The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 10 The warmth and warmth of human relationships and the concerns of young people

At noon, the big drum of the opening of the West Market finally sounded. The eight doors of the West Market slowly opened at the same time. Merchants waiting outside filed in and went to their respective shops along the avenue in the market to tidy up their storefronts. , packed up their belongings, and not long after, the West Market, which was silent a moment ago, once again became a prosperous place full of treasures and crowded with people.

As usual, Liuli took Xiaotan and walked in from the south gate of the West Market. She felt that the crowd seemed to be extra dense today and the atmosphere was a little weird. However, she didn't think much about it and just walked along the road to Ruyi Jiaval. After saying hello to Shopkeeper Shi, she opened the curtain and entered a studio specially set up for her. She took off her curtain and hat only after entering the room, and Xiaotan also skillfully lit the charcoal pot.

 The day after returning from Daci'en Temple, Liuli came to Ruyi Jiaval and started her career as a painter. Of course she was familiar with drawing dyeing and weaving patterns, and she had already drawn three patterns in half a month. In addition to the peonies wrapped around Mrs. Wu, she also painted a group of flowers and valerians in the Wuying Opera for a housewife named Mi. All designs will be accepted, but the shopkeeper will only agree if he thinks they are easy to sell. Fortunately, Liuli spent a year studying the dyeing and weaving patterns of the Tang Dynasty in her previous life, and she was 70% to 80% sure of the popular fashions of this era. The three looks she painted were novel, beautiful, wealthy and auspicious. Although the shopkeeper knew her I can draw, but I don’t know what it would be like to start making formal patterns. Now I am truly convinced.

To actually draw a Valerian pattern, you don't just use a piece of paper to draw a large outline. Instead, you have to calculate the size of the woodcut pattern according to the size of the ordered fabric, then cut out plain silk of the same size, and draw the formal pattern on the silk. tricks. When it's time to carve it out, stick the silk painting firmly to the wooden board, and then use an oblique knife, a round knife, and a flat knife to make outlines, carve open grooves, etc. Finally, it takes about a month to dye a new pattern of valerian. The most important thing for Liuli was naturally the peonies wrapped with valerian for the mother of the future queen. She had to see them in person at almost every step. Fortunately, everything went well, and Mrs. Yang's birthday was in early March when the peonies were in full bloom, so she had enough time.

When the temperature in the room came up a little, Liuli rubbed his hands and wanted to sharpen his ink and draw one or two large patterns to practice. The An family adhered to the businessman's style and had already discussed with Liuli about the painter's remuneration. They could pay monthly wages, or they could Liuli naturally chose the latter to share the profits from the sales of the new valerian paintings she painted. First, she had always had confidence in her professional standards. Second, for Anjia, this share-sharing system was also safer. Now, Calculating, she will have a pretty good income next month... She poured some water into the inkstone, but before she picked up the ink stick, she saw Xiaotan walking in with a smile and whispered, "Auntie, There is a gentleman outside looking for you."

Is there anyone else here looking for her? Liuli was a little surprised and asked, "Who is it?"

Xiaotan smiled and said, "It's a young man named Mu. He said he is my wife's cousin."

 Mu Sanlang? Liuli suddenly thought of the young man with the picturesque features, and secretly wondered in her heart. After thinking for a while, she said, "Invite him to come here to talk."

 Ruyi Jiavale has its own elegant room for receiving distinguished guests, which is right next to Liuli's studio. It is decorated very delicately and comfortably. Jing Jingzhi originally wanted Liuli to paint in that room, but Liuli liked the bright doors and windows of this room. Since Mu Sanlang came to see her, it would be best to come to her studio.

When Mu Sanlang came in, he immediately saw this snow cave-like room. Under the window was a huge desk with pens, ink, paper, inkstones and other items placed on it. Two low couches were set up near the door to receive visitors. The couch was just covered with a white mattress with a blue double-win deer pattern. Liuli was also dressed neatly: a light ivory narrow-sleeved lapel robe, black trousers, a pair of black boots, her hair braided, a standard Hu girl outfit, no decoration on the whole body, but a smile Bright, with sparkling eyes, she was quite different from the shy woman I saw in the suburbs that day.

Liuli saw Mu Sanlang's dull eyes, took a step forward and said with a smile, "How are you doing, cousin?"

Mu Sanlang finally came to his senses and smiled, "Okay, not bad." His face turned red.

Liuli suppressed her laughter and invited Mu Sanlang to sit down on the couch. She also asked Xiaotan to serve two cups of buttermilk before asking, "Where is my cousin from today? How do you know Liuli is here?"

Mu Sanlang felt a little embarrassed, and after half a day he said, "Today I went to the Duliu Tree to see the excitement. I heard someone said that my aunt works as a painter here, so I stopped by to take a look."

