Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Sun Chuanting Teacher and Student
Liu Rushi quietly walked into Dong Xiaowan's resting room, she wanted to playfully wake up this beautiful sister and her dream.However, Dong Xiaowan did not fall asleep. The joy and emotion of the rest of her life made her so excited that she couldn't sleep all night.Through a few strings of sparse bead curtains hanging under the lintel, Liu Rushi saw Dong Xiaowan standing alone in front of a flower mirror examining her face.Dong Xiaowan was eager to know whether there were fine wrinkles on her face after the catastrophe. She thought that the extreme sorrow and sorrow she was confined in the tower might damage her beautiful skin.In the early years on the Qinhuai River, she had witnessed the astonishing changes of women more than once. There were several sisters who grew old in a few days because of the pain they experienced.She stubbornly believed that this was God's special method to attack women.The face that appeared in the mirror was still perfect, which made her proud and intoxicated.Seeing her smug look, Liu Rushi couldn't help laughing.
Hearing the laughter, Dong Xiaowan was a little shy, but her expression did not change.The ups and downs of her life over the past few years have tempered her expression into a certain way.Liu Rushi could clearly feel her changes. In her coquettish and cheerful smile, there was a fortitude that surpassed love, dependence and tenderness.Liu Rushi hugged her and kissed her forehead and cheek as usual.Dong Xiaowan responded enthusiastically to her intimacy, and felt that her lips were still as warm, soft and full of vitality as they were in Nanjing in the early years.
The two sisters walked into the yard holding hands.A flock of geese flew over their heads, and above the flock of geese was a floating cloud that was blown into fish scales by the autumn wind and drifted to the southeast.Dong Xiaowan looked away from the sky, looked at the dew-stained chrysanthemums, and said, "It's almost mid-autumn again!"
Liu Rushi smiled knowingly, she knew that sister Xiaowan and Mao Pijiang had agreed on a happy date to return to Rugao together.She squeezed Dong Xiaowan's hand hard to express comfort.At this time, a gust of wind blew by, the fallen leaves in the yard rustled, a piece of paper floated up, and flew across the roof with the wind.They both felt cold at the same time.After all, it is autumn, the sky is covered with fallen leaves, and summer skirts can no longer block the chill brought by the changing seasons.
They went back indoors holding hands.Liu Rushi put on a jacket made of scarlet western cloth with a heart, while Dong Xiaowan put on a jacket made of blue cloth embroidered with bright peony flowers.Both of them feel that each other has added a plump charm of an adult woman.
At this time, Qian Muzhai walked into the gate of the courtyard.Liu Rushi recognized him from the sound of footsteps.When he stepped into the room, the two sisters stared at him blankly, and he was stunned by the door, with one foot still outside the door.Seeing the doubts on his old face, the two sisters laughed hahaha.He had no choice but to laugh twice.They both enjoyed this little prank.
Looking at this pair of beauties, Qian Muzhai was filled with an indescribable happiness.
He said: "After breakfast later, let's go see General Yang."
The three sedan chairs parked steadily in front of General Yang's Chinese army tent.A sergeant had already entered the account, General Yang put down the "Sun Tzu's Art of War" in his hand, and walked out of the account with strides.Qian Muzhai, Liu Rushi, and Dong Xiaowan had just stepped off the sedan chair, and the curtain on the sedan chair door was still swaying.Yang Kun came up to greet him, and after seeing the ceremony, everyone stepped into the military tent one by one.The tent is very wide, with two rows of seats, and behind the seats are rows of weapons of various styles.
General Yang asked Mr. Qian Muzhai to sit down first, and ordered the sergeant to move a seat and sit beside him.Liu Rushi and Dong Xiaowan randomly chose seats to sit on the bottom.Behind General Yang, there is a huge "Ming" character written on a large screen.
Wait for the sergeant to make tea.Dong Xiaowan stepped forward, saluted General Yang, and said: "If Xiaowan hadn't been rescued by General Yang this time, I would die."
General Yang was joking with Qian Muzhai. Seeing her like this, he hurriedly got up and bowed his hands to return the salute: "Excuse me, excuse me. As a minister of the court, of course I should do harm to the people. If Miss Wan wants to thank you, please thank the current emperor." Bar."
At this moment, a child's head poked out from behind the screen. He was a little timid, but more curious. The braid on his head was like a black lamp that had been extinguished.Liu Rushi caught a glimpse of him and saw that he was very cute, so she waved to him and signaled him to come over.The child looked at her timidly, then at General Yang, and then retracted his head behind the screen.Voices came from behind the screen.
Dong Xiaowan asked curiously: "General Yang, whose child dares to come and play in this large tent of the Chinese army?"
General Yang replied: "It's my two dogs. They just came here with their mother yesterday. I'm used to staying in the country, but I haven't gotten used to it yet." He called out as he spoke, "Zhen'er, come out quickly, Zhen'er."
Two children timidly walked out from behind the screen, one was about six or seven years old, and the other was about four or five years old.They looked at Liu Rushi and Dong Xiaowan with wide eyes, standing side by side behind General Yang, motionless.
Dong Xiaowan and Liu Rushi both left their seats, ran forward, grabbed one of them, stroked their heads and said, "What a cute little boy. He's really a protégé!" General Yang laughed triumphantly.
Qian Muzhai took a sip of tea, then twirled his sparse beard and asked General Yang, "Where is Mrs. Zun now?"
"It's in the back tent."
"Why don't you introduce me to everyone?"
General Yang smiled and said: "That's exactly what I mean." Then he clapped his hands behind the screen three times as a signal.
A woman about forty years old and wearing rural clothes came out.Dong Xiaowan and Liu Rushi thought that General Yang's status should be matched with a young and beautiful woman.Seeing this scene now, they were a little surprised, they didn't expect the general's wife to be like a servant.Qian Muzhai was also taken aback, but years of official entertainment made him react quickly, and he said in a sweet voice: "General Yang is really lucky to marry such a simple and frugal woman."
General Yang's face turned hot, and he said mischievously: "Brother Qian misunderstood, this is Wu Ma, she is the nanny of two children. My wife is still behind."
Qian Muzhai's face was hot.Liu Rushi glared at his embarrassed face, and murmured in his heart: "Damn old man, don't flatter me if you don't know, you're going to make a fool of yourself!" Qian Muzhai coughed a few times, calmed down, and said: " Ashamed, ashamed, I am blind."
Dong Xiaowan was startled at first, but seeing Qian Muzhai's embarrassment, she couldn't help but pursed her lips and smiled at Liu Rushi, but she didn't laugh out loud.Liu Rushi pinched her waist hard.
