They left Chang'an without anyone's eyes and ears, and went all the way south. After a few days of traveling through the plains, they turned into waterways. They rented a painted boat like a rich boy enjoying the haze, and then took the Tangtanghanshui and traveled eastward. Along the way, I only heard that Huainan was becoming more and more stable, and there was no more rebellion.
Outside the ship, the sky and water were the same color, and the smoke and waves were vast. There was a chess game on the low table in the cabin. Su Shiyu was sitting alone and playing the game with himself. The maid on the boat quietly stepped forward to fill him with tea, Su Shiyu smiled politely at her, and suddenly remembered something, saying, "How far is it from Xiangyang now?"
"It's very close to Xiangyang, and you'll pass by tomorrow, but you want to take a rest there for a day?" The maid got Su Shiyu's promise and voluntarily retired.
Chu Mingyun's voice suddenly sounded behind him, "What are you doing in Xiangyang?"
"A friend is in Xiangyang right now, and he's visiting as agreed." Su Shiyu paused and looked back at him, "What are you eating?"
"Red Bean Crisp." Chu Mingyun held a small celadon plate in one hand and raised his chin slightly, "Do you want to eat it?"
"No need, you can just eat." Su Shiyu laughed and his eyes fell back to the black and white chessboard.
Chu Mingyun casually put the small plate on the table, tilted his head and looked at the chess game, "Why don't I play with you?"
Su Shiyu didn't raise his eyes, just smiled lightly, "I don't want to play chess with someone with oil on their hands."
"..." Chu Mingyun raised his brows slightly, sat down directly opposite him, took the black chess and fell down calmly.
"..." Su Shiyu raised his eyes and gave him a deep look. After a moment of silence, he raised his hand and took a piece of red bean cake into his mouth.
"Is it delicious?" Chu Mingyun looked at him with a smile.
"Not bad." Su Shiyu replied, looking down at the chess game, "Remember to wash the pieces afterward."
"Um."
"You wash." Su Shiyu added warmly.
"… Row."
Xiangyang got its name because it is located in the Yang of Xiangshui River. The Han River passes through the city and separates the two banks.
The sky was sunny, the green poplars were perched, and the street market was even busier. The pavilions and restaurants shouted loudly to attract customers, and there was a faint sound of music from the Xiulou Music Square.
Walking leisurely in the bustling streets, Chu Mingyun looked at Su Shiyu next to him, and suddenly smiled: "The future of Huainan is unclear, and the political affairs of the DPRK and China have been handed over to the officials, but now you and I are stealing leisurely here, I don't know if it is considered a royal Is Master Shi taking me for dereliction of duty?"
"It's rare for Lord Chu to have such an idea," Su Shiyu smiled, "Since this is the case, I will definitely impeach you when I return to the court."
"Tsk." Chu Mingyun said, "Are you really not worried about Huainan?"
"I just think that what Master Chu said earlier is indeed reasonable," Su Shiyu said lightly as he glanced at the girl who played the piano on the painting floor, "The news I heard along the way is enough to prove that the rebellion has a deeper meaning, probably when you and I arrived in Huainan. There would be no incidents before. And the King of Huainan himself has many doubts, which cannot be figured out in a moment, so it is better to take time to meet friends."
Chu Mingyun couldn't help frowning slightly, "Sounds like an important friend?"
He was about to answer when a soft voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"Brother Su!"
They turned around to look, and the beautiful girl who was waving under the shade of the willow suddenly laughed, and hurriedly ran over with her skirt up. When she got closer, she didn't take a step to stabilize her body, and she was quickly supported by Su Shiyu, and the girl grabbed his arm. Standing still, his brows seemed to be wrinkled with pain, but he still raised his head and smiled, "Brother Su."
"Be careful." Su Shiyu withdrew his hand, "Why didn't you teach at Lefang?"
"I came out to buy some replacement silk strings." The girl said, "I thought I had read it wrong just now, but I didn't expect that Brother Su really came to Xiangyang."
Su Shiyu responded and looked at Chu Mingyun again, "This is Lan Yi, the violinist who was taught in the music workshop."
"The friend you said?" Chu Mingyun looked at Lan Yi and said without tone.
"It's me." Lan Yi smiled at him, then turned to look at Su Shiyu, a little resentful, "Brother Su has been busy all day, so now he has time to come to me?"
"Just stay for a while." Su Shiyu said.
"So soon?" Lan Yi said, "Then don't go shopping on the street. Brother Su, go to my place and have a seat. I just wrote a few new songs. You can help me listen to it."
"Alright." Su Shiyu nodded, then turned to see Chu Mingyun frowning, he hesitated for a moment, but still said: "Then..."
"Do you think I'm in the way?" Chu Mingyun laughed indifferently.
