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Volume Three: Under the Balcony Chapter 488: New Year¡¯s Eve

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    After the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, it enters the "hunting sacrifice" season. Since ancient times, people have been hunting and gathering. At this time, people sacrifice the food they get from hunting to their ancestors. This has been a tradition for thousands of years.  Sacrifices are being held everywhere.

    The light snow in the sky turned into heavy snow, and the snow gradually covered the treetops on the roof.  Government offices at all levels have also been sealed one after another. From the bureaucrats to the common people, they are all preparing to welcome the moment of getting rid of the old and welcoming the new.

    During the first heavy snowfall in Wuchang, Yang Shiqi sat in the courtyard of his residence, drinking alone and admiring the snow. He was always so leisurely.  You can also see slaves coming and going in the yard preparing sacrifices, and the Yang family is not exempt from customs.

    He couldn't help but think of an incident in his childhood.  His stepfather, the Luo family, worshiped their ancestors at the New Year's Eve. He felt that as a descendant of the Yang family, he could not worship his ancestors, so he made incense and candles alone and worshiped quietly.  This scene was discovered by my stepfather. From then on, my stepfather said: From now on, your surname will still be Yang, and there is no need to change your surname.

    Yang Shiqi couldn't help but sigh when he thought of this. Several decades have passed and now his hair has turned white, but the past memories of his childhood are still listed in his mind Unfortunately, his children do not have the same ambition as he did back then.  He has a son and a daughter. In his opinion, the son has no qualifications other than making trouble, but the daughter is from her stepfather's family and is also not very worry-free.

    I think back then, Yang Shiqi was a white man who made a living by teaching people. He relied on the opportunity of the imperial court to compile the "Yongle Dadian" and was recommended by others to become an official. After decades of officialdom, every step was not easy.  He felt that he was not too old to give up his official career and political ambitions. This time he encountered some setbacks, but there was still something to be done as long as he managed well.

    At this moment, he found two women coming in from the back door. The back of one of them looked like Luo Yaoniang.  Yang Shiqi immediately shouted: "Stop!"

    As expected, it was Luo Yaoniang. She turned around, leaving the other woman where she was, and walked over and said, "It's snowing heavily, why is father outside? Don't get sick."

    "Who is she?" Yang Shiqi asked stiffly, because he seemed to have never met the woman who came in with Luo Yaoniang.  Recently, Yang Shiqi has been more strict with Luo Yaoniang, feeling that he was too indulgent towards her in the past.

    Pretending to be filial, Luo Yaoniang came up to help Yang Shiqi pull the coat on her back and said, "Her name is Xiao Qing, the daughter of Dr. Xiao."

    "Mr. Xiao" Yang Shiqi thought for a moment, got an impression, and lowered his voice and said, "Isn't he an official in the capital?"

    Luo Yaoniang looked back and whispered: "I offended the eunuch and was imprisoned. Xiao Qing used to be good to me and came here to seek refuge. I saw that she was pitiful and there was no reason to turn her away. Also, Doctor Xiao  I have no son and only one daughter, so I have no one to pass on my medical skills, so I passed them on to Xiao Qing My father is getting older, can't he ask her to check your pulse from time to time and prescribe some health-preserving medicines?"

    Since it was Luo Yaoniang who knew him and he was not a shady person, Yang Shiqi felt relieved and didn't care.  He put the matter aside and changed the subject: "I was just wanting to have a few words with you."

    Luo Yaoniang smiled and said, "What did father teach me?"

    Yang Shiqi was silent for a while, as if thinking about it.  Seeing this, Luo Yaoniang's smile faded and she gradually became serious. There must be something more important that made Yang Shiqi look like this.

    "Prepare some gifts carefully. In a few days, during the first month of the new year, go to the Palace of Chu to wish the noble concubine Mrs. Yao a happy new year. The gifts should also be prepared for Princess Zhou and others, so be more thoughtful." Yang Shiqi said.

    Luo Yaoniang wondered: "I have never had any contact with Zhang the mother-in-law of Prince Xiang. She lives in a deep palace, why is she suddenly moving around?"

    Yang Shiqi said sternly: "I can't take the initiative to bring up that matter! Mrs. Yao is a woman, and you are also a woman, so it is easy for us to come and go."

    "What's the matter?" Luo Yaoniang's slender eyebrows suddenly frowned, "Dad, do you want to send your daughter to the palace?"

    Seeing her attitude, Yang Shiqi immediately said angrily: "When my father was an official in the Xuande Dynasty, you had to tangle with the King of Xiang; now that you are on the side of the King of Xiang, what else do you have to argue with? As for you and the King of Xiang,  Why don't you know everything about being a father? If you don't go into the palace, who would dare to marry you!"

    Luo Yaoniang also said angrily: "I had a marriage contract with him, haven't I already regretted it?"

    "It doesn't matter according to you. Then when you were in Yangzhou, the imperial court and Huguang were incompatible with each other. Why did you and the King of Xiang have correspondence?" Yang Shiqi was really annoyed. "You should reflect on me, how did I teach you to be a human being!"

    Luo Yaoniang couldn¡¯t hold her face from being scolded, her eyes were red, and she looked like she was about to shed tears.  She was just about to get angry and leave, perhaps remembering that when she was a child, all the convicted men of the Luo family were exiled, and she was helpless. It was Yang Shiqi who raised her as his own daughter.  Then he bowed his knees and performed all the etiquette before leaving.

