Chapter 200 Your Majesty, Save Me!

The last two days of September are already the season of late autumn. The weather changes quickly. A few days ago, I could still run around in single clothes and single robes. To this day, everyone adds dui lapels and straight skirts to their outer garments.

It's better to be cold, and the old people who understand the seasons nodded their heads for this cooling down. The snow this winter must come earlier than usual. How can the young people in Yangzhou care about such trivial matters. Their thoughts were all on the cultural meeting on Qiupu Street.

To avoid the provincial examination, Qiupu Street near Gongyuan moved the Mid-Autumn Festival Literary Festival to these days. What? Why don't you put it at the beginning of the month? You see, what you said means that the host, Mr. Chen, is not free either.

This is the fourth cultural fair this year. Qiupu Street holds it more or less often every year. In addition to fixed major festivals, Qiupu Street, which has deep pockets, will occasionally hold one or two more.

He wanted nothing more than to buy Qiupu Street's reputation and invite some literati and poets to come here to recite poems and paint. Among them, the most popular ones on Qiupu Street are the painters.

Yang embroidery has been operated by Chen Heng until today, and it has developed two schools of "antique landscape embroidery" and "ink and freehand embroidery". However, Yangzhou people prefer to call it "needle painting" because of its convenience. It is the skills of the female workers in the Pilian Workshop who use needles instead of writing and threads instead of ink. It can be said that the style is elegant, elegant and expressive.

Chen Heng never expected that the expedient step of asking a painter to paint could reach this level. But it's always a good thing. Outsiders are looking for new ideas, but Chen Heng is only happy in his heart.

Qiupu Street, which is famous for its needlework paintings, has not forgotten the painters who helped it after it became prosperous. The annual cultural fair is mostly prepared for them. If there is a famous painting by a painter or a good article or poem appears at the meeting, Qiupu Street will not hesitate to spend money to buy it.

The relationship between the two was that you help me and I help you. After several rounds of publicity, Yangzhou City quickly attracted painters and literati from all over the south of the Yangtze River. This meeting between Boya and Ziqi has become a major event in Yangzhou City.

Considering that he was going to Beijing after the New Year, Chen Heng even grabbed Director Zhao and Xue Baoqin to talk non-stop before attending the cultural conference. Until now, they have not chosen a suitable successor.

Manager Zhao was the most distressed. He was doing well on Qiupu Street, but when he thought of breaking up with Chen Heng, he was still extremely reluctant to part with him. He couldn't stop saying, "Brother Chen, can't we really wait another year or two?"

Ever since Chen Heng passed the imperial examination, Director Zhao even changed his title. Chen Heng was not willing at first. Who could bear to have such an old man call him Senior Brother? But instead of calling him Senior Senior Brother, he would have to call him Master Juren, which made the scholar feel miserable.

Forget it, let’s just be seniors. Chen Heng also frowned and sighed: "I really can't delay it. Besides, the matters related to the Weaving Bureau also require me to go to Beijing."

After hearing this, Director Zhao was even more helpless. Both places are extremely important, and Chen Heng is closely followed at both ends. Over the years, Qiupu Street has prospered day by day in the hands of Chen Lang. Not to mention the female workers in the workshop thanking Chen Heng, Director Zhao also admired him deeply.

Xue Baoqin, who was on the side, was dressed as a young man as usual. Seeing the sad faces of the two people, he couldn't help but shake his fan and chuckle. Oh, I am still shaking my round-headed folding fan at the end of September. How elegant and elegant!

Chen Heng glanced at this second brother and secretly thought it was a pity. If Baoqin is not a girl, if only she could be older. He is truly the perfect choice to take over. Over the years, Chen Heng has taught him everything he can about business thinking and logic. The latter is indeed more talented than her brother in this regard.

It would be great if Baoqin's surname was Su. It's a pity that there is no shopkeeper named Xi.