"How come." Su Shiyu smiled lightly, "I have something to ask Lan Yi, excuse me for a moment, Master Chu may wish to stroll around first."
"I'm not interested in shopping," Chu Mingyun looked at him, "I just want to be with you."
Clear and light tone. The four eyes met, only to see a smile in his eyes.
The sunlight shone through the green willows, blurring a little soft light on his eyelashes, and there seemed to be a deep unknowable trace in his eyes. Su Shiyu couldn't take his eyes away for a while, but he couldn't answer the words. He only heard the thin and long sound of the piano upstairs, and the delicate female voice sang Picking Lotus and Nantang Autumn.
Pedestrians came and went, and the atmosphere between them was strange, which inevitably attracted some curious eyes. Lan Yi's eyes lingered on the two of them, and finally she said carefully, "Brother Su?"
Su Shiyu suddenly came back to his senses, avoided his eyes as usual, glanced at Lan Yi, and wrote lightly: "I will send Lan Yi back, and I will return later."
"...Okay." Chu Mingyun said without a tone, his eyes fell on Lan Yi, and he still said to Su Shiyu, "I'll go back to the boat and wait for you."
Before he could answer, Chu Mingyun turned and left.
Light and shadow slipped from his shoulders, shattering into mottles all over the ground. With a sigh from all his thoughts, Su Shiyu retracted his gaze and looked at Lan Yi, "Can I still go by myself?"
Lan Yi looked down at her feet, and the corner of the light inadvertently leaked into a line of dark blue back. After thinking about it, she slowly shook her head. In his ears, Su Shiyu sighed 'disrespectful', and then his body lightened, and he was actually picked up by the volley. Lan Yi was stunned for a moment, looking over Su Shiyu's shoulder to see the man stop and look back, and looked at them fixedly, it was clear that the warm sun of July covered his eyebrows, but he saw only the gloomy frost and cold.
She shuddered in horror, and hurriedly turned her head to avoid the stern gaze.
Entering the living room upstairs in the carving of Lefang, the sound of silk and bamboo music was inaudible.
Lan Yi glanced at Su Shiyu, who was looking around, and coughed awkwardly, "I'm sorry, sir, you can let me go."
Su Shiyu glanced at her lightly, put her down, and straightened the sleeves of his robe, "Long time no see, your acting skills with crooked feet are getting more and more superb."
"Where," Lan Yi said modestly again and again, "it's a pity that this time I didn't fall into the son's arms."
Su Shiyu laughed, "If that's the case, I'll be fine if I don't help you next time."
"No, no, how can it be done? For a gentleman like the son, you still have to pity Xiangxiyu." Lan Yi said cheekily, paused, and couldn't help but ask, "The one just now should be Prefect Chu?"
"It's him."
"...It really lives up to its reputation." Lan Yi couldn't help but be afraid, "Although I don't know why, but with the way he looked at me just now, if it wasn't for the inconvenience in the street market, I would definitely be dead on the ground."
Su Shiyu smiled lightly and did not answer, but Gu Zi took the tea cup and sat down, "Let's get down to business."
Lan Yi straightened her expression, knelt down with her robe up, and said respectfully, "My subordinates see the son."
There are countless ways to cultivate power in this world. There are shadow guards carefully organized by Chu Mingyun, and there are disciples in the hands of Su Shiyu. There are not too many restrictions. Everyone blends in without a trace, weaving a secret net in the world.
"According to the rules, I will contact you when I pass by where you are. How can I find me this time?" Su Shiyu asked.
"Don't hide it, my son, I was already covered in eyeliner in the city. As soon as my son appeared at the ferry today, someone came to inform me. I came to see you without any delay."
Su Shiyu frowned slightly, "In such a hurry, did something happen to the DPRK?"
Lan Yi shook his head, "There is no major incident in the DPRK. Butler Su Yi sent a letter to say that he lost contact with the son, and the people who sent the letter to pass the letter are nowhere to be found. The butler is worried about your accident and repeatedly urged me to confirm your safety."
"But I have never received a letter since I left." Su Shiyu said.
"The housekeeper's letter to me also said that at the same time, three people were sent to look for you along the way. Haven't you seen your son before?" Lan Yi said in surprise.
"...It seems that someone has blocked it." The answer emerged in his heart as soon as he said the words, Su Shiyu held the cup in silence for a moment, and finally closed his eyes and chuckled, drinking the tea.
Lan Yi looked at him inexplicably, and suddenly thought of something, "That's right," she said, "the subordinates are negligent, although there is nothing major, but the housekeeper mentioned something in the letter. After the son left Beijing, he recommended it to the middle. The candidate for the post of Wei Song's minister of households, but the steward did not know what the son meant, and did not dare to act without authorization.
"I see." Su Shiyu said lightly, "You arrange it, find someone else to relay the news, and I will find a way to solve the rest."
"Yes."
