Although the Lantern Festival lights up from the twelfth to the eighteenth day of the first lunar month for a full seven days, the main lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month have always been the busiest days of the year in the capital.

In addition to the lanterns and festoons on several streets and lanes from Donghua Gate in the inner city to Dong'an Gate in the outer city, and all the way to Dengshi Hutong, dignitaries and wealthy families will also put up lanterns on this day, and even light up lanterns.

In the past year, they have been fighting openly and secretly for the limelight.

That is to say, in the years from Yingzong Ruizong to the current emperor, the wealth of the people has increased, but the trend of extravagance among the dignitaries has been repeatedly suppressed by the three emperors. The size of the lantern tower was strictly limited to two stories high, so the dignitaries and big households only had

Being able to compete with others in the design of the lantern tower is unique and can be regarded as a visual feast of this era for the people of the capital.

Therefore, on the night of Shangyuan Festival, the night of the Lantern Festival was full of fire and flowers, and every household often came out in full force. In order to maintain public order, the government naturally felt as if it was facing a formidable enemy. In addition to Shuntian Prefecture and Daxing Wanping County Yamen, all three squads of officers were dispatched.

The Ruiqi Battalion is also on duty in the city in civilian clothes. Although there are many theft lawsuits, there are far fewer cases of fights and abductions than before.

During the Lantern Festival this year, Zhang Shou had received an invitation from Zhu Ying to see the lanterns a few days earlier. Although he had seen countless more splendid night views in various skyscrapers and mountaintop observation decks, in fact, he was not interested in appreciating the lanterns.

Deng was not very interested, but the beautiful woman had an appointment, so he naturally agreed and came to Zhao Guogong's mansion to pick her up in the evening.

However, when he saw Zhu Ying, he couldn't help but look up and down at her new clothes - a black cloak with red lining, a gorgeous red Sichuan brocade embroidered peony jacket, and a brown sable and rabbit headband.

, on the long golden hairpin, a string of round South Sea pearls is held in the phoenix's mouth, and the necklace around the neck is dotted with a gem phoenix. At first glance, it looks really resplendent and jewel-like.

Zhang Shou smiled and looked at it for a moment, then stepped forward and said, "When you came out, I thought the concubine and fairy in the painting had come to the human world! You dressed up even more luxuriously than usual, in order to make everyone on the street stare.

?"

Zhu Ying had been looking forward to going side by side with Zhang Shou to enjoy the lanterns. When she heard this, she couldn't help but look at Zhang Shou's seemingly ordinary green shirt with hidden patterns embroidered with bamboo on the edges.

It was joy: "Ah Shou, you are the one who descended from heaven to earth! Fortunately, you don't dress up. If you dressed so eye-catchingly, all the girls and wives in the street would not look at the lights but only at you!"

She said with a smile: "Second brother just said to me that there are many people in the lantern market. If I go out dressed like this, some people might think that I have met a fat sheep... Haha, he didn't even think about it. I brought a whole lot of food with me today."

Thirty guards! I just want to dress up like jewels, but I also want to see who dares to take advantage of us. One of them will be beaten to death, two of them will be beaten to death!"

After making a domineering declaration, seeing that the mother Li who sent her out was angry and funny, she called the guards on the side to go out and prepare the carriages and horses. Zhu Ying just came to Zhang Shou, but she whispered: "Ah Shou, you don't know, today

In Qingning Palace, the Queen Mother issued an edict and took away the Queen's palace seal! The Queen naturally cried and complained that she was wronged, but the Emperor produced a lot of evidence of the Queen's natal family."

Although Zhang Shou felt that the previous inexplicable assassination did not look like the Queen's handiwork, he was not sure. What's more, he had been tricked by the mother and son more than once. Although it was not without counterattacks to trick the other party, it was because of the other party's identity.

, he can't go too far. Now that he heard the news revealed by Zhu Ying, he was naturally in a good mood.

And looking at Zhu Ying, who was chirping like a happy bird, he felt even more relaxed.

He naturally held her hand with a smile and walked straight out: "It's getting late, let's go quickly! By the way, after we see the lights, we will follow others and go to the food stalls to see what's there.

How about delicious dim sum and at least a few different Yuanxiao before coming back?"

"Okay!" Zhu Ying looked at the two people's tightly held hands, raised the corners of her mouth, and couldn't help but say, "Ah Shou, my family also built a lantern tower in the Dengshi Alley, and I will

I’ll take you to see it, it was just put up today!”

Zhang Shou agreed, but he had other thoughts in his heart. Naturally, he ignored the glances around him when he pulled Zhu Ying out of Qing'an Hall. He didn't even notice Zhu Tingfang's gaze. When he got out of the gate and mounted his horse, he realized

In addition to Zhu Hong and the usual familiar guards, there were indeed many new faces who came out. He immediately smiled at Zhu Ying.

