In order to express the joy of having fun with the people and to experience the festive atmosphere up close, the imperial court would set up a large array of lanterns in front of the imperial city on the Lantern Festival, and make an exception to allow some vendors to come and set up stalls to do business.
Similar to the situation on New Year's Eve at Zixiaoguan, the people who can come here are all screened, and ordinary people are not qualified to get close.
On this day, the emperor would also bring his favored royal family to the top of the imperial city to admire the lanterns. Also invited were dignitaries in Beijing and their families.
Chen Jingke and Sun Simiao were naturally invited, but Sun Simiao declined. Chen Jingke had no choice but to come over.
After the sun sets in the evening, the entire city of Chang'an becomes lively. Countless lights light up, and when viewed from a high altitude, it looks like a sky full of stars.
After finally having the opportunity to play at night, everyone naturally refused to miss it and took to the streets one after another, wandering around various towns and talking to each other about the lanterns of different shapes.
Guessing crossword puzzles is a repertoire of the Lantern Festival. If you guess correctly, you will be given a lantern for free. If you guess incorrectly, you will be given a lantern for free. If you guess incorrectly, you will have to spend money to buy it. This is an unchanging rule.
However, in this era of widespread illiteracy, very few people dare to guess lantern riddles. Most people wander back and forth between different markets, looking at different lanterns, buying snacks, etc.
The most lively one is the West Market, which is a large international market that caters to the masses and includes a large number of foreign merchants.
The mix of people of all kinds and the blending of various customs make the atmosphere here particularly open.
Foreign merchants who have money especially like to celebrate Chinese festivals out of their admiration for Chinese culture, even more enthusiastically than the locals of the Tang Dynasty.
However, they did not simply imitate the customs of the Tang Dynasty, but each celebrated in a way that conformed to the customs and habits of their hometown.
For example, the Hu people like to wear various masks on their faces, wear exaggerated and strange clothes, and jump around the streets like dancing masters.
Many distinctive celebration methods were imitated and learned by the people of the Tang Dynasty and eventually became part of Chinese civilization.
It's rare that the curfew is lifted, and the business in one place is particularly good. It's not an exaggeration to say that the business is open all night long as a revenge.
That is Qin Lou Chu Pavilion.
Rich people always like to try new things, and staying up all night is a very good choice. Those young ladies are skilled and talkative, making people want to leave.
Scholars who like arty elegance are also the main customers of Qin Lou Chu Pavilion. They recite poems and write poems about beautiful women to accompany their red sleeves, which makes them happy.
The women of the Tang Dynasty were not to be outdone. Naturally, they would not go to such a civilized place. But it was normal for a group of like-minded sisters to go to a restaurant to book a restaurant to celebrate, go shopping together, and so on.
When they see a handsome husband, they will even tease and joke together, and sometimes they will 'betray' the little sisters around them for fun.
This is true elsewhere, and the night view under the Imperial City is even more beautiful. This can be seen from the style and materials of the lanterns.
Relatively speaking, the lantern riddle activities here are the most lively, and people guessing lantern riddles can be seen everywhere.
Some of the friends who guessed correctly applauded and applauded, and those who guessed incorrectly expressed regret, but no one started to make fun of them.
It's just a game. No one will really determine a person's talent and ability by guessing lantern riddles.
Under the leadership of Li Shimin, Changsun Wugou, Li Chengqian, Li Lizhi, Li Tai and other relatives of the emperor, as well as Gao Shilian, Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, Yuchi Gong and other civil and military dignitaries came to the Imperial City Tower.
superior.
The tower is very spacious, with many tables and chairs, drinks, cakes and other items already placed on it.
However, everyone did not sit down directly. Instead, they stood at the top of the city and looked down. The whole square was brightly lit and crowded with people, accompanied by shouts, laughter, and various cheers.
Although it is impossible to know what everyone is doing specifically, you can feel a sense of joy from the atmosphere.
Chen Jingke stood at the top of the city, his eyes reflecting Chang'an illuminated by countless lights, and he felt extremely shocked in his heart.
More than a thousand years later, the lights in any city will be countless times brighter than the Chang'an City in front of us, but the impact of those electric lights on people is far less than the original lanterns in front of us.
The most touching thing was the festive atmosphere and the special smell of fireworks. In his previous life, he had only experienced this feeling when he was a child. As he grew up, celebrating festivals had become a habit, and there was not much of the atmosphere left.
When he unexpectedly came to the Tang Dynasty, he felt it again, even more deeply than when he was a child in his previous life.
Thinking of how Chang'an would be caught in the flames of war several times in the future, and eventually this central city in the world would be reduced to a regional city, he secretly swore in his heart.
Maybe I can't change this future, but I must find a way to make this grand scene last longer so that Chinese civilization will never fall into hell.
…
The emperor, empress, and ministers climbed up to the city tower to watch the street scene. Such a big movement quickly attracted the attention of people below the city. Many people began to gather below the city and shouted long live the city.
Li Shimin also waved excitedly to the people below the city, but without binoculars, no one could see his movements at all.
But it doesn't matter, this spontaneous cheer itself is the best response.
