When it was almost dawn, the city gates were opened and from afar the sound of horses' reins could be heard approaching.
The horse's hooves kicked up dust, and a man in a dark green robe looked dusty.
Perhaps it was because of the long journey, or because he had been exiled for more than a year, He Ming's eyes were sharp and firm, and his pair of black pupils were blazing.
Time has washed away his youthfulness, but it has not taken away the loyalty in his eyes.
He Ming volunteered to take up the post in Qiannan. He had been an official for the country and the people. Now that his ambitions could be realized, he had finally gotten what he wanted.
His former colleague is still in the Hanlin Academy. Hearing from a letter that He Ming is returning to Beijing today, he set up a banquet at a restaurant early in the morning to welcome He Ming.
"Brother He is indeed a man of accomplishment. I have heard it all in Beijing. People in Qiannan call Brother He "He Qingtian" and say that you are the most fair."
At the banquet, cups were exchanged, and servants were carrying lacquered wooden boxes and passing by under the eaves.
Her dress rustled, she was covered in silk and satin, and her hair was full of pearls and jade that sparkled in the sunlight.
The restaurant is next to the river, and the sound of stringed instruments is pleasant and loud, accompanying the sound of water and falling into He Ming's ears from afar.
He Ming drank the Jiannanchun in his hand in one gulp. The aftereffect of Jiannanchun was so strong that it temporarily washed away all the fatigue from the journey.
He rested one hand on his knee and rubbed his brow with his fingertips.
What catches the eye is a six-panel brocade screen with hundreds of fluttering butterflies, lily palace incense burning on the black lacquer and gold-painted table, and an octagonal blue and white porcelain stove from the Ru kiln on the antique shelf behind him.
Golden windows and silver railings, beautiful scenery everywhere.
The capital city is prosperous, not as remote and secluded as Qiannan.
If he were in Qiannan, he would definitely be sitting in front of the kang by the window, brewing a pot of his favorite Baihao Yinzhen tea, or reading official documents carefully, listening to the rain hitting the banana leaves in the courtyard.
There is dim sunlight outside the window and the long street is crowded with people.
Wu Yinyang was holding the pot in his hand when suddenly a maid came up from behind him and said, "Master He, let me pour you some wine."
He Ming raised his hand to block it: "No need, I can do it myself."
After spending many days in Qiannan, he has become accustomed to having no one to do anything for him.
When his former colleagues saw this, they burst into laughter: "What's going on? Brother He, is there another happy event in Qiannan? Earlier, Madam He..."
Before he finished speaking, the banquet fell silent for a moment. Everyone looked at each other, seeming to want to speak but stopping themselves.
Everyone knows that the current queen was once the wife of the top scholar. Although He Ming and Song Lingzhi divorced amicably, everyone is still worried that He Ming still has a grudge.
The colleague knew that he had said something wrong, so he drank three cups as punishment and apologized to He Ming.
He Ming's face was calm, and no emotion could be seen: "Brother, you worry too much. The previous marriage was just an engagement between the two families when they were young. Now that the Queen has found another good man, I am happy for her."
The smile on He Ming's lips gradually faded. "It's just that reputation is especially important to women. I hope you won't make fun of this in the future."
The colleague apologized repeatedly and no longer mentioned Song Lingzhi. Instead, he asked whether He Ming had a lover in Qiannan.
"You will not leave this time when you return to Beijing, right? If there is a girl you like in Beijing, just tell me."
He Ming held the wine cup in one hand and drank it in one gulp. He smiled and said, "I don't want to trouble you. My dear brother, you have no plans to start a family yet."
Colleagues disagreed: "So what? Let's meet first. You are the top scholar. You may not know in Qiannan, but many people in the court have asked me about marrying you."