Chapter 301

【You walk back to the West Courtyard of the Xie Fu and return to the small courtyard.】

【At this time, it is already afternoon.】

【In the small courtyard, there are Xie Yuan, Zhang Zhang Yunzhi, and Xie Xie Qiyue.】

【Sister Wu Tong has also returned from the Fourth Young Lady's place, and the usually quiet place is a bit lively.】

【As you walk in.】

【Xie Yuan is a bit surprised, "Brother Guan, you came back so soon."】

【"Uncle, what did he want with you?"】

【You see Xie Yuan and Xie Xie Qiyue actually playing Go, and Zhang Zhang Yunzhi is reading a book on the side.】

【"It was just to be a writing boy."】

【Zhang Zhang Yunzhi nods secretly after hearing this; Xie Guan's handwriting already has a bit of a master's aura.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue throws down a piece to admit defeat and asks on the side: "Xie Guan, did my third brother see Father?"】

【You just shake your head.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue's face shows confusion. Usually, Father would allow his third brother to enter the Dengchun Tower to chat for a while after waiting for three days. Why not this time?】

【She also feels strange in her heart. Father's return this time seems to have many differences. His attitude toward the mistress of the Second Courtyard, Lady Zhao, who is her "nominal" mother, is even more subtle.】

【Sister Wu Tong takes out pastries from the room, which were given by the Fourth Young Lady and Luya, and sets them on the stone table after opening them.】

【Xie Yuan teases: "Good for you, Sister Wu Tong, you only willing to take them out when your young master comes back."】

【"I brought you so many things for nothing."】

【In the past year, there have been quite a few things in the small courtyard brought by Xie Yuan. At least the tea he drinks and some brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for writing were all left in the small courtyard by Xie Yuan every time he came.】

【Sister Wu Tong feels it is only right and proper; she should have waited for the young master to come back.】

【Xie Yuan looks at the dilapidated small courtyard and says: "Brother Guan, why not move to the Second Courtyard? The mansion there is spacious, and most of it is empty. Why live in this servant's residence?"】

【You must know that there are many mansions in the Great Courtyard, and Xie Guan living here in the past was actually deliberately targeted by Lady Yuan.】

【Now, as Xie Guan and Xie Yuan make friends, and the Second Courtyard makes a name for him, this remote small courtyard has ushered in visits from many young ladies and masters, and Xie Guan's reputation is gradually rising.】

【The changes in Wu Guanshi Liu over the past two years can be described as earth-shaking. At first, his monthly money was always delayed for a few days before it arrived late; then it was delivered on time; later, he even came to the door in person to offer the monthly money; today, he even delivers the monthly money to your hands half a month in advance.】

【Today, he was summoned by Xie Hong, and Xie Guan's name will have another layer of impression in the mansion.】

【The stewards of the Xie Fu are all shrewd people. For Xie Guan, the young master who is neglected by the mistress, they are neither close nor hostile, maintaining a subtle distance.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue looks around at this simple small courtyard. Although it is cleaned spotlessly, there is still a bit of disgust in her eyes.】

【If it weren't for the Fourth Cousin and Xie Yuan being here, she probably wouldn't have stepped in for a moment. Today, she also learned that there is a young master of the Xie Fu who would live in such a dilapidated place.】

【Sister Wu Tong looks at you after hearing this.】

【You shake your head gently and decline: "Thank you for your kindness, Sixth Brother, but I have lived in this courtyard and don't want to change it again."】

【"Although it is simple here, everything is complete, and there is nothing wrong with it. It is also comfortable to read in the courtyard."】

【Xie Yuan has to nod.】

【Zhang Zhang Yunzhi suddenly remembers something and asks with concern: "Young Master Guan's studies, does the mansion have any arrangements?"】

【"Next year, when you reach adulthood, you can participate in the child examination. With Young Master Guan's talent, you will surely pass in one go."】

【Sister Wu Tong is a bit indignant and briefly describes the arrangements of Lady Zhao, the mistress of the Great Courtyard.】

【Xie Yuan hears this, his brows lock, and anger appears on his face, indignantly saying: "There are many Xie family schools, and guests gather. How can there be no place for a mere place to study? This is clearly bullying people."】

【"I want to find the eldest lady to reason!"】

【Zhang Zhang Yunzhi also shows anger. Asking Xie family disciples to study at the Li family school is undoubtedly an insult to Xie Guan and damages his reputation.】

【You are calm and say: "Sixth Brother, you don't have to be like this."】

【"This is the order of the parents, and it is mostly the meaning of the Old Matriarch."】

【Xie Yuan sighs; the Old Matriarch has this temperament and hates Brother Guan in her heart.】

【Just at this time!】

【Footsteps come from outside the courtyard door.】

【Everyone looks over; it is the young servant in green clothes who just returned, a servant from Xie Hong's courtyard.】

【After the servant pays respects to the young masters and ladies, he gets straight to the point.】

【He carefully takes out a book scroll from his arms, as if holding a rare treasure.】

