[Ancient Sword] Chu Gong Qionghua

A slender wooden box follows the main side.

In this cloudy and rainy weather, the West Market is still bustling. Across the square street, you can hear orchids and huqins laughing at each other, vendors singing and shouting, and the flow of horses and horses like a wave, which makes people feel no chill at all.

Ouyang Yingying also smiled like a spring breeze, bright as a lotus covered with dew, and asked the maidservant sideways: "Can you really ask?"

"Of course." The maidservant holding the wooden box hurriedly said, "After inquiring for a long time, not many people know about it, but those who do know say that he is the best painter in the capital, and he should be regarded as an expert hidden in the city. It will definitely work. "

Ouyang Yingying nodded after hearing this, let the maid lead the way, walked to the depths of the city amidst the wet crowds, turned a few turns and found a yard with a pawn shop open outside, only accepting calligraphy and paintings, no one looked at it With business, all the way to the place can be called ugly, with a faint smell of damp and dust, but it also has a kind of elegant style.

After going up the small narrow stairs, Ouyang Yingying hated this place in her heart and didn't want to move any more. There was a sound of footsteps hurrying over. When she looked up, she saw a young man with a short head.

"My lord, stop, stay." The young man hurriedly saluted again, "Master has a bad temper. He hasn't seen outsiders for many years, and he is afraid of bumping into some of you. Besides, this matter is considered a petty self-assessment. He is afraid that he will be kicked out. Please be accommodating and let the little one pass it on."

Ouyang Yingying glanced at him, snorted softly, and said, "If you're afraid of being kicked out, don't accept this business." Even though she was so blunt, she ordered the maid to give him the wooden box in her bosom.

The young man had been gone for a long time, and the rain stopped for a while. Ouyang Yingying came down from the stairs and waited all the time. Impatiently wandering around, she swung the water from the oiled paper umbrella and said she was going to look for it.When Fang stepped on the stairs, he heard ghostly footsteps. The young man blocked the stairs with a scroll of paintings in his arms.His face was abnormally red, beads of sweat hung down, although his movements were well-behaved, his eyes were full of fear and annoyance.

Ouyang Yingying smiled, and before she could ask, the young man said with a trembling voice: "It's a young man who has no experience, so he let go of the big talk, the master said that the people in this painting are not qualified to be drawn by ordinary people, and the people who made this painting are even more so." He has a superb skill, surpassing him in several lifetimes, not to mention imitating Zhang, even covering the iridescence and water stains, it is also difficult to do, there is probably no second person in the world who can paint."

Ouyang Yingying was not angry when she heard the words, but she was pleasantly surprised for a moment, and asked, "Is this painting so peerless?"

"Even if there is a little damage, it is still a rare treasure." The young man's heart was agitated, and he went down the stairs a few steps before asking, "Which big hand did this? Can you tell me?"

"It was drawn by my elder brother himself. The two of you master and apprentice together are more than a hundred years old, and you are not as good as him, a young man with a weak crown. It's no wonder to you." Ouyang Yingying looked at him coldly, and snorted, " vulgarian."

The young man was already in awe of the painter like a ghost, bowed his hands and said with all his strength, "Dare to ask..."

Ouyang Yingying narrowed her almond eyes, and said in a deep voice: "My brother's status is very high, I have nothing to say." After saying that, she turned around and left.

The maid carefully took the scroll and put it away, and hurriedly followed Ouyang Yingying.

The rain and fog in the downtown area gradually began to rise again, sparrows gathered and scattered, going everywhere, rushing to the excitement, and afraid of people, sometimes you could smell the aroma of bread, which attracted pedestrians, mules and horses to sniff.

Zheng Ji was dressed in the guard uniform of the Eastern Palace, wearing a long knife and hanging a waist badge, standing outside the small pawn shop, no one dared to get close.He already smelled Ouyang Yingying's breath, and a smile appeared, beckoning people to go in.

Ouyang Yingying just picked up the curtain and came to the front, she was taken aback when she saw him, Zheng Ji said politely: "Mr. Ouyang."

"Why did you come here?" Ouyang Yingying felt strange seeing him in official uniform.

Zheng Ji said: "I pressed some things here, and I just came out to do some business today, so I can redeem it by the way."

Ouyang Yingying said oh, and went to the door and waited. The young man came out just now, and took a scroll that was only half a foot long, and asked Zheng Ji to examine it.

Zheng Ji unfolded the painting and took a look. There was only one face in the painting, a face that was almost alive, with crescent eyebrows and cherry lips that were bright but not charming, eyes closed and smiling, peaceful and peaceful, beautiful and weird.It was indeed from the hand of Zheng Ji, he felt indescribably satisfied when he saw it, he smiled more gently, put away the painting, put down his money and left.

The young man sent everyone out and closed the shop.

Ouyang Yingying and Zheng Ji came together, the two talked and went back and forth, Ouyang Yingying also expressed her intention for this trip, and regretted it again.

"The painting is about the one my elder brother loves." Ouyang Yingying sighed again, and said this three times before walking far.

Zheng Ji stopped suddenly, and said without doubt: "Leave it to me, I can make an exact copy, and it will be exactly the same."

Although Ouyang Yingying had a good impression of him, she didn't believe this, and said, "Don't be kidding, the best painters in the capital are not as good as elder brother."

Zheng Ji said with a smile: "The old painter in the pawn shop used to serve in the palace, and he was sick before Taizong ascended the throne."

