"Tianqing!"
A voice ca through, and Chen Shi and Li Tianqing looked over to see seven or eight young n dressed as scholars, appearing dapper but not ostentatious, all exuberant and youthful, waving at Li Tianqing from afar.
Li Tianqing responded and whispered, "They’re my Li Family’s own. The one calling is Li Juan, the second son of my fourth uncle, who has always looked after . They must need sothing if they’re calling over. I’ll go see what it is."
Chen Shi nodded.
Li Tianqing ran over, and Li Juan laughed, "Tianqing, we brothers just arrived in Xinxiang, unfamiliar with everything here and quite inconvenienced. Do you know of any fun places? You’ve been here before, so why not show us around?"
Li Tianqing replied with difficulty, "The last ti I ca, I only visited the countryside and never entered the town."
Li Juan said, "We’re just looking for a scenic spot to have so tea. You were just speaking with soone local, weren’t you? Why not ask them?"
Li Tianqing ran back and relayed the ssage, and Chen Shi said, "A few days ago, while roaming the night market, I ca across Qingqu River in the city and saw painted boats on the river that probably offer scenic views and tea. However, Tianqing, the way they beckon and boss you around, they don’t seem to treat you as a true brother, but more like a servant."
Li Tianqing said, "I’ll talk more when I get back."
He hurriedly ran back again, informing Li Juan and the others about the painted boats. Li Juan asked for the others’ opinions, and they all smiled, saying, "It’s just about enjoying the scenery and finding a tranquil, elegant place. Let’s go for the painted boat."
Li Juan nodded and said, "Thanks, Tianqing. Was that friend of yours from earlier? Invite him along too. It saves trouble having a local guide."
Li Tianqing agreed, ca back to get Chen Shi, and led everyone towards Qingqu River.
Li Tianqing whispered, "I’m an illegitimate child from a concubine in the Li Family, without much status. I rank lower than a favored maid at ho. If it weren’t for the discovery of the Great Ming Treasure Ship where I distinguished myself, they probably wouldn’t bother with at all."
Chen Shi laughed, "Then what’s the point of staying with the Li Family? Co with to Qianyang Mountain. At least you could be a mountain king where nobody dares to contradict you in the village."
Li Tianqing sighed, "Born into a high-status family, I’m not free to make my own choices."
While they talked, they reached the dock at Qingqu River and called for a painted boat. The river was clean, and the boat was decorated with a Wind Talisman that could be activated to propel the boat smoothly with the wind, which was very convenient.
The boat was manned by a father and daughter team, the father steering while the daughter bustled about, attentively boiling and pouring tea.
The young masters of the Li Family, seeing the boat girl was quite pretty, teased her a bit only to discover she was spirited, coming back with sharp replies that left them blushing furiously.
Everyone laughed heartily as they watched the painted boat enter Qingqu River.
Li Juan lanted, "How can the river remain so clear? It’s because of the constant flow from the spring."
His voice carried a hint of helplessness as he continued, "This Great Ming realm is picturesque, but it’s a pity that court’s discipline is weak. Those in power are but wine sacks and rice bags, all steeped in the sa corruptive mire, allowing Evil Spirits to run rampant, betraying this beautiful landscape and disappointing its people. In such tis, where can we find a clear stream? Without a clear stream, where cos the living water? Without the living water, how can fish and dragons dance?"
His words resonated, stirring deep feelings among the crowd.
Chen Shi couldn’t help but glance sideways at him, thinking, "This Li Juan truly sees the corruption of the tis."
Li Zhengqing, the fourth son of Li Xiaozheng, said, "What second brother says is very true. But with things as they are, even though we may wish to reform, without power or influence, what can we do?"
They all sighed together.
Li Juan chanted mournfully, "To waste such passion, to whiten youthful hair in vain! The desire to slay the villain is strong, the power to rectify the heavens is weak! Alas, alas! If only I could enter the court, I would surely sweep across the globe and eradicate the stubborn maladies of the court, reinstating the ancient laws to restore a bright and ordered world!"
Everyone praised his words, and Chen Shi joined in the admiration, comnting to Li Tianqing, "The Li Family is truly full of knowledgeable n, much more impressive than the Zhao Family."
He had killed many from the Zhao Family and knew exactly what kind of people the Zhao offspring were.
Li Tianqing only smiled in response.
On the painted boat, they spoke with passionate lancholy, lanting the hardships of the common people while the heartless officials of the court did nothing, bemoaning their good intentions matched with ineffective abilities to change the situation.
Chen Shi grew more appreciative of Li Juan and the others. Just then, Li Juan asked the boat girl, "Do you have any ’thin horses’ in this city?"
The boat girl was puzzled, "What are ’thin horses’?"
Li Juan, slightly embarrassed, whispered, "Young courtesans."
The boat girl laughed, "So the gentlen wish to consort with courtesans. Here I thought, given that earlier high-minded talk, you weren’t planning on that kind of amusent, which is why we didn’t head to the pleasure houses. Our boat can take you straight there, although it’s mostly a night-ti affair; there’s less going on during the day. Just give a mont to turn the boat around. Father, they’re not serious scholars; head to the pleasure house."
The boat turned, heading towards the pleasure house.
Relieved, the crowd started joking and laughing. Any ntion of societal ills was quickly interrupted, and they again discussed ’thin horses,’ with crude language slipping in.
Chen Shi found the situation bizarre and couldn’t reconcile these n with those who had just delivered impassioned elegiac verses.
When they arrived at the pleasure house and the boat was moored, a bevy of adorned girls opened the windows above, peering down with fresh attire, singing, and dancing, all waving handkerchiefs, inviting the ’gentlen’ upstairs.
The n, spirits and passion engaged, hurriedly disembarked.
The boat girl rushed to say, "You haven’t paid for the boat yet!"
"Tianqing, you pay!" Li Juan, the first to dash into the pleasure house, called out loudly.
The crowd surged into the house, embracing beauties and toasting to joy. After a while, sothing triggered their nerves again, and they bitterly criticized the governnt, fretted about the country and the people, then proceeded to reach into the bosoms of the beauties, indulging in sensuality and decadence.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l
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