Across the Water Margin: Officials of Ximen

Li Qingzhao finally saw her husband's true colors this time.In Zhao Mingcheng's view, if Li Qingzhao did not die with Zongqi, it was not because she was afraid of death, but because she forgot to do so. The words "Don't forget it" deprived Li Qingzhao of the right to choose freely.

In Zhao Mingcheng's eyes, his wife Li Qingzhao is no more precious than the ancestral artifacts in his collection.

But the irony is that Zhao Mingcheng, who left Li Qingzhao for the third time, died of illness on the road soon after.This time, he failed to run away as Zhao Pao.

Zhao Mingcheng was cowardly and sensual, and he did not behave like a man when he left Li Qingzhao to run alone twice.Therefore, Li Qingzhao's marriage was actually not as happy as the young literary and artistic youths of later generations imagined. It is no wonder that she wrote so many sad poems.

Xin Zan took Ximen Qing to the front hall. On the way, he told Ximen Qing about Zhao Mingcheng and Li Qingzhao's current situation.

At this time, Zhao Mingcheng was implicated by the failure of his father Zhao Tingzhi's party struggle, and had been dismissed from office for several years. He returned to his hometown in Qingzhou from Bianliang, Tokyo, and lived in seclusion in Guilaitang.Li Qingzhao followed him all the way back to live in Qingzhou, claiming to be Yi'an Jushi.

Shuyutang next to Shuyuquan in Licheng is Li Qingzhao's hometown.

This time, Zhao Mingcheng and Li Qingzhao returned from Guilaitang in Qingzhou to his hometown in Licheng, Qizhou to celebrate the Lantern Festival.In a few days, Zhao Mingcheng and Li Qingzhao will set off together to return to their hometown in Qingzhou.

Because Zhao Mingcheng loves to study epigraphy, and there are many ancient inscriptions on Qianfo Mountain in Licheng, Zhao Mingcheng and Li Qingzhao invited Xinzan and his wife to visit Qianfo Mountain with them yesterday.

Ximen Qing knew what happened after that, Xin Zan and the others met Yu Baosi, a bandit who fled to Qizhou in the valley, and almost fell into the hands of this gang of bandits.It was only thanks to the bloody battles of Ximen Qing and Luan Tingyu that they were rescued.

When Xin Zan brought Ximen Qing to the hall, Luan Tingyu, Jiao Ting and Shi Yong were already sitting there.

Zhao Mingcheng was also waiting for tea in the hall. He chatted and laughed with Luan Tingyu and the others with ease, with a personable demeanor, completely gone from yesterday's decadent appearance.

Seeing that everyone was waiting for him, Ximen Qing couldn't help but secretly feel hot.

Oops!How could the good men Luan Tingyu, Jiao Ting, and Shi Yong brothers wait for me for so long?How did I sleep so deeply last night?Blame the widow Li in the dream!No, it's that Hu Sanniang's fault!

Seeing Ximen Qing coming out, Zhao Mingcheng immediately stepped forward to salute and thank him sincerely.After getting out of the danger of life and death and returning to normal, the man from a family of officials and officials who was born as an imperial student still showed a bit of noble and refined demeanor.

After receiving the servant's notification, Li Qingzhao and Xin Zan's wife, Cui Shi, also walked out of the inner courtyard together.

Everyone gathered together, and Zhao Mingcheng, Xin Zan and his wife once again sincerely thanked Ximen Qing, Luan Tingyu and others, and sent many gifts to express their gratitude.The four of Ximen Qing naturally gave way humbly.

After everyone sat down and tasted the good tea in Xin Mansion, Zhao Mingcheng and Li Qingzhao formally invited Ximen Qing and Xin Zan couple to Shuyutang.Let's go to admire the plum blossoms in full bloom in their mansion and the spring water of Shu Yuquan, and hold a banquet under the flowers to drink and have fun.

Ximen Qing had already made up his mind not to take the route of studying for fame, so he didn't want to participate in any poetry reception of this kind of literati.But ever since he knew that the beautiful woman he rescued yesterday was Li Qingzhao, he was full of curiosity and readily accepted the invitation of Zhao Mingcheng and his wife.

It's a rare opportunity for me, a senior official of Ximen, to have close contact with celebrities through the ages, so why not go to her house and get drunk!

Luan Tingyu, the hero of the white horse, was not easy to refuse, so he had to agree.When Jiao Ting and Shi Yong heard about appreciating plum blossoms, listening to springs, drinking wine and reciting poems, they immediately shook their heads like rattles, firmly expressing that they would not participate.For the two of them, there is another good place to go in this Xin Mansion, and Xin Zan's third uncle is still waiting to gamble with them!

Chapter 36 I Can't Write Poetry

Xinjiazhuang is not far from Shuyutang where Li Qingzhao and his wife lived. Along the way, it is surrounded by forests and springs, and there are many wild plum trees growing in between, with a pleasant fragrance.

Not long after, Ximenqing and others followed Zhao Mingcheng and Li Qingzhao to the Shuyu Hall of the Li family.

The Shuyu Spring is next to the Li family's house. The word "Shuyu" comes from "Shushi Zhenliu" in "Shishuoxinyu Paidiao".

Shuyuquan spring pool is rectangular in shape, about one and a half feet long, one foot wide, and six feet deep.There are stone-carved railings around the spring pool.The spring water gurgles out from the overflow in the south, cascading down, and the stones are pierced through the gaps, gurgling, like washing jade.The spring water is poured into the screw spring pool, and the spring water is crystal clear.

When Li Qingzhao was young, he often played in the water beside Shuyu Spring.

Everyone stopped by the spring pool for a while, listening to the sound of the gurgling water, feeling relaxed and happy.

After watching Bi Shuyuquan, Ximenqing and others entered Shuyutang under the guidance of Li Qingzhao.