The nanny Wu Ma also blushed from embarrassment, knowing that her clothes had embarrassed the master.Normally, General Yang had repeatedly instructed her to pay attention to her image, but she ignored it, and this time she finally complied with his words.She asked General Yang in fear: "What is the master's order? This servant will do it right away."
General Yang made a chest-expanding movement, relaxed for a while, and then said to Wu Ma: "Quickly, madam, please come out."
"Yes, master." Wu Ma responded and left.
After a while, there was a sound of footsteps, and then a coquettish woman turned out from behind the screen.Dong Xiaowan looked at it carefully, but didn't make a sound.The woman was flamboyantly attired and adorned with jingling precious ornaments.She is not a beauty, so she thinks that clothes can bring beauty. In fact, Mama Wu's plain clothes are also deliberately arranged by her, so that she can play the role of a hen to set off the phoenix. The most eye-catching thing about her at the moment is the top of her left ear A large gold earring resembling a bracelet hung from it.Dong Xiaowan knew that this was an extremely vulgar woman, and she was a little surprised, she was too unsuitable for General Yang, but, having said that, maybe the two of them had never met each other when they got married, and it became a fait accompli after they took off the hijab , cannot be changed.
General Yang saw Qian Muzhai, Liu Rushi, and Dong Xiaowan all showing astonishment, mistakenly surprise, but happily introduced: "This is my wife." Liu Rushi and Dong Xiaowan said Wanfu very politely.
After exchanging pleasantries, Dong Xiaowan found that although the lady was dressed vulgarly, her heart was still kind and simple.The contempt that welled up in my heart at the first sight suddenly eased a bit.The three women took their two children to the back tent.General Yang and Qian Muzhai were left chatting in the big tent.
Qian Muzhai praised General Yang's children.General Yang sighed and lay face up in the seat.Qian Muzhai said: "Why is the general sighing so much?"
"This girl came at the wrong time. Now that the country is facing a crisis, you and I, as officials of the imperial court, can't care about our family in vain."
"The current situation is critical! Last year the intruders captured Luoyang and killed King Fu. Yang Sichang, Minister of the Ministry of War, committed suicide by taking poison. Earlier this year, the intruders opened the Fengfu three times. Poor Daming's hundreds of thousands of troops collapsed and even lost the city, Chizhou and counties. Opening the Yellow River, flooding the intruders, just stopped the evil force of the grass thieves, I thought Zuo Liangyu was a generation of generals, but unexpectedly he almost died in the hundreds of miles of trenches where the intruders were, I asked Ying to go north several times, but was not allowed. How can a real man just sit back and watch the crisis and remain indifferent?"
"The general's ambition to serve the country is admirable. I really don't know how the intruders came to be so powerful? Why didn't the court work together to suppress Guanzhong. If the intruders are allowed to nourish the climate in Guanzhong, their power will be even more unstoppable!"
"Your Excellency Qian is bad. I thought the intruders should be idiots who can't be very powerful. After breaking Luoyang, they didn't take Beijing. How empty was the north at that time? The intruders stayed on the insignificant places and shut themselves up. Obviously, it was the result of his guilty conscience. .”
"Li Zicheng is not Liu Bang's talent after all. It is not just anyone who occupies Guanzhong can seek the Central Plains."
"Recently, the emperor has reused General Sun Chuanting as Minister of the Ministry of War. It is really a wise move. There is still hope for the great Ming Dynasty. I heard that General Sun has led troops to suppress Guanzhong, and trespassers are vulnerable."
Qian Muzhai laughed and said, "I heard that General Sun is General Yang's tutor, is it true?"
"General Sun is indeed my teacher. He is truly a rare general."
The two of them talked about state affairs, and their hearts were full of pride.This is even more rare for Qian Muzhai. For a moment, he seemed to have returned to his youthful days when he first entered the officialdom and forgot to play.At that time, he was full of ambitions and wise plans, but he hit a wall everywhere.It wasn't until my heart grew calluses that I realized the mystery.
At this moment, there was a violent drumming in the barracks.General Yang left his seat abruptly and leaned forward.He asked, "Who beat the tent drum?"
After a while, a soldier, covered in dust, rushed into the tent and knelt down to see General Yang.It turned out that it was Shi Kefa who sent the urgent military situation.General Yang took the document, tore off the chicken feathers from the wax seal, and pulled out the letter like a dagger.While drinking tea, Qian Muzhai carefully watched General Yang's face, but when he saw his face turn from red to green and then from green to white, he knew that something terrible had happened, so he put down his teacup and stood up.
General Yang suddenly let out a tiger roar.With a scream, he fell back on the seat.The seat failed to withstand the pressure and tipped sideways to the ground.Qian Muzhai hurriedly went to help him, but he got up from the ground. Qian Muzhai straightened the chair for him and let him sit down.
The letter paper was turned over and over on the ground by the autumn wind blowing in from outside the tent, Qian Muzhai ran up to pick it up.General Yang motioned him to take a look.It turned out that the intruders had broken through Tongguan and approached the Yellow River. General Sun Chuanting died for his country.Sure enough, bad news.
It was not until the afternoon that General Yang suppressed his grief and pulled himself together. He ordered more than a hundred officers and soldiers in the camp to wear sackcloth and filial piety to guard the spirit of General Sun.Qian Muzhai, Liu Rushi, and Dong Xiaowan also obliged to participate in the North Sacrifice Ceremony.Next to the raging fire, Liu Rushi and Dong Xiaowan played a song "Su Wu Shepherds the Sheep" to inspire the fighting spirit of the soldiers.Dong Xiaowan gently pushed the guqin away. She didn't know if it aroused the fighting spirit of the soldiers, but she knew that she was full of passion in her heart, and the imagination of the iron horse Jinge flew through her mind.Just under the cover of night, I filled out a song "Ruan Lang Returns: The Biography of General Sun Crying":
The autumn wind enters the night and the gate is frosty, and the nightmare in the northwest is endless.
The carved bow and iron armor hang from the air, and have no chance to shoot Sirius.
The sword is out of the sheath, the hero is crazy, and he buckles the ring diligently.
The man fights Xiliang with a knife, but the daughter is heartbroken.
A few days later, General Yang decided to kill Huo Hua, one to avenge Dong Xiaowan;However, Huo Hua's crime of robbing Dong Xiaowan was unjustified, not to mention his uncle Tian Hongyu backing him up.General Yang couldn't figure out what to do.
Dong Xiaowan has been living in the barracks for the past few days, teaching two children how to read and write, and also teaching them chess, piano, calligraphy and painting, and doing some needlework with the general's wife. Her skills are highly appreciated by the wife.What moved General Yang the most was the extraordinary masculinity beneath her gentle appearance.This, he felt intuitively.
