Chapter 105: A Thousand Twists and Turns
"No need. Even if I say it, those old men won't obey me. I still need to gain some experience." His eyes were bright and his eyes moved while he spoke, which was very beautiful.
The three of them walked down another street. It was getting dark. Xu Fu saw Baili trying to get close to his senior sister, so he got angry and said he wanted to go back.
"Then you should go back first. I still need to take your senior sister to see the river lanterns. Children should go to bed early."
Xu Fu's eyes were fuming with anger. He pulled Yu Huatang aside and warned her, "He has no good intentions." Then he left reluctantly.
The night was getting darker and darker, and more and more people were on the street. Zhao Yan walked around the courtyard again and again, and could not read a single word of the book he opened. Finally, at three quarters past three in the evening, he could no longer bear it and went to Yu Huatang's yard.
The door to the courtyard was tightly shut, indicating that she must be with Baili Yunzhou today. Yes, the streets were very lively today, and they would probably go to see the river lanterns later...
He walked out of his home like a wandering soul, and unknowingly arrived at the street. There were food stalls and many handicrafts, all of which were exquisite. In addition, the opera stage next to him was crowded with people.
He walked in and saw that the play was: Hou Wenyu and Li Shujun. The actor was very talented, so he stopped and listened quietly.
Like many talented men and beautiful women, the poet Hou Wenyu fell in love with the famous Qinhuai prostitute Li Shujun at first sight. When they parted, he left her a fan as a token of love and soon took Li Shujun as his concubine.
They thought they would live happily together, but the situation changed and Hou Wenyu left for another country for the sake of his country. Li Shujun stayed at home holding the love fan every day, hoping for Hou Wenyu's return.
The couple who should have been in harmony with each other are now living apart.
At this time, after the eunuch Ruan Dajiao got hold of Hou Wenyu's handle, he forced Li Shujun to marry in order to vent his anger. Shujun was stubborn and refused to obey, so she suddenly hit her head against the pillar and blood splattered on the love fan.
The song was just coming to this point on the stage when the actor, with tears in his eyes, slowly fell down against the pillar, his black hair hanging down to cover half of his pale face.
At this moment, Zhao Yan remembered a sentence: Is it people who laugh at the fickleness of fate, or are the actors laughing at the love-sickness of the world?
The audience was silent for three breaths, and then suddenly broke into thunderous applause. When the play reached the part where a friend expressed his admiration for Li Shujun's chastity and heroic character and dyed the bloodstains on the fan into peach blossoms, Zhao Yan left.
This touching story now sounds extremely tragic. Why is that? I guess it’s because I don’t have it.
Because he did not have such a steadfast friendship, what he felt was sadness and regret.
The streets were filled with young men and women walking in pairs, as well as couples traveling together. The very poorest ones were accompanied by friends. Walking along the way, he seemed lonely and miserable.
He was halfway there when he arrived at the place where the river lanterns were placed. He looked around but could not find the person he was meeting.
The lanterns in the river come in various styles, including carp, flower shapes, and some are made into boat shapes for beauty. The river, illuminated by the candlelight, gives a sense of shimmering light and golden sparkle.
He stopped and watched the people coming and going making wishes. These things were also available in the capital. If it were in the past, he would have definitely disdained them, but now he hoped to be with her and make their wishes together.
He fantasized that she might write 'The world is peaceful and everyone is happy'.
As for him, he might write something so cheesy as "I wish to be a pair of wings in the sky and a pair of branches on the ground" because this is what he longs for in his heart.
More and more people were releasing river lanterns. He saw the smiling faces of those lovers, all of whom were full of true love, which made people so envious. After a while, he still didn't see her. Some people at the back wanted to squeeze to the front. He had no reason to occupy this good position, so he left in the end.
There were more and more people on the road. He thought that there were many such grand events in the capital. He wondered if she was as lonely as he was when she was alone in Jingya Hall. It seemed that he had never found the time to take her for a walk outside.
So many people who come to the capital know to visit all kinds of places, but he naturally ignores these.
Even when a colleague came from Lushan Academy later, he still received him, took him to the best restaurant in the capital for dinner, and even took half a day off with him to show his appreciation to his colleague.
But as her husband, he never thought that she must be looking forward to getting out. Even if she is a calm person, staying there day after day for three years is no different from being in prison.
He pondered the past calmly, as if trying to find some sweetness from the past, but after thinking it over, he found nothing, and it seemed even more bitter.
After walking a few steps, he came to a shop that was different from the previous ones. It sold all kinds of velvet flowers. He selected a few and felt that they were very suitable for her.
The boss thought he was giving it to his wife and said, "Sir, take these back. Your wife will be very happy. Many girls on this street bought my velvet flowers today. They are absolutely delicious."
Zhao Yan smiled bitterly. He didn't have a wife anymore. He had lost her a long time ago.
Finally I took three and paid for them.
When the moon was at its zenith, he sat by the street, people came and went, and he was in a world of his own.
Countless figures walked past him, but he still didn't find the person he wanted to meet. It was not until the first firework rose into the sky at midnight that he realized that it was a new day.
Yes, the old day has passed away before the new day comes, just like him, the old man, who left the stage long ago.
He gave a wry smile and eventually staggered out.
…………
Baili Yunzhou and Yu Huatang emerged from the alley. Everyone was watching the fireworks, but Baili Yunzhou had a different idea. He leaned in and said, "Watching these fireworks for too long is boring. I know a place where there are still some remaining lotus leaves. I imagine the sky would be fireworks and the water would be lotus leaves. It would be quite beautiful."
Yu Huatang also liked this desolate beauty. She said, "Then let's go quickly. Don't wait until the fireworks are over before we arrive."
Baili Yunzhou led her down another alley. When they reached a wall, he brought out a ladder from the back of a cart, as if he had been there a thousand times before. "Come, I'll help you up. You sit on it, and I'll climb up and come down to pick you up."
Yu Huatang was stunned for a moment, but without any hesitation, she lifted her skirt and climbed up. When she just reached the top of the wall, there was a loud bang in the sky, and a huge firework bloomed, then fell in all directions like a meteor.
She followed the starlight and as it was setting, she found the place Baili Yunzhou mentioned. She pointed and said, "Is that it?"
Baili Yunzhou climbed up and quickly jumped down. "Yes, I didn't lie to you, did I? The moonlight shining on it is just like the silver light that scholars talk about. Look at the exquisiteness of this Western Zhou Dynasty painting. It has a bit of the feeling of withered lotus listening to the rain."
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