I'm just a dude

Chapter 37

The boat swayed leisurely and turned into the lotus dock.The two people on the boat smoked incense, drank tea, and enjoyed the scenery and flowers, but they didn't know that this scene happened to fall into Fang Chenghe's eyes.

Today Ruan Hong invited Fang Chenghe to paint, and asked the housekeeper of the Duke's mansion for this secluded small building.When Ruan Hong went to participate in the willow shooting competition, Fang Chenghe decided to come and have a look first, so as to find some inspiration.Ruan Hong didn't come at this moment, but he first saw Xu Yu and Qi Yuan admiring flowers and fishing on the boat.

He shook his head and smiled, put down the curtain on that side, sighed softly, and walked to the painting table by himself, slowly rubbing the ink.

When Ruan Hong ran upstairs, what he saw was Fang Chenghe holding an ink ingot and looking calm and silent.

At this time, Fang Chenghe looked very alienated and indifferent, different from his usual self-confident, contemptuous and sarcastic appearance. Ruan Hong stared blankly for a moment, until Fang Chenghe gave a light cough, and then he came back to his senses.

Fang Chenghe glanced at him, then opened his mouth and said, "Even if you admire my charm, you should walk in, get closer and look slowly. What can you see at the door?"

Ruan Hong was taken aback for a moment, and then burst out laughing, thinking that it was really Fang Chenghe, and what happened just now was probably an illusion.

Fang Cheng and Zi Lian, he did not give in, waving his fan and said: "In terms of appearance, naturally I am better. But God is fair, although I am more handsome than you, smarter than you, and stronger than you , but not as good as you in schoolwork, and not as good as you in painting."

Fang Chenghe concluded with a smile, "So you are lucky in your golden skin, and I am lucky in your belly?"

Just as Ruan Hong was about to nod his head, he realized that something was wrong, and said "Hey": "You are the best!"

After speaking, he leaned over with a smile and looked at the drawing paper.

What Fang Chenghe asked him to prepare was raw rice paper specially used by the Hanlin Academy of Painting and Calligraphy. Ruan Hong got a few whole sheets, but Fang Chenghe cut them into long scrolls about one foot in length and one foot in width.

Fang Chenghe adjusted the paint on his own, Ruan Hong knew it, and watched quietly from the side, and then he simply started to grind the ink.

Fang Chenghe glanced at him, chuckled lightly, and then turned to paint.He writes very quickly, and in a short while, he can outline the clouds and trees on the far bank, the short bridges on the nearby mountains and rocks, or break them with a small axe or clamp them with short chops. The lines are thin and vigorous, which is amazing.

It was the first time for Ruan Hong to see him painting seriously, and he couldn't help being dumbfounded.Looking at Fang Chenghe again, he looked at the drawing paper for a while, and then carefully drew a few flowers and plants beside the rocks and short bridges. For the Chinese rose, use red bean and white powder to dot the stamens, the color is exquisite, complicated and gorgeous, and there is no trace of indulgence.

It's just that Brother Ruan's favorite painting "Snow Bamboo Picture" is indulgent and simple, with a broad artistic conception.At this moment, Fang Chenghe is using fine brushwork and light ink, and the artistic conception style is completely different from "Snow Bamboo Picture".Ruan Hong didn't understand what it meant, but he liked this bustling look even more in his heart.

After Fang Chenghe painted it carefully, he wrote an inscription on the side, but it was in regular lowercase letters, and he wrote a poem by Po Weng: Who can lay a white mat, and lie on the Zhuqiao forever.The shadow of the tree turns sideways, and the shimmering version shakes at the bottom.

Ruan Hong's eyes lit up, and he secretly applauded.

This is just the first one.Fang Chenghe rested for a while after the short bridge, and started to paint the lotus leaves in the double pond again. The new lotus is just blooming, and the lotus leaves are in the field. This time, the brushwork is a little rougher than before, but Fang Chenghe's expression is more serious , the inscription on the side was also changed to official script.

