Chapter 4 Chapter Four: Li Xiangjun and Hou Chaozhong

A few firecrackers exploded sporadically in the alley, and the Spring Festival is approaching.As the sound of firecrackers became more and more dense, the joy in the air became stronger and stronger.As if the appointment was made a long time ago, the Spring Festival couplets have just been pasted on the courtyard door, the thick rice milk has not yet dried, and there are still a few white flow marks oozing from the seams of the red paper. The Spring Festival brings a strong atmosphere to every day. In front of the happy door, it also hides in the smell of gunpowder and gunpowder smoke after the firecrackers explode and floats into the painting boat on the Qinhuai River with the wind.

Business travelers from afar have returned to their hometowns one after another, and the local prodigal son has his own family to take care of.The girls on the Qinhuai River hung curtains to thank the guests, with their own smiles on their faces. Occasionally, there are lonely geese who are outdated and struggling to fly over the Qinhuai River.At this moment, among the crowd wandering along the Qinhuai River, there is a young man who looks like a lonely wild goose, riding a thin horse, with a lonely and lonely look on his face.He asked along the river whether every boat made an exception to welcome a stranger like him. The girls all laughed and told him to come back after the Lantern Festival, and let him have enough fun then.He sighed secretly, even prostitutes have their own happiness, only he is the only lonely person.Melancholy and sadness brought tears to his eyes, and he had to wipe them with his sleeve.The moment the sleeves left the corner of his eyes, he saw a beautiful girl not far away looking at him, and the girl next to her was playing with a small paper windmill.Ashamed of his tears, he pinched his legs, whipped his whip, and galloped away.

That girl was Dong Xiaowan. She watched the boy's back getting smaller and smaller, and finally disappeared into the air like a black speck trembling in the distance.She couldn't tell what was going on, but she felt like she had seen that young man somewhere before.Xixi was walking beside her, feeling that the windmill was not turning fast enough, so she puffed up her cheeks and blew hard, the paper windmill rustled until she felt a little pain in her cheek.At this time, she realized that Xiaowan was not by her side, so she hurriedly turned her head to look, only to see Dong Xiaowan walking slowly, thinking about something.She had completely sunk into her own imagination, forgetting that she was among the crowd in the market.Xi Xi saw a weird smile on her face.

Xixi walked over and shook her hand vigorously, and she suddenly poked her head out of meditation, and she was startled.She was embarrassed by her distraction.What was it about that boy that attracted her?She seemed to know those lonely and desolate eyes. From that day on, Dong Xiaowan dreamed of a lonely boy riding a skinny horse every night.Every day's dream will add something to the previous day's foundation.The thin and pretty image in that glimpse gradually plumped up under the pile of dreams, and became her happy partner in the dream.She hugged the boy's waist, crossed the vast wilderness through the vast time, and suddenly appeared under the snow-capped mountain. The snow light stimulated her eyes, and she couldn't see anything. White spots flickered on her eyelids, and she woke up.She saw the lazy winter sun shining on her face through the window.

The dream became more and more heavy, so heavy that her breathing in sleep was long and deep. Xi Xi, who was sleeping next to her, often woke up with a start, and got up to look at her. Her face was flushed, still like a baby.Xixi couldn't see her dream, so she helped her tuck the quilt, turned over and fell asleep again.The boy in the dream still didn't say a word, as if he was always struggling to get rid of something.Her dreams are often running.Finally one night, the boy in the dream threw away his skinny horse, and the horse floated into the deep blue valley like a fallen leaf.The young man stood in front of her, taking off his shirt, revealing his thin back. She saw that spine standing upright section by section, like the marks made by the whip of fate, and there was a bleak shadow in the depression of the joints.She woke up slowly from her dream, she stared at the faint candlelight on the desk with wide eyes, and heard a woman's cry faintly in the far distance, but it was as unreal as a dream.When she fell asleep again, the boy was swimming faintly in the distance again, and slowly walked over.She felt that she was hugged tightly, and she struggled hard, but the hands became tighter and tighter.She woke up suddenly, the cold night was still long, and the night mist was wiping her dark lips and body on the window lattice.

Probably because she hasn't picked up customers for a long time, so she longed for a man in her dream. she thought so. After daybreak, Xixi waited for her to take a bath, changed into clean clothes, and asked Xixi to go downstairs to ask if there was any name card to see her. Xixi came back and said: "There is a famous note from Mr. Chen Yingzhao, the servant of the Ministry of War in Liudu, please go to his house to accompany the drink." Dong Xiaowan replied while drawing her eyebrows in the mirror: "Okay, you clean up and have lunch Let's go." Xixi hurriedly went downstairs to tell Aunt Chen.When Aunt Chen heard that Xiaowan was going to open the door to welcome guests again, she was very happy.Ever since Xiaowan was slapped by Wu Yingxiong in Meilin, she hasn't responded to guests for a long time, and she lost a lot of money for nothing, Aunt Chen is very worried about her.

