Genealogy Commander Shi Jiabizhi conferred land and property for the six surnames and changed the registration records. He had traveled thousands of miles for several months. It was already early July when he returned to Jiankang. He was thinking about the straw shed in the Chen family cemetery in Qiantang.
He accidentally saw the letter and wanted to write to Xi Chao about it, but he was worried that his guess was wrong. After all, what he saw was just a private letter signed "Yingtai". Is this "Yingtai" actually Xie Daoyun?
We are not sure yet. It is related to the Xie family of Chen County, so it is better to be cautious, and it is not easy to explain the matter clearly in writing to Xi Chao. In the first month of next year, Xi Chao will come to Jiankang on behalf of Huan Wen to attend the New Year's court meeting, and then we will meet with him in person.
Better yet, let’s see if there are any new rumors about Chen Caozhi and Lu Na’s daughter during this time?
In response to the rumors that Chen Caozhi and Lu Weirui had a private lifelong engagement, the Lu family of Wu County claimed that this was a rumor spread by Chu Jian in an attempt to seek the post of governor. Chu Jian has now been dismissed, and the newly appointed governor and prime minister of Wu County have already arrived, but the rumors
Instead of being eliminated, it spread more and more widely and in detail. People in Jiankang looked forward to Chen Caozhi, who was known as "Jiangzuo Weijie". Various anecdotes about this talented, pure, filial and beautiful young man were widely circulated in Jiankang, such as Huan Yi's gift.
On the flute, Chu Wenqian lost his calligraphy skills, met Xi Chao on Tongxuan Pagoda, copied "Laozi" in Zhenqing Taoist Academy, Xie Xuanliu listened to the flute, served his mother as a filial piety and was willing to give up his scholar status... He is so famous that he can hear elegant things.
No less than Xie An, who has been raised in Dongshan for more than ten years. Of course, unlike Xie An who has received unanimous praise, the high-ranking family still holds a contemptuous attitude towards Chen Caozhi, a new member of the gentry family, but for Chen Caozhi
Most of the Jiankang nobles looked on coldly at the rumors of an affair with a girl from the Lu family, because the majority of the people living in Jiankang were the Nandu nobles, and the southern and northern nobles were at odds with each other. Therefore, the northern nobles were hostile to the Lu family, one of the three left-wing clans.
Although these disgraceful rumors are not as optimistic as Langya Wang Shao's, most of them are just watching from the other side and taking pleasure in others' misfortune. Therefore, Jiankang scholars spread the news about Chen and Lu, and there is basically no news about it.
Malice means that lovers are willing to get married eventually. It seems that unless Chen Caozhi marries another man and Lu Weirui does not marry another man, the rumors will not be put to rest——
Lu Na's brother, the head of the Lu clan, Lu Shi, who held the important position of Minister of the Fifth Army, was furious, but there was nothing he could do. He was more vocal about defending the people than Fang Sichuan. Lu Shi could not stop the spread of rumors. His son Lu Qin has now returned to Jian.
Kang slandered Chen Caozhi in front of his father, and Lu Shi hated Chen Caozhi.
At the end of July, Lu Na was summoned to Beijing. As soon as Lu Shi saw Lu Na, he sternly questioned his brother on how he disciplined his daughter. Such a big indecent rumor caused a great impact on the Lu family's reputation. He said that this was Lu Na's usual excessive behavior.
The consequences of doting on your daughter——
Although Lu Na also knew these rumors, her daughter Lu Weirui had been mourning her deceased brother in Huating for the past year. She only practiced calligraphy and painting every day. There was no flaw in her temperament or conduct. Lu Na, who had a deep love for the calf, was
For me, my daughter is the best daughter in the world, perfect. He, Lu Na, is nearly fifty years old, and he has only such a daughter. He cannot tolerate the scolding of others, not even his own brother. Therefore, although Lu Na did not contradict his brother Lu Shi in person,
But kept silent.
