Chapter 60: Twenty-Four Bridges on a Moonlit Night (Part 2)

It was night, the sky was clear and cloudless, and the moon was as white as day. There are dots of stars on the lake, and they are actually boat people arriving here. After moving to the shore and disembarking from the boat, Chen Heng and others, led by Lin Ruhai, walked dozens of steps to a lawn.

Baobao Lake is a long and narrow winding shape. From here to the end, there are sheds built by wealthy businessmen and celebrities in Yangzhou. They are all different shapes, some are large and some are small. Only lanterns are hung at the two corners. From a distance, they look like a long corridor at night. .

The Lin family's shed was not far away. When Chen Heng and others arrived, tables, chairs, tea, and fruits and snacks were already placed inside.

Chen Heng sat down for a moment and couldn't help but look around. The surrounding lake shores are filled with tourists carrying lanterns. They walk in the clear water and light mist, and the sound and light are the same, which makes people feel happy just looking at them.

Before the lantern festival started, Daiyu took Chen Heng's sleeve and led him outside the shed. She pointed at the surrounding pavilions and pagodas and told stories she had heard from her elders.

Chen Heng smiled and nodded, listening very attentively. It wasn't until his shoulder was tapped from behind that he was startled to realize someone was coming from behind him.

"Brother Heng, I told my sister it was you, but she was worried that I would admit it was wrong."

Hearing the familiar voice, Chen Heng had already guessed who it was before he turned around.

"Brother Xue." Chen Heng smiled and cupped his hands at the two siblings, "Sister Xue."

"Sister Baoqin, brother Xue family." Daiyu also followed her brother in saluting.

Under the sparkling night, these two brothers and sisters were dressed in different styles. Xue Biao wears a blue shirt, a white jade belt, a small crown on his head, and a hosta passing through it.

Bao Qin was wearing an apricot-colored long skirt with a light-colored cloak. Her facial features were already bright and majestic, and today she wore an upturned bun. Two strings of agate necklaces were inserted into the bun hanging down on both sides, and a sapphire gold chain helped stabilize the high bun on her head.

Chen Heng had to praise the two brothers and sisters for dressing up like this. This family has a really good sense of aesthetics.

"Sister Lin, brother Chen."

Bao Qin didn't know what Chen Heng thought of him. After bowing, he stepped forward and took Dai Yu's hand. She was very happy to meet her friends on the road today during the festival.

"Hello, sister of the Lin family." Xue Biao returned the salute with a smile. When he saw the two girls getting together, he put his hand on Chen Heng's shoulder and said, "I asked someone to go to the academy to find you today because I was worried that you would come back early and be there in the academy." Feeling bored here."

"Brother Xue is so righteous and never forgets me during the holidays." Chen Heng praised him sincerely.

As a result, Xue Biao thought Chen Heng was joking, so he laughed and said, "Young master, if you really care about me, you won't go back to Yangzhou without even sending me a letter."

Chen Heng quickly confessed, but Xue Biao reluctantly gave up. After the two chatted, they realized that the Xue family's shed was built next to the Lin family, which was quite a coincidence.

After the four juniors saw each other's elders, they left the adults behind and walked out of the shed side by side to admire the moon together.

Xue Biao is such an elegant person, and I don’t know how Xue Ai taught him to be so elegant. Flowers were often used as partitions between sheds. When he saw one, he would name one among the three.

From cutting autumn gauze to begonias, wild geese come in red, old and young people, and monks wear chrysanthemums. He can tell a story about each one. Chen Heng was stunned when he heard this, only to realize that there was such a thing.

Xue Biao didn't mean to show off, but he was just too excited to see his friend today. Xue Baoqin was originally worried that Chen Heng would mind if his brother was too pushy, but when he saw him, he was happier than his younger sister.

Daiyu suddenly stretched out her head, winked at her, and whispered: "Good sister, don't worry, they are in a good relationship."

Bao Qin nodded and asked Sister Lin, who was leaning against her, "What did sister eat today?"

Daiyu covered her mouth with a handkerchief and whispered into Baoqin's ear. These two talked enthusiastically, and their brother was no less enthusiastic. Xue Biao pulled Chen Heng and talked from south to north, filling in what Daiyu had not finished.

"It's about to begin, it's about to begin."

The cry from the end of the crowd spread to everywhere with the wind. The four of them stood together, raising their heads and looking forward to the next beautiful scenery.

First, a cluster of fireworks bloomed under the Guanghan Palace. The surrounding area was like pillars of fireworks. Thousands of silver flowers covered the sky and covered the moon. The flames were bright and the sound was endless. The smoke was lingering and lingering for a long time.