At this moment, she thought that this good girl was not in vain, so she asked Shan Ma to prepare lunch, and she hurried to the Chen Mansion on tiptoe to answer the phone, recalling the romantic time when she was young along the way. Dressed in a fragrant sedan chair, Dong Xiaowan and Xixi were sent to the gate of the Chen Mansion.When Dong Xiaowan was giving money to the bearers, Xixi had already grabbed the copper ring on the big red wooden door and knocked three times.She heard three crisp sounds echoing in the courtyard, thinking, what a big courtyard. When the door opened, the butler stretched out his head, and seeing two women, he asked, "Is this Miss Dong Xiaowan?" Xixi said, "This is my Miss Dong."

The butler hastily opened the courtyard door, nodded and said, "Miss, please come in, my master and wife will be waiting for you for a long time." The courtyard was really big, Dong Xiaowan followed the housekeeper into three courtyards before arriving at the inner courtyard.There are still clusters of snow in the flower garden in the inner courtyard, like doves that are still without long legs.A beautiful pregnant woman with a big belly was beating an eleven or twelve-year-old boy who was kneeling in front of her.There were blood-red welts all over the boy's back, and he begged bitterly: "Madam, I was wrong, I dare not do it again." Dong Xiaowan recalled the scene of being whipped by Su Shi when he was a child, and couldn't help shivering a few times, and his whole body trembled. Goosebumps, a throbbing pain in my heart.

The butler stepped forward and said, "Madam, Miss Dong Xiaowan is here." The pregnant woman threw the whip, examined Dong Xiaowan up and down, and thought: Little fairy, she is more beautiful than me.Dong Xiaowan saw a jealous sneer at the corner of her mouth.The pregnant woman collected herself, held Dong Xiaowan with a smile on her face, and turned her head to ask the maid to serve tea. As soon as Dong Xiaowan sat down in the living room, the maid served tea.She saw two maids helping the boy pass by outside the hall, so she asked the boy what was going on.Madam just picked up the teacup, when she heard her question, she put down the teacup heavily, and said angrily:

"It's not a good thing my master did. Look, how can I make him happy on the bed with a big belly? He is also a hungry tiger. My mother sees him pitiful, so let a dozen girls in this house go I've slept with him, but he's still not satisfied. Last night he was having sex with the book boy in the study, and I bumped into him. Do you think he's irritating or not? This little savage boy is really hateful, I can't wait to fuck his asshole Plug it up." Dong Xiaowan's face became hot when she heard Mrs. Chen revealing her family's ugliness like this, and felt ashamed for her.Mrs. Chen didn't change her expression, she turned her head and ordered the girl to invite the master, and at the same time she turned her head and begged Xiao Wan: "I invite the young lady to come, just to ask the young lady to help me with the husband and wife affairs. As long as he is satisfied, I have a lot of reward silver here."

"Can it work?" Xiaowan wanted to make an excuse to postpone it. "It will definitely work." Mrs. Chen said: "You are a famous actor in the Qinhuai River, and you are young and beautiful. I am worried that you will be fascinated by him!" "I'm a bit inconvenient today, so I can't do that. Ma'am, since the house doesn't have anything to do with wine, I'll take my leave." Dong Xiaowan stood up and wanted to leave.Mrs. Chen hurriedly dragged her back.Xiaowan said again: "There are many girls on the Qinhuai River, why don't you ask Master Chen to go to the boat to have fun!" Mrs. Chen pleaded: "No, no. I was afraid that he would be fascinated by the goblins on the boat, so I allowed him to have sex in the house, so that I know what's on my mind. Miss must help me." Dong Xiaowan insisted on leaving, Madam Chen knelt down and hugged her leg and cried.Dong Xiaowan looked at the teardrops rolling all over her face, and her heart softened, so she agreed. As if she had found a treasure, Mrs. Chen stood up with a happy smile, the rouge on her face was dripped with tears, and she pulled Dong Xiaowan to sit down again.Dong Xiaowan picked up the teacup and took a sip, her mouth full of aroma.Mrs. Chen wiped her face with a handkerchief and said, "This is the famous Mt. Lushan fog." Just as Dong Xiaowan was about to use the topic to talk about tea scriptures, Mrs. Chen suddenly took out some pictures from under the seat cushion. She smiled secretly at Xiaowan and handed over the pictures. Xiaowan took it over and took a look, but there were several "erotic pictures".She didn't know what she meant, Madam Chen asked in a low voice: "You are a famous beauty in Qinhuai River, and you are well-informed. I want to ask: Are the movements in this picture really done?" Dong Xiaowan was annoyed and funny, so she said: "Madam will know if you try it yourself." Mrs. Chen frowned, and said seriously: "I'm a decent lady, and I read the books of sages, how can I do such unruly and unseemly things!" Dong Xiaowan felt a pain in his heart, and his self-esteem was greatly