Su Shiyu put down the tea cup, got up and said, "Since there is nothing else, I will go back first."
Lan Yi got up and took him two steps. When she got to the door, she couldn't help but say, "Young Master."
"how?"
"That..." Lan Yi looked away and said hesitantly, "Master, why didn't you see Su Bai following you this time?"
Su Shiyu looked at her and smiled clearly: "Do you want to see him?"
"The ghost wants to see that brainless one," Lan Yi blurted out, "He doesn't feel much cleaner, so I'll just ask casually."
Su Shiyu smiled and said, "I also thought that you probably didn't want to see him, so I let Su Bai stay in Chang'an."
"What?" Lan Yi looked at him suddenly, "Young Master, no, you can't do this, I don't actually bother him that much..."
"The two of you quarrel as soon as you see each other, it's better to stay away." Su Shiyu laughed.
Lan Yi stared at him for a long time, and said with a tangled face, "Don't..."
Su Shiyu couldn't help shaking his head and laughing, then walked away.
"Master!" Lan Yi said urgently behind him.
"Su Bai is at the back with the convoy, and we will arrive in Xiangyang in a few days." He said without looking back, his tone was gentle, and his figure had already walked far away.
The ripples on the river are like broken gold, and the water reflects the mountains. Chu Mingyun's line of sight seemed to fall into the unreachable place, Su Bai's fingertips lightly tapped on the side of the ship, and he was distracted.
Unexpected.
Or maybe it was Su Shiyu's innocent look that he had seen for a long time before he forgot about it. Just because he didn't marry doesn't mean that he doesn't have a crush. There are many people who have already had marriage contracts and delayed it for a long time, not to mention that there are many court officials who keep their families safe and keep silent.
Su Shiyu's defense is far higher than the 100-foot city wall of Chang'an, and it is more than impregnable. Therefore, he is not in a hurry. He said that Japan will be a long time coming, he can ignore the coveting of others, and he has enough patience to wait for Su Shiyu to believe it.
But never thought that the stone-like person would also value a woman so much.
His fingers fell on the side of the boat, clenching slightly unconsciously.
The familiar footsteps sounded from far to near, Chu Mingyun turned around. Su Shiyu stopped, glanced at the cabin, looked at him again, and said with a smile, "Have dinner yet?"
Chu Mingyun nodded, "Didn't you say I'm waiting for you?"
Su Shiyu smiled lightly and called the maid to warm the wine and serve the dishes. He and Chu Mingyun sat opposite each other at the table, but were silent for no reason, each thinking.
After a long while, Chu Mingyun suddenly said, "Are you going to stay for a few more days?"
"It's not necessary, you can continue sailing tomorrow." Su Shiyu smiled, "Master Chu, rest assured that the trip will not be delayed."
Chu Mingyun supported his chin, tilted his head and looked at him, his eyes fell on his face carefully.
Su Shiyu coughed uncomfortably, put down the cup and got up, "I'll go back to my room first, Master Chu rest early."
The figure of Ru Bai disappeared behind the door, the sunset outside the window fell into the heart of the river, the sky was dark, the lamp was lit, and the song from the embroidered building across the river was heard from a distance. The queer again, singing:
Picking lotus flowers in Nantang Autumn, the lotus is over the head.
Bow your head to get the lotus seeds, the lotus seeds are as clear as water.
…
The sea dream is long, and you worry about me too.
The south wind knows what I want and dreams of Xizhou.
Chu Mingyun leaned on the table and rested his arm on his arm, suddenly reached out and took Su Shiyu's wine cup, put his lips on the mouth of the cup, and slowly drank the wine, slightly cool.
The author has something to say: Xizhou Qu.
Recalling plums to go to Xizhou, folding plums and sending them to Jiangbei.
The single shirt is apricot red, and the double temples are young.
Where is Xizhou? Two paddle bridge crossing.
At sunset, the shrike flies, and the wind blows the Wujiu tree.
Under the tree is in front of the door, and the door is exposed to green tin.
The doorman didn't come, so he went out to pick red lotus.
Picking lotus flowers in Nantang Autumn, the lotus is over the head.
Bow your head to get the lotus seeds, the lotus seeds are as clear as water.
Putting it in the sleeves of the lotus arms, the lotus heart is completely red.
Yi Lang Lang was not there, so he looked up at Feihong.
Hongfei flew all over Xizhou, and Wang Lang went to the brothel.
The height of the building is invisible, and the head of the railing is all day long.
The railings are twelve curved, and the hand down is as bright as jade.
The roller blinds are high in the sky, and the sea water is green.
The sea dream is long, and you worry about me too.
The south wind knows what I want, and blows the dream to Xizhou.
The longest lyrical poem in the Yuefu folk songs of the Southern Dynasties. It describes the bitter thoughts of the loved one. If you are interested, you can learn about it =V=