Chapter 163 Signature
When Xiao Jun saw that Master Tao looked at Mengxi with a strange light in his eyes, he subconsciously hugged her in his arms and briefly introduced the two of them.
After hearing what the Second Master said, a trace of disappointment flashed in Master Tao's eyes. Seeing his sister-in-law bowing, he quickly returned the bow and said:
"Hearing this, sister-in-law, you are also a kindred spirit. Sister-in-law, you are too kind. How could I have the talent to compose such a heroic and unique song? This song is called 'Swordsman' and it was composed by the current God of Medicine. When I first heard it, I was amazed by it. That's why I asked for the score and often play it to express my feelings. I'm sorry to make you laugh."
Mengxi was disappointed to find that the song was not composed by Master Tao. Who was the God of Medicine? The one who could be called a god and composed the song "Swordsman" must be a fellow villager from later generations!
Damn, others can become gods after coming here, but she has to hide in the east wing and manage her life carefully.
It's really true that comparing yourself with others will make you feel depressed. Mengxi secretly wrote down the code name of the God of Medicine. Someday, she will ask Li Du to find out about it and learn from him. We also run a pharmacy. Others can get a god, but we can't. It would be good to get a king. The God of Medicine is also very cool. I wonder if he can kick Xiao Er to the ground by then!
Seeing the Second Master chatting with Master Tao, he and Zhiqiu and Zhichun, who had caught up from behind, started to browse the calligraphy and paintings on the second floor.
Different from the landscape paintings on the first floor, the second floor focuses more on freehand figures and the painting skills are also on a higher level. Mengxi stopped in front of a painting of a lady. She had no attainments in calligraphy and painting, but this painting made her unable to move forward.
But the picture only uses black and white, and a few simple strokes outline a woman who is looking out the window. There is nothing in the background except a chrysanthemum outside the gauze window. The contrast of black and white makes the picture clear and integrated, and the lines are fine, strong and smooth. The simple composition makes the woman's appearance more delicate and charming, revealing a sense of coldness and loneliness.
As he was watching intently, he heard Master Tao say:
"Does my sister-in-law like this painting too?"
Mengxi turned around and saw Master Tao and the Second Master also coming to the painting of the lady. He turned back to look at the painting and said:
"Yes, this cold-faced young man used only black and white to create a simple outline. There is not a single word "autumn" in the whole painting, but it reminds people of the late autumn when yellow flowers are everywhere and cicadas are chirping. The sadness between the beautiful woman's brows makes people feel sad and heartbroken. It is really heartbreaking. The curtains are rolled up by the west wind, and the woman is thinner than the yellow flowers. I think this cold-faced young man must be a master of painting. I only regret that Mengxi has no chance to see him."
Staring at the painting of the lady in front of her, with her back to Xiao and Tao, Mengxi was talking incessantly, when she suddenly felt the air around her condense and the hairs on her back stood up. She turned around abruptly, only to see the Second Master and Master Tao staring at her in amazement.
Mengxi broke out in a cold sweat. She knew that her attainments in calligraphy and painting, especially in calligraphy, were, in Zhiqiu's words, as good as a hen's. It was rare for her to see calligraphy and painting that moved her. She was filled with emotion and gave a speech for the first time.
Damn! Wrong review?
Master Tao looked at her, coughed a few times, and said:
"Could it be that my sister-in-law has never known that this cold-faced young man is the nickname of Xiao Jun, the second master of Xiao, and is known as the Cold-faced Lord of Hell?"
Seeing his sister-in-law standing there in a daze, Master Tao continued:
"Li Zan, who is known as a genius, Ouyang Zhu, the eldest son of the Ouyang family, and Mr. Xiao, who is known as the cold-faced Lord of Hell, together with me, we call Pingyang the Four Young Masters. Among them, Brother Xiao is good at calligraphy and painting, and the genius Li Zan is good at writing. Brother Ouyang is an excellent zither player, and I, who am not talented, especially like poetry and songs."
