Chapter 298: Releasing the crane and rushing to the sky, Waiting for Spring Tower

【Xie Yuan cannot help but ask: "Uncle Master Mingshan, what is the matter with looking for Brother Guan?"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue's face shows a look of envy and anger; since her father returned home these days, he has been living in the Waiting for Spring Tower in the Hongjing Courtyard, closing the door to guests, not only Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Zhao could not see him, but even she had no chance to see him.】

【Besides asking for peace from the old lady every day, her father has been recuperating in the Waiting for Spring Tower, never taking half a step out.】

【Many aristocratic families of the Nine Great Clans of Above Bianjing, and even Xie Hong's students in the academy, have come to visit, but were all refused at the door without exception.】

【The woman brought back by her father was left in the Waiting for Spring Tower, which made the mistress of the Second Courtyard, Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Zhao, very angry.】

【But a strange thing happened today!】

【The West Corner Gate of the Xie Fu welcomed a visitor, who went straight into the Waiting for Spring Tower, and heard her father's laughter for the first time in a long time.】

【Not long after, the voice of her father came from the Waiting for Spring Tower.】

【"Please ask Lu Chen of the Great Courtyard to come."】

【Xie Xie Qiyue was waiting outside the Waiting for Spring Tower, and upon hearing this, she went to Lu Chen's small courtyard with the servant.】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi hears this and knits her brows slightly; the Xie Erye of the Xie family, who is famous in Above Bianjing, wants to see you, what is the matter?】

【Xie Qi puts her hands on her waist and says: "It's not seeing you, Xie Yuan, why do you care so much."】

【Xie Yuan laughs: "Haha, I heard that someone has been waiting for two days in the Waiting for Spring Tower, but has not been able to see Uncle Master Mingshan, I don't know if her feet are sore from standing?"】

【"Xie Yuan, you are looking for a beating!"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue was poked in the sore spot, and already made a gesture of "bared fangs and brandished claws," pouncing on Xie Yuan.】

【"Fourth Cousin, look at Xie Xie Qiyue, she doesn't have half the gentleness of a girl." Xie Yuan shrinks his head and hides behind Zhang Zhang Yuzhi.】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi says softly: "Alright, Xie Qiyue, since Uncle Master Mingshan is looking for Young Master Guan, let's not delay the business."】

【Xie Xie Qiyue then reluctantly stops, raising her fist at Xie Yuan to show a warning.】

【Mentioning family background, Xie Yuan's biological mother, Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Empress Zhuge, Zhang Zhang Yuzhi's mother, and Xie Xie Qiyue's mother all come from the famous Empress Zhuge family. They grew up together and have deep friendship, and are quite familiar with each other.】

【You hear this but are not in a hurry, instead first carefully packing up the pen and ink, then getting up and stepping into the inner room to change into a set of clothes.】

【"Young Master Guan, can I take these three lines of calligraphy?" Zhang Zhang Yuzhi says.】

【You have already changed into a deep blue robe and walked out of the door, smiling:】

【"Miss Zhi, naturally it's fine."】

【You bow to Xie Yuan and the two, saying: "The elder has invited, so I dare not refuse. Sixth Brother, Miss Zhi, I will take my leave first."】

【After speaking, you follow the green-shirted servant who had been waiting at the door to the Grand View Garden.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue did not follow; going to the Waiting for Spring Tower is not guarding outside with Third Brother Xie Xie Renfeng, looking at each other.】

【There are guests visiting today, I am afraid it is even harder to see her father, rather than that, it is better to be at ease here.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue is secretly puzzled, why are Cousin Zhang Zhang Yuzhi and Xie Yuan quite familiar with this concubine's son of the Great Courtyard, Lu Chen.】

【This Lu Chen can even get her father's summons?】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi stares at the paper left on the stone table, on which are written three lines:】

【"Between the wild geese and the wood."】

【"The change of dragon and snake."】

【"If you don't enter the dragon's pool, how can you get its merit."】

【Is she really going to let her father take this risk? Enter Deze Lake alone?】

【She looks up at Lu Chen who has already gone far, and looks at Lu Chen's back as he goes further and further away. This concubine's son in the Great Courtyard of the Xie Fu has a situation several times more bumpy than her, a daughter of the main wife.】

【His biological mother died early, he is helpless in the Xie Fu, suffers bullying and cold eyes, even the old lady calls him a "disaster," his academic path is also "difficult," not to mention the future is even more bleak.】

【But three days ago in the Grand View Garden, whether it was dealing with people or words and deeds, he was always in accordance with etiquette, showing the style of a gentleman.】

【Being in the mud, but not having half a decadence, giving up on himself.】

【If a person has the ambition of a cloud, he cannot pass without time.】

【Deep in her heart, there is always an inexplicable premonition that the young man who has not yet reached his coming-of-age ceremony, once the sleeping dragon gets rain, will surely be like a crane rushing to the sky.】

【"Cousin Zhang Yuzhi, what are you thinking about?" Xie Xie Qiyue looks at her cousin staring into the distance.】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi has already carefully put away the paper, folded it neatly, and placed it in her sleeve.】

