Chapter Eighteen: Entering Wén Xuán Táng

  Because of the delay, when everyone entered Pingjing, it was already approaching dusk. In winter, the day is short, and around dusk, the sun had already slanted to the west, half-hidden behind the not-so-vibrant evening clouds, about to set.

  Xiao Chengye looked up at the sky and smiled: "Let's go! Let's find an inn to stay in first, then we can talk about other things!"

  Everyone had no opinion on this. Xiao Chengye and Ling Yuqing, although they grew up in Pingjing since childhood and often traveled outside, usually went to restaurants and taverns, but as for inns and other places of lodging, they were not very familiar with them.

  After wandering around on the street for a while, they finally found an inn.

  When they went in to ask, the shopkeeper heard that many people wanted to come and stay, and they all wanted to live upstairs. He shook his head like a rattle drum: "Don't deceive the guests, next year is the year of the big comparison, although there are many guest houses in Beijing, but also can't afford the scholars from all over the world flocking to come. Not to mention that you opened your mouth and wanted so many upstairs rooms, even if you just want one room, our store doesn't have it!"

  At the time of going down the mountain, Xiao Chengye and others really didn't think of this, at this moment, after hearing these words, everyone couldn't help but be shocked.

  The shopkeeper was used to doing business and was good at observing people's words and expressions. So, when he said this, it wasn't because he wanted to drive away the customers who came to his door. After a pause, he smiled again: "Your honorable guests are numerous, and as far as I know, there is no inn in the vicinity that can accommodate so many empty rooms. If your esteemed guests are willing, they can actually be divided into several inns for accommodation. For example, our humble shop has someone living in the upper house, but there are still two rooms left in the wing room. As for the conditions, it's not much different from the upper house!"

  He made the proposal, Xiao Chengye naturally couldn't accept it, and politely declined the shopkeeper's kindness without hesitation. Everyone came out. After all, they walked along the street for a while, asked several inns, but what they said was almost the same as what the previous shopkeeper had said.

  As they walked out of the fourth inn, Xiao Chengye let out a helpless sigh and said: "I really didn't know that there was a big competition going on. It's actually hard to find an inn to stay in even with money!" Ling Yuqing also rubbed his temples, clearly finding this matter quite frustrating as well.

  Knitting his eyebrows, Yuandai was about to speak when Wenshu suddenly spoke up: "Young... sir, look!"

  The crowd suddenly heard the sound and immediately looked up to see a medium-sized pharmacy about twenty steps away from them. The westward-setting sun cast its last golden rays on the black lacquered signboard hanging above the door, which bore four plain but bold characters: Hui An Tang. It was an ordinary storefront with an ordinary name, without any distinctive features.

  Everyone else was stunned, but Ling Yuanqing suddenly saw the store and couldn't help but laugh. He glanced at Yuandai and said, "It seems that this accommodation matter will still have to rely on Ninth Sister after all!"

  Yan Dai looked at the pharmacy and couldn't help but laugh: "Walking around and around, who would have thought I'd end up here!"

  Xiao Chengxian listened to their lively discussion, but she didn't understand a word, and couldn't help feeling puzzled. She hastily asked: "Does Ninth Sister have some sort of relationship with this pharmacy?" It was only when she said this that she suddenly remembered Far Dai's expertise in medicine.

  With a faint smile, she raised her hand and pointed at the medicine shop: "The owner of this medicine shop is Yuan Zhen!"

  Yu Zhen, this name, not to mention Xiao Chengyan. Even Ling Yu Xuan has heard of it a little. Xiao Chengyan raised his head and took a look at the medicine shop: "Looking like this, this shop is not very big, I don't know if it can accommodate us so many people?"

  Yan Dai smiled and didn't say much, just gesturing for everyone to enter. At this time, the sky was already late, and there were no customers in the medicine shop. Behind the black lacquer counter, a young man who looked like the owner was sitting upright, holding a book in his hand. Hearing the sound of footsteps, the owner quickly stood up, just about to speak when he saw Wenping standing among the crowd.

  After a brief moment of stunned silence, he smiled and said: "Miss Wenping, what brings you here today?" As he spoke, he hastily emerged from behind the counter, bowed to everyone, and then asked: "May I ask what brings these esteemed guests to our humble abode?"

  When he came to take those two pots of jasmine last time, Ling Yuancheng had seen this shopkeeper named He Wen. At this moment, seeing him ask questions, he almost unconsciously took a step forward, and only then did he realize that his identity was not Ling Yuancheng at the moment, so he closed his mouth in alarm.

  On the other side, Wen Ping smiled and said: "He Zhuangzhu, we have an important matter to discuss, we need to see Yuan Zhen sister!"

  He Wen heard the words, and immediately responded: "So several of you want to see our master! Quick, quick, please come in!" As he spoke, he hurriedly stepped aside, lifted up the green cloth curtain that led to the inner room, and made a welcoming gesture.

  Everyone looked at each other, and without saying a word, they stepped inside. As soon as they entered, everyone couldn't help but praise the interior in their hearts. The exterior of this pharmacy was not much different from others, but the inner room fully showcased the owner's taste.

  Upon closer inspection, the objects in this house are not particularly rare or precious, but somehow, as soon as people enter and see the simple yet elegant decorations and arrangements, they feel a sense of serenity and elegance, making them feel even more comfortable.

  "He He Wen smiled and said: 'Please sit down, everyone! Our host will be here in a moment!' As he spoke, he walked to the side of the large purple sandalwood carved screen with flowers and birds, raised a small hammer and struck the small bell-like object hanging on the side of the screen nine times."

