In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1001 She likes me
It was already dark when I left the capital.

Lanterns lit up one after another along the streets of the Qinhuai River.

The dim, yellowish light filtered through the bamboo shade, casting dappled patterns of light on the bluestone path.

Xu Guan followed behind Kong Yue, his sleeves billowing in the night wind, carrying the chill of late autumn.

The streets were still bustling, with peddlers walking and calling out their wares, and sugar figurines gleaming under the lanterns.
The waiter lifted the curtain of the tavern, and the aroma of rice wine wafted out.

"Look!"

Kong Yue suddenly stopped and pointed to the east.

Xu Guan followed his hand and looked over, only to see the river surface shimmering in the distance.
Rows of painted boats, adorned with colorful lights, resembled a galaxy floating on the water.

The sound of string and wind instruments drifted from the boat, intermittent and lingering, making one's heart itch with desire.

"In another hour, the girls on the painted boat should all come out to sing."

Kong Yue laughed:

"Let's go to the teahouse first today, and I'll take you to sit on a boat later. I guarantee it'll be more interesting than being a clerk in the Hanlin Academy."

Xu Guan smiled but didn't reply.

He had studied classical Chinese texts since childhood and always had a certain aversion to places like pleasure boats and brothels.
But if what Kong Yue said was true, and the tutor was indeed a lady from a prominent family in Suzhou and Hangzhou, then he felt a surge of anticipation.
He spent his days at the Hanlin Academy studying old gazetteers and documents.

All I heard were tales of Yunnan's malaria and the power struggles among the chieftains of Guizhou.

I've long hoped to absorb some of that literary elegance.

The two walked along the street and soon arrived at Qingfeng Teahouse.

Xu Guan had only seen the teahouse from afar before, but seeing it up close today, he realized it was different.

The lintel is inlaid with a single piece of bronze cloud pattern.

The light shone matte under the two large red lanterns.

Unlike the easily decaying wooden lintels of ordinary teahouses, this one exudes a durable and noble air.
The railings of the second-floor corridor are also cast in bronze and carved with lotus scroll patterns.
Even the corners of the window frames were covered with copper, giving it a very solemn look.

"This shopkeeper is really willing to spend money."

Kong Yue reached out and touched the bronze on the lintel, clicking his tongue in admiration.

The two had barely stepped inside when they were enveloped by the lively atmosphere of the lobby.

The eight-immortal table was packed with people, with tea drinkers seated in groups of three or five.
Some were talking in hushed tones, while others were laughing and talking loudly.
The men, dressed in dark brown long gowns and carrying copper kettles, moved about among the crowds, creating a scene even more lively than the street.

Kong Yue pulled Xu Guan around twice, but they couldn't find an empty stool, so he frowned.
"So many people? I should have come earlier."

A waiter nearby overheard this and quickly came over, his face beaming with smiles:
"I'm sorry, gentlemen, but today is the debut performance of our newest gentleman, and the venue is full. Why don't you come again tomorrow?"

"tomorrow?"

Kong Yue raised an eyebrow, reached out and patted Xu Guan on the shoulder, deliberately raising his voice.

"Do you know who this is? The newly appointed top scholar, Lord Xu of the Hanlin Academy! You asked us to come tomorrow?"

Upon hearing this, several tea drinkers around turned to look at him with curiosity in their eyes.

The waiter was also stunned, and quickly looked Xu Guan up and down.
Although he looked tired, he stood tall and his brows revealed the refined elegance of a scholar.

The waiter's eyes widened:

"Is it Lord Xu, who passed the imperial examination six times in a row?"

"Genuine, no doubt about it!" Kong Yue's voice rose even higher.

The waiter panicked immediately and quickly put on a fawning smile:
"So it's Lord Xu! I was blind to your greatness!"

Please wait a moment, I'll arrange a seat for you right away.
There's one empty seat in the front row, reserved for VIPs. Please, both of you, take it!

Xu Guan felt a little uncomfortable and tried to pull Kong Yue away to say that it wasn't necessary, but Kong Yue stopped him.

