Afterwards, Jiang Tian got into a four-wheeled wide carriage that was obviously exclusive to Kodakya. It was plain on the outside but quite exquisitely decorated on the inside. Not only are there carpets and cushions placed on the car floor, but many furnishings such as desks, cabinets, and shelves are also arranged in sequence, as well as retractable wall lamps, hooks, and other items.
The carriage drove slowly through most of the city in the night, and finally stopped under an archway; above it were the three characters "Pingkangfang". Then, he transferred to two carriages (similar to slide poles and soft sedan chairs) that were specially lifted by people; and continued to move forward surrounded by a group of people on foot.
And Koda Ya, who was talking about it all the way, also explained seriously again: "Please don't mind, sir, this is a place where the imperial court has issued an order that no carriage or horse riding is allowed, regardless of the noble or the poor; I am Although I didn’t care about these trivial details in the past, I didn’t want to disturb my husband’s nature.”
Jiang Tian nodded and said it was okay. Pingkangfang is called Fangqu, which is actually the size of a small city. Therefore, it covers a large area, and the truly famous Pingkang Sanqu (three miles) is located to the north of the cross street that runs vertically; while to the south is the It is a gathering place for musicians and actors.
Jiang Tian also changed his outfit for this trip. At this moment, he was able to put on the status of a scholar, packing a meticulous green ramie shirt and black short boots, and wearing a transparent and light black gauze bun; and a small shallow crimson fish bag hung on the copper-buckled sash around his waist. , indicating an official background.
Inside were the identity badges "Co-organized by Yu Shili Xing", hard certificates of local settlement, and iron pieces representing the identity of a certain family member. Therefore, even if you happen to encounter Jinwu's disciples who maintain night patrols or bad people, you are not afraid of the other party's interrogation and questioning.
In fact, the advantage of traveling with followers who greet you at the front and back is reflected here. Surrounded by these followers who look like they are not just ordinary people, you will rarely and probably be intercepted and interrogated. Even when these subordinates met the patrolling team, they were quite familiar with each other and greeted them by name.
Therefore, I walked on Pingkangfang Street, which was full of lights and crowded with people. Through the gauze that flutters gently in the night wind, Jiang Tian can not only enjoy the street scene with red sleeves waving pedestrians under the bright moonlight at night, but also leisurely listen to the faint sound of silk and bamboo and the sounds of men and women. Full of ambiguity and charming laughter.
However, with the faint whistling and gasping sounds of the lifting frame, the raft swayed gently and rhythmically. He also seemed to be flooded with memories in his mind, slowly recalling the various words and introductions given to him by his older companions when his predecessor first came to Chang'an to see the world and broaden his horizons.
The three Pingkangli songs are well-known in Beijing and have their own characteristics. The unique feature of the Nanqu lies in the densely distributed flower streets. There are more than a hundred listed villas along the street in Quzhong alone, and in the winding streets and alleys and single-family houses, there are far more than these that are open privately.
Therefore, this area is also called Hongxianggou. It is said that the makeup of the girls there makes the flowing water colorful like a rainbow all the year round, and the fragrance remains undiminished when it flows to other villages. Then it even gave birth to a low-level folk business, which is to salvage flower mother-of-pearl and other things in Hongxiang Valley...
At this moment, as the night gradually deepens, you can already see some very luxurious and exaggerated places on the roadside, with brightly colored lights and curtains, and affectionate greetings and farewells. Just the tourists on this road are coming one after another, the red sleeves on both sides are waving, and the pearls and emeralds between the exposed breasts and arms are swaying wildly, it is a prosperous and luxurious atmosphere in the capital.
However, these are just the outermost third- and fourth-rate monasteries. It is better than those private prostitution parlors with half-open doors or self-operated prostitutes... because it is said that the better ones keep their own worth and will not come out to tease the customers. At most, it can only attract some wealthy and businessmen who have just arrived in the capital.
After passing the double archway and passing through the Drum Tower in Fang District, the style of the street gradually changed into a different look; although tourists and visitors were still coming and going and cars and horses were trampling, it seemed leisurely and clean. A lot. Even the faint sound of silk and bamboo became less noisy and chaotic.
