Twenty-eight, wise eyes and a heart like a lute seeking short poems

  Willow is!

  Yu Guozhen looked at each other in shock, looking at this 14-year-old girl, his eyes suddenly became complicated.

  He knew this name, one of the Qinhuai Eight Beauties with the most heroic spirit. Although she was born in a humble background, her soul could move a great talent 300 years later, a scholar who was well-versed in both Chinese and Western knowledge, even wrote a lengthy work of tens of thousands of words to study her life!

  Unfortunately, that "The Legend of Liu Rushi" is profound and difficult to understand, carrying the scholar's sorrow for the fall of his country. Yu Guozhen wanted to read it several times in his previous life, but ultimately failed to do so. Otherwise, he would not have confirmed until now that this Liu Rushi was indeed the legendary woman recorded in history.

  "Ru xiang guniang will put Xin Ke Xuan's ultimate song in the front, it makes me hard to write poetry." Zhang Pu scratched his head, he was proud of his talent, of course, he wouldn't be perfunctory. After a long time, he smiled and said: "Today's poetic inspiration has not arrived yet, let's wait until this afternoon, we'll bring wine and take a boat to the Rainbow Pavilion, appreciate the misty scenery, and compose a poem for Ru Xiang guniang again."

  Xu Fo sighed and said: "Mr. Zhang, you don't know that Ah Ru can no longer stay here for long. Now the Zhou family is blaming her for the strange death of their ancestors, so I think it's best to send her away today. Mr. Zhang, your writings are famous throughout the land, wouldn't you be missing a lovely companion to share a romantic evening with, like Ah Ru?"

  Chao Yun was a concubine of Su Dongpo, Xu Fo said so, and implicitly meant that Liu Ruzi was also a concubine of Zhang Yu. Liu Ruzi lowered her head and remained silent. Zhang Yu saw how beautiful she looked and was about to agree when he suddenly had an idea. He pointed at Yu Guozhen and said: "Fo'er, why mention me? Look at my younger brother here, his age is just right for Ruzi. Fo'er, why not entrust Ruzi to him?"

  Xu Fo and Liu Ru Si were both stunned, Yu Guo Zhen himself was also very surprised. He looked at Zhang Yu and found that his face was full of awkward smiles.

  "Although I am in a humble position, I have made a vow that unless it is a great talent or hero, I will not follow." Liu Ruzi saw Xu Fo and seemed to be slightly moved, suddenly opening his mouth to say: "This Mr. Yu, do you have any great work?"

  At the tender age of fourteen, she spoke these words with such composure, although women in this era often matured early, Yu Guozhen was still taken aback. Her temperament truly lived up to its reputation - daring to love and hate.

  Unfortunately, Yu Guozhen's stomach didn't agree with it. So, Yu Guozhen smiled faintly: "I don't know poetry or songs, I'm neither a talented scholar nor a hero."

  Zhang Yu smiled and shook his head: "Younger brother, you're too modest. My younger brother may not be as good at poetry, but he's skilled in practical knowledge that can change the world. Moreover, he's young and brave enough to cut down bandits on the water, he can be called a hero!"

  "He said with a smile: 'However, he is still young now, can only be called a small hero, after a few more years, can be called a big hero, haha...'"

  He told jokes, Xu Fo naturally had to respond and join in the fun, but Yu Guozhen himself didn't make a sound, and Liu Rushi also lowered his head and remained silent. Apparently, she really looked down on Yu Guozhen.

  Yu Guozhen doesn't need her approval, the scholars of the Revival Society of the Late Ming Dynasty were not lacking in literary talent, and even more so, they were not lacking in integrity. They had once been powerful enough to control the political trend of Beijing from afar in Jiangnan, and after the fall of the Ming Dynasty, many people appeared who resolutely resisted and even sacrificed themselves without regret. But what's the use!

  Relying on these bookworms, relying on the great talents and heroes in Liu Ruosi's eyes... this nation is doomed!

  However, Yu Guozhen still felt sorry for Liu Ruyi's fate. She was good in every way, but her eyesight was poor and she couldn't judge people accurately. Whether it was Chen Zilong or Qian Yanni, the ones she liked were all irresponsible.

  "Alas, my daughter's appearance and talent are not ordinary, but she still can't enter the eyes of the second son." Xu Fo was somewhat disappointed, she paused for a moment, and bitterly smiled: "I have a friend in Luoyang, I can only send her there to stay temporarily."

  Zhang Yu smiled and said, "Just now, Yu Xian told me that he would stay in Jinling on his way back. This matter can be entrusted to him. He came by driving a three-mingwa boat, and there are people along the way who will take care of it. Don't worry about it."

  This person likes to take the lead for others, Yu Guozhen glanced at Liu Ruyi, and Liu Ruyi happened to look up at him too. The two pairs of eyes met, and Liu Ruyi didn't dodge, but slightly revealed an inquiring expression. Those bright and clear eyes seemed to be asking if they could travel together.

  For Yu Guo Zhen, this was a favor that came naturally, and he would have to be extremely foolish to refuse. So he nodded: "I will be staying in Suzhou and Nantong as well; if the young lady is willing, she can travel with me."

  "Master Yu, when will you set off?" asked Liu Ruzi.

  "I've already gathered a group of people here... We can set off today, so when does the young lady want to leave?"

  "The sooner...the better." Liu Ru was only now revealing a hint of sadness. For her, Sheng Ze had already become a place of sorrow.