Before long, the waiter led the two through the crowd to the square table at the very front of the lobby.

This spot faces the small stage in front, behind which hangs a plain-colored screen.

The table was embroidered with several bamboo branches and was much more spacious than the scattered seats behind it. There were also exquisite teacups and pastries on the table.

"Please have a seat, the finest Biluochun tea will be served shortly!"

The waiter quickly set out teacups, refilled the hot water, and then bowed and withdrew.

The tea drinkers around were still secretly watching Xu Guan, and occasionally whispering among themselves:

"The newly crowned champion! So young!"

"I heard he won six prizes in a row, that's really impressive."

Hearing these words, Xu Guan felt some of the resentment that had been building up due to the paperwork dissipate.

Regardless, he still has some reputation among the people.

It will be easier to get promoted in the future; the current burden is only temporary.

His gaze drifted involuntarily to the screen behind the stage, a relaxed expression on his face.
As long as I'm not in the government office, I'm fine with anywhere.

After about half a cup of tea's time, the hall suddenly fell silent.

A woman dressed in a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), carrying a guqin (a seven-stringed zither), emerged from behind the screen.

Xu Guan's gaze was immediately drawn to it.

The girl was about eighteen or nineteen years old. Her hair was tied up with a jade hairpin, and two wisps of hair hung down by her temples, swaying gently with her steps.

The dress was a very pale moon white, with a few light pink plum blossoms embroidered on the hem.

Walking on the blue brick stage, my steps felt as light as if I were walking on clouds.

Her face was unadorned, with only a touch of light red on her lips; her features were delicate and refined.
It looks simple, but the more you look at it, the more charming it becomes.

"hiss"

Xu Guan sat up straight, and for some reason, he sensed a kind of aloofness from her, like that of a lady from a prominent family.

"Indeed, extraordinary!"

The well-informed Kong Yue, standing to the side, exclaimed in a low voice.

"She's even prettier than the most beautiful courtesan on the Qinhuai River yesterday; no wonder those brokers are promoting her so enthusiastically."

Xu Guan didn't respond, but felt his heart beating faster.

The woman walked to the zither table in the center of the stage and sat down.
Her fingers rested lightly on the strings, her fingertips slender, her nails neatly trimmed and tinged with a pale pink.

Her movements as she tuned the strings were gentle and focused, and even the way she lowered her eyes exuded a scholarly air.

The surrounding tea drinkers held their breath, and even the waiter stopped in his tracks.
All that could be heard was the soft tinkling of the strings.
After tuning the instrument, the woman raised her head, her gaze sweeping across the hall before finally settling on the front row.

Xu Guan only felt her gaze linger on his face for a moment.

My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly lowered my head, pretending to drink tea.

When he looked up again, the woman had already started playing the piano.

The zither music was the extremely slow "Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank".
The opening melody was as light as the wind, gradually becoming more lingering and distant.
It's as if you can see the beach under the setting sun, with wild geese flying slowly by.

Xu Guan listened intently, and even the fatigue he had accumulated earlier dissipated with the sound of the zither.

The atmosphere inside the room gradually shifted from initial noise to silence, with only the sound of the piano echoing in the air.
After the piece was finished, the hall was silent for a moment before thunderous applause erupted.

The shopkeeper quickly stepped forward and said to everyone with a smile:

"Thank you for your music, Mr. Su! How about we join in the fun and play a poetry game today?"
Let's choose an autumn night as the theme. Any guest who is interested is welcome to participate.

Mr. Su will also participate, and he will personally inscribe a calligraphy piece as a gift to the person who comes up with the best answer!

These words immediately caused a stir in the lobby.

A scholar in a long gown was the first to stand up and proclaim loudly:

"I come!"

"Very well, sir, do you have any fine lines to offer?"

"The autumn wind blows down the paulownia leaves, the traveler who moored on the Qinhuai River at night has not yet returned!"

Everyone tasted it and exclaimed in approval. The shopkeeper then looked at the others:
"Is there any other customer?"

