Things in the world are changing, since Xuanyi and his disciple Xia Huanqing arrived in Hejian Mansion, less than two months, after a few years of ups and downs, Puyun, who is forty years old, also refuge in the Hejian Confucian Temple, and often go to visit Xuanyi. Since then, there have been high-ranking people coming and going between the rivers. Puyun and Xia Huanqing are both from famous families in the capital, and the two families are world friends, and because of this relationship, Huanqing has also become a frequent visitor to the Confucian Temple.

In this Hejian Mansion, there is also a family surnamed Li, and there are four brothers from Uncle Bozhong, among which the eldest Li Bonan is the most obsessed with Confucianism and has always had a good relationship with Puyun. Since Puyun took refuge in the river, Li Bonan went to the Temple of Literature to see Puyun when he had nothing to do. Li Bonan saw that Phantom Qing was in his early twenties, suave and talented, and thought that his 18-year-old wife and sister were not yet married, so he intended to match the two, just waiting for an opportunity.

This Li Bonan's wife is Tang Zhen, the eldest lady of the Tang family in Tianjin, and the Tang family has been prosperous for a long time since the westernization, and it has a great influence in Beijing and Tianjin. Tang Zhen is gentle and virtuous, dignified and beautiful, and Li Bonan has a very good relationship, the two have been married for two years, three months ago Tang Zhen gave birth to a son, named Li Keding. The Li family has a long house and a grandson, and everyone is happy. Seeing that Li Keding was about to be born for 100 days, the Tang family in Tianjin sent people to congratulate, Tang Zhen heard that it was the eldest brother Tang Xian and the second sister Tang Shu, and they hurriedly let the brothers and sisters go to the inner house, and the three of them talked affectionately. 18-year-old Tang Shu looked at her little nephew Li Keding, her little face and hands were chubby, and her eyes were full of aura.

Tang Zhen asked the eldest brother Tang Xian: "Among the people who have proposed to the second sister recently, is there a suitable one?" Tang Xian said with a smile: "The proposal has never been broken, but the second sister can't look down on any of them." If she doesn't lower her standards, I'm afraid she won't be able to get married. Tang Shu's left index finger was being held by Xiao Keding, so he shook back and forth, amused Xiao Keding babbling and laughing, while looking at the little nephew, he blamed his brother and sister and said: "Look at what you said, I'm only 18 years old, why do you want to lower the standard?" It's not an old girl. Tang Zhen smiled and said: "Who called the second sister born is a country and a city, and she is talented and profound, and the right person is too difficult to find." Most of the sons of the people are gentle, and there are very few real talents, and when I ask Bernan to explore in many ways, it really can't be done, and the second sister of the southerner should also consider it. Tang Shu never cared about the family and region, so she said: "No matter where I am from, as long as I fall in love, but my mother doesn't want me to stay away." ”

At this time, Li Bonan returned home, and after seeing his uncle Tang Xian and his sister-in-law Tang Shu, he said to Tang Zhen: "It just so happened that the eldest brother and the second sister came, and just now in the Temple of Literature, Puyun told me about Xia Huanqing, who was suave and talented, especially playing the piano well. Puyun knew that the second sister was talented and beautiful, and he intended to match the two of them. I think Xia Huanqing and the second sister are also a good match, in a few days, let's take advantage of Xia Huanqing to come to say goodbye, let the second sister observe in secret, if you like it, I will reply to Puyun and ask him to protect this big medium for Xia Huanqing and the second sister. ”

