freenovelworld Chapter 484 The Lantern Festival Arrives!
Chapter 484 The Lantern Festival Arrives!
The next day, Old Madam Fang came to the mansion to pay her respects. Mu Xin Nuan deliberately arranged for her to stay at Yi Xin Courtyard, and at the same time, she sent someone to invite Gao Chunhua over.
Although Gao Chunhua moved in as a beauty bestowed by the Empress, the Prince did not give her a clear identity, which made her position in the mansion somewhat awkward.
"Miss Gao, please have a seat."
Gao Chunhua quickly bowed and sat down properly.
Mu Xin Nuan and Old Madam Fang then began to talk about Fang Heng, the martial artist.
"Miss Gao, I've heard you're quite talented. Why don't you play a piece for us right here?"
"Yes, as Your Highness commands."
Mu Xin Nuan smiled and glanced at Madam Fang, "Let's play a tune called 'Peach Blossom Song'."
Madam Fang's eyes lingered on Gao Chunhua, scrutinizing her repeatedly, her gaze growing increasingly satisfied.
After the song ended, Mu Xin Nuan smiled and said, "Miss Gao is also from an official family. Her father is a sixth-rank official in Jiangnan. However, the Empress Dowager favored her and sent her to Yanzhou. Your Highness and I see that she is all alone and helpless in Yanzhou. Your Highness really couldn't bear to wrong her, so we thought of asking me to act as matchmaker for her and General Fang. Today, it depends on what Old Madam Fang thinks."
As they were talking, Aunt Fang gave a wink and led Gao Chunhua away again.
The final result, of course, was a happy ending for everyone.
For Madam Fang, it was an incredible blessing for the Fang family to marry a well-educated and sensible woman from an official family! The Fang family had been poor for generations, but now that their son had made something of himself and become a general, if he could marry a literate wife, then the Fang family would truly be able to hold their head high and at least they would no longer be ridiculed by outsiders for their impoverished origins.
Although Gao Chunhua did not see Fang Heng, she saw that although Old Madam Fang was illiterate, she was very kind and approachable. Having such a mother-in-law in the future would be better than letting her wait to die alone in the Chang Le Prince's Mansion.
It just so happened that the Lantern Festival was an auspicious day, so they decided to get engaged on that day, which was considered a good arrangement.
Mu Xin Nuan was not an unreasonable person. Now that Gao Chunhua had been sent away by her and Duanmu Chuze, she naturally had to prepare a decent dowry for her. In this way, Gao Chunhua would have a disadvantage in the Chang Le Prince's Mansion.
According to public statements, Gao Chunhua married into the Fang family as a personal maidservant of the Prince of Changle.
If she were an ordinary person's maid, she would naturally be looked down upon. But who is Princess Chang Le? She is the mistress of Yan, and her maids are equivalent to a minor official of the fifth or sixth rank!
Furthermore, Mu Xin Nuan was already known as a talented woman, and she had done a great favor for Huayang County. Naturally, the maids around her were all of high social standing.
At the same time, Mu Xin Nuan further elevated her status by mentioning that she came from an official family and had to enter the palace for the imperial concubine selection for certain reasons. She was eventually chosen by the Empress and sent to serve in the Prince of Yan's residence.
A girl who could be favored by the Empress must have impeccable character.
Who in the world doesn't praise the Empress's virtue? A woman who can gain her favor must be of excellent character.
After Mu Xin Nuan finalized the matter, she felt more inclined to accompany Duanmu Chu Ze to stroll around the lantern festival outside.
The Lantern Festival is the most lively event of the year. On this day, almost all the young masters and ladies are free to come out and move around. Of course, to prevent them from causing trouble in crowded areas, Duanmu Chuze specially assigned more people to patrol the area constantly.
When Mu Xin Nuan and Duanmu Chu Ze set out, they rode in a rather ordinary carriage, not particularly conspicuous. When they arrived at the famous Bell Tower in Yanzhou City, they saw lanterns hanging high on it, and the Bell Tower, standing on a foundation the height of a two-story building, was exceptionally dazzling.
This clock tower has two stories in total, but it has three layers of eaves, which is the traditional double-eaved architecture. The purpose of these double eaves is to increase the weight of the roof and the body of the building, add height and layers to the roof, enhance the grandeur and solemnity of the roof, and adjust the proportions of the roof and the body of the building.
Mu Xin Nuan was used to seeing such buildings all the time in the capital, because apart from the royal family, no matter how wealthy other families were, they were not allowed to use such double-eaved buildings. In other words, it was a symbol of status and position.
“This bell tower was built a hundred years ago. Although this place is not close to the Turks, if they detour through Qishan on the east side of our Yan region, then our Yan region will face annihilation.”
"Was this bell tower built to remind the soldiers, officials, and civilians of Yan?"
"Indeed! A hundred years ago, the Turks successfully climbed over Qishan Mountain and entered the Yan region. At that time, the Yan region was still very prosperous. That battle was almost a one-sided massacre. The soldiers were unprepared, the people were terrified, and the entire Yan region was almost reduced to ruins."
Duanmu Chuze's expression was somewhat heavy as he looked up at the majestic clock tower.
"At that time, this was not a bell tower, but a very famous pavilion in Yanzhou called Caiming Pavilion. Local talents and celebrities often came here to climb up and enjoy the view, and to compose poems and essays. But unexpectedly, on that day, most of them died here."
Upon hearing this, Mu Xin Nuan's face also showed a hint of sorrow. Looking at the various nobles and commoners below the Bell Tower, who among them wasn't all beaming with joy? Where was the despair and sorrow of that day?
“Let’s go up to the city wall first, and then we’ll ring the big bell together to remind all the people of Yan that the current stability of Yanzhou is hard-won.”
Mu Xin Nuan's hand was held tightly by him, and the two walked side by side up the bell tower until they reached the large bell on the tower before stopping.
"Before, the land of Yan was unclaimed. Or rather, although it was my fiefdom, I had never been here. Now that I have come to Yanzhou, I will defend this land to the death and never let anyone invade it again!"
Mu Xin Nuan felt a pang of pain in her heart when she saw his furrowed brows. This man, who had fought bloody battles on the battlefield for three years, still had a soft heart. For the sake of the people of Yan, he could no longer just attack, but instead defend and persevere.
"Was it also on the Lantern Festival back then?"
Duanmu Chuze nodded, his expression somewhat grave. "It was on the Lantern Festival. At that time, talented men and beautiful women were enjoying time under the flowers and the moon. But they were suddenly scattered by disaster. Some died, some were injured, and some fled."
Mu Xin Nuan couldn't help but sigh, "Although Yan is poor now, at least the people still have a place to live. Such a life is hard-won."