The conversation between Yan Min'er and Mrs. Yan was overheard by a woman in green. This woman was a little younger than Yan Min'er and more beautiful and slender. She asked, "I heard that Mr. Qiao's wife is a famous talented woman in Huzhou. I wonder if she is pretty?"
Yan Miner smiled and said in an ambiguous way: "Even if she is a famous talented woman, she is not as good as Ah Xiu from Jiyang."
Ling Xiu was the beloved daughter of Ling Dianyi, the bookkeeper of the royal palace. She could write poems at the age of five and was well-known in Jiyang at the age of seven.
A young girl on the other side heard this and covered her mouth with her hands, sneering, "Why should Ah Xiu compare herself with the wife of a merchant? She shouldn't lower her status. Maybe the title of a talented woman is just a lie, and she is just trying to add a layer of gold to herself."
Ling Xiu also laughed: "If Master Qiao really stays in Jiyang, he will no longer be a merchant in the future."
"A merchant is a merchant. The stink of copper is ingrained in his bones. It cannot be covered up by changing clothes." Yan Min'er said with contempt, "After all, he is not worthy of being accepted by the upper class."
The girls burst into laughter. At this time, someone said, "Cui Zhongqi has arrived!"
Everyone looked up and saw a middle-aged man coming from the end of the pavilion by the lake. He was chubby, broad-shouldered, and had a simple and honest look. His smile was also friendly, like Maitreya Buddha. He was wearing a black martial arts uniform and was full of energy. When he reached the entrance of the pavilion, he handed the long spear in his hand to his men and said with a smile, "Everyone is here."
Everyone stood up and returned the greeting to Cui Yuezhi.
Cui Yuezhi was second only to the emperor in Jiyang, so everyone in and outside the palace had to give him face. Cui Yuezhi turned around and asked Zhong Fu, "Have Qingqing and the others arrived?"
"We have sent someone to invite him." Zhong Fu smiled and said, "He should be here soon."
Yesterday, Cui Yuezhi was discussing matters with the princess in the palace, and accidentally drank a few more cups, so he stayed in the palace. This morning, he continued to quarrel with the group of stubborn old men, and he has not seen his nephew yet. He touched his chin and said, "I don't know what my nephew looks like? Does he look like my elder brother? How much does he look like me?"
Zhong Fu was about to say something but stopped himself. To be honest, Mr. Qiao had nothing in common with the Cui family except for his gender.
"I heard that the child was raised in a merchant family," Cui Yuezhi said with some concern. "Although I don't mind this, the nobles in the city value status the most. I just hope they don't underestimate themselves."
Zhong Fu was about to speak, but at the end of the pavilion, a servant from the Cui family came over and said: "Master Qiao, Mrs. Qiao is here——"
Everyone looked up subconsciously.
At the end of the pavilion, by the lake, two people were walking side by side. One was a man and one was a woman, both were very young. The man was very tall, tall and straight like jade, wearing a dark green embroidered black gold python brocade robe, very elegant, with black hair tied up with a green jade hairpin, delicate eyebrows and bright eyes, graceful and beautiful, but a little cold. The woman standing next to him was smiling, bright and lovely, and I don't know what material her clothes were made of. At first, it looked just ordinary white, but as she walked, it shone with some blue, purple, gold and pink, like a dream, very moving.
They were both extremely good-looking and had an unusually good match. Standing together, they looked an indescribable match. For a moment, everyone in the pavilion was stunned by their appearance.
Is this a businessman who comes from a merchant family and reeks of copper?
Can a businessman have such extraordinary grace?
Cui Yuezhi was also stunned. Is this his eldest brother's son?
His elder brother looks 70% similar to him. Not to mention handsome, it's hard to describe him as slim. This... is too good-looking.
Yan Min'er was stunned, and suddenly, her face turned extremely ugly. She knew these two people. The woman was the one who embarrassed her in Xiu Luofang that day, and the man... was the one who laughed at her dark skin. After she returned home, she could not swallow this breath. She never expected that these two people were the nephew and niece-in-law that Cui Yuezhi found.
