Chapter 60: The Night of the First Yuan (Part II)
A round moon climbs the treetops, the night is getting thicker, the street is already very lively, there are people who go out to enjoy the lanterns and play, the scene of traffic and horses jamming the road in Chang'an City, and the wide streets have become very crowded.
"The willow tops on the moon, after dusk," Shangyuan Night is also a time for couples to play together, but it is rare to see Liu Yi alone, followed by many women dressed in men's clothes.
Princess Taiping, Shangguan Wan'er, as well as Xiaoyun, Ping'er and many other maids followed Liu Yi or behind him, Princess Taiping brought out several guards from the palace, as well as more than 20 personal guards brought by Liu Yi, followed around, the huge lantern viewing team is very eye-catching, especially the handsome and tall Liu Yi, and the few pretty people around him who can't see men and women, are even more eye-catching.
Liu Yi promised Princess Taiping to take them out to enjoy the lanterns, but he never thought of such a situation today, including the two daughters visiting his mansion and leading so many people out to enjoy the lanterns, all of which were far from what he had imagined. The plan was to put on makeup for these two women, and the three of them quietly went to see the lights, without an entourage, so that they would be very free, and they could have fun, and they could even hug these two beauties left and right. But now there are so many followers behind him, and many pairs of eyes are staring at a few of them, and they are not free at all, which makes him lose some interest.
But since you come out to play, you have to have fun, otherwise it's a pity that this special festival of Shangyuan Festival, especially Shangguan Wan'er, who is usually difficult to get out of the palace, this time it is all because of Princess Taiping who has the opportunity to go out of the palace to play on the Shangyuan Festival, she can't let her be disappointed, Liu Yi hopes that Shangguan Wan'er will follow her out to play after being frightened in her own house, so that she can get rid of the fear and embarrassment just now, and return happy.
In order to let everyone have fun, Liu Yi ordered his own personal guards, as well as Princess Taiping's guards, except for Liu Ben and Liu Quan's personal guards, others followed at a distance, don't rely on them too close, Liu Yi himself and Shangguan Wan'er, Princess Taiping and several maids have dressed up, Liu Yi is not afraid that others will recognize them.
After giving the order to stop, the group followed the dense flow of people on the street and headed for the lamp market near the East Market.
The sky is already dark, tens of thousands of lamps in the lamp market, fire trees and silver flowers, dazzling, there are many kinds of colored lanterns, different shapes, flower lights, animal lights, character lights, tower lights, palace lights, etc., the people who see are dazzled, the whole night sky is reflected as daytime.
Due to the denser flow of people in Dengshi City, Liu Yi instructed the subsequent guards and Princess Taiping's guards to come close to him, take care of Princess Taiping's two maids, Xiaoyun and Ping'er, and he himself took Shangguan Wan'er and Princess Taiping to walk in front.
Going out to enjoy the lanterns can bring a group of beauties, Liu Yi didn't feel that Yan Fu was not shallow, but a little restrained, Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er were by his side, so he couldn't make any intimate moves to any of them, one was afraid that one of them would be jealous, and then he himself felt that it was inappropriate, if he made too out-of-character actions between his own guards and several maids, I don't know how these subordinates would see him.
The lanterns of all kinds are beautiful, and there are many large lanterns made by the craftsmen of the palace who are in charge of the lanterns, and these lanterns are beautifully made, and there are many people who point and watch. After squeezing in the crowd for a while, several people have relaxed, Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er have been reserved at the beginning, and they can't help this lively scene, as well as the attraction of beautiful lights, often ignoring Liu Yi's call, ran to the side to look at the lights, Liu Yi had to follow the past. His main purpose now is not to look at the lamp, but also to keep an eye on the two girls who have recovered their surnames, so that they will not be slighted or squeezed.
"Yi An, look how beautiful that lamp is, I've never seen it before..."Princess Taiping shouted in a loud voice.
