I thought for a moment, then gave him some more instructions: "You need to rekindle his hope for the future. You can tell him about the women you've met, how diverse and beautiful they are, with all sorts of figures, from plump to slender, red to green; he's still young, and he has a long road ahead of him. Then give him examples to show him that he's definitely not the worst off right now, that there are many men in the world who are more miserable, more lonely, and more heartless than him. Tell him to take it easy."
Lou Xiyue smiled, "You know so much, why don't you try to persuade him yourself?"
I said in a serious tone, "I think you and he are the same type of people, so it's easier to communicate with each other."
Which category?
“The kind of ingrate.” I cast a hopeful glance at Lou Xiyue.
He shuddered, then went inside and had a long talk with He Tingzhi.
I waited outside for a while, and then the sound of a zither drifted from inside the house, rising slowly and spreading like a tide, lapping against my ears. My heart felt at ease: birds of a feather flock together, and Lou Xiyue and He Tingzhi were indeed kindred spirits, like a high mountain and flowing water.
As I turned to leave, I saw a figure in apricot-colored robes standing under the locust tree in the courtyard. Lu Xiaoyue seemed to be pondering something, her expression gentle, devoid of her usual arrogance. After a deep, resonant note, the music abruptly stopped, like a wooden comb snapped in two.
Lu Xiaoyue was stunned, her eyes wide with surprise. She stared at He Tingzhi's house for a long time before finally stepping forward and pushing open the door.
Blood trickled from He Tingzhi's fingertips. Two strings of the ancient cedar zither in front of him had suddenly broken, and the bloodstains seemed to cut into his heart.
Lu Xiaoyue bit her lip, her expression tightening as if she couldn't bear it, but she hesitated in place.
He Tingzhi looked towards the door and asked, "Who came in?"
Lu Xiaoyue didn't say anything.
Sunlight streamed down, casting a long, slanted shadow behind her.
The two remained silent, letting the warm breeze rustle the books on the table.
I sighed and stepped into the house, smiling at He Tingzhi, "Lord He, it's me, Xia Jingnan. I've come to see Lou Xiyue." I looked around the house and saw Lou Xiyue leisurely holding a book, leaning back in a soft chair, tapping her fingertips on the table, reading "Unofficial History of Three Dynasties" with great interest.
He Tingzhi smiled slightly. "Young Master Lou is well-read. My eyesight is not good right now, so please take whatever you like."
Lou Xiyue finally took a moment to look up at me, and thanked me with a smile, "Thank you, Brother He."
I glanced at Lu Xiaoyue, pondered for a moment, and said with a heavy heart, "Ah, Miss Lu is here too. Xiyue didn't mean to take liberties with you last night. He just saw that you were drunk and wanted to take you back to your room, but I didn't expect this to happen. If he offended you, I, as his master, apologize to you on his behalf."
Upon hearing this, Lou Xiyue paused, Lu Xiaoyue was startled, and He Tingzhi froze.
"Clatter—" The "Unofficial History of Three Dynasties" fell to the ground.
"What did you just say..." Lu Xiaoyue's gaze swept over me, and I immediately felt a chill run down my spine.
I took two steps back into the inner room. "Ahem, Miss Lu, please don't be angry. It's my fault for not disciplining him properly. My disciple has always been a womanizer, and he inevitably acts a bit recklessly. Fortunately, he didn't do anything too serious last night, so I hope Miss Lu will forgive him."
He Tingzhi stood up, his face darkening, and said in a deep voice, "Xiaoyue, I want to talk to you."
Lu Xiaoyue blushed slightly as she slashed out with her palm, shouting, "I'll teach you to talk nonsense!"
I quickly ran towards Lou Xiyue and hid behind him. Lou Xiyue caught Lu Xiaoyue's slap with his hand, then put his hand on her shoulder and said kindly, "Miss Lu, there's a misunderstanding here."
I exclaimed in surprise, "Ah! Lou Xiyue, if you take advantage of her again, even I, as your master, can't help you!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiaoyue quickly looked at He Tingzhi and then explained, "Don't talk nonsense and ruin my reputation! What Lou Xiyue? I don't know you at all!"
I said in a low voice, feeling a bit embarrassed, "Miss Lu, have you forgotten the kiss you shared with Lou Xiyue under the moon last night?"
He Tingzhi shuddered, his brows furrowing, a hint of anger on his face. He said, "Dr. Xia, could you please take your disciple out of the house? I have something to discuss with my wife." Then, he raised his voice slightly and ordered his servants, "Someone, see the guest out!"
He turned away, flicking his sleeve.
Lu Xiaoyue stood there, unsure of what to do. After a moment, she turned to leave.
"Stop right there," He Tingzhi said to her, emphasizing each word.
I was initially quite reluctant to leave, turning back every few steps to try and see how things would unfold between the two of them. But after Lou Xiyue gave me a cool glance, she quickly dragged me away from the scene. After closing the door, I stood outside quietly for a long time, then heard noises coming from inside. The noise was so loud that I couldn't resist the urge to push the door open again.
Lou Xiyue grabbed my hand. "If you go in and cause another scene, we'll both be kicked out."
I awkwardly suggested to him, "Why don't we just make a move and see? I'm really worried. He Tingzhi is blind. If these two start fighting, what if Lu Xiaoyue accidentally kills him? Wouldn't I be making a huge mistake?"
Then, I seemed to hear the sound of a teacup shattering on the floor.
Lou Xiyue raised her eyebrows and squinted at me.
I was finally defeated by him. I sighed and said, "Fine, fine, let them be lovey-dovey. We need to get going and pick some green calyxes."
"There's no green calyx here?"
I shook my head. “Green calyx grows in valleys and prefers dampness. There is a mountain called Yunshan about a hundred miles west of Xuzhou City. I think we might be able to find green calyx there. However, this flower is green and looks just like ordinary grass, so it is not easy to find.”
That day, Lou Xiyue and I borrowed two horses and set off for Yunshan. The two horses at the He residence, one red and one white, seemed to be a pair. They would always stop suddenly after galloping for a while, nuzzling each other and whispering sweet nothings. Watching these two horses playfully frolicking in the water, so inseparable, yet unable to allow them to be alone, I felt a pang of guilt.
I conservatively guess that when they return from Yunshan, they will likely have one more foal.
After traveling for about two days, we arrived at the foot of Yunshan Mountain.
I looked up with my hands behind my back and said to Lou Xiyue, “Xiyue, this mountain is truly majestic and magnificent, standing tall amidst the clouds and mist. It gives me the desire to climb high and look far, to survey all the mountains below.”
He laughed and said, "I'll carry you up."
I nodded and praised, "You have a great understanding; you grasped it immediately."
Lou Xiyue picked me up and, using the trees in the mountains for support, quickly strode through the dense foliage. I looked down and saw a valley with a stream winding down, its waters shimmering with a green light as it was half-hidden by the branches and leaves.
I tightened my grip and gestured to Lou Xiyue, saying, "Let's go down."
This valley was truly a paradise of birdsong and fragrant flowers. The mountainsides were ablaze with vibrant blue and green blossoms, their brilliance like rosy clouds, and the babbling brooks sounded like clear bells. My heart was instantly filled with tenderness, and I frolicked joyfully in this land.