General Yang's frowning face caught Dong Xiaowan's attention.She noticed that he had been sitting under the lamp for a long time, but he hadn't turned a single page of the military book he was reading. Apparently, he was unable to concentrate on reading because of his heavy mind.
Dong Xiaowan walked gently to the desk, and picked out the overburnt wick.General Yang, who was in a trance, suddenly saw the lights come on, raised his head, and saw Dong Xiaowan standing beside him with a smile.
She inquired: "The general seems to be very worried?"
"It's not because of that nasty Howard. I want to kill him, but the reasons for the case are not complete. What can I do?"
"I have an idea, will the general be willing to listen?"
"Speaking!"
"Huo Hua has done a lot of evil in Suzhou. Why don't you draw up a notice and let the victim come forward to file a complaint. The case is sufficient, and Huo Hua should be severely punished as a matter of course."
"That's a good idea."
The next day, a notice was posted in front of Suzhou Mansion.Suzhou City immediately became a sensation.From morning to night, hundreds of people came to court to file complaints, and the prefect of Suzhou accepted them one by one.Surprisingly, there are more than a dozen life lawsuits among them.
General Yang was overjoyed, and Huo Hua was interrogated that night.Huo Hua didn't know that he met his nemesis this time, so he pressed his fingerprints on the paper without fear, and drew a bet.Seeing his arrogance, General Yang immediately decided to kill him tomorrow.
Just after dawn, the big-footed single mother got up.She walked into the courtyard and looked at the sky anxiously, hoping that it would be noon soon.The tallest silver chrysanthemum in the garden was bent over by too much dew the night before.This flower is Dong Xiaowan's favorite, and Shan's mother always takes good care of it.At this moment, she saw the snow-white flowers drooping to the ground, covered with some wet mud.She folded a few bamboo branches and propped up the flower branches.Dew wet her sleeves.
When she looked up and saw the cold autumn sun shining on the painted eaves of the attic, Xixi hadn't gotten up yet, so she stood in the yard and shouted: "Xixi, Xixi, the sun is drying your ass." There was still no movement upstairs. , she muttered: "Damn girl, more and more sleepy." Shan Ma took a copper basin from the dining table, then went to the stove door to pick up a firewood, and struck the copper basin like a gong. He went straight to the attic and entered Xixi's room.
The blue sky in Xixi's sleep was suddenly covered with dark clouds, and she heard a series of thrilling thunderclaps.She hurriedly escaped from the dream and opened her eyes, only to realize that it was the sound of Shan Ma's copper basin.She covered her ears with the quilt and yelled loudly: "It's so noisy, it's so noisy."
Shan Ma stopped beating, looked at Xi Xi with a smile, and said, "Get up, go to see Huo Hua early today."
When Xixi heard this, she quickly got out of bed and said, "Yes, yes, I almost forgot."
Shan Ma saw that Xixi was sleeping naked, the bright light coming in from the window made her breasts more plump, and there were beads of sweat glistening between her cleavage.Shan Ma said: "It's not decent, don't be ashamed."
Xi Xi sticks out her tongue, and then coquettishly said: "This is called sleepy sleep, so as not to wear out the underwear."
Shan Ma said, "Country people." Then she turned and went downstairs to do her own business.She stopped at the corner of the stairs, trying to figure out why Xixi grew more beautiful.
In fact, Shan Mom has been anxious about her appearance all her life, and she will never understand the meaning of God's ugly appearance for her.According to the theory of reincarnation of life and death advocated by folk alchemists, she infers that she was a pig in her previous life, and she is just reborn in this life. Maybe she can be reborn in the next life, and she also has the hope of becoming a round beauty.
For the people on the streets, every execution is their festival.It was almost noon, and several government servants cleaned the street and sprayed water on the ground.Today's weather is also abnormal, the sun is shining in Suzhou, everyone feels hot, it's a bit like summer.After several yamen servants finished cleaning, a strong executioner sharpened the gleaming ghost-head sword on a big bluestone with a loud noise.People came from all directions, stood still in front of the dotted line drawn with mortar on the ground, surrounded the execution ground, and waited anxiously.
Xixi and Shan Ma trotted all the way, and when they arrived panting, they saw that the dark crowd of people had already surrounded them tightly.The window of the restaurant was also crowded with people.There were even a few people on the roof.The fast-moving child climbed onto the tree and sat motionless on the tree pole.
Xixi and Shan Ma squeezed into the crowd, wanting to get closer, but they had no choice but to squeeze into the outer three floors.They could only see the neck of the person in front of them clearly.After a while, it was impossible for the two of them to squeeze out, so they had to endure all kinds of weird words from the men around them in the crowd, and they didn't know how much vulgarity they would be contaminated by it.Xixi tiptoed a few times but didn't see the execution ground clearly.Shan Ma blamed her and said: "It's you, you told you to eat quickly, but you didn't listen. No, everyone is angry." Xixi retorted: "I told you not to wash the dishes, but you didn't listen. It just happened to delay the time .” The heat in the crowd was unbearable, and both of them were drenched in sweat.
Xixi suddenly felt a burst of hot breath blowing on her neck, a burst of itching.When she looked back, it turned out that a fat man who was shorter than her was opening his mouth wide and raising his eyes high, wanting to see every move of the execution ground, and his breath just reached Xixi's neck.Xixi was a little annoyed, and was about to tell him that even if his eyes were a foot taller, he would not be able to see.Unexpectedly, just as she was about to speak, the strong smell of garlic came out of that mouth, she turned her head hastily, and a burst of nausea made her almost vomit.
Seeing this, Shan Ma felt angry and turned to hate the short and fat man.But she was immediately attracted by another idea.Because the weather was too hot, the short and fat man was bare-chested, and the pair of tits looked like women.Shan Ma couldn't help but take a few more glances.Such a close distance immediately made the short and fat man uneasy. He reached out to wipe the sweat off his chest, and squeezed out embarrassingly.The single mother felt triumphant.But immediately she was also a little flustered, she thought of the man's ugly thing, her face became hot, she hurriedly moved her body to avoid it, and after a while, she realized that it was the handle of an umbrella held by the man behind her.
At this time, a gong sounded.The crowd became agitated, and Xixi and Shan Ma were caught in the crowd and couldn't see anything.But they both knew that the prisoner was being led to the execution ground.The two of them regretted coming here to suffer, but it was the bully Huo Hua who was going to be beheaded at this moment, and their hearts were full of joy.The chatter of the people drowned out the judge's verdict.
