Chapter 304 Unexpected Discovery
Chapter 304 Unexpected Discovery
The fourteenth day of the first lunar month is the first day of viewing lanterns. The city of Chang'an begins to become lively at night. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the climax of the Lantern Festival officially arrives.
The people who visited the lanterns yesterday continued to come out tonight to visit the lanterns. Those who did not go out yesterday also came out tonight. The officials and dignitaries basically came out on the fifteenth night of the first lunar month.
As the emperor was in poor health, the lantern festival in the imperial palace was cancelled, but the palace maids and eunuchs were allowed to leave the imperial city to watch the lanterns and have fun with the people.
The four major lantern viewing belts also have their own characteristics. The lanterns on Zhuque Street are simple in shape, but they are large in number and scale, with huge crowds of people, making it very lively.
There are many large lanterns on Chunmingmen Street, especially in front of Suzaku Gate, where there are more than a dozen lighthouses and lamp towers, which are even more spectacular.
The square in front of the city is mainly densely populated with food stalls. When you are tired, you can rest and eat here. It is very popular among ordinary people.
The finest lanterns are mainly concentrated in Pingkangfang. More than 400 fine lanterns made by various wealthy families and shops are competing for splendor in Pingkangfang. In addition, the courtesans from various brothels are also competing for beauty.
All the restaurants and brothels were hung with colorful lanterns, shining brightly and colorfully.
Similarly, the restaurants and brothels in Pingkangfang were open all night, with singing and dancing, attracting huge crowds of people.
Most of the dignitaries and dignitaries gathered in Pingkangfang to watch the lanterns. The elegant rooms facing the street in all the major restaurants were fully booked a month in advance, and the Baiyu Hall in Wencui Restaurant had also been booked by Xiao Xia a long time ago.
Yang Zhao's family of four included Princess Cui, the two Lius, Yang Feiyan, Xiao Zhurong, the Cui sisters, and Xiaoqing and Achu were also called.
The large table in Baiyu Hall was filled with various desserts, snacks, hot tea and warm wine.
Yang Feiyan, Xiao Zhurong, Cui Mei and A Chu stood on the terrace, taking turns to look down with great interest using Xiao Xia's clairvoyance.
Yang Zhao was obese and would easily feel sleepy once he sat down. He was curled up in the corner of the couch, taking a nap, covered with a thick blanket.
Cui Yu was sitting beside Xiao Qing and talking in low voices. She was asking about Zhang Qiao. It was only at this moment that she knew that her lover had a junior sister.
"Miss, please don't ask. I don't know exactly how she was injured. The master refused to tell us and didn't allow us to ask. Her aunt is also dead. When she was brought here, her body was full of arrows and there were five or six arrows stuck in her head. It was really tragic."
At this time, Yang Zhao suddenly sat up and said, "I know what happened. Don't talk about it anymore. It will bring big trouble to your son."
Xiaoqing lowered her head and stopped talking. Cui Yu also nodded and stopped asking questions.
Of course Yang Zhao knew what was going on. The assassination of Yuwen Shu shocked the court and the whole country. Everyone, from top to bottom, kept it a secret from the emperor and no one dared to say more about it.
Unexpectedly, it was related to the third brother, which made Yang Zhao feel a headache. If the news leaked out, the third brother would be in big trouble.
"Xiaoqing, when will your master come?"
"He said he would come over in the evening, but I don't know when he will come."
Just then, footsteps were heard outside, and the maid could be heard saying faintly, "Hello, Master!"
Xiao Xia arrived. Everyone stood up and walked into the room with a smile. "Sorry to have kept you waiting!"
Xiao Qing stepped forward and took off Xiao Xia's outer robe. Xiao Xia sat down in front of the brazier and warmed himself by the fire. Cui Yu asked with concern, "Xia Lang, you haven't had dinner yet, right?"
"Not yet! I just came from Liren City. There were two gangs of scoundrels fighting over there. We arrested more than 30 people and were busy for more than half an hour."
Yang Zhao quickly ordered the maid, "Hurry up and bring the wine and food!"
Xiao Xia added: "Another plate of buns!"
He just saw a long queue of people downstairs buying buns. Now that Tianxianglou's buns are becoming more and more famous, many restaurants have also launched imitations, but none of them can compare to Tianxianglou's buns.
Tianxianglou has hired more than a hundred people to make buns, developed more than a dozen varieties, and opened twelve branches in Chang'an. The branches of Wencui Restaurant are also selling them, but the demand still exceeds the supply, and there are long queues every day.
With its thin skin, large fillings, delicious taste and low price, it is deeply loved by the people of Chang'an. Many powerful families would send servants to buy semi-finished products, hundreds of them at a time, and take them back to steam and eat themselves.
The net profit in December last year was 1,300 guan. Although it is only mid-January now, the net profit has exceeded 1,000 guan. This month's net profit is estimated to reach 2,000 guan.