    At this time, Yang Shiqi suddenly sighed: "As a father, I speak harshly. As a father, I also have??, I shouldn't have asked you to travel around the world for me back then, but now I'm asking you to follow the three obediences and four virtues and stay at home. It's really the opposite.  "

    Luo Yaoniang choked and said, "My daughter knows she is wrong. She should think about it carefully."

    She turned around and walked to Xiao Qing's side, taking him into the house with him.  When Xiao Qing saw tears on her face, he asked with concern. Luo Yaoniang did not want to say more, only saying that she had been scolded by her father.

    When the two girls entered the house, Luo Yaoniang couldn't help but observe Xiao Qing. She saw that although this girl's chin was a bit pointed and her breasts were small and her figure was not protruding enough, she also had thin skin and tender flesh, and her demeanor was gentle and graceful, making her look like a lady.  Feng, the way of thinking is the result of generations of imperial doctors.  She then said: "I will have to learn manners from my sister in the future."

    Xiao Qing hurriedly said quietly: "Now that I am in such a situation, my father's friends dare not get involved. Only Sister Luo takes me in out of friendship. How can I dare? As long as my sister is willing to keep me as a maid,  Tea is poured out, and I can¡¯t thank you enough.¡±

    "Men call themselves men's husbands, and most of them are unfeeling. It's okay for friends to look down on them. Don't worry, we are not them." Luo Yaoniang said simply, feeling quite heroic for a moment.

    "Sister" Xiao Qing was so moved that she took out her handkerchief and gently dipped it in the corner of her eyes, looking like a gentle and delicate bird.

    Luo Yaoniang stroked her shoulder for a while and said, "I'll take you out to watch the fun and relax in the afternoon."

    "What's so exciting?" Xiao Qing asked curiously.

    Luo Yaoniang said: "This King of Xiang in Huguang" Her voice changed slightly when she mentioned King Xiang, "After offering sacrifices to the ancestors in the palace, it is strange to go out of the city to worship the souls of the dead. The souls of the dead who died on the battlefield are strange.  Come on, the streets will be very lively soon."

    "This afternoon?" Xiao Qing asked hurriedly.

    Luo Yaoniang nodded: "It's late. After lunch, let's change our clothes and go out."

    By afternoon, the north-south avenues in the city were indeed crowded with people. Since ancient times, there has been no shortage of people joining in the fun.  All intersections have been sealed, and all kinds of vehicles and horses are prohibited from entering the main road. There are soldiers guarding the streets five steps, one post, ten steps, and one post.  Luo Yaoniang and his wife, who were disguised as men, had no choice but to walk there.

    After a while, many infantrymen wearing gray clothes and white bottoms lined up from the north. They were all dressed up and neatly, and their steps were uniform. Thousands of people moved as if they were one person, and their steps on the road were louder than the sound of drums.  The officers and soldiers walking on the road were not wearing armor, but their only iron helmets and metal buttons gave them the illusion of iron flow.  This was not the first time for people to see this army, but they were still very curious and enjoyed it like watching a play.

    Someone in the crowd of onlookers commented, saying that it was the Yongding Battalion, or that the Third Army's designation could be seen. They also said that the Yongding Battalion suffered heavy casualties in Jiangxi, but it was unexpected that it would be restored to this situation after a few months.

    It was okay at first. Although there were many people, it was not too noisy. Everyone just watched the excitement.  After a while, I suddenly heard the firing of cannons on the tower, and the sound of three rounds of muskets.  I saw a group of horsemen running over, and the knights reined in their horses near the city gate.  As soon as the first samurai with shiny yellow metal accessories waved his hand to the army formation, the army became excited and cheered loudly.

    In the eyes of the people, this scene is like a group of mentally disturbed people. The person's face can't be seen clearly, and he screams so fiercely just by waving his hand.

    "With this king here, there is no city that you cannot attack and no army that you cannot defeat!" The young man on horseback shouted loudly.

    The men immediately chanted "Long Live Long Live" fanatically, and someone took the lead in shouting: "Capture Nanjing, make contributions, be promoted and make a fortune!" The crowd was suddenly excited, and in the shouts, the word "Nanjing! Nanjing" kept ringing in the air.  It seems that the prosperous and prosperous city has become a holy place for devout saints to worship and yearn for.

    In the midst of the noise, the young man suddenly drew his sword and shouted loudly: "The heroes who died in battle will enjoy the glory of the Ming Dynasty forever, and their descendants will worship them forever and live forever!" The horse was startled, raised its front hooves, and then rushed toward the city gate.  As he left, the generals around him hurriedly rode up, and the soldiers lined up at the city gate also ran to keep up with the shouts.  For a time, people surged like a tidal wave.

    "Is that King Xiang?" Xiao Qing asked quietly.

    Luo Yaoniang was noncommittal and curled her lips without answering.  In her eyes, Zhang Ning seemed to have become a stranger, not quite like the person she had known before.  In the past, Zhang Ning was humble, disciplined, cautious, and easy to control, but now he is like that runaway horse, with a crazy aura, as if he wants to occupy the world, collect countless women, and will never fall in love with one woman.  Are you careful and attentive?

    Luo Yaoniang thought of the large group of pretentious women around her, including the concubines and princesses who were arrogant and jealous, and their words contained insinuations She felt dizzy, patted Xiao Qing's back and said: "Let's go, find a restaurant.  , Eat a lot of meat and drink a lot of wine, I won¡¯t go home until I¡¯m drunk today.¡±
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