Chapter 16 first quarter
On the eve of the Lantern Festival, Liu Qi announced to his family the results of his activities outside the past three days, including a meeting with His Majesty at the Jin Palace, and he was not found during his two visits to Ma Kuo.In order to comfort the disappointment of the female relatives, he promised to find him in the Zhengshitang after the Lantern Festival.
Liu Kai's announcement aroused different and strong reactions among the members of the family.
Mrs. Liu Kai is someone who is used to seeing big scenes. She has participated in many banquets given by the inner court, and she doesn't care about going to Fengle Building to entertain guests.Not only did she not take going to Fengle Tower as a rarity, but she especially liked to squeeze among ordinary people to enjoy lanterns.To be honest, less than half of the people in Tokyo watch lanterns for the real purpose of viewing lanterns, and more than half do so for the sake of viewing lanterns. To fully meet the latter requirement, the few familiar faces among their class have long been tired of seeing. Just squeeze in among the common people.But the pavilion of Fengle Building where they will go to view the lanterns tomorrow was taken from Gao Lian by special order, which is of great significance.
In addition to the special hatred for this boss that Mrs. Liu Kai felt from her husband, she also felt the general hatred of Gao Lian from the citizens of Tokyo.The powerful group is completely isolated among the masses of the people. They only rely on a gossamer hanging from the sky to suspend them in mid-air, and dominate the world. Once the silk is broken, they are in danger of being smashed to pieces.Mrs. Liu Qi had long heard that Gao Li had booked ten pavilions facing the street in Fengle Building, and was planning to hold several family carnivals in a row, including Qingke, bamboo strips, thugs, and prostitutes. This news caused Tokyo citizens to be abnormal. Everyone looked sideways at him, but he couldn't help it.Now the officials personally ordered him to give up a pavilion, but they didn't make a whole number for him.This small punishment, for Gao Qiu who can only rely on the favor of the officials as his capital for domineering, is nothing more than a slap in the face.Maybe this is still a signal, maybe Gao Lian will fall out of favor in front of the officials from now on.There is nothing more exciting in the world than this!No wonder Mrs. Liu Kai was so excited that she couldn't sleep all night like a child when she first heard the news, looking forward to tomorrow's feast.
Yan Niang listened very carefully to the experience of Brother Liu Kai’s two visits to the Banjing Pavilion for interrogation. She understood that if she misheard a sentence or missed a sentence, she would not be corrected or supplemented. It is impossible for her to make such a request to her sister who is already very familiar with her, even to her father.Each of them also understood that she had no right to ask any questions about him.Social conditions limit her.
But the words Liu Kai added to comfort her were rather superfluous to her.She was in such a contradictory state of mind that she hoped that brother Liu Qi could find him sooner, but was also afraid that they would meet immediately.She was not only afraid that if they met, if it would bring her any unfavorable and unexpected news, she was even more afraid that if they met, they would advance the matter to a specific stage, which would leave her a lot of room for free thinking. limited.She was afraid that the real marriage would destroy the childhood encounter that was so deeply in her memory and still haunted her every day.That memory was sacred, and she wished to keep it as long as possible.
As mentioned above, Zhao Long has always been known as "Gong Bi" in the Western Army. He believes that it is his bounden duty to correct other people's mistakes and make them conform to the interests of the entire army.Now he has expanded the scope of use of this bow and bi, not only to correct the mistakes made by soldiers, generals, and commanders in the army, but also to correct the mistakes made by the prime minister and the court in the decision-making of the Liao Dynasty.His self-confidence and worry about the future made him forget the necessary caution, and even forgot a strict precept of the Northern Song court: it is strictly forbidden for soldiers to interfere with Miaomo.
In addition to entrusting Liu Qizou to invite the saint in person so that he can state his views when the performance is right, he also went out to visit several old families in the past few days.They were all related to the Western Army and were transferred to Tokyo to serve.These old friends were keenly aware of his character and received him warmly, but after a few words, they were amazed that although he came to Tokyo, he still retained that non-Tokyo stubbornness and stubbornness.These two things are not considered virtues even on the foreign roads, but they are two crimes in the official circles of Tokyo.They hinted to him that Tokyo is the hub of chariots, and Dazai and Taishi are all very popular figures, so he must be careful in what he says and does, and don't have a little meng lang.
