In Entering Clouds Tower, it was not as lively as it was many years ago. Cai Lian explained with a smile, after Mother Ding passed away, many girls in Entering Clouds Tower left. Those who got married got married and those who went home went home. Cai Lian did not find other girls to come in. There was no lack of brothels in the city. After Hua Youxian went to Yangzhou, Entering Clouds Tower's business was not as good as before. After the girls left, it was almost deserted.
"There's nothing bad about it. Usually, everyone will do some other rouge and face powder business to earn some money. It's enough to make do with the days." Cai Lian said with a smile, "It's just that the sisters have nowhere else to go. Entering Clouds Tower was built by Mother. It's also the sisters' home."
People should have a contented heart. It was very good for them to be like this now.
Hua Youxian invited everyone to sit down in the banquet hall. She first ordered people to prepare the food and wine. She asked Yan He and the others, "What are the young masters doing now?"
A few years had passed. The youths had already grown into young people. They no longer had the youthful appearance of the past. But it could be seen that each of them had extraordinary experiences.
"I am now a doctor," Lin Shuanghe lightly waved his folding fan and said seriously, "But I am only a female doctor. Thanks to the love of the world, I received the beautiful title of 'White-clothed Divine Hands'. I am very ashamed."
He Yan looked at Lin Shuanghe in surprise. Even though Lin Shuanghe usually spoke without thinking, but since they reunited, it was the first time he saw him showing off.
It was probably in front of the people he admired when he was young, he always wanted to perform better.
"This one is even more impressive," he pointed at Yan He with his fan, "Guide Zhonglang General, Generals Yan."
Cai Lian was extremely surprised, "The young masters are very impressive now!"
Yan He was inexplicably uncomfortable. He touched his ponytail and snorted, "Not as impressive as General Fengyun."
"General Fengyun?" Hua Youxian was stunned. Following Yan He's gaze, she saw Xiao Jue calmly drinking tea, "Young Master Xiao … … is the present General Fengyun?"
Lin Shuanghe, "Yes."
Hua Youxian and Cai Lian gasped at the same time. Back then, the group of youths had introduced themselves. Only this one and one of the masked youths had not spoken. At that time, everyone thought that it was either because their identities were too important to be revealed, or because their identities were ordinary and not worth mentioning. However, Hua Youxian felt that with the white-robed youth's outstanding looks and grace, he was the first type.
Now that so many years had passed, no one would have expected him to be Da Wei's famous Right Army Commander.
"This one is even more coincidental," Lin Shuanghe pointed at Yang Mingzhi and said jokingly, "Now, your Jin Ling City's Governor is this Lord Yang."
Yang Mingzhi moved his lips, but in the end, he didn't say anything.
Hua Youxian and Cai Lian didn't know the story, but they were very happy, "Looks like Young Master Yang and Jin Ling city are really fated, what a coincidence!"
"That's right," Lin Shuanghe snorted, "What a coincidence."
"These two young masters look a little unfamiliar," Hua Youxian looked at He Yan and Chu Zhao and said curiously.
"This is their first time in Jin Ling," Lin Shuanghe explained, "This one's surname is Chu, you can call him Young Master Chu. This one is my good friend. At a young age, he was personally appointed as Mu An Lang by His Majesty. He is also the subordinate of Military Governor Xiao. His name is He Yan. "
"Young Master Chu, Young Master He." Hua Youxian smiled and bowed, "Since this is your first time in Jin Ling City, you must try the food and wine of Entering Clouds Restaurant."
Lin Shuanghe's eyes lit up at these words, "Miss Youxian, is the chef of Entering Clouds Restaurant the same person from back then?"
Hua Youxian smiled and nodded, "The food and wine were all made by the sisters in the restaurant. It is exactly the same as before. If the young masters like it, everyone will be very happy."
He Yan still remembered that the food and wine of Entering Clouds Restaurant was indeed superb. It was completely different from the restaurants in Shuo Jing. It was sweet and mellow, leaving a rich aftertaste. After she returned to Shuo Jing, the He family did not treat her badly. However, she had never tasted the same delicacies as in Entering Clouds Restaurant.
