Chapter 208: Layout (Medium)

The Shangyuan Festival has finally arrived, and there is nothing more lively in the year than this festival. The grand occasion of this day is even more grand than the New Year. Since the day before, the sound of firecrackers has been heard incessantly during the day, and at night, both poor and rich families have hung lights and candles at the front of the door all night long. And on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, it is even more colorful on the lamp mountain, fire trees and silver flowers, gold and blue shooting, splendid and brilliant, it is really lively and extraordinary. For the people of the capital, this Shangyuan Festival is even more different. This year, the emperor will climb the city tower and watch the lanterns with the people for the festival. At that time, the royal family will celebrate the Lantern Festival with hundreds of officials and civilians, which is really to celebrate with the people and the whole world.

In the evening of this day, the people came early from all directions, rushing to the inner city like a tidal wave, wanting to see the holy face. On both sides of the road were heavily guarded officers and soldiers, forming two strong human walls to open the way. With the sound of several cannons, several city gates opened at the same time, and at the same time, the drums in the city rang out in unison. I don't know who shouted excitedly, and everyone cheered in unison, and for a while the joy was thunderous and boiling. Under the impact of the crowd, the human walls formed by officers and soldiers on both sides of the road were almost squeezed open. The officials had to swing their whips to keep order.

Sheng Xuanyuan rode a horse and stood outside the city gate, looking coldly at the fanatical crowd, as if all this had nothing to do with him. In his opinion, this so-called Imperial Tower Lantern is just a means for the royal family to whitewash the peace. If the people want to celebrate the feast, let them celebrate it. It seems to be prosperous and prosperous, but in fact, it costs the people and money.

At this moment, he saw dozens of eunuchs in the city gate walking unhurriedly on horseback, and Sheng Xuanyuan knew that the emperor's car was about to come out. I don't know if the hundred officials under the city tower have arrived, and whether the banquet has been properly arranged, he thought so, so he tightened the reins and galloped towards the city tower.

The emperor's chariot walked very slowly, and by the time he reached the bottom of the castle, the sky was already a little dark, but the city was still full of people. The streets were crowded with bustling people, men, women and children. For the Shangyuan Festival, the arrival of night is really the beginning of the carnival.

After the emperor and the hundred officials went up to the city tower in turn, they only heard three cannon shots, and firecrackers were set off all over the city, which was deafening. Immediately afterwards, fireworks and salutes were set off in unison, reflecting most of the sky in purple and red, dazzling and dazzling. Looking down from the city tower, I saw that the whole city was brightly lit, and there were colorful lanterns everywhere, as bright as day. The sound of salutes, cheers, children's cries, silk and bamboo pipe music, gongs and drums, and the shouts of vendors are mixed together, and the noise is like a tide. With such a blazing fire and flowers, the prosperity of the world seems to be the extreme.

Faced with such a scene, Sheng Xuanyuan had no intention of watching it at this moment. He patrolled back and forth on the castle tower, and in addition to hearing reports from time to time about the situation in various places, he also had another important matter on his mind.

"Your Highness, a few connected shops at the north gate just now caught fire, and my subordinates have sent people to extinguish them, but fortunately there are no casualties." One of the guards came up panting and said.

"I've seen it, and it's well done. But to figure out whether it was unintentional or if someone set it on purpose. If there is any suspicious person, take it down first! ”

"Yes!"

"And ......" Sheng Xuanyuan was about to continue to say something, but he saw Guanyun in military uniform walking up from under the city tower, so he changed his words again: "That's all, you go." ”

"Yes!"

After the guard left, Sheng Xuanyuan called Guanyun over and asked in a low voice, "How are things going?" ”

In this noisy castle tower, no one could hear their conversation clearly. Guanyun's voice was also very low, and he said, "It's smooth." ”

Sheng Xuanyuan asked again: "Have you arranged the person who answered?" ”

"My father has arranged it all in place, and they are all reliable." Guanyun paused for a moment, and then said, "Father still has something for me to bring to you." ”

"Say it."

He said that His Highness should think twice about this matter. There is no need for you to take such a big risk for the Lin family. As soon as you give the order, they will withdraw immediately. ”

Sheng Xuanyuan smiled and said, "Of course I'm not for your Lin family, I'm for myself." In all fairness, this is good for everyone, and there is no harm in it, and your father knows it very well. In the future, it is better to say less about such empty words. ”

Guanyun lowered his head and replied, "Yes." ”

At this time, I saw the emperor pacing out from inside, followed by a group of eunuch guards. The two hurriedly saluted, and accompanied the emperor around the city tower. Looking at the jubilation of all the people below, the emperor was in a good mood at the moment, stopped and looked around at the people around him, and suddenly smiled and said to Guanyun in the crowd: "I remember, you entered the palace in the twelfth year of Qingyuan?" ”

Guanyun immediately stood up and bowed and said, "The emperor has a good memory!" It was that year that the minister entered the palace and became the companion of the three highnesses. ”

"In this way, you are also a person who has been with you for more than 30 years. Your uncle Lin Muyang was also my companion back then, but it's a pity that he went early. Your father has worked hard for my dynasty all these years and has made great contributions to our dynasty, but now he is also tired......" Speaking of this, the emperor seemed to be a little overwhelmed, and said: "We are still old after all...... Young people, with a lot of experience, it's up to you in the future! ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone hurriedly laughed and said: "What is the emperor talking about, you are at the peak of the Spring and Autumn Period!" ”

Some quipped: "If the emperor is old, the minister should have rolled back into the coffin a long time ago!" ”

Despite the jokes, everyone knew the emperor's intentions in their hearts. In order for the future crown prince to succeed to the throne smoothly, the emperor is going to start using new people. These old people, it's better to know each other and stand aside.

On this Shangyuan night, the people are very lively, and the imperial city is also full of flowers. The emperor feasted the ministers outside, and the concubines in the palace accompanied the queen mother, eating, drinking, watching plays, guessing lantern riddles, and the family banquet was also grand and gorgeous. The palace ladies sang and danced, and even the eunuchs walked around in gowns printed with lantern scenes, and there was a joyful and peaceful atmosphere everywhere.

On such a lively night, no one noticed that in the corner of a deserted cold palace, two eunuchs were changing clothes.

I only heard one of them suddenly say: "Lotus root, it's broken......"

"Huh? What's wrong? ”

"Your brother prepared for us the clothes that the eunuchs usually wear......"

"So what about ......"

"So we can't go out tonight...... But don't be disappointed, the teacher is very familiar with the route here, and I'll go to the imperial dining room to steal a chicken for you in a while! ”

At this time, only a few loud bangs were heard, and the sound of firecrackers in the whole city exploded at the same time again. When the two of them looked up, they saw fireworks in the sky blooming in unison, as if they were about to occupy the sky.