Ask from the heart
As green as emerald jade and as smooth as a silver mirror, the South Lake in the snow is deserted, even the sparrows that usually chirp and make a lot of noise are nowhere to be seen.
The carriage was parked beside the embankment, but you would have to walk along it to enjoy the snow scenery more fully.
The two of them walked along the bank of Nanhu Lake. Xiao Luochen looked at the blood plum blossoms that were as bright as flames, and watched the snowflakes falling lightly like flying catkins, touching the surface of the lake and then silently dissolving into the water. He felt as if he suddenly understood the meaning of nirvana mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures, and was stunned for a long time.
"Luo Chen? What's wrong with you?"
"It's fine. I just don't understand why Emperor Zhao, who spent half his life in military service, would be so concerned about the South Lake embankment that he specifically ordered people to transplant these blood plums all the way from Zhangcheng and even built an observation deck."
"Was this observation deck built by Emperor Zhao?"
"Yes, but it is said that after it was completed, Emperor Zhao never visited it. He sealed it after it was completed and did not remove the seal until Emperor Hui ascended the throne."
"So, this viewing platform is at least twenty or thirty years old. You just said these blood plums were transplanted from Zhangcheng. Upon closer inspection, the scenery of South Lake is surprisingly similar to that of Zhangcheng's Wangchengxin Lake."
"It's indeed similar. I just don't know if there's any connection."
After Su Musong's reminder, Xiao Luochen recalled the lake he saw in Zhangcheng before. Comparing the two, they indeed did not seem to be unrelated.
Considering Emperor Zhao built a lake embankment and an observation deck, but then abandoned it, it doesn't seem like a coincidence. However, time has passed, and now no one knows the inside story.
Perhaps because he was not originally from Xiangping, Su Musong had no interest in a career in politics and was unwilling to care about court affairs, let alone these old stories that he thought were not important.
"We don't need to discuss the affairs of our ancestors. Regardless of why it was built, it has added a beautiful scenery."
"That's true."
The two of them walked down from the observation deck and came to the lakeside pier. Su Musong was sharp-eyed and noticed that there seemed to be an incense burner burning on the pavilion in the middle of the lake.
"Look at that pavilion in the middle of the lake, it looks like there's someone there!"
Xiao Luochen looked in the direction Su Musong pointed, and saw that there were indeed two people in the pavilion, who seemed to be drinking together. He became interested for a moment.
"Let's go over and see who is so elegant in this snowy weather."
The two of them took a small boat, and when they got closer, they saw that they were two strangers.
“I didn’t expect it to be them!”
"Are you acquainted with them?"
"I recognize them, but they don't recognize me."
These two people were Yu Wujie and Bi Xing Zhai, who eloped from their marriage in public in Zhangcheng that day.
Su Musong told Xiao Luochen roughly what he had seen and heard that day, and Xiao Luochen couldn't help but be secretly surprised.
Yu Wujie had clashed with him several times at the Wenyuan Gathering. If Yu Wujie had not suddenly withdrawn for some reason, it would be hard to say who would have won the debate arena.
It is shocking that a man with such talent and such a good family background would not care about anything and snatch the bride in public, giving up fame, wealth and future ambitions. It also makes people curious about Bi Xing Zhai, the person who made him give up all this.
Xiao Luochen and Yu Wujie were old acquaintances, and since they met in Yongcheng, it wouldn't be too abrupt to go up and say hello.
Yu Wujie was also very surprised to see Xiao Luochen, and hurriedly invited Xiao Luochen and Su Musong to sit down. The two of them introduced Bi Xing Zhai and Su Musong to each other, and they were considered to have known each other.
"It's been half a year since we last saw Zhangcheng. I didn't expect to meet Master Wujie here."
"Xing Zhai and I have been traveling extensively. We heard that the snowy scenery at the Plum Causeway on Nanhu Lake in Yongcheng is truly unique, so we decided to come and see. Is Young Master Xiao from Yongcheng?"
"Exactly. Born and raised here."
"So, could it be that Young Master Xiao is the son of Prime Minister Xiao?"
Xiao Luochen has always been unwilling to bear the halo of being the prime minister's son. Moreover, these two people have special identities, and talking about their family background at this time and place would be a bit of a downer.