Suddenly, the crowd fell silent.It cools like a hot iron when it touches cold water.Xixi and Shan Ma tried their best to look on tiptoe, but Shan Ma didn't see anything.Xixi saw the ghost blade flashing in the sunlight.At the same time, the crowd burst into earth-shattering applause.
Xixi asked a tall man next to him: "Who was chopped off?" She replied: "It seems to be Jing Shangtian."
After the crowd applauded, chatter began.Suddenly, there was a burst of cheerful laughter in the venue.It turned out that a child was unable to stand firmly on the tree and almost slipped down. At this moment, he was hanging on to the trunk with both hands, swinging like a swing.Xixi and Shan Mom also laughed.
The crowd became excited again, and Xixi saw the ghost blade flashing in the sun again.The crowd burst into applause again.This time it was Huo He who killed him.Both of them heard people saying, "Howard is pissing out of fear." "Look, he's dripping in his crotch." After a while, the crowd erupted in applause.Howard must have been decapitated this time.
Xixi and Shan Mom really want to see Huo Hua's dead body on the street.The two of them hated these people for not dispersing for a long time.The crowd chattered, "This kid looks like Fan Kuai."
"This boy is the reincarnation of Hades." Xixi asked the tall man, "Who is like Fan Kuai?" The man said: "That executioner is digging out the prisoner's heart. It's amazing! All three hearts have been dug out. It's a good plate Appetizers."
After a while, the people on the inner three floors did not intend to let go. They knew that as long as they moved, someone would immediately occupy their position.In this way, at the last moment of the onlookers, the onlookers seem to have lost interest in the execution ground, and feel more important to protect their own territory.There was a vague sense of saber-rattling tension in the crowd.Xixi and Shan Ma had to sneak out through the loose gaps in the outer three floors, and finally failed to see the ugly appearance of Huo Hua's dead body on the street.After walking a long distance, the two of them saw an old woman weeping on a street corner, tightly holding a steamed bun with her withered fingers, crying bitterly for not being able to squeeze into the crowd to get a hot-blooded steamed bun for her consumptive son.
From the car window, Dong Xiaowan saw Xixi and Shan Ma coming from another road.In front of Bantang's house, the three of them arrived almost at the same time.Seeing that the person getting out of the sedan chair was her elder sister, Xixi hurried up to support her excitedly. At this time, Shan Ma had already opened the courtyard door.
Three people entered the door.Xixi excitedly talked about the scene of the execution ground. She regretted only seeing the big blade flash three times.Dong Xiaowan comforted her and said: "As long as there is one less harm in Suzhou, it doesn't matter how he died. The important thing is that we remember General Yang and Lord Qian, especially sister Ru."
That next day, Dong Min deliberately brought back some fish and a duck, and bought two jars of pure Huadiao wine. He hadn't enjoyed such a good wine since his family got in debt.The whole family hurried in and out of the kitchen, each cooking their specialty dishes, and a sumptuous dinner was served on the table.By the time of dusk, everyone was drunk.
Early the next morning, several people got up busy, packing up their belongings and utensils.Dong Xiaowan adopted General Yang's suggestion and decided to lead the whole family to Rugao to join Maopijiang.
Dong Xiaowan carefully packed her beloved paintings and calligraphy and some books.She was sitting on the wooden box, stroking her copy of "Huaying Ci" in her hand, and fell into sadness.After all, she loved too bitterly and was too lonely.She even doubted Mao Pijiang's feelings, but she never doubted her own feelings, so she could persevere and live for the love in her heart.Xixi saw sadness and fortitude in her eyes, and she took out "Huaying Ci" from the red silk wrapped in a wooden box, and then solemnly put it in the gap between a pile of calligraphy and painting.Dong Xiaowan thinks that she doesn't cherish her poems, but the tears of lovesickness sprinkled on those pages. Whenever she looks at these tears, she will be proud of her steadfast love.She sighed long, and stroked the jade sticking to her cleavage with her hands through the corset.
Shan Ma, who was binding the porcelain with straw, accidentally caught a glimpse of her movement, and hurriedly came up and asked with concern: "What's the matter? Are you uncomfortable?"
"Nothing, don't guess."
"It's sunny, what's the bad luck?" Xi Xi said to Shan Ma, "Shut your crow's mouth."
Dong Xiaowan said: "Don't worry. If you arrive in Rugao and Mr. Mao refuses to promise the previous agreement, let's leave and go to Yangzhou. With how few of us are there, will we starve to death?"
Shan Ma heard that she had even thought about the way out, knowing that she was not very sure in her heart, she felt sore in her heart, tears rolled in her eyes a few times, and finally couldn't help but flow down.Xixi also wiped away a few tears.
Seeing that the three women were about to howl, suddenly Sha Jiuwan laughed like a silver bell from the courtyard.The three hurriedly held back their tears.Dong Xiaowan ran to the front hall, just in time to meet Sha Yufang's mother and daughter.Dong Xiaowan and Sha Jiuwan laughed a lot.
When she was done tidying up, Shan Ma went to the kitchen to get the cutter head, paper money and joss sticks that she had prepared earlier, and carried them in a basket.Leaving Dong Min at home, the five women went to Aunt Chen's tomb to pay homage.Before leaving, Dong Xiaowan asked Sha Yufang and Sha Jiuwan to come to the grave every Spring Festival and Qingming to worship on their behalf.The parting was imminent, Sha Jiuwan took Dong Xiaowan by his hand, and insisted on keeping Dong Xiaowan, sobbing sadly.
Liu Rushi, Qian Muzhai, and General Yang held a farewell banquet for her in a restaurant in Huqiu.
After drinking for three rounds, General Yang ordered his wife to fetch a box and opened it, which contained three hundred taels of silver.Dong Xiaowan declined repeatedly, but Liu Rushi readily took it and accepted it for her.She just had to say thank you.Afterwards, Qian Muzhai also took out a box and opened it, which contained a box of debt deeds. It turned out that Liu Rushi had helped her pay off all the debts in the past two days.There are still eight hundred taels of silver buried under those debt deeds.Dong Xiaowan took it, only to realize something was wrong, and wanted to decline.This time it was General Yang who stepped forward to block her.Faced with such affectionate help, Dong Xiaowan didn't know what to say, and couldn't help crying.In fact, there is another layer of grievance in her heart, her proud heart can't bear too much sympathy and pity.
