Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 133: Lantern Festival (Part )

Upstairs of Qingyuan Tower, a moment ago.

The colorful lanterns were high, there were graceful singing and dancing on the stage, the pipa was playing, and Jiang Yue, dressed in a poisonous outfit, was spinning rapidly. Every time she turned, the series of bells hanging on her body would make a crisp sound.

The pipa suddenly stopped, and Jiang Yue stopped, clasping her hands together and bowing slightly towards the audience. This move naturally caused the audience to applaud!
Prince Ping of Yan sat upright, only glancing over occasionally, and spent the rest of his time lazily talking to Ling Yun.

Tables were placed on both sides of the hall, and two people sat together, some were high-ranking officials, some were talented scholars. Apart from the female teachers, most of the people sitting with them were maids from the bookstore.

Although she was only a maid, no one dared to underestimate her. Today she might be just a maid, but who knows if she would become a female teacher who could rival Jinyun and Jiangyue in the future?
Suddenly, a maid came in holding a piece of paper and said to everyone, "We have collected thirteen Mid-Autumn Festival poems downstairs. Please appreciate their comments."

Seeing the maid coming straight towards him, Prince Ping of Yan immediately waved his hand and said, "I don't like this. Just show it to the county lady."

The maid agreed with a smile, and gave it to Lingyun first, and then distributed it everywhere.

After a while, a second-class man named Jiang Zining exclaimed in surprise, "This piece of red lips is quite good."

The female teacher Meng Fanguan beside him took a look and simply took over to recite: "Unroll the curtains and sigh in vain, looking up at the cold smoke and water. Playing the zither, the lingering sound lingers. The lights are bright, and the nine provinces sing of reunion. The floating clouds disperse, the Lantern Festival is silent, and the bright moon shines on people again."

The ethereal voice was met with applause from the audience. A dozen or so scholars sat below Lingyun, and they only frowned slightly after hearing it.

Ling Yun glanced at him and said, "How can Zhong Fang listen to such a filler work?"

Wang Zhongfang smiled bitterly and said, "Since I can't write it, I naturally can't comment on it casually."

Ling Yun said, "That's strange. Everyone else can write, but why can't you? Aren't you afraid of living up to your reputation as the most talented scholar in the northern frontier and the most influential writer in the three rivers?"

Wang Zhongfang said nonchalantly, "Poetry is inspired by feelings. The Song poets have already written all the Lantern Festival poems. Even if I rack my brains, I will only be laughed at. It's better to hide my incompetence."

This man, Wang Zhongfang, was a scholar from Liaodong, renowned for his long poems. His "Fifty Rhymes of Parallel Verses" was praised as "the best of the three rivers."

The "Three Rivers" refers to Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Jiangxi, representing the Jiangnan region. Jiangnan is known for being a gathering place for talented people, and to receive such praise from the current emperor, it is clear that this person is of extraordinary talent.

Prince Ping of Yan smiled and said, "My Lady, please don't embarrass Zhongfang. I heard that the Sage intends to select him as a poet. Zhongfang didn't even fail the last autumn imperial examination, which shows how strong his mind is."

Lingyun nodded and did not make things difficult for Wang Zhongfang. When the piece of calligraphy was passed to her, she glanced at the person who made it and immediately frowned.

He sneered and said, "Such a clumsy work is worthy of praise? If that's the case, I think we shouldn't hold any poetry gatherings in the future. Just drink some wine, listen to some music, and have fun."

Jinyun was standing beside Wang Zhongfang. Upon hearing this, she said, "Even if the county lady didn't say anything, I'd still like to refute her. This poem is too sentimental, and it's far inferior to the playful pieces the sisters usually write."

Upon hearing this, King Ping of Yan laughed heartily and said decisively, "Forget it then, let's continue drinking. Let that talented man continue to envy the people downstairs."

The others cheered and Qi Jianhui stood up to invite them to drink, and everyone drank a glass together.

Jiang Yue had changed her clothes at this time, and turned around from behind with a smile. She took a look inside and said disappointedly, "Mr. Chen hasn't come yet?"

Wang Zhongfang suddenly perked up and said, "Yes, why haven't we seen our friend Chen yet?"

