Zhao Hong walked to the window and looked at the night outside the window. Strange flowers and plants were shining brightly in the night sky.
It was fluttering, as if snowflakes were falling.
In that time and space, how lonely was his mother on such a cold night?
I have lost my son and am helpless. Who will visit him?
"Li Tang, today is the New Year's Eve. You can go back later and reunite with your family!"
Zhao Hong calmed down and turned around.
There are elders and younger ones in Litang. The older ones celebrate the New Year. It is too inhumane to trap others here and not be able to reunite as a family.
The reason why he said "go back later" was because he wanted to give "New Year's money" to the guards and have a good New Year.
"Your Highness, the villain and Xu Sheng are changing shifts. Today it is the villain, Hu Datou and the others. Tomorrow the villain will go back and Xu Sheng and the others will come back."
Xu Sheng and Li Tang agreed to change shifts, but Zhao Hong didn't know it. From this, we can also see the casualness of the prince's guard system and the average status of the prince.
In the Song Dynasty, the powers of the princes and princes were greatly weakened. The guards and servants in the palace were the same as ordinary ministers. There were five, six, seven or eight, and a dozen or twenty, which was already considered too much.
The power of the crown prince has been greatly reduced. This may be the difference between the Song Dynasty and previous and subsequent dynasties.
"Li Tang, it's Chinese New Year, you really don't want to go back?"
Zhao Hong picked up the tea cup. It was typical blue and white porcelain from Jingdezhen, Jiangxi. The fragrance of tea lingered, pure West Lake Longjing.
Royal fragrant wine, the best fragrant tea, and beautiful women were given as gifts and protected. It was indeed a luxurious and luxurious enjoyment for the rich and powerful! But except for the princes, nobles, and scholar-bureaucrats, ordinary people may not be able to enjoy these in their lifetime.
"Your Highness, our families meet often, so it's okay if we don't see each other for a while. I have some friends who just came back from outside, and I would like to visit them."
Li Tang smiled shyly, a little embarrassed, but also a little hopeful.
"One confidant is enough in life. If a person has no friends, he will be so lonely! Li Tang, you are very lucky!"
Zhao Hong said with emotion, then lowered his voice and laughed:
"Li Tang, you must remember my words, no matter what happens in this world, whether it is going to a brothel or going to the battlefield, the man who understands men best will always be a man!"
"Your Highness is truly wise!"
Li Tang nodded and laughed.
Your Highness, you are indeed a stickler for your profession, and you are becoming more and more lustful.
"Your Highness, since you asked Yin Wu Jing of Lin'an Prefecture to release your friend, why didn't you let him know?"
Seeing Li Tang's curiosity, Zhao Hong shook his head helplessly.
"Although this guy is smart, he is tougher than a donkey and has a great reputation."
Recalling Tian Yi's evaluation of Xu Liang and combining it with his own analysis, Zhao Hong came to a conclusion.
Some people are like this, full of personality, and would rather bear the responsibility themselves than owe others favors. This Xu Liang has an arrogant personality and is most likely of this type.
The front waves of the Yangtze River push back waves, and the front waves hit the beach. Tian Yi's family was in decline, and so was Xu Liang's. It seemed that luck was related to his temper.
"Your Highness, Xu Liang is really lucky to have a friend like you!"
Li Tang sighed and said enviously.
"Xu Liang has been in prison for so long, and his parents came to me just now, just because this guy is so proud and never asks for help. However, it is beyond my expectation that he can marry that widow."
Although these two people were single, they lived together before they got married, which was inconsistent with the social customs of martyrs observing chastity. According to the law, they were sentenced to one and a half years in prison, and both of them were locked up.
He approached Lin'an Prefecture Yin Wu Jing to re-examine the case. As long as the two people are willing to get married, they can be released from prison.
Unexpectedly, Xu Liang agreed, which was really beyond his expectation.
"Your Highness, if I were Xu Liang, I would also marry that widow. That widow is the famous "Mutton Xishi" in Lin'an City. She is like a flower. Xu Jialiang deserves it!"
