In this era, the folk customs are relatively more open, women are not so strict, and women can often go out.

After dinner, Zhen Zhen and Lin Lin changed into comfortable clothes and shoes, put on their cloaks and followed Old Man Rong into the carriage, and went to the most prosperous front street leading directly from the palace to the south city gate.

After walking for about half an hour, when I reached the intersection of Qianzheng Street, the crowd began to be bustling, and the carriage was a little difficult to walk.

"Old lady, I can't get through the front." The attendant who followed outside whispered back at the door of the car.

"Let's get out of the car and walk, you just set up the carriage." Old Man Rong gave the order indifferently, and then said softly with a kind smile on his face, "Let's get out of the car." In front of it is the front street, and it is also a street for viewing lanterns. ”

Zhen Zhen's face was obviously filled with excitement and expectant smiles, although Linlin had seen the lanterns before, she was extremely excited every time she came out.

As soon as the three of them stepped out of the car, their ears were filled with the sounds of talking, shouting, and the occasional shouting.

Zhen Zhen and Linlin supported Old Man Rong's arm left and right, tilting their heads and talking and laughing with the old man from time to time, Old Man Rong had an indifferent smile on his face, and nodded from time to time.

After walking for about half an hour, I arrived at the intersection of Qianzheng Street, and I could already see all kinds of lanterns hanging on the roadside of Qianzheng Street, as well as crowded vendor stalls.

When she walked to the main street, she noticed that the crowd was all going in one direction, as if they were all going from north to south.

"Grandfather, why are these people coming from the north, and why aren't they from the south?"

Zhen Zhen and Linlin had already let go of the old man's arm, and just followed the old man left and right.

Old Man Rong smiled, "There are basically no lanterns on the north side of the road we came over, and it is the most prosperous from here to Daxiangguo Temple." ”

"Daxiangguoji? Are there still temples in the city? "Zhen Zhen doesn't seem to have this impression in her memory, huh?

"This Daxiangguo Temple is not an ordinary temple! This temple is a temple of literati! ”

Zhen Zhen understood, but she didn't. Is the temple still divided into civil and military?

Old Man Rong seemed to see Zhen Zhen's question, stretched out his right hand and stroked his beard and said slowly, "This temple has been built for a hundred years, and the incense was not strong at the beginning, and there were only a few foreign wandering monks in the temple.

About 80 years ago, several students who went to Beijing to take the exam, because of their poor family background, stayed in Daxiangguo Temple.

Coincidentally, one of the students won the top prize, and the others all won the second-class jinshi. Later, in order to thank the monastery for providing food and lodging free of charge, those Jinshi and champions successively funded the renovation of the monastery in order to provide food and lodging for more poor students who could not afford to pay for the entrance examination in Beijing.

In this way, passed down from generation to generation, Daxiangguo Temple has actually become a literati temple, which not only provides accommodation for those students who enter Beijing to take the exam, but also provides convenience for those poor children who travel to study. ”

Old man Rong said this, slowed down his pace with emotion, raised his head and exhaled deeply, and then said, "Now there are students living in the Daxiangguo Temple for many years, and the incense in it is also quite vigorous now. ”

After listening to this, Zhen Zhen couldn't help but feel some emotion in her heart, since ancient times, students from poor families would work extra hard because of their poor family background, but because of the road and family background, many students have lost great opportunities to serve the country.

This Daxiangguo Temple has been able to persist for so many years, which shows that the influence is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

"Grandfather, over the years, Daxiangguo Temple has sponsored so many students, where did their money come from?"

Without enough money to support it, it is impossible to hold on for more than 80 years.

"In addition to the donations of some Jinshi who have passed the examination, there are also some high-ranking nobles who will also sponsor some. More money comes from the annual Shangyuan Festival. ”

Zhen Zhen frowned, and Yin Hong's full little lips pursed. Somewhat puzzled, he raised his head and looked at Old Man Rong, "Grandfather, is there any special event in Daxiangguo Temple on the Shangyuan Festival every year?" ”

Old Man Rong laughed, "You girl is clever and smart." The reason why I took you out today is to take you to Daxiangguo Temple to see, as for what kind of activity it is, you will know when you arrive! "Old man Rong actually sold Guan Zi at this time.

Zhen Zhen pursed her little lips, snorted squeamishly in her nose, and didn't insist on getting to the bottom of it anymore.

No longer paying attention to Daxiangguo Temple, Zhen Zhen and Linlin began to pay attention to the lanterns on the side of the street.

In fact, the pattern of lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is about the same every year, which is nothing more than merchants making some lantern riddles to solicit business, so as to sell more lanterns.

"Little aunt, look at those lanterns, they're so beautiful!" Although Linlin has been to the lantern festival several times, she is still fascinated by the lanterns of various shapes on the street every time she comes.

It was the first time she had seen an ancient lantern festival, and she was also attracted by the various novel and fluorescent lanterns.

"Little aunt, look over there, it's a lion brush! And over there, it's a trick, and there are people who can breathe fire out of their mouths! Linlin walked away, talking non-stop, and a few people walked slowly in the direction of Daxiangguo Temple.

In this way, Zhen Zhen's eyes were not enough to look at the lanterns all the way, and the girls behind her also carried a lot of lanterns in their hands.

"Grandfather, what's the place up ahead? Why are the lights so much brighter than in other places? Zhen Zhen looked at the place in front of her where the lights were unusually bright and there were many people, and asked with some curiosity.

"It's almost time to get to the Great Xiangguo Temple in front, and those brightly lit places are the lampstands built by those high-ranking nobles and royal relatives in the capital.

Every year, these families will build a lantern stand here, in addition to exhibiting various lanterns, there are also various riddles, couplets, and poetry competitions.

In fact, these moves also came out of the palace, and they were just a strategy to reflect the closeness of His Majesty and those high-ranking officials and clans. ”

Old Man Rong said in a warm voice with an indifferent face, his tone was gentle and kind, but listening carefully to the words, it was obvious that Old Man Rong did not have any more explanations for these.

Zhen Zhen was silent for a moment, Old Man Rong obviously didn't have any more good feelings or respect for this kind of behavior, it should be that the original purpose of these people is now a disguised strength, the strength to be qualified to build a lampstand here.

Zhen Zhen didn't ask any more, Old Man Rong looked down slightly at Zhen Zhen's slightly clear solemn face, and nodded secretly in his heart, this girl is really smart and wise, she didn't say much just now, and she can understand her vague meaning from it.