She was so angry that she almost vomited blood.
Ling Xiu's eyes fell on Xiao Jue, and she seemed a little infatuated. She could only murmur, "How could there be such a handsome man in the world..."
Jiyang is different from Shuojing. The women are beautiful and hot, and the men are strong and brave. Just as a talented woman like Ling Xiu is very popular in Jiyang, a handsome, noble and elegant man like Xiao Jue is rare. All the women at the table stared at him like wolves staring at meat.
He Yan also noticed these eager eyes and cursed secretly in his heart. Xiao Jue's face really attracted bees and butterflies wherever he went.
Lin Shuanghe followed behind them. At first, everyone thought he was Xiao Jue's relative or friend. Later, when they found out that he was the housekeeper, they were also shocked.
I probably didn't expect that the conditions for being a housekeeper in Huzhou would be so harsh.
Cui Yuezhi arranged for Xiao Jue and He Yan to sit at the table, just below and to the right of his main table.
"Qingqing," Cui Yuezhi looked at him with a smile, "I really didn't expect that you could be so beautiful."
Who knew... It really brings honor to the Cui family!
It's great that the Cui family has avenged their past shame!
Xiao Jueping nodded calmly.
Cui Yuezhi's eyes fell on He Yan again and he said with a smile, "My niece-in-law looks young too. How old is she this year?"
He Yan said: "Almost seventeen."
"Seventeen is good." The more Cui Yuezhi looked at He Yan, the more satisfied he became. She was beautiful. This nephew and his niece-in-law were both pretty. The children they would have in the future would be even prettier. The bloodline of the Cui family would surely become stronger with each generation. Thinking of this, he felt very relieved and even wanted to go to the ancestral hall to burn two incense sticks for his eldest brother. It was really God's blessing.
"Today's banquet in the center of the lake is specially held to welcome you two." Cui Yuezhi smiled and said, "Do you feel okay?"
Xiao Jue said: "Very good, thank you uncle."
The word "uncle" immediately pleased Cui Yuezhi. His face was almost broken with laughter. He said to everyone, "You can see, this is the only child of my deceased elder brother, my nephew!"
The guests immediately raised their glasses, complimenting him with words like "extraordinary character and appearance" and "elegant and profound", and congratulated Cui Yuezhi on the reunion of his family, and so on.
Cui Yuezhi became more and more delighted and ordered his servants to serve the dishes and the banquet began.
Jiyang does not have the custom of having men and women sit at different tables. They sit according to their age. Cui Yuezhi asked Xiao Jue about many things related to him in recent years, and then he talked about He Yan.
"I heard that my nephew and his niece-in-law got married not long ago?"
"We got married in Huzhou last October." Xiao Jue said calmly, "Less than half a year."
Cui Yuezhi said "Oh" and said with some regret: "It's a pity that I didn't see it with my own eyes." He patted Xiao Jue on the shoulder: "If I could see you get married with my own eyes, I would die without regrets."
"What does my niece's wife do at home?" Cui Yuezhi asked, "Huzhou is too far from Jiyang, and many things are hard to find out."
He Yan answered as he had been told before: "Yuyan is just an ordinary family. I am grateful to you for your attention, Master."
"An ordinary family?" Everyone in the room had different expressions. This was a commoner's family. People always thought that although Qiao Qingqing was born in a merchant family, he was still a wealthy man. Money can make the devil work, not to mention that he was so beautiful. If he married a daughter of a minor official, it would be more than enough. But he married an ordinary family like Wen Yuyan, who had neither money nor power. Why? If he valued Wen Yuyan's beauty, he could have made her a concubine, why did he have to make her his wife?
The girls looked at He Yan with a hint of envy and jealousy.
Ling Xiu's eyes turned slightly and fell on Xiao Jue's face. The young man was already handsome and now he was sitting lazily. However, his occasional indifference made him even more attractive, making all the men in Jiyang city look inferior to him.
She looked at He Yan again. She was just the daughter of an ordinary family. In terms of appearance and status, how could she compare to herself? A trace of reluctance rose in her heart. Wen Yuyan was not worthy of Qiao Xinqing at all. Only she should stand shoulder to shoulder with Qiao Xinqing.
