Chapter 2 Chapter Two Liu Rushi Comments on Plum Blossoms
Fame is easy for a woman who is destined to be famous.Just as for a doomed person, death is easy, even unacceptably easy.Dong Xiaowan couldn't accept her grandfather's death, but this fact happened right in front of her eyes.
One morning, the big-footed single mother prepared a large basin of dirty water, and waited for old man Chen to go to the yard to hang his throat, and then poured the dirty water on the ground so that the whole family would wake up at this time.She plans to splash louder today, and she also wants to laugh more cheerfully today.She waited for a long time behind the door with dirty water, but the only sound in the yard was the chirping of birds.She was extremely disappointed, she poured the dirty water into the gutter silently, and the moment she straightened up, "What happened?" she murmured to herself and went to make breakfast.
Dong Xiaowan finished her dressing in the bedroom, and sat by the window reading "Hua Jian Ci", waiting for the sound of splashing water in the yard before opening the door and going out. This has almost become her habit, and it has become the beginning of every morning.But today is different.She closed the book and came out, something sweet in the fresh morning air.
She knocked lightly on Grandpa's door.The door opened with a strange noise, and slapped the wall like a slap.The light from outside flooded in, and he fell to the ground still in the shape of a door.The light first illuminated an old and thin hand.She saw grandpa fall to the ground.
A shrill cry disturbed the yard.Shan Ma came first, holding a kitchen knife in her hand in a panic.Then came Aunt Chen and Dong Min.Dong Xiaowan was holding her grandfather and crying sadly.Several people were crying, and the crying sounded over the courtyard wall, attracting neighbors.
Some women also cried.
Old man Chen only left behind a guqin.It can also be said that he turned into a guqin and stayed by Dong Xiaowan's side forever.Whenever Xiao Wan sits in front of the window and plays the guqin, the image of her grandfather comes to mind, and the sound of the piano is filled with more sorrows of life from the heart.This emotion is sad.The image of her grandfather riding a donkey through the snow became part of her hallucinations.How many times, she felt that she was riding a donkey through the snow and singing sad songs.
When Dong Xiaowan was thirteen years old, she had her first menstrual cramps, which stained the sheets.She curled up at the corner of the bed in panic, staring at the red patch with extreme shame.The big-footed single mother waited for a long time for her to disappear, so she yelled in the yard.There was no sound in the room.Shan Ma felt that something was wrong, so she rushed to knock on the door, but there was still no sound in the room.Shan Ma was in a hurry and pushed hard, but the door was locked behind the bolt.She didn't care too much, and bumped the door open with her shoulder.After understanding what was going on, he couldn't help laughing, didn't say anything, and went straight to his own business.After a while, Aunt Chen came in smiling and sat by the bed, patted her on the face and said, "Good girl, you are a real woman." Xiao Wan gradually understood what was going on.
When the damp summer wind blows through the alley again to the flowers in the yard, Dong Xiaowan is already a beautiful woman.Her ample breasts, dangling in her clothes, had become the center of attention of the grown men in the neighborhood.When encountering such gazes, she always ducks her head and blushes in a hurry to escape, but those gazes linger as if stuck to her back.Gradually, she was proud of herself and she was confident in her beauty.And confident beauty will become more beautiful.
Beauty brought her joy.
Beauty also brought harassment that she couldn't handle.One evening in that autumn, when the weather was cold, Dong Xiaowan went to the Qinhuai River to look for Dong Min who was fishing.After finding a secluded place, an old man told her that Dong Min was drinking in Huixianlou.It was dark when she returned to the city.
She walked into the restaurant.Those drunkards who guessed their fists, and those diners who stretched out their chopsticks to snatch food suddenly fell silent, and everyone turned their heads to look at the hazy beauty under the light of the lantern.How many times can a woman experience such an amazing scene in her life?Xiaowan was so intoxicated that she didn't even look for her father, and hurriedly turned back to the street.There was a lot of amazement in the restaurant.
It was getting darker.Xiao Wan wanted to go home quickly.A fast horse came running from behind her, and a young man on the horse smiled straight at her.Xiaowan also ignored.But the horse was lying across the front, blocking the way.The young man jumped off his horse, waved his fan, and walked towards Xiaowan anxiously and kindly.She was so frightened that she turned and ran.After running a few steps, a fragrant car in front blocked her way. Looking at the gorgeous fragrant car, she knew that it was some powerful person, so she hurriedly stepped aside to make way.At this moment, the young man behind him chased him up.Dong Xiaowan screamed in fright.The boy laughed and reached out to touch her chest.
"Stop." A woman's voice came from the fragrant car.Immediately, I saw a beautiful woman who still had a beautiful charm emerged from the protruding part of the hanging curtain of the incense car.Dong Xiaowan recognized that it was the famous Liu Rushi.That young master obviously recognized Liu Rushi, his face turned pale with fright, he quickly jumped on his horse and rushed into the darkness.The sound of hooves knocked out a few sparks on the street.Dong Xiaowan came forward to thank him very politely.
Liu Rushi smiled and took Xiao Wan's hand.The Liu Rushi at this moment is no longer the Liu Rushi that Xiao Wan saw in the plum forest a few years ago.She has officially married Mr. Qian Muzhai, the leader of the Jiangnan literary world and the official minister of the Ministry of Rites. Her prestige is even higher than before.Dong Xiaowan was so excited that tears were about to fall, she felt that Liu Rushi's hands were still as soft and warm as they were a few years ago.
When Liu Rushi found out that Xiaowan was actually the beauty she met five years ago when she was appreciating plum blossoms, she firmly believed that today was a coincidence, and the two must have a destiny.Liu Rushi looked at this charming and beautiful person, thinking of her own youth, her love and affection doubled.The two formed an extraordinary friendship ever since.At that time, Dong Xiaowan didn't know that her road to fame had been paved.
Liu Rushi insisted on sending Xiaowan home.For the first time, Dong Xiaowan got into the warm and luxurious car.The coachman threw the whip into the air, and the horse pulled the two beauties forward.The two were still holding hands in the car, talking about many women's topics.
After a few words, Liu Rushi was already happy to have such a younger sister with outstanding temperament.
When holding the lamp, Mrs. Chen didn't see Dong Xiaowan coming back, and she was very anxious. A burst lamp flower accidentally fell on her arm, which made her tremble all over.As Dong Xiaowan became more and more beautiful and outstanding, Aunt Chen's worries became more and more serious, and many worries often made her restless.She is a woman who believes in fate. For her, fate is an object that hangs high above the years. It will fall down and break people's necks at any time.
Aunt Chen went to the gate and looked three times.The last time she simply walked to the corner of the street and looked around, her eyes showing a confused and anxious expression.The big butcher Wang, who was not wary of the street corner, came from behind and touched her buttocks.Aunt Chen was startled, turned around and saw that it was Butcher Wang, and spat on that greasy face.Butcher Wang was about to have a seizure, when he heard a lion's roar from the gate of his house: "Stinky man, what are you doing here?" Butcher Wang stuck out his tongue and replied as he walked, "Here we come."
