Chapter 280: Juniors of the Nine Great Surnames, Grass Hall Poetry Society!

【You raise your eyes lightly, your gaze lingering on that Sixth Young Lady of the Li family for a few breaths; seeing her face like a flower and moon, and recalling the expression of Xie Yuan when he mentioned her as if he had met a snake or scorpion, you cannot help but shake your head with a smile.】

【"Young Lady," Sister Sister Xiao Die lowers her voice, "I heard the mistress mention that Xie Yuan is a good seedling for studying, extremely intelligent, and said something about being able to enter the famous academy in the future and become a pillar of the Great Qi. But I, Sister Sister Xiao Die, don't believe a word of it! Isn't this just the old woman selling melons, praising herself."】

【"Young Lady, as the saying goes, good wine is not afraid of deep alleys, but the recent news we have heard has no good reputation; this Xie Yuan was a complete playboy in the past, a regular guest at Xifeng Tower, with a bunch of confidantes. Alas, I, Sister Sister Xiao Die, really feel sorry for the young lady; how could she be involved with such a person."】

【"The ancient saying goes, a prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold, but there is another saying, a dog cannot change..."】

【Looking at the maid "fighting for justice" for the young lady on the side, and chattering endlessly, it is quite similar to Sister Wu Tong's private personality.】

【However, from this, one can also see that this Sixth Young Lady is a master who treats servants extremely well, with a tolerant personality; otherwise, if it were other young ladies of the thousand gold, which servant would dare to be so.】

【The Sixth Young Lady of the Li family finally put down the book in her hand gently, a look of helplessness appearing on her jade face, and she smiled: "Sister Sister Xiao Die, this little mouth of yours is really becoming more and more like those nannies!"】

【Hearing this, Sister Sister Xiao Die is not angry, but her eyes brighten: "Young Lady, is what you said true? I want to become a nanny in the manor in the future, so I can teach those ignorant girls!"】

【The Sixth Young Lady of the Li family cannot help but laugh and cry; the two of them grew up together and are indeed like sisters, like younger sisters.】

【She looks at you again and says: "Young Master, sorry, this maid of mine doesn't know the measure, and speaks without thinking, which disturbed the Young Master's tranquility."】

【Finally, she straightened her face and said: "Sister Sister Xiao Die, quickly apologize to the Young Master!"】

【Only then did Sister Sister Xiao Die remember that there was a strange young master in this pavilion, and she was shocked in her heart. If this person is from the Xie manor, it would be troublesome; if the Xie manor's ladies knew about this gossip, and it spread back to the Li manor, she would be punished.】

【Thinking of this, she stuck out her tongue and quickly said: "I will pour tea for the Young Master; look at my mouth, a great person does not remember the villain's mistakes, please don't take it to heart."】

【You wave your hand, indicating it doesn't matter.】

【Sister Sister Xiao Die is happy again.】

【She looks at your demeanor, which is rare, and cannot help but ask: "Young Master, are you from the Xie manor?"】

【"Consider it so."】

【This unexpected answer makes Sister Sister Xiao Die curl her lips, secretly thinking, who answers like this, what is called consider it so.】

【"Then how should I address you?" she continues to ask.】

【"Xie Guan!"】

【Sister Sister Xiao Die hears this, takes out a small notebook from the bamboo box beside her, and looks through it carefully. The young lady might marry into the Xie family in the future, so she naturally started collecting things about the Xie family long ago. She blinks her eyes, secretly thinking: "Xie Guan? This name doesn't seem to be on the Xie family genealogy." After saying that, she turned a few pages and finally found it!】

【A concubine's son of the Xie family's great courtyard, whose mother's name is not recorded on the genealogy.】

【Xie Guan? Isn't that the one from the Xie family anecdote that shocked the whole city before.】

【Sister Sister Xiao Die cannot help but be surprised: "The bastard of the Xie family?"】

【"Sister Sister Xiao Die!"】

【The Sixth Young Lady of the Li family frowns and interrupts: "Don't be rude."】

【Sister Sister Xiao Die knows she said the wrong thing and apologizes sincerely; exposing people's scars is always wrong.】

【You are not angry, your expression is flat.】

【Seeing this, the Sixth Young Lady of the Li family closes the book in her hand, her eyes full of reproach as she glances at Sister Sister Xiao Die, stands up and bows: "It turns out to be Young Master Guan, I have offended you."】

【"Little girl, Li Shuwan."】

【You think after hearing this, it is indeed the Sixth Young Lady of the Li family.】

【At this time, there is laughter outside the pavilion again.】

【Li Shuwan raises her beautiful eyes and looks outside the pavilion, only to see a few more people walking over. After seeing who it is, she cannot help but sigh slightly, knowing that this quiet place to read that she finally found will probably be gone again.】

【A voice of surprise says excitedly: "Shuwan, what a coincidence."】

【"I just said to Yunniang that the scenery here is unique and it is a good place to enjoy the scenery, I didn't expect to think of the same place as Shuwan."】

【Sister Sister Xiao Die mutters in a low voice on the side: "It's this annoying person again." But she doesn't dare to be the slightest bit presumptuous on her face.】