Tonight, the moon is setting and the sky is full of frost.Dong Xiaowan and his family boarded a passenger ship and were sandwiched between a group of official ships of General Yang (he was ordered to go to Yangzhou to discuss military affairs with Shi Kefa).When the boat passed Fengqiao, Dong Xiaowan couldn't suppress the alcohol in her belly because of her sadness, so she fell on the side of the boat and vomited.Shan Ma hastily poured cold water on her, but she still stood willfully on the bow of the boat, allowing Yelu to wet the front of her clothes, and reluctantly put on a coat for her.Dong Min, on the other hand, was drunk in the boat and sang a song "Su Wu Herding the Sheep" with his throat open. His singing voice was shattered by the bell of Hanshan Temple.Dong Xiaowan recalled Liu Rushi's sad look just now, and couldn't help crying.She didn't expect to say goodbye to Sister Liu forever. This role model that had been in her heart since childhood was drifting away with the wind, like a sad dream among the reeds.
On the Yangtze River, Dong Xiaowan said goodbye to General Yang.The passenger ship left the fleet, like a lone goose that was left behind, sailed slowly into the Longyou River with full sails, and went upstream.
The next day, after a heavy rain, Dong Xiaowan and Xixi saw many farmers kneeling in the mud beside the cotton fields that had been battered by the heavy rain, crying for the scattered cotton and their one-year hard work .The captain of the boat shook the scull fiercely. He wanted to leave quickly. Sadness is contagious. He was afraid that he would fall into the mood of others.Dong Xiaowan and Xixi also turned their heads and looked down at the river.
In the afternoon of that day, a violent north wind suddenly blew up.The wind carried the autumn rain and set off a huge wave.The boss of the ship and the sailors took great pains to let down the sails, so that the ship that was about to capsize was spared.Dong Xiaowan thought sadly that her precarious life would never end.If there is no maintenance of Mao Pijiang's affection, maybe she will jump into this turbulent river and escape the hell in the world.
It took Dong Min a lot of effort to hire two horse-drawn carts and three bullock-drawn carts from nearby people. The horse-drawn carts were used to ride people, and the bullock carts were used to transport the wooden boxes and bamboo crates.Dong Xiaowan paid the rent of the boat and gave the sailors some broken silver as rewards.After she said goodbye to the boatman, she turned and went ashore. Dong Min and several drivers (one of whom was a woman) loaded the belongings into the car.Dong Xiaowan suddenly worried that the carriage was going too fast and the ox cart could not keep up, so she immediately decided that Dong Min and Shan Ma would take a carriage, herself and Xixi would take an ox cart, and Yun's cart would go in the middle.Everyone rushed to move things from the last ox cart to the vacated carriage.
The convoy headed towards Rugao.Right in front of it was the charming autumn sunset, and the people in the car felt that the light was a bit glaring.When the rosy light dims and night falls, a bright star appears under the western sky, and it is this star that guides the stars to their designated positions and emits light all over the sky.
The night sky is surprisingly deep blue.Xixi excitedly discovered the vast Milky Way, "I haven't looked up to the sky for a long time, I almost forgot the beautiful stars".Xixi said.Dong Xiaowan pointed to the Milky Way and said, "The Milky Way is like a road." The woman driving the car whipped a whip in the air at this moment, as if to drive away the sky and make the Milky Way clearer. She turned her head slightly and said to Dong Xiaowan and Xixi: " The way in the sky is the same as in the world." Dong Xiaowan felt that her words contained something mysterious like fate, but she couldn't answer what it was.So I just kept silent.The wheels of the bullock cart rolled over gravel, mud and standing water.They all saw that the stagnant water duplicated a small piece of the starry sky.
The streets of Rugao in the middle of the night are deserted. If it weren’t for the string of red lanterns hanging in front of the inn, the dark and low wooden houses on the street would make people feel that this is a village.A few birds in the shadow of the tree were startled by the sound of the wheels.They knocked on the door of the inn, and the inn received them warmly.Those cars rode home in the dark, and the driver felt that the money made them excited. Some refugees from the north who slept on the street stared at them with weird eyes, full of longing for a peaceful life.
The next day, after breakfast, Dong Xiaowan and Xixi put on light makeup and headed to Maofu.
The moment she stepped out of the store, a mischievous thought pierced into her mind, like a flash of lightning that made her eyes shine.She took Xixi back to the guest room, found out the old clothes, and the two of them dressed up as refugees.Anyway, during this period of time, due to the successive victories of the intruders in the north, refugees can be seen everywhere in the south of the Yangtze River.She deliberately tried to see if Maofu was snobbish.
The two of them were guided along the way, turned two street corners, and then were guided by a crazy old woman through a deep alley, and on another street, they saw a high wall in front of them.The two of them turned a corner along the wall and arrived in front of the gate of Maofu.
The gate of Maofu doesn't look very imposing, but it has an unconventional charm.
The pair of stone lions in front of the door are small and exquisite, obviously made by famous craftsmen.Dong Xiaowan immediately fell in love with this place.She raised her head and saw the branches of a tall locust tree sticking out of the wall in the yard. The branches were bare and covered with many brown and scorched pods.Perhaps because of her happy mood, many white Sophora japonica flowers appeared in her hallucination.
No matter how confident she is, when she raises her hand and knocks on the door knocker, there will always be a wave of hesitation, worry and uneasiness in her heart.The sound of the door knocker was not loud enough, it was like the begging trill of a beggar.She herself felt wronged.
The door opened with a sharp sound, as if some strange bird had been startled behind it.A maid-like figure stuck out her head and asked, "Who are you looking for?"
Xixi said: "We came from a long way to ask to see Mr. Mao Pijiang Mao. Is he at home?
The maid said: "Young master is not at home, he has been away for two months."
"Where did you go?" Dong Xiaowan asked hastily, she was worried that Pijiang was going to Suzhou, and it would be embarrassing for him to rush to nothing.
"Go to Yueyang to pick up the master. The master has retired and returned home."
"Oh!" Dong Xiaowan's heart sank, feeling lost. "When is he coming home?"
"I can't tell. The longest is one month, and the shortest is ten or twenty days."
"Oh——" Dong Xiaowan sighed."
"Xi Xi asked: "Is Young Madam at home? "
"The young lady is at home."
"We came from a long way," Xixi said, "Can we stay in Maofu for a few days?"
"This..." The maid looked them both up and down again, and said, "You two wait a moment, I will ask the young lady for instructions." As she spoke, the maid concealed the door again and went into the hall.
After a while, the servant girl opened the door again, stood in front of them with a piece of silver in her hand, and said: "Because the master is not at home, the wife dare not make her own decisions, so it is inconvenient to take in refugees, please forgive me. This silver is Madam's wish, please accept it with a smile."
When Dong Xiaowan heard that she was indeed treated as a refugee, she turned around and left.She hated snobbery the most in her life, and the insult she received in an antique shop with Liu Rushi was the most painful mark in her memory, and she could not bear similar situations.Xixi followed for a few steps, then suddenly turned around and said to the maid standing in front of the door: "If Mr. Mao comes back, tell him that Dong Xiaowan has been here."