Kong Yue nudged Xu Guan:
"You should try it too! This is one of your strengths!"

Xu Guan hesitated for a moment, then looked at the woman on the stage again.

She was bending down to tune the strings, her profile glowing softly in the lantern light.

He took a deep breath, stood up, and spoke in a clear voice:
"Thousands of lanterns are moored on the Qinhuai River at night, and dew dampens the blue robes as the moon slants halfway down."

As soon as he finished speaking, the cheers in the lobby were even louder than before.

The woman also raised her head and looked at Xu Guan, her eyes showing some surprise.
Xu Guan felt his face burning and quickly sat down, but couldn't help but steal glances at her.

She picked up a pen, wrote something on a piece of paper, and then nodded to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper held the paper and read aloud:

"Let's listen to Mr. Su's matching couplet."

"Who will accompany me as I sing of autumn's beauty with the clear strings of my zither? A windowpane casts a lamplight, casting shadows on plum blossoms!"

The crowd cheered again!
Kong Yue's face flushed red as he patted Xu Guan on the shoulder:

"Quick, quick! Compose another one!"

Xu Guan pondered for a moment, then said softly:

"The night is cool as water, seeping into my thin clothes; the moon shines on my study window, casting a long shadow. Autumn insects chirp throughout the grass before the steps; from where do the wild geese fly past the wall?"

"it is good!!"

Every time Mr. Su finished listening to his poems...
They would all look up at him, their eyes filled with admiration, and occasionally they would nod at him gently.

Xu Guan felt his hands were trembling as he drank the tea.

Does she also think I write well? Is she interested in me?
On the second-floor corridor, Shen Zhengxin leaned against the bronze railing, watching the scene below. His attendant whispered:

"Master, judging from Lord Xu's reaction, he seems to have taken the bait."

Shen Zhengxin nodded, hiding half his face behind the bronze pillar, and asked:
Is it a safe bet?

"Don't worry, Master. This Kong Yue is from a collateral branch of the Kong family in Shandong. His family is poor, but he got into the Hanlin Academy through connections. He usually helps brothels solicit customers to earn extra money. He specifically targets scholars like Master Xu who are alone and somewhat aloof. It's foolproof."

Shen Zhengxin nodded, his gaze falling on the woman on the stage, a hint of regret in his eyes. The woman's name was Su Wan, originally a young lady from a declining scholarly family in Suzhou. After her family's downfall last year, Shen Zhengxin redeemed her. Su Wan was not only skilled at playing the zither, but also adept at poetry. Shen Zhengxin had originally intended to keep her by his side as a concubine, but this time, in order to investigate Xu Guan, he had no choice but to send her out.

"What a pity." Shen Zhengxin sighed softly, tapping his fingers on the bronze railing. "Su Wan's looks and talent are both top-notch. If it weren't for the matter of the adults, I really wouldn't have been willing to send her away."

"Master, this sacrifice is nothing for the sake of the master. If we can satisfy the master, what kind of woman can't we have?" the attendant quickly advised.

Shen Zhengxin smiled but didn't speak. He just looked down at Xu Guan, who then stood up and recited a poem. Su Wan looked up at him, her eyes filled with a perfectly timed smile. The applause in the hall mingled with the sounds of string and wind instruments from the Qinhuai River, drifting far away.

Just as Xu Guan sat down, Su Wan finished playing a piece on the zither. Holding her instrument, she nodded to Xu Guan and said softly:
"This young master's poems are elegant and graceful, and I admire them very much."

Her voice was as gentle as the sound of a zither, and to Xu Guan's ears, it was even sweeter than the Biluochun tea he had just tasted. Xu Guan quickly cupped his hands in greeting:
"You flatter me. Your playing is truly elegant."

Kong Yue laughed and egged them on from the side:

"Hey, you two, stop praising each other! Why don't you sing a duet? Let us see what you're made of!"

The surrounding tea drinkers joined in the commotion. Su Wan's face flushed slightly, and she nodded.

"Then I'll start with a line: Tonight, the moon shines on the banks of the Qinhuai River."