Seeing that Prince Ping of Yan and the others were puzzled, Ling Yun whispered, "A few days ago, a scholar visited my residence and wrote two poems. The one about the magnolia is particularly wonderful!"

Jiang Zining smiled and said, "It's a pity I haven't seen it in person. Mr. Jiang Yue must remember that Magnolia poem. Why not recite it now and let everyone have a look?"

Jiang Yue agreed generously, cleared his throat, and then chanted: "If life could only be like the first time we met, why would the autumn wind make the painted fan sad—"

The melody was gentle, expressing the hatred of the girls in the boudoir vividly. When the verse of "Mulanhua" was finished, the hall was indeed completely silent.

Someone said, "This friend Chen is truly exceptionally talented. Ha, I was wondering why Zhong Fang came to join in the fun today. So, I guess he wanted to meet that friend Chen, too?"

Wang Zhongfang smiled and nodded, saying, "Just based on this one piece of 'Magnolia', this friend Chen's talent is far superior to mine."

Everyone echoed this, and King Ping of Yan asked, "Is that man's surname Chen? Does he have a name?"

"Chen Siyuan." Lingyun replied casually.

"Chen Siyuan?" King Ping of Yan blinked, feeling particularly puzzled. He had, of course, thoroughly investigated that scoundrel Chen Siyuan and had certainly heard of his perverse poetry. In King Ping's opinion, Chen might not possess much talent, but his arrogance far surpassed even that of the ancients. He had no idea where this confidence came from, such a lack of self-awareness.

Upon hearing that the Magnolia was composed by Chen Siyuan, King Ping of Yan was naturally very surprised. He thought to himself, how could that little thief write such a poem?
Observing the expression on his face, Ling Yun asked, "Brother Wang, do you know this person?"

Prince Ping of Yan said playfully, "If nothing unexpected happens, I do know him... Tsk, if you had told me it was him earlier, I would have sent someone to tell him he'd be here sooner."

Ling Yun was puzzled, but couldn't bring herself to ask. Jiang Yue, less hesitant, leaned over and asked with a smile, "Your Highness also knows Mr. Chen?"

King Ping of Yan said, "We've known each other since last year... At first, he helped me with a small favor, and before the New Year, he got a good job from him."

Jiang Zining and Qi Jianhui exchanged a glance, and the latter said, "So the prince's business actually came from this person? I guess we should make friends with him someday. With this kind of Midas touch, if he can give me some advice, I won't have to worry about the expenses of the mansion anymore."

Jiang Zining also said: "That's right, I must make good friends with him later."

Upon hearing this, King Ping of Yan laughed and scolded, "You two are still crying poor? Which of you has less than ten thousand acres of fertile land in Liaodong?"

Qi Jianhui cried out in poverty, "What good would that do? It's a bitter cold land outside the Great Wall. If I could get four cents of silver per acre, I'd be grateful. Add in fishing and hunting, and it's only four or five thousand silver. Your Highness knows my family is large, and relying solely on land would have been a long time coming."

Jiang Zining echoed, "Brother Qi is absolutely right."

King Ping of Yan smiled but said nothing. He had intended to win over these two men, but he wasn't one to give up on them on their first meeting. He had to wait and see before offering any benefits.

Just then, another maid came in and reported to Jinyun, "Sir, Mr. Chen has been stopped downstairs. Several scholars said that Mr. Chen must write a poem and receive your praise before he can go upstairs."

"Ah?" Jinyun was at a loss for words. She stood up and said, "Then I'll go and greet them."

"Eh?" Prince Ping of Yan waved his hand and jokingly said, "Everyone wants to write poetry, let's see if he can do it well. If that magnolia flower is just a flash in the pan, then let's just turn him away today."

Lingyun opened her mouth to speak, but forced herself to hold it back, hoping to just look towards the stairs.

At that moment, everyone was no longer concerned about the banquet and was just whispering, waiting for Chen Siyuan to deliver his new lyrics.

............................................................

Downstairs of Qingyuan Building.

Chen Siyuan looked at the people blocking his way in confusion. One of them had a gloomy face. His appearance was outstanding, but he didn't know where the anger came from, and now he was venting it on himself.

Little did he know, the man in front of him was Lai Shangrong, the son of Lai Da. He was conceited about his talent and reputation in the capital, and today, upon hearing that Xianqu Bookstore had booked Qingyuan Tower, he was urged by his friends to show off his talent.

