Originally, because I couldn't find any private rooms available after asking several houses, I thought that 90% of the private rooms that have not been booked yet are in a bad location or the space is small.
I didn't want Sheng Suihe to go up and take a look in person, and I found that this elegant room is located on the third floor, facing Tianjie. It can be said that it is commanding and has a clear view. The interior is gorgeously furnished, with brocade carpet on the floor, famous calligraphy and paintings on the walls, yellow pear wood furniture, and secret-color porcelain.
Although the private room is not large enough to hold several banquet tables, it is definitely enough for the Sheng family.
He looked satisfied, but also felt strange: "How come no one has booked this place?"
The boy who led him and Sheng Xiang in apologized and explained: "Originally, someone had already made the reservation, but something happened at home half a moment ago, so I sent someone over to cancel it. No, only the shopkeeper wants to I asked you to inform the familiar guests. Just as your steward came in to ask, the shopkeeper asked me to accompany you to come up and have a look. If you like it, if you don't like it, I will go and leave a message with the others. The guests told me!”
"That's it." Sheng Suihe nodded. Seeing this, Sheng Xiang threw a dime of silver to the boy and said, "Send someone to clean this place quickly. There are three young ladies in my family. For those of you who love cleanliness, these tables, chairs, and bottles need to be cleaned again! Then ask the kitchen to prepare a table of delicious dishes, and the most famous drinks of your restaurant, so feel free to serve good things... If you serve well, you will be rewarded. I can’t do without you!”
When he was telling the waiter in the restaurant, Sheng Suihe had already lifted his robe and went downstairs to explain to Sheng Weiqiao and the others about finding the private room. However, because the private room had to be cleaned again by the restaurant's people, it would have to wait a while. Go in.
Of course, it doesn't take long to wait. After all, the private room has already been cleaned. Now Sheng Xiang is keeping an eye on it and tidying it up. It will be ready in a while.
Sheng Suihe led Sheng Weiqiao and the other three, along with the maid and some guards into the private room and sat down. The people from the restaurant first brought eight cold dishes and a plate of carved fruits, which they said were free of charge and specially for Sheng Weiwu to try. .
"This store is quite generous. Fruits are not cheap in this season." Sheng Weiqiao laughed when he saw it. "After all, we are doing business on Tianjie Street, so we know how to cause trouble."
"Third sister, look over there, it looks like a table?" Sheng Weiwu had just eaten a cup of deer tendon, and the child didn't have a big appetite. She was not interested in the fruit at the moment, although Sheng Weiqiao deliberately pushed the plate with the fruit away. When he came to her, he took one look and turned away. He looked out with great interest and saw that there seemed to be a high platform on the square opposite the main entrance of the imperial city, with several pillars standing around it, so he asked curiously , "Has it always been there? Or is it specially built for the lantern festival? Will someone come up to sing in the opera later?"
Because of the location of Shengzhai and Tianjie, their group did not go from the high platform. It's snowing again today. The high platform has not been decorated since no one has performed there yet. It is not luxurious and gorgeous. When walking on the street, even if I occasionally look over there, In this kind of snowy and foggy weather, it may not be possible to find it.
So Sheng Weiwu didn't notice that there was a stage there because she saw it and started shouting.
At this moment, Sheng Suihe looked over and explained casually: "There seems to be an old custom in this dynasty. On the night of the Lantern Festival, the emperor would bring his concubines, kings, princesses and other clans to watch the lanterns at the main entrance. That high platform was probably built for this purpose. ?”
"Then we are lucky to have got a private room." The three girls were very happy when they heard this. "Otherwise, the table would be crowded with people later, and it would not be as convenient as watching here."
After the group of people spent some time chatting and eating cold dishes, the sky dimmed and the lights on the sky street became brighter.
The custom of celebrating the Lantern Festival has been followed for several dynasties. This dynasty follows the old rules. During the period, lanterns are set off and there is no curfew at night. It is the most lively time of the year in the country.
But this night, when it comes to prosperity, it has to be Chang'an.
