Chapter 19: Forced to drink wine, updated with 10,000 words, thanks for subscribing. ...
The water on the stove was boiling. Xie Xuanlan immediately pressed the handle of the kettle and said, "I'll do it."
He saw that Cong Ying's hands were as red as butter and her belly was as white as jade. She could barely hold a pen. If she touched the handle of the copper pot, it would probably turn red at the first touch.
Unlike him, who always holds a sword in his hand every day and has a thin layer of calluses on the palms that are not afraid of heat.
But she shouldn't have had this thought. Xie Xuanlan called her in with the intention of bringing her to justice.
After a moment's thought, he added rudely, "I'm afraid you'll waste this imperial gift of Xinzhu Luchun without knowing how to handle it."
Since he said so, Cong Ying had no choice but to stand by and watch.
Although Mr. Xie San practiced martial arts every day, he was not as rough and unruly as the average warrior. He had outstanding manners and etiquette among the sons of aristocratic families. His movements were as graceful as a painting and as flowing as water. His long, bony fingers held the bamboo tea whisk, circling and whisking it in the teacup.
Like blossoming branches stirring spring water, the golden-red tea soup gradually produces surging foam.
After gazing at him for a long time, it was as if my heart had become a cup in his palm, with ripples constantly forming and about to overflow from the cup.
He looked away from Hotaru as if nothing had happened.
"How many times have I met Madam Jiang?" she heard Xie Xuanlan ask.
I saw it twice when I was young, and five times after I returned to Beijing. I can remember it vividly every time.
But her response was indifferent: "I can't remember some of it."
Xie Xuanlan said, "Seven times in total. I don't remember which time I offended you, so I still can't understand why you came to break off the engagement."
Cong Ying didn't understand why he came today, even though they had already talked about it last time at Xie's house.
She replied, "Because we are not a good match in terms of social status or emotional connection."
Xie Xuanlan raised his lip when he heard this. "The status of one's family is not something you and I, youngsters, should consider. As for being in love with each other... am I not your soulmate? Isn't that the pedantic Du Rupan the one who is in love with you?"
He said it so bluntly that Ying stared at him in shock.
Looking at those eyes with deep pupils, like pure black jade, the faint smile was like a sheath, making his sharp gaze appear a little softer and...
proud.
Zong Ying silently took a deep breath and said calmly, "Of course not. I have only met Third Young Master Xie a few times and don't know his character well, so how could I... fall in love with him so easily?"
Xie Xuanlan: "Then why didn't you agree to Du Rupan's request just now?"
Cong Ying said, "I'll think about it."
"Jiang Congying." He called her name for the first time, enunciating each word with a warning: "Lies will not end well in my hands."
From Ying: "I don't have any."
"Then do you dare to make a bet with me?"
Xie Xuanlan stood by the window and shouted to the wine shop downstairs, throwing down a piece of silver. A moment later, the wine seller happily brought up a jar of strong Shaodaozi.
Congying was not good at drinking, and just the smell of the wine made him feel a little dizzy.
Xie Xuanlan took the cork from the wine jar, filled two large bowls, and pushed them in front of each other.
He said, "If you tell a lie, you will have to drink a bowl of liquor. If you tell the truth, I will drink the whole jar of liquor in front of you."
After hearing this, Cong Ying stood up and was about to leave: "Let's drink and play games. Please find another good friend, Third Master..."
"Don't you care about your little sister and brother's studies?"
"you……!"
It was the first time that Xie Xuanlan saw an expression similar to anger on Cong Ying's face. She gritted her teeth, frowned and glared at him, and her eyes, which were as calm and elegant as ink, suddenly showed a brilliant glow.
It's like bright lights, illuminating the new painting on the paper wall.
Xie Xuanlan couldn't help but lower his brows, and suddenly wanted to laugh mischievously. He couldn't tell whether it was because he was soft-hearted or something else, but for a moment he felt like he was drunk before even drinking.
Cong Ying held her breath and sat back down. She heard Xie Xuanlan shamelessly ask her again, "When you came to my house to break off the engagement, were you really not reluctant to leave me?"
Cong Ying's tone was as stiff as her neck: "No."
Whether what is hidden in her heart is black or white is entirely up to her. Can he produce any evidence?
But Xie Xuanlan took out a piece of paper from his arms, spread it in front of her, glanced at Cong Ying, and his expression suddenly changed.
On the paper was a short poem in five characters, the same one she had written on the paper boat and thrown into the Tiannv Canal.
A tall tree cannot be abandoned, a gentleman cannot be sought after... I wish you a bright future and find your soulmate soon.
—Goddess of Heaven, where did you send this poem?!
