BSI Chapter 93 0091 [Lantern Festival]
Chapter 93 0091 [Lantern Festival]
Chapter 93 0091 [Lantern Festival]
Eight years of the Jiayou era passed, and the first year of the Zhiping era arrived.
The reign title had just been changed when a grand opening drama unfolded in the imperial court.
In ancient times, when emperors offered sacrifices to Heaven, they would invite a deceased ancestor to sit with them and share the sacrifice with God. Since Emperor Renzong of Song had passed away, it was necessary to determine his status in the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven.
Led by Wang Gui, Hanlin scholars argued that Emperor Renzong of Song should be honored with a place in the Mingtang (Hall of Brightness).
Its true purpose was to take this opportunity to enhance the legitimacy of the new emperor Zhao Shu and to demonstrate to the world that Emperor Renzong of Song and Zhao Shu were a loving father and a filial son.
The ministers of the Censorate, led by Sima Guang, strongly opposed Emperor Renzong of Song being granted the honor of being enshrined in the Mingtang (Hall of Brightness).
Because Emperor Renzong was to be honored with a place in the Mingtang (Hall of Brightness), Emperor Zhenzong had to be removed. If every new emperor were to depose his grandfather and honor his father, the entire system of rites would be thrown into chaos.
The censors, led by Wang Chou, quickly stepped forward to mediate, proposing a compromise: to allow Emperor Renzong to be honored in the Mingtang (Hall of Brightness) and Emperor Zhenzong to be honored in the Yu (Rain) ceremony.
Then ministers like Sun Pin jumped out and said: "Stop arguing! Who said only the father can be honored in the Mingtang? Who said only a few can be in the Mingtang? The grandfather can come in too! Let Emperor Zhenzong and Emperor Renzong be honored in the Mingtang together!"
Therefore, Sun Pin's proposal was ultimately adopted.
Do not dismiss this debate as a farce; in ancient times, it was a very serious political event.
Interestingly, veteran officials of the Qingli era, such as Han Qi, Ouyang Xiu, and Gong Dingchen, did not show their faces at all during the event.
On the contrary, Wang Gui and Sima Guang were locked in a fierce struggle, with the former trying to consolidate the new emperor's legitimacy and the latter resolutely upholding the patriarchal clan system.
As Zhao Shu's health improved, he seemed to have learned some strange knowledge from this debate on the allocation of property.
Zhao Shu: Oh, I didn't know you could play like this!
An old Taoist priest from the Ming Dynasty who was fond of health preservation: Who do you think I learned from?
Xu Lai and his friends did not go out to play during this Spring Festival.
Even Yu Sigong joined in, cramming on cutting-edge mathematical knowledge while doing physics experiments with everyone.
Yu Shuying didn't care who Lin Yi's father-in-law was and warmly welcomed Su Song and Lin Yi, who had come to visit.
Those two didn't come very often, after all, they held relatively high official positions and were also tasked with compiling medical books.
The Lantern Festival is just around the corner, and everyone has made plans to go admire the lanterns.
During this period, the city gates will remain open, and people can freely enter and exit the city.
Xu Lai changed into new clothes early in the morning, ate something to fill his stomach, and waited for nightfall to fall before going out.
"Go ahead, continue!"
Xu Anshi came over with his page and tossed two fake flowers to Xu Lai.
Xu Lai casually pinned a fake flower to his hair and asked with a smile, "Aren't you going to see the lanterns with your great-uncle's family?"
"It's no fun playing with them."
Xu Anshi was still taking out fake flowers and throwing them to Shen Kuo and the others.
The snow had not yet melted, and fresh flowers were hard to find, so artificial flowers became quite popular.
The most premium variety is the Kingfisher Feather and Gold Flower, made from kingfisher feathers and gold.
Mid-range options are silk flowers.
The more basic items were paper flowers and grass flowers, which were affordable even for ordinary people.
"Moths, willow branches, and golden threads" – the moths are fake moths, and the willow branches are fake willow branches; both are ornaments worn during the Lantern Festival. Adding jade plum blossoms (fake plum blossoms) completes a three-piece Lantern Festival set for women.
Before it got dark, everyone was already fully prepared to set off.
