Chapter 68

After spending quite a while in the inn's hall dealing with the group of students who came to meet him, Xia Hongsheng returned to his room. A few students from Luanzhou Academy also came over. They looked around but noticed that Bai Jianzhi was missing.

"Where is Senior Brother Bai?" Xia Hongsheng asked, somewhat puzzled.

Xu Qixian, with a gleeful look, smiled at Xia Hongsheng and said, "Haha, he was eliminated and is furious. He probably went to drink and have fun!"

"Speaking of which, I haven't asked yet, what was the final result of the poetry meeting?" Xia Hongsheng knew that Xu Qixian and Bai Jianzhi didn't get along, so he didn't say anything about Xu Qixian's attitude and just asked about the final result of the poetry meeting. Since Bai Jianzhi was eliminated, it was likely that Xu Qixian and the others were also eliminated, as their levels were about the same, and none of them were significantly better or worse than the others.

"Alas, we managed to make it to the final round, but the last round's questions were too difficult. We were all eliminated. The final winner was not from any academy; he was self-taught, a poor student who worked odd jobs for wealthy families while studying. The headmaster, impressed by his perseverance, took him in and admitted him to the school." Master Wan sighed and said, "If Junior Brother Xia had been there that day, our academy would have definitely won first place in the poetry meeting. Unfortunately..."

"By the way, speaking of which, Junior Brother Xia, why didn't you recite the entire poem when you said 'Long winds will break the waves one day, and I'll set my sail straight to cross the sea'? Don't try to fool me by saying you can't improvise poetry. Otherwise, Junior Brother Xia's poem would have been judged as the best!" Xu Qixian asked Xia Hongsheng.

Xia Hongsheng shook his head and smiled bitterly, saying, "Since I didn't participate in the poetry meeting, wouldn't it be unfair to the other students if I took the first place? Besides, I'm not the type who likes to show off. That Wangzi must have been crazy, forcing me to hide for a few days. I thought this matter would be over if I didn't show up for a few days, but from the looks of it just now... sigh!"

Another student laughed and said, "That's true. Since Junior Brother Xia didn't participate, it wouldn't have been appropriate. However, now that it's just us, why don't you recite the entire poem for us to see?"

As soon as this student spoke, the others immediately chimed in, urging Xia Hongsheng to recite the entire poem. However, Xia Hongsheng was firm and refused to speak.

While they were talking, a voice suddenly came from outside the door, asking, "Is this the room of Master Xia Jingshi? I have come here out of admiration and hope you will not mind opening the door for a chat."

Everyone in the room was taken aback, and the students then gave Xia Hongsheng a mischievous grin.

Before Xia Hongsheng could say anything, Xu Qixian snapped open his fan and walked to the door, opening it.

"Miss, my junior brother is inside. Please come in," Xu Qixian stood at the door, looking dignified and graceful, and politely bowed to the woman outside.

The woman apologized and bowed in return, then entered the room. As soon as she entered, Xia Hongsheng recognized her. She was the woman who sang at Yixiangju and was almost bullied by the Turks. The whip mark on her face had not yet fully healed.

"Miss, I thank you for your rescue at Yixiangju. I am deeply grateful," the woman saw Xia Hongsheng and her face lit up with excitement. She bowed deeply and said.

Xia Hongsheng returned the bow and smiled, "Miss, you are too kind. I couldn't stand the arrogance of the Turks. You don't need to worry about it."

"If it weren't for you that day, my sister and I would have been disgraced by the Turks. To avoid disgrace, we would have had to fight to the death. Fortunately, your song 'Manjianghong' drove them away. Your kindness will never be forgotten," the woman shook her head, took a deep breath, blushed, and looked down, stealing a glance at Xia Hongsheng. She said hurriedly, "I came today to invite you to accept our gratitude. After sunset, my sister and I will be waiting for you at Yixiangju!"

After saying this, the woman's face turned red, and she stomped her foot and ran out, not waiting for Xia Hongsheng's response.

The woman ran out, leaving Xia Hongsheng stunned and the others, including Xu Qixian, laughing.

"Ha ha ha... Junior Brother Xia, a beautiful woman has invited you, you cannot refuse. This is a story of elegance and romance!" Xu Qixian put his arm around Xia Hongsheng's shoulder and laughed.

"Indeed! Indeed! A beautiful woman is rare, Junior Brother Xia must not refuse!" Master Wan patted Xia Hongsheng's shoulder and said, "Why don't we go with you? I think you might not have the experience!"

