The endless flow of people did not make people feel that the time now was close to the curfew time. People in the inner city of Chang'an were either wandering around in the square, or taking advantage of the night to start heading to the outer city of Chang'an which was just built not long ago. city.
Li Hong and Chen Qinghan were talking and laughing along the way. Under Chen Qinghan's guidance, they rented a carriage and slowly arrived at the West Market, which was built in the outer city.
Nowadays, the two cities are generally indistinguishable. Only small commodities can be distinguished. The west market mainly sells imported products, while the east market mainly sells items from the Tang Dynasty.
It continues the characteristics of the east and west inner city. The only difference in appearance is the buildings, allowing people to realize whether they are walking on the streets of the west city or the alleys of the east city.
There is an endless stream of hawking along the street, and the camel team is no longer allowed to appear in the market, and all items can only be transported in from the outside within an hour of the city gate every morning, otherwise they can only It’s time to wait for the next day.
In this way, whether it is the East Market or the West Market, in the eyes of the people of Chang'an, it is like magic. Looking at the shelves that are about to be sold out, they are filled with goods overnight, but they can't see the packaging. A large number of camel teams or horse-drawn carriages carrying goods came chaotically into the orderly Western Market.
At the beginning of the lanterns, the lanterns with the names of various shops are either red or green, colorful and different from other businesses, trying to create a different flavor.
On the warm streets, when the cold wind blows, it no longer raises a cloud of dust as it did before. Instead, only the clear cold wind blows, preventing people from turning their heads to avoid the dust.
Chen Qinghan has never been so happy as he is today in the past two months. He is jumping up and down with candied haws in his hand, dragging Li Hong around for a while and then to another one.
From time to time, I would ask about the price, and then I would raise my face and seriously compare myself to buying New Year's goods today, whether it was expensive or cheap.
Some literati and ladies were also dressed elegantly and flamboyantly. They were walking in groups on the bustling streets. From time to time, some people would look at Chen Qinghan as he passed by.
His eyes were full of amazement as he looked at the excited back, and another tall figure, staring blankly until he was pulled away by his companions who noticed him.
"The tea in the south is naturally much better than the tea here. The rain in early spring is the best for making tea. You can either go to the spring to collect water. You must scoop it into the wooden bucket gently. Don't trip, otherwise you will get hurt. The water is spiritual, and the brewed tea will naturally lose its spirituality and taste." Chen Qinghan raised his head and looked at a very elegantly decorated teahouse, and then said as he went up the stairs.
Li Hong never saw Chen Qinghan's mouth stop talking along the way. Now he was probably aware that he was thirsty, so he took him to this teahouse.
The entire layout of the elegant tea house is full of the flavor of the Jiangnan water town, especially the furnishings inside, which are mainly based on the architectural style of the Jiangnan. However, in the details, the boldness of some northerners is taken into account. For example, the big teapot and teacup are in In the eyes of Jiangnan people, I am afraid that it can only be used for drinking water instead of tasting tea.
The two of them had just sat down in a relatively remote place, and before the shop assistant ran over to greet him enthusiastically, Banmei appeared in front of Li Hong like a ghost.
"This slave has met His Highness."
"I..." Li Hong was startled, not expecting to meet her here.
"Queen, please come over." Banmei pointed to the door of an elegant private room. On both sides of the door, stood several palace eunuchs with wary eyes.
Li Hong rolled his eyes thoughtfully, stood up, and followed Banmei to the elegant private room with Chen Qinghan.
On the way, Li Hong secretly put his ear to Banmei's ear and asked in a low voice: "Do you know why the queen is here today?"
"I don't know, but the Queen seems to have come here on purpose. She has been sitting here for almost two hours. The Minister of Dali Temple will be here in a moment." Banmei approached Li Hong. Li Hong smelled the alluring fragrance and decided that today You will sleep with Xunlan tonight.
Li Hong nodded clearly, walked to the door, and looked at the four eunuchs on both sides of the door who were saluting him.
Just as the four eunuchs were about to reach out to stop Chen Qinghan behind him, Li Hong said coldly: "If you dare to stretch out your claws to stop her, I will chop off your claws."
"Yes, Your Highness, I don't dare." A eunuch hurriedly saluted and apologized.
Chen Qinghan's face is indeed solemn at this moment. This is no better than when she and Li Hong are together. After all, the two are so familiar. Now they are meeting the queen who is now the mother of the world. Although they have met twice before, but now they meet again after two years, they still have some feelings in their hearts. A bit nervous.
Seeing that Li Hong actually talked to the palace people like this in order to protect her, his uneasy heart calmed down a little. After bowing slightly to the four palace people, he lowered his head and followed Li Hong in.
After Li Hong took Chen Qinghan to salute, he looked at Long Ma's eyes that seemed to be smiling but not smiling, and started to roll his eyes blindly.
There was no one else in the room, except Xunlan and Banmei. No one knew why she had to sit here for two hours.
