Biganchun

Time flies, and it is the end of May. In the city of Bianjing, in the lanes, bridges and cities, durian flowers reflect the sun everywhere, the green shade shines on the water, and the summer is sunny and soft.

Inside Nanxun Gate, north of Longjin Bridge, there are dozens of shops lined up along the street.After noon, the weather is the hottest, which is the lazy time of the day.Under the bright sun, the sound of magpies pierces through the trees, and the long chirping of cicada wings makes people drowsy.There were very few customers in the street shops, and many shopkeepers hid under the eyes of the shopkeeper, looking for a secluded place to take a nap quietly.

The door of the carving shop of a flower and wood shop opened suddenly, and accompanied by a sound of hospitality, the plain clothes fluttered, and Qingcheng stepped out of the shop.

She frowned deeply, feeling really troubled in her heart.For 28 days in a row, she and Bai Yutang sneaked into the imperial garden every night to collect the Shenmu mulberry. After a lot of hard work, she saw that the silkworm she was raising in the Zhuque Lane apartment had already slept five times and turned into a cocoon, just waiting to break the cocoon and collect the silk.She has been preparing the ingredients for cocoon cooking for the past few days, but who knows that one of them has broken through the iron shoes and has nowhere to find it.

She walked down the steps of the shop, but a red shadow flashed in front of her eyes, and Zhan Zhao stood under the eaves with a smile: "Why, is the princess still looking for those flowers and plants for cooking cocoons?"

Seeing him, Qingcheng was slightly surprised, but when he heard him address him in a serious manner, he couldn't help smiling, and replied: "That's right. After a few days, everything else is ready, except for one kind of flower. It is called the best place in the world, I have searched for many places, but there is no whereabouts..."

She raised her eyes to meet Zhan Zhao's, with a smile still on her face, and asked, "Why are you so idle today?"

Zhan Zhao smiled slightly, and dropped his respectful tone: "Today is a ten-day holiday. I was ordered by my lord to send two encrypted documents to the Privy Council earlier. I just handed over my assignment, but I don't want to meet you here. I have no left or right. matter, wherever you want to go, I can go with you."

Qingcheng lowered her head and smiled: "So, thank you very much."

Perhaps it was because of the reconciliation of the heart knot, since the Duanyang Festival and the Huashen Temple that day, although the two of them have only met a few times, getting along has become much easier unconsciously.Apart from Shenmu Sang, Qingcheng also told Zhan Zhao about re-practicing the silkworm silk, but Zhan Zhao just nodded and didn't say anything.

Whether she is going or staying has gradually become a taboo between the two of them, and no one has ever mentioned it again.He didn't ask, and she didn't answer, as if she was willing to keep this tacit understanding.Within a city, we know each other from afar, and the years are quiet and peaceful, until that day that cannot be avoided after all.

The two stopped and walked along the street, when they suddenly saw a pharmacy with a rather large facade, with a three-character signboard shining brightly in the afternoon sun - Baicaotang.

Zhan Zhao stopped in his tracks, and said to Qingcheng: "Wang Shouren, the treasurer of this Baicaotang pharmacy, has always had some friendship with Kaifeng Mansion. He deals in medicinal materials and has seen a lot. Maybe it is related to flowers and trees. You and I might as well go in and ask him about it. "

Qingcheng nodded, followed Zhan Zhao into Baicao Hall.In the spacious hall, there is a faint scent of medicine, which makes people feel refreshed.As soon as she smelled it, she knew it was Qingliangsan, an ancient prescription for eliminating summer, and the thickness was just right, so she nodded secretly.

A clerk came out of the store, seeing that it was Zhan Zhao, he hurriedly invited them into an inner room.After sitting for a while, the door curtain was lifted, and a person hurried in.But seeing that he is about 50 years old, he is tall and handsome, his steps are steady, his brows are full of joy, he thinks he is Wang Shouren, the treasurer of Baicaotang that Zhan Zhao just mentioned.

Sure enough, when Zhan Zhao saw him, he stood up smiling and cupped his hands, "Shopkeeper Wang, long time no see."

Wang Shouren quickly returned the courtesy and said, "Master Zhan, if you have any orders, just send someone to let me know. Why do you come here in person in such hot weather?"

