Chapter 67 Fan Tower (first order required)
Fan Tower is located at the northern end of Imperial Street in the inner city of Bianjing. It consists of five buildings in the east, west, south, north and middle. The overall building has undulating heights and staggered eaves and corners. , magnificent. There is a corridor and flying bridge inside, connecting light and dark.
In the inner city, there are strict restrictions on the height of buildings. Generally speaking, buildings closer to the palace cannot exceed three floors.
Although Fan Tower is still some distance away from the Imperial City, the tallest buildings around it are only three stories tall.
The building in the middle of Fan Tower is four stories high, which makes it stand out in the neighborhood.
On the fourth floor of the building in the middle of the Fan Tower, there is a wide protruding part on the south-facing side, which is called the verandah. In the words of later generations, it is a balcony.
Standing here, because there is no obstruction, you can see the Bianhe River in the distance.
At this time, the sun was setting in the west, and a red sun hung in the sky, illuminating the Bianhe River with sparkling light. The painted boats in the river and the pedestrians on the river bank formed a beautiful picture.
Zhao Xing lay comfortably on the rocking chair, standing on the eaves of the corridor, looking out, feeling extremely relaxed and comfortable.
After being scolded by his father last time and asked to show him his past mistakes, Zhao Xing was honest for a few days.
After enduring it for a few days, he couldn't bear it anymore. After school, Zhao Xing went out to play incognito again.
On the table next to it, there are several exquisite snacks, and there is a pot of hot water on a small red clay stove.
After the water boiled, the palace maid Cai Die knelt down in front of the table and began to make tea skillfully.
When making tea in the Song Dynasty, the first step was to grind the tea, pour it with soup, and beat it with a whisk, which was also called "pointing tea."
To put it simply, put the tea powder in the tea cup and add a small amount of boiling water to make a paste. Then add boiling water while stirring, until the foam gradually forms and porridge is formed, then the tea is considered ready.
The taste was a bit weird. Zhao Xing was not used to it at first, but he gradually got used to it.
"Your Majesty... Master, the tea is ready."
Cadie brought the prepared tea to Zhao Xing.
When making tea, you need to stir constantly. When it is ready, it is only warm, not hot.
Zhao Xing took it, took a sip, and then put it down.
The taste of the tea made from amber was a little strange, and Zhao Xing was not used to it.
Unfortunately, Amber is already twenty years old, and Zhao Xing has already released her from the palace to go home and get married.
According to the rules of the palace, a palace maid will not be allowed to return home to get married until she is twenty-five years old.
Zhao Xing thinks this is too harsh. Men rarely marry their wives at the age of twenty-five, and only let the maids out of the palace at the age of twenty-five. Basically, they can only renew their marriages.
Hu Huo had been serving him for several years. Zhao Xing asked Cao Qin to find a low-level military attache who was not yet married among the East Palace guards and promised Hu Huo to him.
For that military attache, although he was only married to a palace maid, she was close to His Highness the Crown Prince, so naturally he could not be treated as an ordinary palace maid.
For Amber, marrying a military attache, even if the official position is not high, is still an official.
The military pay for ordinary soldiers is not high, but as long as they are military attachés of the same rank, their salary is higher than that of civil servants of the same rank, so it is considered a good place to end up.
In addition, she had served Zhao Xing before, so the military attache did not dare to treat her poorly.
Zhao Xing smashed his mouth, but he still had to get the fried tea out later.
It's a pity that there is no fruit now, otherwise I can squeeze some juice and drink it.
At his age, it would be better for him to drink less tea.
"Your Highness, the dancer is here." Liu Sanshi walked over and said.
"Oh."
Zhao Xing looked at the sunset that was about to dissipate on the horizon, stood up, stretched, and said, "Then let's enjoy the dance."
Fanlou is not just a hotel, but a large entertainment venue, which can also be regarded as a brothel.
Many people have misunderstandings about brothels, thinking that brothels are just that kind of place. In fact, this is not the case. Entertainment venues in the Song Dynasty were divided into four levels, namely brothels, teahouses, lower places and private houses.
The lower places and private nests are the real places of love and sex, where the business of flesh and blood is done.
The private nest is for civilians, while the lower house is slightly higher-end.
Teahouses and brothels are high-quality establishments. Teahouses mainly serve literati and provide theatrical performances, and are regarded as places of culture and art.
The brothel mainly serves the sons of wealthy businessmen and officials. It is regarded as a pure entertainment venue, but its standards are relatively high and there are certain thresholds for entry. It requires certain literary skills and even requires guests to write poems. One to cheer up.
In history, many literary talents liked to go to brothels, and many romantic stories were left behind.
In layman's terms, the girls in brothels and teahouses are prostitutes rather than prostitutes.
Of course, this busking is much more expensive than those selling one's body.
But this industry is fed by youth after all. When your appearance grows old, no matter how talented you are, it will be of no use.
Therefore, while the women here are performing arts, they are also looking for rich husbands, looking for people who are willing to redeem their lives.
Although it is impossible to be a main wife, there is still no problem in being a concubine.
Fan Lou is relatively more elegant. It only provides dancers and singers, not oirans or anything like that.
Zhao Xing had come twice before, but his father knew it and didn’t say anything.
It's not doting, but in his eyes, it's nothing.
If Zhao Xing goes to a place like Guangyuntai, his father will probably break his legs if he finds out.
Zhao Xing came to the house and saw two graceful women and several musicians already standing inside.
Those who work in a place like this are the most observant. When Zhao Xing came in, the two dancers bowed down and saluted.
Zhao Xing waved his hand, sat down on the main seat, and said, "Let's get started."
"Yes!"
A few musicians came to the side, put down the various snare drums they brought, and sat in front of the drums.
Two of them came to the chimes and started beating, and the drummers also started beating.
Chimes and drums are combined together, and the music that sounds is fast and vigorous.
The two dancers began to spin and dance to the music.
"Your Highness, this is the Hu Xuan Dance. It was very popular in the Tang Dynasty and came from the Western Regions. Bai Juyi's "New Yuefu Hu Xuan Nu" says: Hu Xuan Nu came out of Kangju. She raised her sleeves with the sound of a string song, The snow is fluttering and dancing, turning left and right without getting tired, it is the Hu Xuanwu that is praised." Liu Sanshi came to Zhao Xing and smiled.
“Not bad.”
Zhao Xing nodded slightly, showing appreciation.
Don’t get me wrong, he just enjoys the dance.
Although these two dancers are pretty good-looking, the costumes they wear when dancing are very conservative. I don’t know whether it is necessary for this dance or Liu Sanshi specifically told them.
Anyway, when Zhao Xing came to Fanlou for the first time, he once told Liu Sanshi that he did not need the kind of charming dance to watch the dance, and the dancer's clothes should not be revealing.
After all, at his current age, wouldn’t he be looking for trouble for himself?
While Zhao Xing was enjoying the dance, a young man in Jinyi, about 10 or 20 years old, came to Fanlou with a few strong men holding sticks.
There is a high platform in the center of the hall on the first floor, and a group of dancers are dancing on it.
The high platform is surrounded by seats, and many diners are enjoying the dancing while eating.
Not only were the diners not afraid when they saw such a formation, they were pointing and talking in low voices. Even the dancers on the high platform did not stop and were still dancing.
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(End of this chapter)