The Romance of the West Chamber: The Bells are Ringing

Zheng Heng made urgent preparations and finally chose this auspicious day to marry Cui Yingying.

In the west wing of Pujiu Temple, there was a busy scene. The banquet was ready, just waiting for Zheng Heng's arrival.

Mrs. Cui Xiangguo thought secretly: "Who would have thought that Zhang Sheng would live up to my family's high hopes and marry the daughter of Wei Shangshu's family. However, today is a good day. I must not abandon my old husband's last words and recruit Zheng Heng." Be my son-in-law.”

At the door of the west wing, the matchmaker and maids shuttled back and forth, busy with the final preparations.

On the mountain road to Hezhong Prefecture, Qintong led the white horse. He was thinking about the matchmaker and just wanted to rush back to Pujiu Temple as soon as possible.

Zhang Gong went to Hezhong Mansion to take office this time. He was anxious at first, but he was not in a hurry when he was almost there.

Qintong asked as he walked: "Lang Jun, we could have arrived yesterday, why did we have to arrive today?"

Zhang Gong was riding on the horse, looking at Qintong's back, feeling a little dissatisfied. He put down the fan in his hand, slapped the piano boy hard on the head, and said, "You bitch slave, what do you know! Don't you know that you need to read the almanac when you go out?"

Qintong was startled by the sudden whipping and immediately covered his head. The dissatisfaction in his heart instantly turned into resentment. But he knew his identity well and knew that he could not argue with his master, so he could only hold back his words.

Zhang Gong did not notice the change in Qin Tong's mood. He picked up his fan, pointed at Qin Tong again, and said: "I went to Hezhong Mansion to take office according to the imperial decree. Now I am wearing brocade clothes and a black gauze hat. I am so majestic! Thinking back to me back then. What a world of difference when you are down! Today is a good day, suitable for meeting relatives and friends, receiving gifts, entering the house, building, breaking ground, erecting pillars, raising beams, offering sacrifices, consecrating, painting, praying, fasting, getting married, and making arrangements. Bed, moving, moving into the house, installing incense, and bringing in animals. What a double happiness!"

After hearing this, Qin Tong thought to himself: "Hmph, do you really think that you can rely on your own ability? I also took the imperial examination on my behalf. If it weren't for your old friend and your sworn brother Du Que to manage everything and reach an agreement with the noble clan, this would be possible. Will the champion get you?"

Zhang Gong continued: "Before, I was just a poor scholar. Now I hold a third-grade official position. The sage Yubi personally awarded me the official position. My name was written in the national history compiled by the Hanlin Academy. I have great glory in the world. But in fact, I am a dull person, I can't do anything except reading, but now I can be rewarded with the three-foot Longquan Sword and ten thousand volumes of books."

Qintong thought in his heart: "Zhang Gong is really shameless. He is obviously very proud, but he still insists on showing off his humility."

Zhang Gong added: "Miss Yingying is so lucky! Now she has successfully hired the five-flower official imperial title and seven-flavor car. Being in such a glorious position will naturally make others envious."

After hearing this, Qin Tong thought to himself: "How can this little lady be so lucky? It's obvious that you and your family are just getting what they need."

Zhang Gong seemed to see through Qintong's thoughts and said: "Don't think that I don't know what you are thinking. I tell you, no matter where I am, I will remember this place. I will not forget when I stayed at Pujiu Temple. When I was sad, I still remembered the place where I wrote the poem. Ever since I left here to go to Beijing to take the exam, my dream soul has never left the road of Pudong."

Zhang Gong suddenly stopped his horse, took the reins from Qintong, and said, "Okay, we're here."

Qintong was stunned for a moment, then looked up and saw that the mountain road turned a corner, and the mountain gate of Pujiu Temple was right in front of him.

The moment Zhang Gong stepped into the west wing, he instantly felt the strange atmosphere in the air. He looked straight ahead, with a trace of calmness and majesty in his eyes, which was his confidence and pride as the new top scholar in Hezhong Prefecture.

However, when his eyes met with Mrs. Cui Xiangguo's, the indifference and alienation made his heart tremble slightly.

"The new champion, Hezhong Prefecture Yin, and his son-in-law Zhang Gong are here to pay their respects." He said, with respect and humility in his voice. However, this did not diminish the anger on Mrs. Cui Xiangguo's face.

"No need to bow, no need to bow. You are the son-in-law with an imperial decree. How can I bear your bow?" Mrs. Cui Xiangguo said coldly.