He caught a glimpse of Qingcheng, was startled, suddenly realized something, and said to Zhan Zhao with a smile: "Master Zhan, could this be..."

Zhan Zhao knew that Qingcheng didn't want to easily reveal his identity and provoke disputes. Although he knew that Wang Shouren had misunderstood, he was inconvenient to argue. He just cut his mouth and said, "Treasurer Wang, I'm here today to ask for advice on one matter."

Wang Shouren was originally a smart man, and seeing Zhan Zhao like this, he believed in his own speculations, and he quickly smiled and said, "Master Zhan, why bother? Please speak up if you have something to say, I know everything."

Zhan Zhao gave Qingcheng a wink, Qingcheng smiled faintly, and asked Wang Shouren, "Master Wang, do you know where you can find mandala flowers in Bianjing?"

Wang Shouren frowned: "Mandala..." After pondering for a while, he suddenly blurted out: "What the girl said was the Maha Mandala flower, one of the four types of smallpox mentioned in the Lotus Sutra?"

Seeing that he knew this flower, Qingcheng was both surprised and happy: "That's right. Do you have this flower in your Baicaotang?"

Wang Shouren shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Miss must know that this flower has always been rare, and it has always been born in the south of the Yangtze River. This flower cannot be used as medicine, so I have never bought or sold it in this Baicaotang. Based on what I have seen in the 40 years of business here, not to mention it in Bianjing City. Medicine shops, even flower and tree shops, should not be seen."

Qingcheng lowered her head sadly, with a faint melancholy on her face.

Zhan Zhao asked in a deep voice: "Shopkeeper Wang, is it really impossible to think about lunch?"

Wang Shouren pondered for a while, and then said after deliberation: "I have an old customer in Baicaotang, who is as skilled as spring, and has a natural quality. I heard that she has planted many flowers from the Southland in her home garden. It’s more than that. If you visit her there, you may gain something..."

He raised his head and smiled at Zhan Zhao, and said, "Speaking of which, Master Zhan is an old acquaintance in her family, so she must be ready to respond to your requests."

Zhan Zhao wondered, "There is such a strange person hidden in the city of Tokyo. Who is it?"

Wang Shouren nodded and smiled, "Miss Yan Xiang, Yan Rusi."

Now in the court, under Prime Minister Lu Yijian, is Deputy Prime Minister Yan Shu.He has been famous in the village as a prodigy since he was a child. Before the imperial examination at the age of 14, he was amazingly talented.

The moon in the pear blossom courtyard and the light breeze in the catkin pond are the eternal quatrains in his pen, and also a portrayal of his leisurely and leisurely travels throughout his life.

It was early summer, the pear blossoms fell early, the young fruit hung on the branches, the catkins flew all over, the fish shadow crossed the pond, and the courtyard of the prime minister's mansion was full of prosperity and gentleness.

At this moment, Qingcheng is sitting in the flower hall of Xiangfu.She looked around, remembering Liu Yong's public humiliation in this mansion in the past, feeling a little uneasy in her heart, she glanced lightly at Zhan Zhao beside her: "Unexpectedly, you are so familiar with Prime Minister Yan's mansion, so you just come here today, No advance notice."

Zhan Zhao didn't know what she was thinking, but just smiled and said, "My master and Mr. Yan are close relatives, so I have a lot of contacts with the Prime Minister's mansion, and I have met the fourth lady a few times. You are in a hurry. When you are in power, you have no choice but to do so."

Before Qingcheng could answer, she saw a little maid walking in from outside the hall, and she gave her a salute: "Master Zhan, fourth miss is here to welcome you."

It was so easy for Qingcheng to see Zhan Zhao and ask to see the female relatives in the mansion, knowing that his words just now were true.

The two of them got up, followed the servant girl through the corridors, and came to a courtyard in the back house.However, under the shade of beautiful trees in the court, strange flowers are born, strange grasses are overgrown, and the magic method is natural, which makes people feel refined at first sight.

Qingcheng took a look and saw that there were no mandala flowers among the flowers and plants in the garden, and felt quite disappointed.But now that he has come, according to the etiquette, he still has to meet the master.