At the beginning of dusk, with the light snow falling, I saw the sky street downstairs. First there were dots of stars, and then in just a moment, they became vast, just like the Milky Way falling from the sky to the earth. The countless lights were like the sparkling water rising from the Milky Way. The light, the passers-by were like the surging waves in the river, lighting up the entire imperial capital with such majestic force.
Looking around, you can see the dazzling beauty, the colorful splendor, sometimes fine music is playing, the fragrance is lingering, and the breath of peace and wealth is grandly blowing towards your face, which makes people feel broad-minded and unexpected. of joy and satisfaction.
"There are a lot of people down there, third sister, let's go down and take a look?" Sheng Weiwu had been lying at the window, watching the crowd gradually thicken, and various lanterns were put out one after another. She was tempted, and turned around to beg Sheng Weiqiao, "That girl over there has a hand The hydrangea lanterns I’m holding are really fun, let’s go down and see where they are sold and buy a few too!”
Sheng Weiqiao naturally agreed.
Seeing her, he immediately stood up and took Sheng Weiwu's hand, and invited Gongsun Yingjiang to join him. Even though Sheng Suihe was worried that she was not well, he blew the night breeze, but he was still afraid that forcibly stopping him would make the girl angry, so he had to say: "I I’ll go with you!”
Sheng Xiang was left with a few servants to guard the private room, and the four of them went downstairs together.
When I was going down the stairs, someone whispered from behind: "Hey, isn't this...?"
Sheng Weiqiao heard these words and felt familiar, but because he was walking down with his hand held tightly by Sheng Weiwu, he couldn't turn around, and the person behind him didn't mention his name. He thought that even if he had met the person before, he might not be looking for him. So he ignored her, whispered to Sheng Weiwu to watch her steps carefully, and led her downstairs.
Seeing this, the man behind him waited until he got downstairs and had no choice but to catch up to her and greet her: "Miss Sheng San? It's a coincidence that we met here."
Sheng Weiqiao turned around in surprise when he heard this, and hurriedly led Sheng Weiwu and Gongsun Yingjiang to salute: "Princess Qingfang! The unknown princess is behind you, how rude just now!"
The princess was wearing a purple dress today, with a back bun and two hairpins inserted sideways. Her unpainted face looked somewhat pale and haggard, and she looked very low-key. She only had two maids with her. When he saw them leaning down, he hurriedly took a step forward, stretched out his hand to support them, and said kindly: "We met by chance, why are you so polite?"
Just asked, "Are you planning to go out to look at the lights?"
Sheng Weiqiao knew that she was mostly greeting him because of Sheng Suihe, so he didn't know how to answer
Because they were afraid that Princess Qingfang would ask to join them.
Although this princess is also the daughter of King Gaomi, she is not a clan daughter who is not favored and has an embarrassing status like Princess Deping. She is the eldest daughter of King Gaomi and his wife. Her husband’s Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion should not be underestimated, but Sheng Weiqiao cannot How dare you reject her directly.
But if you agree, let alone Sheng Suihe's life experience, which is actually not clear until now. Now he has close contact with the people from the King of Gaomi. What if it is discovered that he made a mistake later? How will it end? Just say that Spring is coming, this People found out that Sheng Suihe and the beloved daughter of King Gaomi were traveling at the lantern festival in the eyes and bones. What would the Meng family think
Fortunately, when she hesitated, Sheng Suihe responded lightly. Princess Qingfang looked at him, as if she wanted to talk to him, but after hesitating for a while, she still smiled and said, "Then I won't delay you any more." , go!”
Sheng Weiqiao breathed a sigh of relief and led Sheng Weiwu out a few steps. When Sheng Weiwu and Gongsun Yingjiang were both attracted by a series of three-poly-five glass hibiscus colorful lanterns on the roadside, he asked Sheng Suihe in a low voice: "What about Qingfang?" The princess... came to see you specifically?"
"Who knows?" Sheng Suihe smiled faintly, "Anyway, there is a lot of people watching the lights in the city today, and the best place is behind you and in the nearby restaurants. Now it is easy to meet a dignitary within a few steps. thing."
This makes sense. At this time, Sheng Weiwu took her fancy to the white elephant lantern further away. She tugged on Sheng Weiqiao's skirt and was about to walk forward. Sheng Weiqiao comforted her to slow down, so as not to trip over something despite the bright lights in the dark night. I fell and knocked.
