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  Through the long corridor of Guanhe Building, there is a lotus pond. Ming Xuan and Min Shi followed several Miss Yang and Madame Wei to walk straight from the depths of the lotus flowers, stepping over the wooden bridge, all the way to the lake center pavilion. The pavilion was surrounded by endless green lotus leaves, like an earthly paradise.

  On the desk, pen and ink had been prepared long ago. The unfinished poem was half spread out, also with flying white characters dancing wildly. However, in the open font, there were a few more points of restraint. It looked like it wasn't really free and easy, but rather a kind of yearning for freedom that had not yet been obtained. If things went as expected, this should be Miss Yang's handwriting.

  The county master smiled and pulled Ming Xuan's arm, "Sister, look at Hong Jie's handwriting, is it good or not?"

  Her grandmother, Princess Dongping, and Madam Zhu were close relatives, being first cousins. They had a very close relationship and visited each other frequently. The two families often came and went in each other's company, so she was quite familiar with Ming Xuan, although they differed in age by a few years, which did not hinder her affection for Ming Xuan.

  Although Ming Xuan thought that every word in this poem was exquisite and perfect, she didn't grasp the essence of Fei Bai's style. This Miss Yang San was clearly a dignified and strict person, not suitable for practicing Fei Bai's style. If she could write in regular script or standard script, following the structure and strokes of this poem, it would be more suitable.

  But in this situation, she naturally wouldn't dare to speak her true feelings, otherwise it would not only make Miss Yang lose face in front of the host family, but also make people think she was being petty and arrogant. So she just smiled faintly and avoided the topic, "Miss Yang's handwriting is excellent, looking at the strokes and foundation, I suppose you've been practicing calligraphy since you were a child?"

  Yang Lehong replied in a soft voice, "Grandfather hired a Western teacher, and I started learning characters at the age of three. However, what I usually practiced was regular script, and this cursive script is something I personally like, which I studied and pondered on my own by copying model calligraphy. Although it has been two years since I started practicing, the form is similar but still lacks the essence, so I hope Big Sister can give me some guidance."

  She paused for a moment. "If elder sister-in-law could condescend to give guidance, and write just one character on this, I would be eternally grateful!"

  The words were spoken sincerely, and they seemed to be true, but Ming Xuan noticed that on the right side, Miss Yang Si's eyes flashed with a hint of gloom, her gaze intertwined with resentment and jealousy. It didn't match the plain face like a chrysanthemum, making people feel a chill down their spine.

  A spark in her heart, but on the surface she still maintained a faint smile. "Flying White is about the state of mind. When there are no restraints in one's heart, only then can one write with flair and spirit. To be honest, I gave up on Flying White four years ago and only wrote regular script. It's not that I didn't want to write it, but rather I couldn't bring out that feeling anymore."

  In her previous life, she was not a lively and uninhibited person. Her grandfather taught her according to her talent and did not let her learn the flying white script. Later, when she arrived at the Zhou Dynasty, she thought that her grandmother's copying of scriptures was an excuse to change to regular script, not only because she had never learned it before, but also because she had never been in such a free and easy mood.

  Yang Lehong seemed to have an epiphany, and after a moment of contemplation, she suddenly crumpled up the unfinished flying white painting on her desk into a ball and had her maid throw it away. Her face showed no signs of annoyance, but instead looked relieved. She smiled and said, "I've been stuck before, but Big Sister-in-law's words today made me realize something. I like flying white paintings, so appreciating them is enough. If I don't have the right mood, there's no need to force myself to create one."

  She said to the princess, "Didn't you just say you wanted to go pick lotus flowers? I've already ordered someone to prepare a boat, which is waiting at the front of the Lotus Flower Cove. Since we're not writing anymore, and sitting here idly is boring, why don't we go play on the boat together?"

  The heavens have made a beautiful day, today is not the scorching sun overhead, the sweltering heat of summer has reduced by several degrees. This lotus pond occupies dozens of acres, with rippling water and willow catkins flying about on the shore, it's a rare coolness.

  The county master's daughter happily agreed and pulled Ming Xuan's arm, saying "Sister, let's go together!"

  Ming Xuan was somewhat embarrassed, she knew that today Yang Youzheng held this flower banquet, its main purpose is to help Yang San Niang choose a husband, this water pavilion is close to the Guanhe Tower where the female guests are located, it won't have any outside men entering, but if they go on a boat ride, it's hard to avoid meeting strangers, Ruan Gongzhu and Yang Jia San Niang are all young girls waiting for marriage, naturally there's no harm, but she is after all a married woman, if other men see her true face, it's not good.

  She thought for a moment and then smiled and said, "You young girls can play together happily, I won't go."

  Yang Lehong refused to comply, "Eldest Sister-in-law, you go too, I was just thinking of getting close to my relatives. Rowing the boat has its own boat girl, we few people chatting and laughing, isn't it delightful?"

  She went to pull Min's arm and said gently, "Second sister-in-law is going too!"

  The rest of the young ladies, seeing that Madame Yu and Miss Yang were both pressing her to stay, did not want to be left behind either. Ming Xuan and Min Shi were entreated until they could no longer refuse, so they agreed to come along, sending a small maid back to the Guan Hu Lou to inform Madam Yang of their decision. Only after the maid returned with word from Madam Yang did they finally board the boat.

