Chen Caozhi and Ran Sheng got off their horses and tied their horses to the pavilion pillars. They went up to Cao'e Pavilion, wearing towels and slightly wet clothes. From the pavilion, they looked out at the stream, the distant mountains and the nearby trees, all covered in the chaos of snowflakes -
It seems that the snow will continue to fall for a while, so Ran Sheng said: "Brother, why don't we go to Zhu Langjun's village to rest for a while? Zhu Langjun is a bit rude. We all arrived in front of his door and he didn't invite us to have a drink.
Hot wine!"
Apart from the people she brought, Xie Daoyun usually only talked to Chen Cao. So in Ran Sheng's view, this Zhu Langjun seemed withdrawn and arrogant. However, this was indeed Xie Daoyun's temperament, even if there was no need to hide his identity.
, Xie Daoyun is also not good at everything.
Chen Caozhi hesitated for a moment and said: "Mr. Dai Andao is at Xie's Manor. I still have to go and see him. By the way, Xiao Sheng, Mr. Zhu has a special status. Don't ask any more questions when you get to the manor later."
Ran Sheng responded: "Yes."
The two left Cao'e Pavilion and rode towards Xie's villa. They caught up with Xie's tribe at the gate of the villa and dismounted in front of the wooden house. Seeing Chen Caozhi coming, Xie's tribe hesitated for a moment and hurriedly
After going in to report, about a moment later, the Xie family came out and said to Chen Caozhi: "Chen Langjun, my husband is not in the village now. Mr. Dai learned that Chen Langjun was here. Please invite Chen Cao."
Let's meet you." After saying that, he handed an oilcloth umbrella to Chen Caozhi and Ran Sheng respectively.
Chen Caozhi knew that with Dai Kui here, Xie Daoyun could not appear as Zhu Yingtai, so he immediately walked up more than a hundred wide stone steps with Ran Sheng, bypassing the left side of the small manor with green pines and short red mud walls.
, walked up a slope and came to the wooden building with eight windows. Behind the wooden building was a bamboo forest, and on the left side there was a large bush of roses. Amidst the flying snowflakes, Chen Caozhi discovered that this bush of roses actually had a few small flowers blooming!
Dai Kui came out to welcome him and said with a smile: "Cao Zhi, I haven't seen you for three years. Dai Mou misses you all the time. He hears the sound of the Shanxi River in the quiet night and often recalls your recorder music. Xie Anshi is not here today, only his niece is here.
Dai is half a master, and he is very considerate to Anshi and entertains guests."
Chen Caozhi and Ran Sheng went into the hall and sat down. Dai Kui asked, "Has Caozhi come to visit Zhu Yingtai? He was not there when I came. He must have gone back to Zhu's family village in Shangyu."
Chen Cao said: "I have sent another person to Zhujiazhuang to look for her. Why did Mr. Andao come here? It's a pleasure to meet her."
Dai Kui said with a smile: "I knew that Cao Cao had arrived in Shanyin and came to visit you, but my brother said that you had gone to Yuyao. Dai couldn't bear to live in the busy city for a long time, so he came to Dongshan to visit the four-season rose bush in front of the building. This is something he can't find anywhere else.
"Cao is a foreign species." He then said: "Cao is resting in the village today. Dai wants to see your music and whether you are good at calligraphy and painting. I know that Cao is busy with official duties, but elegance and elegance are also indispensable, so don't be too reserved.
Take away his God and obscure his justice with dirt."
Dai Kui was a true hermit, not the kind who took the shortcut to the south to raise his hopes. According to historical records, during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu, he often served as a casual rider, and the Imperial Doctors fought numerous battles. Dai Kui resigned from his father's illness and refused to do so. The counties and counties continued to press him, so he fled.
Wu was in exile and became a fugitive. Xie Xuan, then the internal historian of Kuaiji, went to Shu to request that Dai Kui be exempted from the conscription, but he had to return to Yanxi.
Although Chen Caozhi was deeply concerned about earth, he had no reason to refuse Dai Kui's invitation. He was also willing to ask Dai Kui for advice on music and painting, and said, "I dare not obey my order."
