No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 562: What level, the same bounty as mine? [Monthly ticket requested! ]

Night, full moon.

On a large river at the junction of two states, north of Hongzhou and south of Jiangzhou.

On the wide river, dozens of boats, large and small, are sailing slowly.

The water in the Jiang and Hong sections of the Yangtze River is relatively clear, far less turbid than the water near the estuary in Jinling and other places downstream.

The river surface is sparkling under the bright full moon.

Looking down from a high place, hundreds of boats on the river are sailing along with the rushing river under the moonlight, as if they are motionless.

It solidified into a rather spectacular picture.

If someone is here, he would chant:
There is no dust in the sky, and a lone moon wheel in the sky.

The waterway between the two states is crowded with ships coming and going, including passenger ships, grain ships, merchant ships, and cargo ships.

There were even some luxurious pleasure boats owned by dignitaries and wealthy brothels in the coastal counties and cities, floating on the riverside.

However, at present, Hong and Jiang states are close to the front line, and the most common ships on the river are passenger ships heading eastward for refuge, and cargo ships and grain ships quietly heading west to transport supplies.

On both sides of the stream, a few official ships with torches lit and loaded with weapons would pass by from time to time, quietly escorting the grain and fodder route.

However, there were too many ships on the river, and the official ships could not supervise them one by one, so they only followed the grain ships and cargo ships that transported logistical food and important materials.

As for the passenger ships, merchant ships, and pleasure boats, most of them were ignored as long as they did not get close to the logistics fleet sailing in the middle of the river.

At this moment, on the river not far from the shore, there was an ordinary large merchant ship, quietly anchored, with bright lights on and flying the flag of a well-known Jiangnan business - Tao Shou Zhai.

A business that sells rare herbs, as well as exquisite pastries and fruits.

This Tao Shouzhai merchant ship did not attract the attention of the passing ships on the surrounding river.

From the evening of sunset to now when the moon is rising over the branches, from time to time some lonely small boats come, stop beside the merchant ships, drop off the people, and then sail away quickly.

Some of these small boats came from counties and prefectures on the shore, while others came from passenger ships on the river that were hurrying south.

Those who boarded the deck included a bearded guest, a begging monk, a merchant's wife, a Taoist priest in a green scarf, and a lazy scholar who drifted from a drunken boat and staggered ashore. They were so feminine that it was hard to tell whether they were men or women...

This group of special guests stayed on the ship for a while, some left early, and some stayed longer.

Those who left, when they came out, were all carrying large and small bags of herbs. The hostess personally and politely saw them off the boat, and quietly watched the guests leave on the deck. Then she turned around and took a look at the group of pleasure boats not far away.

As night fell, pleasure boats from brothels and taverns in the counties and cities along the river bank would come for fun.

They were not far from the Tao Shouzhai merchant ship which was temporarily anchored.

These pleasure boats were decorated with lights and emitted the melodious sounds of stringed instruments and bamboo flutes, among which there were also the hearty laughter of wealthy gentlemen and the soft singing of dancers and singers, which could be heard from time to time.

At this moment, in the night by the river, a melodious and clear sound of piano is ringing.

In the painted boat, there was a faint accompaniment of the voice of a prostitute:
"The girl from Yue picks lotus by the autumn water... Her narrow sleeves are made of light silk, revealing her golden bracelets... She picks flowers in the reflection of her own shadow, and the flowers look like her face... Her heart is in turmoil with the silk.

"The wind and waves are late at the Luguai Beach... The fog is heavy and the smoke is light, and the companions who came with me are nowhere to be seen... The faint singing of the boatmen returning in the distance... The sadness of parting leads to the south bank of the river."

A poem about butterfly in love with flower.

It seems to have suddenly become popular recently. I heard that it came from a wanted notice from a government agency, looking for a top rebel who only left this word as a clue, nicknamed the Master of Butterfly Love Flower.

But what was unexpected was that the person was not caught, but this extremely literary poem "Butterfly Loves Flowers" became popular.

It was loved by the prostitutes in brothels and taverns, who composed and sang it, and it became popular in romantic places.

