Like willow, like smoke, like wind

Through a few green leaves, I could vaguely see a small courtyard paved with small bricks. A few jasmines blocked the original appearance of the attic. On a standard round stone table in the courtyard, I could see an ancient zither with excellent texture.

Because a pair of small hands were trying to pluck the strings, occasionally there would be a clear and spring-like sound of the zither, but it was just a single note, not a continuous song, but it was also very pleasant.

The slender jade fingers were as pink as bamboo shoots, and the posture of moving the strings was a little unfamiliar. It was obvious that she had not learned it for long. The other hand was rolling up a book of ancient music, as if she was concentrating on it. Unfortunately, the appearance was blocked by a leaf.

"Madam Liu, I don't know what it looks like from a distance. Can you take a closer look?"

"Madam Xia, let me talk to my daughter about this matter first."

...

Two days ago, the little lotus had just shown its sharp corners, and a dragonfly had already landed on it.

Two days later, the lotus leaves were endless and green, and the lotus flowers were red in the sun.

The hot summer came in a flash. In two days, the world seemed to have changed. Every day when the sun rose over the mountain, a heat wave came, burning the people of Yangzhou so much that they wished they had to wear good clothes. The folding and round fans in the hands of the young men and women were no longer decorations. They never stopped from morning to night. Without wind, it only took a moment to dry people in the scorching sun.

Xia Shang was dizzy and hot in the carriage to Liuzhuang. Several close-fitting handkerchiefs used in Jiangnan had been wiped with sweat. It is still difficult for modern people who are used to air conditioning to adapt to the pure natural summer in ancient times.

Xia Shang really couldn't help it, so he lifted the curtain and stuck his head out. Even if the sun was scorching, it was better than the stuffiness in the carriage.

Behind the car, Jiangnan was sitting in another car, also sticking his head out. When he saw Xia Shang, he happily winked at Xia Shang, as if he was afraid that the person in front of him was secretly flirting with him.

Today's Liuzhuang Poetry Meeting caused a stir in all the counties of Yangzhou.

Not only was it convened by Princess Jiaqian, but the key point was that there were too many literary scholars participating. Those people were rarely seen in daily life. They were famous and learned all over the world. It would be great if anyone could be related to one of them. What's more, today's poetry meeting was gathered together?

Secondly, there were not only literary scholars participating, but also many officials and celebrities, including King Yong and the prefect.

With such a strong lineup of stars, there were countless young talents who came here after hearing the news, and young ladies from various families also entered in a line.

And Liuzhuang, which had always refused classes, also gave the princess enough face this time. Everyone who came was accepted. As long as they had some fame and status, they could enter Liuzhuang to participate in the party.

Therefore, the scale of this poetry meeting is unprecedented. At least since the founding of Dahua, Yangzhou has never held such a large-scale gathering of literati.

Fortunately, the tea factory behind Liuzhuang is spacious and can accommodate thousands of people. There are also hundreds of tea girls as temporary workers to prepare for the poetry meeting.

Before the sun rises today, many admirers have come to Liuzhuang. They originally wanted to indulge in the mountains and rivers and show their literary elegance, but they didn't expect that Liuzhuang is like a fairyland on earth, exquisite and extraordinary. Once they enter it, they are attracted by many scenes. How can they have the mind to talk to some insignificant people?

There are more and more guests, but the relatively quiet area of ​​Liuzhuang is still undisturbed.

A woman in a yellow dress and wide skirt walked to the boudoir of Miss Liu's family with her skirt lifted up and knocked on the door: "Sister Ruyan, come out and take a look, there are many talented people here! The young men in Yangzhou are really good-looking, much better looking than those in the capital. Come and take a look first, maybe there will be one you like."

After a pause, a leisurely voice came from the room, simple and clean: "No."

"Oh, come out and take a look! If you are in a bad mood, you must go out for a walk. How can you feel good if you stay in the room all day?"

"No." Just two words.

The woman in yellow outside the room frowned: "Then open the door, I will come in and talk to you, okay?"

After that, there was a slight sound of footsteps from the boudoir.

Not long after, the door opened.

A girl in a green dress and a white belt appeared. The sunlight shining directly into her eyes made her squint slightly. She had a naturally weak posture, like a mimosa, which made people dare not touch her lightly.

Her pretty face was as smooth as jade, but a little whiter and tenderer. Her unhappy face was pitiful. Her small nose was like milk dripping on her face, which was just the right embellishment. Then there were her delicate and charming phoenix eyes. Her small eyes were always covered with a little mist, shining in the sun, and shining like tears. Her two thin eyebrows were as light as smoke and clouds, and they were naturally painted on. They seemed to hide all the mountains and rivers in Liuzhuang.

Not to mention her weak face, her figure was also as weak as water. She stood in front of the door with her little hands holding the corner of the door, as if a gust of wind could blow her down. In addition, her depressed look added a bit of pitiful demeanor.

Liu Ruyan, as her name suggests, is like Liu Ruyan and like the wind, and she is different from the clouds and mist in the mountains. Only the unintentional and weak posture, no matter what expression it is, is always on her face, like a fragile work of art, which makes people reluctant to touch it.

Miss Huang Shan couldn't help but lower her voice when she saw the people in the room. She gently tidied up the above and the few cheap silks scattered on her, and sighed:

"Sister, the "Dream of Red Mansions" that is popular in Yangzhou was written by you, right?"

Liu Ruyan frowned slightly, and her face trembled, as if the cloud scene reflected in the water was blown by the wind and had ripples.

"Sister, why do you say that?"

"Ah! Sister's gentle and charming figure, in a trance, sister thought it was Sister Lin from the book who jumped out. I still remember Baoyu talking about Sister Lin, two curved eyebrows that seemed to be frowning but not frowning, a pair of eyes that seemed to be happy but not happy. The look of sadness on her cheeks, the sickness of her body. Tears in her eyes, panting slightly. When she is quiet, she is like a beautiful flower reflecting on the water, and when she moves, she is like a weak willow swaying in the wind. Her heart is more intelligent than Bi Gan, and her illness is three times better than Xi Shi. Let's see, isn't it Sister Ruyan?"

Liu Ruyan smiled sweetly: "Sister, you are making fun of me."

"No, no, even if Sister Lin jumps out of the book, she is not as quiet and elegant as Sister Ruyan. By then, Baoyu will probably say that Sister Ruyan seems familiar, and what is the matter with Sister Lin?"

After hearing this, Liu Ruyan's pretty face rarely blushed, and she became more spirited. She lowered her head and grabbed the yellow-shirted girl and went into the house.

After closing the door, the girl in yellow asked, "How are you today, sister? Weren't you fine a few days ago? Why are you so sad all of a sudden?"

"This... I'm too embarrassed to tell you, sister."

"Hey! Sister, if you don't tell me, do you think you're not my friend?"

"Not really, but..."

"What else can you say? Tell me now."

Liu Ruyan sat down at the table, playing with a wine glass in her little hands and lost in thought. After a long while, she sighed, "My mother wants to marry me to someone who has nothing to do with me. I'm afraid I won't have the chance to chat with you in the future."