Do you know: I am Qi Heng

"Heng'er, this is He Dalang's first time visiting Bianjing. Why don't you take him around the city and let him have some fun?"

The next morning, after breakfast, Princess Pingning gave Qi Heng some instructions.

"Yes!" Qi Heng bowed and replied.

He knew that his mother was probably taking Old Madam He to the palace and wanted to get rid of him and He Hongwen.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, young master."

Grandma He smiled and said, "Hongwen had heard others talk about the prosperity of Bianjing before, and he longed for it very much."

"Grandma He, you flatter me. My mother is very strict, and I rarely go out. I have to thank Brother He for allowing me to go out for a stroll today," Qi Heng said with a smile.

"This child, when did I ever forbid you from going out?"

Princess Pingning laughed and scolded, "Anyone who didn't know better would think I was mistreating you."

"Young boys are all like this. Even when Wen-ge is studying medicine with me, he always wants to go out and play."

Grandma He smiled and turned her head, saying, "Wen-ge'er, this is your first time in Bianjing. When you go out to play with the young master later, be sure to listen to him, understand?"

"Grandson understands," He Hongwen replied.

"Alright, go change your clothes. I'll have someone prepare a carriage for you," Princess Pingning instructed.

"Then the child will go first."

Qi Heng bowed to his parents and then to Old Madam He. After He Hongwen returned the bow, the two of them left the main hall together.

"Brother He, is there anywhere you'd like to go?" Qi Heng asked.

He Hongwen said somewhat shyly, "I've heard that the market at Daxiangguo Temple is very lively, where you can see goods from all over the world, as well as goods from many other countries. I've always wanted to go and see it; I wonder if it would be convenient for me?"

People who have visited Bianjing from other places find it difficult to describe its prosperity in words after returning home.

The market at Daxiangguo Temple best describes the prosperity of Bianjing.

That was the largest trading market in Bianjing, gathering goods from all over the world and from various countries, and even selling all kinds of rare and exotic animals.

He Hongwen had heard people describe the prosperity and bustle of the market at Daxiangguo Temple.

On his way to Bianjing, he had already decided that he absolutely had to go and see it.

"Unfortunately, the market at Daxiangguo Temple is not open every day; it is only open five days a month. Today is not a market day."

Qi Heng said, "After it opens in a few days, I'll take Brother He sightseeing. Is there anywhere else you'd like to visit, Brother He?"

As a royal temple, Daxiangguo Temple could not possibly have a market open every day.

It is only open on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month, and on the 8th of each lunar month.

"Well... I'll go along with what the host says."

He Hongwen had heard of many famous places in Bianjing, but he couldn't go to the market at Daxiangguo Temple, which he longed to visit the most, and for a moment he didn't know where to go next.

Qi Heng pondered for a moment and said, "Bianjing has eight scenic spots. Currently, the snow in Bianjing has not yet melted. The two most beautiful sights are the snow-covered Liang Garden and the clouds drifting over the Iron Pagoda. Why don't I take Brother He to see them first?"

"I've heard of these two places as well, so let's proceed as Young Master arranges." He Hongwen had no objections.

"Then let's make some preparations and meet at the gate of the mansion in about an incense stick's time, shall we?" Qi Heng asked.

"Mm." He Hongwen nodded.

The two parted ways and returned to their respective rooms. Qi Heng changed his clothes and prepared himself, carrying a hand warmer in his hand, before going to meet up with He Hongwen. Together they boarded the carriage.

.........

Liangyuan was originally the place where Shi Kuang, a musician from the State of Jin, performed ancient music. Liu Wu, the second son of Emperor Wen of Han, was enfeoffed as the King of Liang, and his fief was Bianjing.

Liu Wu was fond of literature, calligraphy, and amusement, so he embarked on a large-scale construction project on the site of Chuitai, adding palaces, pavilions, and planting many exotic flowers and trees, creating a luxurious garden that he named "Liang Garden".