Lu Shi also knew that although his younger brother Lu Na seemed to be kind-hearted, he was actually extremely stubborn in his heart. He had been brothers for many years and knew the truth, so he calmed down and said, "Okay, let's not talk about that. Third brother, Wei Rui is seventeen years old this year.
It's time for a betrothal. Last year He Xi proposed for his son. The He family in Kuaiji and my Lu family are of the same family. I heard from Qin'er that He Xi's son He Zhu is a good person, so why did you refuse?"
Lu Na said: "Second brother, if I marry my daughter to He Zhufu San, wouldn't I be wasting Wei Rui's life!"
Lu Shi knew that Changsheng took the powder and eventually died of illness. Lu Na was almost disgusted with people who took the powder. He advised: "It is common among the gentry in the north and south to take the powder, and there is not much harm. King, Xie, all the big families take the powder.
Third brother, don’t be too stubborn.”
Seeing that Lu Na stopped talking again, Lu Shi shook his head and said: "Okay then, it's up to you. I'll search among the disobedient high-ranking disciples. I, a southerner, don't intermarry with northerners. I have been intermarrying with the Lu family for hundreds of years."
The Gu family, the Zhu family, the Zhang family, as well as the Yu, Wei, Kong, and He families of Kuaiji, as well as the Sun family of Fuchun, the Zhou family of Yangxian, and the Shen family of Wukang are all married. The Gu family has broken off the relationship, and the He family has
Since the Shen family has been rejected, the Shen family has become a member of the Xingyu family. So we can only look for suitable children among the seven surnames: Zhu, Zhang, Yu, Wei, Kong, Sun, and Zhou. Isn't there any young children from these families who want to propose marriage?
"
Lu Na frowned and said, "Rui'er is still keeping filial piety for her brother!"
Lu Shi nodded and said: "Well, I will be discharged next month and try to settle the marriage by the end of the year - that Chen Caozhi will never be allowed to come to my Lu family again in the future."
Lu Na said: "Second brother, a gentleman does not show his anger. This is a despicable rumor of the Chu family. How can you blame Chen Caozhi? This son has outstanding talents and good conduct. His reputation for pure filial piety is known all over the world. How can I reject him because of rumors!"
"
Lu Shiyou Lu Qin was the first to slander Chen Cao, and he was extremely disgusted with Chen Caozhi. Rumors about Jiankang were spreading. It was really annoying that this stubborn third brother was still saying good things about Chen Cao. He suppressed his anger and said: "Third brother, Lu's reputation is second to none.
One, then Chen Caozhi, you should not have let him come to your door in the first place, otherwise there would not have been the embarrassing rumors today."
Lu Na said: "It was Mr. Ge Zhichuan who recommended Chen Caozhi to me. Chen Caozhi is Mr. Zhichuan's disciple. How could I not see him!"
As soon as Ge Hong was mentioned, Lu Shi was filled with resentment. If Ge Hong was not an old friend of his late father Lu Wan, Lu Shi would have cursed him. Three years ago, he went to visit Mingsheng Lake with good intentions, but Ge Hong was closed.
He lost face when he disappeared. This matter reached Jiankang and was ridiculed. So when Lu Na said this, he became even more furious and said: "Ge Zhichuan, hum, I won't say it either - third brother,
It sounds like you admire Chen Caozhi from a humble family!"
Lu Na corrected him: "Second brother, the Qiantang Chen family is a branch of the Yingchuan Chen family, and has now returned to the status of a scholar."
Lu Shi became even more angry and said sternly: "Third brother, do you still want to marry your daughter to that Chen Caozhi?"
Lu Na nodded and said, "I didn't mean that."
Lu Shi sneered and said: "The Chen family of Qiantang can be considered as a scholar, but in my opinion, this kind of low-class noble family is very different from the common people of a poor family. If Chen Caozhi really dares to propose marriage, let's see.
How to humiliate him!"
The two brothers broke up unhappy.
…
The eighth day of August was Lu Weirui’s birthday. Early that morning, Lu Weirui went for a walk by Pinghu Lake and asked the servant girl who knew how to drive a boat to take her around in the lake in a small boat. Except for the servant girl who could drive the boat, she took no one with her.
