Snowflakes swirled in the air. The pavilions in Jin Ling City were covered with a layer of silver makeup. The cold wind did not diminish the lively atmosphere. The poetry competition had already begun. After a few days of warm-up, more and more people arrived, and many excellent works were produced. Today, all the great scholars in the south of the Yangtze River would be present. It was the most lively time.
In the afternoon, Xu Buling was tidying up in his room. Lu Hongluan walked into the room with a robe in her arms and said with a smile,
"Ling 'er, I made a new robe for you. Try it and see if it fits you."
Lu Hongluan looked demure and spoke softly. She had returned to her usual self, as if she had forgotten about breaking the taboo in her boudoir the day before yesterday. However, her eyes flickered, and she deliberately avoided Xu Buling's eyes. Obviously, she had not calmed down yet.
Perhaps because of the change in her mind, Lu Hongluan did not wear the clothes of a lady. She was wearing a simple yellow dress with several peonies embroidered on the hem. It did not lose the original dignified look and added a bit of feminine charm. There was a flower hairpin in her hair bun. Her skin was white and smooth, and even the lipstick on her lips had been replaced with a bright red color. She looked like a different person.
Xu Buling walked to the front and took the carefully sewn white robe. A faint fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, and there was a hint of a smile in his eyes.
"Aunt Lu is so beautiful today."
Lu Hongluan was a little reserved. Her eyes flickered twice, and then she showed her usual serious look. She gently said,
"Put on your clothes. I haven't told you about what happened last time … You are so lawless and dare to kiss anywhere. Don't do that again. Don't tell Xiang 'er when you go back, or she will laugh at me … "
Xu Buling nodded seriously, "Don't worry, Aunt Lu. She will not dare to laugh at you. When the time comes, I'll let you see how I deal with her … "
Let me see?
Lu Hongluan slightly frowned. After thinking for a while, she gently spat, "Nonsense, I don't want to see … If I were in front of her, Xiang 'er would be embarrassed to death …"
Speaking of this, Lady Lu rolled her eyes, and it seemed that she was a little bit tempted.
Xu Buling secretly laughed. He shook his head without saying anything and changed his robe in front of the bronze mirror.
Lu Hongluan stood in front and helped Xu Buling dress. She thought for a while and asked,
Lu Hongluan stood in front and helped Xu Buling put on clothes.
The main purpose of the trip to Jiangnan was to bring Xiao Qi back to Suzhou on a boat. There would be many opportunities for them to spend time alone in Hangzhou. These few days, Xu Buling had been tirelessly trying to win over Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi was relatively strong and independent, and she was not as easy to fool as other girls. However, as the saying goes, 'a good girl is afraid of a clingy man'. Xu Buring flirted with her from morning till night. Xiao Qi had no choice but to pretend that she didn't hear him. This could be considered as progress.
Xu Buling chuckled, "Not bad. I will accompany Xiao Qi to the poetry meeting later. Aunt Lu, do you want to come?"
Lady Lu was born in Jiangnan, where the literary style was flourishing. She also liked poetry and often went to poetry meetings when she was a child. However, since Xu Buling and Xiao Qi were together, she would definitely be the guest of honor if she went. In order not to affect her baby's marriage, she was considerate and said,
"You and Xiao Qi go together. Why should I go? Anyway, I am so close to you. I won't blame you if I mistreat you a little. I still have to take care of women who are not close to me, don't you think?"
"…"
Xu Buling's expression was slightly stiff. He turned around and raised his hands to give Lu Hongluan a bear hug. Lu Hongluan's feet were off the ground,
"Then I won't go. I'll stay with Aunt Lu until tomorrow morning."
Lu Hongluan was a little out of breath. Her embroidered shoes swayed in the air and she looked around in panic. "Ling 'er, are you crazy? Put me down … I'm not sore anymore. I was just kidding. Don't take it seriously …"
Only then did Xu Buring put her down and began to tidy up his clothes again.
Lady Lu was angry and embarrassed, but she couldn't blame Xu Buling. She could only turn around and run out in a hurry …
…
It was dusk. The breeze rolled up snowflakes and sprinkled them on the gaily-painted boats. The sound of stringed instruments could be heard from far away in the alley.
Dressed in a white scholar's robe, Xu Buling approached the Jinling Poetry Club. He saw Xiao Ting standing outside the library, waving his folding fan casually. From time to time, he looked back, obviously waiting for Xiao Qi.
Seeing Xu Buling coming over, Xiao Ting lifted his robe and ran out as if he had been saved. "Xu Buling, you came at the right time. Several friends are waiting over there. I'll go first. You stay with Aunt and explain to me later."
Then, without waiting for Xu Buling's refusal, he squeezed into the crowd without looking back.
Xu Buling naturally had no objection to this, but Xiao Qi, who had just come down from upstairs, looked colder and gritted her teeth.
For the past two days, Xu Buling would come over during the day, looking for things to say that made people unable to calm down. Xiao Qi couldn't stop him no matter if she glared or ignored him. Her imposing manner had no effect on Xu Buling, so she had no choice but to let him do as he pleased.
Tonight, they were going to the poetry meeting. Xiao Qi specifically asked her nephew to wait outside so that she wouldn't be teased when she was alone with Xu Buling. In the end, before she could run down, Xiao Ting left her behind.
Xu Buling heard the movement and turned to look — Xiao Qi had changed into a black scholar's robe. His hair was tied up with a hairband, and his entire body was spotlessly clean. Even his chest was tied up with some unknown method. Coupled with his naturally proud and aloof face, he really had the air of a peerless young master. The only flaw was that his appearance was too seductive, and he looked a little feminine.
Xu Buling walked up to her, glanced at Xiao Qi, and stopped at the flat front of her clothes.
"Qiqi, why are you dressed like this?"
Xiao Qi was angry when she heard this title. She didn't know how Xu Buling came up with it. She looked straight ahead, walked past Xu Buling, and replied flatly,
"I don't want to show my face in public, so I casually dressed up."
Strictly speaking, she didn't want to show her face in public with Xu Buling. Most of the aristocratic families knew that Xu Buling came to Huainan to propose marriage. She hadn't publicly stated that she wanted to marry Xu Buling. If she dressed up nicely and walked with Xu Buling, wouldn't it mean that she acquiesced?
Xu Buling didn't have any objection to this. He walked side by side with Xiao Qi to the Jinling Poetry Club, and said with a smile,
"I thought hard last night and came up with another good poem. Miss Xiao, can you give me some advice?"
Xiao Qi narrowed her eyes slightly and held herself back for a long time. She did not want to push this handsome man into the river, but his thoughts were not presentable. She didn't want to continue this topic. She turned her head and looked at the sword on Xu Buling's waist.
"A gentleman wears a sword to show his virtue. You're not a gentleman. Why do you wear a sword to show your elegance? "
Xu Buling didn't care about this genteel sarcasm. He smiled and said,
"A sword is a ceremonial instrument. It's better than Xiao Ting carrying a fan in winter."
"…"
Xiao Qi was speechless for a moment …