Zhao Mingcheng and Li Qingzhao had already made preparations and set up tables and seats in the garden of Shuyutang. After a while, they were covered with delicate wine, meat, fruits and vegetables.

Everyone sat down as guest and host, and drank and had fun under the plum blossom bushes, talking loudly.

Zhao Mingcheng is very eloquent today, showing his profound knowledge to everyone.Xin Zan is also well-read and well-recorded, and he had a great conversation with Zhao Mingcheng.

Li Qingzhao didn't say much today, he just had some homely conversations with the Cui family, occasionally took a look at Ximen Qing and Luan Tingyu, and invited them to drink and eat.

What Ximenqing didn't expect was that Luan Tingyu had also read a lot of books, and he was not a vulgar person who only knew how to punch and stick.He introduced some local conditions and customs of Yazhou and Guangnan East and West Roads to everyone, which also made everyone listen heartily.

Ximenqing didn't have a few sage books in his belly, and he hadn't been out of Yunzhou much before, so he was a real local tyrant.At this time at the banquet, I can only restrain my clumsiness and gossip with everyone.

Ximen Qing came to the banquet to see Li Qingzhao, so how could he be interested in discussing sage books with Zhao Mingcheng and others? He would sneak his eyes to Li Qingzhao from time to time, wanting to see how this Li Qingzhao was different from other women.

However, this Li Qingzhao seldom showed his talents today, no different from the Cui family beside her.

Only occasionally, Ximen Qing could feel that Li Qingzhao was also peeping at him.But when he looked over, Li Qingzhao was already looking elsewhere, not knowing what it meant.

Ximen Qing only saw a few touches of blush on Li Qingzhao's delicate and beautiful face, which was even more gorgeous than the red plum on her head.

This woman, maybe she was drunk during the banquet, and she is too strong to drink?

The crowd rejoiced with the sound of the spring and the fragrance of plums, and half a day passed without realizing it.The guests and the host had a good time, and they all drank a lot of fine wine, and they were somewhat drunk.

Then Zhao Mingcheng became interested, and assigned the servants to bring pens, ink, paper and inkstones, and first wrote a few sets of inscription calligraphy, and when he was proud, he had to discuss poetry skills with a few others.

Zhao Mingcheng took the lead and wrote a poem that he had been pondering recently, which attracted applause from Xin Zan and others.

Afterwards, Xin Zan also improvised a poem, which was not inferior to that of Zhao Mingcheng.

Li Qingzhao, who is best at poetry, did not start writing, but smiled at Ximen Qing and Luan Tingyu together with Cui.

Ximen Qing picked up a piece of preserved fruit with wooden chopsticks and put it in his mouth, squinting his eyes to enjoy the softness and sweetness between his lips and teeth.ah!People who enjoy good food should not bother.This candied fruit is delicious, and I can't help but immerse myself in the delicious food, I can't even see your eyes.

Ximenqing sat there as stable as Mount Dai, but Luan Tingyu couldn't sit still.Luan Tingyu got up and left the table, lingered for a while, and recited a poem appropriate to the occasion.Although not very good, but also quite satisfactory.

"Cough~ Brother Ximen, Brother Yu sees that you are also a person who has read poetry and books, and you must be able to recite poems to match. Today coincides with the grand plum appreciation party with Brother Defu and Mrs. Sister-in-law, can you impromptuly compose a poem for me to watch? Seeing that everyone was looking at Ximen Qing, but Ximen Qing remained motionless, Xin Zan had no choice but to remind him.

"Ashamed! Brother Xin, Brother Zhao, the two wives, although the younger brother also has a collection of books in the house, he likes to dance with guns and clubs since he was a child, and he doesn't like reading. So the younger brother has acquired a good boxing stick, but he is only proficient in writing and not good at poetry. Said. My little brother won’t make a fool of himself in front of the famous Lay Yi An.” Ximen Qing continued to humbly decline.

"It's a pity, my sister and I both want to see the literary talents of the Ximen official who bravely fight against the bandits, but I'm afraid we won't be able to do so." Xin Zan's wife said regretfully.

Li Qingzhao glanced at Ximen Qing, sighed, showing a slightly disappointed expression.Is this official Ximen just a rough warrior with no literary talents after all? It's a pity for his handsome face...

Ximen Qing saw the change in Li Qingzhao's expression, and thought that this literary young woman still likes people with cultural temperament!Should I pretend to be aggressive in front of her?

Zhao Mingcheng couldn't help feeling displeased when he heard that Ximen Qing said that he didn't dare to make a fool of himself in front of the famous Yi An layman, but he didn't mention himself.

What kind of articles and poems do you, a villager who is new to pen and ink, know? Could it be that I, who was born as a student and full of knowledge, can't catch the eyes of an ignorant villager like you?

Zhao Mingcheng coughed and said, "Ximen brother, do you know that the sage Confucius once said: quality wins writing and then history, and writing wins quality and history. Gentleman and gentleness are then gentlemen. My brother, it still takes a lot for me to rule the world with Zhao officials and scholar-bureaucrats." Reading is the way to go!"

Yo, is this guy secretly mocking me for not studying and being rude? It seems that I can't do without pretending to be a coward!

Uncle Ximen, if I casually plagiarize a few famous poems, I can scare you to death.What are you going to write first?

Yes, I remember that there is a very familiar song that I have memorized in Chinese class, "The great river goes to the east to find all the waves, and the romantic people of the ages..." is very good. Are you afraid of it?

Huh~ It seems wrong, this poem is "Nian Nujiao. Chibi Nostalgia" written by Su Dongpo!

According to Xin Zan, Li Gefei, the father of Li Qingzhao on the opposite side, was a student of Su Dongpo, and was known as one of the "last four great scholars" of Sumen.