"Successful and famous? Not interested." Xiao Yunyu held the chess piece with his slender fingers and dropped it nonchalantly. "Now I play chess and practice martial arts every day, and I'm free and easy. Why should I go to a desolate place like the northwest and become a crappy general and ask for trouble?"
"Go back and tell Xiao Yunchen that if he wants to earn the family honor himself, he can do so. If his current position still isn't high enough, I can give him the position of Crown Prince." A hint of nonchalant sarcasm flashed across Xiao Yunyu's deep peach blossom eyes. "But if you want me to collude with him, dream on!"
Qi Heng stared at him and said hurriedly: "Brother Yu, I'm here to ask you to go back. Xiao Yunchen doesn't know about this. It was my brother who asked me to come to you."
"You don't know, we lost two more cities last winter, and now the army has retreated to 20 miles outside Dong'an City. The court is short of military generals, and my brother has difficulty walking and cannot travel long distances."
His face turned bitter as he continued, "You know the emperor asked me to replace my brother and go to the northwest. With my half-baked skills, going to the northwest is obviously forcing a duck to climb a tree and asking for death!"
Qi Heng stared at him and said earnestly, "So, Brother Yu, just come with me!"
Xiao Yunyu tapped the table with his fingers, reminding: "Place your move, play chess carefully."
Qi Heng's mouth corners turned down, he looked down at the chessboard, and his mood became even worse.
He placed the chess pieces on the table and said sullenly, "I lost again! This is boring. I'm not going to play anymore!"
An old man in a light-colored robe walked over and recited slowly, "The sun is setting, the weather is soft and beautiful. It's the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, and I'm washing away my filth and swimming in the clear river."
The two people who were playing chess looked up at the same time and saw an old man with a ruddy complexion holding a wooden barrel in his hand, who stopped on the path down the mountain.
He asked in a loud and full voice, "Yu'er, where is the orchid grass I asked you to prepare?"
Xiao Yunyu lazily stood up and responded loudly, "It's already prepared. I'll get it right away."
Qi Heng asked curiously, "What do you want the orchid for?"
The old man's eyes and eyebrows were full of smiles. He replied: "Today is the Shangsi Festival. You need to take the spring water from the Qinghe River to soak the orchid grass and bathe yourself to dispel disasters and pray for good fortune."
Xiao Yunyu's house was built on the mountainside. Just by looking up slightly, he could see the clear river winding down at the foot of the mountain.
At this time, many well-dressed men and women had gathered by the river, singing and dancing, playing the piano, and having fun.
When Qi Heng looked at this scene, he couldn't help but think of the war scene in the northwest described by his eldest brother.
He couldn't help but sigh, "Tsk tsk, Uncle Zhou, no wonder Brother Yu couldn't bear to leave you. Not only is it spring-like all year round, but it's also peaceful and harmonious. No matter how turbulent other places are, Hongcun is like a paradise on earth."
Zhou Nanxing understood his implication and said with a smile, "Since you're here, stay a few more days. Fortunately, spring has arrived, and according to the Xiyuan Kingdom's style, they won't continue to provoke war for the time being."
Qi Heng looked at Zhou Nanxing in surprise and asked in astonishment, "Uncle Zhou, you're so far away in this small town of Nanjiang, how could you know about the war in the northwest?"
Zhou Nanxing raised his eyebrows and smiled, but when he saw Xiao Yunyu coming over with the orchid, he stopped talking.
Qi Heng continued, unwilling to give up, "Now that the new ruler of Xiyuan has taken office, the Sima family is brutal by nature. Every time they capture a city, they rob and kill, wishing to wash the city in blood."
As he spoke, the anger in Qi Heng's eyes could not stop gushing out, accompanied by a helpless feeling of being powerless, which made him feel angry and uncomfortable in his chest.
"Alas! It's a pity that the country has no generals to use, and those people are always thinking about forming cliques and factions to pursue private interests." Qi Heng continued as he walked beside Xiao Yunyu, "Recently, those led by the Crown Prince have even proposed abolishing the imperial examination system."
"If this is true, who in the imperial court will be willing to speak up for the people? Wouldn't the whole world just become the private property of those people?"
Xiao Yunyu chuckled. "It's no use telling me this. I don't hold any official position, let alone any grand ambitions." He patted Qi Heng's shoulder. "Instead of coming all the way here to find me, why not find Xiao Yunchen, an official in the capital?"
Qi Heng refused to give up and continued to persuade him: "You can have an official position if you want one! Just ask my brother. If you agree to go to the northwest, he will go to the palace to meet the emperor and strongly recommend you to be a general."
"Then I'll be your vanguard!"
Xiao Yunyu listened to his excitement and glanced at him with the corner of his eye. He said casually, "Not interested."
At this time, the three of them had already gone down the mountain and were near the bank of Qing River. The warm spring light shone on the happy smiling faces of the men and women.
The sounds of cheerful laughter and playfulness drifted in the air along with the warm spring breeze, and the sounds of chatting and laughter could be heard clearly.
After listening to Qi Heng's words along the way, Zhou Nanxing already understood the purpose of his visit.
"Xiao Qi, the Shangsi Festival is very important in our Yuanhong City. It symbolizes good fortune for the whole year." He pulled Qi Heng to the river and said solemnly, "Since you are here on this day, it is fate. You must celebrate this festival seriously and attentively."
"As for other matters, we can talk about them tomorrow."
Qi Heng chuckled twice and said helplessly: "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Three men and two women were gathered on the river bank, playing the piano and eating. In the middle of them was a small square table with a few plates of snacks and a small basket of fruit on it.
A woman played the pipa and sang melodious lyrics in the soft Nanjiang dialect.
The others listened with rapt expressions, their faces filled with the joy of enjoying this relaxing moment of fun for all.
The song is over.
One of the men suddenly stood up and walked towards Xiao Yunyu, grinning and shouting, "Brother Yu, who is this brother next to you?"
Qi Heng glanced at him sideways: "My name is Qi Heng, and I'm Yu's good brother who grew up with me."
The man searched his brain and immediately got the answer. His smile became more sincere and he asked in surprise, "Young Master Qi Heng from the General of the Cavalry's Mansion?"
Qi Heng nodded: "Exactly, you know me?"
"I don't know you, but I once had the honor of attending a banquet at your mansion." The man bowed and said, "I've long heard of your name. I wonder how long General Qi plans to stay in Hongcun this time?"
As if afraid that Qi Heng would refuse, he hurriedly added, "I would like to invite you and Brother Yu to go to the manor to soak in the hot springs and drink some wine. I hope General Qi will give me a chance and let me do my best to be a good host."
Upon hearing this, Qi Heng looked at Xiao Yunyu.
Xiao Yunyu knew clearly what this person's purpose was. The Spring Examination was approaching, and he wanted to bask in the glory of the General of Cavalry's Mansion.
"Okay, you guys decide what to do, I'm fine with it."
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