"With so many people following us, we really attracted attention when we walked in the lantern market."

"So what? Are we still afraid of people looking at us?" Zhu Ying was not wearing a hooded cloak, and her face was bright and cheerful at this time, "I just want to lead so many people through the market, and those sneaky guys who have the ability will come out and fight with me.

Shall we have a fight?"

Zhang Shou was immediately happy: "How can other people be so bold? On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the officers and soldiers of all parties are already heavily guarded. Faced with a large formation like the two of us, shouting and supporting each other,

I definitely don’t dare to come and cause trouble!”

"That's right, besides, there's Ah Liu here!" Zhu Ying mentioned the young man again out of habit, but then she couldn't help but look around, and then asked doubtfully, "Where's Ah Liu? He's not with us today.

Want to see the lights?"

Zhang Shou said calmly: "It's rare for Yuanxiao. I know you will definitely bring enough people out today, so I gave him a day off." In fact, the boy got angry because of the assassin two days ago, saying that he wanted it.

Find those local "theories". As for the results of the theories, to be honest, he doesn't really want to know...

Although Zhu Ying was a little curious about Ah Liu's whereabouts, she didn't pay much attention to what Zhang Shou said. When Zhu Hong brought Zhang Shou's horse over, she saw Zhang Shou get on the horse, and then she made a neat move

He jumped on his horse and rode side by side with Zhang Shou. Then he smiled and said, "Ah Shou, your equestrian skills are much better than before!"

"Yeah, I think even when I got on the horse, I couldn't get up without Ah Liu's support. And I was always trembling with fear, for fear that the horse would kick and I would be kicked."

Zhang Shou made no secret of his poor riding skills at the time - in fact, he is not much better now. He would not dare to ride a horse at a gallop. If the horse was too fast and knocked him down, would he still have to fight Ah Liu?

Do you perform flying rescues on the street?

Zhu Ying burst out laughing when she heard this. She shook the reins of her mount and walked forward excitedly. As she walked, she said: "Your horse is the most docile horse that has been tamed in the palace. Don't talk about it.

Even if you hear loud noises, you won’t be surprised.”

Zhang Shou allowed his horse to lead him forward slowly. He listened to Zhu Ying explaining that what a royal horse in the palace wants is a docile and obedient temperament, not something that can run fast and be unruly. He then extended the concept from a royal horse to a military horse, and finally sighed with emotion.

If you encounter the kind of fierce horse that Wu Zetian trained for Emperor Taizong, you must release it to the grassland and let it roam freely...

At the gate of Zhao Guogong's mansion, Zhu Tingfang watched the man and woman gradually move away surrounded by many guards. Their faces looked like the sky was getting darker at this time, which was not really good-looking.

Mother Li, who saw his mood, smiled apologetically and said: "My eldest son, the eldest boy will be married, and the eldest girl will be married off. The eldest lady has always been high-minded, but she fell in love with Mr. Shou at first sight, and the two families have already made a marriage contract." , this is the best marriage. What's more, Mr. Shou is also sincere to the eldest lady, otherwise the wife and madam would not recognize him so quickly. "

Zhu Tingfang was still looking at the end of the road in front of the door, even though Zhu Ying and Zhang Shou were no longer visible, but he stared at it persistently for a while, but ignored Mother Li's words and turned around silently to walk back.

Of course he knew that what Li's mother said was true. Zhu Ying had deep feelings for her, which could be seen from her words and deeds when facing Zhang Shou. And of course he could see that, at least for the moment, Zhang Shou really loved Zhu Ying. Quite affectionate, the way he looked at Zhu Ying reminded him of the scene when his father looked at his stepmother. But the more he looked at her, the more uneasy he felt.

His stepmother and his father had almost broken off their relationship before, and this quarrel lasted for sixteen years. He could never tolerate his sister making the same mistake again. However, the conflict between his father and his stepmother was not at least because of his father's transference. Moreover, his father In recent years, he has not held military power, and on the surface he has not been involved in state affairs. To others, he is just an honorable prince, but Zhang Shou is different.

Although Zhang Shou's status is low now, he is clearly good at dancing, very good at getting along with others, and more importantly, he has real talent and practical knowledge, so he is deeply appreciated by the emperor. Although the emperor likes Yingying as his niece now, he will think more highly of him in the future. Zhang Shou, so that when there is a dispute between the couple, they would side with Zhang Shou. This is not impossible.

Sometimes it may not be a good thing to marry a man who is too outstanding in appearance but matches his appearance on the inside!