Xu Lai dressed very simply, wearing only two red silk flowers.
Shen Kuo was dressed in such a flamboyant way, wearing silk flowers in his hair and even a fake willow branch stuck in his hat.
They walked along the Bian River, where the streets were illuminated by thousands of lights, making it as bright as day, and the lanterns reflected in the water.
The area was bustling with carriages and horses, and teeming with people, filled with the sounds of singing, music, and shouts.
Crossing the south street from Xiangguo Temple Bridge, we gradually walked to the outer perimeter of Baokangmen Wazi. The crowd of people watching the lanterns suddenly increased, mainly from the lower and middle classes. Regardless of age or gender, they were all dressed up in their finest clothes, wearing paper flowers and floral patterns of various shapes.
Passing through the Wazi area, you'll find yourself on the even more bustling Imperial Street.
Traffic was already congested here, and the government had to send people to maintain order, prohibiting vehicles from entering through the Zhuque Gate and guiding the carriages and horses that had already entered the city to leave through the courtyard street.
As you slowly move north along the Imperial Street, you'll find stages set up in the center of the street where visitors can watch performances of traditional Chinese arts, magic, acrobatics, and more, all for free.
The number of scholars and ladies gradually increased, and their clothing and appearance became more and more bizarre.
It's like a masquerade ball!
"Further north there are lanterns, several stories high," Yu Shuying said.
Lu Zhiyuan said with a bitter face, "I can't squeeze through, the road is blocked. I wanted to go into Donghua Gate to see the lanterns, but I can't usually get into the Imperial City."
Yu Sigong complained, "I told you to leave earlier, but you didn't come out until it was dark."
"Clang! Clang!"
The officials arrived banging gongs, and the people along the way quickly made way for them.
The officials walked along shouting, "Watch out for fire! Beware of theft! Keep an eye on women and children!"
The most lively area tonight is the Imperial City area, where the lanterns are set up, and you can also stroll around inside the Donghua Gate. The lantern displays inside the Donghua Gate are the most beautiful, but also the most crowded; it's so crowded you can barely move.
Xu Lai and his group were stuck at the southernmost end of the Imperial Street and could only move forward little by little with the crowd.
When powerful and influential families went on outings, they were often led by strong servants who would forcefully push through the crowds.
"Young Master Zhang, those must be your cousins, uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters," Yu Shuying pointed ahead.
Xu Anshi quickly put his hand to his forehead, pretending not to recognize those people.
His relatives were now arrogant and domineering. A large group of men, accompanied by strong servants, charged forward, protecting the women as they rushed toward the imperial city. Wherever they went, chaos ensued and curses arose.
That same month, his maternal uncle, Song Xiang, requested to retire and return to his hometown. At the beginning of the new emperor's reign, it was impossible to agree to the retirement of such a senior official; otherwise, the emperor would appear harsh and ungrateful.
Song Xiang was merely using this opportunity to seek an official position, but he was publicly humiliated by Han Qi and transferred to Haozhou as a sub-prefect.
A minister who had served as prime minister and privy councilor, now so old he could barely walk, was actually reassigned to such a remote post.
Furthermore, Lü Hui added insult to injury, requesting the court to prohibit Song Xiang from bringing his son to his post.
Even Zhao Shu, who usually doesn't get involved, couldn't help but ask, "Song Xiang is so old, why doesn't he let his son come along?"
It would have been better if the emperor hadn't asked, because once he did, old stories were brought up.
Song Xiang was demoted multiple times due to his sons' misdeeds. He was dismissed from his position as Privy Councilor once and from his position as Prime Minister once. It was Bao Zheng who carried out the demotion for him.
"Let's just look at the lights here," Xu Lai said, not wanting to squeeze in any more.
Looking at the tourists who came out as a family, and the couples, he couldn't help but feel a lot of strange emotions.
Humans have various emotional needs.
He usually studies diligently without much thought, but during the Lantern Festival, he felt incredibly lonely, even with a few friends around.
What are the relatives and friends in Qingxi Village doing right now?
They certainly won't have any lanterns to see, so they'll just have to celebrate by eating some meat at home.