Aunt Chen ignored it and went back to her house.This time, she just stood at the door and waited. Tired of standing, she sat on the threshold with her head resting on the frame.Gradually, a trace of drowsiness hit his brows, and he fell asleep hazily.She dreamed that a flower was floating along the water, and there were two dewdrops on the petals, shining like human eyes.
The sound of horseshoes approaching from a distance woke her up from her dream like a few raindrops on the tiles.She opened her eyes and saw a fragrant car parked in front of the door.At the raised part of the hanging curtain, a woman's leg stretched out first, and then a mischievous face appeared.A stone fell from Aunt Chen's heart.
"Good girl, mother is very worried."
Dong Xiaowan giggled.Liu Rushi also got out of the car and called out, "Ma'am."
Aunt Chen recognized her, and flatteredly called out: "Miss Liu." She hurriedly stepped forward to support her.After saying a few polite words, Liu Rushi wanted to leave.Dong Xiaowan held her hand reluctantly, Liu Rushi said with a smile: "My good sister, I will come to see you."
When Xiangche turned around the corner and disappeared, Dong Xiaowan was still standing in the icy cold wind, she secretly made up her mind that she would also like to be a woman like Liu Rushi.
I must be famous in Qinhuai like Liu Rushi.she thinks.
Dong Xiaowan was sitting in the yard reading, and Dazuodan's mother brought a plate of pears.This kind of fresh duck pear just shipped by sea fascinated her.She looked at the few brown spots on the light yellow skin, and thought of the backs of those sparrows flying around when her father took her to see the plum blossoms six years ago. The pear in her hand seemed to be alive. fly up.At this time, a girl about her size cautiously stepped over the threshold and came to the yard. She looked around in horror like a sparrow, then walked around a wooden bench across the yard, hesitantly, but still looked towards her. Dong Xiaowan came over.
Xiao Wan was obsessed with her hallucinations and didn't see the girl until the girl called out "sister" timidly, then she looked up from her hallucinations like a water bird that has been diving for too long and suddenly emerged from the water , her eyes were still a little blurred, but she recognized this girl as the girl named Xiaomei.
Xiaomei is a poor girl.In the summer when she was nine years old, her father climbed up the roof with an iron rod to drive away a group of unlucky crows.There was a sudden thunder in the sky, and a ball of lightning flew out from the clouds, and it hit her father's head bright red with a whistling sound.After a scream, his whole body burst into flames, and he rolled off the roof, and the wooden rafters on the roof were also ignited.Xiaomei's mother was drying clothes in the yard when she heard the sound of thunder and everyone was petrified.The flaming body rolled down from the roof was just right on her head, and the two of them fell together and were burned to ashes by the same fire.The fire on the roof was burning hotter and hotter.By the time the neighbors came to put out the fire, the whole yard had turned into a sea of flames.At that time, Xiaomei was fishing for small fish by the Qinhuai River with a few friends. She didn't know that great pain had come.As she stood on the ruins of her dark home and howled loudly, it began to rain heavily.She resisted the sympathetic hand of a neighbor who took her out of the rain.When Xiaomei's uncle appeared with an old oil-paper umbrella, she almost passed out.Uncle threw down the umbrella and hugged her.Under the night, in the twilight, the heavy rain washed the scorched earth of the home, and the uncle walked slowly towards his home with her in his arms.Relying on her uncle's support, Xiaomei gradually grew up.But her aunt was a cruel woman.As time went by, my aunt gradually revealed her hideous face.Xiaomei grew up under abuse.
Today, she was angry with her aunt again, so she ran to the river alone and met Aunt Chen.Aunt Chen asked Xiaomei to go to her home first, and said: "Sister Xiaowan will play with you."
Dong Xiaowan stuffed the pear in Xiaomei's hand.Xiaomei sat down obediently, lowered her head and ate pears silently.At this time, a gust of autumn wind blew over the ridge of the roof, and an elm tree by the right wall of the yard scattered dozens of golden elm leaves along the wind.Seeing that Xiaomei's clothes were bare, Xiao Wan packed up her books and invited her into her boudoir for fear that she would catch a cold.Lighted a piece of wax and taught her to read a Tang poem:
Hua Chanjuan, Fan Chunquan; Everyone Chanjuan, Long Xiaoyan; Prostitute Chanjuan, not Changyan; Yue Chanjuan, so pitiful.
In the middle of the night, Heng'e faces Taiyi, and there is no soul in the world.
When the Han officials were favored but not well-known, Feiyan Jieyu was jealous of each other.
After Xiaowan finished reading, Xiaomei smiled knowingly.Xiaowan felt that the corner of her mouth was not a real smile, but only her childhood happiness.Xiaowan was moved by her sad imagination, and became sad, "Xiaomei, you are really my good sister."
That day, Xiaomei went home very late.Dong Xiaowan suddenly felt bored and panicked, and just wanted to have Xiaomei as a company.
When people are alone, they long for companionship.
The big-footed single mother is almost forty years old.Ever since she became a maid in Mrs. Chen's painting boat, at the beginning, when she was short of manpower, she also withstood a few winds, flowers, snows, moons, and clouds and rains in Wushan.Later, some of the sex workers thought she was too ugly, and privately told Aunt Chen not to let Shan Ma take part in the battle, so as not to hurt Joy.This was heard by Shan Ma, and she herself felt ugly, so she avoided it on her own.Aunt Chen sometimes felt sorry, so she found reasons to give her more rewards.A single mother with big feet is also a woman, after all, she has some desires that she cannot resist.Especially after she abandoned the painting boat and moved to the yard, she didn't feel that she was busy with work during the day, but after turning on the light and going to bed in the middle of the night, she often felt lonely and lonely.Occasionally, she would let out a moan that she had held back for a long time because of her teeth trembling, but she quickly restrained herself.
Finally, Aunt Chen got up in the middle of the night to urinate, and heard a few hummings under the window of the big-footed single mother.I understood what was going on.The next morning, when Mrs. Chen went to the kitchen to help Shan Ma pick up the cups and plates, she suddenly said, "Shan Ma, how about finding a wife for you?"
Shan Ma was already suspicious that Aunt Chen heard her groaning last night, but now her fears were confirmed, a red cloud suddenly appeared on her wrinkled and aged yellow face, and she covered her face with her hands in shame and said: "What kind of wife are you looking for?" When Aunt Chen saw this, she felt both angry and funny. What was angry was that Shan Ma Nuo looked like a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl at an older age, and what was funny was that Shan Ma Nuo was still like a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl. year old girl.
Dong Xiaowan just walked to the door, heard the word "wife", couldn't help laughing, and ran in with a smile to join in the fun:
"Yes, yes, yes, you should find a wife." The big-footed single mother had calmed down at this time, and intentionally bluffed her face and said: "It doesn't matter whether it's big or small. A girl your age should find a partner. "Dong Xiaowan suddenly thought of Xiaomei, and she said: "I just want to find a companion." Aunt Chen and Shan Ma were surprised when they heard what she said, and they only thought that Xiaowan had a lover.The single mother thinks further: what should I do if something happens in this yard?Seeing the two of them in a daze, Dong Xiaowan knew that there was a misunderstanding, so she told her that she wanted to find Xiaomei as a companion.When Aunt Chen heard it, her suspended heart fell. "Hey! Good girl, it's not easy to find Xiaomei as a companion. Today I'll go over and talk about it. Her aunt is really eager for her to go!"
