Chapter 25 Ripples (Part 3) He regretted it as soon as he finished speaking…
Wei Yuanzhan found his actions quite offensive and turned his head away. Unexpectedly, Song Zhirou smiled shyly.
"It's alright, I wasn't careful either. Since nothing has been left behind, let's part ways here."
Ling Ziheng lowered his hand, making no attempt to persuade him to stay, and didn't even ask his name, showing considerable politeness.
After everyone left, he summoned his attendant and lowered his voice, "Inquire whether the young lady just now was surnamed..." He stopped abruptly before finishing the sentence, as if he found his idea absurd.
When he was young, he often went to his grandfather's study to seek advice. As soon as he entered, his gaze would always inadvertently fall on a painting. His father said that it was Ling Xi, his grandfather's most valued daughter and his and his uncles' most beloved younger sister.
He had probably seen her before, but he was too young to remember her face. After he was old enough to remember things, his aunt never returned to the Ling family, so he asked his father, "Since Grandfather misses Aunt, why doesn't he write to her and ask her to come back?"
His father remained silent for a long time, only shaking his head without answering him.
He understood the meaning behind that silence.
"Never mind, there's no need to go." Ling Ziheng withdrew his gaze and turned to walk down the street.
In early spring, the sunlight is just right, still lingering in the sky, neither too hot nor too cold.
Wei Yuanzhan was still in a bad mood after their previous encounter, but when he turned to look at Song Zhirou, he couldn't help but recall how Song Hanjin had dragged her along. His brows furrowed slightly, and he softened his tone: "What would you like to eat?"
"Didn't you already use it?"
Having just left the Broken Cloud Tower, it was already this time of day. He and Sheng Xingyun had probably eaten and drunk their fill and were preparing to return to Qiyun Garden.
As Zhi Rou asked, she looked up and saw Sheng Xingyun standing under the sign of Suiyunlou, so she smiled and waved to him.
He walked over and happened to hear Wei Yuanzhan say, "I haven't had enough to eat, let's set up another table for you."
Zhi Rou pondered for a moment, then turned her head slightly and saw that the Song family's carriage was still parked there, steady and unmoved.
Zhi Rou realized she had done something wrong, stopped walking, and said to the two of them, "Then you two go over first and order me some sweet and sour pork ribs, garlic eggplant, and that other thing, Wei Yuanzhan knows. I'll tell my third sister and come find you."
She turned back the way she came, and Sheng Xingyun took a half step closer to Wei Yuanzhan, secretly peeking at him: "Haven't you had enough?"
He chuckled lightly, then recalled, "Who was it that said it wasn't advisable to practice martial arts too much in the afternoon? I ate the whole plate of fish."
"Isn't it my money that's being spent? Why are you complaining?" Wei Yuanzhan glanced at him for a moment, then took off his boots and entered the Broken Cloud Tower.
He strode after him, buzzing around Wei Yuanzhan like a fly, chattering on and on: "I really don't understand you two. Do you hate her or do you feel sorry for her? If you ask me, you two should stop arguing. It's not easy for the three of us to have gotten along this long..."
When Sheng Xingyun first arrived at the Song family's private school, he was extremely apprehensive. Everyone knew that he had entered through the connections of the Wei heir, and because of his status, they looked down on him.
Back then, he liked to tinker with painting when he had nothing to do. When the younger members of the Song family from different branches saw him, they didn't say anything, but their silent gazes seemed to say: "He's just another mediocre and incompetent person."
It was then that Song Zhirou pushed past them, strolled to his desk, admired the painting for a while, and softly praised, "A fine painting."
From then on, Sheng Xingyun treated her with great enthusiasm. In winter, he would give her a warm hat and a hand warmer; when summer came, he would have a beautiful ice vessel made, put the crispy mountain inside, and send it to her to eat.
Therefore, over the years, he has been caught in the middle of mediating between Song and Wei, and has almost developed a silver tongue. He really wants to take a break.
Sheng Xingyun's words were like a cool breeze blowing into one's ears, seeping into one's throat, leaving one speechless.
Wei Yuanzhan's goodwill towards Song Zhirou was genuine, but so was his hostility.
He secretly believed that he and Song Zhirou had a childhood bond, and he would never refuse to help her if he could; however, some things followed the principle of "reciprocity." He didn't like to be taken advantage of.
Therefore, he remained silent for the moment, and was led by the waiter to his usual private room. He casually ordered a few dishes, all of which were Song Zhirou's favorites.
He then opened the window and glanced down at the window.
Sheng Xingyun walked over to him, plopped down, and expertly poured himself a cup of tea: "Hey, do you think anyone would want to see my painting at the gathering?"
Wei Yuanzhan turned back to his seat, straightened up, and raised the corner of his mouth in a mocking smile: "How come I remember you saying that you did painting to make money?"
"You believed me when I said I wanted money?" Sheng Xingyun tilted his head and snorted lightly. "Do I lack money?"
As he spoke, his eyes gradually grew dull, and his back hunched over, like a frustrated old man.
Wei Yuanzhan's heart skipped a beat, and he dared not tease him any further. He answered truthfully, "I have never been to those gatherings of literati. Let's just talk about your paintings... they should not be covered in dust."
That is approval.
The drooping head suddenly rose, golden light flashing in its eyes: "Good brother! Only you and Song Zhirou know how to appreciate this."
As he finished speaking, his tone lowered, and a hint of melancholy appeared in his eyes.
“My father said that my painting is a waste of my time and that I should learn business from him to help support the family. If I don’t achieve fame and success next year, these hands of mine…” He chuckled to himself, then sighed, “I’m afraid I’ll never be able to play with paints again.”