Dong Xiaowan left Rugao on a cart.When she got back to the inn, she didn't explain to everyone, so she called two carts, packed her luggage and said she was going to Yangzhou.Seeing her complexion, everyone followed her without asking any further questions.In fact, they are the same wherever you go.
After leaving the city gate, she suddenly regretted it.How can you leave in such a hurry?Did Su Yuanfang really hurt herself?At least she herself will not be willing to do so.She called the cart to a halt.Seeing the doubts in her heart, Xixi brought a peeled orange to her lips, and she bit it gently with her teeth knowingly.
Just when the cart stopped, a horse chased up from behind, and the rider was a woman.It was Su Yuanfang.Dong Min just jumped out of the car and urinated on the rut. Seeing a woman coming, he hurriedly stopped halfway through urinating, tied up his trouser belt indiscriminately, and stood by the wheel as if nothing happened, waiting for the woman to ride over.Unexpectedly, Su Yuanfang reined in the horse in front of him, and asked out of breath: "In the carriage is Miss Dong Xiaowan."
Dong Min was startled, and looked up and down at Su Yuanfang.Su Yuanfang felt a heat on his face.
He replied, "Exactly."
Dong Xiaowan heard the question, opened the curtain of the car, stepped out, and stood on the shaft of the car, just standing shoulder to shoulder with Su Yuanfang who was riding a horse.Su Yuanfang's heart trembled slightly: What a beautiful woman.Although she firmly believed in Mao Pijiang's vision, the Dong Xiaowan in front of her was far beyond her imagination.And Dong Xiaowan saw that the person who came was a woman dressed as a wife, so she guessed that she was the young wife Su Yuanfang.After the two looked at each other, they each reported their names.
Dong Xiaowan jumped off the shaft and saluted.Su Yuanfang also got off the horse in a hurry and returned the gift.
Su Yuanfang said: "Why is Miss Dong in such a hurry? If there were many offenses in front of the house just now, I hope you will understand. I really don't know that Miss Dong is here."
Dong Xiaowan said: "I'm ashamed to say, Xiaowan made an apology, it's because Xiaowan didn't report it first."
Su Yuanfang said: "In that case, Miss Wan, please follow me back, Mr. Mao will return home soon."
董小宛心想这样子跟她回去，岂不被她小看，若她只是客套话怎么办。她道：“多谢少夫人好意。小宛此行本是想看望冒公子，实无久留之意。他既不在，诚不敢打扰府上。”
苏元芳也是聪明人，知她对自己还不够放心。当即正色道：“宛姑娘，若不是碰上老爷这件事，辟疆早就到苏州接你去了。如果宛姑娘对我心存疑虑，辟疆之情却不是假。他若归来，知你离去，必苦苦思念，宛姑娘可忍心吗？”
董小宛心里一抖，面色也变了。难道自己不能为冒公子忍辱负重吗？她低下头，陷入沉思，自己可以为他死，何况为他而活呢。她转声对苏元芳说道：“好吧，我等他回来。”
于是，大车又转了方向。苏元芳却不愿骑马，只好由董旻骑着。她拉着董小宛的手，坐在车上。忽然，她呻吟一声，抱着大腿蹲下身来。原来，刚才骑马骑痛了屁股和大腿根，她说她这辈子第二次骑马。董小宛倍受感动。当即由惜惜踩住飘摆的车帘子，苏元芳让董小宛用随身携带的草药涂在破了皮的部位。她的大腿内侧红红的像一片云霞。