【"Young Master Su Yun!"】

【"Call me Su Yun!"】

【Two men and one woman walk over quickly, and the speaker is even more impatient to surpass several people and walk straight into the pavilion.】

【This person looks to be just reaching adulthood, wearing a purple gold crown on his head, a two-dragon-snatching-pearl gold forehead band, wearing a two-color gold hundred-butterfly-piercing-flower red arrow sleeve, stepping on a pair of green satin powder-bottomed small court boots; his dress is golden and wealthy, fully showing his extraordinary status.】

【It's just that his appearance is a few points worse, his appearance can only be counted as clear and handsome, with wind-catching ears, extremely large earlobes, and a pair of eyes "fully focused" on Li Shuwan at this moment.】

【You hear Li Shuwan seems to have the intention to remind, Su surname!】

【Descendant of the Su family. And the Su family is the head of the Nine Great Surnames, with prominent power, known to everyone in Above Bianjing.】

【Behind him are a man and a woman, both with four or five servants.】

【The man looks to be fourteen or fifteen years old, in gorgeous clothes, handsome, holding a green jade flute in his hand, with a bit of arrogance in his eyes.】

【I don't know if it comes from your father or that Xie family ancestor of the year; it is said that the family started by being seen by a young lady of a big family for his handsome appearance.】

【The Xie family children of these generations are all handsome and handsome.】

【You also know this one, the seventh young master of the great courtyard, Xie Xuan.】

【You have only seen him at the banquet, and you are not familiar with him; his mother is not one of the Nine Great Surnames but is also a wealthy businessman, and he is also somewhat favored in the manor.】

【You have already stood up and said: "Greetings, Seventh Brother!"】

【Xie Xuan's expression is stunned, looking you up and down, but forgetting who you are.】

【And the woman behind Xie Xuan is even more eye-catching. She wears a lotus-colored silk jacket, covered with a bright red fur cloak, and inside is a yellow embroidered long skirt; her figure is as slender as a weak willow, with narrow shoulders and a thin waist, a duck-egg face, and a pair of eyes that are gentle and affectionate and full of charm, different from other young ladies, possessing a unique charm.】

【Li Shuwan says: "

【Xie Guan!】

【Xie Xuan raised his eyebrows, recalling this brother born of a concubine who had recently gained some reputation in the estate.】

【He nodded lightly and did not care.】

【Su Yun began to stare with some suspicion at the young man sitting peacefully in the pavilion with Li Shuwan; seeing that the two seemed unfamiliar, he finally set his mind at ease.】

【Among the three who entered, Su Yun was naturally the central figure, and he introduced:】

【"Shuwan, this is Xie Xuan, the son of Uncle Xie Ling. You may not have met him; he is also a man of talent."】

【Xie Xuan also said politely, "Greetings, Miss Wan."】

【Then, Su Yun changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of pride and grandiosity: "As for this one, I must introduce her properly! Shuwan, you should have heard of her reputation, right? She is one of the Eighteen Houses of Above Bianjing, praised by the renowned Master Jin Zitan of the Academy."】

【He paused and began to recite a poem: "Yunniang can play the zheng at eight, the spring breeze blows down sounds from heaven. One note brings tears to the Yongmen gate, two notes reveal the red carp's scales, three notes make the white ape rest its arm on its cheek."】

【"The peerless zither player of the Xifeng Pavilion, Hu Yunniang."】

【Jin Zitan, this master at the Academy, was the most famous critic in the Great Qi, known for his penchant for reviewing.】

【Every year during the first month, he would hold an elegant review to critique the figures of the world.】

【Back then, it was because of his comment, "The Xie family's tiger cub shall be the leader of the martial path," that Xie Ling quickly rose to fame in Above Bianjing.】

【Jin Zitan's reviews were not limited to those in the imperial court; he especially liked to critique the famous courtesans and performers of Above Bianjing. Once these performers or courtesans were reviewed by Jin Zitan, their value would often increase a hundredfold, and they would become objects of pursuit by everyone.】

【Therefore, in the pleasure districts of Above Bianjing, one could often see this centenarian being pursued by women, chosen as a guest to enter their curtains.】

【And the "Eighteen Houses of Above Bianjing" was Jin Zitan's highest praise for the performers and courtesans of Above Bianjing. These women were not only outstanding in talent but also beautiful, talented, and required to be dignified and polite in character.】

【This Hu Yunniang was one of the zither players among the Eighteen Houses and also the top courtesan of the Xifeng Pavilion.】

【She was the dream fairy for countless men in Above Bianjing.】

【Her fame was so great that she rarely appeared in public, and those she associated with were the true powerful and noble youths of Above Bianjing. If not for Su Yun's connections behind the Su family, it would likely have been difficult to invite this top courtesan to be a guest at the estate.】

【Hu Yunniang bowed gracefully, her smile gentle, and greeted Li Shuwan: "Greetings, Miss Wan."】

【Li Shuwan said with some surprise: "So it is the renowned Hu, it is truly a pleasure."】

