Although the great victory in the Central Plains was a huge burden for the court, the victory itself brought infinite encouragement to the Sui army and the people. It coincided with the Ghost Festival, and this traditional festival of sacrifices became a celebration of victory.
Festival ri.
In Taiyuan City, not only the rivers are filled with water lanterns, the oars are rippling, and the waves are swaying, but the main rivers in Taiyuan City become colorful.
Not only the river, but also every household hung up Lantern Festival lanterns and set up Bon Bon basins to celebrate the Sui army's victory in this way.
At night, countless small vendors flocked to Jinyang Street. They had a keen sense of smell and discovered the arrival of business opportunities. The gathering of small vendors also attracted more people to go out. For a time, the streets and shops of Taiyuan City were crowded with people shopping and watching lanterns.
lane.
The whole city of Taiyuan turned into a night sky with fiery trees and silver flowers.
On the street, groups of children were running happily carrying water lotus lanterns, and every stall was crowded with customers. Although this was not the Lantern Festival, happiness was the most important thing for the children.
Girls also played in groups on the streets, gathering around stalls selling jewelry and makeup products, choosing various cheap jewelry.
In front of a stall selling copper jewelry, two girls crowded together and selected copper jewelry. They were dazzled by the hundreds of dazzling varieties of jewelry.
The two girls, one about fourteen or fifteen years old, and the other only about eleven years old, both have bright eyes, white teeth, and charming looks. They wear long skirts made of fine linen, a short blouse, and their hair is combed into a moon-like shape.
She has a double-ring bun and her skin is as white as jade.
Although they were dressed simply, their extraordinary and refined temperament overshadowed the men and women around them.
However, the two girls were stunningly beautiful, but no one dared to challenge them. Beside them stood four or five female soldiers with swords, strong figures and cold eyes.
It is normal for female soldiers to appear on the streets of Taiyuan. They are usually female guards. From the beginning, everyone was not used to it, but now they are used to it. However, these female soldiers are really fierce, they don’t feel like women at all, and they are worse than men.
Be strong.
But they were extremely protective of the two girls. They seemed careless, but no one came close to the two girls. Even the stall owner felt that the girl's identity was unusual.
The older of the two girls is Yang Fangxin, Princess Danyang of the Sui Dynasty, and the younger is Yang Bing, the eldest daughter of Yang Yuanqing.
Due to the strict family rules of the Yang family, the two of them naturally had no chance to go out, but Yang Fangxin sneaked out with Yang Bing on the pretext of visiting her mother...
Fortunately, the security in Taiyuan is strict, and there are troops patrolling the streets everywhere. The common local gangsters are rarely seen. It's not that they don't exist, but they are more restrained. They may do petty theft, or squeeze around women when there are many people, touch their buttocks, and squeeze their breasts.
Blatant teasing and stealing of women almost never happen.
Therefore, although the two girls are extremely outstanding in appearance, like delicate lotuses in the water, attracting countless people's attention, there are no boring prostitutes coming to harass and tease them.
"Sister, look at this copper hairpin..."
Yang Bing was interrupted by Yang Fangxin before she could finish her words. She whispered: "Didn't you tell me earlier? Don't call me sister, call me aunt. How come you are so good in the house and then change your title when you come out?"
"
Yang Bing felt a little aggrieved and pouted, "There's nothing I can do about calling you Agu in the house, but I can't call you Ajie when you come out. You asked me to call you Ajie before."
"It used to be the past, but now we have to follow the rules. I don't want to hear you call me sister again, which will disturb the seniority. If you continue to yell, I will move to Jinyang Palace."
Yang Bing burst out laughing, "Who are you trying to coax? You don't want to go to Jinyang Palace yourself. You said it's like being a nun there, and you're more comfortable in my house. Either you move there, or I'll call you
Your sister."
Yang Fangxin blushed and said coquettishly: "If you keep acting up, I won't take you out to play in the future."
Yang Fangxin's words were a trump card. Yang Bing didn't dare to say anything for a while. After a while, he muttered: "Okay! Auntie, just Auntie."
Yang Fangxin smiled broadly, "That's right, what did you just say?"
Yang Bing suddenly became energetic and quickly reached out and pulled out a double-phoenix copper hairpin from the stall. In the middle of the copper hairpin was a soybean-sized pearl.
She held the copper hairpin in the palm of her hand and smiled: "Did you know? My mother also has a copper hairpin exactly like this one."
Yang Fangxin was a little surprised when she took the copper hairpin and looked at it. The workmanship was exquisite and lifelike, "Your mother actually has this too?"
"Yeah! It's hidden at the bottom of her jewelry box and packed in a small rosewood box. It's now a treasure. She scolded me the last time I took it out."
Yang Fangxin rolled her eyes and laughed, "Your father must have bought it for your mother. Didn't you say that your parents grew up together? I heard my father said that your father went hunting to make a living when he was a child, and was killed by my emperor.
My grandfather met it, so this must be a token of love from your father to your mother, so your mother kept it like a treasure."
"Hmm! I think so."
Yang Bing was aroused by her words and asked quickly: "You said that my father went hunting when he was a child. How come I didn't know about it? If there is anything interesting about my father, please tell me!"
Yang Bing admired her father very much. She was interested in everything about her father, and her big eyes were full of the desire to discover.
