Chu Menglin was so shocked that he broke out in cold sweat. Suddenly he felt someone patting his shoulder. His face turned pale with fright; he leaped back several steps and assumed a defensive posture. He thought the illusion had come true, but he saw Tang Yuancheng standing in front of him with an innocent face. "Dage," he said, "Xiaodi called you several times from behind, but you did not hear me. I almost could not catch up with you." In Chu Menglin's mind, he had already described Tang Yuancheng as bruised and battered, with cuts and bruises all over his body. Now that he saw Tang Yuancheng standing in front of him, he felt uncomfortable instead. "Are you alright?" he asked unconsciously.
Tang Yuancheng was surprised. "What's the matter?" What's the matter with me? Oh, right, thank you very much Dage, thank you very much Dage. " Chu Menglin was amused by Tang Yuancheng's reserved behavior, he mused, "As long as I keep an eye on this kid, not leaving him even for a single step, I don't think I will be so unlucky as to bump into those women." Thus he relaxed his mind and wanted to hear how other people described him. "Xiongdi," he said with a smile, "Tell me more about the person you like. What does she look like?"
Tang Yuancheng's face showed a bashful yet sweet smile. "This feeling can only be understood, it cannot be described in words," he said. But to say that the first time I saw her, I was shocked by her beauty, it was not an exaggeration at all. I felt that even if I had to prostrate myself under her pomegranate skirt, I would be willing to be her slave forever. Since then, my head was full of her. When I was reading, those big characters turned into her smiling face, always swaying in front of my eyes. Alone I went to the corner of the wall, my mind wandered, I dug out every word she said to me and pondered over it in detail. In my reverie I chatted with her, and I was perfectly satisfied. What high official position, generous salary, luxurious clothing and jade food, everything cannot compare to her little finger. "
Chu Menglin really did not expect this bookworm could say such pleasant words, and indeed he was deeply in love. With a mysterious smile he said, "If I can guide you to find her, how are you going to thank me?" Tang Yuancheng was unmoved. "Don't laugh at Xiaodi," he said, "Even I only saw her once by chance. How could Dage recognize her? Beautiful women in the world could only be encountered by chance and not sought. Actually, I know where she lives, but that place is heavily guarded. With my current status, I can't go in. "Chu Menglin thought," That's right, the Sacrifice Shadow Sect is indeed heavily guarded. "
Tang Yuancheng continued, "It's also because of this that it became my motivation to study, to pass the imperial examinations and attain scholarly honor, to be on equal footing with the Great Qing Dynasty's Prince, and then I will be able to see her again." Chu Menglin mused, "You are really something, you even found out the identity of your prospective love rival."
Tang Yuancheng heaved a deep sigh and said, "She once held my hand. To this day, I still feel the lingering fragrance of her ten fingers on my palm … The things she gave me, I have always kept them safe. I often look at them and think of her …" Chu Menglin was puzzled, "I gave … what did she give you?" While they were talking, they had already returned to their room at the inn. Tang Yuancheng spread out the books he bought one by one on the table and said, "Xiaodi only wanted to enjoy this warmth alone. Dage, please forgive my selfishness."
Chu Menglin did not have anything to say, so in order to distract Tang Yuancheng, he randomly picked up a book and said, "That's right, that's right. Everything is inferior, only studying is the most important. Quickly read your book, I won't disturb you." He pulled a stool and sat down, and then buried his head in the book.
Tang Yuancheng thought that under his subtle influence, his big brother really understood the importance of studying, so he was immensely pleased with himself. But Chu Menglin's mind was not on the book at all. He kept sneaking glances behind him out of the corner of his eyes, counting silently in his mind. He was planning to finish reciting the number of sheep and then abandon the book. Suddenly he heard Tang Yuancheng call out, "Dage!" Chu Menglin was startled and trembled. Only then did he realize that the book was upside down. But just now he still pretended to read with great interest for a long time. He did not know where to put his face, so he hastily raised his head and grinned at Tang Yuancheng. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he quickly turned the book around. Hopefully he was fast enough that Tang Yuancheng did not notice.
Tang Yuancheng said, "Xiaodi wants to ask Dage to imitate the Palace Examination and come up with a question. Let me fabricate an essay." Chu Menglin did not understand, "What kind of question do you want me to come up with?"
Tang Yuancheng said, "During the examination, you must use a limited sentence structure and style to write your composition. Parallel Four Li Six Pairs must be written neatly. The first sentence breaks the topic, hence it is divided into two sentences, 'Accept the topic'. 'Beginning' was the beginning of the discussion, and 'Beginning' continued to pave the way. The main discussion was divided into 'Starting Stocks', 'Middle Stocks', 'Back Stocks', and 'Binding Stocks'. With the Middle Stocks as the focus of the whole article, there were two sets of words that had to be matched with each other, making a total of eight sets of words, hence the name 'Eight Sets of Words'. Eh, you don't know? " Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Don't forget, when answering the test, you have to follow what I just said. Otherwise, no matter how incisive and original your point of view is, the examiner will follow the rules and will not let you pass."
Chu Menglin said, "I don't want to. It's so complicated that I can't even remember it. In any case, as long as I flatter the examiner to the point that even I would blush when I see him, wouldn't that be enough? "
Tang Yuancheng said, "As far as the examinee is concerned, his or her future depends entirely on the examiner's guidance. He can lift you to the sky, but he can also throw you to the ground. But before success and recognition, an ordinary person like you will not benefit his or her official career in the slightest. What virtue or ability do you have to deserve special treatment? Besides, everyone's preferences are different. This … if by any chance you flatter the horse's foot, it will be difficult to clean up the mess. " Chu Menglin said, "If you don't care about empty etiquette, then you have to be pragmatic. Take some banknotes and bribe him with some money, ask him to be magnanimous."