After thinking about it while enjoying the pain, Chen Heng shook his head, it was a done deal. I had already thought of all the follow-up arrangements I could think of, so I simply said: "If it's really urgent, just write to me."

This was a last resort, so Director Zhao had no choice but to nod.

"Today is the day for the Wei family and the Kun family class to come." Chen Heng stood up and said, "Brother Zhao will go and check on the things ahead. I will be there soon."

"Okay, I'll go to the stage on the other side of Baobao Lake and have a look." After receiving the order, Director Zhao walked outside. There are many rickshaws at the entrance of the street. If you hire one, you can go directly to Baobao Lake, which is very convenient.

Chen Heng and Bao Qin walked out side by side. One was taller and the other was shorter, both had extraordinary charm. After only walking on the road for a moment, the woman on the street looked sideways.

"I didn't expect that we would be able to invite the Kun family class and the Wei family to this cultural gathering." Baoqin was accustomed to this, and she was even more curious about the Kun family class.

But Chen Heng pulled her from the alley to the horse training workshop and said with a smile: "It's not that we invited her, it was the Wei people themselves who sent a letter asking us if we could come."

When Baoqin heard this, her eyes lit up, she closed her fan and said with a chuckle: "Brother, don't reveal the answer to the mystery yet, let the second brother guess." She held the handle of the fan, nodded her forehead, and asked with a smile: " But because of the female workers in our workshop?”

"Yes." Chen Heng nodded with a smile and explained the cause and effect to the other party.

Today's Kunqu Opera is a world-famous opera, and it is very loud outside. It was founded by Gu Jian, a native of Kunshan, and was reformed by musician Wei Liangfu before it could be carried forward.

Today's Wei family is Wei Nanzhao, the seventh generation descendant of Wei Liangfu. The reason why Bao Qin guessed the female workers in the workshop was that Kun Opera was the first to have a female stage on the stage.

It is not an exaggeration to say that it is the pioneer of reform in opera. Under its influence, women are no longer prohibited from listening to operas in many local repertoires. In an open atmosphere, if some people go too far, others will naturally walk the rest of the way.

The two walked into the workshop laughing and talking, and were stopped by many male and female workers to say hello. People who still don't know Chen Heng are embarrassed to say that they work in the horse training workshop.

"Chen Lang, Chen Lang. Aren't you going to listen to the show?"

"Master Chen, Master Chen..."

Chen Heng responded to the calls along the way. He was already very popular in the neighborhood, and this time he won the title of Jie Yuangong, which became a topic of conversation among men, women, young and old after dinner. It was also something that workers were proud of recently to say that their master was Jie Yuangong.

After finally walking into the neighborhood, he found Feng and Yinglian among the scattered workstations. Chen Heng, who was wearing a scholar's robe, had tied his hair and put on a crown, and stood in front of Feng and greeted softly: "Aunt."

Feng's hand paused, feeling the ambiguous eyes of the people around her, and it was only after Lu Shui reminded her that she remembered that she had not replied to the younger generation. "Ah? Chen..."

Feng's words were stuck, and her thoughts were also subtle. When Chen Heng was still young, for the sake of his daughter's reputation and worried that the children were just hot-headed, he stopped the two children from having private contact.

In her life, Yinglian was the only child, and she was the flesh and blood that she had lost and regained. How could she let the child be wronged. She wanted to wait until Chen Heng grew up to see if their ideas had changed.

As a result, Chen Heng was too ambitious and quietly passed the exam to become a juren. Feng came from a family of scholars and knew how important a juren was. Now, the status of the two families has been reversed. Seeing that the Chen family was thriving, her family still had more than enough food and clothing but not enough wealth, and Feng was in a difficult situation.

She was not afraid that the Chen family would regret after becoming rich, as many people from the Zhen family had proposed marriage over the years. Although Yinglian was controlled by Feng, her appearance could not deceive people. Anyone who had seen that face once would be shocked by it.