While they were exchanging greetings, it was not long before someone brought the food and wine to the long table. They were all home-cooked dishes, duck oil sesame seed cakes, plum blossom cakes, small wontons, red bean yuanxiao, pork fat dumplings … They were golden and fragrant. After arriving in Jin Ling City in the afternoon, He Yan had not eaten yet. He was already hungry. Seeing that everyone was only focused on talking, he endured it. In the end, he could not help but silently raise his chopsticks and eat the smoked fish silver thread noodles in front of him.
The silver thread noodles were thin and soft. It melted in his mouth. Once it was steaming hot, all the cravings in his stomach came out. Seeing that no one was paying attention, He Yan picked up a crystal bun.
Lin Shuanghe was talking to Hua Youxian about the interesting things that happened in the past few years. Where did the youths from Xianchang Restaurant go? While He Yan listened, he did not stop eating. His hands did not stop, and he grabbed a piece of flowery bun.
The food was naturally delicious, especially after the days in Rundu where even dry biscuits were not enough to fill their stomachs. Even tofu pudding had become more precious than imperial cuisine. He Yan saw a plate of glutinous rice lotus root on the other end of the long table, and he was a little restless.
Entering Clouds Restaurant's glutinous rice lotus root was sweet and delicious. When he took a bite, it was as if he was biting down on a small bridge over flowing water, a clear breeze and a bright moon in Jiangnan. She loved to eat this very much in the past. She still remembered the first time she came to Entering Clouds Restaurant. That plate of glutinous rice lotus root was eaten clean by her. Therefore, she wanted to secretly pick up a piece to taste while everyone was talking. She wanted to see if it still tasted the same as before.
Unfortunately, this plate of glutinous rice lotus root was unfortunately placed on the long table at the furthest end from her.
He Yan struggled to raise her chopsticks, trying to reach out with her long hands. Unfortunately, she was too far away. If she stood up to pick up the food, it would be too rude. After trying a few times, she had no choice but to give up. She sighed in her heart. In the next moment, she suddenly saw a piece of glutinous rice lotus root appear in the bowl in front of her.
He Yan was stunned. She saw Xiao Jue put down his chopsticks, as if he was not the one who had just done this. He also did not look at He Yan. He tilted his head and listened to Lin Shuanghe talk. It was as if doing this was just a casual action, and he did not take it to heart.
He Yan's ears turned slightly red. Before she could think of what to do next, she saw another piece of glutinous rice lotus root appear in her bowl. She was stunned. She subconsciously raised her head and met Chu Zhao's smiling face.
The conversation at the table had stopped at some point. He Yan's bowl suddenly had two more pieces of glutinous rice lotus root. Everyone at the table was staring at her. Their gazes were unclear.
He Yan's vision darkened. What was this? She just wanted to quietly pick up a snack to eat. How did she become the center of everyone's attention?
Chu Zhao was smiling warmly as usual. Xiao Jue was looking at her calmly. It made her feel as if she was sitting on pins and needles.
Yan He frowned and looked at her for a while. He tapped the edge of the bowl with his chopsticks and said, "I want to ask, Mu An Lang, are you a relative of the royal family?"
He Yan: "… No."
"If you are not," Yan He asked in disbelief, "why would the two of them," he pointed at Xiao Jue with his chopsticks and then at Chu Zhao, "act like they are fighting for attention."
He Yan was horrified when he heard the word "fighting for attention."
Before she could think of a reply, Lin Shuanghe had already laughed. He reached out his chopsticks and took away the piece of glutinous rice lotus root that Chu Zhao had given to He Yan. He smiled and said, "Ah, I love glutinous rice lotus root the most. Fourth Young Master Chu, you know me best. It's so good. "He took a bite." It's so sweet! Thank you, Fourth Young Master Chu. "
When Chu Zhao saw this, he was slightly stunned. Then, he smiled and shook his head. He did not say anything.
He Yan then heaved a sigh of relief. Lin Shuanghe was a smart person. Fortunately, he managed to smooth things over. Otherwise, who knew what Xiao Jue would think of her in her heart. However, Chu Zhao was also strange. Why did he suddenly put food in her bowl? If others saw this, they would inevitably find it strange.
