Chapter 50 My surname is Lu, and my given name is Jie. Xue Jin has delicate eyebrows and eyes...
Xue Jin's delicate features held a resentment that was not in keeping with his age.
Under the scorching sunlight, Chu Qin's purple satin was radiating a strong halo, making his handsome face even more unfathomable.
"Sister Jin, do you mean that I should kill Yun Yang?" Chu Qin said with a half-smile, his eyebrows raised, and he slowly tapped the ribs of his folding fan against the railing of the waterside corridor. "When did you come up with such a brilliant plan?"
Xue Jin said, "It wasn't long before I started to dislike her more and more. I don't know what's so good about her that even the princess looks up to her! The Eighth Prince likes her, but my eldest brother actually rejected the marriage on her behalf and was even beaten for it. Brother Chu Qin, do you think Yun Yang is a troublemaker?"
"I don't know if Yunyang is a troublemaker, but I know that you, Sister Jin, are a true troublemaker. You're so young, and a woman, yet you've come up with such a vicious scheme to defame someone and force them into slavery." A chilling gloom shone in Chu Qin's gentle, affectionate eyes. "If I defame Yunyang tonight, it'll be easy for me to say. People will just call me a playboy. But what about Yunyang? With what status and reputation can she enter our Chu family?"
Not far away, there were thin clouds, and a few beams of light shone through onto the calm surface of Qinghu Lake. Fushan Pavilion was hidden among the gray reeds. The silver waves were rippling, and the scene was quiet and distant. However, Xue Jin felt dazed and cold all over.
"It's true that I have feelings for Yun Yang, but I, Chu Qin, am not someone who takes things by force, and I certainly won't use such despicable methods to take her by force."
"I advise Sister Jin to put this plan aside immediately. If I discover anything, I will inform Brother Lingjun." Chu Qin glanced at her with disdain. "The Xue family has a clean and upright tradition. Sister Jin, please don't do anything that would damage our reputation!"
The young man brushed past him with his wide sleeves gathered, and walked down the water corridor to Fushan Pavilion. This was not the first time Chu Qin came here, but this time he felt uneasy.
He has a good relationship with Xue Yu and has expressed his feelings for Yun Yang before, but the Xue family has obviously not taken him into consideration when mediating Yun Yang's marriage recently.
Yun Yang's marriage was decided by the Xue family, and Xue Yu was the one who decided the Xue family. After much deliberation, Chu Qin felt that he had to confront Xue Yu directly in order to have any chance of success.
As for what he said to Xue Jin just now about having to see Yun Yang's feelings, that was all superficial. Isn't it a blind marriage? Just marry Yun Yang first. Don't you believe that if he stays with her day and night, she will not be attracted to him?
After entering Fushan Pavilion, Siqing led the way to the study.
When he opened the door, he saw Xue Yu sitting at his desk. When he saw him coming, he looked up and said, "Here you are."
Chu Qin took a deep breath and walked straight towards Xue Yu, bowing deeply. "Brother Lingjun, I have long been in love with your sister-in-law. Please, Brother Lingjun, act as a matchmaker and marry Yunyang to me!"
Xue Yu paused, chuckling softly, and frowned, "It's only been a few days since you left Tianfu Tower, right? Yunyang isn't my biological sister, but she worries me more than a biological sister. You've seen how her marriage is shaping up, and even my grandmother is quite concerned about it. She's different from those you've dated outside, so I advise you not to set your sights on her."
"Brother Lingjun, do you think I want to take her as a concubine because she is weak and lonely? No, no, as long as Brother Lingjun agrees, I will go back today and report to my parents, and I will go through all the three matchmakers and six betrothals to welcome her to be my, Chu Qin's, wife." Chu Qin said.
"No." Xue Yu said.
Chu Qin's stubbornness rose. "Why not? I was the first person she saw when she arrived in the capital, and I fell in love with her at first sight. What's wrong with her marrying me? Not to mention the endless wealth and luxury, I, Chu Jieran, am handsome and hold a high position. What exactly do you dislike about me? Since Brother Lingjun can't convince me, I can only ask the old lady to make the decision for me."