In the past two years, Feng had also been attracted to other people's children. It's not easy to find a three-legged toad, but there are good men with two legs everywhere. But Yinglian, who was soft on the outside and strong on the inside, gritted her teeth and refused to give in. She had to wait for Chen Heng to go down day by day.

"Aunt." Chen Heng bowed again and took the initiative to pass the conversation to Feng, who was hesitant to speak, and explained his purpose. "Today is the day of the literary gathering, and the Wei family, who is good at opera, is here. It's a rare opportunity. I want to invite Yinglian to go out and listen to an opera together."

Good guy, after passing the imperial examination, Chen Heng was much bolder in speaking. In the past, when he met the mother and daughter, he had to pretend to call Yinglian sister, but now he just called her by her name.

When Feng heard this, she felt that it was not right to refuse, and it was not right not to refuse. In the past two years, her family had been in the alley, and they had received a lot of care from Chen Heng in secret. There was less work, more money, and they went home early. People with discerning eyes had already seen Chen Heng's care for them.

The old mother looked at her daughter again. Only then did she realize that Yinglian, who was not wearing makeup, had a slightly red face, which could be said to be full of redness on her cheeks, making people dazzled.

"Hahaha, Aunt Feng, just agree to Chen Lang." There were people watching the excitement nearby and started to make a noise. Such an act of openly betraying his co-workers is enough to show Chen Heng's popularity in the neighborhood.

"Yes, yes, just go and listen to a play."

In the current Yangzhou atmosphere, there are countless men and women who go out together. The people no longer take this matter too seriously.

"Don't worry, aunt, I will take good care of Sister Yinglian." Baoqin also bowed. Many people in the neighborhood also knew her identity. With Baoqin's words, Feng finally nodded and said, "Go out and play, pay attention to safety."

Not to mention the surprise in Yinglian's eyes, Lushui on the side finally breathed a sigh of relief. She felt that her wife was really worried and confused. The Chen family was about to become prosperous, and Chen Lang was also a man of affection and righteousness. He was also a scholar who had just passed the imperial examination. If she didn't rush at this time, someone would snatch her son-in-law away. Where can she find such an outstanding person again?

"Mom, I... I'll be back soon." Yinglian couldn't wait to get up. Her clothes were very ordinary, but she couldn't resist her extraordinary appearance. The girl who will be 18 after the Chinese New Year is about to start her best years.

Chen Heng also took a breath. Today's matter was still Gu's reminder to her wooden son. He has been immersed in studying all his life, so he naturally reacts slowly to many things. There is no way, the pressure of life is great, and it is really difficult to have a chance to breathe.

The three of them walked out of the Pi Lianfang again. During the period, Chen Heng and Baoqin talked mostly. Yinglian was like a nervous little white rabbit, following Chen Heng's right hand side, walking silently. She had been looking forward to the two of them going out like today for two years.

They came to Gu's shop on the street together. Gu and Chen Xian, who had been waiting for a long time, smiled and pulled Yinglian upstairs, and drove Chen Heng out of the shop, letting him blow the cold wind.

Not long after, Yinglian, who had changed her clothes, had walked in front of Chen Heng accompanied by Gu and Chen Xian. Gu's vision was really excellent. The light pink skirt that was specially bought was worn by the girl, and she was really a lotus with two stems that was more beautiful than flowers.

"Go and have fun." Gu really liked Yinglian, who was not only pretty, but also gentle and sensible. The mother was happy and took another twenty taels from the shop to her son, "Don't be reluctant to spend it, buy Yinglian whatever she wants."

After the family became well-off, they were really generous. Chen Heng took it with a smile. He hadn't asked for money from his family for many years. Baoqin and Chen Xian couldn't help laughing. After several laughs, Baoqin took out a hairpin from her sleeve, "If sister Yinglian doesn't mind, why not take it as my gift."

Gu realized that she had forgotten to prepare jewelry for Yinglian and hurriedly shouted. Yinglian thanked Baoqin for her kindness, and with her help, she put on the expensive hairpin.

