The long-awaited Lantern Festival finally ushered in the sunrise amidst the lanterns decorated in front of the doors of every house on the streets of Chang'an City.
With such good weather, it is destined to be a good day for viewing lanterns at night.
The sun was still high, and Master Meng, who had been hiding in his study all day without leaving the door, heard someone knocking on the door. He guessed that it was his wives who wanted to drag him out to visit Chang'an at night. City, so he put down the brush in his hand, came to the door and opened the door.
"Hey, it's you,"
He saw that the people coming were not his wives, but the Turkic princess named Linlang. Not to mention, this woman had changed from her Turkic clothes and put on the clothes of a Central Plains woman, and she had a somewhat strange appearance.
"Bang," Princess Jin Dao, who was not weak in strength, pushed open the door that Meng Xinghe held with both hands: "Everyone has been hiding in the room these days. Are they setting up some conspiracy?" As he spoke, Meng Xinghe It was no longer possible to stop Princess Golden Knife and let her get in.
"Ha, it turns out I'm writing poetry in it." She picked up a poem on the table that Meng Xinghe had written just now. Princess Jindao, who was very familiar with the culture of the Central Plains, followed the rows of cursive script on the paper. written words.
"Last year during the Lantern Festival, the lights in the flower market were like daylight, the willow branches were above the moon, and people made appointments after dusk."
"This year's Lantern Festival, the flowers and lights are still the same, but no one from last year is seen, and the sleeves of spring clothes are filled with tears,"
After reading it, Princess Golden Knife suddenly fell into silence. After a long time, she whispered: "You are thinking about your wife who is far away in Jiangdu."
Meng Xinghe still remembered that during the Lantern Festival last year, when he was still a student in the Provincial School, he accompanied his two wives to play on the streets of Jiangdu all night. On that night, he also met Xiao Sizi, who even pirated A piece of green jade won the first place in the Lantern Festival Lantern Festival. At that time, he did not have so many things to consider now, and he did not know that his trajectory along the way was arranged by others. Now he feels that he was the same person last year. Live happier than now.
Now, everything is almost over.
Knowing in his heart that today is the day to end all this, Meng Xinghe suddenly became a little relieved.
"Golden Knife,"
He only said two words when Princess Jin Dao, who looked into his eyes, emphasized, "Call me Linlang.
"Oh, okay, Linlang, I know you know martial arts. If someone leads troops into the Meng Mansion tonight, no matter who they are, they will be killed." After thinking about it, Meng Xinghe felt that it was necessary to give this person who knows martial arts some skills. Linlang said, after all, Aunt Yun is no longer around, and Mengdie has not fought for a long time. With so many wives in his family, and they are left to the protection of the Dragon Gang, he still needs someone to take the lead, so Meng Xinghe chose the one in front of him. Princess Golden Sword, this is what he decided after thinking for a long time. If Princess Golden Sword doesn't come to him, I believe he will go to Princess Golden Sword later.
Unexpectedly, after Princess Golden Knife heard this, she said coldly: "Why should I help you?"
"Why," Meng Xinghe muttered these three words, and suddenly laughed: "If, I say, I want to go to the Turks with you, I don't know if this condition is feasible. It's been a long time since I drank from the wretched old man. Think about it. I just feel hungry,”
Looking at Princess Golden Knife, Meng Xinghe finally said the result of his thoughts these days. Perhaps it would be a good idea to go to the Mobei outside the Great Wall and find a grassland where no one would disturb her horses and herd sheep.
Princess Golden Knife never expected that Meng Xinghe, who had always been stubborn and refused to go to the Turks, would say such an astonishing sentence. She even looked at it a few more times in disbelief. Her ability to observe words and emotions was not weak, and she could see from Meng Xinghe's seriousness. The smiling face showed that he was not joking.
Putting down the little poem in her hand, Princess Golden Knife smiled unaccustomedly and said timidly: "You know, foreigners are never allowed to stay in the Turkic royal court."
Meng Xinghe understood immediately, "I don't live in the Turkic royal court."