Xie Xuanlan looked at her intently, his voice clear as falling pearls, "I just want to ask Madam Jiang, who is the tall tree that cannot be retiring, the gentleman that cannot be sought after? Madam Jiang, you are so broad-minded, who do you wish to soar to the sky and find a companion?"
Cong Ying was distracted and reached out to grab it, but Xie San withdrew his hand faster than her.
He chuckled and said, "You want to destroy the evidence, what's the point of grabbing a piece of paper? I can still recite it to you."
It's just frivolous... asshole.
Cong Ying raised her voice in anger and flatly denied, "It's not you!"
Xie Xuanlan pointed at the wine bowl in front of her, signaling her to drink.
From Ying: "Really not."
"Two sentences, two bowls. You really won't cry until you see the coffin."
Xie Xuanlan took out another jade pendant from his sleeve and pushed it in front of Cong Ying.
The black bird holds a cloud in its mouth, and the jade pendant is inlaid with gold. It is the one that Xie Xuanlan used to exchange horses in Xuzhou, was redeemed by Cong Ying, and accidentally fell into Xuandu Temple.
Cong Ying stared at it blankly, this time completely speechless, losing all the strength to defend herself.
"drink."
The concise and clear command announced that she had finally been caught. The self-righteous lie was like a flame burning through paper, lying openly in front of her, burning her face with a burning pain.
After a long silence, he picked up the wine bowl from Ying and poured it into his mouth with his eyes closed.
She was not a drinker, and only dared to drink fruit juice during festivals. This Shaodaozi was originally used by porters and helpers to refresh themselves, and after drinking it in one gulp, her blood vessels expanded.
Cong Ying felt only a burning sensation, a sharp pain. The wine that passed through her throat seemed to pour directly into her heart.
My tongue is burning, my ears are beating like drums, and my vision is blurry.
After finishing one bowl, she raised her hand to take the second bowl, but Xie Xuanlan held the edge of her bowl.
"Why are you crying?" Cong Ying heard his voice as if it were a sigh: "My original intention... was not to embarrass you."
Did she cry?
Cong Ying raised her hand in a daze, and sure enough, she felt water marks under her eyes.
It was too embarrassing. She didn't mean to be embarrassed like this.
She actually attaches great importance to her appearance in front of others...especially in the eyes of Xie Xuanlan.
But it has come to this... it has come to this...
Cong Ying suddenly laughed, it was a sneer, a sneering laugh, and he rested his hand on the table with his forehead. His arm was as white as jade, hidden in his half-fallen black hair.
Her black hair covered her pretty face, and her complexion was rosy, like a red flower blown open by the spring breeze.
Xie Xuanlan looked at her intently, wanting to say something, but for a moment he forgot to speak.
"Yes, you have always been the one I love."
Cong Ying, like a broken jar, said slowly, "In the past, among so many young masters in the Xie family, I only saw you at first sight. You helped me out and saved my little sister. I am grateful to you in my heart, and of course I can't let you go. But I never had any delusions. What did I do wrong? I was just... just..."
She sighed deeply, "Just like the many other girls in Yunjing who admire the Third Young Master, I've fallen into vulgarity."
"Third Young Master, is this the truth you want to hear? Do you feel relieved?"
Her voice was calm and even gentle, but each word was like a thorn, piercing the listener's heart.
Xie Xuanlan's heart was suddenly in turmoil.
It was obvious that she had deceived him first, and he just wanted to get to the bottom of it... But when he got the answer, he was not happy. Seeing her expression, he felt a little regretful.
He regretted coming to Tianxin Tower at the instigation of Prince Jin, regretted getting tempted to do something shameful when he saw her chatting and laughing with Du Rupan, and regretted forcing a young girl like her who valued dignity more than her life.
Now it makes people sad and cry, how can we save it?
Xie Xuanlan was silent for a while before finally speaking: "You are not wrong. It was my fault for being rude."
Cong Ying thought he was referring to the forced action today, and thought he was indeed quite ungracious. Unexpectedly, she heard Xie Xuanlan say, "If I had known your feelings earlier... back in the Jiang Family Ancestral Hall, in front of the tablet of Old Censor Jiang, I shouldn't have used words to coerce you into breaking off the engagement."
Cong Ying stared at him in amazement, then suddenly smiled: "Master Xie, are you pitying me?"
"no."
"A girl like me, from a snobbish family and with a conservative personality, would be easily overlooked by the Third Young Master. But I broke off your engagement, and you were unwilling to accept it, insisting on finding out the reason. Now that you know I'm not the King of Chu Li who doesn't know the Jingyu, but a mere man who's too ashamed of his family background to dare possess the jade—Third Young Master, you can once again show your sympathy for me."
These words were like thorns, like a mockery and sarcasm, and Xie Xuanlan frowned. But he knew he was in the wrong, so he had to endure it.
He defended himself by saying, "I said I wasn't feeling sorry for her. I've never felt sorry for any girl."
