Red sleeves waving.
Standing by the Qinhuai River, Yan Xiwen looked at the brand new pleasure boat moored on the shore, and raised the corner of his mouth. Is it still the Hongxiu Zhao?
Times have changed. Without the red sleeves of the huqin master, it is soulless.
Zhuo Liuyun was still a bit tipsy. The wind and snow were blowing hard by the lake. He hunched his neck and tightened his clothes. He asked, "Do you remember the song 'In vain I gaze upon my brows'? He modified the tune, and Liu Yan'er sang it."
Yan Xiwen naturally remembered that it was the autumn of the ninth year of the Xuanli period. He had just started his official career and was about to take up his post in Yao County. Several friends came to see him off at Hongxiuzao.
It was on this red sleeve dance that he met Fu Xiaoguan again. Fu Xiaoguan changed the song, and Liu Yan'er performed the song "Wang Ningmei" incomparably exquisitely.
"Back then, there were Fang Wenxing, Zhang Wenhan, Zhou Tianyou, and An Liuyue. By the way, where has Zhang Wenhan been transferred to now?"
Zhuo Liuyun thought for a moment and said, "I've been appointed as the governor of Xinzhou in the northwest of Beijing, and I'll be working under Brother Mo Wen."
"Where's Zhou Tianyou?"
"It seems he is under the command of Ning Yuchun, the Ning Daotai."
"Oh...it seems that our classmates back then are doing OK now."
Zhuo Liuyun grinned, "After all, he is not a ungrateful person. He remembers everything."
Yeah, he should remember.
Yan Xiwen sighed, "Brother Zhuo, do you think he'll be lonely in Guanyun City?"
Zhuo Liuyun was silent for a moment. "How many emperors don't feel lonely?"
Is that why he always wanted to be a small landlord?
Yan Xiwen laughed at himself and shook his head, "Let's go, get on the boat, they're probably already here."
The two boarded Hongxiuzhao's boat and were led to the second floor by the maid. Sure enough, they heard the sound of Qin Mowen and others playing drinking games.
There was a big umbrella on the deck on the second floor, and two people were sitting under it.
Yan Xiwen saw these two people—Princess Yu Shurong and the former Crown Prince Yu Wentian.
He walked over and bowed, "Greetings, Your Highness!"
Yu Wentian turned sideways, and Yu Shurong accepted the greeting. She raised her eyes to look at Yan Xiwen, but her gaze fell on Zhuo Liuyun's face.
"Master Zhuo has great tactics!"
"Your Highness, thank you for the compliment!"
The two of them stopped talking at that point, leaving Yan Xiwen stunned and confused.
Yu Wentian didn’t know either, and he didn’t ask about it because he was only concerned about Hongxiuzhao’s business.
"Please go up and take your seats. Mo Wen and the others are here."
Yan Xiwen thought about it and sat down instead. "No rush, let's get some cool breeze to sober up."
Upon hearing this, Zhuo Liuyun also sat down.
Yan Xiwen looked at Yu Wentian and asked, "How's business?"
"It's OK. Some old friends are here to take care of me."
"You... shouldn't go this way."
Yu Wentian grinned. "That's not right. My original ambition was to spend my entire life defending the borders of the Yu Dynasty. But now that the Yu Dynasty is gone, what am I left to defend? It's better to retire and return here, to be a good husband and a good father. I feel quite stable now... I feel at peace in my heart, and it makes me feel much more comfortable this way."
"Maybe," Yan Xiwen cast his gaze upon the Qinhuai River, where, as always, many pleasure boats lit with bright red lanterns floated. "Actually, nothing has changed."
"No, it has changed a lot. I heard that the pleasure boat business on the Qinhuai River is much better this year than last year."
“That’s getting better.”
“Yes, it’s getting better.”
"Daxia's territory is wider. With your talent, you shouldn't waste it here."
Yu Wentian was silent for a long time, his face somewhat bleak. "He wrote to me twice, but I didn't reply. I didn't know how to respond. I was once a member of the royal family of the Yu Dynasty. He didn't kill me, and he wanted to use me. I'm very grateful."
He took a deep breath. "But I am, after all, a member of the royal family of the Yu Dynasty. I feel a little uncomfortable defending his territory. Instead of doing that, I'd rather run this Red Sleeves Shop. Perhaps one day when he comes to Jinling again, I can have a drink with him here."
Yan Xiwen also thought for a moment, and ultimately couldn't persuade him. "You can try something else to make a living."
"Forget it, I'm not cut out for business."
"Where's my sister-in-law?"
"Take care of the kids at home."
"Do you like this kind of life?"
Yu Wentian did not answer. He also looked at the quiet Qinhuai River. Do I like this kind of life?
In this turbulent era, it is a great time to make achievements, but here I am running a houseboat that is on the verge of bankruptcy.
I'm a big man with a knife, running a pleasure boat... He laughed at himself, "You guys go up, don't keep Mo Wen and the others waiting for too long."
"...Okay, come up and have a few drinks later."
"good!"
…
In the end, they embarked on different paths. In Yan Xiwen's opinion, Yu Wentian longed for the battlefield.
Unfortunately, he has to spend his whole life on this pleasure boat.
Hongxiu Zhao sailed slowly into the Qinhuai River. The sound of piano and singing came from the third floor. It was the song "In vain I grieve".
A sigh in vain
A futile worry
One is the moon in the water
One is the flower in the mirror
…
On the same night.
The heavy snow in Guanyun City stopped, and the starry sky was bright.
In the courtyard at the end of Broken Water Bridge, the lights were dim.
There was a stove burning in the west wing of the courtyard, and Fujiwara no Kiyo was sitting next to the stove.
She was looking through the music score, which was also the song "In vain I grieve".
She hummed with her little mouth slightly. After humming for a while, she seemed to have some feeling, so she took out a zither and placed it next to the fireplace.
Her hand fell on the piano, and the music started, and she sang along. The music was melodious and the singing was gentle. She seemed to be immersed in the music and did not notice that there was a person standing at the door.
Fu Xiaoguan secretly left the palace with Liu Jin and came here.
He didn't take a step forward to go in, as if he was worried that the sound of his footsteps would disturb the heavenly sound.
Fujiwara no Kiso's singing was a little awkward, but it was more amazing than Liu Yan'er's singing back then.
Maybe it was her ethereal voice, or maybe... it was the empathetic emotions she immersed herself in.
...If there is no fate
I met him again in this life
If there is a strange fate
How to finally let go of your worries...
I wonder how many tears there are in my eyes
How can we endure the passage of autumn till the end of winter?
Spring flows into summer...
Fujiwara no Norikawa burst into tears.
Fu Xiaoguan turned around quietly and left the yard, and ultimately did not go to see the woman again.
"Master, where are we going?"
"Return to the palace."
"good."
"Wait, after the New Year, you let her take the passenger ship back to the Far East."
Liu Jin was stunned. "Master, I will never tell anyone about this even if I die!"
"Get lost! It's not what you think. Find her a few craftsmen who know how to make cans and can boxes, and tell her to can the fish, shrimp, and seafood from Ezo and sell them inland to make a lot of money."
Is Your Majesty going to give that woman wealth and honor?
"Don't say it was me who said it. Let's go. This is over!"
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