Chapter 3, Qin Phoenix

"Mother, how would you know? Usually, I don't feel it, but for the past half month, I haven't touched any meat, and I dream of biting my tongue out of craving." Qin Fengyi was quite beautiful, and even though her eating was somewhat gluttonous, it still revealed a hint of youthful brightness and innocence. Mrs. Qin personally served her dishes and poured her soup, while saying, "You are just recovering, so when you eat meat, do not overindulge."

This pair of siblings is enjoying tea at Qiongyu Building. They have chosen a good spot, right by the street. Observing such outstanding individuals, the elder brother cannot help but exclaim, "It is said that Yangzhou is a place of remarkable people and beautiful scenery, and it truly lives up to its reputation. I wonder whose young master this is, so extraordinary."

Mrs. Qin smiled and said, "Indeed, this is the case." Looking through the window at her son riding the steed known as the Zhaoye Yushi, Mrs. Qin felt a sense of pride and remarked, "This horse is truly worthy of being ridden by our son"

Mrs. Qin said, "How can we eat meat today when we are going to worship the Buddha?" She advised her son, "Endure it for a little while, tomorrow I will have the kitchen prepare lion's head and steamed meat with rice flour."

Your heartless words, have you taken Doctor Xu's medicine to feel better?

Amitabha, my little ancestor, with such a keen nose, today while burning incense, where can one eat meat and oil? Mrs. Qin exclaimed, feeling guilty.

Then at that time, I will be able to meet the master.

This does not mean that Qin Fengyi has a feminine appearance; he does not appear feminine at all. However, his beauty transcends gender. When you see this person, the first impression is simply beauty

Having received Doctor Xu's "Amnesty Order", Qin Fengyi first indulged at home with two servings of river delicacies, bamboo shoots, and lion's head meatballs. The rich and fragrant aroma made Qin Fengyi nearly drool.

Qin Fengyi greeted her parents, then sat down beside her father and said, "Didn’t we say we were going to Qiling Temple today? Of course, we need to get up early."

Qin Fengyi was eagerly awaiting the next day to seek answers at the temple. That night, she went to bed early and the following morning, she did not linger in bed but got up early with the intention of preparing herself. She had her maid retrieve the new clothes she had made for her birthday. As the weather was gradually warming, Qin Fengyi chose to wear a ginger-yellow robe. It must be said that this color, even if it is slightly less flattering on a girl, would not diminish her beauty. Qin Fengyi was different; she had long eyebrows and phoenix-like eyes, a high nose and thin lips, snow-white skin, and a tall and slender figure. With such looks, it is no exaggeration to say that one could not find a second person like her in Yangzhou.

Old Master Qin laughed heartily and teased, "Your son is truly a good one of your own."

Indeed. Mrs. Qin exchanged a smile with her husband, thinking that their son had truly become more enlightened. In the past, he would sleep until noon even when going to worship at the temple, but now he actually knew to wake up early. How gratifying this is

That elder said, "This passage in the Book of Documents refers to the event when the sage king Shun struck stones for amusement. To compare the joy of the sage king with that of courtesans and female musicians is rather frivolous"

Mrs. Qin personally served her son a piece of cake, saying, "Here is your favorite layer cake, come, eat this"

That is, it is said that Yangzhou is a place of exceptional talent and beauty, yet from the exceptional talent and beauty of our Yangzhou, only such a Qin Phoenix has been produced.

The young man had a way with words, and the young lady was so engrossed in listening that she couldn't help but smile at this point and asked him, "How did Master Qin say it?"

"My apologies, my apologies." Mrs. Qin clasped her hands together and chanted the Buddha's name twice, saying to her son, "What kind of talk is this? The abbot of Qiling Temple, Master Liyin, is a renowned and accomplished monk."

Mrs. Qin smiled and said, "I am worried that you are not getting enough sleep, especially since this is the time for growth, and you are indulging in sleep."

The waiter noticed that the two guests were elegantly dressed. Although they were not locals from Yangzhou, they exuded a certain grandeur, indicating that their backgrounds must be quite distinguished. The waiter chuckled and replied, "In our Yangzhou city, regardless of wealth or poverty, when it comes to the young gentlemen of proper age, if the son of the Qin family dares to claim the second place in terms of appearance, no one would dare to claim the first. It is clear that you are from out of town, hence you do not recognize him. This is our Yangzhou's Phoenix Young Master, Qin Fengyi from the Qin family."

