Chapter 41: Autumn Water Hut

he was still a renowned swordsman and could handle himself well enough.Before Li Ke could answer Zhu Wen's question, Ge Congzhi let out a strange laugh:“The prime minister probably doesn’t know, this...After the meal, Ye Housheng spent eighty wen to hire a donkey cart. 。There are two reasons why we don't hire a carriage. First, carriages are too expensive, costing almost 200 wen. Second, Ye Youxiao's driving skills are average, and I'm afraid he might scare the horses, making the journey unpleasant. 。Then the donkey cart is definitely fine. 。Li Jiuniang's Qiu Shui shed was right next to Ci'en Temple. When Ye Youxiao arrived, the sun was still hanging in the west mountain, and those shirtless men were still hiding under the eaves to escape the heat. 。Take a look at the Qiushui Pavilion. Although the name is the same, it's clearly much more impressive. 。Ye Youxiao tightened the donkey cart and walked toward the doorway of the shed. Just as he was about to enter, an old man stopped him: "Young sir, are you going in to watch the play"Ye Youxiao was a little strange, but since he respected the old man, he casually said: "No, I'm looking for someone" 。"As he was about to walk inside, the old man unexpectedly stretched out a hand." 。Ye Youxiao was startled: "Begging for food What do you mean"

The old man smiled and said, "At Qiushui Pavilion, you have to pay a silver coin to enter." 。Please pay first before entering. 。"Ye Youxiao was taken aback: “Our Ye family hut doesn't have this rule, does it” The old man refused to let go: "This is the Qiushui hut..." 。To enter, you must pay one coin. 。Ye Youxiao was getting a little anxious. His foster father had only given him one hundred wen, as pocket money. 。"Where's the customary greeting" he blurted out. "What kind of place charges you just for walking in"

The old man was very agreeable: "Our establishment has a rule, we charge a fee upon entry."

Ye Youxiao cried out: "Come in, it's always the same, isn't it just about robbing money" The old man remained unmoved: "Little brother, please hand over one tael of silver" 。Ye Youxiao was so anxious he stamped his foot. Suddenly, he remembered and said, “Oh, Father-in-law, I'm not here to watch the play, but to find Li Jiuniang.” 。The old man's attitude remained unchanged: "The rules of our house are clear. Once you enter, there is a fixed fee." 。When I was at a loss, suddenly there was the sound of horses' hooves. I turned around and saw that young general had arrived as well. 。He dismounted gracefully, tossed the reins to his attendant, and strode toward his father-in-law, asking, "Father-in-law, is Nine Lady in the shed today" The old man, seeing that it was Li Shengting, hurriedly smiled and said, "General, you've come at a good time. Nine Lady is in the shed right now, about to perform." 。Li Shengting hurriedly threw down the money and dashed into the shed. 。Seeing even this young general had to pay, Ye Youxiao knew that it was truly impossible to enter without paying. 。Just as I was about to turn and leave in dejection, a scholar walked up to me. He had a very peculiar appearance: his black face was square-shaped, with only skin and no flesh on it, but he had quite a lot of whiskers. 。The scholar walked to the door of the shed and went straight in. 。Ye Youxiao hurried to follow, but was stopped by his father-in-law's hand. Ye Youxiao hurriedly pointed at the scholar, meaning that he also didn't pay. 。Unexpectedly, the old man laughed and said: "This gentleman is Luo Yin Luo Zhaojian, a renowned poet throughout the land. How can you, a mere servant, compare" Ye Youxiao was unconvinced: "Does a great poet not have to pay"The old man looked both exasperated and amused: "Even Jiuniang has to sing his poems, do you think he needs to pay"Ye Youxiao vaguely remembered something about royalties, and his heart understood. Since he was singing someone else's poems, of course they wouldn't need to pay. 。Hold on, I'm partnered with Li Jiuniang now, aren't I How have I become a maidservant again I'm a partner, alright! Thinking this through, my mood calmed. I immediately spoke out loud: "If that's the case, please have Li Jiuniang come out and see me." 。The old man was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, laughing so hard it seemed like he'd coughed up phlegm from ages past. 。Spitting out a mouthful of phlegm, he said to Ye Youxiao: "You young man, you're bold and arrogant. Jiu Niao is no one you can command!"

