Spring is warm and fragrant

Chapter 80 Care
Liangshui River is located in the south of the city, about two feet wide, and weeping willows are planted all over the bank. It is a good place for people in the capital to enjoy the scenery in spring and summer.There are all kinds of street shops on both sides of the strait. In terms of fame and wealth, they are far inferior to the shops in Linglongfang, but things are cheap and varied here, and the people come and go, which makes it more lively.

On the Lantern Festival, lights and festoons are everywhere along the river tonight, reflecting the river like a bright dragon, winding and dancing.

But compared with the city, there is a slight river breeze here.

"Is Ah Nuan cold?" Xiao Huan asked worriedly.

At this time, the two groups of Lu and Chu had already gathered together, the girls walked in front, the men followed behind, only Xiao Huan stayed by Lu Mingyu's side all the time, so his heartfelt greetings suddenly attracted everyone. out of everyone's sight.The three girls Lu Huaiyu secretly laughed, and the cousins ​​Lu Jiaping and Lu Jiaan also had faint smiles on their faces. They didn't support Xiao Huan's pursuit of his sister, but regarded it as intimacy between cousins.

On their right side, Chu Xing looked at the river expressionlessly, and Chu Sui pursed his lips and stared at Xiao Huan's profile, feeling unhappy.

"It's not cold, cousin don't worry about me." Lu Mingyu was dressed in men's clothes, wearing a moon-white cloak, it was quite warm at the moment, but Xiao Huan's question reminded her, Lu Mingyu stepped forward and asked the Chu family Whether the little girl is cold or not, her voice is soft, and when she lowers her head to speak, the side face is illuminated by a row of lanterns nearby, like pearls and jade.

Because he asked about his own sister, Chu Xing couldn't help but look over, and he met Lu Mingyu's delicate face with a glance. He quickly moved away, maybe it was unintentional, or there were other reasons, and his eyes fell on his cousin. The cousin looked there intently, with his familiar tenderness in his eyes.

Chu Xing silently looked away. Coincidentally, he saw a tall man running to a girl with a bunch of candied haws dozens of steps away, and handed it to her with a smile.The girl had an ordinary appearance, wearing a very ordinary sarong, but she lowered her head slightly to pick up the candied haws, her shy appearance was quite charming.Of course Chu Xing didn't feel anything, but he saw the tall man took the opportunity to hold the girl's hand...

It was another pair of people who understood the relationship between men and women, Chu Xing turned around again, but there was a trace of bewilderment in Feng's eyes.

What does it feel like to like a girl?He is 25. Since he was fifteen or sixteen years old, his grandmother has been busy arranging marriages for him. He didn't have time to meet those girls, so his grandmother gave him the portraits. It may be due to the artist's painting skills. Chu Xing saw that these girls seemed like All the same, with no desire to spend a lifetime with them.Later, the grandmother also tried every means to invite the noble daughters to be guests at home, and then asked him to meet them in the past, but looking at those noble daughters who blushed and lowered their heads and dared not look at him, Chu Xing still couldn't think of anything else.

Grandma persuaded him, saying that pick someone who feels good and get married as soon as possible, and get married early and have children, but what is the reason?If he is willing to marry a girl, it must be out of liking, not for her to help the Chu family carry on the family line. It is really just for the purpose of having children. How is it different from the stallion specially set aside in the racecourse?
Chu Xing looked at his cousin again, faintly feeling that as long as he persisted, sooner or later, he would also meet a woman whom he could not take his eyes off.The thought came together, something hooked him to see a place in his mind, but Chu Xing rationally suppressed it.Lu Mingyu was indeed different, but they were his younger siblings in his previous life, and they were the ones his cousin liked in this life. No matter how beautiful she was, it had nothing to do with him.

"cousin!"

Someone behind him called his cousin, as if he was running towards them, the voice was unfamiliar, guessing that it wasn't his sister, Chu Xing glanced at Lu Mingyu and Lu Huaiyu, and continued to look at the river scene.