Cold-faced young master? The cold-faced Lord of Hell was indeed cold, and could freeze people to death within three feet. After hearing this, Mengxi turned her head to look at Xiao Jun, but saw that his phoenix eyes were slightly open, staring at her, the corners of his mouth moved slightly, and there was a hint of smile in his trance.
Damn! Are you making fun of me? Mengxi turned away awkwardly. Ignore him!
But Master Tao continued:
"Don't say it's not heartbreaking, the curtains roll up in the west wind, and people are thinner than yellow flowers. My sister-in-law came up with such a beautiful sentence at will. Today I know that there are always people better than you. How dare I be called the immortal poet again? Especially when the God of Medicine appeared, I felt even more ashamed. I heard from Brother Li that not only can the medicine made by this God of Medicine bring the dead back to life, like the miraculous Guanyin, but his lyrics and music are unparalleled in the world. Perhaps in the world today, only Brother Xiao's calligraphy and paintings and Brother Li's articles can compete with him."
Wow, it’s so amazing, I should meet it.
"The Li Zan that Mr. Tao is talking about is the one that people often refer to as the Crown Prince's aide Li Zan."
"That's right. Li Zan's articles are easy to read and circulate among the people. He is indeed a genius who can stabilize the country and bring peace to the nation. Therefore, people call him a genius. He is favored by the crown prince and recently became his staff member."
"This Medicine God is a good friend of Li Zan. Mengxi has never heard of him."
"My sister-in-law lives a secluded life, so of course she doesn't know. This Medicine God also appeared a few months ago. His surname is Li, and his courtesy name is Mengtan. He is the owner of Yichun Hall and the sworn brother of the current crown prince. He likes to play in the water and roam the world. He is often seen but not found. Brother Li has only met him once."
When these words were spoken, Zhichun opened his eyes wide in shock and looked at the Second Mistress with his mouth wide open. Zhiqiu, who was quick-handed, grabbed him and almost let the Second Master see through him.
What! When did she become a god? Even the news of him and the prince becoming sworn brothers has spread, but she is still so cautious, even hiding it from Zhichun!
Even though Mengxi was calm, she still couldn't come back to her senses for a while. Seeing that she looked different, Master Tao asked casually:
"What happened to my sister-in-law?"
"He just prescribed a few doses of medicine, and he was falsely regarded as a god. How can Mr. Tao believe in rumors in the market?"
"Xi'er, please don't be rude. How can the Medicine God be treated frivolously by people like you and me?"
"Sister-in-law, you are wrong. The song "Smiling Proudly in the Jianghu" that attracted you just now was composed by the God of Medicine. How can it be said to be nonsense?"
But being modest won't work!
Mengxi's words aroused the two people's common hatred of the enemy. He looked at Zhiqiu and shut up tactfully.
Seeing that everyone had stopped talking, Master Tao turned to Xiao Jun and said:
"Brother Xiao's painting has been here for more than half a year. I racked my brains but couldn't think of a sentence that could match the sadness between the eyebrows of this beautiful woman. I was afraid that the painting would be disgraced, so I didn't dare to put pen to paper. My sister-in-law's words, 'Don't say it's not heartbreaking, the curtains are rolled up by the west wind, and people are thinner than yellow flowers', are like poems, and paintings reflect poetry. It's really a match made in heaven. Brother Xiao, the Double Ninth Festival is coming in a few days. Brother Xiao's painting, paired with my sister-in-law's poem, will surely win the first prize at the Double Ninth Festival Poetry Conference. When the time comes, don't forget to bring my sister-in-law with you."
"Double Ninth Festival Poetry Contest?"
Mengxi repeated in confusion.
"The talented people in Pingyang City have nothing to do every year, so they organize poetry competitions in spring and autumn. In autumn, they usually choose the Double Ninth Festival. They agree to go up high to appreciate the chrysanthemums, and recite poems. This has become a tradition every year, and every year they choose a winner. Brother Tao was the winner last year, and Xi'er didn't even know about this?"