【She had long heard of Hu Yunniang's reputation; she was someone often discussed among this group of descendants of the Nine Great Surnames. It was said she not only played the zither well but also composed poetry and songs.】

【Hu Yunniang's voice was soft, her beautiful eyes flowing with charm, as if they could tug at one's heartstrings. She said softly:】

【"This humble one greets Young Master Guan."】

【She looked at this young master in the pavilion whom she had never seen before; he was dressed in plain blue and white clothes, not particularly exquisite or luxurious, but his temperament and appearance were exceptionally outstanding.】

【Women of their kind, mixing in the "patron's field," were long since sophisticated. Although Hu Yunniang could see that you were not highly regarded, she could not afford to lose any etiquette.】

【Sometimes, such unfavored sons of concubines, with a little "attention" and a few soft words, would act like moths to a flame, coming even more "desperately" than the favored legitimate sons of high-ranking noble families.】

【Under Hu Yunniang's skirt, one did not know how many sons of concubines from the Nine Great Surnames were willing to "go through fire and water" for her, without hesitation.】

【Her every smile and the movement of her wonderful eyes seemed to fall upon you, intentionally or unintentionally.】

【You returned the greeting indifferently and said softly: "Greetings, Miss Hu."】

【Miss Hu?】

【This form of address seemed quite unexpected. Usually, people either affectionately called her Yunniang, or respectfully addressed her as the renowned Hu or Miss Hu; rarely did anyone address her as "Miss Hu."】

【However, the crowd did not pay much attention to this.】

【After everyone was seated in the small pavilion, sitting around the heating stove, you and Li Shuwan sat on one side, while the three of them sat opposite.】

【However, you deliberately kept a distance from them, appearing quite distant.】

【Su Yun said excitedly: "Shuwan, there is another piece of good news to tell you. Do you know that Yunniang has already agreed to join our Caotang Poetry Society?"】

【"I spent a great deal of effort and wore out my tongue before Yunniang nodded and agreed."】

【"From now on, with two talented women like Shuwan and Yunniang to hold the scene, our poetry society will finally have some standing."】

【Speaking of this!】

【Xie Xuan's face could not help but show a few traces of pride. Being able to have one of the Eighteen Houses of Above Bianjing join the Caotang Poetry Society was enough to make other noble youths envious.】

【In this circle of Above Bianjing nobles, they were not the only ones who founded a poetry society; several other noble youths who were on bad terms with them had also established their own.】

【After all, those close to the water get the moon first; whoever became Hu Yunniang's guest would surely be famous in Above Bianjing the next day.】

【However, the people such women gave themselves to had to be extremely outstanding.】

【Not to mention being sold to the imperial family, they had to be true high-ranking celebrities.】

【The Caotang Poetry Society was founded by Su Yun. As the first president, he widely invited famous young talents in Above Bianjing to join, and Xie Xuan was one of them.】

【His mother at home also often instructed him to get closer to Su Yun. Su Yun was quite favored in the Su family, but he did not like reading for officialdom; instead, he liked composing poetry and songs.】

【Regarding the Confucian Four Books and Five Classics, Su Yun did not show much interest, but he had a special fondness for the "Book of Songs," and he knew the poetry of all dynasties by heart, as if they were his own family treasures.】

【Xie Xuan nodded in agreement: "After the renowned Hu joins the poetry society, many talented scholars will come for her fame. This reputation is indeed worth more than a thousand pieces of gold."】

【Although Xie Xuan thought highly of himself, his words were not without the intention of "flattering" Su Yun; otherwise, he would not have personally accompanied him all the way today when Su Yun arrived, showing full courtesy.】

【This action not only reflected the importance attached to Su Yun but also meant to "show off" his connections and abilities in front of the sons and daughters of the Xie family.】

【The people Xie Xuan associated with were by no means ordinary.】

【Hu Yunniang laughed and said: "What virtue or ability does this humble one have to be mentioned in the same breath as Young Master Yun and Miss Wan? They are the signboards of the poetry society."】

【"Young Master Xuan is also a backbone of the poetry society. This humble one can at most play a tune when you are composing poetry, just to add a touch of elegance."】

【Su Yun's face was glowing, appearing extremely happy, not having expected to meet Li Shuwan here.】

【He had fallen in love with Li Shuwan at first sight in his early years, and since this Miss Li had deep attainments in poetry, he thought they were a "match made in heaven."】

【"Why don't we not be constrained by rhyme schemes today, just set a topic, and each create a few poems?"】

【Xie Xuan heard this and readily agreed.】

【Hu Yunniang saw that Su Yun was already full of interest, so she also nodded in agreement.】

【Although Li Shuwan showed hesitation, she finally nodded and agreed.】

【Su Yun was overjoyed: "If today's poetry spreads, it will surely shock the entire Above Bianjing city tomorrow."】

【"I have always had the servants prepare the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, but we still lack someone skilled in calligraphy to wield the brush."】

【Xie Xuan suddenly remembered something, turned his head to look at you and said:】

【"I remember that Brother Guan has quite an attainment in calligraphy."】

(End of chapter)