The third one is a painting of orchid grass and chrysanthemum, dotted with brush and ink, the flowers and leaves are sparse and oblique, and the ink is smudged.There is finally a wind of indulgence here.

The fourth picture is fishing alone in the cold river.

As soon as the sun sets, it slantly reflects the surface of the river, and there is only one boat, one oar, and one person.

,

The first three scenes still have some elegance, but this fourth one is dripping with ink and raining.Ruan Hong glanced at it and felt a little depressed, so he couldn't help frowning.

Fang Chenghe turned his head to see it, and smiled unconsciously.Before he knew it, an hour had passed. He was so engrossed in painting that he forgot that there was someone beside him.

Ruan Hong was unusually quiet this morning. The servants of the Ruan Mansion came to look for him many times, but he only cared about rubbing the ink aside, not allowing anyone to come in and disturb him.Later, when he heard that Grandpa Guo and Elder Ruan Ge had both come to Chengyuan, he refused to go to meet him, so he just made up excuses to make people fool him.

Now that Fang Chenghe finally finished the painting, he couldn't help heaving a sigh of relief, and hurriedly patted his chest and said, "Looking at how delicate your painting is, I don't dare to breathe anymore." After speaking, he rushed to the painting table in a hurry, Look back and forth.

Fang Chenghe shook his head and smiled, he opened the window and let the warm wind bring some fragrance over.The boathouse in the lotus dock has long been gone, and a few new lotuses are delicate and tender, which is very gratifying.

If Ruan Hong looks from a distance by the window, he can see that the lotus leaves on the double ponds in the second picture is a realistic scene.But right now, his attention is on the first picture, and he can't stop boasting to Fang Chenghe: "Your painting is really good, I like this one the most. It's lively, colorful, and the little poem on it is also interesting. "

Fang Chenghe frowned, turned around and looked at him with a smile.

Ruan Hong said to himself, then sighed again, "But my brother is not sure, I don't like the Snow Bamboo Picture very much, it's too dull, it seems like he loves it."

The more he looked at it, the more he liked the short Chunjing bridge, and stood in front of it, refusing to move.But this volume of long painting is integrated into one whole, it is impressively the scenery of the four seasons, one scene and one title, Fang Chenghe can't give it to him.

Ruan Hong clicked his tongue, thinking about coaxing Fang Chenghe to draw another one for himself.

Who knew that before he could make a sound, the person behind him asked, "Do you like this?"

Ruan Hong hurriedly turned his head, and said "hmm" happily.

Fang Chenghe said: "That's useless, I won't draw this kind of painting again."

"Why?" Ruan Hong was stunned for a moment, "I think you draw very well!"

"It's good, but it's too troublesome." Fang Chenghe moved his wrists and said lazily, "I'm used to painting with raw ink, adding some glue to the ink, and the pen follows the ink, and it's smooth. But it is suitable for familiar Xuan. Similarity is required, but all things are different in nature, so sticking to this will lose the natural interest.”

"Huh?" Ruan Hong was stunned and murmured, "No wonder you seldom draw this kind of painting."

He thought to himself, really only this kind of wizards have such a set of thoughts, if he also has this ability, he will have to show it off.

The two were chatting and laughing when they heard someone shouting downstairs, but it was a servant of Ruan's mansion who came to tell Ruan Hong that a banquet was about to start ahead, and let him and Mr. Fang go over.He also said that Mr. Xu San had something to discuss with them, and asked him to go there in a while.

The painting has been finished, and Ruan Hong has to worry about how to mount it later.Hearing this, Fang Chenghe got up, straightened his clothes and was about to go out.

Ruan Hong was not willing to let him go, and when he asked that there was still half an hour before the banquet, he hurriedly scolded the servants away and stopped him at the door.

Fang Chenghe looked at him in surprise.

