Young and unaware of the pain of unrequited love.
After pondering in the garden for a while, Gao Junxiao returned to the house and saw his teacher's wife wiping the face of the boy from before, or rather, removing his makeup. His teacher's two young daughters also had smeared faces and were looking down with their heads down, as if they had done something wrong. Qingcheng was scolding the two children with her back to him.
The scene was somewhat comical, making him want to chuckle. He knew without a second thought that the girls were probably playing some kind of makeup game again, and the boy was the poor model. Hahaha, he missed this relaxed everyday atmosphere.
The study presented a different scene altogether. Everyone present was deep in thought about a certain problem. Only Gao Junxiao, who had asked the question, had the leisure to appreciate the room's furnishings. The furniture here was mainly made of dark walnut wood and was arranged neatly according to its function, with almost no superfluous decorations.
There were only a few photos hanging on the wall. He looked at them one by one. Most of them were photos of the teacher's wife and the teacher's daughters. Only one photo surprised him so much that he couldn't believe his eyes. It was a photo of two female students. The one on the left had double braids and the other had short hair that reached her ears.
The girl on the left with the double braids is He Qingcheng, or more precisely, fourteen-year-old He Qingcheng. Shouldn't she have been in her hometown at that time? Did she just go home and then come to Shanghai to study?
It shouldn't be this fast. If I remember correctly, she was still in mourning at that time. Gao Junxiao frowned as he looked at the photo, as if he wanted to stare a hole through it.
"What are you looking at so intently?" Chen Yao suddenly appeared, and upon seeing the photo, exclaimed excitedly, "Isn't this Jin Xiaoyin? Teacher, you know Jin Xiaoyin?"
"Don't be so alarmed, that's my goddaughter," Tan Dachuan said calmly.
"Teacher, why didn't you say so sooner? I'll use your connections to get autographs from now on." Chen Yao grinned from ear to ear, fawningly going behind the desk to pat the teacher's shoulder.
"You're a fan of hers too? She happens to be outside, you'll see her when we eat later." Tan Dachuan's words seemed to have given Chen Yao a shot of a drug, making him so dizzy that he could hardly stand.
It was Gao Junxiao who kindly helped Chen Yao up, preventing the silly boy from losing face in front of his elders. Chen Yao's hand trembled as he asked Gao Junxiao to pinch him quickly to make sure this wasn't a dream.
The elders around them laughed at Chen Yao for losing his composure, and Gao Junxiao helplessly reminded him, "Be normal, it's just meeting He Qingcheng."
"What do you mean 'just this'..." Chen Yao was about to explode when he narrowed his eyes and sniffed him intensely again. "Your little lover is here too? This scent wasn't there before."
Gao Junxiao would never admit to such a thing, and he pushed Chen Yao away with disgust. However, Commander Xiong glanced at Gao Junxiao and reminded him meaningfully, "You don't understand, it's normal for it to have a fragrance." As a result, Chen Yao was even more confused.
"Alright, alright. Let's go eat. We can discuss the bandit's movements later in the conference room. Today is my birthday, so from now on, no one is allowed to talk about work." Tan Dachuan's words were final, and no one dared to object.
Inside the restaurant, a sumptuous feast was piled high on the table. After Tan Dachuan introduced Qingcheng to Chen Yao, the boy excitedly pushed him aside and held onto his hand tightly. If there hadn't been so many guests present, Gao Junxiao would have kicked him long ago.
Now he could only desperately suppress his impulse, standing behind Chen Yao and silently observing Miss He. She remained as elegant and composed as ever. Such a well-mannered girl would disregard her widowed mother and run away from her hometown before the mourning period was over. Gao Junxiao couldn't believe he had misjudged her; something must have happened to Miss He after she returned home that he didn't know about.
However, she acted as if it was their first meeting the whole time, and her aloof attitude made Gao Junxiao feel very disappointed. The delicious food and wine in front of him became tasteless. After the banquet, he took Chen Yao home.
