Taiping Inn

The reason why Yan Ruyu was able to become the most famous "beauty" in Dongcheng was not only his own ability, but also Xiao Han's support was also inexhaustible. It is said that there is no first in literature and no second in martial arts, and each one is attracted by his own eyes. This industry is competing. What are the seats in front and back? It depends on the value.

After Yan Ruyu became famous, a gust of wind emerged in Dongcheng. Many women followed Yan Ruyu's imitation. Those who had money bought a small yard directly, and those who had no money bought a small building facing the street, centered on Yan Ruyu's mansion. It stretched out around and eventually formed a long street. There are beautiful "beauties" gathered here in the East City. Many clients who wanted to meet Yan Ruyu had a reputation. Before they could walk to the gate of Yan Ruyu's mansion, they were hooked by the Yingying and Yanyan on both sides of the street. Get rid of your soul and stop. As a result, Yan Ruyu became more and more mysterious, as if she was a celestial being. Because the long street is caused by the beauty of Yan Ruyu, it is called "Ruyu Street", which also means "Like Flowers and Like Jade".

Ruyu Street is east-west, and Yan Ruyu's mansion is at the westernmost end of Ruyu Street. From the back door of her house, you can see the Peacock River, so Xiao Han comes in through the back door every time.

Unlike the noise at the easternmost end of Ruyu Street, Ruyu Street’s westernmost end is very quiet. After coming out from here, there is a long and wide river embankment. I don’t know who built many elegant small pavilions along the line of the river embankment. There are stone tables and benches for people to sit in the pavilion and look at the river and the west city opposite. Because there are mostly inns and residential areas here, the dragons and snakes in the East City rarely come here, and it is a rare and peaceful place in the East City.

As summer approaches, more and more people in the pavilion are gradually increasing. At dusk, a girl in a green dress came to an uninhabited pavilion. She did not sit on a stone bench, but on the "beauty" on the side of the pavilion, behind which was the sparkling peacock river. .

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The so-called "beauty" has a bench underneath, with a railing on the top, and the backrest that poked outwards bends like a goose neck. It is usually built on the side of the water on the corridor or pavilion sill. In addition to resting, it also has the interest of reflecting the waves.

At this time, the woman was sitting on the "beauty leaning", holding a book in her hand, and a lilac veil covered her face below the bridge of her nose, revealing only a pair of smart eyes and a fair forehead.

She chanted the words in the book in the official language of the Central Plains: "The Yue girl picks lotus by the autumn water, her narrow sleeves are light and her golden bracelets are hidden. She shines on the shadows and picks flowers like faces, and her heart only competes with her silk. The wind and waves at the head of the chicken ruler, the wind and waves at the stream are shining. In the evening, the fog is heavy and the smoke is light, and I am not here to accompany you. The faint singing of the boat is far away, and the sorrow of separation leads to the south bank of the river."

The evening breeze blew her dress and her hair all over her head, and her mood fluctuated, and it was really "the hearts only competed for chaos."

A scholar in green stood outside the pavilion. Hearing the woman's gentle sing, he couldn't help but sigh softly.

At this moment, a gust of wind suddenly blew up, the book was light and flew out of the pavilion, and when it flew past the scholar, he reached out to catch it.

The scholar looked down at the name of the book, which was "June 1 Ci Chao", then walked into the pavilion, returned the book to its owner, and praised the girl's taste.

The girl took her book calmly and looked at the scholar. Although her clothes were not luxurious, they were very neat and handsome. She did not make people feel annoyed.

"Are you from the Central Plains? The Western Regions do not talk about the ethics and rules of the Central Plains. If you don't mind, you can sit down and talk." The girl's voice was gentle and pleasant, "It's dark, and it's a bit difficult to read books again. It's better to chat."

The scholar was still a little restrained as a Central Plains. He did not sit with the girl on the beautiful woman near the water, but sat on a stone bench not far away and said, "The girl said it is right. The ethics in the Central Plains are strict, and men and women are not allowed to be close to each other. , I can't meet each other, and I can't sit in the same seat. I've never met a girl like you in the Central Plains."

"What is 'girls like me'?" The girl's tone suddenly turned cold, "Do you think I am the ones who are laughing? I asked you to sit down and talk, but I didn't get your respect, which attracted contempt. In this way, I ask you to leave, or I leave."

The scholar realized his mistake and hurriedly said, "Sorry, please forgive me, my sister."

The girl's tone was slightly relaxed, "Okay, let's not talk about this. You are from Central China. Then why did you come to Loulan City? Is it for study tours or business?"

The scholar pondered and said, "I don't know what to say. There is a saying in our Central Plains called 'Which whim'. Those who have whimsy suddenly feel their ears. I suddenly want to come to Loulan City for a trip, so I came."