That piece of "Red Lips" was the product of a lot of hard work, a work that had been pent up for half a month. I was sure it would catch the eye of the ladies, but who knew it would be like a drop in the ocean, with no sound at all.

The previous confidence gradually turned into uneasiness, and now it has turned into anger and shame!
Just at this moment, Chen Siyuan came dragging You Sanjie and pushed him accidentally. Lai Shangrong, who was lucky, immediately became angry!

Lai Da had instructed Lai Shangrong to be friends with Chen Siyuan, but Chen Siyuan's name was not engraved on his face. How could Lai Shangrong know that the person in front of him was Chen Siyuan?

He was also seen holding a rabbit doll, and Lai Shangrong was surrounded by several friends, which made him look even more imposing.

Chen Siyuan glanced at him and asked in surprise, "Rules? I want to attend the meeting, and you should give way. What kind of rules are we talking about?"

Someone sneered, "You seem like a complete idiot. Don't you think you need to compose some good poetry if you want to be allowed to sit on the bench?"

"That's right, and since it's the Lantern Festival theme, there's no need to stick to any rules."

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "I'm afraid you didn't hear clearly. I meant to attend the meeting."

Lai Shangrong glanced at him and said, "Attending the meeting? Do you have an invitation?"

I just mentioned it casually that day, where did the invitation come from?

Chen Siyuan shook his head. Lai Shangrong, assuming he had a good plan, said with a smile, "Then my dear, please don't rush in. There are many important people inside, and it would be bad if you offend them."

Chen Siyuan tightened his right hand and looked back, only to see Third Sister You glaring at him, as if she was afraid that if he didn't stop her, she would spit blood all over the man's face.

Chen Siyuan smiled and shook his head. He thought to himself, if it were just me, he might as well just leave. There's more than one bookstore in the capital; Xianqu Bookstore is just the most famous. If I want to spread my fame, it doesn't matter which one I choose.
But now that Third Sister You was with me, it would be awkward to just turn around and leave. He then said, "Well, if that's the case, I'll just write a poem."

Another busybody sneered, "Another one asking for trouble."

The people around Lai Shangrong also echoed: "Even Master Lai has never come up to the building. I don't know where this guy gets the confidence from."

"Exactly. I'm afraid only Wang Zhongfang of Wen Gai Sanjiang can ascend this tower."

Chen Siyuan wasted no time. Seeing Lai Shangrong move aside, he went to the table in front of the building, picked up his brush and wrote a poem in a moment. He blew the ink dry and said to the maid, "Please take it up, young lady."

The maid, who knew what she was talking about, immediately bowed politely and said, "Please wait a moment, sir. Please have some tea in the hall and wait."

Chen Siyuan nodded in agreement, took You Sanjie and went into the lobby on the first floor. He sat idly at the table near the door, turned around and glanced at Lai Shangrong, which naturally made Lai Shangrong very angry.

The maid, carrying the paper, hurried up the stairs. In the blink of an eye, she reached the third floor, caught sight of the female teacher, Wenhui, and hurried over to whisper something. Wenhui was fascinated by what she heard, and quickly took the paper and examined it. Feeling unsatisfied, she turned around and said with a smile, "Mr. Chen has written a poem about a solitary wild goose!"

The third floor suddenly fell silent, and Wen Hui smiled and said, "Then I will read it to you." After a pause, she began to read in a slightly low voice:

Hundreds of flaming trees and thousands of golden shoes, the dust of the BMW fragrance is endless. Feiqiong and her companions come to test the lights, and she can't bear to say goodbye to her lover. She feigns anger, smiles, and walks timidly with the help of her maid.

The stone bridge is slippery. Xiang Diao tiptoes and whispers to her mother. "Does Da'e regret this night? I'm afraid to enter the Guanghan Palace. It's better to go home. It's hard to miss the past, but I'm always reunited with the full moon."

A lone wild goose landed, immediately causing everyone in the hall to cheer.

Wang Zhongfang even laughed and said, "Not bad, not bad. Although it can't compare to the famous works of the early Song Dynasty, it is still a rare masterpiece. Oh, I am increasingly curious about this friend Chen. Please come up quickly."

