Chen Caozhi welcomed Xi Chao to the main hall and sat down. He pointed at the apprenticeship ceremony sent by Li Jingshu and said: "Brother guest, I want to ask you for help——"
Xi Chao smiled and asked, "What's the matter?"
There were some things that Chen Caozhi was inconvenient to tell Huan Wen directly, but he had no such scruples in front of Xi Chao. Speaking out showed his close trust, so Chen Caozhi told him everything about his encounter with Li Jingshu that day at the bank of Gushu River.
Xi Chao laughed and said: "Zizhong was burdened by Jiangzuo Weijie's reputation. Everywhere he went, he attracted love. Li Shimei, who is twenty-eight this year, actually pursued Zi Zhong. Haha, it's really interesting!
"
According to the custom of Jin people, it is not rude to talk about other people's concubines, but after all, this is Huan Wen's favorite concubine, and her original status is also special. She is a princess who has subjugated her country, which is very different from ordinary concubines.
Chen Cao said: "Brother Guest, don't just make fun of me, teach me how to deal with it."
Xi Chao picked up a piece of jasper pendant sent by Li Jingshu, looked at it in the light, and said: "A specialty of Sichuan, top-grade green jade, this gift is worth a lot of money. It has been fifteen years since the Li family of the Chenghan Dynasty destroyed the country.
But there are still people who support them. Every year, people come to Jiankang to send Shuzhong specialties to Li Shi, Marquis of Guiyi——" Changing the topic, he said: "If it is an ordinary concubine and has no children, Duke Huan will give this concubine to her.
It doesn't matter if I give it to you, it's also a romantic affair, but this Li Shimei can't do it."
Chen Caozhi said with shame: "Brother Guest, I'm asking you for advice on how to deal with this matter. Am I that lustful person? Even if I'm lustful, how can I dare to covet Duke Huan's concubine? It's just that Li Shimei is moody, and she can't get close to her."
No, if you refuse, you will be resentful, fearing there will be trouble in the future.”
Xi Chao smiled and said, "Don't worry, Zizhong. Duke Huan is very magnanimous and relies heavily on you, so he will never blame you for this matter. How about this? You go with me to see Duke Huan and clarify the matter."
There will be no future troubles.”
What Chen Caozhi needed was Xi Chao's words. He immediately went to see Huan Wen with Xi Chao and sent back Li Jingshu's gift. It would be better for the recorder teacher not to do anything. Unexpectedly, he mentioned the story by the Gushu River.
Huan Wen burst out laughing and said, "Qingqing has already told me about this. Qingqing likes to laugh, so don't worry about it. She likes your recorder. Since you have agreed to teach her, there is no need to worry about it."
I declined. When I have time, I will come to the General's Mansion to teach her for half an hour. I can also listen to the wonderful music of Chen Chun. I have never heard the recorder music that King Huanye praised highly of you."
It turns out that Qingqing is Li Jingshu's diminutive. When Chen Caozhi heard what Huan Wen said, he could no longer refuse. He became even more wary of Li Jingshu. This woman was very scheming. She seemed to have expected that he would refuse in front of Huan Wen.
Huan Wen told the matter in front of him. As for how he said it, how could outsiders know? Isn't that how a woman slanders her? But Huan Wen actually indulged her, and Huan Wen's intentions were unpredictable.
Huan Wen said: "Qingqing has prepared the ceremony for Xiu Xiu. I also know that since Chen Yu is here, he has asked Qingqing to come out and perform the ceremony of becoming a disciple." He then ordered his maid to invite Li Jingshu to come out.
After a moment, Li Jingshu, dressed in a snow-white Shuwan dress, came out gracefully. She knelt down in front of Chen Caozhi and said: "Master Chen——"
Li Jingshu is not a Han, but a member of the Badi tribe in central Sichuan. The appearance of the Badi tribe is no different from that of the Han people. It is said that the men have a rough appearance, while the women have a snow-skinned appearance, which is quite similar to the Asura tribe of the eight tribes of heavenly dragons in Buddhist scriptures. This Li Jingshu
She is a stunning beauty from the Ba Di people. Her long black hair is tied up in a towering high bun. Her skin is extremely white, and she looks like a beautiful jade in the snow-white dress. She has a straight nose, rosy lips, and thick and long eyelashes.
