Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Shen Ling lowered her eyebrows and smiled shyly...
It was the peak summer season, the sun was scorching and the fragrance of lotus flowers was everywhere.
Chen Qing held a thin silk fan and waved it lightly in the wind. The scorching sun shone down, making people feel hot on their heads and the ends of their hair seemed to be burned off.
Even though there were thin colored gauze hanging all over the head, it could not resist the intense heat.
Fortunately, the pleasure boat finally began to move forward, bringing a gentle breeze that brushed everyone's faces, bringing a slight coolness. The water on both sides of the boat rippled, shimmering in the sunlight.
Chen Qing's eyes swept across the cabin through the fan.
Inside the cabin, the slaves opened their red lips and sang a graceful tune, their melodious voices seemingly able to dispel the summer's boredom. The ladies, holding round fans, chatted softly, their laughter as clear as silver bells.
Among the noble ladies chatting with the ladies, there was an acquaintance, Shen Ling.
As the pleasure boat goes deeper, the scenery on both sides becomes more and more charming. The emerald green weeping willows sway and the delicate lotus flowers bloom, like a melodious painting.
At this point, someone suggested having the dancers perform at the bow, and everyone cheered. Then, to the melodious music, the dancers danced gracefully, their clothes fluttering, like fairies descending to earth.
Chen Ling said something that made a lady smile so much that she stopped watching the dance and looked at Chen Ling with satisfaction in her eyes.
This pleasure boat was originally owned exclusively by Yuanchun Tower in the East Market.
Now, Zhangye, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice and Imperial Academy scholar, has spared no expense to charter a luxurious pleasure boat to celebrate his wife's birthday.
Yuanchun Tower is adjacent to Huachun Pond, and the back garden of Zhang Mansion is next to the river bank of Huachun Pond. The pleasure boat is moored among the lotus flowers in the Huachun Pond.
This ship is magnificent with its carved beams and painted buildings, like a fairy palace descended to earth.
Madam Zhang invited ladies from high-ranking families and wives of officials. In a short time, the families of many powerful people in the court came to accept the invitation.
Because Zhangye had served as the Prince's Grand Tutor and had made outstanding contributions and was highly respected, the emperor specially sent Princess Wanyi and the prince to visit the pleasure boat in person to show his grace.
Inside the pleasure boat, delicacies were laid out, the aroma of fine wine wafted in the air, the sound of stringed instruments filled the air, and the graceful dancers danced beautifully.
Both the guests and the hosts were in great joy, celebrating the Madam’s birthday together. It was an unprecedented and glorious occasion.
At this moment, the pleasure boat began to move from Yuanchun Tower, and its destination was the back garden of Zhang Mansion.
The pleasure boat was quite unstable when it first started, and Chen Qing felt dizzy as soon as he stepped onto the deck. He was led by the servants to the outer cabin for a short rest. After he had rested enough, the pleasure boat was stable, and the uncomfortable feeling of dizziness disappeared.
At this time, someone gently climbed onto Chen Qing's shoulders, and her chin was lightly touched with a fan, the action was quite frivolous.
Chen Qing immediately frowned and scolded, "How dare you, which scoundrel Meng dares to disrespect this lady!"
After saying that, she took hold of the handle of the fan, grabbed the other person's wrist with one hand, and gave a feint pull.
Before he could exert any force, he saw the person coming with an "Aiya" sound, and fell into Shen Qing's arms.
The girl's body is soft and fragrant, just like warm and soft jade, with a faint floral fragrance.
Zhang Miaoyin chuckled and casually lifted the veil covering Chen Qing's face. "You're still wearing a veil in such a hot day. Are you trying to save your life?"
The visitor was none other than Minister Zhang's eldest daughter, Zhang Miaoyin, who was also Chen Qing's close friend.
Chen Qing touched her face with his hand, pushed him away, and took the opportunity to pick up a Mi Li and handed it to Cui Ya who was waiting beside him. She stood up from the chair and said, "That's better than getting a tan."
Zhang Miaoyin asked: "Shen Youan, are you still dizzy?"
Chen Qing shook her head, "No, let's go in." She had come to the outer cabin to relieve her discomfort. Now that she was fine, Chen Qing naturally wanted to go back to the cabin.