Ling Yun, who was reading silently beside him, felt relieved. She felt that after listening to clichés all night, she had finally heard a masterpiece.

Prince Ping of Yan, who was sitting in the first seat, also said, "Yes, please come up. Although Chen Siyuan appears to be humble, he actually has a bad temper and will really turn hostile if provoked."

Wenhui bowed and said to everyone, "Please wait a moment. I will go and invite Mr. Chen over."

Jiang Yue and Jin Yun couldn't help but feel secretly annoyed, and the other female teachers were also quite tempted. However, Wen Hui was closer to them, so she got there first.

Wenhui returned downstairs and caught a glimpse of Chen Siyuan whispering to Third Sister You on the stairs. She glanced at Chen Siyuan and thought he was a truly impressive man. She wondered if only someone like him could write the poem "If only life were a first encounter."

Wenhui paused as she glanced at Third Sister You again. The 'young man' had beautiful features, even more handsome than a girl. Wenhui's heart raced at the mere sight of him. She wondered, 'How could such a handsome young man exist in the world?' She wondered where he came from!

When the two of them came over, Wenhui suppressed her thoughts, came downstairs, bowed with a smile, and said, "Wenhui greets Mr. Chen. Your performance of "The Lone Goose" received a lot of applause from the whole room. I am here to invite you to take your seat."

As soon as the words fell, there was an uproar outside the building. Some were shocked, some were envious. Lai Shangrong's face turned pale, as if he had eaten a fly.

I was just looking for a way to vent my frustration, but I ended up hitting a brick wall! I don't know what kind of words this guy wrote, but he actually caught the attention of the ladies!

Chen Siyuan and Third Sister You stood up to return the greeting and said with a smile, "In that case, let's go now."

Wen Hui nodded, then looked at Third Sister You and said with a smile, "I wonder who this gentleman is—"

Chen Siyuan said, "This is my friend, You Sanlang."

Wenhui smiled and bowed again. Once she had a better look at Third Sister You, she immediately realized she was a scoundrel. She was torn between laughter and tears. She had thought there was a handsome young man more handsome than a woman, but it turned out to be a woman. Wenhui was about to lead the way when someone outside suddenly shouted, "No! The rules of the bookstore say one poem or one song can get one person upstairs. This gentleman has written excellent works and has won the favor of the ladies, so he has no problem getting upstairs. But what is the merit of this person beside him?"

As soon as Lai Shangrong said this, he was immediately echoed and cheered by those around him.

Wen Hui was slightly surprised and said defensively, "Mr. Chen is already a distinguished guest of our residence. We have no objection to whoever he wants to bring with him."

"unfair!"

"Exactly, unless you make another one!"

How could Third Sister You endure this? She turned and stared at Lai Shangrong and said, "You can't even go upstairs yourself, so you can't stand seeing others do it? Oh, if I were you, instead of making trouble, I'd rather study hard. It's okay if you're a fool in this life, but you should teach your children well, otherwise they'll be fools in the next generation too!"

Lai Shangrong's face suddenly changed, and he asked, "Who are you scolding?"

"Who do you curse at? You're eating mixed noodles in clear water, I saw you eat! What are you thinking, auntie... I know everything! You look like a scholar, I'm afraid that scholar is a donation? Brother Chen is very talented, and he will definitely be called out outside Donghua Gate someday. How dare you, a nobody like you, question it? I'm going to blind you!"

Third Sister You has always been a sharp-tongued person, and her words made Lai Shangrong so angry that his blood boiled.

Other things are fine, but his scholar status was indeed donated. As the saying goes, "Lies do not hurt people, only the truth hurts the heart." Lai Shangrong's face immediately flushed with embarrassment!
He had always considered himself a scholar and hated being mentioned as a donated scholar. How could he bear being exposed to his face by a woman?

He stiffened his neck and sneered, "So it's a female... I don't bother to argue with you. Mr. Wenhui, I just want to ask, are the rules of this bookstore no longer in place? If you say there are no rules from now on, then I'll just say I'm being nosy!"

Wen Hui frowned slightly, looked at the man and said, "May I ask this gentleman's name?"

