for sheath

Throughout the ages, there is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below.

This city of Suzhou is big and crowded, and all kinds of new things make people dazzled and dizzy.Even though Xi Cang hadn't been out of Sleepless Mountain for ten years, he had heard it mentioned by puppets in the town, and seeing it in person now really deserves his reputation.

In fact, it has been more than a month since he and his master left Sleepless Mountain, and it has been several days since they came to this famous city of Suzhou.After they came here, they rented a house in a back alley in the north of the city, and the money for renting the house was obtained from the robbers. He found that his skills seemed to be pretty good, because none of the robbers could beat his one and a half moves.

Now it is the mid-winter of the twelfth lunar month, but the city is not as cold as in the mountains, the master still stays at home as in the mountains, but let him go to various teahouses and restaurants every day to inquire about a person, that person is a woman , the name is Hua Ruomeng.

Hua Ruomeng, the most beautiful woman in Suzhou City, is in her twenties, but she is still unmarried, and has countless courtiers. She is the woman that men in Suzhou City talk about and think about, and women in Suzhou City. Envious and jealous people.

This is the news Xi Cang got from the teahouse clerk, and he told the news to Master.

Xi Qing just said, "Explore again."

So, he has been wandering between restaurants and teahouses these days, and finally heard the latest news. In two days, Hua Ruomeng will hold an annual plum appreciation competition in her Meiying Bieyuan.It is said that every year she takes this opportunity to choose a man she likes to accompany her. When the plum blossoms bloom again a year later, the old man will be replaced by a new man.

It was night, and Xi Cang served Xi Qing to take a bath as usual.This time he added some Chinese herbal medicines to relax the tendons and activate collaterals in the hot water. He knew that even if he boiled the medicine, Master would not take it on time, so he simply used a medicinal bath to help him recuperate his body.

Xi Qing didn't express or react at all to this.

Xi Cang had long been used to his indifference, so he just silently pushed and held the acupoints for him to speed up the circulation of blood.

After soaking for a while, Xi Qing said lightly, "Tomorrow's Plum Appreciation Tournament, you go."

Xi Cang worked hard, "Where's Master?"

Xi Qing only said, "You just need to remember one thing, don't mention me to anyone."

Xi Cang asked again, "Master isn't going?"

Xi Qing closed her eyes and said nothing more.

Meiying Bieyuan is in the south of the city.

The people living in the south of the city are rich people, who are either officials or rich.

Today's south of the city is full of people, especially men, and the streets and alleys are talking about this annual plum appreciation competition.

"There are still so many people participating this year. Judging from the mere opinion, I'm afraid it's useless to go here."

"how do I say this?"

"Brother Li, you don't know that the man picked by Miss Ruomeng has always been changed every year, but just the year before last, a young man named Mei Qi went all the way and won the first place. The Seventh Young Master Mei was also very pleased. Last year, he even asked the person who won the leader to compete with Young Master Qi Mei, but he was defeated, so the Seventh Young Master Mei stayed with Miss Ruomeng again. According to mere opinion, if this Miss Meng is afraid that she has really taken a fancy to Young Master Mei Qi, and if we go again this time, it will be a waste of effort."

"Is that Young Master Mei Qi very powerful?"

"Naturally, I heard that he is an all-round talent in civil and military affairs, and his appearance is also very handsome."

"According to what you say, don't we really have no chance?"

"Anyway, I'm idle, why don't you go and join in the fun, even if you don't get the favor of Miss Rumeng, it's good to see her beauty."

"That's right, let's hurry up and occupy a good position!"

Xi Cang listened to those people's gossip all the way and followed their footsteps to Meiying Bieyuan. Unexpectedly, there was a long queue in front of the vermilion lacquered gate.

Although the sun is sunny today, it is still the twelfth lunar month and winter, and many literati who have been waiting in line for a long time are shivering with cold, but even so, no one is willing to leave.And in that team, there are also some quacks with swords and knives. Presumably, this Hua Ruomeng must be a woman with extraordinary means and charm, otherwise, how can she attract these men to bow down to her.

Xi Cang glanced at the long line, walked to the end of the line silently and lined up. He didn't know what kind of entanglement Master had with this woman, but since it was Master's order, he had to do whatever he said.

Although the line was long, it was advancing very fast. Only when Xi Cang got closer did he realize that there were still a few girls in front of the gate who were weeding out the visitors.Thinking about it, these mermaids are mixed, and it is impossible to put them all in.When it was almost his turn, there was another fight in front.

"Why don't you let me in? I can't compare to those weak young masters?"

A strong man with a height of eight feet and rough facial features was swinging a big knife, fighting with a girl in green clothes holding a sword.The green-clothed girl's swordsmanship was exquisite, and she beat the man overwhelmed with just a few moves, begging for mercy repeatedly.

The girl put away her sword as soon as she clicked, and said, "It's not difficult to meet my girl, either she is talented in literature, or good in martial arts, or she is handsome, and you don't occupy one end, how can I let you in?"

Her words made everyone laugh.

The man humiliated himself, and was so ashamed that he picked up the knife and fled without a trace.

