The sixth day of the sixth month was the Heavenly Blessing Festival. It was said that on this day, the Jade Emperor's daughter descended to the mortal world to play. She turned into a pure and refined water lotus by the lake. Coincidentally, a scholar passed by and took pity on her lonely shadow. Thus, he visited her by the lake every morning and evening, reciting poems and painting for her.
The fairy fell in love with him and turned back into a beautiful woman. Then, she met the scholar by chance. A year later, they became husband and wife and loved each other. However, the good times did not last long. The Jade Emperor noticed his daughter's whereabouts and sent the celestial soldiers to the mortal world to capture her.
The fairy refused to leave her husband and return to the Heavenly Court, so she disobeyed the laws of heaven. The Jade Emperor was furious. In front of the scholar, he turned his daughter into a lotus flower and punished her for a hundred years before she could return to her human form.
One day in heaven was ten years on earth. However, mortals only lived for a hundred years. How could the scholar live until then? The Jade Emperor thought that the mortal would not wait long. Faced with a lotus flower that could not speak, he would have a change of heart sooner or later. He wanted to use this opportunity to make his daughter give up on the scholar.
Who knew that in the blink of an eye, fifty years had passed. One day, the Jade Emperor thought of his daughter and went down to the mortal world. In a big house, he saw the fairy who was still a lotus flower and an old man with white hair sitting by the lotus pond.
"The Jade Emperor recognized the old man as the scholar. In surprise, he appeared and asked him, 'It has been so many years, are you still waiting for her?'" At this point, Xia Jiangmin's eyes turned slightly red. She sniffed and asked Yu Shu, "Guess, how did the old man answer?"
Yu Shu was fascinated and shook her head gently. The first half of the story was vulgar, but the second half was a little touching.
Xia Jiangmin's eyes moved and there was a trace of yearning in her expression. She said, "He said that when he married his wife, he made a vow that he would never leave her in this life. So as long as he was alive, he would never leave her. The Jade Emperor was moved and took back his daughter's punishment. He turned the lotus flower back into a human form. After fifty years, he finally saw his beloved wife again. He closed his eyes by the lotus pond in satisfaction and passed away. "
Then, tears fell from her eyes. Although Yu Shu was not as emotional as her, she was not indifferent. She patted the back of her hand and said gently, "The scholar and the fairy were both infatuated. Even though they only had one flower, they still spent fifty years together, didn't they?"
Hearing that, Xia Jiangmin nodded slowly. "That's right. This scholar is a man of his word. He is a true gentleman, and the fairy is also infatuated. The Jade Emperor was moved by their persistence. Every year on the sixth day of the sixth month in the human world, which is also the day that the scholar and the fairy meet, he asked the Moon Elder to tie a red thread for those infatuated men and women in the world. It was a heavenly blessing.
Today was the first time Yu Shu heard of such a special day. It sounded similar to the Double Seventh Festival. The difference was that the Double Seventh Festival was the Women's Day. Women prayed for craftsmanship and worshiped the Weaver Girl, hoping that they would have a husband in the future. The Heaven's Blessing Festival existed to bless the marriage between men and women.
"Then what is this Gentleman's Hibiscus Banquet that you mentioned?"
Xia Jiangmin wiped the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief. It was said that women were the most fickle. She was still crying a moment ago, but now she had a smile on her face. She even excitedly said to Yu Shu, "This has a long history. It can be traced back to the time when our Da An Empire was just founded. The Anling was just built. The Imperial court was divided into three factions. There were civil officials and military generals. There was also the rising faction of Master Yi. These noble families and talented people did not get along well with each other. Thus, Empress Ning Zhen thought of a way. Every year on the Heaven's Blessing Festival, she would hold a Gentleman's Hibiscus Banquet and invite all the unmarried young men and women in the capital to attend.
"The Gentleman's Hibiscus Banquet was personally hosted by Empress Ning Zhen. Any talented person, no matter male or female, could obtain a water hibiscus made of gold and jade. And the person who obtained the gold and jade hibiscus — —"
Xia Jiangmin suddenly lowered her voice and squeezed Yu Shu's hand. She excitedly said, "Then they can express their love to the man or woman they like. If the two are in love, then the Heaven's Blessing Festival will be the matchmaker and they will be fated to be together."
Yu Shu was surprised to hear this. She thought to herself and could not help but praise the Empress Ning Zhen of three hundred years ago. She was an expert at playing politics. After the Jin were expelled and the new dynasty was established, the civil and military officials in the court were at odds with each other. The affairs of the country were unstable. The most effective method was to have them marry each other. Thus, there was the Gentleman's Hibiscus Banquet.
But today, the Gentleman's Hibiscus Banquet no longer had its original purpose. The only thing that people would flock to like ducks was that gold and jade hibiscus.
"Then what if there was one party who had wishful thinking?" Yu Shu asked. "For example, if a man obtained the gold and jade hibiscus and expressed his love to a woman, if the woman rejected, wouldn't her reputation be affected?"
Xia Jiangmin smiled and said, "I also think so. But Miss Xie told me that to be selected to obtain the gold and jade hibiscus at the Gentleman's Hibiscus Banquet is a kind of glory. Even if it was rejected because it was not to one's liking, others would be envious."