Lai Shangrong choked and immediately wanted to retreat. He was about to cover it up, but his friend said, "Let Mr. Wenhui know that this is Mr. Lai Shangrong, a talented man who is well-known in the capital."

Chen Siyuan carefully observed the man and thought to himself, is this Lai Shangrong? He really looks like a young man from a noble family. Who would have thought that he is the son of the old servant?
He had previously been spreading rumors and had facilitated Jia She's dispatch of men to Liaodong to investigate the farms. If this succeeded, he would naturally move on to the old servants step by step, and sooner or later, the Lai family would become the target.

Chen Siyuan smiled playfully and thought to himself, "Don't look at how happy this person is, I will definitely make a list of him someday."

Lai Shangrong cursed inwardly, wishing he could beat up his friend. However, the situation was such that if he retreated now, he would surely become the subject of gossip and conversation.

Wenhui, a bookshop hostess, naturally knew how to judge people. After a moment's reflection, she felt that this person came from an ordinary family, so she frowned and said, "What are the rules of Xianqu Bookshop? Do I need to explain them to you?" She turned to Chen Siyuan and smiled, "Mr. Chen, please go first."

Chen Siyuan had come here to demonstrate his prowess in public. After a moment's deliberation, he shook his head and said, "Since he refuses to accept, I'll just write another poem."

Wenhui was immediately delighted and asked, "Sir, have you gained something new?"

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "I dare not come unprepared."

Wen Hui said, "In that case, I will grind ink for you, sir."

Before he could make a move, You Sanjie took the lead, poured clean water into the inkstone, and carefully ground a piece of Hui ink.

In a moment, Chen Siyuan dipped his brush in ink and finished the painting in one go.

As he wrote, Wenhui watched from the side, her face becoming more and more delighted. When she finished writing, Wenhui looked at Chen Siyuan with eyes full of admiration.

This time, she took the writing first, carefully dried it, and said to the outsiders with a smile: "Mr. Chen's masterpiece should be widely publicized. I am not talented, but I would like to recite this piece of Qi Tian Yue."

After a pause, he continued in his deep voice:

A fading fire tree, dancing fish and dragons, I see Baochai Tower in the distance. The tanned ball remains red, the glass remains green, waiting for the flowers to slowly return. A cold leak lingers. Just as the smoke gathers, meteors fall like arrows. The past jolts my heart, a pair of lotus shadows, a broken lotus root thread.

Don't hate the fleeting time, hate the withered butterfly powder, youth is too short. Whispering fragrance, dark dust shrouds, all are scattered by the morning breeze. Knock on the railing. Ask behind the curtain, when will we meet again? I don't understand my longing, the moon is full tonight.

After reciting it, Wenhui felt a lingering fragrance on her lips and teeth. The previous piece of the poem was already rare, but who could have known that this piece of "Qi Tian Le" would be even better than the previous one "Gu Yan Er"!

A crowd gathered outside the building, mostly there to watch the fun. While these scholars couldn't produce excellent works, they did have some appreciation for art. They were also proud of their scholarly status, and after Wenhui finished reciting, their faces suddenly became strange.

Did you say it was bad against your will? You would be a mean person, waiting for others to laugh at you in the future. Did you praise it sincerely? You just made fun of it for a while, which was like slapping yourself in the face.
Some of them were smart enough to quietly step back a few steps, putting some distance between themselves and Lai Shangrong. They had only just revealed this man's identity, and even if he became a laughing stock, it was still Lai, so what did it have to do with them?
Chen Siyuan stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Lai Shangrong with a smile. Looking at Lai Shangrong again, his face looked like it was dyed in a mill, changing back and forth between red, white, blue, and green. He couldn't bear to stay any longer, so he bowed slightly and turned away.

A few of his friends stopped making noise and followed him away in shame.

Wen Hui turned around and bowed again: "Sir, you are so talented, please come upstairs."

Who was Chen Siyuan? In his previous life, he was a marketer, a master at creating hype. Having these two masterpieces displayed at the Qingyuan Tower was certainly a remarkable story, but how could it be more eye-catching than simply writing the next masterpiece and then leaving?
He immediately grabbed Third Sister You and said to Wenhui with a smile, "To be honest, I originally had a banquet at home, but I thought I couldn't break my promise to Miss Jinyun and Miss Jiangyue, so I came here. I prepared two humble poems to present to you, and now that they are here, I won't stay any longer.

