Going to the city to meet old friends

Author: Xi Yumu

Going to the city to meet old friends

Dawn in the East, Chang'an City.

The majestic city wall stands on the horizon. Even after being baptized by several wars, it still stands firm.

Now, with the continuous expansion of various dynasties, by the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an had become the most majestic and magnificent capital city in the world at that time.

The four city walls are all made of bluestone, several feet high and stretching for dozens of miles. There are three gates under each city wall, in order on the south: Anhua Gate, Mingde Gate, and Qixia Gate.

The city gate adopts a double-layered design with a wide door opening that can accommodate several carriages passing side by side. A red lantern hangs above the city gate.

There is also a huge plaque on it, with five big characters "The First City in the World" written on it with dragons and phoenixes dancing on it. It is said that it was written by Zhang Xu, the grass sage.

Each city gate is connected to a wide stone avenue, which leads straight to the center of Chang'an City. Looking in along the city gate, both sides of the road are covered with houses, shops, palaces, etc.

Under the city gate, dozens of city guards were holding long halberds and wearing light armor, standing upright on duty. Although the shift was approaching, there was no sign of fatigue on the faces of the guards.

There is an endless stream of people who get up early and go to the market, some carrying burdens to drive carts, and some carrying bags and baskets.

There was a trace of eagerness on everyone's faces, and they all wanted to go to the market quickly so that they could occupy a conspicuous stall.

The poet Youyouzi once wrote in a poem: "The great road of Chang'an is connected to the narrow path, and the carriages with green oxen, white horses and seven fragrant flowers are drawn together."

A carriage was slowly driving towards the city gate, and inside it were sitting Ling Changfeng, Xiaolan, and a white jade kitten.

After a long stretch, Xiaolan rubbed her groggy eyes, opened the curtains and looked outside, with a happy face: "Master, wake up quickly, Chang'an has arrived."

After several days of hard work, the carriage from Luoyang finally arrived.

Ling Changfeng was woken up by Xiaolan's soft call. He rubbed his stiff and sore arms, and then looked at the water stains on his plain robe. His eyes suddenly widened: "Xiaolan, you have bleeding again while sleeping."

You're drooling! You're still resting on my arm. No wonder I dreamed that my body was pressed down by something and I couldn't move. It turned out to be a good thing you did."

Xiaolan, who was blushing, smiled coquettishly, scratched her head, and deliberately changed the subject: "Master, hurry up and go to Ling's Mansion. Master is still waiting at home." She reached out and took out a handkerchief and wiped the water stains on the master's sleeves.

.

Presumably, in the carriage earlier, the two of them were leaning on each other to rest, and Xiaolan used Ling Changfeng's arm as a pillow.

Ling Changfeng moved his numb arms from side to side, nodded, and looked out the window: "Let's not go back to Ling Mansion yet. Since we have returned to Chang'an, our itinerary may have been reported to the emperor by the stations along the way. Let's go to Yongchong first.

Let’s find an old friend.”

After lowering her head and thinking for a moment, Xiaolan called out softly: "Master, are you looking for her?! If word gets out, it might cause trouble."

"It's okay. Although this person has become a monk, he can enter and leave the palace at will and knows a lot about the affairs in the palace. If we want to enter Xuanfu Palace now, we must have this person."

Xiaolan nodded slightly, feeling warm in her heart. Although her young master didn't mention to her how to obtain the Tianshan Snow Lotus along the way, listening to his words, it was obvious that he already had a countermeasure.

Lifting the curtain in front, Ling Changfeng said in a deep voice: "Go to Yongchongfang! Show this thing to the gate guard later, and then we can enter the city."

The driver nodded in agreement and reached out to take a wooden token handed over by Ling Changfeng with the word "Special Envoy" written on it.

This thing is the token specially given by the Emperor of the Si Tianjian Case, and now it can be regarded as exerting its last remaining heat.

"Who is here? I wonder if you have to stop and dismount your horse to be inspected when entering Chang'an?" A guard holding a halberd stopped the coachman.

The coachman was a person who had seen the world. His expression remained unchanged as he casually threw the "Special Envoy" token over: "Brother Guard, please take a look at this thing. This is a special gift from the emperor. I'm afraid the characters in the car are beyond your control."

It’s time for interrogation.”

The guard was arrogant and was about to teach him a few words. When he took the token and looked at it, he saw two lines of words on the back. He immediately felt that this thing was as heavy as a ton. He hurriedly said that he didn't dare and handed the token to him with both hands.

go back.

"Those who hold this order are as if I are personally here"!

He turned around and signaled to the guards around him: "Everyone, get out of the way. This is the special envoy's carriage."

The coachman smiled and nodded, and drove the carriage slowly from Qixia Gate into Chang'an City.

"Boss, who is that person just now? Why didn't you let him get out of the car for interrogation?" asked the young guard at the side.

The leading guard glanced at him angrily and snorted: "We, the guards, look relaxed, but there are many ways to do it! Although we say that people entering the city must be strictly investigated, but if we really do this, we

My head has long been moved."

"Boss, how do you say this?" The young guard still looked confused.

"Hmph, that man's coachman has an extraordinary bearing. He is a high-ranking official at first glance, and he is holding a token given by the emperor. If we find out, if we anger this man, we will suffer. You know, here

He is a very moody person."

"Over there, aren't you afraid it's a lie?"

"If it's fake, it's also his crime of forgery. How can we, a little guard, tell the difference clearly? Let's learn more! Okay, go back and stand still! When the shift is over, remember to pay me for the tea.

."

The young guard hurriedly ran back to where he was originally standing, slowly digesting the experience taught by the leader. When he turned to look at the carriage again, there was no trace of it.

He shook his head and muttered: The boss is right, life is still important, no matter what is true or false, let me, the emperor, worry about it!

Within a moment of burning incense, the driver drove the carriage to a stop in front of a Taoist temple in Yongchongfang.

A fresh and elegant small Taoist temple, Jingjing, stands in Fangshi, Chang'an. It was originally the residence of a princess during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, but was later taken back. The current emperor gave it to his daughter, Princess Huayang.

Of course, Princess Huayang had already become a monk at this time, and her Taoist name was: Zhenren Qionghua.

In order to allow father and daughter to see each other often, the emperor specially arranged for a group of skilled craftsmen to transform his mansion into a Taoist temple here.

Ling Changfeng and Xiaolan got off the carriage one after another. Ling Changfeng handed over some broken silver and waved to the driver: "You can go back to Ling Mansion for now, I have something else to ask for here.

Things need to be done."

After saying that, he led Xiaolan towards the Taoist temple without stopping, shouting: "Sister Huayang, Changfeng has come to see you."

The originally peaceful Taoist temple was also broken by its sound.

"I'm still wondering who it is! I haven't seen you for half a year, why do you still have such a short memory!" A clear voice sounded from the Taoist temple.
Chapter completed!