"It is said that Jiangnan women are gentle and generous, and their tea skills are even better. I wonder if I am lucky enough to enjoy the tea you brewed yourself today?" Wu Mei glanced at Li Hong with a half-smile, then faced the person standing there Chen Qinghan said in front of him.
"If you don't dislike Qinghan's clumsiness, Queen, Qinghan is willing to make tea for you." Chen Qinghan said hurriedly.
"Of course that's the best thing, let's get new tea." Wu Mei smiled and motioned for Chen Qinghan to sit down.
As for someone, of course she didn't need to remind him, he had already sat aside consciously.
"How come your mother is so elegant today and comes to the West Market to drink tea?" After Li Hong picked up a tea set and put it down, he picked it up again and looked at it casually, or played with it in front of his eyes. Like his son and daughter, they can't sit still.
"Don't just ask me, didn't you come to the West Market with nothing to do?" Wu Mei took the tea spoon and knocked it on Li Hong's restless hand to stop him from disturbing Chen Qinghan's tea making.
He touched his nose unconsciously, then looked at Chen Qinghan next to him and said: "I have nothing to do, so I took Qinghan around to see the bustle of the West Market on the first day of the month."
"You didn't choose the East Market, you didn't choose the higher-end East and West cities in the inner city, but you chose the newly built West City? You haven't been here in the past two years?" Wu Mei asked.
The two began to play riddles. It was clear that both mother and son knew each other's purpose of coming here, but neither one wanted to reveal it. Instead, they played riddles here and there.
Watching Banmei walk to the door and whisper a few words to the palace attendant, he walked back, saluted Wu Mei and said, "Queen, Lord Qing Di of Dali Temple has arrived."
"Let him come in." Wu Mei glanced at Li Hong and said lightly.
After a while, Di Renjie walked into the tea room alone, glanced at the Queen and Li Hong, then looked at Chen Qinghan who was carrying him, and hurriedly lowered his head and saluted: "I have met the Queen, met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, met Pass the Crown Princess."
"Princess?" Li Hong and Wu Mei asked in unison as they looked at Di Renjie in surprise.
Then following Di Renjie's blank and surprised gaze, he shifted his gaze to Chen Qinghan. Chen Qinghan's face turned red instantly, not wanting to be mistaken by Di Renjie for Wanying's sister because of her back.
Facing the strange looks that Li Hong and Wu Mei were looking at her, Chen Qinghan didn't know what to do. Please explain. I'm afraid she doesn't have the right to speak here. Please don't explain. Looking at the expressions of the Queen and Li Hong, It seems that he just intends to make mistakes like this.
"Di Renjie, you have good eyesight." Li Hong raised his thumb and praised.
Wu Mei smiled and motioned for Di Renjie to sit down. Only then did Di Renjie see clearly that the woman in front of him was not the Crown Princess Pei Wanying, but Chen Qinghan, the daughter of Chen Jingzhi whom he had recommended.
"Di is here to apologize to Miss Chen. I only looked at her back just now..." Di Renjie had an awkward smile on his face and apologized hastily.
"You don't have to apologize, I'm afraid there are people who are eager to keep Qinghan by their side. What can you find?" When the last sentence was spoken, Wu Mei's expression became serious.
"Back to the queen, I found two suspicious objects. But now I can only prove that these objects are indeed from the palace. But who used them and how they were put into the West Market for trading, I still need to continue to trace." Di Renjie said on one side. He said while taking out a folded kerchief from his arms.
Wu Mei signaled Banmei to take it and open it, only to see a gold-inlaid jade hairpin inside. Under the light, the entire hairpin was radiant and extremely beautiful. The other pair of earrings, which are of full quality and exquisite shape, are obviously well-maintained, and they are shining brightly in Banmei's hands.
"Have you checked with Taifu Temple?" Li Hong glanced at Wu Mei thoughtfully and asked Di Renjie calmly.
"Not yet, I just found it from the Western Market today." Di Renjie answered truthfully.
Li Hong nodded, and then looked at Chen Qinghan. Chen Qinghan understood immediately and carefully took out a handkerchief from his sleeve pocket, and then opened it in front of Wu Mei and Di Renjie. It was another pair of elegant earrings.
From the looks of the shape, style, and workmanship, it is obvious that it was made by Royal Taifu Temple, but this kind of jewelry is often seen in the Western Market.
In fact, most of the jewelry that was suspected to have leaked out of the palace has been sold off.
Di Renjie looked at the pair of earrings that Chen Qinghan took out with bright eyes. After obtaining the consent of Li Hong and Wu Mei, he carefully picked up one and looked at it in his hand. Then he raised his head slightly and thought for a moment, then spoke cautiously. Said: "If I remember correctly, this pair of earrings... I saw them in Prince Pei's palace on the wedding day of Prince Pei."
"I have no impression." Li Hong shrugged.
Wu Mei sighed helplessly. I am afraid that no one is more familiar with this pair of earrings than her. True love was given to Fang Muqing by herself. On Li Xian's wedding day, Fang Muqing wore it. This earring.
(End of chapter)