Lu Mingyu turned around with Lu Huaiyu and saw He Li approaching with a smile on his face, followed by a brother and sister, the man was about the same age as Chu Sui, dressed in a gray robe, his facial features were somewhat similar to He Li's, but he was unsmiling, looking very is difficult to approach.The girl next to him looked twelve or thirteen years old, with an oval face and willow eyebrows, and a gentle and dignified smile.

Lu Mingyu froze for a moment before remembering who these two were.

There are two houses in Wukanghou's mansion. He Li's father, Wukanghou, is the eldest son, and he also has a brother who is a concubine.Master He Er is one or two years younger than Marquis Wukang, but Marquis Wukang did not get the gift until many years after his marriage, while Master He Er gave birth to He Yu the same year he got married.However, the second wife of the He family did not have much contact with the Lu family, so Lu Mingyu was not familiar with this pair of siblings.

"Brother Li, you are here too." Lu Huaiyu was very happy to see his childhood sweetheart cousin, and stood beside He Li affectionately, and then greeted He Yu brother and sister lightly after standing up.

Lu Mingyu disliked He Li and kept paying attention to her second sister. When Lu Huaiyu finished calling Cousin Yu and continued to talk to He Li, Lu Mingyu noticed that He Yu took a deep look at Lu Huaiyu. The look seemed unhappy, but it was not pure disgust. , more a bit...

She secretly guessed the meaning of He Yu's look. After He Yu's younger sister He Lanfang greeted the rest of the Lu family, she suddenly suggested to her elder brother, "Brother, let's go somewhere else?" She never regarded them as serious nephews and nieces, and even her cousin Lu Huaiyu was cold-hearted. He Lanfang could understand the difference between closeness and intimacy, but she didn't want to stay here to hinder other people's eyes. Anyway, she was not interested in currying favor with the Lu family.

"Let's go together, there are so many people." He Yu said indifferently, and after speaking, he took a quick look at Lu Huaiyu, who was standing side by side with He Li, chatting happily, without noticing it at all.

Lu Mingyu could see clearly, thinking about He Yu's reaction before and after, he naturally guessed He Yu's thoughts.

This person actually likes the second sister?
Lu Mingyu really didn't expect to find out He Yu's secret thoughts after living a new life.The congratulatory gift looks like a gentleman but it is not responsible, He Yu... Lu Mingyu tried hard to recall the deeds of He Yu in her previous life, but at that time the two of them had too few opportunities to get in touch, and people around her would not easily mention He Yu. Who it is, the others don't know anything.

"Master Chu." He Yu was not very familiar with everyone here, and only knew one, so he walked to Chu Xing's side, with a hint of respect on his brows.

The two know each other?Lu Mingyu couldn't help secretly listening to the conversation over there.

"Come out to enjoy the lanterns, Yu Zhi doesn't need to be formal." Chu Xing said politely.He was in the Shenshu Camp, the Jinwu Guard that He Yu had marched for two years, and now he has become the left deputy general next to Liao Shou, the commander of the Jinwu Guard. Chu Xing also met He Yu twice, and still admired him very much.

"Brother Chu." He Yu was kind and friendly, neither of them was a romantic person, but they were able to chat together.

Chu Xing listened carefully, but gradually felt a glued line of sight, looked sideways, and unexpectedly found that it was Lu Mingyu who was peeping at him. As soon as he turned around, the little girl hid behind He Lanfang in a panic, as if he could not see Like her.Chu Xing frowned, not understanding why Lu Mingyu paid attention to them.

Over there, Lu Mingyu's heart was thumping, and she didn't know which of her tendons was wrong. She obviously wanted to observe He Yu, and when she looked at it, she shifted her gaze to Chu Xing's face.Chu Xing stood beside a willow tree, which was far away from them, half of his face was illuminated by the light, and half of his face was hidden in the shadow of the tree, bright and dark, his phoenix eyes were as bright as stars.