As the saying goes, come when you're excited and leave when you're done. We'll see you later."

He nodded slightly to Wenhui, took Third Sister You with him, and walked out. Wenhui was surprised and hurried to see them off. When they reached the door, she watched the two of them laughing and merging into the crowd. Wenhui exclaimed in admiration: "Really... a true gentleman is naturally elegant!"

Wenhui, with nothing more than admiration, held the Qi Tianle and joyfully ascended the stairs. Reaching the third floor, she saw everyone looking over at her, and she smiled, "Mr. Chen said he had a banquet at home and left behind another excellent work, so he left with his friends."

"A new work?" Jiang Yue could no longer contain herself and stepped forward to snatch it away, saying with a smile, "Sister has read a verse, now it's my turn to recite it."

He glanced at it a few times, his expression growing more delighted as he read, and then he began to recite. The King of Yanping, sitting on the high throne, was slightly puzzled, but after hearing Qi Tianle's music, he immediately laughed and scolded, "This fellow is really good at scheming!"

Ling Yun, standing by, was puzzled and frowned, saying, "Brother Wang, are you overthinking it? I'm afraid this kind of talent is rare since the founding of the Dashun Dynasty. I think this Mr. Chen has a carefree personality..."

Before she could finish, Prince Ping of Yan said, "You're overthinking it, my Lady. That fellow just wants to become famous!" After a pause, Prince Ping's face turned strange. He examined Ling Yun and said, "That Zheng guy is fine, but don't mess with that Chen guy. He's just taking advantage of the situation..."

Ling Yun was immediately annoyed: "What the hell are you talking about, Brother Wang!"

Prince Ping of Yan said awkwardly, "I just gave you a warning, why are you so anxious?"

At this time, Jinyun had memorized the poem silently. She turned around and went up to the high platform, took out the pipa and started playing it, and began to sing the Qitian Music.

Her singing style is unique and lingering, and when paired with this beautiful verse, it immediately expresses the lingering lovesickness in the verse.

King Ping of Yan became more and more pleased, and felt that Chen Siyuan was indeed an interesting person.

............................................................

The scholars knew that this poem was excellent, and Third Sister You knew it too. After Chen Siyuan dragged her out of the building, Third Sister You would often gaze at her lover beside her in a daze.

Fireworks suddenly exploded from the direction of the Imperial City, and a crowd of people swarmed westward to observe. Chen Siyuan protected Third Sister You, found an opening, and pulled her into a nearby alley.

Chen Siyuan dusted himself off and laughed, "I almost lost my shoes."

Third Sister You stepped forward to brush off the dust, staring at him with eyes full of affection.

Chen Siyuan asked, "What's wrong?"

Third Sister You bit her lower lip and shook her head. After a long pause, she said, "Brother Yuan, your fame will spread across the world after today." After a pause, she continued, "Why didn't you go upstairs just now?"

Chen Siyuan said, "I came here to make a name for myself. Now that I've achieved my goal, why should I stay?"

Sister You didn't care if there was anyone around, she went up to him, hugged his arms, and leaned her head against him. Chen Siyuan looked at her, and he knew that the girl was already moved.
Without further ado, he grabbed Third Sister You and headed straight for the carriage. Yu Si, presumably, also took the opportunity to go for a stroll, and the carriage stopped at a foot shop for security. Chen Siyuan and Third Sister You got into the carriage and, after a brief moment of intimacy, she immediately, without a care in the world, straddled Chen Siyuan...

Yu Si, having watched the commotion, returned with a candied haws. He saw the carriage rocking back and forth from a distance. He rubbed his eyes, thinking he must have seen it wrong, but when he saw it still rocking, he was immediately puzzled. He took a few quick steps and was about to approach when he suddenly remembered something and hurried to the shopkeeper to ask about it.

The innkeeper said, "Two young men got on the carriage."

Yu Si thought to himself, "No doubt it must be Master Yuan and that one." He didn't go any closer, but instead ate a candied haws and counted the time. He waited until the carriage calmed down, and then he went over to look for it a moment later.

............................................................

Rongxi Hall.