Chen Heng knew the goods and knew that this thing was somewhat valuable, so he kept Baoqin's kindness in mind and prepared to make up for it on the way. The three of them said goodbye to Gu and took Xinda's carriage to Baobao Lake.

When they arrived at the roadside, the place was already full of rickshaws for sending guests, and there was an area reserved for carriages from each household. Xinda wanted to guard the carriages, so he didn't go in to watch the excitement.

Chen Heng took Yinglian and Baoqin a few hundred steps inside before catching Xue Ke and Jiang Yuanbai on a painted bridge. Qian Dayou was going to a blind date today. He was old enough, and the Qian family was also ready to take the opportunity to finalize the child's lifelong event.

"How is the painting?"

Chen Heng looked at the two people's drawing paper. Jiang Yuanbai's painting was a landscape, and it was already interesting. Xue Ke's paper was bare, and it was obvious that he was still having a headache about where to start.

"It's difficult." The future master of painting shook his head. He had a heart of excellence. He would burn all the drafts he made in the past if he was not satisfied with them.

Baoqin, who fell behind, whispered to Yinglian about the two stupid painters. When it came to the fun part, the latter also laughed continuously.

Xue Ke immediately found the difference of Yinglian when there was a stranger. He patiently looked at her again and again, with a gaze full of appreciation, which made Yinglian shy. Baoqin noticed this and was about to scold his brother for being a fool.

Xue Ke was already ecstatic and said, "I got it, I got it."

He picked up the pen and drew a few lines on the paper, outlining the water lotus, the lake, and the distant mountains. This painting should be just a sketch. Xue Ke's painting was unrestrained and uninhibited. Chen Heng watched with interest. When his friend drew the vivid appearance of two women laughing side by side on the paper, he also praised his friend's talent.

"Good painting, Brother Xue." Chen Heng praised sincerely.

"Of course, Brother Zhixing." Xue Ke said proudly as he started to write, "When this painting is done, remember to write poems and calligraphy for me."

Chen Heng's calligraphy is also unique. He loves Yan Gong's calligraphy the most. After imitating him day by day, he has already acquired seven points of his style. Hearing his friend's request, Chen Heng was about to agree, but Jiang Yuanbai said unwillingly: "What about mine?"

Xue Ke glanced at Yuanbai's drawing paper and said: "Your painting is all craftsmanship. Let Dayou come, it will be almost the same." The implication is that Chen Heng's calligraphy is the most suitable for his painting.

"Good for you, Xue Ke." Jiang Yuanbai laughed and scolded. Both of them were taught by Xu Jinhou, and they immediately replied, "If I don't let you see my real skills today, I won't be named Jiang."

"Come on, come on." Xue Ke laughed.

It's still early for the troupe to start singing, so Chen Heng patiently watched his friend paint, and by the way, he could wait for Lin Daiyu to arrive. The latter was very excited about the arrival of Wei Dajia, and he said early that he would come with him. It was also because of Daiyu's idea that everyone gathered here.

Not long after, seeing Xue and Jiang finish the draft, Lin Daiyu, who was late, jumped in front of Chen Heng.

"Brother." The girl's voice was as clear and cheerful as the song of the oriole in March.

The five people looked back on the bridge and saw Lin Daiyu coming with Zijuan and Xueyan. The eight people gathered together and were about to walk to the stage.

Lin Daiyu stood on the steps and noticed Yinglian who had changed her clothes. She vaguely felt that the other party was familiar, so she said: "Who is this sister?"

Chen Heng smiled and introduced to his sister: "She is Yinglian. You met her in the academy a few years ago."

Jiang Yuanbai on the side shouted: "I was wondering why she looked so familiar, it turned out to be her!!"

Lin Daiyu also immediately recalled Yinglian's origins. Seeing her standing beside Chen Heng, she was alarmed for a while, and her eyes like knives fell directly on her brother.

Chen Heng was also unaware, he just blinked at his sister blankly, as if asking what was wrong?

