Guanqingzhai

Hu Yue said: "This... I have never seen it before. Although the Chen family is a merchant and has other shops, they can be regarded as a rich family. It is said that the married family is not a big family, but a small family. However, this little lady was born beautiful and beautiful, and her handicrafts were extremely delicate, and she was educated, so she was the daughter of a good family. But the matchmaker talked a lot about it, and the marriage was concluded only after paying a heavy dowry. "

Chu Jue listened, but Hu Yue stopped and said, "That's weird, why does Brother Chu ask this question again and again? What's the trick here?"

Chu Jue hesitated slightly, but immediately returned to his usual appearance and said, "I'm just curious. Why does this family feel solemn like a funeral when it's obviously a happy event? Besides, Mr. Chen's face is also full of mourning. , and I don't care about his appearance...the appearance that will never be seen again."

At this moment, Hu Yue and Chu Jue found a handsome young man visiting from outside the fence. Seeing Hu Yue and Chu Jue looking at them, the man ran away in a panic.And Hu Yue said: "It's weird, it's weird..."

Hu Yue tilted her head and smiled slightly: "Then...do you want to go for a walk at night?"

Chu Jue smiled and said, "Yes, but you have to promise me not to drive me away again."

At both ends of the story, Hu Yue and Chu Jue returned to their residence in a leisurely manner, while the poetry meeting here at Hongqiao is still going on. This poetry meeting is definitely held by the literati in the capital every time the flower season is at its peak. What is being held today is the Camellia Poetry Club.

Hongqiao pinched the bright red camellia, thought for a while and said, "I have never struggled for spring, and I am willing to let my soul fall for the snow."

"Okay, you are so willing to give up your soul for the snow, Miss Hongqiao is really a true scholar of girls."

"Gao Shilang's praise is absurd, and my family suffers."

"Hahaha, who doesn't know Miss Hongqiao, an oiran lady by the Jinshui Lake? The Huafangxiang Pavilion is not accessible to ordinary people."

Hongqiao's beautiful eyes turned, this person is the son of the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, he doesn't have much knowledge in his stomach, but he likes to be arty, I am a talented person, he started his official career early, he can be regarded as a smooth rise.But if it falls on his son, it's really a playboy who can't do anything.

Hongqiao looked down on him very much, but out of face, she turned around and made Wanfu, and said, "Master Lu was joking, Hongqiao is helpless like duckweed in a ladle, it is the rootless lotus, the threadless kite, who can only hide In the rivers and lakes. Although I know some great Confucians and love them, but I can’t achieve the realm of talking and laughing with great Confucians, and communicating without Baiding.”

The man saw that Hongqiao spoke politely, humbly and politely, but he thought deeply that it was a needle in the cotton.Displeased in my heart, but I can't have another attack.Smiling embarrassingly, he turned and went to drink.

Hongqiao also ignored him, and just admired the snow and flowers on her own.The tassels of the purse on her body were caught by the flower branches, and she just wanted to lower her head to untie it, but at this moment, she stretched out her hands and untied it.Hongqiao smiled and said, "Thank you Mr. Hu."

The surname of the visitor is Hu, with a single character of Sheng.Because of his surname, he loves the house and loves Wu. Although this person is not a member of a high school, after becoming an official, he also received Hongqiao's favor.

The man cupped his hands and returned the salute: "Miss, you're welcome, of course."

Seeing how polite he was, Hongqiao thought of feeding Hu Yue the medicinal diet in the morning, so she laughed to herself.

Hu Sheng laughed and said, "Why are you laughing, miss?"

Hongqiao shook her head and said, "It's nothing, I thought of an interesting thing, it's not a big deal."

At this time, Mr. Lu started talking loudly again: "It's weird, everyone in the poetry club is here today, why is Shilang missing? Isn't this too boring?"

