Qi Mingyue pondered for a moment, then said softly, "Since the theme is the spring scenery of the Ying River, how about calling it 'Spring Dawn on the Banks of the Ying River'?"
"Excellent!" Xie Ansu clapped his hands in praise. "Miss, every word you write is worth a thousand pieces of gold. This poem is truly fortunate."
The two then began discussing poetry and prose, finding themselves increasingly congenial. The sunlight grew warmer, scattering countless glittering specks on the river's surface. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers and the mist of water, a truly refreshing experience.
Qi Mingyue hadn't enjoyed discussing poetry so freely with someone in a long time. Back in the capital, although there were talented men and beautiful women exchanging poems and drinks, there was always a certain amount of formality and restraint. Xie Ansu was different; he discussed poetry directly, without feigning profundity or trying to flatter, making her feel a rare sense of ease and comfort.
"Miss, please look over there." Xie Ansu suddenly pointed upstream. "Fishermen are casting their nets."
Qi Mingyue looked in the direction he pointed and saw an old fisherman casting his net from a small boat, his movements as practiced and fluid as flowing water. The net startled several water birds, which flapped their wings and flew towards the peach grove on the opposite bank.
“‘Fishing boats sing at dusk, their songs echoing along the shores of Poyang Lake.’” Qi Mingyue recited softly, “Seeing this scene today, I finally understand the brilliance of Wang Zian’s words.”
Xie Ansu continued, “‘The wild geese are startled by the cold, their cries fading away at the shores of Hengyang.’ It’s a pity that it is springtime now, and there are no wild geese to be seen, only these few water birds to suit the occasion.”
The two exchanged a smile, feeling as if they were kindred spirits.
As the sun rose higher, more and more tourists appeared on the river. Several students recognized Xie Ansu from afar and wanted to go up and greet him, but seeing that he was chatting happily with Qi Mingyue, they wisely stepped back.
Xie Ansu was completely unaware, focusing solely on discussing poetry with Qi Mingyue. He talked about everything from the works of local poets in Yingzhou to folk songs, and even casually plucked a willow leaf, placed it to his lips, and blew out a clear and melodious tune.
Qi Mingyue was astonished: "Young Master Xie actually knows this?"
Xie Ansu smiled and said, "I learned these little skills from the fishermen's children when I was young, playing by the river. I hope you'll forgive my poor skills, Miss." As he spoke, he handed her the willow leaf, "Would you like to try it, Miss?"
Qi Mingyue hesitated for a moment, then finally took the willow leaf and tried to blow it according to his instructions, but only managed to produce a series of whistling sounds. Xie Ansu couldn't help but smile and patiently pointed out the key points. After several attempts, she actually managed to produce a few notes.
"We did it!" Qi Mingyue rarely showed such girlish joy, her eyes sparkling.
Xie Ansu was momentarily stunned by her appearance. In the days he had spent with her, Qi Mingyue had mostly appeared as a dignified and composed woman of talent, but now he saw such a vibrant and lively side of her.
Zhi Shu watched from a distance, secretly marveling. When had her young mistress ever had such a relaxed moment while in the capital? Although this young master Xie was a bit easily swayed, he could still make her happy, which was a good thing.
As the sun neared its zenith, the three of them rose and headed back. Xie Ansu then led Qi Mingyue down another route, passing through a market town where the vibrant atmosphere of the marketplace was palpable. He enthusiastically introduced her to the local snacks and specialties, even buying a few for her to try.
Qi Mingyue tried them all and found the flavors novel and more memorable than the delicacies of the capital. Watching Xie Ansu chatting familiarly with the vendors, she suddenly understood why her mother always said that Yingzhou was different from the capital—life here was more real and more vibrant.
It was already afternoon when they returned to the academy. Xie Ansu stopped outside Tingxuezhai and bowed solemnly: "Today, I was honored to have Miss accompany me on this trip to the Ying River. I have benefited greatly from it."
Qi Mingyue returned the greeting: "It is Mingyue who should thank you, Young Master. If it weren't for your guidance, how could Mingyue have witnessed the true essence of the Ying River?"
Xie Ansu smiled, "I'm glad you like it, Miss. There's plenty of time in the future, and I know a few other good places to visit, if you have some free time..."
“If you would be willing to be my guide, I would be more than happy to do so,” Qi Mingyue replied, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Xie Ansu visibly relaxed, his smile becoming even brighter: "Then it's settled. Miss, you've had a long day, please get some rest."
Watching Xie Ansu leave, Qi Mingyue turned and entered Tingxuezhai, feeling more relaxed than ever before. Zhishu followed her in, helping her change her clothes while smiling and saying, "Miss, you look radiant today, better than any tonic you could take."
Qi Mingyue looked at herself in the mirror and saw that her complexion was rosy, and the faint melancholy in her eyes had lessened. She gently stroked the manuscript of "Spring Dawn in Yingbin" on the table and suddenly felt that coming to Yingzhou was the right decision she could have made.
Outside the window, the spring sunshine was just right. But what Qi Mingyue didn't know was that in another corner of the school, Bai Lian'er was standing by the window, watching Xie Ansu's departing figure, her handkerchief almost torn to shreds.
"Qi Mingyue..." she murmured the name, a resolute glint in her eyes.
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