prosperous age

Chapter 287 Chapter 286
Nanjing City, now the capital of the Ming Dynasty, has become a history as the capital, but it is still the political, economic and cultural center of the entire Jiangnan region.

The famous scenic spots in Nanjing known to Wei Guangde in later generations must be impossible to see at this time, because they are either unusual and inaccessible, or they are very ordinary places.

For example, the Forbidden City of the Ming Dynasty, the Xiaoling Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty, and Jiangnan Gongyuan, etc. These are all places that Wei Guangde can't go to, and this day is not a good time to visit the scenery.

On the second day after arriving in Nanjing City, Xu Bangrui took time to accompany Wei Guangde around Nanjing City. There are still places to see in Nanjing City, but the time is wrong.

When visiting Chaotian Palace, a small incident happened, Wei Guangde met a person he wanted to see but couldn't see.

Since most of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty believed in Taoism, Chaotian Palace, as the largest Taoist temple in Nanjing, was naturally very popular. What's more, the name "Chaotian Palace" was given by Zhu Yuanzhang, and there was a Xiyi Pavilion built there.

In the early Ming Dynasty, Chaotian Palace had always been the place where the imperial court practiced etiquette before holding grand ceremonies, and where bureaucratic children learned the etiquette of meeting the emperor before they took the title.

When Xu Bangrui led Wei Guangde to Feixia Pavilion, the sharp-eyed Wei Guangde noticed a few pretty women standing there in the attic, looking towards them.

You can tell by looking at the clothes, there seem to be two women in the front who may be of high status in this group of girls, maybe they are wives or young ladies, and the few behind are the maids who serve them, but the distance is a little far away and they can't be seen clearly. .

"Let's go for a walk over there."

Xu Bangrui pointed at the back of Feixia Pavilion and said, he meant to bypass Feixia Pavilion and go to the back mountain of Chaotian Palace.

Wei Guangde didn't think too much at first, just followed Xu Bangrui with a smile, but when he approached Feixia Pavilion, Wei Guangde still unconsciously looked towards the attic.

The woman in the attic looked a little flustered when Wei Guangde looked up, hurriedly stepped back a few steps, and disappeared in the attic.

"Ha ha."

A common problem among women in this era is that they seem to despise men.

Wei Guangde continued to walk forward with a chuckle at the corner of his mouth, but at this moment he found that there seemed to be a trace of embarrassment on Xu Bangrui's face.

Noticing the change on Xu Bangrui's face, Wei Guangde suddenly realized that the person upstairs could be the female relatives of Duke Wei's mansion.

Could it be that his unmarried daughter-in-law is also here, and Xu Bangrui invited him here today just to let his sister take a look first?
In fact, this is really the case, but the proposal is naturally not Xu Jianglan, but Xu Bangrui's daughter-in-law.

Of course, Xu Jianglan didn't know about the news that Wei Guangde was invited to Nanjing, but it wasn't a secret, and people around Xu Bangrui naturally knew about it.

Naturally, it was revealed inadvertently in front of my sister-in-law, and then I asked Xu Bangrui to find a chance to bring him out for them to see first.

Xu Bangrui was a little apprehensive at first, but after seeing Wei Guangde, he didn't feel anything wrong. The husband he picked for his sister was not a crooked one, and that's why he made today's trip.

"Brother, it's been a long way, why don't you just sit in this attic and rest your feet."

Wei Guangde wanted to make sure whether the one in the attic belonged to Duke Wei's mansion, so he walked a few steps before speaking to Xu Bangrui.

"Are you tired from walking?"

Hearing what Wei Guangde said, Xu Bangrui frowned slightly but did not object. Instead, he turned his head to look at the attic and said, "Alright, let's just walk around in this garden. Over there is the Xiyi Pavilion. At the beginning of the founding of the country, all audience members The emperor’s courtiers all have to learn the etiquette of meeting drivers there, and there are many things left by the yamen of the Ministry of Rites.”

Xu Bangrui pointed to the back door of Feixia Pavilion and explained to Wei Guangde that he actually wanted Wei Guangde to rest there.

Xu Bangrui deliberately delayed entering the Feixia Pavilion, as if to make room for the people inside to leave. Although he missed a chance to meet his wife before marriage, Wei Guangde didn't think it was a pity.

Glancing upstairs before, he had already noticed that the first two of the group of women looked pretty good, but one of them seemed more mature and stable, and the sideburns on his head were also in a high bun style that showed nobility and elegance. There are gorgeous ornaments such as gold beads and jade hairpins inserted on it.

