Evening Shaohua in the Red House

In the early morning of this day, Li Shouzhong packed up, changed into the clothes for meeting the guests, and took a book of Zhenlong chess, and went to Gu's mansion.

The chief housekeeper, Gu Zhong, had already received his master's order to wait for him at the Yimen Gate. When he saw Li Shouzhong, he hurriedly saluted and said respectfully, "Master has been waiting for a long time, please come with me."

As the saying goes, the seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister's door, even though the other party is only the steward of the Gu family, Li Shouzhong did not dare to neglect, said his trouble, and Fang followed Gu Zhong to the study.

It is said to be a study room, but it is actually a small courtyard, small and exquisite, with about a dozen houses, complete with front hall and back room, and three main rooms. The inscription on the plaque reads "Yimengzhai".

Li Shouzhong guessed that this name probably came from the allusion of Huang Liang's dream eventually becoming empty, but why did the good study room choose such an unlucky name?

As he was thinking about it, he saw a handsome scribe coming out to welcome him, he said with a smile: "Brother Yichen, I haven't seen you since that day, I haven't seen you for many years, are you all right?"

Yichen is Li Shouzhong's epigraph.

Li Shouzhong saluted hurriedly, and said: "Thank you for your concern, my lord, everything is fine, my lord."

Although Gu Yan had never been an official in the court, he was conferred the title of Prince Taishi by Emperor Yongyuan in his early years. Although it was a false position, he was still a first-rank official in the court.

Gu Yan is natural and unrestrained, quite like the style of Wei and Jin. He dislikes these red tapes in the officialdom the most. Hearing this, he smiled and said: "What's 'adult' and not 'adult'? If you call me like that, I'm going to serve tea to see off the guests, I'm a little older, so I ask you to call you a good brother, if the righteous minister doesn't mind it, he can just call you Biao."

Li Shouzhong also knew Gu Yan's temperament, so he immediately changed his name to Gu Yan's name, and while speaking, he looked at it quietly, and saw that although Gu Yan had a little silver on his temples, his appearance looked like he was only in his early forties, and he was still refined and reserved. , without losing the old style, couldn't help sighing: "I haven't seen you for many years, brother Jingchu has not changed much, and the style is the same as before."

He is now in the year of knowing his destiny. Due to the cumbersome official duties, his temples have already turned gray and his teeth have become loose. Gu Yan is fifty-four this year, so he is four or five years older than him, but he looks more than ten years younger. .

Gu Yan couldn't help smiling when he heard the words, and said with a smile: "The righteous minister is absurdly praised. Brother Yu has traveled the world with his arms folded, and he doesn't care about ordinary customs. Naturally, he is no more troublesome than the righteous minister's case."

During the conversation, they moved to an open hall, and the two sat down as guests and hosts, and then an old servant in Tsing Yi brought hot tea.

Li Shouzhong picked up the teacup, gently flicked the tea foam, and carefully looked at it. This open room is probably dedicated to Gu Yan.

As a place for receiving guests, there are green bamboos on all sides outside the hall, which surrounds the open hall, which is very elegant.

There are several calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall in the hall, some are original works by famous artists, and there are also Gu Yan's handwriting. The tables and tables and couch in the room are also made of green bamboo, quiet and elegant, a little more simple and elegant than red sandalwood pear.

Gu Yan made a gesture of invitation, and said with a smile: "This is the spring tea I picked in southern Fujian last year. I learned some methods of frying tea from the master, and I made it by myself. Although it is not as good as the ones on the market. Tea, but you can barely drink it, Yichen should also taste it."

Li Shouzhong cut off the tea foam with the tea lid, took a sip, and felt a bit bitter at first, but then his tongue became sweet, with a delicate fragrance and a long aftertaste, he couldn't help nodding and said: "Although the taste is bitter, the aftertaste is sweet , really good tea."

Gu Yan felt a sense of confidant when he heard the words, he laughed and said: "Finally someone knows the tea, my disciples still think this tea is not good, I really should ask them to come and listen."

After joking for a while, Li Shouzhong said: "Thanks to Brother Jingchu's help, I was able to successfully participate in the Grand Competition. I originally said that I would come to pay my respects, but unexpectedly there was a sudden change at home, and I was seriously ill first. My brother served soup and medicine, and waited for everything. After it was over, I found out that brother Jingchu had gone south, and I was really ashamed."

