Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 706: Another Poem

In front of the East City Yamen,
In the shed,
The two girls blushed as they looked at Luo Yunhou, who was talking nonsense.

Wei Shuyun was so angry that she opened her beautiful eyes and glared at Luo Yunhou fiercely. Such frivolous words were actually said to His Highness. She couldn't help but retort,
"It is said that the Marquis is open-minded, but now it seems that he is just a smooth talker. Your Highness, please come over and greet the Marquis. That is courtesy.

Logically speaking, the Marquis should have come to see the princess, but now he has put the cart before the horse and said such frivolous words. Doesn't he have no respect for the inferior?"

It was really amazing. Not only was Wei Shuyun's words clever, but the princess's calm attitude was also extremely rare.
Zhang Jinyu secretly glanced at Wei Shuyun again. This woman left a deep impression on him and naturally attracted him, especially the way she was dressed today. She looked heroic and had a special temperament. He had to keep her in mind. He looked at Her Royal Highness the Princess again and felt moved. Her charming figure attracted him even more, especially the rare fragrance. What he just said was indeed a bit inappropriate.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. I was just being reckless. When I saw Your Highness dressed like this, I felt ashamed. As the saying goes, envy, jealousy, and hatred, I can't control my emotions when I say these words. Your Highness, please understand."

"Haha, interesting. The Marquis is really good at speaking. I am speechless. I am envious, jealous and resentful. Good words. If you think about them carefully, you will find a unique meaning."

Princess Zhou Xiangxue smiled upon hearing this and sat down next to Marquis Luo Yun without any hesitation. She was wearing a blue Confucian robe which seemed a bit too big for her. Zhang Jinyu couldn't help but look over. She couldn't see her plump body at all. It was hidden too well.

I thought of Qin Keqing, who was dressed as a man and followed me out. She wanted to bind her breasts, but Zhang Jinyu stopped her and said she had to wrap them with cloth. What if they got squeezed and damaged? So she stopped her. Your Highness looked like she had wrapped them with cloth.

"Princess, thank you for your compliments. Those are just some tricks. Your Highness, why are you dressed like this? Are you here to have fun in the East Market or to do some shopping?

If there are not so many ministers, there will be too many eyes. Your Highness's servants can come. Why do you have to come here in person? If something goes wrong and hurts Your Highness, it will be troublesome."

Zhang Jinyu said these words with heartache, but he was really worried inside. After all, there were so many people here, a mixed crowd, and quite a few hooligans. If he were to walk on the street and get bumped into or squeezed by passers-by, wouldn't others take advantage of him? It made him feel uncomfortable just thinking about it, as he hadn't even been touched by anyone.

"Don't worry, my Lord. There is no need to worry. We will protect His Highness and there are guards following him secretly. My Lord, please take care of yourself and don't worry."

This sudden sentence made Zhang Jinyu a little embarrassed.
I don’t know if I had offended Wei Shuyun in some way, but as soon as they met, she felt like she had eaten spicy peppers. Zhang Jinyu couldn’t help but look over at her. She was still as arrogant as ever. Such beauties are rare. If I had known earlier, I would have chosen her. But the other one is not bad either!
The more I think about it, the more I regret it!
"Ahem, that's not the way to say it. I'm not afraid of a thousand things, I'm afraid of a single thing. Even if Miss Wei is touched, I'll still feel bad. Logically, it's better for me to touch her first."

"you,"

"Okay, Shuyun. What the Marquis said is also for our own good. You should say less and just believe him for now."

The eldest princess watched the two of them bickering with great interest, and stopped them when they got anxious. It seemed that Marquis Luo Yun really treated Wei Shuyun differently.

However, the exam will start tomorrow, and Luo Yunhou still has the mind to hang out here. What is he doing? He did not ask them, but pulled a chair over, sat on the west side of the table, and asked;
"My Lord, you are the chief examiner of Hanyuan Palace. You should enter the palace today. Tomorrow is the day for examiners to enter the palace. What is the purpose of your visit, my Lord?"

"Well, what else can we do? Of course we need to buy some food. We have several days to go. With so many people, we can't just eat dry food and pickles every day."

Zhang Jinyu sat back down. It's easy to say, so many people need to eat, and we're not at home. Besides, wasn't it me who asked His Highness this question first?
"That's true. It's a coincidence. I came to the East Market today to see what kind of business the shop I bought could do. Who knew that when I went to the south to look at the shops, I met a president of the Chamber of Commerce from Jiangnan. He had a batch of sake brewed with Mirror Lake water, about ten carts. I bought all of it. Since I met the Marquis, everyone who saw it should have a share. I will give the Marquis five carts, half each."