The Qianniu Guards responsible for the security work watched their surroundings with vigilance, as if they were afraid of a cold arrow suddenly being shot from somewhere.
The deeper the night goes, the more lively Chang'an City becomes, and the sounds of gongs and drums begin to appear.
Many men and women danced in the streets to the rhythm of the drums, and there were even some people on the city walls who danced regardless of their status.
Chen Jingke couldn't help but sigh, the Tang Dynasty was indeed an open-minded country. This situation was rarely seen in the next thousand years.
Princess Jinyang, who was held by Li Shimin, flushed with excitement, giggled non-stop, raised her hands and twisted around.
Li Shimin was also amused and laughed loudly. He held her ribs with his hands and tried to throw her out.
She wasn't scared at all, she screamed and laughed.
Changsun Wugou smiled and said: "Sage, please be careful and come and hold me." As he said this, he reached out to pick up his daughter.
The little girl was having fun, struggling not to be hugged.
Changsun Wugou said, "Would you like to play with your brother?"
The little girl immediately calmed down, stretched out her little arms and said: "Go, go."
Changsun Wugou took her and said angrily: "People turn their elbows outward after they get married. You are like this before you get married. You are really a white-eyed wolf."
The surrounding princes and ministers, including Li Chengqian, Li Tai and others, were all surprised. What did this mean? What about getting married, and what about turning your elbows outward?
The few people who knew something looked at Chen Jingke, such as Cheng Yaojin and Changsun Wuji.
On the other hand, Chen Jingke, who was huddled in a corner and silently watching the street scene, felt something was wrong. Could this unreliable mother be talking about me?
The next moment Changsun Wugou told him with practical actions, that is.
She turned her hand and handed Princess Jinyang to him, and said in a joking tone: "The little girl is shouting for a husband every day. Come, hold her in your arms and enjoy the grand scene of Shangyuan."
The little girl was also very cooperative. She opened her little hands and said, "Brother, give me a hug."
There was a moment of silence around, and everyone looked at the Empress and Chen Jingke in shock.
After all, rumors are just rumors, and accidents are normal. But now it is equivalent to a public announcement, which is less than an edict than a certainty.
The emperor actually wanted to betroth the princess to this little Taoist priest. Why? Is it just because he is Sun Simiao's disciple?
Impossible. There are many ways to win over Sun Simiao, but they definitely do not include marrying off the princess to his apprentice.
There is only one possibility for this situation to occur, and that is that the Taoist boy himself has enough capital, so that the emperor and empress feel relieved to tie him to the princess.
So what exactly is his capital? Many people are curious.
Chen Jingke forced out a stiff smile and reached out to take Princess Jinyang over.
The little girl giggled excitedly, hugged his neck with one hand, and pointed to the street view below with the other hand: "Brother, look, it's so beautiful."
Chen Jingke said numbly: "Well, it looks good. Do you like it, little Sizi?"
The little girl nodded heavily and said, "I like it."
Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Lizhi walked over with smiles on their faces, and looked at Chen Jingke's smile, which was a meaningful one.
Li Chengqian was the first to speak: "Master Chen...well, this title is too unfamiliar. From now on, I will call you Jing Ke."
Chen Jingke said numbly: "Okay, this is my honor."
Li Chengqian could roughly guess his mood, and he smiled even more happily and said, "What honor or displeasure? It's too foreign."
Changsun Wujia is not dead, and his situation is much better than in history. His mentality and other things have remained good, and there are no signs of going astray for the time being.
Regarding Chen Jingke, who is in charge of the safety of his family, he used to have a complicated attitude. After all, it is still difficult to really treat a stranger as a relative.
There is no obstacle now, my brother-in-law is completely one of my own.
Li Tai, who has lost weight again, also echoed: "Yes, my brothers should not say such unfaithful words. From now on, we brothers should be more close to each other."
After saying this, he immediately added: "I heard that you are compiling a book. I have also been studying knowledge recently, and I plan to be a great Confucian and write books. We can just exchange our experiences."
Hearing these words, a smile appeared on Li Chengqian's lips, and his eyes softened a lot.
Chen Jingke didn't know this, but simply out of the mentality of doing less than doing more, he said perfunctorily: "Okay, as long as your majesty and aunt allow it, you can come."
Li Tai smiled and said: "Aye and mother might not allow it before, but now they will definitely agree."
Li Lizhi stood up at the right time, stretched out her hands and patted her, and said to Princess Jinyang: "Xiao Sizi, come and give me a hug."
Xiao Sizi hugged Chen Jingke's neck tightly and shook his little head like a rattle: "No."
"Haha..." Everyone laughed.
Seeing this scene, the people around him were very envious and began to think about how to build a good relationship with Zixiaoguan.
The miracle doctor Sun Simiao and the quasi-consort Captain were already a force that could not be ignored, not to mention that they had irreconcilable relationships with Cheng, Qin and Yuchi.
Changsun Wugou was also very pleased. Isn't this the result she wanted to see?
Only Li Shimin felt as if grass had grown in his heart, that his little Sizi had become someone else's? It felt uncomfortable and he wanted to hit someone.
You can't hit people, you can only give the order: "Where are the fireworks, start setting off."