All is well, no illness. Hurry up and eat.

Old Master Qin laughed and said, "How can one's temperament be changed? It is often said that while it is easy to change a country's landscape, it is difficult to alter one's inherent nature. Our son has a good disposition; he is still young, and isn't it normal for some children to have a temper?"

I am not speaking carelessly; I have matters to consult the master about

Qin Fengyi took it but didn't eat at all; as soon as she smelled it, she put it back on the plate, saying, "The taste is just not right, Mother, this must be made with vegetable oil."

Once Qin Fengyi had finished arranging her golden crown and white jade pendant, she went to her parents' place for breakfast. Upon seeing her son in such splendid attire, Mrs. Qin smiled broadly, and even Mr. Qin showed a pleasant expression, saying, "I was just about to send someone to call you; your mother said you hadn't gotten up yet and didn't want the maid to disturb you. But it seems you are already up." The last sentence was directed at his wife.

This young lady said, "Playing the lute to a cow is originally an allusion from the writings of Miao Rong. That person used this allusion to satirize Prince Qin, to which Prince Qin replied with a passage from the 'Book of Documents: The Canon of Shun': 'I strike the stone and pat the stone, and all the beasts dance in unison,' which is quite interesting in its own right"

It was indeed the peach blossom pear tree in her mother's house that Qin Fengyi had long coveted, as well as the little showgirl who had been snatched away using despicable means. To be honest, although each of the three had their own charm, together they did not amount to even thirty percent of Qin Fengyi's beauty.

Mrs. Qin is amusing, "Let's take another day off today, and tomorrow we will go to Qiling Temple to offer incense."

Qin Fengyi was unaware of how many young girls' hearts he had captured along the way. Even those who were aware of Qin Fengyi's reputation could not help but secretly lament: such a beautiful appearance, how could it be wasted on such a worldly devil.

I was never ill

Young Master Qin said that he would be willing to be the ox listening to the qin, but unfortunately, this qin did not attract the beasts to dance; instead, it was this young master who took the lead in hopping about, which was quite amusing. After Young Master Qin finished speaking, he boarded a boat and departed. It is said that on that day, Young Master Qin wore a moon-white robe, and as he set off on the boat, the dark clouds in the sky dispersed, a bright moon hung high, the autumn wind suddenly rose, and his garments fluttered as if he were an immortal in the world. Young Master Qin's demeanor is beyond my humble ability to describe. However, later, the most talented scholar in our city, Lord Zhao, composed a poem, with two lines that read: 'The vast misty waves depart, the phoenix treads the moon.' Since then, many people in our city began to refer to Young Master Qin as the Phoenix Young Master.

The young lady smiled and said, "I don't believe there is anyone more outstanding than my brother." Following her brother's gaze downstairs, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh!" It was unclear whether she was captivated by Qin Fengyi's beauty or was simply taken aback by her stunning appearance at first sight, leaving her momentarily speechless.

"Truly handsome." That elder brother praised again.

Old Master Qin said, "The vegetarian dishes prepared by the fire monk at Qiling Temple are exceptional. Let us make do with some food in the morning and go to Qiling Temple for vegetarian cuisine at noon"

Qin Fengyi asked her mother, "Mother, is there a high monk at Qiling Temple?"

It is indeed the case

Mrs. Qin is amusing, "It's worth being so tempting."

Due to the eloquence of the waiter, the pair of siblings was delighted and even rewarded him with a corner of silver. The waiter joyfully left. He secretly thought to himself that although Qin Phoenix did not have a good reputation in Yangzhou, just by explaining the nickname of Qin Phoenix to outsiders, he had received such generous tips. In any case, regardless of how others discussed Qin Phoenix, the waiter at Qiongyu Tower felt that Qin Phoenix was indeed a great benefactor for his earnings

His kind of handsomeness has completely reached the realm of beauty

The elder brother, seeing that his younger sister was quite interested, inquired with the waiter, "Whose young master is that? He is remarkably handsome."