Hongqiao and Hu Sheng looked around when they heard the sound, and there was indeed one person missing, and this person was Shi Lang, who won the first prize in the last poetry meeting.He is not a high school student, but he is a first-class talent.There are often excellent works in poetry clubs.So everyone called him Shilang.It's homonymous with his name.

Hong Qiao also rushed to the flower hall, she said: "It's a little strange, Shi Lang hasn't participated in the poetry meeting for a long time."

Lu Sheng is always envious and jealous of Shi Lang.And you can't use your own family background to overwhelm others, which is looked down upon in such gatherings.So I can always hurt him a few words, and I will never let it go.He laughed and said: "I heard that our Shi Lang's sister is married. This Shi Lang has always been very fond of his sister, and I don't think he has calmed down yet!"

Someone echoed: "That's not it, I think that Qiao Niang, a first-class beautiful person, is proficient in everything from piano, chess, calligraphy and painting."

Lu Sheng resentfully said: "It's a pity, it's a pity, she was originally a young lady from a scholarly family, but she didn't expect both her parents to die and her family to fall into poverty, and she was raised by a rascal, and ended up marrying a businessman..." After finishing speaking, her eyes widened Glance at Hongqiao.

Hongqiao could hear the meaning of his words, smiled and said sarcastically: "Yes, it's a pity that you are beautiful like a flower. But women only want to be like-minded, knowledgeable and interesting. If you ask me, I would rather marry a good character You don't have to be too particular about your background, it's better than entering the noble family once and locking your beauty in the boudoir. If you don't have a long relationship, you will see the newcomer laughing but not the old one crying. From then on, this life will be no different from the green lantern worshiping Buddha gone."

When Lu Sheng heard that Hong Qiao was secretly mocking him again, he felt even more upset.At this time, the host of the poetry meeting said: "Hey, if Shi Lang doesn't come, our place will lose a bit of color, but with Miss Hongqiao here, it's true that flowers are as red as snow and people are as pretty as Hongqiao."

Hongqiao smiled coquettishly, and bowed to return the salute.Everyone entered the living room, and the maids brought refreshments. Everyone tasted the tea and admired the flowers, and began to chat about trivial matters.

Hongqiao blew on the tea soup, when he heard someone say, "Do you know about the marriage of sister Shi's sister Qiaoniang?"

Hongqiao turned slightly sideways, listening to their chat.

"It is said that the one who married is the son of Chen Laizi, the biggest steamed stuffed bun restaurant in Dongshi Street. That man is considered a talent. Although he came from a businessman, he is handsome and well-educated. Hey, I seem to have been here too. Once for our poetry meeting. Was it peach blossom? Or pear blossom?”

"Isn't that right, this Qiao Niang is a well-known beautiful girl, she is both beautiful and elegant...Actually, according to me, I can find someone better."

"Hey, who asked their siblings to have such an uncle? The rascal, he only cares about the amount of the dowry, not the character of the other party."

"That's right, that's right, the fairy was assigned to the chef that day, and the rich are rich, and the dowry is enough. But the Shi family used to be a scholarly family, ah... it's really smelly powder tainted with oily smoke. .”

"So it's no wonder that Shi Lang is not coming these days. Who would have such thoughts? It is said that Shi Lang got sick because of this, and he couldn't afford it."

Hongqiao heard that it was just trivial things, so she looked up at the sky, and it was already dark. She wondered if Hu Yue was in better health. She took a few sips of tea absent-mindedly, but couldn't write a good poem.Then he got up and said: "My fellow poets, I'm really sorry. I can't bear the cold weather at my slave's house. I'll go back first. I've neglected you all. Please enjoy yourself to the fullest."

Several young masters got up and wanted to give Hongqiao off, but Hongqiao waved her hands and refused to be sent off.A man wrapped his cloak tightly, held a hand stove with charcoal in his hand, turned around, made a salute, and left.

She called the bearer and said, "Go to Guanqing Zhai first, wait at the door, and then go back to the boat."

