Chapter 2 Shangyuan Festival
This is not the first time I heard Ying Zhen’s name. A few years ago, Chen Yuan had heard of this famous young master. However, the more magical it was rumored outside, the more Chen Yuan felt that this person could not afford such a reputation. After all, such magical rumors were mostly gimmicks, and maybe this real Ying Zhen was nothing more than a lie.
Compared to Gu Zheng, Chen Yuan did not take Yu Jing's visit to China to heart. She still lived as usual, watching books and tea, or dressed in Qiaozhuang every day, and visiting big and small street markets in Jinzhou.
Jinzhou is the capital of Xihua, which means prosperity and magnificent elegance.
This day is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Chinese New Year.
An ugly and thin young man led his men to set up a porridge shed in the alley, and his servants lined up, guarding their little masters, while organizing the elderly and children to collect relief items in turn.
Every year during the Chinese New Year, he comes here to pack porridge and apply medicine. No one knows which young master he is, and no one knows why this ugly young master comes to help these poor people. But people don’t care about these things. They only care about what they really get. Human nature is sometimes so ridiculous, just seeking to get it, not knowing gratitude.
When the food and medicinal materials were distributed, the group of people neatly packed everything and escorted the ugly young master to an old carriage. The group disappeared from the sight of the humble alley. Yes, the humble alley welcomed the arrival of this young master more than the people in the humble alley, and was even more reluctant to leave him...
"Miss, hurry up and wipe it, look at you like this!" In the carriage, a crisp complaint floated out of the car window. "I really don't know why it's so troublesome to do a good thing!"
"What is our lady? If someone knows this, the onlookers will probably squeeze through this narrow alley!" Another girl handed over a towel stained with water and said with a smile.
Chen Yuan gently wiped the scars on her face, with her bare hands and a veil to remove the filth. In a moment, her original skin appeared, like a white jade brushed by rain, shining with gleam, her eyebrows were like water bays and her eyes were as autumn. Someone had seen her at the birthday party, who had not yet been in the hairpin, and praised her appearance as not inferior to the wife of Weihou and the sister of the Eastern Palace. It made people forget the customs when they saw it, which was the best appearance in the world!
Since then, as long as the "No. 1 position in the world" is mentioned, people will know that Gu Chenyuan, the granddaughter of Gu Zheng, the old prime minister of Xihua Kingdom. However, since the birthday banquet was praised, Chen Yuan has rarely shown her face in front of everyone, which makes people even more fascinated. She only feels that no one else in the four countries can compare with her.
In fact, Chen Yuan came to the shabby alley to do good deeds not to show off to the world. She just wanted to help these suffering people, so she didn't have to set up a shed next to the Prime Minister's Mansion to attract people to watch, nor did she need to dress up carefully to make people think. She just had to follow her original intention. Besides, the world said that wealth was not exposed. If she was beautiful and generous, she would not know that it would cause trouble on that day and add to the trouble! It would always be safer to act in a low-key manner.
The carriage took a few turns and finally entered through the corner gate of the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Gu Zheng in the study was holding his beard and frowning, holding a secret note on the place. He heard the servants say that Chen Yuan was back, so he quickly asked someone to call her over.
When Chen Yuan arrived at the study, he had completely returned to the appearance of a lady from the Prime Minister's House, but the clothes on her body had not yet been replaced.
“Is it going well today?”
"It's been smooth, but this year there seems to be more people coming to collect things than in the previous two years. The freezing disaster has eased, but more and more refugees gather. Can you tell me why my grandfather?" Chen Yuan brought a cup of tea and handed it over, smiled sweetly, revealing two shallow dimples.
"Well," Gu Zheng sighed, "Fengxia Yujing and other countries have fought for several months. Many refugees have flocked to our border with Western China to burn, kill and loot. Wherever they go, they are all in a mess... The people there can escape. The towns in the north are now purgatory on earth..."
"It's really a fire in the city gate that has affected the pond fish. I pity my Xihua subjects to suffer this innocent suffering." Chen Yuan was a little angry, but more worried.
Since the new emperor of Yujing Kingdom ascended the throne, wars have continued to occur, first suppressing internal rebellious forces, and then bullying other countries' cities. Over the past few years, Yujing Kingdom has attacked strongly and gradually expanded its territory. If this continues, I am afraid that its ambition will be even greater. Among the four countries, Fengxia lives in the north and Qiyan is in the south, and only Xihua Yujing faces east and west. The current storm is happening, and I don’t know what the situation will be like in the future.