Cong Ying raised her chin and looked at him: "What is that?"
Xie Xuanlan was silent. For a brief moment, the silence was somewhat ambiguous.
When he finally opened his mouth to speak, Cong Ying abruptly interrupted him, "It doesn't matter what it is... Third Young Master, the Jiang and Xie families broke off the engagement due to circumstances, not any personal preference. If I have offended you in any way, I apologize."
After saying that, he picked up another bowl of wine and drank it all in one gulp.
The bowls and cups landed on the table, tumbling and spinning a few times. Cong Ying's voice was still clearly audible amidst the clatter: "So, can you and I put an end to this?"
Xie Xuanlan stared at her with a gloomy gaze, full of complicated emotions, as if he had been slapped in the face.
Seeing that she was about to move the wine jar to pour the wine, Xie Xuanlan held the wine jar with one hand and brought the teacup he had just beaten in front of her.
The snow foam has disappeared, the milky flowers have dispersed, revealing the golden-red tea soup, with shallow ripples reflecting the person holding the cup.
"Let's... forget it." She heard Xie Xuanlan say, "Drink tea to sober up."
Cong Ying asked again: "What about my younger sister and brother's studies..."
"It's already been done," Xie Xuanlan said. "After the New Year, when the court opens, the Xie family private school will reopen. I've already instructed the staff and teachers at the mansion to make room and accommodation for your sister and brother to attend the school. If the weather is bad, they can stay at the Xie Mansion."
Cong Ying stood up, holding onto the tea table, and slowly bowed deeply to him, "Thank you, Third Young Master."
Xie Xuanlan was worried that she would fall, but he didn't dare to reach out to help her.
"Can I go now?" asked Cong Ying.
Xie Xuanlan could only nod and say, "Goodbye."
Seeing her straighten her clothes, put on her veil, and cover her drunken face behind the pearly gauze, her slender white hands were about to push open the folding screen.
Suddenly he turned back and said to him, "Censor Du is a censor in the court. If you treat him so poorly, it will be troublesome for you. Please let him go."
In the teahouse lobby, Du Rupan was held on the table by Fengchen Guards. Although his mouth was sealed with a cloth, he still persisted in stammering and cursing.
Xie Xuanlan waved his hand. It would be more accurate to say that he was asking Fengchenwei to throw Du Rupan out of the teahouse rather than letting him go.
"Jiang Congying."
This time, it was Xie Xuanlan who called her over and pushed the gold-inlaid black bird jade pendant in front of her: "You can keep this jade pendant."
“No need…”
"In terms of ethics, you saved up money to redeem it. In terms of emotions, I owe you my love. If you need it, you can always come to me with it. This is my promise to you. It has nothing to do with the Xie family. You don't have to worry."
…
Holding the black bird jade pendant from her sleeve, she walked out of the teahouse in a daze, Du Rupan still following her.
He first denounced Xie Xuanlan's arrogance: "He flirted with good women, bullied the censors, and treated the Fengchen Guards as his own private property. He has no respect for the law. The next time I come to the court, I will report him!"
He also admired Cong Ying's high moral integrity: "Just now I saw his serious expression. I believe that Fourth Lady scolded him harshly, making him afraid. Fourth Lady's pride truly makes me respect her."
Cong Ying stopped, lifted a corner of the veil of the curtain, and looked at him quietly.
Seeing her eyes were calm but her face was abnormally flushed, Du Rupan realized that she smelled of alcohol: "How dare he force you to drink?!"
Cong Ying said, "I wanted to drink with him on my own."
Du Rupan was stunned: "Fourth Lady..."
Cong Ying chuckled. "It's not that I'm unyielding and unyielding to the powerful. I rejected the Xie family's marriage proposal because I wanted to protect myself. If this marriage didn't bring trouble from your master or the covetousness of your uncle and aunt, why would I refuse? Censor Du, you misjudge me... you overestimate me."
"No! The Fourth Lady is not like that—"
"I am not like my grandfather, who upholds the noble and upright character of the Qing Dynasty. Censor Du, you and I are not on the same path."
Censor Du moved his lips and looked at her in surprise. Cong Ying leaned forward and bowed to him, "Let's say goodbye now. I wish Censor Du will continue to rise to the top."
After saying this, she put on her veil, turned around and left, like a wisp of mist or cloud, dispersing in the bustling crowd. Only Du Rupan was left standing in the wind, feeling lost.
*
Zi Su was first ordered by King Jin to deliver a message to Xie Xuanlan, and then received a request from Xie Xuanlan to escort Jiang Si Niang back home.
She saw Fourth Lady Jiang saying goodbye to Censor Du from afar, and hurried to catch up with them. From a distance, she could see that Jiang Si's steps were unsteady and she stumbled from time to time, and she was worried that she might fall.
