Chapter 239 - Arrive in Luoyang
Chapter 239 – Arrive in Luoyang
The Lu family’s ancestral temple was in Luoyang, so it was known as the sub-capital of Datang.
Chang’an was 800 miles away from Luoyang. Normally, it was only a day’s ride from Chang’an to Luoyang, but there were many people traveling from Chang’an to Luoyang, so it would take at least three days.
Luckily, there were a lot of posthouses along the way, so it didn’t matter if they moved slowly.
Many officials and nobles sent servants to Luoyang in advance to clean their houses in Luoyang.
Although the Emperor went to Luoyang, there would still be some people left behind to guard Chang’an. After all, Chang’an was closer to those barbarian tribes.
Prince Su and Prince Rong stayed in Chang’an, temporarily taking charge of the military power of Chang’an.
Chang’an had been the capital of Datang for a long time.
There had long since been a discussion about moving the capital to Luoyang, even Mr. Ji supported setting the capital in Luoyang. He also thought that it would be fine for Lu Xi to stay in Luoyang for half a year.
In a spacious carriage, Qiao Jinniang lifted the curtain, only to see a mighty army on both sides, looking very majestic.
The procession stopped and moved, and it took three days to reach Purple Forbidden City in the west of Luoyang. There was also an East Palace in the Purple Forbidden City, and the palaces inside were extremely luxurious, no different from the one in Chang’an.
Because the imperial palace had sent people over to clean them in advance, the palaces were no different from those in Chang’an.
Except for the Crown Prince and his family, the others had not yet reached Luoyang.
Like this, Qiao Jinniang gained a little freedom. As soon as she arrived, she wanted to go to the market and buy some shops to do business.
Seeing her anxious look, Lu Chen asked, “Are you going to go out in this outfit?”
“It seems to be inappropriate, but I didn’t bring men’s clothes.”
Lu Chen said, “I was only fifteen years old when I came here. You can wear my old clothes.”
Qiao Jinniang said, “No, I will have someone buy a set of clothes for me. Mother has told me that no one can wear the Crown Prince’s clothes, as it is a serious crime of rebellion.”
Lu Chen laughed. “Then why were you not afraid of committing the crime of rebellion at all when you hit me before? I also have casual clothes that you can wear. I’ll take a tour of Luoyang with you together.”
Qiao Jinniang went to change into a man’s attire. Nowadays it was popular for girls to wear men’s clothes.
Therefore, Qiao Jinniang didn’t conceal that she was a woman. It would be fine as long as no one found out that she was the Crown Princess.
The local customs of Luoyang were not much different from that of Chang’an, but many foreigners from all over the world could be seen in Chang’an, and the folk customs were rougher, while there were more literati in Luoyang and it had more Chinese culture’s heritage.
After a day of touring around, Qiao Jinniang had seen a lot of sceneries that she hadn’t seen before, and in the end, she found a commercial street in Luoyang’s Jiuzhou Lane, which was both close to the Purple Forbidden City and the houses of dignitaries.
But then she saw a Guest-welcoming Building on the street. What a coincidence!
The man and woman who came out of the Guest-welcoming Building were the shopkeepers of the Guest-welcoming Building in Chang’an.
Lu Chen said to Qiao Jinniang, “I am afraid that they have the same idea as you. If you want to buy all the shops on this street, the price will be too high and it won’t be easy.”
The business of all the stores here is very good, so the owners had no reason to sell them.
Qiao Jinniang said, “This is the most suitable place for business in Luoyang, and in terms of Fengshui, this is the easiest place to attract money. I have plenty of money, so I think I can afford the price. But if it doesn’t work, I’ll turn to elsewhere.”
After Qiao Jinniang went to negotiate, she learned that the shops in this entire Jiuzhou Lane belonged to a wealthy businessman. The wealthy businessman wasn’t in Luoyang often, and the shops here were only for rent but not for sale.
