After finishing lunch, the three of them chatted, and the conversation drifted back to poetry. Both Lin Wan and Zhao Qinghuan hoped that Ye Tian could compose a new poem, preferably one themed around yearning or romance.
The previous day, Lin Wan had chosen "Mid-Autumn" as the prompt because she worried that if she picked something else, Ye Tian might not be able to write it, leading to an awkward situation. But now that both of them knew his capabilities, they naturally wanted him to write a new piece.
To this, Ye Tian naturally did not refuse. Taking advantage of the free time, he said directly, "How about this? If you both have nothing special to do this afternoon, I can tell you a story and weave a poem into it along the way. How does that sound?"
"I think that sounds wonderful. I finished my tasks yesterday, and I'm completely free for the next few days leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival," Lin Wan said first.
Zhao Qinghuan immediately smiled as well. "I'm even freer, with time to spare whenever. I wonder what kind of story the Young Master plans to tell?"
"Since you both asked for themes of yearning and romance, the story I tell will naturally revolve around these two subjects. I trust you will like it." Ye Tian replied.
"Then I must trouble the Young Master. I'll go brew some tea." Zhao Qinghuan stood up happily and said.
She had been in the Lin Estate for over two years. Ever since that incident, she had never left the estate, nor had she ever interacted with anyone outside of it.
Of course, it wasn't that she was unwilling to interact with others, but rather that everyone regarded her as a harbinger of bad luck. Aside from her cousin, few were willing to get close to her. Ye Tian could be considered her only outsider acquaintance, which was why she currently felt a great deal of fondness toward him.
Perhaps this was because he did not yet know about her past, but even so, having spent so much time alone, she now longed to find a new friend. Especially since this new friend was so learned and talented, and shared troubles similar to her own.
Yesterday's line—"People say the flowers of Luoyang are like brocade, yet when I arrive, spring is nowhere to be found"—had voiced the suppressed emotions she had carried for years, making her regard Ye Tian as a confidant after hearing it just once.
Nearby, Lin Wan felt somewhat happy seeing this. After all, apart from managing a smile in front of her, her cousin rarely spoke more than a single sentence to anyone else.
Moreover, her cousin often cried secretly under the covers at night; Lin Wan had heard her several times.
As for that incident back then? What did the sudden death of that wastrel from the Han Family have to do with her cousin? Her cousin hadn't even arrived in Luoyang yet at that time! Besides, although the two had been betrothed since childhood, her cousin had never even laid eyes on what the man looked like. Why would she harm him? It was completely incomprehensible!
Yet because of this matter, the Han Family not only broke off the engagement but also slandered her cousin as a bringer of misfortune, leaving her with no home to return to and forcing her to temporarily stay at her cousin's residence, shrouded in daily gloom. Therefore, seeing her cousin looking so happy now, Lin Wan felt genuinely glad from the bottom of her heart.
Soon, Zhao Qinghuan returned with a teapot, pouring tea for Ye Tian, herself, and Lin Wan.
At this moment, Ye Tian began to speak: "A long time ago, there was a scholar named Cui Hu. Since childhood, he had studied diligently by the window, striving to be successful in the imperial examination. Unfortunately, despite a decade of hard work, he still failed the exams. Ever since then, he locked himself in his room, avoiding contact with outsiders for a long time. It wasn't until the spring of the following year that Cui Hu finally chose to go out to admire the flowers and enjoy the scenery. At that time, the peach blossoms were in full bloom, brilliant as rosy clouds on the horizon, ethereal and dreamlike.
Leaving his home, Cui Hu soon departed Luoyang City and entered the countryside, and his mood gradually improved. However, perhaps because he was too happy, he walked on and became lost.
Fortunately, as he looked around, he spotted a farmhouse nestled deep within the peach trees, so he voluntarily walked over to ask for a bowl of water. He stepped forward and gently knocked on the courtyard gate, waiting in anticipation for someone to answer.
From within the courtyard, a soft voice soon asked: 'Who is outside?'
Hearing the voice before seeing the person, and realizing it belonged to a woman, Cui Hu felt a slight flutter of nervousness in his chest.
A moment later, a woman slowly opened the courtyard gate. She wore a dress the exact same color as the peach blossoms, her bright eyes moving with intelligence, and her delicate features were as breathtakingly beautiful as the blossoms on the branches.
Cui Hu first bowed to the young woman and then said, 'I lost my way while out for a stroll and have grown parched with thirst. Might I impose upon you for a bowl of water?'
Cui Hu was naturally a handsome man, and combined with his humble and courteous demeanor, the young woman certainly did not refuse. With a slight flush on her cheeks, she invited him into the courtyard, quickly fetched a bowl of fresh water, and handed it to Cui Hu.
Seeing this, Cui Hu naturally expressed his gratitude, then drank the water while admiring the surrounding scenery. Watching the young woman leaning against a peach tree not far away, Cui Hu longed to say a few more words to her, yet feared he might offend the beauty, so he could only gaze at her secretly out of the corner of his eye.
Thus, Cui Hu stayed there until sunset. Seeing that it was getting late and that it was no longer appropriate for him to linger, he had no choice but to rise and take his leave. The young woman cradled a peach blossom branch and escorted him to the gate. Cui Hu looked back reluctantly at the beauty before him, several times wishing to voice his affection, but each time the words died on his lips.
If he had been successful in the imperial examination at that moment, he surely would have revealed his feelings and hoped to spend their lives together. Alas, having just failed the exams, if he were to make vows now, he feared he might ruin the young woman's entire life.
He could only hope that if fate allowed, they would meet again one day.
Yet Cui Hu never imagined that the young woman's failure to chase him away all afternoon was already a sign of her acceptance of him.
Upon returning home, Cui Hu studied tirelessly by lamplight, solely for the purpose of passing the next imperial examination and returning in glory to propose marriage at the young woman's home.
And every night at midnight, he would recall their meeting in the peach orchard, remembering every smile and frown of the young woman, before finally drifting slowly to sleep.
...
What Cui Hu did not know, however, was that while he missed her day and night, the young woman was equally unable to forget him.
For that day, not only had Cui Hu fallen for her at first sight, but the young woman had also been captivated by him instantly. Before Cui Hu left, she had several times wanted to declare her feelings, yet worried that doing so might make him think her frivolous.
Consequently, after Cui Hu departed, the young woman fell victim to lovesickness. She gazed at the peach blossoms before her door day after day—from blossoming to falling, from green branches to withered leaves—with not a single moment passing when she wasn't thinking of Cui Hu.
Whenever she heard someone knocking on the door outside, she would always rush to open it, only to feel a pang of desolate sorrow upon seeing that the visitor was not the one in her heart.
She also thought about going out to search for him, but unfortunately, she knew nothing about Cui Hu; aside from his name, she knew absolutely nothing else, so she could only continue waiting like this.
During this time, other scholars also came by asking for water, but in her heart, these men fell short of Cui Hu by even a fraction, making her miss the man in her heart all the more.
Thus, her health grew steadily worse, and she wasted away day by day. Her parents felt heartbroken for their daughter, yet knew not how to comfort her, for they too had no idea whether that scholar would ever return.
..."