"The Classic of Mountains and Seas": "When bamboo grows flowers, it withers in years."
Bamboo will dry up and die after blooming. This natural phenomenon makes most people think that bamboo blooming is unlucky. But from another perspective, flowering and setting seeds is the process of life reproduction, just like the nirvana of a phoenix, why not a new beginning.
As long as you read "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" carefully, you will never ask such a naive question: "Do bamboos have flowers?"
Ye Qingchen calmly put down the pen in his hand and replied with a slight smile: "Brother, read more ancient books, and you will know." He has always been generous to others, but he will not show mercy to those who deliberately change their ways to treat him harshly.
The person who asked the question stared at the indifferent smile at the corner of Ye Qingchen's mouth, and his face instantly became extremely ugly. When he leaned forward to defend himself, the person next to him pulled his sleeve and shook his head at him, indicating that he should not be impulsive. His face turned green and red, then he snorted angrily and turned his head to the other side.
Ding Mo stroked his palms and said: "Ye Shishilang's poem is very clever. Bamboo does not appear in the poem, and flowers never appear. But if you read it carefully, you can feel that you are in a bamboo forest in the mountains. It is so wonderful."
These words broke the awkwardness just now, and the topic returned to poetry and lyrics.
Xu Nuo glanced at Ding Mo and secretly thought that he couldn't fault him in his behavior. With such a character, it would be perfect for him to pursue an official career.
After everyone had finished their poems, Yan Shu watched them one by one.
During this period, some of the ten people were nervous, some were eager to try, some were indifferent, and some were absent-minded, staring only at the boy behind them.
The absent-minded person was Xiao Yuan. He had no intention of participating in any poetry competition, and just came to watch the theater with Xu Nuo.
After reading the ten people's works, Yan Shu raised the corner of his mouth. He was already satisfied with everyone's poems. However, the satisfied expression only stayed on his face for a moment, and then he said solemnly: "Bianjing City has produced many talented people in recent years. How many of you are here?" He is considered one of the best, and there is much to learn from... Today we might as well talk to each other about our favorite poets..."
Poetry competition is about more than just talent. It is also about intelligence and eloquence. If talent cannot be expressed, what is the difference between talent and lack of talent?
After some discussion, Yan Shu quickly determined the candidates for the Dragon Boat Festival poems: Ding Mo, Ye Qingchen, Xiao Yuan, Xu Pingyi, and Song Qi.
After hearing the candidate he confirmed. He raised his head in surprise. Fan Zhongyan was not chosen!
Fan Zhongyan and Lu Yijian are close friends. Even if their friendship is not deep now, they can rely on Fan Zhongyan's talent and Yan Shu's vision. There must be a place for him among the five!
Just when Xu Nuo was surprised, a man who looked like a housekeeper hurried into the flower hall and whispered something in Yan Shu's ear.
Yan Shu's expression changed slightly when he heard this. He looked around at the people in the room, and finally his eyes fell on the boy behind Ding Mo.
After a moment of silence, he said: "Tongde, ask your little boy to raise his head."
Xu Qian kept her head lowered. After hearing Yan Shu mention the word Ding Mo, she was secretly happy at first. She thought Yan Shu was going to praise Ding Mo, but unexpectedly Yan Shu asked her to raise her head. Her chest suddenly seemed to be blocked, and she was too nervous to breathe.
Yan Sicheng recognized that she was a girl!
This was the moment she had been waiting for.
On such an occasion, Ding Mo brought a lady as a servant, what would people think?
You will definitely think that their relationship is unusual.
Although Xu Qian was engaged, she never took the marriage seriously. She didn't want to seduce Ding Mo openly, and didn't want to ruin her clean, self-respecting, quiet and beautiful image in Ding Mo's eyes, so she came up with this method. Through public opinion, Ding Mo was forced to choose her.
