Chapter Seventeen Matchmaking

  "Sir, your words are not quite right. As a pillar of the state, you protect the country and its people on behalf of the Emperor. Your good fortune is the Emperor's good fortune, and the Emperor's good fortune is the good fortune of the country and its people. The good fortune of the country and its people is the good fortune of all living beings. As a humble woman and my mother, we are just ordinary people, wishing for the prosperity of our country, and if the country is at peace, then our family will be at peace too. It seems that we are praying for your good fortune, but in fact, we are only praying for the well-being of our own small family, which is not worth mentioning to you."

  Luofu saw that the girl in front of her was still young and unmarried, yet she was steady as gold and warm as jade, with a clever mind and fragrant words, without any pretentious or artificial behavior. In his heart, he thought: Among the common people who are used to flattery and sycophancy, they all like to fawn and try to please, but this young girl is different, she is clear and pure, and stands out from the crowd. Therefore, Baiyun couldn't help but glance at her with admiration.

  He turned his head and asked Huize: "Did Fangzhang just introduce that the White family is a book-collecting family?"

  Huī zé bù shuāng zhǎng hé shí, dào le shēng "shì".

  English Translation:

  Hui Ze cupped his hands together and replied with a "yes".

  Luò Fǔ then turned his head and gave Bái Yù Shū an appreciative smile, "The elegance and refinement of a person all come from books, a family that loves literature is indeed not unworthy of their ancestors."

  "Thank you, Lord Xiang!" Bai Yushu was both surprised and delighted. He had always been trying to arrange for his son to gain Lord Xiang's recognition, but he hadn't expected his daughter to also win over Lord Xiang's favor. For a moment, he was at a loss, only bowing deeply and not even daring to breathe heavily.

  Luofu saw Bai Yuxiu's honest and fearful appearance, which was not surprising to him. He looked at the still bowing Bai family women and said: "Get up, don't be polite."

  Bai Yun helped her mother get up and supported her.

  Luo Fu asked her: "Miss Bai, what is your name?"

  "White clouds are warm."

  Luofu's eyebrows trembled slightly as he muttered to himself, "White Cloud Warm, Ah Nuan, a person like their name, not cold and distant, not pretentious, what a good name."

  Luó Fǔ had arrived in Luò County from Kyoto the day before and stayed overnight in the county town, then took a car to Lingyun Temple early this morning.

  Huizhe hadn't seen him for many years, although they had a past friendship, but after all, he had been in an official position for many years and had a heavy bureaucratic air about him. Huizhe didn't dare to be too familiar with him either. He led him to the front hall to worship Buddha, seeing that his brow was deeply furrowed, gloomy and unhappy, until now when he finally revealed a smile, then seized the opportunity to say: "Your Excellency hasn't seen me for many years, let this poor monk slightly fulfill the host's courtesy, why not move to the elegant pavilion."

  Huī zé made a inviting gesture with his hand, Luò fǔ did not object and moved forward.

  Bai Yu's book fell behind her, and she asked Bai Jiang in a low voice: "Madam, where is Xuan'er?"

  Bai Jiang looked at Bai Yunnuo somewhat helplessly, and Bai Yunnuo said: "Brother is already waiting for you in the elegant pavilion."

  Last night's snowfall accumulated to a depth of about one foot. This morning, the sky cleared again, and the cold wind blew, freezing the entire temple into a crystal palace, dazzlingly bright.

  A lone traveler trudges through the snow towards Yajak.

  Before reaching the elegant pavilion, I heard the sound of the qin being played, with the sweet songs of orioles and the gentle gurgling of a stream, all blending together in a harmony that is beyond words.

  Everyone listened in a daze and involuntarily stopped in their tracks.

  Nalufu closed his eyes, nodding slightly to the tune, and murmured: "This melody should only exist in heaven, it's rare to hear it in the mortal world!"

  Bai Yuxu was overjoyed, while Hui Ze secretly let out a sigh of relief.

  All this hard work and lonely struggle have not been in vain.

  "Who is playing the piano?"

  Bai Yuxiang was about to speak when Bai Yunnuan took a step ahead: "Master, just take a look upstairs and you'll understand."

  Bai Yu looked at his daughter in confusion, unaware of why she wouldn't let him mention Bai Zhenxuan's name. He had no idea that the person playing the piano upstairs was an imposter.

  Luó had already taken the lead in taking big strides, and everyone else hurried to catch up.

  Lifting the embroidered soft curtain, only to see a fragrant and delicate young man with a jade-like complexion and golden makeup playing the zither, although not a woman, but even more beautiful than a woman.