Li Tang chuckled, showing an expression that only a man would understand. Seeing Zhao Hong staring at him, he quickly put away his smile and became serious again.
"You kid, you have a lot of thoughts. Don't abandon your wretched wife when your thoughts change. If you dare to do this, I will castrate you and keep you from having sex for the rest of your life!"
Zhao Hong said seriously and warned Li Tang.
"Don't worry, Your Highness, I won't do it. Besides, even if I want to, I don't have that much money!"
Li Tang quickly changed the topic with a smile on his face.
"Your Highness, I'm not talking about you. Since you are all friends and they don't come to you, if you want to go there, just go to them. According to what you said, since Xu Liang doesn't want to see you, it must be because his life is not satisfactory. I don’t want to meet you.”
After following Zhao Hong for the past few days, he has become much more cheerful and courageous.
Li Tang's words made Zhao Hong laugh.
Listening to Tian Yi's description, Xu Liang is smart, sensitive, and arrogant. Now that he is at the bottom of society, of course he doesn't want others to see his embarrassment.
Even though he was so poor and borrowed money to live, Zhao Hong asked himself that he couldn't do it.
However, what really bothers him is that he is not familiar with these people. He only hears their names but does not recognize them.
However, he is in a bad situation now. Should he find some helpers and work together to fight against Shi Miyuan?
"Li Tang, men understand men better. In this way, you go to the accountant and get 500 guan, divide it into 10 parts, 50 guan each, and prepare some gifts. I want to go out."
In an instant, Zhao Hong made a decision.
"500 strings? That much?"
Li Tang's black face turned into a black rectangle again.
If this continues, it won't be long before the Duke's Mansion will be left empty-handed.
"Go quickly! I don't want you to pay for it!"
Zhao Hong's face darkened, but he couldn't figure out the black rectangle.
"Your Highness, it's already dark. Do you really want to go out now?"
Li Tang asked subconsciously, wanting to save his master some money.
Your Highness will not be encouraged by him to visit a prostitute on New Year's Eve, right?
"I'm going to meet Tian Yi and Xu Liang for a New Year's Eve party. You also want to go home and have a good New Year with your family!"
Zhao Hong said with a smile, feeling much relieved.
In the Song Dynasty, New Year's money was not called New Year's money, but "New Year's money". When going to a friend’s house during the Chinese New Year, you can’t go empty-handed.
Besides, these guards also have to celebrate the New Year.
"This one is for you, and the other one is for Xu Sheng. I gave it to Zhang San quietly along the way. The other guards, Hu Datou and the others, each have fifty guan. It's not easy. Let's all have a good New Year! "
Li Tang came out with a bunch of red envelopes with a grimace. Zhao Hong took them, took out a few and stuffed them into Li Tang.
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Li Tang smiled brightly, his dark face turned into a blooming chrysanthemum, and he took the "red envelope" with trembling hands.
I have been looking forward to it in my heart, thinking that there will be a five-gun and ten-gun, but I didn't expect it to be a fifty-gun!
This is more than half a year’s salary!
This New Year will be much better.
This Zhang San was really lucky to have Zhao Hong miss him so much.
What ability did Wu Wenying, a useless poor scholar, have that could make Zhao Hong willingly spend so much money?
Zhao Hong is still the same as before, he is stupid and has a lot of money. The only difference is that Zhao Hong treats these guards and servants much better!
Outside Chaotianmen, Qingpingfang, the Yan family rice shop is also very busy at the moment. Couplets are posted, firecrackers are set off, and a group of people are busy preparing for the New Year's Eve banquet.
Yan Chun was sitting in the room, holding a charcoal-pulling tongs in his hand, fascinated by the charcoal fire in the basin.
She has a delicate face and charming charm. From that angle, she is an impeccable beauty.
But now, such a graceful beauty is staring at the fire in a daze.
"...The breeze smiles, causing loneliness, and all the pride is left is an evening glow..."
Singing softly in harmony, Yan Chun's mind came alive.