【"The Master ordered me to hand it to Young Master Guan personally."】

【You slowly reach out to take it, your gaze freezes instantly, only feeling the book scroll is heavy, with more than five thousand characters written densely on it, every stroke revealing the writer's intention and piety; it was written by Xie Hong himself.】

【"This..."】

【You whisper to yourself, and a burst of surprise surges in your heart. You must know that not only is the Second Master's ink treasure worth a thousand gold, but Uncle Xie's authentic work is also sought after by the world, and it is hard to exchange for a thousand gold.】

【And for this whole set of copybooks, for those who love calligraphy, its value is already immeasurable.】

【"Father, how could!"】

【The most shocked is Xie Xie Qiyue; her father's calligraphy path is something her three brothers all want to inherit.】

【I remember once, the eldest brother practiced calligraphy for many years without stopping, and confidently presented a book scroll he thought was the most brilliant to his father for appraisal, but it was exchanged for a cold evaluation from his father: "Too bad, the handwriting is like the person, the personality is impetuous."】

【This sentence was like a heavy hammer, shattering the eldest brother's belief, and from then on, he was disheartened and chose to leave the family to venture out.】

【And among the three brothers, no one has ever received such a precious gift from their father, "a copybook."】

【If any of them could get such treatment, they would probably be ecstatic.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue sighs lightly; her father's back is really tall, and her brothers are afraid they can't catch up.】

【Her complex feelings have not yet subsided, and the next sentence of the young servant in green clothes explodes like thunder in her ears.】

【"The Master also asked me to bring a sentence to Young Master Guan."】

【The servant clears his throat and imitates Xie Hong's tone.】

【"You have seen the Second Master's handwriting, and then look at Xie Hong's handwriting, it won't be bad."】

【"The predecessors plant trees and the descendants enjoy the shade; it is not a disgrace to them in your hands."】

【Then the servant in green clothes says goodbye and leaves.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue is so surprised that her small mouth is slightly open, and her face is full of disbelief, "'The predecessors plant trees and the descendants enjoy the shade', Father said this, isn't it identifying Xie Guan as his successor?"】

【What virtue and ability does Xie Guan have? Why does Father think so highly of him!】

【Xie Yuan sees this, and a smile appears on his face: "Uncle Master Mingshan really looks at you with admiration, Brother Guan."】

【Zhang Zhang Yunzhi also smiles and congratulates: "Congratulations, Young Master Guan, Uncle Master Mingshan has never truly accepted a disciple in his life, and no one has ever been able to inherit his calligraphy essence."】

【You look down at the book scroll in your hand, as well as the Second Master's copybook given by Xie Hong, one regular script and one cursive script, both extraordinary.】

【You solemnly put it into your sleeve. In the room, there is also the book scroll given by Mr. Yuan that mimics the Second Master's handwriting, which you have always cherished carefully, regarding it as a treasure.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue sits sullenly on the side, her heart like a overturned five-flavor bottle. She feels that the family's treasure was easily given to an outsider by her father, which makes her hard to accept.】

【However, this is the decision of her beloved father.】

【Xie Yuan hears this, and a sigh cannot help but arise in his heart. He sighs: "In this way, Brother Guan's studies need to be put on the agenda. If I can get Grandma to agree to let Brother Guan study in the Second Courtyard, then I will have a companion."】

【Zhang Zhang Yunzhi shakes her head after hearing this, her tone deep: "If you do this, it will make Young Master Guan's studies even more troublesome, and it will be counterproductive."】

【In this Xie Fu, the authority of Old Matriarch Xie is unmatched, and she has absolute control over everyone in the mansion.】

【If you don't listen to her words or make her unhappy, you will be severely punished, or even lose your life. In Great Qi, resisting the mistress is also regarded as a great unfilial act and will be spurned by others.】

【You say: "For this matter, don't bother, Sixth Brother."】

【Just at this time!】

【You turn to look outside the courtyard door. With your current keen hearing and the Third Realm of the Primordial Spirit, you have already sensed that someone with surging blood and steady footsteps is coming toward your small courtyard.】

【You intentionally sense the person coming slightly later than Zhang Zhang Yunzhi. After she looks over, you seem to have just felt it and turn to the courtyard entrance.】

【"Young Master Guan, are you there?" a thick voice comes.】

【Sister Wu Tong greets him, only to see a burly middle-aged man standing at the door of the small courtyard, asking quite politely: "Miss Sister Wu Tong, is Young Master Guan there?"】

【This person is General Sima Pan, sent by General Sima Ting to deliver the "Great Ancestor Holy Ape Pile" to you.】

【You stand up and greet with a smile: "Brother General Sima!"】

【This General Sima Pan is a martial artist of the Middle Three Realms, enough to become a powerful hegemon of a prefecture in the thirteen continents.】

【He bows respectfully: "Meet Young Master Guan! My master specifically sent an invitation for the Flower Banquet at the West Lane Tower at the end of the year."】