That night, Xiaomei happily came to Dong's house alone with a cloth package.Dong Xiaowan now has a personal maid, as if she has suddenly become a lady of everyone.
It was suddenly cold.Just after a thin snow fell after a cold wave, it fluttered and fluttered, and it flew to the ground and melted.Dong Xiaowan's wish to build a snowman in the yard came to nothing, and she stood in front of the window melancholy.Xiaomei was very interested in combing Xiao Wan's hair. She loved Xiao Wan's shiny black hair very much, but now she lost the interest and just stood behind Xiao Wan with the comb and sighed with her.
There is a small peach tree in the yard, the light red branches have just been covered with a thin layer of snow, a group of birds flew from nowhere and jumped on the branches a few times, the snow shook off, and the peach tree was still the same as before. Tree.Dong Xiaowan felt her hands were a bit cold, so she closed the window and warmed herself on the stove, and asked Xiaomei to read some poems about snow.While reading, Xiaomei suddenly asked: "Why are plum blossoms written in these poems?" Xiaowan also felt strange, but she was embarrassed to say that she didn't understand, so she said: "Plum blossoms are actually women." When she connected plum blossoms with women, she suddenly thought of someone, and unconsciously read out: "Liu Rushi." Xiaomei didn't understand this connection, how did she know that Dong Xiaowan had such a deep memory in her mind.
At this time, Aunt Chen called Dong Xiaowan in the courtyard: "My dear girl, come and see who is watching you."
Xiaowan heard the sound, opened the door and walked into the courtyard.She saw a beautiful red woman standing under the snow and smiling, it was the Liu Rushi she had just thought of.Dong Xiaowan was happy in her heart, and ran forward to hold her velvet-gloved hand in a few steps.She had a secret idea in her heart: maybe this beauty is closely related to her own destiny.
Liu Rushi immediately hugged Xiaowan and said, "Sister, sister misses you so much." Xiaowan saw a snowflake float under the tip of her nose, was blown up by her exhaled Rulan warm air, and slid into her neck after a few ups and downs. , icy cold. "Sister, can you accompany me to Baoyunzhai to choose some calligraphy and paintings?"
Baoyunzhai is the most magnificent shop in Liudu with three floors of attics selling jewelry, antiques, calligraphy and paintings.Amidst the snowflakes, the owner of the store was standing beside a stone lion carved from Yunnan Dali bluestone in front of the door, watching a few men carrying a few boxes of antiques just arrived from the post car.
A blue and white BMW dragged a luxurious car and parked in front of his door, he knew that the money-spender was coming, so he hurriedly stepped forward to greet Liu Rushi and Dong Xiaowan into the shop.
After the two of them were seated, the shop assistant offered tea.While Liu Rushi was chatting with the shop owner, Xiao Wan carefully observed the furnishings in the shop.The shop is antique, and there is a faint fragrance of the old days in the air.The chair she was sitting on was an old mahogany chair carved with exquisite grapes, and the teapot and teacups on the table were blue and white jade porcelain with money painted on them. a feeling of.Xiaowan picked up the teacup, gently opened the lid of the teacup, and a fresh fragrance came to her face.But seeing the green tea in the cup, a few pieces of green tea leaves sink to the bottom of the cup like stretched lips.Can't help praising: "Good tea." The shopkeeper interjected: "This is the famous Dongting Biluochun." Liu Rushi also took a sip of tea from the cup, leaving a light lip mark on the cup.At this moment, Xiaowan was fascinated by the parrots hanging on some carved wooden windows, and she found that one of them had eyes like Xiaomei's.
Liu Rushi patted her on the shoulder, and she turned her head from the hallucination.The owner led them up to the second floor.The upstairs is full of calligraphy and paintings.Liu Rushi read them one by one.At the same time, he explained to Xiaowan the uniqueness of each painting.Xiaowan is intelligent by nature, and immediately grasped some knowledge of tasting calligraphy and painting.Liu Rushi was deeply disappointed after reading all the calligraphy and paintings.Seeing this, the shop owner hurriedly asked the shop assistant to open the box that had just arrived, and send some calligraphy and paintings upstairs.With the light from the flower window, Liu Rushi picked up a painting and spread it on the desk, but saw that the painting was a clump of reeds and a few flying birds. The picture was simple but vivid, and the flying white parts seemed to be full of softness. the spring breeze.Even Dong Xiaowan, who didn't know much about calligraphy and painting, felt refreshed, "It's a good painting." Liu Rushi looked at the inscriptions on the corners of the painting again, and the words were vivid and the strokes were spirited and eclectic.The words in that line read: "The reed shakes Jiangdong's tears in the air." It seems to be a work of a wanderer in troubled times.
Liu Rushi negotiated a price with the shop owner and bought it, casually asking Dong Xiaowan if he wanted it.The owner of the shop winked at Liu Rushi, and Liu Rushi also felt strange, so he went to the other end to talk to him.The shop was not very wide and seemed very quiet, so Dong Xiaowan heard everything the shop owner said to Liu Rushi.Although those words are very light, but to Xiao Wan, every word is like thunder.A series of thunder blasted into her eardrums: "Miss Liu, you are crazy. You actually gave such expensive calligraphy and paintings to your maid, it's a waste of money."
Knowing that he had misunderstood, Liu Rushi hurriedly explained: "She is my younger sister, why do you think she is my maid?"
"I don't know a real person with my dog's eyes. I saw her in shabby clothes, and I thought she was a cheap girl who played with others."
When a woman's self-esteem is hurt, she becomes groggy, angry, and irrational.Dong Xiaowan was furious, her hair twisted a few times like green smoke.She looked at the painting in her hand, tore it into several large pieces with trembling hands, and then threw it on the ground.Liu Rushi hurriedly stepped forward and hugged her, calling out: "Sister, sister, my good sister."
The owner of the shop stood by and regretted the painting: "Tsk tsk tsk, it's worth a lot of money! Auntie."
Until getting into the incense car, Dong Xiaowan was still pouted angrily.Liu Rushi comforted: "People in the world are mortal with naked eyes, they only recognize clothes and don't recognize people. What's more, the shopkeeper is originally from a shopping mall, and he usually values profit over love." Dong Xiaowan hates all businessmen.
"Sister, are you angry with my sister?"
"I'm not angry." Xiao Wanyi turned her head and fell on Liu Rushi's shoulder and cried aggrievedly.
A few snowflakes came in from under the curtain and stuck to their embroidered shoes.The sound of hooves and tears flowed down the long street.
