Chu Zhao and A’Le, along with Ding Dachui and the others, were blocked at the street entrance.
Looking ahead, A’Le stared wide-eyed: “Why is it so lively today?”
Chu Zhao hesitated: “Should we take a different route?”
Although this was the main street leading to the imperial palace, the capital had many winding streets and alleys—there were other roads they could take.
A’Le nodded: “Yes, with so many people, in case there’s danger—”
Ding Dachui didn’t dare express doubt, much less mention that he was here to guard the Empress, nor did he dare remind A’Le that the Dragon Guard Army was scouting ahead.
But someone could raise objections.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” A female voice said with displeasure. “What danger could there be?”
A’Le’s face bloomed with smiles as she looked at a young woman standing to the side: “None, none. With Sister Xiao Man here, there’s no danger at all.”
Xiao Man snorted.
Shortly after entering the capital’s boundaries, Xiao Man had come to meet them. Ever since she and Old Bai had captured Xiao Xun and delivered him before His Majesty, Xiao Man had returned to the capital with Chu Tang’s family.
“We’ve cleared the entire capital several times over,” Xiao Man said. “I guarantee you could walk sideways and no one would bump into you.”
Chu Zhao laughed: “Yes, I know. With Xiao Man here, I could walk with my eyes closed and no one would bump into me.” She looked ahead. “What I mean is, with so many people, I’m afraid it would be inconvenient for others—”
“Stop dawdling,” Xiao Man urged. “Hurry up. You weren’t afraid of thousands of troops and horses, so why fear a crowded street?”
Hearing this, Chu Zhao roughly guessed what was happening, so she said no more and nodded: “Alright, then we’ll lead the horses on foot.”
So everyone dismounted. Chu Zhao put on her veiled hat, held her horse with one hand, and followed Xiao Man forward.
The moment they stepped onto the street, two half-grown children crouching at a wall corner suddenly lit fireworks that shot into the bright daylight sky, startling everyone around.
“The auspicious time has arrived—” Those two children shouted loudly, then laughed as they rushed into the crowd.
……
……
Deng Yi stood atop the highest wall of the imperial city, watching a firework bloom in the distance over the city.
“The auspicious time has arrived,” he said, then turned and walked away. As he descended the steps, he could hear the capital roiling like a boiling pot.
Though he was no longer standing on the wall, he could still sense the liveliness because eunuchs continuously brought him news.
“The streets today are even livelier than New Year’s.”
“Don’t compare it to New Year’s these past two years—it’s livelier than many past New Year celebrations.”
“Wan Qing’s dance is even more beautiful than when she performs in the pleasure house—ahem, what I mean is, dance is most beautiful when appreciated by both refined and common folk.”
“Being able to appreciate it at all is good enough. The people I sent couldn’t even squeeze their way in.”
“But standing on the street listening to the pipa music was a first. When those four women played their pipas, I forgot I was on the main street. I thought I was following His Majesty on campaign again—”
“Did they play the Battle-Breaking Melody? The Four Beauties sell their artistry to please people and have never played such a piece before. Hearing it for the first time was truly震撼.”
“Many refugees on the street cried. Sigh.”
“But it’s alright now. The war has ended, and the displaced people will be sent back to their home regions soon.”
“Walking this whole street market route, I got covered in flowers. These women are truly becoming more and more addicted to this.”
Hearing this, Deng Yi raised his head to look beyond the gate. Past the tall palace doors, he seemed able to see the scene of flying flowers filling the streets.
There were probably far more flying flowers than on the day His Majesty returned to court.
……
……
Chu Zhao finally made her way through the street and reached the street entrance. She turned back to look, seeing the entire street submerged in a sea of flowers.
Through this sea of flowers, she could still see the commotion on the street.
She saw a dancing girl spinning, standing on one leg atop a small round stool, swaying like a willow in the wind. But no matter how the wind blew or how her body moved, that foot remained steadily balanced on the round stool—
She saw four pipa players producing sounds of clashing weapons and iron cavalry, then in an instant, ice and snow melting, spring flowers blooming profusely, a hundred birds singing together.
She also saw screen after screen where scholars wielded their brushes boldly, displaying calligraphy, poetry, and paintings—all bearing her name.
She also saw fire-breathing, sword dancing, monkey performances.
She raised her head and saw all the windows along the street thrown open, with women smiling and waving at her.
“Miss, Miss.” A’Le’s voice sounded again and again beside her ear. “Spring in the capital is so lively! We never noticed before. We’ve been in the capital too short a time.”
Yes, they hadn’t noticed before, and even though she had spent ten years in the capital, she hadn’t noticed either, Chu Zhao thought silently.
Ding Dachui and the others had also completely stared themselves silly.
“I knew the capital was the most prosperous place under heaven,” Ding Dachui couldn’t help murmuring.
But this prosperity still exceeded his imagination. Walking through this prosperity, he nearly shed tears—perhaps because that beautiful celestial-like dancing woman smiled at him, perhaps because the pipa sounds stirred up his sorrows, or perhaps because the somersaulting monkey reminded him of the mountain forests—
“To walk through such prosperity is my, Ding Dachui’s, great fortune. I haven’t lived in vain,” he murmured.
The noise on the street made her ears buzz. Chu Zhao couldn’t hear what everyone was saying, yet she seemed to hear it all very clearly.