【"Nothing!"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue remembers something and says full of expectation: "Cousin Zhang Yuzhi, this year's West Chamber Tower is really bustling, Yuehua Pavilion, Qimo Qimo Chunfang, and Zixiao Pavilion have all chosen to hold the Group Fragrance Banquet on the day before New Year's Eve."】

【Group Fragrance Banquet is an elegant name, meaning the West Chamber Tower selects the top courtesan.】

【Xie Yuan is indifferent, saying lightly: "What is there to be surprised about, didn't two houses hold it together on the Lantern Festival last year?"】

【He has some doubts in his heart; usually the time for the "Group Fragrance Banquet" is fixed around the Lantern Festival after the beginning of the second year, "Why is it so much earlier this year?"】

【Every year, the three small singing troupes elect the top courtesan, which is a major event in Above Bianjing City, and major gambling houses compete to open markets to predict the winner.】

【However, this matter has always been mostly concerned by men, and few women specifically go to the West Chamber Tower to watch.】

【If they go, women also go by class.】

【Passing class refers to the behavior of young ladies from official families or noble families who disguise themselves to drink tea and eat in brothels.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue smiles proudly and says: "You don't know, this year is very different. This top courtesan election is jointly held by the Great Qi imperial court and the academy."】

【"Academy? Imperial Court!"】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi hears this, and a look of curiosity appears on her face.】

【The imperial court has never interfered with the affairs of the West Phoenix Tower, although it is rumored that Qimo Qimo Chunfang among the three has imperial court background, but business is business, and it has never interfered with the West Chamber Tower.】

【The academy is even more impossible?】

【The academy has always been transcendent, why would it suddenly care about a competition for the top courtesan?】

【Xie Xie Qiyue looks at her cousin and Zhang Zhang Yuzhi with a puzzled face, not playing mystery.】

【"It was posted in Above Bianjing City early this morning, and the students of the academy have already spread it everywhere."】

【"This year, besides the three houses selecting the top courtesan themselves, they will also jointly select the top ten, called the 'Beauty List,' and it will be spread throughout the thirteen state prefectures by the Great Qi imperial court."】

【Xie Yuan is even more puzzled after hearing this.】

【The imperial court actually wants to make a name for the "Top Courtesan Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi," which is an unprecedented thing.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue continues: "This is not all, at this Group Fragrance Banquet, the Third Master of the Academy will also be present."】

【"Third Master?"】

【As soon as these words came out, Xie Yuan and Zhang Zhang Yuzhi both exclaimed in surprise.】

【Xie Yuan is even more unbelievable: "Third Master will attend the Group Fragrance Banquet? How is this possible?"】

【You must know!】

【The Third Master has not left the top floor of the academy for nearly twenty years.】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi thinks and says: "Xie Qiyue, what else is written on the list?"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue adds: "In this top courtesan selection, besides the flower tickets cast, nine-tenths of the money collected will be drawn for the diversion and governance of the Yellow River."】

【In the past, five taels of silver could be exchanged for one flower ticket, and many wealthy merchants in Jiangnan, in order to compete for fame for the woman they liked, did not hesitate to sell their ancestral homes, fields, and other family properties, buying hundreds of thousands of flower tickets with large sums, just to help her.】

【However, flower tickets are only one of the conditions for selecting the top courtesan, otherwise Hu Hu Yunniang would not have reversed the situation last year just by Jin Jin Zitan's criticism and successfully won the title of top courtesan.】

【Group Fragrance Banquet, also known as "Little Mid-Autumn," Mid-Autumn poetry gatherings often breed famous poems that spread through the ages, and the Group Fragrance Banquet is also like this.】

【Since it was held, every year's Group Fragrance Banquet will have two or three poems appear, shocking Above Bianjing City.】

【In the selection of the top courtesan, besides the flower ticket item, poetry fame is also an indispensable link.】

【A good poem and wonderful words can often make the top courtesan's reputation go further and spread throughout the world.】

【The value increases, the word reputation has always been like this, it can gather money and also create wind and rain.】

【Therefore, every year's Group Fragrance Banquet is not only a stage for top courtesans to compete for beauty, but also a place for poets to show their talents and compete for fame.】

【"Yellow River governance, the disaster victims of the two states are like a tide..."】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi suddenly realizes in her heart, she understands the real purpose of the imperial court—to raise funds for disaster relief.】

【Every year for the top courtesan election, the silver thrown by wealthy guests and nobles reaches ten million taels, which is an astonishing astronomical figure.】

【Now with the Great Qi imperial court and the academy together for this matter, I am afraid the grand occasion of this year's Group Fragrance Banquet will be unprecedented.】

【However, how did the imperial court convince the three houses to agree to this? You must know, every year's Group Fragrance Banquet is the bulk of the three houses' annual income.】

【Xie Yuan claps his hands and praises: "Wonderful!"】

【"In this way, the silver in hand is no longer just for the top courtesan lady of the West Chamber Tower, but for the common people of the world."】

【"Half for beauty, half for the common people, it is truly romantic."】

【"Then how can I, Xie Yuan, not go?"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue also says happily: "Father also promised to go."】

