Chapter 126 Lantern Festival
After passing the Moon Gate, you will see a marble screen wall in front of you, and your view will become wider as you turn around.
It is still chilly in spring, and the wide water surface is in full view. The smooth and exquisite blue brick water bridge is about two meters wide, winding from the photo pavilion on one side to the corner of the rockery opposite.
Every step on the left and right sides of the water bridge, there are two rows of lanterns hanging opposite each other.
Lanterns were hung not only on the water bridge, but also on the trees and the corridors on both sides, and the entire West Garden was full of them.
Although it was night, everything was brightly lit, making it look particularly lively and festive.
Ji Yunqing noticed that there were already quite a few lantern stalls, embroidery stalls, rouge and powder stalls, and even sundry goods stalls on the corridors on both sides, which were filled with all kinds of strange and weird gadgets.
Many servants who were not on duty had happily gone over to join in the fun and take part in this rare and relaxing light show.
At this time, Ruyi, the little maid in their yard, had already quickly asked the people who set up the stalls here.
"Master, the stalls here are all set up by the servants in the mansion, but the food stalls are not here, let's go forward and have a look."
Fine
Ji Yunqing continued walking, and by the time they passed through the busy corridor, everyone had bought a lantern and was holding it in their hands.
Maybe he just wanted to have fun. The lanterns were simple in design and not expensive. The Jade Rabbit Pounding Medicine Lantern that Ji Yunqing bought only cost twenty cents, and there were even cheaper ones.
Seeing a mask stall, Ji Yunqing went up and bought a rabbit mask. His long ears stood up alertly. Because it was made of soft cloth, it looked furry and was shaking.
After turning a few more corners, the view became wider and the atmosphere suddenly became lively.
Originally this was an open space, a great place to view flowers, enjoy the scenery, drink tea and chat, but now there are many food stalls here.
There were several people selling dumplings, from the most common peanut dumplings and sesame dumplings to brown sugar dumplings and meat-filled dumplings, all round and plump floating in the steaming pot.
There are also dumplings of various colors and flavors. Ji Yunqing couldn't help but buy a bowl of colorful dumplings.
There are seven big dumplings in the white porcelain bowl, each with a different color and flavor.
Next there are molasses cakes, stuffed lotus roots, lychee paste, apricot slices, plum ginger, fried chestnuts, drunken crabs, rice... and many other famous and unknown foods.
The servants of Osmanthus Courtyard also found a place and set up their stalls.
As soon as it was set up, the person in charge came forward.
I recorded all the information about the name, stall address, number of people, and items sold, and then put a wooden sign on the stall, reminding them not to move the stall at will, and then left.
As he had just arrived, Ji Yunqing was in high spirits. He stood in front of the stall, watching it set up and everything go on track.
Next, everyone will taste the food and be amazed, with tears in their eyes, and quickly buy up everything on the stall, so that she can make a fortune and reach the peak of her life...
The actual situation was that after displaying the items for half an hour, only two little maids came to buy.
It can be considered as opened.
"fine"
Ji Yunqing comforted the frustrated crowd: "Don't worry, sell what you can, eat what you want, we are not setting up stalls, we are just having fun."
Seeing that the others were still not in high spirits, Ji Yunqing thought for a moment and said, "Just leave two people here to watch over the stall. This is a rare opportunity. You guys can go in line after get off work. If others want to go and buy something, they can go!"
Everyone was already familiar with the shift arrangements, and soon, Ruyi and Hongdou were chosen to stay, while the others went out to play, and someone else would take over after half an hour.
Seeing that there was nothing to do, Ji Yunqing wanted to go for a walk.
As a result, before I had taken a few steps, I heard a critical voice.
"What are you selling? It looks so bland, can it be delicious?"
Finally, a customer came. Ruyi greeted him with a smile: "Miss, this food is called Malatang. It's delicious. Would you like to try it?"
"Do not"
The girl leaned over to take a look at the dishes, pouted her lips in disgust, turned around and walked to the other side with her maid.
There was also a new stall there. It was selling noodles, so the girl and her maid walked to the other side and sat behind the stall with a lack of interest.
Immediately, several maids came over to serve her, and even the people who were busy at the stalls left their stalls to serve the girl.
It turned out to be the owner of another stall.
Seeing this strange master and servant, Ji Yunqing didn't recognize them at all: "Are these not from our house?"
Could it be that what Hemerocallis heard was true?
Did the mansion really invite people from other mansions?
Is there really anyone willing to come?