Dong Xiaowan stared at the charcoal fire in the stove with red eyes, and the orange light reflected on her powdered noodles, making her face even redder.And the cold light coming in from the window casts two bright lights on her cheeks, making her skin brighter and more elastic.She wanted to know what Xiaomei was doing in the yard, but instead of opening the door, she walked to the window, dipped her middle finger in some saliva, and poked a hole in a window paper to look out.I saw Xiaomei building a snowman in the yard.In order to make Xiaowan happy and forget the grievances she suffered yesterday, Xiaomei worked very hard and exhausted her imagination to decorate the snowman with many childish decorations.At the other end of the yard, from the kitchen to the gate, there is a bow-like footprint, which was obviously stepped on by Shan Ma.If the footprints were a bow, the shadow cast by the peach tree in the corner of the courtyard would be the arrow on the bow, pointing at Xiaomei's curved back.Xiaowan thought: If that arrow hit Xiaomei, she would definitely fall into a somersault.I couldn't help laughing out loud.
Xiaomei raised her head in surprise when she heard the laughter.Xiao Wan opened the door and walked to her side, took her hand, it was cold from the cold, and her fingers were red like tender carrots.Xiaowan knew that Xiaomei was doing it all for her own sake, so she sighed:
"What a pity my sister." Xiaomei said, "Who is pity?"
"It's a pity for you, and it's a pity for me. It's a pity for both of our lives."
Xiaomei felt sore when she heard it, and wanted to cry.
Xiaowan suddenly had an idea.Leading Xiaomei back to the room, he said seriously, "Sister Xiaomei, how about I give you another name?"
"What kind of crazy idea did you come up with to make fun of me?"
"My sister's life is not good." She thought of yesterday's grievances, and felt sad again, wanting to cry again.Xiaomei hurriedly took a piece of snack from the snack box and stuffed it into her mouth, saying: "Okay, it's up to you, you can call me whatever you want."
Xiaowan pulled her over and hugged her, combed her hair with her fingers, and kissed Xiaomei's chubby cheek with her cherry lips.She said: "Both of us are hard-working people. It's a pity for both of us. May I call you 'Xi Xi'?"
Xiaomei nodded.Gently buried her head in Xiaowan's arms.
Strange to say, since Xiaomei changed her name to Xixi, she seems to be a different person, much more alert than before.It was as if the shadow of pain that had been poured into the soul of the past ages had left her body.After everyone got used to calling her "Xixi", the name Xiaomei was forgotten.
It is not terrible to forget the name of a person, but it is terrible to forget the doom of the country that is going on.At this time, Jiangnan used superficial singing and dancing to cover up the panic of the people.Many people simply fall into tenderness and do not want to wake up.
On the day of the Spring Festival, an unexpected visitor came to Dong Xiaowan's home.This skinny old man in his sixties had just arrived from Beijing, and he smelled of chaotic times all over his body.
As soon as Aunt Chen let him sit down, Xiaowan brought tea, and Xixi brought a plate of rice cakes.His name is Yuan Daozhen, and he has been friends with the old man Chen for many years. This time he left Beijing and made a special trip to Jiangnan to visit his old friend.
Two lines of old tears flowed happily on his face.Xiao Wan and Xi Xi couldn't help shedding a few tears with him.
Old man Yuan is very good at drinking, which Dong Min likes very much.The two set up cups and plates in the hall and drank frequently.Old man Yuan's eyes were red from drinking, obviously a little drunk.Dong Min always didn't like to listen to the nagging about some national affairs, so he gradually fell asleep.
On the contrary, Dong Xiaowan felt a little emotional when she heard those nonsense, she thought of Li Qingzhao.
She sometimes felt that she was Li Qingzhao, singing poems aloud on the way to escape.
At night, Dong Xiaowan dreamed of Beijing.She dreamed that she was dancing in a mansion near the palace. In order not to let the palace hear the sound, she could only lightly tap the eyes of the board with an ivory board, and all the corrupt officials were as fat as they were written in the book. pig.
She was disgusted.Then she flew out of the mansion like a crane, and she saw hundreds of thousands of refugees crowded in every corner of the city in the air. They were trembling, moaning, complaining, and sighing in the biting cold wind.She saw Nurhachi's cavalry, and many Qing soldiers shot her with bows and arrows.She fell to the ground, and two burly men rushed out from the forest, they must be Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong.She yelled for help.
"Help——" Dong Xiaowan screamed and woke up from the dream, sweating profusely all over her body.
Fortunately, Xixi who was next to her quickly turned on the oil lamp, and she was able to regain her composure.Sighing: "How could I dream of a war?"
The next morning, she woke up very early, even earlier than single mother, she found that her father was drunk on the ground, and the old man had disappeared.
In the summer of the twelfth year of Chongzhen, Dong Xiaowan was fifteen years old. She stepped into the world and took the first step in her ever-changing destiny.
As soon as Emperor Chongzhen woke up, he randomly circled around a pile of imperial examination papers, and Xiang Yingtian, the new number one scholar, was born.After kowtowing to Yingtian to thank Long En, he took a beautiful mission and went to the south of the Yangtze River as the imperial envoy of the imperial court.
The arrival of the imperial envoy caused a sensation in the Qinhuai River.Courtesans all know that this is a good opportunity to earn a lot of money.The entire Qinhuai River was almost re-decorated, waiting for Xiang Yingtian's driver.The big and small officials in Liudu worked together, thinking of good strategies, and all wanted to win Yingtian's favor.And there seems to be no good way to make a new champion happy, except for a large group of singing girls on the Qinhuai River.
The six largest painting boats on the Qinhuai River were gathered together and flowed side by side along the river. They were locked on all sides with iron chains, but they were still a little wobbly.Then someone took the yellowed "Popular Romance of the Three Kingdoms" to the boat and presented a series of tricks, laying many wooden planks between the two boats, so that the surface of the boat will be wider, even if there are more than a hundred people jumping and rolling, it will be as smooth as walking on the ground. .This plan is very clever, anyway, he is not Zhou Lang Chibi, and he is not afraid of fire attack.On the contrary, the beauties on the Qinhuai River are like clouds, even better than Zhou Lang's Xiao Qiao.
The tents of the six painting boats were all changed, and ninety-nine and eighty-one happy lanterns were hung along the tents.The lamp stand is specially cut from Xiangfei bamboo transported from Chu, and the cloth wrapping the lamp is embroidered with colorful silk.When the lights are on, the six painted boats are like six golden palaces reflected on the water, and they are even more brilliant.In the cabin, red candles are lit day and night, and the paint is bright and colorful under the candlelight, which is very moving.The floor is covered with bright red painted Persian carpets, there are several sandalwood couches, boxwood railings, and rustic bamboo fences made of mottled bamboo slices, and several paintings of Tang Dynasty are hung in the gaps of several carved windows. An ancient painting from the Song Dynasty.In order to add to the fun of the lovers, some famous erotic pictures were placed under the couches.The six painting boats are hung with brightly colored transparent curtains. When the wind blows, the curtains fly up like a dream and reveal the windows. There are often half-naked women looking out of the windows.This luxurious spectacle alarmed passers-by, seven or eight hundred people gathered on both sides of the river, applauding there.
On the Qinhuai River, whether it was the singing girls from the old courtyard or the prostitutes from Nanqu, they spared no expense to send the famous actors of the headquarters to the boat in full costumes.Liu Rushi was inevitably included in the list, and she even thought of bringing Dong Xiaoyuan to Lulu's skills, maybe she would be famous in Jinling!
