Value peace

Chapter 20

Xiaguo is an ancient agricultural empire, based on agriculture, the traditional festivals of spring and autumn, which symbolize planting and harvest, have become very important and meaningful.

The Spring Festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year. It marks the end of the severe cold and the beginning of spring. From this day on, the earth recovers, everything grows, and the season of sowing comes.Three days before the Spring Festival, the emperor began to fast, and on the day of welcoming the spring, he would personally lead the princes of the three lords and nine ministers to the Hall of Prayer for Harvests to pray for good weather throughout the year.

But among the folks, the Qiuxi Festival on August [-] is more popular.In the era of fire and slash farming, Qiuxi represents a good harvest. Only when there is a good harvest can everyone survive the long cold winter and continue to survive.So whenever the Qiuxi Festival comes, everyone will celebrate it, and this is also the last opportunity for the clan to get together before the cold winter.This day is also the birthday of the Luna Empress, who is in charge of fertility and marriage. Every family will set up incense tables and place offerings to celebrate the Luna Empress’ birthday, hoping that it can protect the prosperity of the family members, safety, smoothness, and prosperity.At this time of year, the government will organize a lantern show, and some jugglers will also perform traditional programs such as fire dragon dance, lotus picking boat, and pagoda building in the market. Usually, some gentry ladies who don't go out of the door will put down their reserve and go out to play, watch the lanterns and enjoy the moon like the girls from poor families.On this day, it is also popular to write your wishes on the lanterns and go to the river to release sky lanterns, praying for a good marriage with the goddess of the moon. Married women also like to release sky lanterns, hoping that the goddess of the moon can Seeing my prayers, bless a happy marriage life or give birth to male heirs to spread the branches and leaves for the husband's family... Of course, this is also a good opportunity for talented men and beautiful women to meet by chance, thus leading to many good marriages.There is a widely spread drama "Huating Pavilion" which was created based on this.

All in all, it's a carnival show.

These are all what Gu Xiyan saw in the book "Evening Chats in Lvxuan".

The current Xizhao Dynasty is a bit like the middle of the Ming Dynasty in history. Although commercial trade was active, under the influence of traditional concepts and the restrictions imposed by the ruler, the status and status of merchants did not receive due respect. They were strictly controlled. Hierarchy restrictions.They are usually not qualified to attend or participate in the Spring Festival. In this way, the Spring Festival Eve, which is celebrated by everyone regardless of men, women, old and young, has gradually become a good opportunity for merchants with huge sums of money to show off their capital.They often organize lantern festivals or juggling troupes in the name of the family to expand their reputation.So even though there are still [-] days before the Spring Festival, the maids and mothers at home are all talking about this year's performances on the night of the Spring Festival, talking about who's lanterns are the most exotic last year, and whose juggling team is the best Look, what kind of clothing was popular in the Spring Festival last year, what kind of clothing may be popular this year, etc... Gu's mansion has also started to clean up, hanging lanterns, and arranging sacrifices to worship the Moon Goddess. The maids and mothers in the house also began to receive autumn clothes for the Qiuxi Festival one after another.

Gu Xiyan could already feel the atmosphere of the Qiuxi Festival strongly.

Nanny Song came to discuss the matter of Duanniang Gu Xiyan Qiushang in person: "...Master spent 1000 taels of silver just to buy Huanling in the first half of the year, which is really stretched... There is also a four seasons bouquet in the curry The gauze is a tribute from the year before last, do you think it will work?"

Duanniang was really surprised when she heard that, she didn't expect that life in Gu's mansion had become like this, she couldn't help asking: "A little boy, why did he spend 1000 taels of silver? This is too..."

A trace of unnaturalness flashed across Nanny Song's expression, and she quickly changed the subject: "I heard from Liu Er that the girl has been reading for the past few days, hasn't she taken a break?"

Duanniang smiled and said: "The girl is getting older, she can sit still more than when she was a child, and she looks more like a girl."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and Nanny Song left.

Gu Xiyan also listened to a few words in the room, and kept stroking the book and meditating.

Duanniang entered the room, saw Gu Xiyan was leaning on the big couch by the window in a daze, then walked out lightly.

Gu Xiyan turned the pages of the book again, and there was a small note with a few short words written in it, "Dusk, Rongyuezhai Forest".It was sent by Deacon Ding's boy.

Do you want to take someone with you?After all, in ancient times, what was important was that men and women could not be taught clearly, in case...

After dinner, Gu Xiyan decided to go alone.

In this world, how can there be so many tricks and ghosts.

She told Hengyue: "I'll go for a walk outside."

Hengyue and the others had to wait for Gu Xiyan to finish eating before starting to eat. Hearing what Gu Xiyan said, Hengyue immediately put down the bowl and wanted to go with her. Gu Xiyan smiled and said: "I just walked around in the inner courtyard. It’s still going to be lost.”

She walked out of Wuyuan Garden, walked slowly into the woods beside the tree, and when she reached the corner gate, it was indeed ajar.

Gu Xiyan smiled coldly.

It seems that it is not difficult to open these corner doors of the Gu family!
After leaving the corner gate, there was a tall person standing on the path, it was Deacon Ding.

When he heard the noise, he turned around and saw Gu Xiyan, and immediately stepped forward and saluted respectfully: "I don't know what the girl wants from me?"

Gu Xiyan asked straight to the point: "You often walk around outside and talk about what you have heard about the current royal family."

Deacon Ding's face changed slightly, and he asked in a cautious tone: "The rumors in the market are mostly inconsistent..."

Gu Xiyan interrupted him: "I'm not going to write a biography, why do I want it to be so consistent? You just say it."

