With the breeze of spring and summer socializing, Shen Yichen soon had only two shallow tears on his face.

He and Zeng Aniu had to first go to the Yangtze River to take a boat, then go down the Yangtze River to Zhenjiang Prefecture and merge into the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Then they would go north along the canal and go all the way to the capital.

Relatively speaking, in ancient times, taking this direct waterway was much more convenient than traveling around by land.

Because it was still early, the Yangtze River was still filled with thick mist, and we could only vaguely see many small boats docked at the pier.

Zeng Aniu pointed to one of them and said: "Brother Chen, have you seen that bird boat? It's the boatman I'm looking for. It has a hard canopy to protect it from the wind and rain, and it also has oars and sails to increase the speed. It will definitely not delay the time."

The bird boat is a kind of ancient inland river boat. Its name is taken from the meaning of a sparrow that is small but well-equipped. Compared with the common black-topped boats in Jiangnan water towns, the bird boat is slightly larger and more comfortable to ride.

Another more important point is that the sparrow boat is equipped with sails, which eliminates the need for manual oars and is much faster than the awning boat.

A Niu also knew that Shen Yichen had an urgent time to go to Beijing to take the exam, so this was the most suitable civilian ship that he could find in a hurry.

"fine."

Shen Yichen nodded. He didn't have much research on ancient ships, but after listening to Zeng Aniu's explanation, it seemed good.

In addition, he also realized why A Niu had changed his name again, this time it was Brother Chen?

"A Niu, I noticed that you have become very sophisticated recently. How did Brother Chen come here? You are obviously older than me."

Hearing Shen Yichen's question, A Niu had a simple and honest smile on his face: "Hey, my mother said that scholars can't call students by their first names. Master Shen, you don't allow me to call him by his first name. After thinking about it, I can only call him Brother Chen. "

"That means you can't call him by his first name. I haven't chosen my first name yet."

"Then when did you take your first cousin's name?"

"I……"

Suddenly, Shen Yichen felt that Zeng A Niu's name was indeed correct, and he had the illusion that Niu played the piano.

"Forget it, you can call me whatever you want."

No longer worrying about these details with A Niu, Shen Yichen continued to move forward. When he reached the dock, a carriage roared towards him.

"Xu..."

The driver pulled the horse's reins hard, and the horse neighed, and the carriage came to an emergency stop in front of Shen Yichen.

Before the carriage came to a complete stop, the curtain on the car was opened, and several young girls jumped out of the car.

"Qingtong, are you here like this?"

After seeing clearly who the visitor was, Shen Yichen's tone was very surprised. He never expected that the visitor would be Chen Qingtong.

Compared with Shen Yichen's surprise, after Chen Qingtong got off the carriage, he firmly grabbed his sleeve and asked with a choked tone: "Brother Yichen, why did you leave without telling me, right? Will I never see you again?"

Hearing this, Shen Yichen couldn't help laughing. What was this little girl thinking? She was just going to the capital to take the exam, and it seemed like she was parting from life or death.

Besides, even if you want to tell him, you can't enter the gate of Taininghou Mansion.

"How could that be? I just went to the capital to take the exam."

Shen Yichen did not mention Cheng Guogong's letter. Before the situation is determined, the fewer people who know about this kind of thing, the better.

"Isn't there a Jiangnan Gongyuan in Yingtian for the rural examination? Why does it have to go so far to the capital?"

"Because I haven't decided whether to take the exam again, if I'm not well prepared, I might go to the Imperial College in the capital to study."

"Brother Yichen, please tell me if you want to leave. I thought I wouldn't see you again."

Chen Qingtong accidentally learned from Li Tingxiu that Shen Yichen was going to the capital.

Li Tingxiu's character naturally wouldn't go into detail, and Chen Qingtong was also quite anxious. When she heard about going to the capital, she hurried to the dock. She thought Shen Yichen was gone forever.

"Don't worry, Yingtian is my home, and my mother is still here."

Shen Yichen wanted to smile and pat Chen Qingtong's head to comfort him, but when he raised his hand halfway, he remembered the defense between men and women in this era and could only put it down in frustration.

After confirming that Shen Yichen was only in Beijing to take the exam, Chen Qingtong finally felt relieved.

At the same time, a young woman behind her stood up, bowed sideways and said, "Mr. Shen, we are seeing each other for the first time. I am very intrusive."

"Who is this lady?"

Shen Yichen only knew about the people around Chen Qingtong, a maid named Xue'er, and knew nothing about the others.

"My daughter is Guo Yongxin, the daughter of Marquis Cheng'an. She happened to be with sister Qingtong today. We learned that Mr. Shen was going to travel far away, so we came together to say goodbye."

The daughter of Marquis Chengan?

Shen Yichen had no impression of Marquis Cheng'an. At the flower viewing party, the relatives were sitting in the room, and the ladies of the noble family were separated by gauze. He had never seen Guo Yongxin's appearance.

It seems that this should be Chen Qingtong's best friend, who happened to come together.

"Miss Guo, nice to meet you."

"Now that we have met, the little girl happens to have an item that is entrusted to her, so I will hand it over to Mr. Shen."

Let's talk. Guo Yongxin handed over a brocade box from the maid behind him.

Shen Yichen took the brocade box full of doubts, opened it and saw that there was a memorial and a sachet inside.