After finishing speaking, he took out the volume of Zhenlong chess book in his sleeve, and said: "The volume of poem manuscript borrowed by brother Jingchu was accidentally lost. "

It turned out that Li Shouzhong met Gu Yan by chance when he was in the spring. At that time, Li Shouzhong studied hard for days and was too nervous. He suddenly passed out before entering the examination room. It was Gu Yan who helped him find a doctor for diagnosis and treatment, so he was able to catch up with the exam.

The two have known each other since then. Li Shouzhong had heard of Gu Yan's name a long time ago, and admired him very much. At that time, he borrowed Gu Yan's manuscript to pay his respects, but it was accidentally stolen, and then there was a sudden change. , Gu's family was confiscated, and Gu Yan went back to the south overnight. Li Shouzhong didn't know about it until Gu Yan was nowhere to be seen because his father was seriously ill.

Thinking of the events of that year, Gu Yan was also quite emotional for a while, and sighed: "The events of that year were erroneous, and no one expected that it would end like that." He spoke indirectly through the chess record in Li Shouzhong's hand, and when he opened it, he couldn't help but Startled, then shook his head and smiled: "My poems are just scribbles, random writing, not worth anything, but this volume of Zhenlong chess book is an extremely rare copy, I can't accept it."

Li Shouzhong heard the words and said: "This chess record was originally obtained by my grandfather by accident, and it has been kept in the library, and no one cares about it, but it is far inferior to Brother Jingchu's poem manuscript.

precious. "

Back then, Gu Yan was known as "the master of both calligraphy and painting". He was the best in the world in terms of appearance and style. Even the late emperor praised him, but Gu Yan's calligraphy was rarely circulated outside. I don't know how many people have been seeking calligraphy and painting over the years, but they got nothing. It is no exaggeration to say that Yan's calligraphy is worth a fortune in the market, and the preciousness of that poem manuscript is self-evident.

Gu Yan is unwilling to take advantage of this. The Gu family has been in the family for hundreds of years and has a deep foundation. Although it was confiscated back then, their house was intact and many ancient books were kept. It's just that he has always been obsessed with chess. There are quite a few out-of-print chess books, but they are not as good as this volume in my hand. After all, I was a little bit reluctant. After thinking about it, I said: "Well, let me borrow this Zhenlong chess book for a few days, and return it as the original after copying it."

Li Shouzhong knew his temper, and seeing that he was determined not to accept him, he had no choice but to let it go.

Only then did Gu Yan become happy. Ever since he got older, he acted more and more like a child. Seeing Lie Xinxi at this moment, he immediately opened the game record and started playing with Li Shouzhong.

The two played chess while gossiping, or discussing poetry and books, or talking about classics and history, and they were quite harmonious for a while.

The old servant served hot tea again and went down quietly.

When the Gu family went to the room, Mrs. Gu was chatting and laughing with her niece, and there were a group of maids standing in the room.

Mrs. Gu glanced at the chime clock on the wall, smiled at Yan Hui who was beside her, and said, "Zhan'er and Yan'er should be back soon, let them go together for a while, it's rare for you to come here today, I just had lunch here before going back, coincidentally this morning Zhuangzi sent a lot of roe deer and pheasants over, and I have already ordered the kitchen to make your favorite paoxia offering."

Yan Hui agreed when she heard the words, and said with a smile: "Then I'll miss out on Auntie's good food, and I'll have to eat my fill in a while, so don't be reluctant Auntie."

Mrs. Gu laughed and scolded: "You are the mother of two children, and you are not ashamed to be naughty and gluttonous like a child."

Yan Hui giggled when she heard the words, stepped forward and put her arms around Mrs. Gu's arm and said with a smile: "Even if I am 80 years old, I am still a child in front of my aunt."

Mrs. Gu couldn't help but patted the back of her hand lightly, and said with a smile, "You girl."

Yan Hui hugged Mrs. Gu's arm and refused to let go, saying: "Auntie really won't go back to Jiangnan this time? Don't coax me like before."