Xue Yu lowered his eyebrows, picked up his pen again, and said calmly, "It's no use asking the old lady. I will decide Yunyang's marriage."
Chu Qin heard the confidence and calmness in his words, moved closer, and asked tentatively, "What do you mean? The mansion invited Zhang Qian here today. Could it be that the old lady insisted on doing it? Then Zhang Qian and Yun Yang will have trouble getting together?"
"Are you anxious?" Xue Yu said with a faint smile.
"How can I not be anxious? I originally wanted to wait a little longer, but when I returned from duty, even the Eighth Prince wanted to get his hands on Yun Yang! I don't think I can wait any longer. Besides, Yun Yang is already sixteen this year, and will be seventeen next spring. If she hasn't found a husband yet, she'll be an old maid. She can wait, but I can't!" Chu Qin said, "You know how much my old lady is pushing me. If I don't get married soon, she'll have people tear down Yun Jing's brothel!"
The room was very quiet. The young man standing by the window had his pen in hand, his wrist suspended in mid-air. Only the sound of the gurgling water in the Qinghu Lake remained.
"I want her." Xue Yu said.
*
Yun Yang went to the Fourth Madam's yard but found nothing. A troupe of actors had come to the mansion. The Fourth Madam loved watching plays, so she went to the stage in advance to watch the fun.
Yun Yang followed the shade of the trees and headed towards the stage.
Regardless of whether the young man introduced by the Fourth Madam succeeds or not, her enthusiasm cannot be faked, and she should be grateful for it.
Yun Yang stroked the hairpin on the side of her temple. It was warm to the touch. Gold and silver have a price, but jade is priceless. Looking at Xue Jin's surprised look just now, one can imagine how valuable this set of headwear is.
I have to thank the Fourth Madam very much.
The stage faces Qinghu Lake, on the other side of the arch bridge. It is surrounded by water on all sides to gather energy and store wind, and also has a sound amplification effect.
It was still light outside, but the place was already decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Actors, who had not yet dressed up, walked back and forth with their hair in buns and lotus steps light and graceful. Their movements were graceful and elegant, and the sound of soft singing could be heard. There was a faint mist over the lake, and at first glance it looked like a fantasy world.
"Fourth Madam, who is the Fourth Madam? There is a visitor from the mansion. She's over here, in the backstage. Come with me, young lady." A man with a goatee said hurriedly, pointing in a direction to Yun Yang, "It's over there."
Entering the tent, the red curtain dimmed the light. The large and second wardrobe trunks tied with red silk were half open, revealing colorful costumes. The four-clawed dragon on the python robe was lifelike, and the bright yellow court dress had delicate blue wave patterns, and the sleeves half hung on the table.
The oriental pearls on the headpiece of the imperial concubine on the table cast a faint light on the dim inner room.
Oil lamps, candles, swords, spears, and halberds were tilted here and there, and tables, chairs, and lanterns were scattered all over the floor.
"Fourth Madam?" Yun Yang called out, looking around. It was all quiet, with the swaying shadows of the trees casting a silent shadow on the tent.
There was a faint sound of singing, but no one responded.
"Fourth Madam, why are you here?" Yun Yang glanced past the fake screen of a hundred children, tiptoed to peer into the darkness, "I'm Yun Yang, Fourth Madam, why are you here?"
Suddenly, a "clang" sound came from behind the screen with a hundred children.
Yun Yang held his breath and looked intently, only to see a slender hand resting on the edge of the screen.
It was a man's hand, not as white and delicate as Song Fanghe and Xue Yu's hands. It was obvious that he had been worked on, with obvious joints and a slightly rough raised tiger's mouth.
"Who, who is here?" Yun Yang asked.
The man behind the screen stood up. He was in his early twenties, dressed in a dark green robe. He was much taller than the screen, tall, thin, and with an upright posture.
He glanced at her sideways. He had high brow bones that covered his eyes, and he had a very decent appearance. When he looked at people, he gave people a sense of confidence and assurance.
It seems like I've seen it somewhere...
But Yun Yang racked his brains but couldn't remember if this person was an old acquaintance of his. Seeing that he was wearing a costume with patches, he must be an actor in the troupe, playing the role of a prince or a minister.