While speaking, it was Xi Cang's turn.

He stepped forward and gave a slight salute, "Hello, girl."

The three green-clothed girls took a look, and saw that this man had a dignified body and a dignified appearance. Although his clothes were plain and the sword in his hand was ordinary, he was young and had an extraordinary air.

"Your Excellency, do you have invitations?" one of the girls asked.

Xi Cang was slightly stunned, "No."

"Then may I ask your son Gao's name?" the girl asked again.

"Xi Cang."

The girl with the sword asked a little more, "Does the young master have another name?"

"No."

The three girls looked at each other and nodded.

"Master Xi, please come in!"

Xi Cang didn't expect to pass it so easily, he felt relieved, and then a young man in Tsing Yi came and led him to the depths of the other garden.The Bieyuan was very large, and Xi Cang followed the people around for a while before arriving at the place. At the end of the corridor was a bluestone arch with two large characters written on it.

plum garden.

"Young Master, just go in." The young man withdrew after finishing speaking.

Xi Cang heard voices of many people in the garden from a long distance away, and when he got closer, he smelled the elegant fragrance of plum blossoms. He shook the sword in his hand, and entered the garden through the arch without hesitation.

The garden covers a wide area, and there are well-known varieties of plum blossoms planted in an orderly manner, some of which are already blooming happily, and some of which have just budded.A lot of princes and knights have gathered in the garden, either traveling together or traveling alone, some are reciting poems, some are playing the piano and singing, some are making wine and tea, and some are simply dancing swords in the plum grove.

Since ancient times, there are many talents in the south of the Yangtze River, but this is the first time Xi Cang has seen so many literati and knight-errants.While he was amazed, he did not forget the purpose of coming here, but he wandered around and did not see the woman who is famous in the south of the Yangtze River.

A young man in blue shirt was admiring plum blossoms in front of him, so Xi Cang went over to inquire about the situation.

The young man in the blue shirt looked him up and down, his eyes were full of arrogance, "Looking at you, it should be the first time to participate in this plum appreciation party, right?"

"Yes."

The young man in blue shook his head and said, "Then you don't have to find out before you come back."

"I still hope that brother can give me some pointers."

The boy in blue shirt said a little impatiently, "Miss Ruomeng won't show up until Shenshi."

Xi Cang nodded his thanks, turned around and went out of the garden.Since Shen Shi only showed up, then he will come again after Shen Shi.

Seeing that he was holding a sword in his hand, the young man in blue shirt smiled behind him, "You still have a reputation for knowing yourself, today there is a sword in the south of the Yangtze River, how can the broken sword in your hand be his opponent? By the way Let me tell you one more thing, the way back is not your side, the defeated generals all go through the back door."

Xi Cang stopped walking when he heard this, he thought about it and turned back.

Seeing this, the young man in blue shirt kindly pointed to a bluestone path to the west, "That's the way to defeat the army, leading directly to the back door."

Xi Cang stopped beside him, but said, "I just heard what brother said, if I want to see Miss Ruomeng alone, do I have to compete with others?"

The young man in the blue shirt seemed speechless, "You are really strange, you dare to come here without knowing anything?" He pointed around while saying, "See? Those people are fighting poetry, fighting wine, competing Piano skills are better than swordsmanship."

"Xiongtai seems to be quite familiar with this Plum Appreciation Friendship Competition. It seems that Xiongtai has come here more than once."

"Of course." The young man in blue shirt had a look on his face.

"Then why didn't you go to compete with them?"

The young man in blue shirt froze, and he hesitated before saying, "My lord is just here to admire the plum blossoms and meet friends, and I don't expect to be favored by Miss Ruomeng." Seeing the suspicious look on Xi Cang's face, he made it clear, " This so-called Plum Appreciation Competition was originally just Miss Ruomeng as the host, providing a place for literati from all walks of life to discuss poetry and papers, and make friends, but the person who won the leader was often invited by Miss Ruomeng, and later on It has developed into the current situation. The people who come here are no longer just literati, and even people in the world also come to join in the fun. Most of them come here not to admire the plum blossoms or to make friends, but just to see the beauty. It's just Miss Ruomeng who is like a fairy."

Xi Cang glanced at the people in the garden, and said again, "Then who will testify to their competition?"

Seeing that he really didn't know anything, and seeing that he wasn't as arrogant as the others, he couldn't help feeling a little fond of him, so he calmed down and said, "Once the talent is competed, each other's hearts will be different." They have already got the bottom line, they themselves are the best witnesses, Miss Ruomeng is actually treated as a lottery by them, but in fact, only the top few people dare to show in front of her, most of them are just It’s just for fun.”

Xi Cang nodded, "I see."

The young man in blue shirt asked curiously, "You don't know anything, so why did you come here?"

Xi Cang said, "For Hua Ruomeng."

The blue-shirted man's expression softened, but it tightened up again, "I also thought that you are different from them, so you are just a superficial person, but I almost looked at you differently just now, hmph!"

Seeing him throwing his sleeves and about to leave, Xi Cang thanked him, turned around and went back the way he came from.

The author has something to say: the first person came out,

The first story begins.