Xu Guan picked up the conversation almost immediately:

"A book on the desk of a scholar in the Ming Dynasty".

Upon hearing this, Su Wan's eyes lit up, and she continued with a smile:

"Autumn's essence is hidden in the books on my desk."

Xu Guan thought for a moment and said:
"The moon shines on the riverbank, reflecting the image of an old friend."

"it is good!"

The cheers in the lobby were deafening. Su Wan looked at Xu Guan, her smile deepening, and said softly:
"This young master is truly wonderful."

Xu Guan felt a sweet warmth in his heart, and even his previous dissatisfaction with the Hanlin Academy vanished into thin air. He thought that if he had such a woman by his side at home, even sorting documents every day wouldn't seem so unbearable.

Shen Zhengxin, watching this scene from the second floor, smiled slightly. He said to his attendant:

"Give the order to Su Wan to have more contact with Xu Guan, but keep her distance and don't let him succeed. Scholars like him are the easiest to manipulate."

"Yes, boss."

The tea party ended in less than an hour, and it was almost 9 PM.

The pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River were bustling with activity, their colorful lanterns reflected in the water.
The gold foil shattered into shimmering pieces, and the soft sounds of string and bamboo instruments drifted over with the river breeze.

Su Wan saw the guest off at the door.

When Xu Guan passed by, his steps were a little unsteady, as the excitement he had just felt for the poem had not yet dissipated.

Kong Yue quickly caught up, rubbing his hands together and laughing:
"Mr. Su's musical skills and poetic talent are both exceptional. Why don't you do me the honor of finding a place to have a few more drinks?"
The Wanfengju restaurant on the banks of the Qinhuai River happens to have newly brewed osmanthus wine, which pairs perfectly with tonight's moonlight.

Su Wan glanced at Kong Yue indifferently, but did not respond.

She turned to look at Xu Guan, a faint smile playing on her lips:
"If Young Master Xu is interested, you may sit for a while."

Kong Yue paused for a moment, his smile froze, then he immediately moved closer to Xu Guan and gave him a push:
"Brother Xu, look, Mr. Su has already spoken, don't just stand there!"

Xu Guan felt his ears burning and quickly nodded:
"It's my wish, but I don't dare to ask for my ear."

He stole a glance at Su Wan and saw a smile in her eyes, which made his heart beat even faster.
Does this mean they only want to be alone with themselves?
This preferential treatment made him forget even the embarrassment of Kong Yue being neglected.

Su Wan ignored Kong Yue and turned to walk towards the riverside private room on the west side of the teahouse.

Xu Guan quickly gave Kong Yue a wink.

Kong Yue then gestured for him to hurry up and follow.

The private rooms are located in the backyard of Qingfeng Teahouse.

Located by the Qinhuai River, a bamboo curtain hangs by the window, inside which sits a small square table.

On the table were a celadon wine pot and two wine cups.
A small incense burner was burning in the corner, its thin smoke mingling with the dampness of the river breeze, creating a rather elegant atmosphere.

"It's quiet here, perfect for a drink."

Su Wan sat down and gestured for him to sit down.

Seeing Xu Guan sit down, she smiled and poured him a cup of osmanthus wine. The wine was light golden in color, with a few dried osmanthus petals floating on it, and had a sweet fragrance.

"Young Master Xu, please try this. It's brewed in-house and won't make you drunk."

"Thank you, Miss Su."

Xu Guan picked up his wine glass, and the coolness of the porcelain cup on his fingertips slightly calmed the burning sensation in his heart.

He took a small sip, the sweet aroma mingling with the fragrance of wine as it slid down his throat, easing some of the fatigue from days of organizing documents.

"Good wine."

Su Wan smiled faintly:

"I've heard that Young Master Xu works at the Hanlin Academy? He must be very busy with his daily affairs."
"Just now, I listened to the young master recite poetry; every line possessed an elegant and refined air, unlike someone long confined to desks."

These words struck a chord with Xu Guan.

