Сун Синчжи жил во времена правления императора Хуэйцзуна

Глава 4

"What is it?" Tian Shuang asked.

The second encounter in the main text

A clear stream flows down from a distant mountain, through a grove of trees, and to this shallow beach. The water is calm and gentle, with small fish swimming leisurely in it, and the reflections of two people, a man and a woman, are also visible in the water.

The man spoke, "I didn't expect you to actually come to our appointment." There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

The woman watched the small fish swimming around in the water, gave a barely perceptible twitch of her lips, and replied, "Anyway, I'm just bored."

The man snorted coldly, "If I have offended you in any way yesterday, I hope Miss Tian will forgive me."

His words were clearly an apology, but his tone didn't sound like one at all. "This young master," this person... is really arrogant.

The woman smiled and said, "Young Master Long, I am too kind to accept such praise. Besides, it was Young Master Long who carried me down in the end, which must have been tiring for you." She looked away and couldn't help but laugh.

It would have been better if the matter hadn't been brought up, because the man's expression changed repeatedly as soon as it was. He withdrew his gaze from the distance and fixed his irritated look on the woman's face.

At this moment, the setting sun slanted through the treetops and shone on her face. Whether it was the reflection of the stream in her eyes or the reflection of the water, her eyes appeared as clear as autumn water, slightly curved with a smile, revealing a hint of mischief and cuteness. Her hair, hanging down her temples, fluttered gently in the wind, her dark black hair cascading down her shoulders, secured only by a hairpin. Her skin was as smooth as jade. This woman was said to be the most beautiful woman in the capital, and indeed she was quite beautiful.

He snorted coldly again: "I didn't help you much. It was Miss Tian who jumped just right. Otherwise, if there had been a slight mistake, she would have been crippled or even killed."

She raised her eyes to meet his gaze, her eyes burning with intensity, and laughed, "Young Master Long is truly blessed with good fortune. You should thank me for jumping just right, otherwise, hehe," she smiled radiantly, "if I die, I will become a vengeful ghost and haunt you every night. If I am crippled, then I will cling to you and make you take care of me for the rest of your life."

Suddenly, the woman took a step forward, looking up intently at the man. At the same time, the man frowned deeply, his gaze fixed on the woman before him. A gust of wind blew the fine sand from the stream around them. At the same time, the woman smelled a faint fragrance of orchids, and the man smelled a faint sweet scent. Suddenly, they both couldn't help but sneeze at each other.

At that moment, two people were waiting ten feet away: one was Long Ming's personal servant, Xiao Zuzi, and the other was Tian Shuang. Each of them stood guard on their own side, clearly disliking the other, and were both staring intently at their master, ignoring each other. Just then, they both saw their master sneeze loudly. Xiao Zuzi was startled and instinctively muttered, "The destined one..." His eyes widened, and he suddenly shivered. Impossible...

That day was their first date. If it could be called a date, everything went well until the end, when things got a little awkward. After that sneeze, Long Ming immediately covered her nose with her sleeve, but she couldn't stop sneezing as if it would never end. Without even saying goodbye, she hurriedly left with Xiao Zuzi, barely able to speak properly. Just before leaving, she gave Xi Ri a terrifying glare, who was barely holding back her laughter, almost to the point of internal injury. Long Ming hadn't walked ten steps when she heard maniacal laughter behind her. Turning around angrily, she saw the woman clutching her stomach, laughing uncontrollably, leaning against a tree by the roadside, while her maid looked on in bewilderment. A surge of anger welled up in his head, and he couldn't help but let out three earth-shattering sneezes, nearly sending the little girl beside him flying. The woman, upon hearing this, stared at him wide-eyed in disbelief, then burst into unrestrained, unladylike laughter. He, on the other hand, nearly suffered a stroke from the surge of rage, but he had no choice but to angrily, swiftly, and forcefully toss away. His figure vanished quickly, but the sneezes lingered, echoing through the sky… accompanied by the woman's unbridled laughter…

Do you know what allergies are? Do you have a history of being allergic to the scent of flowers? Heh, perhaps you've never heard of it, but Long Ming does have this condition. He's not allergic to all flower scents, only one particular one. It's not very severe; it just makes him sneeze for at least an hour. When Long Ming finally manages to suppress a sneeze, it means his allergy is about to pass. He lies weakly on the bed, his body exhausted, but his heart isn't. Instead, a burning rage rages within him. Clearly, that woman did it on purpose. What's infuriating is that he went there today to apologize to her, albeit under duress. But this woman doesn't deserve his apology. He will never let her go, never!

