The person sounded as if he were old from his voice, while he could speak clearly with great energy and raciness, which was cordial and enthusiastic but not annoying. So the onlookers were very supportive, letting him explain.
The man-made a bow to the people with hands folded in front before continuing, "My master loves lantern riddles. Every year during the lantern exhibition, he will personally come to our store and stay on the third floor! All the people, no matter men, women, the young and the old, the rich and the poor, as long as you can guess thirty lantern riddles correctly on the first floor, you can go to the second floor. After guessing ten lantern riddles correctly on the second floor, you can go up to the third floor! At the top of the stairs on the third floor, there will be three lantern riddles made by my master himself. If you can guess them correctly, my master will welcome you and give you one hundred tael as a reward!"
One hundred tael
Sheng Shuihe and his companions didn’t know the situation in Buye Tower this day. When Sheng Weiwu asked Sheng Shuihe to guess the riddles for them, Sheng Weiqiao was upset and didn’t even want to agree. However, when she planned to take Sheng Weiwu away, she saw the grievances on her face. The little girl looked back at the lantern riddles again and again with reluctance, so finally Sheng Weiqiao agreed.After all, it was rare for girls to have the chance to go out at this time. Even if Sheng Weiwu was still too young to get married, and even if her family allowed her to come out to have fun in the Lantern Festival after missing the game this night and going back to Nanfeng County in a few days, the prosperity there could not compare with Chang'an.Unless her little cousin married Chang'an in the future, or according to common sense, this night might be the last time for Sheng Weiwu to witness the splendor of the lantern exhibition of Chang'an.
Sheng Weiqiao cast an eye over Sheng Shuihe, only to see that he maintained that mild smile and calm demeanor as if nothing had happened. Beaming, he gestured at her and said to Zhao Siblings, "These are my two sisters. The older one ranks third in our family also, and the younger one is my Eighth Sister. Still, we have a niece in our group who has visited you before as well. She isn't here, lazing in her room tonight."Third Miss Zhao came up and curtseyed to them, "You have my greetings, Third Miss Sheng and Eighth Miss Sheng!"Sheng Weiqiao and Sheng Weiwu curtseyed in return. The three exchanged their names and had a small chat. Sheng Weiqiao's eyes were fixed on this Third Miss Zhao, with whom she had been wishing to make acquaintance. She was fairly a beauty, with her white skin, slim waist, red cheek, and soulful eyes. And the chignon set up on the side with a peony hairpin somewhat brought out the seduction hidden in her immature body of a virgin.
Sheng Shuihe had been feeling impatient for a while. His knowledge of painting was imparted by Huan Guanlan, the celebrated scholar who was accomplished in literature and had somewhat delved into other fields including the zither, chess, calligraphy, and the painting.Huan Guanlan's painting was inferior to his literature. And as his disciple, Sheng Shuihe's painting literacy appeared to be even more inferior, because it wasn't his major subject, and he was too young to study it thoroughly.But Zhao Li was too young also. And though Zhao Family, the family that bred him, was known for its achievement in literature, it hadn't got an artist in its family tree. And in the hope that he would repent his way, Zhao Family didn't formally find him a master, either. He had been teaching himself the painting so far.Hence, he admired Sheng Shuihe, the disciple of Huan Guanlan, very much.However, as a man determined to work for the imperial
“You may find an old acquaintance to be a stranger, and you may see a new friend as a confidant." Huang Wujiu's face also darkened at the name of Sheng Shuihe, but being a man more unflappable than Gao Chengxuan, he managed to keep his refined demeanor despite his cold eyes. He said nonchalantly, "I don't know, for I haven't seen him yet."Unwilling to talk about it in public, he flicked his sleeve and tried to change the subject, "I suggest you go upstairs now, or you'll keep others waiting!"Gao Chengxuan groaned, seemingly unsatisfied with his vague attitude. But still, he managed to gather thirty sticks rapidly by solving some more riddles nearby and then made his way to the staircase in his servant's company... Things would have wrapped up, with the visitors on the ground floor snapping their gaze back, if he hadn't been attracted by Zhao Taoxuan's pretty appearance after taking a few steps. His eyes gleamed, "Miss, may I know your name? I am..."
Huang Wujiu genially cut in, using a knowing tone typical of the doctor, before Sheng Shuihe responded to the servant's censure, "Young man, I'll have to teach you a lesson! The epileptic seizure varies! Some patients have had it since they were young, while others don't have it until they grow older... Even though Childe Gao remained healthy before under your care, it's possible that...""Exactly!" Zhao Li also walked to Sheng Shuihe's side and glared at that servant. He berated him, far more impatient than Huang Wujiu, "Childe Huang is a genius. When he humbly claimed that he went through a few books, he must have made fruitful achievements in that field. How dare you, a mere slave, bring yourself to question him?! Many of us have seen clearly what happened just now. Brother Hengshu only tried to stop your childe from offending his sister by tapping his hand! He shouldn't have reacted so hysterically even if he were a frail man like tofu!""If it's not a
Two maids of Gao Chengxuan were used to argue with others in the back yard obviously, so they knew how to argue well.They were so good at confusing right and wrong. While slandering them, they threatened, "With our Childe's age and status, it's okay for him to be dissolute! If you really cherished the fame of your girls, you should think about what to say and do next! Otherwise, it would be too late for you to regret if all the girls in your family couldn't get married after the rumors ruined their reputation."They were so shameless, so even Zhao Taoxuan, who wanted to pull Zhao Li to prevent him from being too impulsive, laughed angrily, "How dare you two cheap servants slander the girls of the noble family! The wages of sin are death! The luck of Gao Family in the region on the south of Youngtze River will run out soon!""Our Childe is the grandson of Wuan Marquis!" The two maids were not afraid of her words at all, saying with a sneer, "He
When Meng Guiyu brought it up, Gao Chengxuan got angry again. He rolled up the sleeve and showed his arm to Meng Guiyu, grinding his teeth, "I will get back on the family of Sheng Shuihe!!! Uncle, help me in it! Have the brother and sister of Sheng family come here tonight! I will let Sheng Shuihe see in person that I abuse the girl that he protected, and I will have servants, guards even prayers have their good time! He will regret to death!""It seems like that you have done it to yourself!" Meng Guiyu didn't respond to what he said but stared at his arm, frowning, "Is it real?""It is real!" Gao Chengxuan could not believe it and looked at it, "He patted on the back of my hand, and I felt some strength walking through my vine like a snake, making me painful and itchy! I could not bear it!"He stopped halfway, because he saw no wound on his bloody arm except for what he scratched himself!"Is that rude man a modest master?" They
Sheng Weiqiao was standing behind Sheng Shuihe, so she could not see his face. Then, Yuan Liuguang said slowly, "You didn't socialize a lot before, so you have no idea about it. They are the niece and nephew of my mother-in-Law. He is Zhao Li, my fifth cousin. And she is the third eldest among her sisters."Even though the social atmosphere was open, and the names of girls are not secret to the public, Zhao Family, as an educated family, still had their own rules. Therefore, Yuan Liuguang only told them the name of Zhao Li and the ranking of Zhao Taoxuan.And he continued, "He is the beloved son of Aunt Wuyang, Cousin Shengxu. You two have not met before, but you may have heard about each other."Zhao Li and Zhao Taoxuan stepped forwards and saluted again, "It's my honor to meet you, Your Highness!""You're families of Second Aunt." Li Shengxu, also known as Yichun Marquis, nodded. He seemed not interested in Zhao Family. The Grand