"Whose family it is, it doesn't matter. Master Wujie, I remember that you and I still have a debate to decide."
"Times have changed, and victory or defeat is not as important as enjoying the scenery, don't you think, Master Xiao?"
Yu Wujie handed the brewed tea to Xiao Luochen and smiled, looking gentle and calm. Compared with the time when Wen Yuan was gathering, Xiao Luochen felt that Yu Wujie at this moment was becoming more tranquil and elegant.
From the moment he entered the pavilion, Su Musong noticed that Bi Xingzhai's eyes never left Yu Wujie.
Ever since the four of them sat down and Yu Wujie and Xiao Luochen started chatting, Bi Xingzhai stared at Yu Wujie intently. Su Musong had never seen a man look at another man with such eyes, admiring, cherishing, sincere, and a bit of passion. If Yu Wujie turned around at this moment, he wondered if his face would blush at this look.
"I wonder what Master Wujie's plans are for the future?"
"Xing Zhai and I plan to travel around the world to study first, and then return to Yuelong to become teachers in the countryside."
"Don't you feel it's a disgrace for a talented young man to teach in a rural area?"
"I know I don't have the talent to rule the world, so I'll leave the important task of saving the world and the people to my brothers and sisters. If I can do my best to cultivate one or two pillars of society, I'll be serving my country faithfully."
Although Yu Wujie's words were humble, he was not wrong. He was more interested in poetry and books than in officialdom. Staying away from the court was indeed a better choice for him.
At this time, Xiao Luochen didn't understand.
He has always believed that only by standing higher can he realize greater ambitions. As a county magistrate, he can only govern a county. If he becomes a prime minister like his father, he can benefit all the people in the world.
That's why he couldn't understand Yu Wujie's choice. He just thought that Yu Wujie gave up his ambitions and betrayed his family because of Bi Xing Zhai.
But even if he didn't understand, what could he do? This was Yu Wujie's choice and had nothing to do with Xiao Luochen.
"In that case, I wish Master Wujie to achieve his dream as soon as possible."
"I appreciate your kind words, sir."
After saying goodbye to Yu Wujie and Bi Xing Zhai, the two returned to the shore, but Xiao Luochen seemed to have no interest in enjoying the scenery.
After years of friendship, Su Musong has become quite sensitive to Xiao Luochen's mood changes.
"Luo Chen, are you worried?"
"Nothing."
"Is it about Yu Wujie just now..."
"I just feel it's a pity. How could he, with such talent, live in obscurity in the countryside?"
"But he's happy with it. Don't you think he's happy with Bi Xing Zhai?"
"Should he then betray his family and his supporters?" Xiao Luochen suddenly raised his voice, then felt he had no right to say this and immediately lost his temper. "Mu Song, do you understand? I... I just think it's such a pity."
"I see."
Su Musong certainly understood why Xiao Luochen was angry. He was not angry at Yu Wujie, but he was angry that the things he cherished were easily abandoned and despised by others.
"But Luo Chen has the right to choose how he wants to live his life."
The question that Su Musong had inadvertently asked himself on the day when Yu Wujie kidnapped the bride came to his mind again. A voice echoed in his heart, urging Su Musong to ask Xiao Luochen for an answer.
Su Musong's reason told him not to ask, but the voice echoed in his ears, getting louder and louder until it completely occupied Su Musong's senses.
Finally, Su Musong's rationality failed to stop the voice, and the question still escaped from between his teeth.
"Luo Chen, if you were Yu Wujie and I were Bi Xing Zhai, what would you choose?"
Su Musong thought that Xiao Luochen might not answer, but this time he didn't want Xiao Luochen to avoid it. He held Xiao Luochen's hand tightly, and looked at Xiao Luochen with a serious and firm look that was rare to see.
Xiao Luochen's mind was blank. The thing he had been worried about had actually happened. After a moment of hesitation, he shook off Su Musong's hand and didn't dare to look him in the eye. He took a deep breath and said coldly:
"This is Xiangping, not Yuelong. I will never be Yu Wujie, and you can never be Bixing Zhai. It's getting dark, let's go back." After saying that, he turned and got on the carriage.
Xiao Luochen waited for a long time, but did not see Su Musong get in the car. He lifted the curtain and looked, only to see a vast expanse of white sky and earth, with no trace of Su Musong.
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