Deacon Ding hesitated for a while and asked, "I don't know what the girl wants to ask?"

Gu Xiyan asked: "How many princes are there in the current emperor? How old are they all? Have you married a princess?..."

Deacon Ding was silent for a long while before answering one by one softly.

The conversation between the two lasted for about ten minutes, and Deacon Ding's heart sank.

It seems that there may be some news from the palace, and the girl wants to know about the situation.

Thinking about it this way, the conversation between the two of them became easier.

While the two were talking happily, there was a sound of breaking branches and leaves in the woods.

Gu Xiyan and Deacon Ding looked at each other in blank dismay, the two of them stopped talking in a very tacit understanding, nodded at each other, and then dispersed.

Gu Xiyan had just walked a few steps when she heard a low begging for mercy, the voice was distressed and sad, as if she had heard it somewhere.

She couldn't help looking around curiously, and found a pair of white tender feet protruding from a bush not far away, and it was climbing towards the sky.

Gu Xiyan hesitated for a moment, then quickly walked towards the corner door.

Who knows what it is?Sometimes I pretend not to know, but when we meet each other, we still have a three-pointed love, and when we sit down face to face, we can only force everyone to tear their faces to make a decision...

Back in the house, Gu Xiyan quickly put the matter behind her, lying on the bed and carefully sorting out Deacon Ding's words in her mind.

The No.11 monarch of the Xizhao Dynasty, Yang Tao, is 44 years old today. He is the only son of the empress dowager Fang and the first emperor, so he ascended the throne without any objection.According to the rules of the Xizhao Dynasty, the harem is equipped with 1 queen, 4 concubines, 6 concubines, 9 Jieyu, 18 Baolin, 36 beauties, and several candidates. However, none of Xizhao's previous monarchs will This quota is filled, and the current emperor is no exception.He has 1 Empress Li, who was married by the daughter of Feng Guogong, 2 concubines Wang and Gu, Gu is Gu Chaorong, Wang is the aunt and niece of the Empress Dowager Fang; , is Gu Xiyan's mother's cousin, or Gu Xiyan's aunt; a beauty named Wu, who was the emperor's female official when he was the prince, a girl from the Wu family in Huzhou, Jiangnan, and several other candidates.Among Xizhao's successive monarchs, there are neither many nor few.He has five sons, three daughters, and no crown prince yet.Among them, the eldest son was born to Wu Meiren, the second son and eldest daughter were born to Concubine Lian, the third son, fourth son and second daughter were all born to Xianfei Wang, the imperial concubine Gu had no children, and the youngest son and Daughters are all born to queens.Among the five sons, the eldest, second and third sons all married the princess. The eldest son gave birth to 1 sons, the second son gave birth to 1 son, the third son gave birth to 3 sons, and the fourth son was engaged to the daughter of Liang Guogong Zheng Pengfei last year. , the wedding is scheduled for next spring...

Choose concubine?Who to choose, the emperor or the fifth prince?

Gu Xiyan thought about it.

So what is Gu Chaorong who married the emperor?No wonder the most filthy place in the world is the imperial palace... She couldn't help curling her lips.

In the next few days, Gu Xiyan immersed herself in memorizing the book "Enlightenment of Sound and Rhythm". She set a timetable and must memorize this book before going to Cui Baoyi's class.

Soon, Gu Xiyan's clothes for the Autumn Eve Festival came, white bosom wrapping, sapphire blue high skirt stretched to the ground, and bunches of flowers were neatly scattered on the pomegranate skirt, and the flowers were outlined with gold and silver thread. There are honeysuckle flowers, lilies, lotus flowers, pomegranate flowers and peonies with complicated patterns, which are very beautiful.

Duanniang looked at the skirt but sighed, everyone's expressions were not good, none of them showed the excitement of ordinary girls when they saw the new clothes.

Gu Xiyan was a little strange, she took the skirt in her hand and looked left and right for a long time, but she didn't find any problems.When it was time to go to bed at night, Gu Xiyan pretended to accidentally ask about Mo Ju, who was sleeping with her, and Mo Ju told her angrily: "The clothes for the Qiuxi Festival are exquisite, and girls who have not left the court have to wear flowers. Floor-to-ceiling fancy skirts, tell others that this is a girl's house. Girls, this skirt is not in compliance with the rules."

Gu Xiyan asked: "Is it very unruly?"

Mo Ju hesitated: "Not all of them. Only those poor families who can't afford new dresses will wear each other..." At this point, she felt a slip of the tongue again, and hurriedly changed the subject, "Why don't girls wear them that day? Shuzhou brought that silky sand that never falls to the ground." Then, she buried her head in the closet and took out the skirt.

Gu Xiyan only felt that there was a flower in front of her eyes, it really did not fall to the ground, there was no gap, not a single leaf, all of them were hand-embroidered big and big flowers, colorful and in different shapes, like a sunset, like a draped silk, in the faint Under the bright lights, there is a gorgeous brilliance, showing a luxurious beauty.Mo Ju said happily: "Miss, let's wear this one!"

Gu Xiyan caressed the uneven embroidery pattern on the skirt, and muttered: "Put it away, and wear the one given by Madam."

Mo Ju lost her voice: "Second Miss..."

Gu Xiyan smiled and insisted: "That's it."

Mo Ju put away her skirt with a gloomy expression, and when she looked back, Gu Xiyan squinted her eyes, as if she had fallen asleep.She softly called "Second Miss", but Gu Xiyan didn't move, and Mo Ju walked out lightly.

Gu Xiyan slightly opened her eyes when she heard Mo Ju's footsteps going out, and stared at the blue and white plum vase in the room in a daze.

(End of this chapter)