box of hearts

Chapter 2 Zhan Chunkui (1)
1.
Beijing, Miaoyou Street.

Jiekou is a Zhenjun Temple built in the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty. After a hundred years of dynasties, the incense is no longer as prosperous as it used to be, but the street south of the temple has become one of the busiest markets in the capital.It was noon at this moment, and the restaurants lined up along the street were all overcrowded.Among the countless red men and green women, someone suddenly bumps into someone face to face.Therefore, the first acquaintance with you is like returning from an old friend.

A pair of male guests walked down the stairs, the young one turned his head and said fascinatedly: "Whose lady just passed by? She really looks good!"

The older one on the side lowered his voice and said with a sneer: "Which lady would run into this restaurant? This is to 'respond to the note'."

"Response note?"

"Hehe, what a silly boy. The brothels in central Beijing refer to guests staying overnight as 'staying', and kiln sisters who go out to socialize are called 'outing'. To be out, the guests must write invitations. This invitation is called 'office ticket', also It's called 'Tiaozi', and 'Ying Tiaozi' means that Yaojie should be called to accompany guests."

"That girl is sister Yao? Miss Yao has such a ostentation?"

"The kilns are divided into three, six, and nine grades, and the kiln sisters are naturally distinguished. The lowest kiln is 'Lao Ma Tang', and the kiln sisters are all old and ugly. Most of the women are pretty but they are old. In the "tea room" of the next level, there are all young and beautiful people. The top brothel is called "small class", and the prostitutes in the small class are the beauties of southern countries. Most of them, so they follow the name from the south, and are honored as "Guardians"[1]. Not only are all the servants in the small class outstanding in appearance, but they also know everything about piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. Just to add to the fun. The one just now is the popular lady who won the flower list, Duan Jiaban of Huai Yatang in Huaihua Hutong, nicknamed 'Qingtian'."

"Uncle, according to what you said, I can also write a note to call this girl Duan Qingtian out?"

"Stop messing around, your father asked me to bring you to Beijing this time because he has serious business to do, not to visit Cui Mianxiang. You are still young, and in two years, uncle will take you to see the world."

……

During the time of these whispers between the men, the woman had already climbed up to the second floor gracefully.Behind her was a group of aunts and maids, some of whom were holding prayer boxes, hand rolls, and felt bags... The one who led the way at the front was a big maid in a snow-green gown and six moon-white skirts. Putting the pipa in his bag, Xu Xu said: "This meal is so strange. Mr. Qiao Yunze was the host, but Mr. Zhu Yiqing was not invited. Mr. Qiao was the number one scholar in high school, and Mr. Zhu is the master of this year's imperial examination." Examiner, according to the logic, Mr. Qiao wants to call Mr. Zhu as 'Master', and today is considered as a teacher appreciation banquet. But it is clear that Mr. Zhu is just a companion, and there is another distinguished guest coming, I wonder who it will be?" She turned her eyes to look , but stuck out her tongue and laughed, "I know, there has never been a distinguished guest in the girl's heart that is more expensive than our Qiao Zhuangyuan's half a coin."

As soon as he heard "Qiao Zhuangyuan", Qingtian gave the maid a slight glance, and a pair of jade toad folding osmanthus earrings under his ears shook happily.She has long eyebrows, clear eyes, a layer of light red rouge on her fair face, her black hair is tied up in a Su-like bun, and she is wearing a thin silk jacket woven with gold and flowers, and a long crepe skirt that follows her steps. Qing Yang, the whole person seems to be a fluttering Liu Yong Ci.

"Miss Qingtian, come in, and the others back away." Several guards with swords stood guard in the deep corridor full of carvings, and blocked the servants from the door of the private room.The door opened slowly, and Qing Tian moved in alone.

The richness of the whole hall comes into view, the floor is covered with velvet blankets with the pattern of turtle backs, the whitewashed walls are white, and there is a line of ladies from Tang Yin on the wall. Put on an exquisite banquet.

There are only a few people in Xi Bin, and the one who sits with him at the end of the table is the new champion Qiao Yunze, with beautiful eyebrows and good eyes, but in his early twenties.The elder who was over fifty years old in front of him was Zhu Yiqing, the official residence of the Minister of Rites.Behind Zhu Yiqing, someone called out: "Sister Qingtian."

Qingtian replied: "Sister Xizhu."

Xizhu willow leaf eyebrows and hanging eyes, a white hibiscus is inserted obliquely.She is also a well-known courtesan in the capital, and she and Qing Tian have been studying art together since they were five or six years old, and they were born in the same small class, so it is difficult to accommodate two tigers in one mountain.I saw that although she put on a warm face, she snuggled up to Zhu Yiqing who was in front of her, and said with a smirk: "Master Zhu, yesterday you clearly ordered me to be at a quarter of noon, and at this time, I have already drunk for three rounds. Sister Qingtian came late, and she has more face than the third master."

Zhu Yiqing had a benevolent eyebrow, he just said haha, and pointed his hand at the head of the banquet, "Miss Qingtian, come and meet the third master, uh——, third master Wang."

