Chapter 37 Someone Leaves and Someone Arrives

  Fang Yi'ai led Linglong away, and before long, two more people arrived at the pavilion.

  "Huh, miss, look at the words on this pillar, when did they appear?" A maid-like dressed woman pointed at the words on the pillar and said in surprise. Beside her stood a beautiful woman wearing white clothes, with eyebrows like distant mountains, bright eyes and white teeth, delicate skin, and black silk hair gently swaying in the wind, an absolute beauty among people.

  "Little ring, I'm afraid this character was just written by someone else." The stunning woman smiled slightly, the ink was still wet and emitted a faint scent of ink fragrance. It's likely that the family of the person who left the ink treasure is quite well-off, otherwise they wouldn't be able to afford such high-quality ink. Looking at the pillar with the ink treasure, the couplet wasn't anything special, but the poem caught the stunning woman's attention: "Like a dream, not a dream, a fairy in a dream; With rain, without rain, a fate in the rain; The green peach is tied to the fallen flower, No black frost for the beautiful years." The stunning woman recited it softly and sighed, "A fairy in a dream, a fate in the rain, what a beautiful scene... Unfortunately, I, Zheng Liqian, no longer have such an opportunity."

  The stunning beauty in the pavilion was none other than Zheng Liwan, a goddess tormented by fate. Her captivating face was like a serene lake, leaving one speechless. Unable to hold onto her youth, time flew by like a song, as spring came and went, flowers bloomed and withered. With her eyes closed, Zheng Liwan savored the gentle summer breeze, feeling a warmth within. "Xiaohuan, go ask at the teahouse downstairs if anyone has just left here?"

  "Yes, miss! I'll go ask!" Xiaohuan nodded and ran out of the pavilion. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xiaohuan returned.

  Zheng Liwan saw Xiao Huan's sweaty head and laughed: "You silly girl, it's not like it's an emergency, why are you running so fast?"

  Xiao Huan stuck out her tongue and said in a cute manner: "Miss, I've already found out. The tea house staff told me that a young master with the surname Fang just left."

  "You're such a silly girl, there are so many with the surname Fang, haven't you heard of any others?" Zheng Liwan furrowed her brow and sighed.

  The little ring on his forehead scratched his temple with his fingers, thought for half a day and said, "Right, miss, I seem to have heard the shopkeeper say that there is a woman who always calls Master Fang 'Second Young Master'!"

  Zheng Liwan slightly furrowed her brow, carefully thinking to herself, "House Second Master, could it be that he is the second son of Xuanling Gong?" Thinking of this, Zheng Liwan couldn't help but laugh and shake her head. Although she had been living in seclusion for a long time, she had still heard of Fang Yiai's great name. In those days, Fang Yiai, Du He, and Zhangsun Chong were the three greatest rascals in Chang'an City. If it was said that Fang Yiai could demolish pillars, there might be some possibility, but writing poetry? That was simply a fantasy, especially since Zheng Liwan had been teased by Fang Yiai back then.

  "Xiao Huan, go and ask around near the Liang Guo Gong Fu to see if Fang Yi'ai Gongzi has come out!" Xiao Huan didn't understand what her mistress was trying to do, but she still obediently turned and left. After Xiao Huan left, Zheng Liyuan brushed aside the hair in front of her forehead, smiled and said, "Fang Er Gongzi, I hope it's not you. If it really is you, then Liyuan will have to look at you with new eyes!"

  The wind blew through Mei Huawen, but didn't take anything away. Zheng Liyuan slowly walked out, a smile still on her face, but it was a sorrowful and beautiful smile that evoked pity. At 23 years old, Zheng Liyuan had already seen through the cruel world, where everything was muddled and confused, and beauty was fleeting. But she couldn't help but enjoy life alone, with hatred in her heart - hatred for Li Shimin, and even more so for Lu Shuang. If it weren't for these two men, Zheng Liyuan wouldn't have ended up like this.

  Plum Blossom Valley, Peach Tree Forest, people come and go, such is life, coming and going, back and forth.

  Lier walked in this familiar peach forest, the maid beside her had already changed, Xiangcao had long been sent back to her hometown by Lier, now following her was her personal maid Huamei. "Huamei, do you think happiness can be chosen in this world?"

  "Miss, I think many things are optional, it just depends on whether you want to choose or not," Hua Mei said with a tilted head and a smile.

  "You're so clever, I won't bring you out next time. Haitang is better, she never flatters me!" Lier smiled lightly and looked at the green peaches on the tree, licking her lips. Hua Mei pouted and said discontentedly, "Miss, you're being too biased, is Haitang really that good? Besides, I'm telling the truth!"

  "Alright, stop chattering, let's take a rest in the pavilion." Lier smiled and shook her head. She had four personal maidservants: Haitang was talented, Qinyu was gentle, Yaxin was skilled in cooking, but only Huamei had such a lively personality.

  "By the way, miss, I've been wanting to ask you for a long time, why did you drive away Xiangcao?" Huamei never understood why Lier wanted to drive away Xiangcao. Huamei knew her mistress's character, she was kind-hearted and wouldn't even step on an ant, but that day she ruthlessly drove away Xiangcao who was crying uncontrollably, no matter how much Xiangcao begged, it didn't work.

  "I'm not being heartless, it's just that Xiang Cao is different from you guys. Sometimes I'm really afraid she'll say something wrong and get kicked out, which would be good for her." Lier sometimes felt helpless too. Although she had a noble status, there were more taboos to follow. If people found out about her and Fang Yu's affair, Xiang Cao would definitely be silenced, because in order to maintain the family's dignity, Xiang Cao must die.

