"Butterfly! It's a butterfly!"

On the official road from Chang'an to Luoyang, there was an endless line of people eating, and suddenly there were several childish shouts. It was a little girl who was sticking her head out of the carriage, pointing to the roadside, and kept telling Du Wulang

look.

Du Wulang was also happy to play with his daughter and said with a smile: "Have you never seen a butterfly? I told you the story of Butterfly Lovers last time."

A'Ren is his nickname, which is Zibai. He chose the nickname after a sacrilegious plant in the hope that his children will be well fed. As for his first name, it is much more solemn. It is the word "Jing" derived from Du Youlin, which is said to come from "The Book of Songs"

", Du Wulang couldn't tell which poem it came from at that time.

"I've seen it before, but never during an outing. Grandpa, outings are fun."

"When we get to the Yellow River and the wind is strong, I will take you to fly a kite."

Du Wulang also had a playful temperament. He had a lot of playthings such as kites and diabolos in his luggage. I didn't know but thought he was a merchant.

In the evening of that day, when the large group of people were camping at Gantang Post, he took his wife and daughter to play Cuju on the grass. He did not have the style of a court official in his thirties at all. While others were shaking their heads, he was enjoying himself.

When she got tired of playing, the ball rolled down the hillside. Du Jing chased it with a smile, but saw a beautiful female Taoist priest picking up the ball.

"Thank you, Taoist Master."

"Are you A'Ren? You're so pretty."

"Huh? How do you know my name?"

Du Jing was still curious, but Du Wulang and Xue Yunniang had caught up from behind and saluted, "Thank you, Princess Boping."

Li Yiniang nodded, exchanged a few words with them, and finally said something subconsciously.

"I really envy you and your wife."

When Li Yiniang walked away, Xue Yunniang asked Du Wulang: "If the eldest princess envies couples in the world, why doesn't she choose a good match instead of becoming a female crown prince?"

"It's not easy to marry the princesses of the Tang Dynasty. The villain who clings to power doesn't want to marry, and the handsome man who has extraordinary charisma doesn't want to marry. Princess Yuzhen is as happy as she is."

"If the eldest princess is envious, Your Majesty will always have a solution."

Du Wulang looked around and whispered: "The eldest princess is not envious of the couple, she is envious of our close relationship with His Majesty."

Xue Yunniang did not dare to say more about this matter.

She knew that she was not related by blood to His Majesty, but she had always been looked after as a younger sister. On the other hand, His Majesty had always been somewhat distant from his twin sister, which made her a little uneasy.

If you say you are envious today, what should you do if you become jealous in the future?

"Husband, I think the Du family has to keep a low profile after all."

Du Jing refused and said, "Master and mother-in-law, what are you whispering about?"

"You're talking bad things about Ah Fu." Du Wulang said cheerfully.

In the next few days, on the way from Gantangyi to Luoyang City, Xue Yunniang was always trying to please Princess Boping intentionally or unintentionally, and she would always bring over the snacks that Du Wulang had painstakingly collected in various prefectures and counties he passed.

Seeing her like this, Du Wulang joked with her: "You are not seeking official career in the court, so why are you learning to manage relationships with others?"

"How can we manage the relationship?" Xue Yunniang said: "I just feel that the eldest princess is too lonely."

"alone?"

"She has grown up in Yeting since she was a child, and has no friends except Princess Hezheng. This time she went to Luoyang, and Princess Tangchang, who was closest to her, could not go due to illness. Others avoided Princess Hezheng, and they also

Don’t dare to interact with them.”

After hearing this, Du Wulang silently handed over a pack of Poria cocos cakes he had just bought from the county town, and said, "Then you can bring these to them."

The matter was nothing at first, but when he was about to go to sleep that night, he suddenly thought of what Xue Yunniang said that day.

"Princess Tang Chang is sick?"

Du Wulang murmured this detail, and then thought of Zhang Bian's death, and his heart cast a shadow.

He suddenly broke away from his happy state and became so troubled that he could no longer play around like he had done in the past few days.

Not long after, the team finally arrived in Luoyang.

Luoyang City, which has experienced the war, is much more dilapidated than it was during the Tianbao period. A large number of people died and fled to other places.

Du Wulang looked up and saw that the black marks on the city wall that had been smoked by the fire had been washed away by the rain and were covered with a layer of moss, like a scar that had grown but the marks could still be seen.

The officials who came to greet him wanted to show the prosperity of Luoyang as much as possible, but they could not hide the sense of decay. Even if the whole city came to watch, it was still far from the grand scene of Chang'an City where the streets were empty.

People pointed and pointed, their expressions showing a kind of cautious expectation, but also worries.

Du Wulang looked from the carriage, curious about what they were discussing.

You must know that the last time the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty visited Luoyang was in the 23rd year of Kaiyuan. A full twenty-six years have passed and very few people still remember what happened back then.