马车上破碎的漆露出了木料白亮的色泽，在进城时，它在城墙的阴影中发着光，因而超越了原来的本质，董小宛知道她从童年就熟悉的妓女生活已被改变，她将要过的是一种陌生的被称为幸福的家庭生活。她不知道是不是能够适应它。
马车转了几个弯，朝左一拐。董小宛凭感觉知道不是去冒府，那么，是去哪里呢？她后悔刚才没留意苏元芳和车夫说话。但此刻不管是去什么地方，她都会绝对服从苏元芳的吩咐和安排。马车直接驶到了水绘园。
水绘园是冒府的私家园林，它体现了如皋首富的财力和情趣。这个园林是冒老爷心血来潮弄出来的纪念物，但是，如今它派上了用场，成了冒辟疆的乐土。董小宛踏进那扇圆形的腰门，就深深地喜欢上了它。
董小宛住进了水绘楼。园中早就打扫得干干净净，董小宛和惜惜没费什么功夫便将带来的东西拾掇干净，两间像样的闺房就跃入苏元芳的眼中，她心里佩服董小宛的持家能力。
另外，单妈自觉地去靠厨房处打扫卫间房，董旻则不着急，他叫人端来一壶酒，腰间插上一支竹笛，径直登上一座山，独自一人在那里尽兴地吹他那首古怪的《梅花五弄》。惜惜问他准备把窝安在何处，他朝池塘的对面一指，那里有一间别致的木屋，本是冒老爷当年设想的书房所在。苏元芳专门派四五个仆人来侍服这一家子。
董小宛要洗澡，仆人们马人就给她备好了一个大澡盆和干净的浴巾，以及一块通过特殊处理过的皂角，用来洗身子有一股极自然的香味，这和董小宛的性情很相宜。
苏元芳站在户外，听着屋里的哗哗水声，心里充满了好奇。她有一个隐秘的愿望：极想看看董小宛的裸体。冥冥之中，她怀着嫉妒之情猜想冒辟疆是迷恋她的肉体之后才迷恋她的才干的。苏元芳的愿望膨胀起来，变成了一种类似欲望的焦渴，以及伴随而来的急切之心。屋里的水声挑逗着她，她凭借自己洗澡时的顺序，猜测董小宛正在洗什么部位，她认为女人总是更多地洗那隐秘的部位。
苏元芳忽然察觉自己有些失态，慌忙四下看看是否有人看到自己，还好，园中一切如常，只有假山背后传来的竹笛声，表明董旻还在那里。就在这时，苏元芳看见董小宛洗澡那间屋靠近屋檐的地方开有一扇小窗，小窗旁边挂着一串串红辣椒。更奇妙的是，就在屋角堆着的一堆厚厚的稻草上，摆着一架木梯。苏元芳看看小窗，又看看木梯，立刻找到了某种可以满足自己愿望的联系。好像是谁事先安排似的。
她在扶起梯子之前，大声地说道：“谁把辣椒晒在这里？”
她故意要让董小宛听见，这样，她就可以逃避偷看之嫌。当她将梯子有力地架到窗下，然后蹬上顶端，从窗户朝里看时，董小宛正浑身湿漉漉地站在澡盆中朝她微笑。董元芳也微笑着，董小宛光彩照人的裸体使她震惊。
苏元芳一边看着一边伸手去取那一串串的辣椒。忽然脚下一晃，梯子咔嚓一声断了，苏元芳掉了下去。董小宛看见小窗前那张笑脸伴随一声尖叫往下一沉就消失了，接着她又听见一阵索索的声响。她知道出事了，慌忙叫道：“惜惜，惜惜，快去看看少夫人。”
其实，有惊无险。苏元芳掉在墙边的稻草堆上。惜惜赶到时，她正爬将起来，头上沾满稻草，手里提着一串辣椒。
老夫人从睡梦中惊醒，欠起身来，看着墙上如豆般的灯焰。她再也不能抑制见董小宛一面的念头。她想见识一下这个令儿子神魂颠倒的妓女。自从听说董小宛已到如皋，她就疑心这可能是整个家族前面的祸水，她连续几夜都做恶梦，使她自然地迷信董小宛也许是个不祥之兆。何况，妓女对她来说也是个神秘事情，她一生中只见过三个妓女。
第一个妓女是她八岁那年在家乡见到的，严格地说，她见到的是一具尸体。那具女尸从山塘里被捞上时，赤条条的。
她刚好在山塘边采食桑椹。便凑进一群热闹的村民中，她听人们叽叽喳喳说是山那边一个妓女自杀了。她好奇地问：“妓女是什么呀？”人们都懒得理睬这个小女孩。一个醉鬼蹲下身来，一边用手捏她的腿一边笑嘻嘻说：“妓女就是卖肉的。你想不想卖肉？小姑娘。”她嫌醉鬼的酒气太讨厌，便跑开去，从大人们的空隙处挤进去。那具女尸仰面放在山塘边，浑身水肿，发白，发出一般难闻的气味。有几个村民假装察看死因，故意将女尸的腿大大地分开，人群吃吃吃地笑。这时，她看见女尸的腿间有十几道旧疤痕。乃至到她嫁人之前，她还相信妓女就是割自己的肉卖的女人。
第二个妓女是她嫁给冒老爷一年后，那时她才十五岁。她兴致极高地和冒老爷一起去踏青。在春天绿色的柳丝下的一家茶舍边，她看见一个女人，面上涂满粉，胖乎乎的坐在另一张桌上。喝茶期间，这个女人一直在挑逗冒老爷，他当年二十出头，年轻英俊，又是中了头榜的举人。她发觉他不停地看那个肥女人，她也扭头去看。她看见那个女人右手中指正不停地在左手半握的拳头中穿插，令人联想到晚上熄灯过后的事。她说：“什么鬼女人？”冒老爷假装若无其事地说道：“别理她，肯定是个妓女。”这次事件使她改变了对妓女的看法，她终于觉得妓女是最不要脸的东西。本来她认为女人天生就该伴男人睡觉，她一直疑心妓女这种说法只是一种恶意中伤，她不相信和男人睡觉还可以挣钱。加之，在闺中看过的大量书籍，都将妓女作为美丽的人来写，更增强了她天真质朴的想法。但这次，她向那个女人投去了仇恨的目光，因为她想勾引属于自己的男人。
第三次见到妓女时，她已经老了，对人世间的事大都采取同情的眼光。那是大前年，一位逃难来的陕北女人在如皋成了轰动一时的人物，许多有钱人家为她闹得鸡犬不宁。有一次，老夫人刚巧站在院门边，看见那个女人竟不知羞耻地裸体走过大街，后来听说是有人赌她一百两银子。她说：“世道变了。”便紧锁院门，回到厅中，跪在观音菩萨面前为大明江山祈祷起来。
如今，自己的儿子竟然要娶一个妓女做小老婆，她虽然同意了，内心还是担心。这也是她急于要见董小宛的原因，她认为在未过门以前还来得及反悔，如果董小宛令她恶心的话。
刚好明天是冒府每年庆贺丰收的日子。所以天亮以后，她就叫来苏元芳，告诉她去请董小宛，让她来参加丰收宴和晚上的庆祝仪式。苏元芳遵命而去。
无论董小宛对自己的应酬能力多么自信，但坐在满脸堆笑的婆婆旁边，她依旧感到了巨大的不安。整个下午，老夫人就这么慈祥地笑着，对她很亲切。但她从拜见老夫人起，就察觉婆婆的笑容中有种考验的意味。
虽然她知道，为了取得冒府的人们对自己的信任，自己时时都要面对考验。她也曾私下里演练过，按照自己设想的情景考虑应对，在想象中自己总是得体地、大方地、优雅地、随和地、逐渐地消除了他们对妓女的疑虑看法。她首先要做的就是脱去这层引人闲话的旧壳，让深藏的本质自然表露。同时，她也深深地知道，一个人表现得太好，特别是一个妓女表现得比所有自认清白的人更好，就会引起广泛的嫉妒。这是她内心最大的难题，她找不到一个合适的中庸之路。她觉得此刻的不安会给自己带来损害，会给婆婆一个坏印象，毕竟自己还没有正式过门，这忧虑使她更加不安，她只得幻想冒辟疆突然回家，从而将自己解救出来。现在，自己似乎赤裸裸地呈现在这里，冒府上下的人都在打量她。