Baoqin, who was as clear as seeing fire, couldn't help laughing, and hurriedly said, "Let's go first. Let's go to the stage to watch the excitement."

Everyone got the order and walked towards the center of the lake with laughter. The atmosphere on the road really made Chen Heng feel strange. Yinglian didn't say much. She stood behind Chen Heng from beginning to end, but Baoqin said a lot, teasing Yinglian for a while, and teasing Daiyu who was also silent for a while.

Just talking, Chen Heng occasionally looked back and looked at Baoqin. The other party always showed an inexplicable snicker, which made the young man even more confused.

Everyone walked all the way to the pavilion in the center of the lake. The repertoire here had just finished the opening, and it was time for the excitement. Naturally, someone had reserved the seats for Chen Heng and others.

The pavilion in the center of the lake was at the back, so you can see the female workers in the workshop and the people of Yangzhou who came to watch the play, as well as the talented people who were painting around. There was a constant sound of music on the stage. There was also a lot of excitement in the pavilion.

Chen Heng, who was sandwiched between Daiyu and Yinglian on the left and right, had no time to watch the show. He was stared at by Baoqin, who was right opposite him, with a playful look.

"Second brother, what's wrong with you?" Chen Heng asked kindly.

"Ha, I just saw three birds singing on the branches. Big brother, do you think it's strange?" Baoqin laughed.

Chen Heng turned his head and looked around. He had his back against Baozhuang Lake. There were only birds singing and flowers blooming in the pavilion. How could there be three birds? Xue Ke and Jiang Yuanbai were also curious, "I've only heard of birds in pairs, but these three birds on the branches are a strange sight."

"Sister, where are the birds?" Xue Ke also asked.

"Pah." Baoqin suddenly opened her folding fan, shaking it and laughing, "Brothers, it's really unfortunate. The birds just flew away."

"Sister!!" Daiyu didn't understand. She stood up and sat next to Baoqin, then scratched Baoqin's waist with her hand. The latter was wearing a long-sleeved scholar's robe, and he looked very good when dodging. A pair of pear dimples appeared and disappeared at the corners of his mouth. He smiled and said begging for mercy: "Sister, good sister, I was wrong. Please let me go."

In this scene, the three teenagers all turned their heads in tacit agreement, and it was hard to watch too much. Just outside, Director Zhao was leading an old man.

Seeing this, Chen Heng and others also stood up to greet them. After the other person sat down, he introduced himself. Only then did Chen Heng know that this person was Wei Nanzhao. This is a famous artist who is famous in Liyuan. Many literati and poets also admired him very much.

Wei Nanzhao is over fifty years old. He has extraordinary bearing, is well-informed, and his conversation is interesting. As soon as he sits down, he starts chatting enthusiastically with the young people. He came to see who the boss of Qiupu Street was, who could invite women out of the house and make them wait in court.

Seeing Chen Heng's age, Wei Nanzhao also lamented that the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead. The former was interesting, and he took the opportunity to inquire about some rumors about opera.

When one hears a play that is bigger than the sky, one party starts singing, and people from all over the world come to listen, and there are even rumors that gods and ghosts are coming in person. Wei Nanzhao also laughed: "This has never been said before. Gods and ghosts come in person. If a play is performed for the gods, the place should be in a temple, and the temple blessing should come forward to invite it."

There were rumors about noses and eyes in later generations, but it turned out to be a fallacy, and Chen Heng did not expect it. Wei Nanzhao added: "What kind of opera is so big that you can't stop singing it? I've never heard of it. Last month, we had a charity performance in Jingu Township. Halfway through the song, all the spectators ran away."

Unexpectedly, the Kun family class, which is famous all over the world, would receive such a cold reception. Jiang Yuanbai asked with great interest, "What happened next?"

"The children in the class were so excited to sing that they sang on the stage until the end. But it was just for fun. Those who were tired went to rest." Wei Nanzhao laughed, "If it is really bigger than the sky, what kind of disaster will happen to us? To stop or not to stop?”

