Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn

Chapter 32

Such weather and such a scene made me feel a long-lost happiness and contentment in this world, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Brother, what fun thing have you remembered?" Zi Nuo asked me from his left. He always called me "brother" when there were other people around.

With one hand holding the reins and the other wildly whipping the horsewhip in the air, I laughed and said, "How wonderful it would be if one day the four of us could ride together, swords in hand, roaming the martial world, and settling scores as we please."

"Once we enter the household of a noble family, such a life becomes a luxury for us," Song Zhixuan said with a gentle smile.

"So today, we should seize the day!" I whipped my horse hard, and the horse, in pain, spurred itself forward and galloped ahead. Zinuo quickly caught up, while Song Zhixuan and Lin Zhao followed leisurely behind the carriage, fulfilling their duties as guards.

In the distance, we saw Yaoshan Mountain, its slopes ablaze with red, even more vibrant under the brilliant autumn sun, showing no signs of desolation. Reaching the foot of the mountain, the carriage couldn't proceed, so the driver stopped it beside a teahouse. Yinyan and Yuying then helped Yunshang and Yunruo down from the carriage. We entrusted the horses to the driver and took the pastries and tea we had brought from the carriage, continuing our ascent up the mountain.

The weather has been lovely lately, and quite a few people came for an autumn outing and hiking today, mostly in small groups, their attire suggesting wealthy families. Our large group stood out conspicuously among the other hikers. Upon reaching the top, we discovered that the mountainside was covered in red leaves not all of them maple, but also many unidentified trees, their leaves displaying shades of red and pale yellow. The slender leaves, translucent in the sunlight, revealed delicate veins, adding a touch of vibrancy to the autumn landscape.

Walking along the mountain path, Yun Ruo skipped and hopped like a bird released from its cage, chattering and laughing incessantly. Yun Shang also wore a broad smile, her eyes slightly narrowed, seemingly enjoying the refreshing autumn breeze. Sunlight shone on her delicate, rosy face, giving it a soft glow. Shen Haoyu looked helplessly at the cheerful Yun Ruo and instructed Zhao Mingzhao to keep an eye on her.

Upon reaching the mountainside, Shen Haoyu led the way and turned into a narrow path, where the light dimmed instantly. He seemed to know the terrain well, winding his way through the path until the view opened up before him. The faint sound of water could be heard, and the air seemed to be filled with a damp coolness, which chilled his slightly sweaty clothes.

Further on, the sound of water grew louder. Passing through a small grove of trees, a small waterfall, over ten meters high, appeared before us. Strings of water droplets splashed onto the dark, wet rocks, refracting a dazzling array of colors. Below the waterfall was a deep pool, where white water droplets danced and leaped on the surface without ceasing. The overflowing water flowed out from the gap, forming a crystal-clear stream that murmured down the mountain.

Yun Ruo rushed to the water's edge, lay down on a smooth, large blue stone, pointed at the pool, and shouted, "There are fish too!"

Yin Yan and Yu Ying opened their bundles and spread them on the grass, arranging the pastries they had brought one by one. Zinuo and I went up to help take out the tea set, lit the stove, and fetched a pot of water from under the waterfall to boil.

Turning back, they saw Shen Haoyu had somehow climbed up to the top of the waterfall, with Zhao Ming and Shi Nan following behind him. The sunlight cast golden shadows on them, obscuring their faces. Song Zhixuan and Lin Zhao stayed by Yunshang and Yunruo's side, watching them laugh and making sure nothing happened to them.

I told Zinuo to watch the stove, then ran to the water's edge to call Song Zhixuan and Lin Zhao, inviting them to go fishing. Song Zhixuan smiled and shook his head, gesturing towards Yunshang and Yunruo. I ignored him and pulled Lin Zhao towards the nearby woods. A little while later, Lin Zhao used his longsword to cut two branches and handed me one. The two of them walked to the pool, took off their shoes and socks, and went into the water, using the branch to poke at the fish. Yunshang watched us from afar on the bank, while Yunruo ran right up to us, practically jumping into the water herself.

Lin Zhao and I were having a blast in the water, but we didn't catch a single fish. Seeing this, Zinuo jumped into the water too. Yunruo looked at us with envy, and I smiled apologetically at her. What can I do? She's a girl from ancient times, and it's really convenient for me to be dressed as a man.

Before long, Shen Haoyu returned. Yinyan invited us over for tea and pastries. The group sat in a circle without any distinction of master and servant, chatting and laughing. Shen Haoyu looked everyone over and said with a smile, "You're all in good spirits today. Why don't you all think about what you can do here and have some fun?"

"Since there are women around, we should all play a bit more elegantly," I said, pretending to be serious.

Yunshang pondered, "How about we play a drinking game using red leaves? We'll write words on red leaves, and each person can take one. The one with the fish pattern on it will start the game, how about that?"

Yunru clapped her hands in approval.

