The fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Shangyuan Festival.

Legend has it that this day is also the birthday of the Emperor of the Heavenly Palace, and every household in the capital has to put a bowl of rice or noodles at the door of their house to worship the Emperor of Heaven and pray for a year of good weather and abundant grains.

Early in the morning, two long tables were set up outside the gate of the Zhenguo Mansion, and the people under them picked out the freshly cooked white rice one by one, and a basket of round steamed buns was piled up as high as a hill.

At the entrance of the alley, there was a long queue with no end in sight, and the men, women, and children in the line were dressed in rags, and it was clear at a glance that they were the lowest hungry people in the capital. With a look of anticipation in their eyes and a wafting aroma, many of them couldn't help but swallow.

The Zhenguo Mansion will give the food to the hungry people after the Shangyuan Festival every year, so there are people waiting in line at the entrance of the alley early in the morning.

The whole palace, headed by Mrs. Zhenguo, bowed three times and bowed to the tablet of the emperor, praying for the peace of the country and the people.

After the ceremony, the housekeeper rang the gong, and the people outside the door began to distribute a steamed bun and half a bowl of rice per person.

Xia Qingyun stood at the door and watched for a while, sighing secretly in his heart.

In all dynasties, many people in power want to create a peaceful and prosperous era, where everyone is well fed, clothed, and has their own houses. How can it be that even in the previous life of advanced technology and economic prosperity, there were still people who were hungry.

Why are people's destinies so different? This is a question that even economists and sociologists cannot explain.

For unexplained questions, people usually look to religion for answers and solace, perhaps it is karma, and the sins done in this life are destined to be repaid in the next life. The merit accumulated in this life. There will also be good retribution in the next life. She silently reminded herself not to forget to do more good deeds at all times.

"County Lord, why did you come here, but let me find it." Chunxiu's voice came from behind her, she came to her and bowed, and hurriedly said, "Madam is waiting for you to dress up, and she will enter the palace in a while." ”

"Isn't the Shangyuan Lantern Festival at night, so early?" Xia Qingyun asked as he walked.

Chunxiu said with a smile: "Every year on the Shangyuan Festival, the lady has to go into the palace to accompany the queen mother and the queen for lunch, and the county lord has to hurry." Otherwise, you won't be able to catch up with the auspicious time. ”

in the bedroom. Qingmei has already smoked the red brocade sprinkled with gold in the county lord's dress, the rouge has also been mixed evenly, the bamboo grate for combing the hair has also been soaked in osmanthus oil, and the red gold head is neatly arranged on the dressing table. Just waiting for her to come back and make up.

Fortunately, Xia Qingyun's skin is like condensation. No need to powder. Save the most troublesome and time-consuming step. It's a lot faster.

Tap the eyebrows, lightly sweep the rouge, and obliquely pull the temples. Wearing the crown of the five phoenixes and the rising sun, the emerald gold step swaying, the exquisite vermilion hairpin, the forehead of the gold wire inlaid with rubies, the smooth Dongzhu earrings, the waist is a wide belt of moire silk, the Ruyi double fish knot with five-color silk is tied, and the feet are germanium red bronzed deerskin soft-soled boots.

Qingmei stroked her palms and exclaimed: "It's really more beautiful than the fairy in the sky!" ”

Xia Qingyun smiled: "It's as if you've seen a fairy." With this head of Rausch, my neck is going to be sore. ”

"Bear with me, today is a big day, and you must not lose your honor in front of the emperor and queen." Qingmei helped her dust off her clothes, "It's done, let's hurry over, don't let Madame wait for a long time." ”

"What about Cher?"

"I've already followed Chunxiu to the front."

During the festival, the palace is the safest and most dangerous place. Xia Qingyun discussed with Si Hongrui yesterday, and asked Mrs. Zhenguo to take Chunxiu and Xue'er, Qingmei and Qinglan herself, and Heixing to pretend to be Si Hongrui's guards.