There were even many singers and dancers who felt sorry for the talented owner of the Butterfly Love Flower, and their sympathy was overflowing...

As for his identity as a wanted criminal by the imperial court... well, I can only say that women's brain circuits are different from men's, and they have their own set of emotional logic.

At this moment, on the river, with the sound of piano and singing coming from the night, there was silence on and off the Tao Shouzhai merchant ship.

The people who were having fun in the painted boat and the singing girl who loved to sing Butterfly Loves Flower were unaware of this and were still immersed in the leisurely atmosphere of this romantic place.

Until a little girl with a pigtail tied on her head suddenly ran out from a private room on the pleasure boat where guests had just sat down.

With two clear snots hanging from her nose, she sniffed and then trotted on her short legs to the center of the most lively singing hall in the pleasure boat.

As if she felt she was too short, she moved a stool and climbed onto the table.

This confusing operation, which took place in the center of the hall, immediately attracted puzzled and strange looks from everyone in the audience, including the singing girl who was playing the piano and singing, who all paused and turned to look.

But they saw this little girl with a snotty nose, standing on the table with her hands behind her back, and speaking to them in a baby voice:

"My master said, big sisters, please stop singing this song. The government officials are looking for the guy who wrote this song. If you continue to sing it and the news gets out, you will be arrested and interrogated tomorrow."

The originally noisy hall suddenly became silent. The guests who had been smiling and playing with laughter fell silent. Even the singer who first sang the lyrics turned pale with fright.

After pausing to take a breath, the little girl wiped her nose quickly, then put her hands behind her back like a little adult.

She said in a soft voice, as if she was reciting lessons in front of her teacher every day:
"My master said that he didn't mean to disturb everyone's mood, but he really couldn't stand this group of traitors in the court, and the one among them who left a poem and several portraits, called the owner of the butterfly love flower, destroyed the statue of the saint, was extremely rebellious, and was against the saint and the court. He is really a bold guy."

Everyone looked at each other.

"Yes Yes Yes."

The wealthy guests, the singing girl, and the madam who had rushed in with her strong slaves and thugs to chase the people away, changed their expressions when they heard this and hurriedly braked their cars... They all nodded in agreement.

After the little girl finished reading the teacher's lines, she turned her head to look in the direction of the box, and seeing no other movement, she took out a heavy little purse and poured the gold and silver grains inside onto the table.

When everyone was staring blankly at the golden and silver jumping beans bouncing on the table next to the little girl's feet, she tilted her head and said:
"Here, the lady said she was sorry for disturbing everyone's mood, and she will pay for the drinks and dinner tonight.

"I really hate those traitors, I have to speak out... In this world where morals are going downhill, singing traitor songs in public can easily lead kids like me astray, sir, I won't tolerate that.

"Okay, you guys continue, stop singing. Oh, and that big sister who plays the piano, stop playing too."

After explaining all this, the little girl jumped off the table, leaving behind the gold and silver beans, and trotted back to a private room under the surprised and stunned gazes of everyone. A gentle white figure seemed to stand up in the room to pick her up.

"Ding-ling-ling——" There was also a faint sound of crisp bells.

In the hall, the madam hurried forward, picking up the gold and silver beans while smiling broadly and praising them endlessly: "This young lady is really well-educated and well-mannered. You can tell at a glance that she was taught by a teacher who understands justice and hates evil..."

"Yes, yes, sir, your style will last forever..." Everyone echoed.

The lively atmosphere in the pleasure boat was restored, but the sound of piano and the song "Dielianhua" were missing.

After the madam had taken care of the hall, she was about to run over to offer a glass of wine to the wise gentleman, but the maid told her that the master and disciple had not stayed for a moment, and had already left the pleasure boat and sailed away.

The madam was startled, and turned to look outside at the night, and saw what seemed to be a small boat slowly drifting away on the river.
It seemed to be heading towards the quiet merchant ship flying the flag of Tao Shou Zhai not far away.

There were two vague white figures, one big and one small, on the boat.

One was short, the little girl with a runny nose, the other was dressed in white, tall and graceful...

"Sir, are the court really going to arrest all of them for singing this song of Butterfly Loves Flower?"

