The First Young Master of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 376 Several joys and sorrows

All the fireworks I bought were neatly wrapped in red paper outside, and the ones celebrating the Chinese New Year can be regarded as festive and auspicious. As the sky gradually darkened, the handymen in the kitchen of the house began to serve food on the table. People who have nothing to do gather in the wide yard, ready to watch the fireworks.

Although this strange thing is said to have been made, but except for major festivals in Chang'an City, there are really few people who set it off. I heard that the black ashes contained in this thing are all Taoists. The embers left over from our refining elixir are extremely precious.
If Xuan Shijing knew that the people in the family would look at gunpowder like this, I'm afraid he would have to smile wryly. This stuff, such messy and worthless things as sulfur and saltpeter, can be produced by blending. What kind of embers of elixir are pure nonsense.

The lower corners of these fireworks wrapped in red paper have a three-inch-long fuse. The reason why they are made so long is also for the sake of safety. If they are ignited and cannot run in time, it will hurt people.

Xuan Shijing held the lit incense in his hand, and the servants had already arranged the fireworks in the courtyard at one time, Xuan Shijing only needed to light the fuses one by one.

"Boom! Boom!"

A firework lifted into the air, exploded, and scattered golden cremation, and the maids in the mansion were elated.

"What a beautiful firework!"

"Yes, it's so beautiful."

Xuan Shijing ran around in the courtyard and lit a few more fireworks.

At this time, the explosive rod at the gate of the Hou Mansion also started to ignite, making crackling sounds.

The sound of explosive rods and burning echoed throughout Chang'an City, and some of the big families in Chang'an City also prepared a few fireworks and set them off in their yards.

Although fireworks are not so high in the sky, the mansions in Chang'an City are generally relatively low. An ordinary mansion can have two floors and it is already considered a rich family. Therefore, standing on a slightly higher It is possible to see the fireworks set off throughout Chang'an City.

At least, Jinyang at this time can vaguely see the fireworks going off in the direction of the Hou's Mansion. At this time, Jinyang is attending the royal banquet with Empress Changsun in the Linde Hall. Looking outside, it is empty, and the vision is naturally very good.

Those present in the Linde Palace were all members of the royal family, and the vassal kings from all over the place also gathered together. Naturally, Li Yuanjing was not there.

Although many members of the royal family present were wondering why Jing Wang Li Yuanjing was absent, they all had a tacit understanding and didn't ask. If they don't shy away from it, His Majesty will naturally speak out about it. If His Majesty doesn't say it now, there is no need to go Touch the mold and ask the exit.

Li Yuan, who had been recuperating in the Hanyuan Hall for two days, had a little blood on his face today. With the support of two women from the Hanyuan Hall, he sat next to His Majesty Li Er, while the Empress Changsun was with him. Princess Jinyang sat at the table on the right side of His Majesty Li Er, while Concubine Wei, Concubine Yang, Concubine Yin, and Concubine De sat on the side of Empress Changsun's lower head.

Surprisingly, Xu Hui, Xu Jieyu and Wu Cairen, who had just been promoted to be a talented person this year, were also seated, and they were arranged to be seated under the four concubines.

Sitting in the hall, on the left is the royal clan headed by Li Xiaogong and Li Daozong, and on the right is the prince, princess and son-in-law headed by Li Chengqian.

It can be said that this is a very pure royal family banquet. His Majesty Li Er also said that there is no need to be too polite for this dinner, it is all his family, so the atmosphere in the palace is very warm.

This new year, naturally, some families are happy and some are sad. Now Xuan Lindao's family has moved out of Dongshan Hou's Mansion. Since they came to Chang'an and lived in Hou's Mansion more than ten years ago, Li has been thinking about how to make Xuan Lindao feel happy. Shijing had a little accident, the Xuan family was sparse, and in this generation, only Xuan Shijing and Xuan Qing were left. If Xuan Shijing had an "accident", then the Xuan family, including the Houfu, would be so big. Xuan Qing's family property will fall on Xuan Qing's head, and Xuan Shijing's title will also fall on Xuan Qing's head. Now the business of the Li family in Hanzhong is all dependent on Jing Wang Mansion. For some reason in the past six months, Jing Wang Mansion There seems to be a problem over there, and they can't take care of the Li family, so now the Li family's business has shrunk dramatically.

But on the side of the Hou Mansion, the Li family is not easy to start. He thinks that the current Hou Mansion is enough to make the Li family fearful. The Li family in Hanzhong has written several letters to the Li family. This line, climbing up to Dongshanhou's Mansion is also a success. If the Shengtang Chamber of Commerce, which has been in the limelight for the past few years, can be taken care of a little bit, the life of the Li family will definitely not be as sad as it is now.

Now the business community has spread the word in private, saying that the Shengtang Chamber of Commerce is an imperial merchant, and if it is close, it will naturally have a bright future.

Mrs. Li smiled wryly. In order to please King Jing's mansion, she had already offended the Hou's mansion badly. Now, Mrs. Wang has planned to hand over the patriarch to Qing'er as the successor. Ask someone to take care of you
"Ma'am, why are you in a daze for Chinese New Year? Hurry over to eat." Xuan Lindao looked at Li in a daze and asked aloud.

Now Xuan Lindao's family lives in a small house in Chang'an City. It is said to be small. Compared with ordinary people, it can be regarded as a serious house. There is no way to compare the dignitaries.

When Mrs. Li heard Xuan Lindao's words, she came back to her senses, walked to the dinner table, sat down and said, "I was thinking, the big exam will be in April next year. If our family's Qing'er can win the exam, then our Xuan family can also win the exam." Qing'er's generation has honored their ancestors." While speaking, Li Shi glanced at Xuan Qing who was sitting silently at the dinner table.

Xuan Qing smiled: "Our Xuan family already has Brother Jing. Even if I do well in the exam next year, what can I do? I will only be a petty official, and Brother Jing will be a nobleman."

When Mrs. Li heard this, she pulled her face down: "Don't mention that kid, I have become the Marquis of the country leisurely, and I don't know how to support you. Your Majesty loves him so much, and asks you for an official position. How can you use it?" You've been studying so hard." Wang complained: "Furthermore, next year Qing'er will inherit the Xuan family's patriarch, and that kid Xuan Shijing, to put it bluntly, is not our Xuan family's seed either."

When Li Shi said this, Xuan Qing curled his lips and didn't say anything more, while Xuan Lindao opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Wang Shi's unhappy face, the words came to his lips , swallowed.

"Hey, look at people's New Year's Day, it's lively and lively, and look at us, from the original big family to the small family now, it's deserted."

"Mother, please keep your words to a minimum. After dinner today, you have to watch the New Year's Eve." Seeing that her mother was about to chatter again, Xuan Qing hurriedly interrupted.

"Yes, ma'am, let's eat first." Xuan Lindao couldn't help but feel a little headache now listening to Li's babble.

It's Chinese New Year, but in the mansion of Xuan Lindao's family, there is no festive atmosphere at all.
(End of this chapter)