The seal hides the couple's feelings and they clearly show their affection
Xue Jiuyue unwrapped the package, revealing a small brocade box. Opening the box, she found a seal. This gift immediately sparked her imagination. Seal carving is a niche hobby for girls, and she remembered Cheng Qing as the only one who adored it. Back in college, in the dormitory, Cheng Qing had force-fed Xue Jiuyue countless lessons about seal carving, giving her a glimpse into this tiny art form.
The seal before me is elliptical in shape, crafted from Changhua Bloodstone. Only Changhua Bloodstone has this unique, inky black ground. A rich, vibrant blood-red hue clung to it, resembling a plum blossom blooming proudly on a cold night. While not quite the full-blood Dahongpao, it surpasses this in its exquisite artistic conception and is undoubtedly worth a considerable price.
This is a casual seal. The seal's surface is inscribed in negative ink with Li Shangyin's famous line: "The moon shines brightly over the vast sea, pearls weep; the sun warms the blue fields, jade smokes." This is likely an attempt to emulate Qi Baishi's knife technique, with its straightforward, single-stroke strokes. Perhaps it's an attempt to embody Qi Baishi's philosophy of "the most precious thing in the world is to be exhilarating." However, using such a free-flowing knife technique to engrave Li Yuxi's cryptic verse seems somewhat contradictory. However, the overall structure, layout, knife technique, and seal characters all demonstrate considerable skill. Several instances of single-stroke strokes protruding from the frame highlight its rawness and fragmented nature, conveying a sense of the passage of time.
There was also inscription on the side, again two lines of poetry: "Jinjiang River near the west, misty waters green, fresh rain on the hilltops, lychees ripe." Xue Jiuyue vaguely remembered this as coming from the Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji's "Chengdu Qu." However, Zhang Ji is most widely praised for his "Song of the Chaste Wife." "Song of the Chaste Wife" was originally a political poem Zhang Ji used to politely reject the advances of the vassal Li Shidao, expressing his resolve. However, the lines "I return your pearl with tears, regretting not to have met before I was married" have long been widely used to express the love affair between men and women.
Could this side inscription be a subtle hint at the true meaning of the two lines of poetry on the seal? Li Shangyin's masterpiece, "Brocade Zither," is a masterpiece beloved by poetry lovers everywhere, making it arguably the most celebrated. Yet, it's also one of the most challenging poems to interpret, with numerous speculations and no consensus since the Song and Yuan dynasties. So, from the complex strings of the brocade zither, the mournful and lamentable melodies, to this line, it's not unreasonable to interpret it as, or as Ren Hongyi expressed it, "repentance, I return your pearl with tears."
Xue Jiuyue wasn't sure, but that didn't stop her from declining it: "This gift is too valuable. I feel unworthy of it."
"Mr. Xue, please don't refuse yet. This gift was carved by Hongyi himself. And there's a story behind it. Hongyi is a very proud man. Although you saved him, he didn't mention it when he returned home..."
Ren Hongyi interrupted, "I was just worried that you would worry..."
Jiang Xuehao smiled and continued, "But several times I found him getting up at night and staying alone in his study. At first I didn't pay much attention, but then one time I got up to drink some water and curiously went over to check on him. He was so focused that he didn't even notice me walking up behind him. That's when I realized he was carving seals, and he must have just started learning. My instinctive reaction after seeing those two lines of poetry was that he was just starting his career and was planning to fall in love with someone else."
"How could I?" Ren Hongyi interrupted and explained.
"I asked him who he was. At first he refused to admit it, but after I repeatedly pressed him and said I would ask Mr. Qiu, he finally confessed. That's when I knew he had been through so much, and was even on the verge of life and death; that's when I knew there was such a great benefactor like you. I think you saved not only Hongyi, but our entire family. So I decided that this gift must be a collaboration of the whole family. I don't know how to seal, but I'm from Changhua, and my father loves it. Hongyi probably learned it under his influence. I chose this Changhua chicken blood stone from my father's collection as the seal material. As for the poems, you tell me what the meaning of these poems is, I can't explain it clearly." Jiang Xuehao looked at Ren Hongyi and handed the initiative to him.
"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Mr. Xue. I heard from Mr. Qiu that you are knowledgeable and well-rounded, and you love reading, so I thought of giving you this small gift so that you can stamp this seal on your collection in the future. The reason I chose these two lines from 'Brocade Zither' is not only because it is the most beautiful regulated verse I think, but also because the first line contains the character 'moon' in your name; and the second line, 'Lantian belongs to the present-day Shaanxi, which is the Qin Dynasty,' alluding to Mr. Qiu's Qin Dynasty group. Moreover, my state of mind at the time also matched the mood in 'Brocade Zither'. It was you and Mr. Qiu who cleared my confusion and bewilderment. I also mentioned that the poem is from Zhang Ji's 'Chengdu Chant', and I am from Chengdu. Therefore, this seal is tailor-made for you. Please accept it."
Ren Hongyi's explanation made Xue Jiuyue unable to refuse this thoughtful gift, and she could only accept it with gratitude.
Jiang Xuehao then continued her story, "Mr. Xue, you're too polite. Look, not only did you save Hongyi, but Mr. Qiu also strongly supported Hongyi because of you. Mr. Qian, our partner, is also your client and friend. Even the investment manager who followed up on the investment is your classmate. If you say this is all coincidence, then I can only say it's fate. You are Hongyi's benefactor!"