hurt.Just about to stab her with words, a maid ran into the courtyard to report: "Ma'am, the master is back." Mrs. Chen hurriedly snatched the pictures from Xiaowan's hand and stuffed them under the seat cushion. Obviously, these pictures were her little secret for personal entertainment. Chen Yingzhao, Mr. Chen is worthy of being the Minister of the Ministry of War, with a burly body and a bold personality.Mrs. Chen welcomes him in.He stretched out his big hand to touch her stomach and said, "Ma'am, my precious son didn't kick your stomach, did he?" Dong Xiaowan said a blessing. "My maidservant Dong Xiaowan is very polite." Mr. Chen supported her with a smile and said, "Excuse me, excuse me." Xiao Wan's arm was very painful when he pinched it. After everyone took their seats, Mr. Chen drank a cup of tea in one gulp, and shouted to make another cup.He said to Xiaowan: "I have some military affairs to do just now, so I was delayed. Miss Dong has been waiting for a long time." "The world's affairs come first, and the adults are too hard to work day and night." Dong Xiaowan said, "There shouldn't be any urgent military situation in the peaceful land in the south of the Yangtze River, right?" "Hey! Although Jiangnan is peaceful, but the rebels are running across the Central Plains, and they have not succeeded in suppressing and appeasement. How can Jiangnan not be affected. What's more, the Manchu and Qing cavalry in the north are always going south, and the emperor is in a hurry." "If the emperor doesn't protect him, is Jinling likely to be able to resist?" "Hahaha, it's really a woman's opinion. There is a five-hundred-mile battalion of Zuo Liangyu in Jiangbei, and Shi Kefa and Zheng Chenggong's millions of troops in Yangzhou. Why should Jinling be afraid of them?" Dong Xiaowan couldn't answer for a while, so she lowered her head and pretended to drink tea.Mrs. Chen jokingly said: "My master is also a famous Chen Dadao. Taking the head of a general among millions of troops is like finding something. If the emperor sent my master to lead troops to fight, he might have cut off Li Zicheng's head long ago." Mrs. Chen glared at Madam a few times, and said: "Fuck your shit. Do you think I don't want to go and suppress the thieves? If I really go, I'll be surprised if you don't cry." Nuonuo kept saying, and at the same time told the maids to quickly serve the wine and dishes, and prepare for dinner. After dinner, Chen Yingzhao went to the study to take a nap.Mrs. Chen said that this was his bad habit for more than ten years, so Dong Xiaowan had to wait in the living room alone.Xi Xi left first, the west slanting sun dragged her figure long, stretched from the steps into the hall, Dong Xiaowan watched Yu Yun move inch by inch in the hall, and finally climbed to a large desk Beside the legs, a faint ray of light flickered slightly and then disappeared.It was dark.Dong Xiaowan couldn't help being a little happy, she finally saw how dark it was.How many times, she squatted in front of Su Kunsheng's house, carefully inspecting the feet of the sun, but was disappointed again and again. She wanted to see how the sky got dark, but she couldn't realize it. How did the sun disappear completely?At this moment, she inadvertently caught a glimpse of the moment connecting day and night, and completely denied the statement of her childhood playmate Su Tong. He said that the last faint light was moved into the hole by ants, so no one could see it. When Mrs. Chen came to ask her to serve the master to bed, Dong Xiaowan was so sleepy that she could hardly keep her eyes open.Mrs. Chen bit her lip, touched her big belly with her left hand, and held Dong Xiaowan's arm with her right hand.Xiao Wan felt that the pulse on Mrs. Chen's wrist was beating crazily against her arm.Neither of them spoke.The long corridor was accompanied by a long silence between the two.Dong Xiaowan saw two maids using spherical glass covers with handles to extinguish the candles on the wall one by one. The small candle flames struggled in the glass cover for a few times before being extinguished, like jumping butterflies being smothered in their palms.She felt like the butterfly, her huge palms were slowly closing.It is a diagrammatic form of her inescapable fate. The bedroom smelled of sandalwood.Two small brass incense burners are supported on two blue and white porcelain plates, two slender red sandalwood incense sticks hold two red fire points, and two slender smokes rise straightly.Occasionally, when a gust of wind blows in, the Youlan smoke becomes curved, diffuses, and disappears above Dong Xiaowan's head.Master Chen coughed lightly from the thick mosquito net, he wanted to clear the phlegm in his throat. Dong Xiaowan asked his wife to stay away.Mrs. Chen shook her head and said: "It's okay, it's okay, I'm used to seeing his romantic portraits. Besides, I won't interfere with your business here." Dong Xiaowan was angry with her, knowing that she was very jealous, so she made up her mind to take revenge on this proud wife.Since she intends to challenge this noble lady from a famous family, a happy smile appeared on Xiao Wan's face.She took off her clothes slowly.Her