The servant girl led Zhan Zhao Qingcheng and the two into the main hall, a young girl stood in the hall to greet him, when she saw Zhan Zhao coming in, she put on a bow and said with a smile: "Long time no see, Master Zhan, how have you been?"

Zhan Zhao quickly returned the salute with a smile, "It's okay. Miss Fourth, are you all right?"

Fourth Miss Yan smiled at Zhan Zhao: "Thank you, Mr. Zhan, for your concern. Although this is not safe, but every summer, this asthma is better."

Qingcheng looked from the side, and saw that although Yan Rusi was the daughter of the prime minister's family, he had no overbearing air, was gentle and gentle, and looked amiable.She was wearing a light blue dress with a white jade hairpin ring, elegant and calm, revealing a dignified demeanor faintly.

Yan Rusi had just heard that Zhan Zhao was visiting with a female guest, this was never before, and he knew that this female guest must have a lot of history.At this moment, he secretly looked at Qingcheng up and down, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.She seemed to want to ask Qingcheng something, but she was afraid of being impolite, so she asked Zhan Zhao: "Master Zhan, this girl, please introduce me to this."

Zhan Zhao said with a smile: "Miss Si, this is Princess Gan Ning. You must have heard her story."

Yan Rusi suddenly said: "It turns out that she is the strange woman in the world who has been passed down in Bianjing these days... I am so lucky to see you today... I greet the princess like this." I bow down.

The case of King Xiangyang has already made Qingcheng a well-known figure in Bianjing City, but she has always lived in seclusion and has not known about it yet.At this moment, after hearing Yan Rusi's words, Qingcheng couldn't help being slightly startled.She is by nature soft and not tough, and seeing Yan Rusi's courtesy, she quickly supported her with her hands: "I am taking the liberty to visit today, so why should Miss Fourth be so polite? I have something to ask, and I should have greeted Miss Fourth."

Yan Rusi stood up and said with a smile, "If the Princess wants anything, just tell Rusi."

Zhan Zhao said in a deep voice: "Miss Si, I heard that you have raised a lot of flowers and trees from the Southland in your mansion, do you know if there are mandala flowers among them?"

Yan Rusi's complexion changed slightly, he was silent for a while, and asked in a low voice: "Why, is the princess looking for this flower?"

Qingcheng's heart was moved, and he said sincerely: "I recently tried out the silkworm silk in my apartment. Now the silkworm cocoon is about to be made, and I am preparing the ingredients for cooking the cocoon. Among them, mandala flowers are indispensable. I have visited all over the city of Tokyo. But I found nothing, so I had to ask Fourth Miss for advice."

Just as Yan Rusi was about to answer, a servant and two maids came in from the courtyard.The maid was all smiles, and when she saw that there was a visitor in Yan Rusi's room, she greeted Zhan Zhao and Qingcheng first, and then whispered to Yan Rusi: "Young master's family sent over the Dandanhong today, and the second lady has arranged to go back. Fish chopsticks, please take a look at the fourth lady and send it to my uncle's house."

Yan Rusi remained silent, but the servant girl beside her who had led Zhao and Qingcheng in just now frowned, and said, "You haven't made an appointment with Miss, what kind of son-in-law are you? This Wang family is too impatient... ..."

Yan Rusi frowned and said: "Cuiqiao, there are guests here, why are you so unruly?" She spoke softly, and although the maid named Cuiqiao still had a look of displeasure on her face, she still lowered her head, No more words.

Cuiqiao robbed the maid, her complexion changed, she couldn't talk much because Yan Rusi was in front, so she just asked the two maids behind her to carry things forward.However, each servant girl was holding an arm-thin delicate jade bottle in her arms, filled with clear water, and there were four red carps swimming leisurely inside, and a pair of rosewood chopsticks were inserted in each bottle.

In the Song Dynasty, whenever there was a marriage, after the exchange of stickers, the man's family would put a wine bottle in a string, put eight big flowers on it, and wrap it around with bonuses, called "Paidanhong", and give it to the woman's family, who would give it to the woman's family as a gift. Two bottles of fresh water, three to five pieces of live fish, and a pair of chopsticks, put them in the original wine bottle and send them back, which are called "returning fish chopsticks".Soon thereafter, it was the ceremony of engagement.

