Jade Without Fragrance

   Chapter 128 Shangyuan

   The little county master explained apologetically: "Princess Yian used to call the princess Ronghua of Ningwang's mansion to enjoy the lanterns together, but this year, for some reason, she suddenly called me."

   On the Shangyuan Festival, the emperor and the people will have fun together, and the emperor will bring high-ranking concubines, princes, princesses and other members of the royal family to the Xuande Tower to admire the lanterns.

   Emperor Tai'an had few children. Apart from the prince and the king of Wei, there was only one little princess who was not yet ten years old. The "Princess Yi'an" mentioned by Qi Qiong is the granddaughter of the younger brother of the Empress Dowager. After the accident ten years ago, the Empress Dowager was in a bad mood. She took her six-year-old grandniece, Miss Kou, into the palace to accompany her. Now.

   Emperor Tai'an was a filial man. In order to make the Queen Mother happy, he named Miss Kou as Princess Yian.

   Although Princess Yian is not an emperor's daughter, but she is favored by the Queen Mother, even Concubine Zhuang and Concubine Jing should be polite when they meet, not to mention the county masters of the palaces.

   Qi Qiong was also puzzled.

   Princess Yian has always been inseparable from the Lord of Ronghua County, why did she suddenly call her to appreciate the lanterns during the Shangyuan Festival.

  Lin Hao naturally did not account for the missed appointment of the lesser county master: "Then the county master will accompany the princess to have a good time. You will be upstairs in Xuande, and we will be downstairs in Xuande, in fact, it is the same."

   Qi Qiong keenly grasped the words: "We? Ah, who do you want to enjoy the lanterns with?"

  Lin said with a smile: "I also received a post from Miss Chen, and I wanted to ask the county master if we could come together."

   Qi Qiong sighed: "Miss Chen is also an interesting person, but unfortunately I can't be with you."

  Lin Hao had only met Princess Yi'an a few times, and he didn't even speak a word. He didn't know much about this princess. Just looking at Qi Qiong's reaction, I'm afraid he wasn't a good person to get along with.

   "It's okay, let's make an appointment next year."

"It's still a long time next year." Qi Qiong turned and smiled, "Fortunately, we can go out for a green walk together when the weather warms up. By the way, last year's Dengshan riddle was very interesting. This year I can't watch it in Xuande Building, you guys. You can go have a look."

   Hearing Qi Shuo and Qi Qiong say one after another, Lin Hao was aroused a bit of anticipation.

   The weather was fine on the day of Shangyuan Festival. The area on the Tianjie where people were allowed to move was crowded with people early, and countless people were waiting for the emperor to climb the building to admire the lanterns after nightfall, and they could see the beauty of the sky from a distance.

  Lin Hao made an appointment for tea with Chen Yi, Zhu Jiayu, and Tao Qing, and walked leisurely to Tianjie near the dark.

   Thousands of lanterns on both sides of the street have been lit up, and the people who are in it have been covered with splendid costumes, and they are all prosperous and bright.

   "Look at that jade rabbit lamp!" Zhu Jiayu pointed at one place excitedly, "Have you noticed, that jade rabbit's red eyes move!"

  Chen Yi reluctantly patted her on the shoulder: "Ayu, calm down, we also saw a rabbit lamp with moving eyes last year on the New Year's Day."

   "Is there?" Zhu Jiayu was a little at a loss.

  Tao Qing nodded: "Yes, but this year's Jade Rabbit is lying down, and last year's one was jumping."

   Zhu Jiayu smiled embarrassedly: "It's changed, I forgot. Ah, look there, look there!"

   In the screams of the little friends, the four of them huddled in the crowd of people, holding hands and walked in.

   Suddenly, the crowd in front burst into cheers, followed by shouts of long live, and the figures in the Xuande Building can be seen shaking, and the emperor has ascended the building.