Ruan Hong laughed, but bowed in groups, "Brother Jin, can you draw another picture for me? I need it urgently..."

Fang Chenghe was surprised: "What are you going to do again?"

Ruan Hong hesitated, saying that he lacked a painting in his study for a while, and said that he lacked something in his bedroom for a while.Finally, seeing that he couldn't hide it, he told the truth, "A new Yangzhou skinny horse came to Yanlou that night..."

That Yangzhou skinny horse is good at writing poems and paintings, playing the flute and playing the qin, but he is only willing to make friends with romantic and famous people, and hates dandy businessmen the most.On Ruan Ge's birthday last time, some diners wanted to give this famous prostitute as a concubine to Ge Lao.Unexpectedly, when the news came, the famous prostitute was furious, and embedded the names of the diners in the doggerel, which was sung by children in the middle of the capital, and scolded this person bloody.

The doorman was disgraced and wanted to take revenge, but was beaten up by Ge Lao's shrewd wife and kicked out of the capital.However, Lao Tzu didn't dare to take a concubine, and his son rushed over. Of course, he was rejected without any suspense.

Fang Chenghe frowned at first, but later, when Ruan Hong spoke pitifully about how he was angry with that turtle slave, he couldn't help laughing again.

Ruan Hong looked at Fang Chenghe resentfully.The latter changed his words suddenly: "It's not impossible to paint..."

Ruan Hong was overjoyed and wanted to bow again.

Fang Chenghe said: "Just let you tell me, I also admire that prostitute's demeanor very much."

"Then we should go together?" Ruan Hong's eyes lit up.

Fang Chenghe shook his head: "That's impossible, the Imperial College strictly forbids prostitution for pleasure, and I'm not like you, I have a father who is an old man."

After he finished speaking, he pondered for a moment, and then said simply, "Either way, I promise to give you a painting, but you can't take it for nothing."

Ruan Hong: "That's natural! The conditions are up to you!"

"The condition is not difficult." Fang Chenghe smiled at him, his eyebrows brightened, "Brother Ruan must kiss Fangze first, and then let me taste that famous prostitute."

Ruan Hong was stunned, and said "ah" in surprise, "Is there such a good thing?" Fang Chenghe's conditions were not simple every time, and he was ready to bleed.

The more Ruan Hong thought about it, the more uneasy he became. He squinted at Fang Chenghe and asked suspiciously, "Aren't you kidding me? Besides, how can I let you taste her?"

"It's simple. You kiss her well first, and keep the taste." Fang Chenghe smiled, and suddenly stepped forward and kissed Ruan Hong on the mouth, "...that's all."

Ruan Hong watched as Fang Chenghe's face continued to enlarge, and finally his lips softened before he realized that he had been kissed.There was a "buzz" in his head, as if struck by lightning, he slapped Fang Chenghe without thinking.

Although the slap was forceless, both of them were stunned.

Ruan Hong reacted, blushed suddenly, jumped up with staring eyes, pointed at Fang Chenghe and shouted: "You...you..."

"You" for a long time, but didn't say anything, yelled twice and ran away angrily.

Fang Chenghe watched him walk away, touched his left cheek, pursed his lips and smiled, but looked okay, and wandered to the front hall.

Qi Yuan has been waiting there for a long time.Xu Yu went to see the Duke, and worried that he would stay by himself, so he sent two guards to protect him.

Qi Yuan was very happy at first, but after taking two steps back and forth, he realized that the two guards were too tall, so that in comparison, he looked like a child with short hands and legs, not good-looking at all, and suddenly became unhappy, Find a place to sit and wait for someone.

When Ruan Hong ran over, Qi Yuan was quite happy, and jumped up to greet him.Unexpectedly, Ruan Hong blushed and brushed past him angrily, as if he had just been bullied.Qi Yuan craned his neck curiously and waited for a while, seeing that no one was spreading any gossip, he could only sit back and wait honestly for Fang Chenghe.