This one is already married, Wei Guangde thought silently in his heart.

Women's head styles in the Ming Dynasty inherited the style of the Song Dynasty, and most of them were "rolled temples" and "high temples", as well as "heart-picking buns" and "falling horse buns".

However, this is all aimed at married women, and it is also included in the laws of the Ming Dynasty.

"Wanji" is a folk custom, also known as the upper head. Its hairstyle is like a plate, and some beautiful hair accessories can be worn on the temples to highlight the beauty of women. Although it is a custom, it also reflects women's status in the Ming Dynasty.

"High bun" is relatively complicated in the art of coiling hair. It comes with a luxurious style and is popular in the court. Mother Qu Duwei."

As for the other hair accessories, they are also classics, following the culture of the Han nationality, and embodying the unique aesthetic value of the Ming Dynasty.

But the hair accessory next to this woman is very simple, combing the corners, that is, the hair is combed on both sides, and tied on the left and right sides of the head to form a figure of eight.

Combing double buns, in fact, some people comb their hair like this in later generations, because it looks like a "ya" character, everyone will laugh and call "gimmick".

However, in the Ming Dynasty, only women who had not reached the age of Ji and had not left the court combed their hair like this, and they were not allowed to comb their hair.

Because of the distance, Wei Guangde could only see the general outline with a glance, and his facial features were correct. He wanted to take a closer look, but Xu Bangrui kept delaying him, and there was nothing he could do.

When the group of them walked into the Feixia Pavilion, the pavilion was already empty, leaving only a faint fragrance in the air.

Wei Guangde didn't feel disappointed either, this is actually the rule, at least the rule of this era.

He went up to the attic and looked around, and sure enough, he saw a group of people hurrying along the way they came.

Naturally, Wei Guangde didn't care much about the others, he just stared at the figure of the woman with the bun on her head.

He was blocked by the attic before, but now Wei Guangde is so condescending that he can take a closer look.

With a slender figure and light steps, she walks gracefully and gracefully, with a swaying posture, and the whole person looks good.

In later generations, there are many women who look back and look good, but when they see the front, Wei Guangde believes that Xu Bangrui's girl should be good-looking, and he has earned a beauty. That's right.

The next time I see Xu Bangrui again, I can no longer call him Brother like now, but call him "Brother Wife".

The group of figures had already left the yard at this moment. There were two carriages parked not far away, and there seemed to be a few horses. It seems that the girl didn't get into the carriage, but directly rode a horse, and after the other women got into the carriage, she beat the horse and left.

Wei Guangde wasn't sure if the girl who rode away on horseback was that girl, but he felt that the figure and posture were very similar, but don't all the ladies in this era always ride in a carriage?
Although Wei Guangde didn't think there was anything wrong with showing his face, but this is the young lady of Wei Guogong's family, and his father's letter to him had detailed information about what he had asked for, and there was no such thing.

Seeing the direction the convoy was leaving, Wei Guangde didn't move, but stood there all the time.

Xu Bangrui, who was next to him, also guessed at this moment, and he was cheating.

"Cough cough."

After coughing twice to break the awkward atmosphere, Xu Bangrui invited Wei Guangde to sit down and rest. He had already ordered someone to make tea.

Wei Guangde nodded slightly, turned around and glanced back unconsciously, then smiled at Xu Bangrui: "The person who left just now"

"Sister sister."

Xu Bangrui was also a bachelor, so he smiled wryly without concealing it, "It's all my fault."

But Xu Bangrui misunderstood Wei Guangde's meaning, Wei Guangde was actually curious about whether it was his sister who rode away on horseback, and didn't care about running here to peek at him.

If there is a chance, Wei Guangde also wants to take a peek.

He just thought of the deep house of Wei Guogong's mansion, and sneaked in rashly, fearing that he would be discovered first if he couldn't find the place.

Well, from Wei Guangde's point of view, this is also a kind of fun.

Seeing that Xu Bangrui misunderstood what he meant, Wei Guangde hurriedly said: "I saw someone leaving on horseback without getting into the carriage."

Speaking of this, Wei Guangde put his hands on his head like a double girl.

"is it?"

Xu Bangrui didn't read what Wei Guangde said, so naturally he didn't know, but after hearing Wei Guangde's words, he naturally understood.

Frowning slightly, Xu Bangrui smiled wryly and said: "My girl can ride a horse, and loves to ride a horse, but usually she is in the courtyard or other courtyards. I guess she was a little panicked before going straight. She should wear a veil."

Wei Guangde nodded when he heard the words, it would be fine if he wore a veiled hat.

