Chapter 7: The Beauty (Seeking Collection)

  Chen Zhuo's eyes lit up, and he turned to look at Jiang You, his gaze flashing with a smile: "I heard that Brother Jiang has been working very hard recently. I'm sure you'll pass the imperial examination with high honors soon. Let me offer my congratulations in advance."

  Jiang You didn't understand what Chen Zhuo was getting at, and with an awkward smile on his face, he repeatedly waved his hand and said: "Brother Chen is teasing me, Chu's elder brother is the number one talent in Jinling, it should be him who gets first place."

  "Haha, I love hearing that!" Chu Ke on the side heard this and suddenly his face turned red with laughter.

  Chen Zhuo's eyes flashed with a cold glint, and he also smiled: "That is, that is."

  Jiang You saw everything with his eyes, his face expressionless, but in his heart he secretly sneered.

  Chen Zhuo's eyes were shrouded in gloom, but as he raised his head and took a glance, his eyes suddenly lit up. Not far away, he saw a woman wearing a plain hairpin and dress, her slender figure swaying gently, her curves elegant and beautiful. As she moved, her every gesture was full of charm, with each frown and smile revealing a thousand different emotions.

  Chen Zhuo's eyes flashed with excitement, the crowd surged forward, and he didn't want to leave the two alone, but when he frowned again, he saw Wei Zao's back, his expression cold for a moment, then turned his head to face Jiang You, his eyes flashing: "That brother Jiang's poetry must be a hundred times better than that of Wei Zao?"

  Jiang Youyi was taken aback, his mind racing as he instantly grasped Chen Zhuo's idea. Puffing out his chest with pride, he said, "I dare not say a hundred times, but ten times is definitely possible." He had interacted with Wei Xiao for over two years and understood that bookworm thoroughly. These words were spoken with considerable confidence.

  Chen Zhuo smiled even more and pulled Jiang You forward a few steps, saying: "Brother Jiang, let's take a step aside to talk."

  Jiang You slightly furrowed his brow but still followed with a respectful expression for several steps.

  Chu Yu's face slightly lit up, secretly guessing what method Chen Zhuo would use to deal with Wei Zhao. Looking at the backs of the two people, she couldn't help but want to eavesdrop.

  It wasn't long before Chen Zhuo called out to Chu Qiu to follow him. As soon as he came up, he didn't pay attention to Jiang You's extremely embarrassed face and hastily said: "Brother Chen, what method do you have to teach that Wei family a lesson? I'm so anxious!"

  Chen Zhuo's eyes flashed with disdain, and he shook his head, laughing: "You'll know when the time comes."

  Chen Zhuo ignored Chu Ke's nagging and also ignored Jiang You's gloomy face, staring at the increasingly distant beautiful shadow, walking quickly forward.

  Wei Zhuo never thought that going out would meet a dwarf, still leisurely and carefree with Xiaoying Xiangxiang, while squeezing towards the Yunfo Temple with the crowd.

  Xiangliang's slightly bulging belly, her pale forehead beaded with fine sweat, and her voice crisp as she said "Young Master, you really won't attend? The Buddhist conference is very lively, there are many young ladies from good families..."

  Wei Zhao looked at Xiang Qiang's slightly bulging belly, her unsteady gait, and thought to himself that she was probably still grateful to him in her heart. Thinking this, he couldn't help but smile and say: "I've never liked noisy gatherings, going would be a waste."

  Xianglian had the best thing she'd ever eaten in her life today, and she was extremely grateful to Weizao. Adding to that, Yuanner's reminder made her grab Weizao's arm and temptingly say: "Young master, those young ladies are very pretty, doesn't young master want to see them?"

  Wei Zhao felt that this was the tone of coaxing a child, and casually pinched her smooth little face, saying: "I think it's you who wants to go see those talented young men?"

  "No, it was Wan'er who said that, Master you're also grown up, should be married..." Xiangxiang said halfway and suddenly covered her mouth with her small hands, her big eyes wide open, staring blankly.

