Chapter 14: Shangyuan Guesses the Riddle (Second Update, Seeking Votes)

  Du He only then remembered that the Yuanxiao Festival of the Tang Dynasty was very different from those of later generations.

  The Lantern Festival has been extended and expanded with the development of history. In terms of the length of the festival, it was only one day in the Han Dynasty, three days in the Tang Dynasty, five days in the Song Dynasty, and as long as ten days in the Ming Dynasty, from the first eighth to the night of January 17th.

  In addition, the Lantern Festival here in the Tang Dynasty is called Shangyuan Festival, which means the first full moon night of a new year.

  Du He Xin said, "Originally, I was planning to take advantage of this holiday to ask Xue Yan to go for a stroll. Uncle Li actually came up with such an activity, isn't it convenient for me to be with Chang Le and Xue Yan?"

  "Run!" Du He's eyes lit up with excitement.

  Lu Tong, Fang Yiai, Li Yexu and Li Yesi saw Du Heji with a joyful heart, but they were all suspicious and didn't know what was going on. They wanted to ask, but felt it wasn't appropriate, so they could only follow him to the Peony Garden with doubts in their minds.

  Before long, they arrived at the Hibiscus Garden.

  At this time, the gate of Furong Garden was already filled with carriages and horses. The people who came were not only the sons of these rich second generations, but also some noble princes from other countries were among them.

  Du He secretly wondered: "Uncle Li, I don't know what you paid attention to, but this time it was done so successfully!"

  Just then, Luo Tong suddenly pushed him from behind and said, "Qinglian, what are you spacing out for? Let's go."

  He suddenly woke up, nodded to himself, and felt that he was overthinking. Li Shimin must have had his reasons for doing things, so why bother worrying about it? He followed Luo, Fang, and the two Lis as they walked away.

  As soon as I entered the garden, I saw that the garden was filled with red lanterns, like a long dragon, illuminating the entire Furong Garden in a fiery red glow, making me feel as if I were standing amidst a sea of flames and flowers.

  Before they had gone a few steps, several guards came up with big smiles on their faces. One of them, who looked quite dignified, bowed repeatedly and said: "Your Honors, the Emperor has already arrived ahead of you, and I have been waiting here to greet you... this way, please!"

  Du He replied with a sentence "Thank you!" and then left.

  After seven turns and eight twists, we arrived at the vicinity of the famous Furong Building in the center of Furong Garden.

  The guard brought them here and left.

  Du He looked around and saw that the people around him were either sons of officials or young nobles from other countries, as well as some scholars dressed in literary attire. They all showed a curious and strange expression, apparently also being mysteriously invited to this place.

  Li Jingye, who had come a step earlier, discovered them and walked over, saying in a low voice: "What do you think His Majesty is thinking?"

  He looked at Du He, this question was obviously meant to get an answer from him, and the other four people also looked at him.

  "What are you looking at? How would I know!" Du He said with a puzzled face.

  "You are the most trusted by His Majesty, if you don't know then nobody knows!" Li Jingye explained with a smile.

  The remaining four also unanimously agreed.

  "The Emperor has arrived!" was heard from the top of the Furong Building.

  As soon as these words were spoken, the area around the Fuyang Building suddenly fell silent. Everyone's eyes looked up towards the third floor, where they saw Li Shimin's figure appear. Every single person bowed down.

  Li Shimin smiled and said, "No need for more courtesy, you are all the heroes of my Great Tang. Everyone has enough knowledge and patience, and also has a certain understanding of my Great Tang. My Great Tang has an interesting activity on the Lantern Festival, called guessing riddles. I have also made a few riddles temporarily to test who can answer the most and start with a good luck! The winner can drink three cups face-to-face with me!"

  Drinking face-to-face with the Emperor of the Great Tang is an unparalleled honor, and everyone downstairs became excited.

  Du He rolled her eyes and said, "It's just a toast of three cups, what's the big deal?"

  But this riddle was just what he needed to whet his appetite.

  He knew that the Tang Dynasty had no lantern riddles, but literary riddles were popular at the time. As both parents were high-achieving students, they often played intellectual games with Du He, and riddles were the most frequently played game.

  Only saw the building hanging down a long strip of paper like a couplet, with the words "Spread wings and fly, birds return to their nests, dolls offer advice, borrow light from the wall. At the end was written a person's name!

  Du He thought for a moment and shouted loudly: "Spread your wings and soar, Zhang Fei!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, someone beside him immediately picked up the conversation and said: "Flying birds return to their nests, Guan Yu!"

  Du He smiled and said: "The doll presents a plan, Sun Ce!"

  "Borrowing light from a hole in the wall, Zhuge Liang!" The man continued to speak.

  "It's no wonder you're Upper Official Brother, indeed your talent is extraordinary!"

  The people around him also echoed in agreement one after another.

  It can be seen that this Officer Brother is very popular in Chang'an.

  Everyone present praised that scholar, Fang Yi's heart was not at peace, and he shouted: "My elder brother Du He answered two questions in the same way, how could I lose to him?"

  Du He let the house bequeathed love slightly calm, went to see the book born. It just so happened that the other party also looked here, a refined and determined scholar, they knew each other with a smile, and didn't mind.

  It was nearby scholars who heard of Du He's name, and they came to pay their respects. With just his calligraphy alone, he was already elevated to the status of a great master.

  The people around also whispered, "So he is Mr. Du, no wonder he can be compared with Shangguan Yi!"

  Shangguan Yi?

  When he heard this name, Du He couldn't help but smile. Another historical celebrity, and even a future prime minister, someone who dared to defy Wu Zetian!

  At this time, Li Shimin also let his men hang out a second streamer.

  The previous one was just a small test of the cow knife, and this second one is really profound!

  But on the banner was written: "Huo Qubing is dead! Guess a sentence from the Book of Rites!"

  Du He shook his head and sighed, he had read the "Book of Rites", but this book has 90,000 words, every word and sentence is profound and difficult to understand, and he hadn't put in any hard work, how could he understand it clearly? After thinking for a long time, he was still completely at a loss!

  Looking up, Shangguan Yi clapped his hands and said: "It's settled! This riddle is from the Book of Rites, 'Disease stops and returns to its old state'."

  The people around him thought for a moment and then applauded, praising: "Brother Shangguan is indeed impressive."

  Li Shimin hung out the third streamer again.

  "Take the upper and lower parts of 'jun' and put them together! It's a person!"

  "It's Ma Chao!"

  The people around understood the meaning and applauded and praised again.

  Li Shimin laughed on the upper floor: "One last question, let's see which of you two answers first!"

  He hung up the last streamer: "It's hard to be a human being in two places! Guess one word!"

  Du He heard this topic and replied without thinking: "It's a word for entering!"

  Shangguan Yi hesitated for a moment and sighed in admiration: "Mr. Du's thoughts are quick-witted, Shangguan Yi is ashamed to be inferior!"

  Du He's face turned slightly red as he smiled humbly, then suddenly had an idea and exclaimed loudly: "This riddle-guessing is a literary game, everyone has riddles in their heart. It's not fun to enjoy alone, it's better to have everyone guess and appreciate together! As for where to write them, these high-hanging lanterns are the best place to start."

  Du He said that everyone's heart was moved, and they found pen and ink to write a poem. The bravest ones went first, and the crowd guessed together, enjoying themselves immensely, with everyone praising each other.

  The Lantern Riddles on Yuanxiao Festival also became popular because of Du He's sentence.