In ancient times, I just wanted to be a salted fish

Chapter 136 Lantern Festival Chapter

The 15th day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival, which is also the Lantern Festival in Beijing. On this day every year, the capital is decorated into a dreamlike world, full of festive atmosphere.

The streets and alleys of the capital are hung with all kinds of lanterns and colored silks, which are colorful and have various shapes. There are animal shapes, plant shapes, human figures, etc., which are lifelike.

These lanterns and colorful silks embellished the entire capital city like a dream, as if you were in a fairyland. People came out of their homes and poured into the streets to celebrate this joyous festival together.

The mansion was also bustling with activity. As in previous years, servants were busy decorating the courtyard, while maids were busy preparing all kinds of delicacies for the masters to enjoy. Everyone was busy at their respective posts, but their joy was beyond words.

As the head of the Marquis's house, Aunt Yao showed excellent management skills. She was good at employing people and assigned work according to each person's strengths and abilities, allowing everyone to perform their duties.

Moreover, she was clear about rewards and punishments, rewarding those who performed well and punishing those who failed to perform their duties, so that all matters, big and small, in the mansion could be properly handled and in order.

Under Aunt Yao's meticulous management, the Marquis's Mansion was filled with harmony and prosperity, giving people a strong sense of the festive atmosphere.

Chen Ruotong said admiringly, "It seems that Aunt Yao is a management talent! If she were in modern times, she would also be a strong woman!"

Qiao Zien replied, "Every concubine in this mansion has her own abilities. As you said, they are all masters of house fighting, hehe..."

"This mansion is bustling with people. There must be hundreds of servants and waiters here, which is a huge expense! It's enough to keep Aunt Yao busy!"

"You have such a big business, but I don't see how busy you are. The key is to know how to use people! This is the same as leading troops to war!"

"Yes, Zi En is right!"

The two of them were standing in the Zizhu Garden courtyard chatting, and Qiao Cai ran over and said, "Young Master, Young Master Chen, the kitchen will prepare two meals today. Come to the eldest master's courtyard to eat at 3:30 pm for the reunion dinner."

Qiao Zien nodded to show that he understood, and Qiao Cai went back to do his own work.

Chen Ruotong stood in the yard, looking at the busy figures outside the yard, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart: "This year's fifteenth day of the first lunar month at home must be very lively."

She thought of Old Man Chen and Old Lady Chen at home. At this time last year, they made lanterns with their own hands. Thinking of this, she couldn't help laughing.

She knew that the two old people must be thinking of her at this moment and hoping that she could return home and reunite with their families as soon as possible.

So, she said, "Zi En, let's go back tomorrow, back to that home full of warmth and joy!"

Qiao Zien nodded in agreement. Then he asked Chen Ruotong, "Okay, I'll do whatever you say. But you haven't bought the house and shop yet?"

Chen Ruotong smiled and consoled him, "Don't worry, good things are worth waiting for! After the first month of the year, I think more people will be selling houses. I will only buy good and large ones until I am satisfied. Moreover, I will also buy you a few houses, how about that?"

Qiao Zien shrugged and said calmly, "I don't care, just make your own decision!"

He doesn't care much about these material things. As long as he can be with his Furukawa, he feels satisfied and happy. He cherishes this relationship even more.

At three quarters past five, which was 1:45 p.m., all the masters and ladies in the Marquis's Mansion gathered together for a reunion dinner, with the concubines and maids serving them.

Without Tian, ​​Qiao Zirui, and Qiao Yuyan at the table, the atmosphere seemed much more harmonious. Without the annoying people around, everyone felt a little more relaxed.

Qiao Yuyan sat at the head of the bed, tending to her. Tian was lying on the bed, her face as pale as paper, and she looked sick, as if she could take her last breath at any time.

Since learning about Qiao Zirui's situation, Tian has been ill and has been diagnosed with heart disease. The so-called heart disease is actually heart disease. This disease is extremely difficult to cure and can only be controlled by medication.

For Tian, ​​emotional fluctuations such as anger and fright would trigger an attack of the disease, and in severe cases could even lead to sudden death.

Doctor Zhao, the court physician, had prescribed several prescriptions for Tian and told her to take them regularly. However, Tian's condition did not improve significantly.

She still had a thousand knots in her heart, and looking at the bitter medicine every day, her mood became heavier. She hated herself and blamed herself for not being able to protect Qiao Zirui; at the same time, she was also resentful of Qiao Zien's insidiousness and cunningness, and was deeply saddened by Qiao Zhenbang's coldness and ruthlessness.

Qiao Zirui lay on the bed, his heart full of resentment and anger, constantly getting angry at the servants. However, he did not realize that all this was in vain. The servants and maids in his yard had already been frightened and fled in all directions, running to the kitchen to seek shelter and help.

Obviously, the master had given up on his son. The servants naturally stopped serving him wholeheartedly and each of them looked for a new way out. They understood that staying with Qiao Zirui would only bring them more troubles and even physical pain, so they began to pursue a better future for themselves.

The desolation of Tian and Qiao Zirui's side formed a sharp contrast with the liveliness and warmth of Qiao Zhenbang's courtyard.

The masters and ladies of the mansion had finished their meal and were chatting in Qiao Zhenbang's yard. The younger children were playing and having fun under the care of the servants.

At about three o'clock, Qiao Zhenbang led Qiao Zien and eleven other legitimate and illegitimate sons to the ancestral hall to worship their ancestors. It was quite a grand ceremony.

Chen Ruotong was watching outside the ancestral hall. This ancient big family had quite a few procedures for ancestor worship, and it was quite interesting!

After the sacrificial ceremony, it was already dusk, and the masters took their maids and servants out of their mansions, ready to go out to the streets to watch the lanterns.

At this time, all the lanterns on the street have been lit up, and the whole capital is as bright as day. People flock to the streets, laughing and talking, making it very lively.

Chen Ruotong excitedly held Qiao Zien's hand and walked towards the place with the most and most beautiful lanterns - the famous Shuxiang Pavilion. Every year during the Lantern Festival, a grand lantern riddle guessing event is held here, attracting countless participants.

Chen Ruotong was very excited about the lively atmosphere and she decided to experience the atmosphere of the ancient Lantern Festival.

For her, whether she can guess the riddles correctly or not, the important thing is to enjoy the fun and fully experience the joy brought by this traditional festival.

"Zi'en, look at those lights, they are the three masters and disciples of Tang Monk! They are just a little ugly. Haha, it seems that the owner of Shuxiang Pavilion is a fan of your books!" Chen Ruotong said in surprise.

"What powder?"

"I am the reader who likes to read Journey to the West! Hehe..."

Qiao Zien read out the riddle on the "Sun Wukong" lantern: "A thousand miles of geese flying across the mountains, guess one word."

Chen Ruotong thought she had some literary background, but she couldn't guess it no matter how hard she racked her brains.

Qiao Zien already had the answer in her mind and was just waiting for Chen Ruotong to guess it.

At this time, many students also gathered around to guess the riddle. When everyone was thinking, a magnetic voice came, "Bing, is it yes or no?"

Chen Ruotong turned around when she heard the voice and met a pair of sparkling peach blossom eyes.