Chapter 74 Chapter Seventy-Four

At this moment, Wang Zongji's mansion was brightly lit and filled with wine.During the banquet, the house was full of guests.The princes, nobles, relatives, well-dressed soldiers, literati, eminent monks and immortals who took refuge in Western Shu all talked and talked happily.Perhaps in Chengdu at this time, only Zhang Lin, who is old and critically ill, is still planning the real way out for Sanchuan with the King of Shu. Wang Zongji was sitting in the chair, greeting the distinguished guests while smiling apologetically.The muscles on his face twitched a few times, and he smiled unnaturally.

Ruyin quietly served behind Wei Zhuang.Being able to meet many talented scholars and poets in Western Shu here filled his heart with peaceful satisfaction.Here, she seems to be just an unknown maid, but she stands tall and graceful on the side of Wei Zhuang, who is well-known all over the world. She feels that there is an inexplicable halo around her slim body. Among the many guests, Zong Bi, Zong Kan and several other high-ranking sons of the Shu king sat at the head.Sitting on the left and the right of Wei Zhuang were poet monks Guanxiu and Meng Yanhui. He met these two people in the south of the Yangtze River, and eventually became the king of Shu together.Sitting directly opposite Wei Zhuang are Zhang Ge, Feng Juan, and Wang Kai.Wei Zhuang was somewhat surprised that Feng Juan could attend such an occasion.Sometimes this misfit old man can't even make excuses for the King of Shu's call.As for Wang Kai, who just came to Chengdu not long ago, Wei Zhuang was not familiar with him.

Wang Zongji never looked away from Wei Zhuang for a moment.Seeing Wei Zhuang's eyes searching around, he said, "Today, everyone is lucky to be able to taste all the fine wines from my three rivers - Zhongchentang, Jinjiangchun, Xiaohuatang, Cimajiu, Zhuyeqing, Zhixiquan, and Qiong. Bo, Dongxi, Xianggui, Yinye, Xianchun, Xiangmi, Fajiao..." Zongji shook his head and counted the names of various wines.The guests present couldn't help but get excited and talked about it one after another.Although Chengdu is now in a peaceful and prosperous age, who doesn’t have a few jars of good wine in their cupboards, but it is indeed a once-in-a-decade opportunity to have so many good wines at one time.Zongji heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that Wei Zhuang had also merged into the harmonious atmosphere.Come to think of it, today's Hongmen Banquet was due to a coincidence...

Not long ago, the King of Shu asked the concubine Xu Yanluo who among the talents in Chengdu could be the number one.Yan Luo smiled and said: "I have little talent and little learning, how dare I criticize the famous talents in Western Shu, but my sister admires Mr. Wei very much." Wang Jian nodded and said: "Wei Duanji's "Qin Fu Yin" is famous all over the world. In Luoyang, many people rushed to pass it on and copy it, which made Luoyang paper expensive. Unfortunately, I don’t know a few of the characters that are so big, and I still don’t know what is so good about this handed down work. I want you to tell me about this "Qin Fu Yin"."

Yan Luo hid her face and laughed aloud, jokingly said: "Your Majesty is with me all day now, and you have plenty of time. If you sincerely ask my concubine for advice, how can you wait until now?" Seeing Wang Jian smiling and not speaking, she stopped After joking, he said solemnly: "My lord, you are really blessed to have such a wonderful person with a heart like Master Wei who is full of beauty. You should spend more time with Master Wei and let him personally tell you about this " Perhaps you will have some unexpected gains from the stories in "Qin Fuyin"..."

When Yan Luo said this, she never expected that the little eunuch beside her would soon tell Wang Zongji about her conversation with the King of Shu. After receiving the secret report, Zongji seemed to have been hit in the head.Wang Zongbi had reminded him long ago that after the death of Li Shitai and Zhang Jie, he no longer had a protective umbrella over his head. If those things were really known by the King of Shu back then, once the old accounts were turned over, it would be a catastrophe for him... Zong Ji peeked at Wei Zhuang, and said fiercely in his heart: Wei Zhuang, it's not that I want to harm you, it's that I have to!