She stood up and said softly, "It is a good thing that Lord Cui has found his family today. I, Ah Xiu, am not talented, but I am willing to sing a song for Lord Cui to express my congratulations." After she finished speaking, her eyes passed over Xiao Jue and she revealed a shy smile.
The young men at the banquet were overjoyed upon hearing this and stared at Ling Xiu with burning eyes.
Girls from Jiyang City are always bold, confident and cheerful. If they have outstanding talents, it is not shameful to show them in front of everyone. However, Ling Xiu is different from others. She never likes to show herself actively. Even at a banquet, she would refuse and only agree when she is helpless.
This is the first time she has taken such initiative today, and her best skill is the piano, which makes people look forward to it.
Cui Yuezhi was also very happy and waved his hand: "Great! Ah Xiu has opened our eyes today. If you play well, uncle will give you a big gift!"
Lord Ling and Madam Ling were smiling, as they were no longer surprised by such glorious events. After all, the whole Jiyang City knew that Ling Xiu was extremely talented and beautiful.
The servant quickly brought a zither.
The zither was also green, like the grass and trees in spring, lush and green. She was wearing a light green gauze dress, just like a spring fairy. Her ten fingers were slender, she burned incense and bathed her hands, and gently plucked the strings of the zither.
The piece she played was "Late Spring".
Spring breeze gallops the horses of Wuling, warm sun in West Lake in March, orchestras touch water warblers and flower markets, I don't know that music doesn't come here, it's suitable for singing, drinking and poetry. The mountains pass by with frowning eyebrows, the willows drag smoke and piled hair...
The sound of the piano was pleasant, brushing past people's ears and making people intoxicated. He Yan felt the same way. He just thought that this girl had really deft hands. If he compared it with his own movements when playing the piano, he could easily break the strings, let alone play a complete song.
It's really amazing.
She was so absorbed in listening that she glanced over and saw Xiao Jue was completely unmoved, just drinking his tea with his head down. She couldn't help but touch him and whispered, "Why aren't you listening?"
Xiao Jue: “I’m listening.”
"Then why don't you look nice?"
"What do you mean by nice-sounding?"
He Yan nodded towards the other end, "That's how they are."
The young men present, and even some of the older gentlemen, were all staring at Ling Xiu in a daze, as if they were drowning in the sound of the piano, with admiration flashing in their eyes. Xiao Jue withdrew his gaze and said coldly, "Boring."
"You're really hard to please." He Yan muttered softly, "I think it sounds nice, and she's pretty, too. If I could get to know a girl like this, I'd be extremely happy."
"Extremely happy?" Xiao Jue suddenly smiled, looked at her, and said with interest: "I hope you will be just as happy next time."
He Yan didn't understand what he meant, so she just said, "I'll be happy next time."
While the two of them were talking, Ling Xiu had finished playing a song. She looked towards Xiao Jue, but saw Xiao Jue turning his head to talk to He Yan, with the corner of his lips curled up, as if he was joking. Seeing this, Ling Xiu felt a sinking feeling in her heart and became more unwilling.
She stood up, and the people around her praised her. Cui Yuezhi also smiled and said, "Ah Xiu, the music you played will linger on the beams for three, no, nine days!"
No one would deny her piano sound. Ling Xiu looked at Xiao Jue again, but saw that the young man lowered his head to drink tea and did not even look at her. Instead, "Wen Yuyan" beside him looked at her with a smile, as if mocking her.
The smile on Ling Xiu's lips was a little stiff, but after a moment, she humbly said, "How dare I show off my skills in front of an expert? I heard that Madam Qiao from Huzhou is a famous talented woman in the area, and her piano skills are superb. Since we have the opportunity to be here today, can I see her for myself?" After saying that, she stared at He Yan expectantly, "Let everyone see how exquisite Madam's piano skills are."
He Yan was watching with great pleasure, but was stunned when she heard the words. Why was he suddenly talking about her? Wen Yuyan was an excellent zither player? Was that so? How could she not know?