Fortunately, Brother Fang is more reliable, so he went to eat with him, and accompanied him to the garden in the afternoon.

Qi Yuan was only focused on looking at the scenery, and didn't say anything about Shi Nan. Fang Chenghe saw the seriousness of the guards behind him, and Xu Wei frequently came to see this side, and asked curiously. That thrilling scene.

"Thanks to brother Zijing this time." Fang Chenghe frowned slightly, walked a few steps with Qi Yuan, and secretly analyzed, "If Shi Nan came for you, there is only one possibility, and that is that Shi Xian is because of you." Father died, but the court did not plan to punish him."

Qi Yuan didn't even know what Uncle Zhongyuan looked like, and he didn't intend to speak for him at the moment, he just wondered: "Didn't it mean that Uncle Zhongyuan's residence is not favored?"

Qi Zhuo's family is in such a situation, it seems that the Emperor doesn't like it.Speaking of it, Qi Zhuo is only responsible for others' crimes, how could he be shielded?

Fang Chenghe frowned slightly, and turned to look at him: "Brother Qi, six years ago, what did you say when you met the saint, do you not remember anything?"

"Yeah." Qi Yuan said blankly, "I don't have any impression at all. Did I say something wrong?"

Fang Chenghe took a deep look at him, and pointed to a lake pavilion in the distance.He said this obviously because he was afraid that the walls would have ears, Qi Yuan was startled, and suddenly had a bad premonition.

Sure enough, after the two of them entered the small pavilion, Fang Chenghe hesitated and said, "Teacher, you don't want me to tell you. But I always feel that uncle's expedition with the army may have something to do with it. You The current situation is difficult, and the more you know, the better you can avoid disasters. It's just..."

Qi Yuan understood his intentions, dressed plainly, and bowed: "Brother Fang, don't worry, no matter what it is, I can afford it, and I will never be scared out of my wits just because of a few words."

It is said that the original owner has become cautious since facing the saint, and even dared not leave the gate of the uncle's mansion.Qi Yuan had seen Yuan Bo's poems, and always felt that that person must not have this kind of character, but he was also curious all the time, what could the old emperor say, so that a gifted scholar had to be so careful in disguising?

Seeing his frank expression, Fang Chenghe hesitated for a moment, and then said: "I only heard a little about what happened that day from the teacher, and the two princes should be the ones who know the whole story the most." After he finished speaking, he paused lightly. , "The teacher said, that face-to-face, the one who was most satisfied with you at first, until later, the teacher praised you as a national weapon, and you will become a pillar, so he had a whim and wanted to test your theory."

Qi Yuan: "..."

Policy discussion is to discuss current affairs and offer advice to the court.Qi Yuan couldn't help being dumbfounded, thinking he wanted a ten-year-old kid to talk about government affairs?

"But what am I talking nonsense?" Qi Yuan tutted, "You're only ten years old, is this worth getting angry?"

Fang Chenghe shook his head and gave him a complicated look.

"No." He paused and sighed, "At that time... you made a lot of comments, and offered thousands of words to the court."

Qi Yuan: "?!"

"Wenchi and Lu Weizhen are far inferior to you, but that one marveled at your talent, but also feared your background, so he opened his mouth to test you." Fang Chenghe sighed softly, "He casually mentioned Qian Tang, a former important minister. , and I asked you how you see Qian Tang's end?"

Qian Tang was the original owner of that Pixiang Palace, Qi Yuan only knew that that person had a miserable end, so he hurriedly asked, "What did I say?"

Fang Chenghe said: "You said, 'General Qian's loyalty has been established for thousands of years, so he moved overseas. The Qian family is full of loyalty, and it cannot be judged as success or failure'..."

Qian Tang was originally an important minister of the former court. He died that year because he was involved in the prince's fight for the heir.

Emperor Yuanzhao also happened to be a concubine who seized the throne. After ascending to the throne, he not only forced to kill the abolished prince, but also killed several frontier officials who supported the prince.

