I thought about it again and questioned this newly elevated feeling. I felt that it might be a kind of emotion that floats outside of love, like a high mountain and flowing water. The difference between these two kinds of feelings is that the latter is that talented men and women have a collision, resonance, and spark in their life ideals, while the former is to put these collisions and sparks into physical form.
I asked, "Has General Jin taken a liking to her?"
Yan Bai said, "General Jin did indeed like Miss A Zhao. I never met that girl, but I heard that after the general died tragically in Yanmen County, Miss A Zhao committed suicide for love."
Lou Xiyue asked, "Then what about my third uncle? Why did he choose to hide in the court?"
Yan Bai sighed, "During the Battle of Yanmen, we requested reinforcements, but the court did not send any troops. The general fought a desperate battle at Yanmen and was killed in action. Lou Zhao probably lost interest in Zhengye because of this incident."
I said, "This stifles the ambition and passion of young people; what a cannibalistic society this is."
Lou Xiyue pondered, "Why did we lose the Battle of Yanmen?"
Yan Bai said, "We fell into an ambush. General Jin led a thousand cavalry in a night attack, but their retreat was cut off." Yan Bai raised an eyebrow, paused, and then said, "The central army led by Lou Zhao arrived too late."
Finally, Yan Bai finished his wine and sighed, "Who knows the hero's bones are as white as frost? How sad, how sad."
I looked blankly at Lou Xiyue, indicating that I didn't quite understand the last line of the poem.
Lou Xiyue also tilted his head back and drank, then said, "Birds peck at people's intestines, scholars are condemned and their bodies are smeared in the wilderness."
I gave an even more bewildered look, indicating that Lou Xiyue's sentence was even more puzzling than Yan Bai's.
Lou Xiyue glanced at me, perhaps sensing my blank expression, and then considerately asked, "Xiao Xiang, are you sleepy?"
I said, "I don't look sleepy at all."
He said, "Then why are your eyes like that..." He thought for a moment, probably thinking about how to continue, and after a while, Lou Xiyue said, "Why are they so dreamy?"
I said, "They're probably intoxicated by their patriotic fervor."
He chuckled softly, "If you're sleepy, take a nap. The waterway will take a while."
Yan Bai picked up his book and stood up, saying, "Young Master Lou, there is an inner room inside the boat with a soft chair. If you and your sister don't mind, you can rest there for a while."
Lou Xiyue also stood up, bowed, and thanked her.
We went into the inner room, where a screen was painted with graceful swallows among the clouds. A porcelain oil lamp was lit in the room, and a soft chair covered with sheepskin and silk was placed next to the table, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
There's only one soft chair here; I don't know whether I should pretend to make room for it.
I politely said, "Please sit down."
Lou Xiyue looked at me with a smile, standing there without saying a word.
His reaction was unexpected. Any gentleman who cherishes women would have politely said: "There is only one soft chair here. Miss, you have been on a bumpy boat ride. You should sit down."
I thought perhaps my politeness wasn't enough to express the compassionate feelings I once had, so I said again, "Since you've had such a bumpy journey by boat, you should sit in the seat of honor."
Lou Xiyue smiled and said, "Thank you, Miss." Then, she walked over, leaned back comfortably in the soft chair, and half-closed her dark eyes, as if she was about to fall asleep.
I paced back and forth in front of him, the gentle breeze and bright moon making me anxious.
I asked, "Are you getting off at the next ferry crossing?"
Lou Xiyue uttered something softly, but I didn't hear it clearly.
So she moved closer and asked him again, "What did you just say?"
He had his eyes half-closed, looking like he was already fast asleep, which made me even more anxious.
I poked him with my finger, and he tilted his head slightly without reacting.
I said, "Lou Xiyue, you've taken up the only soft chair here. Do you expect me to sleep on the floor?"
It was very quiet in his room.
I gritted my teeth and said, "I used to think you were a very elegant young man, but after seeing you today, my illusions are shattered. Time really does age us all. When I first met you, you called me 'Master' and even made tea for me. It's like white clouds drifting away and blue seagulls disappearing."
I glanced at him and realized he was probably really asleep, so I emphasized "White clouds drift away, blue dogs and seagulls" twice, but to no avail. Then I turned around and planned to go to the outer room to find a triangular stool to sit on.
Suddenly, someone pulled me back around the waist, and I sat down comfortably in Lou Xiyue's arms.
He was behind me, smiling, and said, "I think I heard you say you'd give me the soft chair and sit in my lap?"
I froze. "You're hallucinating."
He tightened his arms around my waist, his tone indifferent, "I think I heard you say to tell me not to get off at the next ferry crossing?"
I tried to turn around, but he held on very tightly. I said, "Young Master Lou, please let go first, then we can talk things over."
He joked, "No way."
I said, "What are you trying to do right under the nose of this high-ranking official?"
Lou Xiyue chuckled softly, released my hand, stood up, and laid me down in the soft chair. "Those two lines you just recited, were you trying to say 'Time flies like an arrow, white clouds drift by like a greyhound'?"
I was taken aback, and then chuckled dryly, "Yeah, yeah."
He looked at me with great interest. "You probably caught a cold today. Go to bed early."
I said, "I'm going to sleep, what about you?"
He nodded. "I'll go to the outer room, light a lamp, and read a book."
I said, "The oil lamp outside has gone out. Take this cup out of this room."
Lou Xiyue smiled faintly, got up and walked to the table.