After the loud noise, there was a commotion. Looking over from the neighboring street outside Qingyuan, they could vaguely see flashes of fire. Yun Zhu and Jin Er, who had hurriedly put on their shoes and socks, hurried over. Halfway there, another young girl from Qingyuan came to inform them. It was from the corner of the street. The horse in a carriage was startled and ran wildly for a while. The carriage crashed into the wall and collapsed the wall next to the main building of Qingyuan.
"Did anyone get hurt?"
"A few. A few people who set up stalls on the street were hurt, but they're not serious. Steward Li has already called a doctor over. He asked me to come over and tell you not to worry."
After the Bamboo Shop expanded, there were more women than men in the few buildings of the shop. Li Lan, who was the steward in Qingyuan, was originally from a brothel. Later, she was poached here. She was good at politics and knew poetry. She was also familiar with Yun Zhu and Jin Er's character. Hearing that nothing serious had happened, Yun Zhu was relieved. "It's good that no one got hurt too badly."
Jin Er smiled and said, "Now there's a good show to watch. Those quarreling upstairs should stop now."
Although Qingyuan was an elegant place, it was common for scholars to quarrel every few days. It could only prove that this place was quite popular. Yun Zhu smiled and shook her head. The young girl who came to inform them said, "The people upstairs stopped quarreling before."
"Oh? Did they stop quarreling? "
"No, it seemed like a very famous scholar went up. After that, they stopped arguing and someone went over to greet him …. That person was very young. I was about to ask Big Sister Xiaoyu who he was when the wall was knocked down …."
"Famous and young? Have you been here before? "
"No … I don't think so …"
The young girl was originally from a poor family. She didn't dabble in poetry and literature, so she couldn't recognize many people. But hearing what she said, Jin Er suddenly frowned. She thought of something and glanced at Yun Zhu next to her. Yun Zhu didn't show anything on her face, but her movements were slightly sluggish. Jin Er turned around and asked, "Then … is he called Ning-something or something Heng?"
After all, it was a bit of a coincidence. She didn't know what she was thinking. The young girl was a little hesitant. "I don't think so … Sister Xiaoyu didn't tell me …"
"Then what does he look like? Is he … this tall … looks … very … calm …" Jin Er gestured for a while and asked the young girl. The young girl was quite embarrassed. Yun Zhu glanced at her and said, "Let's go and have a look." Only then did Jin Er let go of the young girl. The two of them walked a little faster towards the front courtyard. When they approached the main building in front of Qingyuan, it was already bustling here. The wall of the small courtyard next to it had been knocked down by the carriage. The servants in Qingyuan were cleaning up under the direction of the steward named Li Lan. The torches were lit, and the scholars upstairs and downstairs were pointing and watching the bustling scene. Yun Zhu and Jin Er looked around in the courtyard and then went up to the main hall on the second floor. They only took a cursory look but didn't see the figure they were hoping to see.
In Qingyuan, most of the time, elegance was emphasized. But just now, the two groups of scholars in the main hall quarreled, and later the courtyard wall was knocked down, so there were more people here. Occasionally, people would come over to say hello to Yun Zhu and Jin Er and flatter them. Sometimes Yun Zhu responded with a smile, but it was quite forced. Her attitude was overflowing. Seeing this, Jin Er said with some hesitation, "Sister Yun Zhu, it can't be so fast …"
"Actually, it's almost time …" Yun Zhu answered absent-mindedly. Her eyes searched for the figures upstairs and downstairs.
After a while, Li Lan came up and asked her about what had happened just now. Li Lan said, "It's indeed my first time here, but I've seen you two before." It turned out that the person who had just come was a young scholar named Wang Xiangzhen. He came from another place and had only become famous in Jiangning in the past year.
The change of scholars was actually quite rapid, especially in Jiangning. The truly talented people would rush to the capital every year. Li Pin and Cao Guan had become officials. There was no news of Gu Yanzhen after his disappearance. Ning Yi suddenly appeared and went to Hangzhou. His poems could be said to prove his Dao with strength, but the way he became famous was a bit unconventional. The Jiangning literary circle had mixed feelings about him. Nowadays, the most praised people in Jiangning had changed a few people. Wang Xiangzhen had frequently written good poems in more than half a year's poetry meetings. Although he hadn't been to Qingyuan before, he had met Jin Er twice at the Bright Moon Hotel and once with Yun Zhu. Since he had to do business, these kinds of things were inevitable.