  Wei Zhao immediately understood in his heart that this was probably not a command from Wan'er, but rather a hint from his sister-in-law Li Xianyun.

  "Alright, I'll go. I also want to see who among us is the most talented in Jinling." Wei Xiao thought for a moment and decided not to reject Li Xianyun's kind intention.

  Xianglian couldn't help but let out a soft sigh, just as she was about to speak, she suddenly started hiccuping 'hiccups', her small face turned bright red in an instant. Wei Zhao saw this and smiled, pulling her into a nearby teahouse, calling for tea to be served.

  The little girl immediately gobbled down three bowls, and finally, with a bitter face, her cheeks were bright red, she lowered her head and didn't dare to speak. Wei Zao asked several times before the little girl hesitantly told the truth, and it turned out that she couldn't get up!

  Wei Zhao couldn't help but laugh and had no choice but to sit with her for a while.

  The crowd on the main road surged and did not decrease, the big sun above their heads did not reduce people's enthusiasm at all. On the official road leading to Yunfo Temple, people crowded and squeezed each other, almost shoulder to shoulder, endless and stretching for an unknown distance.

  "Waiter, a bowl of water." Wei Xiao was lost in thought when a woman from the next table suddenly sat down, her voice crisp and cold.

  She turned her head and took a look, her eyes lit up involuntarily. The woman was wearing a light-colored brocade dress that clung to her body, outlining her curves perfectly. Her features were soft and delicate, with a hint of boldness between her eyebrows. Her wrists were as white as snow, and her sleeves were tightly buttoned. Her movements were confident and elegant, yet somehow also exuded a strong scholarly air. The entire person embodied a contradictory combination of gentleness and strength.

  The woman had just picked up her tea when she seemed to catch a glimpse of Wei Zhao staring at her out of the corner of her eye, and lightly turned her head to look at him.

  Wei Zhuo smiled slightly, as if nothing had happened, and turned his head to pat the little maid who was sleeping on the table with her mouth hanging open, drooling. Xiangxiang didn't even know what she was dreaming about, with a thread of saliva still hanging from the corner of her mouth.

  Wei Zhao pointed at her mouth and smiled: "Can you walk?"

  Xiangliang's small face turned bright red, she wiped away her saliva, nodded repeatedly, and couldn't wait to leave this place immediately.

  Wei Zhao took another look at the woman and turned to walk towards the surging crowd. Xiangqiang quickly put down a few coins and followed, although her stomach was still a bit bloated, but walking didn't affect her anymore.

  The woman saw Wei Zhao leave and turned her head around, but a glance with the corner of her eye revealed a piece of paper on the ground. Her bright eyes blinked, she put down the bowl and walked over to pick it up, lifted her head, only to find that Wei Zhao's figure had already disappeared into the crowd.

  The woman looked at the paper in her hand and slightly frowned, then turned back, opened it while drinking water.

  An ox plows half an acre of land, harvest depends on heaven, desolation also depends on heaven.

  Coarse tea and plain rice fill three meals, fragrant in the morning, fragrant at night.

  Clothes made of cloth are warmer than silk and down, can be worn long or short.

  A thatched hut with a few rooms, I can travel in peace and stay in peace.

  Last night, men and women talked in front of the lamp, ancient times also talked about it, nowadays also talked about it.

  After the rain, the sky clears, I drive a small boat, fish on one side, wine on the other.

  The sun rises three posts high, I sleep alone, who is a fairy? I am a fairy.

  The woman had read halfway through and involuntarily put down her tea bowl, her cold and elegant face gradually softening. But when she saw the seal at the back was 'Wei Lìyuǎn', a hint of confusion reappeared on her face.

  "Is his name Wei Liyuan?" The woman looked up at where Wei Zhao had disappeared and muttered to herself.

  Weizao took Xiangqian with him, and they struggled through the crowd, killing their way out. The two of them left at dawn and didn't arrive at the entrance of Yunfo Temple until afternoon. Looking at the suddenly dispersing crowd, Weizao felt a sense of relief despite not understanding what was going on, and he pulled Xiangqian to the temple gate in one breath.

  …………