  "Miss, I understand a bit now. Xiangcao must have known something she shouldn't know. That girl was sent by the old master, and it's not reassuring to use her." Hua Mei nodded, somewhat understanding Lier's difficulties. Driving away Xiangcao was actually also for Xiangcao's own good.

  Lier nodded and slowly walked to the small pavilion. She didn't sit down because she saw the ink treasure on the pillar. Lier read it lightly, smiled softly, "Second Master, is this your poem? I think even in the whole Tang Dynasty, only you can create such poetic lines. 'Dreaming of immortals, fate in the rain', have you forgotten that March when peach blossoms filled the garden?"

  "Miss, what are you talking about? Which Second Master? Is it that Second Master who wrote 'Heart has a spiritual connection, one point of understanding'?" Huà Méi hadn't seen her miss smile so happily in a long time. Since March, Miss had always looked like she was carrying a heavy burden on her mind.

  "Not bad, if I'm not mistaken, this poem should be left by the second young master, and only he can write such a beautiful poem!" Lier touched the somewhat chilly pillar, the warm summer breeze kept blowing from south to north, bringing thoughts of longing.

  Lier didn't understand, since they were destined to be apart, why did heaven let the second young master walk into her heart.

  As soon as she heard that the second young master was indeed the one who wrote it, she immediately gained spirit. "Miss, can you introduce us to this second young master? You should know that Haitang sister has always been admiring him."

  Lier smiled wryly and shook her head. It's not just Haitang who is interested in the second young master, even she herself has fallen for him, let alone others. "Hua Mei, it's not that I don't want to tell you, but our identities have changed now, we can no longer be as free and easy-going as before when getting to know people. All I can tell you is that the second young master is a strange person, he looks silly on the surface, but in reality, he is full of talent!"

  "Miss, is this Second Master really so strange?" Hua Mei was somewhat puzzled, how could this silly person be full of talent?

  "Alright, let's not say more. Write down the poem and I'm sure Haitang will be thrilled to see it." Lier patted the fragrant shoulder of Hua Mei and sat down on the stone bench. Familiar place, familiar scene, only the peach blossoms had fallen and the fruit had grown. Dreaming of immortals, fate in the rain, meeting is not as good as nostalgia, loving each other but already too late!

  Zheng Liwan sat quietly in her boudoir, gazing out the window at the scenery, a green ribbon weaving together with red and yellow hues, a beauty, a sorrow.

  "Miss, I've heard that the second son of the Liang Guo Gong Fu rode out on horseback today, and there was a handsome young man beside him!" Xiao Huan quickly relayed the news she had gathered. Zheng Lixiu thought for a moment and smiled, "Silly girl, what handsome young man? It's probably a woman dressed as a man!"

  "Miss, how did you know?" Xiaohuan asked in confusion. Zheng Liqian closed the window and sat on the couch, saying lightly, "It's very simple. The words on that pillar are obviously written by a woman. A man's handwriting wouldn't be so elegant."

  "Oh, I see!" Xiaohuan finally understood, but it didn't matter because she didn't understand calligraphy at all.

  Zheng Liwan and Xiao Huan left, a person leaned against the bed and sighed: "What's going on? Fang Yiai, you're really a strange person. When did this young master of Chang'an City start writing poetry?"

  Zheng Liwan became interested in Fang Yilai from that day on, and she believed that Fang Yilai was not as spoiled and unrefined as he appeared to be. After thinking for a moment, Zheng Liwan couldn't help but sigh, "What's the use of having a good impression? Men are all the same, what about Fang Yilai? Would he dare to marry me?"

  Zheng Liwan now wants to become a nun, but thinking of her parents, Zheng Liwan has rejected this idea. It's hard to repay the kindness of one's parents.

  Sometimes things can't be forced, live one day at a time, and being muddled isn't necessarily a bad thing.

  The west wing of the Fang residence, Fang Yi was leisurely watching the chessboard when Linglong pouted and said: "Second Young Master, the Old Master wants you to return to Shangshu Academy tomorrow, after that, you'll probably be busy."

  "Ah, it seems the good days are over. Starting tomorrow, I'll have to get up early and come back late again!" Fang Yi'ai was also helpless in this regard; how could he dare not listen to what this old man said?

  From tomorrow on, I will hold the universe in my hand and tread on the wheel of fate.

  The second day, before dawn broke, the training grounds of the Qin Manor had already begun to resound with shouts and cries. Upon hearing the commotion, Madam Jia thought of getting up to take a look at Fang Yu'er. Qin Yong grabbed Madam Jia's hand and smiled, saying, "Madam, don't bother about him. If he can't even bear this little hardship, how can he achieve anything?"

  "Master, isn't it a bit too early for Jun'er to be training? And he's always adding extra practice on his own, can his body handle it?" Madam Ji shook off Qin Qiong's hand and began dressing herself. In the summer, people didn't wear much, so after putting on her outer garment and shoes, she walked out of the bedroom. When she arrived at the martial arts training grounds, she saw Fang Yu'ai sweating profusely as he practiced his moves against the wall. Madam Ji let out a sigh and instructed the maid: "Min'er, from now on, prepare a bowl of chicken soup for Young Master every morning, have him drink it before practicing!"

  "Yes, ma'am," Minnie replied with a clever nod.

  Jia watched for a while and then left. She didn't even bother to advise Fang Yuanying anymore, as it wouldn't do any good anyway, so she might as well not say anything.