Clear and Muddy Loss of Love

Toad palace breaks laurel horse from the rein

The announcer spread out the big red document with the official seal, but did not hand it over to Qi Yan.

Seeing Qi Yan's haggard and extremely young face, an old man must have waited anxiously, so he reminded with a smile: "Master Huiyuan, hurry up and seal the money."

Qi Yan slapped his forehead, turned around and took three steps, then bowed back and bowed: "Brother Guancha wait a moment."

The crowd roared with laughter, and everyone had friendly smiles on their faces, understanding Qi Yan's mood very well.

But the moment he turned around again, the smile on Qi Yan's face disappeared completely, and he was incompatible with the smiling crowd behind him.

Back in the bedroom, she deliberated and took out two liang of silver and two copper plates, and when she stepped out of the main room, a happy smile appeared on her face again.

Quickly came to the Announcer, offered the reward and said apologetically, "I'm really sorry, the students are newcomers and don't know the rules, so I'm rude. I'm sorry to trouble the officer to send my elder brother to come here. Please have a cup of summer tea."

The announcer smiled and put the silver in his pocket before handing over the document.

Qi Yan first subconsciously stretched out her hand and then withdrew it, rubbing a few hands on the lapel of her clothes indiscriminately before taking the big red document.

The announcer clasped his fists and said, "Master Huiyuan, please prepare well. A chariot will come to pick you up on the fifth day of next month to take you into the palace to take part in the palace examination. If Master Huiyuan has time, you can go to the examination institute to inquire about the rules of the palace examination."

"Thank you, Brother Guancha, for your suggestion. I won't send it far away."

"Master Huiyuan, please stop, the younger one has to go to the next house to announce the good news."

Qi Yan played this scene seamlessly, thanked the onlookers, went back to the house and put the red document in front of Xiaodie's bowl of vegetarian food: "Sister, it's almost here."

Ever since Qi Yan won Huiyuan, this small courtyard on the outskirts of the city has never been quiet.

Every day, all kinds of people come to visit under various names.

Overnight, Qi Yan inexplicably has countless fellow villagers, classmates and old friends.

She greeted him hypocritically while waiting patiently.

There were still ten days before the entrance examination, and Big Yu finally approached him.

Xie An came in a soft sedan chair for two people, and led two teams of servants carrying baskets: "Brother Qi Xian, no! You should change your name to Qi Huiyuan. Brother Yu is here to wish you a happy harvest of Huiyuan."

Qi Yan bowed and returned a salute: "Brother Yuanshan came to visit the humble house, and the luxuriant plants are shining. If you don't give up, please go to the inner room and drink a cup of coarse tea, so that the little brother can show the friendship of the landlord."

Xie An laughed heartily, raised his hand and carried the gifts to the west room in an orderly manner: "Your brother is very polite, please."

"Brother Yuanshan please."

Gifts quickly piled up the west room and the firewood house, and the rest could only be parked in the yard.

Xie An looked at Qi Yan's bedroom for a week: "Your brother has been living here since you entered Beijing?"

Qi Yan nodded: "Everything is precious at the feet of the Son of Heaven. It is a blessing to be able to rent such a quiet courtyard. To tell you the truth, if it wasn't for Brother Yuan Shan's sponsorship last time, Qi Yan would have even taken the reward money that was awarded to the official who announced the good news. Not out."

A trace of guilt flashed across Xie An's face: "It's all because of Brother Yu's lack of thoughtfulness and wronged Brother Xian." His expression was sincere and his words were sincere, as if he was really guilty.

"I happen to have a small courtyard with three entrances under my name. It is located in a quiet place. There are all kinds of household and servants in the courtyard. It was originally reserved for entertaining distant guests who like to be quiet. If you don't mind my brother, I will order someone to fetch the house deed today. Just give it to my brother."

Qi Yan waved his hands again and again: "Brother Yuan Shan must not, a gentleman does not steal people's love. If I live in, how will Brother Yuan Shan entertain guests from far away?"

"Hey, brother, I don't know that my house was just expanded last year. A few independent small courtyards were built in the back, which is enough for entertaining. Besides, my status is not what it used to be, so I will inevitably have to entertain my colleagues in the future. Besides, I can't bear it in my own way. Seeing that the virtuous brother lives in such a simple and shabby way, why should the virtuous brother refuse?"

Xie An's words put his attitude extremely low, and ordinary people would have been grateful for it.

Qi Yan sneered in his heart, showing a look of flattered gratitude: "Brother Deyuanshan has repeatedly helped Qi Yan, and there is nothing in return. If there is something in need in the future, I hope to speak up."

"Because it's not past noon, I happened to bring my family with me. Why don't you pack up your things and move there today."

"Respect is worse than obedience."

Xie An stayed in Qi Yan's new house for dinner, and left the house deed together with the deeds of prostitution of all the servant girls to Qi Yan.

Gong Yanghuai once told Qi Yan not to accept anything given by any excuses if strangers visit.He was worried that Qi Yan, who came from a poor family, would accidentally get involved in factional disputes, and he hoped that Qi Yan could be a clean and good official.

But every wave of guests in the past few days sent gifts, whether it was famous paintings and ancient books, or gold and silver treasures; she even accepted the servants of the mansion.

There is a rotten heart beating in this lingering body, will you still be afraid of stains?

Pure and flawless white jade is certainly good, but if there is no handle in the hands of others, how can you "use" yourself with peace of mind?

……

On the morning of the fifth day of June, Qi Yan entered the palace with [-] other students to participate in the imperial examination.