Dong Xiaowan played the guqin alone in the yard.A leaf fell on the strings, and she picked it up, but it turned out to be a green leaf, and thought to herself: Why is it such a beautiful time, why is it drifting away?Autumn is still far away.you little leaf.
Dong Xiaowan just passed her fifteenth birthday.Aunt Chen discussed her future livelihood with her on a clear and moonlit night, hoping to rebuild a painting boat on the Qinhuai River and earn more money.Fortunately, her family was born in a brothel for generations, so there is nothing to cover up.It's not that Dong Xiaowan doesn't have a chance to become a good man, but because of his background in a brothel, the people who come to propose marriage are vulgar and mediocre people like butchers and bricklayers, and the noble people don't bother to be humble.Dong Xiaowan thought highly of herself since she was a child, so she became reckless, and regarded the world as a pit of fire and wind and dust as her home.Aunt Chen was busy with arranging and drawing boats, but unfortunately the imperial court sent an imperial envoy to disrupt the order of the Qinhuai River, and Dong Xiaowan's time to come out of the hut to meet guests was put on hold.
Facing a green leaf alone at this moment, she came up with a poem: The green hill bears the leaves, and Liang'e listens to the sound of woodcutters.But I can't figure out who wrote it.Just stood up, ready to look in the book.Xixi ran in from the courtyard gate with a face full of excitement.
"Sister, the Qinhuai River is so lively. I saw Elder Sister Liu Rushi going on the six big painted boats. There are still many fun tricks on the shore, like celebrating the Lantern Festival."
"What kind of tricks are there on the shore?"
"There are people who play monkeys, those who play flute, those who sell wine and vegetables, those who sell cakes, and those who do acrobatics. I don't know where there are so many entertainers."
Alas, craftsmen from four villages and eight wells don't want to earn a few more coins.Xiao Wan thought so.I also regret that I am not qualified to show my face in front of so many people.
Because Liu Rushi has become Master Qian Muzhai's concubine, she is a little unwilling to show her flair in such a lively place because of her husband's face.She was absently drawing her eyebrows in the mirror, and suddenly thought of Dong Xiaowan.Why not take this beautiful and talented sister with you?She thought: If she is by my side, her brilliance will be my brilliance. Although others don't see my romance, they can understand my difficulties, and it can also avoid the bad influence on my husband caused by personally responding to guests.This is exactly the purpose of getting acquainted with the little girl surnamed Dong, and now I can let her appear on the stage.
Liu Rushi was originally a hero among girls, she dared to do what she dared to think.She ordered the coachman to put on the incense cart, and stepped in by herself.
The coachman drew a flower arc in the air with his whip, and called out: "Drive." The blue and white horse walked towards Dong Xiaowan's house with four hooves.
Xi Xi was just about to find time to watch the fun by the Qinhuai River, when she opened the courtyard door, she saw Liu Rushi rolled up her flower sleeves and raised her slender hand to knock on the door.The two looked at each other and smiled.Xixi hurriedly called Liu Rushi to come in, while running to wake up Dong Xiaowan who had just taken a nap.Dong Xiaowan only took pity on being naughty, and just closed his eyes and pretended not to wake up.Liu Rushi was very happy when she saw her reddish and coquettish face, she gently waved her hand to signal Xixi to let her come, Xixi knew to stand aside.Liu Rushi leaned over and kissed Xiao Wan sweetly on the face, and called softly, "Wonderful man."
Xiaowan was startled, turned over and sat up.Seeing that it was Sister Liu, I was overjoyed, and stretched out my arms to wrap around Sister Liu's shoulders.The two almost died laughing with their foreheads against their foreheads.It was as if two pretty butterflies came across the same flowerbed by chance and extended their tentacles to praise each other.
"Good sister, what wind brought you here?"
"My sister misses you and made a special trip to see you."
"I heard that the Qinhuai River is very lively. You are also walking around on that big boat and telling me about the things on the river."
"Actually, the excitement is just the excitement in the eyes of laymen. The good show is yet to come.
All the famous actors on the Qinhuai River were not convinced.I heard that the number one scholar in the new department is also a romantic and handsome man, and the sisters from the capital are telling good stories about him. "
Dong Xiaowan peeled a peach for Liu Rushi.Liu Rushi took it and took a bite, her mouth full of fruity aroma.She continued:
"Good sister, are you interested in joining in the fun? I'll take you there. You are a natural match for his talent and appearance."
Xiaowan's cheeks turned red when she heard that.But Xixi recited another line of poem jokingly beside him: "Lang came on a bamboo horse, and invited me to smell green plums." Liu Rushi smiled from ear to ear.Xiaowan's thoughts were stimulated by the words "childhood sweetheart", and she suddenly flashed the scene of her childhood, thinking of Su Tong, thinking of the brutal beating she suffered, she couldn't help feeling sad, her own background was not worthy of being proud of others!
"My sister is just joking. Xiao Wan is not blessed to enjoy such excitement, and she cannot see big occasions.
I do not dare to go. "
"Silly sister, you can be a queen with your appearance. What are you afraid of? Sister teaches you a trick. You don't know how many people you will meet in your life. Let me tell you, no matter who you meet, you are neither humble nor humble. , I never consider myself inferior in my heart, just sit on an equal footing with him. Remember?"
Dong Xiaowan nodded.At this time, the coachman called out respectfully from outside the room: "Young Madam Liu." Liu Rushi asked disappointedly: "Is there anything important?"
"Just now Master Qian sent someone to urge the young mistress to go home quickly, saying that there is something important to discuss, young mistress, please start quickly."
When Liu Rushi said goodbye, he pressed Dong Xiaowan's shoulder and said, "The imperial envoy will arrive tomorrow. You must go to the big ship tomorrow night. Remember, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Dong Xiaowan readily agreed.Xixi stood behind her, so excited that she wanted to become a thrush and chant on her shoulder.
The next day, everyone in the Dong family was busy.Aunt Chen rummaged through and picked up many jewels, choosing from east to west, always feeling inappropriate.She took a string of beads to the window to look at the sunlight for a while, and then took an opal to the candlelight to illuminate it. The candlelight inlaid a light red brilliance on the gemstone, and a piece of black crystal in the stone shone. It became a thread, she was fascinated by herself, and some past events nourished by the fountain of time were refracted from the jewels like dreams, and she clearly realized that her youth was once like a bright naked body trapped in red silk.When she put down those jewels, she realized that none of them were worthy of her beautiful and precious daughter.
