Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 293: Release the Crane and Soar into the Sky, Waiting for the Spring Tower

【Xie Yuan couldn't help but ask: "Uncle Mingshan, why did you come to visit me?"】

【Xie Qiyue's face showed a trace of envy and indignation. After her father returned home in the past few days, he has been staying in the Dengchun Building in Hongjingyuan, closing the door to visitors. Not only can Madam Zhao not see him, but even she has no chance to see him.】

[Apart from paying respects to the old lady every day, my father has been resting in the Waiting Spring Tower and has never stepped out of the building.]

[Many noble families from the nine major surnames in Bianjing, and even Xie Hong's students in the academy, came to visit him, but were all turned away without exception.]

[The woman who was brought back to the mansion by her father stayed in Dengchunlou, which made Madam Zhao, the mistress of the Second Courtyard, very angry.]

【A strange thing happened today! 】

[A visitor unexpectedly arrived at the west corner gate of Xie's residence. He went straight into Yingchun Tower and heard my father's laughter after a long absence.]

[Soon after, my father's voice was heard from Yingchun Tower.]

[“Please ask Master Xie to come forward.”]

【Xie Qiyue was waiting outside Yingchun Tower. Upon hearing this, she and the servant went to Xie Guan's courtyard.】

[Zhang Yunzhi frowned slightly when she heard this. Why does the second master of the Xie family, who is famous in Bianjing, want to see you? ]

【Xie Qi put his hands on his waist and said: "I'm not meeting you, Xie Yuan, why do you care so much?"】

【Xie Yuan laughed and said, "Haha, I heard that someone waited in Yingchun Tower for two days but still failed to see Uncle Mingshan. I wonder if his legs are sore from standing there?"】

[“Xie Yuan, you’re asking for a fight!”]

【Xie Qiyue was hit in the sore spot, and she was ready to pounce on Xie Yuan.】

[“Fourth cousin, look at Xie Qiyue. She doesn’t look like a girl at all.” Xie Yuan shrank his head and hid behind Zhang Yunzhi.]

[Zhang Yunzhi said softly: "Okay, Qiyue, since Uncle Mingshan is here to see Master Guan, let's not delay the important matter."]

【Xie Qiyue then withdrew her hand in dismay and raised her fist towards Xie Yuan as a warning.】

[Speaking of family background, Xie Yuan's biological mother, Madam Zhuge, Zhang Yuzhi's mother, and Xie Qiyue's mother all came from the famous Zhuge family. They grew up together since childhood, had a deep friendship, and were quite familiar with each other.]

[After hearing this, you did not rush, but first packed up your writing materials, then stood up and walked into the inner room, changing your clothes.]

[“Master Guan, I will take these three lines of calligraphy away from you?” Zhang Yunzhi said.]

[You have changed into a deep blue robe and walked out the door, smiling:]

【“Miss Zhi, of course it’s fine.”】

[You bowed to Xie Yuan and the other two and said, "I dare not refuse the invitation of the elders. Sixth brother, Miss Zhi, I will take my leave first."]

[After that, you followed the young servant in blue who had been waiting outside the door, and headed for the Grand View Garden.]

【Xie Qiyue did not follow, and went to Yingchun Tower and stayed outside with her third brother Xie Renfeng, staring at each other in bewilderment.】

[Today, there are more guests coming to visit. I am afraid it will be even harder to see my father. Instead of that, I would rather stay here and feel comfortable. ]

[Xie Qiyue secretly wondered why her cousin Zhang Yunzhi and Xie Yuan seemed to be quite familiar with Xie Guan, the illegitimate son of the compound.]

[How could Xie Guan be summoned by his father? ]

【Zhang Yunzhi stared at the paper left on the stone table, on which were written three lines of words:】

【“Between the geese and trees.”】

[“The transformation of dragon and snake.”]

[“If you don’t enter the dragon’s den, how can you achieve success?”]

[Do you really want your father to take this risk? Go into the lake alone? ]

[She looked up and saw Xie Guan had already gone far away. She looked up at Xie Guan's back as he walked away. This illegitimate son of the Xie family had a much more difficult life than her, the legitimate daughter.]

[His biological mother died young, and he suffered from bullying and cold eyes in the Xie Mansion. Even the old lady called him a "disaster". His academic path was also "difficult", not to mention that his future was even more bleak.]

[However, in the Grand View Garden three days ago, no matter how he behaved or what he said, he was always polite and behaved like a gentleman.]

[Although he was in the quagmire, he did not give up at all. 】

[If a person has lofty ambitions, he can achieve them only if he has good luck. ]

[Deep in her heart, she always had an inexplicable premonition that the young man, who had not yet reached adulthood, would be as powerful as a crane flying into the sky if he got the rain.]

[“Sister Yunzhi, what are you thinking about?” Xie Qiyue looked at her cousin staring into the distance in a daze.]

【Zhang Yunzhi has put the paper away properly, folded it neatly and put it in her sleeve.】

[“Nothing!”]