Tang Zhen asked: "The Xia Huanqing you are talking about, but you are a disciple of Xuanyi?" Li Bonan said: "Exactly, the door is much higher than ours. Tang Shu said with a smile on the side: "Brother-in-law, if you don't talk about the family, I won't look at the family, as long as he has real talent and learning, I will marry him." If not, it's the prince's fortune, and I'm not uncommon. Tang Zhen smiled and said, "Bernan, you heard it, the second sister's heart is high." Li Bonan laughed and said: "With the conditions of the second sister, of course the requirements are high. However, I think Xia Huanqing is worthy of the second sister. Tang Zhen glanced at Tang Shu and saw that she was also interested in looking at each other, so she said, "In that case, let's see you first." Li Bonan saw that there was hope for this matter, and said happily to Tang Zhen: "Then it will be decided, when the time comes, I will arrange for Xia Huanqing to be outside, and you will accompany the second sister to take a look in secret, so as to ensure that you can see it." Tang Shu smiled generously and said to Li Bonan: "Brother-in-law dares to pack tickets, be careful that I won't look down on you when the time comes, my sister blames you." Li Bonan said: "Hey, anyway, your sister often blames me, and I am not afraid of one more time." Tang Zhen said: "You go out to Zhang Luo, our brothers and sisters say something considerate." Li Bonan retreated and prepared for the banquet.

On this day of the summer solstice, Li Bonan held a banquet in the mansion, Xia Huanqing took the opportunity to come, Li Bonan arranged to meet in the hall, Tang Zhen and Tang Shu sisters hid behind the screen to watch, and saw Xia Huanqing above medium stature, not thin or fat, and the instrument was lofty, a little more handsome and chic than Li Bonan, and Tang Shu showed joy on her face. Outside, Li Bonan asked Xia Huanqing: "Since the virtuous brother has plans to return to Beijing in the near future, I don't know when it will be, so I will be happy for the virtuous brother at that time?" Xia Huanqing said: "There are some things at home that need to be dealt with urgently, thinking that I will go back in three days, it is difficult for my brother to have so many things, and he still thinks about me." Li Bonan said with a smile: "Brother Xian is going, I don't know when I will come back, today I am here, let's have a drink first." Xia Huanqing also said aloud: "Okay, today I will drink an altar at my brother's place to congratulate my brother on his happy son." ”

Due to the continuous guests, Li Bonan has been taking care of the front, so he deliberately arranged Xia Huanqing in a conspicuous position in the courtyard. All the ladies were upstairs, and Tang Zhen and Tang Shu watched through the window to observe Xia Huanqing's behavior. Tang Shu saw Xia Huanqing socializing with the guests, chic and free; It is like a thousand cups not drunk, and I wonder in my heart. Everyone was in high spirits, but Xia Huanqing went back to the room and took out a handful of zither and put it on the table. In the noisy, everyone heard a few sounds, the kite strings vibrate, and a song "Melon Flow" sounded, everyone heard the witty words, and the noisy scene suddenly quieted down. Tang Shu also heard the sound of the zither, which was like a golden drum at first; Then the music unfolds, just like in a white garden in spring, the breeze caresses the willows, and the fragrance is spitting together, harmonious; Tang Shu listened to it with fascination, and suddenly heard the sound of the zither turning, like flowing water, continuous; is intoxicated, but the sound of the zither is gradually thickening, like the Yangtze River, surging forward; The highest place is like the tide of the sea, which is connected to heaven and earth; Finally, the rhythm turns fast and there is a burst of joy. Just as everyone was drinking a thousand years of wine, they were infatuated, and the sound of the zither suddenly lowered and stopped abruptly. It turned out that everyone was obsessed with listening, and they felt that the aftermath was lingering, and they were still intoxicated, until Xia Huanqing pressed the strings of the zither, got up and hugged his fists and said, "Everyone, I am just making an ugly offering." Only then did everyone come to their senses, and immediately the applause was thunderous, and the applause was endless.