After being interrupted like this, they didn't ask any more, so they didn't see Sheng Suihe silently following the three of them. His face was calm, but his eyes were cold, which was clearly incompatible with the noisy and lively lantern market.
Sheng Weiqiao and others who did not notice the abnormality of Sheng Sleeping Crane all marveled at the liveliness of the lantern market: all kinds of lanterns were in various shapes and textures, including paper, bamboo, silk, damask, glass, open tiles, horns, snails, clams, feathers, stamps, etc. Yarn, silk, embroidery, sandalwood, ivory, gilt, brass and so on; in terms of style, door lanterns, lamp plaques, flower lanterns, palace lanterns, colored lanterns, poke lanterns, handle lanterns, wind lanterns, four-corner flat white Gauze lanterns, glass colorful fringe lanterns, hydrangea lanterns, screen lanterns, water lanterns, egret bird lanterns, golden lotus lanterns, jade tower lanterns, lotus lanterns, hibiscus lanterns, snowflake lanterns, scholar lanterns, daughter-in-law lanterns, ape lanterns, crab lanterns, catfish There are so many lanterns and camel lanterns to see; in terms of placement, in addition to the high and low hangings on the stalls in the store, the willows, apricots and other trees beside the roadside that have no flowers and leaves in this season are all tied with grass, silk, damask, silk, and paper. Lifelike flowers stick to the situation, and there are lotuses, waterlilies, herons, and cattails in the pond. They are all filled with lights, competing for brilliance from above and below. The inside and outside are transparent, and against the light snow, it looks like a world of glass, a world of jewels. [Note 1] .
Pedestrians passed by in groups, carrying or holding small and exquisite lanterns, laughing and smiling.
Seeing Sheng Suihe's beautiful appearance and young age, he boldly came over and put a hibiscus lamp into his hand. The hibiscus lamp was only the size of a palm, with a red candle burning inside, but it couldn't illuminate much of the area. But it was exquisite in workmanship, shaped like a hibiscus flower in full bloom, with a candlelight in the center serving as the stamen. On the pole of the lantern, there was a peach red veil, vaguely scented with powder.
According to Sheng Suihe's usual vigilance, he shouldn't have things shoved into his hands so easily, but because of some things that happened just now, he was a little distracted, and the woman who came to push the lamp to him didn't mean any harm, so Sheng Suihe subconsciously caught the light and then came back to his senses.
But when he saw the woman winking at him, she didn't bother, held up her skirt and caught up with her companion, and disappeared into the crowd with a smile.
"Brother, please open this veil and take a look!" Sheng Weiqiao was watching this scene with a complicated mood, but he still said with a smile, "It's probably that young lady who has taken a fancy to you. Maybe it's the Willow on the Moon. Shaotou, where is the time and place after dusk?"
"Who do you think that woman just now is?" Hearing this, Sheng Suihe smiled lightly, threw the lamp to the ground, took a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe his hands, and said calmly, "Forefathers have written "The Fifteenth Night of the First Month" "There is a line in the poem "The wandering prostitutes are all stalking plums, and the singing is all falling plum blossoms [Note 2]". I remember you just advised me to concentrate on my studies a few days ago. Why do you want me to go to the land of romance now? have they gone?"
"..." Sheng Weiqiao felt embarrassed and was about to change the topic when she saw a commotion in the crowd and then surged towards the imperial city like a tide. If not for the guards, she and Sheng Weiqiao were blocked by Sheng Sleeping Crane. He was almost pushed down, and he was shocked when he heard someone shouting excitedly, "The emperor is about to arrive at the city gate, and the show is about to begin!"
[Note 1] The reference materials come from "Dream of Red Mansions", encyclopedia, and "Jin Na Mei Mei" which pure authors will not read.
[Note 2] Su Weiwei's poem "The Fifteenth Night of the First Month": "Fire trees and silver flowers bloom together, and the iron locks of the star bridge are opened. The dark dust goes with the horses, and the bright moon chases people. The wandering prostitutes all work on plums, and all the plum blossoms fall when they sing. Jinwu can't help the night, and the jade leaks Don’t rush me.”