Autumn of the 17th year of Chongzhen

Chapter 25
The singing came from inside the building, and Wang Yan couldn't help but stop. He stood quietly outside the courtyard wall, and after singing, he came back to his senses slightly.

"Is this the Liang Zhu written by the young master?" Qian Yifeng is a scholar after all, and he has heard a lot about Wang Yan's previous deeds. "It's poignant and tactful, and the lingering sound lingers, I can't forget it!"

"What?" Liu Shun asked in surprise, "Is this the song written by the young master?"

Wang Yan ate and lived with the soldiers in the Zhongyi Camp, and even trained together, which made Liu Shun gradually forget his identity as a master of Juren, and forget that he was once a great talent who was famous in the capital.

The singing made Liu Shun mesmerized. Although he didn't understand the rhythm, he could still feel the emotions contained in it. His heart was full of shock, and he worshiped Wang Yan extremely.

Wang Yan also didn't expect that this song Liang Zhu had already spread to Nanjing, nor did he expect that someone could sing Duan Huadie so well.

This is completely different from what he heard when he was in Beijing, not only because of the singer's Wu Nong's soft words, which makes people feel more emotional, but also the emotion in the lyrics, the poignant beauty and unswerving love to death. Persevere, everything was sung.

If there is a chance, Wang Yan really wants to meet this master, but unfortunately he has too many things on his mind, so let it go.

At this time, seeing Liu Shun and Qian Yifeng were still amazed, looking unsure, Wang Yan couldn't help but shook his head, and walked back.

There were people coming and going by the Qinhuai River, but Wang Yan didn't know that Liu Shun and Qian Yifeng's exclamation happened to fall into the ears of a middle-aged man and a boy of thirteen or fourteen.

Both of them were also dressed as literati, and they stopped when they were attracted by the singing.Hearing Liu Shun and Qian Yifeng's exclamation, the boy's eyes couldn't help but brighten up. He pointed at Wang Yan and the three of them, and talked to the middle-aged man beside him.

Seeing Wang Yan leave at this moment, Liu Shun and Qian Yifeng had no choice but to keep up with it, as if it would not be long before the singing sounded again.

Seeing the three of them leaving, the boy hurriedly chased after him, and shouted behind Wang Yan: "Brother, please wait a moment."

Hearing the sound, Wang Yan turned around in surprise.

"Brother, Xia Wanchun!" Seeing Wang Yan stop, the boy hurriedly bowed his head and asked, "Just now I heard that you were talking about the lyrics and music in the courtyard, which were written by Xiongtai. I didn't know that Xiongtai was Wang Yan, Wang Shiheng!"

For this young man who suddenly appeared and knew his name, Wang Yan couldn't help feeling a little curious, but after thinking about it, since Liang Zhu was able to come to Nanjing, and he heard their words just now, everything is not so strange .

"I'm making fun of you, my little brother. I'm Wang Yan in Changsha, whose name is Shiheng." Wang Yan didn't hide it at the moment, and admitted generously.

The young man was overjoyed immediately when he heard the words, and turned around with a smug look on his face, shouting to the middle-aged man not far away: "Master, it's true, it's really Wang Shiheng!"

The middle-aged man was dissatisfied with the boy's yelling, but he walked over with a smile on his face. "Chen Zilong, Wang Shiheng's reputation is like thunder to my ears!"

Chen Zilong is a well-known poet in the south of the Yangtze River, and his reputation spread far and wide. Wang Yan had already read his masterpieces when he was still a student at Yuelu Academy, and he was very happy to meet him by the Qinhuai River now.

"It turned out to be Mr. Dazun, he is polite at a late age!" Wang Yan still admires Chen Zilong very much. He is one of the few sober people among Nanjing officials. , is a rare capable minister with both ability and political integrity.

Wang Yan saw that his master and apprentice were dignified, and they were both disciples of saints, so he became friends with him, and immediately pointed to the two people around him and introduced: "This is Liu Shun, from Cangzhou, and this is Qian Yifeng. , styled Ziyun, from Qingzhou."

At that moment, several people greeted each other again.

Several people stood by the river and chatted, and Wang Yancai knew that Chen Zilong was forced to resign from office and go back to seclusion because he criticized the imperial court for not thinking about making progress, preferring the national policy of Jiangnan, and had a bad relationship with Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng. He was depressed and was brought to the riverside by his disciple Xia Wanchun , do not want to meet him.

The reason why Xia Wanchun cares so much about Wang Yan is because he has been determined to be loyal since he was a child, admired fame and integrity, and likes to study military affairs. Wang Yan's deeds coincided with this, and a trace of admiration arose in the young man's heart.

"Last year, I read the Chaozhong Mansion News. After the change in Qingzhou, there was no news about Shiheng. I sighed for a while, thinking that there was one less person with lofty ideals in the world." Chen Zilong sighed: "I don't want Shiheng to travel thousands of miles and appear in Suizhou also beheaded the traitor Xu Dingguo, he is really a national scholar. It is really a great fortune to meet Shi Heng by chance today."

Chen Zilong's experience is somewhat similar to Wang Yan's. He is also depressed and unsuccessful, and his remonstrances have been rejected many times. Now that he resigns from the official position, he feels even more uncomfortable. Xia Wanchun was originally pulling him out to relax. Naturally happy, he immediately suggested: "Master, why don't we find a place to sit down and have a chat with Brother Wang, okay?"

"That's exactly what I mean!" Wang Yan nodded, and Liu Shun and Qian Yifeng naturally had no objections.

"In this case, how about going to Meixiang Building?" Chen Zilong smiled and pointed to the courtyard.