Princess Jin Dao seemed a little disappointed and said "Oh", and was about to turn around and leave Meng Xinghe's room. When she walked to the door, she seemed to think of something and immediately said: "After the Lantern Festival, I will leave Chang'an," As soon as she finished speaking, she seemed to be hesitant to speak. In fact, when she came this time, she had promised her father Khan that her golden sword would definitely make that strange man from the Tang Dynasty willingly follow her back to the Turks. However, it seemed that she did not do it. Yes, and Meng Xinghe's answer completely dispelled all the arrogance of Princess Golden Knife.
"Oh, then I won't give it away," he replied. In fact, Meng Xinghe only answered half of it, and he thought he should save the other half until the end.
Of course, his answer resulted in a certain woman slamming the door and leaving.
"Hey, don't throw it. It's made of rosewood. It's quite expensive," Mr. Meng, who didn't understand gentleness, immediately yelled. He felt much more relaxed. These days, he has isolated himself in this small space and kept close contact. After arranging my own escape route, my mood became less relaxed during those tense days. Now after such a fuss, I feel a lot more relaxed.
Stretching, he walked out of his somewhat dark study room. The dazzling sunlight suddenly fell on Meng Xinghe's face. He felt a little uncomfortable, so he covered his forehead with his hand and glanced sideways at the old trees in the yard that had already grown branches. It has only been a few days since the new green came out, and everything has begun to revive. It seems that the coming of spring has truly changed the world.
All the ladies in the mansion are here. Today is the Lantern Festival. The servants and maids are very busy. They are hanging lanterns and arranging flowers and trees in front of the Meng Mansion. They are similar to those in the surrounding mansions. It is a busy day. one day.
The servants and maids were all busy, and no one noticed that the master who had not left the house had actually walked into the yard today. When they saw it, the master was already standing beside them, and he seemed to be interested in the work they were doing. My son is not so satisfied.
"Sir," the servant girl immediately stopped what she was doing and saluted Meng Xinghe.
Meng Xinghe glanced at the maids and servants in the mansion, and suddenly thought that after tonight, I don't know if there will be any Meng mansion, and these things are still pretending to be there, so they should all be removed.
"Just install two red lanterns at the door, and then send people to the market to order some fireworks. After finishing these, each person will go to the accounting office to collect ten taels of silver and go home to celebrate the Lantern Festival. After the Lantern Festival, we will return to our house."
After saying this, a bunch of stunned Meng family servants were left standing there, silently thinking gratefully, what kind of blessings did their ancestors accumulate to meet such a good man? Not only did they return home during the New Year holiday, but they also even Settlement also sent all the servants and maids back home to reunite with their parents. Following such a master, even if it cost their lives, he would never bite them. Such a master is so good. Compared with other strict and harsh adults, he is simply It is the reincarnation of Bodhisattva.
After dismissing the servants and maids in the mansion, only the housekeeper Xiao Wuzi and a few ladies were left in the huge Meng mansion. Somehow, Master Meng, who had not been out for a long time, actually took the ladies in the family and got on the carriage. The driver It was the servant Xiao Wuzi, and Master Meng's words made Xiao Wuzi stunned for a long time.
"Go and have dinner at Mr. Du's house," Mr. Meng said with a smile in the car, thinking that it would be a good idea to give Old Du a special treatment, but he was directly greeted by several ladies' eyes, looking at this car of a beautiful wife. , Mr. Meng burst into laughter, swept away all the gloom, and was full of expectations for a happy life in the future.
"Have a son, give birth to dozens of sons," said Mr. Meng, who was always excited with the increase in sex hormones while sitting in the carriage.
The Du Mansion was not far from the Meng Mansion, and it didn't take long to drive to the door of the Du Mansion. Since there were no servants in the mansion, Master Meng led his group of wives and easily walked in through the simple gate of the Du Mansion.
"Brother Meng,"
The person walking towards him was Mr. Du's second son. Now he was no longer the young man who used to attract talented women from a downcast position. His depressed face was filled with his dissatisfaction with becoming the prince's consort of the Tang Dynasty princess. Now when he saw Meng Xinghe, look at the little Princess Si next to her again. She is so fierce that everyone is dead. Master Du immediately loses his vitality.
Meng Xinghe met Du He and saw that he was about to go out, so he asked casually: "Your Majesty, are you at home?"