Thinking of Chu Xing's glance, Lu Mingyu panicked more and more, did Chu Xing see her?
"Fourth Miss?" He Lanfang looked back and asked suspiciously, it was because Lu Mingyu's behavior just now was too abrupt.

It was only then that Lu Mingyu realized that she was hiding behind someone. She was a little embarrassed, and she couldn't find a good excuse after thinking about it, so she changed the subject with a smile, "Lan Fang, we are about the same age, you can call me A Nuan, cousin Never mind."

She smiled kindly, and He Lanfang was flattered. Looking into Lu Mingyu's sincere eyes, knowing that she was a sincere friend, He Lanfang nodded and began to chat with Lu Mingyu.While talking to her, Lu Mingyu gave Xiao Huan a look of disgust, telling him to stay with the man, what does it look like to follow her all the time?
Xiao Huan gave He Lanfang a gloomy look. Xiao Huan disliked anything that disturbed his relationship with his cousin.

"Ah Nuan, my cousin said there is a lantern over there, let's go and have a look?" Lu Huaiyu suddenly exclaimed excitedly.

Spotlight?
Guessing lantern riddles was the most played during the Lantern Festival. It was the first time Lu Mingyu heard about the idea of ​​shooting lanterns, and immediately became interested, and joined He Lanfang in the past.Seeing He Li walking side by side with Lu Huaiyu, Xiao Huan was not convinced. Seeing his cousin He Lanfang on the left and Chu Ying on the right, Xiao Huan pursed his lips and followed behind Lu Mingyu.

Chu Sui couldn't bear it anymore, so he quickened his pace slightly, walking behind the two younger sisters, next to Xiao Huan.

Xiao Huan looked at him coldly.

Chu Sui didn't take it seriously, his eyes wandered to Lu Mingyu from time to time.

Chu Xing, He Yu and the Lu family brothers walked at the end like a stroll in the courtyard, purely as companions.

Walking along the river bank for about a quarter of an hour, I saw a lot of people gathered on the bank in front of me. Amid the hustle and bustle, a loud voice came out from among the crowd, "Don't worry, everyone, it's getting dark, be careful not to let your purse get in the way." Let's go, there are those on the riverside, watch your feet carefully, otherwise I won't save you if you fall into the river..."

The language is witty, making the people onlookers roar with laughter.

Lu Mingyu couldn't help standing on tiptoe, wanting to see what was going on inside.

"Shall I lift you up?" Xiao Huan leaned over and said "considerately" in her ear.

The young man's voice was clear and bright, without any frivolous intentions, but Lu Mingyu was stabbed in the foot. If it wasn't for being short, why couldn't he see it?

"No need." Angrily rejected him, Lu Mingyu stood on both feet, trying to pretend not to be curious at all.

Xiao Huan still didn't know what he did wrong, Chu Sui gloated, leaned towards Lu Mingyu, smiled and flattered him and said, "Let me tell Ah Nuan what's going on inside?"

With a flirtatious tone, he was completely different from Xiao Huan, Lu Mingyu didn't even want to talk to him, looked back, retreated to the side of the eldest cousin Lu Jiaping who was standing on the outermost side of the four of them, and whispered: "Brother, what are you doing inside? "

Lu Jiaping patted his sister's head and described it to her with a smile.

The middle-aged man who just opened his mouth continued to say: "Hello folks, Song's lamp building is the most famous lamp building in Jinling, and the best lamp-making masters in the world are gathered in the building. Ever since our second son came out of the mountain after studying, the leader of the Jiangnan Lantern Competition has never been in the hands of others. Even the emperor praised Song’s Lantern as the best lantern in the world. Let us give a pair of lanterns every year for his old man to enjoy... This year we are the shopkeeper We want to open a lantern house in the capital, and it will officially open tomorrow. Those who bought lamps in the first three days only charged [-]% of the price, but that is tomorrow. Let’s have fun... Guessing lantern riddles? No, that’s too tacky, please look at the other side!”