"I just received the invitation from the palace. Today, the palace invites all ministers from all over the world to celebrate the New Year's Day together, you..."
"My grandfather knows what I think, and there are so many troubles in the palace. Yuan'er doesn't want to be used for nothing. It's better to go shopping in Huajie, guessing a few riddles interesting!" Chen Yuan said while holding Gu Zheng's arm, and an excited light flashed in his eyes.
Gu Zheng didn't force her, and then said seriously: "Well, bring more followers when you go out at night, and you can play, but you can't..."
"Don't lose your identity, and don't argue with others!" Chen Yuan pretended to be old and listened to Gu Zheng's tone, which made the old prime minister laugh and laugh.
"You can't dress this way, just be an ordinary lady and go out generously!" Gu Zheng said with a little dissatisfaction after vocalizing Chen Yuan's outfit. Although he has been very fond of Chen Yuan over the years, he is more sorry for her and has lost her parents and is lonely and helpless. Fortunately, Chen Yuan is smart and has not disappointed his high expectations. But he still feels a little regretful. If Chen Yuan is a man, it might be a different scene.
Gu Zheng waved his hand and asked her to go back and clean up, swallowing all the words in her heart. Things in the world are unpredictable and cannot be forced.
The sun was rising, and when Chen Yuan came out of Gu Zheng's study, he saw the glows shining brightly in the sky and the auspicious air rose. The servants in the yard stopped to watch and said that on this festival, there should be a happy event.
Chen Yuan looked at the horizon and prayed in her heart, one wishing her grandfather was healthy and healthy, two wishing that the people were harmonious and good, three wishing that the people would be beautiful and kind, three wishes that the three wishes that the beautiful people would always be with her! She smiled and walked forward. In her wish, there were always only others, not the same as her own.
After dinner, Chen Yuan gave some silver rewards to the servants, and asked them to rest their work. Those who had homes went home to reunite, and those who were homeless followed her to watch the lanterns on the street. Everyone happily agreed. In this huge prime minister's mansion, no one didn't like Chen Yuan, probably because she never regarded them as servants, but as family members.
With a few whoosh, fireworks flew into the night sky and bloomed, competing for the bright stars. Fire trees, silver flowers, flying phoenixes and dragons, which means that the first month passes slowly and the new year officially arrives.
The streets are so lively, with lanterns and Lantern Festivals selling them. The simple figure seems to be the most beautiful scenery in the world.
Chen Yuan was walking and eating while accompanying Zhong Ling and Yu Xiu. No one noticed that she was the mysterious lady in the prime minister's family.
"Miss, look at the one who has thorned Zigu over there," Zhong Ling smiled and pointed to a stall in front of him. The stall owner was skillful and the Zigu was in full bloom and vivid, and many people were rushing to watch.
"Go and play, don't go too far." Chen Yuan knew that Zhong Ling liked these things the most, so she let her go to play by herself.
Yu Xiu followed Chen Yuan in an endless manner. She was obviously more agile than Zhong Ling and always paid attention to the people coming and going around her.
Chen Yuan was holding a lantern in her hand. She only liked to bury the riddles. Although she was a woman, she liked to compete with others more than to study the rouge and powder gadgets.
"Always lie on the throne and keep your sharpness, and do not ask for your mother if you have everything. Just say one word to everyone, and you will be happy and happy... I will beat you something?"
Chen Yuan looked at the people around him frowned and tried hard to guess what the answer to the riddle was. He couldn't help but smile and said to Yuxiu quietly, "Although the riddle is not elegant enough, it is also popular. What are you guessing?"
Yu Xiu tilted his head, thought about it all over the objects on the desk in the mansion, and asked uncertainly: "But Ruyi?"
"This girl answered correctly!" The stall owner said while handing the lantern to Yuxiu, and then explained to everyone. Ruyi is usually placed as an ornament on the bedroom and throne. In ancient times, it was an object that people scratched. This is the first two sentences in front of the riddle, and the last two sentences are easier to understand. During the holidays, isn't it just a saying that everything goes well and is a good idea?
Chen Yuan gestured an amazing gesture to her, and Yuxiu suddenly became excited and seemed conceited: "This is too simple!"
Chen Yuan was afraid that her excitement would make a mistake, so he quickly pulled her to find Zhong Ling, and then slipped to other stalls to continue watching, so as not to make the master and servant too conspicuous.
Chapter completed!