Happy Little Scholar

Chu Family.

In the main hall, besides Master Chu, there were several old men of similar age, all wearing wide Confucian robes, with a righteous look on their faces and extraordinary bearing, looking quite noble.

A thin old man shook his head and said, "It's a pity. Although Master Wang resigned long ago and the Wang family has always been low-key, if he was willing to stand up together, things would not have dragged on until today."

Another old man with a neutral face sighed, "Master Wang, I personally invited him, but he politely refused, saying that he was old and didn't care about court affairs. In his words, he actually revealed his appreciation for the flatterer."

"When the envoys of Qi State made a big fuss in Kyoto, no one dared to fight in such a big Kyoto. Master Wang dragged his sick body to the court and was persuaded by everyone to leave. , you all know what happened later, no wonder he looked at this boy with such a sidelong glance. "

"It would be fine if Old Master Wang didn't help either of them, but isn't this Qin Wen a disciple of Brother Chu? This time, he actually joined forces with many important officials in the court to speak for the flatterer. If not, as long as Brother Chu spoke, why didn't the court officials respond? "

"The matter has been delayed for so long, not only the officials, but also the people will have to make more efforts. "

...

While the few people were drinking tea and talking, a servant of the Chu family came in from outside, walked to Master Chu, and whispered a few words.

"Ning Chen?" Master Chu frowned slightly, and no impression of this person emerged in his mind.

The doorman saw this and felt regretful in his heart, and hurriedly said: "I will let them go right away!"

"Wait." He walked quickly to the door, and a voice came from behind him.

Master Chu looked at him and asked, "You said, he is a young man of about the same age as Ping'er, with a handsome appearance and extraordinary bearing?"

The gatekeeper nodded immediately, "He is a handsome man, much more handsome than you."

"Ningchen, a flatterer..." Master Chu muttered, a trace of suspicion appeared on his face, and whispered, "Let him in."

At the door of the Chu family, the gatekeeper who came over jogging wiped the sweat from his forehead and said respectfully to Li Yi, "Young master, please come in."

...

Compared with other wealthy families that Li Yi had seen, the Chu residence was not big, and it could even be said to be a little small.

It might also be because the Chu family was not prosperous, and two generations were single-lineage, so a house that was too big could not be used and would appear deserted.

Led by the servant, he did not pass through the main house, but took a small path on the left, and soon came to a small garden.

A figure in a gray Confucian robe stood with his back to him and his hands behind his back. Li Yi didn't know if it was an illusion, but he always felt that the body of this master was much more hunched than the two times he saw him the previous time.

The old man turned around and asked calmly: "I have always been curious, why did you hide when you saw me on the street that day?"

At this moment, Li Yi realized that not only was his back hunched, but his face also looked older than before, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

"I was afraid that you would blackmail me." Li Yi said honestly: "Unfortunately, I didn't hide in the end."

The two of them confronted each other in the court that day, but when they met again, there was no trace of fireworks.

The old man looked at him sharply and asked, "You have repeatedly blocked the eldest prince from entering the capital. Do you think I have wronged you?"

Li Yi smiled and said, "The reason is clear to you, Master Taifu."

"Actually, I can understand Master Taifu." Li Yi looked at the neatly trimmed flowerbed next to him and said slowly, "The Chu family has been a clear stream among the literati of Jingguo for generations. They represent righteousness and integrity. A mere flatterer cannot compare to the Chu family's century-old reputation."

Master Chu's face was calm, but his fists tucked into his sleeves were clenched tightly, with blue veins standing straight.

"I know Cui Qingming used some shameful methods to get the Chu family's handle." Li Yi shook his head and continued, "Your grandson deserves the punishment, but the Chu family will not be harmed. Even if the Cui family broke out those scandals, it would not shake the foundation of the Chu family. Although it would inevitably damage the reputation of the Chu family, it would not be difficult to make up for it in the future."

He looked at Master Chu again: "The difficult thing is the choice of Master Taifu."

Master Chu also stared at him intently. After a moment, he loosened his clenched fist and said, "Everything is just your one-sided words. The Chu family has no stains and does not need to make up for it."

Li Yi looked at him for a long time before sighing and clasping his fists and saying, "In that case... Master Taifu, I will take my leave."

When he was about to leave the garden, he stopped and turned back to ask again: "Is it worth it?"

This time, he did not get any response from the old man.

...

When he walked out of Chu's house, the sloppy old man saw that he looked relaxed, without any hesitation or worries before coming, and asked in surprise: "Why, did you make the deal?"

Li Yi nodded, "It's done."

The sloppy old man was a little disappointed along the way. He thought he could see a big show, but it seemed that there was no hope.

When he walked to the door of the brothel, he asked again: "How long will you stay in there today? I'll go to the street first."

"I'm not going back today." Li Yi waved his hand, "You can go as long as you want. Just tell me before tonight."

"Not going back?" The sloppy old man looked at him in surprise and asked: "Are you sure?"

Li Yi nodded and stepped into the brothel. These days, there are not many exciting new plays in the brothel. Customers have begun to complain. It's time to add some fresh ones.

He habitually looked at the small building in front of him, and happened to meet a line of sight from behind the attic window.

Li Yi was stunned, then smiled and waved over there, and walked over quickly.

"Not coming back at night?" Li's family, Miss Liu Er frowned, "Where is he?"

The sloppy old man shrugged: "The place to watch the play."

Miss Liu Er waved her sleeves, "Take me there!"

Ruyi grabbed her arm and shook her head, saying: "My husband said before he went out this morning that he had an important thing to do today and might not come back at night. What are you going to do?"

"I'm not going to find him." Miss Liu Er shook her head and said: "I, I can't go to the play!"

Gorilla, in the room above the attic.

Li Yi saw Wan Ruoqing frowning slightly while writing, and there seemed to be a look of pain between her eyebrows, and asked in confusion: "What's wrong?"

She put down the pen, looked at her fingers, shook her head, and said: "Maybe I held the pen for too long these two days..."

"There are blisters..." Li Yi saw that there was already a blister on her finger, frowned and said: "Forget it, don't write, wait until I finish writing this scene, and I will remember the arrangement and arrangement of things as you tell me."

Li Yi put down the pen and said: "I will help you prick the blister first, you take a rest."

He took a sterilized needle, these things are always available here, held her hand, pierced a hole in the blister, squeezed out the liquid inside, and did not prick it completely, raised his head and asked: "Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt." Wan Ruoqing smiled and shook her head.

Li Yi nodded and said, "The wound needs to be disinfected. I'll apply some alcohol now. It may hurt a little. Just bear with it."

Even though she was mentally prepared, when he applied alcohol and the stinging feeling suddenly came, she couldn't help but let out a suppressed cry of pain.

"It hurts..., bear with it..." Miss Liu Er stood outside the door with a livid face. When she heard the suppressed voice of the woman, she finally couldn't help but pushed the door open.

"Be careful not to touch water or write these days." Li Yi put down the things in his hand, looked at her and gave her some instructions, then turned to look at Miss Liu Er and asked in surprise: "Ruyi, why are you here?"

Miss Liu Er glanced around the room, then looked at Li Yi and said lightly: "I'm here to call you home for dinner."