A carriage stopped beside Jiang Si Niangzi, with a wooden sign of Ji's Trading Company hanging on the carriage. A young lady leaned out and said, "Aying!"
Seeing Madam Jiang Si boarding Ji Caibing's carriage, Zi Su finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to report.
Cong Ying was supported by Ji Caibing and leaned against the wall of the carriage. He took the cup of tea she handed to him, but half of the cup was swaying on his clothes.
Looking at Yingshui's moist but lifeless eyes and the red face flushed with alcohol, Ji Caibing felt both amused and angry.
He couldn't help but scold her, "You're not drunk? You act like a hero after one drink, and you're still walking on the street after getting drunk like this. If it weren't for the good security under Third Young Master Xie's jurisdiction over the years, you would have been kidnapped by a beggar the moment you took two steps outside."
Hearing the words "Thank you, Third Young Master", Zong Ying seemed to come back to her senses, bit her lip, and glared at Ji Caibing with a face full of grievance.
Ji Caibing sometimes privately called her a little old-fashioned, but he had never seen her so angry before. For a moment, he was shocked: "What... is wrong?"
"What's so good about him? What's so good about him!" Cong Ying's bright eyes were filled with tears. "I'm so drunk because of what he got me drunk!"
"Ah? You mean Xie San..." Ji Caibing was shocked and then angry: "This bastard!"
Cong Ying suddenly threw herself into Ji Caibing's arms, hugged her waist, and sobbed, complaining, "He forced me to drink, otherwise he wouldn't let my brother and sister go to school... I drank one bowl, and he forced me to drink a second. He wanted me to drink the whole jar of liquor! Xie Xuanlan... he's a bully!"
Ji Caibing was almost beside herself with shock and anger. She helped Cong Ying back to her feet and checked her collar and arms. "Did he bully you? Did he do anything to you?"
Cong Ying's eyes were filled with tears: "Isn't this considered bullying?"
"Well, what I'm saying is..."
Cong Ying's clothes were still neat and there were no suspicious red marks on her neck and arms. Ji Caibing felt relieved and poured another cup of tea to feed her.
"You are too drunk. Sober up first and tell me in detail."
"I don't want to drink anymore!" Cong Ying's eyes were blurred with tears: "Xie Xuanlan has gone too far, dear sister, please help me get revenge!"
"Huh? Who?" Ji Caibing pointed at himself with his backhand: "Me?"
Cong Ying said tearfully, "Good sister, help me beat him up."
Ji Caibing chuckled twice and pulled the corners of his mouth.
If she were asked to compete in drinking, she could get a table full of drunkards drunk, but if she were asked to beat up the chief instructor of the 800,000-man Imperial Guards, the best master of the Flying Phoenix Sword on horseback in Yunjing...
"Aying, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that there's a difference between immortals and mortals... How about I take you shopping and have some fun?"
After hearing this, Cong Ying cried even harder: "Why should I spend my own money to redeem someone else's mistakes? In the past, when others bullied me, Xie Xuanlan helped me vent my anger. Now, is there no one who can beat up Xie Xuanlan for me to vent my anger?"
"Oh, your perverse logic."
"He doesn't like me, broke off my engagement, and said I was old-fashioned and boring. Like all the girls who like him, I'm a vulgar person who is attracted by appearance and family background..."
“Nonsense!”
Upon hearing this, Ji Caibing was truly furious. "He's like a dog trying to lift the curtain, relying solely on his sharp tongue! How dare he humiliate you like this? I think he's deaf and blind, and his neck is so long that his head must have been hung on a tree! What a bastard!"
Cong Ying pulled her sleeve to wipe her tears: "Then help me beat him."
"Okay... okay! I'll definitely beat him to a pulp!"
Who could resist Congying's tearful pleading? Ji Caibing was so moved that he gave up, half with pity and half with anger, and immediately agreed to help Congying give Xie Xuanlan a good beating.
When the waiter Cong Ying was sent home, the cold wind blew away the smell of alcohol in the carriage. Ji Caibing's mind turned from hot to cold, and his heart gradually turned cold.
Goddess of Heaven.
She leaned against the wall of the carriage and sighed: Is there any way to help her master peerless martial arts overnight? Or to be more realistic, can she just kneel down and beg Third Master Xie to give her a beating?
Ji Caibing drove home with a sense of despair, not noticing that the new coachman who drove her today quietly left the house and headed straight for the back door of Prince Jin's Mansion.
…
In the Prince Jin's Mansion, orchid-colored candles are lit and the lights are dim.
Prince Jin coughed badly today and bleeds several times, but he was in a bad mood and refused to call the imperial physician for treatment. Even Princess Xuande turned him away.
He mixed a can of whalebone glue, sat by the window, and was gluing a handful of withered osmanthus flowers back to the branches one by one.
