As the wax day is approaching, the flavor of the New Year in Chang'an City is getting stronger and stronger.In later generations, Chinese New Year's Eve and New Year are connected, but in ancient times they were not, if it was placed before the first year of Emperor Wu of Han, with October as the first year, the first day of the new year would run to Chinese New Year's Eve, more than two months apart.After the initial reform, the first day of the year was moved to January New Year's Day, and the day of the year was set on the third day after the winter solstice.This festival is so important that even the prisoners in the county jails can apply for parole to go home for the New Year, and the officials naturally have to take a long vacation, starting from the first two days of the month, and only use it to go back to work on the fourth day after the month, no more, no less than seven days!
Ren Hong's family had already prepared for the sacrifice under Xia Dingmao's Zhang Luo: five days before the wax, kill the pig; Three days before the wax, the sheep were killed; For the first two days, fasting, making sacrificial food, cleaning and washing; On the day of Xianla, it is necessary to carry out the ritual of chasing the epidemic, and every household in the Shangguan is the same, change the peach charm in front of the door, and draw the image of the two gods of "Shen Tu" and "Yu Lei" on it, which is used to drive away ghosts and avoid evil.At this time, if anyone does not say "there are no ghosts and gods in the world" with long eyes, they will be looked down upon by everyone, and in the next life, they will be kicked out of the family group.Therefore, Ren Hong didn't say a word, but only followed Xia Weng's babbling instructions, first hung a ghost-catching reed rope at the door, and buried cobblestones and 7 peach arcs in the four corners around the house, so that "there will be no ghost plague".When he buried the peach arc, he also met the ugly Erlang of the Yang family, and Yang Yun was probably sent by his parents to do this.When Ren Hong returned home, Xia Dingmao was still busy preparing the dried meat for tomorrow's sacrifice.The protagonist of the Han wax festival is not pork, but mutton, as the so-called "old Fu La, cook lamb", sheep, auspicious, sheep represents the yang of yin and yang, but also auspicious, is the protagonist of tomorrow's wax sacrifice.But Ren Hong just entered the winter this year, so he asked people to buy a lot of pork legs, salted them in fine salt, sprinkled with some spices such as peppercorns, and pressed them with a stone mill.Xia Dingmao looked up at these meats that the gentleman called "ham", and felt that it was too much.The gentleman's words are somewhat inexplicable: "When I see them, I feel comfortable and feel that I am rich enough to rival the country." ”In the Western Regions and Hexi, mutton will be greasy if you eat too much, Chang'an pork is very cheap, 1 pound of meat is only 3 yuan when it is the cheapest, and only 6 yuan when it is the most expensive, Ren Hong can already imagine the ruddy meat quality of these hams after cutting, and smell the fragrance of them or steamed, or fried, or simmered."
Xia Weng, the peach talisman has been hung up, and the cobblestone has been buried, but what is missing?"
Xia Dingmao was wiping the grease on his hands, and when he heard this, he said meaningfully: "Gentleman, the house is full of grain, and even the slaves have each been given a warm new winter coat, and the cured meat used for the sacrifice is also ready, and there is no shortage of anything, just a hostess, these main sacrifices are originally in charge of the heroine." ”He said angrily: "But look at this yard, except for the radishes in the stable, how can there be half a mother?"
”Yes, ewes, sows, dogs, hens Ren Hong can only beg for mercy: "Xia Weng, next year, next year there must be." ”He is actually quite happy, from the urging of the elders, this taste, it is the New Year!
Xia Dingmao's sigh was knocked on the door, and Liu Yaoguang and Liu Wannian were all gone when they came to pay New Year's greetings, but smiled and went to greet Ren Hong.Liu Wannian's red hair looked particularly festive on the eve of this festival, and he was carrying two fat geese in his hands, and the servants behind him were carrying a cart full of gifts.Liu Yaoguang wore a festive dress today, and also pasted a flower yellow, and also saluted Ren Hong seriously: "Mother and brother Tuo Xiyu have all sent a letter, let me ask Xi'an Hou Lari on their behalf how he is doing."
There was no other courtesy in the remote area, and knowing that Xi'an Hou was good at exotic products, she asked Mrs.
Feng to buy local vegetables, fruits, spices and seeds from Dawan and Kangju and send them.Yaoguang personally recommended the rice goose and looked at Xi'an Hou Nazhi. ”Lapper, also, Tian to take the beast to sacrifice to the ancestors, is the most primitive custom of the wax day, Ren Hong let people take the goose, said with a smile: "It should be me thank the Lord of Chu and the eldest prince for their help, if there is no Wusun to send troops to help me, how can Ren Hong have today?"
But this goose can't be secretly beaten by the princess in Shanglin Garden, right?
If so, I don't dare to accept it. ”Liu Yaoguang couldn't hold back, and scolded with a smile: "Stealing in Shanglin Yuan is a big crime, don't hurt me, you went to Leyou Yuan to hit me." ”Liu Wannian said in the back: "Sister has to go to Leyou to shoot geese, and two of them will come down with one bow, but the pavilion chief who came to check was stunned." ”After entering the courtyard, I saw the gifts sent from Wusun all the way, in addition to the Anxiqin that Ren Hong's family had used up, there were also a lot of wine, pomegranate peels and other things, which were very expensive in Chang'an.But the two didn't stay for a long time, in the kitchen, the fragrance of steamed ham had already come out, Liu Wannian smelled the smell and was reluctant to give up, but Liu Yaoguang glared at him and said goodbye to Ren Hong."
We still have to go to Liu Zongzheng's house."