glamorous and graceful naked body was like a heavy hammer that dazzled Mrs. Chen, and her heart was as painful as being tied with a rope.The moment Dong Xiaowan lifted the mosquito net and stepped onto the bed, she turned her head and waved at her. The smile on her face stabbed Madam Chen's heart again. After a few vague whispers came from the mosquito net, the bed board creaked.The hanging mosquito net threw tiny waves, like a spring breeze blowing across a calm lake... Mrs. Chen almost closed her eyes.She paced up and down distractedly, her footsteps resounding on the floor.At this time, a silver hairpin fell from the tent to the ground, jingling somersaults.The green bead on the head of the hairpin broke into pieces.Mrs. Chen's flustered heart suddenly found a balance, and she gleefully cursed softly: "Fall, fall, fall! Throw her to pieces." Chen Yingzhao got up before dawn, and did Tai Chi in the yard.Then go back to the study and read one.He has read this book countless times, and he does not know how many principles of governing the country and strengthening the army are hidden in the smoke of those countries vying for supremacy.In his heart, he felt a little complacent that he lived in the troubled times of the Chongzhen era. Maybe the current situation will make him a hero.The Manchu Manchu Tartars.He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking, as if Nurhachi's son was being crushed to pieces in his hands.At dawn, Dong Xiaowan was awakened by the sound of sweeping the floor in the inner courtyard. Last night she did not dream of that skinny boy. She slept soundly and did not have a single dream.She got up and got dressed, picked up the silver hairpin that fell from the ground last night, and saw that a small piece of the jasper bead was broken, she felt very sorry, she remembered that it was a gift from Xiang Yingtian.Time flies so fast, it has been three years in a blink of an eye, and she vaguely remembers her happy mood when the golden goblet that Xiang Yingtian threw into the air flew down among the shimmering willows of the Qinhuai River. She walked out of the door, and heard a few fragmented and out-of-tune piano sounds coming from the study, so she walked lightly to the door of the study.It turned out that Chen Yingzhao was tuning a guqin, he looked at Xiao Wan, and asked her to sit in the study.Xiaowan looked around, the room was full of books, and the gaps between the bookshelves were filled with calligraphy and paintings of famous people. "Unexpectedly, Mr. Chen has a passion for reading in addition to his sword. He is truly capable of both civil and military skills." "In fact, there is no high-ranking official who does not read. Any book of talent has the conclusions of the predecessors, so why not do it if you take it and use it. It is said that Ms. Dong has outstanding piano skills. If you can play a piece, I will listen with all my ears. " Dong Xiaowan is not modest either.When the guqin was about to be leveled, he leaned over the piano, hung his wrists and stretched his fingers to concentrate for a moment, and then played a piece of "Nanke You".But seeing her ten fingers as nimble as a few bird beaks tapping the strings, the notes hidden in the strings jumped out one after another, and the maid who was sweeping the floor in the courtyard felt that the beautiful piano sound was climbing along the twisted branches of the big locust tree. to the sky.After finishing the song, Chen Yingzhao praised softly: "It's a good song "Nan Ke You"." "It is said that this song was composed by the current Emperor himself. I wonder if it is true?" "It is indeed the current Emperor's personal order. The best player is Concubine Tian, ​​so she is deeply favored by the Emperor." "I heard that Concubine Tian was thrown into the cold palace, isn't it?" "Hey. Because of the severe shortage of military pay for the bandit suppressing army, the emperor wanted to borrow money from his relatives and relatives. The concubine Tian pleaded for Marquis Wuqing, and the emperor Long Yan was furious. The poor woman not only fell out of favor, but also lost her beloved son." "Has Mr. Chen met Concubine Tian?" "I saw it once." "She's beautiful. Isn't she?" "It's beautiful. Once you look at the city of people, then you look at the country." "Aren't all concubines beautiful?" "No, there are also ugly concubines. During the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a Zhong Lichun in Qi State. She was an ugly woman, but she won King Qi's heart with her own talent and became Queen Qi. She is really a hero among women. " In addition, Mrs. Chen, who was sleeping in another room, was awakened by the sound of the piano, and her anger from last night was still lingering.She put on her clothes and got up and asked who played the piano, the maid replied that Dong Xiaowan was playing for the master in the study.Mrs. Chen was anxious when she heard this, she hurriedly put on her robe and slipped on her slippers and went to the study room.She walked gently to the door and listened to what the master and Dong Xiaowan had to say.I just heard the master say: "... Among the four beauties, Diao Chan and Concubine Yang are the