【"Does Uncle Master Mingshan also go?"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue nods lightly, recalling what her father said: "Father said, he is going to see an old friend he hasn't seen for a long time."】

【Xie Yuan guesses in his heart, could it be the Third Master of the Academy?】

……

……

【You follow the servant to the Grand View Garden, and the road is smooth all the way.】

【The leading green-shirted servant and the managers along the way are all respectful,】

【A servant working for Xie Hong is enough to see the status of the Xie Erye of the Xie family in the Xie Fu.】

【Even the manager who had blocked you before smiles at you this time.】

【Waiting for Spring Tower is located on the north side of the Grand View Garden, and you need to take a boat across the lake. The two "characters" at the bottom of the lake also swim slowly with the boat you are riding, exuding a sense of "enthusiasm."】

【You don't show too much closeness; Lu Hua reminded you last time that it is best not to easily expose the inheritance of the Xie Erye.】

【This makes the two dragons drawn by the characters in the water appear a bit "depressed."】

【You are actually just full of curiosity in your heart, which two of the Xie Erye's nine swords the remaining two characters in this lake belong to.】

【Ghost-Slaying Sword, as your cultivation deepens day by day, you feel it is more and more unfathomable.】

【You can feel that the value of this sword intent even exceeds the Seven Realms of the Soul recorded in the *Yin Talisman Scripture*.】

【If this sword intent can be integrated into the painting and made into a door god statue, it is enough to suppress a fierce house of evil spirits.】

【The boat arrives at the shore, you continue to move forward, all the way north, straight to the north side of the Grand View Garden.】

【Compared to the Hongjing Courtyard, this place is a distance away, passing a deep pool on the way, the water of which is not green or black because it is extremely deep, but exudes layers of black.】

【Legend has it that this is where the Xie Erye of the Xie family used to study and practice calligraphy, wash brushes and inkstones, and over the years, the pool water has been dyed pitch black.】

【The Grand View Garden is vast, and after walking for a while, you see a small courtyard, and from a distance, you can see a plaque with the three characters "Waiting for Spring Pavilion" hanging on it.】

【In front of the mansion are lake pavilions, rockeries, and behind is a bamboo forest.】

【Although it is deep autumn, the bamboo forest behind the mansion is still lush and green, and the curling white mist drifting from the cold autumn lake surface permeates the deep green.】

【Setting off the mansion, elegant and quiet.】

【However, at this time, the gate of the mansion is tightly closed.】

【Two people are standing at the door.】

【The servant leading you forward stops far away, bows and salutes one of the people at the door.】

【Both are your acquaintances, the Third Young Master Xie Xie Renfeng of the Second Courtyard and his maid Ganzhi, who are waiting at the door of the Waiting for Spring Tower.】

【Ganzhi is wearing a dark green long dress of treasure gauze, outlining her tall figure gracefully. She has an exquisite silver fork inserted in her head, and her hands are neatly crossed at her waist.】

【Since the Grand View Garden, it seems she has returned to her usual composure.】

【As a servant, she naturally accepts her fate.】

【Xie Xie Renfeng sees you walking over, his brows knit.】

【Ganzhi stands behind Xie Xie Renfeng, raising her wonderful eyes to look at you.】

【At this time, you are wearing a blue robe, your facial features are distinct and delicate, your eyebrows are like distant mountains, your eyes are as black as stars, and there is a warm and moist look between your brows.】

【Anyone who sees it must praise a handsome young man.】

【I don't know why, but Ganzhi feels that you are even more handsome than you were in the Grand View Garden three days ago, and your temperament is becoming more and more outstanding.】

【It really makes her feel a sense of "poetry and books in the belly, spirit from the flower."】

【At this time!】

【Ganzhi also inevitably thinks in her heart that this pitiful concubine's son, his appearance and temperament are even better than Young Master Xie Renfeng.】

【However!】

【What can appearance and temperament do? What is the use of talent?】

【Ganzhi shakes her head, Lu Chen is not liked by the mistresses of the Xie family, I am afraid he will only be trapped in the Xie Fu for the rest of his life, and she also knows that this Young Master Guan might have a disaster waiting for him.】

【Xie Xie Renfeng's face is cloudy and sunny, and a pair of eyes are looking at you unkindly.】

【You are calm, slowly stepping forward to salute, without losing etiquette: "Third Cousin."】

【Xie Xie Renfeng looks at the green-shirted servant beside you and questions:】

【"You brought him to the Grand View Garden, what are you doing at the Waiting for Spring Tower?"】

【His tone is a bit impatient: "Lu Chen, you are not qualified to come here."】

【The green-shirted servant hurriedly says: "It was the old master who asked us to summon Young Master Guan to come."】

【Xie Xie Renfeng is stunned, and then a look of anger appears on his face.】

【"It was really the old master who asked him to come?"】

【The servant nods hurriedly: "Naturally, it is true, give the slave a hundred guts and I wouldn't dare to fabricate this matter."】

【Xie Xie Renfeng's eyes narrow slightly, and he snorts coldly.】

【He has been waiting for three days again, coming to ask for peace and wait every afternoon.】

【However, not to mention seeing him, he couldn't even step into this Waiting for Spring Tower.】