However, Hua Youxian seemed to have noticed something. She smiled and clapped her hands. A young lady with a falling horse bun came forward with a small jar of wine.
"Young Masters, you haven't had Cloud Restaurant's Bifang wine for a long time." She placed the jar of wine on the table. "This jar of Bifang wine is the last one left this year."
The young lady brought a few glass cups. Once the Bifang wine was poured into the cups, it was green and sparkling, and its fragrance assailed their nostrils. He Yan still remembered that when he was young, the wine in Cloud Restaurant was sweet and refreshing. It made people slightly tipsy, but not too drunk. He was looking forward to it. When the young lady was about to pour the wine into the cup in front of He Yan, Xiao Jue glanced at her and suddenly said, "Give her a bowl of milk."
He Yan was speechless.
The young lady who poured the wine was also stunned. She looked at Xiao Jue, not knowing what to do. He Yan was confused and asked, "Commander, why do I have to drink milk?"
This person was very calm and said, "Milk makes you taller."
Yan He touched his chin and looked at He Yan with a scrutinizing gaze. He nodded and replied, "Indeed, this young man is indeed a little short."
Hua Youxian smiled. "Young Master Xiao, Cloud Restaurant doesn't have milk. The Bifang wine is a little strong, I'm afraid this young master can't drink it. Ding Xiang, go and get the rose dew. "
Not long after, a young lady brought the rose dew. Once the rose dew was poured into the cup, it was a light red color that was completely different from the Bifang wine. He Yan took a sip and could not help but be stunned.
This wine was exactly the same as the sweet wine she tasted in Cloud Restaurant that year.
Yan He also snatched a cup and took a sip. He frowned and said, "What is this? It's sweet, like fruit juice. "
"This is rose dew. It's usually for the young ladies to drink."
Yan He did not feel anything. He mocked He Yan and said, "Mu An Lang, did you hear that? This is for the young ladies! Are you still a man? "
The speaker did not mean it, but the listener took it seriously. He Yan was really speechless. Just as she was thinking of how to reply without being rude, Lin Shuanghe helped her out. Lin Shuanghe waved his fan and said calmly, "Yan Nanguang, you came to Cloud Restaurant when you were young. Now you're here again. Does your wife know about this?"
Yan He's expression changed.
"Lady Chengxiu values etiquette the most. Sir Xia also keeps himself clean. I'm afraid no one in the Xia family has ever been to a brothel. You're the exception. I wonder what Lady Chengxiu will think of you if she knows about this? "
"You … Don't talk nonsense." Yan He stuttered and retorted. However, this rebuttal was not imposing at all.
He Yan heard this and asked curiously, "Lady Chengxiu? Is she Generals Yan's wife? "
"She's Xia Chengxiu's eldest legitimate daughter of the Imperial College's Chancellor. She's tender and gentle. There are many families in Shuo capital that want to recruit a beauty for their young masters. However, Yan Nanguang beat them to it. " Lin Shuanghe laughed and teased, "It's said that heroes have a weakness for beauties. I heard that our Generals Yan is very obedient to his wife in the fu. She doesn't allow him to drink. When he socializes with his colleagues, he only drinks tea. He's really the model of a good and virtuous husband. "
Yan He's face turned red, "Lin Shuanghe, you … Don't talk nonsense here!"
"Oh? Isn't that the case? Then when I return to Shuo capital, I'll have to ask your wife properly, "he said.
Yan He did not dare to say anything else. If Lin Shuanghe really confronted Xia Chengxiu, wouldn't that be a slap to his face? His gaze swept across the people at the table. He decided to take a different approach. He raised his ponytail and slammed the wine cup in front of him on the table. He said loudly, "What's wrong with listening to my wife? A real man knows when to yield and when not! Moreover, at least I have a wife. Do any of you have one? Do you? Everyone here, may I ask which one of you has a wife now? "
He Yan, "…"
He really did not know how to respond to this.
Yan He drank the wine in front of him in one gulp. He did not know if it was because the Bifang wine was particularly intoxicating, but he was already drunk. He first asked Lin Shuanghe, "You hang out with women every day. All the women in the world are your little sisters. May I ask if you have a wife now?"
Lin Shuanghe, "… No."