  "So this afternoon we'll set off... Second Master, go and inform Chiang Quan to get everything packed up and sent to the ship. We'll also give a shout on the ship, and then we'll depart this afternoon."

  After Gao Er Zhu left, Zhang Yu smiled and said: "Yu Xian Di is indeed a delicate and refined person, as soon as the young lady spoke, he immediately set off."

  Liu Ruyi, although somewhat stubborn, was not ungrateful. She curtsied: "Young Master Yu's great kindness, I will never forget!"

  Yu Guozhen declined her courtesy with a faint smile: "It's just a favor, I don't dare to accept your thanks."

  Although he dodged, Liu Ruyi still bowed to him again. Seeing the girl's slightly pursed lips, Yu Guozhen knew that she was a stubborn person and would not give up if she didn't let her formally bow, so in the end, he could only accept her courtesy.

  That afternoon, he took Liu Ruyi back to Suzhou. Things went too smoothly, even better than the best result he had imagined. The two cousins who were originally in Suzhou became dispensable pawns. At night, they entered the city of Suzhou and did not disembark because it was already very dark, but instead moored by the canal.

  This canal bank is also the most prosperous place in Suzhou City. At this time, Suzhou has almost no curfew, so although it's late at night, everywhere is still bustling with lights and music. Under the moonlight, one can see pink walls, slanting willows, small bridges, and flowing water, and faintly hear the sound of silk and bamboo instruments singing.

  This is one of the most prosperous and beautiful cities in this era, while European cities that have just broken free from the ignorant divine right and barbaric aristocratic rule are like an underdeveloped little girl compared to her, lacking in both appearance and substance.

  This is Yu Guo Zhen's own view, although he also knows that Europe has Florence, the Renaissance, and all those good things, but he still stubbornly believes that this place, which nurtured him now and will nurture him three hundred and fifty years later, is truly the best.

  He turned around, ready to return to his cabin to rest, and then saw a pair of bright eyes.

  Liu Ruyi was standing behind him, holding a bamboo flute in her hand. After their eyes met, she seemed to have smiled vaguely: "So late, young master has not rested yet?"

  "Isn't this girl different and doesn't she have a rest?"

  Liu Ruyi hung her head and didn't speak. After a while, she said softly: "Can I play a tune on the Xiao?"

  "It's okay, naturally." Yu Guozhen guessed that she was probably a bit nervous, leaving the familiar Shengze alone and following him, a near stranger, to Nanjing. Her current mood must be very complicated.

  The mournful sound of the dongxiao flute rose up, Yu Guozhen didn't quite understand music, he just thought it sounded good, as for any deeper meaning, he felt like he almost understood but not quite.

  The music ended, and Liu Ruo Si raised her eyelids and glanced at Yu Guo Zhen with some regret in her heart.

  In her heart, she thought that such a beautiful scene and such a heavenly beauty should have someone who understands and cares for her by her side. But there was no such person around her, only a young but pretentious worldly goods.

  Since Yoo Kwang-joon said he wouldn't write poetry, Ryu Yu-shin had somewhat looked down on him. Although it didn't diminish her gratitude towards Yoo Kwang-joon, it was enough to make Ryu Yu-shin feel that he wasn't the person she hoped to find.

  "I heard Mr. Zhang say that Master Yu is well-versed in practical learning and is an extremely intelligent person... Can Master Yu's practical learning be told to me?" After a while, Liu Ruzi felt a bit awkward and asked Yu Guozhen.

  "It's not about any practical skills, it's just some natural principles." Yu Guozhen sat down: "For example, why the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, why summer is hot and winter is cold, how mountains and rivers are formed..."

  These questions piqued Liu Ruzi's interest, and she exclaimed: "The 'Tianwen' by Quzi asks exactly these! Mr. Liu Hedong wrote the 'Tian Dui' to explain it..."

  She opened her mouth and quoted classics, which was extremely knowledgeable. At this time, she was only fourteen years old and had already read so many articles, making Yu Guozhen somewhat ashamed. At the same time, Yu Guozhen's heart moved slightly, compared to Ahlian, Liu Ruyu's talent in reading books was really too strong!

  It's probably related to her background, coming from a brothel, not understanding some music, chess, calligraphy and painting, that level is low.

  "Indeed, the young lady is quite knowledgeable. Qu Yuan's Heavenly Questions and Liu Zongyuan's Heavenly Answers... Hehe, never mind that. Can you sing? Would you be willing to sing a song for me?"

  Liu Ruyu was originally thinking of Yu Guozhen's question when he thought of "Tian Wen" and "Tian Dui". His impression of Yu Guozhen changed suddenly, feeling that although this Yu Gongzi couldn't write poetry, he wasn't unlearned or uncouth, and he was also very pleasant to be around, without the vulgarity of a rustic rich man's son. But Yu Guozhen again diverted the topic, making her feel as if she had misjudged him once more; otherwise, why wouldn't he discuss it further?

  "Since Master Yu wants to listen, I'll sing a song for Master Yu." She said after thinking for a while.

  She sang a tune that was not some common folk song, but an ancient melody. When she reached the last line "If you don't work hard when you're young, you'll regret it when you're old", she sighed three times, and the sound rippled on the surface of the water.

  After finishing the song, Liu Ruyi looked up at Yu Guozhen with a sigh in her heart. She had used her singing to encourage this young master Yu to study hard and make progress, but she didn't know if he could understand the meaning behind her songs.

  --------------------------------Continued voting split line--------------------------------

  (As above.)