The air was hot and humid, and Chen Qing even broke out in a sweat. Now she couldn't wait to return to the cabin to escape the heat.
Zhang Miaoyin pulled Chen Qing inside, and Chen Qing didn't forget to ask, "Where's Li Yu?"
"She's on the second floor with the prince. She'll be down shortly."
The first floor of the pleasure boat is a gathering place for female family members, and the second floor is where high-ranking officials and male guests gather.
As a princess, Li Yu had to go to the second floor with the prince to go through the formalities.
It's probably coming down now.
Chen Qing's purpose of attending the banquet was also for Li Yu. Because Gu Ze also attended the birthday banquet, he had to come to the birthday banquet of his mentor's wife.
She had never been to the painting boat in her previous life. Although she didn't know what happened on the painting boat in her previous life, after the incident with the painting boat, Li Yu was obviously trapped in it.
Zhang Miaoyin took Chen Qing to a woman who was surrounded by a crowd of people.
Zhang Miaoyin smiled and said, "Mother, look who's here."
Hearing this, the woman raised her eyes and glanced at Shen Qing.
She and Zhang Miaoyin both had willow-shaped eyes, their corners slightly tilted upwards. Her hair was in a bun like a cloud, adorned with a jade hairpin. Her eyes showed no trace of the ravages of time, only a mellow, wine-like charm.
It was obvious that life was very comfortable.
Mrs. Zhang smiled slightly when she saw Shen Qing, "You'an is here."
He performed a gentle and affectionate greeting, then said sweetly, "Madam, your birthday is celebrated by the East Sea and the South Mountain. Today's birthday banquet will surely be a lively one. You'an is here to congratulate you. May you always be happy and successful in everything."
Madam Zhang smiled from ear to ear, and hurriedly asked Shen Qing to sit down, saying, "You are such a sweet-mouthed child."
Chen Qing chatted briefly with Mrs. Zhang, then left with Zhang Miaoyin.
When she left, she glanced meaningfully at Shen Ling beside Madam Zhang.
Shen Ling took Shen Qing's gaze, lowered her eyes calmly, as if she didn't see it.
Mrs. Zhang happened to take Shen Ling's hand and asked, "How old are you, young lady? Who is my father? Is you married?"
The more Madam Zhang looked at the obedient Shen Ling in front of her, the happier she became. This young lady had a shy smile on her face and behaved modestly and politely, like a docile little deer, which made people feel pity for her.
It's just right for Gao'er's impatient temper.
She already had the idea of finding a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for the two of them.
If you think about it carefully, Erlang should be of marriageable age. The reason why Mrs. Zhang invited all the women in the city was simply to find a wife for her son.
Shen Ling lowered her eyebrows and smiled shyly, "My daughter is seventeen years old, and my father is the magistrate of Wannian County. Marriage..." She stopped talking here, and her cheeks flushed slightly. She continued, "It's up to you, father."
That is, never married.
But the position of county magistrate is indeed too low for the Zhang family.
Mrs. Zhang frowned and lowered her brows, and her previous joy was somewhat diluted.
"Very good. Your father will definitely find a good marriage for you in the future." What a pity.
Shen Ling forced a smile and nodded in agreement, but when she looked at Shen Qing's back, she felt a little unwilling. Whether in the last life or this life, even if she could win the favor of Madam Zhang again, she still couldn't beat the word "family background".
Chen Qing knew what Chen Ling was thinking.
In the previous life, after Mrs. Zhang learned about Shen Ling's life experience, she gave up the idea of arranging a marriage for her son, but she couldn't resist her son's love for her.
Zhang Miaoyin's brother, Zhang Erlang, saw Shen Ling from somewhere, and after the birthday banquet, he wanted to marry her.
Mrs. Zhang had no choice but to agree because she couldn't persuade her son. But just as she was about to send someone to propose marriage on her son's behalf, the county magistrate and his wife ran into trouble.
Now, Shen Ling, whose parents are both dead, is even less worthy of Zhang Erlang.
At her son's insistence, Mrs. Zhang asked her husband to write a letter of recommendation and send Shen Ling to Xuanji Pavilion.
