Zhao Jin Yu and Chen Rong sat by the window, ordering foodfrom the waiter, while waiting for the dishes to be served, Chen Rong said, “Soyou are determined to return to the Zhao family.” Speaking of it the Zhaofamily was a prestigious family, even though Zhao Jin Yu was a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, butcurrently the Zhao family had no heirs, and was the only granddaughter,inevitably she was extremely precious, besides Zhao Jin Yu was set on rescuingZhao Chang Chun, and right now it the Zhao family who had such an influence.
“Auntie Chen…”
Chen Rong rather disapprovingly said, “Why are you stillcalling me Auntie Chen? You should call me maternal aunt.” Following which shepoured tea for Zhao Jin Yu from the teapot, feigning anger she said, “So we’reactually this unfamiliar with each other.”
Zhao Jin Yu smiled helplessly, saying, “I just somehow can’tsay it.”
“Then take your time.” Chen Rong took the dish from thewaiter’s hand placing it in front of Zhao Jin Yu, saying seriously, “Sinceyou’ve decided to return to the Zhao family, I will go with you.”
“Auntie Chen?”
“I found you with such great difficulty, how can I just letyou go to the Zhao family alone?” Chen Rong picked up food for Zhao Jin Yu,“Don’t think because the Zhao family looks well-regarded on the outside,because there is no one to inherit the main branch, it had a great impact, thesecond branch of the family has almost bullied their way to the top…, ai,inside those large families there tends to be a lot of trouble.”
Zhao Jin Yu had already known that these sort of influentialfamilies prospered because of sons, but due to fighting over the benefits, alot of small minded things happen, but hearing Chen Rong speak of it sobluntly, she still felt somewhat flabbergasted, “Isn’t the current head of thefamily Zhao Xing Kun?”
“Yes, it’s still him, your paternal grandfather, otherwiseno matter how much you cry, I would still drag you back to Jinling.” Chen Rong sawZhao Jin Yu look at her quite startled, calmly she said,
“Your maternal aunt issuch a Jianghu person like this.”
Zhao Jin Yu laughed as she shook her head, thinking thatever since Chen Rong found out her ident.i.ty, she became very different frombefore, her words were even more direct, manner was also very intimate, like anelder of a similar age. She liked this frank and sincere character even more,she said, “I like Auntie Chen.”
Chen Rong hearing this laughed, saying, “Good child, eat abit more.” Again she said, “I will take you to Xihu Louwai resturant to eatXihu vinegar fish tomorrow, we’ll have fun to our content then go back, youdon’t know those large influential families, especially the Zhao century oldtype of family, with an awful lot of rules and customs, if you wish to leavethe gates it won’t be easy.”
Zhao Jin Yu was worried for her adoptive father Zhao ChangChun in the prison, since she was determined, she only wished to immediatelyreturn to the Zhao family, make the Zhao family think of ways to rescue heradoptive father, but also did not want to refute Chen Rong’s good intentions,she nodded, saying, “Fine, but Auntie Chen…” Zhao Jin Yu muttered irresolutely,“You don’t have to come with me to the Zhao family.”
“You don’t have a say in this, maternal aunt is in charge.”
Zhao Jin Yu, “…”
In the evening Zhao Jin Yu again ordered stir-fried pork,but perhaps because too many people ordered it, when Zhao Jin Yu placed herorder there was none left, when the majority of the dishes had been servedalready, the waiter nervously approached saying, “Guests, I’m really sorry, wedon’t have enough meat, could you change to another dish?”
Zhao Jin Yu felt a little pitiful, she was just about to saythat’s fine, when who knew a person appeared by her side, wearing jade colouredbeautiful rounded embroidery designed changpao,a black min fur cloak draped over his shoulders reaching the floor, a manappearing in a deity like handsomeness, he smiled saying, “Give my dish toher.”
Who do you think this person was? It wasn’t just anyone butSu Qing Chen who had just been apart for a few days, Zhao Jin Yu felt that ifSu Qing Chen had a fan in his hand as well, this really would be a situation ofa standard son of an official hitting on someone.
When the waiter heard this he said with admiration, “Fine.”
Zhao Jin Yu, “…”
The waiter returned to the kitchen, seeing the ma.s.sive vatof stir-fried pork marinated in advance, he said to the owner, “There’s stillso much left, why aren’t we selling it?”
The tavern’s owner mischievously laughed, his hand held asilver ingot, he proudly said, “Did you see that lord just now? He spent tensilver ingots straightaway, he really is generous.”
The plump chef walkedover rocking and swaying, he asked, “What do you think that lord wants to do?Why did he tell us to say there is no meat left.”
The owner hmphed, “Stupid, isn’t’ this his way of worminghis way into being friends with the young lady?”
“Zeze, publicmorals are truly degenerating with each pa.s.sing day!” The plump chef shook thefat on his face, saying disapprovingly, “Owner, this really isn’t too good,what if that person is harbouring unfathomable motives?”
“Nonsense! Go cook, what do you know!” The owner hurriedlyhid the silver ingot. He had worked painstakingly for a month, he might as welltreat himself once.
Su Qing Chen shamelessly moved closer, smiling as he said,“Such a coincidence, meeting Jin girl again.”
Zhao Jin Yu thought to herself, you’ve had quite a fewcoincidences already, now at this moment, her trust started to sway, does thisSu Qing Chen really have feelings for her?