Ding Mo frowned and glanced at the person next to Yan Shu who was delivering the message. He already knew in his heart that Yan Shu knew Xu Qian's identity. He stood up and stretched out his hand to invite me, and said: "Mrs. Xu, please come here. You, a lady in the boudoir, are grinding ink for me. I really deserve it. Please..."
He agreed to Xu Qian pretending to be his servant to come to Yan Mansion today just because the head of Jiaren County had nothing to do with Xu Qian.
Therefore, he did not protect her at all when he spoke.
Xu Qian has already made a marriage arrangement. Normally, he would never want to have anything to do with her. However, his mother has recently been planning her sister's marriage and intends for her to marry into Prince Ning's palace. His mother repeatedly warned him not to offend Jiaren County Lord. Out of helplessness, he agreed to Jiaren County Lord's request.
Xu Qian didn't expect Ding Mo to be so ruthless. She stared at him in surprise for a moment when she heard this. Seeing that he didn't look at her at all, she felt anxious and angry. If he does a little bit more to protect her, he will be able to make a fuss about it later.
In this case, there is no other way.
Xu Qian made a look of frustration, tossed her sleeves and was about to walk out angrily. When she got to the door, she was stopped by someone.
An officer wearing a sword put one hand in front of her and said, "Fourth lady, please come to the mansion to speak."
Xu Qian was stunned when she saw the person who suddenly appeared in front of her. What do you mean?
She was just pretending to be a servant, why would officials arrest her and take her to the government office?
Xu Qian turned around and looked around, but no one had the compassion to come forward to help her, and no one wanted to question the official. She suddenly panicked and screamed: "Where are you from? Why do you want to arrest me? I You didn't steal any money, and you didn't harm anyone. If you don't explain why you arrested me clearly, I won't leave with you."
The officer didn't listen to what Xu Qian said at all. He only knew that the judge asked him to arrest the person as soon as possible, so he stepped forward to arrest Xu Qian without saying a word.
Xu Qian was still struggling, and Yan Shu said: "Xu Siniang, if you are innocent, someone will naturally give you justice."
Lu Yijian, the magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture, was Xu Qian's uncle. Lu Yijian's people came to arrest him, so Yan Shu had no reason to stop him.
Xu Qian thought about it and didn't understand what was going on. However, she knew that if she was caught by the officials, her reputation would be completely ruined. She shouted: "No one can touch me. I didn't do anything bad. I don't need to." Return my innocence, if you don’t tell me clearly, I will die here.”
After speaking, he took out a hairpin from his sleeve and put it on his neck.
When Xu Nuo saw Xu Qian's appearance in the flower hall, she wanted to cover her eyes.
What a shame!
Xu Qian loves her life so much that she holds a round-headed hosta in her hand, which cannot penetrate her neck at all.
She has been played around by the boss of Jiaren County, and now she is using the methods of the back house. Not only can she not solve the problem, but she will look stupid.
Xu Pingyi didn't know what was going on at first, but now seeing Xu Qian's appearance, he wanted to step forward, but was stopped by Xu Nuo.
"Liu Niang, Si Niang, she..."
He really didn't expect Xu Qian to pretend to be Ding Mo's servant. When did the two of them meet? What does it matter? And why would officials detain Siniang?
When Xu Nuo saw Xu Pingyi's worried face, her heart ached slightly. Xu Qian never regarded Xu Pingyi as her elder brother, but he was anxious and worried about her.
"Brother, my uncle is the prefect of Yingtian Mansion. Since he gave the order, there must be no room for change." Xu Nuo knew clearly that this was not an order from Lu Yijian, but he still persuaded Xu Pingyi like this.
Since Xu Qian was going to become a joke, she hoped that her eldest brother would stay as far away from Xu Qian as possible, and not get even a little bit of dirt on her.
Even if her elder brother hates her for blocking her today, she will not regret it.
---
I have written this chapter many times, and I have never been satisfied with it. But if it doesn’t come out, it will keep everyone waiting for a long time. So if it comes out first, then give me a break. To be continued.