Seeing that Wang Zongji was always staring at him, Wei Zhuang said with a smile, "Why doesn't the Grand Master drink alcohol?" "Oh..." Zong Ji woke up with a start, "It's boring for us to drink like this. In my opinion, how about a drinking order?" Everyone present responded. Zongji pointed at Wang Kai sideways, and presided over: "Wang Sikong has just arrived in Chengdu. I see, so I asked him to make a drinking order. You adults are all talented people. Whoever makes the drinking order first will punish the rest of you with a bottle of wine." Good wine, what do you guys think?" When everyone heard that there was no good wine for the person who gave the wine order, they naturally laughed and agreed.

Seeing that Zongji praised himself, Wang Kai received the order and said, "It is better to obey orders than to be respectful. I gave an order and called it 'one word three times, two things are similar', which made everyone laugh." Guanxiu said: "Since that's the case, please issue an order, Sikong." Wang Kai put down the tea bowl in his hand, and said in a loud voice: "Le Le Le, Leng Tao is like Hu Tuo." Guan Xiu saw that there was not much fun, so he drank tea alone without saying a word.Wei Zhuang smiled contemptuously, and was about to open his mouth to answer the order, but saw Feng Juan on the opposite side who was not looking straight at him, with a self-proclaimed look, and said in a bad mood: This Feng Juan is full of talents, but he just doesn't fit in with the world.You are very arrogant on weekdays, but today I want to see how innovative you can be with this bland drinking order.After thinking about it, he said: "I heard that Mr. Feng is quick-thinking and unconventional. I don't know how to deal with orders?"

Feng Juan laughed, but he was not polite, he opened his mouth and said, "It's already done, donkey dung is like horse dung." There was an uproar all around, and many people laughed up and down.But Feng Juan was the only one who didn't smile, and glanced at these "ordinary people" around with a contemptuous look, and said coldly: "All 'talented scholars', have a drink!" Zongji saw that the atmosphere was lively and everyone's eyes were on Feng Juan, so he lost no time in shouting: "Come here, I will serve you 30 years of Jinjiang spring wine!" The crowd was noisy again.

Then I saw several black-clothed maids holding silver trays and exquisite porcelain pots, pouring wine for everyone present one by one. Thinking of this weird old man who couldn't get along with him for many years, but could become a close friend with Zhou Xiang, Wei Zhuang's attention was focused on this unique Feng Juan, not on the wine at all.The nectar-like fine wine was poured into the wine bottle in front of Wei Zhuang like a clear spring, but it was like drops of blood dripping into the calm lake of the heart, splashing circles of turbid waves. Everyone toasted to each other, Wei Zhuang raised his wine bottle while thinking.But at this moment, Zongji's eyes never left the bottle of wine in Wei Zhuang's hand.Just when Wei Zhuang was about to bring the wine to his mouth, Ru Yin behind him suddenly stretched out a hand, slowly and gently but with an irresistible force, snatched the bottle of wine from Wei Zhuang's hand down.