Unfortunately, the shops that she took a fancy to were all run by the wealthy businessman himself, and no matter how much money Qiao Jinniang offered, the shopkeepers refused to rent the shops to her.
Qiao Jinniang said, “I’m afraid you won’t make much money by selling calligraphy, painting and antiques here. Why don’t you rent the shops to me? I promise I’ll offer you a satisfactory price.”
“Sorry, Madam, please don’t make things difficult for me. My boss is opening these shops to collect treasures, not for money. He is not short of money, but he likes antiques, calligraphy and paintings.”
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Hearing the shopkeeper’s words, Lu Chen asked, “Is your boss surnamed Lin?”
“Yeah, how did you know that, Young Master?”
Lu Chen said to Qiao Jinniang, “There’s no need to negotiate. Just ask my father for these shops when he comes to Luoyang.”
Qiao Jinniang said, “Could this street be your father’s property?”
Lu Chen nodded and said, “Yes.”
Qiao Jinniang couldn’t help but be amazed, but it was not surprising that the Emperor had some private properties. Although the treasury was abundant because there had been no wars these years, the Emperor couldn’t use the silver taels in the treasury at will.
Therefore, it was reasonable that the Emperor had some private properties.
After all, the East Palace also had a lot of private properties. After Qiao Jinniang married into the East Palace, she discovered that Lu Chen had a lot of manors and shops in Chang’an, so he was not short of money either.
Not to mention, the properties they had in the South.
Five days later, when the Emperor arrived in Luoyang, the entire Luoyang was lit up the whole night. It was even more lively than during a festival.
In the daytime, when the Emperor and the officials arrived, all the people knelt down to greet them.
After that, the officials and nobles all went to their houses to take a rest.
Zheng Xiao didn’t come from Chang’an because she had to take care of her newborn daughter.
Although the Qiao family had been separated, the Duke Anyuan Mansion had too few people now, so Second Master and his family still lived in the Duke Mansion.
Second Madam helped Zheng Xiao manage the Duke Mansion.
Second Madam’s natal family was in Luoyang. As soon as she arrived in Luoyang, the people of her natal family came to visit her.
“Younger Sister.”
“Sister-in-law.” Second Madam cried as soon as she saw her family.
Mrs. Fu said, “What kind of grievance are you suffering from? I heard that your sister-in-law didn’t come to Luoyang this time. And you are in charge of this huge duke mansion alone. Isn’t it great?”
Second Madam couldn’t help sighing. “It’s my two daughters. They went to the Southwest without saying a word. I keep writing to ask them to come back, but they never obey me, alas.”
Mrs. Fu said, “Well, Sister, I know you must be busy after just arriving in Luoyang. I really don’t want to bother you, but your niece is seventeen this year and has not yet been engaged. I heard that the dignitaries from Chang’an have all come here. Can you help her introduce some good young men?”
Mrs. Qiao frowned. “Why the rush? These people will stay in Luoyang for half a year!”
Mrs. Fu smiled fawningly and said, “I heard that the Crown Princess is from your Qiao family. Do you think it’s possible for your niece to marry into the East Palace to serve the Crown Princess?”
Mrs. Qiao sneered. “Sister-in-law, I advise you to dispel this thought.
“This is the first day we came to Luoyang, and you’ve already planned to marry your daughter into the East Palace?
“As everyone knows, the one condition for the Crown Princess to agree to marry into the East Palace is that the Crown Prince will never take any concubines.”
Mrs. Fu was shocked and said, “How is this possible? Is the Crown Princess joking? Or you don’t want your niece to marry into the East Palace and snatch the favor of the Crown Prince from your Qiao family’s daughter?”
Mrs. Qiao really scorned her sister-in-law. “You can go now. I’m sorry I can’t see you away!”
Mrs. Fu said, “Every girl in Luoyang wants to marry into the East Palace. Your niece’s beautiful and graceful. If you can help her, she’ll repay you in the future!”
Mrs. Qiao spat. “Bah, I’ll be stupid if I help your daughter marry into the East Palace!”