How could Master Wan be so despicable! Xia Hongsheng rolled his eyes at him, but Xu Qixian said, "No, no. They invited Junior Brother Xia, why should we go? It would only make him uncomfortable!... We can follow and stay in a separate room nearby, ha ha!"

Xia Hongsheng was furious, "No way!"

"Ha ha, are you shy, Junior Brother?" Xu Qixian, being utterly unscrupulous, put his arm around Xia Hongsheng again, "Don't worry, even if I have to drag you, I will drag you there!"

"Get lost!" Xia Hongsheng pushed Xu Qixian away, almost kicking him. Although he said this, he was secretly pleased. He had never been invited by a girl in his past life, let alone a very attractive one! This... was quite exciting to think about!

The afternoon passed quickly, and as dusk approached, Xu Qixian and the others began urging Xia Hongsheng to go to the appointment.

Xia Hongsheng, half-reluctantly, left the inn and headed to Yixiangju. After walking for a while, he felt someone following him. He looked back but saw no one. He continued walking, and the feeling of being followed did not disappear. Suddenly, he quickened his pace and turned around sharply, only to see Xu Qixian and the others hurriedly hiding in a nearby shop.

They really followed me! Xia Hongsheng was furious and rolled his eyes, but continued walking.

When he arrived at the entrance of Yixiangju, he was thinking about where they might be when he heard a clear voice, "Master Xia, over here!"

Xia Hongsheng turned and saw the woman waving at him from the door. He was amazed that this was the Tang Dynasty, the most open-minded era in Chinese history. If this were a later dynasty, such behavior would have been condemned and punished, possibly even by drowning. Even in the Tang Dynasty, such women were rare. As a singer, she was naturally more open than ordinary women.

Xia Hongsheng followed the woman upstairs to a private room. The other woman who played the zither that day was standing by the door, lifting the bamboo curtain for Xia Hongsheng. Xia Hongsheng was surprised to see another woman in plain clothes sitting inside the room.

"Master Xia, this is my mistress," the woman who played the zither said softly, "She has been waiting for a long time. Master Xia, please come in."

Xia Hongsheng frowned and entered the room, sitting cross-legged in front of the table, as kneeling was too uncomfortable.

The woman was veiled, and Xia Hongsheng could not see her face. He immediately understood that this dinner was not just to thank him for saving the two women. Who would be called "mistress" by two singers? A noble lady would not let her maids sing in public.

The veiled woman sat formally and bowed to Xia Hongsheng, saying, "Master Xia, your song 'Manjianghong' drove away the Turks and saved Qiao'er and Pan'er. They have been with me since childhood, like sisters. I am deeply grateful. I offer you a cup of wine, hoping you will forgive my abruptness."

Her voice was beautiful. Xia Hongsheng's first impression was that it was not overly soft or sweet, but had a slight coolness that seemed to refresh the mind, like a gentle night breeze on a hot summer day, clear and melodious, with a hint of heroism.

Xia Hongsheng took the wine cup, drank it in one gulp, and put it down, saying, "The Turks were arrogant, and I could not let them bully our Han women. This is what I should do. Now that I have drunk the wine, I have accepted your gratitude. There is no need to be so formal."

"Master Xia's talent is renowned throughout Luoyang. It is my honor to share this table with you." The woman bowed again and refilled Xia Hongsheng's wine cup, "Master Xia, please drink."

Xia Hongsheng smiled, "Wait a moment. You invited me here, but it seems more than just gratitude. You wear a veil, and I came as invited. Isn't honesty the foundation of trust?"

The woman was taken aback, then sat back and apologized, "I wore the veil to avoid trouble on the way and to prevent you from judging me by my appearance. I was impolite."

Judging by appearance? Is this girl ugly?

Xia Hongsheng thought, and saw the woman lift her hand and gently remove the veil.

At the sight, Xia Hongsheng felt a loud ringing in his head, the world spinning, his mouth dry, and he could not speak.

A breeze blew in from the window, and her white robe fluttered, exuding an ethereal and serene beauty. Her features were as if finely carved, yet naturally perfect. She looked down at the clear stream, composed and calm, with a hint of distant loneliness in her eyes, like a solitary orchid in a valley, a tree in a vast wilderness. Despite her gentle smile, she gave off a sense of coolness, like the moonlight on a clear night.

Xia Hongsheng's mind went blank, the world silent, and he could only hear his heart pounding louder and faster, as if the world had narrowed to one phrase: "A lotus rises from the clear water, naturally beautiful without adornment..."

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