This Meixiang Building is a famous brothel by the Qinhuai River, where Li Xiangjun, one of the eight beauties, lives, but now she is making love to Hou Fangyu, one of the four sons of the south of the Yangtze River, and she is no longer easy to see people.

Meixianglou is also different from ordinary brothels. Its owner, Li Zhenli, is generous and elegant, so most of the guests are literati.

As the leading celebrity in the south of the Yangtze River, Chen Zilong was also a frequent visitor to these romantic places, and the famous prostitutes were willing to associate with them in order to enhance their reputation.

However, ever since the situation in the Ming Dynasty deteriorated and Chen Zilong was worried about state affairs, he hadn't appeared by the Qinhuai River for a long time. When Li Zhenli heard that he brought friends, she was overjoyed.

Li Zhenli is Li Xiangjun's adoptive mother, but she is actually only ten years older than her. When she was young, she was also a famous prostitute in Qinhuai. Such style.

It's not that Liu Shun has never entered a brothel, but all he met were vulgar fans from small places. He had never seen a beautiful woman on the banks of the Qinhuai River in the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties. When Li Zhenli appeared, he stared straight at her, shocked For heaven and man.

Seeing his appearance, Wang Yan couldn't help being a little embarrassed, so he poked him with his arm and pulled his gaze back.

Li Zhenli came out to greet her with a smile, and then quickly glanced at the few people in front of the door, wondering in her heart, Chen Zilong is a famous person, and there are many famous scholars in the people he associates with, but the friends he brought this time are Wang Yan and Qian Yi. Feng is still a little normal, why did he bring a little doll, and a pig brother?

Of course, she was just taken aback for a moment, then smiled and led everyone in.

Wang Yan and the others followed behind her and walked into the Meixiang Building. Different from Yingying and Yanyan in other brothels, everyone was more like walking into a forest garden, with small bridges and flowing water, carved galleries and painted buildings, full of elegance. gas.

From the people to the scenery, Liu Shun had never seen such a brothel before. He couldn't help but look around all the way, and after being glared at by Wang Yan, he restrained himself a little and walked honestly.

Not long after, everyone was led to an elegantly furnished room by Li Zhenli and sat down.

She wanted to invite a few geisha to accompany them in reciting poems and paintings to help them enjoy the wine, but Chen Zilong refused, and because everyone had already had dinner, Chen Zilong only asked Li Zhenli to ask someone to prepare some simple tea and pastries for them.

Liu Shun, who was thinking about seeing the world, couldn't help being disappointed, but he could only express his dissatisfaction in his heart, and he had to sit upright on the surface, not daring to lose Wang Yan's face.

When everything was ready, Li Zhenli informed that there would be an event at Meixiang Building tonight, and everyone would be invited to come, so she said goodbye and left.

"Shiheng's visit to Nanjing must be something important?" Chen Zilong picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"To be honest, sir, I really have something to do when I come here this time." Wang Yan nodded, and said with a heavy heart: "Li Chuang was defeated, the Qing army has entered Henan, and the land in the north of the Yangtze River is exposed to the peak of the Qing army's soldiers." However, the Shige Department has not made any countermeasures, and I am very worried, so I came to the south to find Master Zuo Maodi, hoping that he would contact the courtiers and make early preparations for defense."

"The Ministry of Shi Ge has great ambitions but few talents. He can be a direct minister, not a pillar!" After Wang Yan finished speaking, Xia Wanchun said after eating a snack.

Hearing this, Chen Zilong couldn't help but glared at him, Xia Wanchun knew that he was talking too much and offended the master by talking about the chief assistant, so he quickly lowered his head.

Chen Zilong saw that he was quite well-behaved, so he didn't reprimand him, but went on to say: "Chuang was defeated by the captives. Although it is gratifying, it is really scary! The captives who did not catch up with me are in the ears. It is not a blessing in the south of the Yangtze River to be destroyed today." Also! We should have taken precautions early, what Shi Heng said is true!"

"All the princes in the court are busy with party disputes. After going south to establish a country for a year, there have been a great tragedy case and a concubine case. Recently, a fake prince appeared. Dong Lin and Ma Fu are busy with internal conflicts. I am afraid that Brother Wang will find Mr. Zuo, and he will not be able to support him alone. Ah!" Xia Wanchun was not honest for a while, and then continued.

Xia Wanchun, who was only 14 years old, was able to say such a thing, which surprised Wang Yan. Chen Zilong, who was on the side, could only smile when he saw this. Obviously, he was also quite helpless towards this restless disciple. It seemed that the young Xia Wanchun often expressed such Extraordinary wisdom and talent.

Wang Yan also knew that what he said was the truth, "I also know that the court situation is corrupt, but if we don't say it, why don't we wait for the Qing army to go south?"

"What Shi Heng said is very true. No matter what the court situation is, as ministers, we should do our best and not escape." Chen Zilong nodded. "On this point, I am not as good as Shi Heng."

"Master has a lot of connections in the court, so he can help Brother Wang to contact more ministers, and we can play to His Majesty together." Xia Wanchun suggested again.

"It should be so!" Chen Zilong didn't give him any face this time, and nodded in response.

"Then there will be Mr. Lao." Wang Yan quickly thanked him.

The situation is like this, and the only way to do everything is to obey the destiny. At present, several people discussed who are reliable people in the court, and agreed to run around in the next day to persuade them one by one.

After several people discussed the countermeasures, Li Zhenli happened to come over again and asked them to sit in the lobby for a while.It turned out that since Li Xiangjun was away from seeing people, she had trained a newcomer. Today happened to be her first performance of piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. If she can get the guidance of a famous person like Chen Zilong, she will definitely become famous in Qinhuai.

　Thank you for your reward, and thank you all book friends for your support.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)