"Here, there, there, I just went to the palace to discuss tonight's lantern festival, and now I'm back in the house. My sister and mother are making Lantern Festivals. Dad asked me to go out and buy some lanterns when I come back. I won't welcome Brother Meng. You yourself Please do it." After finishing his words, Du He, who finally had a long day off, immediately left. God knows when he would come back to buy lanterns.
"This kid," Meng Xinghe cursed with a smile and led the ladies into the house.
The Du Mansion is not big. It has a layout of one courtyard and two courtyards. There is a small courtyard behind which is the front yard, and connecting the front hall are the east and west wing rooms at the back.
When I entered, I saw Mr. Du in the front yard who had changed out of his court clothes and was dressed in green clothes. He was sitting under the pavilion in the courtyard, drinking alone. Miss Du and Mrs. Du were not seen around. It was probably the old man who was secretly drinking wine again. Drinking.
"Ahem," Meng Xinghe coughed twice: "Master Du, long time no see,"
The voice sounded familiar. Master Du turned his head and saw Meng Xinghe, who was suffering from cold and unable to see guests, appearing in front of them in full swing. He said "Huh" and quickly put down the bottle of wine, about to say a few greetings. But when he saw the ladies behind Mr. Meng, the joy on their faces suddenly disappeared.
"Brother Meng, are you bringing your family to Du Mansion to visit?"
"That's right, that's right," Meng Xinghe said with a smile, not feeling embarrassed at all. It didn't matter to him that he was thick-skinned. On the contrary, several beautiful ladies in Meng's house were dyed like peach blossoms in February by Master Du's words. Her cheeks turned red.
"You guys go find Miss Du. I'll stay here with Mr. Du." It seems that it's better to do the shameless thing yourself. Meng Xinghe gave his wives a step forward and asked them to find Miss Du.
The ladies first said goodbye to Mr. Du, then invited each other in groups and went to the Du family's east kitchen. They had been to Du's house many times and were familiar with the terrain of the house. They also knew that Miss Du usually stayed there at this time.
When there was no third person around, Mr. Du continued to pour himself a glass of wine that his daughter brewed based on what was recorded in an ancient book.
"Would you like a drink? The wine made by Xuan'er is fragrant and moisturizing. This precious daughter, sometimes I really can't bear to marry her off,"
Meng Xinghe wanted to say that men should get married when they are high school students, and married women should get married when they are high school students, but he immediately swallowed the words as they came to his lips. Lao Du had mentioned it in his ears many times. His intention seemed to be to bring him and his wife together. My daughter, I have never seen a father who is more shameless than me. At this time, Master Meng doesn't want to dig a hole for himself and jump into it.
He picked up the cup and poured a glass of wine into it. He raised his head and drank until he saw the bottom of the cup. He smacked his lips and said, "Good wine."
"When are you planning to leave Chang'an? From what I see, you don't have much nostalgia for this place. You might as well go back to Jiangdu to do a festival." Unexpectedly, Mr. Du said this inexplicably. He is an experienced man and is immersed in the court. It had been decades, but based on the look on Meng Xinghe's face when he came here, he could guess some of the reasons. But what he said now would never be said to Li Shimin. In his eyes, Meng Xinghe was not only His sworn friend is also his student, and he even regards him as half his son. With the current situation in Chang'an City, Mr. Du is not a fool. He can see that something big will happen. Moreover, although the Holy Emperor has not raised the issue recently, The idea of establishing a new crown prince, however, has actually allowed the growing up King Jin to begin to take real power. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that this is the Holy Emperor slowly delegating power to his successor. Moreover, Mr. Du also discovered that as the most important person in Chang'an, The important Imperial Guard Army guarding the capital has been mobilized very frequently recently. This is not a good sign, but it at least indicates that there is some big movement in the imperial city.
Meng Xinghe chuckled. His father-in-law, Lu Yi, was similar to Jiangdu's Jiedu. Although his official position was much smaller than his, he lived a happier life than Meng Xinghe.
"Master Du, your Majesty will be there tonight to enjoy the lanterns with all the people,"
"Daming Palace,"
Meng Xinghe immediately thought that there would be a coup there tonight, and he and Master Du both had a tacit understanding. The two of them drank the wine in their glasses in silence, waiting for the night to come, but they didn't know who would do it. become history,