The big-footed single mother puts too much emphasis on this day, as if after today, her life's longing will change into another unspeakable ending.她干什么都特别卖力，可今天什么事都和她闹别扭，连横贯院子那条晾衣绳都要在她经过时断为两截，其中一截在空中抛了个弧线之后竟绕住她的脖子，她只得放下手中用盘子盛着的新鲜糕点去解绳子，不料一脚踩在糕点上，气得她蹲在地上抹了几颗眼泪。
董旻倒很清闲，独自在厅中饮酒，就凭一碟豆腐干和一碟花生米喝得正顺口，偶尔还哼几句十年前的风流曲子。他觉得他的宝贝女儿怎么都是他的宝贝女儿。陈大娘在他身边走进走出，他还觉得扫兴。“忙啥嘛，又不是一去不复返，送哥哥到边关都不是这个样子。真是女人见识。”说罢又哼自己的歌去了，单妈仅仅听清了两句唱词：“……劝君更尽一杯酒，西出阳关无故人……”单妈拍拍身上的灰，骂了句“死没出息”，又自去做她认为应该做的事了。
董小宛睡到日上中午才起来。她想用庸懒的睡眠来压制激动的心情。何况昨夜直到鸡叫三遍才昏昏然睡着呢。惜惜却起得早，她是天快亮时被蚊子咬得无法忍受爬起来的，她拨亮灯盏发现帐子的右上方有一个大洞，蚊子就从那里偷袭而入。她点几支薰蚊的香草方才安下心。早餐之后，她坐在小宛的床边等她醒来。惜惜手里拿了本《易安居士集》假装是在看书。董小宛粗略地梳了妆，用了午饭，便捧出古琴，认认真真地调着每根弦，把音色定在最柔曼的调子上。她有时也停下手中的活儿，托住下巴痴痴地发呆，也不知什么神妙之景吸引着她。一个物件一旦寄托了一个女人博取虚荣的莫大希望，它就不再是它本身，而是这个女人的一部分，就像脸蛋一样珍贵。当董小宛贯注了全部精力将古琴调试完毕后，太阳已经西斜。她在暗红的夕阳的阴影下弹了一曲《回风》，她想到陈圆圆的神奇传闻。院子中果然刮过一阵小风，她欣喜若狂，瞅着一张乐谱纸被旋风吹上了屋顶。
刚用过晚饭，陈大娘、单妈、惜惜就围着董小宛团团转。
忙着给她梳妆打扮。大脚单妈端来一大盆香汤，小宛便在房中沐浴，那优美的肉体曲线把几个女人都震撼了。然后，陈大娘见惜惜擦干了小宛身上的水珠，就从被面中抽出一匹三尺长的红绸，绕着小宛的胸脯缠了几圈。那红绸特意只绕过乳房的下端。这样乳房就更加挺拔动人。陈大娘双手拍拍小宛那对圆滑的乳房说：“这可是女人的宝贝。”几个女人都会意地吃吃笑了起来。然后再穿上绣着荷叶的柔软内衣。最后套上一件八成新的翠绿绸衫，配上碧玉的耳坠子，脚上套上描着金线蝴蝶的绿色鞋面的绣鞋。整个人就亭亭玉立地站在房间中。真是个倾城倾国的小美人。
董小宛用红蓝两色相间的洋布包上古琴，跨出门来。门外的董旻唬得大叫一声“我的妈”，他不相信仙女会飘然来到人间。
当天色微暗，董小宛将娘、单妈和惜惜留在院门内，执意要独自踏上自己的路。夏夜傍晚的风吹过，她昂起头，挺起胸脯，抱着古琴，想象着自己正征服着整条秦淮河。她自信自己的美貌。
她在略带点忧伤的狂喜幻觉中走着。她转过街角，忽然看见王屠夫的老婆走在前面。她觉得有些异样，忙定定神仔细观察，原来这个庸俗的泼妇穿着和自己一样的翠绿衣衫，显然出自同一位裁缝之手。她猛然想起在宝云斋因衣装受辱之事，一下子对自己完全失去了信心，不知道自己这一身普通衣装多么寒碜。她从头到脚都打起寒颤。刚好头顶飞过一只尖叫的乌鸦，她觉得自己就是那倒楣鸟儿的影子。她一转身就朝家里跑。冲进院门，狠命把门关上，仿佛要将自己已经暴露的“丑陋”全部关在门外似的。
家中的几个女人刚回到自己房中，猛听院门发出巨响，都跑出来，却看见董小宛背靠着门坐在门槛上呜呜地哭，古琴斜倚在她的怀中。
大家不知发生了什么变故，问她，她一句话都不说。小宛泪眼汪汪地回到房中，惜惜忙端温水替她擦脸。陈大娘握着她的手却不知该怎么安慰她。过了很久，董小宛才说了刚才的经过。陈大娘一拍大腿说道：“唉呀，我的傻女儿。一千个人穿同一件衣服都是一千个模样。美就是美，丑就是丑。各人靠的姿质取胜，你从哪儿学来那些势利的眼光来品评自己折磨自己呢，我的傻女。”
陈大娘叹了口气接着说：“娘当初从来都不靠衣装取胜，同样在秦淮河上混得过来。”
董小宛听了这话，就在心里想：怪不得你没有陈圆圆、柳如是那么有出息。
董小宛慢慢静下心来，也有点后悔：怎么就被泼妇败了兴致呢。陈大娘还在旁边苦劝：
“乖女，听娘的话，今天还是得去，到了那里有你柳姐姐撑腰呢，就算天塌下来我们也顶它个洞。人得罪啦可以重归于好，机会错过了就再也不来啦。
乖女，听话。 "
其实董小宛也下了决心去闯闯。于是又重新对镜梳妆，看见自己的脸，她又恢复了信心。她抱着古琴走出院门时，惜惜悄悄送她一把小剪刀，并在她耳边轻轻说：“如果有臭男人欺负你，你就用这个刺他的眼睛。”
董小宛走出门，又犹豫起来。因为天已经黑尽了，显然已经误了柳姐姐的约会。她走到街角便站住了。去或不去？这两个念头在她脑中像两只戏水的鸟，一会儿冒一下头。最后她想：不去也罢。便转身往回走。站在门前看着她的陈大娘和大脚单妈，忙不约而同地像赶鸡入窝似的口中焦急地喊道：“乖女，快去。乖女，快去。”小宛脸上笑吟吟心里却酸酸地走过她俩身边，径直回到自己的房中。
白天的欢乐没能在夜晚延续，夜晚的痛苦却继续向白天延伸。董小宛不能原谅自己莫名的胆怯，天亮了，她依旧蒙着头不愿起床。
陈大娘在院子中走来走去，不知道该做些什么。这时有人叩门，惜惜跑去开门，进来的正是柳如是，她满脸疲惫，显然宿醉未醒。
“我的好妹妹，昨晚咋失约呢？”
陈大娘忙一把将她扯住。董小宛听得柳如是声音，欠起身，从窗户里望出去，只见娘和柳如是在院门边叽叽咕咕地说话。柳如是听得直摇头。但见她将大腿一拍，对娘说了几句，转身就走。院门外只听见绣罗衣一闪，柳如是就消失了。