Zong Ji turned pale with shock, as if he had been stripped naked, he said incoherently: "This...Master Wei, how can you not accept the punishment?" Wei Zhuang was baffled by Ruyin's actions, and seeing Zongji accusing him of avoiding the fine wine, he replied with a smile, "If you are right, you will not be punished", while reaching for the wine bottle in Ruyin's hand.Ruyin picked up the wine bottle and took a step back deftly, and calmly said to Zong Ji who was sitting on the chair: "My lord has already issued a drinking order, but he didn't say it out, so it's not a loss." Zongji's heart was beating wildly, he didn't care about letting the little girl in front of him say what Wei Zhuang was right about, so he scolded: "This Grand Master is entertaining guests, how dare the little girl disturb you?" Wei Zhuang was puzzled by Ru Yin's abnormal behavior, but he didn't want to ask too many questions. He was afraid of offending Zong Ji, so he made a siege and said, "This is my concubine Ji and the niece of Third Master Meng. She doesn't know the rules, so please don't be offended by the Grand Master." .” When Zong Ji heard that this little girl turned out to be Meng Yanhui's niece, he couldn't help being surprised.It is a well-known fact that Meng Yanhui was once the savior of the King of Shu, and now he is the in-law of the King of Shu.Even though he is Wang Jian's eldest adoptive son, he still has to be courteous on this level and dare not offend easily, so he could only prevaricate: "Oh, since that's the case, I offended you just now. It's just that the rules of drinking orders cannot It's broken, Mr. Wei must drink this wine, otherwise my good intentions will be in vain!" Wei Zhuang also felt that what Zongji said was reasonable, and wanted to turn around and blame Ruyin for being unreasonable, but Ruyin raised the wine bottle, glared at Zongji with a look of hostility and contempt, and said coldly "Teacher Wang, I drank this wine for my master!" After finishing speaking, his white arms rose slightly, and he swallowed a bottle full of wine. Zong Ji saw this woman whom he couldn't afford to offend drank the bottle of wine, and his face paled instantly with fright. Wei Zhuang was naturally kept in the dark, and Guan Xiu, who was at the side, had already seen the clues.But when he saw Ruyin, a weak woman, was so impassioned but didn't change her face, he felt admiration in his heart.He closed his eyes, chanted "Amitabha", then stood up and said to Zongji: "The poor monk is a monk, so he cannot drink alcohol, so he will leave like this." After finishing speaking, he stood up and gave Wei Zhuang a message, who was still in doubt. With just one look, he walked away as if no one was there.Seeing this, Wei Zhuang understood a thing or two.He hastily said goodbye to Zongji and the ministers, then led Ruyin and Meng Yanhui who was beside him to leave quickly... Wang Zongji never expected that the perfectly designed plan would be broken in the hands of a woman at the last moment.He admired this woman very much, for Wei Zhuang even disregarding her own safety.At this moment, he no longer cared about how to get rid of Wei Zhuang, the most urgent task right now was how to keep himself safe in this chaotic situation. As soon as Wei Zhuang and his party left Zongji's mansion, Ru Yin, who had already been unable to hold on, suddenly fell into Wei Zhuang's arms, with a line of bright red blood dripping from the corner of her mouth.Wei Zhuang was extremely astonished, and shouted Ruyin's name. Yi Ren's face was pale and his breathing was short of breath.Looking up to see Wei Zhuang's sad eyes, she managed to squeeze out a smile, and said frankly: "Master, that's a turning pot... Ru Yin copied your "Qin Fu Yin" to cause you trouble, if Yin on your behalf..." Before she could finish her sentence, this stunningly talented woman fell heavily into Wei Zhuang's arms... I remember that year under the flowers, late at night.When I first met Xie Niang.The painted curtain on the west side of the water hall hangs down, hand in hand with the dark phase.Melancholy Xiaoying waning moon, farewell.From now on, it is sound-proof and dust-proof.Now they are all strangers, and there is no reason to meet each other. Evening wind and rain, remnants of chrysanthemums drifting away, Yiren has gone, chanting desolate speeches.This loneliness struck, making Wei Zhuang's heart burst into tears.He put down the Xuan pen, and the tip of the pen lay down on the embrace of the rice paper, and the thick ink soaked and swayed leisurely on the paper.The light font is full of affection and language, and it is like the words of an oriole on a string after reading.Perhaps, Ruyin just went to a far away place, to a Qingping world that is still pink and willow green.And he, living in Du Fu's Thatched Cottage, will never see each other again.At this moment, the former love is exchanged for the sorrow of the different journeys; countless beautiful memories can only cut through the fragile heart more cruelly.Now, he has no time to appreciate his masterpieces, and only turns his sadness into self-blame in his heart: If he didn't have the empty title of "Qin Fu Yin Xiucai", how could he invite death, and how could Ruyin be sold out? . Yeah, everything is empty name.For a work that wants to be handed down forever, you have suffered such a catastrophe in this life, Wei Zhuang, why are you bothering?While talking to himself, he dug out all the manuscripts of the long poem, and burned them lightly. Wei Ai wanted to stop, but felt that any dissuasion and comfort would be futile.He saw his brother