In the afternoon, Li Jin and Qiu Shi were going to go to the street to buy New Year's goods, and Zixuan was clamoring to go together. Look at the east and west, there are a lot of all kinds of gadgets, Zixuan fell in love with a pair of pottery dolls, a man and a woman, two children in red clothes and green jackets, festive like a New Year's painting.

Qiu Shi stepped forward and whispered in her ear: "Miss Zixuan, are you thinking about asking for a child before you get married?" ”

Zixuan glared at her head, and handed the money to the boss, "I just think it's festive, can't I?" If you say that you want a son, you have to ask your sister-in-law first. ”

Qiu Shi's face was flushed, "You're talking nonsense again!" Being a young lady is not like being a young lady. ”

Zixuan stepped forward and grabbed her arm, "I don't treat myself as a young lady, I treat myself as Li Jin's sister, so naturally I am your sister-in-law." ”

Qiu Shi was so angry that he stomped his feet, but his heart was full of joy.

Li Jin caught up from behind and said, "What are you two talking about?" I heard that the 'Driving Brigade' on Chinese New Year's Eve in Daxing City is very lively, should we come at night? ”

"Of course!" The two girls spoke in unison.

In the traditional Chinese culture, "Nian" is a kind of monster, and the New Year originally contains quite a strong component of driving away ghosts and ghosts, keeping peace and praying for auspiciousness, and "driving away" is a ritual that embodies this role, which has lasted for thousands of years in ancient China. And every year on Chinese New Year's Eve, "driving brigades" are organized everywhere, everyone puts on masks, spontaneously organizes, and goes to the streets to party, with some dance and music performances in the middle, full of festive and joyful atmosphere.

Daxing is the capital, and the "Expelling Brigade" is larger than elsewhere. At night, every household lights a large fire in the courtyard, called "Ting Liao", and the sky-high light of the fire shines through the courtyard wall and gate, illuminating the street. Zixuan, Li Jin, and Qiu Shi all wore masks and followed the "Exorcism Brigade" and jumped and shouted excitedly.

At the front of the "Driving Brigade" there is a pair of men and women, wearing the masks of the old man and the old woman leading the dance, and their roles are called the mother of the woman; Surrounding them were eight hundred children wearing children's masks, called the Guardians; The other people are wearing all kinds of ghost masks and acting as villains. And it is also accompanied by the singing of the exorcism:

When he came to the palace from afar, he was smiling and frightened. Under the wall, by the fence. The head is scowled, and the eyes are separated. Ride a wild fox and go around the alley. Catch him, Xiang Di. Plugged his mouth and slapped in the face. Grinding in the grinding, grinding in the inside. Wok soup rotten, fried bean vinegar. Set fire to it and grab it with a gun. The knife cuts, and the flesh is broken. Because of today's drive away the monsters, Naqing Xianxiang has no calamity!

It is a spectacular sight for such a large group of people to swim through Suzaku Street......

When it was almost time, the three of them returned home, and Mrs. Wei had already prepared the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner.

As soon as the three of them entered the house laughing, they heard the bells and drums on the street and the sound of firecrackers. It's time for the sub! It's a time to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new! The three of them were busy greeting Aunt Wei and greeting each other.

The four of them sat at the table, and Aunt Wei poured wine for the three of them, "Come on!" Drink Tusu wine first, drive away evil spirits, detoxify, and prolong life. ”

Zixuan picked it up and sniffed it, wrinkling his nose, "What kind of smell is this?" How is it like Chinese medicine? ”

"You have to drink whatever it tastes, it's the rule!" Qiu Shi grabbed it and poured it into Zixuan while laughing.

Zixuan was choked by the salty, bitter, and undrinkable wine and coughed, "Sister-in-law...... You're ...... Obviously revenge ......"

It made everyone laugh. Qiu Shi took the Wuxin plate and said: "It's not over yet, you have to eat a little bit of everything in these five Xin plates, radiate the five internal organs, prevent the epidemic, and don't get sick." ”

Zixuan looked at the five kinds of vegetables on the plate, which were garlic, small garlic, leeks, brassica, and coriander. Zixuan frowned, there were really a lot of things to pay attention to in this ancient Spring Festival, so he ate a little bit of everything.

Li Jin said: "Okay, okay, I've eaten all the unpalatable things this time, it's time to eat the sweet ones." ”

Li Jin took a piece of gum tooth for Zixuan, which was roughly what was called maltose today.

Zixuan was eating, when he saw Aunt Wei bring a large plate of dumplings and shouted happily: "Dumplings!" Dumplings! That's great! I want to eat dumplings! ”

Aunt Wei was stunned for a moment, looking at the thing in her hand, "Miss Zixuan, what do you call it?" ”

Zixuan said in a daze: "Dumplings, isn't it?" ”

Aunt Wei said: "This is called 'Tangzhong Prison Pill', not any dumplings." ”

"Huh? Is it? My hometown called it dumplings, and it turned out to be 'Yuzhongmaru'. Zixuan said curtly, put one in his mouth, it was very fragrant, it was obviously a dumpling! I didn't expect to know its ancient name today......

The four of them finished the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, Lady Wei rested early, Li Jin and Qiu Shi naturally had to spend the moon before and after, Zixuan could not be a light bulb, so he slowly walked to his room alone.

