In the corner, the winter plum blossom stands alone.
A branch extends out diagonally, lying across the exquisitely carved window frame, dotted with plum blossoms, some of which are already in bloom.
The petals are pink and delicate, with a subtle fragrance.
Like the girl in the window, there is a kind of lonely beauty hidden under the curtain of snowflakes outside the window.
Luo Qingzhou walked along the path made of scattered pebbles, came to the slanting plum tree in front of the window, bowed his head and saluted, and said respectfully: "Second Miss."
Qin Weimo had stood up from the chair and looked at him tenderly through the window. A reserved smile appeared on her pretty face, and she said softly, "Brother-in-law, you're welcome. It's cold outside. Come in."
Luo Qingzhou glanced inside the room.
There was thin smoke rising from the incense burner, the charcoal fire in the fireplace was glowing red, and the floor was covered with a thick, snow-white velvet carpet.
There was a vase on the table with a few pink winter plums in it.
A small hand warmer was placed beside the table.
There is a soft couch in the corner.
The bed was covered with a pink quilt embroidered with peonies, and there was a small coffee table placed horizontally in the middle, with a game of Go on it.
There were also some girls' clothes in the room.
Even standing under the eaves outside the window, Luo Qingzhou could smell the faint fragrance of a young girl wafting from the house.
This is a study room belonging to a girl.
Probably no man had ever entered.
so…
Luo Qingzhou still stood outside and said with a bow, "Second Miss, I won't go in. Madam asked me to come and see you. Since Second Miss is writing, I won't disturb you. I'll come to visit you next time."
Zhu Er, who was standing at the door, immediately said anxiously: "Son-in-law, you are not allowed to leave!"
After saying that, he realized that his tone was wrong, and said angrily: "The son-in-law just came and hasn't even talked to the second young lady for a while, how can he leave so soon?"
Qin Weimo lowered his head, put away the brush and ink, rolled up the rice paper, and then looked at him softly and said, "Brother-in-law, I've finished writing..."
Luo Qingzhou: “…”
He turned his head and glanced at Bai Ling who was standing under the eaves not far away. After hesitating for a moment, he walked into the eaves, approached the window, looked at the weak girl in the window and said, "Second Miss, what do you want to talk about?"
Qin Weimo stood at the window and said with a wry smile: "Brother-in-law, are you just standing outside like this?"
Luo Qingzhou said: "It's okay, this is good."
The two of them fell into silence separated by the window.
Bai Ling, who was standing not far away, suddenly walked to the door, pulled Zhu Er, who was staring at her eagerly, and said, "Come on, let's go to the next room and chat for a while."
Zhu'er was forcibly pulled away by her.
The field fell into silence.
Outside, the snow was falling, just as quietly.
Luo Qingzhou felt it was awkward to stand like this, and said, "Second Miss, didn't you say last time that you wanted to read a book like "Stories of the Fragrant Boudoir"? "
Qin Weimo's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Did my brother-in-law bring it to me?"
Luo Qingzhou shook his head and said, "I didn't bring it, but I remember a few stories like "Stories of the Fragrant Boudoir". If the Second Miss wants to hear them, I can tell them to her."
Qin Weimo nodded happily when he heard it: "Yes, brother-in-law, I want to listen."
Luo Qingzhou pondered for a moment and said, "Then I will tell the second young lady a story from The Romance of the West Chamber today."
In view of the fact that the second young lady was sentimental and in poor health, he decided that no matter what story he told, the ending should be happy.
It's just a story, so just make up a happy ending.
Qin Weimo said softly, "Brother-in-law, can you please come in and talk? It's cold outside, let's sit on the couch and get warmer."
Luo Qingzhou took a look at the soft couch in the room and didn't dare to go in.
There were not only his daughter's bedding and belongings, but also two pieces of her clothes. If he went in and sat opposite his sister-in-law and had a heart-to-heart talk with her, his mother-in-law would probably come over with a knife and kill him if she found out.
"No need, I'll just stand here and talk. If you feel cold, you can sit on the couch."
Luo Qingzhou declined politely, fearing that she would continue to invite him, so he quickly began to tell the story.
"In an unknown era, there was a noble lady named Cui, who served as the prime minister of the previous dynasty. Unfortunately, she died of illness. She only gave birth to a little girl, nicknamed Yingying, who was nineteen years old. She was good at needlework, poetry, calligraphy and arithmetic, and was proficient in everything..."
"One day Zhang Sheng visited the Puji Temple and met Cui Yingying..."
This "Romance of the West Chamber" was originally a variety play. Luo Qingzhou remembered the story, so he briefly told only the key plot.
Qin Weimo held his breath and listened attentively.
