Li Huang

When the sun went down, the pilgrims were all gone, and the evening class began with the sound of drumming, with the sound of Brahma and Buddha. There was the last cloud on the edge of the western sky, and the birds flew across the sky in flocks, and flew into the dense and ridged green waves on the Normal Mountain. Everything is so peaceful, only peace and beauty are left between the heaven and the earth, and only the sparse and elegant atmosphere is left.

I sat alone in the wing and played with a string of topaz beads in my hand. The clear and moist color was calming. I closed my eyes and read the Prajna Sutra, immersing myself in the boundless redemption of the Buddha's law.

With a squeak, Hui Ju walked in lightly, but only stood by and didn't disturb me. I finished silently again, slowly put down the prayer beads, looked at her and said, "found it?"

"Hui Niangniang, there is indeed a path to go down the mountain. Just???" She stopped talking.

I put away the Buddhist beads and stood up and said, "It's just that the road is quiet and difficult to move. At this time, the sky is sinking, afraid of danger?"

Huiju hid her mouth and smiled: "The empress is really amazing! The servant girl is about to say that."

I also laughed: "So this palace brought Xiao Xizi."

Huiju nodded: "The slave and maid will change clothes for the empress. I'm afraid the city gate will be closed when it's late."

The path down the mountain is indeed tortuous, but it is also a way for monks to enter the mountain to chop wood and collect water, so it is simply paved with gravel. Along the way, I only heard the sound of wind passing through the treetops, accompanied by the sound of “rusting” on the soles of the shoes, and the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the mountains orange, which made people feel warm. People feel comfortable.

After all, I have lived in Huangjia Village. There is nothing wrong with walking on such a small road. So, when we arrived at the gate, we were just in time for the last moment before closing.

Wanchun Tower is very easy to find. It is half larger than what I saw in the past. A two-story, three-decorated flower building has been added to the street. Upstairs are charming brothel women, and downstairs is an endless stream of luxurious carriages. The pretty faces with heavy makeup and glamour are passionate like fire, and those exquisite and unique embroidered handkerchiefs are waving like butterflies. The strong powdery aroma can be heard from far away, and the laughter and greetings make the whole street lively.

Huiju and I both dress up in men's clothing and wear beards, so they will not be easily recognized. Just a few steps into the main entrance of Wanchun Tower from the street, I have seen many luxurious officials and gentry, secretly writing down their appearance and characteristics, and then walking in with Huiju and Xiao Xizi.

As soon as I entered Wanchun Tower, I was immediately surprised. The main building is tall and wide, with five stories high, in the shape of "Hui". Inside, there is a view of pavilions, terraces, and pavilions. A giant tree is planted in the atrium, and green patches are sprinkled. A small stream winds under the tree, passing through most of the Wanchun Tower in twists and turns. There are lotus lanterns floating on the stream, and there is even a delicate flower boat carrying a beautiful woman in the water. And the entire atrium was also turned into areas with different prices by the tortuous stream.

The red candles with thick arms illuminate the main building as if in daylight, the pillars are inlaid with gold, and the tables and chairs are covered with silver and jade. Each layer is hung with light yarns of different colors, and the more up, the more luxurious the decoration.

Even though I was born in Xiangfu and married into the palace, I have never seen such expensive decorations and such explicit luxury.

The closer you are to the front stage, the more elegant and exquisite the layout, and there are even two small pavilions, occupying an excellent position, hanging down like a veil, blocking the eyes of the guests.

There are also small round tables scattered around, and beautiful dancers perform to their heart's content on them, attracting waves of applause.

There was some commotion in the front, and the dancers stopped dancing, flirted with a few guests and then quickly retreated, and everyone gradually calmed down. On the high platform in front, a woman sang with a guqin, her voice turned softly to hear, as clear as a oriole: "Hate the monarch is not like a river, north and south, east and west, north and south, only to follow each other. Like Jiang Louyue, it is still a loss for a while, and a loss for a while, when will it be reunited?"

Standing in the distance, I wore a moon-white purple gold piping python satin Confucian shirt and a Hetian white jade hair crown, showing a hint of low-key wealth in the light and elegant colors. The reason why I chose python satin is that if the people who come here are not covered in gold and silver, the old bustard is afraid that it will not take it seriously. After all, the python satin can only be worn by clan family members, which symbolizes a certain amount of power and will definitely make the old bustard look away.

Hui Ju and Xiao Xizi each wore a black brocade robe, one with delicate eyebrows and one full of heroic spirit. The hem of the sleeves are all embroidered with silver thread with dense "Ji" pattern, which is the dress of the rich and noble son. But the two of them followed me closely, their faces were serious and they didn't look around, they were obviously the little servants, adding a layer of extravagance to me.

Sure enough, just as I was listening to the cappella of the women on stage, a strong powdery breath came over my face.

"This guest official is so good-natured, why not find a place to sit?"

I couldn't help frowning, but as if I hadn't heard it, a white hand in the corner of the eye was about to pull my sleeve, and Xiao Xizi opened it.

"My son, who do you dare to touch?" Xiao Xizi looked arrogant.

"Don't be rude." I turned around, opened a folding fan, and said with a faint smile: "It's rude."

The woman in front of her was not young but her charm still existed. At this moment, she opened her mouth wide in surprise, blinked, blinked again, and then came back to look at me carefully and carefully. When her gaze fell on the fan, her smile on her face was fuller, full of flattery.

Although this fan is only a white fan, the fan bones are indeed top-notch pears. There is only a small print on the fan without flowers and characters, which is the character "Xi".

