The 15th day of the Lantern Festival in the ninth year of Tianwu (1652).

The palace was decorated with lights and colorful colors inside and outside, and it was very lively. From princes and ministers to palace maids and guards, everyone was wearing festive clothes, and the joy was beyond words.

On this day, the court painter would follow Emperor Tianwu from morning to night and record the lively scenes he saw truthfully.

In order to increase the festive atmosphere, the palace also specially invited folk acrobatic team, and Zhu Cixuan and Queen Xu Chenyun, dressed in full dress, sat in the first seat in front of the hall.

Crown Prince Zhu Hebi, second prince Zhu Heqi, third prince Zhu Hedai, and four little princesses were by their side.

All kinds of acrobatic performers on the stage showed their abilities, including drilling circles, handstands, some magic, etc. The various performances were thrilling and exciting, which was dazzling.

Next to the performance stage, there is a band of bells and drums that are dedicated to entertaining the fun. They beat drums and cheer and cheer, creating a lively and very lively atmosphere.

The most important entertainment event for the Lantern Festival is to enjoy the lanterns. On this day, officials from all over the country offered special lighting decorations to the palace. The various lanterns were designed with exquisite designs, which was dazzling.

After the banquet in the palace, it was not yet dark, and Prince Zhu Hebi still felt unsatisfied.

He ran to Zhu Cilang and asked, "Father, I heard that the folk Lantern Festival is very lively, so the emperor wants to go out and have a look!"

The Lantern Festival in the Ming Dynasty started from the eighth day of the first lunar month, and lanterns were set for ten nights until the seventeenth day of the first lunar month. It is the longest Lantern Festival in Chinese history.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, there will be various large lantern festivals in various places, which will bring the atmosphere of lantern viewing to a climax.

Zhu Cilang nodded with a smile and expressed his agreement. He also wanted to see the folk lantern festivals in the prosperous Ming Dynasty, especially the Qinhuai lantern festival created by Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

On the Lantern Festival of the fifth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang made a unique underground intention to set off tens of water lamps on the Qinhuai River.

At the beginning of the seventh year of Yongle, Zhu Di, the Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, even granted hundreds of officials ten days of the Yuan Dynasty holiday, and continued to decorate lights and create a festive atmosphere.

At the beginning of the Xu hour, Zhu Cilang, Empress Xu Chenyun, and Prince Zhu Hebi changed into clothes and went to the Qinhuai River.

When they walked out of the Meridian Gate, there were carefully crafted Aoshan "Long Live" lamps everywhere along the way, and lantern sheds made of pine and cypress branches. They are said to be built in the shape of the Jade Emperor's giant turtle and are called "Aoshan Lantern Shed".

There were bursts of laughter and joy coming from the streets, and there were crowds of people on the streets, and many peddlers were shouting loudly, making it very lively.

Zhu Cilang wore a black bear and a light blue embroidered Taoist robe (a common clothing in the Ming Dynasty), carrying a beautiful belt, watching leisurely.

Queen Xu Chenyun wore a simple white classical talent costume, and looked very fairy-like with his beautiful lava.

This pair of talented and beautiful women, standing on the street, attracted many people to watch frequently, some envious and some jealous. (The two of them were the same age, and they were twenty-four or twenty-five years old)

The prince Zhu Hebi next to him wore a six-petal round hat made of black crepe, also called the "claw-pulling hat". He pointed in front of him and was excited.

There were several boys setting off fireworks and firecrackers in front. An elder took out the firecrackers from a large wooden box and distributed them to the children.

When the prince, who was used to the grand scenes of the palace, saw these street scenes of the people, Dajue was novel and fun, and ran over cheerfully.

Xu Chenyun couldn't stop him and wanted to chase him.

Zhu Cilang gently held her hand, shook his head and smiled, "It's rare to come out and have fun, so let him play with the children for a while."

As he said that, he waved his right hand gently, and dozens of strong men who seemed to be tourists followed quietly around him.

The emperor and the empress walked and chatted, following slowly, looking lovingly at the prince who was gathering next to the cart with the boys.

There were a wide variety of peddlers, with lanterns hanging on the roof. The car was filled with various toys and snacks that children loved, which made them come to buy with new copper coins.

Prince Zhu and Bi smiled and held a horse-shaped lantern, communicating with a boy of the same age who was carrying a toad lantern next to him.

These colorful lanterns have various auspicious meanings. Horse-shaped lanterns mean success in horses, and toad lanterns meant winning the toad palace. (The meaning of being the winner of the imperial examination)

There are also beautiful pictogram lamps, crab lamps, rabbit lamps, crane lamps, official lamps, and pictogram lamps that symbolize peace and elephant.

Zhu Cixuan looked around, and the scene in front of him made him feel happy.

This is the world they want. The people live and work in peace and contentment, everyone is well dressed, happy, and no longer have the same state of ragged clothes, numbness and despair.

At this time, Queen Xu Chenyun pointed to the crowds beside her and said, "Husband, look over there!"

Zhu Cilang looked in the direction of her finger, but he was performing a juggling performance.

In the Lantern Festival night market, the juggling performances are always out of date and are loved by the people. Even if they are born with wealth and honor, the queen who is in the world cannot resist the love.

Without the constraints of the rules in the palace, Xu Chenyun was very excited at this time, showing the little girl's mentality.

"Aren't there any performances in the palace today?"

Zhu Cixuan did not say such unsophisticated words, but directly held Xu Chenyun's waist and said with a smile: "Madam, let's go over and take a look."

It has been seven years since the emperor and empress got married. Although Emperor Zhu took several concubines and selected three talented people in the last year's talent show, he still has a deep affection for the queen.

What is love? The strong attachment, closeness, yearning, and selfless and omnipotent emotions between the two parties.

Love consists of two parts: love and sex. Love is the soul of love. Sex is the additional attribute of love and does not necessarily exist. Love is the foundation and core of love.

The relationship between Zhu and Empress Xu is the former, which comes from the love in the soul!

The latter is the latter, and the difference between the two is very big.

Of course, Mr. Zhu also likes to communicate with the queen very much. Now, the queen seems to be happy again... (Preview in advance, the fourth prince Zhu Heying)

The emperor and the empress went hand in hand to enjoy the various jugglings of makeup performances.

In the performance team, some pretended to be Taoist priests carrying brushes, and some pretended to be bald and bulging Maitreya Buddha.

There are also four people holding swords, guns, swords and halberds riding on the horse, playing the play story of "Three Heroes Fighting Lu Bu".

Behind the juggling performance is a treasure-giving team composed of foreign envoys. They lead auspicious beasts and corals, happily showing various treasures to the "Emperor".

The scene here is grand, and it is also equipped with a band composed of drumbeats and pipers, performing "The Gift of Treasures in All Nations".

The "Emperor" in costume plays the role of Emperor Tianwu Zhu Cilang, who is accepting congratulations from the envoy of all nations.

Xu Chenyun covered her mouth and smiled, leaned over and said softly, "Husband, they are playing you!"

Zhu Cilang smiled slightly, stood with his hands behind his back, watching leisurely with interest.

This is the first time Zhu Cilang has encountered such a rare thing when he saw others playing himself.

.........
Chapter completed!