Da Li Temple - Chapter 48.1

Chapter 48.1
Kai Fang Banquet

Kai Fang Banquet is a unique tradition in Hongzhou, often held on the night of the full moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival. Husbands initially organized it for their wives to show their love. Later, it gradually evolved into a government-sponsored. As long as they were married, the couple could participate in order to pray for marital success, life, and happiness. And the kind that Official Zhang mentioned is the local entertainment on the pleasure grounds.
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Su Moyi, of course, could not bring Lin Wanqing to go there. When the two went out, the sky was already dark; the moonlight splashed the ground like water, and the silhouettes of the people fell into it. The breeze has some refreshing, sweet fragrance – the flavor of osmanthus. The night breeze swayed the lanterns, and the silhouettes swayed with them. However, the silence of the two is incompatible with the surrounding scene of love between husband and wife.
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Su Moyi was slightly tweaked and nervous, and Lin Wanqing was distracted and worried.
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“Hey, this lady.” While the two of them were at a loss for words, a greeting came from a stall on Lin Wanqing’s side, an older woman about fifty years old. She was with her husband, selling colorful silk flowers. These silk flowers were beautifully crafted, although not made from costly materials.
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Lin Wanqing took one more look at them.
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The old woman saw them stop, smiled, and greeted them, sizing them up and saying, “Are you two going to attend the Kai Fang Banquet?”
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Lin Wanqing shook her head, but Su Moyi nodded. The two stared at each other and were embarrassed for a few moments.
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The old woman looked at them, smiled, handed a silk flower in her hand to Su Moyi, and said, “Your wife looks so pretty; she’ll be the most beautiful woman in the Kai Fang Banquet; it’s just a pity she dressed plainly.”
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The weather was too hot, so Lin Wanqing took off her drapery hat and held it in her hand. She froze momentarily and wanted to explain but was interrupted by the older woman.
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“Is the gentleman afraid that his wife is too dazzling and someone covets her?” She continued, “All girls love to be pretty, and being married is no exception. The gentleman is so petty. No wonder your wife is angry with you.”
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“We …… we don’t ……” Lin Wanqing choked in her throat, looking at Su Moyi and pleas for help.
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Su Moyi’s handsome face blushed, and he couldn’t say anything. He touched the money bag to buy that silk flower.
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In the distance, suddenly came a burst of horse hooves and shouting; Lin Wanqing reacted when the carriage had already approached; Su Moyi panickly pulled her and managed to avoid that crazy horse.
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The road resounded with shouts and curses. Because of this sudden accident, the two people could avoid the older woman’s forced sale.
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Su Moyi wanted to return, but Lin Wanqing dragged him away.
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“Buying one won’t hurt,” Su Moyi’s eyes were evasive, his hand grasping the money bag and not letting go, “It’ll look good on you.”
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Lin Wanqing’s breathing stopped briefly. “These peddlers will look at people’s faces; if you pay out money, she will knock you hard.” As she spoke, her gaze swept around, stopping at the sweet soup stall on one side and saying, “Might as well buy something tasty.”
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“Oh,” Su Moyi nodded, walking to find a stool.

The peddler smiled and arranged; Su Moyi ordered two bowls of chilled lychee soup.
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Although it was almost fall season, the heat had not subsided. Coupled with the bustle and crowds of the Kai Fang Banquet, Lin Wanqing was already sweating profusely. As soon as the lychee soup came up, she concentrated on eating it.
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Su Moyi quietly watched her from the side. She was still so focused on eating; her eyes would slightly squint from pleasure, and her long eyelashes would tremble at this time, like two small brushes brushing against his heart.
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“My Lord?” Lin Wanqing ate for a while, realizing the person beside her hadn’t moved much.
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Su Moyi’s hand loosened, and the spoon clattered into the bowl, nearly splashing himself.
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“Why aren’t you eating?” She asked, her clear eyes shining under the flashy lights.
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“I …… “Su Moyi pretended to be calm and pushed his bowl of lychee soup to her and said, “I don’t like sweets.”
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“Oh,” Lin Wanqing nodded, “I won’t be polite.”
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She felt hot and didn’t feel much more refreshed after one bowl. Besides, the lychee soup wasn’t cheap, and she wanted to save food.
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Su Moyi sat briefly before suddenly saying, “I just saw a place selling storybooks; let me buy some for Imperial Grandmother. You eat first. I’ll be right back.”
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“Oh,” Lin Wanqing nodded, seeing the train of his robe lifting, heading towards where they had come from just now.
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Lin Wanqing incidentally surveyed the surrounding market. This place probably was the most lively and prosperous place, with many small stores lined up and various goods and merchandise. The most striking thing was the three-story red building across the street. A row of round-shaped red lanterns hung under the stone green eaves, burning with a lively atmosphere.

She couldn’t help but be curious, casually looking for the waiter and asking, “What is that place?”

The waiter looked in the direction she pointed and replied, “That is our most famous Cui Hua Building; tonight, there is a performance by Hu Ji.”
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Lin Wanqing understood as soon as she heard it, smiled, thanked the waiter, and buried her head again to concentrate on the lychee soup.
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“That’s her! Catch her!!!” A burst of people’s voices came from the distance. Lin Wanqing was stunned and saw several burly men walking out of the Cui Hua Building, dragging something behind them.
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After looking for a moment, she realized it was a disheveled woman. She was slim and not particularly tall but didn’t look like a soft and boneless Central Plains woman’s size either. With aroused curiosity in her heart, Lin Wanqing put down the spoon in her hand, put on her drapery hat, and marched over to the crowd. When she got closer, she realized that the men were holding a long rope, and the woman was tied up. Due to the shock, the woman trembled as she tried to cover herself with her hands.
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White skin, blue eyes, high nose – a Hu Ji.
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The men dragged her along, not caring about the surprised eyes of the bystanders.
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“Big brother official ……” Lin Wanqing stopped one of the men and asked, “What’s going on here?”
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The man looked at Lin Wanqing and explained rather disdainfully, “This woman is a murderer; we are now going to drag her to the officials.”