The Romance of the West Chamber: The Bells are Ringing

In the early morning of the next day, the Shili Changting Pavilion had already been decorated by the Cui family. Flowers decorate the entire pavilion, exuding a light fragrance.

In the center of the pavilion is a long carved mahogany table. The table is filled with all kinds of delicacies, and the aroma is fragrant. The banquet was uniquely decorated, like a beautiful picture, showing a strong festive atmosphere.

The autumn wind was miserable, and Mrs. Cui Xiangguo was sitting on the couch in the long pavilion, wearing a luxurious brocade robe that made her solemn and solemn. The breeze blew across her cheek, and there was both expectation and sadness in her eyes.

Elder Farben and Monk Fa Cong stood side by side. The elder's brows were slightly furrowed, as if he was meditating on some profound truth. Fa Cong's eyes wandered in the distance, as if looking for the coming figure.

The autumn wind was blowing gently, with a bit of chill, and the autumn sunshine illuminated the entire pavilion. The shadows of the trees on both sides of the pavilion sway, casting mottled light and shadow.

"Elder Farben," Madam closed her eyes slightly, with deep worry in her words, "Is all this the will of God? I thought I could find a son of the noble family and fulfill Yingying's marriage. But now it seems , everything seems not to be what I want.”

Elder Faben said comfortingly: "Don't worry, madam. Buddhism emphasizes cause and effect, and everything has its destiny. Perhaps this is because the fate between Zhang Sheng and Yingying has come. Besides, the Zhang family is also a noble family, so it is not too humiliating to the Cui family. .”

The lady nodded slightly, with a trace of hesitation in her eyes, and said, "But my Cui family is a noble family after all, and the Zhang family is just a humble family, how can they compare with us!"

At the end of the pavilion, monk Facong chanted sutras silently, and faint Sanskrit sounds came from the silent night sky.

"Madam," Monk Fa Cong spoke up, "This is the reincarnation of the family and the origin of the mortal world. We are all wandering in the karma, who can tell the trajectory of the future?"

The lady sighed softly, she did not agree with what Monk Facong said. At this time, her face looked solemn and solemn, and she thought in her heart: "My Cui family has been a famous family for hundreds of years, and even the imperial court only has to rule the world with me and other family members. Hey, you bald donkeys, how can you understand The foundation of society?" He said no more.

In the pavilion, the waiting atmosphere became more solemn. The lady sometimes touched the jade pendant in her hand, and sometimes stared at the intersection in the distance. Deep green vines hang on the columns of the pavilion, swaying gently in the breeze, as if telling some indescribable story.

In the distance, Qintong came with a horse, and Zhang Sheng rode forward slowly. Their figures looked a little lonely in the morning light. Zhang Sheng's expression looked deep and complicated, thinking in his heart: "Although this trip is for fame, the separation from Yingying makes my heart cut like a knife. How can I not feel the desolation and reluctance in this autumn wind."

The piano boy held the white horse in front and carried Zhang Sheng's piano bag behind him. He had mixed feelings in his heart. He and Zhang Sheng were going to the capital to take the exam. Zhang Sheng had naturally taken care of everything. If it was like Mrs. Cui Xiangguo said yesterday, she only needed to go to school. If you win the official position, you can come back to marry Cui Yingying. At that time, the matchmaker will naturally go with you.

From now on, the matchmaker will be Zhang Sheng's concubine, and she will be half a mistress. She can't go up or down anymore. Otherwise, once something happens, she can be killed by the master's family according to the law, and my sister will be sent back again. Slave status is absolutely impossible. Unconsciously, I felt sad.

At the same time, Cui Yingying and the matchmaker sat in the carriage and came to Changting.

Yingying's eyes flashed with complicated emotions. She looked at the scenery outside the window, with a lot of thoughts in her heart: "Zhang Sheng, although this trip is your way to catch up with the exam, for me, it is endless longing and waiting. The weather in late autumn seems to be telling our story. Feelings of separation and separation.”

Looking outside the carriage, I saw the sky was blue, the ground was full of yellow chrysanthemums, and the west wind was blowing hard. The swan geese in the north are flying south. I couldn't help but feel sad in my heart: "Who made Shuanglin so red and drunk in the early morning? It's always stained by Li Ren's tears."