Chen Caozhi ordered the Xie clan member to rush to the small town of Dongguan and tell Xiaochan that he and Ran Sheng would rest at the Xie clan's manor for the night and would meet up in Dongguan tomorrow morning before returning to Shanyin.
Liuxu, Xie Daoyun's maid, came over and whispered: "Chen Langjun, my wife invites you to discuss something, which is behind the bamboo forest." After that, she walked away.
Chen Caozhi was about to ask Xie Daoyun if he could go to Shanyin with him tomorrow, so he used the excuse of going to the toilet to go to the bamboo forest behind the wooden building.
The snow stopped at this time, and occasionally a few flakes fell. The bamboo forest was green and yellow, and the branches and leaves were rustling. When the maid Liuxu saw Chen Caozhi coming, she led Chen Caozhi across a small stone bridge and came to an exquisite wooden building behind the bamboo forest.
Next, the maid invited Chen Caozhi to sit down in the small hall due to the wind, and then lowered the bamboo curtain. After a while, Xie Daoyun's soft voice came from behind the curtain: "Zizhong, did your trip to Yuyao go well?"
Chen Cao said: "I have tried my best, and God will make it happen."
Xie Daoyun said: "When Yu Yu was an official, he wrote many times, asking the court to be lenient in corvee duties, suspend service, observe frugality, and train courtiers. How could it be that when family interests were involved, everything changed?"
Chen Cao said: "Yu Yu may have to discuss it with his tribe. When leaving, Yu Xiao's father said that he will go to Shanyin in a few days."
Xie Daoyun said: "Let's not talk about it for now. I have a problem right now. Please help me -"
Chen Caozhi smiled and said, "Is it because of Mr. Andao?"
Xie Daoyun said: "Mr. An Dao is one of the only outsiders who has seen the appearance of my boudoir. If I go out dressed as a man, I will be recognized by Mr. An Dao. Therefore, Zhu Yingtai had no choice but to go to Zhujiazhuang——"
Having said this, Xie Daoyun couldn't help laughing and said: "That's all. What's troublesome is that Mr. An Dao knew that I was going back to Jiankang in the next two days, so he said he wanted to go with me. Isn't that bad!"
Chen Caozhi also found it funny. Xie Daoyun always had inexplicable worries when he became an official, and said: "Then you say you won't go back to Jiankang for the time being. After Mr. An Dao goes, won't Brother Yingtai be able to come back from Zhujiazhuang?"
Xie Daoyun said: "I have used this tactic before, but Mr. An Dao said that he is not in a hurry. He will go to Jiankang when I go to Jiankang. Does Zizhong know why Mr. An Dao went to Jiankang?"
Chen Cao said: "I don't know."
Xie Daoyun said: "I just want to go to Waguan Temple to see the Buddha murals painted by you and Changkang."
Chen Caozhi laughed and said: "It is my crime to trouble Brother Yingtai." After thinking about it, he said: "Mr. An Dao has a noble character and treats himself with courtesy. Brother Yingtai, why don't you tell the truth? Mr. An Dao will decide
I will keep my mouth shut."
Xie Daoyun behind the curtain said: "I can't make any excuses. I just want to make it clear to Mr. An Dao that Zhu Yingtai is me. But now that my son is here, I can't say it." Xie Daoyun's voice became lower and lower as he spoke, and could hardly be heard through the curtain.
.
Chen Caozhi understood what Xie Daoyun meant. After all, it was shocking for a woman to become an official, and she was also his deputy. She traveled thousands of miles and got along day and night. It was really ambiguous. Although he and Xie Daoyun respected each other and had a sincere and pure friendship, this could only be
Talking to those who know is not enough to talk to outsiders.
Chen Cao said: "Let's do this. I will find a way to keep Mr. Dai in Shanxi, and if you leave a letter, you will go to Jiankang in advance."
Xie Daoyun said "hmm".
Chen Caozhi stood up and said, "I'll go then. Mr. Andao is waiting for me to discuss music, calligraphy and painting."
Xie Daoyun's worries were gone and he said: "I want to attend, and I must not miss it."
Chen Caozhi walked through the bamboo forest path and returned to the front building. Dai Kui had ordered the waiter to bring a small red clay stove to keep warm and warm the wine. It was about Zhengshen time, the dusk clouds were heavy, it was already dusk, and the snow was gone.