Mrs. Gu sighed slightly when she heard the words, stroked her hair gently, and said: "Don't worry, I really won't go back this time, your aunt is getting old, although it's sad in Beijing, but it's him after all." The place where we were born and raised should now return to our roots.

"

Yan Hui breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "That's good. I have long said that living in Beijing is good. Zhan'er's education is cheap. I can also be more filial to you and your elders."

It turned out that Mrs. Gu's maiden name was Yan, and she and Yan Hui's father were brothers and sisters of the same mother. Yan Hui's mother died young, and she was not close to her stepmother. She spent most of her childhood in Gu's house.

Mrs. Gu also felt sorry for her niece who lost her mother since she was a child. Although she was loved by her father, she was living under the hands of her stepmother.

It's just that later Yan Hui left the pavilion and was released with her husband. Gu Yan and his wife first traveled around, and then settled in Jiangnan. The two sides have not seen each other for many years.

Mrs. Gu knew what she was thinking, and wanted to comfort her, when she suddenly heard a message from the girl outside: "Brother Zhan and Master Biao are back."

While speaking, the girl had already pulled up the red silk curtain, and saw two extremely handsome young masters walking in.

The one on the right is older, wearing a brocade gown with indigo flowers, sword eyebrows and star eyes, and a nose like a gall, it is Yan Hui's son Jiang Yan.

The one on the left is about twelve or thirteen years old, wearing moon-white arrow sleeves embroidered with Japanese satin and ruyi cloud patterns. He is very handsome, with long eyebrows and eyes like lacquer. He is the young grandson of Gu Yan. , Gu Zhan.

It turned out that Gu Zhan was the son of Gu Yan's second son, who lived with his grandparents only because his parents died.

The Gu family has a clean and upright family style, and it is stipulated that no children can accept concubines until they are forty years old. Therefore, the population of the family is extremely simple. Gu Yan only has one wife, Madam Gu, and no other wives and concubines. Madam Gu has only two sons in her life. The eldest son Gu Feng married Feng Shi. , had a son and a daughter, and now he is the prefect of Changzhou, and his whole family is in office.

The second son, Gu Zhen, and his wife suffered from floods three years ago, and then contracted the epidemic, and both died, leaving only Gu Zhan, the only son.

Gu Yan and his wife felt sorry for their grandson, so they always brought their grandson with them to teach them, and this time they also returned to the capital together.

The two Gu Zhan brothers invited Ann, and sat down next to Mrs. Gu's call.

Mrs. Gu then called the girl beside her and said: "Send someone to the front yard to have a look, and tell my cousin grandma to bring brother Yan to pay her respects, and ask the master if he is free at the moment."

The girl took orders and went.

Not long after, the girl came back and said: "The master is still receiving guests at the moment, and he said that he will not be free for a while, so let Brother Zhan take care of Young Master Biao."

Mrs. Gu nodded when she heard the words: "Understood, send a message to ask the people in the front yard to serve you well, don't neglect the guests." After thinking for a while, she said: "Send someone to the kitchen to order,

Cook a table of wine and food, and prepare for the guests to keep their meals. "

The girl agreed to go.

Yan Hui was a little curious, and said with a smile: "Isn't my aunt the least fond of socializing? It's been more than a hour now? What are the important guests?"

Mrs. Gu shook her head and said: "I only heard that it is an adult surnamed Li from Guozijian. I heard that he is also from Jiangnan. I didn't ask in detail which family it was from."

Yan Hui was startled when she heard the words, Guozijian, surnamed Li, is also from the south of the Yangtze River, could it be Li Wan's father, Li Shouzhong, the Guozijian's sacrificial wine?

The author has something to say: the first update, and the second update around 10:30.

Lizi has read everyone's comments one by one. I really appreciate everyone's support and encouragement. Although this article will never be on the list, as long as everyone is willing to read it, Lizi will write it down seriously.

So far, there are countless humanities in the Red Chamber. Because the characters have the same background, the development of many plots has been restricted. Basically, some plots that can be thought of have been written badly. There is really no room for innovation. Lizi can only try to write as much as possible. Come up with some new ideas, if there is something wrong, or if you have any suggestions, please come forward.

Thanks again, bows!

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