The princess tilted her head with a smile on her face, and it was unknown whether it was a deliberate or unintentional test. Zhang Jinyu did not understand. Looking at the shop, it was nothing more than the things confiscated from the house of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. His Highness should have bought a lot. As for the matter of Jiangnan sake,

Whether it was wine or something else, it’s hard to say.

"Your Highness, it would be disrespectful if I didn't accept your kindness. I'll take the five carts of sake, but Your Highness, if you have something to say, please tell me. As for making money, Your Highness, please don't use this excuse. Two hundred thousand taels of silver a year outside the Great Wall is just a drop in the bucket for Your Highness. I know that."

The words were a bit clear. Not to mention 200,000 taels, even 400,000 taels would not be a problem. After all, Princess Yongcheng had shown her financial strength in Manchun Courtyard. If she had known earlier, she would have asked for more.

Hearing what Luo Yunhou said, Zhou Xiangxue narrowed her eyes and immediately thought of her good sister, Princess Yongcheng Zhou Ying. She also placed a bet, which was interesting.

"The Marquis has such a big appetite now that he doesn't even care about two hundred thousand taels of silver. It's true that although it's bitter and cold outside the Great Wall, it's a big place after all, so he can get this much. I just don't know what the Marquis got from my sister. I heard that in the palace, the Marquis treats everyone equally."

At this point, Zhou Xiangxue's expression remained unchanged, but Wei Shuyun beside her looked at her angrily. She didn't expect that Luo Yunhou was also a traitor.

Zhang Jinyu felt a little uncomfortable being stared at. Why was she staring at by that girl? She felt embarrassed. This was a matter of mutual consent. They were just negotiating a condition. She made herself look like a nagging woman. People who didn't know would think it was something else.

He clasped his fists and replied;

"Your Highness, what you said is not reasonable. I have done what I promised Your Highness. At that time, Your Highness did not buy out the contract and forbade me to help others. Princess Yongcheng also wants to come to the capital to fulfill her filial duty. How can I stop the princess from being filial and cause trouble?"

After some explanation, he finally sighed heavily, appearing extremely aggrieved, as if the eldest princess and the others were forcing him to do something!
Although this statement may sound like a rogue, it is reasonable. Princess Yueru blinked her eyes and found it a little funny. He was the only one who acted like a rogue to her.

"I have seen Marquis Luo Yun's eloquence. No matter what you say, the Marquis is right. What the Marquis promised has been done. I have received the imperial edict and can return to the palace from now on. However, the Beidi Palace still needs to be cleaned up, so I have to wait a few days. Calculating the date, it happens that Marquis Luo Yun is in Hanyuan Hall, and the chief examiner is finishing the provincial examination."

Implied meaning,
Zhang Jinyu understood and agreed immediately.

"Don't worry, Your Highness. As long as I am fine, I will definitely congratulate Your Highness on your new home. When the time comes, I will bother you again. Please don't bear a grudge against me and refuse to let me in. That would be too embarrassing."

"Okay, it's settled. Also, you did a good job. The same goes for Princess Yongcheng. It's hard to say when she will come back. Moreover, Marquis Luo Yun should also be careful. After all, my sister has a husband. If she comes back, she will come back together. You should take it easy in the future. I heard that in Manchun Courtyard, you gave Zhou Ying a poem, "Tea also intoxicates people, so why do I need wine? Books are fragrant, so why do I need flowers? Wine doesn't intoxicate people, but they get intoxicated themselves. Flowers don't fascinate people, but they fascinate themselves." Is that right or not?"

Zhang Jinyu was stunned and surprised. She really underestimated the woman in front of her. She could find out such things clearly. Did Princess Yongcheng say it herself? Or was there someone from His Highness in that room? She even said that the sisters were sharing what they had.

My heart skipped a beat and I thought a lot. However, what His Highness said was right. It is better to ignore married women. After all, the rumors are not good. On the other hand, if there is no prince consort, can't I get closer to her?

"Thank you for your reminder, Your Highness. I will be more careful in the future. This poem was indeed written by me and I said it unintentionally."

"What an unintentional remark. It is because of this that I cannot let it go. I met the Marquis first, and the Marquis never left a poem for me. Is it that I am not as good as Yongcheng, or that the Marquis disdains me?"