What the class teacher said was interesting, and everyone laughed. Later, Wei Nanzhao introduced the origin of opera, from its initial inspiration as a child's play house to the subsequent evolution of various sects. Among them, the vicissitudes of life and the past are stained, and a group of people who just listened were obsessed with it.

Seeing that everyone's eyes were attracted to the Wei family, Lin Daiyu finally couldn't help but sit back next to Chen Heng, stretched her nose and whispered in a rough voice: "Sister Yinglian is so beautiful."

"Ah?!" Chen Heng turned around with a surprised look when he felt the other person's breath and breath in his ear.

"Not like me." Lin Daiyu said again, looking down at her body. The thirteen-year-old girl was like an ungrown bean sprout. The more she looked at it, the colder her heart became, and she couldn't help but feel sad. Why is there such a huge gap between us all as humans?

"It's nothing if you want anything." Lin Daiyu said angrily.

Chen Heng was really unintentional. He was confused by his sister's words and glanced subconsciously at her. I couldn't help but think: It's indeed a bit flat. Gee, what were you thinking. This is your childhood sweetheart’s sister! !

Chen Heng was speechless. If there were no outsiders, he would have slapped himself a few times to calm down his evil thoughts.

"Sister..." Chen Heng, whose mouth was dry and tongue-tied, scratched his head and scratched his head to think of words. The beautiful articles of the past have become useless today. Although he didn't know what was going on, he had a vague feeling that if he couldn't pass this level, he would end up in a miserable state.

Lin Daiyu only pursed her lips, but the anger in her eyebrows gradually turned into undisclosed joy because of Chen Heng's eagerness. However, the girl's face was still as sulky as ever, so her brother didn't notice.

Baoqin, who looked back frequently, still looked again and still smiled again. Yinglian, who seemed to understand but didn't understand, blinked. She didn't hear clearly what Chen and Lin said quietly.

Just when we were in a dilemma, there were sudden shouts from outside the pavilion, "Second brother, second brother!"

It was when the opera reached its climax that anyone who could bear the noise would glare at the speaker. I want to see whose family member is so rude and dares to search for someone so loudly, which is a disgrace to others. As soon as Chen Heng heard the voice, he knew that the savior was coming.

Isn't it his good brother, Xinda, who came to save the trouble?

Immediately standing up, Chen Heng walked outside the pavilion and waved to Xinda, who was stumbling and running wildly, "Xinda, I'm here."

Well, you brothers, you really treat Baobao Lake as your home. Talking like this without any care is a big deal, and you have to give us an explanation today.

"Capital Master... Capital Master..." Xinda ran and shouted, fearing that he would miss his brother's important event, "The Holy Emperor's imperial envoy came to our house to announce the decree! Go home quickly, go home quickly!"

Chen Heng's pupils were shocked again and again. The people who were glaring at the brothers just now were even more furious when they heard that the angel was coming in person. The only sounds in the venue, apart from the actors on the stage who were still singing intermittently, were the only sounds outside the pavilion.

"What did you say???" Chen Heng was still in disbelief and subconsciously asked loudly.

The surroundings were so quiet, Xinda heard it very clearly, and immediately responded loudly: "The emperor has sent someone to invite you to the capital."

The final sound could not help but spread far and wide in the silent venue. It was obviously not as good as the music on the stage, but it touched everyone's heartstrings more.

This is great, the person who thought he heard wrong just now looked at the young man standing outside the pavilion. There were so many pairs of eyes in the audience, and the gazes behind them were also compelling. Lin Daiyu even blinked and looked at her brother's back with hope.

Chen Heng felt his head was dizzy and he didn't even have time to open his mouth to speak. The autumn wind blowing from the lake made the young man's robe rustle, and made the fluttering scarf on the back of his head flow in an elegant arc.

Ah, it turns out the wind is blowing.

Hahahaha, please vote. It’s so cool to write, hahahahaha. ,