When Hongqiao came to Guanqingzhai, he happened to meet Hu Yue and two people going out, and the three of them faced each other at the gate of Chaimen, and were stunned for half a second.Hongqiao said: "Ah, Mr. Hu, you are still sick, and you are going there in the cold weather." After speaking, she glanced at Chu Jue with a little reproach.

Chu Jue felt guilty after being complained so much by her. He wiped his nose and looked sideways at Hu Yue.Seeing that Hongqiao came back, Hu Yue could only say, "I just finished eating, and I want to go out for a walk with Brother Chu. Take a walk and enjoy the moon!"

Hongqiao shook her head and said, "Don't lie to me, now is the time to go out for a walk? I really can't convince me. Tell me, what is it?"

Seeing that Hu Yue couldn't find an excuse, Chu Jue thought about it and said honestly, "We want to go to the Chen family."

Hongqiao was stunned for a moment: "But... shopkeeper Chen of Baozi Hotel?"

Chu Jue said, "It's business."

Hongqiao tilted her head and said, "Coincidentally, the sister of Shi Lang in our poetry club today is the daughter-in-law of that family."

Hu Yue and Chu Jue looked at each other, Hu Yue smiled and said: "It's cold outside, let's go inside and have a warm cup before we talk about it."

When the three returned to the house, Hongqiao made tea familiarly, and she told the two of them all the gossip she heard at the flower appreciation poetry meeting in the afternoon.

Hu Yue knocked on the table, he said: "Brother Hu... I have an idea..."

Chu Jue said: "Needless to say, my brother, I also think that way..."

Hongqiao asked, "What do you think?"

Hu Yue glanced at Chu Jue, smiled, and said to Hong Qiao, "Qiaoer, are you interested?"

Hongqiao nodded hurriedly, completely forgetting that she had a duty to hinder the two of them, she said: "Yes, take me with you, okay?"

Hu Yue smiled wryly and said: "Then hurry up, after this hour. We can't go."

The three of them dressed neatly, Hongqiao went back to the bearer, and the three of them went on foot.When they arrived at the gate of the Chen Mansion, Chu Jue took out three pieces of paper clothes from his arms, and said to the two of them, "Put it on, and then don't make any noise, walk slowly, don't bump into people, and others won't see it." You come."

Surprised, Hongqiao took the paper clothes and put them over the cloak.Looking at Hu Yue and Chu Jue again, she said, "No...I can see you."

Chu Jue explained with a smile: "Of course the three of us can see us, and even non-human beings can see us. But living people can't see us."

Hu Yue nodded with a smile, the door of the Chen Mansion was open at this time, Chu Jue smiled and whispered, "As expected of a good brother, you can clearly find out the time of the gate control."

Hu Yue glanced at him and said: "That's not the case, I also saw it because I came here to collect the pen fee. I asked and found out that at this time, the underground clerk of the Chen's shop came back to settle accounts. And every time it is this time period .”

After speaking, she took the lead and walked into the gate, Hongqiao followed nervously and the two stretched out their hands, their hearts raised in their throats when they entered the gate.Sure enough, the gatekeeper Stoudemire didn't see the three of them.

Then they swaggered into Chen's residence, and Hu Yue said, "The wing at the back is where they rest. Let's go around the garden, where there are fewer people."

The three pressed their feet and walked into the garden. There were very few people in the garden, so the three relaxed a little.Suddenly they noticed a rustling sound coming from the bushes.

The three of them stood still and did not dare to make a sound.Then suddenly a foot protruded from the bushes, followed by a man's head. Holding his hat, he got out of the bushes.The body is covered with leaves.Hu Yue found out that he was the young man who was looking outside Chen's house during the day.

Hongqiao glanced at it and said, "Ah...!"

Hu Yue covered Hongqiao's mouth, the man was very sharp, immediately turned his head to look, then looked around, then stood up, and ran forward quickly.

Chu Jue winked, and the three followed the man.