  That small hammer was also unknown what material it was made of, and when it struck the small bell, it emitted a very clear and distant sound, which was transmitted far away. Even though Xiao Chengye came from a noble family, he had never seen such a means of communication before, and couldn't help but take a few more glances.

  Xiao Chengxian couldn't help but laugh and say: "This method is indeed interesting, tomorrow when I return to the manor, I'll try it out too!"

  Yuandai smiled slightly to the side, but it was a completely inexplicable smile. After the bell rang, just for a moment, a soft sound came from behind the screen, and immediately afterwards, the sound of rustling clothes followed. The woman who emerged from behind the screen wore a moon-white silk jacket, over which she wore a silver-red embroidered vest, with a honey-colored cotton skirt trailing down, although they were all ordinary clothes, but on her body, they showed a different kind of elegant and beautiful charm.

  As soon as she entered the room, the woman's eyes, like autumn water, turned clear and bright, and when they fell on Yuandai, a hint of surprise appeared on her face. Yuandai smiled at her: "Zhen!" she called out.

  As soon as the two words "Yuan Zhen" came out, everyone present except Wen Ping and Ling Yuanqing, who had seen Yuan Zhen before, couldn't help but reveal a look of astonishment. The Yuan Zhen in front of them, whether it was her appearance or demeanor, was not inferior to any ordinary young lady from a good family. Who would have believed that she used to be just a maid by Yan Dai's side?

  Yuan Zhen heard the call and recognized her, but hesitated to reveal Faraday's identity due to the surrounding crowd. Yuan Zhen smiled and approached, gently scolding: "Miss, why didn't you let me know you were coming?" As she spoke, she walked forward and supported Faraday, her mannerisms and movements extremely natural.

  Yuan Dai smiled and said: "I didn't plan on coming over to look for you today!"

  Yu Zhen was indeed very clever and immediately laughed upon hearing this: "But aren't all the inns outside already full?"

  Yan Dai smiled and said, "You! Now that you're the master of the house, you've become even more cunning!" She then introduced everyone to Yuan Zhen one by one. Yuan Zhen hurried over to pay his respects, and he was elegant in appearance and dignified in demeanor.

  After exchanging greetings and having tea served by the maid, Zhen asked: "Miss, where do you plan to stay?"

  Lowering her head to think for a moment, Yu Dai finally said: "Staying here would be quite inconvenient! If there's a better inn, it's naturally still best to stay at an inn!" They had come this time to select a son-in-law from the list, and staying in a medicine shop was naturally extremely inconvenient.

  Nodding slightly, Yuan Zhen said: "If you want to stay in a guest house, the best one in the capital is naturally the Wenxuan Pavilion! To mention it, some days ago, I had reserved a small courtyard in the Wenxuan Pavilion, which happens to be empty now. How do you think, miss?"

  Others who heard her words didn't think much of it, but on the other side, Xiao Chengye and Ling Yuqing suddenly heard these words and exchanged a stunned glance.

  Wen Xuan Ge can be said to be the first inn in Beijing. Other inns, after the spring examination, only need to produce one jinshi (a successful candidate in the imperial examination) to make the owner and shopkeeper self-satisfied for several years, while Wen Xuan Ge, everyone guessed that this year's three aces would have how many people coming out of Wen Xuan Ge. Just from this point, we can roughly infer the status of Wen Xuan Ge in the hearts of the common people and scholars.

  Ling Yuexuan suddenly heard the three words "Wen Xuan Ge" and her lips moved slightly, she had a mind to object, but after hesitating for a moment, she ultimately remained silent.

  On the other side, Yuandai heard the three words "Wenxuan Pavilion" and naturally turned to look at Lingyu Xuan, then asked the crowd: "What do you all think?" The crowd responded in unison, of course without any objections. Although Lingyu Xuan was reluctant to enter Wenxuan Pavilion because of Lu Weijie's residence there, she couldn't show weakness after being looked at by Yuandai, so she bit her lip and remained silent.

  Yu Zhen saw that everyone was silent, so he hastily got up and walked to the window, took a glance outside, then smiled and said: "Actually, I wanted to invite all of you noble guests to stay for dinner, but now the sky is already late, if we eat and then go, I'm afraid the city gate will be closed! If it were up to me, why not just stay here tonight and make do with a rough night's lodging, and then head to Wen Xuan Hall tomorrow?"

  Everyone exchanged a look, but Xiao Chengyan still opened his mouth and said: "I think we should hurry to the Wenxuan Pavilion as soon as possible!" This time it took a lot of effort to quietly slip down the mountain, and Xiao Chengyan really didn't want to waste any more time.

  Yu Zhen nodded and responded with a "yes", then got up to summon someone to prepare the carriage. The group hastily left the door and arrived at the Wenchuang Pavilion, where the sky had already turned completely dark. The small courtyard that Yu Zhen had arranged was located on the innermost side of the pavilion, and it was extremely quiet. Outside the courtyard, large areas of bamboo were planted, which remained lush and green even in winter, casting a serene and secluded atmosphere over the entire small courtyard.

  The man in charge of the Wen Xuan Pavilion led the crowd along a white stone path, and as soon as they reached the gate, someone came to greet them. Upon closer inspection, it was several young servants with delicate features, nimble movements, and dressed as book boys.

  One of the young servants stepped forward, made a slight gesture, and smiled: "Please come this way, gentlemen!" (Your support is my greatest motivation.)