Yang Shu and the others should be in Guangzhou watching the lanterns.
Where is Pianpian?
Pianpian is probably with her parents, looking at the lanterns right now. I wonder if she's thinking of me.
Xu Lai even thought of his parents before he transmigrated. Fortunately, they responded to the national policy and had a second child, a younger brother, when he was in junior high school. Otherwise, after he transmigrated, there would be no one to take care of his parents in their old age.
On the stage ahead, several puppeteers were manipulating gunpowder-powered puppets. The gunpowder was ignited, and the flames sent the puppets spinning from side to side, drawing applause and cheers from the surrounding crowd.
Xu Lai thought to himself: Maybe one day I should improve gunpowder and make a matchlock gun? But I have absolutely no idea how to make a gun. I only know the basic principles, and I'm completely clueless about the specific structure.
Hmm, we could bring Shen Kuo on board and have them develop the matchlock gun together.
"Sky lanterns, sky lanterns!"
It is unknown which scholars made the pact to release Kongming lanterns together on the banks of the Bian River; dozens of lanterns rose into the air at the same time.
While everyone was admiring the beauty of the sky lanterns, Shen Kuo muttered to himself, "Since all motion is related to force, how did these sky lanterns fly up? What forces acted on them?"
For the past two weeks, Shen Kuo has been obsessed with studying mechanics.
No matter what kind of motion phenomenon he saw in life, Shen Kuo would subconsciously analyze its force situation.
Shen Kuo muttered to himself, "There's the lantern's own weight, and air resistance—where does the upward force come from? It must be related to fire; it can't fly without a lit candle. But what force does fire provide to the lantern?"
Xu Lai couldn't help but prompt, "Buoyancy."
"buoyancy?"
Shen Kuo imagined all sorts of forces in his mind, but he never expected it to be buoyancy.
Xu Lai explained, "Copper sinks to the bottom of the water, but a copper basin can float. Sky lanterns cannot fly, but they can fly when a candle is lit. In fact, they are all subject to buoyancy. The copper basin is buoyed by the water, and the sky lantern is buoyed by the air."
"Wait, my mind is a bit muddled." Shen Kuo immediately closed his eyes and fell into deep thought, no longer in the mood to watch the lanterns during the Lantern Festival.
Just then, shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" erupted from the direction of the imperial city.
Xu Lai thought the emperor had ascended the city wall.
Actually, the emperor was hiding in the palace; it was the empress dowager who appeared tonight.
These past few days have been the Empress Dowager's birthday. In a moment of joy, she ascended the city wall to face the people directly. The people didn't care about anything else; some shouted "Long live the Empress Dowager!" and others joined in.
There was a similar blunder at the end of last year.
Emperor Renzong had already been buried, and the Empress Dowager went to the imperial mausoleum to bring back his memorial tablet. Along the way, people shouted "Long live the Emperor!" to her.
At that very moment, Gong Dingchen was watching the lantern festival with his family. Seeing the Empress Dowager's procession and hearing shouts of "Long live the Empress Dowager!", his face darkened with extreme anger.
It's time for the new emperor to take personal control of the government!
Shen Kuo was still pondering.
Copper sinks in water, yet a copper basin floats. The key to whether something floats must be related to its weight and volume. What mathematical relationships are involved?
Shen Kuo decided to go back and conduct his experiments, and he was quite eager to do so, but unfortunately, there were too many tourists blocking the road.
Shen Kuo watched the sky lantern fly further and further away, then looked at Xu Lai, who was watching the performance.
If Xingyi insists it's buoyancy, then he must know the secrets of buoyancy.
Xingzhi is truly talented!
Shen Kuo thought to himself: If Xingzhi can figure it out on his own, I have already received a hint, so I can figure it out too. Let's not ask him for now, I'll do the experiment myself and see.
Xu Lai's thoughts were also wandering.
The scene before me was incredibly bustling, a picture of a prosperous era. Who could have foreseen that just a few decades later, Kaifeng and its surroundings would become a hellish wasteland of bones?
Xu Lai felt a sudden chill run down his spine for no apparent reason.
Damn it, knowing too much isn't good either; it makes me think of those things for no reason.