Mrs. Zhenguo called someone to urge again, and Qingmei took off the white fox's armpit on the hanger and draped it on Xia Qingyun's body. In the main courtyard, the two green tweed sedan chairs were ready to stop, and the father and mother hurriedly instructed two sentences, and then took a sedan chair with Mrs. Zhenguo and went straight to the palace.

When he came to Cining Palace, Xia Qingyun was startled, it was full of women wearing various dresses, more than three times more than the number of people when he entered the palace on New Year's Day.

In fact, they didn't come too late, but those people were rarely summoned by the Queen Mother and the Queen Mother once, so they naturally came early.

Mrs. Zhenguo whispered in her ear: "The emperor has decreed that the wives and daughters of officials above the fourth rank will enter the palace today. You are the lord of Taiping, except for the queen mother, the queen and a few concubines, the rest of the people don't have to salute. ”

Xia Qingyun nodded lightly, followed behind Mrs. Zhenguo, and walked in without squinting.

After the worship ceremony, Mrs. Zhenguo still sat next to the Queen Mother, and Mrs. Huguo sat under her, nodding with Xia Qingyun with a smile.

The palace people led Xia Qingyun to the seat where the eldest princess was sitting, and the little county lord of Anping saw her and waved his chubby little hand at her. Xia Qingyun smiled in return, looked over, and saw that the county lord of Changping was also here.

According to the order, below the eldest princess is the county lord of Changping, then the third princess and the fourth princess, and then Xia Qingyun's seat.

After that, the wives and daughters of the princes and ministers, when they saw Xia Qingyun coming over, they all cast respectful and envious glances, or implied jealousy.

Qingmei stepped forward to help her untie the big coat, and before she sat down, she heard the third princess say in a weird manner: "Yo, which palace concubine should I be, dressed so luxuriously, look at that fox fur is worth a lot of money, even the queen's palace doesn't have such a good skin." ”

Xia Qingyun lowered her eyes and was silent, and the fourth princess said beside her: "Sister, don't underestimate others, a pound of tea costs a few hundred taels of silver, and people earn more money than our princess!" ”

The status of Shinong businessmen and merchants is very low in Qi State, and they are ridiculing Xia Qingyun's merchant background.

The county lord of Changping didn't seem to understand the meaning of the two people's words, and clapped his hands and laughed, "I like to drink the tea you made!" Another day, you teach me, shovel half of the plum orchard, and I will also learn to grow tea! ”

The third princess covered her mouth and smiled: "Sister Changping, it's not enough for you to only learn to use a hoe, you have to learn to plan the plate, otherwise the Nine Emperor Uncle will have a big head again!" ”

"I don't go out to sell, what do I plan to do?" The county lord of Changping glared at the third princess dissatisfied.

The third princess pretended to wake up and said: "Alas, that is, how can our princess and county lord of the dignified Qi country do those things that show up." ”

"Planting tea and selling tea is the next work, and the tea drinker is not even worse? It's better for my sister to think twice when she speaks! The eldest princess said coldly, "It's a big holiday, don't invite the ancestors to be unhappy!" ”

The third princess pursed her lips, pulled the fourth princess to mutter, glanced at Xia Qingyun a few times from time to time, and snickered.

Xia Qingyun just didn't hear or see, and tasted tea by himself. Qingmei and Qinglan behind them were unhappy. secretly said in my heart, Sister Qingyun has no grievances with you, what are you called. There are gods three feet away from the head, be careful to chew too much on your tongue, and you will become a dumb person in the next life!

Shaoqing, the palace people began to set up meals in a row, the queen mother and the queen raised a glass and said a few auspicious words, the hall came to the sound of staggering, after the feast, and the song girl danced to perform, and invited a few jugglers to help the fun.

Everyone was watching intently, and there were a few crisp crumbling sounds of dishes breaking in Leng Buding, only to hear the county lord of Changping shouting: "Hit you!" Hit you! Kill you slut! (To be continued......)