Passing through the garden is the wing room. Mr. Chen lives in the house, and his son and daughter-in-law live in the east wing as usual (in ancient times, the difference between the east wing and the west wing was generally emphasized. The eldest son or the eldest son lived in the east wing, and the daughter or concubine lived in the west wing. Please refer to West Chamber), went straight all the way, but found that there was no servant in the East Chamber.It seemed very deserted and quiet.

At this time, under the light of the window, two figures were reflected.They sat opposite each other, seemingly talking.

The young man looked very anxious, pacing back and forth, but stopped when he wanted to go in.Suddenly he saw the two of them leaning against each other extremely intimately, he froze and trembled all over.This accident actually broke the blue and white porcelain vase outside the house.

The sound was crisp, and the people in the house came out immediately.The first one to come out was Young Master Chen. After seeing the vase, he started looking for someone.

Suddenly there was a slight delay when he walked past Hu Yue Chujue. At this time, a beautiful woman walked out of the room. She looked at the man, and her appearance was very similar to the young man who sneaked in.But the young man hid behind the tree and trembled all over, watching her secretly, but did not stand up.

The two searched around, and then Young Master Chen helped his wife back to the room.When he went back, he glanced at Hu Yue.

Hu Yue and Chu Jue looked at each other and smiled, and he said, "You guessed it right."

Chu Jue also smiled lightly and said, "So is my brother."

Hongqiao rubbed her hands together and said, "What's going on?"

Hu Yue pointed to that person and said in a low voice, "We'll know if we continue to follow him."

After speaking, the three of them looked at the scholar hiding behind the tree. The scholar was trembling all over. It took him a while to come out tremblingly.Step by step faster, and finally trot out as if escaping.Suddenly, he bumped into a patrolling Stoudemire.Xiaosi was bumped and staggered. Before he could see who was coming, he turned around and shouted: "There are thieves!"

After speaking, all the servants in the yard ran out, and the man was so anxious that he circled back and forth, wishing he could grow wings and fly out.At this time, Hu Yue took off his paper clothes and put them on the man.

At the next moment, the servants surrounded Hu Yue, and at this time someone was holding a lantern to illuminate them.

The visitor was also dumbfounded when he saw that it was Hu Yue. Master Chen staggered all the way over. He was also taken aback when he saw Hu Yue. He frowned and said, "Brother, what are you doing here late at night?"

Hu Yue coughed and touched his nose, while Chu Jue, who was invisible beside him, just stared at him.Hu Yue bowed to Mr. Chen, and said: "Well, my brother and I are close friends with the younger brother of Mr. Ling's wife. The younger brother of Ling's daughter-in-law has been ill recently and is not suitable for walking. He asked me to bring a message to his sister."

When Master Chen heard that it was about his daughter-in-law, his unwrinkled brows deepened."Then why don't you come during the day?" he asked.

Hu Yue said: "Didn't you issue an order to evict customers during the day? I drank a cup of tea and the stool was still hot, so I had to leave first. Who would have thought that my best friend would be waiting in my Guanqing Zhai?" , said that he must see his sister. I was also very disturbed to see him begging for his illness. Besides, I was entrusted with the matter of loyalty. I had no choice but to come here to try my luck. ...Ahem, gone. I thought about my relationship with my brother, so I came in by myself. I wanted to find a guide to lead the way, but after I came, I found that the Chen family's house was very big, and luckily there was Xiao Si in the daytime. Lead me. This night, I just wanted to find someone in the dark, but unexpectedly I met the little brother, and he shouted that there was a thief before he opened his mouth."

After speaking, he showed a helpless expression. Although Mr. Chen also had doubts, Hu Yue was poor and had a good reputation. His hands and feet were clean and he was an innocent family.Besides, he didn't hide anything on his body, and there was no need to come to steal anything. He believed three points of what he said, and still had seven points of doubts.

He asked, "Then... what did he say?"

Hu Yue rolled her eyes and said, "He said why didn't my sister come back after the day of Guining, but something happened?"