【Xie Qiyue thought of something and said with anticipation: "Sister Yunzhi, the West Wing is really lively this year. Yuehuaxuan, Qimochunfang, and Zixiaoge all chose to hold a banquet for all the beauties on the day before New Year's Eve."】

[The Banquet of Flowers is an elegant name, which means the selection of the most beautiful woman in the West Chamber.]

【Xie Yuanze seemed unconcerned and said calmly: "What's the big deal? Didn't two families hold the Lantern Festival together last year?"】

[He was somewhat puzzled. Usually, the “Beauty Banquet” was held around the Lantern Festival after the beginning of the second year. “Why is it held so much earlier this year?”]

[Every year, the three Qingyin small classes select the Oiran, which is a major event in the city of Bianjing. All the major gambling houses will compete to open the betting and predict the winner of the Oiran. ]

[However, this matter has always been mostly watched by men, and few women go to the West Wing to watch. ]

[If she goes, the woman will go after work. ]

[Guoban refers to the behavior of young ladies from official or aristocratic families dressing up and going to brothels to drink tea and eat.]

【Xie Qiyue smiled proudly and said: "You don't know this. This year is very different. This time the Oiran election is jointly organized by the Great Qi court and the academy."】

【“Academy? The imperial court!”】

【After hearing this, Zhang Yunzhi showed curiosity on her face.】

[The imperial court has never interfered in the affairs of Xifeng Tower. Although Qimochunfang, one of the three companies, is rumored to have a background in the imperial court, business is business and it has never interfered in the affairs of Xixiang Tower.]

[Academy is even more impossible?]

[The academy has always been aloof from worldly matters, so why would it suddenly care about a fight for the most popular courtesan? ]

【Xie Qiyue looked at her cousin and Zhang Yunzhi with doubts on their faces, but she didn't try to be mysterious.】

[“It was this morning that the notice was posted in Bianjing City. The students in the academy have already spread the news widely.”]

[“This year, in addition to the three families selecting their own beauties, they will also jointly select the top ten, which will be called the ‘Beauty List’ and will be disseminated by the Great Qi court to the thirteen prefectures.”]

【Xie Yuan was even more confused after hearing this.】

[The imperial court actually wants to promote the "Oiran Lady" to fame, this is unprecedented. ]

【Xie Qiyue continued: "That's not all. The third master from the academy will also be present at the banquet."】

【“Mr. Three?”】

【When these words were spoken, Xie Yuan and Zhang Yunzhi both cried out in surprise.】

【Xie Yuan was even more incredulous: "Mr. San will attend the banquet? How is this possible?"】

【You need to know! 】

[Mr. San has not left the top floor of the academy for nearly twenty years.]

[Zhang Yunzhi thought for a moment and said, "Qiyue, what else is written on the list?"]

【Xie Qiyue added: "In this flower selection, in addition to the flower tickets cast, 90% of the remaining money collected will be used to divert the Yellow River."】

[In the past, five taels of silver could be exchanged for a flower ticket. Many wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan would sell their ancestral homes, land and other property to buy hundreds of thousands of flower tickets just to help their favorite women. ] [However, flower tickets are only one of the conditions for selecting the most beautiful woman. Otherwise, Hu Yunniang would not have reversed the situation and successfully won the title of most beautiful woman last year just by relying on Jin Zitan's reputation. ]

[The Banquet of Flowers is also known as the "Little Mid-Autumn Festival". Mid-Autumn poetry gatherings often produce famous poems that have been passed down through the ages, and the Banquet of Flowers is no exception.]

[Since its inception, two or three poems have emerged at the annual banquet, shocking the city of Bianjing.]

[In the selection of the Oiran, in addition to the flower ticket, poetry is also an indispensable part. 】

[A good poem or lyric can often elevate the reputation of an oiran to a higher level and spread throughout the world.]

【The value of one's status doubles. Fame has been like this since ancient times. It can bring wealth but also bring storms. 】

[Therefore, the annual banquet for beauties is not only a stage for the courtesans to compete with each other for beauty, but also a place for poets to display their talents and compete for fame.]

[“The Yellow River was brought under control, and the two states were flooded with disaster victims…”]

[Zhang Yunzhi suddenly understood the real purpose of the court's move - to raise funds for disaster relief.]

[Every year in the Oiran election, wealthy people spend up to 10 million taels of silver, which is an astonishing astronomical figure.]

[Now that the Great Qi court and the academy have joined forces on this matter, I'm afraid this year's banquet will be unprecedented in its grandeur.]

[However, how did the imperial court convince the three families to agree to this? You know, the annual banquet for beauties is the biggest source of income for the three families.]

【Xie Yuan clapped his hands and exclaimed: “Great!”】

[“In this way, the money in my hand will no longer be just for the courtesan in the West Wing, but for the people of the world.”]

[“Half for beauty, half for the people, how romantic.”]

[“Then how can I, Xie Yuan, not go?”]

