The two of them traveled through the Tang Dynasty to open a supermarket, and the little Sizi was sup

Chapter 121 Chang'an East Market!

The carriage continued on its way, the sunlight dividing the street into a chessboard of light and shadow.

As Xiao Ran gazed at the passing scenery outside the car window, he suddenly noticed that each pedestrian's clothing had its own unique characteristics.

There were officials wearing turbans, merchants dressed in narrow-sleeved Hu clothing, noblewomen in flowing skirts, and even a few Persians with curly hair and deep-set eyes riding tall horses through the city.

Isn't this spirit of diversity and inclusiveness the most vivid illustration of the Reign of Zhenguan?

Xiao Ran looked down at the little princess holding the electric fan in her arms, then looked up at Yu Shu, who was steadily driving the horse on the carriage shaft, and suddenly understood why history chose Chang'an as the capital of the Tang Dynasty.

This place not only boasts magnificent architecture and meticulous planning, but also a broad-mindedness that captivates people even a thousand years later.

Princess Yuzhang found the passage of time, more than a thousand years later, even more shocking and didn't quite understand Xiao Ran's feelings.

Princess Yuzhang was unaware of the profound influence the Tang Dynasty had on later generations.

"Young master, is this place special?" Even Li Lizhi asked Xiao Ran, "Compared to you, young master, your place is much more interesting!"

“Chang Le, you are people of the Tang Dynasty, so your feelings are definitely different from mine. Chang’an is your home, but for me, it is history, and I have witnessed history with my own eyes.”

Li Lizhi raised her eyebrows slightly, seemingly understanding Xiao Ran's feelings. "Grandpa often said that the real history books are not on bamboo slips, but in the daily lives of ordinary people."

Xiao Ran reached out and caught a falling locust blossom. "Just like this Zhuque Street, every brick and stone tells the story of the Zhenguan era."

Xiao Ran turned his gaze back to the window.

Just then, an oxcart loaded with silk came from the opposite direction. The old man driving the cart was gently patting the ox's back with a bamboo stick, humming a tune that was hard to understand.

Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves of the locust tree, casting dappled shadows on the old man's bronze face.

The image is so vivid that it seems it could be directly embedded into an illustration in a history textbook.

Suddenly, a clear camel bell sound rang out.

Several Bactrian camels carrying huge leather bags walked slowly by, their humps adorned with brightly colored Persian flags.

Following the camel caravan was a group of Sogdian merchants, wearing pointed felt hats, brocade robes, and scimitars at their waists, who conversed in Sogdian all the way.

One of the foreign merchants noticed Li Lizhi's carriage, immediately stopped, placed his hands on his chest, and bowed deeply, his eyes filled with awe.

The Hu people who frequently visited Chang'an City naturally knew how to identify the people inside the carriage just by looking at its specifications.

Xiao Ran watched this scene with a mix of emotions.

Chang'an during the Zhenguan era was indeed an international metropolis, where merchants, envoys, and students from all over the world gathered, bringing with them different cultures, religions, and goods.

This open and inclusive spirit was almost never seen again in later feudal dynasties.

Hearing the crisp sound of horses' hooves, Xiao Ran quickly looked outside. Several ornately decorated carriages were approaching from the opposite direction, and the bronze bells on the carriage shafts made melodious sounds with the horses' gait.

The lead carriage carried an official dressed in scarlet robes, with a silver fish-shaped pouch at his waist, clearly indicating he was a high-ranking official.

As the two carriages passed each other, the official saw Li Lizhi's carriage and immediately stood up and bowed respectfully.

"Chang Le, who is this?" Xiao Ran was very curious; this person's demeanor clearly indicated that he was a high-ranking official.

“That’s Zheng Yuanzhu, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies and Duke of Pei,” Li Lizhi introduced in a low voice. “He’s in charge of receiving envoys from various countries.”

"Young master, do you know this person?" Li Li asked.