Doubt and shock were intertwined in Zhang Gong's heart. He remembered that Mrs. Cui Xiangguo personally bid farewell to him when he left. Her face was full of joy at that time, but today she seemed so cold and unhappy. Why is this?

He approached Mrs. Choi Sang-guk and tried to read her expression.

There was deep melancholy and anger in Mrs. Cui Xiangguo's eyes, as if she was resenting something. He couldn't help but wonder, what exactly happened?

"Madam, when I went there, she personally bid farewell to me and was overjoyed. Today I won the top prize, but she seemed unhappy. Why is that?" he asked.

"Where do you still have our family in your heart now? As the saying goes, 'There is no beginning, no end'. Although my daughter is not beautiful in appearance, her father was the prime minister of the previous dynasty. If it were not for the thief before How could you have such great ability to come to my house to steal my bride? Today you suddenly ignored us and became your son-in-law in Wei Shangshu's family. How unreasonable!" Madam suddenly burst into anger.

Zhang Gong was deeply hurt by his wife's accusation. He thought in his heart: "I have not forgotten Madam's kindness, let alone my promise to Yingying."

"Madam, who do you want to listen to? If this happens, the sky will not cover it and the earth will not hold it, and I will get boils from the boss!" He retorted angrily.

However, the madam's anger did not subside. She pointed at Zhang Gong, with tears in her eyes: "You still have the nerve to ask me? Who agreed to you when you begged? Who gave you your daughter? Now you are ungrateful and have gone to another family! "

Zhang Gong was hit in the heart by his wife's accusation. He thought in his heart: "Yeah, how can I forget that kindness? That is what I rely on for life and the motivation for me to move forward."

He took a deep breath to calm down the excitement in his heart: "If you are talking about the "Pictures of Ladies with Silk Whips", then it is true that there are such pictures all over the road. I just miss the kindness of the past, how could I go anywhere else? Going to get married?"

These words made the lady's mood relax a little. The look in her eyes when she looked at Zhang Gong was less angry and more confused and sad.

Zhang Gong added: "Don't I know the principle of 'a gentleman is judged by his beginning'? How could I forget the place of kindness? What kind of thief and beast is jealous; he talks nonsense and slanders us. Sooner or later, the bastard who said this will Climb a wooden donkey and be tortured to punish him for his false accusation!”

There was no expression on the lady's face, and she said coldly: "It was my nephew Zheng Heng who said that the hydrangea hit your horse, Zhang Gong, and you became the son-in-law of Wei Shangshu. If you don't believe it, ask the matchmaker." "

Her voice was like a cold blade, piercing Zhang Gong's heart.

The matchmaker hesitated at the door, then stepped into the room. At first sight, she saw Qin Tong standing behind Zhang Gong with his hands hanging down.

The moment the matchmaker saw the piano boy, she felt a trace of joy in her heart. Qintong's familiar figure and gentle smile made her feel extremely at ease. She couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth slightly, her eyes shining with anticipation.

When Qin Tong saw the matchmaker walking into the room, he couldn't help feeling warm in his heart. He missed the time he spent with the matchmaker, those happy days seemed like yesterday. He tried hard to suppress his emotions and stay calm, but that faint smile revealed his true emotions.

The two faced each other from afar, each other's hearts filled with joy and longing. They tried hard to control their emotions and did not dare to show them easily. Because they know that once their emotions are discovered by others, it will bring endless trouble and turmoil.

Therefore, they can only pretend to be strangers, but they are silently calling each other's names and missing each other's beauty. This secret emotion is like a blooming flower in their hearts. Although it is deeply hidden, it exudes a unique fragrance.

The matchmaker walked up to Zhang Gong calmly, looking at Zhang Gong with eyes full of complex emotions, including joy and worry.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing him. It turns out he's back with an official position." She thought to herself. After all, although the young lady can marry whomever she marries and become a concubine, and then get rid of her slave status, if she becomes Zhang Gong's concubine, she can at least see the piano boy often.

Then she said: "I'm ashamed, this is right."

Zhang Gong felt a pain in his heart. He understood what the matchmaker meant. She was telling him that there must be something fishy about it.

"Matchmaker," he asked in a low voice, "How are you, little lady?"

The matchmaker's eyes instantly turned sad, "Because you became someone else's son-in-law, our little lady will still marry Zheng Heng."