"You're too polite. I really can't do much. You are Mr. Ren's real benefactor! As far as I know, he always praises you for being beautiful and virtuous. And when Mr. Qiu first persuaded Mr. Ren, he also used family as a breakthrough point. It can be seen that Mr. Ren always keeps his family in his heart." If she didn't know Cheng Qing's feelings, Xue Jiuyue was telling the truth! Knowing Cheng Qing's feelings, including her speculation, Xue Jiuyue still had to say this.
"If he really cared about his family, he wouldn't have those inappropriate thoughts! And he always says that dignity is more important than life and death!" After saying that, Jiang Xuehao looked at Ren Hongyi beside him with deep affection.
Ren Hongyi blushed and lowered his head as he explained, "At the time, I also felt like a burden. I ended it all. At least I could let you have your own life without being dragged into the abyss by me."
Jiang Xuehao caressed Ren Hongyi's resolute face with his hand, feeling extremely distressed. "Fool, never have those thoughts again! It doesn't matter if it's a burden. As long as you still have me in your heart, even if you are against the whole world, I will be your last resort, standing behind you to block the arrows from behind."
Xue Jiuyue was very moved by their blatant affection, but she also secretly felt sorry for her bestie. However, when she thought of Cheng Qing, Xue Jiuyue always felt that Jiang Xuehao's expression of a wife's deep love in front of her seemed a bit deliberate.
This hint of doubt was as difficult to discern as the true meaning of Li Shangyin's poems, and Xue Jiuyue savored the haziness until long after the couple left, until the old couple Qiu walked into the coffee shop.
"Hello, godmother, hello, godfather!" Xue Jiuyue took the initiative to go over and say hello.
"Okay, Xiaoyue, sit down. Is there anything happy happening today?" Mr. Qiu greeted with a smile.
"Godfather, why did you give me such a big gift? I..."
Elder Qiu interrupted Xue Jiuyue directly, "Don't refuse! You've already called me godfather, and you're not going to let me fulfill this little wish of an old man?"
"Godfather..."
Xue Jiuyue was about to explain, but Madam Qiu interrupted, "Xiaoyue, your godfather has wanted a daughter for half his life. We are a family, don't make your godfather sad. Besides, the manor won't generate any income in the short term, and given your personality, you'll give the long-term benefits back to the school. We're all doing charity, so isn't it the same for everyone?"
"Okay then, thank you, godfather and godmother!"
Old Qiu smiled and acted like an elder. "Well, that's good. Don't reject the affections of your godmother and me from now on! If you always refuse, we'll become strangers. You must learn to accept love!"
Xue Jiuyue heard the hidden meaning, "Ah? There will be a next time..."
"Let's not talk about that, let's talk about last night first..." Old Qiu glanced around like an old fox before leaning over and whispering, "Yiyi, are you not angry anymore?"
"Don't worry, I've already asked her. She's already secretly in love with him, and we're just waiting for the final break."
"Hahahaha, that's made my wish come true. All I need is a grandson! Even though it's just the last layer of window paper missing, Xiaoyue, don't take it lightly!"
"Don't worry, godfather..."
"Well, if you have the right person, you have to be more careful!" Old Qiu quickly adapted to the role of a father. "If Jianjun'er hadn't been in a relationship before, he would be really good. He really cares about you!"
"Godfather, Mr. Qian and I are just friends, you know!"
"I know, I know. I won't interfere with anything you do. I just hope you're happy! My brother is already a child, and if I fall too far behind, I'm afraid people will say I'm partial." Old Qiu's current state is like Xue's father himself...
Xue Jiuyue did not take the initiative to chat with Ke Yike. But when Ke Yike saw the necklace he had customized on her swan-like and elegant neck, his wounded heart was quickly comforted.
Last night, because she was angry and couldn't verify the identity of "Spit Star", Xue Jiyue resisted the urge to go online all night. Today, she planned to go straight to the point. If "Spit Star" was really Liu Che, Xue Jiyue didn't really want to expose him. She just thought it was interesting to read "Spit Star"'s explanation.
"Who are you?" Xue Jiuyue ignored "Shui Mo Xing'er's" greeting and asked this question directly as soon as she came online.
"I am who I am! What's the matter? Are you philosophizing again? This question is not easy to answer."
"I mean why do I feel like I know you?!"
"We've known each other for months! Did you just find out today?"
"I mean in real life! Not just on the Internet!" Xue Jiuyue explained it clearly in advance to prevent "Spit Star" from misidentifying and replacing one thing with another.
“I don’t know him!”
"Shall we meet then?"
"No need, didn't I explain it to the young master before?"
"Why do I see other netizens wanting to meet in person, except you? That's why I always suspect that I know you and you don't dare to meet me."
"Others do it, so do I have to do it too? Am I someone else? Besides, other people meet for shameful purposes. Even if I have those purposes, can you allow me, young lady? Even if you agree, is that okay? We can talk about everything now, it feels like old friends, but with a bit of haziness, imagination, and mystery. Isn't that a beautiful feeling? Once we meet, even if we can be more intimate physically, how many times in life can there be such beauty as we have now? 'The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but it is near dusk.' It is the setting sun near dusk that is brilliant and brilliant without being dazzling, reserved and subtle without withering, illuminating the earth and making people intoxicated, just like us now, everything is just right! Isn't this beauty more enduring than those few seconds of trembling?"
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