Settled in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 405
Entering September, it will be the Double Ninth Festival in a few days, and at the same time, it is also Xue Lang's birthday.

In September last year, he went to Chang'an to offer auspicious wishes. Although it was lively, it was lonely, and no one even told him happy birthday.This year, I not only have my own mansion in Chang'an city, but also have friends in Chang'an as an official.

Although life is not perfect, but there is progress, Xue Lang feels quite satisfied.Of course, what is more satisfying is that the Double Ninth Festival will be on holiday, and the imperial court will give benefits to Beijing officials!
This year's welfare is very interesting. In addition to the oil, salt, sauce and vinegar that will be given out in previous years, this year's festival welfare has an extra piece of silk cotton cloth and two quilts.

There is no need to doubt, Xue Lang thought of this trick again, and it was specifically pointed out in the planning book. There is no promotion method or promotion method that can compare with the power of the imperial court.Princess Pingyang, as an imperial daughter, has a natural advantage, and it would be a waste if she didn't take advantage of it.

Then, on the day of Double Ninth Festival, Xue Lang couldn't stay at home either. With his current rank and status, he wanted to enter the palace and climb high and look far away with the saint.Then, you have to participate in the shooting ceremony.

As for the shooting ceremony, to put it bluntly, the emperor chooses a venue in the palace, and the monarch and his ministers show off their bow skills together. Those who hit the shot will be rewarded, and those who miss will be laughed at.

This is a bit disturbing, because Xue Lang's archery is still not very good after practice!At a distance of ninety steps, the first five arrows all hit the target. As for whether they hit or not, it all depends on luck; for the last five arrows, because of lack of arm strength, one is closer than the other.In short, the level of archery is completely shameful.Although, Princess Pingyang sent him a suitable bow for him to practice archery.However, someone's level is really bad, wasting the princess' kindness in vain.

Last year, Xue Lang was not qualified to participate, and he didn't know it at all. After knowing that he was going to participate in this event this year, his whole body was in a bad mood.In the early Tang Dynasty, officials in the court, no matter civil or military, could ride horses and bows. It is strange that Xue Lang's level is so poor!
Anyway, the official history does not record that a minister missed an arrow during the Double Ninth Shooting Ceremony, so it should be okay to lose face once, right?It's just a pity that the bow was given by Her Highness the Princess!
That's what Xue Lang said to himself when he left home to enter the palace in the morning.

Every year for the shooting ceremony, a suitable place in the palace will be selected as the shooting range for the ministers to compete. There is no fixed place. This year, the saint chose the square in front of Linde Hall, which is very spacious.The venue was set up yesterday——

The archery target for the archery ceremony is ninety steps away. There are temporary walls built on both sides of the archery target to avoid incidents where the shot goes wrong and accidentally injures the audience. There is also a band at a safe distance outside the shooting range. That’s right, archery It follows the rhythm of the music played by the band.

According to regulations, the tallest building in Chang'an City is the imperial palace, and the best place to climb up and look far is naturally in the palace.People directly accept the worship of the officials in the Linde Hall, but when there are festivals in the palace, all the ministers participate, and then the princes and princesses.

Xue Lang arrived neither early nor late, before the members of Li Tang's royal family arrived, those who arrived earlier were the ministers, among these people, Xue Lang was the youngest one, saluted and greeted people politely——

"Li Gong, happy holidays!"

"Youyang is here? Thank you for the crab you sent yesterday. It tastes even more delicious than the one I tasted last year."

"Last year's drunk time was not as long as this year's, and the taste was not tasty enough. This year's marinade time is longer, and the taste has already been tasted. Naturally, it tastes better than last year's."

It was Li Gang who spoke to him first.Pei Ju was standing next to him. After hearing this, he laughed and said, "Mr. Li tasted it last year? I was lucky enough to taste it this year. I didn't expect crabs to do this. It's a wonderful idea, and it's very delicious."

"Pei Gong deserves the prize, as long as it suits your taste."

This year Xue Lang made a lot of drunken crabs ahead of time, and besides giving them to people he knew well, Su Han also gave some to the people in the Imperial Medical Office.Although Xue Lang has a low EQ, he deeply understands the truth that friendship comes from social relationships. If there are many contacts, others will naturally know what kind of person he is, and those who get along will naturally become friends. I don't feel sorry.

"Huh? From what you two said, it seems that Concubine Xue gave you delicious food? Why did Concubine Xue forget about this old man?"

Pei Ji who was next to him also came over to make fun of him, questioning Xue Lang in a plausible way, but with a smile on his face.Xue Lang cupped his hands and said, "Pei Gong, happy holidays! It's just a homemade crab. If Pei Gong doesn't give up, I will send someone to send it to Pei Gong later?"