Therefore, her eyes appear to be extraordinarily dim and deep. She is said to be twenty-eight years old, but compared with the nineteen-year-old Lu Weirui, Li Jingshu has no trace of time at all. Of course, Lu Weirui's pure, beautiful and tranquil temperament is something that Li Jingshu does not have.
, Is Li Jingshu beautiful? She is indeed very beautiful. When she kneels, her long skirt stretches out the outline of her legs and buttocks. They are slender and round, which makes people's hearts beat. But the most beautiful thing is Li Jingshu's hands, with slender fingers and extremely beautiful shapes, like
It is carefully carved from top-quality jade, and the nails are also the same color, with a light red color, like translucent ruby——
Huan Wen said: "Qingqing, Chen Peng will be in the capital on official business in two days. If you have free time today, please ask him to give you some instruction on the recorder."
Li Jingshu didn't look as hysterical as she did that evening by the Gushu River. She put her hands on her knees and said respectfully: "Master Chen, please give me some advice."
Chen Caozhi hesitated for a moment and said, "Then please ask Mrs. Li to play a piece of music for me first."
Then a maid hurriedly went to get a flute. Li Jingshu smiled brightly at Huan Wen, nodded to Xi Chao and Chen Caozhi, held a purple bamboo flute in her hand, and played half a piece of music. But it was Chen Caozhi who was there that day.
Of course Li Jingshu could not play the "Red Bean Song" played by Xi Chao in his apartment completely, but since she only listened to it once, it was rare to be able to play it like this. Also, Li Jingshu's way of playing the flute was very moving, with her lips pursed slightly.
, the slender and delicate fingers are pressing up and down, which is very charming. This woman can be favored by Huan Wen, and she is indeed charming.
Chen Cao said: "Ms. Li is an excellent player. She doesn't need my guidance on her skills. I can copy a few pieces of music for you. In addition, it's difficult to play my music to its full potential with an ordinary recorder. It requires a large diameter pipe."
Some of them are square and the diameter of the pipe is thick, so you can control the changes in lip shape and play four or five different tones. The pipe body does not need to be too long, not more than three feet and three inches. If it is too long, it will be cumbersome."
Li Jingshu expressed her appreciation for the instruction and asked, "Can I let my concubine have a look at the Keting flute that Grandmaster Huan gave to Master Chen?"
Chen Cao thought to himself, "This girl is really annoying. Maybe after seeing my Ke Tingdi, she wants to take it for her." He then said, "Prefect Huan gave it to me as a gift. I cherish it as a treasure and will never lend it to anyone else."
Huan Wen smiled and said: "Chen Yu is stingy, how can King Huanye be so generous? Qingqing, Cai Zhonglang Ke Ting's flute is unique in the world. It is impossible for you to want such a flute. I will send someone to find a flute like Chen Yu's for you."
The best recorder of all time."
Li Jingshu's long and thin eyelashes covered her eyelids like a curtain, and she said: "Thank you, General." Her eyelashes flashed, and her eyes glanced over Chen Caozhi's face.
…
On June 15th, Chen Caozhi and Xi Chao bid farewell to Huan Wen and went to Jiankang. Chen Caozhi was ordered to recruit Zhu Yingtai to join the Western Prefecture, while Xi Chao went to serve in the court. At the same time, Huan Wen was entrusted with the task of recruiting Zhu Yingtai.
Yousi implemented it as soon as possible, and Xi Chao's wife Zhou Matou also went with her. Zhou Matou's brother Zhou Lin also went with him. Zhou Matou was the same age as Xi Chao. He was twenty-seven years old this year and had not yet given birth. He persuaded Xi Chao to take a concubine.
Xi Chao refused and only wanted to stay with Zhou Ma Touchang.
Xie Xuan sent Xi Chao off, and Chen Caozhi crossed Baiqu Mountain and asked Chen Caozhi to take a letter to his uncle Xie Wan. He also secretly told Chen Caozhi that if his sister Xie Daoyun really had no choice but to become an official, please send Chen Caozhi
We must help him conceal his true identity, and Chen Caozhi naturally agreed.