"A trip wherever I want to go?" the girl chuckled, "I envy you very much. You can be so free and unrestrained, but I can't. This city is a cage for me, and I am The birds in the cage, I can’t leave here. Leaving the door of my house and sitting by the river to read books is already my greatest freedom. There is no way, I have to lose whatever I get. By the way, I forgot to ask just now, your surname is?"

"I don't want your surname Qi, my name is Qi Wang." The scholar replied, and then he looked at the girl and waited for her to report her name.

"I can't tell you what I'm called." The girl stretched out a finger and held it up to her lips and made a "silence" action. "If my family knows about it, I will suffer. This is why I wear it. The reason for wearing a veil. My home is not in the West City, but not in the East City. I am just a passerby in this city, but I am trapped in this city."

The scholar asked tentatively: "Are you from... the 36 countries in the Western Regions?"

"You are so smart." The girl's eyes lit up.

The scholar continued: "Are you an... exiled princess?"

The girl chuckled, neither admitting nor denying, "I am just a homeless person, just like what you say in your poems in the Central Plains, 'The expeditionary dandelion leaves the Han frontier, and the returning geese enter the Hu sky', just a rootless drifting dandelion."

The girl asked again: "Do you know why I want to talk to you?"

The scholar thought for a while, "Is it because I helped you pick up the book?"

"You are so cute." The girl laughed out loud, "You people in the Central Plains have a saying called 'two sleeves of clean wind', I want to chat with someone who doesn't have the smell of money. I am really tired of those big-bellied rich businessmen and powerful people who use jade wine glasses, gold plates, ivory chopsticks, and their eyes are full of The glittering jewels and precious stones are really tiresome. ”

The scholar hesitated and said, “There are a few sayings in the Central Plains: ‘A penny can make a hero fall’, ‘A man with money is a man, a man without money is difficult’, ‘Without money, you can’t take a single step’. In any case, money is a good thing. ”

“Of course money is a good thing, but you don’t have to have too much, just enough. Just like status, don’t be an emperor or a general, don’t be a commoner, be an idle aristocrat, that’s good.” The girl sighed, “It’s hard for commoners to make a living, running around all day just for hunger, and emperors and generals have to intrigue, inevitably exhausted, and there are also worries about death. It’s just right between the two.”

The scholar probably still has the ambition to save the world, so he didn’t agree, but remained silent.

“Mr. Qi, what are you going to do after you leave Loulan and return to the Central Plains? Will you continue to take the imperial examination?” the girl asked.

The scholar shook his head and said, "I'll probably continue to be someone's advisor. If no one hires me, I'll be a teacher."

The girl asked, "Do you have disciples?"

"Of course." The scholar said, "But none of them are talented. They are always naughty and make trouble. I have to clean up their messes every time."

The girl laughed softly, "Children are always like this."

The scholar asked softly, "Will we meet again in the future?"

The girl showed an embarrassed look, "Maybe not, or, we'll meet again if we're destined to." Then she looked at the sky again and said, "It's getting late, I should go back. You see the corner Did you see the carriage at the address? That's my family's. "

The scholar's smile remained unchanged, "I saw it."

The girl smiled and said, "My driver and guards just went to have fun. They couldn't see Yan Ruyu, but they could go to some cheaper places. Now they should come back."

The scholar said with concern, "They shouldn't do this. After all, East City is not West City."

"I know. I am more familiar with Loulan City than you are." The girl smiled, "Okay, I should go. Please stay here and don't let my driver and guards see you, otherwise it will cause trouble for both me and you, do you understand?"

The scholar nodded.

After that, the woman got up in the setting sun, walked out of the pavilion dignifiedly, and soon disappeared in the dusk.

The scholar stood there, watching the woman go away until she completely disappeared, and then slowly walked to the corner.

Turning the corner is Ruyu Street. The carriage the girl mentioned is still parked here, without moving, and there is no one in the carriage. The scholar looked up and vaguely saw a touch of emerald green in the increasingly dark sky. The figure walked quickly and then walked into a small building.

There were only whores and maids on Ruyu Street, no decent women, and of course no downtrodden nobles and princesses of fallen countries.

The scholar retracted his gaze, came to the carriage, and got on it directly.

The driver sitting on the shaft kept his head down. After the scholar got on the carriage, he raised his head and revealed his face covered by a bamboo hat.

There was a black flame burning in his eyes, emitting a faint light in the deep twilight.

The scholar's voice came from the dark carriage, "Let's go."

"Yes, master." The driver replied stiffly. From beginning to end, the expression on his face did not change at all, like a wax figure.

The driver drove the carriage and turned around on the wide and deserted Ruyu Street, leaving Ruyu Street and coming to the river bank, then speeding along the river bank. The lanterns hanging on the carriage lit up, reflecting a big "Ai" character.

The carriage finally arrived in front of the Peacock Bridge.

The guards at the bridgehead made way with the most respectful attitude.

The carriage drove across the Peacock Bridge and entered the West City.