This is the osmanthus flower that Ying picked for him. He wants to revive it with his own hands so that it will never wither.
Zi Su came to report to him that Madam Jiang Si had left Tianxin Tower drunk.
After hearing this, King Jin remained silent for a long time. Zi Su stood eight feet away from him, but felt a chill around him.
"This idiot."
The King of Jin spoke in a low voice, hinting at a sense of regret: "A three-year-old child knows how to love and show affection, and speaks kindly when happy. Yet, he was born with a mouth, but he only uses it to breathe and drink."
——Were his morals when he was young really so bad?
He sighed and asked Zi Su, "Did you send Fourth Lady Jiang back home?"
Zi Su told the King of Jin about his encounter with Ji Caibing, and he felt a little relieved.
"She likes to talk nonsense when she's drunk..." Prince Jin's voice was so soft that it seemed only Osmanthus fragrans could hear it. "Fortunately, there are still people who can look after her."
As soon as Zi Su retreated, the spy placed next to Ji Caibing came running to report the news.
The spy was sharp-eyed and well-trained, and he performed the conversation he overheard between Cong Ying and Ji Caibing in front of King Jin word for word in a vivid manner.
Then she started crying: "He forced me to drink, he bullied me!"
"He said I was old-fashioned and boring!"
Then he was filled with righteous indignation: "All because of his bad mouth! ... Watch me beat him to a pulp!"
Prince Jin listened with all his might, nearly breaking the armrest of the armchair. After a while, he stroked his chest and coughed violently.
"How dare he...how dare he!"
After suppressing his rage and calming down the dizziness, he asked again, "Are you really going to beat him up before you feel relieved?"
The spy nodded: "That Jiang lady has said it three times in a roundabout way, so she must be sincere."
King Jin pondered silently for a while, then he sighed deeply, picked up the jade staff beside him, and slowly walked out of the room. While he asked someone to harness the carriage, he also selected a few agile guards.
"Go and ask Ji Shi to come and see me."
＊
At three o'clock in the morning, all the lights were out, and in the long and short streets, only the frost on the ground reflected the cool moonlight.
A night owl suddenly flew up and let out a long, mournful cry.
Ji Caibing huddled behind some debris in a dark alley, his hands and feet numb from the cold, but he didn't dare breathe or stamp his feet, for fear of causing any noise.
After a while, she raised her eyes and looked at His Royal Highness Prince Jin who was sitting beside her with his eyes closed and resting.
Oh my Goddess, Ji Caibing cried out in his heart, I really wanted to beat up Xie Sanda to vent my anger for my good sister, but I didn’t intend to provoke anyone from the royal family.
Especially this one... He is worthy of being the one who crawled out of a coffin, his mind is so cunning that it is simply terrifying.
For a completely unrelated matter, he suddenly summoned her and said he wanted to help her deal with Xie San.
"I will stop the enemy, and you lead the others to fight." The King of Jin ordered her coldly and ruthlessly: "Remember, you can be ruthless, but you are not allowed to hit them in the face."
…
In the distance, the sound of horse hooves was approaching.
Xie Xuanlan never brought guards with him on night patrols. Today he drank nearly a jar of Shaodaozi liquor and wanted to go out alone to get rid of the alcohol.
He rode forward trusting his horse, thinking over and over again in his mind what had happened during the day.
She had clearly lost her composure, yet was still pretending to be calm. Tears welled up in her bright eyes, but they seemed to be on fire, burning all over the sky and the earth. Whenever he thought of it, his heart felt like it was rolling in boiling water.
She said she liked him...she had liked him for a long time.
Could it be that a girl like her, who was so cold, aloof, and who only cared about seeking benefits and avoiding harm, could also be moved...
The drunkenness came up again, making people feel as if they were floating in the air and riding the wind, and the horse's hooves seemed to be stepping on cotton.
When they reached the street corner, Xie Xuanlan suddenly pulled the reins.
The drunken eyebrows suddenly lifted up, and a cold light flashed in the phoenix eyes under the long black eyelashes.
Just like a sharp blade cutting through the mist and lightning splitting the thin clouds, he grasped the long sword at his waist. Although his tone was still casual, his whole aura suddenly became sharp.
"Who are you, the rogue, that has come here to celebrate the New Year?"
“Whoosh—”
A feathered arrow flew through the air, but was cut off by Xie Xuanlan with the back of his sword. He used this opportunity to confirm the position of the person holding the bowstring, stepped on the horse's back and leaped into the air, unsheathing his long sword in mid-air. In the dark night, purple lightning and green light instantly struck down -
"Clang!"
The opponent seemed to have calculated the angle and timing of his attack long ago, and retreated one step to avoid it, raising his shield to block the remaining power of the sword.