Chen got half of the share, and she also became rich.
Soon, the maid brought wine, food and a plate of hot buns.
"I'll have one too!"
Yang Zhao looked at it greedily, grabbed a bun and stuffed it into his mouth, and told the maid, "Bring another plate!"
Yang Zhao also loved Tianxianglou's mutton and scallion buns very much. Wanhuhou Restaurant sent them to him specially, fifty of them every morning, and they became their family's breakfast.
After finishing dinner quickly, Cui Yu handed Xiao Xia a cup of hot tea and sat down next to him.
"Where did Xia Lang spend the Lantern Festival last year?"
"Let me think about it!"
Xiao Xia scratched his head and smiled, "It seems to be in Hexi, yes! It was in the Hexi Corridor, Zhangye County. I remember that night, the Tuyuhun people came to attack Zhangye City, and all the lit lanterns were blown out for fear of being hit by arrows and causing a fire." Yang Zhao smiled and said, "Third brother, do you still remember that you were writing poems in the palace on the Lantern Festival two years ago?"
"How could I not remember? Two years have passed in a flash."
"What on earth did you write that made the emperor like it so much? Let us see it!"
"It's just two poems. Lady Chen likes them very much."
Yang Zhao added: "You promised to write it to me, but you didn't!"
Cui Yu also pushed Xiao Xia and said with a smile: "Write it out for me to appreciate!"
"Okay! Since everyone is so supportive, I will write a song for everyone to enjoy."
Xiao Xia stood up and walked to the desk, where there were ready-made pens, ink and paper. Xiao Xia spread out a piece of paper and started writing.
Qingyu Case. Lantern Festival
The east wind leaves thousands of trees at night, blowing down, and the stars are like rain.BMW engraved cars on the road.The phoenix flute sounded, the jade pot turned light, and the fish and dragon danced overnight.
The moth's snow willow is golden, and the laughter is gone. The crowd searched for him and looked back, but the man was there, in a dim light.
Yang Zhao applauded enthusiastically, "What a wonderful line, 'I searched for him among the crowd for hundreds of times, and when I turned around, I found him, in the dimly lit place.' It's really wonderful!"
A strange light flashed in Cui Yu's beautiful eyes, and she was amazed.
Cui Yu hurriedly said, "Xia Lang, give me this calligraphy!"
"Okay! I'll write another one for you, brother."
At this time, Yang Feiyan said anxiously: "Old Three, there is still me!"
"Don't worry, we have them all!"
Xiao Xia wrote two more pieces in one breath, but he didn't want to write "A River of Spring Water" because it was too sad and didn't fit the atmosphere of the night.
Everyone got a painting and was extremely happy. They took it aside to admire it.
At this moment, Cui Mei came running over with her clairvoyance and said, "Sister, guess who I saw!"
"How can I guess? Tell me!"
"Yuan Lin and Yang Yan are together, so affectionate!"
Yang Zhao was stunned, "Who is Yang Yan with?"
"Yuan Lin! General Yuan's granddaughter."
"Nonsense, Yang Yan has a wife, how could he be hanging out with Yuan Lin?"
Cui Mei pouted and said, "I clearly saw it!"
Xiao Xia was a little interested, so he smiled and said, "Take me to see it!"
"Brother Xiao, follow me!"
Xiao Xia followed Cui Mei to the stands. Cui Mei pointed to a stand about fifty steps away diagonally opposite and asked, "Are those the two people sitting together in the room?"
Xiao Xia instantly entered the state of breaking obstacles. He did not need a clairvoyance. With his eagle-like eyesight, he could see clearly at a glance the restaurant diagonally opposite, which was called Hanju Restaurant. In the elegant room on the third floor, a man and a woman were hugging and kissing each other. Xiao Xia saw clearly that it was indeed Yang Yan and Yuan Lin. What surprised Xiao Xia even more was that Yuan Lin's belly was bulging, as if she was pregnant.
At this time, Yang Zhao came over and used his clairvoyance to look for a moment, then slapped his thigh and said, "This is terrible, something big is going to happen, Yuan Lin is actually pregnant!"
Xiao Xia quickly said to Ah Chu, "Go to the first floor. Sun Lei is eating there. Find him for me!"
Ah Chu agreed and ran away.
Sun Lei and several of his men are responsible for protecting the safety of the Cui sisters tonight. Originally, Li Luming should have been in charge, but Li Luming escorted Zhang Qiao to Bashu.
Soon, Sun Lei came hurriedly. Xiao Xia took him to the stands and pointed at Yang Yan who was across the street and said, "He is the eldest grandson of the emperor, Yang Yan. He must have another lair outside. You take a few brothers to follow him. Miss Cui, I will take them back."
"I understand the humble position!"
Sun Lei bowed and left in a hurry.
(End of this chapter)