Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Don't Make Trouble
Li Lin was born into the Li family in Suzhou. His great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all well-known local literary leaders.
There is not a single commoner among the Li family members. The scholars are mediocre, the juren are barely able to sit at the table, and they are too embarrassed to mention the title of jinshi. Only those who are in the second class and are granted the status of jinshi are considered to have achieved the right result.
Liu Jinshu was envious of this. Although his Liu family was not weak, they did not have many descendants. In his generation, he was the only male heir in the direct line.
Since there were few helpers in the clan, my father turned his attention to outside the clan. Li Lin's father was my father's junior fellow apprentice and was undoubtedly the best candidate.
Li Lin was the most outstanding son of the Li family in this generation. At the age of sixteen, he made a small effort and won the title of Li Yuan, which was even more glorious than his own time.
Liu Jinshu admired his talent very much and invited Li Lin to travel with him today, which was based on both family interests and his own selfish motives.
No matter from which perspective, he didn't want Li Lin to be involved with Chen Ling'an.
I thought these three words were enough to deter Li Lin - after all, all scholars hated the Jinyiwei, especially Chen Ling'an!
Sure enough, Li Lin was obviously surprised.
"Chen Ling'an's sister? Wasn't she lost? Have you found her?"
Liu Jinshu didn't expect that his attention was still on Chen Xiaomei.
Li Lin was from another province and didn't know about Chen Xiaomei's news. Liu Jinshu didn't want to talk about a girl's private affairs behind her back, so he just said a few perfunctory words.
But he was actually quite interested in the girl, and kept asking questions left and right, and Liu Jinshu was almost overwhelmed.
I couldn't help but provoke him: "She has served others before, your family will not agree."
Li Lin was startled, and then his face flushed red, "That's not what I meant..."
"I don't mean that. Just stop asking about other girls' affairs," Liu Jinshu said softly. "The world is harsher on women. If your words were to get out, people would praise you for your romantic ways but criticize her for her immorality. She's already pitiful enough, so let's not make things worse."
Li Lin was silent for a while, then looked out again, "Who is Chen Ling'an?"
Liu Jinshu pointed to him, "The tall and thin one in red." His eyes fell on the girl next to her, and his heart tightened.
Li Lin: "She's dressed quite flamboyantly."
Liu Jinshu looked at the clothes they were wearing, one was moon white and the other was sky blue.
These children from aristocratic families pay attention to low-key luxury and like to focus on details. At first glance, they look ordinary, but they can give people a shocking impact when they are not paying attention.
So he said with a smile: "Those with different ideals cannot work together."
The people on the shore had already walked away. Li Lin closed the window, sneezed loudly, and suddenly became listless.
Liu Jinshu hurriedly asked someone to prepare a bowl of ginger soup, "Put more shredded ginger and brown sugar, and eat a bowl of hot soup." He was no longer in the mood to go on a boat tour to see the lights, so he quickly sent the people back to rest.
Li Linyong leaned against the soft couch, his head felt hot and his nose felt sore.
What a pity.
In his impression, Chen Xiaomei still looked about two or three years old, like a glutinous rice ball, calling "brother" in a baby voice. She was so adorable that his voice couldn't help but soften when he spoke to her.
At that time, Chen Ling'an was still the older brother he admired. Not only was he good at his studies, he could also ride a horse and pull a bow weighing one stone!
He couldn't even pull half a stone and was just a bean sprout who only knew how to study.
His father, who seldom praised others, praised Chen Ling'an for his talent in both literature and martial arts, saying, "He will surely achieve great things."
My father admired Uncle Chen even more: There are many talented people, and many kind-hearted people, but there are very few gentlemen who possess both and are upright and incorruptible.
Uncle Chen is one of them.
When my father learned that Uncle Chen was suspected of cheating in the imperial examination, he refused to believe it and planned to unite with local Confucian scholars in Suzhou to redress Uncle Chen's grievances. However, my grandfather stopped him, believing that doing so would only further provoke the late emperor's wrath and be counterproductive.
My father carried the plaque given by the late emperor and prepared to set off for Nanjing. Before the boat set sail, the news came that Uncle Chen had committed suicide.
In just a few days, Aunt Chen died with her husband, Brother Chen died suddenly, and Sister Chen went missing...
My father originally wanted to bring Chen Ling'an back to the Li family, but when he saw his eyes, he knew it was impossible.
Chen Ling'an's current state wasn't surprising to his father at all. He often lamented to him, "Everyone says he's brought disgrace upon the Chen family, but his unyielding spirit is quite like his father's. What a shame, what a pity."
Li Lin sighed, closed his eyes and fell asleep.
-
The people who were playing by the river had no idea that they had already sighed several times in other people's minds. They were tired and wanted to find a place to sit down and rest.
Chen Lingan: "You guys ate all the way, and it's hard to digest your main meal. There's a teahouse with good dim sum not far ahead."
He Ping was unwilling to do so. "In this situation, wouldn't it be a shame if I didn't have a drink?"
Xiaoman retorted to him, "The Spring Examination is only half a month away. I think you should just eat a few bites and go back to study. Be careful not to fail the exam."
He Ping raised his chin and said, "You underestimate me, your brother...eh?" He stared blankly at a certain place, then suddenly spread his long legs and ran away.
"What's wrong with him?" Xiaoman was stunned. After seeing who was standing there, he immediately shouted "Oh no!", stuffed the revolving lantern into Chen Yanning's hand, and ran after He Ping.
Chen Yanning held two lamps and looked at his brother blankly.
Chen Ling'an took the lamp from his sister and sighed helplessly, "I knew that as long as he was around, I wouldn't be able to have a peaceful day."