"Yi'an, that rabbit lamp is very cute, when will you make one for us to play, okay? And the goldfish's lamp, and the tiger's lamp are also very cute..."Shangguan Wan'er jumped to her feet and shouted there.
"Yi'an... There's a better light over there, let's squeeze in!"
"Yi'an... The lights over there are even prettier, let's go check them out!"
Liu Yi heard the sound of the two screaming happily, and even many people on the side looked at them curiously.
Liu Yi was recognized, so he had to step forward and grab the hands of the two and pull them out of the crowd.
But after changing places, the two women were attracted by all kinds of lights, and squeezed into the crowd one by one, just to see those beautiful lights up close.
Looking at these two women looking like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, Liu Yi was very unbelievable, these two people have grown up in the palace since childhood, should they have seen everything, every year there will be lights in the palace, those exquisite palace lamps made by the general supervisor should be supplied to the palace first, and the good-looking lamps should have been seen by both of them, why are they still so interested today?
"Yi'an, don't go so fast, we don't see a lot of lights clearly!" Princess Taiping came up and pulled Liu Yi's arm, blaming Liu Yi for walking too fast.
"You're short, I didn't see anything better in front of you, let's go ahead!" Liu Yi ignored Princess Taiping's request.
"Yi'an, let's go slower, the others can't keep up with us!" Shangguan Wan'er pleaded pitifully, and Liu Yi had to slow down and wait for the others.
A group of people spent a lot of effort in the flow of people in the light market, rushing left and right, and it took almost an hour to finally stroll from this end of the light market to that end, standing in a slightly empty place, Liu Yi looked at the interested Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er on the side, and found that their hats were a little crooked, and the clothes on their bodies were squeezed a little wrinkled, and several of Princess Taiping's maids were also similar, but they were still very interested, pointing to those strange flowers and shouting there, Maybe they knew that no one could recognize their identities, so they didn't care about the image and screamed, completely losing their usual reserved and steady appearance, Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er kept beckoning Liu Yi to go over and look at the particularly beautiful lanterns they found, at this moment, the real surnames of these girls were fully revealed.
Seeing these women, especially Shangguan Wan'er, who looked elated, Liu Yi was also very happy in his heart, the purpose of coming out today was achieved, before he set out on the expedition, he finally had the opportunity to accompany these two women who were close to him, and have a good time, so that they would have fewer regrets.
It's just that Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er and others are having a good time, but the guards who serve as guards and Princess Taiping's guards are still quite pitiful, they are very embarrassed when they squeeze out of the crowd, and they have to keep an eye on Princess Taiping, Shangguan Wan'er and a few maids at the same time, they have to squeeze through the flow of people, and everyone is almost sweaty.
After everyone squeezed to the end of the light market, Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er, who were still interested, shouted that they wanted to squeeze in again, Liu Yi hurriedly stopped, there were too many people, and there were more and more, it was not so easy to squeeze back again, if these two women had some accidents, it would be troublesome, he saw that there was a stage similar to the later acting on the side, and hurriedly beckoned the two girls to go there to see the excitement.
"Wan'er, Yue'er, the things played here are very good-looking, let's take a look here," Liu Yi said. Although there are many people in front of this stage, they are far less than the number of people who have just crowded over, and the show performed on the stage is quite attractive.
Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er heard Liu Yi say this, they also hurriedly squeezed over, looked on tiptoe, and after looking at it for a while, they found that what Liu Yi said was good, it was really attractive, and they all stood beside Liu Yi and watched with relish.
Maybe it's because of the crazy rush in the flow of people just now, and the shouting and screaming without scruples, as well as Liu Yi holding their hands from time to time, Princess Taiping and others have let go of their minds, and they have been reserved, and after standing for a while, Princess Taiping, who is standing on Liu Yi's left, naturally grabbed Liu Yi's arm, so as not to be squeezed away by the people on the side, Liu Yi saw that there were many people on the side, and let Princess Taiping hold it, and at the same time, she was also bold enough to hug Shangguan Wan'er who was standing on her right.