"Miss Guo, what is this?"

"This was entrusted by Liu Waner to be handed over to the Young Master. She has difficulty traveling now and cannot deliver it to the Young Master in person. I hope that the Young Master Shen will forgive me."

Liu Waner?

One is the daughter of Marquis Cheng'an, and the other is currently a prostitute. How did they become related?

Perhaps because he could see Shen Yichen's inner confusion, Guo Yongxin explained: "My daughter has known Wan'er since she was a child. When her father was dismissed for crimes, the civil and military officials of the court shunned him. Only Liu Hanlin spoke out and saved his father from the fire. among.”

"My little girl must not forget this kindness. Now that the Liu family is in disaster, my little girl has limited abilities and can only do this little thing."

After hearing this, Shen Yichen suddenly realized that there was such a story between Cheng Anhou and Liu Qiu.

But having said that, this outspoken way of acting is quite in line with Liu Qiu's character.

"Okay, then I'll accept it."

Shen Yichen did not refuse. He always remembered the promise he made on the night of the Winter Solstice Poetry Party.

If one day I can really dominate the world, I will definitely uphold justice and restore Liu Qiu's innocence!

"Wan'er really saw the right person. I would like to wish Mr. Shen all the best."

"Thank you."

Chen Qingtong listened to the words of Shen Yichen and Guo Yongxin. She had already learned about Liu Waner after the flower viewing party that day.

However, the moment Shen Yichen opened the brocade box, Chen Qingtong caught a glimpse of the sachet inside. The sachet, a personal item given by a woman in ancient times to a man, has gone beyond the scope of ordinary gratitude. It is difficult to say that it has no other meaning.

Thinking of this, Chen Qingtong was so anxious that he didn't know what to give Shen Yichen as a souvenir.

So he simply took off the double-stranded hairpin on his head, divided it into two, handed one half to Shen Yichen's hand and said, "Brother Yichen, I came in a hurry and didn't prepare any farewell gifts. This hairpin is for you." Just keep it, seeing the hairpin is like seeing a person."

After saying this, Chen Qingtong's cheeks turned red and she did not dare to look directly into Shen Yichen's eyes.

After receiving this half of the hairpin, Shen Yichen looked a little surprised, because he had read poetry and understood what this practice meant in ancient times.

The hairpin is not only an ornament, but also a token of affection. In ancient times, when lovers or couples parted, a woman would divide the hairpin on her head into two, give half to the other person, and keep the other half for herself until another day. See you again and be together again.

In Xin Qiji's poem "Wish Yingtai is Near - Late Spring", "Baochai is divided, peach leaves are crossing, and smoke and willows are darkening Nanpu", which expresses this kind of separation.

In the past, the relationship between Shen Yichen and Chen Qingtong was in a combination of childhood sweethearts and ignorance. Now Chen Qingtong's actions, with the euphemism of ancient women, undoubtedly directly express her feelings.

"Okay, I'll keep it until the day the treasure comes together."

Shen Yichen is not the kind of person who likes to play with ambiguity. Since Chen Qingtong has already expressed his feelings, it would be unmanly for him to remain indifferent.

Seeing that Shen Yichen accepted it and said words such as "Baochaihe", Chen Qingtong understood that the other party had revealed his feelings.

She was a little overjoyed by this mutual goodwill, but due to the constraints of etiquette, she couldn't do much more at the moment.

He could only nod his head affectionately and said: "Brother Yichen, I'll wait for your return."

"Um."

Shen Yichen smiled and nodded, then clasped his fists and saluted the others: "Goodbye, everyone."

After saying that, he took A Niu onto the bird boat and disappeared into the diffuse mist with the sound of the paddles slapping the water.

"Miss, stop looking, Mr. Shen has gone far."

Seeing Chen Qingtong still looking reluctantly at the direction of the ship's departure, the maid Xue'er joked to her.

"Where are you looking? I'm admiring the river view."

On the other side, Guo Yongxin also bowed sideways and said: "Sister Qingtong, thank you for what happened today."

"Sister Yongxin, you're welcome. I'm also very angry about what happened to Liu Hanlin. I hope that one day the Liu family can be vindicated."

"I hope so, go back."

A wry smile appeared on Guo Yongxin's face. It was more difficult for Liu Qiu to redress his injustice than to restore his title.

None of the ministers and ministers dared to offend Wang Zhen with words. In the entire Ming Dynasty, only Shen Yichen dared to make a promise with his passion for justice.

It's just that in a sense, the pressure on Shen Yichen was too great, and this was not something he should bear.

On the mighty river, Shen Yichen stood on the bow of the boat, looking at the riverside, holding half of the hairpin in his hand.

As long as the window paper is not broken, I don't feel much in my heart. Once the boundary of love between men and women is broken, I can't help but feel more concerned.

After looking at the half-payment, Shen Yichen put the hairpin in his arms and picked up the brocade box that Liu Waner had entrusted to him.

Shen Yichen opened the brocade box and wanted to read the contents of the memorial, but found that the sachet pocket was not fastened and one end of the note was exposed.

With a sense of curiosity, Shen Yichen took the sachet into his hand and untied the red rope that bound it. There was indeed a note inside.

But besides the note, Shen Yichen also saw a strand of green silk inside the sachet.

Black silk? Love?
Chapter completed!