Because when it comes to the middle part of the song, these villas are not like their counterparts in the front. They are full of customers and chatting in the streets. There are only people wearing neat, clean and uniform clothes, smiling and saying nothing, greeting guests and waiters, looking at each other. He kept nodding and bowing at the people passing by on the roadside, which seemed to be a bit stylish;
Only the wind moved the curtains, the occasional chirping of warblers, and the laughter of singing and dancing workers, tempting people to explore. On the contrary, there are all kinds of beauties leaning on the railing upstairs, leaning or sitting, with beautiful faces and charming faces. They don't say hello, only occasionally chuckling and chuckling to the street. It naturally arouses people's thoughts.
However, this is nothing more than a second-rate place. Allowing female prostitutes to show their faces in a secretive manner has become a problem in the eyes of those who pursue elegance... It also welcomes some arty and middle-class people. The smaller layout is not expensive, and it has a certain mood, but the depth and connotation of music, chess, calligraphy and painting are just that.
Therefore, the ride they took continued to move forward without stopping. As the flow of people on foot gradually thinned out, and the people riding the ride became less and less seen, they arrived at the place between Pingkang Zhongqu and The transition zone between Nanqu. At this time, the scene in the street market was different.
The streets here are spacious, planted with flowers and decorated with strange stone bonsais, and the overall environment is quiet and comfortable. The most eye-catching thing is undoubtedly the long and short courtyard walls, as well as the colorful bamboo awnings extending from the eaves of the walls. Therefore, even if it rains continuously for a long time in the winding alleys that are more than ten miles long, there is no pain at all;
However, every ten steps away there is water flowing down the elevated bamboo canal and pouring into the open ditches on both sides; between dozens of steps there is water washing over the top of the small pavilion where pedestrians rest, covering it like a curtain of rain and the sound of water gurgling. Gurgling, adding some exquisite taste and bringing a moist coolness.
This is the origin of "Water Pavilion", one of the forty-eight scenic spots in Chang'an. But in Jiang Tian's field of vision, he seemed to see something flashing past these high walls and scattered buildings. Just as he was about to say something, the ride stopped, but a boy following him on foot reminded him in a low voice:
"Mr. Lang, we have arrived at the banquet place in Guizhi Garden, but the road ahead is difficult to pass."
"Then just come down and take a few steps..."
Kodakya seemed to be a different person now, nodded proudly, and then explained to Gao Ming apologetically:
"This is really the rule here. Even the Jinwu Guards and the patrol officials will not be offended easily. Naturally, I originally wanted to entertain you well at Yiying Tower, but something happened there. So I can only ask you sir to have a drink here first."
"That's obvious. As long as we can be of the same mind, it won't be the same no matter where we are."
Jiang Tian also straightened his clothes and said with a smile:
"Sir, please come with me."
Kodakya couldn't help but feel relieved and sincerely convinced when he heard this:
Not far away, you can see a tall colorful building made of bamboo and wood and hung with various lanterns. As the background of the colorful building is a quite exquisite and elegant building complex; the courtyard walls on both sides of the building are towering and continuous, giving it a faint and elegant look. While exploring the branches of the blossoming trees, if you hadn't looked carefully, you would have thought it was a mansion belonging to a wealthy family; even the person who greeted you at the door was described as neatly dressed and neatly dressed, with his head held high and his chest held high, not like a person who eats rosy rice.
In fact, the predecessor of this Guizhi Garden was the hometown of a vassal; that is, the late owner of Du Qiuniang, who became famous for her song "Golden Thread Clothes", was built in Beijing by Li Qi, the governor of Zhenhai during the Yuanhe Dynasty. The earlier site can even be traced back to part of the palace residence built by Shangguan Wan'er, a talented woman known as the "Women Prime Minister" during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty.
According to the private legend of Koda Ya, it was here that Shangguan Wan'er, a talented woman of the generation who had experienced the two dynasties of Gaozong, Wuzhou and Zhongzong, flaunted her high profile and was invited to be the guest of the curtain; she and many talented people were by the pool in the garden. They feasted and had fun and stayed up all night for several days before resting. Therefore, it is also one of the unique high-end places among Pingkang Sanqu.
"But Lord Jiulang, my master has been waiting in the court for a long time..."
In the distance, there were two rows of people in green robes and hats, holding lanterns and stepping forward with small steps, and greeted them in a uniform tone.
"Please come with me, little one..."
Then, a young boy in the lead, familiar with the way, introduced Kodak Ya and Jiang Tian and his party into the huge hall with floating curtains. At this time, something suddenly flashed across the corner of Jiang Tian's field of vision again, but when he looked carefully, there was only the sound of wind and the roaring of trees.