"How do you call this young man?" The old bustard said enthusiastically.

I didn't speak but looked ahead, made a noble attitude but ignored her.

"My son is here for the first time, please find a good place." Huiju smiled and stuffed an ingot of silver into the hands of the old bustard.

The old bust said "Ouch", and the silver instantly didn't know where it was taken. She looked embarrassed and said, "Presumably the son is here to see Peony. Peony comes out once every ten days. Every time a good position is booked early."

She looked around, as if telling some secrets to her acquaintances, she approached me and whispered: "Look, there is a white peony position under the tree. The deposit is only fifty taels of silver." He turned to the other side and said, "The place where the purple peonies are placed in the middle of the creek is the cleanest place. Three months ago, it was covered by the son of Master Liu, a cabinet bachelor. Two hundred taels." A layer of pride appeared on her face: "We don't have money here."

There was a faint smile on my lips, just looking at the two pavilions in the front and not talking. Huiju walked to the old bustard and said, "How much are the two pavilions?"

The old bustard was startled, and said hurriedly, "The two are not good for much money, they have already been booked."

Huiju drew a one-thousand-tael silver ticket from her sleeve and gave it to her: "My son likes it there, and only there. My son always likes it, but no one dares not give it." Her last sentence was very heavy. .

The old bustard glanced at me quickly, and I only had a faint smile, and my eyes fell on the pavilion over there. I saw that the one on the right had been in between our conversations, but it was not clear through the curtain.

"Don't hide your son," the old bustard showed embarrassed expression on his face, and refused to accept the cash in Huiju's hand. "The two places are not the slave's final say."

"Aren't you the master here?" Hui Ju said strangely.

The old bustard chuckled and said, "The slave house is just for others." She rolled her eyes and looked at the candles that had begun to go out one by one and said: "Peony will be on the stage soon. Before the guests over there, I should go and ask. .but??"

Huiju knowingly took out another one: "The two thousand taels are the fixed money tonight." As she said, she took out an ingot of thirty taels of silver and handed it to the old bustard: "You have worked hard."

The old bustard glanced at the banknotes, his eyes were cracked. Her tone was relaxed and full of joy: "Three, wait a minute." She said and left.

She came back in a moment, blinked at me, and said in an obedient way: "It was decided by the servant minister over there, as if something can't come, let it be to the son."

My eyes are fixed only in the pavilion on the right, and the person sitting in the middle looks very familiar.

The old bustard took us to sit down and ordered a refreshment of melons and fruits. I was about to call a few more girls. I waved my hand and said: "Peony is the king of Kao, even if he is here to admire her, how can I put others in my eyes? "

The old bustard repeatedly said that he would retreat.

Huiju smiled and said, "Thank you, I don't know how to call it?"

The old bustard smiled triumphantly: "The slave's surname is Liu, the Liu of Yangliu. If the son doesn't dislike it, just call Mother Liu."

"Yeah, but it has the same surname as Master Liu, the servant of Zhongshu." Huiju said unconsciously.

The old bustard showed a smug look on his face, and whispered quietly: "Don't hide your son, the Nujia and Master Liu are also relatives."

Huiju nodded and didn't care, I just looked at the front stage with a faint smile.

The old bustard did not surprise us and was a little embarrassed, but she had seen too many scenes after all, and said: "What kind of tea does the son like? The old man asked them to prepare it."

Huiju took out a packet of tea from her sleeve and said, "This is a snow mountain silver bud, be careful."

The old bust's eyes widened when he heard the words "Snow Mountain Silver Bud". This tea is very rare, only a few tributes can be paid in a few years. Immediately, the eyes of the old bustard looked at me from respect to awe.

"I am afraid that these things will not suit my son's appetite, so the slave family will let me change them." She looked at the table and said respectfully.

I just picked up a piece of red bean pastry on the table and took a bite. "My son is not picky, it tastes good. You can go ahead."

The old bustard retired as he owed it. My gaze fell into the pavilion on the right again, separated by a few small sceneries and seats. There was only one person sitting in the pavilion and drinking in a white shirt. It looked very happy, but it was also a bit silent.

As if he could feel my gaze, he turned his face, even if there are some people behind, even if there is a feather covering, I can still recognize him at a glance.

As if exhausted, I leaned back in a chair in frustration, my face also inadvertently showing annoyance.

Huiju noticed my abnormality, and looked over there, and whispered: "What's wrong with the son?"

I shook my head, I just felt bitter in my heart. "It's nothing," I took a sip of the tea cup, "Let Xiao Xizi arrange for me to see Xiuhe, so let's go home early."

Huiju stopped talking, peeled oranges and grapes for me, and peeled apples. Suddenly, it was dark in the field, and only a few lanterns near the door on the heights gave off dim light, which did not make people panic.

The young woman came in with a tea tray, and gently put it down, it was a brewed snow mountain silver bud. Huiju gave her a couple of silver as a reward, and then asked, "When will Peony come out?"

The girl smiled and said, "Don't be anxious, you'll be soon."

I said solemnly: "I wonder if Girl Peony can pick up guests?"

The girl hid her mouth and said: "Peony is the number one card of our Wanchun Tower, so she doesn't show up easily. Only the guests she sees can talk to her. As for picking up guests?" She smiled, perhaps thinking I could Using this position is definitely extraordinary, and he said: "So far, only one person has been a guest of Peony."

I was taken aback, and could not help but "Oh?"

The girl didn't say much any more, filled me with tea, politely bowed out.