Hidden in the court

Qing'an City is a small city located in the east of Kyoto, leaning against Dongshan Mountain. It is a famous city of ink in Liang Wu with outstanding people and beautiful scenery.

In recent days, many students come here to take part in the imperial examinations, adding a touch of ink to this cultural city.

This is where Zhao Yao is traveling this time.

As soon as I entered the city, I saw a group of people dressed as scholars crowded there to look at the list.

Looking closer, I found it was a couplet. The first line reads: "Yue Wan sighs alone at the late moon."

Look at these characters, they are as strong as willow branches and as graceful as the strokes of a dragon.

"Somewhat interesting." I don't know who left this first line. Looking at the way those scholars scratched their heads, I knew it would be difficult to respond.

But it’s not that this couplet is difficult to write.

It was the Tan family from Qing'an City who came up with the first half of this couplet.

According to the literati's thinking, a sentence that does not satisfy oneself should not exist. Even if one is satisfied, it may not satisfy others.

After a while, no one dared to step forward to answer.

Zhao Yao pondered for a moment, and suddenly remembered Ji Mingshang's words before he left, "As long as you are happy."

So he walked forward, and when everyone saw that it was a stranger, they didn't go forward to disturb him.

Zhao Yao looked at the words and wrote: "Mingyuankong illuminates the abyss."

After writing, he left, waving his sleeves, without taking away a cloud.

Before everyone could take a closer look, a man dressed as a servant came over and took away the couplet.

"Ming Yuan..." someone in the crowd muttered. "Could it be Mr. Ming Yuan who has been in the limelight recently?"

What's going on? This is also a question in everyone's mind. The Tan family has been heard of, and most people come here because they admire the reputation of the talented and romantic people. But this "Mr. Mingyuan", when did such a person appear in the Liangwu literary world?

"You don't know that Mr. Mingyuan wrote an essay titled "Current Problems in the Literary World" a while ago, arguing that there is no distinction between new and old literature, and evaluating the pros and cons of literature. His sharp words and thorough analysis are breathtaking. Once it was published, several old guys from both the new and old schools couldn't sit still."

"This is so amazing. I must read it when I have the chance."

……

A maid ran to the pavilion panting. Seeing no one in the pavilion, she felt something was wrong.

"Oh no, the young lady has climbed over the wall again."

……

On the street, Zhao Yao was stopped by a fortune teller.

"There are unexpected changes in the weather, and people are subject to misfortunes at any time. Please stay, sir."

Zhao Yao looked back and saw a fortune teller wearing a melon-shaped hat and a pair of small black sunglasses sitting in front of the stall. The flag next to him read "Zhang Banxian".

Zhao Yao immediately became alert. This attire completely matched the impression of charlatans in later generations, except that it seemed out of place with the surroundings.

"I calculated that I have a good relationship with you today, so I came to give you a fortune."

Before he could open his mouth to refuse, the man continued, "Young man, you were born in a yang year, yang month, yang day and yang hour, and you are the noble man in my life. I will give you this jade token today." As he spoke, he took out a palm-sized and finger-wide white jade token from his pocket.

This person knows his birth date? Zhao Yao suddenly found it interesting. "I don't know what you think, sir, but I can't take this jade token."

Of course he knew what such a good piece of jade meant to an ordinary family.

"Don't refuse, my dear. I think you are doomed to have a romantic relationship. Just carry this jade token with you and you will find a good lover." As he said this, he took Zhao Yao's hand and put the jade token in his hand.

Zhao Yao stared at the jade in his hand in a daze. When he raised his eyes, the man had already packed up his stall and was ready to leave.

"I'll give you one more thing to say. You can't escape your destiny. See you again if we're lucky."

In the blink of an eye, the person disappeared. Zhao Yao sighed, he had met a strange person today.

The maid led the way, and Zhao Yao followed behind, fiddling with the jade token in his hand. It was bare and flawless, and it was more like a piece of fine material than a jade token.

"Tang Haws, Tang Haws..."

The sound of hawking brought me back to my senses and I looked in the direction of the sound.

Uh, a girl. Not only Zhao Yao, but everyone else was also very surprised to see the girl. I didn't expect that a woman would show up in public in Qing'an City.

At this time, an old man seemed to be unable to bear it anymore and stepped forward and said, "Little girl, how can this be disgraceful? Go home quickly."

As soon as he opened his mouth he spoke in an old-fashioned official tone.

"Sir, if you are not here to buy candied haws, please go away and don't disturb me while I am doing business."

What the hell, is this something that can come out of a girl's mouth?

“Ridiculous, ridiculous…”

Seeing the old man walking away cursing, the others gathered around curiously to watch the fun.

"What are you doing? Disperse quickly and disturb my business."

The crowd didn't bother themselves and left.

After everyone left, Zhao Yao stepped forward and asked, "How much is the candied haws?"

Looking at Zhao Yao's clothes, the girl smiled like a profiteer. "Sir, five cents each."

Zhao Yao chuckled, "You really dare to ask for it." But he still took out one or two taels of silver.

"Give them all to me, no need to look for them."

"No, I won't sell it."

Zhao Yao was curious, wondering who would do business like this. So he took his own string and sat in the teahouse opposite to watch.

One morning, Zhao Yao discovered a pattern: it cost one cent for a little girl, two cents for a little boy, and five cents for a man.

"What a strange person." Zhao Yao sighed. He subconsciously took a bite of the candied haws, and the next second, a sweet and fishy smell filled his mouth.

It turned out that he had already finished eating the candied haws. He sucked on the bamboo stick for who knows how long before his lips were cut.

He stared at the bamboo stick in his hand and looked at the few candied haws in the girl's hand.

How about another string?

After a mental struggle, I finally walked over honestly and said, "Another string."

"Two strings for twenty cents, not sold individually." The girl held the last two strings of candied haws in both hands and made a "cross" in front of her chest.

The corners of Zhao Yao's mouth rose slightly, "You are quite good at doing business." Then he honestly took out one or two taels of silver.

The girl also put on a smiling face and said, "I wish you good fortune as vast as the East Sea, a long life as long as the Southern Mountains, a son soon, and a peaceful life."

Zhao Yao was very upset after hearing this.

While chewing on a candied haws, he asked, "Are you from Qing'an City?"

"Why would you come all the way here to sell candied haws?"

"Be my tour guide for four hours a day, I'll give you three taels, overtime is extra, food and accommodation are provided, how about that?"

The girl curled her lips and said, "Five taels"

Zhao Yao didn't even raise his head, waved his hand, "Deal"

The girl then realized that she had said too little.

"Why do you like money so much?"

"What a joke! Who doesn't like money? Do you think everyone is like you? You just casually take out a tael of silver to buy candied haws. Is your family rich?"

"Well, I don't think it's very rich."

"Then you are a prodigal son. People like you don't even give your parents a birthday gift. You have no filial piety, no culture, and no ability."

Zhao Yao laughed and cried in his heart. Could the three states of Liangwu be considered a gift?

Without showing any emotion, he took out another ounce of silver and said, "Say something nice."

"Okay, what's your name, boss?"

"Zhao Yao, Zhao Mingyuan"

"Tan Yuewan, then Boss, where are you going?"

"Eat." Who knew I would eat candied haws on an empty stomach so early in the morning? I haven't eaten yet.