Sighing softly, I thought: "I only regret that we met too late, and I only complain that we left too hastily. The long willow silk cannot tie up other jade birds, and I wish that the sparse forest could catch the passing sunset." You walked slowly on horseback, and I followed closely in carriage. I had just ended the pain of lovesickness, and now I was going through the torture of separation. As soon as I heard the word "Let's go," I let go of Jin Chuan; I looked at the ten-mile long pavilion in the distance. , Unconsciously, the jade muscles are reduced: Who can you tell your sorrow about separation? "

The matchmaker looked at Cui Yingying, smiled and asked softly: "Sister, why don't you dress up today?" The matchmaker's voice was gentle and slightly teasing, as if she was revealing a subtle mystery.

Cui Yingying looked up, there was a hint of sadness in her eyes, but she tried her best to squeeze out a forced smile. "You know my heart." She sighed softly, brushed her hair with her hands, and slowly expressed her thoughts.

The matchmaker noticed Cui Yingying's emotions, walked to her and gently took her hand. "Sister, no matter what happens, you can tell me." Her eyes were full of understanding and support.

Cui Yingying nodded slightly and forced a smile on her lips. "Yes, matchmaker." But there was a different kind of depression in her eyes.

At this time, the carriage was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers, and the elegant makeup and white gauze clothes reflected Cui Yingying's softness and melancholy.

"Sister," the matchmaker said softly, "you know, separation is inevitable in life, but there will also be reunions. Maybe this is just a turning point in life, not the end."

Cui Yingying's eyes flashed with gratitude, and she held the matchmaker's hand tightly. "Thank you, matchmaker. You always understand me so well." Her voice was trembling, but full of sincerity.

The matchmaker took Cui Yingying's hand and gently arranged her hair. There were not many words between the two, but their tacit understanding was enough to make up for everything.

"No matter what the future holds," the matchmaker broke the silence, "Sister, you are not alone. I will always be by your side and accompany you through every difficulty."

Cui Yingying smiled slightly: "Yes, matchmaker, I know. With you here, I will no longer be alone." There was a hint of determination in her voice, as if it was a response to the future life.

The matchmaker thought to herself: "When Zhang Sheng comes back from high school, I can serve one husband with Cui Yingying. I can get rid of my slave status and endure all kinds of hardships! It's just that I have to suffer a lot." Thinking of this, she suddenly felt a pang in her heart. pain.

At the pavilion, Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying arrived one after another to meet Mrs. Cui Xiangguo. The piano boy helped Zhang Sheng off the horse and led the white horse aside. When he saw the matchmaker helping Cui Yingying to get off the carriage, he couldn't help but meet the matchmaker's eyes and smiled slightly.

Mrs. Cui Xiangguo looked at Cui Yingying affectionately, then turned to Zhang Sheng: "Zhang Sheng and the elders and masters sit here. Yingying, you sit here. Matchmaker, come and pour the wine."

He said to Zhang Sheng: "Zhang Sheng, come forward. Now we are your family members. Please don't avoid us."

He then pulled Cui Yingying up and said, "I will betroth Yingying to you today. When you get to the capital, don't humiliate my child, and strive to come back with a champion."

Zhang Sheng stood up and saluted solemnly: "The young man, relying on my wife's support, relies on his talent and knowledge to regard officials as if they are picking up mustard. The young man will repay the madam's love and work harder and gain fame." This word is the number one scholar. , but never mentioned it, knowing that if she agreed, if she failed, then Mrs. Cui Xiangguo would naturally have another excuse, and this must not cause any complications.

Seeing that Zhang Sheng was not fooled, Mrs. Cui Xiangguo's face changed slightly. She originally wanted to make him swear and swear, so that she could wait for an opportunity to regret the marriage in the future. Unexpectedly, this kid was very scheming, did not accept the move, and turned the problem into invisible.

Elder Farben smiled and interjected: "Madam's idea is good, Mr. Zhang is not a mediocre person." The elder's deep eyes revealed his approval of Zhang Sheng.

The piano boy held the white horse from a distance, caressing the horse's neck, and thought: "Humph, yesterday I only said that I would not recruit beauties in white clothes, but I must get a deserving official. Why do I have to earn the number one scholar today? If I just get a Yes, the Zhang family has a wide foundation in the court, so what's the difficulty? But if you want to win the first prize, it will be extremely difficult! However, Zhang Gong is quite talented, and the Zhang family has great hands and eyes, and Du Que helps him, so it's hard to say Tight. Besides, I don’t think this old rascal will say that she won’t marry her daughter unless she wins the first prize? I must help Zhang Sheng go to high school, so that Sister Matchmaker can become Zhang Gong’s concubine and take off her slaves. membership."

But thinking about this, thinking that the lover I loved so much had to become someone else's concubine, I felt uncomfortable in my heart, so I turned away and looked blankly into the distance.