She hadn't expected the lotus-scented powder to be so effective. She knew Long Ming must be feeling terrible, but indirectly, it had made her suffer too. At that moment, she was laughing so hard she could barely breathe, her stomach aching terribly, and she almost passed out. In the end, Tian Shuang helped her back to the mansion, but she still couldn't stop laughing the whole way. The servants at the villa even thought she was possessed by a ghost, and Liu Mama was so worried she almost actually went to find a Taoist priest.

Actually, that day, she had just suddenly remembered that the old lady selling rouge had mentioned that Long Ming was allergic to lotus-scented rouge. She had also mentioned that because Young Master Long was allergic to lotus-scented powder, all lotus-scented rouge was difficult to sell in Suzhou. At the time, she hadn't paid much attention to it, but that day she suddenly remembered this and decided to give it a try. She didn't expect the effect to be so amazing. Even after two days, she still wanted to laugh when she thought about it. Looking at the corners of her mouth that had unconsciously turned up in the mirror, Xi Ri immediately restrained herself. She couldn't laugh anymore; if she laughed again, there would really be a problem.

Just then, Tian Yong's voice came from outside the door: "Miss, the servants from the Long family have delivered another invitation."

"Bring it in."

Upon hearing the sound, Tian Yong bowed and entered the house, handing over the invitation with both hands.

The pink invitation exuded a faint orchid fragrance, with delicate white orchids printed on the corners. It was clear that this person was no ordinary individual. Xi Ri smiled faintly; he seemed to really like orchids, as even he carried the scent of orchids. She opened the invitation with her slender hand, and inside were a few simple words: "Wanxi Tower, see you at 5 PM. From Longming."

Clearly, this was a trap.

The main text is unorthodox.

At dusk, the sun was setting, but it was still quite hot. Three people walked towards them on Mingyue Bridge. A woman in green led the way, her white embroidered shoes swaying lightly, causing her lake-green skirt to flutter. Her white top was embroidered with delicate yellow-green branches and leaves only at the collar and hem. A silk fan adorned with her hair swayed casually with her slender wrist, gently lifting a strand of hair at her temple. Beside her, another woman respectfully held a floral umbrella for her as they strolled leisurely towards the busiest West Bridge Street. Behind them followed a burly man dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, clean in clothes and with a respectful demeanor.

The woman in front suddenly stopped, standing in the middle of the bridge, gazing at the crowd ahead. She frowned, but after a moment, a slight smile appeared on her lips. She turned back and whispered to the man behind her, "Tian Yong, fetch me something..." "Go quickly and come back quickly!"

"Yes," the burly man behind him quickly disappeared at the bridgehead.

At 5 PM, Wanxi Tower.

This is one of the most prestigious restaurants in Suzhou, usually packed with customers by this time, but today it's completely empty. There's only one reason: it's been booked by a wealthy young master.

Wanxi Restaurant has never been booked by anyone. It's not that no one wants to book Wanxi Restaurant, nor that no one can afford the price, but having money alone is not enough to book the entire restaurant. The owner of Wanxi Restaurant requires that anyone who can book the entire restaurant must have extremely high status, prestige, and wealth. You can't be missing any of these three things.

Normally, only the distinguished and wealthy can enter this place; ordinary people are not allowed to even get in.

It's said that the owner of Wanxi Restaurant is from an extremely powerful family in the north, so influential that even the imperial court usually treats them with deference. Anyone with a modicum of sense wouldn't dare cause trouble at Wanxi Restaurant. Yet today, someone has booked the entire restaurant. It's rumored to be a young nobleman, and this person is said to be Long Ming. But why did Long Ming meet Wanxi Restaurant's requirements of status, prestige, and wealth? Why did Long Ming book Wanxi Restaurant? What exactly is Long Ming planning?

In fact, everyone knows that Long Ming is rich. The Long family's business is spread all over the country. It is said that the Long family has contributed a lot to the imperial court and also did a lot of military business during the war, which led to their rapid rise. Since then, the Long family's business has become more and more prosperous and has spread almost all over the country.