At this time, she inexplicably hated herself, hating herself for not studying well when she was a child, so that she was almost blind now.
...The country is so beautiful that it attracts countless heroes to bow down!
Are you talented and unique, or are you a libertine?
Otherwise, why would those shameless women visit us during the Chinese New Year to demand romantic debts?
How could he be so confident? How come the teeth are so white?
Yan Chun frowned slightly as he thought about it.
At this time, she was very interested in Zhao Hong, and subconsciously, she felt that she was inherently deficient.
In front of Zhao Hong, all her pride seemed worthless.
She was of noble birth, glamorous, young and wealthy. She had been living in praise and envy, which made her arrogant and self-righteous.
Until I met Zhao Hong.
"Do I know you very well? Why did I do this to you? Who do you think you are?"
In just a few words, all her pride disappeared.
She has lived in a world of beauty since she was a child, and what she hates most are those dandies who lack individuality and are self-righteous. The handsome young men around her were extremely attentive to her and catered to her needs, but she didn't like any of them. She felt that these people were either rude or arrogant and vulgar.
No one has ever openly contradicted her like Zhao Hong, but she couldn't get rid of him.
"Master, it's New Year's Eve, do you want to go out to watch the fireworks and relax?"
Opening his eyes, Yan Chun frowned, seeming to have something on his mind, and said from the side.
Although he was worried that his master would cause trouble when he went out, when he saw that his master was unhappy, Zhang Zhang couldn't help but persuade him.
"Did he accept all the horses he gave to Zhao Hong?"
Yan Chun said quietly, speaking softly.
"Zhao Hong? That Duke Ji Guo!"
Zhang Zhang suddenly understood and nodded quickly.
"I've accepted them all. However, I haven't had any contact with you in the past few days, and no one from the house over there has returned the gift."
"This guy has no manners!"
For some reason, Yan Chun felt disappointed when he heard that Zhao Hong had not returned his visit.
"Remember, under the feet of the Emperor of Lin'an Prefecture, dragons and snakes are mixed together, and everyone is everywhere. Zhao Hong has a special status, and he must protect what should be maintained."
"Master, what do you mean, let's go visit Zhao Hong today?"
When he opened it, Yan Chun couldn't help but feel something in his heart.
On New Year's Eve, it seems harmless to send gifts and visit.
"Open up and prepare some gifts. Let's go to Duke Ji's Mansion!"
Yan Chun put down the tongs and stood up.
"Now? Is it too late?"
"Why is it late! On New Year's Eve, people in Song Dynasty stay at home to celebrate the festival. Let's go give gifts, who can say anything? Besides, just go back as soon as you go, it won't take long."
Yan Chun muttered secretly in his heart. I don’t know who Zhao Hong has in his house and what they are doing.
When they arrived at Duke Ji's Mansion, Yan Chun asked Zhang Kai to knock on the door, while he hid behind the stone lion next to the door.
"Master, Zhao Hong went out to visit friends and is not in the house!"
Zhang Zhang came back to report, which not only disappointed Yan Chun, but also made him feel much more relaxed.
Somehow, the thought of meeting Zhao Hong made her really nervous.
"Let's go back!"
Yan Chun turned around and was about to leave.
"Master, you're already here, why don't you wait a while?"
Zhang Zhang asked softly. You’ve already given me all the gifts, how about you go back so easily?
"It's such a cold day, I'm just waiting here, I'm not in the mood!"
Yan Chun took a step to leave, but suddenly stopped again.
"Open, does Lin'an City, like Tokyo City, have to celebrate the Lantern Festival?"
"Returning to my master, the Lantern Festival in Lin'an City is much more lively than that in Tokyo City. It will last for about five days, and the king and the people will enjoy it together."
Open and confused. After a while, why did the host ask about the Lantern Festival again?
"Go back first and come back during the New Year's Eve Festival!"
Yan Chun no longer hesitated and stepped forward quickly, opening his mouth to follow quickly. Together, the master and servant merged into the strange and bustling flow of people on the street.