However a moment later the table was laden with dishes, andthere was a food box brought from outside, opened up it actually contained Xihuvinegar fish, Su Qing Chen smiled brilliantly, very elegantly and gracefully,he said, “I got someone to bring this back from Louwai restaurant.”
Zhou Jin Yu, “…”
When it comes to it Su Qing Chen had spent a night outsidethe tavern in the wind, he thought about it over and over and couldn’t thinkwhat he had done wrong, when he followed this time, he had decided, to trap herunder his wings without delay, after she became his, everything would not be aproblem right? That’s why this time his strategy was so conspicuously bold,particularly unreserved.
You want to eat Louwai restaurant’s Xihu vinegar fish? Itwill arrive straightaway.
You want to see Xihu? I have a ship for you to take!
You want to take a look at Gusu? I just happen to go thatway……
Just now Zhao Jin Yu had thought Su Qing Chen had taken afancy to her, but now she was already absolutely certain…, this guy simply didnot have good intentions! This was a disguised form of swindling someone.
Luckily her heart was steady…, actually disregarding Su QingChen’s stereotypical method, this guy was very handsome and rich, with greatpower, both elegant and smart, fawning on a girl extremely tenderly, an averageperson simply could not resist!
Under Su Qing Chen’s invitation, Zhao Jin Yu awkwardlydecided to go see Xihu…, in fact she really wanted to see it, because just asChen Rong said, the Zhao family had a lot of rules, after she entered the Zhaofamily gates, it would be extremely difficult for her to make a trip outside.Taking advantage of the freedom she still had, she should do things she wantedto do.
Chen Rong seemed to be guarding against a wolf with Su QingChen, every time she stood between the two of them, Xihu was not as bustling asit would be in the future, but at the lakeside there were still many littleshop fronts, lanterns hung in the evening, people came and went, a small bridgeover the flowing stream, red starry lights, a special scenery.
Su Qing Chen was obstructed by Chen Rong, his expressionstiffened quite a few times, but his elegance did not diminish, a cultured andrefined smile remained on his face, leaning against the parapet, the corners ofhis clothes blowing in the wind, setting off his jade like features, like gems,attracting sidelong glances from people, even Chen Rong had to admit, Su QingChen’s manners and appearance were extremely remarkable.
“This scene is intoxicating, I ought to play a tune fittingwith the season.” Su Qing Chen took a jade xiaofrom the chamberlain, speaking with a smile.
Zhao Jin Yu did not think Su Qing Chen would also be able toplay the xiao, quite unexpectedly,she said, “Good.”
Su Qing Chen saw Zhao Jin Yu’s eyes sparkle, it was actuallymore bright and beautifully intoxicating than the star filled sky, his heartshook, unconsciously a tender smile appeared, holding the xiao he started playing.
This was a song about a b.u.t.terfly’s attachment to a flower, butthe manner it was played made Zhao Jin Yu particularly think of the theme songto the old version of A Dream of Red Mansions,euphemistically beautiful, the melodious sound carried a trace of lingeringaffection, like an invisible silk string, twisting around a person…, bothdeeply emotional, and indescribably sad, Zhao Jin Yu looked into the distanceat the lake surface reflected with red lights, unconsciously she was profoundlydrawn in.
After a good while Su Qing Chen put down the xiao, “It’s been some time since I’veplayed, now I’m somewhat out of practice.”
Zhao Jin Yu had still not returned to her senses after that xiao performance, saying, “Lord Su youare too modest, it really is pleasant to hear.”
Su Qing Chen heart was happy, he naturally had seen Zhao JinYu had previously always avoided him, now at this moment her face finallyshowed some genuineness, making him want to win her over even more, he said,“Since Jin girl doesn’t dislike it, then I will ignore my embarra.s.sment to playa song.”
There were few entertainments in the olden times, it wasparticularly hard to hear music, furthermore running into such an expert playerSu Qing Chen, Zhao Jin Yu obviously treasured it a lot, saying, “Excellent.”
A great joy arose in Su Qing Chen’s heart, throwing his lifeinto playing, to be begin with he had played a good song, now he took it evenmore seriously, the sound of the xiao waslike b.u.t.terfly wings, inciting the wings to flutter all around, beautiful and awe-inspiring,getting lost in it.
The more Zhao Jin Yu listened the more intoxicated she was,boats came to the side in twos and threes, and stopped nearby, evidently comingover to listen to the xiao, for awhile it was quiet all around, only this beautiful xiao sound could be heard rippling over the dark green lakesurface, picturesque.
An Wen Yao hid to the side, expressionless, like the oldstone tablet beside him, lacking in warmth.
However no one knew his heart was not calm.
His inner soliloquy was like this, d.a.m.n it, this Su QingChen simply does not want to live! If this carries on…, tonight wouldn’t HisMajesty directly order someone to throw Su Qing Chen into the lake to feed thefishes?
Su Qing Chen was usually very quick witted, how did hesuddenly become so stupid like this?
The more he was told to stay away from Zhao Jin Yu, the morehe was like a dogskin plastersticking to her, His Majesty had thought that changing into a stone, he couldbe free from the constraints of his ident.i.ty, carefree, now he ought to bethinking his original body is much better?
A free reed mouth organ with five or more pipe holes blownfrom the bottom.
One of the four great novels by Cao Xueqin, movies have been adapted from it.
A medicinal plasterused for treating contusions, rheumatism etc.