destroy almost all traces of this long poem handed down one by one.When he saw that Wei Zhuang opened the "Huanhua Ji" he edited and wanted to tear up the text, he said in amazement: "Brother, this collection records your life's writing, how can it be easily burned?" "From now on, there will be no "Qin Fu Yin" in "Huan Hua Ji", and you are not allowed to hang on to "Qin Fu Yin" again. As long as this poem is still there, more disasters will arise. Ru Yin is gone I don't want to see my other relatives suffer because of this poem..." Wei Zhuang turned around, his gaze resting on the exquisitely framed scroll on the wall.He hesitated a little, but he finally made up his mind, took off the scroll, and threw it to the brazier on the side—— The old servant Yang Jin had just stepped into the threshold of the study. Seeing this, he ran over and hugged Wei Zhuang's legs in panic: "Master, you can't do it, you can't do it!" Looking at the elderly Yang Jin, Wei Zhuang Zhuang felt sad for a while.He put down the volume of poems, helped the old servant up, and said, "Why do you have to do this, old brother!" "Master, these are the few ink marks left by Miss Meng, why do you have the heart to burn them?" "If this thing stays in Xishu, it will always be a disaster. I am now an official in the same dynasty as the people mentioned in these poems. "Qin Fu Yin" is still there, and they will not give up... I am a small person. , I only hate my relatives and friends, and even you!" Yang Jin smiled wryly and shook his head: "I have served the master for most of my life with my old bones. How could the master say something that hurt you? You are a bodhisattva with a heart of compassion and compassion, and you are like a brother to me, a lowly servant. In your house For decades, I haven’t suffered a single loss. When I’m old and can’t work, you even rewarded me with gold and silver, and allowed me and my children to return to my hometown for the elderly! No matter how many times my Yang Jin dies, I can’t repay you! I am willing to be You are troubled!" "Brother, how can you say such stupid words. A few days ago, since I promised you to go back to your hometown, you may as well set off in these few days." Old Yang Jin burst into tears, and begged: "Since the master is afraid that this "Qin Fu Yin" will affect the whole family, why don't you let this old slave take it back to his hometown! Although this old slave is illiterate, he knows that this poem is your life's honor! How many people It is because of this poem that I know your name, Master. Besides, this is Miss Meng’s handwriting, and Miss Meng would not want to see it turned into ashes! The old slave’s hometown is far away in Mobei, where it is extremely desolate, No one will ask what is written in this poem. If it is handed over to the old slave, this poem has a home, and it will not be lost after thousands of years!" The old servant's words were so sincere that Wei Zhuang couldn't refuse.He rolled up the scroll with trembling hands, and handed it to Yang Jin: "Okay! Old brother, I will obey you! If after a hundred years, future generations can still read this poem, it is all thanks to my old brother!" He took a step back and gave Yang Jin a deep bow... On the west side of the beautiful Chengdu Plain, there is a place with a long history and picturesque scenery - this is Qiongzhou.The seat of Qiongzhou is Linqiong County. There is a county more than 80 miles southwest of Linqiong County, which is famous for its fire well.The locals used fire wells to smelt iron and boil salt, making this place a gathering place for businessmen from a very early age.As the world settled down, Qiongzhou became a gathering place for local ethnic groups to exchange and exchange. Horse teams coming and going came and went, carrying tea and silk brocade from Shu, some of which were transported to Dali, and some were transported to Tubo.The horses, silverware, and brick tea from Fanwai are also blended here.Soon, it became a larger trade gathering place under the rule of Qiongzhou.Every day, the county is bustling with people, and the criss-crossed bluestone slabs in the city lay out the vicissitudes of life.Caravans marching north to Xishu and south to Dali here stamped out a series of unique scars, uneven depths and unevenness in history accompanied by the rhythmic sound of copper bells... There is a small town more than ten miles north of the county.Here, at this time, the prosperity of the county cannot be found, and the peace and tranquility seem to be isolated from the world. Wang Zongyao, the governor of Qiongzhou, set foot on the road to this small town again on his own.Although, he is a majestic governor in charge of the seven counties, and the one he visited was only a small county magistrate.But after running around and returning several times, he didn't see anyone he wanted to visit.In the world, there are probably very few magistrates with such airs. To the west of the town, there is a single courtyard.Zong Yao dismounted and went to knock on the door.Not long after, the door creaked open.The person who opened the door was a young man under twenty years old, with a face like white jade and bright eyes.Xichuan was originally a place for beauties, but it is not unusual for a young man of seventeen or eighteen to be so handsome. The young man recognized Zong Yao, and hurriedly saluted, saying, "Master Inspector has come from a long way, this junior is rude." Zong Yao suddenly understood that the young man in front of him was none other than Zhou Xiang's eldest son, named Ziming. "Is Mr. Boya at the house?"