When Emperor Yuanzhao asked Qi Yuan, he used Qian Tang to allude to those generals.Qi Yuan didn't know whether it was due to his upright nature, or his negligence, that he stepped into a deep pit.Emperor Yuanzhao was narrow-minded and jealous of his seizing the throne. He even ordered people to revise the history books of this dynasty, so naturally he couldn't tolerate Qi Yuan.

But at that time Taifu Yang was present, and Qi Yuan had already been famous in the capital. He only made it possible for him to take part in the imperial examination six years later for the sake of his reputation as a virtuous monarch.

Wen Chi and Lu Weizhen were purely the disaster of the fish in the pool. In order to appease them, Emperor Yuan Zhao asked them to be the companions of the prince and conferred the post of Qing Jilang.Since they were ten years old, they have enjoyed the salary of the eighth rank every year, and they can handle the impeachment and correction of the Prince's East Palace.

Speaking of which, Qi Yuan is the only child prodigy who is not liked.

Qi Yuan was stunned for a while after listening to the whole story, and finally understood why Lu Song and the others were so arrogant when he first came here.Sure enough, among the three talents, only Yuanchen was the most unlucky.

He couldn't help but secretly sighed for this short-lived child prodigy, thinking to himself what a pity, indeed, God was jealous of talents.It's time for me to build a tomb for him, burn some paper money, and wish him a good family and a good emperor in his next life.

Fang Chenghe watched his expression carefully, and for some reason, he always felt that Qi Yuan seemed to be listening to someone else's story at this time, except for shaking his head and sighing, there was no trace of sadness, anger or worry.

This is the best way, Fang Chenghe secretly heaved a sigh of relief, but still felt that something was wrong.

Qi Yuan was secretly thinking about setting up a tomb for Yuanshen, and also thought that today's Dragon Boat Festival, he should also burn two of his favorite chestnut rice dumplings.It should be sooner rather than later. If nothing happens, I can go home now.

Thinking of this, he wanted to say goodbye to Fang Chenghe.

Fang Chenghe couldn't help being stunned: "Are you leaving now?"

"That's right!" Qi Yuan said, "I've eaten the food and seen the scenery, so it's not interesting to stay here."

Fang Chenghe: "..."

"Aren't you in a hurry about uncle?" Fang Cheng said softly, "Don't you think it's strange that the imperial court suddenly sent him out with the army?"

"A little bit?" Qi Yuan said uncertainly, "But things are already like this, and I can't go to Yachuan to look for him, so let's take care of the old and the young at home first."

Fang Chenghe: "..." It seems to be right.

Qi Yuan smiled nonchalantly again: "Anyway, I don't know anything now, so I just don't need to be an official, and stay away from that person, so as not to be unlucky."

This statement is true, although Taifu Yang regrets it very much, he also thinks that Qi Yuan may be blessed by misfortune, after all, how Emperor Yuanzhao sees him is still undecided.It's just that Qi Yuan is a scholar, if he doesn't become an official in the court, how will he get married and start a career in the future?

Fang Chenghe felt that Qi Yuan had a talent for making incense, and it might be good to specialize in this art in the future.However, Taifu Yang thought that merchants were always at the bottom and would be ridiculed by others, so he didn't quite agree.

But thinking about it now, it's a bit far away.

Fang Chenghe looked Qi Yuan up and down again, and saw that this man was really heartless, he couldn't laugh or cry, so he shook his head and let him go, but in the end he didn't forget to tell him: "Your home is far away, so tonight I'll be there for you." Go back to the numbered room. Otherwise, the roll call will take place tomorrow morning, and you won’t be able to make it in time.”

Qi Yuan repeatedly responded, and ran to talk to Xu Yu again.