Yang Fangxin smiled and said: "You silly girl, why don't you ask your mother to know? She knows better than anyone else. Why are you asking me?"
"My mother never told me this."
Yang Bing pulled her back and said coquettishly: "Good aunt, just tell me! I've already called you aunt."
Yang Fangxin stretched out her slender jade finger and poked her on the forehead, and said with a smile: "What a silly girl. She still asks outsiders about her father's affairs. There's nothing you can do about it, okay! I'll tell you another day. There are many stories about your father.
.”
At this time, the stall owner stepped forward and said with a smile: "Have you two girls decided?"
"Um!"
Yang Bing has already picked out five or six copper hairpins, "I want these right now, Auntie, what about you?"
Yang Fangxin hesitated for a moment, then pulled out the double phoenix pearl hairpin and said with a faint smile: "This hairpin is good, I will buy it."
The vendor wrapped it up for them quickly and said with a smile: "Two girls, a total of two ounces of money."
Yang Bing took out a small piece of silver weighing three or four yuan from her small handbag. This was the pocket money she had saved, and handed it to the vendor: "I only have silver, okay!"
Silver is hard currency. One tael of silver is worth ten ounces of new money. Her piece of broken silver is worth at least four ounces of new money. The hawker quickly took it and looked at it. It was indeed silver. He kept saying: "Of course, I want more."
Find a girl for two ounces of money."
"Don't bother looking for it, I'll reward you!"
Although Yang Bing does not have much money, she is as generous and generous as her father Yang Yuanqing, which makes the hawker very happy, "Thank you, girl, but...how can you be so embarrassed?"
Yang Bing smiled and said: "It's okay. It's not easy for you to do business, so just buy something for your daughter."
The hawker was moved. Seeing that they had no lamps in their hands, he took out two water lotus lanterns from under the table and handed them to them, "These are for you. Go to the river to make a wish and release the lanterns!"
"Thank you very much, uncle."
Yang Bing took the lamp and gave one to Yang Fangxin. The two walked quickly towards the river happily, and the five female soldiers immediately followed them, only a few steps apart.
The vendor looked at them, shook his head, and said to himself, "Whose daughter is this high-ranking official? She is escorted by female soldiers, but she is still wearing a hemp skirt. It's unbelievable!"
The hawker turned around and suddenly covered his mouth in horror. He knew whose daughter this was.
.......
Jinyang River is the most important river in Taiyuan City, running through the whole city. At this time, the government placed more than a thousand water lanterns in the water, arranged neatly, and dozens of small boats were decorated with lanterns. The water light reflected in various shapes and dazzling colors.
Two lighthouses were erected by the river, called Soul-Calling Towers. They were erected by the Yuantong Temple in the city. They were brightly lit and would be lit all night. The lamp oil was also donated by each household, and the small amount made more.
At this time, the lighthouse was crowded with common people lighting lamps, and ladies and gentlemen were choking and making a lot of noise. They lit a lamp, made a wish, and floated it away with the water, so that their deceased relatives could receive their wishes.
The riverside is also crowded with girls placing lanterns. Another custom says that an unmarried girl can make a wish on this night and if the lanterns float away with the water, her wish will come true.
Naturally, the girls' wish was to find a husband. They rolled up their sleeves, exposed their bright wrists, and put the water lotus lanterns into the water. Slowly, the lanterns flowed toward the middle of the river with the water waves to form a spectacular lantern array.
.
In a slightly secluded section of the river, Yang Bing and Yang Fangxin lit water lotus lanterns. The female soldiers guarding them had flints and fire sticks. There was no need to go to the lighthouse to join in the fun.
There are actually quite a lot of people in this area, and a group of Guozi scholars are setting up lanterns not far away.
"Auntie, what wish do you want to make?" Yang Bing asked excitedly. It was her first time to put out the lantern today, and she was full of curiosity about everything.
"Me! Of course I want to say a few words of greetings to my father."
Seeing the excitement on her face, Yang Fangxin smiled and said, "Did you make a wish to find a good husband?"
Yang Bing's face suddenly turned red, and she stamped her feet and shouted: "If you continue to talk nonsense, I will ignore you. I also want to wish daddy a safe and sound return as soon as possible."
Seeing that she was as anxious as an angry little duck, Yang Fangxin smiled and said, "Okay! Okay! I won't joke with you anymore."
Yang Fangxin found a clean piece of grass, spread it with a handkerchief, knelt down on her knees, rolled up her sleeves, revealing a jade lotus-like white wrist, held the water lotus lantern in her hands and made a wish in a low voice, and then put the water lotus lantern away.
into the river,
Yang Bing also silently made a wish to his father and put the water lotus lantern into the water. The two water lotus lanterns came together and floated slowly into the river.
Yang Fangxin looked at the two lights walking side by side, and she couldn't help but sigh.
Not far away, a group of Chinese scholars noticed them. The two girls' transcendent temperament made them fall in love with them. Among them, Yang Bing was still young, but Yang Fangxin particularly attracted their attention.
Everyone was whispering to each other, pushing each other, and finally a scholar came forward, bowed and saluted Yang Fangxin, "Zhang Zhi, a young man, from Xihe County, may I ask the girl's name?"