most miserable. Comparing the two, Diao Chan is the worst. She has never been happy in her life because she married Lu Bu, a warrior." He cleared his throat, took a sip of tea, and continued: "Marrying is the only gamble a woman has in her life. What woman doesn't want to marry a successful husband. But successful men are usually old and have their own families. And young people are always worried about not being happy. Has Miss Dong ever thought about marrying someone? If you want to marry someone, you should marry a literati and not a martial artist." Xiao Wan said: "The lowly maid was born in a humble place, born in the world, how can I expect to have a chance to be a good man? What's more, even if she gets married, she can only be someone else's concubine." "I'd rather be a gentleman's concubine than a mediocre woman. Ms. Dong is outstanding in talent and appearance, and she should plan to get married as soon as possible. After all, the world is a pit of fire, so you can't stay for long." Mrs. Chen was listening to the two concubines coming and going outside the door, and became suspicious: Could it be that the master wants to take a concubine?She also didn't care about decency, so she pushed the door open and went in, crying and shouting: "Master, you are an ungrateful and heartless person. Before I die, you despise me and want to marry this stinky bitch." To be a concubine. My God! . . . " In fact, Chen Yingzhao really wanted to marry Dong Xiaowan as a concubine, but at this moment, his wife pointed it out and lost face, so he handed a written bank note to Xiaowan, and waved her to go away. Dong Xiaowan bid farewell and left.When passing through the second gate, I heard Mrs. Chen screaming from behind: "Miss Dong, why don't you leave after breakfast." Xiao Wan walked out of Chen's mansion quickly without looking back. Out of the gate of the Chen Mansion.Xi Xi had already hired a carriage to wait outside.The two got into the carriage hand in hand.The right wheel of the carriage creaked and crumbled.Xixi turned her head to look at Xiaowan's stern face, she didn't feel like Dong Xiaowan. Dong Xiaowan dreamed of that skinny young man again, this time the young man was standing under some hazy pear trees, and he was also indistinct.But he seemed to have an identity, wearing an official robe.The wind blew the entire picture into wrinkles like water waves, and the young man's thin figure folded and folded along with the ripples, emitting silver waves like water.The boy slowly floated up and hung in the air. The background was the dark night sky, and the whole world was also dark. The only thing that was shining was the boy in the sky.The boy is changing, turning into a huge earring, the light of the earring pushes back the darkness, the Qinhuai River flows slowly under its light, and the water surface is covered with moonlight.The first few pear trees became more and more distinct, and the white buds on the prickly branches could be seen opening.Who is shaking the branches full of white flowers?Bai Xue fell down in groups.Everything disappeared in an instant, and the young man slowly appeared in the official robe again.Dong Xiaowan thought in her dream: Is he my lover?Maybe Chen Yingzhao and the like are officials.The boy put on official robes. A black gauze hat bulged and flapped two hanging dragons, flying like a crow, unlucky bird! Dong Xiaowan threw a shattered green bead at the young man's forehead.A red peach swelled from the boy's forehead. The black gauze hat landed on his head like a magpie, and suddenly it turned to the right and was crooked.The young man straightened it up, and it turned to the left again, and it was still worn on his head crookedly.Dong Xiaowan thought it was fun.Then he laughed.She woke up laughing.She heard the watchman knock on his clapper in the alley and shout: "Heaven...under...too...flat..." She saw two flames of wax on the table flapping their wings like butterflies resting on flowers. .Liang Shanbo?Zhu Yingtai? On the second day of the Lantern Festival, there was another banquet in Meixianglou.Dong Xiaowan just woke up when Li Xiangjun's maid, Xiaohong, came to invite someone. After Xiaowan agreed, she and Xixi stood in front of the flower garden laughing and laughing for a while before returning home to answer. When it was dark, Dong Xiaowan had something to eat at home and was the last one, for fear of drinking as soon as he arrived at Meixianglou.At this time, the butter cakes that Dazuo Danma rushed to make were also put into the carrying box.Xiaowan asked Xixi to carry the suitcase and go to Meixianglou. Go to Longmen Street.The dragon is being burned in the street, and people are surrounded by circles, and the water is tight.Dong Xiaowan saw that he couldn't walk, so he simply got off the sedan chair, and Xixi squeezed under the eaves to watch the excitement.The fire blazed along the dragon's spine like a black dragon soaring into the air.In the firelight every face was flushed with a certain piety.The greatest joy of the year was reduced to ashes when black flakes of paper ash flew in all directions.People dispersed in all directions, Dong Xiaowan and Xixi squeezed through