After asking these questions, Yun Zhu was slightly disappointed. Jin Er also let out a sigh of relief. She didn't know whether she was disappointed or happy. Wang Xiangzhen also came over and greeted Yunzhu and Jiner with cupped fists. This man was in his early twenties, with red lips and white teeth. He was handsome. The two groups of people who had quarreled upstairs just now were not very famous. He was now a first-class person in Jiangning. After he came up, no one quarreled anymore. Wang Xiangzhen was also quite proud of this effect.
Nowadays in Jiangning, only Ning Yi was praised by Kang Xian and others as "the world's least poet" at the beginning of the year. This meant that after he wrote poems, there were fewer people in the world who dared to write poems. Wang Xiangzhen felt that he was actually a level higher. It was a pity that Ning Liheng might have died in the Hangzhou rebellion. It was quite a pity that he couldn't compete with him on the spot. Moreover, since he was dead, he had to show respect to the dead. This guy had won unfairly. It was really hateful.
Today, Yun Zhu and Jin Er could manage a few places in Takeshi because they had the support of the Princess's Mansion. Their businesses were not big, but in the eyes of many people, these two beautiful women who had been prostitutes and then turned over a new leaf had a transcendent status. They didn't need to entertain many people perfunctorily. Usually, they were mysterious because the people behind them had reached a high level. Scholars in the same circle as Wang Xiangzhen would occasionally talk about Takeshi when they talked about the Courtesan Awards. They said that only those who could be the guests behind the curtain of these two people were really capable.
Some people would worry about what kind of influential people behind these two people, but they didn't think too much about it. Wang Xiangzhen was also quite fond of these two people. Now that she saw them, she politely invited them to have a talk about poetry. However, Yun Zhu was absent-minded and just responded perfunctorily. Jin Er also forced a smile and focused on comforting her Sister Yun Zhu. Wang Xiangzhen was in his early twenties, and he relied on women to chase after girls. In fact, most scholars nowadays were like this. Once they had literary talent, they would be attracted by women. He racked his brains to show his talent, but they didn't pay attention to him. They were not playing hard to get. His heart was itching, and he felt that these two women were really charming.
If he didn't have any hope, he wouldn't be so disappointed. At this time, he didn't see the people he thought he could see, and the night suddenly became dull. Yun Zhu wanted to leave, but the two families who had set up stalls on the street outside Qingyuan were not in good condition. She thought of the time when she was embarrassed, so she asked Li Landuo and the two families who were affected to deal with the aftermath. She also told them to repair the wall.
Someone was reciting poetry. She looked up and saw that it was Wang Xiangzhen. He was standing by the railing, waving a fan and talking with his friends. Then there was another good work. In the orange light, he looked handsome like a peacock spreading its tail. When Yun Zhu looked over, he was also looking at her. He cupped his hands and nodded with a smile, extremely polite. Yun Zhu also lowered her head subconsciously, which was a habitual salute when their eyes met.
"I don't know why they are so poetic. They are also reciting poetry at this time …" This thought flashed through her mind. She thought of Ning Yi. If he was here to watch the fun, he might have a joke or two. It must be quite interesting. These people are too serious, which is strange.
When she was thinking about this, Wang Xiangzhen was a little proud upstairs. "She saw me and heard me reciting poetry. The look in her eyes just now seems to be a little shy …" Thinking of this, she waved her fan and continued to talk with the people around her. She deliberately raised her voice and looked down. However, Yun Zhu said a few words to Li Landuo and then said something to Yuan Jin 'er. She turned around and left. She didn't look back until the figure disappeared.
It seemed that she was really shy. When she turned her body slightly to the side and left, wasn't she listening attentively to what was going on and what was going on here? Thinking of this, he felt that he had seen through the woman's mind. Thinking that they might come out later, he continued to discuss poetry with the people around him. That night, they stayed in Qingyuan until late at night.
Not long after, Yun Zhu and Jin 'er got on a carriage and left from the side door. The driver was Jin' er, who liked to dress up as a man. Of course, when she was dressed as a man, she usually called herself Yuan Bao 'er. Most of the time, the husband of the maid, Hu Tao, was the coachman and the bodyguard. However, Yuan Jin 'er liked to drive by herself. Later, Kang Xian sent people to protect them in secret. In many cases, Erniu was assigned to do other things.
At this time, the night was getting dark. The carriage drove through the dimly lit streets and along the Qinhuai River towards the outskirts of the city. Occasionally, a ship with its lights on passed by them on the water. Occasionally, there were pedestrians on the road, either carrying lanterns or carrying baskets. Specks of firefly-like light shone on the road. A gentle breeze blew, carrying the fragrance of willow catkins and flowers. It was a cool and relaxing feeling. The carriage didn't go fast. Yun Zhu leaned on the side, her eyes a little misty as she thought about something. Jin 'er looked at her from time to time and said, "Then let's go find Grandpa Fuma tomorrow …"
"You don't have to think about him all the time."