Originally, the senior brother felt sorry for Chen Ling and took her back to Xuanji Pavilion temporarily to recuperate. He wanted to wait until everything settled down before finding a way to send her back to the old house in Huaixi.
But with Minister Zhang's letter of recommendation, Shen Ling naturally became the second female disciple of Xuanji Pavilion.
Xuanji Pavilion was an internal affairs office set up by the ancestors of the Li Dynasty. It was ordered to eliminate demons and punish evil. All the disciples in the pavilion were well-known figures.
The Li Dynasty attached great importance to Taoist metaphysics, and the status of Taoists also rose accordingly.
Shen Ling went in to practice for a while. The identity of a nun undoubtedly gilded her reputation. In this way, if Zhang Erlang wanted to marry Shen Ling, it would not be so difficult.
Later, for unknown reasons, Zhang Erlang died of a serious illness, and the marriage between the two was also called off. This is when Shen Ling coveted her own senior brother.
Thinking of this, Chen Qing's brows were filled with hostility.
Zhang Miaoyin was startled by her behavior and asked, "What's wrong with you? Why do you look like that?"
Chen Qing said: "It's because I thought of some disgusting things."
Zhang Miaoyin nodded at her forehead and said, "Since you feel disgusted, then forget it."
Shen Qing thought: Not only does she have to think about it, she also has to think about it carefully.
If Zhang Erlang doesn't like Chen Ling this time, without Minister Zhang's recommendation, how can Chen Ling enter Xuanji Pavilion?
Besides, if she had the chance to do it again, would she really let her mother die?
Just as I finished the thought, I saw a fair-skinned young man slowly approaching.
The boy was about seventeen years old, with a hint of arrogance between his eyebrows. When he looked at Chen Qing, this arrogance turned into disdain.
He glanced at Chen Qing and said hastily to Zhang Miaoyin, "Sister."
Zhang Miaoyin felt a headache when she saw her brother's attitude. She said, "Gao'er, you haven't met Madam Shen yet."
Zhang Gaoze said reluctantly, "Hello, Madam Shen." His voice was lazy and his attitude was extremely casual.
Chen Qing didn’t indulge him either, he snorted coldly and said to Zhang Miaoyin: “It’s surprising that you two are actually siblings now.”
When Zhang Gaoze heard this, he said angrily, "What do you mean? My sister isn't my biological sister, so how could she be someone else's?"
Chen Qing suddenly realized, "Ah—that means there must be something missing from the family's teachings. Otherwise, judging by Zhang Erlang's demeanor, it seems he hasn't benefited from those teachings."
This is a roundabout way of calling him uneducated.
Zhang Gaoze was furious. As a civil servant, he couldn't bring himself to hit a woman. Ultimately, he could only throw up his sleeves and say, "Sister, you'd better avoid interacting with those who are deceitful and dishonest under the guise of mystical arts and Taoism!"
After saying this, he turned away.
The reason why Zhang Gaoze dislikes Chen Qing so much is because she is what people call the female priest of Xuanji Pavilion.
His beloved grandmother, whom he loved most in his childhood, fell seriously ill. No medicine could cure her, and his family was distraught. They sought medical help everywhere, but with no improvement. In desperation, someone suggested inviting a Taoist priest to perform rituals to cure her illness. So, Minister Zhang and his wife, desperately seeking help, sought out a Taoist priest.
The Taoist priest set up an altar in a pretentious manner, chanting something, and after a lot of torment, he vowed that my grandmother would recover. However, my grandmother's condition not only did not improve, but became even worse. Because the Taoist priest delayed her treatment for a while, she eventually passed away.
Since then, Zhang Gaoze hated Taoists to the core. In his mind, Taoists were all liars who talked nonsense, pretended to be gods, and had no real skills at all.
As for demons and evil spirits?
He had lived for so long, and had only heard stories from others, but had never seen one with his own eyes. He could guess that this was a rumor spread by those Taoist priests as a pretext for defrauding people.
Therefore, ever since Zhang Gaoze heard of the identity of the nun Shen Qing, he has had a strong prejudice against her. This prejudice has continued to this day and has not disappeared at all. Instead, it has become more and more intense with the passage of time.
However, it seemed as if the elder sister had been drugged and she always insisted on playing with Chen Qing, which made Zhang Gaoze quite annoyed.
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