Ye Youxiao felt that what he said made sense, so he said, "Then please help me ask Si Niang to come out, can you"

The old man looked at him again, feeling that this young man seemed to have some relationship with Qiushui's hut, but he was unsure. He asked again: "The Si Niang the young master is talking about, is it Huang Si Niang"

Ye Youxiao didn't know if her surname was Huang, but he couldn't show any fear. He immediately said in a loud voice, "Of course it's Huang Si Niang, is there a second Si Niang"

His demeanor made the old man even more unpredictable, so he had to say: "In that case, young master, please wait a moment, I'll go and invite Si Niang now>>> 。

"Finally, there's some progress.

" 。He glanced back at the donkey cart, which was still safely tethered to the side of the street. He felt relieved. 。At this moment, only footsteps could be heard. The old father-in-law had indeed led Huang Si Niang over. He pointed at Ye Youxiao and said, "This is the young man who wants to see Si Niang." 。“Though Huang Si Niang recognized Ye Youxiao, she didn't want to entangle with him: “What do you want from me”

Ye Youxiao hurriedly said: “It’s about those two hundred taels of silver…” His heart was pounding in his chest. He hadn't even met the real person yet, but he had to explain his purpose first and see if Huang Si Niang would let him go in to see Jiuniang.” 。Huang Si Niang asked, "Where is your carriage" Ye You Xiao hurriedly pointed with his finger at the donkey cart. Huang Si Niang glanced at the donkey cart and then back at Ye You Xiao, "Come with me" 。This time, the old man no longer stopped him. Ye Youxiao finally entered the Qiushui tent and found that it was indeed very different from his family's tent: The Qiushui tent was made of cowhide, and there were several skylights on top of the tent, so the lighting was naturally excellent. 。The stage is also adorned with silk curtains, giving an air of grandeur and opulence. 。The spectators were seated on spring stools, and dragon whisker padded mats had already been placed on top. They were soft and comfortable to sit on, and each stool was also equipped with a footrest so that the spectators could rest their feet while sitting for long periods of time. 。In front, there were several tables set up, allowing spectators to enjoy the performance while sipping tea or tasting snacks. 。No wonder they charge an admission fee!On one hand, I envy the luxurious and comfortable autumn water pavilion, no wonder the cashier charges a silver coin; on the other hand, I despise these dignitaries, why do they need to be so extravagant when watching a play At this moment, on stage, the flute music is melodious, accompanying Li Jiuniang's singing: “…. Light and graceful, seizing youth’s fleeting years, in pavilions and halls adorned with splendor…” 。"As spring's flowers bloom, they fall to the ground. Who will pick them up Who will take them home" The song ended and as always, the room erupted in applause. 。Although Ye Youxiao didn't hear the whole song, he was equally captivated. He was once again bewitched by Li Jiuniang's clear and gentle voice. He felt that her voice had sunk deep into his heart, caressing it with a feeling of both numbness and tenderness. His whole body felt as if it were immersed in a hot spring, every pore relaxed and comfortable. Yet, above his head, spring lingered, willows swaying gently in the breeze. This kind of contentment was truly indescribable. 。Huang Si Niang saw that he was listening with rapt attention, and proudly asked, "You Xiao, how does it compare to your new play"Ye You Xiao shook his head repeatedly, then hurriedly nodded in praise: "Truly, this song should only exist in heaven, how many times can one hear it in the mortal world" Suddenly remembering that he couldn't belittle his own new play, he quickly added two sentences: "Speaking solely of singing style, Jiu Niang has indeed reached the peak, there is nothing comparable." 。It's a pity that the form of the "buzzing and chirping" is too monotonous. Jiuniang is somewhat restricted and can't have her fill of fun. 。Li Jiuniang on the stage didn't notice Ye Youxiao's arrival. She walked towards Lu Yin and said loudly, "I am fortunate today to have invited the famous poet Lu Yin, Mr. Zhaojian!" These spectators were either wealthy or noble. Seeing that this ugly scholar was actually Lu Yin, they couldn't help but murmur among themselves. 。

Zhu Quan's wife, Zhang Hui, was also among the spectators. Beside her sat a boy with rosy lips and white teeth, very handsome in appearance, but he loudly said, "Mother, isn't this just an ugly scholar"

The onlookers, hearing his innocent words, burst into laughter. Li Shengting also spoke up loudly: "The House of Pei County King has a long academic tradition and is good at identifying talent. Even a child understands it thoroughly!"