When he heard that the two had met at Puji Temple, his eyes sparkled; when he heard that Puji Temple was surrounded, he frowned, his face full of tension...
When she heard Cui's mother break off the engagement, anger appeared on her little face again.
Luo Qingzhou stood under the eaves outside the window, wearing a long robe, speaking slowly and leisurely.
Miss Qin Er stood at the window, looking at his handsome face, listening intently.
At some point, Bailing and Zhu'er came out of the room and eavesdropped at the door, but they were also silent.
"After many twists and turns, with the help of Hongniang, Yingying finally went to Zhang Sheng's residence for a secret meeting. Cui's mother noticed the signs and tortured Hongniang..."
When she talked about Yingying bidding farewell to Zhang Sheng at the Ten-Li Pavilion as he went to Beijing to take the imperial examination, Qin Weimo's eyes were filled with tears...
Zhu'er, who was hiding behind the door and eavesdropping, also had red eyes.
But the ending is happy after all.
"Zhang Sheng won the first place in the imperial examination. After many twists and turns, he finally married Yingying. They lived happily and sweetly together. They also had several fat boys and several beautiful girls..."
Luo Qingzhou made the ending even more perfect and happy.
After the story was told, Qin Weimo stood at the window with red eyes and remained silent for a long time.
Although I cried, the suppressed pessimistic emotions in my heart were released at once, and I felt a lot more relaxed. My mind was filled with the beautiful love story of Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying, and those thoughts of life and death were gone.
"Second Miss, it's getting late. I should go back to study. Goodbye."
After Luo Qingzhou finished speaking, he did not stay any longer and left with a bow.
Qin Weimo stood there in a daze, and when he was about to leave the courtyard, he called out, "Brother-in-law, will you come tomorrow?"
Luo Qingzhou stopped, turned to look at her and said, "Madam said that I can come once every three days."
Qin Weimo looked at him, was silent for a moment, and whispered: "Brother-in-law, what if Weimo wants you to come every day?"
Coming from the mouth of an unmarried woman, and moreover, from a sister-in-law to her brother-in-law, these words were really... too bold.
Luo Qingzhou was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to answer.
Bai Ling, who was standing at the door, looked at him.
Zhu Er was even more shocked. How could the young lady...
Qin Weimo smiled softly, breaking the awkward atmosphere: "Brother-in-law, I'm just kidding you. Thank you for today, brother-in-law. Weimo is very happy. Then in three days, Weimo will wait for brother-in-law."
"Um."
Luo Qingzhou responded without saying anything else. He turned to look at Bai Ling at the door and said, "You're not leaving?"
Bai Ling was stunned for a moment, then came to her senses, and quickly ran out of the eaves, opened the flower umbrella in her hand, waved to the weak girl in the window and said, "Second Miss, we are leaving. See you in three days."
She ran to Luo Qingzhou and handed him the flower umbrella.
Luo Qingzhou took the umbrella and held it above her head to shield her from the wind and snow. They walked out of the yard side by side and disappeared around the corner.
Qin Weimo stood at the window, stunned for a long while, and then murmured: "Zhu'er, do you think my brother-in-law will be like Zhang Sheng and become the top scholar in the imperial examination?"
Zhu Er looked at her worriedly and whispered, "Miss, you...how could you say that just now..."
Qin Weimo came back to his senses, smiled slightly, spread out the rice paper he had just rolled up, and looked at the poem on it. His beautiful face was as calm as water: "I am speaking from my heart, why can't I say it?"
Pearl looked at her with wide eyes.
Outside the window, snowflakes are falling silently.
The red plum blossom leaning under the eaves, wrapped in freshly fallen snow, stands proudly, still fragrant.
"Uncle, the story you just told is so good. Miss Chan... and Chanchan haven't heard it yet. You can go tell it to them later."
“I still have to go back to school.”
"The uncle has told the second young lady, Lian Zhuer has heard it, and I have heard it too. If the uncle doesn't tell the young lady and Chanchan, they will be angry."
"If you're angry, then you're angry."
"If the young lady gets angry, Chanchan will let you know what it means to kill someone with one sword!"
"Miss, you won't be angry about such a small thing. You don't have to lie to me or scare me."
"But Chanchan will be angry."
"Why?"
"Because... because the uncle treats the young lady badly. The young lady actually likes to listen to stories, but no one tells them to her."
"real?"
"Yes, it is true. Whoever lies is..."
"dog?"
"It's not a human being anyway."
Bai Ling thought to herself: It’s a flower, the most beautiful flower!
As she spoke, she sniffed the flowers in her hand again and unconsciously leaned towards the boy next to her.
It feels like I am being sheltered under his umbrella, or held in his arms...