Seeing that Mengxi was puzzled, Xiao Jun patiently introduced everything to her. He was surprised that Mengxi didn't know these things given her talent, and finally asked out of curiosity.
Mengxi listened, smiled awkwardly, and said:
"When I was at my parents' home, my father was in poor health, so I often accompanied my mother to prepare meals for him. I seldom went out, so I never heard of him."
Hearing Mengxi calling herself a maid in front of the Second Master, a trace of pity flashed in Master Tao's eyes. Such a beautiful woman, but she is not his legal wife. The Second Master is worthy of being a son of a noble family. It is such a waste of a talent. However, his eyes looking at Mengxi became much warmer.
The words "maid" sounded particularly harsh today. Glancing at Master Tao's eyes, Xiao Jun's face instantly swelled to the color of liver, and the blush slowly climbed up his neck. He looked straight at Mengxi, moved his lips, but made no sound.
Seeing Xiao Jun like this, Mengxi recalled what he had just said. It seemed that there was nothing wrong with it. He met the Second Master's gaze calmly and confronted him.
Who is afraid of whom!
The two looked at each other for a long time, and Xiao Jun turned around and shouted to the book boy at the door:
"Bring me a pen!"
After a while, the book boy brought the brush and ink. Xiao Jun dipped the brush in thick ink and came to the picture of the lady. In the blank space in the upper left corner of the painting, he wrote the following sentence:
"Don't say I'm not heartbroken, the curtains are rolled up by the west wind, and I am thinner than the yellow flowers"
The few short words were vigorous and powerful, and the strokes of the pen were really the icing on the cake. Mengxi and Master Tao were amazed when they saw them, but they saw Xiao Jun wrote a few words in the signature that made everyone even more stunned:
"My Wife Dreams Creek"
And it has this signature!
It seemed like a label was put on her head. When Mengxi saw it, she was secretly annoyed and looked at the Second Master with displeasure.
Meeting those angry eyes, it was the first time she showed a different emotion in front of him, which made Xiao Jun feel very happy. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly and he gave her a faint smile.
There is no denying that Erye's smile is so charming that it actually makes Mengxi feel flustered. She dares not pursue her "right to reputation " anymore and turns around to look at the calligraphy and paintings on the wall.
This Second Master Xiao had married a wife a long time ago, and the matter of bringing good luck to his wife had long been a good story in Pingyang. Now he even put the word "wife" on the head of a concubine. What did this Second Master Xiao want to do? Can this painting still be taken to the Chongyang Poetry Meeting? When Master Tao saw the signature of the Second Master, he looked at Xiao Jun in confusion.
This second master is very cold and ruthless in the business world. He is known as the Cold-Faced Lord of Hell. He is not going to do something unorthodox like favoring his concubine and killing his wife! Just when he was about to persuade her, he saw Mengxi's back and closed his mouth again.
It's worth doing something unorthodox for such a talented and beautiful woman.
After a long silence, Master Tao coughed and said:
"Brother Xiao, it's better to come at the right time than to come in time. Brother Li Zan and I have agreed to discuss the Double Ninth Festival Poetry Festival today. Looking at the time, Brother Li will be here soon. A few days ago, Brother Li was still talking about Brother Xiao, saying that you have been staying at home since you recovered from your illness. We have made several appointments, but unfortunately we missed each other. It's better to meet by chance than to invite each other. Brother Xiao, don't leave today. I will send someone to invite Brother Ouyang over later. The four of us brothers are going to get drunk today."
Li Zan is coming! Mengxi, who was admiring the paintings on the wall with her back turned, trembled when she heard what Master Tao said.
Even though she is dressed as a daughter now, can you guarantee that Li Zan will not recognize her as the owner of Yichun Hall when they really meet?
Even if he cannot recognize it today, can we guarantee that Li Zan will not become suspicious when he recalls it after a long time?
Glancing at Zhiqiu who was looking at her helplessly, Mengxi felt cold sweat on her forehead.