As for prestige, he certainly did have it. It is said that anyone who travels the martial arts world must pay a visit to the Long family mansion as soon as they arrive in Suzhou, which shows that Long Ming, the young master of the Long family, is an extremely prestigious person in the martial arts world.

As for his status, everyone knows that Long Ming is a businessman, at most a wealthy one. But some say that Long Ming is not just a businessman, but a descendant of royalty. Others say that Long Ming is a leader of the underworld, but they don't seem to fit the bill. Especially the claim that he is a leader of the underworld—look at his dashing appearance and handsome face. Although he is always cold and aloof, that's what attracts girls' hearts. He seems more like a descendant of royalty. But if he were really a descendant of royalty, why would he have the surname Long, and why would he settle down to live in Suzhou as a businessman?

Too many questions remain unanswered, but none of that matters today. What matters is why Longming booked out Wanxi Restaurant? What exactly is Longming planning to do?

This matter not only puzzled Xiao Zuzi, Long Ming's servant who was standing at the entrance of Wanxi Restaurant, preventing anyone from entering, but also many ordinary people on the street who were having tea and eating. So, people who had just finished eating and those who hadn't, all curiously surrounded Wanxi Restaurant, peering inside as if they could see right through it just by looking at the facade. The teahouse opposite Wanxi Restaurant was packed to the brim, and even the best seats by the window on the second floor were selling for money. In reality, even from those good seats, one could only see the top of Long Ming's head sitting by the window at most.

The area within a ten-meter radius of the entrance to Wanxi Restaurant was completely packed with people, chattering loudly as they discussed Long Gongzi's intentions in booking the entire restaurant. The discussion grew increasingly heated. Some said Long Ming was hosting a VIP, while others thought he was just showing off his wealth. One woman exclaimed that Long Gongzi was incredibly handsome and that she would marry no one but him, only to be immediately met with a cold shoulder, who declared her life was over. Others speculated that Long Gongzi's presence inside alone, having even driven away Xiaozuzi who always followed him, suggested he must be hiding something. Still others guessed he was planning a rendezvous with his lover, a comment that immediately drew glares and nearly resulted in a beating…

Time passed second by second, and by then it was past 5 PM.

It was already three-quarters past 5 PM, and still no one had come to Wanxi Restaurant. Everyone was starting to get anxious.

Suddenly, an elderly woman standing on the second floor of a teahouse opposite Wanxi Tower, craning her neck to look across, fainted. Whether from exhaustion or she was simply too excited to see Long Ming, it was said she had paid two taels of silver for this spot. What a pity! The crowd immediately took her to a clinic for treatment.

Sigh... Strange things happen every year, but this year there seem to be more than usual.

It seems Long Ming has been stood up. Who is Long Ming waiting for? And why has she waited for so long?

The longer it takes, the more enthusiastic people become.

Finally… as the sun began to set, in a corner of the east, the crowd stirred, unconsciously parting to make way for three people. The first person was a veiled woman. She was graceful, dressed in white, with a lake-green long skirt and white embroidered shoes. She gently waved a silk fan and calmly walked past the Wanxi Building, a ten-meter radius of hundreds of people gathered in a place so quiet that even the sound of falling leaves could be heard, under the gaze of countless eyes.

I'd say I was quite composed, except I almost tripped over the high threshold when I first entered Wanxi Restaurant...

Amidst the gasps of hundreds of people… a hand suddenly lifted her arm… and what came into view was a pair of cold, smiling eyes just inches away…

It's past 5 PM, Wanxi Building, third floor.

The sun had shifted a little further, and soon it couldn't reach him anymore. He had been waiting for her for a long time! He was already impatient. This was the first time in his life that he had waited for someone, and a woman at that, a woman he hated.

He sipped his wine, a quarter of an hour earlier, when he had ordered a pot of wine, sneering, "Woman, are you scared? Too afraid to come? Since you like me so much and always want to get my attention, then I'll let you know the price you have to pay for liking me! Heh, as long as you can bear it, then I'll try to accept you, so what!" His fingers tightened around the wine glass, his eyes growing colder, even carrying a hint of cruelty.