"Is that so..." Ouyang Yingying looked at Zheng Ji and shook her head. She felt that she was confused, and her whole body became dull, "I can leave it to you to try, there is no other way."

Zheng Ji nodded, then asked: "Ouyang Junyuan came from Jiangnan, and he is not safe in Chang'an, why did he take you with him?"

"Father wanted to marry me off, but I didn't want to, so I came to my elder brother. He has a bad temper, but he loves me the most, and he will definitely let me stay." Ouyang Yingying said with moist eyes, She couldn't help lowering her head and smiling slightly, her warmth was like a soft flower in the early sun, showing her tenderness.

Ouyang Yingying has fallen into her own mood, unable to extricate herself, peeling off all the shells, only the other side that Ouyang Mingri knows, unexpectedly fully revealed.

Zheng Ji smiled and rolled his eyes, and instead of waking her up, he turned around and asked the maid for a painting, and said: "Young Master Ouyang looks tired, hurry up and accompany her back."

This maid was very clever, she had inexplicable doubts in her heart, but she didn't dare to say more, she responded and moved to Ouyang Yingying's side, trying to bring her back to her senses.Zheng Ji has walked away happily with the painting in his arms.

This matter seemed to be forgotten immediately, no one mentioned the painting again, Ouyang went to retreat tomorrow, Murong Ziying had a place in the mansion, and no one told him about it.

As soon as the Zhumen closed, Ouyang Mansion became a paradise, everyone went about their own business, there was little communication inside and outside, it has been winter, until the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, the snow has not yet fallen.

In the red pavilion with clear water, Murong Ziying entertained guests in the pavilion.The lake has been covered with thin ice, and the flowers and trees in the courtyard are all withered, and the dead branches are clustered in the cold wind.

The tea was still hot, and the fragrance was thick. Murong Ziying sat on the couch, watched Zheng Ji approaching, and gave a slight salute.

The two had never met before, so they were still hostile, but Zheng Ji was an acquaintance at this time, with a smile on his face, he came in and cupped his hands and said, "Murong Jun, I see that you really like to learn from Ouyang Taifu. It's really unusual, if you bother me about something today, it's still because of your Taifu, so don't see outsiders."

Being so unreasonable from the very beginning really made Murong Ziying very angry, but intentionally or unintentionally touched his mind, making him suffocate until his face was stained a little red, and finally said indifferently: "If you have something to say, just speak up."

"Then I'll just say it straight." Zheng Ji raised his hand to hide the smile on his lips, looked serious, and said in a clear voice, "I came here on the order of His Royal Highness, Empress Wu is going to send Shangguan Wan'er It was promised to Ouyang Jun, but His Highness did not want to see this happen, so he sent me to ask Ouyang Jun what he meant."

"This...a marriage?!" Murong Ziying was astonished. He had thought a lot, but he never thought that he would help Ouyang Mingri deal with such a matter. He couldn't make his own decisions at all, let alone ask Ouyang Mingri who was in seclusion.

However, Murong Ziying thought about it for a while, and immediately clarified the matter, stood up in deep thought, and said: "Zhaorong must not want to."

"How do you know that he doesn't want to, you can make the decision for him?" Zheng Ji looked at him coldly.

Murong Ziying said: "Zhaorong is the crown prince and grand tutor, how can a student talk about the teacher's marriage, but the teacher will not covet the student's person."

Zheng Ji seemed to have remembered his identity in the East Palace again, and said with a smile: "The Taifu also doesn't want to have any quarrel with His Highness."

"He is extremely arrogant and despises the world. No one can force him." Murong Ziying lowered her eyes, and finally said, "Besides, he already has his own heart."

The two were silent for a while, each with their own thoughts. After a while, Zheng Ji said: "If Empress Wu sends an order, how should I deal with it? This is the purpose of my visit."

"Three years." Murong Ziying smiled slightly, "Zhaorong's purpose in coming to Beijing has been abandoned, and three years is far enough."

Zheng Ji understood, cupped his hands and said: "Let me talk about your Highness, I will take my leave first."

Murong Ziying watched him leave, not wanting that Zheng Ji didn't take two steps, and turned back to ask: "Are you really not out of selfishness?"

"I know you are an infatuated person." Murong Ziying gave him a sideways glance, and said helplessly, "But don't use your heart to save my belly."

"It's really my fault." Zheng Ji smiled, thinking of something, lowered his eyes, turned and left.

In the middle of the twelfth lunar month, Ouyang Mingri was married to Shangguan Wan'er, and the rewards were generous to show his favor. In view of Ouyang Mingri's status and ability, he had to retreat for three years to serve the court. He got engaged first, and then married after three years of special permission.

Under the imperial decree, Jiangnan's Ouyang family and Chang'an's family immediately sent a wedding invitation, and after a bride price, the matter was settled.

Only Ouyang Mingri didn't know that he had a fiancée.

No.30 three times

At the end of the twelfth lunar month, heavy snow covered Chang'an City, and the year was getting stronger. Every day was busy with buying goods, the days were short and the nights were long, and the weather waited for no one. Three hundred drums were played at night.

The chaotic clouds are low in the evening, and the snow dances back to the wind.Zheng Ji sent Ouyang Yingying back home. The two walked very slowly on the snow-covered long street, as if reluctant to move. Occasionally they raised their eyes to meet each other, but they were often silent and stingy with words.

Ouyang Yingying is wearing white thin fur