A sharp bamboo whistle sounded, and six men in black rushed out from both sides, surrounding him in a four-door formation, and raised their swords.
Xie Xuanlan fought with them for more than ten moves in a flash, and he began to feel strange.
Regardless of strength, speed, or numbers, these people were no match for him, but they seemed to have calculated and understood his moves beforehand.
Is it someone around you?
Xie Xuanlan took the opportunity to lift the mask of the man in black. He looked unfamiliar and was definitely not a member of the Fengchen Guard.
He changed his moves and speed, and the man in black suddenly lost his composure and his formation was disrupted by his sword.
At this moment, the bamboo whistle sounded again, and the man in black changed his attack formation and turned to a move that was counteractive to his.
It turns out that this strange bamboo whistle sound is from a real master.
Xie Xuanlan sneered, swung the knife in his hand, slid his knees to get away, kicked the man in black to gain momentum, and ran towards the dark alley where King Jin was.
Ji Caibing was so frightened by this that she turned around to look at Prince Jin, but Prince Jin threw something at her.
Ji Caibing caught it and found it was a bamboo whistle.
"Hey, this—"
This is a frame-up!
The wheeled carriage that Prince Jin was riding in quickly retreated, and only Ji Caibing holding a bamboo whistle was left in the dark alley. Seeing that Xie Xuanlan's long sword was about to chop towards her, Ji Caibing covered her head with her hands with a cry of "Ah".
"Clang clang clang clang—bang—"
The sound of sharp swords rang out, while the sounds of spears and halberds were muffled. After a burst of chaotic fighting, the noise died down.
Ji Caibing tentatively opened his eyes and saw that Third Master Xie had been pinned against the wall by several experts who were lying in ambush there. Cracks appeared on the wall, showing how much force had been applied. Every weapon had been skillfully stuck in his vital points, making him unable to move.
With the help of the cool moonlight, Ji Caibing could clearly see Xie San's face, which was pale, shocked, and embarrassed after being defeated.
The Yanzhi Knife fell at his feet, dull and without any luster.
Xie Xuanlan never imagined that someone would be able to calculate every move of his, the timing of his attacks, and even his ideas for changing his moves.
Even if he were a teacher, a father, or an attendant who followed him day and night, it would be impossible for him to understand him so thoroughly.
Who else could understand him so well except himself?
Xie Xuanlan glanced at Ji Caibing, who was trembling with fear while holding a bamboo whistle.
Not her.
He narrowed his eyes, intending to peek into the dark alley behind her, when a hood fell from the sky and covered his head. Then his hands and feet were tied up and thrown to the ground.
The Vermilion Bird is in the dust, but it is also a rooster waiting to be slaughtered.
While encouraging himself, Ji Caibing picked up a stick as thick as his arm and swung it at Xie Xuanlan.
He beat her and scolded her: "How dare you pretend to be so arrogant by making a donkey head out of three pieces of paper!"
"You're so lucky to have someone like you, you uneducated, tasteless thing!"
"Dare to bully my sister? I'll beat you so hard today that your parents won't recognize you!"
“…”
Xie Xuanlan was wearing thin clothes, and the stick hit his body with real force, making a dull sound.
But he just curled up quietly, without any struggle or reaction, and was even very depressed about it inside.
——Did they go through all the trouble of planning and making such a big fuss to kidnap him just to tickle him?
It didn't hurt at all, it was no more painful than falling on the racetrack, but it was extremely insulting.
When had he ever been frivolous with a girl from an innocent family and even mocked her as a sparrow trying to climb up the social ladder?
He never even touched a girl's hand!
However, after swinging the stick for more than ten times, Ji Caibing was so tired that she was gasping for breath. Finally, she threw the stick away and let out a long sigh of relief.
Before leaving, he did not forget to admonish Xie Xuanlan: "From now on, you must keep your body clean and upright, and don't stain the skin of this noble family's young master!"
＊
I woke up to the crisp sound of Ying's deerskin drum.
It was already bright outside. She opened the green tent and saw Ah He and Ji Caibing sitting together and whispering.
"And then..."
"Later, of course, I beat the bad guy up so hard that he rolled on the ground and begged for mercy, saying, 'Auntie, spare my life!' I will never dare to act so arrogantly again."
When Ah He heard something happy, he excitedly shook the deerskin drum.
Cong Ying held his dizzy head and recalled what happened yesterday after drinking.
Although she would talk nonsense and confuse right and wrong when drunk, fortunately her memory was still good. Recalling her rogue behavior and outrageous words in front of Ji Caibing, she covered her face in shame and embarrassment.
Ji Caibing's smiling voice came from between her fingers: "My dear sister, are you sober?"
Ah He ran over to show her the small deerskin drum: "Sister Cai Bing beat up the bad guys last night and seized the small drum!"