But these have nothing to do with her now. Ji Yunqing thought that whether it rains or the prince sells his ditch, it is none of her business.
Xuancao shook her head: "Master, I don't know him either. He should be the guest of the mansion tonight."
This was just a small episode. Ji Yunqing continued to move forward. It was her first time to come to the West Garden of Prince Zhao's Mansion. The place was large and the scenery was beautiful. She must walk around and take a look to make it worthwhile.
At this moment, Ruirui, seeing the excitement, became restless.
He cried "ah ah" and fluttered his little hands and feet, insisting that his mother hold him.
Ji Yunqing didn't want to hug him, and said disdainfully: "You are too heavy, kid. I didn't ask you to walk on the ground, and I even found someone to hold you. It's good enough. Why are you making a fuss?"
Ruirui opened his mouth slightly, with crystal saliva dripping from the corners of his mouth. He was still smiling at his mother, completely unaware that he was being disliked.
Everyone looked at the master who had no intention of hugging the child, and then looked at the pitiful little master who wanted to be hugged, and they were immediately heartbroken.
Look how well behaved their little masters are!
Nanny An has always been partial to the young master. She was the first to say, "Master, the young master can't walk yet." What should he do if he doesn't ask someone to hold him?
“No, no, just hold it tight.” Ji Yunqing threw his hands and flew away like a shopkeeper.
Anyway, we have the conditions.
"This little guy looks so pitiful, girl, just hug him."
A deep and pleasant voice sounded.
Ji Yunqing looked over and, with the help of the surrounding lights, discovered that this was a very handsome man.
His appearance is somewhat similar to King Zhao, but the difference is that King Zhao is handsome, with a face as white as jade, while the man in front of him can be said to have a face as beautiful as a woman.
"Excuse me, who is this gentleman...?"
Hearing Ji Yunqing's question, the man chuckled.
The originally delicate face became even more charming, and the pair of fox eyes seemed to have hooks, and everyone he looked at seemed to be seducing.
"I am an invited guest. It would be rude of me to disturb you without any hesitation."
"It's okay, it's okay, no offense"
Ji Yunqing shook his head and suddenly thought of something: "If everything is fine, I'll leave first."
The man was a little caught off guard as he didn't expect the other party to walk so fast: "Hey, where are you going, girl?"
"I'm just taking a walk and want to try to guess the riddles," Ji Yunqing answered casually.
Unexpectedly, the other party did not leave, but smiled brightly at Ji Yunqing and said, "It just so happens that I have nothing to do, why not go with you."
What is this person going to do with me?
Ji Yunqing's face suddenly became alert, and his tone was a little puzzled: "Wait, sir, do you know who I am?" Why do I feel like this guy has ulterior motives?
Unexpectedly, the man blinked and said: "Does the girl's status matter? I'm not here to make friends based on status."
"That's true," Ji Yunqing nodded in agreement, and asked, "What is your identity, sir?"
Ok?
Didn’t we agree that identity is not important?
The man really didn't expect her to ask this. After a moment's hesitation, he confidently smiled and said, "As for my identity, you may as well make a bold guess."
Okay, okay, if you play like this...
Ji Yunqing also became interested. He stroked his chin and looked up and down at the man in front of him.
She hesitated for a moment and said, "Today is the lantern exhibition held in Prince Zhao's Mansion..."
"The girl is right"
"That young master must be a guest invited by Prince Zhao's Palace!"
The man smiled and praised: "The girl is really smart!"
Now that the other party said this, he saved himself the trouble of rashly revealing his identity.
The man had a reserved smile on his lips.
Third brother, I'm afraid you're going to be cuckolded again.
My eyes swept across Ji Yunqing's simple, beautiful, soft and comfortable face. Well, it was also a beautiful green hat!
At this time, Ji Yunqing clapped his hands, and the loud sound of applause instantly attracted the attention of many people.
Everyone looked towards the group of people standing in the corner.
Especially the handsome men and beautiful women standing in the crowd.
I saw the woman put on a rabbit mask on her face. I couldn't see her appearance clearly, but I felt that she had a slim and attractive figure.
But the man saw it clearly. The servants who were allowed to come in and set up stalls here were naturally not stupid people. They had also seen the appearance of their own prince. At a glance, they knew that this man was probably a prince.
I just don't know which rank it is.
Everyone had their own guesses in their minds, could this be a love story?
The next moment, the pretty girl who slapped him said in an excited and unstable voice: "You dress so ostentatiously, are you trying to attract someone's attention?"
