Lantern Festival Gu Lang rescues Pei Jun under the moonlight
During the New Year's Day, the whole capital was immersed in joy. Because Wang Er had offended Pei Linyan in Jinyulou last time, he was afraid that the matter would be exposed, so he found an excuse to provoke the shopkeeper and kicked Gu Yanzhou out. He also moved to the alleys of Xishi and made a living by writing letters every day. Recently, his money was almost gone. After all, his daily routine was either writing letters in the morning or reading at night. He had never been to Chang'an. Taking advantage of the day off, Gu Yanzhou walked along Chang'an Street and unknowingly arrived at the City God Temple. The temple fair was very lively. Children were either eating candied haws or watching shadow plays, and they were in groups of three or two. At a glance, he saw that one corner was crowded with people inside and out.
After finally entering, he discovered it was a lantern riddle game. The sign read, "A Hundred Gold Rewards for All the Answers." He listened carefully, and learned that a distinguished individual had come up with three lantern riddles, both to share in the fun with the people and to connect with knowledgeable individuals. Gu Yanzhou, by nature aloof, found socializing pointless, but with the 100 gold, he could quit his job and focus on his studies, awaiting his transfer. Just as he was about to speak, a voice from outside the crowd said, "What a fantastic lantern riddle! Come play with it!" The crowd turned around. Who could it be? It was Pei Linyan, the son of the Duke of Anguo. Standing next to him was undoubtedly Shen Shaobai, followed by Pei San and Shen Er. New Year's Day was already a grand occasion, and the crowd included many officials and their families. Seeing it was Master Pei, they began to greet him from afar. Pei Linyan didn't raise his eyes, simply walking forward. Those who knew him well had already made a path clear for the unfamiliar. Gu Yanzhou had spent a quarter of an hour just squeezing through, but Pei Linyan's words had the crowd automatically forming a single path. Gu Yanzhou thought, "Although this man's words and actions are rude and he's a complete dandy, befriending him will certainly be helpful when I enter the government." He began to look at his actions with a more indifferent eye.
"Who is the shopkeeper? My young master Pei wants to guess the lantern riddles. Come up with the questions quickly." Pei San said with a beaming face.
Behind the curtain, only the person sitting on the chair could be seen. A middle-aged man with a long beard and a broad face walked out and bowed slowly, saying, "You are Master Pei of the Duke of Anguo's Mansion. I'm sorry, Master Pei, but you have to guess a question."
"Nonsense, our young master doesn't want to play, so why does he come here to watch the show? Quickly give us a question." Pei San shouted loudly.
The stall owner was not annoyed. He smiled and said, "Young master, don't wait for me to tell you the rules so that everyone can have fun together. These riddles were originally obtained when I was doing business and traveling. Today, on New Year's Day, I set a bet. I hope that the winner can help me solve a problem. In addition to a hundred gold coins, there will also be a thank-you gift. Young master Pei's first question is "A tall building is built with a single piece of wood, without tiles or bricks. People walk under the tree, and water flows above them." "You try it.
Without much trouble, Pei Linyan said "umbrella"
The stall owner frowned slightly and said, "Master Pei is smart. Yes, it is an umbrella. What about the second question, 'Sitting facing south, facing north, looking worried when sad, looking happy when happy'?" His expression was a little more relaxed than before.
I saw many people in the crowd lowering their heads and frowning in thought.
"Window!" Pei San said loudly.
The stall owner smiled complacently and said, "That's not right."
Pei Linyan also frowned, staring at Shen Shaobai. After a long moment, they still hadn't guessed. Seeing him still pondering, Gu Yanyan approached him, whispering, "Master Pei, are you still confused?" Pei Linyan looked up, only to see a fresh, white light, like sunlight, shining into his eyes. It was none other than Gu Yanzhou. Gu Yanzhou tilted his head slightly, and Pei Linyan's nose brushed against his hair, inhaling a warm fragrance that felt like sunlight penetrating his nasal cavity, pouring into his airways, and filling his heart. His heartbeats beat like raindrops from the eaves tapping on a mossy rock, slowly cracking it...
"Mr. Pei, we accidentally caused a misunderstanding when we met last time. This time, I will help you solve this problem, and our misunderstanding will be wiped out." Gu Yanzhou whispered in his ear.
"Oh, Yanzhou, you guessed the answer." Pei Linyan ignored his red earlobes, pressed his teeth against his lower lip, and spoke in a low voice.
"Of course. I hope I can help Master Pei answer the question correctly this time. I hope you can forget the unpleasantness of last time, okay?" Gu Yanzhou said lightly, but Pei Linyan only noticed that the dimples were like a kaleidoscope, circling one after another, rising and falling.
Pei Linyan came back to his senses, swallowed his saliva and said "Okay"
"Mirror," said Gu Yanzhou.
Pei Linyan raised his head and said to the stall owner, "Mirror"
"Master Pei is truly erudite and knowledgeable, with a wealth of books to his name. This question is correct," he said, squinting his eyes as he looked at Gu Yanzhou. "Then, Master Pei, please guess the last question: 'The boat's planks are hard, the deck is high, and the four bars are slowly rocking.' What does that mean?"