Perhaps sensing that Gao Junxiao was preoccupied, Chen Yao smiled with her squinting eyes and gossiped, "Is your secret little lover Miss He? Or is it just a coincidence that you two use the same perfume?"
"Neither," Gao Junxiao replied numbly. He was still pondering He Qingcheng's feelings for him. Although He Qingcheng refused him firmly, she was never hesitant to help when it came to it, which meant that she at least considered him a friend.
On several occasions, he deliberately blurred the lines between their relationship to test her reaction. Besides anger, restraint, and distress, Miss He also had an unyielding sadness in her eyes, as if she had some unspeakable secret that she could only push him away.
"Unrequited love? Hehe, no problem. I'll help you win her over. From now on, I can just ask you for autographs, and I won't have to wait in line anymore. You won't have to lose your appetite anymore either," Chen Yao said excitedly.
Gao Junxiao's expression froze for a moment. So this was what unrequited love felt like. Only after entering the gates of unrequited love did one understand its bitterness. Where was the sweetness in unrequited love...?
Sitting on the bed, Gao Junxiao tossed the silver dollar Qingcheng had given him. She said the silver dollar was a talisman, what did that mean? Wait a minute, the day he sent her back to the city, he also sold the horse for three silver dollars, and it seems he gave one of them to He Qingcheng for travel expenses.
Ah! She hadn't spent it then; this Yuan Shikai silver dollar had come full circle and returned to his hands. Gao Junxiao wiped the silver dollar with delight; it turned out she still remembered his kindness.
Although there's a suspicion that he's relying on his past achievements, it's certain that she doesn't dislike him. But why is she always so hot and cold? Especially after he proposed marriage, He Qingcheng's attitude towards him underwent a complete 180-degree change; she didn't even bother to pretend to be a lady anymore.
Why is that?
With too many thoughts running through his mind but no way to verify them, Gao Junxiao heard Chen Yao grinding his teeth in the living room. It was quite eerie to hear that late at night. Gao Junxiao's face darkened, and he went to the living room and shook the sleeping Chen Yao awake: "I'm asking you, what kind of person do you think Miss He is?"
Chen Yao was clearly still not fully awake, and replied weakly, "Ah... which Miss He? Brother, you're not sleeping, but I am."
"He Qingcheng." Gao Junxiao didn't answer but asked in return, wanting to know Chen Yao's attitude, "Have you taken a fancy to Miss He? After all, she's a beauty."
"Vulgar? Am I that kind of person? I admire her talent. Don't you understand the concept of 'high mountains and flowing water'?" Chen Yao replied, forcing himself to stay alert when talking about He Qingcheng.
“Yes, I’m vulgar,” Gao Junxiao asked solemnly. “I want to know what she’s thinking?”
Chen Yao yawned and pointed to the book on the fireplace: "What's wrong with you so late at night? If you want to understand her inner thoughts, read her book. I put the new book there."
"It's alright, you can go back to sleep." Gao Junxiao strode over and picked up the book "Qing Ping Le". Chen Yao lay down, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and continued to dream.
The title page features a line from Du Fu's poem: "Once there was a beautiful woman named Gongsun, whose sword dance moved all four directions." The female protagonist of "Qing Ping Yue" is Gongsun Huo, an evolution of this Gongsun woman. The opening scene is a magnificent Lantern Festival in the Tang Dynasty, and the more Gao Junxiao reads, the more sleepy he feels.
Brightness gradually broke through the window, and the chirping of birds sounded especially melodious in the quiet morning. Gao Junxiao closed his book, lay down on the bed with his eyes closed, his mind filled with Gongsun Huo's vigorous and graceful sword dance, a perfect blend of strength and gentleness. But that wasn't the point. The point was that he seemed to know why He Qingcheng had rejected him.
Through Gongsun Huo's words, Miss He declared to the world: Daughters should be self-reliant! For the sake of her ideals, she would abandon all worldly affairs.