【Xie Qiyue also said happily: "Father also agreed to go."】

[“Is Uncle Mingshan going too?”]

【Xie Qiyue nodded gently, recalling what her father said: "Father said that he was going to meet an old friend whom he hadn't seen for a long time."】

【Xie Yuan guessed in his heart, could it be the third teacher of the academy? 】

……

……

[You follow the servant to the Grand View Garden, and there will be no obstacles along the way.]

[The leading servant in blue and the stewards along the way were all very respectful.]

[A servant who worked for Xie Hong was enough to show the status of the second master of the Xie family in the Xie Mansion.]

[Even the steward who had stopped him before, greeted you with a smile this time. ]

[Yingchun Tower is located on the north side of the Grand View Garden. You need to take a boat across the lake. The two "words" on the bottom of the lake also slowly move with the boat you are on, exuding the meaning of "passion". ]

[You didn't show much intimacy. Last time, Lu Hua reminded you that it's best not to easily expose the Second Master's inheritance.]

[This makes the dragon drawn with the two characters in the water look a little "depressed."]

[You are actually just full of curiosity. The remaining two words in the lake belong to the two swords among the nine swords of Mr. Er.]

[Ghost Slaying Sword, as you practice more and more deeply, you will find it more unfathomable. ]

[You can feel that the value of this ray of sword intent even exceeds the seven realms of the soul recorded in the Yin Fu Jing.]

[If this sword spirit could be incorporated into the painting and made into a door god image, it would be enough to suppress the evil spirits in the house.]

[The boat reaches the shore. You continue to move forward, heading north, all the way to the north side of the Grand View Garden.]

[Compared to Hongjingyuan, this place is quite far away. On the way, we passed a deep pool. The water in it was not green or black because of its extreme depth, but was scattered with layers of black. ]

[It is said that this is where the second master of the Xie family used to study, practice calligraphy, and wash his brush and inkstone. Over the years, the water in the pond has been dyed black.]

[The Grand View Garden is vast. After walking for a while, we finally saw a small courtyard. From a distance, a plaque with the three characters "Dengchun Pavilion" was hung on it.]

[In front of Beppu is a lake pavilion and rockery, and behind is a bamboo forest. ]

[Although it is late autumn, the bamboo forest behind the villa is still lush and green, and the thick green is filled with wisps of white mist floating from the cold autumn lake.]

【The Beppu is elegant and quiet. 】

【However, at this time, the gate of the courtyard was tightly closed. 】

[Two people are standing at the door.]

[The servant who led you forward stopped in the distance and bowed to the person at the door.]

[Both of them are your acquaintances. They are the Third Young Master Xie Renfeng of the Second Courtyard and his maid Gan Zhi, who are waiting at the entrance of Dengchunlou.]

[Gan Zhi was wearing a dark green long dress made of precious gauze, which outlined her tall figure gracefully. She had an exquisite silver fork in her hair, and her hands were neatly crossed at her waist.]

【Since the Grand View Garden, he seems to have regained his former composure.】

【As a servant, she naturally accepts her fate. 】

【Xie Renfeng frowned when he saw you coming.】

[Gan Zhi stood behind Xie Renfeng and raised her beautiful eyes to look at you.]

[At this moment, you are wearing a blue dress, with clear and delicate features, eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes as black as stars, and a gentle look between your eyebrows.]

【Anyone who sees this will have to praise this handsome young man. 】

[For some reason, Gan Zhi feels that you are more handsome than you were three days ago in the Grand View Garden, and your temperament is even more outstanding.]

[It really gave her a feeling that she was a person of great learning and elegance.]

[At this time, Gan Zhi couldn't help but think that this pitiful-looking bastard was even better in appearance and temperament than Master Renfeng.]

【But! 】

[What does appearance and temperament matter? What’s the use of having talent?]

[Gan Zhi shook her head. Xie Guan was disliked by the mistresses of the Xie family. She was afraid that he would be trapped in the Xie Mansion for the rest of his life. Moreover, she also knew that this young master Guan might have a disaster waiting for him.]

【Xie Renfeng's face was uncertain, and his eyes looked at you unkindly. 】

[Your expression was calm. You slowly stepped forward and bowed, saying without being rude: "Third cousin."]

【Xie Renfeng looked at the young man in blue clothes beside you and asked:】

[“Why did you bring him to the Grand View Garden and Waiting for Chunlou?”]

[His tone became more impatient: "Xie Guan, you are not qualified to come here."]

[The young servant in blue clothes said hurriedly: "The master asked us to summon Master Guan to come over."]

【Xie Renfeng was stunned for a moment, and then a look of anger appeared on his face.】

【“Did the master really ask him to come?”】

[The servant nodded hurriedly and said, "Of course it is true. I would not dare to fabricate this matter even if I had a hundred courages."]

【Xie Renfeng narrowed his eyes slightly and snorted coldly.】

[He has been waiting for three days again, coming to pay his respects and wait every afternoon.]

[However, my father cannot even step into this brothel, let alone see him.]

(End of this chapter)