Pei Linyan frowned, thinking that he didn't like reading, but he was proficient in all kinds of martial arts. He happened to answer the first question correctly, and completed the second question with the help of Gu Yanzhou. He had no idea about the third question. He looked to the right at Shen Shaobai, and shook his head when they made eye contact. In contrast, the stall owner had a calm and composed look on his face.
Suddenly, he felt a slight chill in his left palm. Turning left, he saw Gu Yanzhou winking at him and writing "turtle" on his palm. Pei Linyan came to his senses and raised his voice unconsciously, "The answer to this riddle is turtle." The stall owner was stunned for a few seconds, then he put away the doubt in his eyes, came back to his senses and smiled, "Yes, then the hundred golds will belong to Mr. Pei." The man behind the curtain clenched his fist and pounded the table, saying, "Good boy Pei Dalang, you won't be so lucky next time."
The crowd dispersed, and gradually businesses began to hang up lanterns. Children also carried lanterns, playing and joking as they followed their parents home. Under the lights, Pei Linyan looked at Gu Yanzhou, as if this person was brighter than the sun and redder than the sunset, and a little bit of red ripples appeared. "Thank you, Yanzhou, for your help." Pei Linyan bowed and said
"It's just a trivial matter, not worth mentioning," Gu Yanzhou said with a smile
Shen Shaobai beside him was suspicious. After thinking it over, he also bowed slightly to Gu Yanzhou.
Pei San thought to himself, "Last time, this guy named Gu was so smooth-talking that he deceived me and the young master. Why are the young master and Mr. Shen thanking him now? If it wasn't because the young master was good-tempered last time, I would have had him covered in feces." He was also unwilling to accept the defeat and bowed with Shen Er.
"Yanzhou, would you mind walking around with us?" Shen Shaobai said enthusiastically.
"I just had nothing to do, so I came to join in the fun at the temple fair." Gu Yanzhou said
"But Yanzhou is interested in guessing riddles." Pei Linyan asked with interest.
"When I was young, my mother often competed with me in guessing lantern riddles, so I was just impulsive. I hope Master Pei will forgive me."
"No problem, since you like it, I will find all the lantern riddles in Chang'an for you to choose from." Pei Linyan said
"No, no, there's no need to go to such lengths. I'm currently overwhelmed with work and have no time to spare. Don't waste your time, or you'll be wasting your kindness." Gu Yanzhou said politely.
"With others it would be a waste, but with you it is voluntary and there is no burden. If you want to thank me, just be my friend and call me Lin Yan." Pei Lin Yan said happily.
"Yes, it is fate that we meet. How about we become sworn brothers together?" Shen Shaobai said
"No." Pei Linyan and Gu Yanzhou shouted together
"Why are you reacting so strongly?" Shen Shaobai asked puzzledly.
"Becoming sworn brothers is a big deal and may be inappropriate. Let's just call each other friends, Yanzhou and Shaobai." Pei Linyan said
"Yes, yes, this matter is complicated and requires careful consideration, Shaobai, Linyan." Gu Yanzhou said
"Okay, okay, in that case, we are friends from today on. Lin Yan, Yan Zhou, how about we go have a drink?" Shen Shaobai said
"I'm afraid there's no chance today. I have some small matters at home that need to be taken care of. I hope you can forgive me for not being with me for a while. I'll treat you to a drink in the future." Gu Yanzhou said, then bowed and left.
"Lin Yan, do you think Yan Zhou is a little strange? He is polite in his words, but it's hard to be close to him even though we are close." Shen Shaobai said
"Is it strange? I think he's quite interesting. He's sharp-tongued and a hedgehog-like person." Pei Linyan said with a smile.
"Master, have you been bewitched or poisoned? Why are you talking nonsense?" Pei San asked in surprise.
"Even though I've told you, you still don't understand. Go back." Pei Linyan left after he finished speaking, leaving Shen Shaobai, Pei San, Shen Er and the others looking at each other in bewilderment, unable to understand what was going on.
梦里的江南，这是一个至尊评出，一个是只想拉着你的小丫丫，只想一直在过长。 English: The bright moonlight, lightly spread on the bed. Looking up, there was a bright moon, brighter than when I was young, the clouds had also become lighter, and the entire sky was covered with a hazy veil. Pei Linyan, wearing his inner clothes, stared straight at the palm of his left hand, stroking it again and again between his right fingers, from left to right, from top to bottom, but he could not find the warmth of that time. He thought to himself, "What's wrong with me? Why do I feel different when facing Gu Yanzhou? When I first met him, I only thought he was extremely beautiful, but his words were sharp and his personality was cold; when we met again, I felt that there was a lingering fragrance on him, not strong but very sticky. When I thought of him, the first time I saw him, I could see his lips and dimples from a distance, but there was a fragrance from a distance, hooking my soul, beckoning me to come closer, closer, and any closer would fall into my heart, merging and slowly blooming into a flower, a cluster of flowers, a sea of flowers...
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