Zhang Hui hurriedly covered her son Zhu Youzhen's mouth. She cast her eyes around and saw that everyone was looking at her. Her face flushed red as she hastily said, "Youzhen is just a child. He judges people by their appearance. I hope Luo Zhao won't take it to heart.

Hearing what Li Shengting said, Li Jiuniang realized that the woman before her was Zhu Quan's wife. She couldn't help but take a closer look at her. 。Then her face darkened, and she coldly said to Li Shengting: "The child's mouth is unrestrained, Mr. Zhaojiang will naturally not mind." 。But Li Lang, you have grown so tall! Could it be that you are still a child!”

The onlookers heard Li Jiuniang lightly reveal the Zhu family's shortcomings, but she struck Li Shengting hard with the board, saying that although he was tall, he was like a child. They couldn't help but smile 。Ye Youxiao himself didn't understand why he felt so angry upon seeing this girl. He suddenly spoke up, saying, "He's just a child He's not much younger than me! To speak so cruelly, he must apologize!"At this moment, everyone noticed that there was another young man inside the shed. Judging by his age, he wasn't much younger than Zhu Youzhen. They immediately began to discuss the matter. 。Zhang Hui saw that the other person wasn't very old and for a moment, she lost her grudge. 。Li Shengting was reprimanded by Li Jiuniang, his heart filled with anger but he dared not vent it. Seeing Ye Youxiao stepping forward, he immediately strode over and scolded: "Qiushui Pavilion is a place of elegant music and song. How did you, a servant, get in here Our Lady always teaches her children well, how could she allow you to slander them!"At this moment, his aura was like a rainbow, his spirits soaring, and he had finally regained the majesty of the right golden guard general of the Tang Dynasty. 。"Only a flat, emotionless voice said: 'A distinguished warrior like you, your aura truly surpasses this young man.'" 。"Amazing! Truly amazing!"Li Shengting turned around, and it was indeed Luo Yin performing his strange and unpredictable movements. In an instant, Li Shengting felt fury rising within him. 。There are three women in this shed: Li Jiuniang is of high status, Zhang Hui is beautiful but cruel, and Huang Siniang is highly skilled in martial arts. 。He didn't dare to provoke any of them, but Luo Yin described as ugly and was a habitual wastrel scholar. Ironically, his heartthrob treated him like an honored guest, which made him unbearably jealous. 。I was just about to go looking for his trouble, but now he's come right to me. He's practically asking to be killed! Li Shengting let out a cold snort: "So it's Master Zhao Jian." 。"I just heard that Zheng Zixuan's niece is a great admirer of Mr. Zhao Jian's poetry and has vowed to marry only him. I wonder if there's any truth to this"Luo Yin still expected the other person to humiliate or even fight with him, but when he suddenly heard this, he was completely clueless. 。But it sounds like this girl likes her own poems and even vowed to marry me, which is obviously flattering Luo! At that moment, I didn't know how to answer, so I could only tell the truth: "The Zheng Xiang that Lang Jun mentioned, Luo did indeed visit a few days ago, and presented him with a seven-character quatrain poem titled 'Bee' for his guidance." 。But I haven't heard about Zheng Xiang's niece. 。“You certainly wouldn’t have heard about it! When you visited, Zheng Xiang's niece had peeked at you from behind the screen and was almost scared to death by your noble appearance! She rushed back to her boudoir, vomiting and burning all the poems she had copied in her spare time, not leaving a single one. This anecdote has already spread throughout Chang'an. If you don't believe me, feel free to ask those present here” 。The audience seemed to know this joke already, so when Li Jiuniang introduced him, the meeting kept going on and on. 。Now finally someone spoke out this joke loudly, and they laughed so hard, their laughter almost lifted the autumn water shed. 。Even Li Jiuniang couldn't help but smile, but she immediately remembered that Luo Yin was the great poet she had brought to perform today. She was supposed to sing his poems, but now because of Li Shengting's antics, Luo Yin's face was lost, how could he still sing She couldn't help but cast a glare at Li Shengting. 。Li Jiuniao of course knew that Li Shengting's persistence was because he had intentions for her, but she had never thought about romantic matters before. It wasn't until she saw the story of Liang and Zhu after which she suddenly felt a flutter in her heart, discovering the beauty of love. She immediately yearned for a romance, wanting to truly experience the sweetness of love. 。