Upstairs, Tang Shu looked at Xia Huanqing outside the window with affection, a pair of bright eyes were like joy and shame, Tang Zhen already understood the second sister's intentions. All the guests were still unsatisfied, and they all served wine to Xia Huanqing, and strongly invited him to come back to the song. Xia Huanqing was in a warm mood, so he said: "Today we celebrate Brother Li's happy son, as long as everyone is happy, why don't you make an ugly show again, please wait a while, I'll change the piano." After speaking, he took the wine, toasted everyone first, and then went back to the room to change out a phoenix tail violin, and after adjusting the strings, he was about to play. But I heard two ringing sounds in my ears, and then a song of melons came from upstairs. Xia Huanqing's heart was shocked, this sound was still better than himself, who played it? Immediately, I was overjoyed, and I heard that Tang Shuqin's zheng, which must have been played by her, so I listened carefully.

When the sound of the zither faded, everyone rose even more, and they couldn't help but ask: "Who played this song, and it is comparable to the song of Huanqing." Someone said, "Didn't you hear the sound of the zither coming from upstairs?" There are all female dependents, and I wonder which lady played it. Someone said, "Wrong! It must have been played by the second lady of the Tang family, I heard that Mrs. Tang's second sister has the best appearance and talent in the world, except for her, no one can play such a tune in China. ”

Everyone is still talking, and someone said: "I said everyone, let's not guess, today everyone is fortunate to hear two good tunes, and this is the chance in my life, and I don't invite Mr. Huanqing to play the piano music, and if I want to listen to it in the future, I'm afraid there will be no chance." Everyone suddenly said, "Yes, Mr. Huanqing, hurry up and play the piano, the big guys are waiting." Xia Huanqing then sang while playing: "Rank and rank Sigan, secluded South Mountain。。。。。。 It is a man who gives birth to a bed, a bed to sleep, a garment to wear, and a zhang to play. Tang Shu listened to Xia Huanqing playing and singing the Si Gan in the Book of Poetry Xiaoya, only picking up the important content for retention, and the other sentences were deleted accordingly, but she praised the situation of the Li family's son very appropriately. After Xia Huanqing played and sang, he looked forward to Tang Shu upstairs being able to play another song, but he never heard the sound of the piano, so he had to raise a glass with everyone and drink bitterly. Tang Shu looked at Xia Huanqing intently upstairs, and saw him toasting back and forth, chic and elegant, and her heart was drunk.

When the banquet dispersed and the guests said goodbye, Li Bonan asked Tang Zhen: "What do you think of Xia Huanqing, is he worthy of the second sister?" Tang Zhen had already asked Tang Shu, knowing that she was very fond of Xia Huanqing, she replied with a smile and praised her husband by the way: "Worthy, worthy!" You've done a great thing this time. The second sister's eyes are higher than the sky, and in the past few years, I don't know how many people I have seen, but none of them can enter her eyes. Today's encounter with Xia Huanqing is her perfect match, and the second sister has liked music since she was a child, and the two of them will definitely be harmonious. Li Bonan was overjoyed when he heard this, and immediately informed Puyun, and Puyun secured a big match for Xia Huanqing and Tang Shu.

In a few days, Tang Xian and Tang Shu brothers and sisters were going back to Tianjin, and Li Bonan and Tang Zhen were sent directly to the gate. Tang Shu walked out slowly, and before she could get into the car, someone came to visit. The sturdy man of life, with a pair of triangular eyes that are not big, but shining; The eyebrows are sparse, the eagle hook nose is straight, it is Lu Buwei, the second son of Lu Shilong, the prefect of Hejian. This person is smart and clever, five years ago, the twenty-year-old Lu Bu was in danger, and Lu Shilong deliberately cultivated him and gave him an errand in Baoding Mansion. Lu Buwei is a well-rounded officialdom and a skilled interpersonal team, and after a few years, he has been praised from top to bottom, saying that he is a 'gentleman'.

Lu Buwei glanced at Tang Shu, hugged his fist to Li Bonan and said, "Brother, please." Seeing that it was Lu Buwei, Li Bonan hurriedly said, "Brother Xian is here, please stay for a while." Then he introduced his uncle Tang Xian and his wife and sister Tang Shu to Lu Buwei, and after Lu Buwei and the Tang family brothers and sisters saw the ceremony, he asked Li Bonan: "Are the eldest brothers and sisters going back to Tianjin?" Li Bonan said exactly.

