Things in the world are never subject to human will.
You want it but you can’t get it, you don’t want it but you just come to your door...
*****
The afterglow of the setting sun spreads golden light all over the majestic city walls of Chang'an.
In the fields on both sides of the road outside the city, the sharp buds of grass have sprouted. As far as the eye can see, the mountains in the distance are also covered with a layer of light green.
Winter passes and spring comes, and everything revives.
A group of vehicles meandered into Chang'an City on this early spring evening.
The curtain of the carriage in the middle was opened by a slender hand that looked like white jade, revealing a beautiful face in the carriage. A pair of clear eyes turned, curiously looking at this world-famous capital city.
.
The square city bricks, heavy city gates, majestic city towers, and wide streets, a kind of simplicity and heavyness that is very different from the elegance of Jiangnan come to mind. Although it is already evening, when passing by the East Market, the noisy streets and the floating wine
The flags, the orchids who sell wine in the street, all have a unique charm.
The girl's beautiful pearly eyes flashed with curiosity...
The motorcade entered the city through Chunming Gate, headed westward, passed through Pingkang and Wuben Square, and arrived at the Xingdaofang Jiangnan Guild Hall across the street from the Imperial College.
There were already people waiting outside the club door.
When they saw the convoy arriving, someone stepped forward to greet it. The leader was Xie Wenju, the supervisory censor.
The current carriage stopped, the curtains were lifted, and with the help of the coachman, an old man stepped out of the carriage on a horse stool.
He has a silver-white beard that is neatly combed and wears a Jinxian crown. Although his fair face is already covered with ravines and wrinkles and is covered with age spots, it is well-maintained and his complexion is pretty good. It's just that his eyes are a little bloated.
, it can be seen that the journey is tiring and the spirit is a little tired.
Xie Wenju immediately lifted up his robe, knelt on the ground, kowtowed three times respectfully, and said respectfully: "My grandson sends my regards to my grandfather."
The old man nodded slightly and said warmly: "Get up, you did a good job."
As soon as they met, they recognized Xie Wenju's actions since entering Beijing.
Xie Wenju felt relieved and said, "Thank you, grandpa!" Then he stood up.
At this time, in a carriage behind, an old man about the same age as his grandfather got out of the carriage and walked over slowly.
Xie Wenju saw the old man's appearance clearly and was surprised. He quickly took two steps forward and bowed to salute: "This junior has met Mr. Wang."
This time, it was discipleship that was the focus.
This old Mr. Wang has a slim appearance and a tall stature. He is dressed in moon-white clothes and has a light smile that is intelligent and free. Seeing Xie Wenju, Mr. Wang raised his hand slightly and said with a smile: "No need to be polite."
Xie Wenju then straightened up and said with a smile: "The juniors have packed up their residence and prepared the banquet. Elders, please take a bath first to wash away the dust, and then invite you to the banquet. Song Guogong has been waiting in the hall for a long time."
But I was a little shocked. Why did this old gentleman come this time? There was no news beforehand...
He couldn't help but look sideways and glanced at his grandfather. In the letters he exchanged with his family, his grandfather only said that he would go to the capital on behalf of the Jiangnan gentry, but he never revealed that this great Confucian named Jiangnan would accompany him.
However, his grandfather ignored his doubts and just smiled and extended his hand to invite Mr. Wang: "This old man still has to travel thousands of miles and is almost falling apart! Age is not forgiving. I remember when we went to study in the middle of Sichuan,
After traveling thousands of miles with swords and wine, have you ever felt a little tired? Wash yourself quickly, eat some wine, and have a good sleep, otherwise Xie will really not be able to bear it anymore!"
Mr. Wang smiled faintly and said: "Although I am very tired after this bumpy road, the scenery and people's sentiments I saw along the way are all comfortable and beautiful. This trip to the capital is worth it! Otherwise, if you miss this opportunity, you will lose your bones."
I have to bury my bones and live forever, and I will never be able to see this picturesque country again in this life."
His words were very carefree.
Mr. Xie said happily: "Heroes think alike."
The two old men entered the guild hall hand in hand.
Xie Wenju did not follow closely, but raised his head slightly and looked at the vehicle behind him, searching for something. Until he saw a slender and graceful figure getting off a carriage in the middle, his eyes lit up and he walked over.
.
"Brother Yu, I've been waiting for you for a long time. Did Miss Qi have a good trip?" Xie Wenju said with a happy face.
It has to be said that Xie Wenju is handsome in appearance, tall and tall, and he is an extremely talented person. Coupled with his gentle and gentle aura, and his upright demeanor honed in the officialdom, he is quite a bit "as rich as jade".