Suddenly the door opened from the outside, and a figure they had been waiting for walked in.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her back remained ramrod straight. Zhanran raised her hand and said, "I wasn't eavesdropping; I just happened to hear it." She then asked Sheng Xingyun, "What do you mean by fiddling with paint? Did you make a new painting?"
"No, sit down... why are your sleeves messy?"
As Sheng Xingyun spoke, he poured her tea from the teapot. Zhi Rou sat down next to him, swallowed a mouthful of tea, and said, "You were in too much of a hurry."
Afraid that her third sister would wait too long, she ran over and encountered a group of children with candy figurines on the way, getting her clothes stained with candy.
Zhi Rou put down her teacup and carefully folded her sleeves: "When did Suiyunlou start doing storytelling? I see a desk set up downstairs, and a gentleman holding a book."
"I've never seen this before, this is the first time. Well, we've come here now to eat and listen to storytelling, we're really getting a good deal."
Just then, the waiter knocked on the door and brought out the dishes. Sheng Xingyun glanced at them and instructed, "Leave the door open, don't close it."
From the moment Song Zhirou entered the room, her eyes were fixed on Sheng Xingyun; she sat next to Sheng Xingyun; and she even talked and laughed with him.
Wei Yuanzhan seemed to have been struck on a nerve, and suddenly became dissatisfied, his handsome eyebrows furrowing: "Don't you find it noisy?"
Zhi Rou then raised her eyelashes, looked at him, picked up her chopsticks and put a piece of duck meat in his bowl, and said with a smile, "Where was the noise?"
Their tastes are actually quite different, but as they've spent more time together, they've gradually changed their preferences, and it seems they're both making concessions to be more tolerant of each other.
Not long after, a clear voice suddenly rang out from outside the door. It was the gentleman in the long gown who struck the gavel and began to speak: "A storyteller not only tells stories, but also comments on loyalty, integrity, good and evil, beauty and ugliness. Ladies and gentlemen, today we will talk about the victory of General An Yuan in the Northwest twenty-three years ago, when he defeated the enemy army and relieved the siege of the city."
Having said that, he unfolded his folding fan, and his loud and melodious voice echoed throughout the building. In less than a quarter of an hour, the Broken Cloud Tower was bustling with people, their shoes clattering and their figures flickering.
When Wei Yuanzhan heard "General Anyuan", his hand holding the bowl paused, and his eyes swept out.
Sixteen years ago, the imperial court and the Northern Li Kingdom signed an alliance, agreeing not to wage war for ten years, and to this day, all has been peaceful.
The Battle of Wuning had not been told by storytellers since he was young, so why is it being brought up again and discussed at the Broken Cloud Pavilion now? Is there really nothing else to say?
Although Wei Yuanzhan was puzzled, he couldn't control what others said, so he could only listen attentively.
Upon hearing this, he clenched his jaw tighter and tighter, finally slamming his chopsticks down: "Nonsense!"
Sheng Xingyun was startled by his actions and couldn't help but look up at him. Just as she was about to speak, a judgment floated down beside her: "Indeed, nonsense."
According to the storyteller, when Wuning City was besieged, General Anyuan, whose old wounds had not yet healed, volunteered to lead troops to the aid of the Northwest. Although he ordered a rapid march, the bridges he encountered collapsed, and by the time he arrived after taking a detour, the iron cavalry of the Northern Li Kingdom had already entered the city.
Later, the two armies fought for days and were deadlocked. The enemy then used the civilians in the city as hostages, demanding that our army exchange three soldiers for the life of one civilian in the city.
"A three-for-one exchange is unprecedented in history. It is utterly absurd that this general would agree to it."
Wei Yuanzhan's eyelashes, like candle flames flickering in the wind on a table, cast a turbulent shadow: "What did you say?"
He lifted his eyes, and his gaze was colder than ever before.
Zhi Rou found him rather strange, raising an eyebrow: "I say, the lives of ordinary people are lives, but the lives of soldiers aren't? If the people can live, then who will compensate for the lives of those soldiers?"
If this were truly true, wouldn't it be absurd?
Having rarely seen him so angry, Zhi Rou paused for a moment, then curled her lips slightly and said mockingly, "I don't understand. You're the kind of person who wants to be a general, so of course you understand best."
Upon hearing these words, Wei Yuanzhan felt as if his heart had been suddenly gripped, his brows furrowed slightly, and his lips pursed.
He regretted it as soon as he finished speaking. But words spoken cannot be taken back, and he was in a fit of anger. Because of his temper and pride, he did not bow his head to her.
Zhi Rou and Wei Yuanzhan sat facing each other, the atmosphere somber, as if all the noise of the world had fallen.
Sheng Xingyun saw that they were not speaking. He wanted to speak up and mediate, but he was worried that if he didn't speak well, he would only give them a big argument. In the end, he kept quiet.
As the setting sun faded outside and the sky turned indigo, the candlelight inside the room suddenly seemed grand.
Zhi Rou looked at Wei Yuanzhan's face. He was always so arrogant and haughty.
I have no appetite at all.
She wiped her hands with a handkerchief, pushed the table aside and sat down: "You all eat, I have to go home early today."
She stopped after taking only a couple of steps, pursed her lips, and regretted forgetting to ask her third sister for some money downstairs.
When the two women left the manor, they always kept the accounts with Song Hanjin, who would then report them to her mother monthly.
Zhi Rou didn't bring her purse, but she needed to settle the accounts. She thought hard, and finally took off the ring on her hand, turned around and put it on the table. Without looking at Wei Yuanzhan, she strode out of the private room.
He calculated it so clearly. Wei Yuanzhan's gaze was fixed on the ring, and he gritted his teeth.
Seeing that things were not going well, Sheng Xingyun hurriedly got up and tried to call out to Zhi Rou.
But then Wei Yuanzhan said, "Let her go."
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