In the classroom filled with the warmth of a Japanese breeze and the fragrance of ink, 14-year-old Yuan Xi was writing on a desk. Next to her sat a young man in a blue shirt, concentrating on the book in his hands. The sunlight filtered in from the window, casting the shadows of the two people on the ground, one long and one short, facing each other in silence.

Yuan Xi wrote only a few words before stopping, glancing at the young teacher who was sitting next to him staring intently at the work, and secretly sighed.

"What's wrong?" His eyes were not wrong, but he seemed to be able to see through all her actions, and he asked softly.

Yuan Xi put down her pen, tilted her head and said angrily, "Today I heard Daddy calling my second sister's nickname. My sisters all have nicknames, but I don't." She suddenly had an idea, stared at him expectantly and said, "Little Master, please give me a nickname."

He finally put down the book, thought for a while, and then smiled and said, "Okay, how about calling her Wanwan?" She felt that this attitude was too perfunctory, so she pouted and said, "Little Master, if you don't want to call her that, just forget it. Why do you have to give me a random name to fool me?" The little master still smiled gently, gently picked up the pen she had just put down, and wrote the two words "Wanwan" on the paper. His pen moved quickly, making the two words as beautiful and graceful as the willows in the morning breeze. He then said to her, "Wan means harmonious and obedient. There was a line in the Book of Songs: There was a beautiful person, who was clear and graceful. So, this is a name for a harmonious and beautiful woman. Why are you still not happy?"

She was very happy to hear this, smiling from ear to ear, folded the paper carefully and put it in her arms. She thought that the little master was the most learned person she had ever met, so the name he gave her was naturally the best, so she wanted to announce it to the world right away. But the little master said that a girl's nickname should not be announced casually, and should not be given by outsiders, so this became a little secret between them, and he would only call her Wanwan when he was alone with the little master.

Later, after the young master left, no one called her Wanwan anymore. Now, even the young master could not be called. When they met again, he stood between the mountains and rivers, still wearing the gentle smile she was familiar with, but said to her: "Madam Xiao, long time no see."

Yuan Xi suddenly felt inexplicably sad in her heart. She didn't know where this feeling came from, but she knew that it was not right. So she concealed her gaffe, stood up, bowed to him, and turned around, no longer daring to look at him.

Luo Yuan on the other side said loudly: "I have heard of the great name of Marquis Xuanyuan for a long time. I didn't expect to meet you today. Can we travel together?"

Xiao Du glanced at him and said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft: "You are just a fifth-rank official, are you worthy of traveling with me?"

Although the words were harsh, Luo Yuan was not angry. He still wore a neither humble nor arrogant smile and said: "May I ask if the fish and birds in the lake and the plants in the mountains have grades? Since we are here to enjoy the mountains and rivers, why should we be burdened by the false reputation of the world?"

"If you must follow, then follow me." Xiao Du stood up, brushed the corner of his clothes, and walked towards the cabin. Looking back, he found Xiao Zhixuan and Yuan Xi still looking over there. He immediately became furious and shouted, "It's windy here, go back to the cabin."

Xiao Zhixuan looked at him strangely and said, "How can there be wind in such a nice day?" Xiao Du glared at her fiercely and said through gritted teeth, "It's a cold wind!"

Seeing that he was really getting angry, Xiao Zhixuan quickly lowered her head and ran into the cabin. Yuan Xi didn't dare to stay any longer and followed her in, holding up her skirt.

As soon as they entered the cabin, Xiao Zhixuan pestered her and asked: Who was that person just now, and why did he know my sister-in-law. Yuan Xi glanced at Xiao Du who was leaning aside pretending to be indifferent, and said: "When I was in the family, the Xia family set up a special imperial school for the children of the family. Both men and women could attend the school, but women only studied for one year. The teacher invited at that time was Mr. Liu Wendao, a great scholar in the capital. Mr. Luo was his favorite student. At that time, he had just passed the imperial examination and was waiting for the imperial examination. Mr. Liu brought him to teach us. Mr. Luo taught well and was kind and friendly, so we all called him little teacher. After I stopped going to the school, I never saw him again."

Xiao Zhixuan suddenly realized, and said, "No wonder I thought he was so eloquent and talented, it turns out he is a student of Mr. Liu."

Xiao Du snorted and said, "You've only met him once, how do you know he's a talented person?" Xiao Zhixuan was just upset about being dragged into the cabin for no reason, so she rolled her eyes and was about to retort, but Yuan Xi coughed and advised, "Stop talking, be careful not to wake up Yunniang."

The two men fell silent, and at the same time glanced at Yunniang, who was sleeping soundly not far away. Yunniang felt a little uncomfortable after boarding the boat, and had been lying in the cabin to rest, leaving only the little maid to look after her. Now several people were crowded into the cabin, Xiao Zhixuan could not see the scenery on the lake, and was upset and confused. Yuanxi leaned against the cabin, and was in a daze with a heavy heart. Xiao Du opened the cabin curtain and looked at the boat that had been following them closely. He said to himself, "We just happened to meet... Is it really such a coincidence?" After a while, the boat finally docked. Xiao Zhixuan got out of the cabin as if she had been pardoned. She happily took Yuan Xi and walked quickly towards the farm. Xiao Du deliberately slowed down his pace. Sure enough, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around and said, "Luo Hanlin has been following us like a ghost. What is he trying to do?"

Luo Yuan still had that indifferent expression and said, "I am new here and can't find a place to go. I wonder if I can stay at the Marquis's farm for one night."

Xiao Du sneered and said, "How do you know we are going to the farm?"

Luo Yuan was exposed by him, but he did not look embarrassed. He still smiled and said, "I wonder if the Marquis can give me some convenience?"

"They are all women, it's not convenient!" Xiao Du said and walked forward without looking back. He heard Luo Yuan shouting from behind: "If the Marquis is unwilling, Luo can't force him. But Luo has one question to ask, and I will leave immediately after asking."

Xiao Du ignored him and continued to walk forward. Luo Yuan quickly followed him and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Do you really believe that Xia Zheng alone dared to delay the military supplies of the Xiao family army in the Pingdu Pass battle?"

Xiao Du suddenly stopped, turned around and stared at him. After a while, he sneered, "You know, just because of what I just said, not only will you lose your position as a fifth-rank official, but you may even lose your head."

Luo Yuan looked back at him without hiding or fear, and said, "Of course I know, but if I don't burn my boats, how can you understand my sincerity?"

Xiao Du narrowed his eyes, stared at him and asked, "What on earth do you want to do?"

Luo Yuan waved his sleeves and bowed to him, saying, "Luo just wants you to understand: I know what you are most worried about right now, and I can help you."

Xiao Du's eyes changed several times, but he finally laughed: "So you are someone who is unwilling to be inferior to others and wants to use tricks to climb up. Unfortunately, you made a wrong calculation. I am just an idle marquis. Even if you try your best to come to me, you will not get any benefits."

Luo Yuan looked at him calmly and said, "If I say that I did this not for personal gain but just to help you, I wonder if you would believe me."

Xiao Du glanced at him disdainfully, turned around and said, "It's a pity that I'm living a comfortable life now, and I don't need your help with anything." He paused and said, "But there are quite a few vacant farmhouses on the farm. If you don't mind, come with me."

Luo Yuan raised a smile at the corner of his lips, straightened his back, and followed him slowly. The sun was shining brightly at noon, casting the shadows of the group on the yellow mud road, and in the blink of an eye, they were lost in a field of golden ears of wheat.