the crowd.A few naughty children chased them and set off firecrackers, which made them scream. After running far away, I heard the children's joyful laughter. At this moment, Meixiang upstairs is full of guests and friends.Today is Li Zhenli's special farewell banquet for her old lover Zhang Tianru.It was just dark, and when the lanterns on the street corner cast the shadows of the bare branches outside the window into the Meixiang Building, the four scribes stood downstairs in unison, and no one saw them enter the courtyard gate.The leader is Zhang Tianru, and the other three are Chen Dingsheng, Fang Mizhi, and Wu Ciwei.Li Zhenli was standing on the stairs, clutching the earrings, thinking about what she wanted to do when she came downstairs, she suddenly raised her head, startled, and said, "My lord, did you fall from the sky?" Fang Mizhi smiled and said, "Ma'am, we got out of the ground." Zhang Tianru put his arms around Li Zhenli, and kissed her plump cheek.Chen Dingsheng, Fang Mizhi, and Wu Ciwei covered their eyes with their hands almost at the same time.They heard Li Zhenli cursing coquettishly: "You shameless hungry ghost." All four of them laughed. Li Zhenli pushed Zhang Tianru away and shouted upstairs: "Girls, pick up the guests." Several women upstairs replied at the same time: "Here we come." Upstairs in the living room, the green smoke of sandalwood was floating.Li Xiangjun, Kou Baimen, and Zheng Tuoniang invited the four Fushe sons into the guest seats.Cuicui, Rourou, Xiaohong and other maids brought tea and cakes on trays.Wu Ciwei seldom went in and out of the brothel, so he looked around and saw a few green calyx plums in a blue and white kiln vase next to his chair, so he stretched out his hands and folded one and stuck it in his nostril. The white and green petals trembled slightly with his breath. Zheng Tuoniang said with a smile: "Mr. Wu is really itchy, and he doesn't have any sympathy." "Miss Zheng has no eyesight." Fang Mizhi said, "Mr. Wu is too sympathetic. You do not believe?He still wants to eat the flower. "After speaking, he winked at Wu Ciwei. Wu Ciwei really threw the flower into his mouth, shook his head and tasted it: a little sweet, a little fragrant, and a good taste.He said: "It's delicious." He reached out and picked three more flowers, and threw them all into his mouth. Seeing that he was eating with gusto, Kou Baimen ran over and picked one and threw it into his mouth. After chewing a few times, the eyes and eyebrows gathered together, and the mouth spit it out. "My mother, it's like taking poison." Everyone laughed.Zhang Tianru said: "Although plum blossoms are not poison, I heard that they are the best introduction to poison. After eating, pouring five hundred ladles of manure will not save you." Chen Dingsheng went on to say: "Last year, Marquis Wuqing died in prison after eating a poison called Plum Blossom Daixue. Hey, this man deserved what he deserved." "It is said that he fought against the emperor to borrow money from the emperor's relatives, and pretended to auction off his belongings. In fact, the auctions were all waste that he thought was useless, all kinds of furniture, clothes, jewelry, calligraphy and paintings, antiques, bricks, tiles, wood, and stones were piled up. Two long streets. It’s a thousand-year-old anecdote that stirs up the city of Beijing like a boiling oil pan. Marquis Wuqing really committed a heinous crime.” "It's heartbreaking that the officialdom is so corrupt and the country is in peril." "The emperor is always incompetent in governing the country. The songs he composed are very beautiful. It can be seen that Chongzhen is actually very smart and has the talent of Li Houzhu." "The suppression of thieves has improved somewhat in recent months. I heard that Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong are surrounded in the mountains, and the rebels can only eat grass roots and bark to satisfy their hunger." "Grass roots and bark are also delicious sometimes." Li Xiangjun interjected, "When I was studying with Master Su Kunsheng, I ate a kind of Houttuynia cordata. It tastes really good." Speaking of eating, Zheng Tuoniang felt hungry. She yelled: "Ma'am, it's time for the banquet. I'm going to starve to death." Li Zhenli said, "Okay, okay, let's start the table. Don't wait for Dong Xiaowan." At this moment, the handyman in the courtyard shouted upstairs: "Miss Wan is here." Li Zhenli was so happy that she said with a smile: "It's better to come early than coincidentally." Wu Ciwei watched a black hair appear at the top of the stairs, and then a woman's smiling face. This face was average, not as beautiful as in the legend.Then I saw breasts again, and the curves were not beautiful.He turned his head in disappointment to look at a picture of "The Picture of Tragedy and Bitterness" hanging on the wall. The legendary beauties are only found on the painting.Helplessly, Dong Xiaowan had met Zhang Tianru, Chen Dingsheng, and Fang Mizhi, so he should introduce him next, so he had no choice but to turn around.At first glance, she was stunned and stunned, Dong Xiaowan's real beauty. Dong Xiaowan blushed slightly when she saw Wu Ciwei's stunning