  Xuan Qing Bi Qu Ge

  Feminine, fragrant and delicate, crystal clear like jade, wearing a red dress, too weak to hold up her clothes.

  Luò's heart skipped a beat, his face remained calm and expressionless, but in his heart, he had already secretly surged with spring waves. He didn't expect Master Huìzé to understand him so thoroughly. Having been an official in Kyoto for many years, no one knew about this quirk of his; he himself had also suppressed it painstakingly for the sake of his career and reputation, not letting anyone know. Unexpectedly, in this remote Luò County, he had found a kindred spirit. At once, he felt both grateful and joyful towards Huìzé, and shed all his official demeanor, smiling freely.

  The official, Na Qin, raised his eyes to see the middle-aged rich and noble guest, with an extraordinary demeanor, and knew that the honored guest had arrived. He also saw that the noble guest was staring at him intently, as if he was about to drool, and realized that he had met a kindred spirit, so he made an extra effort to play the zither.

  He was accustomed to being a dragon and phoenix in the pleasure grounds, and now he was using all his skills. His eyebrows were full of spring, with a wisp of melancholy like willow catkins, firmly entwining Luo Fu's gaze.

  Others had followed Xiang Ye to the top of the Ya Ge building, seeing Xiang Ye standing at the door in a daze and not going in, they looked inside along with Xiang Ye's line of sight.

  Everyone except Bai Yunnuan was shocked and lost their color.

  The person playing the zither in the Ya Ge was not Bai Zhenxuan, but rather Qin Guan, the husband of Jin Yu's dan role.

  Bai Yu's heart was in a state of panic, but when he glanced sideways and saw his daughter give him a hint with her eyes, and then saw Hui Ze also give him a reassuring glance, he calmed down and saw that Luo Fu had a pleased expression on his face, without any displeasure. So he too quietly watched the development of things. But in his heart, he still didn't understand what was going on? Where did his son go? How could it be replaced by this Qin Guan Xiang Gong?

  "Master Xiang likes music, why don't we go inside, have some vegetarian dishes and enjoy the performance at the same time?" Huize asked cautiously.

  Luofu smiled and nodded, turning to Bai Yushu: "Mr. Bai, please bring your wife and daughter to the table! I came here incognito this time to meet with Fangzhang about our past relationship, and meeting Mr. Bai's family is also a coincidence, so let's not bother with those formalities."

  Luofu's good impression of Bai Yushu was all because of the qin officer. Having spent most of his life in official circles, he was a cunning fox who knew that this talented young musician could not possibly be the favorite of Master Huize, but rather someone favored by Bai Yushu himself. Since he had intended to curry favor with him, why should he mind receiving such a gift from him?

  Then a group of people sat down at the table, and several young monks carried up a stacked box with twelve dishes inside, with silver cups and chopsticks inlaid inside, very delicate. Another young monk held a large square tray, with a hot pot inside, followed by several young monks carrying plain dishes, entering in a line.

  At that moment, the hall was filled with a warm and fragrant atmosphere, accompanied by the sound of the qin. It was as if they were in a celestial realm. The qin player's hair flowed like clouds, his face was rosy, his eyes shone like autumn water, and his fingers moved like spring onions. He truly seemed like an immortal descending to the mortal world. As he began to sing: "Though I have brothers, they are not as dear as friends; whenever I have good friends, I am filled with emotion..."

  At this point, Luofu applauded and sighed: "Good fellow, you have a good friend, and your poem is also worthy of praise! The abbot's friendship with me, I will always remember in my heart."

  Qin Guan rose and floated forward, her movements as light as a cloud, to pay respects to Luo Fu. Her voice was like the song of an oriole, "Qin Guan pays respects to your lordship!"

  Although there were already blooming flowers in Luo Fu's heart, his face still didn't show any signs of excitement. He maintained a calm and composed demeanor, saying: "Your piano skills are excellent, this passionate performance was impressive, you must be tired, go take a rest!"

  "Yes." Qinguan bowed and retreated obediently.

  Bai Yuzhu felt an inexplicable awkwardness in her heart.

  Huī Zé had already observed the facial expression of Xiāng Yé, seeing that his eyes and eyebrows were filled with a hidden smile, knowing that this Xiāng Gōng's qin skills had won over Xiāng Yé's heart. He deliberately wanted to shift all the credit for this achievement onto Bái Yù Shū's shoulders, so as not to lose the beautiful intention of being the matchmaker earlier, and thus ordered Sā Mì to bring up the wine.

  Luofu looked at Hui Ze in confusion: "Can a sacred place of Buddhism also drink wine?"