Shangguan Wan'er, who was watching the stage with great interest, didn't expect Liu Yi to hug her in front of so many people and Princess Taiping, and her face turned red all of a sudden, but after glancing at Liu Yi and Princess Taiping a few times, she didn't break free, let Liu Yi hold it, and leaned her head over, and also stretched out her hand and grabbed Liu Yi's hand around her waist, and her fingers were interlocked with Liu Yi.
Princess Taiping, who was holding Liu Yi's arm, also saw Liu Yi's affection for Shangguan Wan'er, and couldn't help but feel a sour feeling in her heart, but after thinking of her purpose for doing these things, she still endured it, still holding Liu Yi's hand, leaning her head close to Liu Yi's body, pointing at a very funny clown on the stage with a very high interest look, and saying something loudly to Liu Yi.
And Xiao Yun and Ping'er, who were watching behind them, looked dumbfounded, looking at some of the three people in front of them, the two of them were also thinking about things crookedly, and those guards and guards turned their heads to the side, not daring to look at this scene.
After a while, a play on the stage was finished, and the curtain was temporarily closed, and Liu Yi also pulled Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er, who were leaning on his left and right, to leave, and then find another interesting place to play.
The group continued to walk slowly in the street market full of lights, and those guards followed not far behind Liu Yi and others, although there were many people who came to the lamp market to see the excitement, but after walking through the most lively place just now with many palace lanterns, this place near the edge of the lamp market was obviously less crowded.
"Wan'er, Yue'er, it's very lively in front, let's go over and have a look!" Liu Yi pointed to a river ahead, where many young men and women were playing with a small lamp.
Princess Taiping, who was holding Liu Yi's arm, and Shangguan Wan'er, who was being held by Liu Yi, were already absentmindedly looking at the surrounding lantern exhibition, and they didn't see the place Liu Yi pointed at just now, until Liu Yi spoke, and then followed Liu Yi's gesture to look over.
Although there were many people in this place that seemed to be selling lamps, it was not too crowded, and Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er also saw those exquisitely made small lamps, exclaimed, and almost at the same time broke free from Liu Yi's hand and ran there.
Liu Yi also hurriedly followed, the two girls were already holding a few beautiful small lanterns at an old man who sold lamps, and looked at them with admiration, Liu Yi found that many people on the side put the lanterns in their hands into the river on the side and let it float away.
"Yi'an, this is a wishing lamp, listen to the old man, put a lamp in the river, make a wish, the lamp floats away with the river, if it is not overturned and sinks, this wish will come true!" Princess Taiping held a lamp and looked at Liu Yi with a smile and said.
Shangguan Wan'er, who was also holding a lamp, also looked back at Liu Yi: "Yi'an, let's buy a few wishing lanterns and put them by the river to see if our wish can come true!"
"Okay!" Seeing the two girls looking so interested, Liu Yi agreed with a smile. And at the request of Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er, she also picked a lamp to hold and came to the river with the two girls.
There are already many river lights in the river, and as the river slowly drifts away, the little lights reflect the moonlight reflected in the river, which is very beautiful, and it is even impossible to tell whether the river is floating with lights or moon shadows.
Princess Taiping walked to the river first, closed her eyes and made a vow very reverently, then carefully put the lamp into the river, and then stood up and watched her float away.
Then Shangguan Wan'er also went to the river, and like Princess Taiping, she closed her eyes and made a wish, and put the lamp into the river.
After the two girls put the lamp on, they snuggled up to each other, and watched nervously as the lamp just put on floated into the distance, but fortunately when the lamp disappeared into the light and the waves, they did not see the lamp overturned, and the two girls breathed a sigh of relief.
"Wan'er, Yue'er, what wish did you just make, can you tell me about it?" Liu Yi looked at the two of them curiously.