Zhou Xiangxue spoke, her tone was somewhat sad and complaining, Zhang Jinyu couldn't stand it, he rubbed his hands, isn't this embarrassing?

"Your Highness, why do you need to care about these things? I never meant that. I have forgotten it."

"I am concerned about this. Five carts of wine and water cannot be exchanged for a poem by the Marquis. How about you write a poem and give it to me right here, Marquis?"

Zhou Xiangxue's face straightened. She really wanted to ask Luo Yunhou for poems. It wasn't that she did it on purpose, but she was just upset. As the saying goes, it's not the lack of wealth that is worrying, but the inequality of wealth.

Zhang Jinyu's forehead was full of black lines. This woman is really weird. At first glance, how can I remember it? Although I remember the poems, I still need to think about it. It's also good to respond to the scenery.

There seemed to be a person named something, "Poor Concubine" or something, and he knocked on the table twice and recited it casually;

"Your Highness, poetry is a rare thing. If you meet the right person, you will have it. If you meet the wrong person, you will not be able to write it no matter how hard you try. I actually have a poem. Please listen carefully."

Zhang Jinyu cleared his throat and asked Zhou Xiangxue to listen attentively, with a curious look on his face. It came so quickly, it must be perfunctory,
"Listen, if it's not good, don't read it."

Zhang Jinyu ignored her. What a joke! The poems he recited were definitely not bad. He cleared his throat and recited a poem.

"Listen carefully, Your Highness. I will read it now.
There was a beautiful enchantress, wandering along the bank of the Xiang River.

The orchids and duhua flowers are fragrant by the waterside. To whom shall I send them?

The hair is white, the teeth are white, and the eyebrows are green.

Her face is as red as a blooming lotus, her skin is as white as cream. She is graceful and elegant, and light and graceful.

She was proud of her unparalleled beauty and also relied on her alluring figure.

Zi Fu came in to serve, and Feiyan returned to the position.

"

Suddenly, there was silence all around, especially Wei Shuyun, whose face turned red. The last sentence, "serve before the husband", wasn't it referring to Wei Zifu? Her surname was also Wei, so who was she talking about?

Only the eldest princess Zhou Xiangxue was filled with disbelief. Luo Yunhou's literary talent was probably unmatched in the world. What was the meaning of the poem?

I repeated it in my mind again, but then, Luo Yunhou's voice came again, and the voice was clearly audible.

"I am enjoying the dance in my palm, and I am sad about the poem written by the round fan.

It is said that we met in Luochuan in the past, but we are still separated from Gaotang now.

Birds are chirping in the secluded pavilion, and dew is wetting the grass on the idle steps.

Time passes so fast and time cannot be caught up.

"Unwrapping the gift from Pei An, I swallow my anger and feel sad in vain."

After finishing a poem, Zhou Xiangxue opened her eyes, how could she bear it, the passing time was so fast, and the years could not be caught up. Undoing the gift from Pei'an, she complained and felt sad in vain. Wasn't it talking about herself? For the past ten years, she had been in the Beishan Palace, complaining and feeling sad in vain, washing her face with tears, often waking up in the night, and no one had ever asked about it. It was just a cold house, facing it alone.

"People say that the people of the Heavenly Family are rich and noble, but how can they know the sufferings of the Heavenly Family? They also have unhappy times. Marquis Luo Yun, does this poem have a name?"

Zhang Jinyu was stunned for a moment, frowning, not knowing how to start. The original name of this poem was "My Poor Concubine". How could she say this? However, facing the somewhat resentful face of the eldest princess, her heart softened and she told him.
"Your Highness, this is nothing more than a poem. You must not put yourself in its place. To live is to move forward. There is no need to look back. I did not want to say it, but Your Highness asked, so I can only tell you that the poem is called My Poor Fate."

"I am unlucky, I am unlucky, and so am I."

For a moment, the three of them were silent.
a long time,

The princess smiled, and seemed to have returned to her original state. She took out a jade pendant from her waist and placed it on the table.

"My Lord, you gave me a poem as a gift. This poem can be passed down through the ages. I cannot accept it for nothing. This was given to me by my father when I was young. I have always kept it with me. Today I give it to you. I agree with what you just said. People in the royal family are sometimes lonely. I am unlucky, but not unlucky. Wei Zifu and Zhao Feiyan never regretted it. I have seen the great talent of Marquis Luo Yun. See you later."

