"Jinli, come here." My father's voice came from the study, a hint of a smile, as if beckoning me into a mysterious world. "This is the new top scholar, Young Master Jiang Yan." My father's words were like a stone dropped into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.
"Junior Jiang Yan, greetings to Miss Su." He bowed, his voice clear as the clash of jade, echoing in the air with an invisible force. However, the moment he raised his eyes, a glint of cunning flashed in them, as if hiding a hidden secret. "I'm asking for your permission today because I accidentally lost a jade hairpin on Suzaku Street yesterday. I heard... something interesting happened in front of the Prime Minister's residence, so I came to ask about it." His gaze was fixed on me, as if searching for something.
A jade hairpin? I frowned slightly, examining his plain bun. It was clearly just an ordinary bamboo hairpin. My father twirled his beard and said with a smile, "Young Master Jiang, you're joking. My daughter is so naughty, I'm sorry to have embarrassed you." His smile was doting, yet also helpless.
"Your Excellency, you are so kind." Jiang Yan's gaze fell on the silver butterfly hairpin at my temple, and his smile deepened, as if it held some intriguing story. "I'm just curious, what kind of person is Miss Su, who could 'scare' a horse and 'dung' a lunatic's reputation?" There was a hint of teasing in his words, as if he was deliberately teasing me.
This was clearly a mockery of yesterday's events! I snorted inwardly, but put on a typical ladylike smile: "Mr. Jiang, you are too kind. It's just that the horse was greedy and accidentally ate some roadside wine dregs, which scared its front hooves. But Mr. Jiang, you left the hot tea from the Hanlin Academy and came out in this windy and snowy weather to look for a fictitious jade hairpin. Isn't that a bit too 'elegant'?" I raised my eyebrows slightly and replied to him.
My father coughed, obviously hearing the wit in our words: "Okay, okay, since you two are meeting for the first time, it seems like you are old acquaintances bickering. Mr. Jiang, Jinli's biological mother and your mother were close friends. You are here today to get to know this sister." My father's words were like a bond that instantly brought Jiang Yan and I closer together.
I was startled when I heard that. No wonder he looked familiar! Jiang Yan also put away his joking expression and said solemnly, "That's right. My mother often mentioned Madam Su's talent, saying that if it weren't for..." He paused, as if recalling something, and then said, "This time I came, first, to visit the Prime Minister on behalf of my mother, and second... I really want to see Miss Su's 'fun'." There was a hint of sincerity in his eyes.
My father pointed to the study and said, "Come in and have a cup of hot tea. It's snowing heavily outside." His words were full of concern.
Jiang Yan shook his head, his eyes falling on the half piece of plain silk sticking out from my sleeves - that was the draft of the doggerel poem I wrote just now in Wanxiang Garden: "No need, I still have to report to the History Museum. Miss Su's poem 'The Frightened Horse' reminds me of a line - 'Golden saddles and jade reins are commonplace, but how can they compare to lying on a dung heap in the sunset.'" The corners of his mouth rose slightly, his eyes full of smiles.
"Pfft..." I couldn't help laughing out loud. This top scholar looked gentle, but his words were so mischievous! When Jiang Yan saw me smile, his smile grew even brighter. He bowed and said, "Goodbye." Then he turned and stepped into the snow. The falling snow on his blue shirt was illuminated by the palace lanterns. His back was indescribably free and easy, as if he was the most unique scenery in this snowy scene.
When we returned to Wanxiang Garden, the ladies were gathered around the fireplace, enthusiastically guessing lantern riddles. Miss Zhang held up a rabbit lantern, so lifelike it looked as if it would jump up at any moment. Written on the lantern were the words: "An idiom about yesterday's street scene."
"I know!" Miss Wu couldn't wait to shout, "It's 'horse stumbles'!" Miss Wu's face was filled with a confident smile.
"No, no," Miss Li shook her head gently, "I guess it's 'eternal infamy'!" There was a hint of cunning in Miss Li's eyes.
Everyone burst into laughter, their laughter like the warmest sunshine on this cold winter day. Seeing me come in, they all came up to me: "Sister Su, who was that just now? Was it that Jiang Zhuangyuan?" Their eyes were filled with curiosity.
I took the hand warmer handed to me by Mo Zhu. The temperature of the hand warmer instantly spread throughout my body and warmed my fingertips: "Well, he said he came to look for a jade hairpin." I said softly.
"Looking for a jade hairpin?" Miss Zhang blinked, her eyes full of confusion. "I heard that Jiang Zhuangyuan was from a poor family and even the money for going to Beijing to take the exam was collected by his fellow villagers. Where did he get the jade hairpin?" Miss Zhang's words were like a key, opening the door of doubt in everyone's hearts.
"Perhaps... a trick," I mumbled, remembering the cunning in Jiang Yan's eyes. Mo Zhu, holding a brocade box, walked in with light steps. "Miss, this is what Jiang Zhuangyuan asked the servant to bring before he left. He said it was... an apology." Mo Zhu's face was filled with curiosity.
I opened it and found a bookmark carved from bamboo, an orchid. The orchid was so lifelike, its veins clearly visible, as if freshly plucked from a bamboo forest. The edges were polished smooth, as if gently caressed by time. On the back, inscribed in small characters: "Where there is fun, there comes a gentle breeze." These words, like a mysterious incantation, instantly struck my heart.
"Wow! This bookmark is so unique!" Miss Li took it and looked at it carefully, her eyes full of admiration, "The handwriting is also well written, with a majestic style, just like Jiang Zhuangyuan." Miss Li's words seemed to be a unique evaluation of Jiang Yan.
I stroked the bamboo veins on the bookmark. They felt like nature's fingerprints, carrying a rustic air. I thought of Jiang Yan, his blue shirt covered in snow, and my lips curled up unconsciously. Miss Zhang suddenly clapped her hands and said, "Sister Su, since Jiang Zhuangyuan has given us a gift, shouldn't we, the 'Wonderful Fun Club,' return the favor? How about... we copy the poem we wrote today and give it to him? Let him see the 'wonderful fun' of us women!" Miss Zhang's suggestion lit up everyone's eyes like a star.
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