Cong Ying was a little confused: "Beat the bad guys?"
She asked Ji Caibing to pick out the deerskin drum from the goods outside the Great Wall, but how could it be used to beat bad guys?
For a moment, she didn't dare to think that Ji Caibing had really beaten Xie Xuanlan.
Ji Caibing walked over triumphantly and threw a black jade cicada to her.
"This is……?"
"Xie Xuanlan's jade ornament on the hilt."
Ji Caibing admired Cong Ying's expression, which changed from bewilderment to shock, and raised his eyebrows. "I beat him so hard that he rolled on the ground, and I finally let out a lot of anger. So, how's it going? Am I awesome?"
Cong Ying suspected that he was still drunk.
Holding the jade cicada in his hand, he spoke in a trembling voice, "Can you beat... Third Young Master Xie?"
Ji Caibing's eyes drifted away: "As for this, the hermit has his own clever plan."
Prince Jin made a pact with her that as long as she didn't tell anyone about his involvement, he would guarantee that Third Master Xie would not retaliate against her.
Ji Caibing was of course willing to do this business.
Cong Ying held the Xuan Yuchan and spent the whole day digesting this earth-shattering news.
He wanted to go to Xie's house to apologize, but was afraid of putting Ji Caibing in an unfair position; he wanted to pretend nothing happened... Thinking of his drunken nonsense yesterday, Cong Ying regretted it so much that he wanted to sew his tongue together.
It seems there is no way to have the best of both worlds.
After a few days, he went from Ying to Xuandu Temple.
The purpose of her trip was, firstly, to send the copied "Secret Letters of the Former Han Dynasty" to Senior Sister Yiyun for her to read, and secondly, to pray for the Third Young Master Xie - it was a small compensation that she could do for him for her drunken gaffe.
When she and Senior Sister Yiyun came to Xuandu Temple again, the leaves of the Chinese tallow tree outside the Linshan Pavilion had all fallen.
In the north wind, the white branches face the sky, forming a net, and the wooden poem cards on the branches collide with each other.
Dingdangdang——Dingdangdang——
Some people prayed for blessings, while others sang poems to each other.
On the redwood plaques used to pray for marriage, the name of Mr. Xie San appeared several times. The bolder ones said, "I wish to have Mr. Xie Sanlang as my son-in-law." More realistic girls often compared Mr. Xie Sanlang to their son-in-law, saying, "I wish my husband, with his good looks, family background, and talent, could be a match for Mr. Xie Sanlang."
Cong Ying burst out laughing, then sighed with regret, and actually felt a little envious of these strange girls.
At least they could speak frankly of their love, gazing at the bright moon from afar, peaceful and pure. Unlike her, who seemed to have it within easy reach, but in reality was just a monkey fishing for reflections, making people laugh.
Forget it… I’m just getting worried for no reason again.
Cong Ying hung a square wink made of red rope in an inconspicuous place. There was a piece of paper hidden in the square wink, with only one sentence written on it: I wish the Third Young Master a long life of a hundred thousand years.
——Even if he caught me saying this, it wouldn’t be considered shameful.
After hanging Fang Sheng, Cong Ying stopped under the Chinese tallow tree, looked up, and still felt that the scene was familiar.
Yiyun said, "The old poetry tablets have been taken down one after another by pilgrims, and new ones have been hung up. Are you still looking for that girl?"
Cong Ying said, "I always feel like I've been waiting here for a long time."
"Waiting for what?"
Cong Ying shook her head: "I don't know."
Just looking up at the Chinese tallow tree, under the shelter of its canopy, she was enveloped by an inexplicable emotion.
Maybe it was left behind by our predecessors, maybe it was the confusing time, maybe it was... a dream.
"Ah Ying, Ah Ying?"
Senior Sister Yiyun shook her, and Zong Ying came back to her senses and patted her head.
"Nothing... I'm just looking for that girl's new work. Has she been here recently?"
Senior Sister Yiyun pointed to the golden rosewood poem plaque with a copper bell hanging in the middle: "That's it."
Cong Ying took down the poem card and saw a new poem on it, "An Old Friend Presents a Pearl":
The pearl given by an old friend has long been locked in a dusty box.
The sword is adorned with a golden bell, and the new jade pendant is made of silk.
I also like beauty and want to sing with the emperor.
If we wait until the years pass and the trees turn yellow, how can we illuminate the mountains and rivers?
His name was "Wei Qiang Jushi".
The poem tells of a pearl left by an old friend. The owner, because he treasured it, locked it in a box and only wore the gold bells and new jade he bought every day.
The bright pearl also wants to be embedded in the crown, so that it can accompany its owner to visit the heaven. If it is left until the owner is old and the pearl has faded, it will have no chance to see the sun and moon, or shine on the mountains and rivers.