Xu Wei was discussing matters, when he heard Qi Yuan coming to meet him, he rushed out to greet him, and at the end, when he heard Qi Yuan said that he would go back to the number room tonight, he couldn't help coughing lightly, and asked casually: "Feng Zhou is terrible? "

Qi Yuan was a little scared, but he felt that it would be embarrassing for such an adult to be afraid of the dark, so he quickly shook his head: "Not afraid!"

Xu Yu stopped and opened her mouth, but it was difficult to answer the conversation.

Qi Yuan didn't think of anything else.He hurried home with Yun Lan, sent Hu Fu and a few little maids away, found the original owner's old clothes, randomly rolled up a few poems, and secretly buried them under the tree in the courtyard.Taking advantage of no one, he first kowtowed three times to the tomb while muttering words.

After finishing all this, he let out a long sigh of relief, then packed up his things and rushed to the Imperial College.

The furnishings in the No. [-] room are the same as before the holiday, Qi Yuan's enthusiasm for reading has faded now, he flipped through the books and found it boring, so he threw them away again, lying on the bed in a daze.

What Fang Chenghe said did not have much influence on him.In fact, he is very happy today.Knowing that Xu Yu didn't look down on her, I was happy, and I was happy to see everyone shooting arrows happily. Later, I was even happier to be able to sit on the Yangzhou painting boat.

It's just that he had been swimming in the lake every day a few months ago, but when he took the boat again today, he suddenly felt as if he had been in another world.This made him a little lonely, as if the past of his past ten years was gradually becoming his secret.

He had no one to talk to, no comfort.

Qi Yuan gradually felt aggrieved, reached out his hand to touch it, and found the piece of agarwood bought for his father under the pillow, his nose became more sore, and he couldn't help crying secretly.

Xu Yu finally left all the errands in the mansion behind, came directly from Chengyuan, was about to open the door and go in to find Qi Yuan, when she heard someone whimpering inside.The sound was too soft, as thin as a poor kitten, but the sound of snot twitching was a bit loud.

Xu Yu frowned lightly, thinking why are you crying so well?Didn't you still smile when you left in the afternoon?Are you afraid of the dark?Or being bullied?He suddenly wanted to hug him, but he was afraid of Qi Yuan's embarrassment, so he had to hold back for now and wait outside the door for a while.It wasn't until the crying inside subsided and the night outside began to thicken that Xu Ting gently opened the door and walked in.

Qi Yuan was already asleep.It seems that he was crying to sleep, and he was still wearing a jade-colored blouse that he just changed, without a quilt.

Xu Xuan put down her things, thought for a while, then lit the lamp, and called Qi Yuan up.

Qi Yuan sat up in a daze, and after half a day, he realized something was wrong, looked at Xu Yu and asked, "You're back too?" His voice was soft and nasal.

Xu Ting nodded, "The mansion is fine, so I'll be back early."

He knew that on weekdays, Qi Yuan would definitely talk a lot, so he dragged him on and on and on.But this time Qi Yuan nodded obediently, took off his outer robe and lay back down by himself.

Xu Yu thought to herself, it's better to be noisy.

The two of them took off their clothes and went to bed. Xu Yu lay down for a while, but nothing happened. He tried hard to recall Qi Yuan's behavior when he was sad. The last time this person cried, it seemed to be when he was in Tongzhou Station.

At that time, Qi Yuan seemed to have been greatly wronged, and he wanted to sleep with him while weeping confidently.Xu Xuan watched helplessly as he climbed into her bed, and finally had to sit up all night.

Maybe, when you're sad, it's better to sleep together?

Xu Yu suddenly felt a little nervous, and even faintly looked forward to it.He turned over and coughed dryly several times before mustering up his courage and shouting, "Feng Zhou?"

Qi Yuan was still asleep, so he let out a soft "hmm".

"Would you like to come over and sleep with me?" Xu Yu paused slightly after she finished speaking, she couldn't find any reasonable excuse for a while, and she didn't want Qi Yuan to refuse, so she hurriedly lied, "I'm afraid of the dark."