Cloud shadows are across the window, and red plum blossoms are swaying in the wind.
He Ming lowered his head and closed his eyes. Before entering the mansion, his adoptive father's disgusting face suddenly popped into his mind.
The incense burner with green peony leaves is filled with the scent of lilies and the smoke is curling.
"Thank you for your kindness, mother."
He Ming lowered his head and said softly, "Sister Song is very good, but I..."
He was so angry that she slapped He Ming's hand, tears welling up in her eyes: "If it's so good, why don't you agree? Are you worried about your family? Don't worry, the Song family is not that arrogant, and the old lady Song likes you, and the two families have exchanged tokens before..."
As she spoke in a hurry, He coughed two or three times in succession. He Ming hurriedly called the maid over and handed her hot tea.
"That's not the reason." He Ming said calmly as he served his mother tea. "I am just a scholar now. If Sister Song were to marry me now, I'm afraid she would be wronged."
He raised his eyes: "So you want to..."
He Ming: "After I pass the imperial examination, it won't be too late for mother to propose to Old Madam Song."
He smiled happily, and finally put aside the worry in her heart: "My son is really thoughtful. Mother has never thought of this. Well, wait until you pass the imperial examination, and then I will go to find the old lady."
There are bluestone paths in the garden and the sound of bells on the eaves.
The academy was lit in every place, and it looked as bright as day from afar.
Behind the rosewood marble desk, Song Lingzhi sat upright on a rosewood stool inlaid with bamboo silk and in a plum blossom shape. Next to him, on the black lacquered and gold-painted long table, there was a silver fire kettle. The charcoal fire was so hot that it made people sweat profusely, but Song Lingzhi only felt his hands and feet were cold.
Shen Yan was sitting at the top, with his crane cloak off, his moon-white robe reflecting the candlelight. Shen Yan's face was as calm as autumn water, his well-proportioned fingers holding the wolf hair brush, and he wrote smoothly and gracefully like a startled swan.
Soon, Yue Xu held the lacquer tray in both hands and handed it to Song Lingzhi personally.
When I opened it, I saw a copy of calligraphy in the Slender Gold style.
Song Lingzhi looked surprised: "Who did this?"
Although he couldn't help himself, his writing was vigorous and powerful, and it penetrated deeply into the wood. It was definitely not an ordinary person.
Song Lingzhi read it carefully for a long time, but no one responded.
Looking up in doubt, Song Lingzhi met Shen Yan's thoughtful gaze. His heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he realized belatedly that he had said the wrong thing.
There was a faint scent of incense floating in the air, and Shen Yan raised his eyes slightly. His wide sleeves fluttered, and Shen Yan said in a very light voice: "How do you know... that was not written by me?"
Most teachers use their own handwriting when teaching, but Song Lingzhi simply skipped this question.
Shen Yan's gaze was still on his face. Song Lingzhi opened his lips hesitantly: "I..."
Of course, he had seen Shen Yan's thin gold script in his previous life, but Song Lingzhi could never say this.
A pair of round almond-shaped eyes drooped slightly, and the long eyelashes trembled, like wings, lonely and helpless.
Song Lingzhi bit her lip, the hibiscus jade hairpin in her hair swaying: "I thought the master didn't like me, so he wouldn't let me learn your calligraphy."
There was no human voice in the garden and the room was filled with silence.
After a while, a chuckle came from the leader: "You are quite self-aware."
Song Lingzhi almost broke the brush in his hand.
…
More than a month after Song Hanyuan left, his family finally received letters from the sea, as well as some antiques, spices, and rare treasures that Song Hanyuan had found on the sea.