Tang Yuancheng frowned and said, "Don't always think about taking advantage of the situation. Even if you are lucky enough to get through the first few tests, the Palace Examination questions are prepared by the Imperial Cabinet. His Majesty's promotion to Imperial Palace Personal Supervisor will follow the procedure. Besides, you know that no matter how rich the exclusive wealth is, in the end, it still belongs to His Majesty. If I rashly give a few taels of silver to His Majesty, it is simply helping him transfer money from his left pocket to his right pocket. Not only will I become a laughing stock, but in the future, I won't be able to raise my head in front of my colleagues. "
Halfway through, Chu Menglin's eyes lit up. He said with a smile, "So, the Imperial Concubine niangniang will also be present? Then maybe you will be able to meet Shen Shiyun. She is very resourceful. She can talk to His Majesty in bed. Even if the title of Zhuangyuan grows wings and can fly, sooner or later, he won't be able to escape from the palm of your hand. "
These few casual words of ridicule caused Tang Yuancheng's complexion to change greatly. His breathing quickened, and his eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets. He said, "Shen Shiyun … are you talking about … are you talking about … Yun 'er?"
Chu Menglin said in his heart, "As soon as he sees Shen Shiyun, he will be able to ask her about my whereabouts. He is already so excited that he is going crazy. If he finds out that you have been with me these past few days, inseparable as my shadow and shadow, I don't know what will happen to him? " Thinking about this, he was so excited that he did not consider the consequences. He raised his hand and pulled the green bamboo from his hair bun. His black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, reaching his waist. His right hand curled up like an orchid flower, circling his face in an elegant circle. His left hand gently propped his cheek, his eyes were half-closed, his long eyelashes fluttering.
Tang Yuancheng looked at her for half a day. Suddenly he let out a strange cry and leaped backward. Although he did not know martial art, unexpectedly he was able to land on a stool. But immediately he was unable to maintain his balance. Together with the overturned stool, he fell backward. His buttocks landed on the ground. His hands were still on the ground, his feet were kicking randomly, and he could not stop moving backward. "You … you …" he said. His voice came out from his tight throat, intermittent, hoarse and broken. Chu Menglin smiled and said, "Tang Gongzi, do you still recognize me?"
Tang Yuancheng stammered 'you' for half a day before he finally said, "You are a woman!" And then he banged his head against the corner of the stool and said, "I … I have actually … slept with you for many days … My God … My God …" There was only fear in his voice, there was no joy at all. Chu Menglin did not pay any attention. She still said in a coquettish voice, "That's right, I told you early on that it was not enough, but you emphasized that you only wanted one room. Hee hee, you are really bad. Did you know my identity early on and deliberately wanted to take advantage of me? "
Tang Yuancheng stared at her for a long time. He opened his mouth and mumbled incoherently, "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. In the mortal world of nirvana, the four elements are all emptiness." He repeated this sentence over and over again. No matter how slow Chu Menglin was, he could still tell that something was wrong. He tentatively walked in front of Tang Yuancheng and sternly asked, "What's going on?"
Tang Yuancheng took out a brocade handkerchief from his bosom. The handkerchief was embroidered with a tender and beautiful lotus flower. He held it up high and with a sorrowful expression he said, "I … I have actually slept with a woman other than Yun 'er in the same room … This is a betrayal to her, a blasphemy to my feelings. In the future I won't have the face to see her anymore. You are a disaster, you are a jinx. You are a good girl, why did you change into men's clothing for no reason? You have tricked me into suffering! "
As soon as Chu Menglin saw this, he also remembered the day when Shen Shiyun gave him the handkerchief. Then he connected the dots and realized that the beautiful woman Tang Yuancheng had been longing for was actually Shen Shiyun all along. On the other hand, Chu Menglin himself was making far-fetched conclusions on the side, using fallacious reasoning to explain the situation, thinking that his love was reciprocated. He even wondered in his heart whether this bookworm or An Yesun loved her more. If he wanted to refuse, how could he leave any leeway? Thinking about it, it was all absurd. This time he wanted to blame Tang Yuancheng, but he did not know what to say.
Tang Yuancheng called out, "You … don't come here! Get out, quickly get out! "He picked up a vase from the shelf nearby and threw it toward Chu Menglin. Chu Menglin pinched the vase's mouth with three fingers. He lifted the vase and slammed it heavily on the table. "Tang Yuancheng," he said angrily, "Are you still a man? I am a girl, obviously I am at a disadvantage. Right now I haven't said anything, yet you are acting like a little wife who is being mistreated? I paid for this room. If you don't want to stay here with me, why don't you leave? "
Tang Yuancheng angrily said, "You want to leave?" Finding a handkerchief, he crawled up and neatly stacked the books. He hastily tied a knot, flung it on his back, and then turned around and walked toward the door. When he passed by Chu Menglin, he glared at him and hatefully added, "You are a big liar!"
Chu Menglin called out, "Stop! Tell me clearly, what did I lie to you about? " Tang Yuancheng said, "You are dressed like … neither a man nor a woman. You lied to me and called me 'Dage'. Humph, you don't have any sense of shame."
Chu Menglin said with conviction, "It was you who opened your mouth and closed your mouth with respect. Who knows if this is your special hobby? A gentleman has the beauty to help others. I don't want to spoil your refined mood of calling yourself 'Xiaodi', that's all! When I first met you, I was already dressed like a man. Don't tell me I did it on purpose because of you? Are you really that amazing? " Tang Yuancheng thought that Chu Menglin's words were reasonable, but he still felt very unhappy. "But you said you were going to Beijing to take the exam," he mumbled, "You are lying to me." His tone was not as unyielding as before.
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