According to records, the curtain hat was created in the Jin Dynasty, also known as the Zhaojun hat. It is said that Zhaojun wore the curtain hat when he went out of the fortress, but obviously such a statement is not correct according to the dynasty.

A veiled hat is actually a high-top and wide-brimmed hat with a thin and transparent veil around the brim. The veil is short to cover the face and long to reach the waist.

Wei Guangde still remembered that when he was watching the Aoshan Lantern Festival, there were quite a few women with veiled caps jumping around in the crowd, having fun. Most of these people were high-ranking officials in the capital and the female relatives of noble families, and they also came to join in the fun at the Aoshan Lantern Festival.

As for another place that Wei Guangde had been yearning for for a long time, he finally arrived in Nanjing City, so he naturally wanted to visit it.

Nanjing in the Ming Dynasty was famous for Qinhuai, and Qinhuai was famous for the famous Shu in the old courtyard.

The glamorous life attracts people from all walks of life to Nanjing. There are bigwigs who spend a lot of money, and Huizhou businessmen who are willing to spend money on prostitutes. rogue.

All kinds of characters gather in one place, intriguing and deceitful, and jointly interpret a sensual picture of the world.

Speaking of Ten Mile Qinhuai, in fact, Sanshan Street where Wei Guangde lived temporarily is also among them, but this small courtyard is located in an alley at the end of Sanshan Street, which is more quiet and detailed.

Most of the honorable mansions in Nanjing City are around the Qinhuai River, and the Confucian Temple and Jiangnan Gongyuan are also nearby. This is also an important reason why the Qinhuai River has become the most famous gold selling cave in Nanjing City.

According to later generations, this place is naturally a high-end residential and consumer area.

However, the trip to the Qinhuai River was not done by Wei Guangde secretly, but by Xu Bangrui who took Wei Guangde generously.

Contrary to the more popular views of later generations, there are indeed many red ladies in the paintings on the Qinhuai River and in the pavilions on both banks. There is no market for prostitutes who simply sell their looks and bodies.

Because the people who come here are either dignitaries or scholars. For a consumer group like them, the consumption level is not low, and at the same time they have a certain level of appreciation. Naturally, they are very yearning for talented scholars and beautiful women. There is absolutely no way out for talent.

The women who enter the brothel are mainly divided into two types, one is performing arts but not selling themselves, and they are also known as "clean men".

There is another kind of performing arts and selling one's body, which is called the red lady.

The former focuses on talents such as dance, piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, while the latter focuses on advantages such as beauty and figure.

But in fact, many of the red couples also came from Qing couples who changed their identities. When they entered the big dye vat, any kind of good people would become filthy.

Before entering the brothel, many women will sign a contract with the procuress of the brothel, which is commonly known as a contract of sale.

Contracts were very important in ancient times, unlike modern times where there is no contract spirit.

In this contract, it will be strictly stated whether you are a noble or a red lady. If you sign a contract of sale for a red lady, then you will not be able to pretend to be noble at that time.

But if you signed a contract of prostitution for a nobleman, if the time comes and you don't want to, and the old bustard comes to force you, then I'm sorry, let the government see you.

Therefore, selling one's body is an important means for brothel women to protect their own rights and interests, and of course it is also a reasonable means to raise their own social status.

The main purpose of the Qing people coming here is naturally to sell at a high price.

If the price offered by the buyer reaches their expected price, then the Qing Dynasty's grooming right is yours.

What is combing?That is to say, it was the first time that the Qing people came out to pick up guests and stay with them.

From then on, there are two options for the Qing Dynasty. One is to let the comber spend a lot of money to buy you out completely, that is, to take you home.

Of course, there is another one, which is to transform into a red lady.

Because after the first pick-up, if the groomer can't be taken home by the comber, he will lose his original value, and his worth will plummet. , is a difficult matter.

Naturally, Xu Bangrui would not take Wei Guangde to see the Red Lady, as this did not match his identity.

In fact, for a nobleman from a wealthy family like Xu Bangrui, the pure gentleman is the goal they are chasing.

Whether it's Xu Bangrui or Wei Guangde, naturally they won't spend a lot of money to buy such a nobleman to go home, just play and have fun every time.

Listening to beautiful women playing the piano to accompany them to drink and chat, Wei Guangde's trip to Qinhuai came to an end.

After staying in Nanjing for a few days, Wei Guangde was about to leave. Xu Bangrui found a boat for him and went back directly to Jiujiang. For Wei Guogong's mansion, this couldn't be easier.

(End of this chapter)