The last family he visited was Liu Wei, a direct scholar of Shugudian.It so happened that his son, Liu Ziyu, who was appointed by the Eastern Bureau of Zhejiang Province, was also at home that day. Liu Ziyu was repatriated to Tokyo in order to find an opportunity to serve in the front line.
Liu Fan had served as a senior councilor in the Western Army, worked with Zhao Long in the Xihe Army for many years, and was one of the few civilian officials that Zhao Long respected.This time, the government's imperial edict to Zhong Shidao also clearly designated him to attend the Taiyuan meeting together, and Zhao Long knew this.But he didn't know that Liu Fan was also an enthusiastic sponsor of the war against Liao.Friendship belongs to friendship, and business matters need to be discussed. Liu Fan obviously couldn't agree with his unscrupulous remarks, but still with the concern of an old friend, he advised him tactfully: Miao Mo has been settled, and my brother Hugh has to disagree again, so as not to be punished. ...
Free from... free from what, Liu Fan thought about Ai Ai for a long time before he came up with the word "wuyi" to replace the "free from crime" he originally planned to say.This softened word could not dispel Zhao Long's anger, but deepened his resentment.Holding back his suffocation, he asked Liu Ziyu:
"I heard that my nephew is working in Liangzhe, so how can I come to the capital to run around?"
Liu Ziyu had also followed his father in the Western Army for many years. Zhao Long had always left a good impression of his handsome and bright personality, and his quick way of dealing with things. , Liu Xi, Yao Youzhong and other formidable younger generations.What he didn't expect to get now was a less polite answer:
"Who has the patience to manage the business of the Shibo Division? If a man wants to work, he must go to the front line, and if he dies, he must die on the battlefield. He will be famous and worthy of this life."
If it wasn't for this occasion, Zhao Long might have appreciated his bold words as usual.But now Liu Ziyu clearly knew that he was an opponent of the war against Liao, and he had argued with his father just now, saying such a sentence was clearly a harsh challenge, so he couldn't help but say:
"According to nephew Yanxiu's words, he is going to work hard for that war!"
"The campaign against the Liao Dynasty is justified. The court decision has been made, and the hearts of the people are united." Liu Ziyu replied to him, "After reporting to the temple tomorrow, Lu Bu will be released as a teacher. It is a nephew's job to work for it, old uncle. Why not talk about it?"
"Nephew Yanxiu, it's not worth it for a young and promising person like you to work for Taiwei Tong."
"A Taiwei is a Taiwei, and Faliao is a Faliao," Zhao Long's words were obviously emphatic.Although Tong Guan has always had a bad reputation, he was Liu Fan's fellow traveler and his boss in the decision-making and execution of the war against Liao. Liu Ziyu was looking for his connection to serve the front line.Now Zhao Long's words touched the pain of his father and son, which made Liu Ziyu feel aggrieved.He said, "The foolish nephew is working for the court, not for Taiwei Tong. The old uncle must confuse the two things."
The cart has hit the wall, and the words have come to an end, and if you don't turn your head around, it will explode.Liu Fan shrewdly winked to cut off his son's words.Zhao Long has always been a casual person who doesn't pay attention to trivial matters around him, but this time he inadvertently intercepted his father's wink and saw the small movements between father and son.In his own angry mood, he speculates very sensitively that the father's hints to his son have a disdainful look of "I have nothing to talk to him, why not let it go".So he stood up immediately, feeling the humiliation of being regarded as an unwelcome guest, and angrily left and went home.
Liu Fan repeatedly tried to keep him but couldn't.
Zhao Long's indignation expanded.He thought he could find some supporters, sympathizers in Tokyo.He included in this list all those old friends whom he had visited in all sincerity.Unexpectedly, he got the exact opposite result.Only then did he understand his isolated and helpless position. People are only willing to push the boat with the tide. Who wants to be a fool and stand against the wind?
He pinned his last hope on facing the Holy Court.Liu Qi did not give him an answer for a long time, but today brought such a prudent result that the officials only allowed him to go to the Jingfu room to argue with Wang Fu and Tong Guan.The two of them are very busy these days, and they will definitely postpone the appointment. When it is done, what else can we argue about?Zhao Long, who has been in the army for decades, knows that the official family is using a strategy to slow down the army.