eyes.She said Wanfu in a coquettish voice, and Wu Ciwei shook his hands in a panic and said, "Excuse me, excuse me." He saw the woman standing at the stairs with a suitcase just now, and only then did he realize that he had cherished the maidservant just now. It's a pity that Dong Xiaowan was mistaken. Wu Ciwei said: "Miss Dong is well-deserved of her reputation, and she deserves Li Taibai's words: 'Yun Xiang's clothes are like flowers'." Since ancient times, literati have had the bad habit of showing off their literary talents. Under the coffee table in front of Chen Dingsheng's chair is a copy of "Li Bai's Poems and Anthology", which was originally placed there by Li Xiangjun for decoration. She knows that these literati may come in handy when they talk about poetry and painting. , as expected by her. When Chen Dingsheng heard Wu Ciwei talk about Li Taibai, he took out the old book and said, "Unexpectedly, Xiangjun also likes Li Bai." "Who doesn't like Li Taibai's virtuous style?" Dong Xiaowan took over the conversation and said, "Sister Xiangjun has a lot of experience with Li Bai." Zheng Tuoniang said: "It seems that Mr. Chen also likes Li Bailuo?" Chen Dingsheng said: "Of course." Kou Baimen came up to him and said, "I would like to ask Mr. Chen, there are a few lines in the poem that I have never understood. Please teach me a thing or two." Fang Mizhi said: "Which sentences?" Kou Baimen cleared his throat and said back: "Golden cups of sake are worth ten thousand dollars, and jade plates are worth tens of thousands of dollars. You can't eat after stopping the cup and throwing chopsticks, and you are at a loss when you draw your sword." Chen Dingsheng clapped his hands, and said with a smile: "What's so difficult about this? Li Taibai is a man, thinking of the chaos of the country, but worrying about the food and wine but can't eat. When the national crisis is at the head of the day, a few more Li Taibai will be fine." .” Dong Xiaowan pondered for a while, then said loudly: "Young Master Chen is concerned about the country and the people, understands the overall situation, and is upright. It's really admirable. But Xiaowan said something else about the few poems just now." Zhang Tianru, who was sitting next to him, was flirting with Li Zhenli while drinking tea, but Li Xiangjun occasionally caught a glimpse. Zhang Tianru quickly turned his head and said to those who were arguing with Li Taibai: "What's Miss Dong's opinion, let's hear it." "I think those few poems have little to do with the fate of the country, but have a lot to do with Li Bai's own life experience. If I remember correctly, this poem was written when Li Bai was detained in Chang'an, when he was poor , Hungry and cold. Probably just at this time, rich and wealthy people invited him to drink, and saw that the table was full of delicacies and delicacies worth tens of thousands of dollars, which was equivalent to his year of money, so he couldn't eat it. He drew his sword and looked around blankly. It was just an exaggerated anger That's all. Master Zhang, Xiao Wan took the liberty to make this explanation, I don't know if it's okay or not?" Zhang Tianru said: "Wonderful, wonderful, it's really a strange story. Ms. Dong is so talented, she is really a strange woman. Zhang admires it." Li Zhenli said: "Thanks to you few stinky literati, everything is brought up on national affairs, what's going on now." The four young masters all put their hands on their foreheads and said at the same time: "Shame, shame, shame." Everyone laughed.Xi Xi laughed so hard that she lost her mind, the box slipped from her hand and fell to the ground, and many butter cakes rolled out.Wu Ciwei was the most informal person, so he picked up a shortbread cake that rolled to his feet and took a bite, his mouth was full of crispy, and he blurted out praise: "Good." Li Zhenli said: "This pastry is Xiaowan's specialty, but it doesn't have a name yet. It is rare that a few talented people are here, so they are given a name, so that they can also have a chance to be famous in the world. " Zhang Tianru also tried one, and it was really good.Then he said by the way: "Just call it 'Dong Tang'." Speaking of eating, everyone feels hungry.Zheng Tuoniang yelled even more: "I'm starving to death. Let's eat, let's eat. " Everyone stood up, adjusted the tables and chairs, and set the table, busy for a while.A sumptuous banquet was hotly placed in the middle of the hall, and everyone sat down according to the number of seats, and each drank the glass of water and wine in front of him first.Xi Xi, who was standing by, felt that these people were like big wine glasses placed on the table. The wine was just poured from the jug into the small cup, and then poured into the big meat cup. Li Zhenli raised her glass and said: "Master Zhang is farewell this time, I don't know when we will meet again. Come on, have a drink. " "Master Zhang is so talented, why don't you have a confidant in the future, and no one in the world knows you. Zheng Tuoniang also offered a toast to Master Zhang. " Zhang Tianru drank it all in one gulp, and said to Xixi, "Full up, full up." So everyone found some reasons and