Nangong Jingnv was also neatly dressed, holding a long and narrow brocade box to find her sister Nangong Shunv.

Nangong Shunv was burning incense and playing the piano at the Huxin Pavilion. Nangong Jingnv dismissed the maids who followed her to hold the brocade box alone, and walked towards the Huxin Pavilion at a slower pace.

Nangong Jingnv's piano skills are top-notch in the entire capital, but she has never played in front of people, so apart from her sisters who were close since childhood, few people know about her.

Nangong Jingnv stood quietly behind Nangong Shunv, listening mesmerizingly.

At the end of the song, Nangong Shunv straightened her slim waist and quietly looked into the distance.

Seeing this scene, Nangong Jingnv felt a little sad.

"Second sister."

Nangong Shunv turned her head slowly, put away her sorrow and said with a smile: "When did you come? Why haven't you seen the transmission?"

"I just arrived too. Second sister, you play the piano really well~ Look, the fish in the lake are all around you."

Nangong Shunv smiled: "It's just some skillful craftsmanship, maybe these fish are attracted by Princess Zhenzhen's face?"

Nangong Jingnu's pretty face flushed, and said angrily, "Second Sister!"

Nangong Shunv smiled and pulled her younger sister to sit beside her: "What is that in your arms?"

"Ah! Second sister, let's go to the study."

When she came to the study, Nangong Jingnv screened back to the left and right, smiled sweetly at Nangong Shunv, and said mysteriously, "Second sister's birthday will be in a few days, and I have a gift for you~."

The scroll was slowly unfolded, and Nangong Shunv's breathing stagnated: "This is...?"

Nangong Jingnv was very satisfied: She knew that Lay Shepherd and her second sister must know each other, this gift is the right one!

"How did you get this word?"

"I begged for it from my father."

Nangong Shunv's eyes dimmed, but she still said sincerely: "Thank you, I like it very much."

Nangong Jingnv took her sister's hand, her dark eyes were full of worry: "Second sister, do you have something on your mind?"

Nangong Shunv shook her head first, then let out a shallow sigh, and murmured: "Sometimes, sister really envies those birds in the forest..."

Nangong Shunv is 17 years old this year, and she has a premonition that her father will marry her soon, and now seeing the words that make her fall in love, she is even more troubled.

She is not Nangong Jingnv, she has no right to choose and say "no".

Nangong Jingnv bit her lower lip, and grabbed Nangong Shunnv's cold hand: "Second Sister, let's go out of the palace! I've heard that at noon, there will be a top three in the imperial examination riding a horse through the streets, and then going to the Dengke Building to write poems. It's lively!"

Nangong Shunv's eyes flickered, and she said hesitantly, "But..."

"Father, you don't have to worry, there is Qionglin Banquet in the evening and we can't take care of us; I will go back to the outer mansion with you after I give orders."

The two sisters first went to the princess mansion to change into men's clothes. The main road in the capital was full of people, but there were no cars, horses or sedan chairs.

Because in another hour or two, the top three students who were named on the gold list will start from the palace and go through this path until they reach the Dengke Building in the south of the city to write poems.

Nangong Jingnv took her sister's hand and struggled to squeeze through the crowd. As early as a month ago, all the teahouses and restaurants on this street that could see the street had been booked.

Nangong Shunv held her sister's hand tightly while protecting her chest with one hand, walking with difficulty.

Nangong Jingnv was a little annoyed, she wanted to take the opportunity of leaving the palace to let her sister put down her worries; she never expected such a scene.

Lu Zhongxing sat in the private room with the best view with a few friends, and he firmly believed that his brother's talent would definitely rank among the top three.

Suddenly, he saw two familiar figures in the crowd, and in shock, he leaned out half of his body grabbing the railing.

A man dressed as a scholar quickly grabbed his lapel: "Brother Lu, slow down!"

Lu Zhongxing didn't care about it at all, stretched out his body and shouted loudly: "Jing'er!"

Nangong Jingnv raised her head and exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Zhongxing!"

"Jing'er don't move, I'll go down and pick you up!"

"it is good!"

Lu Zhongxing turned around and cupped his hands to the rest, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, everyone. Please stay away."

"Brother Lu, what does this mean?"

Another person also said: "Avoid? Brother Lu, is this serious? Everyone here is famous, who in Juelu's side can afford the word 'avoid'?"

"Avoiding crime" is a law of Wei State.However, today is the day of the top three parades in the streets, and Beijing officials of the third rank and above in the imperial court will not appear on the street for the convenience of the common people.

Lu Zhongxing saw several friends showing displeasure, sighed helplessly, and hooked his fingers: "Bend over."

……

Lu Zhongxing got out of the teahouse and squeezed away the crowd, and made a gesture of invitation to the Nangong sisters: "I have reserved a private room on the second floor, follow me upstairs."

After entering the private room, Nangong Jingnv straightened her crooked crown and shook her wrinkled silk gown, her eyebrows slightly frowned: "I didn't expect there to be so many people."

Lu Zhongxing smiled and comforted a few words, called Xiao Erzhong to set the table and ordered some refreshments for the two princesses, then gave up the two seats with the best view and took the last seat.

With the loud sound of gongs and drums, the crowd downstairs became commotion: "Come! Come!"

It was the first time Nangong Jingnv saw this scene, she stood up excitedly: "Second sister, look!"

Nangong Shunv took Nangong Jingnv's hand and pulled her from the railing to her side. The two sisters stood side by side and looked towards the other side of the road...