Zhao Long is a tough guy like pig iron, he can fight with swords and guns, he is not afraid of anything, but he can't bear a little softness.That night, he yelled and cursed, and his anger surged like a mountain.Liu Kai and his wife tried their best to comfort him and advised him to go to Fengle Building tomorrow to have a hearty drink and enjoy the day to relieve his worries.
In just a few days of wandering, Mrs. Liu Kai has established a deep friendship with Zhao's father and daughter.
She respects Zhao Long as a tough guy, especially because Zhao Long is an elder respected by her husband. Feudal women generally have their own opinions on "internal affairs", but most of them regard their husband's likes and dislikes as their love and hatred when they are outside.
She likes Yanniang not only because she is the daughter of an elder respected by her husband and the fiancée of her husband's closest comrade-in-arms, but also because the simple and true temperament she shows is so attractive to her.This was the type she would never find among girls of the same or close class in Tokyo.She likes Renniang, but wants to change her.She is Erniang's guardian, and she is about to disturb her wedding, but she is not satisfied with it.She felt a strong desire to take care of everything about her mother, including her words and deeds, her clothes, and her thoughts and feelings.In a word, she intends to transform the Northwest girl into a beauty in Tokyo, but she doesn't understand that once the girl is really molded into what she wants to be in terms of ideology and form, she will no longer be able to maintain that kind of beauty. Bewitched by her seductive charm.
Going to Fenglelou to feast and enjoy lanterns was the first feast that Qiniang participated in after coming to Tokyo.Either she will not go, she will go, she should have appropriate makeup, this is the logic of Mrs. Liu Qi.Mrs. Liu Kai insisted that she wear the most fashionable goose gall heart-picking bun that best suits her face shape, and then put two floating branches on her right temple, making her look so graceful and elegant.But after all, the weight is too light, and she still needs to achieve a dignified and luxurious posture in order to match her status as a girl to be married.This can be manufactured manually.So she put a little emerald lotus in her back bun.Dressing up a girl is like a doctor prescribing a prescription, and the monarch, minister and envoy must be well matched.It can be strengthened a little bit here, and it needs to be neutralized here, both of which have certain specifications.Mrs. Liu Qi is an expert in this area, and she understands the samādhi. She dressed up her mother with ease, and she satisfactorily appreciates this flower cut and cut out by herself from different angles.Then I took two bronze mirrors and took photos on the left and right temples of Erniang himself. I made sure that Erniang looked at the whole picture of the headdress and hairstyle reflected in the left and right mirrors from the big bronze mirror on the front.Qiniang is not very used to a single mirror, and suddenly three bronze mirrors appeared, which made her not know where to look.
"Sister! This white horn comb is heavy, and if I wear it on my head, I'm afraid it will fall off," Qiniang tried to resist, "It's better to change to the lighter one."
"How can I do it?" Mrs. Liu Qi had a hint of a lesson in her voice, and even her expression was stern.She turned her head to let the mother see her in the mirror, and then pointed out, "Sister, look at the handle on my head, it is heavier than yours! The small one is still the same as last year. It has long been out of date and has become an old antique." Now, does anyone still wear it?"
Erniang doesn't understand the difference between the texture and style of the combs used to comb her sideburns, and the size of the combs is different from last year's and this year's. This year is only fifteen days after the new year, so why is there a new style in fashion? ?She herself, from childhood to adulthood, used only one wooden comb, which was left by her mother, and was later broken into two halves, one long and one short.She carried both of these two paragraphs with her, and this was the only toiletry item she brought from the Northwest.She felt awkward about all of this, especially the curly lotus she wore on her temples.She thought to herself: Don't take two steps, you must slide down.She planned to take it off without asking her sister's consent.
Here, as soon as she started, the lady Liu Qi behind her screamed in panic: "Don't move, don't move!" It turned out that the jewelry placed on her head after passing her hand seemed to be arranged by her husband in the official brigade. The ranks of the next team are the same, with fixed positions on the left, right, front, front, and back, and no random movement is allowed.