The sound of   Long Live was like waves, one layer higher than one layer, and the cheers that shook the mountains continued for a while, and people's attention finally returned to the lanterns.

  Lin Hao sighed quietly.

   She didn't come out to play in the two years of Shangyuan Festival, and she forgot how shocking the excitement was.

   She looked at the Xuande Building and pursed her lips slightly.

   Prince Gou should also be on it at this time.

  The truth spread by rumors still can't shake the foundation of the prince, and he really can't be in a hurry to get the retribution for the dog prince.

   "Well, what are you still doing, the Dengshan riddle has started over there, let's go over there." Seeing that Lin was motionless, Zhu Jiayu pulled her.

  Chen Yi smiled and said, "Ah, did you think of the little princess?"

  Lin Hao readily admitted.

   Zhu Jiayu smiled and said: "Xuande upstairs is not as comfortable on the street, maybe the little princess still envy us. Well, don't waste time, go over there."

   When the four of them passed by, someone had already guessed a lantern riddle on the second floor of Dengshan Mountain. Under the envious gazes of countless little ladies, the boy who guessed the riddle handed a koi lantern to the shy girl beside him.

   "Are there any more challenges to be challenged?" The person who presided over the guessing was a small official from the Ministry of Rites, who was smiling and arrogant in the face of the surrounding people.

   "I want to give it a try." A young man who looked like a scholar stood up and bowed to the clerk.

   "Which level do you want to challenge?"

   "Southeast corner of the fourth floor."

   A yamen took off the puzzle tied to the lantern in the southeast corner of the fourth floor and presented it to the clerk.

   The clerk read out loudly: "Don't get close to the fireworks, don't worry, type a word."

   The young man thought for a moment and said loudly: "Don't worry about the fireworks, it's a 'en' character."

   The little official glanced at the answer and smiled slightly: "Congratulations, you guessed it right."

The people around    were literate and illiterate. Most of them didn't respond after hearing the answer, and they all asked, "Why 'en'?"

   The young man was in a very good mood when he guessed the riddle correctly, and explained with a smile: "Don't leave the fireworks close to the cause, and 'Yi' rest assured is a 'grace'."

   "It's really 'en', the son is really quick-witted."

  The young man took the lantern amid the praises of the crowd and gave it to the young woman who came with him.

   Zhu Jiayu was eager to try: "Let's challenge one too, I like the lotus lantern in the northwest corner of the fifth floor."

  Dengshan guessing puzzles, only the palace lanterns in the middle of the ninth floor must be challenged by unmarried men according to unwritten rules, and the others are not limited to men, women and children.

   "Yi'er, you are the best at guessing, please win that lotus lantern for me." Zhu Jiayu begged his friend.

  Chen Yi hesitated for a moment: "Then I'll try, don't blame me for failing the challenge."

   With the encouragement of Lin Hao and the three, Chen Yi lived up to expectations and won a beautiful lotus lantern.

   "Thank you!" Zhu Jiayu took the lantern and cheered with her friend.

  The laughter and laughter of the girls can easily infect more people. The atmosphere became more and more enthusiastic when there were a lot of participants, but when they challenged the ninth-floor glazed palace lanterns, they all returned.

  Upstairs in Xuande, Princess Yi'an stood by the railing, looking at Dengshan's sea of ​​people with little interest.

  Standing here to see far, but it's boring after a long time. In the past years, it was not difficult to talk and laugh with Rong Hua. Not long ago, she was unhappy and invited Qi Qiong instead, but she didn't say much.

   Princess Yian rested her chin in her hand, her eyes downcast, a little sleepy.

For Emperor Tai'an, who was busy with government affairs, it was a rare time to relax when climbing the building and watching the lanterns. He looked at the most lively place and said with a smile: "There is the Dengshan Riddle, I remember last year's glazed palace lanterns were not won. I don't know if anyone guessed it this year?"

   Liu Chuan immediately said: "The slave maid will send someone to ask."

   (end of this chapter)