Feeling a little suffocated, Xueyan went to the front porch. Inside, a group of maids gathered, eating the tea and snacks given by their master and telling jokes.

Seeing Xueyan approach, Qingwen said, "Finally, you're out. You're not staying with Miss Lin anymore?"

Xueyan laughed and said, "Do we need to wipe out the dominoes again?"

Qingwen smiled and said, "I did think so, but it's impossible today. Hongyu came looking for you again just now, and she didn't tell me when I asked her. It's strange."

Xueyan was surprised and asked, "Hongyu is looking for me again?"

In the afternoon, Zijuan said that Hongyu had come, but Xueyan had gone to play with Shishu at that time. After that, the banquet was held, and Xueyan had no time to look for Hongyu.

When he heard that Hongyu had come again, he thought to himself that maybe something had happened to Master Yuan.

After a brief thought, she smiled and said, "Yes, the pattern of the shoes I asked Hongyu to embroider for me must be finished. I'll go take a look and be back soon."

After giving these instructions, Xueyan hurried out of Rongxi Hall. She didn't dare to go through the villa, so she had to go around the alley. It took her a long while to reach Chen Siyuan's courtyard.

I went up and knocked on the door, and after a moment it was Hongyu who opened the door.

Hongyu didn't let him in, and quickly pulled him to a corner, asking, "Why are you here so late?"

Xueyan said, "I've been so busy all day that I really haven't had any time. Is there anything I can do for you, sister?"

Hongyu took out a neatly folded piece of paper from her handkerchief and handed it over, saying, "This is from my master. I'll have your daughter take a look at it later."

Xueyan smiled bitterly and said, "Our girl thought that Master Yuan wanted her to help him become famous, but she has been worried for a long time." Without saying much, she took the paper, listened to what Chen Siyuan said, and hurried back to Rong Xitang.

She went back into the main hall and played with the maids for a while. Then Amber came and said, "The old lady asked us to clear the table."

A group of maids hurried in, cleared the table, replaced it with tea and snacks, and then accompanied their daughter to listen to the opera for a while.

The small troupe of southern opera was singing in a low voice. Xueyan moved her body and secretly slipped the paper to Daiyu when Zijuan was not looking.

Daiyu glanced at it curiously, then secretly put it away in her sleeve. She felt increasingly puzzled, wondering what he had written to her this time. Could it be another poem?

After a while, Daiyu couldn't help being curious, so she said she was going to change her clothes and led Xueyan to the outer room.

In one corner of the wing stood a folding screen, behind which stood a toilet, and beside it a fumigation basket filled with ice. Daiyu took out the paper and examined it. The poem "The Lone Goose" was fine, but it did not stir her heart. When Qi Tianle finished reading it, Daiyu was stunned into a trance.

She was naturally sensitive and delicate, and this poem, brimming with longing, stirred her heart. Holding the paper, though she had never experienced romantic love, the poem brought back memories of her parents and her home in Suzhou. Suddenly, her eyes welled up.

Xueyan was watching from the side. Seeing Daiyu like this, she immediately became anxious: "What's wrong with you, young lady? Did Master Yuan write something inappropriate?"

Daiyu shook her head. Although she felt sad, she also felt a sense of relief. With moist eyes, she shook her head and smiled, "What's wrong with it? Brother Yuan's poem... is very well written. I'm not as good as him."

Xueyan was immediately surprised. Her daughter, though delicate on the outside, possessed a proud spirit. This was the first time she'd admitted her inferiority. But... this was also a good thing. One could tell a person's character by their talent. Who knew that Master Yuan and the girl would be together someday?
At this moment, Daiyu reluctantly put down the paper, then frowned and said, "But I just can't understand why he wrote so many poems to me?"

　Hey, what should I say?

　　I've already said that the protagonist of this book is not a human being. If you really can't stand it, you can read the previous book. The previous book is a hypocrite who generally has a sense of shame. The protagonist of this book is shameless as he should be.

　　You can't just report it if you don't like it, right? If you like it, read it, if you don't, discard it, why bother reporting it? I wrote it very simply. I asked the editor to unblock it this afternoon, but the editor said it was reported by someone. It's a normal review process and it won't be blocked again half a day after it was published.

　　Forget it, let it be. If you do anything wrong in the future, just leave it in the group to avoid being reported.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)