As she said this, she shook Yu Shu's arm and winked at her. "This kind of banquet, I won't have the chance to go. Ashu, you are the Great Divination Female Divination Master. Now that your reputation is resounding, this year's Gentleman's Hibiscus Banquet will definitely send you an invitation. When the time comes, you must attend. When you return, you must tell me about it."
"If I receive an invitation, I will go." In reality, Yu Shu wasn't interested in this kind of ancient matchmaking activity. But if there was a chance to see the current Empress, there was no harm in joining in the fun.
Xia Jiangmin looked her up and down again and couldn't help but remind her, "You better prepare your clothes and jewelry early. There are still some days left. Don't go sloppily on that day and cause others to laugh at you."
"I know." Yu Shu's mouth was perfunctory. She stood up and said, "It's getting late. I should go. I'll come see you tomorrow."
Xia Jiangmin said angrily, "But you said it. Don't not hear from me for ten days or half a month again. I'll see you off."
Xia Jiangmin sent Yu Shu out of the rear courtyard. She then followed a servant girl out the front door. When she sat on the horse carriage on the way home, she suddenly realized something. Her expression wasn't as calm as before.
Would Xue Rui go to the Gentlemen's Hibiscus Banquet?
In the second half of May, Sima Kui had an astrology class. Yu Shu went to see Xia Jiangmin yesterday. She was a little concerned about the Gentlemen's Hibiscus Banquet. So when she saw Xin Liu today, she asked, "Have you received the invitation to the Gentlemen's Hibiscus Banquet?"
Xin Liu hadn't seen her for a few days. He was about to show her the white crystal on his wrist when she suddenly asked him, "Not yet. How did you get it?" He asked in a daze, "Not yet. How did you get it?"
Yu Shu shook her head, "I just heard about it yesterday."
"Oh, you're not from Anling. No wonder you don't know about it." Xin Liu patted his forehead as if he just realized this.
The students all came early. They stood near the observatory in twos and threes. Sima Kui hadn't arrived yet. Yu Shu and Xin Liu stood under a ginkgo tree and talked.
Xin Liu knew more about the Gentlemen's Hibiscus Banquet than Xia Jiangmin. After a while, Yu Shu had a deeper understanding of this banquet that had been passed down for more than two hundred years.
It turned out that the Gentlemen's Hibiscus Banquet wasn't necessarily hosted by the current Empress. Last year, when the Empress was ill, she entrusted the banquet to Consort Lv Xian. This year, it was still unknown which noble in the palace would be hosting.
As for the young men and women who were invited to the banquet, they could be divided into four groups. The first group were the children of aristocratic families. The second group were the meritorious nobles. The third group were the aristocrats. The last group were the new talents like Yu Shu, who had used the Dayan or the imperial examinations to get rid of their white status.
Speaking of this, Xin Liu suddenly remembered the rumors he heard the day before. He changed the topic and frowned, "I was just about to ask you. What's going on with that Zhan Xueyuan? Why did I hear that you slapped her in Zang? I also heard that when you went to worship the ancestors, she falsely accused you of stealing her treasure Tianyu in Huazhen Garden. So she owed you ten slaps. These days, there are rumors everywhere in Taishi Library — are these things true?"
Yu Shu raised her eyebrows. She thought that Situ Qinglan's words had spread fast. "There is such a thing. Do you know Cui Yun? She was the one who stole Zhan Xueyuan's Tianyu. Then the two of them falsely accused me and almost started a fight in Huazhen Garden."
She told Xin Liu about what happened that evening. Xin Liu was furious. "What kind of people are they? They are so shameless. You should really slap them hard in the face. Let's see if they still dare to slander people in the future."
Then he rejoiced, "Fortunately, fortunately, this matter has been investigated clearly. Otherwise, if we were to crown you with the crime of theft, it would only be a small matter of losing face. Moreover, it would cause others to think that your conduct is improper. Let's not talk about the future, let's just talk about this Gentlemen's Hibiscus Banquet."
Hearing this, a thought flashed through Yu Shu's mind. It was so fast that she couldn't catch it.
"Academician Sima is here. Let's go." Xin Liu glanced at the students who had gathered in the south and pulled her.
Yu Shu's thoughts were interrupted. She didn't have time to think too much. She went up with Xin Liu to greet Academician Sima.
.....
An hour later, at the end of the class, Sima Kui finally informed all the students present of one thing. "After 9 o 'clock tonight, we will measure the stars at the observatory. I have some errands to run, so I entrust Academician Jing to give a lecture. Don't be naughty and come on time. You can stay in the library tonight and go back tomorrow."
There were whispers below. Most people were excited, but there were a few who were depressed. This included Yu Shu and Xin Liu.
The reason for their depression was different.
"Lotus Room, I don't want to go to the observatory tonight. Do you think I should sneak back home?" Xin Liu had always been traumatized by Cao Youling's murder.
Yu Shu didn't want to stay either. She was suspicious about Sima Kui suddenly asking Jing Chen to speak on his behalf. She guessed that Jing Chen was looking for an opportunity to get close to her.
But she didn't want to delay her studies because of this.
"Lotus Room?"
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