她几次想借故去帮忙做事，从而缓解笼罩着自己的巨大不安。但每次她刚开口，老夫人便阻止了她。老夫人看着她，从她轻轻地起伏的胸脯，看出她内心的惶惑。董小宛坐在那里，表面上坚持着平静，但额角依旧渗出了细小的汗珠。老夫人微笑着从衣袖中掏出一方洁净的手帕，朝脸上扇扇风，说道：“真奇怪，深秋的天气还这么热。”一边就用手帕帮董小宛轻拭额角，说道：“瞧你，都出汗了。”董小宛一阵令人不觉的颤栗通过手帕传到老夫人的手指上，然后通过手臂传入她的心，老夫人莫名其妙地感动了。当年在她的侄女出嫁时，同样的动作曾引起同样的感觉。她慈祥地拍拍董小宛的手说道：“别怕，我在这里。”
董小宛感动得想哭。老夫人及时地叫她随便吃水果，并告诉她女人多吃水果，可以让皮肤更加水灵。董小宛当然知道这个说法。她记得有一年夏天，她和李香君在媚香楼，两人都脱得光光地躺在一间房门紧闭的屋子里，全身贴满削薄的西瓜皮，以为可以吸收植物的精华，结果俩人都皮肤过敏，长了许多红疮，半个月没敢应客。董小宛瞧着桌上的桔子、梨子、苹果，还有葡萄干。她本来喜欢吃桔子，但这时却挑选了一枚梨子，这样可以借着慢慢削皮来掩饰自己的不安。她低头慢慢削皮，刀刃在轻轻旋转。但是，她听到一丝秋风中夹杂的人们的窃窃私语，声音极低，但她还是辨出了“秦淮河”三个字，立刻使她一阵颤栗，手中的刀掉到地上。她慌忙低头弯腰去捡，眼泪从心底朝头部猛贯而来。
要不是苏元芳刚好这时走过来，她一定会哭。苏元芳拉着她的手，说道：“宛妹妹，来帮帮我。”老夫人开恩地允准。
董小宛这才暂时摆脱整个下午的极端不安。事后想起，自己都觉得像个没见过世面的闺中姑娘。
冒府一年一度的丰收宴相当排场，即使欠收的年岁，依旧照常举行。董小宛和苏元芳将碗按一桌八套摆完后，已经腰酸背痛了。
院子中有一股浓重的屠宰味，混合着菜肴的气味。到处是站着的人，男人、女人、孩子都采取一样的姿势，因为开饭的时辰快到了，他们都露出一副猴急的样子，准备抢占席位，痛快地吃这顿仅次于过年时的盛宴。
董小宛靠在一扇石磨边喘息，深深体会到冒府的巨大产业的压力，经营这样的产业是不由人松一口气的。她隐约掂出了作为冒家公子的小老婆肩上担子的份量。她有些迷惑了。
开饭的锣声一响，人群潮水般涌入酒席，欢笑声响彻云霄。先入座的，已经在痛快地用筷子敲打碗缘，节奏混乱。饥饿是乱性的，而盛宴往往充满雇工的挑衅和不满，他们认为应该白食三个月，而不仅仅是这一餐。冒府的管家会在今天显露他的优秀才能，一切看似混乱，实际极有秩序。董小宛脑中嗡嗡直响，她本能地受不了这种场面。但是，每位食客都没想到这是他们作为大明朝臣民所食的最后一餐庆丰收宴。
董小宛再次坐到老夫人身边时，下午的不安又回到身上，她不知道老夫人对自己的确切看法。酒菜上桌之后，她只少量地吃了一些食物，对她来说，婆婆对自己的认可才是最主要的。恍惚间，她甚至想好了如果婆婆不能相容，她就要毅然离开如皋，决不给冒公子留下不孝的阴影。整个酒宴过程中，老夫人对董小宛表现出一股热情。但董小宛不敢相信是老夫人对自己有了稳妥的看法，因为热情往往是拒绝的表面现象。她的不安又加重了。
直到吃完饭，董小宛起身欲去帮忙收拾时，老夫人的一句话才解除她一天的隐痛。老夫人一把拉住她，说道：“乖乖地坐着，你是主人，那些是仆人做的事。”这句话使董小宛想哭，全身幸福地放松了。
董小宛听见自己的内心正在噼噼叭叭地作响，那是缠在身上的无形焦虑的硬壳在全面脆裂。当时，她觉得紧张的汗水全流到了下身。她的内裤、内裙、袜子都湿了。她站起身来，凳子上留下两瓣潮湿的屁股印痕。老夫人爱怜地摸摸她。
Thank goodness!总算成功了。
那天晚上的庆典持续到午夜。酒足饭饱的人们聚集到冒府的宽大的晒场上，忘形地痛快一次。晒场上充满粗俗的玩笑和妇女的尖叫，多少怕老婆的人今夜也表现出男子汉的魅力，他们的老婆也知趣地在众人面前满足了他们的虚荣，她们谦卑地忍受着，心里却在盘算回家以后的惩罚。
庆典是在八只大鼓的敲打声中开始的，晒场中间燃起了篝火，火光红红的，象征着来年又有一个丰收。人们没节奏地瞎起哄，谁知道谁在嚷什么？
最有气势的是一百零八人表演的连枷阵。但见宽广的晒场上连枷起起落落，全场响彻着连枷极有节奏地拍打地面声，以及人们痛快而齐整的吆喝。篝火使每一条裸着的臂膀呈现古铜色，更加有力、健壮。洋溢着粗犷和劳动的幸福感。庆典被推向了高潮。
庆典到午夜，人们已经陆陆续续地走了许多，剩下一群不知疲倦的男人，围着两只斗鸡在疯狂地下注。赌博使一切失色。
老夫人兴致极高。她们坐在楼台上自始至终观看着庆典。
当人们已经零零星星散去后，面对空空的晒场，老夫人要听董小宛弹琴。苏元芳奉上冒辟疆的古琴，董小宛满怀喜悦弹了一支《乐府谈花》。老夫人听得眉开眼笑，三十年前她也喜欢弹这支曲子，传说是李后主的作品，叙说了相依为命的幸福。
一曲弹罢，余音还绕梁之际，苏元芳道：“听公子说你诗才过人，我们都想领教宛妹妹才思敏捷的诗艺，何不吟一首呢？”老夫人也随声附合。董小宛推辞不得，说声：“献丑了。”
就在她沉吟之际，丫环拿来了纸笔。也仅仅是拿纸笔的短时间内，董小宛已吟就了一首《七律·无题》：月回眼前无隐物，争看人间贺丰年，锣鼓声轻惊宿鸟，连枷纵高动醉颜，风洒枯枝过如皋，梦绕黄花到衡阳，何处良人吹玉箫，嬉笑渐星人渐远。
董小宛吟了一遍后，老夫人其实没听清楚，也胡乱地叫了“好。”待董小宛抛动红袖将它抄写下来，老夫人才仔细体味一下，立刻匀起了她对夫君和儿子的挂念之情，禁不住流下泪，几个女人受到感染，楼台上唏嘘连声。
那天夜里，董小宛就宿在苏元芳的房中，这是她第一次在真正的冒府过夜，心里有些激动，整夜都睡不稳，梦一个接一个地做。
苏元芳服侍老夫人睡下时，老夫人告诉她：“董小宛挺不错，美得像天女。我观察了一整天，她非常不安，恰好表明她的朴实天性。她不是很淫荡的女人。我只看出一个小毛病，那就是她的坐姿，她喜欢叉开两腿，我认为这是妓女的坏毛病，你找机会巧妙地纠正她。”苏元芳知道小宛嫁入冒府已成定局，一边有些醋意，一边也替小宛高兴。
第二天早上，董小宛睡意朦胧中觉得有人在看自己，猛地睁开眼。苏元芳正看得出神，回避不及，只得红着脸说：“宛妹妹，你真美。”