Records of the Cattle and Horses of Chang'an

Finding that his thoughts were a little split, Jiang Shangxian quickly returned to the topic and began to think about the empress's affairs during the Zhenguan period.

According to later historians and various expert research, the empress was not favored during the Zhenguan period, although she was a beauty that conformed to the aesthetic standards of the Tang people: a broad forehead and a plump chin.

Li Shimin named the girl Mei Niang because he thought she was charming and attractive. It sounded good, but according to later research, "Wu Mei Niang" was actually the name of a song that had been popular since the Sui Dynasty, similar to the modern "There is a girl named Xiao Fang in the village".

Therefore, it can be judged that in Li Shimin's eyes, the empress at this time was just a little thing to pass the time and occasionally do intermittent hypoxic exercise together.

But who is the Empress? She is the most ambitious woman in the five thousand years of Chinese history!

Now that she's in the palace, how can she be willing to sit on the bench in the harem? She has to work hard! She has to perform!

So she found an opportunity to do a small thing: she volunteered to help Li Shimin train horses, saying that if the horse was disobedient, she would whip it with an iron whip, hit its head with an iron hammer, and if it still was disobedient, she would stab it to death with a knife.

In short, it's about fighting violence with violence, and if they really don't obey, just kill them.

Wow, if we look at this from a modern perspective, she would definitely be a brave and resourceful heroine.

But Li Shimin didn't think it was possible. He thought this woman was too aggressive. How could he handle her? He still preferred the gentle and soft-spoken woman.

From this we can see that this matter was a stupid move by the empress.

If Huanhuan does this, she will have to live in Ganlu Temple until her death.

After all, Ye Lanyi doesn't do anything bloody or violent when it comes to horse training.

This little incident directly led to the empress falling out of favor.

As the situation developed, Jiang Shangxian felt that if he wanted to have some relationship with the disgraced Wu Meiniang, it should still be possible.

After all, when the big guys are down and out, they are relatively easier to approach.

Then the second question arises. Wu Meiniang is still in Luoyang now. It will be next year before she comes back.

After coming back, one is in the palace and the other is outside the palace. How is she going to get involved with Wu Meiniang?

'Snapped'

Jiang Shangxian slapped his forehead. What does it mean to be too clever for your own good? What does it mean to suffer the consequences of one's own actions? What does it mean to not work hard today and run into a wall tomorrow?

No wonder he gave the reward so readily, not caring at all about her finding loopholes to complete the task. Damn, it turns out that this task is a chain of tasks linked to each other!

If she went to the palace to work as a female official, wouldn't it be like being close to Wu Meiniang that she would be the first to get the moon?

But now she is unwilling to let Jiang Shangxian find a way to work in the palace.

It's uncomfortable to be hungry. It's even more uncomfortable to be unable to speak and work when you're hungry.

The strong never complain about their environment, but Jiang Shangxian is a weak person. Thinking about it, she was still very angry. She sat up and cursed her father in a low voice for a while. Finally, she sighed with contentment and collapsed on the bed.

It won’t be until next year anyway, so let’s just leave it this way for now.

Who can say that lying flat isn't a form of self-discipline? If you can't solve a problem, put it aside first, otherwise it's easy to develop nodules.

After preparing himself mentally, Jiang Shangxian decided to actively experience the folk customs of the Tang Dynasty. He got up early the next day and excitedly joined the family's big event.

Before going to work, she thought she might as well go and see the excitement and experience the grand event that no longer exists in later generations.

Jiang's mother and Old Lady Xia were busy preparing the tribute. Xia Zhenying and Jiang Wangri, one filling the braised mutton, the other serving the nearly cooked mung bean paste. (According to research, mung beans were cultivated during the Shang and Zhou dynasties and were considered a grain.)

The ceramic pot containing mung bean paste must be placed in a wooden barrel filled with water, so that it can be barely guaranteed not to go bad in hot weather. The same applies to braised lamb.

"Oh, it would be nice if we had a mule cart." Jiang Wangri looked at his own cart and felt a little uncomfortable.

This kind of cart can only carry a few things. On a day like today, there must be a lot of people. If there were a mule cart, it could pull a larger flatbed cart and carry more things without too much effort.

Jiang's mother was determined to strike back at his attempt to be lazy: "How many days are there in a year? Just for a few days, you want to buy a mule cart? You are so delicate and naive. You really don't know how to live!"

Jiang Wangri immediately stopped his arrogance, turned around and ran away a few steps, muttering to Jiang Shangxian and the others, "How can it be just a few days? New Year's Day, Human Day, Lantern Festival, Beginning of Spring, Ordination Day, Spring Festival, Cold Food Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day..."

He muttered and counted a long number of them, but even his two hands couldn't count them all. Jiang Wangri was immediately distraught: "There are obviously so many days!"

Jiang Shangxian ignored him. She didn't want to raise a mule here. The yard was so small, and if she raised another mule, how terrible would the smell be?

"Erlang, there are only so many days in a year. We can make do with a little more effort. Why should we spend money on a mule? The fodder it eats every day costs a lot of money!"

Xia Zhenying’s idea is the same as Jiang’s mother’s: there is no need to consider spending money that is not necessary.

Jiang Wangri looked at his two sisters who both disagreed, sighed, and put the rope of the cart on his shoulder: "You are both right. What else does this family need a mule? I am the mule."

Upon hearing this, Jiang's mother came over and carefully put away the bamboo basket containing the offerings. Then she slapped him on the back of the head: "You think you can hold your own? At best, you're only half a head! Okay, stop talking nonsense. If you don't go now, you won't be able to get a seat!"

Jiang Wangri rubbed his head, not daring to talk back to her, and obediently pushed the cart out.