After speaking,
Without waiting for Zhang Jinyu to speak, he stood up and left in a very elegant manner. Wei Shuyun followed closely behind him. When she was a few steps away, she turned back and glared at Luo Yunhou, then turned around and continued to follow.

Zhang Jinyu was a little puzzled and looked at the table. There was a long piece of mutton-fat jade with a phoenix descending from the sky carved on it. The jade pendant still had body temperature and a strong orchid fragrance came from it. Was this a token of love?
Zhang Jinyu couldn't help but smile bitterly. It was really troublesome to be targeted by the princess.
A restaurant at the corner of the East Market entrance was being renovated. Many craftsmen were busy working. The eldest princess and her servant hurried back here.
The shopkeeper, please come out quickly.
"The boss is well."

"Well, go ahead and get busy. Keep an eye on it."

"Yes, boss."

The shopkeeper lowered his head and replied,
The master and servant quickly entered the back hall and the inner courtyard. There was a different world here, a beautiful and quiet courtyard.
Entering the main hall,

Zhou Xiangxue sighed and sat in the main seat with a serious face. Liu Yue, who was serving her master, immediately served tea and water when she saw her master come back. She carefully poured two bowls of tea and placed them on the table.

"Your Highness, have a cup of tea to quench your thirst."

"understood."

The eldest princess seemed to have a thousand things on her mind. She held the tea bowl in her hand for a long time without being able to take a sip. Suddenly she asked;
"Yue'er, what do you think of Marquis Luo Yun?"

Asked suddenly,

Liu Yue obviously didn't realize what His Highness meant. After all, she had only met him once before.
"Your Highness, Marquis Luo Yun is a gentleman. Although he has the intention, he doesn't have the courage. When Your Highness hosted him that day, there were only a few men in the world who could have such insight. And there were only a few who could remain calm in the face of temptation and have extraordinary courage.
Especially after drinking, Marquis Luo Yun watched His Highness' every move without blinking, and was obviously attracted by His Highness's charm. I saw that the veins on Marquis Luo Yun's wrists bulged, and he endured the pain. This is how he left in the end. Even so, he did not ask us to serve him. He knew clearly what was important. "

The voice just fell,

Zhou Xiangxue finally put the tea bowl that she had been holding into her mouth and suddenly felt that the tea was so delicious. How could she not know this? In her early years in the capital, she had seen all kinds of men, hypocrites, playboys, all pretending to be serious. How could they be as unscrupulous as Marquis Luo Yun, whose eyes almost saw through people. However, even so, it was rare and precious. A real villain was not necessarily a bad person. He was always a hundred times better than Yongcheng, that girl and her husband. I don't know if Yongcheng regretted it.

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on the corner of my mouth.
"Yes, he is not bad. I am somewhat tempted by him."

Not knowing whether it was true or false, Liu Yue leaned forward and whispered;
"Your Highness, Marquis Luo Yun already has wives and concubines, so he may not be able to become your consort as Your Highness wishes."

"You. No one would be willing to do that. Didn't Marquis Luo Yun always say that I don't have any lovers? From today on, I will only have him as my lover."

There seems to be a smile, there seems to be a longing, it is not the same,

suddenly,

The concierge remembered,

Wei Shuyun followed him in, entered the house, and then turned around to close the door.

"Your Highness, everything outside has been arranged. When the East Market closes in the evening, we can return to the Princess's Mansion. The mansion has already been cleaned."

"Well, I'm at ease with you doing the work."

Princess Zhou Xiangxue stared at Wei Shuyun, leaving Liu Yue and Wei Shuyun somewhat at a loss.
"Your Highness, why are you staring at me? Is it because I am not wearing the right clothes?"

Wei Shuyun also turned her gaze to herself.

Only Zhou Xiangxue was puzzled. Although Wei Shuyun's appearance was also a top choice, it was slightly inferior to Liu Yue's. Moreover, she had sent someone to inquire about Luo Yunhou's preferences. He said that he liked women with plump breasts, and all his wives and concubines were such. Why did he look at Wei Shuyun differently? Was it because of her surname Wei and the story of Wei Zifu, or was there really something else that she had not discovered?

"You stay here and take off all your clothes. I want to see them."

Liu Yue and Wei Shuyun were shocked. The latter blushed and stammered, not knowing what to do.
"Your Highness, is this the place?"

"Yes, right here, take it off!"

"Here"

(End of this chapter)