"You just kissed me …"
Yun Zhu pursed her lips and smiled at her. She went over and hugged her. Their cheeks were pressed together. Jin 'er laughed so hard that her eyes narrowed. Then, she turned her head and kissed Yun Zhu on the cheek, saying, "I kissed you …" Yun Zhu frowned and pursed her lips. Then, she pinched her face and tickled her. The two disguised as men started to play around in the carriage. At this time, there were fewer people on the road. When they saw someone coming in front of them, they stopped. The orange lantern swayed slightly in the carriage.
"You are mine after I kissed you. Even if Ning Liheng comes again, he can't take you away …" Jin 'er declared proudly.
Yun Zhu sat on the edge of the carriage, hugging her knees. She looked at her with a smile. After a while, she went over and said softly, "I am your sister. A kiss is nothing."
"Mine!" Yuan Jin 'er puffed up her cheeks and stared at her.
Yun Zhu just smiled and leaned her back on Jin 'er's shoulder. She straightened her legs on the shaft of the carriage and said softly, "I am Liheng's woman …"
Jin 'er was a little disappointed. "How can you be so shameless!"
"No, I'm not. Nie Yunzhu is Ning Liheng's woman. She is Yuan Jin 'er's sister …" She repeated softly. The soft words were scattered in the warm wind of the spring night. Then there was a soft laugh. "She is also Yuan Bao' er's sister."
Jin 'er was depressed for a while. "Hmph, I, Yuan Bao' er, will teach you tonight … Yeah?"
She wanted to say something harsh, but then she was slightly stunned. At this time, they were close to the small building where they lived. There were not many lights in front of them, and the road was dark. But on the other side of the road, a carriage stopped in the darkness by the river. There was only a lantern on the carriage. The light rippled, and a figure stood by the river, which was gradually blurring. It was a scholar. The water of Qinhuai River flowed into the distance in the dark night.
The carriage subconsciously slowed down. In such a night, it was natural that they couldn't see clearly whether the person in front of them was familiar or not. They hadn't seen each other for nearly a year, so they couldn't tell whether they were familiar or not. Jin 'er looked over there, and Yun Zhu also looked quietly. They had made a mistake tonight, so they couldn't be sure of anything else. An indescribable feeling arose in their hearts. Who would stay by the side of the road on such a night? There seemed to be a word "Su" on the lantern, but it was too far away to see clearly. A horse carriage drove over from the other side of the road. The light shone on the carriage and the person, blocking their line of sight. Then, the carriage passed by them and gradually moved away. The person on the other side seemed to look back, but he was mainly looking in the direction of the small building at the end of his vision. Then, he stood by the river, enjoying himself. Who knew what he was doing.
Jin 'er subconsciously stopped the carriage and looked at Yun Zhu. Yun Zhu also looked at her. After a while, the two of them got out of the carriage and walked over with the small lantern. As they got closer, the man in scholar's clothes broke a willow branch in his hand and hung it in the water, as if he was fishing. He tilted his head to look at the small building in the distance and seemed to be humming a tune.
The night wind faintly carried the tune over, and Yun Zhu on this side of the road could understand the vague lyrics. Because he was humming casually, the lyrics were also messed up.
"The sound of prosperity escapes into the door of emptiness, the people of the world die, the dream is cold, dang dang dang dang dang, the debt of love is a few more, like your tacit consent, the bitterness of life and death, hum hum hum, another ring of annual rings … how many floors of the pagoda are broken, whose soul is broken, the pain goes straight to the mountain gate of a collapsed lamp … if you are following, the door of the previous life, stained with the world of mortals, following me … hmm hmm for a lifetime …"
As if he had sensed the mountain gate, he turned around and saw the carriage parked in the distance. He then turned around and saw the two women carrying small lanterns on the opposite side of the road. Ning Yi smiled and said, "I'm back."
That unknown warmth spread from her body. Yun Zhu smiled, but for a moment, she couldn't find the words she wanted to say. Jin 'er was stunned for a long time. A shivering numbness surged up from her tailbone and enveloped her whole body. For a long time after that, she couldn't clearly describe the feeling. But at this moment, the young goddess, who felt it difficult to breathe, subconsciously pulled Yun Zhu's hand. There was no one else around, so she subconsciously shouted.
"I … Sister Yun Zhu … Sister Yun Zhu kissed me today!"
Well, she thought about the two subjects and then shouted it out like this. Then, even she was shocked by what she saw.
*****
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