As if he had won a battle, he asked Yang Mingzhi with satisfaction, "You have a gentle temperament and great talent. Everyone says that scholars do not lack beautiful partners. Do you have a wife?"
Yang Mingzhi, "… No."
Yan He became more and more excited. He looked at Chu Zhao, "You have …" He suddenly paused and said to himself, "Your wife has already been decided. Forget it, next."
He asked He Yan, "Little guy, do you have a wife?"
He Yan, "…"
She really did not have a wife.
Yan He turned to Xiao Jue and looked at her proudly, "You are the number one in the Xian Chang Dojo. You have a handsome face and a good figure. No one can beat you in terms of both civil and martial arts. In those years, the door of the Xian Chang Dojo was almost broken by the girls. But … may I ask if you have a wife?"
Xiao Jue looked at him calmly.
"I know you don't!" Yan He single-handedly defeated everyone at the table. He probably thought that having a wife was a great honor, so he became even happier and prouder. He slammed the table, stood up and said loudly, "It seems like all of you aren't that great. Do you know how amazing it is to have a wife? When you return home late at night, no one is waiting for you under the lamp, right? When you have a headache or fever, have you drunk the hot soup made by your wife? Don't even mention the clothes and boots that your wife personally sewed. Ha. "He looked at everyone with disdain, as if he was the Son of Heaven looking down at the world." Let's not talk about having a wife. I'm afraid that all of you have not even held a girl's hand in your life. You still have your first kiss. "
The more he spoke, the more ridiculous he became. He Yan covered his face with his hands. He could not bear to look anymore. Yang Mingzhi could not help but tug at Yan He's robe. "Brother Nan Guang, you are too much."
When the girls who were pouring wine and playing the zither saw this, they could not help but laugh. They only felt that this arrogant young man had a kind of reckless cuteness at this moment.
Cai Lian smiled and said, "Young Master Yan, you are wrong. We are in the Cloud Dojo. If we are talking about girls, we do not lack anything. Young Masters are so outstanding. If you really choose a girl in the dojo, everyone will be willing."
He Yan was so shocked that he almost dropped his cup. What was this? She was already recommending herself to be his pillow? No way! Absolutely not! Even though it was the Cloud Dojo, she had always treated the Cloud Dojo as a proper tavern.
Just as she thought of this, she saw that the two beautiful girls beside Cai Lian had already stuck to Xiao Jue. She really had good taste, picking the most outstanding one in one go. He Yan's actions were faster than his thoughts. He instinctively shouted, "No way!"
The two girls who were about to persuade them to drink paused. The others at the table looked at her.
Facing Xiao Jue's thoughtful gaze, He Yan calmly said, "We came here in a group. We only drink, not talk about love."
Hearing this, Hua Youxian laughed even more happily. She poured herself a cup of Bifang wine and made a toast to He Yan. "Young Master is so cute. I toast you."
He Yan felt like a simple and honest scholar who had mistakenly entered the demon's cave. At this moment, he was really weak, pitiful and helpless.
After drinking a cup of rose dew, Cai Lian smiled and said, "Young Masters, do you still remember that many years ago at this place, everyone sang and danced together?" She looked at Yan He. "Young Master Yan even danced with a knife on the table."
Yan He was stunned. "Why don't I remember?"
It would have been better if he did not say this. Once he said it, He Yan also remembered. At that time, after he helped Hua Youxian chase away Tong Qiushi and scare Liu Rui away, everyone drank and celebrated at the Cloud Dojo. The girls in the Cloud Dojo played the zither and danced. It was very lively. Mama Ding took out the best Bifang wine to entertain them. Yan He drank the most and got drunk the fastest. After he was drunk, he took out a long knife and cut the lotus flower that was placed in the vase as a decoration in half.
Everyone was shocked. Before they could stop him, they saw the exceptionally brightly dressed young man step on the table and start to dance with the knife. He danced and sang, "There is a tree in the east, a dragon is placed below. I will cut off the dragon's legs and chew on the dragon's flesh. I will make it so that it will not return in the morning and will not rest in the night! "
His friends went to pull him and pulled him off the table. Lin Shuanghe covered his mouth and smiled apologetically to the girls beside him. "This guy is drunk and spouting nonsense. Don't take it seriously. Sisters, please forget about it this time. Don't take it to heart." He turned around and scolded Yan He. "What dragon slaying … how dare you spout such disgraceful words. If your father knows, he will bring you back tomorrow and break your legs."