Today, Liang Garden has been damaged, with only a small portion of the buildings remaining.

After the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it was not repaired or rebuilt. Many literati liked to come here to reminisce about the past, and it was still called Liang Garden.

Scholars often write poems when they reminisce about the past, and there is a category of poems called "poems about reminiscing about the past".

Poems like "Remembering the Past at Red Cliff" and Du Mu's "Inscription at Wujiang Pavilion" are all poems about reminiscing about the past.

However, only a few can write good poems about the past. Literati like to be pretentious, and if they can't write poems about the past, they can just write about scenery.

Poems describing scenery are arguably the most difficult, yet also the simplest.

Anyone with a bit of cultural background can write a poem about scenery that seems decent at first glance.

However, while these kinds of poems are easy to write, it is difficult to make them stand out.

Liang Garden was already in ruins, and there wasn't much else to write about. However, when it snowed in winter, the remaining buildings had a certain charm.

Therefore, the most poems and lyrics were written about snow scenes, and under the promotion of these literati poems and lyrics, Liangyuan became a popular place for scholars to visit.

Thus, the name Liangyuan Snow Clearing came about, becoming one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Bianjing.

He Hongwen admired the scenery of Liang Garden and, to be honest, thought it was quite ordinary.

However, he had a feeling of seeing the emperor's new clothes, so he didn't say it out loud.

Upon hearing Qi Heng recount the origins of Liang Garden and how it became one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Bianjing, he immediately nodded in agreement and said, "I also think the scenery is just average, but I didn't dare to say it. I hope you'll forgive me, young master."

"Haha, Brother He, the fact that you're willing to admit it already puts you ahead of many others."

Qi Heng smiled and said, "My nickname is Yuanruo. If you don't mind, you can call me by my courtesy name."

The characters are an extension of the meaning of the name. In ancient times, people always chose names with auspicious meanings.

However, if a word has multiple meanings, then words are needed to extend its meaning.

Like the name Qi Heng, Heng means balance, equality, fairness and integrity.

As for Yuanruo, Yuan means beginning or start, and Ruo means like.

The combination of his given name and courtesy name roughly means the hope that Qi Heng can maintain his original aspirations and always be an upright person.

This is also why Qi Heng questioned his mother earlier about why she gave him the courtesy name Yuanruo, hoping that he would always be an upright person, but she herself was unfair in her dealings with others.

Generally speaking, in ancient times, people would only receive a courtesy name after their coming-of-age ceremony, which meant they were of legal age and ready to marry.

However, in real life, words also have the attribute of communication.

Calling someone by their first name was considered very disrespectful in ancient times.

If a child needs to interact with a large number of strangers of the same generation, the parents will give him a courtesy name in advance so that he can easily address others of the same age.

"This…"

He Hongwen hesitated upon hearing this. His status was far below Qi Heng's. "Young Master" was an honorific title, but if he were addressed by his courtesy name, it would be considered an equal relationship.

"Could it be that Brother He looks down on me?" Qi Heng asked, feigning reluctance.

He didn't particularly like people like He Hongwen and Yuan Wenshao in his previous life.

But once you actually come to this era and understand the values ​​and ideas of the people of this era, you can't bring yourself to dislike them.

Ultimately, people like He Hongwen and Yuan Wenshao are the ones who align with the ancient people's ideology.

From a futuristic perspective, they certainly fall into the category of blind filial piety.

But this is the kind of education people received in ancient times. Starting from the Western Han Dynasty, the rulers linked loyalty and filial piety together.

The system for selecting officials at that time was based on the principle of recommending those who were filial and incorruptible, with filial piety being the most important factor.

Even after an emperor dies, his posthumous title must include the character "孝" (filial piety).

In order to curry favor with those in power, filial piety became a very important moral standard, even more important than loyalty.

After all, loyalty requires you to be an official, but filial piety is different, because everyone has parents.