"right"
The man was about to say in his pleasant voice: Before coming here, I just wanted to dress up better, but I didn't know why. After I met the girl, I understood everything.
No matter how old a woman is, she can hardly escape the temptation of sweet words.
What's more, his third brother has never been kind to women, which is more conducive to his plan.
It’s just that there are more people now, which makes it a bit troublesome.
But it’s not a big problem.
Confirming his guess, Ji Yunqing straightened his back a little: "I understand, you want to be Prince Zhao's new love, right? Or do you like the prince?
Anyway, no matter what, you tried to establish a good relationship with me right from the start, there must be a reason for this."
She made the final decision: "You want to enter Prince Zhao's mansion, become a male concubine and compete for favor, and reach the pinnacle of life!"
Everyone's eyes widened a little: "...Ah?"
The man paused, as it was the first time he heard such a statement, and he was quite shocked.
He didn't understand how he came to this conclusion.
The processes are pretty much the same, so why are the results so different?
After a long while, the man finally found his voice.
"Girl, look at me carefully"
Aren't you a concubine of Prince Zhao? Take a good look at my appearance.
“No need to look.” Ji Yunqing waved his hand confidently. “In fact, I have noticed that you look familiar. I must have asked about it on purpose. No wonder you are so confident.”
"…I am a man."
"I know, a male concubine!"
She thought to herself, I had only known about it from books before, but this time I could finally see with my own eyes how much the ancients played with it.
Tsk!
At this time, the woman who was originally sitting behind the noodle stall and being served leisurely by the maids suddenly stood up and rushed forward.
A clear and bright voice sounded: "You are actually trying to seduce King Zhao?"
Perhaps the man had never been accused of dirty talk before, so he looked extremely angry at this moment, and even his hands hidden in his sleeves were clenched tightly.
"How is that possible? I am King Lie, the fourth child. King Zhao is my third brother." He spoke word by word, gritting his teeth.
When he revealed his identity, the face hidden behind the rabbit mask laughed, but it was blocked by the mask so no one could see it.
Ji Yunqing laughed for a while before he recovered.
He was dressed like a colorful peacock, and he knew she had a child right away, and he tried to seduce her intentionally or unintentionally. There must be something wrong with this man, so it's no wonder she said that.
As the other party just finished speaking, Ji Yunqing "exclaimed": "King Lie?"
She was panicked and subconsciously stopped him: "King Lie, please don't do that. He's your third brother. You can't be together."
After saying that, she turned and left without stopping.
After all, it was late at night, and no matter how bright the lanterns were, there were places that could not be illuminated, so soon, the group disappeared from everyone's sight.
The man, King Lie, stood there and laughed angrily.
This woman of the third brother is very good, he has made note of her!
The girl was still standing there. She was not stupid. Seeing that King Lie was in a bad mood, she quickly slipped away.
I had originally planned to see if I could join in on the seduction of King Zhao, but now my hopes have been dashed and I have to figure out a way on my own.
Ugh!
But this place is so big, where can we find King Zhao?
Ji Yunqing walked away quickly and came to another brightly lit place.
There are also lanterns on display here, but the lanterns on the stalls at the entrance are just simple ones, while the lanterns here are more intricate and more beautiful.
However, correspondingly, the price of lanterns here is also higher.
Even the simplest lotus lantern costs one or two taels of silver.
It looks quite refined.
Ji Yunqing looked at the Jade Rabbit Pounding Medicine Lantern in his hand and felt that this lantern, which cost only twenty cents, was already pretty enough.
However, there is another way to get lanterns here, which is to guess riddles.
Ji Yunqing thought that even if she was not very good, she would definitely be able to guess a few.
So I found a small stall nearby where only four or five customers were staying.
In the gaze of everyone, he proudly won a moon lantern.
She looked at the little guy in her arms with confidence: "Rui Rui, which one do you like? I'll go win it for you!"
Although his mother often despised him and was unwilling to hug him, Ruirui chose a lantern out of respect.
It cried "Aoaoao" and fluttered its little body in one direction. It was obvious that it had taken a liking to the lanterns over there.
Ji Yunqing looked in the direction he pointed with a smile on his face, but then his smile faded.
I saw a two-meter-tall, colorful, majestic and magnificent lion dance lantern standing there!
If you look closely, even the lion's hair is clearly visible.
It was the most spectacular lantern on the venue, and also the one that could take away five thousand taels of silver.