Chapter 661
Garden Party
Chapter 661 Garden Party
Brother Ximen laughed and said, "Brother only arrived in the capital yesterday. He doesn't like these things and has already gone to Shuhai Pavilion to see the lanterns. We don't need to disturb him."
So the crowd gathered and headed to West Street for drinks.
Although West Street is not as extravagant as Jinqian Street, it is still dazzling and glittering tonight.
"These lights are truly beautiful!" Brother Ximen couldn't help but exclaim.
Yuan Da also said, "Speaking of which, I have seen many lantern festivals in various places, but compared to tonight's, they are nothing. The one in the capital is the best."
Brother Hong was incredibly enthusiastic: "Come on, let's have some drinks first before we go to the Book Sea Pavilion to see the Nine-Turn Lotus Lantern. We can skip everything else, but we absolutely cannot miss this one."
Yuan Daziran agreed. Since arriving in the capital, all he cared about were eating meat and drinking wine. As for the third thing, betting money was also for the purpose of eating meat and drinking wine.
Having won a prize today, Brother Hong treated everyone to a big meal at a restaurant. Yuan Da was very satisfied, and when they came out, the two had already become sworn brothers.
Seeing that he had drunk a bit too much, Brother Ximen pulled him aside and said, "I won't say anything else, but don't forget what you promised me when you came out with me. If you ruin my plans, I can't save you."
"How could that be?" Yuan Dameng patted his chest, making a loud thud, and hiccuped as he said, "I was worried that you wouldn't be able to bear to part with these kids and would ruin my big plan. If you really can't bear it, you can go to the brothel later. You'll be staying a few more days to deal with that bitch anyway."
Brother Ximen turned around and looked at his fellow polo players who were having a lively conversation: "There's nothing to hold back or not. We'll just wait for your order, Brother, and then we'll start fighting."
However, I don't think my elder brother will launch the operation too early. Not only would he miss the lantern festival, but he would also be surrounded by the Imperial Guards and the camps outside the city.
"It must be past the grand parade by now, and by then it'll be way past midnight. These kids have probably already scattered from us."
Yuan Da snorted: "You still say no? Do you think they'll disperse if you want them to?"
Brother Ximen looked reluctant: "We've shared food and drink together, and they've been praising us all the way. If we just kill each other like this, people will laugh at us. How will we face the world after that?"
Yuan Da thought for a moment, and finally said, "Then it's up to their own fate. Military orders are absolute. Once our leader gives the order, we have to start killing. Who cares who's around us?"
It's not that I didn't want to spare their lives, it's that they insisted on coming over, and I couldn't get rid of them no matter what I did.
Brother Ximen nodded.
The two then joined Brother Hong and the others, blending into the crowd of people watching the lanterns.
……
Ranxiangju occupied a large open space in front of the gate and built two wooden pavilions. A winding corridor was built between the pavilions, and all kinds of lanterns were hung on the corridor: beauty lanterns, revolving lanterns, lotus lanterns, peach lanterns, rabbit lanterns and so on. They were numerous, small and novel.
As per Qin Yuan's request, Shen Changle invited a group of lantern makers from the south to quickly produce lanterns. Unlike the grand and luxurious Nine-Turned Lotus Lantern, these lanterns were exquisite and pleasing to the eye, making them perfect as prizes for the garden party.
At the main entrance of Ranxiangju, there is a huge lantern with Magu offering longevity. The lower part of the lantern is covered with gold leaf, so it is not afraid of the smoke and fire of the incense burner below.
A rich fragrance wafted from the opening of the peach-shaped lantern presented by Magu. Everyone who came over would exclaim, "Ranxiangju is really going all out today; they've lit incense lamps."
The aroma here is so enticing, and with so many ingenious lanterns on display, people stop and linger, especially women, who gather in ever-growing crowds until it's impossible to move.
"What are you trying to do?"
Everyone asks this question.
Shen Changle left a waiter to keep watch around. Upon hearing this, he immediately said, "The Marquis of Dingbei's residence is holding a garden party here to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday. After entering the entrance, you can walk along the long corridor to see lanterns and guess riddles. The prizes are very generous."
"Do I need to pay to enter this garden?"
"No," the waiter laughed, "but everyone entering the park must compose a poem on the theme of the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival." "Huh?" The person asking the question couldn't help but become interested.
The waiter laughed and said, "You don't know yet, do you? A while ago, the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion held a poetry contest at the Imperial Academy with the theme of 'Autumn Fireflies.' The winning poems were collected into a book and sold like hotcakes all over the country. Among them, the poems of Mr. Songshan and Young Master Nantang were highly praised and widely circulated."
Today, the Marquis of Dingbei's residence is holding a garden party to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday. The purpose is to allow everyone to compose poems while having fun, and to make friends through poetry.
Therefore, it's free, but you must write a poem. Even if you can't solve the riddle, the prize is still very generous if you write a good poem.
So this was made for scholars.
"May I ask what kind of prizes are available?"
Several scholars asked the question.
The shopkeeper laughed and said, "There's just too much. We have the finest writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, as well as the incense balls that Ranxiangju sells very well. You usually have to queue up to buy them, and you might not even be able to get them. Besides, I think many scholars like them."
"Stop keeping me in suspense and tell me the details."
The shopkeeper said seriously, "This is the latest printed edition of the Women's Volume of 'The Collection of Fireflies,' which includes illustrations by Master Gu, the sixth son of the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion, as well as poems by talented women from the Suzhou and Jinling areas. It also includes two new poems by the young master of Nantang as the opening, and a postscript by Mr. Songshan."
"What? Young Master Nantang's new poem?"
Quite a few people have already started shouting.
As more and more scholars wearing square-shaped headscarves, long gowns, and straight robes surged forward, the waiter raised his voice.
"Yes, yes, you heard me right. Sixth Master Gu requested two new poems from Young Master Nantang to be included in the women's volume of 'The Collection of Fireflies,' which are mostly written by talented women from poetry societies in Suzhou and Jinling. If the women of our North are willing to contribute, the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion will publish another copy. Inside, there are also portraits meticulously painted by Sixth Master Gu and a master painter, which are very elegant."
"Then I'll try it from high to low."
"We should give it a try just because of Young Master Nantang."
"Bring me a pen, I already have a poem."
The waiter added, "If any of you have a poem, you can write it on the poetry wall and leave your name and address. If it is selected for inclusion, the Marquis's mansion can send someone to find it."
"Is that so? We need to think about it more carefully."
"I originally just wanted to write something casually, but now..."
Shen Changle stood at the entrance of the garden party and announced loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, I have good news. The Marquis of Dingbei's residence has invited Mr. Songshan and Young Master Nantang, and they have agreed to come here to exchange ideas and learn from each other."
Those among you who excel in essay writing are welcome to propose a topic here. If selected, you may then present your solution and explanation to the public.
The scholars and officials immediately erupted into chaos.
"That's a bit presumptuous. A good poem doesn't necessarily mean a good essay."
"It would be more appropriate if we were to make friends through poetry."
Someone said, "Since they're so confident, they must have some real skills. Why don't we write a couple of questions and see? If they're capable, we'll have gained some insights. If they're not, we won't lose out."
Of course, I won't suffer a loss.
They might even be able to gain fame by stepping on them in public.