小宛只见她说的最后一句话：“我待会儿再来。”
董小宛缓缓穿了衣服，洗了脸。在院子里坐下，那把竹椅发出轻微的吱吱声。惜惜给她端来一篮暗紫色的葡萄。她懒洋洋地吃了起来。葡萄皮在她脚边撒了一地。
柳如是再次急冲冲闯进来，她怀中抱着一个麂皮箱。口中嚷嚷道：“都怪我，都怪我，没想到这一层，好妹妹快来试广东这件衣服。”她径直奔到董小宛面前，伸手将桌上的竹篮以及剩下的几串葡萄一抹，全扫到地上，然后将麂皮箱朝桌上一放，“好妹妹，自己看看。”
小宛见她行事如此性急，不便怠慢。伸手扭开麂皮箱，里面是一套华美的红色萝衫。柳如是道：“这是有名的'双重心字萝衣'。”
待惜惜帮小宛在房间里换上这套萝衫从房间中走出来时，柳如是兴奋得拍掌称奇。董小宛也掩不住脸上的喜色，乐得抱住柳姐姐撒起娇来。柳如是顺势在她娇嫩的脸庞上亲了个够。
柳如是讲了昨夜画舫热闹，说是旧院的杜娇娥和桃叶渡口赵十二娘争风吃醋，光着身子在大舱中扭打起来，真不要脸。柳如是的夫君钱牧斋大人喝醉了酒差点掉进秦淮河呢。柳如是说得最多的还是状元郎如何如何英俊等等。董小宛只是默默地听，她心里想的只是今夜我一定胜过所有女人。
柳如是接连打了几个哈欠之后，便告辞。临行时再三叮咛董小宛今夜一定不要缺席。她根本就没料到董小宛当天下午就凭借自己的出众天资而登上了画舫。
一场小雨从早晨下到中午。雨点打在篷布上的声音给一夜宿醉未醒的画舫上的男女凭添了一层睡意。困倦、甜美、酒气和香美的糕点残渣充塞着舱厅。顺着秦淮河从上游吹来的河风，吹翻了烛台上的红烛，一滴烛泪飞溅出去，刚好溅到一个俊俏男人的脸上。他抽了一下身子，醒了，伸手抹去微烫的蜡。他欠起身茫然地瞧着蜷缩在身边的一个歌妓。他想不起她是谁。寇白门？卞玉京？或者随便一个叫菊花的什么风尘女人。反正在这淫乐之地他不在乎吻着的是谁。
他缓缓地将手举过头顶，伸了个懒腰。他发现自己正站在船头上。小雨已经停了，河风湿润而清凉，把炎热的感觉吹得暂时远去了。两个侍女站在旁边，一个端了一盆热水，另一个捧着一个黑漆托盘，盘中装着折叠整齐的两条雪白面巾。
两人见他转身，齐声道：“请状元郎净面。”他从衣袖中抖出一双白净的手，就着木盆洗了脸。一个侍女端着水和湿面巾走了，另一个则留下来帮他整理略有些皱的青衫。他瞧着面前这张红扑扑的脸，禁不住伸手在那脸蛋上拧了一下。侍女羞得直立在他面前，低下头看着脚尖，双手扯着衣角。向迎天乐得哈哈大笑，说声：“去吧。”侍女慌忙退下。
舱里太乱，向迎天不想进去，独自站在船头。看着江南一带歌舞升平的景象，心里感慨。这里的确是人间天堂，这里的百姓似乎不知道大明江山已经摇摇欲坠。李自成、张献忠已在关中一带渐成大势，而努尔哈赤的铁骑已经几度兵临京城，难道真的要胡马窥江之后，这些人才会感觉战火的紧迫？大明江山啊……这次江南之行本是为催粮征饷而来，却陷入红颜的包围圈，如何了得？他转而又想：“人生得意须尽欢，莫使金樽空对月。”上下腐败岂我独力能挽浊浪乎？昨夜的昏暗云雨又涌上心头，如此销魂之地非凡夫所能抗拒呀！
一丝琴声钻进他的耳膜。He doesn't want to hear it.但琴声依旧固执地朝他的耳朵里钻，而且扰乱了他的思绪，似乎那琴声正顺着耳朵朝下钻去，要安抚他那颗有点燥热的心。他渐渐被吸引了，听出是一曲《胡茄》。这首曲子非一般人所能弹奏，相传为汉末蔡文姬谱就，曾感动具有帝王野心的曹操。向迎天不禁惊奇。这位新科状元本来就有扫平宇宙的抱负，内心视曹操为偶像。此刻听到《胡茄》自然深受感动了，忍不住朝琴声飘来的方向望去。这一望非同小可！
只见离大船五六丈远的岸边有一架伸入水中的竹栈，一位红衣少女正俯身古琴之上弹得如痴如醉，她身后聚集的看热闹的人，大约有七八十人之多。其中有老人、杂耍艺人，有担着担子的小卖商贩，有摇折扇的书生，有粗陋的轿夫，有光着膀子的儿童，这些人都像被吸在磁石上似的，居然毫不嘈杂，因而琴声更加清纯。向迎天也被少女的美貌打动了心，也看得痴，甚至忘了琴声。直到最后一个音符消失在秦淮河上，岸上的围观者发出一阵嘈杂的叫好声，向迎天才仿佛从梦中醒来一般。
这时，那红衣少女抬起头来，双眼望着向迎天，目光哀怨而动人。向迎天从那双明亮的眸子中看到对自己的请求，心里已经明白了几分：显然这是个欲在画舫中争宠的女子。他正待发话，一位侍女端来一壶酒请他享用，他伸手端起一杯酒时，琴声又起。这次琴声则柔曼如雾，仿佛满天都有柔情在飘飞。那红衣少女亮开嗓子唱道：
心心复心心，结爱务在深。
一度欲离别，千回结衣襟。
结妾独守志，结君早归意。
始知结衣裳，不如结心肠。
坐结行亦结，结尽百年月。
一曲唱罢，向迎天听得那字正腔圆的优美歌喉，早已情不自禁，他高声叫了一声：
“好！”并将手中的镀金酒樽朝空中一掷。金樽在空中飞了一个弧线，扎入水中。岸边几个看热闹的儿童尖叫几声一起朝水里扎下猛子，都想捞那个金樽去换碎银子。
一叶小舟将向迎天送到岸边。他拱手一揖道：“南阳向迎天，这厢有礼。”岸边的红衣少女笑吟吟道了个万福，眉宇之间有秋波在穿梭。两人明眸闪亮，有无形的丝正穿越夏日午后的艰滞时光在空气中灵活地联接。这时，旁边的那几个儿童正为金樽进行着拼死搏斗，两人朝孩子们会心一笑。
其实，红衣少女正是董小宛。当她和向迎天一起坐在大船上时，舱中的人们才陆续地从睡梦中醒来。一个女人在四处寻找她昨夜丢掉的绣花鞋，她到处张望，根本就不再乎露在外边的大片雪白胸脯，惹得岸上人频频喝彩。
董小宛和向迎天扯了许多闲话。向迎天被她的美貌和学识深深地迷住了。但时间还早，两人就在船头下棋。小宛不是向迎天的对手，撒娇说：“白棋和黑棋我都不想下，我想下红棋。”向迎天便叫来几个女侍用胭脂将白棋全都涂成红色，乐得小宛直笑。向迎天瞥见她娇柔的舌头，心里怦怦直跳，慌忙咽了几口唾液。
