Before anyone knew it, the sun was sinking in the west.
A blaze of sunset clouds painted Bianliang City's towering walls and rows of upturned eaves a captivating gold and red.
The sky gradually darkened.
Lanterns began to glow.
As the first red lanterns lit up at taverns and entertainment houses across the city, Bianliang City seemed to come alive with magic.
Countless lanterns of every shape, glowing warm yellow, lit up one after another along the rippling Bian River, like two fiery dragons stretched across the earth.
Lantern light mingled, and pleasure boats glided over the water.
As everyone knew, dynasties throughout history had kept tight control over activity after dark.
But in the Northern Song, especially here in Bianliang City beneath the emperor's nose, things were different.
The Great Song had a curfew, but its rules were remarkably lax.
The court expressly decreed that night markets could stay open until the end of the third watch and reopen at the fifth.
In other words, until one in the morning, people and merchants could stroll and trade at the night markets without official interference.
Even after one, when people were nominally forbidden from wandering about, lax enforcement was the norm. Night-patrol guards generally looked the other way.
Nobody really took the curfew seriously...
That was precisely how Bianliang City had grown so prosperous.
Even late at night, its streets remained brightly lit, bustling, and splendid.
As they walked through the noisy night market,
Liu Mengxi gave a satisfied burp.
With her free hand, she gently rubbed her belly, now a little round from all she had eaten.
The young girl tilted her head toward Li Qingzhao beside her.
"Sister Qingzhao~"
Liu Mengxi's eyes crinkled as she thanked her with a grin. "Thanks so much for treating us today!"
"Xixi