Princess Taiping glanced at Shangguan Wan'er, then looked at Liu Yi, and said with a smile: "Yue'er hopes that this time you will come out... Go far away, you can come back safely, don't let us wait too long..."After speaking, he looked at Shangguan Wan'er, "Wan'er, what wish did you make?" ”
Shangguan Wan'er said with some humility: "I... I also made the same wish as you!" As he spoke, he stared at Liu Yi with eyes glowing with a special luster.
Liu Yi saw something strange in Shangguan Wan'er's eyes, and knew that what this beauty promised was definitely not this wish, but he didn't reveal it.
"Yi'an, you haven't released it yet! Make a wish and put the lights on!" Princess Taiping saw that Liu Yi was still holding a lamp in her hand, and shouted.
Drunk by Princess Taiping, Liu Yi had to stride to the river, put the river lantern into the river, who knew that a gust of wind blew, and suddenly knocked over the lamp that Liu Yi had just put and the lamp put by a few people on the side, and in the exclamation of Princess Taiping, Shangguan Wan'er and some people on the side, these lights swung in the water a few times and went out.
Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er asked almost at the same time, "Yi'an, what wish did you make?" ”
"Forget it, the lights have turned over, and the wish made is gone!" Liu Yi also pretended to be frustrated, patted his head and said.
"Can you tell us about it?" Princess Taiping didn't give up, walked to Liu Yi's side, and asked coquettishly, Shangguan Wan'er also looked eager to know, if Liu Yi made an important wish, but the lamp overturned, and the wish could not be realized, it would not be a good thing.
"Don't say it, you can't say it, at least not now!" Liu Yi said with a haha, "Wan'er, Yue'er, let's find a place to eat supper, after walking for half a day, I'm hungry, I must have a lot of flavors to eat here, we don't just want to watch the lights today, but also eat a stomach of delicious food to go back!"
Liu Yi said, ignoring the two women's repeated questions about what he wished, took the hands of the two of them, and strode away in the side eyes of others.
Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er had to trot to follow Liu Yi, and after Liu Yi pulled the two of them for a while, he put down the hands holding the two of them, pointed to the place where the fragrance wafted in the distance and said, "There must be a lot of delicious things over there, let's go over and take a look!"
The guards and maids who followed also followed, and the group stopped in front of a food stall that looked like a food stall in later generations with a sign that read "The World's Most Delicious".
Fortunately, two tables of guests left just now, Liu Yi also hurriedly beckoned his own people to sit down, he and Princess Taiping Shangguan Wan'er sat together, and the other people squeezed a table, and those who couldn't squeeze stood on the side, Liu Ben and Liu Quan went over to order food.
After a while, some steaming roasted food was brought over, and the fragrance came to the nostrils, Liu Yi picked up a skewer of roast beef with his hand, tasted it, the taste was really different, and immediately beckoned Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er to taste it together.
Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er, who were embarrassed to eat in front of so many people, saw Liu Yi shouting there that it was delicious, and couldn't help but pick up a skewer of barbecue and eat it.
The wine also came up, Liu Yi poured a glass for Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er, and toasted himself first, the taste of this wine was just average, but it was not bad, Liu Yi did not taste anything strange from it, so he beckoned the two girls to drink together.
Liu Yi raised his glass to the two women, looked at the two of them under the faint light, still moving faces, and said with some emotion: "In the past few years, even if I have had the happiest life today..."
Shangguan Wan'er raised her glass and looked at Liu Yi with affection: "Yi'an, Wan'er has never been to such a happy Shangyuan Festival, I hope this time next year, it will be..."
"Yi'an, Wan'er, let's come to see the lights again during the Shangyuan Festival next year, I think we can definitely come together, and then we will have an all-night play and have fun!" Princess Taiping also drank all the wine in the cup.
Liu Yi looked at the two beauties staring at him in front of him, and sighed in his heart, next year's filial piety will be over, and the matter of marriage must be considered, can the three of them still come out to play crazy like this?
(To be continued)