晚宴开始之前，董小宛遇到了柳如是。柳如是惊讶不已，两条眉毛被瞪圆的眼睛挤得向上呈圆弧状突起，刚好配合了张大的嘴唇形状。小宛很想将一枚鸟蛋放进她嘴里，可惜没有鸟蛋。两人相互牵了手到船边。听小宛说了下午的精彩表演，柳如是佩服不已，连称“妙计”。
船上的人越来越多，男的多是官宦人家，女的多是秦淮名角。柳如是不停地给小宛作介绍，“这是某某举人，那是某某都御史，这是某某大姐……”董小宛自幼在画舫中长大，对于迎来送往这套礼数早就谙熟，因而在这人群之中应酬自如。
所有的男人们都暗暗侧目，都在内心猜度自己能否有艳福消受这个美人。
董小宛倚在窗前，想独自避开一会儿，她有点后悔，这般嘈杂之地她没有把握自己是否会担当一个合适的角色。一个男人忽然凑到她的面前，手里握着柄有碧玉坠子的扇子，另一支手则大胆地来牵小宛的手。小宛畏缩地一退，那人嘻嘻笑了起来，干脆收扇入怀，张开双手要来抱她。董小宛生性机警，眼见着人多不便叫嚷，便一翻身做了个倒插花式到了绮窗外。那位公子扑了个空，朝小宛叽叽咕咕骂了些脏话，自回舱中去了。
董小宛站在一盏角灯下喘息初定。她听到身后有人说：“好大胆的妹妹，连朱爵爷的公子也敢戏弄。”她回首看时，却是一位风姿绰约的美丽女人正笑吟吟地望着自己。小宛说道：“那人满肚子坏水，怎么戏弄不得了？”那女人笑道：“真是个刚烈女子，是个好妹妹。”
这个女人就是名噪一时的李香君。她告诉小宛：“我俩还是师姐妹呢！”小宛猛然想起小时候听苏昆生说过：“几年前有个叫香君的师姐也跟你一样聪明。”苏氏在旁说道，“那个小妖精真不成体统，竟敢光着身子在街上玩耍。”小宛当时想象那一定是个极丑陋的女孩。不想今日一见，却是天仙般的一个美人。董小宛觉得有这样一位师姐真好。两人就站在船舷边说了许多知心话，非常投机。
其时天已黑尽了，两个站在船舷边的女人由于背对着灯火辉煌的船舱，远看像两个优美的皮影。那几条连在一起的画舫晶莹剔透，从高处望去像一道即将出现的彩虹。
董小宛和李香君正谈得开心。柳如是急匆匆地跑来，拉着两人说道：“你两个还在这儿开心，状元郎不见小宛，我看他神不守舍呢，快跟着来，舞宴快开始了。”
三人回到舱中，向迎天坐在上首宾座上茫然回顾，猛然看见董小宛，笑容立刻驱散了愁云。他举起酒杯朝小宛致意。
此刻舱中弦乐大作，几名半裸着酥胸的舞女鱼贯而入，在舱厅中演起《唐宫红叶》的“醉胭脂”一段歌舞。小宛持酒，香君把杯，两人分列状元郎左右，殷情地劝他欢饮。向迎天兴致高昂，左抱右拥，觉得自己像帝王一样，寒窗苦读中带来的忧郁和伤感气质被轻轻剥落，露出了人性中作乐无忌的另一面来。其它那些官员公子们眼见着两个如花似玉的女人在他怀中娇态可掬，心中甚为惋惜，都有些吃醋，但不便冒犯状元郎，只好将心头的欲火发泄到其它歌妓身上。舱厅中充满浪笑娇吟，场面混乱不堪。李香君本是风月场中久经风雨的人，心知小宛还是处女，怕她在这种淫乱场合中轻易失身因而掉价，便顺势滚进向迎天怀中撒起娇来，使他不得趁机犯了小宛的身子。董小宛虽然在画舫中长大，小时候就看惯了狎客的表演，但如此浩荡的淫乱场面却是第一次经历，心里害怕。柳如是一边陪夫君喝酒调笑，一边观察着小宛这边的情景，她和李香君的想法一样，都想保住小宛的身子。
柳如是眼见小宛面色惶恐不安，便对夫君钱牧斋耳语一阵。钱牧斋深知青楼的一些内容，便点点头。夫妻俩一起走到状元郎身边请求告辞，小宛也趁机起身告退。向迎天本欲牵住小宛的衣带，被香君一个香吻推得向后仰倒，只得由小宛随柳如是去了。柳如是一直将小宛送回家中。
向迎天见走了董小宛，兴致顿减，用力将李香君抛到一边，独自饮起酒来，李香君陪在一旁，偷偷在眼角抹了点辣粉，立刻就泪流满面，一副悲戚戚面孔，好像天大的委屈全落在自己头上似的。向迎天瞧着这个泪美人，只道是自己刚才伤了她的心，更加不知如何是好，便扔了酒杯，抱起酒壶猛灌一气，直到把自己变成一烂泥，瘫倒在李香君的裙子下。
清晨，向迎天独自坐在船头，闷闷不乐，心里想着董小宛。他想：这个女人应该是我的。李香君轻轻走到他身边，他头也没回，问道：“怎么才能搞到那个女人？”
李香君在他身边斜倚船舷坐了下来。她知道他是问董小宛。她说：“小宛是个贞洁的女人。”
“不，从来就没有贞洁的女人。”向迎天武断地说道，“女人就像珠宝一样渴望尝试不同的皮肤。有些女人保住了贞操，只是因为没有人去发掘她，并不是她不愿这么做。”
李香君叹了口气。她私下里认为自己如果不是命苦，就是个可以保住贞操的人。小宛妹妹也是个苦命人儿。
向迎天用眼角瞥了几下李香君，继续固执地问道：“怎么才可能得到她？”
“钦差大人若真心要得到董小宛，就得备一份丰厚的彩礼，简约地搞点仪式，名花就归你了。这是秦淮河上初次应客的规矩。”
向迎天皱皱眉头道：“妓女也想有嫁娶之礼？狗屁规矩！”
李香君心里有些不快，却不好惹恼这状元郎。镇南王爷朱启丹曾再三吩咐，谁惹出事来，谁就从秦淮河永远消失。她解释道：“大人有所不知。这秦淮河的姑娘分为南曲和北曲两种。
秦淮河南边称为旧院。旧院从前叫大院，系先帝太祖所设。那旧字门楣上至今还挂有一付对联，系太祖御制，上联是：此地有佳山佳水，佳风佳月，更兼有佳人佳事，添千秋佳话；下联是：世间多痴男痴女，痴心痴梦，况复多痴情痴意，是几辈痴人。 "
“好对联！”向迎天拍掌称奇道：“太祖真是圣人啊！”
“至于秦淮河以北的北曲，则大多为下三流人物逗留之地，非南曲的姑娘们所为。”
“这么说，董小宛属于南曲世家？”
“对。大人若得小宛，保管你终生难忘。只是常言道入乡随俗，大人还是略作准备，待奴婢亲去她家迎请，好事自成。”
“好吧。”向迎天下定决心今夜小宛非他莫属，因为明天他就要打道回府了。
留都城的大小官员都想巴结钦差大臣，大多希望借机行贿。所以很快就备了一份丰厚的彩礼，由李香君和柳如是前去说媒。
当蒙着头盖的董小宛被李香君牵上画舫时，已是夜色低垂，华灯高挑了。画舫上专门布置了新房。四周挂满飘逸的红