Even when Zhu Ying came back that day, her face was full of joy when she told him what Zhang Shou confided. He believed that Zhang Shou should have been sincere when he said this, but he could not believe that a person could maintain this sincerity throughout his life. .

Thinking of this, Zhu Tingfang suddenly stopped, and without even looking at Mother Li behind him, he suddenly turned around and walked out again, but went straight to the stables in the south courtyard. When he untied his usual mount, he When the horse trotted out of the south gate, Mother Li, who had just felt bad about following her, wanted to chase her, but after running two steps, she finally stopped.

The lantern market is so big, not to mention that the eldest son may not be able to catch up with the eldest lady and Mr. Shou. What will happen if he catches up? At most, it will be an eyesore to the pair of young children who have deep feelings for each other. The eldest son has been strong and cold since he was a child. , but she has never been able to pass the test of the eldest lady, let alone break up her happy marriage.

When night fell, Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying were already standing in the sea of ​​countless colored lanterns in Dengshi Hutong. Although these lights were all made of colored paper or silk stuck outside, they were colorful. Zhang Shou was quite impressed by the exquisite shape and craftsmanship of skilled craftsmen.

Especially when Zhu Ying raised her hand to tell him not to look at the huge peony lantern on the lantern tower in the distance, he saw the stretched peony petals and the various flower-shaped lanterns dotted around the two-story lantern tower. Just like the stars circling the moon, he couldn't help but smile and said: "Only peonies are the true national beauty, and they move the capital when they bloom. Yingying, is that your lantern tower?"

"Yes!" Zhu Ying smiled beamingly, "I like peonies the most, so my grandmother promised me to be the Peony Lantern King this year."

She paused for a moment, then turned to look at Zhang Shou and said: "Ah Shou, I like the Spring River Flower Moonlight Night the most in Tang poetry, so I have always kept the oil-paper umbrella you gave me. But other than that, I love the most.

I like "Appreciating Peonies" by Liu Yuxi. But I only like the second half of the poem, and I don't like the first two sentences. Because praising peonies does not need to belittle peonies and lotus flowers."

Zhu Ying's eyes were bright and clear, as if she was not criticizing Tang poetry, but herself: "The reason why peonies are more beautiful than others is not because other flowers are not good enough, but because they are the best, so they are the true national color.

That’s why the capital is in bloom when the flowers bloom!”

When he first heard Zhu Ying confess that she loved the Moonlight Night on the Spring River the most, Zhang Shou couldn't help but feel moved. When he heard that she actually treasured the oil-paper umbrella he gave her casually for sun protection, his mood became even more subtle. After all, at that time,

He was actually very cold towards her.

However, what she said about peonies moved him deeply.

He looked into her eyes and smiled slightly: "Yingying, do you know that when you just proudly said why peonies are so beautiful, they were so gorgeous that even these lanterns were eclipsed?"

"Really?" Zhu Ying tilted her head slightly, and the smile on her face deepened, "I also think you, Ah Shou, are more beautiful than these lanterns! Today we enjoy the lanterns, and let the lanterns reward us!"

Followed by Zhu Hong, who was always alert, no matter how restrained he was, he still clearly heard every word of Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying due to his excellent hearing, and his face turned red involuntarily.

The eldest lady’s words are really too bold! Can’t she be a little more modest?

However, Zhu Ying's words were only half right. At the time of the lanterns tonight, the dumb lanterns could not come to admire them, but those who admired the lanterns were also admiring her and Zhang Shou.

Among them, some people just looked at them quietly, while others pointed at them unscrupulously. Fortunately, Zhu Hong and the other 30 guards had a strong intimidating power, but no one dared to approach.

As for those with ulterior motives, of course they can't even get within five steps of this beautiful pair.

Zhu Tingfang, who was following behind on horseback, had to work hard to push away the crowd before he could move forward. If it weren't for his consistent character that still had the upper hand, he would have used a riding crop to drive away the crowd if it were his elder brother who only thought about his sister.

.

Even so, when he saw the two of them leaving the lantern market exit near Dong'anmen, but not planning to go home, but visiting the food stalls specially set up by the emperor, his mood became even worse.

.

The food at their home is extremely exquisite, but Zhu Ying is often picky. God knows whether the raw materials of these external things have been cleaned, God knows whether the people who made them have washed their hands, and God knows whether they have worn masks to isolate the breath. How can they be messy?

Eat... what to do if you have a bad stomach!

Zhang Shou naturally had no idea that his future brother-in-law was already going crazy there. He took Zhu Ying to go to one of the stalls, and when he found a stall with three floors inside and three floors outside, Zhu Ying couldn't help but pulled him in out of curiosity.
Chapter completed!