He watched helplessly as he walked past, full of self-satisfaction.
At the largest restaurant in the capital, Prime Minister Lin was exchanging poems with a group of colleagues, while many talented scholars from the capital were below.
Lin Xiangzheng presented the first line of the couplet, and the talented scholars managed to come up with a few lines in response, but none of them were satisfactory.
It wasn't until Fu Lanjun arrived that everyone's attention turned to her.
In the capital, who doesn't know that Fu Lanjun is exceptionally talented, able to write essays at five and compose poems at seven?
Someone started a commotion: "Hey, Young Master Fu is here! Hurry up and check it out."
Fu Lanjun looked at the sentence above, pondered for a moment, and then wrote down the second line.
The antithesis is well-structured and powerful, even more magnificent in its grandeur and lofty in its conception than the first line.
Lin Xiang stroked his beard, his eyes full of admiration: "Indeed excellent."
He was on good terms with Fu Lanjun's father, which made him appreciate her even more. He believed that this young man was destined for great things and would surely achieve something great in the future.
Fu Lanjun smiled modestly.
He considered himself exceptionally talented, and such occasions were just routine for him.
Just then, a gentle voice came over. She looked at the first line of the couplet and soon recited the second line.
Unlike Fu Lanjun, whose focus was on the nation and its people, this woman's focus was on ordinary people.
The saying goes, "Only with families can there be a nation." Ordinary people may be ordinary, but their power can shake a country.
The difference in quality is immediately apparent in the underlying concept.
This second line is so beautiful that it has attracted the attention of many people.
The newcomer wore a veil, revealing only a pair of eyes that seemed to hold deep affection. The eyes were clear and bright, radiant with a captivating beauty. Even without seeing her face clearly, she was a sight to behold.
The previous dynasty was known for its open-mindedness, and there was no resistance to women reciting poetry, so it was met with immediate applause.
Lin Xiang also praised, "Women are just as capable as men; I am truly getting old."
Fu Lanjun was somewhat arrogant, but when she heard Fu Lanjun's poem, she was deeply moved and couldn't help but be drawn to her.
He hurriedly asked his friend, "Do you know whose daughter this is?"
Seeing her own eagerness to try, Fu Lanjun, standing to the side, could not help but close her eyes in anguish.
He will always remember the phrase "the new bride of Minister Chen's family".
This very fact sealed his fate and led to a tragic life.
But her friend said, "She's the only daughter of Prefect Qi." And then, in a cheeky tone, added, "She's not married yet."
Fu Lanjun listened from the side and was shocked. Why did things take such a different turn?
He clearly remembered hearing the words of the bride at the time, and he was heartbroken. Later, he discovered that Chen Shilang's eldest son was already terminally ill when the wedding ceremony was held, and Qi Shanqing had to perform the ceremony with a rooster. Even the attempt to bring him good luck could not save his life, and he passed away six months later.
Qi Shanhuai remained in the Chen family.
The previous dynasty had an open-minded society and was very tolerant of women remarrying.
He was like a madman at the time. In order to marry Qi Shanqing, he broke with his family. In the end, after discovering that Qi Shanqing was just using him to obtain family secrets, he reported her to the emperor. The emperor, considering that the Fu family had worked hard even if they had not made any great contributions, pardoned his crimes, but he would never be given important positions again for the rest of his life.
Qi Shanqing disappeared without a trace after that.
Fu Lanjun's own father was frustrated and unsuccessful, and died after an accidental fall. Six months later, her mother also passed away. Her brothers became estranged.
He fell ill with depression and spent less than a year on his sickbed before passing away.
The Fu family declined from then on.
But things have taken a different turn now.
Qi Shanqing is still unmarried.
The events unfolded before him like a fleeting glimpse, and he saw himself and Qi Shanqing get married, live in harmony, have two sons and two daughters, and live to the death of their parents.
Just as Fu Lanjun was still in shock, a figure appeared in front of him.
It is Qi Shanqing.
Her brows were now furrowed with ruthlessness: "Who are you, and why have you barged in here?"
“Shanqing, that’s me,” Fu Lanjun said softly.
Upon hearing this, Qi Shanqing seemed greatly frightened, her face showing fear. She suddenly drew a sword and pointed it at Fu Lanjun, saying, "How dare you impersonate him!"
As he spoke, he prepared to stab with his sword.
Fu Lanjun stood there without fear, and began to sing a poem.
It was written specifically for Qi Shanqing at the time.
He composed lyrics and music, but only ever shared them with Qi Shanqing.
The sword stopped a palm's width away from Fu Lanjun.
Tears streamed down Qi Shanqing's face. "Why did you come?"
Fu Lanjun smiled wryly: "I don't know either, I'm just here to find an answer."
Seemingly knowing what he was going to ask, Qi Shanqing turned around and said coldly, "Go away, I don't want to see you."
"Don't you want to see me?" Fu Lanjun questioned, "If you don't want to see me, why is the situation completely different here, where you control things? Wouldn't you rather I be the one to die?"
Fu Lanjun's questioning made Qi Shanqing very embarrassed.
She glared at Fu Lanjun: "So what do you want from me?"
"Your Fu family ruined my family and caused my death. How could I possibly stay with you for the rest of my life?"
Fu Lanjun fell silent.
Back then, his grandfather amassed private wealth, which was discovered by Qi's father. He then framed the Qi family, branding them as traitors. Hundreds of members of the Qi family were executed. Qi Shanqing survived only because a servant's daughter took the blame for him.
Qi Shanqing was adopted by a Taoist temple. After reaching adulthood, he went down the mountain and began his revenge.
Now times have changed, and the world has changed for hundreds of years.
Past grudges and hatreds vanished like fleeting clouds.
Qi Shanqing said, "I know you have been waiting for me in the underworld for hundreds of years. I also had some seniors send you messages saying that I already have a Daoist partner, but I didn't expect you to still be so persistent."
"I'll give you an answer now."
Fu Lanjun was somewhat afraid to face him.
"You are the end of my love, but taking revenge on the Fu family is also my wish."
"Our relationship was destined to be a tragedy from the very beginning."
After a long while, Fu Lanjun gave a sorrowful smile, "This is the Fu family's retribution, I don't blame you."
Although it was not his doing, how could they not bear the consequences of the sins committed by their ancestors?
It's pointless to compare who is suffering more.
It has now been confirmed that it was not just wishful thinking on her part back then, and Fu Lanjun has let go of her centuries-old obsession.
He looked around at the fog that had returned, and his heart ached terribly. The grudges of his parents had trapped not only him, but also her.
"You've been stuck here long enough. Come out with me."
Fu Lanjun extended her hand.
Qi Shanqing looked at him, but did not reach out.
"It's been hundreds of years. I will be reincarnated. Can you leave too? I don't resent you. Don't make things difficult for yourself. Don't make my journey to the underworld uneasy either, okay?"
Fu Lanjun spoke each word carefully.
Qi Shanqing finally knelt on the ground and wept bitterly.
"I can't go out."
"My love for you is already a grave transgression; I have no right to leave."
To some extent, Qi Shanqing trapped herself.
She felt that her love had tarnished her family, and could only remain in this illusory world to find a moment of peace.
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