Yan Rusi glanced at the two jade vases lightly: "It's getting late, you all go and return the gift."

The maid and the two servant girls bowed and retreated.Zhan Zhao smiled and said to Yan Rusi: "That day Zhan heard Master Bao mentioning that Miss Fourth and Second Young Master Wang are about to get married, but he hasn't had the chance to congratulate Miss Fourth..."

Yan Rusi lowered his eyes, was silent for a while, turned around, and said slowly: "Master Zhan and the princess are looking for the mandala flower, please follow me."

Zhan Zhao and Qingcheng followed Yan Rusi through the flower hall and into the backyard.But in the small backyard, there are no flowers or trees, but more than ten one-foot-high flowers are planted along the wall.

Qingcheng's eyes lit up, and she showed her face: "Mandala, it's really not easy to find you..."

Zhan Zhao turned his eyes and saw that the stem of the flower was like jasper, not a single leaf was visible, the flowers were rendered like thousands of silks, and the jade gathered frost, it was not like the grass and trees in the world.

Yan Rusi cast his eyes on this field of flowers, and after a while, he turned around and said, "Cuiqiao, go and get the scissors, and pick all these flowers and give them to the princess."

As soon as these words came out, all three of Cuiqiao Qingcheng Zhanzhao were shocked.Qingcheng was moved and said: "Miss Si, how can I be worthy of such a generous gift?"

Yan Rusi smiled, and said lightly: "Princess, you don't have to be polite. These flowers are meaningless to Ru Si now. Facing them, it only adds a lot of trouble. The princess took them away, which really helped Ru Si busy."

Qingcheng hesitated in his heart, looked at Zhan Zhao, and saw that he also had a puzzled look on his face.

Yan Rusi said indifferently: "I heard people say that this mandala is quite different. Flowers fall and leaves grow, and leaves fall and grow flowers. Life and life are wrong, and flowers and leaves will never be destined. I didn't believe it, so I tried to plant it. Who knows In the past three years, the flowers and leaves have been separated by fate..."

Qingcheng was touched by her, and remained silent for a long time, saying: "So, respect is worse than obedience. I owe Miss Fourth this kind of love, and I will definitely repay it in the future."

While they were talking, another maid came out from the hall, saying that Prime Minister Yan had returned to the mansion. He heard that Zhan Zhao was coming to the mansion, so please meet him.Zhan Zhao glanced at Qing Cheng, saw that she shook her head slightly at him, and said to Yan Rusi: "Miss Si, Zhan is going to meet the Prime Minister right now, can the princess wait with you for a while?"

Yan Rusi smiled faintly, and nodded to Zhan Zhao.Zhan Zhao followed the maid directly.

Cuiqiao withdrew and walked into the hall, thinking she was going to pick up the scissors for picking flowers.For a while, only Yan Rusi and Qingcheng were left in the backyard.

Yan Rusi glanced at Qingcheng again, and suddenly said: "There is something like this, I wonder if the princess can recognize it?"

Qingcheng's heart moved, seeing Yan Rusi took out a piece of paper from his arms and handed it to him, he stretched out his hand to take it and opened it.

The plain paper is like snow, and the ink is still fresh. Dozens of forage names are written in sequence.Qingcheng only glanced at it, was surprised and lost her voice, and blurted out: "This... how could this happen?..."

Yan Rusi took a step forward, excited: "What is written on this note is the dyeing method of Tianshuibi, isn't it?... The color of your dyed clothes is this Tianshuibi, isn't it?" Seeing Qingcheng's clothes, he had already guessed eight or nine times in his heart, but now seeing the expression on her face, he knew that what he expected was true.

Qingcheng raised her head, frowned and said, "This...this dyeing recipe was originally written to Bai Yutang by me a few days ago...how did it get into your hands, Fourth Miss?"

Yan Rusi's body trembled, and he said in a trembling voice, "It really is him..."

Her eyes were shining brightly, with tears in her eyes, she stepped forward and held Qingcheng's hand.

The ten fingers are slender, but they are held so tightly, as if they have exhausted their last ounce of strength, wanting to grasp the impermanence of life.

Feelings and thoughts pass by, the world is vast, and you are looking for it with one heart.

"Tell me, where is he?"

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