It's raining, but the weather is much colder than before noon.
The warm pavilion was near the window, and a boy was warming the wine. Chen Caozhi and Dai Shu were drinking and talking about calligraphy and painting. Ran Sheng liked to drink, and he poured the wine himself, feeling a little strange in his heart: "I wish you the best."
Speaking of the murals at Waguan Temple in Jiankang, Dai Shu said: "Dai will go to Jiankang to view the murals at Waguan Temple in the near future. Some devotees in Yanxi talked about the Vimalakirti statue on the east wall of the main hall of Waguan Temple and the statue on the west wall. The eight celestial dragon statues are so breathtaking that it made Dai feel itchy and anxious to take a look."
Chen Cao said: "Mr. Dai is going to Jiankang? What a pity! What a pity!"
Dai Kui was about to ask Chen Caozhi what he regretted, when the maid came in due to the wind and saluted Dai Kui and said: "Mr. Dai, my little lady wants to listen to your husband and Chen Langjun talking about calligraphy, painting and music."
Dai Kui said "Oh" and explained to Chen Caozhi: "This lady of the Xie family is Xie Youdu's sister. She once studied drums and harp and painting with Dai. She is talented in nature and is good at calligraphy, painting, music and rhythm. She must also be good at painting and calligraphy." I’ve heard it before.”
Chen Caozhi nodded and said, "Yes, I visited An Shigong and Wan Shigong when I was in Jiankang. I was fortunate enough to hear the debate between Xie's girl and Fan Wuzi. It was very exciting."
Dai Kui also upheld Confucianism and suppressed metaphysics, and was not interested in debates on metaphysics. He said, "Since Mrs. Xie wants to listen, she can move to a small hall where she can listen through a curtain."
Dai Kui and Chen Caozhi went to the small hall and sat down. The small red clay stove and wine vessels were also brought in. The partitions of the small hall were covered with plain curtains. They heard whispers behind the scenes. Xie Daoyun had already arrived and looked towards Dai Kui through the curtain. Greetings and greetings, calling Master Dai——
Dai Kui said: "Mrs. Daoyun, please help yourself. Mr. Chen and I are here to have a long talk. If Mrs. Daoyun is willing to listen, she can do so. If she is tired, just leave. There is no need to tell me about it."
Xie Daoyun responded and heard Dai Kui ask Chen Caozhi: "Caozhi just said that it would be a pity for Dai to go to Jiankang. Why?"
Chen Cao Zhi said: "Cao Zhi heard that the scenery in Shan County is excellent, and there are also high-profile people such as Mr. Andao. When he came to Kuaiji this time, he planned to buy a boat to visit Mr. Andao in Shan County after the end of the land war. Unexpectedly, Mr. Andao came to visit him. I have to go to Jiankang, so I feel regretful."
Dai Kui immediately smiled and said, "Then Dai can just go to Jiankang next year, so why regret it!"
Xie Daoyun secretly smiled in his heart and said clearly: "Daoyun will leave for Jiankang in the near future. Then I will welcome Master Dai in Jiankang next year." He thought to himself: "I don't know when Master Dai will arrive next year. Maybe I have already gone to Gu No matter how many people there are in Xixi Mansion, my third uncle and fourth uncle will be there to cover my lies."
Dai Kui then said: "Then Dai will no longer go with Madam Dao Yun. Madam Dao Yun should be careful on the road and bring more guards with you."
Chen Caozhi and Dai Kui discussed calligraphy and painting, and they got excited. They ordered people to bring paper, pen and paint to sketch and discuss the techniques. Three years ago in the autumn of the month, Dai Kui visited Chen Caozhi in Chenjiawu. At that time, Chen Caozhi's painting skills A little childish, but now more than three years have passed, Chen Caozhi's painting skills have matured. At the beginning of the year, he and Gu Kaizhi painted murals in Waguan Temple, and they have a deeper understanding of the overall composition and detailed outline. It can be said that Chen Caozhi is now Already a famous artist in painting——
When it was time to light the lamp, the steward of Xie's Manor came to invite Dai Kui, Chen Caozhi and Ran Sheng to dinner. Since Xie An left, the Xie Manor in Dongshan has been managed by loyal stewards.