Maybe he is looking forward to the many opportunities that Emperor Xingdong can bring to this city?

~~

The house that the Du family built in Daodefang is still there, but it has not been taken care of for many years and has become much deserted.

Someone suggested that Du Youlin buy a large house in Qinghuafang on the north bank of Luohe River, which was closer to the imperial city and close to Beishi. Du Wulang persuaded him to stay.

This time when he moved in, Du Youlin saw that the direction of the house was not good, so he couldn't help but start to complain again.

"After all, I am also the prime minister of a country. How can I be decent living in this small house with the door facing north?"

"Our house in Chang'an isn't that good. It's long, narrow, and not square. I've lived here for many years and my grandpa still won't let me move out." Du Wulang said disapprovingly, "Although my family has money these years, I can still save money to go there."

I will use it slowly after I become an official."

"You are such an unscrupulous person, you are willing to make me angry to death." Du Youlin emphasized again: "I still want to show off my skills and have no plans to become an official."

"I don't know why grandpa goes to court so hard every day? It's just that the tea he eats has changed from thirty yuan a pound to six pounds a pound. You said the taste is very different every day, but I haven't tasted it at all.

Come out, the fried tea is still sold at this price now, and the tea cakes in the past have not been sold at this price."

Du Youlin said angrily: "Am I doing it for that little enjoyment? I am doing it for the ambition of running the world and benefiting the people!"

Hearing this, Du Wulang hesitated to speak, and secretly cursed: "I have such a talent, but I still want to manage the world and benefit the people."

He was no longer an eyesore at home. He changed his clothes and went out alone, wandering around Luoyang City.

Although the city of Luoyang is not as grand as Chang'an, the scenery is beautiful in another way. The streets and lanes are not so regular, with more bluestone paths and unique painted bridges and flowing water.

Du Wulang deliberately walked along Luoshui for a while and could see an endless stream of merchant ships on the river.

This reminded him of an analogy he overheard Xue Bai say, which roughly means that water transport is like blood. If qi and blood circulate quickly, people will regain their vitality faster. The same is true in the Tang Dynasty.

Although Luoyang is in decline now, it will surely rise again with the help of water transportation.

As he was walking, a boy suddenly grabbed him and said with a smile: "Mr. Sir, come and have a drink and listen to music. The songs and dances in my family are from the palace church. You only need two yuan of tea to listen. Although

It can’t be compared to the brothel and Chu Pavilion to make you happy down there, it pays attention to moistening the lungs, sounding the ears, and feeling at ease for a while.”

After hearing this, Du Wulang went in. When he saw that he had to pay two yuan for tea, he could only sit at a table with others in the lobby, and there was a smell of sweat and feet everywhere. He scratched his head in embarrassment.

Although he doesn't spend money recklessly, he is a son of a noble family after all, and he is able to save money even if he doesn't pick it up.

"Mr. Sir, why don't you take a seat upstairs?"

"Lead the way."

After going upstairs, he chose a small seat by the window with a view of Luoshui. He ordered some tea and food, which cost him forty-seven yuan. As for there must be a better private room upstairs, so he came alone.

No need.

"Mr. why don't you try the crystal duck gizzards from the store?"

"It sounds like a cold dish, so I won't eat it." Du Wulang said, "I'll try your snacks first and then talk about it."

"Please eat more and watch the show. Our actors are even praised by Du Lang."

"Which Durang?"

"Haven't you heard of it, Mr. Lang? 'Du Lang doesn't know the music, but one song can add ten thousand gold'. It's talking about Du Wulang from Chang'an City, who turned his teaching workshop into a business."

"I see, I want to take a look before talking about it."

The boy originally thought that he was a man who could spend money, but he didn't expect that his fingers were so tight. He backed away in disappointment, muttering behind his back.

Du Wulang didn't care and was enjoying himself. From here he could still see the performance in the lobby. Although the performance was blown up by the waiter, it was actually someone singing a new opera.

At the end of a play, someone came on stage to perform a sword dance, and then all the actors came on stage to express their thanks. The actress was not pretty, she could only be described as pretty and pretty, but the play was indeed good.

At this time, the boy came over with many flowers and asked each table if they wanted to buy flowers for the actors performing on the stage. He was also smart and did not go to the lobby downstairs. He only looked for these wealthy people sitting in the elegant seats.

guest.

If you buy flowers, you can get a shout from the store owner.

"Jiafang Liu Shiqiu gave Qiongniang fifty peonies!"

The spectators in the lobby cheered one after another. Although these people only spent two yuan, they drank enough tea, watched the performance, and joined in the fun. They were able to support the high-rollers upstairs and add some more.

atmosphere.

Du Wulang was amused in his heart. These were all leftovers from his previous games when he reformed the church.

As for where he learned it from? It was nothing more than what Xue Bai told him.
To be continued...