Between the two molesters who were drinking with him, Mr. Wang was sitting in the middle. He was about 27 or [-] years old, with a dark complexion and sharp eyebrows.Qingtian doesn't know this third master Wang, but she deals with high-ranking officials or relatives all day long, and she has developed a pair of piercing eyes early on. Since the first-rank official Zhu Yiqing is also very courteous to this person, and her surname is "Wang"—— There is no second royal family in Beijing, but it is the number one rich and famous family, with power pouring into the court and the public.

With a chill in her heart, she immediately went down charmingly, with all kinds of charms flashing in her eyes, a leisurely glance would make one thin.

"I've seen Mr. Wang."

Ever since Qingtian appeared in front of the door, Third Master Wang only took a deep look at her and then turned his eyes away. Presumably he was used to seeing all kinds of beauties, and he didn't care about any amazing beauty.At this time, he just glanced over here, but he rolled his eyelids indiscriminately, and never looked at her any more.

On the other hand, Xizhu stared at Qingtian closely, her eyes full of sarcasm, "Third Master doesn't know, Qingtian's playing and singing are all excellent, let alone in our Huai Ya Tang, in the whole Huai Ya Tang The small class in Hua Hutong is also second to none, and she has the nickname of "Oiran lady". She must have been late on purpose to ask for punishment. If she is not punished for playing a set of Daqu, it would be disappointing to her."

Qingtian and Xizhu have been at odds since they were young, and they have been fighting for a few rounds every day. It has long been known that she is praising her talent, but in fact she is implying that she is late because of her status as an oiran.Immediately, she gave a coquettish smile, avoiding the edge of her tongue lightly, "Xiu played and sang, just listen to my sister's words. Compared with her, I can't even tell jokes. Even if you are here, I have great courage I didn't dare to be late on purpose. It turned out that the strings of the pipa were broken, and I changed another set of strings, so I was delayed for a while."

Obviously, Zhu Yiqing didn't want to cause trouble, so he just smoothed his long beard, and followed Qingtian's words: "It's fine to tell jokes, but let's forget about it on weekdays. The third master is here today, so it's outrageous to be late."

Qiao Yunze also said warmly at the side immediately: "The teacher's words are reasonable, just now everyone is correct in the same sentence, and it is elegant, so why don't you come to a vulgar way to refresh your eyes and ears." He turned to Qingtian and smiled slightly, "I will punish you to say something. Just kidding."

The two secretly exchanged a look, and the eyes were full of old-fashioned and mellow tacit understanding, like there is no wine that cannot be brewed in decades.Qingtian knew that the incident of being late would be over, so he held a small cardamom box with a smile.There is a rule for the hostess to accompany wine, whichever guest he is serving, he must put his cardamom box in front of that guest.But seeing that Qingtian first put the box in Qiao Yunze's cup beside Qiao Yunze's cup, he sat on his shoulder and sighed, "I'd rather be punished. Since I came late, I didn't have the chance to see the coincidence of you all. I have to tell the story of "Clumsy Right" to make everyone laugh. It is said that there is an ignorant son outside Henan. The member went out and said: "The fine water will flow in front of the door." The son said to the second line: "The house Li Gaoshan jumped out.' So unreasonable, the member was so angry that he scolded his son. One day, the father and son went to visit the Taoist temple, and a Taoist went out to greet them. When the member saw him, he laughed and said, "I have wronged my son." Yes, Gao Shan jumped out of the house, and sure enough there was one. 'It turns out that this Taoist priest's name is 'Gao Shan', and he is lame."

The room became extremely quiet for some reason, only the third master Wang laughed and picked up the gold and red enamel cup in his hand, "The Taoist is lame and has to jump when he crosses the threshold. 'Jump out of the high mountain in the house', Don't you two understand?"

"Hey, yes."

"haha."

Amidst the scattered laughter, Qingtian saw that everyone showed a look of extreme panic, and was feeling puzzled. A servant walked in outside the house and listened to the third master Wang for a while. The third master lazily put down his wine glass, "I have something to do, Farewell."

Zhu Yiqing hastily got up, "I'll send the third master off." Yin Qin followed, flicking his sleeves at everyone, "You guys wait, there's no need to send it off." He turned his head and muttered something to the third master before walking out .

Qing Tian also got up and saluted along with the crowd, "Sir, go slowly." But in an instant, her gaze changed dramatically, but seeing the third master Wang stood up, his shoulders were straight, his shoulders were straight, his figure was tall and burly, but every time he waited The left leg stepped forward, and the right leg followed with a slight delay, and with one step, the right shoulder sank slightly.But this limping posture did not reveal the slightest inelegance, but was full of power and majesty.

Third Master Wang stepped across the threshold steadily, then turned his head back, and said coldly: "Young Master Qiao, thank you for this meal."

Qiao Yunze's full of articles were tied up on the tip of his tongue, so he could only look at the back of the other party and the teacher Zhu Yiqing who didn't look back, and bowed head to foot.

After a long silence, one of the little molesters wrung his hands, and said in a weak and frightened voice, "Miss Qingtian, you have caused a catastrophe."

Qingtian felt as if his heart had been filled with an ice lump, and his teeth were trembling, "Wang San, Wang Sanye? He, isn't he—the third son of the Wang family? Is he—the lame third?"

(End of this chapter)