Shen Haoyu nodded in agreement. Since the three masters had spoken, they had no choice but to comply. Shen Haoyu then asked Shi Nan to accompany Yin Yan to pick maple leaves. Before long, Yin Yan returned with a stack of maple leaves.

Yunshang took out a delicate brush and carefully inscribed words on the red leaves. Yuying emptied a plate and placed the inscribed red leaves face down in the plate. After placing them, everyone took a leaf and carefully examined the inscription on their own leaf.

Song Zhixuan held up the red leaf in his hand and laughed, "The fish-patterned leaf is with me, so let's start from here!"

Shen Haoyu nodded in agreement.

"The third person on the left has composed an autumn poem." Song Zhixuan looked at Zi Nuo with a smile. Zi Nuo was indeed the third person on Song Zhixuan's left.

Zi Nuo pondered for a moment, then recited: "Where does the autumn wind come from, rustling as it sends flocks of geese flying? It enters the courtyard trees at dawn, and the lonely traveler is the first to hear it."

Shen Haoyu said, "It's good, but the artistic conception is a bit bleak. Young men should have more heroic spirit."

I agree; Zi Nuo shouldn't be reciting such poetry at such a young age.

Zi Nuo laughed and said, "No need for comments, it's just to get it over with. I can't come up with any good poems." After saying that, he picked up his red leaf and read aloud, "The two on the left and right compose a couplet, and the person on the right gives the order."

To Zinuo's left was Shen Haoyu, and to his right was me. I couldn't help but frown, but then I heard Shen Haoyu preemptively recite the first line of a couplet: "The mouth of the world, the mouth of heaven, its ambition is to swallow Wu."

In this couplet, "天下口" is the character "吞" (swallow), and "天上口" is the character "吴" (Wu). Combining the characters makes it somewhat difficult. I glared angrily at Shen Haoyu, cursing him for his lack of manners, but he happened to see my gaze. He curled the corners of his mouth and looked at me provocatively.

I looked to Song Zhixuan for help, but he just smiled and shook his head. I glanced at Lin Zhao sitting to my right, sighed, and thought, "Oh well, I won't count on him for this." Then I looked at Zinuo, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

After thinking for a long time, and seeing that everyone was looking at me, Yunshang parted her lips slightly and said, "If you can't answer correctly, you'll have to drink three cups of wine as a penalty."

Gritting my teeth, I blurted out, "King among men, King beside men, intends to assume full authority."

Yunshang gave me an approving look, while Shen Haoyu stared intently at me. I asked, "Wasn't it good?"

“That’s right,” Shen Haoyu said.

"Then why were you looking at me like that?"

Shen Haoyu's face suddenly turned red, and he smiled awkwardly: "I thought you wouldn't be able to match it up."

Song Zhixuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Brother En, give the order."

Holding the red leaf, I read aloud: "The person whose leaf has no words on it shall compose a poem about chrysanthemums, and the fourth person to their right shall give the next order."

Shi Nan picked up his red leaf and shook it. It was blank. He said, "I am a rough man and have no idea how to write poetry. It just so happens that Brother Zhixuan wrote a poem about chrysanthemums a few days ago. I'll borrow it today."

Song Zhixuan chuckled and nodded.

"Autumn chrysanthemums surround the house like those of Tao Yuanming, encircling the fence as the sun gradually sets. It's not that I particularly love chrysanthemums among flowers, but that after this flower blooms, there are no more flowers left." Shi Nan recited slowly.

Yunshang repeatedly praised it, and Shen Haoyu's gaze deepened: "I didn't expect my Yu Guard to be so full of talent, each one skilled in both literature and martial arts."

Song Zhixuan clasped his hands and said, "Thanks to Your Highness and the Young Prince for finding a renowned teacher to instruct me. I will certainly do my best to learn." The other members of the Imperial Guard were also slightly nervous, wondering what Shen Haoyu meant by this.

Zinuo tugged at my sleeve, and I gave him a dismissive glance.

Seeing the atmosphere suddenly tense, Shen Haoyu suddenly smiled again: "Everyone, there's no need to be nervous. Your talents in both literature and martial arts are a blessing to my Prince Qing's Mansion. It will also bring honor to the Prince Qing's Mansion. Alright, everyone, please continue."

Counting from Shi Nan, the fourth person on the right is Lin Zhao. Lin Zhao read aloud: "The one with the plum blossom pattern and the one who started the game each give a couplet, and then the one with the plum blossom pattern gives the next game." After Lin Zhao finished reading, he whispered to me: "Fortunately, the red leaf without words went to Shi Nan, which allowed me to pass the test, otherwise I would have made a fool of myself."

"Everyone has their strengths, there's no such thing as making a fool of yourself," I said quietly, and Lin Zhao nodded.

But then Yunshang recited a couplet in a clear voice: "White birds forget hunger, letting the clouds come and go in the forest."

Song Zhixuan said, “The green mountains are silent, watching the flowers bloom and fade, fade and bloom again in the world.”