He Yan looked at Lin Shuanghe for help. This was her husband. Lin Shuanghe turned away as if nothing had happened and pretended to talk to the people around him. He Yan did not intend to help her out again.
"I think... it's not necessary..." He Yan said with a chuckle: "Miss Ah Xiu's piano skills are already very good, so there is no need for me to do anything unnecessary."
"How can you say this is unnecessary?" Ling Xiu looked at He Yan very sincerely, "Ah Xiu really wants to listen to Madam's piano playing."
He Yan: “…”
Her piano music? Her piano music can ward off evil spirits and ward off evil spirits. It is not for appreciation!
Seeing He Yan's embarrassed expression, Ling Xiu couldn't help but feel proud. She thought about what she had heard before about Wen Yuyan's extraordinary talent, but she was afraid that it was just a cover. If she could make her look bad in front of everyone today, it would be a laughing stock in Jiyang City.
Yan Min'er, who had always been at loggerheads with Ling Xiu, could not help but feel gratified at the sight of this. Earlier in Xiu Luo Fang Li, although Xiao Jue had said sarcastic words, Yan Min'er had blamed He Yan. Perhaps a woman loved by such an outstanding man would always be particularly eye-catching, especially when she did not seem to have any special qualities, which made people feel that she was not worthy of the reputation.
He Yan looked at Xiao Jue beside him. Xiao Jue was drinking tea leisurely with a calm expression.
No wonder he just said "I hope you will be just as happy next time." Did he guess that this would happen? How did he know? Such a strange thought, unpredictable, but Xiao Jue could see it? Could he read his mind? He Yan muttered in his heart, reached under the table, secretly pulled his sleeve, and whispered, "Can you help me?"
Xiao Jue said calmly: "Haven't you learned it before?"
"I haven't learned it yet," He Yan said, "Lin Shuanghe taught me before, and he said I was pretty good, but when I heard this girl play just now, I felt like I didn't play it right."
This is an understatement. In fact, it is not only incorrect, it is outrageously wrong.
"You can't play the piano, chess, calligraphy or painting," he said, "besides cheating and deceiving, what else can you do?"
He Yan said hesitantly: "A huge stone shattered in the chest?"
But she can't just show others here how to break rocks with her chest!
Xiao Jue: “…”
"If I reveal my true colors, we're all done. Please help me," He Yan begged him, "Commander-in-Chief, Young Master, Second Young Master Xiao, my husband?"
This "husband" obviously annoyed Xiao Jue, and he said, "Speak nicely."
He Yan: "Then I'll take that as your agreement."
The two of them spoke in extremely low voices, and in the eyes of everyone, it seemed that He Yan was acting coquettishly towards Xiao Jue, and Xiao Jue was very indulgent.
Cui Yuezhi smiled and said, "Why? Yuyan doesn't want to play the piano?"
"I won't hide it from you all. When we got married, my wife and I made an agreement. She is an excellent pianist and can only play for me." Xiao Jue said calmly, "So today, I'm afraid I can't do what this girl wants."
Everyone was stunned, and He Yan was also shocked. He never thought that Xiao Jue would come up with this reason. But thinking about it, this reason is very good. After all, if you use other reasons to prevaricate once, there will always be a next time. This reason also prevents the next time. After all, why would someone break the agreement without any reason?
Ling Xiu's expression was stiff. She looked at the young woman sitting next to the young man. She couldn't hold back her anger and said with a smile, "But today is the day when you and Mr. Cui will be reunited. With so many people here, it's not a big deal to make an exception."
"The agreement between me and the madam cannot be shaken." Xiao Jue glanced at her indifferently: "You must listen to it. I can do it for you." At the end of the words, his tone became cold and he was already impatient.
Ling Xiu was also startled by his coldness and didn't dare to say anything for a moment. Cui Yuezhi finally came to the rescue and asked with a smile: "Xing Qing can also play the piano?"
“Just a little bit.”