He and Hairpin Flower both stood on the shore and looked at the beautiful little lady in plain clothes blooming like a white lotus in the lake. These two little maids knew the little lady's thoughts and felt pity for her very much.
In mid-autumn and August, the lotus flowers are scattered, and only the green-yellow lotus caps are floating on the water, or are held up high by the lotus stalks. The rising red sun shines on the lake, and the glow of the sun shines on the lake, and the fields of lotus leaves appear lush and noisy.
The boat shuttled among the lotus leaves. As far as the eye could see, there were lotus leaves high and low. Lu Weirui felt melancholy in her heart. On April 23 last year, Chen Caozhi came here to meet her and rowed with her on the lake. At that time, the lotus flowers had not yet bloomed.
, only to find a little bud that was about to bloom, white and red, with a delicate fragrance. Chen Langjun docked his boat at He Lei and kissed her hand. On that day, she learned from Chen Langjun
It is said that the old man under the moon tied the red rope around his right ankle. It was at that moment that she revealed the cinnabar mole on the inside of her right ankle to her beloved. She said, "Chen Langjun, remember, the old man under the moon tied the red rope around his right ankle."
Women with red moles on their feet should not tie them wrongly."
——At that time, Chen Langjun promised to give her a red rope as a gift on her birthday. She dreamed several times at night that Chen Langjun tied the red rope around her right ankle with his own hands, and even did some things in the dream.
Other things, I felt so shy when I woke up——
But in August last year, her brother Lu Chang fell seriously ill, and she had no intention of celebrating her birthday. Later, she learned that Chen Langjun was unable to come to celebrate his birthday because his mother was seriously ill. The dream finally became a fantasy. Shortly after her brother's death, Chen Langjun's mother
The news of his death also came, what a sad thing for two people.
The clear water of Pinghu Lake is still the same, the lotus flowers have bloomed and faded, but now it is impossible to find the place where Chen Langjun parked his boat that day last year, and it makes my heartache to think about it.
Today is the eighth day of August again. Chen Langjun is still observing filial piety for his mother, so naturally he cannot come to see her. Since we said goodbye at Fenglin Ferry in Qiantang in June last year, I have not seen Chen Langjun for more than a year. I am infatuated with her and miss her.
It has become stronger and has not become indifferent at all due to the passage of time.
At this time, the short hoe on the lake bank raised its voice and called out: "Little lady - little lady, come back quickly."
Lu Weirui looked over through the high canopy and saw a servant with thick eyebrows and a big mouth standing next to the hoe on the bank. He was a little unfamiliar, and his attire did not look like someone from the manor. When he took a closer look, his heart suddenly pounded.
My heart was pounding, ah, isn’t this Chen Langjun’s confidant Lai De?
Lu Weirui's clear eyes suddenly filled with tears. Chen Langjun remembered her and her birthday. Although he couldn't come in person, he still sent someone to greet her.
Lu Weirui ordered her servant to return to the boat, but before she landed, she saw her stepmother Zhang Wenwan arriving with a group of male and female servants, and she couldn't help but turn pale -
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan got the news that the Chen family of Qiantang sent someone to see Miss Wei Rui. Because she was familiar with the steward of the villa, she had been taken to Xiao Xi Garden. Zhang Wenwan hurried to Xiao Xi Garden, only to be informed that Mrs. Wei Rui was acquainted with the steward of the villa.
The lady went to Pinghu and rushed to Pinghu again. She saw Qiantang Chen's servant standing on the bank waiting for Lu Weirui to come up from the lake.
Lai De followed Chen Caozhi to the Lu family's villa in Huating twice. Zhang Wenwan had some impressions of Lai De and asked with a frosty face: "Are you a servant of Chen family in Qiantang? What are you doing here?"
Lai De did not flinch and saluted: "Lai De has met Madam. Lai De sent a painting to Miss Lu on the order of my young husband."
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan said "Oh" and said, "Take the painting and have a look."