"I know some people from the Zhenguan era, but I've never heard of this one!" This person is clearly not from the Lingyan Pavilion.

"Who does the young master know?" Li Lizhi asked, which gave Xiao Ran something to say: "Fang Mou, Du Duan, and Wei Peng."

Upon hearing Xiao Ran's first words, Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang were amused. Fang Xuanling's decision was understandable, but Wei Peng's comment was genuinely funny.

It's no secret that Li Shimin was frequently criticized by Wei Zheng; Princess Li Lizhi and many others knew this.

The carriage left Suzaku Avenue and continued eastward, gradually approaching the East Market.

Xiao Ran noticed that the walls on both sides of the street gradually became lower, and were replaced by rows of shops and vendors.

"So many people!" Princess Chengyang exclaimed.

"Is this the East Market?" Xiao Ran murmured to himself.

“Yes, that’s right!” Li Lizhi nodded.

Yu Shu gently shook the reins, and the green horse's hooves clattered like tiny silver bells.

As the East Market Gate came into view, the five-colored banners on the vermilion carriage shafts were suddenly billowed by the wind and swept across the crowd like a peacock spreading its tail.

The old man selling sesame cakes was the first to notice the golden crow pattern embroidered on the carriage curtain. His bamboo stick clattered to the ground, and the rising steam from the oven blurred his panicked face: "Quick, get out of the way! It's Her Highness the Princess's carriage!"

People on the road consciously moved to the side of the road.

Under the dome of the Persian Mansion on the street corner, several Kucha musicians who were tuning their vertical harps hurriedly put down their instruments, their deep eyes reflecting the gilded chariot shafts shimmering in the sunlight.

Suddenly, a rapid erhu melody rang out, which turned out to be the camel bells and carriage bells of the Sogdian caravan harmonizing to create a strange rhythm.

Because of Li Lizhi's appearance, the various shouts and bargaining gradually subsided, but the aroma of roasted meat, spices, and taverns still filled the air.
Xiao Ran saw a stall selling flatbread surrounded by customers. The stall owner skillfully stuck the flatbread to the oven wall, and the golden flatbread emitted an enticing aroma.

In the nearby tavern, several scholars dressed in turbans were raising their cups and drinking merrily, discussing poetry and songs loudly.

Xiao Ran leaned forward slightly, his gaze sweeping over the throng of people outside the car window. "So that's how it is."

Xiao Ran unconsciously ran his fingers along the wooden grain of the car window, and sighed inwardly: Later generations always say that the Spring Festival travel rush is so crowded that it's hard to breathe, but at this moment, the aroma of sesame cakes and the sound of camel bells fill the streets, as if the warmth of a thousand years of life has been crushed into the air.

"Sizi, can you smell the fragrance?" Xiao Ran looked at the little princess who was hugging the electric fan and dozing off.

I'm really sleepy.

"Mmm, mmm~ It's a sesame seed cake~"

"Want to eat?"

The little princess shook her head, "I want ice cream!"

"You can eat it when we get back." There really isn't any ice cream here.

"Hmmmm~"

A slight jolt came from the carriage shaft, and I caught a glimpse of a bronze sign hanging under the eaves of a tavern on the street corner.

Noticing Xiao Ran's gaze, Li Lizhi smiled and said, "Young master, look at that merchant selling Persian glass cups. He might have Samarkand wine in the leather pouch at his waist, and the Arab merchant at the spice stall across the street is wrapping frankincense in a camel hair blanket."

Xiao Ran took a deep breath, as if he could truly capture the breath of history, a hundred times more vivid than the artifacts covered by glass cases in museums.

"Changle, you know so much, do you go out often?" Xiao Ran was a little surprised. This learned and knowledgeable eldest princess was not only well-read, but also very knowledgeable.

“We can’t go to places that are too far away, but we can explore Chang’an more,” Li Lizhi said with a smile.

(End of this chapter)