"Then I must listen to the music of Qingqing's zither today," Cui Yuezhi clapped his hands and laughed, "My Cui family has been practicing martial arts for generations, but we have never produced such an elegant person! Zhong Fu, wipe the zither again."
"No need," Xiao Jue said, "Butler Lin, bring the Wanxiangqin."
Xiao Jue was always particular about the things he used, and He Yan knew that. But in the eyes of those who didn't know, especially Ling Xiu, it seemed as if Xiao Jue didn't use the same piano with her because he disliked her. She couldn't help but bite her lip and reluctantly sat back in her seat.
Lin Shuanghe quickly took Xiao Jue's Wanxiangqin.
He Yan still remembered this Wanxiangqin. Before she went to Liangzhouwei to pretend to be Cheng Lisu, she got drunk and crushed the qin. Xiao Jue even took it to Liangzhou City to repair it. Just by looking at it, she knew it was worth a lot. Fortunately, Xiao Jue didn't let her pay for it, otherwise she really couldn't afford to pay it back even if she sold it.
She vaguely remembered hearing Xiao Jue play the piano, but she was half drunk after all, and her memory became fuzzy. Now when she saw the piano, the memories of being drunk suddenly flooded her mind.
The man sat in front of the zither, burning incense and washing his hands. Unlike Ling Xiu's deliberate fiddling, he seemed much more lazy and casual, with a bit of nonchalance, and did it very naturally. If he was not a very young zither player, it would be impossible for him to play so smoothly.
At a certain moment, He Yan seemed to see the romantic young man who was dozing under the loquat tree in Xianchang Hall.
But he grew up eventually.
The strings were plucked.
His hands were long and well-defined, and they were very handsome. When they fell on the strings, beautiful sounds flowed out. This music was different from the "Late Spring" that Ling Xiu had just played. Unlike the cheerfulness of "Late Spring", this music was quiet with a hint of light sadness, like the river illuminated by the bright moon, flowing into the distance.
The piece he played was "Jiang Yue".
This piece of music is very difficult and is a great test of one's piano skills. He Yan had heard someone play it before, and that person was her master Liu Buwang. However, when Liu Buwang played it, he was more likely to feel nostalgic or lost. The feeling when Xiao Jue played it was different from that of Liu Buwang.
A handsome man doing elegant things always attracts attention. Even Ling Xiu who was frightened by Xiao Jue just now, or Yan Miner who was ridiculed by Xiao Jue before, and even more people, couldn't help but immerse themselves in his piano music at this moment.
He Yan is no exception.
When he played the piano, his wing-like eyelashes drooped, hiding the coldness and clarity in his eyes, leaving only tenderness. His facial features were too handsome, and his thin lips were slightly pursed, making him look restrained and moving.
He Yan thought, it is really hard to find someone better and more handsome than him in this world.
The song ended and Xiao Jue withdrew his hand.
Everyone stared at him in silence.
If it weren't for his piece "River Moon", Ling Xiu's "Late Spring" would have been excellent. But after the comparison, Ling Xiu's piano skills seemed mediocre and not so amazing.
Both male and female relatives stared at Xiao Jue, with only one confusion in their hearts. It was said that Qiao Qingqing from Huzhou was adopted by a merchant family, but now it seemed that the intelligence was wrong. Such a person did not seem like someone that a merchant family could raise.
Cui Yuezhi was even more pleased. Seeing Xiao Jue's satisfaction, he laughed and said, "Qingqing, your song has stunned us all! The princess always said that Ah Xiu's piano skills are the best in Jiyang City. Next time I bring you to the palace, if the princess hears your piano playing, she will definitely praise you!"
When everyone heard this, they had different thoughts. Since Cui Yuezhi mentioned the princess, it meant that he wanted to bring Qiao Qingqing into the palace. In this case, she could not be treated as an ordinary merchant...
Xiao Jue smiled slightly, and glanced at He Yan with his deep eyes, and said calmly: "I am sorry, in fact, my piano skills are not even one tenth of yours."
"Really?" Cui Yuezhi looked at He Yan in surprise, "How great would that be!"
He Yan's face turned red.
I feel quite embarrassed.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