Pei Ji smiled and said: "It should have been like this long ago! I want the old man to have the audacity to ask for it. The new couple has not yet entered the house, and Xue Consort is going to throw the old man, a matchmaker, over the wall?"

All the old men present laughed, Xue Lang blushed immediately, and hurriedly begged for mercy: "Add another pot of wine brewed by the official, please let me off!"

Pei Ji nodded in satisfaction with an expression of "you're a smart boy".Just joking around, the sage finally arrived with the princes and princesses, and Princess Pingyang was naturally among them.

Xue Lang followed the ministers to pay respects to the saint. Although it was hard to raise his head, he felt that Princess Pingyang was looking at him, lowered his head and smiled secretly, and said silently in his heart, Your Highness, happy holidays!
After meeting the saint, it is as usual to give a banquet, drink wine, compose poems, and admire chrysanthemums.Xue Lang didn't know how to compose poems, so besides drinking, he had to dance a dance to entertain his relatives with colorful clothes.

After eating and drinking enough, it is the shooting ceremony.The first one to shoot was the saint. Stepping on the rhythm of the band, the saint shot four arrows. After shooting, the general of Qianniuwei brought the arrows that hit——

At this time, people are more moral, and they don't cheat to please the emperor, and if they shoot a few shots, they will give a few to the saints.His Majesty Li Yuan's bow skills are good, and he hit all four of them.

Next came the Prince, King Qin, King Qi, and the princesses also went up to shoot a round. The princes were all good, and the princesses were also good. Few of them missed the target.

After that, the ministers appeared one by one.The sage was at the top, and said with a happy smile: "This year, I have chosen the rewards. The No. 1 prize is a BMW, and the second reward is silk and satin. If you miss the target...then I also have cornel wine, and the Qing family will give it to you." Consciously go and receive the punishment! Haha..."

"The minister will thank the saint in advance for the reward!"

The ministers also joined in the fun, most of them were gearing up and eager to try, and the sage stroked his beard happily and laughed.

Xue Lang had a bitter face——

The cornel wine is not good, the cornel thing is spicy!Coupled with the wine-making technology, the wine has some pantothenic acid, and the taste is really sour and refreshing!

"This arrow won!"

This is hitting the bullseye!

"Keep this arrow!"

This means that the shot is below the target; Yang is above, needless to say left and right.

The ministers of the early Tang Dynasty were truly capable of marching on horseback and ruling the country when dismounted.Even old men like Pei Ju and Li Gang mostly hit the target, but they are old and weak, and not many hit the bull's-eye.

When it was Xue Lang's turn, Xue Lang stood in front of the line, drew his bow, and aimed——

Princess Pingyang picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and Princess Xiangyang smiled and commented: "You have a good posture, Xue Shilang is so tall, you think he is good at arching?"

The last question was Princess Pingyang next to her.Princess Pingyang paused while holding the wine glass, a smile flashed across her eyes, and said after consideration: "From a certain point of view, it is difficult for ordinary people to match!"

Princess Xiangyang was stunned: "It's so powerful? Then we have to take a closer look."

Then, watching Xue Lang let go of his hand, with a "swoosh", the arrow shot out——

The first shot flew over the arrow target and shot high!

The second one, shot directly under the target, and shot low!

The third shot hit the wall next to it; the fourth... shot into the chrysanthemum pot placed in front of the hall!
Princess Xiangyang was dumbfounded, and Princess Pingyang smiled lightly: "Sister, let's see, is it difficult for ordinary people to miss this shot?"

It turns out that this is the meaning of Amei's difficulty in reaching ordinary people!
Princess Xiangyang gave a "puchi" smile, and patted Princess Pingyang's showy hand lightly: "You are the only one who is narrow-minded! I don't worry that Sergeant Xue will be sad if you bury your future son-in-law like this."

Princess Pingyang smiled and looked at Xue Lang's embarrassing way of touching the back of his head after all four arrows missed, and replied with a smile: "Youyang's strength is not in archery, you may be ashamed, you will never be sad, Youyang is not like that Vulnerable people."

"Yo, sister knows him so well?"

Princess Xiangyang teased, and Princess Pingyang smiled slightly, with a slight blush on her face, but she admitted generously: "I have known him for a long time, of course."

Princess Xiangyang looked at her sister who was deep in the past with such a beautiful smile, and she had a tacit understanding with Xue Lang in her words. For some reason, she felt a little complicated in her heart——

A mei is such a deep and introverted person, unexpectedly he recruited such a speculative son-in-law... Thinking of the hardships of getting married with her son-in-law, she was a little envious.My sister is so lucky!
(End of this chapter)