Unfortunately, Yan He was already completely drunk at that time.
"At that time, everyone was drunk." Lin Shuanghe recalled the past and sighed. "Bifang wine is strong. Now that I think about it, other than Huaijin, He Rufei has the best alcohol tolerance and is the most sober."
"He Rufei?" When Yan He heard He Rufei, he felt uncomfortable. He scoffed. "I think he secretly poured the wine away. I don't believe you if you say he has a good alcohol tolerance! He must have done something to it. "
He Yan lowered her eyes and looked at the dark red wine in the wine cup in front of her. She thought to herself, that time, she really wasn't drunk. Even when everyone was unconscious, she was very sober and returned to her room, wearing her clothes and lying down. There was no other reason. It was because everyone was drinking Bifang wine at that time. She was the only one who drank rose dew like today.
Rose dew was just like what Yan He said. It was sweet fruit dew. Although it was considered wine, its alcohol tolerance was definitely not as good as Bifang wine. Moreover, she was extra cautious that day, so she drank very little. When everyone was lying on the floor, she was still standing.
But … why was she the only one who got rose dew back then?
He Yan could not understand.
A girl played the pipa. The sound was light and cheerful. When he was young, he liked to watch tragedies on stage and listen to sad songs. He always felt that the joy of the world was not as unforgettable as the sadness. As he grew older, he strived for perfection in everything. However, he knew that perfection was difficult.
All he wanted was an instant.
Cai Lian covered her mouth and laughed. "Not only that, the young masters also left various scrolls of calligraphy in Yunlou. However, after a long time, those scrolls of calligraphy were lost. Otherwise, being able to take it out for a look today would be a joyous occasion. "
"What's so great about scrolls of calligraphy?" Yan He did not think much of it. "Just write another one. Our great scholar Yang is here. What can't he write, right?"
Yang Mingzhi was stunned. He did not say anything.
Hua Youxian seemed to be touched by his words. She said, "Please wait." Then, she got up and left. Everyone did not know what she was going to do. After a while, the girl hugged a long scroll and walked to the side of everyone.
"Miss Youxian, what is this?" Lin Shuanghe asked.
Hua Youxian looked at the scroll in her arms. She touched it gently. Her eyes were filled with nostalgia. She said gently, "I don't know if the young masters still remember that when we celebrated at Yunlou, Young Master Wang was also there."
Everyone fell silent.
"Young Master Wang" was the cause of everything back then. He was also the end of everything. Ever since they reunited, everyone deliberately avoided talking about this person. They were afraid that Hua Youxian would be sad. Even though they did not know why, for a girl who was willing to sacrifice herself for her lover to break up so decisively, she must have encountered something very sad.
"When the young masters were drinking and talking, Young Master Wang once drew on the side. He drew all of the young masters." As she spoke, she had the girl beside her help unroll the scroll. "Later, I divorced Young Master Wang. When I left the residence, I did not bring any luggage. I only had this."
After she finished speaking, the scroll in her hand slowly unrolled. It fell into everyone's eyes.
Wang Sheng did not need to be evaluated. His talent was not fake. The brush strokes captured the characteristics of each person very well. It was vivid and lifelike. On the scroll, lights intersected. Hu Qinsheng sang endlessly. The pretty girls' dresses were flipped up. Wine pots and cups were tilted at the long table.
A young man with a high ponytail stepped on the table. He was in high spirits. He was practicing with his sword. There was a young man under the table. He held a folding fan in one hand and hurried to pull him up with the other. Yang Mingzhi beside him was not as steady as he was now. His expression was as gentle as ever. His sister beside him urged him to drink. He hurriedly waved his hand and refused.
He Yan also saw himself.
The masked girl sat in the corner. Amidst the laughter and chatter, she seemed to have been forgotten. Her head was slightly tilted, as if she was following something. As far as her eyes could see, there was a white-robed youth sitting in the middle, casually drinking with his head lowered.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