  The boat girl moved deftly among the lotus leaves, and loud laughter occasionally came from the small boat.

  Ming Xuan's family had a deep foundation in learning, although she wasn't particularly skilled in poetry and literature. However, her knowledge was quite extensive, having touched upon many Tang and Song poems. Even though she couldn't compose poetry herself, her appreciation for it wasn't hindered. Min Shi also came from a scholarly family; her father had been the chief educator at the Imperial Academy. Having grown up surrounded by learning, her own talents were impressive. As a result, she quickly got along with these young maids who loved to write and compose poetry.

  These crisp and pleasant laughs soon attracted another boat not far ahead.

  Yang Wenmao, the host of the Yang family, who was also the elder brother of Miss Yang, saw that many young men on the boat were yearning for and admiring the source of the laughter. He smiled and said, "It seems to be my younger sisters up ahead, I'm afraid they've caused you all to laugh."

  Then there was a noble young man who shouted, "What's so funny that it made the sisters laugh so heartily? Yang brother, let's go take a look too!"

  In the capital city, noble young men often met at banquets and there were no such strict rules. They all had some connection with each other, so calling out to the sisters was not overstepping any boundaries. Yang Wenmao deliberately wanted his sister to show her face in front of the young masters, this proposal was just what he needed, after a slight hesitation, he let the boatman row the boat forward.

  Young people were full of energy and excitement, but Yan Qingye, who was sitting at the back of the boat, didn't seem to care. In fact, he was feeling a bit down, because just now in the front yard, he had seen Pei Jingxuan.

  He was forced to reluctantly agree to divorce Mingxuan, and later he took the imperial examination despite his illness, using all his strength to fight for a good name. He did not follow her suggestion to seek an external appointment, but instead accepted the position in the Hanlin Academy, with the aim of becoming powerful one day. Although the Hanlin Academy was low in rank, it was very prestigious and many important officials came from there. He was still young, and the current emperor deliberately promoted talented scholars from humble backgrounds, so he would have plenty of opportunities in the future.

  Even when he learned that Ming Xuan and Pei Xiang's eldest grandson had become a couple, he did not change his mind.

  Yan Qingyan understood that Han Xiuxin, such a stubborn and terrifying person, would not easily give up on Ming Xuan. Pei Jingchen was also someone who had been bedridden for years, and he feared that Han Xiuxin would continue to pester her, so he had to become stronger. If he could counter Han Xiuxin's moves, he wouldn't have to worry about her getting hurt by him anymore.

  Yes, he thought so, if he couldn't be her husband, then he would be the man who protected her.

  The moment he saw Pei Jingchen, he suddenly became uncertain.

  He was a man as handsome and refined as an immortal, his every move like the unfolding of a beautiful ink painting. Rumor had it that he was frail and short-lived, but today, upon seeing him, where could one detect even a hint of illness?

  Yan Qingye couldn't quite put his finger on the feeling in his heart. While he was happy for Ming Xuan, he also felt a sense of inexplicable loss, to the point where even now he still felt flustered and anxious, and even the silvery laughter of the girl on the other shore sounded jarring to his ears.

  He felt someone patting his shoulder and looked up to see Zhu Zirui.

  Zhu Zirui said helplessly, "I heard that after Pei Da married his cousin, he has been in good health. I also saw him just now. Such a divine-like person is also the grandson of Xiang Chu Wang. In terms of appearance and family background, he is not unworthy of her. Since Cousin has already found a good husband, what else can't she let go of?"

  He slowly sighed, "If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have let you come here."

  Yan Qing smiled wryly, "You're right, maybe I shouldn't have come today."

  Just because he knew Ming Xuan would come, holding on to a one-in-ten-thousand chance of running into her, he agreed to come with Zhu Zi Rui to attend the flower festival, but she was already someone else's wife, and just having this thought made him feel like he'd been cut into pieces, never to be reborn.

  Yes, he shouldn't have.

  The two boats gradually approached each other, and Yang Wenmao smiled and asked, "Is that Third Sister's boat over there?"

  After a while, the maid stood at the bow and replied, "The young ladies on board are Miss Wei, the third and fourth misses, Madam Pei, the second madam, and several other misses. The third miss says that her sisters are resting here, so please don't come over, sir."

  Yang Wenmao heard that there were still two grandmothers from the Pei family on the boat, so he knew it was not good to continue approaching. He didn't force it either and ordered the boatman to row the boat away. At the same time, he smiled and said, "There is a Listening Wind Pavilion ahead, I have prepared some programs there, if you don't mind, we can go there."

  Not seeing Miss Yang's lovely face is a pity, but it's said there are other programs, and the whole boat of young masters all exclaimed in agreement.

  Yan Qingye's gaze, however, seemed to be stuck on the gradually departing boat, although it was a little far away and he couldn't see her face clearly. But he recognized Mingxuan's figure in the crowd at a glance. He stared at that enchanting figure with a dazed expression, his eyes burning with an unquenchable passion.

  Zhu Zirui let out a long sigh and gently tugged at his arm, "A Yan, snap out of it!"

  At this time, a loud "splash" sound suddenly came from the opposite boat, as if something had fallen into the lotus pond. Immediately afterwards, a sharp cry of surprise came from the girl, "Someone has fallen into the water!"

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