After everything was ready, she praised with satisfaction:
"Sister! You are so beautiful tonight, compared to all the beauties in Tokyo."
The final procedure of decoration is that after they have changed their clothes, each of them wears a purple curtain covering their heads to cover their entire heads and faces.Mrs. Liu Kai has a cheerful nature and is not afraid of meeting any man.But Gao Lian's family members were in the neighboring pavilion, she didn't want to pay attention to them, she would rather wear a mask so as not to say hello.In this way, the meticulous grooming that took them more than an hour can be written off.
Women's dresses are sometimes just for their own appreciation.
When they left home, it was just after the first hour, and a large group of imperial guards reappeared on the sidewalk, and they were doing the second "cleaning the street" today.After a while, the grand ceremony of telling the temple is over, and Luanjia will pass by here, and then return to the palace.Armed with vermilion lacquered wooden poles, the sergeants stopped the carriages and horses driving on the street one by one to the side roads and alleys, and drove the pedestrians to both sides of the side road.
Mrs. Liu Qi and her party received exceptional preferential treatment. Just when her father was stopped, an officer on duty recognized that this was the father of the Liu family, and hurried over, saluting with his gun.Mrs. Liu Kai recognized him as Jiang Yi, the head of Liu Kai's Silver Spear Squad, and hurriedly pulled down her power and replied with a smile.Jiang Xuan sang a rude promise, waved the silver gun in his hand, and asked the soldiers to let them pass.
The scattered seats on the ground floor of Fengle Building are already full of guests, they all belong to that class - in today's festival, they can enter the noble Fan Building, but they are not qualified to book a dedicated pavilion.In order to see the passing of Luanjia, they even watched the lanterns at night. They have been waiting since the opening of the morning market.They had to stay in their seats, because there were so many candidates crowded outside the gate and in the aisles, these people held the idea of "he can replace them", and waited for the seats to be vacant, and rushed to fill them.
Lady Liu Kai took a quick glance at her face and recognized many familiar strangers.One of the most striking is a large group of people sitting by the east window.They wore square scarves and blue shirts, which showed that they were all Tai students.Tai students are the pride of Tokyo society, they are candidates for Jinshi who are sure, and they are the nine ministers and eight seats with great confidence in the future, but now they are a group of sour talents who are full of lips and tongues, and some even use poems, etiquette and books. Street bastards with tattoos, they are mixed blood born of adultery between the imperial school in the ancient place and the highly urbanized Tokyo society.
They always like to discuss, like Zhang Shuwei, and when they meet together, they will ask the speaker to talk about short stories, talk black and white, and have a strange temper. When encountering anything, they will be divided into two factions, three factions, and four factions. Arguing with each other, they will never give up until their faces are red and their ears are red, and they will never stop. They often discuss for the sake of discussion.Discussion is the top priority in the political life of Tai students, and the discussion of Tai students has become an important item in Tokyo's political life. Don't underestimate them. They are often the masters of public opinion. Sometimes the court ministers have to listen to them Opinion, dare to act.
Disputes about Gaomiao, Jingjie, Lantern Market, and the reception staff in purple clothes standing at the gate of Fengle Building have all been discussed and debated.Now the debate is centered on the newly appointed Taixue Zheng Qin Hui.Zhi Ping Zang No, Yue Dan's character was originally the full-time job of Tai students, not to mention that Xue Zheng was the academic officer who was directly in charge of them, which naturally attracted more people's interest.
"Qin Xuezheng, don't do anything wrong with etiquette, don't look at anything wrong with etiquette, you can be said to be a gentleman."
"Where is it? He entered the imperial academy after taking advantage of the path of the prodigal son. How can a gentleman be willing to follow the path of the prodigal son?"
"That's true. I think he has something lacking in his heart, and he's putting on an extravagant appearance. I can't trust him."
"How can you tell that he lacks something in his heart? This is clearly the phrase 'Shen Wen Zhou, Luo Zhi exercise'."
"One day, your brother will suffer from his 'Shen Wen Zhou Nei, Luo Zhi training', Fang Xinyu is right."
"Zi is not a parent who learns righteousness, how can he know what is in his mind to learn righteousness?"
"It's not me, how do you know that I don't know Qin Xuezheng's thoughts?"
