Green Mountain

The bustle of Baiyi Lane differed from that of Hongyi Lane, where the establishments were called brothels, teahouses, lower houses, and kilns; here, the stores bore the name "Qingyin Small Class."

Baiyi Lane had clean, green brick pavement, even carved with patterns of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums.

Here, there were no calls to lure customers, nor lascivious women standing on the second floor beckoning to patrons, only the sounds of string music drifting from the buildings and courtyards, with the women’s singing voices tender and touching, plucking at one’s heartstrings.

Hearing their voices without seeing their faces was like a lady embracing a pipa, concealing her appearance.

Chen Ji opened his eyes, golden melon seeds gleaming, weighty in his palm.

He had not meant to wait for the golden melon seeds to fall into his hand before opening his eyes; he was simply stunned after being knocked down by a Giant Spearman...

At that moment, the activity in front of the embroidery building picked up again, drawing everyone’s attention: the Chen Mansion’s carriage from the Luocheng Magistrate had arrived.

A spacious carriage stopped at the entrance, Chen Wenzong, Chen Wenxiao, and Lin Chaojing alighted together, arriving at the table with laughter.

Chen Wenzong asked with a smile, "Brother Chaojing, will it be you or me? A single poem suffices to admit four, so any of us could do."

He spoke with certainty, as if assured of victory.

Lin Chaojing, smiling, humbly deferred, "Naturally, it should be Brother Wenzong. It’s been more than half a month since we left Donglin Academy, and I’ve longed to savor your poetry. Have you penned anything new?"