Zhao Tong asked someone to prepare a carriage, called Zhou Chu and Wu Xiaodao to drive, and took Zhao Fujin and Zhao Yan out of the palace gate.
The place where he lived was relatively quiet, but when he went to Qianli Street, he saw the hustle and bustle. There was no stage for the common people to watch, and there were no all kinds of food, drinks and entertainment. After worshiping the moon, they went out to hang out.
The Mid-Autumn Festival in the Song Dynasty was a bit like an all-night carnival. Most of the children in the village played all night long and went to the night market.
The adults admired and worshiped the moon, prayed and drank, went shopping and had fun, while the younger ones also played all night long until dawn.
At this time, the night market is naturally open all night, especially along several inland rivers. Goods are laid out, there are many auctions, the lights are bright, and the tourists are endless until late in the evening.
Zhao Tong and his entourage first arrived at the Bianhe River in a carriage. Now along the Zhou Bridge, there are various stalls on both sides. Among them, fruits are the most popular. They are mostly seasonal products. The fresh fragrance is wafting around. There are also seasonal moon soups. They used longan, lotus seeds and lotus root starch to make soup together, and many people rushed to buy it.
Farther away is a krathong stall. The most important thing to appreciate on the Mid-Autumn Festival is to watch krathongs.
There are various kinds of lanterns made by skilled craftsmen, and each lantern is extremely exquisite and beautiful when taken out individually.
At this moment, the Bianhe River is decorated extremely brightly with thousands of lanterns. The scene is shocking, like a river of glowing lanterns. But this is just the beginning. As the night goes by, these lanterns will turn into a river of flowers. It's better than a fairyland, with such bustling beauty, few people are willing to fall asleep.
In addition to these, there are also folk dance groups and buskers performing beside the night market, which further enhances the atmosphere of the night market.
Zhao Yan led Zhao Fujin and Zhao Yan along the Bianhe River. They guessed lantern riddles and got a few small lanterns. They then hurriedly put them out. The small lanterns could still be seen at first, but then slowly merged into the sea of lanterns and were no longer visible. , the two of them couldn't help but look disappointed.
Zhao Tong laughed at the side and said: "When hundreds of rivers flow into the sea from the east, when will they return to the west? This home lamp merges into the sea of lights, but it will never come back."
Zhao Yan was a little frustrated and said: "Second brother, isn't that a pity? I saw that many lamps are made of lambskin, which is considered valuable."
Zhao Fujin also said: "I don't know how many lights have to be released in one night. Although they are beautiful, they are also a waste."
Zhao Tong looked at her little face, which was as beautiful as flowers and jade, with a touch of sadness. He couldn't help but shook his head and said, "You two are overthinking. It's just paper. How can that small sheepskin lamp be wasted?"
Zhao Chu said: "If they all go into the river, isn't it a waste?"
Zhao Fujin said: "Second brother, what do you mean..."
Zhao Tong stretched out his hand and pointed to the distance: "At the lower reaches of the Bian River, there are a lot of people waiting to fish for river lanterns, specializing in picking up lambskin hooks. It is impossible to say that there are people from the lantern shop inside. I can wait until next year. Keep selling.”
Zhao Yan was stunned and said: "So there is such a saying. Wouldn't it be an advantage to these people? It is obviously our lamp, but it fell into their hands. The lamp shop is also treacherous."
Zhao Tong smiled: "In your hands, of course it's yours. If you let go and can't control it anymore, then it's hard to say whether it's yours or not."
Zhao Yan was indignant and felt that this was unfair and unjustifiable. However, he had no choice at the moment and couldn't help but feel a little bad again.
However, Zhao Fujin had a thoughtful look on his face and looked into the distance in a daze.
At this time, a painting boat sailed upstream from the Bian River, crushing and knocking over many river lanterns.
Colorful lanterns were hung around the boat, which illuminated it brightly, and music from silk and bamboo could be heard from inside. As it got closer, there was also the sound of poetry and lyrics.
The tourists on the shore saw that the river lantern of the boat was broken, and they couldn't help but scream. Some of them were very angry, so they grabbed stones and threw them into the river. However, the boat was very close, but it was impossible to hit it on the bank.
At this time, a young man in gilded clothes walked out of the boat. Looking at the angry tourists on the shore, he couldn't help but smile teasingly. Then he shook his head and sang Su Dongpo's water tune "When Will the Moon Come?", which made the people on the shore jump in anger, but they also couldn't help but smile. Nothing can be done.
At this moment, the curtain of the painted boat was raised, and a beautiful woman with a famous high-knot hair walked out from inside.
The woman, who looked like a willow tree, came up to the young man and whispered a few words. The young man laughed, then raised his hand to the tourists on the shore, turned around and returned to the boat.
The woman stood by the boat, looking at the water lanterns in the river. She seemed to feel a little regretful. She shook her head gently and returned to the boat soon.
Zhou Chu came over from the side and said, "Master, that woman is Pan Lou's Sun Sansi."
Zhao Tong nodded when he heard this. The most famous courtesans in Tokyo were not from brothels, but all came from real shops, including Li Shishi, Zhao Yuannu, Sun Sansi, Xu Poxi, Feng Yinu, Wang Jingzhi and so on.
These courtesans who came from real shops are different from those in brothels. They do not promise to marry easily, and sometimes even if they have too much money, it depends on whether they are attractive to the other party. If they are not attractive, they can only sing songs and drink with them.
But the more this happens, the higher the status becomes, and the level becomes higher than that of ordinary courtesans in brothels. Even Master Li, who is proficient in music, is called Master Li.
Zhao Tong said: "You know him better."
Zhou Chu said with a smile: "Young Master knows that my wife passed away early and has never renewed her marriage. I just walk around and look around on weekdays. It's a feast for the eyes."
Zhao Tong said "Hmm". This was the habit of military households in the Forbidden Army. Without their military status, they were probably just a gangster in the capital.
Zhao Fujin wondered at the side: "Second brother, isn't Panlou a restaurant? This woman is..."
Zhao Tong watched the boat sail slowly away and said, "Oiran."
"Oiran?" Zhao Fujin was stunned. Although he knew what the oiran meant, he obviously grew up in Miyagi City and didn't know that the main stores also had this kind of business.
Zhao Tong said: "There are seventy-two main stores in Kaifeng Mansion, and the top ten ones all have singing and dancing musicians, who can accompany wine and sing songs, and also make a living like Qinlou Chuguan. This Panlou's Sun Sansi should be the one who was killed today." We were chartered to swim on the river, so we were in the boat."
Zhao Fujin suddenly blushed and said, "Second brother, why are you telling me this?"
Zhao Tong thought to himself, isn't this what you asked? Why are you blaming me?
Zhao Chu from the side said: "Second brother, have you been to those places?"
Zhao Yan pondered for a few breaths and looked at Zhao Yan's face full of curiosity. He was a sincere gentleman and would not lie to a child. He said calmly: "I haven't been there."
Zhao Chu suddenly felt bored: "I heard from Ninth Brother that he most wanted to go to places like Fanlou and Panlou to have a big meal, and then go to those brothels to write poems and lyrics for my little girl to sing. I didn't expect that Second Brother didn't go. Pass."
Zhao Tong said: "What he eats and drinks is true, and his poems and other words are just cover-ups. Do you believe that?"
"I just said how could he be willing to write poetry!" Zhao Yan was angry, but suddenly his eyes lit up: "Second brother, didn't you say you wanted to go to a poetry club? You should go now."
(End of chapter)