It is still difficult to come to a conclusion as to what kind of people Qin Xuezheng is. The important thing is to use this debate as a starting point to make them utter famous sayings that can last forever with Zhuang Zhou.After saying these two sentences, the two of them laughed proudly together.At this time, they suddenly caught a glimpse of the glamorous Mrs. Liu Kai walking through the aisle with her mother.
"What a charming woman!" a Tai student praised presumptuously.
So Qin Changjiao's supporters, opponents and neutrals all stopped arguing and turned their attention to them.A sharp-eyed person recognized Mrs. Liu Qi from her makeup and posture through her face, and hastily put her index finger on her lips, warning the public:
"Silence, silence! This is Mrs. Liu Sixiang, please don't talk nonsense."
"What a beauty!" Someone still commented in a low voice just enough for them to hear clearly, "Liu Sixiang is really beautiful."
"Liu Sixiang is the first upright hero in Tokyo. His wife also runs around in upper, middle, and lower places. She is not afraid of meeting people. You can tell she is a bright and handsome beauty."
"They are heroes and beauties who complement each other well."
As soon as Mrs. Liu Kai saw these imperial students, she immediately knew that she was going to be the target of their criticism.She held her mother's arm in one arm, lifted her skirt with the other, and stepped up the stairs like a gust of wind, leaving the sour discussion downstairs.
When they walked into their pavilion, Zhao Long and Liu Qi were already impatiently waiting.
Mrs. Liu Kai pulled her face to face, first confessed to Zhao Long, then patted her chest, and said to her husband lovingly:
"When I first came upstairs, I was bitten twice by the fleas downstairs - guess what dead tongue they chewed?"
"I don't care what tongue they chew, anyway, a dog's mouth can't grow ivory! Who else is the lady afraid of?"
"We're not afraid of big or long insects," Mrs. Liu Qi bravely puffed up her chest, pointing to Gaoqiu's pavilion on the wall, "but I'm afraid of these little bugs."
"Who told you to come so late? You deserve it if you tell them to bite twice," Liu Kai said with a smile, and while beckoning the lady to sit down, he asked the lady, "Did you see Chen Shaoyang is here?"
"Shaoyang is a well-behaved person. If he is inside, will they allow them to talk nonsense?"
"It can't be generalized. When we came, we had met Gao Yanxian and we were in the sitting room downstairs. He is also a decent person."
"This Gao Deng!" Mrs. Liu Kai bit her lips and said, "There are also Xu Kui and Ding Teqi who have been to our house, but they only know how to chew their tongues and cheat on wine and food. They are not law-abiding guys. The bottom line is that he bites fiercely!"
"There were times when they chewed their tongues right."
"What's the use of chewing it right? If they have the ability to kill the poisonous snake on the wall, they can be considered a character."
Zhao Long was not interested in the affairs of Tai students, so he poured a cup of "Fan Louchun" for Mrs. Liu Qi early, and persuaded:
"People who drink ink, how can they drive away tigers and kill snakes! My niece and daughter-in-law don't care about them, and let's talk about it after drinking my cup!"
"It's because my niece and daughter-in-law haven't toasted my uncle yet, so I drink my uncle's wine first." Mrs. Liu Kai drank the wine glass with a straight neck, poured wine for Zhao Long, and confessed, "My nieces and daughter-in-laws came late, and uncle is tired." Hungry."
"Where am I so hungry?" Zhao Long pointed to two silver trays and said, "What are these two trays called Ruanyang purse? , I have already filled my stomach."
"Uncle is going to have a drink here today, don't think about those sad things."
Mrs. Liu Kai's persuasion aroused Zhao Long's anger. "Fleas bite people, just drive them away, poisonous snakes really want to bite people to death." Zhao Long patted the table, half a glass of wine spilled on the table. "I'm not an ink sucker. I'm desperate to fight these long and big worms to see who will die and who will live?"
Liu Kai and his wife hurriedly changed the conversation.