Laide said: "My young husband has ordered that I only give it to Miss Lu."
Zhang Wenwan was angry and was about to explode when Lu Weirui ran over holding up her skirt and said plaintively: "Aunt Zhang——"
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan didn't want to argue with a servant, so she said, "Well, Miss Lu is here. You can give her the token."
As expected, Laide untied a long wooden box wrapped in green cloth from behind and presented it to Lu Weirui respectfully.
Lu Weirui held the wooden box in her hand and looked at Zhang Wenwan, feeling extremely flustered.
Zhang Wenwan said: "Wei Rui, open the wooden box."
Lu Weirui didn't dare to disobey, so she slowly opened the wooden box and saw a framed scroll lying quietly in the long pine box, with nothing else.
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan said: "Take the painting and show it to me."
Lu Weirui bit her red lips with her teeth, tears welling up in her eyes because of her grievance, she took out the scroll and handed it to Zhang Wenwan.
Zhang Wenwan untied the scroll and slowly unfolded the scroll. He was actually worried about seeing something like a private letter written by Chen Caozhi to Lu Weirui, but it was true that there was only one painting, which was a clear and shallow stream with scattered parts in it. There are seven or eight stone piers on both sides of the stream. There are green grass and various wild flowers blooming on both sides of the stream. A young girl with a pretty ponytail and a moon-white skirt with a graceful back does not cross the stream from the stone pier, but goes barefoot. Flowing in the stream, the girl's skirt was lifted up, revealing two white and smooth calves. The ankles were immersed in the stream. The beautiful feet were outlined very carefully. It was the unique line drawing method of the Wei Association that was as thin as a spider's web. The pebbles at the bottom of the creek, the toes curled up on the cobblestones, and the toenails are like rose petals, actually create the feeling of rippling water, and the feeling of flowing clothes and spring breeze——
On the upper right side of the scroll are written two lines of words in clear and elegant calligraphy:
"When the water flows, I step on the rocks with my bare feet, and the sound of the water and the cool wind make my clothes grow."
When Zhang Wenwan was looking at the painting, Lu Weirui was standing opposite her. She couldn't see what was in the painting. She could only see Aunt Zhang's face gradually softening from a frosty look, and there was a look of appreciation in her eyes, which made Lu Weirui feel relieved.
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan admired the painting for a long time, slowly put the scroll away, and ordered the steward of the manor to bring De down for a feast, a reward of five hundred coins, and send it out of the manor.
Lu Weirui watched Laide being taken away, thinking that she could not ask Laide about Chen Langjun's current situation. She felt very sad, with tears streaming down her face, and her little mouth pursed slightly.
Seeing Lu Weirui like this, Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan sighed and said, "Weirui, accompany Aunt Zhang for a walk by the lake." She ordered the others not to follow, but she and Lu Weirui walked along the winding shore of the lake. Walk slowly.
Zhang Wenwan handed the scroll in his hand to Lu Weirui and asked: "Is this the painting of you? Is this the stream at the foot of Huqiu Mountain?"
Lu Weirui unfolded the scroll and took a closer look. The scene of her trip to Huqiu with Chen Caozhi was vividly before her eyes. She felt moved and sweet. Chen Langjun had promised her to paint such a painting as a gift to her. At that time, Chen Langjun If you say you are not good at painting, you should ask Gu Kaizhi for advice. After a year and a half, Chen Langjun's painting skills have improved so much. It can be seen that although Chen Langjun is mourning the loss of his mother, he is not depressed and is still studying very hard——
Zhang Wenwan turned his head and looked at Lu Weirui. Lu Weirui covered her face with the scroll. Zhang Wenwan asked again: "Weirui, is that you in the painting?"
Lu Weirui said across the scroll: "Aunt Zhang, I don't know, this is just a back view."
Zhang Wenwan smiled and said angrily: "How dare you say it's not you? Take a closer look at the right foot of the person in the painting -"
When Lu Weirui heard this, her pretty face turned red with embarrassment. A red mole on the girl's right ankle was clearly visible in the shallow stream.