, especially in this cold night.
It's as if all the light is gathered into one.
It's a pity that my clothes are too bulky in winter and I can't show off my figure. It's a pity.
The young lady performed a difficult spin dance on the stage, causing her clothes to fly up. Even though the clothes were relatively thick, you could still see that her waist was like a willow, swaying in a way that made people think about her.
The people watching around him immediately cheered, and Li Shangde smiled on his frozen face and clapped his hands.
And I was secretly proud that I had come earlier and could see the wonderful things. The little lady's face was already red from the cold, and her nose was runny after a while. She was afraid that she would not be so beautiful. How could she dare to go on stage?
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"The person on the stage is Guo Jiuniang. She is only fifteen or sixteen years old this year. She has a good waist. Last year, she was listed in the Yinxian Pavilion. She was the one who danced for the Qingyu Case there. She was well received, but she can only be called a top performer.
Just a shout out to everyone."
Someone was talking. Li Shangde pricked up his ears. When he heard it, he knew it was a regular on Hua Street. He couldn't help but look to the side.
At some point, several people came to the stage and looked up.
Someone chuckled, her voice was very thin, she must be a young lady, "The lantern festival has just started, there are not many people there, so the first person to take the stage will naturally not be the kind of woman who makes people fall in love with her at first sight.
As the saying goes, distinguished guests come late, so we must have arrived a little early."
Li Shangde's attention was immediately attracted, and he looked carefully under the light. The woman who was speaking was short in stature, and she was wearing men's uniform. The clothes were so thick that she looked like a half-grown child.
The dough stood there in a ball.
However, she spoke in a loud and "knowledgeable" tone. Li Shangde didn't quite understand. How could she know so much about the brothel? Could it be that she was also a member of the world of mortals?
Well, this man has a strange accent. He must be a southerner?
Perhaps feeling Li Shangde's thief-like gaze, the young lady looked over in a blink of an eye. When Li Shangde met his gaze, Li Shangde didn't even see him clearly, so he turned his head sharply and his face turned red.
The young lady chuckled and muttered, "You scholar..."
Someone beside her said: "Since you're here early, let's just take a look everywhere. We don't have much time to spare. It seems that most of us won't be able to see the lantern leader tonight. It's a pity."
There is another woman with a thin and soft voice that makes people's hearts and lungs tickle. Whose family is this woman? Why are they here?
Li Shangde's ears stood up, but his mind was in a mess, and he didn't even know what he was thinking.
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Well, no miracle happened. After a while, the people gathered around the two ladies and left. Li Shangde instinctively wanted to follow him, but after a few steps he stopped and followed others, feeling that it was too rude.
If you read a lot, you will be hesitant and indecisive...
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With this episode, Li Shangde suddenly lost much interest. After watching for a while, more and more people were watching, and the cheers continued. The surroundings became more and more noisy, and even the accompanying sound could not be heard clearly.
Li Shangde squeezed out of the crowd and walked in the direction where those people left just now. After a while, it was no longer the end of the journey. I hope we can meet again by chance?
The lantern market gradually entered a rhythm, and people were everywhere watching the lanterns. There was a huge flow of people and a lot of people, and the night seemed to be boiling.
There are more people, and it seems that the weather is not that cold anymore.
Li Shangde wiped his nose with his sleeve, feeling that something was missing.
There were too many people. It seemed that he had never seen so many people gathered together in his life. Maybe it could only be compared to the time when the Hebei rebels rose up?
After turning two corners, he couldn't squeeze into the crowd, so he took a look around, but lost the interest he had when he first entered the city. He stopped for a while and then moved on in boredom.
He felt a little lonely. During the days when he came to Beijing, he was always with his two brothers. Now they were separated and there was no one to talk to.
Just as he was wondering if he should go look for the two inconspicuous brothers, he suddenly saw an extremely familiar figure not far away. He looked over at once, twisting his neck and feeling very uncomfortable, but after seeing clearly
But his eyes widened.
He stepped forward quickly, grabbed the man, and said angrily: "You Li Dalang, you don't mean what you say, you are the best."
Li Yiyan was startled. He turned around and the two brothers looked at each other. Li Yiyan said in his heart that he had really bumped into him. It was so bad that he wanted to cover his face and run away.
Fortunately, he had the courage to force out some awkward smiles, "Erlang made it easy for me to find you. After we were separated, I always felt uneasy. Before leaving, my father asked us to take good care of you..."
Li Shangde snorted heavily, "Isn't it appropriate to mention Grandpa at this time?"
As he spoke, he rolled his eyes, looked at his brother and said suspiciously: "Do you think my cousin will come here too?"
The joy of being alone is not as good as the joy of everyone. Li Yiyan nodded and said, "That must be the case. Why don't we go look for him?"
Li Shangde rolled his eyes and said to himself that my cousin looks much more stable than you on weekdays, so he shouldn't lie to me. You, Li Dalang, are sanctimonious, but very dishonest.
The two then walked together again. Li Yiyan felt uncomfortable now. Li Shangde would taunt him from time to time. He couldn't reply. He was caught on the spot. What else could he say?
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"I just heard someone say that now is not a good time to watch the lady's performance. We have to wait...for example, when scholars like my brother who have just studied for a long time gather around, or when those noble people who watch the lanterns arrive, then the wonderful performance will be displayed.
"
Is there such a thing? Li Yiyan regretted that his intestines were almost green.
At this moment, both of them lost interest. Others were watching the lanterns and watching the ladies display their talents and skills. The two of them were just looking for someone in the crowd, hoping to find Li Yichen as well, so that they could be company.
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Li Yichen was chatting with someone at this time.
The two brothers talking to him were both smelling of alcohol. They seemed drunk when they were sober, and they seemed to be awake when they were drunk. Even when they came to watch the lanterns, they also carried a wine gourd in their hands and took a sip from time to time.
Li Yichen was quite moved. He was indeed the drunken immortal king and lived up to his reputation.
Yes, he met brothers Wang Ji and Wang Jing by chance.
He didn't recognize the two of them, but Wang Jing knew who he was. He was a Jinshi in the Ming Law Department and sat at the Xinglin banquet. Wang Jing was in the Xinglin banquet at that time, and he was obviously there to join in the fun.
So he recognized even the Jinshi from last year...
Wang Jing is a flower among flowers, and her biggest ideal is to sleep with all the talented ladies in the world. It is natural that Cai Yufang holds the lantern chief event without him, a prodigal among flowers, and he is also one of the judges.
As for his brother Wang Ji, he was dragged here to provide the foundation. When it was time to show off his talents, Wang Ji was naturally the one to step up and take the lead.
Wang Ji's life now is not as carefree as it was when he was in Jinyang. The imperial court recruited him as Zuo Lang. After revising the history of the Sui Dynasty, he was also working on the book of Jin.
In order to drink the good wine in the palace, he had to immerse himself in writing papers and even wrote few poems. But as long as there was good wine hanging around, he had to follow it.
Moreover, his book on wine has been completed. If it can be published by the imperial court, it will be much better than selling it to booksellers.