On the stone arch bridge, Princess Jingxuan looked at He Ping, who was holding his knees and gasping for breath, and subconsciously took two steps back.
"I say... huhu, I say," He Ping swallowed hard and straightened up with difficulty, "Your Highness, we finally escaped death, so don't be depressed."
"You bold lunatic!" Lu Jiayi protected Princess Jingxuan. "How dare you be disrespectful to the princess? I think you are courting death."
He Ping just realized that there was a girl next to him, "You think saying something is rude? Your rules are too big. Don't make trouble. The princess and I know each other."
As he spoke, he waved his hands as if to shoo someone away.
Lu Jiayi was so angry that his eyes turned red, and he immediately called the guards to arrest him.
At this time, Princess Jingxuan spoke, "I'm not depressed, I'm just standing on the bridge and enjoying the scenery."
He Ping looked at her carefully and said, "Well, this time it's the truth."
Princess Jingxuan blushed, but luckily there were lanterns all around, and everything was red, so her blushing face couldn't be seen.
He Ping raised his eyebrows and smiled.
Princess Jingxuan turned slightly to avoid his gaze, her heart pounding. This man seemed to have seen through her thoughts. He was probably making fun of her.
Under the bridge, in the shadows behind the trees, Xiaoman looked at the people on the bridge and said, "I think it's okay for us not to go over."
Chen Lingan looked away, his voice cold, "Absolutely."
His gaze fell on Zhang Bi, who was stunned.
On the bridge, Lu Jiayi stood between the two of them. For some reason, she suddenly felt a little lost, and her eyes looked at He Ping more and more unfriendly.
"Lecher." She cursed softly.
Princess Jingxuan heard this and fearing she would start a quarrel again, she quickly took her arm and whispered, "He's the one who wanted to save me but pushed me into the lake. Shout, shout..."
"My name is He Ping, which comes from Li Bai's poem He Ping Ping Hu Lu. He Ping."
"So this is the meaning of your name. I thought it meant peace in the world." As soon as she finished speaking, Princess Jingxuan realized that he had heard her whisper, and she felt even more embarrassed.
He Ping laughed heartily. "Princess, you are right. If we can pacify the barbarians, the world will be at peace."
Lu Jiayi said coldly: "Slippery, frivolous and reckless."
"Hey, girl, today is the first time we meet, right? I didn't provoke you, but you just scolded me. Why? You can't let me be a fool even if you die."
"You don't look like a good person. You must have ulterior motives for approaching the princess. Get away from me, or I'll put you in jail again."
He Ping looked her up and down, grinned and asked the princess: "Is that how your highness sees me?"
Princess Jingxuan didn't know how to answer. She didn't think He Ping was a bad person, but saying that would hurt Jiayi's face and make her lose face.
Jiayi was doing this for her own good, fearing that she would be deceived.
As she thought about it, her gaze slowly shifted to somewhere under the bridge.
Suddenly, He Ping's smiling face appeared before his eyes. "Your Highness hasn't answered me yet!"
"You scared me!" Princess Jingxuan exclaimed softly, her face flushed and she took a few steps back.
He Ping: "I'm sorry, Princess. I'll treat you to sweet-scented osmanthus dumplings to make amends. There's a place that sells them that are super delicious. The sweetness is just right, not the overly sweet ones you see on the street. The soup is made with red bean paste, and it's smooth and delicate with a slightly crunchy texture. The sweet-scented osmanthus, in particular, has a gentle fragrance. You'll know it after one bite!"
Princess Jingxuan felt a little hungry after hearing what he said. "Is it far?"
"Princess!" Lu Jiayi's face was not very good. "It's too late. We should go back."
Princess Jingxuan was stunned for a moment, then nodded hesitantly.
"What a pity! I'll treat you to a meal next time we meet." He Ping scratched his head and smiled again, "On the day I win the first place in the imperial examination and ride on my horse and parade through the streets, you have to come over when you have time."
Princess Jingxuan's eyes became a little strange, "Are you also participating in the Spring Examination?"
Also? He Ping's eyes sparkled, he was elated and extremely confident, "I'm here to win three prizes in a row, just wait and see."
Without waiting for the princess to speak, Lu Jiayi sneered, "Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself? Do you think you are worthy?"
The smile on He Ping's face finally disappeared. When he was not smiling, he had a kind of cold majesty. Lu Jiayi trembled and actually felt a little timid.
"You don't believe it?"
"I don't believe it!" Lu Jiayi gritted his teeth, "Let's make a bet!"
"Okay, if I don't pass, I will never be an official in my life, and I will never have a career in politics."
"No!" Jingxuan was anxious. "Mr. He, fame and honor are what scholars strive for. How can you not become an official? Take back your words. Jiayi, the bet is invalid. Stop messing around."
Lu Jiayi's anger grew even stronger. "No, I have to keep my word. Mr. He, if you win, I will—"
He Ping suddenly interrupted her: "Princess, please accompany me to eat a bowl of sweet-scented osmanthus dumplings."
Lu Jiayi said angrily: "Bah, you wishful thinking, in the bet between you and me, why should you let the princess be the stake?"
He Ping sneered, "I thought you could make the decision for the princess, but it turns out you can't. Tsk, keep your word. I don't think the princess's words count for anything in your eyes."
"You're plotting against me? You're trying to make the princess suspicious of me. You have such a vicious mind."
"Miss, I'm not trying to trick you, I'm just reminding you."
Lu Jiayi and Jingxuan were both stunned.
The bright lights illuminated the dark night like day, and the Forbidden Palace in the distance became so close that it could be seen clearly.
Lu Jiayi suddenly shuddered.
He Ping waved towards the people under the bridge and started grinning again.
He turned around and smiled, "It's rare for you to come out. Ladies, do you want to go have a couple of drinks with us?"
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