This shop is a brothel by the river, and the person who is thinking about it is a delicate and well-dressed woman. At this moment, a middle-aged scholar is guessing, and most of the other people nearby seem to be watching the fun.
"You……"
Song You rubbed Mao'er's head and walked over with her in his arms.
The lights here are particularly bright, and the woman with makeup standing at the door is reflected in the lights, her face is like a peach blossom, and she is smiling beautifully.
I saw her holding a lantern and whispering:
"When the children at the foot of the stairs are lying on their backs, it is most suitable to decorate during the Qingming Festival. Once the hairspring is broken, it is powerless. Don't complain to the east wind about parting. Official, this is the second way."
"Once the hairspring is broken, it becomes powerless. Don't complain to the east wind about leaving..."
The middle-aged literati muttered it in a low voice. There was no need to dwell on it. After saying something wonderful, he said with a smile:
"But Paper Kite?"
"Exactly!"
As soon as he finished speaking, some people among the onlookers smiled, probably because they had guessed it right in their hearts. Some people suddenly realize it, then savor it carefully and smile.
Although Dayan had many student aid policies similar to Yizhuang and Xuedian, there were also many government-run private schools and private villas, and the literacy rate was the highest in the history, but after all, it was limited by the era, and there were still a large number of Changjing people present who had not read or read books. People who have not read many books will not understand its meaning. But it doesn't matter, there is a servant standing next to him, who is going to explain the meaning of the lantern riddles and the secrets in them.
This can not only attract people to come, but also better highlight the literati's style. When the literati are happy, they will come more.
Therefore, this servant should not only explain, but also praise the scholar who guessed the lantern riddles in a timely manner, so that everyone can know his style and make the guests happy.
After these people understand it, they often smile and write it down secretly so that they can share it elsewhere.
"Yan Yao admires the official's quick thinking and writing," the woman said with a smile, "Answer one more correct answer, and this tassel lantern will be given to the official."
"please."
The middle-aged scholar is very elegant.
"Masters, please listen." The woman in makeup smiled slightly, held up a lantern, and chanted, "There are layers of rocks that are missing from the mountain, a short distance that is too long to walk, no rain that can be heard from the rumbling thunder, and no feeling of cold from the falling snow. "
"There are layers of stones but no mountain..."
The middle-aged scholar was still chanting in a low voice, but gradually frowned.
The people watching around also started thinking. Some people figured it out, while others couldn't.
Seeing that the scholar who was guessing the riddle was in trouble, the woman smiled again and reminded her generously:
"It's something common people often use."
"..."
The middle-aged scholar still frowned and couldn't think of anything.
"Does the official know?"
"I don't know..."
"The official must be of noble birth. He rarely does this kind of work, so he doesn't know about it."
"Please give me some advice, madam."
The middle-aged scholar knew that she was protecting him and quickly bowed.
"The shop has not prepared many lantern riddles, so I will leave this question to the next person." The woman smiled sweetly, "If the officials want to know the riddles, they only need to rest here for a while."
"Thank you..."
The middle-aged scholar shook his head regretfully and had to step aside.
The woman looked at the crowd and said, "I wonder if any official knows the answer to this question and would like to guess it. As long as you answer three questions correctly, Yan Yao will give you a lantern or a bottle of fine wine in the shop."
For a moment, everyone outside looked at each other.
Song You could almost see it——
Go up and guess the lantern riddles. If you guess three correctly, you will be given a lantern. If you guess incorrectly, there seems to be no other punishment.
This brothel is very smart.
Brothels have never been short of money, and their service targets are mainly literati. The activity of guessing lantern riddles is very accurate for literati. Ordinary people cannot guess it, and those who can guess it will be embarrassed. In any case, their store will not lose money because of it. Maybe business will be good tonight.
"Meow?"
"..."
Song You hugged the cat and walked out.
When the woman in fine makeup saw that he was a Taoist, she did not show any indifference. After seeing the Taoist holding a cat, her eyebrows softened a bit and she bent down to salute him.
"Sir, you are polite."
"Yizhoushan people, Song You, are polite."
"Sir, are you here to guess lantern riddles too?"
"Want to try it."
"Let's take the question just now." The woman said, "I wonder if you, sir, have the answer?"
"But stone mill?"
"Exactly!"
The woman said with a smile.
"Stone mill!"
The middle-aged scholar next to him was stunned for a moment. After thinking for a moment, his eyes lit up and he murmured and repeated himself. Then he cupped his hands and said to the Taoist: "It's so simple. I couldn't guess it. I'm really ashamed..."
"Don't dare." Song You quickly returned the greeting, "It's just that my steps rarely touch the stone mill."
"This poem is very wonderful. I wonder if my wife can sell me the lantern with this poem written on it?"
"If the official is willing to drink two jugs of wine, listen to a piece of music, or enjoy a dance in the shop, what's the point of the little girl giving it to the official?" the woman said.
"good!"
The scholar immediately called his friends and entered the store.
Song You saluted the woman:
"I admire you..."
"Sir, you are very complimentary." The woman in makeup immediately smiled, as if receiving praise from a Taoist priest was more gratifying than receiving praise from a scholar who often patronized the store, and then said, "Sir, have you done a good job?" Preparation for the second question?"
"Please step down and open the mouth of gold."
"..."