Yiyun said, "Desire is a shackle of the world, and love is the root of desire. This girl may be well-fed and well-clothed, but it's a pity that she can't be free."
Cong Ying said, "I don't think she wants freedom."
"What is that?"
Thinking of the previous "Crying Orchid on the Autumn Terrace" and today's "The Gift of a Pearl by an Old Friend", Cong Ying pondered for a long time before speaking carefully.
"She must be... unwilling."
I am unwilling to bow to insects and ants, and I am unwilling to be overshadowed by gold and jade.
It was obvious that she was the orchid and pearl that was loved and respected, possessing talents that surpassed those of the idlers. However, she was placed on a high platform and locked in a dust box, unable to display her talents and could only watch with dry eyes.
If before, Cong Ying only sympathized with this "Dangerous Wall Monk", now she deeply empathizes with her.
It was as if the same pen that carved out the laywoman's worries also scraped away the regrets hidden deep in her heart that she had never told anyone about.
She hung the poem tablet back on the tallow tree, walked to the pavilion near the mountain and picked up her pen and knife.
＊
The evening glow set in the west, gradually blending into the same color as the vermilion palace walls.
When the female official Gan Jiu arrived at the palace gate, it was time to lock it. The guard who locked the gate deliberately waited for her for a few steps and spoke to her in a flattering manner: "Aunt Gan Jiu, you have been out of the palace again today."
Gan Jiu nodded and walked into the palace gate without blinking.
She entered from Jingren Gate, passed Qianqiu Gate, and went along Zuoyuan Road, quickly heading towards Dayi Palace.
Dayi Palace was a palace specially built by Emperor Fengqi for Princess Chun'an. Although it was located in the inner palace, it was connected to the princess's residence outside the palace by a flying plank.
When Gan Jiuxing arrived at the Feizhan Bridge, the setting sun was shining on the bridge like molten gold, illuminating the Feizhan Bridge like the sky. Even the man who was casually leaning on the railing to feed the fish was covered with a layer of dark golden divine appearance.
Gan Jiu stared at this scene in a daze until someone called her: "Gan Jiu, His Highness is waiting for your letter."
Gan Jiu quickly regained consciousness, straightened his clothes, and climbed up the jade steps to the flying plank. He knelt at the top step and did not step onto the bridge.
Flying inn is a favor that belongs only to your lord, and no one else is qualified.
She held the golden plate high above her head. On the plate were two poem cards. One was the one the princess had ordered her to hang not long ago, and the other one had the words "Luoxiang Shanren" written on it, which was deliberately ordered by the princess.
"Your Highness, I have retrieved the poetry tablet from Xuandu Temple."
Princess Chun'an slowly threw away all the bait in her palm, pointed to the fat carp in the lake that was grabbing the most food and said, "Catch it up and braise it."
The eunuch happily went to do it, and Princess Chun'an then glanced at Gan Jiu and said, "Let's go back and talk about it."
Gan Jiu followed her down the flight of stairs. As soon as they stepped into Dayi Palace, a pair of handsome twin boys came to greet them. One of them put on a cloak for the princess, and the other washed her hands with a handkerchief wrung in warm water.
Princess Chun'an appreciated their hospitality, but did not look at them directly. She walked through the flower hall and came to the warm room by the pool.
In the warm room, documents were being handed over and the female officials were busy copying them. Princess Chun'an went straight up to the second floor, asked everyone to leave, and then asked Gan Jiu to present the poem card.
"And the pearl given by my old friend Wei Qiang Jushi."
Princess Chun'an supported her chin with one hand and slowly read the words on the poem card:
When an old friend gives me a pearl, I miss him when I see it.
Why compare appearances? Our friendship is deep.
Gold and jade may eventually fade, but a sincere heart will eventually find spring.
As we are both guests in the box, I hope you can get out of here soon.
After reciting the poem, she was silent for a long time. Suddenly, she laughed and said, "This Luoxi Mountain man is quite interesting, a rare sight."
This is also the person who performed "Crying Orchid on the Autumn Stage" with her last time.
When she complained that she was a Gaotai orchid being eaten by insects and ants, Luoxishanren advised her to be patient and not give up. This time she said that she received the pearl hidden in the box because of her old love. Luoxishanren gave her advice again, asking her to take advantage of her old friend's affection and wished her to get out of the box as soon as possible.
Princess Chun'an read the poem over and over again and said, "This man's poetry and prose are elegant and he has the talent to become a Jinshi."
Gan Jiu pondered and asked, "Do you want me to find out his identity and recruit him for Your Highness?"
Princess Chun'an refused without a second thought: "No."
She played with the poem card and said after a while, "If he were a child of aristocratic family, wouldn't it add to his troubles? Reciprocating poems like this is also quite interesting."
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