Following Chen Caozhi to Jiankang were Laizhen and Huang Xiaotong. Huan Wen also ordered Ran Sheng to lead ten of his soldiers to protect Chen Caozhi.
It was more than 300 miles from Gushu to Jiankang. It was a hot summer day in June and the sun was as scorching as fire. Chen Caozhi, Xi Chao and his entourage were on their way at dawn. They found a post station to rest at noon. They traveled four to fifty miles a day. On June 10
On the 8th, in the middle of the journey, Chen Cao was ordered to rush back to Jiankang and bring his text message. He asked Gu Kaizhi's wife Zhang Tongyun to give the letter to Lu Weirui and arranged to meet Lu Weirui in Xinting before noon on the 21st of this month.
, Chen Caozhi knew that once he returned to Jiankang, it would not be easy to see Lu Weirui, so it would be most appropriate to meet him in Xinting.
Unexpectedly, there were heavy rains in the next few days, which blocked the trip. Madam Xi, Zhou Matou, knew that Chen Caozhi was anxious to see Lu's girl, so on June 20th, she ordered the driver to drive in the rain, and by midnight, she arrived two miles away from Xinting.
Laoshengdian in Shili is also a post station. It was established by Huan Wen after he moved to Gushu to facilitate travel with Jiankang.
After eating and bathing, Xi Chao came to Chen Caozhi's room and said with a smile: "Zizhong, hurry up and rush to Xinting early tomorrow morning to have a nice intimate time with Miss Lu. I'll be here slowly."
Chen Caozhi smiled slightly and said, "Sister-in-law Zhou has had a hard time today. She is in such a hurry to get on her way."
Xi Chao said: "You are so beautiful as an adult, how dare you quit your job." Thinking of something, he said: "Zizhong, Xie Anshi has returned to Jiankang. The great Situ intends to promote Xie Anshi to the rank of fourth-grade censor Zhongcheng. You have been ordered to recruit Zhu Yingtai to join the Xifu this time.
I'm afraid I have to meet Xie Anshi first."
Chen Cao said: "It's time for me to go and see Mr. Anshi Linzhiwang."
Xi Chao said: "Then Mr. Xie didn't know what to think. He actually blocked Zhu Yingtai's appointment. Is it because he was afraid that Zhu Yingtai was too talented and would overpower Xie Youdu? It's important for me to convince Xie Anshi. Duke Huanjun loves talents and wants Zhu Yingtai to do so."
It is not allowed to enter Xifu."
After Xi Chao returned to his room, Chen Caozhi began to copy books under the oil lamp. It has become Chen Caozhi's habit to copy books before going to bed. He could not sleep without copying thousands of words. What he copied tonight was Zhuge Liang's military book "General Garden".
", which he borrowed from Xie Xuan, and planned to copy two parts, one for himself and the other for Ran Sheng.
"Jiang Yuan" has more than 5,000 words. I have copied more than half of it in the past two days, and I will finish copying the remaining 1,000 words tonight.
When Chen Caozhi was copying the book, Ran Sheng knelt down on the other side of the desk and read "Jiang Yuan. Military Power" that Chen Caozhi had copied. If he didn't understand something, he asked Chen Caozhi, and Chen Caozhi put down his writing.
Explaining word for word, Ran Sheng listened attentively and studied much harder than before.
After copying "Jiang Yuan", Ran Sheng rushed to wash his pen and inkstone, sorted them one by one, and then returned to his room to rest.
Chen Caozhi took off his clothes and went to bed, listening to the sound of rain outside, and thought to himself: "I hope it will be sunny after the rain tomorrow morning." He also thought: "No matter whether it is rainy or sunny, Wei Rui will be waiting for me in the new pavilion. I won't be in Jiankang."
, Wei Rui should be able to move freely, right? Will she ask her stepmother to accompany her? Well, it has been almost four months since Mrs. Lu got my kidney-nourishing prescription. I wonder if Lu Shijun insists on taking it. If Mrs. Lu can't
If you give birth to a son and a half-daughter, you will definitely be despised by the Lu family, and their protection will be incapable of protecting you——"
After thinking about it, Chen Caozhi fell into a deep sleep.