sbdcsierra Chapter 264: Lantern Dance Festival
Chapter 264: Lantern Dance Festival
On this side, Meng Ning Sanzhen and his group finally arrived in Yangzhou City after many twists and turns.
Before entering the city, I could see from afar the crowds of people and the hustle and bustle of carriages and horses in front of the Yangzhou city gate.
As we got closer, the bustling scene became more and more apparent.
There are shops lining both sides of the street with wine flags fluttering. There are silk shops, rouge shops, teahouses, and wine shops.
The hawkers' shouts could be heard one after another, selling candied haws, osmanthus cakes and butter cakes along the street. The aroma wafted over, tempting people's appetite.
Pedestrians were shoulder to shoulder, including rich young men dressed in silk and satin, peddlers carrying loads through the streets, and beautiful young women dressed up gorgeously, holding round fans in their hands, half covering their faces, and from time to time, their laughter like silver bells could be heard.
There are also pictures of little people hanging everywhere on the roadside stalls, depicting the love stories of talented men and beautiful women. Each picture is so lifelike that it attracts passers-by to stop and watch.
Although the undead corpses were causing a lot of trouble, the city of Yangzhou was prosperous without any sign of depression.
People walked on the street, looking east and west, and felt that their eyes were not enough.
"This Yangzhou city is really lively. It is really different from the towns in small places. It is obviously not the dead that are causing such a commotion."
Gao Haoguang couldn't help but sigh.
"It's usually very lively, but not as exaggerated as it has been recently. The reason why there are so many people now is because the Thousand Lantern Dance Festival in Yangzhou City is about to begin." Wu Xianhe explained.
"Thousand Lantern Dance? What on earth is that?" Meng Ning asked.
"Every place has its own special festival...'Thousand Lanterns Dance God Festival' is a festival founded in Yangzhou City to worship Qiandeng, the god of 'dance and beauty.'" Wu Xianhe explained patiently.
"Legend has it that a thousand years ago, there was a gorgeous geisha named Qiandeng in Yangzhou City. At the age of only eight or nine, she became the top geisha at the Shili Waterside Pavilion in Yangzhou City, and her dancing made countless people linger.
Therefore, Qiandeng was worshipped as a dancing goddess by people at that time, and the dance she performed was naturally called Qiandeng Dance.
"Ah... why do people use the real names of people when naming dances? Can't they use something better...
If I create a unique dance, will it be called 'Qingqing Dance'?" Miao Qingqing blinked her big eyes, feeling a little speechless.
Wu Xianhe cleared his throat and laughed, "It's not just because the woman is called 'Qian Deng'.
That’s because, in the beginning, every time the Thousand Lanterns danced, many women would release countless lanterns into the sky and wish to be as beautiful and graceful as the Thousand Lanterns.”
"The men also released countless lanterns, but they made a wish to spend a night with thousands of lanterns."
“It is even rumored that when Qian Deng is so beautiful, every fire in the sky and on the ground, in Yangzhou City, will only illuminate Qian Deng’s face, and everyone can only see her.
It was hard to tell whether the scenery was real or imaginary. "
"But later, Qian Deng mysteriously disappeared at the age of sixteen."
"There are many rumors about Qian Deng's disappearance. Some say she was taken away by the emperor at the time as a concubine."
"Some say she was taken away by a powerful master as his wife, others say she simply died of illness, or even committed suicide because of a heartless man."
"In short, there are all kinds of legends."
"However, over time, the custom of lighting lanterns has been preserved and has now become a traditional festival in Yangzhou City."
"Every year, Yangzhou City hypes up this festival and holds a seven-day annual 'Dancing God Election' during the Dancing God Festival!"
"All participating women are required to dance wildly all night long on the last day of the Thousand Lantern Dance Festival."
"This is to honor Qiandeng, the peerless beauty, to commemorate the Qiandeng Dance, and also to celebrate the birth of this year's new dance god and top star."
After Wu Xianhe finished speaking, he looked at Miao Qingqing and started joking with a smile.
"Little Fairy Miao is so beautiful, I think she will win a good place if she participates in the Dance God Festival."
Miao Qingqing's eyes flickered as Wu Xianhe spoke. Meng Ning saw that his senior sister must be thinking of participating in the Dance God election.
Normally, she would often admire herself in front of the mirror. She also liked to pick some wild flowers and put them on her head. If she saw a scene like a beauty pageant, it was impossible for her not to be tempted.
Then everyone continued to follow Wu Xianhe's pace. After passing several inns, Erguo was a little tired after a long journey and couldn't help asking questions.
"Shouldn't we find an inn to stay at first?"
"You have all arrived in Yangzhou City and are working for the Lu family. Why would you live somewhere else?" Wu Xianhe turned around and smiled, explaining.
So everyone continued to move forward, walking and looking around in Yangzhou City. Although they had already been dazzled by the prosperity of Yangzhou City, when they arrived at the gate of Lu Mansion, they were still deeply shocked.
The gate of the Lu Mansion was extraordinary, with two vermilion-painted doors that were three meters tall and inlaid with gold nails, sparkling with a rich aura.
There are two jade lions in front of the door, which are majestic, finely carved and have distinct manes.
There is a plaque on the lintel with the words "Lu Mansion" inscribed on it. The strokes are vigorous and majestic, and it is obvious that it was written by a master.
The steps are paved with white marble, clean and tidy without a speck of dust.
On both sides there are towering ancient trees with luxuriant branches and leaves, blocking out the sun, protecting future generations and bringing endless blessings.
The entire Lu Mansion, just in front of the gate, exudes an aura of wealth.
"How magnificent! How rich!"
Everyone was amazed.
Wu Xianhe looked at the stunned expressions of the crowd, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and an indescribable sense of pride surged in his heart.
He was too familiar with this reaction.
Thinking back to the first time he came to the Lu Mansion, he looked even more inexperienced than them.
At that time, my eyes were not enough. No, I just hated my parents for not giving me two more eyes.
At that time, my mouth was open so wide that a goose egg could fit in it, and I didn't even notice that my drool was all over the floor.
Just like a country bumpkin coming to the city, Granny Liu entered the Grand View Garden.
After all, at that time, he was still a poor salt worker who was living from hand to mouth. How could he have seen such a magnificent mansion?
He felt that the golden plaque was almost blinding his eyes.
There was only one thought in my mind:
My goodness, how much silver would it take to create such a scene?
Later, he gradually realized that Yangzhou was the richest city in the world.
And the wealth of Yangzhou all belongs to the Lu family.
The Lu family is truly wealthy enough to rival a country.
Let alone anything else, just this house, it was the residence of a prince of the previous dynasty.
After several twists and turns, it fell into the hands of the Lu family, who spent a lot of money to repair and expand it.
This is how it has grown to its current scale.
The pair of white marble lions at the entrance alone are priceless.
Not to mention the golden animal heads inlaid on the vermilion gate and the exquisite patterns carved on the lintel.
Thinking of this, Wu Xianhe sighed inwardly.
No matter how many times I see it, I still feel it is exaggerated. The Lu family is truly a wealthy family.
Compared with them, the wealth of Sanchuan Town is simply not worth mentioning.
However, everyone has his own destiny.
It is a blessing for me to have the opportunity to eat some of the leftovers coming out of other people's mouths in this life.
Soon, Wu Xianhe collected his thoughts, cleared his throat, took two steps forward, and said to the servant at the door: "Please inform them that Wu Xianhe from the Salt Merchants' Alliance wants to see my mentor. Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission and brought him here."
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