toasted each other.Before I knew it, I drank three times.Taking advantage of the wine, everyone opened their chatter boxes and poured out some witty words and strange sentences.The laughter from Meixiang Building spread across the Qinhuai River, and the two strangers said to each other: "It's a lively place." Then a boatman who was packing his oars told them sincerely: "There lives the extremely beautiful Li Xiangjun." A stranger turned his head after a few steps, and read loudly: "Li Xiangjun, Li Xiangjun..." Zhang Tianru was just in the mood for wine, and suddenly asked: "Miss Wan is unparalleled in talent and appearance, do you have a sweetheart?" Xiaowan is well-behaved, knowing that he must have something to say later, she blushed and lowered her head.The silver hairpin on the top of the head was shining brightly by the candlelight.Zhang Tianru continued: "If not, I think of one person. Probably only this person can enjoy such a flowery and jade-like blessing." "Who is it? Is it someone from Fushe?" Fang Mizhi asked. "of course." "How is it compared to Hou Chaozong?" Zheng Tuoniang asked. When Li Xiangjun heard about Hou Chaozong, he felt hot on his face.When everyone saw this, they couldn't help making fun of it.Li Zhenli made a relief and said: "Don't talk about that ungrateful Mr. Hou again. My precious girl suffered from lovesickness for a year, and she only saw a letter desperately, but she didn't even see a ghost." "Auntie, don't worry. Hou Chaozong is coming to take the exam in a few days, and I have to trouble you then." Li Xiangjun was afraid that everyone would keep talking about Hou Chaozong, so he asked Zhang Tianru first: "Who is Master Zhang talking about just now?" Zhang Tianru intentionally played tricks, and whispered a few words into Fang Mizhi's ear.Fang Mizhi clapped his hands and said with a smile: "Sure enough, they are born together. It's wonderful!" Kou Baimen said: "What's the use of being so good? I've seen many of you people who have rehabilitated the society. Tell me who it is, and let me judge." Fang Mizhi cleared his throat and said as if singing an opera: "This man is Mr. Mao. His surname is Xiang, and his name is Pijiang. He is from Rugao. He is a famous talent in Jiangzuo. Those who have met him, please comment." Kou Baimen smiled and said: "It's him? With Xiaowan's sister, they are a perfect match." After speaking, he winked at Xiaowan and picked his little finger. Zhang Tianru immediately gave instructions regarding this matter as a social affair, asking Fang Mizhi and Chen Dingsheng to match up a happy couple.Unexpectedly, this will lead to a thrilling and touching love story. The cups and plates on the table were messed up, and everyone felt that they could no longer drink.Hearing the sound of the watchman's clapper coming from outside the courtyard wall, they all counted in their hearts, and it turned out that it was already the third watch at night.Everyone knew that it was time to do the ecstasy and romance, so they didn't say a word.During the banquet, there were only a few people sipping tea.Dong Xiaowan seemed to hear the sound of new buds gestating in the dead branches calling for spring. Li Zhenli invited Xiao Wan to come today because she wanted her to help her with the guests.But just now I talked about pretending to be a young master, and these young masters will not have Dong Xiaowan's idea anymore, so who can I ask to take this role?She pretended to have something to do, and called Xiangjun and Xiaowan to the side to discuss.Li Xiangjun said secretly: "How about letting Xixi take over for a while?" 董小宛也觉得可以，便把惜惜叫到另一个房间里，告诉她那个想法。惜惜道：“我生是小宛姐姐的人，死是小宛姐姐的鬼。 只要是姐姐的事，我都干。只是我还是处女。”李香君便搂住她亲了一下，然后附在她耳中说：“没关系，你总不能老做处女吧。和男人干那事，真的很舒服呢！”说得惜惜满脸飞霞。 李贞丽便叫撤了酒席，一边安排众丫环端上热水，各人洗漱一番。便安排寇白门陪吴次尾，郑妥娘陪陈定生，惜惜陪方密之。待三对良人各自进了靠后厅的三个房间，李贞丽便挽了张天如的手进了走廊尽头那间楼房。董小宛想起那天李玉从那间房走出来的情景，心想： “原来那是干娘的专用起居室。” 董小宛和李香君帮几个丫头收拾完房间，俩人便牵了手到香君的卧室就寝。上了床，俩人都没有睡意，便悄悄地说些女儿话题。说了一阵，小宛便问：“姐姐和侯朝宗的事怎么样？”李香君道：“他这次来金陵，我得想办法让他娶我，免得夜长梦多，男人其实都没心肝。” “侯朝宗会答应结婚吗？” “应该没问题。他还怕我不愿做他的妾呢。” “做妾就做妾。先脱了苦水再说，嫁过去再和他那原配夫人争个高低。姐姐，我好羡慕你。” 李香君道：“他们刚才说的冒公子的确很般配你。你若嫁给他，才真有福份呢！他父亲是京城御史台的大官，家道殷实，你嫁过去就不愁下半辈子的生计了。” “只怕他流水无情呢！” “试试缘份吧。女人一生往往只有一次机会，那就是嫁人。 与其做那同床异梦的夫妻，还不如就在这秦淮河上逍遥自在。 " “冒公子有夫人吗？” “有一位。听说也美貌贤惠，知书达礼。”李香君说道，“我们风尘中人，本来就命苦，能做个好妾便是福份了。” 想着自己这下贱的命根，两人不免就嘘吁连声，互相安慰一番，便各自倒头睡去了。董小宛听着秦淮河浅浅的水声以及媚香楼周围的枯枝在风中的相互嬉戏声，想起那不可预知的将来，会是什么情形呢？ 第二天，大家都起得很晚，便一起在媚香楼用了早点，各自说了些笑话。人人都对昨夜的风流心照不宣。然后坐下喝茶。 翠翠收拾房间时，从惜惜和方密之那间房取出那沾满血的白绢布。郑妥娘见了，打趣说道：“方公子占了咱们惜惜的便宜，按秦淮河上的惯例，方公子可得加三倍赏钱。” 张天如说道：“方公子，给完赏钱，可能你回家的盘缠都没有了。媚香楼可是有名的销金窟。以后没钱咱们都少来。” 李贞丽把眼一瞪，说道：“谁说要收几位公子的赏钱？你这没心肝的老家伙。昨夜姑娘们的赏钱我全包了。” 张天如朝几位公子挤挤眼，四人相互望了望，都心领神会。便一起起身，朝李贞丽鞠了一躬，并听四人同声说道：“谢大娘好心。” 李贞丽见这光景，猛然一拍大腿道：“哎呀呀！我又中了臭文人的诡计。你几个公子爷吃了我的酒食，玩了我的姑娘，还讨了我的赏钱。我吃亏不小。” 陈定生笑哈哈说道：“大娘，一言既出，驷马难追。不许反悔啊！” 李贞丽道：“谁反悔了。下次绝不饶你。” 众人又笑闹一阵。四位公子便告辞而去。随后寇白门、郑妥娘也告辞。董小宛帮干娘收拾了一下，才带着惜惜告辞而去。坐到马车里，董小宛觉得非常困倦，便靠在惜惜的肩头上睡了。本来从媚香楼到钓鱼巷没有多远的路，但马夫在途中要为妻儿采购几样食品，使董小宛有时间做一个梦。 马蹄声零零星星进入耳鼓，地平线就远远跑来一匹瘦马。 一位书生打扮的骑手，沿途打听董小宛的住处。路上的行人都摇摇头，各自行色匆匆。 董小宛睁开眼睛，看见马背上的书生就是那瘦俏的少年，她远远地招手，山岗上回荡着马蹄的阵阵回声。少年站到她的眼前，她正疑心那诡秘的马。少年突然将瘦马收拢来，马就消失了，他手中多了一把折扇。真好，马变的扇子！瘦俏少年依旧沉默不语，缓缓地打开扇子，扇面上写着“冒公子”三个字。 “冒公子！冒公子！”董小宛在梦中叫出了声，惜惜慌忙放弃对昨夜的回味，狠劲摇了摇董小宛。董小宛醒来时，脸颊上挂着一颗泪珠。惜惜看见泪珠里有自己那张脸，略有变形。而董小宛梦中的情郎终于有了一个名字。