As soon as these words came out, everyone turned to the opposite bank, and Lu Mingyu even left his brother behind, and quickly took a few steps to grab the most favorable position on the bank. But someone still squeezed in.Chu Xing was the closest to Lu Mingyu at this time, seeing his cousin protecting the two younger sisters, Chu Xing solemnly walked to Lu Mingyu's left side, and used himself to block other people from approaching.

He was dressed in a black robe, with a sword at his waist, and he stood on the bank with his hands behind his back, his face was as cold as a murderous god. Ordinary people had never seen him like this before. The two leading women looked at each other and stopped at the willow tree in front of them. Without daring to squeeze any further, the others stopped, consciously leaving that space to Lu Mingyu and his party.

"Ah Nuan, be careful not to fall into the river." Chu Sui wanted to take care of his younger sisters, Xiao Huan only had his cousin in his eyes, and immediately rushed to Lu Mingyu's right side, pulling Lu Mingyu back nervously, fearing that she would fall.

"I know, I'm not a child." Lu Mingyu shook off his hand and complained in a low voice. She thought Xiao Huan was too close to her, so she instinctively moved to the left. Immediately avoiding it, Lu Mingyu still felt it, and turned her head to look while apologizing.

"It's okay, but it's better for the fourth girl to stay away from the shore." Chu Xing looked ahead, his face was stern, and there was concern in his words, but there was no tenderness in his voice.

It was only then that Lu Mingyu realized that he was by his side. The man sounded like an elder admonishing a younger generation. Lu Mingyu subconsciously chose to obey, and backed away a little.Standing firm, looking at the gurgling river under her feet, Lu Mingyu was moved by the scene, remembering the day when she fell into the glacier, when she was so cold that her teeth chattered, she hugged her tightly...

From the corner of the eye, the hem of the man's clothes fluttered with the wind, and Lu Mingyu slowly calmed down, forgetting Chu Xing's indifference when he greeted him earlier.

This is the kind of person he is. If someone has an accident, he will be eager to help, but he is born with a cold face and doesn't like to smile?

She wasn't angry anymore, but Lu Mingyu was still a little afraid of Chu Xing, so she quietly moved towards Xiao Huan.Xiao Huan noticed it, and didn't regard Chu Xing, who was too much older than them, as a rival in love, so he stopped paying attention to Chu Xing at this moment, and turned his attention back to the other side.

The people on this side are crowded, but on the other side, a circle of guard boards has been built with wooden boards to circle the area occupied by two weeping willows on the bank.Two men in gray clothes each brought out a lantern and hung it on the willow tree. Only then did Xiao Huan discover that each of the willow trees was tied with a piece of red silk. Hanging lanterns.

The lantern has a unique shape, and the lights halo illuminate the flowers of the four seasons on the paper. The red silk sways in the wind, and the lantern turns around, as if the four seasons are passing by in front of your eyes. Making lanterns is comparable.The lanterns are well-made. Under the lanterns, there are thick paper rings hanging from the wine jars.

"Standing here, whoever can let the bamboo arrow pass through the paper ring, that lantern is his. It only depends on the ability, and the archery will not take any money."

"Then what if the paper ring is not shot through and the lantern is damaged?" Someone asked doubtfully.

The guy in the middle laughed loudly, "That's embarrassing, we don't charge money, but these lanterns are time-consuming to make, so some people will shoot them indiscriminately. Our wife said that whoever shoots a broken lantern, please throw him into the river. Pull him up at ten, see, the ginger soup in our shop is ready!"

After speaking, he stretched out his hand and pointed back, the originally dark shop behind it lit up in an instant, and the door of the shop opened at some unknown time, revealing a few grinning guys inside, behind him was a long table with five large bowls listed on it , the big pottery altar next to it kept steaming.Looking inside the shop, there are all kinds of paper lamps, bamboo lamps, and copper lamps, just like a two-story lamp building from the sky, which is too beautiful to behold.