In the book, Gongsun Huo began learning martial arts at the age of four, ended up in a music academy at the age of seven, and became famous in her teens. She was praised by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang as the number one dancer of the Tang Dynasty. She brought a legend to life. She was good at what women were good at, and she was also good at what men were good at. Her dance transcended gender, so she was a dancer, not a dancer.
"One minute on stage requires ten years of practice off stage." Behind this was Gongsun Huo's endless practice, wearing out countless dance shoes. Even with wounds from sharp blades still healing, she would pick up her sword again to practice. She felt guilty towards her family; the regret of not being able to serve her parents accompanied her throughout her life.
There were also two men who flashed through her life like shooting stars. One was the prince of Nanshao Kingdom, who was also a dancer. Due to the huge difference in their social status, the two eventually agreed to become confidants. The other was a swordsman who was also the master of Red Sword Manor. After waiting for her for five years, the swordsman was disheartened and announced that he would marry someone else.
Gongsun Huo simply put away the token of their love—the famous sword Yu Chang. She originally intended to take on her apprentice and then ask the emperor for permission to leave the Pear Garden. However, when she looked back, she found no one behind her. If she had gone to find the swordsman before the wedding, the outcome would have been different. However, after a day without eating or drinking, she returned to the dance practice area.
As Gongsun Huo, she could stay at Hongjian Manor as a happy mistress, dancing for her beloved in her spare time. But Gongsun Da Niang, as a dancer, could not.
Gongsun Da Niang is a symbol of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. She is to perform in the grand hall where envoys from all nations pay tribute, showcasing the magnificent grandeur of the Tang Dynasty to them. The story begins with the Lantern Festival of the Tang Dynasty and ends with the supreme banquet where envoys from all nations pay tribute.
This damned sense of mission perfectly describes He Qingcheng herself. Things are nothing like the prosperous Tang Dynasty, where foreign powers paid tribute; now it's more like being bullied by all nations. Gao Junxiao understands that for Harvey, Miss He is merely a medium for understanding China. She uses him as a diplomat, but she never expected to attract such a troublesome suitor.
Everyone says that novels are a reflection of the author's reality. Could the prototype of that prince of Nanshao Kingdom be Harvey? And isn't that other swordsman himself? I guess I still have a chance. Gao Junxiao felt that Miss He still didn't understand him. Let alone five years, he would wait for ten or twenty years.
A day later, Gao Junxiao went to the Tan mansion with gifts again and went directly to his teacher's wife to express his longing.
"Junxiao, stop beating around the bush with your teacher's wife, just give me your name." Mrs. Tan, who also loved playing matchmaker, said knowingly.
“He Qingcheng,” Gao Junxiao replied, straightening his posture and enunciating each word clearly.
"Haha, you've got some good ideas, bringing out all of your teacher's treasures." Mrs. Tan said with a smile, "But Qingcheng is different from other girls. You have to take it slow. I suggest you don't mention marriage yet, and see how things go between you two."
"To be honest, I proposed to her, but she rejected me," Gao Junxiao said without any embarrassment.
"Oh? This is terrible! Why are you in such a hurry, child?" Mrs. Tan's face suddenly turned extremely ugly.
"The student thinks a responsible man should directly propose marriage to show his responsible attitude," Gao Junxiao speculated. "Professor's wife, is she already engaged back in her hometown?"
"No, that's not it. Otherwise, would you be the one to snag such a good treasure?" Mrs. Tan said sarcastically, taking a sip of tea.
He was determined to snag this amazing deal from Miss He! Gao Junxiao then asked, "Was she jilted?"
Mrs. Tan almost choked on her words, looking at Gao Junxiao with a complicated expression: "Where did you get this information from?"
Knowing that Gao Junxiao was only guessing, Mrs. Tan breathed a sigh of relief: "This matter concerns a young woman's reputation, so don't make wild guesses. There are other reasons why she rejected you. I heard from my eldest daughter that Chengcheng is rebelling against society. She feels that the marriage system is a patriarchal product that oppresses and exploits women's value. Sometimes, in the name of love, women can temporarily forget this exploitation and be better enslaved."