Only after Qin Fengyi rode past Qiongyu Tower did the young lady retract her gaze, lift her tea cup, take a sip, and then say, "Indeed remarkable"

Due to Qin Fengyi's considerable progress, the whole family joyfully had breakfast and then set off to Qiling Temple by car and horseback. With a youthful spirit, and given that it was March in Yangzhou, when the scenery was particularly pleasant, he insisted on riding a horse. Mrs. Qin, concerned about her son's recent recovery and fearing he might catch a chill, urged him several times to ride in the car with her. However, Qin Fengyi refused, leaving Mrs. Qin with no choice but to relent. She then complained to her husband in the car, saying, "He may have made progress, but he still has the temperament of a child."

Qin Fengyi then smiled and said, "Done."

Qin Fengyi was unaware of how much attention he attracted. He grew up in Yangzhou, surrounded by numerous friends, and it was inevitable that he would greet those he encountered on the street. Little did he know that he had caught the eyes of a pair of siblings. The elder brother, merely seventeen or eighteen years old, was refined and cultured. Although he was slightly less handsome than Qin Fengyi, he was still a distinguished and elegant young man. As for the sister, her looks were even less impressive than her brother's. Despite dressing like a young boy, she could not hide her feminine charm. Although her appearance did not match her brother's, she was still fair and delicate, qualifying as a pretty girl.

Last year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, we held a selection of flower queens at the Slender West Lake in Yangzhou, with renowned scholars from our city serving as judges. Unfortunately, that day was overcast, and the moon was not visible at night. However, appreciating the flower queen is far better than admiring the moonlight. Given that there were young ladies present, the waiter quickly changed the subject and began recounting the events of last year's Mid-Autumn Festival. After ten rounds of competition, Miss Miao Miao from the Wan Hua Tower was on the verge of winning the top prize. It must be said that Miss Miao Miao's skill on the pipa was truly 'lightly plucking and slowly twisting, with tears like pearls in her eyes.' Those who listened to her pipa were deeply moved, and for a moment, the entire lake was silent, only the sound of her celestial music could be heard. Just then, a sudden snoring interrupted the atmosphere. Many young gentlemen were displeased, wondering who was so oblivious as to fall asleep while listening to Miss Miao Miao's pipa. As it turned out, it was Young Master Qin. His friends quickly nudged him awake, and a young gentleman who admired Miss Miao Miao questioned Young Master Qin, asking if he understood the meaning of playing to a cow.

"How should I address him as the Phoenix Young Master?" asked the young lady, holding the celadon tea cup in her hand.

Old Master Qin said, "Then let us try this hot dry silk. Although it is vegetarian, it is still quite good."

Not only did Mrs. Qin admire her own son's exceptional qualities, but Qin Fengyi's beauty, even in plain clothes and straw shoes, could not conceal her elegance, let alone when she had deliberately dressed up to go out. Some young women, unaware of Qin Fengyi's reputation, would lose their senses upon seeing such a radiant young gentleman riding by on the street. Moreover, Qin Fengyi was not one to ride modestly; in March, when Yangzhou was already slightly warm, she elegantly unfurled a folding fan made of mud-gold and jade bones, which prompted women from the ornate buildings to lean out and sigh, "I only wish to be the jade fan in the young gentleman's hand." Moreover, Qin Fengyi was not one to ride modestly; in March, when Yangzhou was already slightly warm, she elegantly unfurled a folding fan made of mud-gold and jade bones, which prompted women from the ornate buildings to lean out and sigh, "I only wish to be the jade fan in the young gentleman's hand."

Mrs. Qin earnestly instructed her son, "In front of the master, you must not speak carelessly." This master is very well-known in the city and it is unwise to offend him

Qin Fengyi indulged in a hearty meal, and after eating to her fill, she patted her belly and said, "I only feel truly alive now."

At this moment, in the eyes and hearts of many, Qin Fengyi and Qin Fenghuang have already arrived at the famous Qiling Temple in Yangzhou with their parents

Qin Fengyi picked up the cold dry noodles with chopsticks, pouted, "It is far inferior to the cold dry noodles from Daming Temple"

At that moment, the maidservant brought up breakfast. Qin Fengyi took a glance and was displeased, "Why is it all vegetarian?"

Then I cannot forget the serious matters either

I have been fine for a long time. That old man Xu just says some frightening things, not only trying to extort money from our family but also forcing me to drink this soup and medicine for the past few days. Qin Fengyi said while chewing on a piece of fish, "Mother, you are too easy to fool."