Lu Mingyu straightened her eyes. In her previous life, the Song Family Lamp House was brilliant in the capital, and its business was booming. Lu Mingyu also liked the lamps of this house, but she didn't know that the Song Family Lamp House was so ostentatious on the eve of its opening. Make her trip worthwhile tonight.

She stared blankly at the lantern building, and the lanterns hanging outside the building also illuminated her beautiful and soft face, her peach eyes were shining brightly, so beautiful that it seemed to absorb all the bright lights.If the lantern tower is like a fairyland, she is the unparalleled goddess on the shore, beautiful and not vulgar.

However, only two people were lucky enough to witness her brilliance at this time.

Xiao Huan couldn't move his eyes, and Chu Xing's sight also froze for a moment before turning to the other side of the river silently.

The noisy human voice brought back Lu Mingyu's thoughts, the lantern tower can be seen at any time, but it is only tonight when it is lively.

The Liangshui River is about two feet wide, it seems not far away, and the paper ring is thick enough, but it is night, and the wooden fence protecting passers-by on the opposite side blocks other lights, and there are only two lanterns under the willow tree, and the lanterns rotate slowly. After a while, the paper ring swayed, and it was still a bit difficult to shoot through it accurately.

The women just watched the excitement, and the men tried one after another.

Only one chance per person.

The first two people both missed the shot, the bamboo arrow that hadn't started was too far away from the paper ring, the third one missed the edge, causing a burst of regret, and it was the fourth's turn, the shot was so accurate, only heard click With a sound, the bamboo arrow pierced through the lantern paper... He wanted to escape, but was surrounded by the most lively people and threw him into the water.

The water is not deep, it only reaches the man's knees, and this man can afford it, hugging his shoulders and yelling to drink ginger soup.

Lu Mingyu couldn't help laughing, this lamphouse is really good at pleasing the common people, it's more interesting than watching a play.

A lamp was broken, and the staff in the lantern building put up new ones again, and the staff in charge of maintaining order explained loudly: "There are four lanterns with the same paper ring, all of which are broken or have been won away by others, and they will be replaced. Lanterns with thinner but better paper rings, those who have tried arrows before will have no chance, so everyone thinks about it before shooting, and if you are good at archery, you can wait to grab better lanterns later!"

It turned out that the common people were even more reluctant to leave, and more and more people gathered on the shore.On the side of the Lu family, the guards stood at the outermost perimeter, Chu Xing and Chu Sui guarded the two sides, Xiao Huan and He Li stood with the girls, and brothers Lu Jiaping and He Yu stood behind, watching the excitement while preparing to respond accordingly.

In the first group of lanterns, two were broken, and two people fell into the water to amuse everyone, and the remaining two were successfully won by the people.In the second group of lanterns, the paper rings below were only as thick as the mouth of a sea bowl. The lanterns were indeed better, but more people fell into the water for them.One of the four lanterns was broken and three were taken away, and the staff immediately replaced it with the third set.

Lu Mingyu's eyes lit up, and the first two lanterns to be placed were actually boneless lanterns that are hard to find in ordinary lamp shops. The lamp body has no skeletons such as bamboo or iron, and is made of pasted paper that has been punctured into various patterns with embroidery needles. Unique shape, small and exquisite, gently swaying in the wind.Just when everyone was immersed in the "beauty" of the lanterns, the buddy spoke again, saying that this set of lanterns is expensive to make, and the archer needs to pay a tael of silver. Stay in the water for a quarter of an hour.

The lamp is a good lamp. Except for a few people who complained about the additional condition, most people accepted it.

"Does my cousin want it?" Xiao Huan was eager to try.

Lu Mingyu liked these lanterns, but she was more concerned about the final big prize, so she persuaded Xiao Huan in a low voice.