A few stars hung sparsely above the canopy, sprinkling a faint brilliance, Qinghua was like water, and Mu people's clothes were like frost and snow. It was reflecting the snow in the backyard, and the silver light was shining. There is always a coldness hidden behind the bustle, Zixuan stretched out his hand, and looked at the low-hanging night, as if he could touch the endless horizon and feel the cold brilliance.

"Dad, Mom, happy New Year...... Sister, where are you celebrating the New Year......" Zixuan muttered.

"Father! May my father be blessed and prolong the new day and celebrate his life without borders......"

Zixuan was startled, and looked at the back garden along the voice, and sure enough, it was Yang Huaijun, who was kneeling alone in the direction of Jiangdu.

I only heard her continue to read: "May God bless my Great Sui, destroy the rebellious ministers and thieves as soon as possible, and may my father return to Beijing as soon as possible......"

At this moment, Zixuan actually saw Wei Jue walking towards the back garden from the opposite side with the maid Yun'er. Oh, my God! If these words were listened to by Wei Jue......

Zixuan hurriedly picked up a stone and threw it in the back garden, quickly hiding behind a tree.

"Who?" When Yang Huaijun heard the movement, he quickly stood up and wiped away his tears.

Na Wei Jue had already entered the back garden, and it seemed that she had come prepared.

"Yo! Mrs. Yang, why are you here alone during the Chinese New Year? When I saw you kneeling on the ground, who did you worship? That direction seems to be Jiangdu! Wei Jue said defiantly.

Yang Huaijun's eyes did not dodge, and asked rhetorically, "How do you know that I am here?" ”

The corners of Wei Jue's lips hooked, "If you don't want people to know, unless you have done it." ”

Yang Huaijun sneered: "You are really idle, who do I worship and what does it matter to you?" ”

"It's none of my business, but it's about the Duke of Qin and the King of Tang." Wei Qijun raised his eyebrows.

"I'm not afraid they'll know ...... if I do it"

"Mrs. Yang!" Zixuan saw Yang Huaijun's expression of looking at death, so he had to jump out before she could tell the truth, "I said that I met here, Zixuan is late, and I ask Mrs. Yang not to blame me." ”

"Yang Zixuan?" Wei Jue was very surprised by her appearance, "Why are you here?" ”

Zixuan smiled, "I've met Mrs. Wei, I made an appointment with Mrs. Yang to help her pray here." ”

"Prayer? What blessings to pray for? Wei Jue stared at her with a pair of peach blossom eyes.

Zixuan took out the small pottery doll he bought in the afternoon, "Ask for a son!" Mrs. Wei, you are already pregnant, and this Mrs. Yang and you entered the door at the same time, so you are naturally in a hurry! You see, she specially sent me to buy it, and it's better to have a dragon and phoenix fetus! ”

Wei Jue glanced at Yang Huaijun, "Hmph, ask for a son, then you can beg for it, I hope that Gong Qin can go to you a few more times." Let's go. ”

Wei Jue took Yun'er out of the back garden, and Zixuan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why help me? Who wants you to help, you and I am afraid of them? Yang Huaijun asked behind her.

Zixuan turned his head, "Aren't you afraid?" ”

Yang Huaijun glanced at her contemptuously, "Why should I be afraid? They are rebels and thieves, and they are the ones to be afraid of! God will destroy them! ”

Zixuan said indifferently: "God won't, your father is perverse, they are doing the right thing for heaven!" ”

"Shut up! You are not allowed to insult my father! Yang Huaijun raised his hand and was about to hit her.

Zixuan grabbed her hand, "What kind of emperor your father is, you should know better than anyone else!" You just don't want to admit it! ”

Yang Huaijun glared at her with tears in his eyes, "But no matter what, he is my father!" ”

Zixuan suddenly sympathized with her, "Yes, no matter what, he is your father, but what about the people in the world?" If he was just an ordinary father, it would be fine, but he is the emperor of all the people in the world. Do you know how many people died for his great joy? Family affection has blinded you! ”

"I know, I know that my father has done a lot of wrong things, but I will persuade him to change!" Yang Huaijun cried.

Zixuan said gloomily: "It's a pity that some things are too late to settle down." ”

"Is it too late?" Yang Huaijun seemed to lose her strength all of a sudden, and sat down on the ground, she suddenly hugged Zixuan's legs, "They all said that you can pinch and calculate, then you can help me calculate, does my father really have no remedy?" ”

Zixuan raised his head and closed his eyes, not wanting to see her sad appearance, "I'm sorry, I can't help you." ”

Yang Huaijun's eyes were hollow and he lost focus, "Then I can only be martyred in this body......

Zixuan's eyes were covered with mist, and he squatted down and wiped the tears on her face, "Is it worth it?" You are just a weak woman, and you are not responsible for the suffering of the people of the world. ”

"So what should I do? I am my father's favorite princess. Yang Huaijun burst into tears.

Zixuan put his arm around her and patted her on the back, "I know, I know...... If you really want your father to be good, you will live well, and every father wants his children to be well......"

Yang Huaijun wailed and cried in Zixuan's arms......

The knock on the door sounded, Zixuan really didn't want to open her eyes, she didn't sleep well at all after Yang Huaijun's commotion last night.

"Miss Zixuan, it's time to get up. Today is the first day, and if you want to wear new clothes, the second son specially sent a set. Qiu Shi said outside.

Zixuan jumped out of bed, opened the door and asked, "Is he back?" ”

Qiu Shi said with a smile: "I'm back, but I'm going to pay New Year's greetings to King Tang with the second young grandmother in a while." He asked me to send it to you. ”

I954