Naturally, it was not easy for him to tell Liuli. On the dark day, he heard that the Kudi family was going to send Liuli to Jiaofang to run for election, so he immediately went to find his mother. Her mother was very surprised, but hesitant to take care of this matter, and was finally persuaded by him. I found an excuse to go to Kudi's house, but I heard that Liuli had gotten lost on the way back to the city. Later I found out that she had arrived at Anshiro's house. The mother told her not to have to worry about the matter anymore - Anshiro and his wife had the best relationship with Liuli's mother back then, and they would definitely not sit idly by. Sure enough, it was said that Liuli's father and concubine were very visible to the An family, and Liuli never returned home. He went to find An Shiyilang and asked about it, and then he found out that she actually worked as a painter in Ruyi Jiaval. At that time, An Shiyilang laughed that he might have fallen in love with Liuli. Mu Sanlang was also surprised, and then he realized that he had paid too much attention to Liuli these days. He went home and thought about it all night, and finally plucked up the courage to mention it to his mother. But her mother shook her head and refused, saying that firstly, she was a guest and was not worthy of Liuli's status. Secondly, Liuli's mother had passed away. Looking at the appearance of her father and the Cao family, not only would her natal family not be a help in the future, but they would still be a burden. Even if My mother agreed because of old friendship, but my father would never be able to pass the test. It was like a slap in the face, and he had to give up after being depressed for several days. But today, because I came to Duliu Shu to watch the excitement, I somehow followed the flow of people when I passed by the gate of the West Market and ended up here. I spent half a day in a daze opposite Ruyi Jia Val, and then I mustered up the courage to walk in...

Liuli didn't notice Mu Sanlang's expression, because the words "lonely willow tree" had already surprised her - it was nowhere else, but the most famous execution ground in Chang'an City, just outside the northwest gate of the West Market. In the open space, and most of the time it is used to kill high-ranking officials and nobles. She couldn't help but ask, "Did Liushu be executed today?"

Seeing her asking this, Mu Sanlang breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "That's right. I killed several people here today. It was said that there were three princes-in-law among them. There was a sea of ​​people surrounding them. There was a prince-son-in-law who was very handsome from birth to death. He’s still yelling and cursing, but he’s really a good guy!”

Liuli was speechless: This was the final outcome of Fang Yiai's rebellion. Three princes, two princesses, and three princes died. The consort Mu Sanlang mentioned was probably Xue Wanche. The most unjust among them was King Wu who was ordered to commit suicide. This handsome prince with both civil and military skills was once considered by Li Shimin to be the son most like him. Although he was not established as the prince due to Changsun Wuji's firm opposition, he still had high prestige in the government and the public. It is precisely because of this that Changsun Wuji used the Fang Yiai case to frame him. At this moment, Changsun Wuji was already at the pinnacle of power. A case could allow him to take the opportunity to kill two prominent prince-level political opponents. He You are probably feeling complacent and feel that you have the world under your control, right? You must have never thought that he would die soon at the hands of your own nephew, who had single-handedly supported him to the throne of the emperor, right? Retribution comes so quickly, this drama is really **** and exciting!

However, no matter how brutal the fighting in the court was, it was still too far away from the lives of ordinary people in Chang'an. Perhaps for the merchants in the West Market, the heads and blood of those big shots were just a business opportunity. No wonder those who came to the West Market today There were so many people, so excited... After all, even if all Li Tang's family were dead, would it still affect her ability to make money from painting? Liuli couldn't help but shook her head mockingly.

Mu Sanlang looked at Liuli and shook his head in silence, thinking that she didn't want to hear what he said about killing people, and he felt a little embarrassed. After a long time, he said, "I heard from Shishilang that your paintings are now very good. You used to like to write and draw." Yes, I guess the painting is getting better.”

Liuli retracted her thoughts and smiled, "That's just the love of cousin Meng Shiyi. Liuli just likes to write." Remembering that Mu Sanlang's family is also in the fabric business, she asked Xiaotan to draw the couplets painted yesterday to the crane. Show him the pattern. Mu Sanlang took a look and couldn't help but feel a little surprised: although he knew Liuli could draw, he didn't expect that she could draw such a big picture. When he was ten years old, he had been waiting for customers at the counter of the cloth shop, and followed his father to select fabrics, so he naturally had a good eye for it. The picture of ribbons and cranes in front of me is vivid, with flowing ribbons, interspersed with light flowers and trees. Even the black and white pattern has a sense of splendor and grandeur. He wanted to say yes, but couldn't find any suitable words. He looked up and saw Liuli looking at him with extremely clear eyes. He suddenly felt that he didn't dare to look into these eyes. He lowered his head and murmured for a long time before saying, "It turns out that the aunt is so good at painting." It’s so good, I feel relieved.”

Liuli looked at him strangely, not quite understanding what he was worried about. Just as she was about to ask him what he thought about the color matching of this pattern, the voice of shopkeeper Shi came from outside the door, "Auntie, there is a customer outside who wants to place an order." There is a picture of hunting on the wall, and it says what kind of screen it is going to be.”

Liuli had seen the Jiaval landscape screen from the Tang Dynasty, and didn't think it was strange to use Jiavalian as a screen. However, the shopkeeper seemed to be very disapproving of it, and asked, "Have no customers come to buy Jiavalian screens before?" ?” The shopkeeper said, “Exactly, so I want my aunt to come and take a look.”

Liuli stood up and smiled at Mu Sanlang, "Cousin, can you wait a moment?"

Mu Sanlang naturally knew that he should stand up and say goodbye at this time, but what he said when he opened his mouth was, "Okay." Seeing Liuli nodding to him, smiling, and leaving gracefully, he felt so regretful that he couldn't help but want to give it to himself: Do it by yourself today Nothing he said was stupid! Liuli was not sure what she was thinking... Just as she was feeling annoyed, she heard Liuli say "Huh" outside the door, her voice full of surprise.

  p.s. Thank you dear classmates Drop Marshmallow Shu and Grow Slow Banpai for your pink votes. Thank you Fen CC, Tang Shu and my PK votes. Thank you all.

 (End of this chapter)