The woman smiled, turned sideways and picked among the many lanterns, picked a simple one, held it in her hands and read in a low voice: "The three fallen autumn leaves can bloom February flowers, cross the river thousands of feet of waves, and enter the bamboo poles. "
When Song You heard this, he also laughed.
This question is simple, what needs to be thought about? What's more, Taoists stay away from the world of mortals most of the time, focusing on the mountains and rivers. From Yizhou Lingquan to Changjing, they have seen many winds and rains.
"wind."
"Congratulations, sir, you have answered the second question." The woman smiled and said, "Although you are an expert, you are also quite knowledgeable. I think the third question will not be a problem for you."
"Thank you very much, Your Majesty."
"Sir, how can a little girl deserve a word of thanks for the knowledge that he has learned by himself and the problems he has solved by himself?" The woman said and smiled. She looked very beautiful, and her body also exuded a subtle fragrance of rouge. No wonder such a woman can be so good. It fascinated the literati.
"Please ask a question."
"good……"
The woman picked it again, then picked up another lantern and read: "Thousands of shapes and forms are still empty, the mountains are covered with mountains reflecting the water, the endless drought and the seedlings are drying up, and there are strange peaks in the leisurely place."
As soon as he finished speaking, the scholars surrounding him also began to think.
But the Taoist knew it after just a little taste.
"cloud."
When the literati around heard this, some of their eyes lit up, while others showed annoyance. It seemed that they were about to think of it, but just a moment before they thought of it, this Taoist said it, that kind of solution that can be solved by oneself. The pleasure of the puzzles is naturally much weaker.
"Mr. Wen's mind is really sharp."
"I can't call him agile. It's just that I was originally a monk in the mountains and loved watching clouds the most." The Taoist said, "I really should thank you for taking care of me."
"Sir, do you want a lantern? Or wine?"
"I'm a Taoist. I'm wearing a Taoist robe. I'm afraid I'll feel out of place when I enter your place, so I just ask for a lantern."
"Taoist Priest, feel free to choose."
"Thank you..."
Song You came forward with Mao'er in his arms and asked in a low voice: "Which lantern does Sanhua Empress like?"
When everyone heard it, they all found it strange.
However, the cat was seen looking left and right, scanning back and forth on the many lanterns, as if it really understood the words.
After a while, the cat stared to the left and couldn't take his eyes away. He raised his little hand, stretched out a cat's paw wearing a clean white glove, pointed at the lantern, looked back at the Taoist, and then turned to look at the woman.
It was a horse lantern, very delicately made.
Everyone was even more surprised, as if they were watching a magic trick.
"I wonder if this lantern..."
"Sir, you have good taste!"
The woman immediately took off the lantern and handed it to the Taoist with a smile.
"Thank you."
The Taoist took the lantern and bowed solemnly.
Speaking of which, the reason why this brothel plays lantern riddles here is just to attract literati to come to the shop to spend money, or to form a good relationship with them. As a Taoist, I am not their target customer, but they don't look down upon me at all. The only difference was that he boasted politely at the beginning, and they chose the simplest and best answer to the lantern riddle for him. After answering correctly, this pony lantern carried by a long pole was so exquisitely made that it was probably the most precious of all lanterns. However, she gave it to me without any hesitation.
"..."
The Taoist smiled, held the lantern, and raised it to look at as he walked.
A long mahogany pole, two or three feet long, with copper coating and moiré decoration on the top, hangs an umbrella cover with tassels, and below it is a pony with a mane, tail, saddle and cushions.
If you want to buy this lantern, I'm afraid it will cost at least a thousand dollars.
I'm afraid it will be even more expensive on the day of the lantern festival.
There are a few small words written on the lantern:
"Changjing Qinghongyuan."
The Taoist looked back and saw that the pavilion was elegantly built, with carved railings and painted buildings. It was antique and the beauty of the architecture was vividly and exquisitely displayed. At this moment, the light box is in front, with countless colored lights, and it is as beautiful as a painting. The sound of elegant music continued to be heard from the second floor, and dancing figures and shadows could be seen on the window paper.
There is a plaque at the door with three words written on it:
"Qinghongyuan."
Is this the unique Qinghongyuan in Changjing, the Qinghongyuan in the Lihua Garden?
The Taoist smiled and walked forward.
The cat next to him turned to look at him, his eyes bright.
"Meow!"
"No, no, it's just a coincidence..."
"Meow……"
"I won this lantern by guessing lantern riddles. It was neither bought with my money nor with the money of Empress Sanhua. Naturally, Empress Sanhua had to take it in the same way." The Taoist said on one side. Smiling, he lowered his head and talked to the cat. Walking on the road now, he seemed to be talking to himself, which was really strange. "It just so happened that I have heard of a lantern riddle. How about this? As long as Sanhua Empress can guess it." A lantern riddle, this horse lantern belongs to Empress Sanhua."
"..."
The calico cat stared at him with suspicion on his face.
After a long time, he meowed softly.
"Miss Sanhua, please listen."
"Well……"
"Seeing the mountains from a distance are colorful, listening to the silent water, spring is gone and the flowers are still there, and the birds are not surprised when people come." The Taoist spoke slowly, fearing that she could not hear clearly, and then said, "I learned this poem when I was a child. It just so happened that Empress Sanhua was also young, so she read it to Empress Sanhua. Even if you can’t guess it, it’s good to learn.”
…
Ask for a guaranteed monthly ticket!
(End of chapter)