Although Qingcheng's words were somewhat extreme, they weren't entirely unfounded. There's a saying in the countryside: even if a woman marries a husband who gambles, smokes, and is violent, she still has to pray to God that the man is alive. Otherwise, she'll only face an irrecoverable fate.
Gao Junxiao also discovered that in every town he visited, the chastity arches were always heavily promoted by the town head and mayor. It seemed that women were only worthy of praise for their chastity, while men were more often praised as scholars, top scholars, great philanthropists, or even local sages.
"Hmm... Junxiao, how about your teacher's wife introduces you to other girls? There are quite a few as lively and pretty as Chengcheng." Mrs. Tan asked cautiously. "Chengcheng is a very opinionated girl. It's great to be friends with her. She will give you a lot of help, but she's not really suitable as an officer's wife."
Suddenly, Tan Dachuan's questioning voice came from behind: "What? You want to marry Qingcheng?"
“Yes, the student likes her and wants to marry her,” Gao Junxiao said firmly.
"You think you're shopping at a mall and can just take whatever you like? Give up on that idea now, it's hopeless." Tan Dachuan had just returned home and hadn't even had time to put down his briefcase when he poured cold water on Gao Junxiao's hopes.
"I only want He Qingcheng," Gao Junxiao reiterated. "Of all the waters in the world, I only want one."
"Don't I know your personality? You're the kind of person who considers it a loss if you don't win beautifully," Tan Dachuan said, pointing at Gao Junxiao. "You treat Qingcheng like a fortified stronghold. Now that you can't take it down, you're just a little unwilling to give up. Before you can still retain any of your male pride, just give up."
"Junxiao, listen to your teacher's wife. You should find a traditional, cultured woman. You can take care of the outside world while she takes care of the home, and you can have many children. You can also take her out to socialize occasionally. That way, you'll have both substance and face," Mrs. Tan sincerely advised.
"Qingcheng is not only unsuitable as your wife, she's a complete waste! I've watched this girl grow up. She's incredibly talented and ambitious, but she's hampered by being a woman. She has to work ten or a hundred times harder than others because of her gender. The whole world will stand in her way, including you, who will only be a stumbling block for her." Tan Dachuan threw down his briefcase and mocked.
The two of them were saying that it was a pity that Kiyosumi was so talented, but after getting married she was tied up with trivial matters and couldn't use her talents. On the other hand, if they let her use her talents, they would not have a stable support system, and their careers would also suffer. What was originally a win-win situation might turn into a lose-lose situation for the two of them, or at least one would lose and the other would win.
"Then what kind of man do you two elders think is suitable to be He Qingcheng's husband?" Gao Junxiao asked in return, his eyes clear and bright.
"I don't have anyone like that around me," Tan Dachuan scoffed, expressing his disdain.
These words strengthened Gao Junxia's resolve: "Teachers, you've got one thing wrong. He Qingcheng's personality is perfect for being a wife. I think describing her as pretty is too superficial; 'beautiful' is more appropriate. She taught me that beauty can be dashing, composed, and sharp; it's the determination and courage to never give up when facing difficulties and formidable enemies."
“Sir, I think Junxiao seems to understand Qingcheng better than we thought.” Mrs. Tan winked at her husband.
"What's the use of him understanding others? Do they even want to understand him?" Tan Dachuan still scoffed, but he affirmed Gao Junxiao's statement.
The thought that she didn't even know which school he graduated from made him dimmed for a moment, but he quickly recovered: "That's right, she doesn't know me now. Once she does, she'll realize that I'm the right one."
"Young man, don't be too confident," Tan Dachuan said, propping himself up on his arm.
Mrs. Tan smiled and handed Gao Junxiao a note: "Haha, your persistence has touched me. I know a place that Chengcheng goes to every week..."
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