There were really a lot of people. Even though the Jiang family went out so early, the people outside were already the same as when everyone went out on normal days. If it were any later, they would probably have difficulty moving the cart.

Fortunately, Yong'anfang was not far from Chongyefang. When they arrived, there were already quite a few small vendors occupying the same space as them. Jiang's mother was sharp-eyed and found a good spot under the shade of a tree. Then she put her hands on her hips and said proudly, "Look, if we hadn't come so quickly, would we have gotten this good spot?"

"My aunt is so amazing!" Xia Zhenying admired her very much. This tree has lush branches and leaves, and when the sun comes up, it won't be exposed to the sun. It is indeed a good place.

Jiang Shangxian watched as more and more people gathered and became anxious: "When are we going to see the official who sent the basin?"

The festive atmosphere was so strong that her mood couldn't help but rise.

"Let's go now. If you're late, you won't be able to squeeze in." Jiang's mother waved her hand, signaling them to pass. "I won't go. It's too crowded. I'll feel stuffy in my chest soon."

Jiang's mother planned to let her three children and old mother go to watch the fun, and she stayed to look after the stall. Her mother and niece had never seen such a scene before in Chang'an.

As for her two children, they just love to join in the fun. As for her, she really doesn't want to watch it. It happens every year. She has watched it twice, and each time she felt a tightness in her chest from being squeezed. So she decided to give up!

But Madam Xia, who had been looking forward to it yesterday, also backed off as she saw more and more people coming. She shook her head and stood still, "I'm not going either. There are so many people, my old bones can't handle it."

People have to be more careful when they get older. Bumps and scrapes are not a big deal, but falls and collisions are the most worrying thing. Not only will you have to spend money on medical treatment, but you might even lose your life.

She has to live well, at least until her granddaughter gets married.

Seeing that more and more people were gathering, and it hadn't even started yet, she was afraid that if it started, she would be squeezed to death.

"Okay, then you three can go. Nian Nu, you have to look after your younger brothers and sisters. Er Lang, you have to look after your two older sisters and make sure that blind kid doesn't bump into them." Mother Jiang warned her two children. She was too embarrassed to say much about her niece, who was neither young nor old, and she was not her own daughter.

"Yes, don't worry, mother." Jiang Shangxian touched the little baby on her wrist, full of confidence, she was not at all weak.

"Mom, no one dares to offend me while I'm here." Jiang Wangri patted his chest and made a promise with a grin. He is a man!

Jiang Wangri, relying on his small size and agility, pulled his two sisters through the crowd and actually managed to squeeze to the front.

Of course, he got scolded, but he pretended not to hear it. Anyway, he had his seat reserved!

The three of them stood at the front, eagerly waiting. However, as the sun rose higher and higher, there was still no movement. Xia Zhenying couldn't help but ask the two locals, "What time does it start?"

Both sides of Zhuque Street were already crowded with people. Even the second-floor windows of the restaurants along the street were wide open, and from time to time, heads would pop out to see what was going on.

Jiang Shangxian also felt that his head was too sunburned. It felt a little hot when he touched it. He quickly took out his headscarf and put it on. If his hair parting was tanned, where could he go to complain?

Jiang Wangri was just about to speak to comfort them when he heard the sound of orderly running and the clatter of armor. He stretched his neck to look and immediately exclaimed in surprise, "It's the left and right guards!"

To be honest, Jiang Shangxian was asked to identify the Sixteen Guards. She actually only knew the Jinwu Guards and the Jianmen Guards. Thanks to Wang Mingqian and Cui Bianxu who brought her into the palace last time, she only knew that they were the Sixteen Guards when the others stood in front of her, but she definitely couldn't tell which one it was.

Xia Zhenying had even less experience than her, so she also stretched her neck to look and saw two neat rows of people, some of whom were riding horses, walking from the direction of Daming Palace along both sides of Zhuque Street towards the city gate.

Immediately afterwards, the left and right guards stood in front of them. They all had expressionless faces, a solemn and murderous aura, and held long swords in their hands to maintain order.

About every twenty guards, there was a guard on horseback. With them around, the originally noisy people instantly quieted down.

When public security was almost restored, someone came on horseback from the city gate and rushed towards the Daming Palace.

Jiang Shangxian thought, it should be about time.

This was indeed the case. The Jinwu Guards were seen coming from the direction of the Daming Palace, followed by a large group of officials carrying various exquisite and luxurious offerings in their hands, and dragon umbrellas and flags fluttering in the wind that could be seen from afar.

To be honest, the last time I saw so many people was on TV.

Jiang Shangxian didn't even want to blink as she looked at those things carefully. As expected of a royal product, they must be top-quality. She even noticed with her sharp eyes that there seemed to be something like a tablet in the middle.

"Erlang, what is that?" she asked her brother in a low voice, but she couldn't see clearly what was written on it.

Jiang Wangri had no idea that he couldn't read at all.

Jiang Shangxian had no choice but to shut up and squint even harder, but Suzaku Street was a little too spacious, so she could only roughly see two words. She guessed that this should be Li Yuan's tablet.

When the group turned into Jingshanfang and only their backs could be seen, the people gradually began to disperse.

Jiang Shangxian glanced at the time and thought to himself, "Oh no! I'm going to be late!" Without even saying hello to Jiang's mother, he ran off: "I'm leaving first!"

She ran very fast, like a nimble mara, weaving through the crowd. Li Xueyan, who was about to withdraw her head from watching the fun at the second-floor window of a restaurant, was attracted by her jumping figure and felt inexplicably familiar, until she bumped into someone and turned back to apologize.

"Ah! I told you, it's definitely not a maid!"

She was a little proud and ordered the maidservant, "Find someone to follow and find out who that young lady is."

"Yes."