【You take the lacquer-red invitation he handed over, only to see "Zixiao Pavilion" clearly written on it, and a line of small characters below "Yi, twenty-six."】

【Zixiao Pavilion is one of the three most famous light-singing classes in the West Wing Tower, known for its elegance and uniqueness, no less than Yuehua Pavilion.】

【General Sima Pan explains a few important things, without any dragging, and then bows and leaves.】

【Xie Yuan notices the "Yi, ninety-eight" written on it.】

【"Hey, General General Sima is quite generous. You must know that this Zixiao Pavilion invitation is now being speculated to be more expensive than gold in Above Bianjing City!"】

【You hear this, but you don't understand the "Yi, ninety-eight."】

【Xie Yuan explains: "This Flower Banquet is staged every year at the Zixiao Pavilion of the Xifeng Tower. That Zixiao Pavilion is a good place, located in the heart of the prosperity of the West Wing Tower. The water flows through, and a large bridge was built, setting up a towering ten-story building, like a fairyland."】

【"Whenever the Flower Banquet starts, the bridge is a grand event, and you can't enter without an invitation."】

【"This Flower Banquet is divided into two parts, inside and outside."】

【Xie Yuan continues, "The outside is set on both sides of the bridge. At that time, people on both sides are crowded, shoulder to shoulder, and short people can only see the back of the head."】

【"And the inside is the VIP place on the bridge, all divided into four types of seats: Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding, with a total of no more than nine hundred seats. Your Yi area number ninety-eight, the position is in the front, you can enter the building and witness the flower queens of the three brothels competing for beauty on the bridge." There is a bit more envy in his words.】

【"If you resell this invitation now, I'm afraid you can make a fortune."】

【"Except for Zixiao Pavilion, the other two brothels also have one hundred and ten seats."】

【Xie Xie Qiyue is also a bit envious; she only went to the Bing seat last year and has never been to the Yi seat.】

【People in the Yi seat are all rich and noble people in Above Bianjing, second only to the highest Jia grade.】

【You look at the invitation in your hand, walk back to the stone table in the courtyard, and are thinking.】

【Outside, there is another sound of footsteps, seven or eight people walking on the gravel path outside.】

【Sister Wu Tong goes to welcome them, feeling strange why so many people are visiting today.】

【The handsome servant stands at the door properly and asks softly: "May I ask if Young Master Guan is in the courtyard?"】

【Sister Wu Tong's eyes light up, recognizing that this person is the servant beside Young Master Su Yun of the Su family last time, who sent money last time. She cannot help but feel puzzled, why did he come again?】

【Sister Wu Tong looks behind, watching four or five people behind the servant holding trays, covered with bright red cloth.】

【Sister Wu Tong guesses in her heart and leads the servant to walk quickly into the courtyard.】

【The leading servant sees you, his face full of joy, and they bow in unison: "Meet Young Master Guan!"】

【"My master specifically sent a gift, here are three hundred taels of silver, please accept it with a smile."】

【Before the words fell, the people behind quickly pulled off the red cloth, revealing the white silver in the tray.】

【Your doubts are even greater. When you joined the poetry club last time, didn't you already send one hundred taels?】

【What is the reason for this sudden three hundred taels?】

【The handsome servant sees this and hurriedly explains: "Young Master Guan, you may not know. That day you improvised at Yuehua Pavilion, the broken poem you wrote won fame for the Grass Hall Poetry Club, and the master is happy."】

【"According to the rules of the poetry club, the winner of the poem gets a reward of three hundred taels of silver, which is what you deserve."】

【He takes out a vermilion invitation from his arms, which clearly writes "Yuehua Pavilion, Yi, one hundred and ninety-seven."】

【The servant offers it with both hands and says respectfully: "This is the Flower Banquet invitation specially prepared for you by Young Master Su Yun, please be sure to grace us with your presence."】

【Xie Yuan, Zhang Zhang Yunzhi, and the third person on the side are all slightly surprised after hearing this. This Su Yun, why did he also send you a Flower Banquet invitation?】

【You must know that this invitation is a very precious thing.】

【Facing this matter... you decide.】

1. Refuse all invitations. (Hint: It may be difficult to avoid disaster, and there is a danger of perishing.)

2. Accept General Sima Ting's invitation and refuse Su Yun's invitation. (Hint: It may turn bad luck into good luck, and things will develop in a good direction.)

3. Accept Su Yun's invitation and refuse General Sima Ting's invitation. (Hint: It may be difficult to avoid disaster, and thus go far away.)

4. Participate personally. (0/3)

The characters on the great cauldron slowly freeze in place.

Yu Ke looks at the four options above.

Judging from the hints, it seems there is only one option, only option 2, accepting General Sima Ting's invitation, has a development toward the good.

He does not hesitate and chooses directly.

2. Accept General Sima Ting's invitation and refuse Su Yun's invitation. (Hint: It may turn bad luck into good luck, and things will develop in a good direction.)

(End of chapter)