Lu Buwei saw that Tang Shu was graceful and beautiful, and he rode on a horse with Tang Xian, and said goodbye to Tang Zhen, and the group went away.

Seeing off the Tang family brothers and sisters, Li Bonan let Lu Buwei into the front hall. After a few words of gossip, Lu Buwei said: "Tomorrow I will go to Beijing to take up a post, what do my brother have to say." Li Bonan said with a smile: "Congratulations to the virtuous brother, who was transferred from Baoding to the capital, and will definitely be able to make great achievements in the future." Lu Buwei seemed to be a little unable to give up, and said nosily: "Brother has won the award." Although going to Beijing is more conducive to the future, leaving Baoding Mansion really makes me feel a little nostalgic. Li Bonan said: "The virtuous brother has been working in Baoding for five years, and he should really make a move, and this transfer to the capital is a good opportunity." Lu Buwei smiled and said, "What my brother said is that people can't be too greedy for comfort. Li Bonan asked him again: "Brother Xian came back this time to get married, it's been half a month, it's rare to have a relaxed time." Lu Buwei said: "But isn't it, the official body can't help himself, and he really wants to spend more time in the river." Soon after Lu Buwei and Miss Baoding Yin got married, Li Bonan also said that he was reluctant to have a wife, so he said: "Why should the virtuous brother be nostalgic for the river, a good man is ambitious in all directions, and it is also a good story to bring his younger brothers and sisters to the post when the time comes." The two chatted a few more words, and Lu Buwei said goodbye.

Li Bonan sent Lu Buwei away, so he came to Huanqing and discussed with him about going to the Tang family to hire him. The men and women are interested in each other, everything naturally goes smoothly, and in the autumn of the following year, Huanqing and Tang Shu became relatives. On the day of marriage, Xuanyi's eldest disciple Xia Zhenming rushed from Chengde to Beijing to attend his brother's wedding, and gave the little mouse carved from white jade to Xia Huanqing and said, this thing is rare, give it to you, so as a gift, I wish you and Tang Shu a hundred years of happiness. Huanqing knew that this thing was magical, and the master sent Youlu to the senior brother, how could he accept it, and said to Xuan Ming: "There are only two such spiritual things in the world, so the senior brother should keep them." Xuan Ming smiled and said: "Don't hide it from my brother, this thing is a dead thing in my hands, for several years, I have not understood the mystery, I asked the master, only to know that I have nothing to do with this thing." Since there is no fate, it is against the sky to stay in my hands. I saw that Tang Shu was dignified and beautiful, and she was a person I had never met in a hundred years, so I handed it over to you, maybe you will have a fate with it. Brother Huanqing couldn't find the mystery, thinking that the time had not come, or the fate was insufficient, so I would accept this thing first, and then study it slowly with Tang Shu in the future, and then return it to the senior brother when I figured out the mystery, so he said: "Then the little brother will accept it, thank you senior brother." Xia Zhenming smiled heartily and said, "You and my brother, why be polite." In addition, I am going to go away to a foreign country, so I have come to inform my junior brother. If I stay in China any longer, I will not be able to protect myself, and I am afraid that it will affect others, so I want to go to Western Europe for three years, and I will have to take care of Master Lao more. Xia Huanqing let the senior brother go with confidence, so after attending the wedding of the junior brother, he went to Europe.

Xia Huanqing and Tang Shu fell in love after marriage, often playing the piano and singing together, chanting poems and doing fu, and discussing current affairs, they are really a pair of fairy couples who laugh and laugh, look at each other and get drunk. After nearly a year like this, in July 1900, Xia Huanqing suddenly received a letter from his master Xuanyi, telling him to rush to Hejian at the end of July. Xia Huanqing learned from the letter that the master's deadline was approaching, and although his wife Tang Shu was pregnant, she had to make some arrangements and come out of Beijing.