In a vast sea of people, where will I find this ideal lover With no other choice, I can only go on stage and perform new plays, hoping to experience the happiness of being loved through love fantasies in the play.

Although she acted opposite Ye Youxiao, she didn't consider him because he was too young. 。Li Shengting is indeed talented, but his social standing is lacking. Moreover, he's always pestering me, which is quite annoying. 。Ye Youxiao, although he had never met Luo Yin in his life, couldn't stand Li Sheng clinging to Li Jiuniang. He already saw him as a rival in love. He immediately spoke out loudly: "General Li speaks of the present, but doesn't know that during the Five Hus period there was a monk named Dao An. He was described as both black and ugly and was ridiculed by other monks. He simply said eight words: 'People are not defined by their appearance, emptiness is holiness.'" 。Suddenly, the entire room was filled with shock and silence. 。Li Lang, your sex is not empty at all. 。He recounted the story the venerable Master Huishen had told him a few days ago, and it happened to be quite relevant to the situation. This instantly enraged Li Shengting, who was furious but unable to attack Ye Youxiao. He could only glare at him with hatred. 。

The audience, after hearing Ye Youxiao's words, though they didn't know this An Monk, all knew the saying "Judging people by their appearance leads to missing out on a gem," and thought to themselves how they had also been judging by appearances It was truly against the teachings of the sages.

Fortunately, I didn't have to go out there just now. This superficial and ignorant hat of "judging by appearances" wouldn't be on my head, so I feel a little better. 。At this moment, Li Jiuniang was overjoyed. She thought to herself that this Ye Youxiao had actually helped Luo Yin out of trouble. In fact, it gave her the opportunity to perform Luo Yin's masterpiece. Of course, she wouldn't miss this chance and immediately said, "Youxiao is right. Although Mr. Zhaojiang has a limited appearance, his poems are truly uplifting..." 。I shall now sing one of his poems, titled "Self-Exile". 。The audience, hearing that Li Jiuniang was going to sing, became excited. 。They didn't really care what Li Jiuniang sang, they just wanted to listen to her moving voice. 。Lian Li Shengting and Ye Youxiao also turned their eyes to Li Jiuniang. 。Li Jiuniang smiled faintly, and her voice immediately rang out: "Sing aloud when you have it, stop singing when you don't. Much sorrow and hatred are also endless." 。Enjoy the drink today, for tomorrow's worries will be there tomorrow. 。Such a free-spirited quatrain, when sung by Li Jiuniang's melodious voice, gains an extra layer of charm. It makes one feel that even in moments of despair, there is always a beloved companion by their side, bringing instant comfort and a surge of passion. 。Once Li Jiuniang finished her performance, the audience all chanted in unison: “Let us drink tonight and be merry, for tomorrow’s worries can wait!” Immediately, a wave of applause erupted, accompanied by some spectators continuing to sing along. 。Zhang Hui suddenly stood up and walked gracefully towards Luo Yin. 。A very beautiful woman, a very ugly poet, contrasted with each other, creates a stronger impact. 。Although the spectators had heard that she was the wife of the Marquis of Pei, they did not know why she got up. 。All eyes in the room were suddenly focused on Zhang Hui. 。tention, he can issue an edict to mediate, each rewarding the meritorious service of pacifying the bandits. The Shatuo people will garrison Taiyuan, becoming a protective barrier for the northwest of...