.
This kind of pretty boy is extremely popular among women in the boudoir. Of course, "dark-faced gods" like Fang Jun will never admit it...
Standing in front of him was a beautiful girl.
This young girl is slim and graceful, with a slender figure. She wears a long Suzhou embroidered dress with brilliant pearls and jewels. She has bright eyes and white teeth, just like a shining pearl, and her beautiful face is shining brightly.
Hearing Xie Wenju's greetings, the girl's lips curved into a shallow smile, she smiled slightly, and her voice was as delicate and crisp as an oriole: "Thank you for thinking about me, brother. I'm fine, little sister."
Xie Wenju obviously liked this girl very much, and his face suddenly glowed, and he said with a smile: "The seventh lady came to Beijing for the first time, and she is more curious about everything. In my free time tomorrow, Brother Yu will do his best to be a landlord and accompany the lady to walk around and enjoy it.
It’s different from the Guanzhong style in Jiangnan.”
The girl smiled softly, her clear beautiful eyes shone with light, and she said softly: "Thank you so much, brother. It's just that my little sister has never been far away. She was very tired from traveling and traveling all the way. She has to rest for a few days before she can afford to fight.
Where’s the spirit?”
This girl has a beautiful face and bright eyes. She is truly radiant and naturally beautiful.
Xie Wenju was dazzled by this beautiful smile and was in a good mood. He nodded and said: "That's natural, as long as you don't be polite. The capital is no better than Jiangnan. People's hearts are complicated. There are too many dandies walking around. You must not be alone."
When traveling, safety is the top priority. No matter what, Brother Yu will not refuse any request from the young lady."
His eyes radiated with passion and admiration, which everyone could see.
But as the saying goes, fair ladies, gentlemen are good at marrying, and it is not bad for men to be unmarried and women to be unmarried.
When the girl heard this, her expression remained unchanged. She nodded slightly and said, "Thank you so much, brother..."
People in the motorcade got off the car one after another, and when they saw Xie Wenju here, they all looked over. Xie Wenju was a little embarrassed by the looks and felt uncomfortable, so he cupped his hands at the girl, smiled, turned and left, leaving behind himself
Think of a chic back view.
But he didn't see that the moment he turned around, the girl's beautiful cherry lips deflated slightly...
The arrival of this motorcade caused a sensation in the Jiangnan Guild Hall.
Not to mention that the head of the Xie family came to Beijing in person, Mr. Wang who came with him made all the Jiangnan scholars in the Jiangnan Guild Hall who were preparing for the imperial examination extremely excited.
Mr. Wang's real name is Wang Xue'an. He is one of the most famous Confucian scholars in Jiangnan. He is as famous as Kong Yingda and Zhang Xuansu. I don't know how many of these scholars from Jiangnan are his disciples and grandchildren...
Mr. Xie and Mr. Wang washed themselves up to get rid of their physical fatigue, and then accompanied by Xie Wenju, they came to the side hall.
As soon as I entered the door, I saw a spacious room with wooden floors and two paintings hanging on the wall. They were almost unrecognizable in wild cursive. I don’t know who wrote them. The style was really abstract. There were four ink paintings on one side of the side hall.
There is a small table in the corner of the screen, and a chess table is placed in front of the innermost wall. All the furnishings exude an elegant atmosphere, which is in line with the noble and elegant temperament of the Jiangnan nobles.
At this time, there were two old men sitting on the cushions on both sides of the chess table. When they heard the footsteps, they both raised their heads.
The old man in blue shirt on one side of the chess table has a pair of bubble eyes, an ugly face full of wrinkles, silver hair, and an old look. The old man on the other side is in his early fifties, with a gray beard on his chin, and he is elegant and elegant.
, just sitting upright and steady, but exuding a kind of awe-inspiring nobility, it was Xiao Yu, Duke of Song Dynasty.
When Xiao Yu saw Mr. Xie and Mr. Wang, he shook his head slightly and sighed: "You two, why bother?"
Mr. Xie had not yet spoken, but Mr. Wang had already laughed: "A true man stands in this world, and there are things he should not do, but he must do things. If he hesitates to move forward when encountering a slight setback, or even retreats in panic, how can he be worthy of the thousand-year-old heritage of the Jiangnan nobles?"
Xiao Yu said helplessly: "That Fang Jun is just a kid. Sir, pitting a superior man against a inferior man is like bumping into bricks and mortar with a beautiful jade. How stupid is that?"
Mr. Wang, however, had already made up his mind and said resolutely: "It concerns the millennium-old foundation of the Jiangnan gentry. I can only blame him for his unlucky years!"