This man had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and was full of righteousness. Even though he hadn't put on the costume yet, the demeanor of a loyal minister was already evident. Yun Yang thought to himself that the opera troupe was really good at selecting people.
The man stood up and walked out from behind the screen, holding a pipa with a broken string in his hand.
Yun Yang's eyes fell on the moon guitar. He thought that the "clang" sound just now was caused by the string of the moon guitar breaking.
Just as she was about to speak, she heard a voice outside the tent, "Where's the stuff? Why haven't you come yet? Have you brought it?"
The man frowned but said nothing.
Yun Yang bit her lip, a thousand thoughts running through her mind. This actor broke his pipa, and she was afraid he would be punished... I heard that the rules in the opera troupe were very strict, and sometimes the actors were even less valuable than the instruments.
"Ah, I broke that Yueqin. I'll have someone replace it soon," Yun Yang replied, pulling aside the curtain to reveal her face. "I'm the second Miss Yun from the manor. I was curious about what the opera troupe was like, so I came to check it out ahead of time. Unexpectedly, I broke the Yueqin."
The other party's face turned from anger to a full smile, "So it's the second girl? No problem, no problem."
After the man left, Yun Yang pointed at the Yueqin in the man's hand and smiled. "Don't be afraid. The troupe boss won't punish you for this. I said I broke it. It's no big deal. I'll send someone to get a new one."
The man bowed and said, "Your family is indeed upright and honest. The young lady is treated well by you. You are also a kind-hearted person."
After saying this, he raised the Yueqin in his arms and said, "I am not a member of the opera world. I came here to seek the method of repairing the instrument for my elders. I haven't introduced myself to you yet. My surname is Lu, and my given name is Jie. The fourth lady of the mansion is my aunt."
As they got closer, Lu Jie's face became clearer.
The dark green robe made his face look cold, white and transparent, with a sharp cleanliness.
The incense burner on the table was emitting incense for offering sacrifices to the moon, and Yun Yang's mind emerged with the story that the Fourth Madam had told her. It turned out that this was the Fourth Madam's nephew, the newly-crowned third place winner, the one who went to the Golden Palace to look for his mother.
Calm and rational, he doesn't look like someone who would get lost at all.
Yun Yang's eyes widened slightly, but she felt something was wrong, so she lowered her eyes and saluted, "Greetings, Master Lu. My name is Yun Yang. I'm temporarily living in the Xue Mansion. I'm the sister-in-law of Master Xue Yu."
Lu Jie lowered his eyes and looked at the woman, whose face was as clear as the crescent moon and whose eyebrows and features were as delicate as a painting. She stared at him seriously, and he felt like an old friend came to ask questions.
She smiled coquettishly, wearing a thick and loose silk and satin dress, which made her look as weak as a willow.
This is the protagonist of today's mansion.
Lu Jie said, "Thank you for your kindness, young lady. This Yueqin belongs to my aunt. When she heard that the opera troupe was coming, she wanted to repair the Yueqin that was damaged a few years ago. This caused young lady to misunderstand."
It was indeed a misunderstanding. Yun Yang thought that the green robe he was wearing was a costume, but when he looked closely at the patches, he found that it was actually the uniform of a Hanlin official. The exposed cuffs of his inner garment had faintly frayed edges.
Yun Yang recalled that the Fourth Madam had said that he was adopted by a poor peasant after he was lost, and that he came from a humble family...
"The fourth lady's Yueqin?" Yun Yang asked.
She thought that the Fourth Madam had given her such a precious headpiece, and she had no way to repay her. If she could help the Fourth Madam repair her Yueqin, she would feel a little relieved.
"Can you show it to me?"
Yun Yang stretched out his hand, his green fingers looking white and translucent in the dim light from the window.
Lu Jie held the neck of the Yueqin and handed it to her.
Under the moonlight, the narrow and long neck of the guitar was smooth, and the floral and cloud patterns carved on the rosewood were delicate. However, there was a crack at the base of the hand holding the neck, and new flesh had grown in the crack, and the color was obviously different from that of other parts.
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