He sighed, poured himself another glass, and spilled some wine onto his fingertips.
"To be honest, I am ashamed to say that although I was the top scholar in the imperial examination..."
But he only organized local chronicles in a side room; where is there any elegance to speak of?

But it was Miss Su's zither music that was truly pure and refined.

"Young Master Xu is a prodigy who has passed the imperial examinations six times in a row. How could the court possibly wrong him?"

These things are probably just a matter of further honing their skills.

Su Wan's voice remained gentle, but her fingers secretly clenched the corner of the tablecloth.

"hope"

The two chatted back and forth, and soon finished the two jugs of wine.

As the effects of the alcohol began to take hold, Xu Guan became more talkative:
“Miss Su, my time at the Hanlin Academy is far less peaceful than your time in this teahouse.”

All my classmates have bright futures.
I, alone, am confined to a side room in the Hanlin Academy, and haven't even seen His Majesty's face.

Su Wan's eyes were bright, and the slight flush from the wine made her temperament even more gentle, exuding a graceful aura.
"Young Master Xu, there are many rumors circulating in the streets..."
Many newly appointed scholars were promoted by high-ranking officials and enjoyed smooth careers.

Young Master Xu could also find a powerful figure, become their disciple, and receive their protection.

Xu Guan paused, poured himself another glass of wine, and lowered his voice, tinged with a hint of grievance:

"I am a scholar, not a sycophant, and I don't know how to play these tricks."

If His Majesty appreciates my talent, he will naturally give me an important position.
If I don't receive a reward, I'm perfectly fine this way.

At this point, Xu Guan, seemingly afraid that she would look down on him, added:
"My teacher sent messengers several times to ask if I was comfortable at the Hanlin Academy."
If you're unhappy, you can arrange something for me, but I've already declined.

"teacher?"

Su Wan's eyes flickered, revealing a hint of surprise, and she asked in astonishment,
"Young Master Xu has a teacher? You achieved the highest honors in six consecutive imperial examinations, a feat unprecedented in history. Which teacher possesses such talent?"

Xu Guan, his eyes blurry with drunkenness, didn't notice Su Wan's unusual behavior and continued speaking to himself:

"My teacher is no ordinary person either; he is the headmaster of Mingdao Academy, Grand Scholar He Zicheng."

Su Wan secretly noted it down, but didn't ask any further questions, and just listened quietly.

She would occasionally pour some wine for Xu Guan, but her eyes were always fixed on his face.

After several rounds of drinks, Xu Guan was already quite drunk.

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were unfocused, and she could barely sit still by supporting herself on the table.
He looked at Su Wanyue's profile under the moonlight, his heart pounding again, and he slurred:

"Miss Su, with your talent and beauty, it's truly a waste to be in this teahouse. Perhaps..."

Before she could finish speaking, Su Wan's smile suddenly vanished.

She put down her wine glass, her voice instantly turning cold and stern:

"Young Master Xu! A gentleman should have self-respect!"
Although my family has fallen on hard times, I still know propriety, righteousness, and a sense of shame. How could you, young master, utter such frivolous words?

Xu Guan froze abruptly, instantly sobering up considerably.

He looked into Su Wan's cold eyes, and the flush on his face faded.
He quickly stood up, staggered back a step, and cupped his hands in greeting:
"It was my slip of the tongue! Please forgive me, Miss Su! I was confused! I was confused!"

Seeing his flustered state, Su Wan's gaze softened slightly, but remained distant.

"Young Master Xu is drunk, you should go home early."

"Tonight's drinking is merely a gathering of literary friends; I hope you will not bring up today's words again in the future."

Xu Guan's face burned with embarrassment, and he didn't even dare to lift his head, only replying repeatedly:
"It was my rudeness; I'll take my leave now!"

He turned and walked out of the private room, his steps unsteady, almost bumping into the door frame, only managing to steady himself by holding onto it.

He turned back, hastily cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and then left in a disheveled state.

Watching Xu Guan's figure disappear into the night,
The coldness on Su Wan's face gradually faded, and she sighed softly.

(End of this chapter)