"Whether the government will arrest them or not, I don't know, but I can be sure that if they continue to sing, your master's aunt will come out and blow them up along with the pleasure boat."

"Master Aunt is so awesome!"

On the small boat that had just left the pleasure boat, the little girl with a pigtail hairpin jumped up immediately and spoke in a respectful tone.

The gentle lady in white clothes beside her held her pigtailed head and said helplessly:
"You better stop talking and don't flatter her again. Be careful that she will lift you up and throw you into the river, just like last time."

The little girl with the hairpin was confused: "Didn't the master teach me how to fly last time? She gave me a reward after asking me to 'say it again'. How could she be angry?"

"Reward you. Just fly and don't worry about landing, right?"

Jun Yu Nianyuan, the second daughter of Yunmeng Jianze, who had appeared in the sound of piano in Xingzifang in Xunyang City a month ago, smiled lightly and shook her head.

"Don't fall into the water and get cold again."

She took out a white handkerchief and wiped the little girl's nose.

This little Loli was the one she brought out from the wealthy family in Xingzifang where she had been hiding before.

The wealthy man's surname was Li. He had a daughter in his old age and doted on her very much. He handed her over to Yu Nianyuan with great respect.

The little Lolita with a pigtail hairstyle has a single character in her name, “Shu”.

Li Shu pointed at her chin again, blinked her eyes and asked:

"I understand, sir, but why is the elder sister angry? This song "Die Lian Hua" is well written and sung. If you hadn't stopped me, I would have wanted to lie on the table and listen to it for a while longer. I walked so much in the city today...

"Sir, why doesn't the elder sister like to listen to this music and lyrics?"

The little girl asked curiously.

Yu Nianyuan said leisurely: "Because she doesn't like the person who left this poem."

"Is it the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower who was hung side by side with Master Nun on the notice on the city wall when we left the city just now?"

"Correct."

Yu Nianyuan nodded: "If we met him in the past, your master aunt would beat him to death."

Li Shu seemed to be thinking: "So the master aunt liked him before, but doesn't like him now? Could it be the case of love turning into hate in opera?"

"?"

Yu Nianyuan turned his head silently and looked at the new disciple. He did not ask her why she thought so, but just reminded her seriously:

"Don't say that when you go in. Even if a child says something innocent, I, your teacher, can't save you."

Li Shu tugged at her skirt:

"Didn't the master say that the master wanted to beat him to death before? Beating is love, scolding is love. From this perspective, isn't it love to death?"

Yu Nianyuan said nothing.

As they approached the merchant ship, the wind on the river was quite strong, and the small boat they were riding in was swaying in the wind.

The little girl quickly opened her arms and hugged her master's thighs, buried her face and quietly wiped her nose with the white hem of her master's clothes. She seemed to be very interested in this new master lady she had met recently. She raised her head and asked curiously:
"Well, sir, Master Aunt loved him to death before, but what about now? Master Aunt doesn't love him anymore?"

"now……"

The gentle lady in white opened the little head and carefully wiped her nose with a handkerchief.

When she put away her handkerchief, her fingers happened to touch a reward notice in her sleeve that was looking for the main culprit who was responsible for the collapse of the Donglin Buddha and the beheading of several officials.

"Now, in your Master Aunt's eyes, it should be... that he loves her to death."

Yu Nianyuan chuckled.

"Ah, sir, what does this mean?"

At this time, the boat stopped and arrived.

Yu Nianyuan glanced at Li Shu who looked up and asked questions like a curious baby.

In fact, it was good to be a little confused at a young age. When she was suddenly taken away and left home, she didn't cry or make a fuss. It was just that occasionally in the middle of the night, the little girl would suddenly run over, crawl into the bed, hug Yu Nianyuan's waist, and ask if her parents didn't want her because she didn't write well...

Yu Nianyuan took the trouble to touch Li Shu's little head, gently:

"Let's go, remember what you just said."

Soon, the gentle lady brought the little girl with a pigtail and went on deck with a calm look.
With the respectful farewell from the Taoshouzhai proprietress, the master and the apprentice walked into the cabin hall together...

(End of this chapter)