Today's feast was specially set up for Zhao Long. Liu Qi had already ordered many famous dishes and wines for him. At this time, his wife carefully revised and added to make this menu perfect and perfect.They ordered the famous wine "Fanlouchun" and "Yuzhi" to drink together, and they also ordered the famous delicacies: Yuban bream fat, golden silk belly, three crispy stewed shrimp mushrooms Wait, I ordered another hodgepodge called "Fanlou Immortal Club". This is a pot of high-end diners that can satisfy the appetites of ten people. As a family-style gathering, it can be regarded as very rich.
Sure enough, as they expected, Zhao Long couldn't bear to drink it carefully. He broke open thirty soft sheep purses and ate them all in one go. Calling repeatedly: "It sucks, drink it in a big cup!"
"焌洛" is a common name for hotel waitresses.But Zhao Long didn't understand the complexity of Tokyo society, and there were several grades among the waiters.The maids here have been carefully selected and carefully trained. They are all outstanding in appearance and ability to handle well. They are worthy of being the waiters on the first floor of the world. They deserve more elegant and higher-level titles.Just based on Zhao Long's "dirty" statement, they weighed his weight.
"Liu Sixiang, who is famous in the city of Tokyo," they couldn't help but wondered in their hearts, "where did you invite this high-ranking man from the rivers and lakes? He also brought his wife and aunt to accompany him. You see, he yelled and gorged himself, and there was nothing wrong with him." It seems that he is only worthy of going to the 'Wang Xiaoer Restaurant' outside the Caoqiao Gate to drink ten catties of old white dry, how can he look like a guest at the feet of the emperor?"
Their observations made sense. At this time, Zhao Long was indeed drunk for three to five minutes, and without being persuaded, he poured it straight down in big cups and small bowls, splashing his beard, clothes, and tablecloth with wine juice.He gradually felt that the world was spinning, and he didn't know if it was his own mind that was spinning, or the world was really spinning, like a cow leading a mill, always circling around him, turning and turning, turning non-stop, Even he himself has become a bull that pulls the mill.
It's not that he is leading the mill to turn, the world is really spinning.He rubbed his sleepy and drunken eyes, looked out the window, and saw a world full of moving heads, loud sounds, and colorful flowers popping up out of the window.Through the Zhuque Gate, he saw people, horses, vehicles, guards of honor, armor, and flags from Yujie Street to Zhouqiao, and then to Daxiaohuo, Maxing Street, and Salou Street, until his vision was blurred. The ocean composed of gongs, drums, flute, silk, and silk flowers, together with the colorful lanterns that have not yet been lit but have emitted thousands of rays, are dyed with the golden light of the sun, and create thousands of waves.This is a flashy world that is wonderfully combined with magnificent voice and dazzling brilliance.It confuses people's vision, confuses people's hearing, subtly influences people's will, and brings them into a mirage made of illusions and illusions.
Zhao Long, who was not worthy to be a distinguished guest in Fanlou, decided to pick up a chair and sit by the window for sightseeing.He rubbed his drunken eyes again, pretending to be more drunk than he actually was, and asked deliberately, making a fuss:
"Look, Uncle Xin, what are these people doing crowded together?"
"The grand ceremony is complete, the court ceremony is gone, and Luanjia is about to pass by here." Liu Kai pointed to the heavily guarded street downstairs and replied, "That is the vanguard of the Lubo Brigade, and six white elephants have already approached. "
"What's so good about elephants?" Zhao Long laughed loudly, "I just want to look at people. Will the ministers and ministers walk downstairs?"
"Luanjia is going to pass by here too, how can the Minister of Zaizhi not follow his lead?"
Zhao Long laughed out loud once again, and the laughter was mixed with the sound of a throat-choking cough and a mouthful of phlegm sawing up and down in the trachea.
"Lieutenant Tong is destined, and he has known the thorns in the west," he said in a slurred voice between laughter, "Wang Dazai and Cai Xueshi are strangers. Today I finally came to the feet of the Son of Heaven. Make a good acquaintance with them. A glass of wine is poured down, but it is not a bond with them."
It can be heard that his maniacal laughter is precisely through five or six points of drinking, to dissipate the boredom he has accumulated for many days, including the joyful, bold and self-sufficient condemnation of this flashy world and its creators. Malicious venting.This is a kind of evil smile that breaks the heart and lungs and tears the liver and intestines.A person who laughs like this once will lose ten years of life.
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