After dinner, Xie's servants prepared water for Chen Caozhi and Ran Sheng to bathe. Chen Caozhi was used to being served by Xiao Chan, but now that Xiao Chan was not around, he was really not used to it.
The residences of Chen Caozhi and Ran Sheng have been arranged, which is the small building where Xie Xuan originally lived, about two hundred steps away from Xie Daoyun's residence on the small stone bridge behind the bamboo forest.
At night, Chen Caozhi went to Dai Kui's guest house for a long chat. Dai Kui never left his piano. Chen Caozhi's Keting flute was left in Chenjiawu. Chen Caozhi discussed music with Dai Kui and wrote a piece of music. , wearing a Kui drum and harp and singing, the meaning is so faint——
At dawn the next day, Chen Caozhi got up and hurriedly washed up. Ran Sheng in the neighboring room was still asleep, so Chen Caozhi went out alone and asked a servant of the Xie family to lead the way to pay homage to Xie Daoyun, Xie Xuan's father, Xie Yi, and Chen Cao. Although he had never met Xie Yi, he was friends with Xie Daoyun and Xie Xuan, and he also went to Xie's manor, so he should pay homage to him.
The tomb of Xie Yi and his wife is at the west foot of Dongshan Mountain, about four or five miles away from Chen Caozhi's current residence. Chen Caozhi's footsteps were light, and he and the Xie family's servants arrived at Xie Yi's tomb in less than two seconds. There were no memorial objects. , just sincere.
Chen Caozhi silently recited "The Buddha Speaks of the Ullambana Sutra" in front of Xie Yi's tomb. Just as he was about to get up and leave, he suddenly heard someone say under the green pines beside the tomb: "Zizhong, so and so is here."
When Chen Caozhi looked at it, he saw it was Xie Daoyun. He was dressed as a man, with no powder applied, eyebrows and phoenix eyes trimmed, handsome and refined. He was followed by catkins and two Xie family members.
Xie Daoyun took a bronze wine bowl from one of the tribesmen. It was heavy and could hold four liters of wine. Xie Daoyun came over with the wine bowl and said to Chen Caozhi: "My father had better drink wine. There is no need for other things during family sacrifices." , just drink a sip of wine." After saying that, he knelt in front of the tomb, prayed silently, and slowly drank a sip of wine on the dirt floor in front of the tomb. The newly brewed green ant wine quickly seeped into the soil, leaving only a layer of slightly green color. , wine foam as fine as ants——
Xie Daoyun stood up, smiled at Chen Caozhi, and said, "Zizhong is good at talking about mysteries, but he is also a man of etiquette. He knew that Zizhong would come here, so he ordered him to prepare wine." He asked again: "Zizhong just recited the poem. What Buddhist scriptures?"
Chen Cao said: "It's "The Buddha Speaks of the Ullambana Sutra"."
Xie Daoyun nodded and asked, "When will Zizhong get up and go to Shanyin?"
Chen Cao said: "Let's go right after breakfast."
Xie Daoyun said: "I will come a day later. I will come as soon as Mr. Andao returns to Shan County."
Chen Cao said: "Don't be anxious, it will take half a month to get really busy." He bowed to Xie Daoyun and said: "Brother Yingtai, I'll leave first. I won't say goodbye later. I'll be waiting in Shanyin. You." Then he strode away.
Xie Daoyun watched Chen Caozhi walk away quickly in the cemetery with his big sleeves waving. For some reason, he felt strong emotions coming out of his heart. Unable to suppress them, he turned around and knelt down in front of his dead mother's grave, praying together, and it took a long time for his mood to calm down. ——
Liuxu reminded: "Madam, oh Mr. Xie, we should go back. The leek leaf water cake specially made for Mr. Chen by the kitchen should be ready."
…
Chen Caozhi in the manor ate leek leaf water biscuits and suddenly remembered that today was the first day of the winter lunar month and it was his birthday. He immediately understood that Xie Daoyun had specially ordered the cook to make it for him. He couldn't help but feel ashamed. Xie Daoyun knew his birthday. But he didn't know Xie Daoyun's birthday, and he never cared about it. He only remembered the birthdays of his sister-in-law, Zongzhi, Run'er, and Lu Weirui. Xie Daoyun treated him much better than he treated Xie Daoyun.