Lu Huaiyu fell in love with the peony-shaped lantern on the right, and begged He Li to help her shoot.He Li is a scholar. Hearing the words, he didn't try to be brave, and he didn't show any embarrassment. He said generously: "I only know a little about archery, and the group just now can barely try it. This paper ring is only as thick as a baby's wrist. uncertainty."

Lu Huaiyu let go of his sleeves in disappointment, and went to study martial arts with her cousin Lu Jiaping and her older brother Lu Jiaan. She knew that he was not much better than He Li.

Lu Jiaping loved his younger sister very much, looked at Lu Mingyu, knew that his younger sister could command Xiao Huan, so he smiled and went to shoot an arrow.

This time they had to pay money, and the punishment was even more severe. The number of archers suddenly decreased, and only the children of rich families stepped forward.Lu Jiaping paid a tael of silver and stood behind the two wealthy sons. He witnessed the two of them shooting empty and the other breaking the lantern and being pushed into the water. Lu Jiaping took the bow and arrow calmly and was ready. paper rings with bows and arrows.

The bamboo arrow was like the wind, and in a blink of an eye, it was in front of the paper ring, and it was about to hit it. When the wind blew the paper ring, it passed by!

Lu Mingyu gave an annoyed "tsk", what a pity, if there was no unexpected wind, the eldest brother must have succeeded.

Lu Huaiyu was even more disappointed than her younger sister, but she knew that she cared about her brother, so she ran over and whispered comfort to Lu Jiaping who had missed.Lu Jiaping has a bright personality and doesn't care about winning or losing a game. He just said regretfully, "Brother, I missed it. Don't worry, Huaiyu. If someone can hit that lantern later, I will ask you. If possible, I can buy it and give it to you."

Lu Huaiyu smiled and hummed.

But Lu Jiaping failed, and the few young masters who were in the back row all retreated.

"I'll give it a try." Looking forward to it, He Yu stepped forward indifferently, and put an ingot of broken silver into the tray.

Lu Huaiyu looked at him in shock, "Cousin Yu..."

He Yu glanced at her faintly, and confirmed in a low voice: "Want the one on the right?"

Lu Huaiyu was actually not familiar with him, but the man's eyes were calm, and he looked more confident than his cousin. Lu Huaiyu believed him for no reason, nodded excitedly, and stood aside to watch.

He Yu drew the bow, aimed the arrow at the paper ring, and after about five breaths, he closed his eyes.

Lu Huaiyu opened his mouth in astonishment, but before she could remind him, He Yu let go of his hand, and Lu Huaiyu chased after him nervously, just in time to see the arrow whizzing through the thick and thin paper ring of the bracelet, and shot into it with a "dang" sound. plank walls.

Lu Huaiyu is stupid, everyone is stupid, the bamboo arrows are all blunt, how strong is He Yu able to make the blunt arrows stick on the wooden board?

After the shock, the people applauded and praised.

Lu Huaiyu was still in a daze, staring blankly at the man in front of him, the lights flickered in his eyes, and He Yu was the only one in his eyes.

"Here." He Yu took the lantern from the staff by boat and handed it to Lu Huaiyu.

Lu Huaiyu's face suddenly turned red, and finally seeing the man's white jade-like hands, she returned to her position as if fleeing.Chu Ying and Chu Xiang gathered around to look at the lanterns, He Li looked a little ugly, and looked sideways at He Yu.He Yu turned a blind eye and silently stood beside Lu Jiaan. It was also the first time that Lu Jiaan experienced his demeanor, and he sincerely admired him: "My cousin's archery skills are superb, which is really admirable."

He Yu said modestly: "Compared to Mr. Chu, I am just a small skill."

Lu Jiaan looked at Chu Xing in surprise.

The man on the shore was independent, with an indifferent side face, as if all the excitement that happened under his nose could not touch him.

(End of this chapter)