Fireworks are still blooming in the sky, but this smoke has drifted to the lake. Suddenly, several large boats came out of the smoke and came over a lake of autumn water. The boat is brightly lit, with orchestral and vocal music, silk and bamboo, and dozens of dancers singing and dancing on the boat, flying through the clouds with graceful postures.

Xue Biao said to Chen Heng: "The little word they are singing now is called breaking jade."

At this time, the performance outside was reaching its peak, and everyone cheered for the victory. Xue Biao had no choice but to lean into Chen Heng's ear and tell him the allusions to these pieces.

Chen Heng also thought it was fun to listen. He nodded and looked into the distance. The three boats were swaying like jade towers. The bright moon was bright, the stars were shining in the sky, their shadows were reflected in the water, and the mist was vast, just like a picture.

Chen Heng put his arm around Xue Biao's shoulders and shouted into his ear: "You should learn to paint when you go back."

Xue Biao laughed, patted the other party and signaled to continue watching the dancer's performance. One song after another, song after song. Tourists around were sitting on the ground, drinking and singing.

After a long time.

Wait until the fireworks stop and the boat sails away. Chen Heng couldn't help but look at his companion and asked, "Where's the lamp?"

Lin Daiyu didn't know when she was holding Bao Qin and was standing beside him. Hearing her brother's question, she smiled and pointed to the sky.

"Brother, look."

Chen Heng raised his head and looked around. On the arch bridges on the left and right sides, there were nearly a hundred people holding lanterns. Another round of fireworks bloomed, and they all let go of the lanterns in their hands.

These lanterns of different shapes swayed in the air, and the orange-yellow light shone on the lantern paper, on which were various patterns painted by craftsmen. Lotus flowers, full moon, Guanyin giving birth, the title of the imperial examination, the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, Chang'e flying to the moon, etc., all kinds of imaginative ink paintings, only make people dazzled.

Suddenly, a cool breeze was heard under the Guanghan Palace, and these lanterns came slowly, and in a moment they were above everyone's head.

"Brother, look." Daiyu suddenly grabbed Chen Heng's sleeve excitedly, pointing to the lanterns floating above her head, "It's Emperor Wenchang."

Chen Heng's appreciation of paintings is limited. He only thinks that the pattern is very extraordinary, but he can't recognize who it is. At this moment, he just said it was beautiful.

"I heard that those who are floated by Emperor Wenchang will definitely pass the imperial examination in the future." Xue Ke said jokingly.

Chen Heng looked around the crowd and was about to say that it seems that there are many imperial examinations here.

There was a slight "pop" sound above his head. Chen Heng subconsciously grabbed Daiyu and protected her behind him, and looked up at the sky.

The "Wenchang Emperor" lantern that was about to leave, somehow touched the mechanism, and countless petals fell.

"Color."

The crowd cheered again. Chen Heng looked elsewhere and realized that all the lanterns were dropping petals, forming an exaggerated rain of flowers.

Chen Heng couldn't help but reach out to catch a piece, and he felt like he was in a sea of ​​flowers.

Baoqin and Daiyu couldn't help but turn around in the sea of ​​flowers, with joy on their faces.

Xue Ke smiled and asked, "Brother Heng, is it beautiful?"

Chen Heng had to nod heavily. If anyone told him that the life of the ancients was monotonous again, he would definitely punch him hard.

"It's more lively during the Lantern Festival." Xue Ke said, and began to lead everyone back.

On the way to the shed, everyone was still in a state of uneasiness. Xue Ke suggested, "In this situation, don't you want to write a poem?"

Daiyu looked at Chen Heng on the left, and then at Baoqin on the right, and said with a smile, "If my brother does it, I won't."

Everyone was still waiting for the second half of her sentence, but she spread her hands and said, "If my brother doesn't do it, I won't do it either."

Everyone laughed and hugged each other and left.

At this time, the tourists on Baoding Lake had gradually dispersed, and only the bright moon was still hanging high in the sky, quietly illuminating everything in the world.

Countless small boats with lanterns came to the shore in order. It was still the same boatman. Lin Ruhai took everyone on the boat and returned home along the same route.

The next step was to add wine and turn on the lights to resume the banquet. Except for Lin Jue who had fallen asleep, the two families played until the hour of Hai.

When the banquet was over, Daiyu suddenly pulled Chen Heng's sleeve, "Brother, come and celebrate the Lantern Festival next year."

Chen Heng was stunned and looked at the girl with full expectations. He nodded and said softly, "Okay, brother got it, sister should go to bed soon."

I finished writing this chapter at 7 o'clock, went out to eat and drink some wine. I listened to the song and revised it again. It was a pleasure.