PFC Chapter 332 Back to Chang'an!
Chapter 332 Back to Chang'an!
In the Tang Dynasty, it was the end of the year and the New Year's Day, and the scene was prosperous and busy.
The news that His Majesty was preparing for the New Year's Day celebrations quickly spread to every corner of Chang'an and Xianyang.
In the sanatorium in Xianyang, Crown Prince Li Jingyou was carefully taken back to Chang'an early and cared for by the Queen.
After abdicating, Li Shimin still had considerable influence in the Tang Dynasty.
As the emperor, he must participate.
The old ministers around him were also extremely busy because of the upcoming ceremony, each with their own attitude and behavior.
Many old ministers have long been accustomed to traveling back and forth between Chang'an and Xianyang.
This road witnessed the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty.
Among them, General Li Jing fought on the battlefield all his life, and now he has retired and just likes to stay at home.
I won’t talk about those who play tricks, such as Li, Cheng, Yuchi, etc.
Regardless of the ministers' personalities or actions, everyone knew that they would gather in Chang'an this New Year.
Even if they are old ministers who are already in a sanatorium, as long as their health allows, those who are seriously ill will be an exception. They will all go to the capital without any hesitation.
The New Year's Day celebration is a grand event of the Tang Dynasty. It concerns the reputation of the country, so how can we miss it?
For Li Shimin, in addition to this grand ceremony, there is another matter that is crucial to the future of the Tang Dynasty that needs to be handled.
He would need to hold a grand ceremony in the Taimiao after the new year to formally enthrone Li Jingyou as the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty.
At this moment, Li Jingyou was still in his infancy, babbling and ignorant of the world.
Next year, he will be one year old.
Such matters of establishing a crown prince concern the foundation of the country and the stability of the country. They must be handled with extreme caution and no mistakes are allowed.
In Xianyang, the two little princesses Li Mingda and Li Jiming were so excited when they heard the news that they were going back to Chang'an.
It has been a year since they left Chang'an.
Although it is not as good as Xianyang, it is where they were born and raised.
The palace walls, palaces, pavilions and towers of Chang'an often appear in my dreams, and my longing for Chang'an surges in my heart and grows day by day.
In addition, the college was on winter vacation at that time, and I was temporarily free from the constraints of heavy schoolwork, which made me even happier.
Now that I can return to Chang'an, and it is a festive occasion, I am so excited that I can't contain myself. I wish I could fly to Chang'an city immediately.
Beautifully decorated carriages, loaded with everyone's expectations and laughter, slowly set off from Xianyang and drove towards Chang'an along the wide official road.
The people in the car, whether sitting or lying down, were all attracted by the increasingly lively scene outside.
Everyone curiously pulled open the car curtains, stuck their heads out, and scanned the street.
In the city of Chang'an, the streets and alleys were crowded with people.
There are shops on both sides of the street, and the cries of vendors are heard one after another.
In the silk shop, the silks and satins are bright in color and soft in texture, attracting noble ladies to compete for their selections.
In the tavern, the aroma of wine filled the air, and the guests were playing games of guessing and drinking, making it extremely lively.
In the teahouse, the aroma of tea wafts through the air, and scholars and writers discuss poetry and philosophy, which is very pleasant.
What is even more striking is that among the people coming and going, there are many people with different skin colors and wearing strange clothes.
There were Hu people with high noses and deep eyes, dressed in colorful clothes and wearing strange ornaments that jingled as they walked.
There are also people from distant countries, wearing loose and flowing clothes and unique headscarves, and their every move and gesture reveals exotic customs.
Such a diverse group of people gathered together, unable to speak a single language yet living in harmony, left Li Mingda and Li Jiming stunned.
There were many high-nosed women from the Western Regions on both sides of the road, singing and dancing, beating the gongs and drums tied around their waists.
For them, this kind of scene is really rare.
Li Shimin sat upright in the carriage, looking relaxed, his hand gently stroking his neatly trimmed beard, his eyes looking through the window, quietly at the bustling street scene outside the car.
I can't help but feel a lot of emotions.
Looking back to when I was in power, Chang'an was also extremely prosperous, with nations coming to pay tribute, and envoys and merchants from various countries were on the road all the time.
On Zhuque Street, Hu merchants were walking slowly forward, leading camels loaded with spices, jewels and other rare treasures.
In the Sifang Pavilion, envoys from various countries gathered together to discuss important diplomatic issues.
But now the number of foreigners seems to be far greater than before.
Looking up, I saw that the city of Chang'an was even more magnificent than I remembered.
The city is full of tall buildings, crisscrossed streets and alleys, and the newly built pavilions, towers and terraces, with flying eaves, brackets, carved beams and painted buildings, fully demonstrate the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty.
In the market, there is a wide variety of goods, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, with smiles on their faces. It is a prosperous scene.
Li Shimin secretly admired it, saying it was a remarkable achievement.
Just as he was thinking, he felt his sleeve being gently tugged. Li Shimin came back to his senses and looked down. He saw Li Jiming's cute little face full of excitement. He tugged at his sleeve and called out in a sweet voice, "Aye, aye, there are so many foreigners outside! It's so lively!"
Li Jiming has now enrolled in the college and is taught by the teachers of Xianyang National College. He has learned a lot and his knowledge is gradually increasing.
Li Shimin heard his daughter's words and smiled lovingly. He nodded slightly and replied, "Of course it's lively. This is the capital of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor's capital. It's a place where the world's talents gather. Naturally, it's extraordinary."
Li Jiming blinked his bright eyes and said with a puzzled look, "Well, we learned in our textbooks that Chang'an wasn't this lively before!"
Li Shimin was slightly startled when he heard this, and the smile on his face froze for a moment, but then he returned to normal and said with a smile: "A Yuan, what you teach in your textbook may not be true."
"Chang'an used to be extremely bustling, especially during the reign of Aye. That was the true prosperity and splendor of the city."
"At that time, the streets were crowded with foreign envoys, and rare treasures from all over the world gathered in the city. It was the atmosphere of the nations coming to pay tribute."
"What we see now is just so-so in comparison, only one-tenth of what we saw during Aye's reign."
"It's a pity that your brother, the emperor, still lacks some experience and strategy in governing the country. He can't compare to the brilliance of my father in the past."
After saying this, Li Shimin raised his chin slightly, his expression full of pride.
Hearing his father's words, Li Jiming's respect for him increased even more. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Father, you're amazing! Father, you're amazing!"
As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, he suddenly remembered something and his expression became serious. He quickly warned: "Ayuan, what Aye said to you today, you must not let others know."
"Because Aye wants to keep a low profile and not make a fuss."
Li Jiming tilted his head and asked curiously, "Aye, why can't you tell others? Aye is so powerful, everyone should know about it."
Li Shimin paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "If you go out and tell nonsense, if your royal brother hears it, he will definitely be sad."
"Just think, if people knew that his governance of the Tang Dynasty was far inferior to that of Aye, he would definitely feel guilty and might even cry!"
"A Yuan, I don't think you want to see your eldest brother sad!"
Upon hearing this, Li Jiming hurriedly shook his head and said crisply, "I don't want to see my eldest brother cry. Father, I definitely won't tell anyone!"
Li Shimin was delighted to see his daughter so well-behaved and sensible. He patted her head lovingly and praised her, saying, "Yes, reading is indeed useful. Now even your speech has become much more eloquent and clear."
"A Yuan is so good!"
Li Mingda, who was standing aside, quietly watched the interaction between his father and his younger sister. He secretly criticized his father in his heart and was speechless about his father's self-praise. However, he did not show any expression on his face. He just raised the corners of his mouth slightly, as if smiling.