The purpose of sacrificing ancestors is to reunite the clan.Liu De is regarded as the "parent" of the Chu clan in Jingzhao, and the two Yaoguang sisters and brothers were included in the clan, so they had to go to the banquet to gather with their relatives, and only made an appointment with Ren Hong to see the big man in Chang'an City in the evening.As soon as the sisters and brothers left, the Xi'an Hou Mansion suddenly quieted down, and many servants in the family also took leave to go home for the New Year, leaving only Ren Hong, Xia Dingmao, Han Dangdang and a few slaves who had not married a family staring wide-eyed.Listening to the lively situation of several families next door, on the other hand, their family had a good feast, but they always felt deserted.Although the ham was indeed delicious, it was chewed in Xia Weng's mouth, and it actually tasted a little bitter."
Gentleman, the matter of marrying a wife and heir, I can't really delay" Seeing that he put down his chopsticks and was about to speak again, Ren Hong hurriedly resigned, and made an appointment with Princess Yaoguang to go out to watch the princess slip away first.The day before the wax, the drum to drive away the epidemic, called to expel it, the big big on the eve of the wax day, is a fixed program of the Han Dynasty for more than 100 years.Starting from the Yanggong Palace, crossing the entire five-kilometer-long Anmen Avenue until Hengmen, it is a rare day in Chang'an City without a curfew, and hundreds of thousands of people in the city revel.The street must be overcrowded today, Ren Hong did not lead a horse or bring an entourage, wrapped in a thick fur fur and went out, and walked around the alley not far from Zongzheng Liu De's house twice, and Liu Yaoguang also came out."
What about ten thousand years?"
Ren Hong asked deliberately, but he wished he wouldn't come.Liu Yaoguang sighed: "Liu Gengsheng, the second son of Liu Zongzheng's family, is only three years old, and he likes Wannian's red hair, and he always pesters him and can't move away. ”That being said, it may also be that she was scared by her fists and didn't dare to follow.The two walked together, just keeping a little distance, but at the door of Shangguanli, they met a couple who also went out to watch the excitement because their home was deserted.On the day before this year's La, Liu Ai's house did not have any fireworks, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law were all subordinates, and they were busy with the big ceremony in the palace in the court, and they couldn't get out.As for sacrificing the deceased grandfather, grandmother, and parents, he has to go to him tomorrow to sacrifice a neat and tidy family, and the taste is really indescribable.But this year is different, he beat his spirit and smiled to help his wife Zhang Luo sacrifice the preserved food that needs to be prepared, after finishing the work, I heard Xu Pingjun say that since he entered the court, he has not seen the excitement of the big girl in Chang'an City for many years, and Liu Yi has pulled her out of the door.Diving headlong into the hustle and bustle outside may help him drive away the sorrow in his heart."
Beloved, let's let go, let people see how it is."
Xu Pingjun blushed and looked left and right, wanting to break free from her husband's hand.Liu Yi didn't care about it, and said with a smile: "Shiyun, holding the hand of the son, and the son and the old, we are a folk husband and wife, isn't it common to walk hand in hand?"
”Xu Pingjun's physique is easy to get cold, especially in winter, his hands are cold, and Liu Yi has held it tightly, so that Xu Pingjun feels extremely warm from the palm of her husband's hand, and only peeks at his side face.The heroic eyebrows, the resolute eyes, like the smile of the summer sun, can't see at all that this orphan who was imprisoned in the mansion until he was five years old and his clan was wiped out.The ice of this cold wax moon seems to be melted by him.It wasn't until Xi'an Hou came to call Liu Ai that she hurriedly shook off her husband's hand and turned around to salute, her color was pleasant."
Liu Xu has seen Xi'an Hou."
Ren Hong did not officially meet Xu Pingjun, only occasionally met in Shang Guanli, this thin and still childish girl, who had already put on the hairstyle of a married woman, always took slaves to buy firewood and charcoal and meat and vegetables, and was polite to anyone he met.It's like a small animal walking through the alleys, sticking to the root of the wall, cautiously avoiding the swagger of behemoths such as the Huo family in the middle of the market, lest it be stepped on by one foot.But Ren Hong, as a prince, returned the courtesy to the white-bodied woman: "I have always heard that the emperor's great-grandson has a virtuous wife, which can make him pay attention, and there are many fewer cockfighting dogs, so I can only see it today." ”He looked at Liu Aiji, after the two had been dating for two months, they could already make some small jokes: "The emperor's great-grandson, if you take a woman like this, Qi Jiang might as well too!"
”These words made Liu Ying a little proud, and Xu Pingjun was even more embarrassed when he received this praise, but his eyes couldn't help but look at the beautiful girl dressed up behind Ren Hong, and the other party was also looking at their husband and wife with wide eyes.Looking at his appearance, Xu Pingjun guessed: "Isn't this the orchid raised by the Hou family of Xi'an?"
”But when I heard that Ren Hong said that this was the eldest princess of Wusun Kingdom, I was inevitably surprised.Now the two couples are a little difficult, I have long heard that Princess Wusun was recognized by the Son of Heaven as a clan surnamed Liu, and she is more than the princess's etiquette, and she is also a member of the Liu family, so it is natural to judge the seniority internally.Liu Yi immediately calculated silently in his heart, he was the seventh grandson of Emperor Gao.Princess Wusun is the younger brother of Emperor Gao and the sixth grandson of Liu Jiao, King of Chu Yuan.It's a generation off.Liu Ying had no choice but to take Xu Pingjun to perform the junior salute, and called out to Princess Wusun: "Auntie." ”"Auntie?"
Liu Yaoguang suddenly had a nephew and relative who were older than him, and he was a little caught off guard, but Ren Hongle was overwhelmed.They recognized their relatives there, but Ren Hong, an outsider, looked at Liu Ai from the side, showing a loving uncle smile.It's almost a red envelope for Xiao Liu.PS: The second chapter is in the evening.