Denghuaxiao

Chapter 205 Awakening

  Qi Yutai had a dream.

  A long, long dream.

 The dream is fragmented and noisy. One moment it was a thatched cottage with a birdcage in Mangming Township, and the next moment it was a raging fire in Fengle Building. In the sky covered with flying ash, he saw an old face with bleeding eyes and nose, a stupid fool looking at him with a smile, and a thrush chirping crisply on his shoulder.

He ran away in panic, but was stopped by a locked door. When he turned around, he saw a painting of a beautiful woman weeping in the room of Fengle Tower, looking at him coldly.

"ah-"

Qi Yutai opened his eyes suddenly and sat up from the couch.

The sound of hurried footsteps sounded in my ears, and then the voice of a servant and maid came: "Master?"

 Qi Yutai looked around in fear.

On the gold thread mat, the white magnolia Ruyi cloud pattern was wrinkled into a ball. On the table in the distance, the incense burner exuded the familiar fragrance of incense. He was in a daze for a moment, and slowly understood.

 This is in his own house.

 Did you just have a dream?

 “When did I fall asleep?” He lifted the quilt and asked the person beside him while rubbing his forehead and heart.

The maid was stunned for a moment, and then a look of surprise appeared on her face: "Master, are you awake?"

She turned around and shouted towards the courtyard: "Go and tell the master, the young master is awake -"

Qi Yutai frowned and shook his head. He felt that his head was heavy, as if he had not slept for several days and nights, and he was terribly dizzy.

Thinking about it again, I can no longer remember when I got on the bed or what I did before going to bed.

As I was rubbing my temples, I suddenly heard someone speaking outside the door: "Master Qi, are you awake?"

This voice was very familiar, and Qi Yutai was stunned.

He raised his head and saw a woman standing outside the door. She was wearing a light blue robe and had pretty eyebrows. She walked in holding a bowl of soup.

Qi Yutai paused, then pointed at the person in front of him and shouted loudly: "Lu Yu!"

 He asked: "Why are you here?"

 Why did Lu Zhen appear in his room?

The female medical officer put the Chinese medicine bowl on the table aside, looked at him and said, "Mr. Qi, it was the Grand Master who asked me to come."

 “My dad?”

Qi Yutai looked at the people around him suspiciously: "What do you mean?"

The maid lowered her head and explained: "Sir, you fell ill again a few days ago. The master asked Dr. Lu to treat you."

 Is he sick?

 Qi Yutai was at a loss, when did this happen? However, when he thought about it carefully, he suddenly felt as if someone was using a long and thin needle to stir things up in his mind, giving him a splitting headache.

Qi Yutai cheered up, looked at the person in front of him and sneered: "What a joke, my illness has always been left to Cui Min. However, a medical officer from Hanlin Medical Hospital is not qualified to treat me. Where is Cui Min? Get him here!"

The maid buried her head lower and said, "Master, something has happened to Cui Yuan envoy."

"What happened?" Qi Yutai frowned, "What happened?"

He wanted to ask again, but a "Yutai" sound came from outside the door.

Qi Yutai looked forward and saw the housekeeper helping Qi Qing into the room.

The old master's always neat clothes were slightly wrinkled, and he was coughing as he walked. He probably came over as soon as he heard his son woke up. Qi Yutai called "Father", and Qi Qing's eyebrows suddenly relaxed.

The housekeeper helped Qi Qing forward, but Lu Zhu stayed aside. Qi Qing came to the couch, looked at Qi Yutai carefully with her gray eyes, and after a long while, she said, "Are you awake?"

Qi Yutai said "hmm" and looked at Lu Yun impatiently: "Father, what happened to Cui Min? Why do you want her to come to me for treatment? Previously, the tiger capturer in Huangmaogang died in the hands of this woman - "

 “Yutai.”

Qi Qing’s voice was calm, and Qi Yutai’s remaining words were stuck in his chest, and he did not dare to say a word.

 The old master turned to look at Lu Huan.

“Medical Officer Lu,” he said, “Thank you for taking care of my son. You have worked hard these days. Someone, come and take Medical Officer Lu down to rest.”

 This is leaving the father and son to talk.

Lu Zhu nodded and left with the maid in the room, and the door was closed.

Qi Yutai sat on the edge of the couch, watching Lu Zhuo exit the room, and finally spoke angrily: "Father, this **** keeps entangled with Pei Yunying, which makes my sister sad and humiliates my Qi family in public. How can you be so polite to her? This Isn’t it a slap in the Qi family’s face?”

His eyebrows were manic and Qi Qing frowned slightly.

"You are recovering from your illness," Qi Qing said, "you need to take good care of yourself."

"I'm not sick at all. Father," Qi Yutai said, "Why isn't Cui Min here?"

"She will treat you from now on." Qi Qing ignored him, "You can't make any mistakes in the Tianzhangtai Festival."

 “Father! I’m not sick at all!” Qi Yutai raised his voice.

 There was silence in the room for a moment.

Everyone lowered their heads, no one dared to speak.

Meeting Qi Qing's calm eyes, Qi Yutai flinched and lowered his voice: "Father, I'm really not sick. Didn't Cui Min say that? I'm just scared..."

 His words gradually faded away in Qi Qing's silence.

Qi Yutai tightened his grip on the quilt.

 He does not feel that he is sick.

 He couldn't remember what he did when he fell ill. In short, when he woke up, except for being dizzy, he felt no discomfort all over his body. But he also knew that his father had always paid attention to the reputation of the Qi family. The rumors about Fengle Tower had made his father worried. This time he fell ill again, and his father must be very disappointed in him.

Perhaps he was just recovering from a serious illness, and his face was extremely pale and worrying. Qi Qing looked at him for a moment, then finally relaxed and said, "After you recover, she will be at your disposal."

 Qi Yutai was startled, then suddenly overjoyed: "Really?"

Qi Qing has always been in charge of all his affairs. In fact, he had wanted to take action against Lu Zhen before, but he also delayed it because of his father, and later ran into Fengle Tower...

"I'll go to Si Li's Mansion tomorrow, and then I'll rest there." Qi Qing coughed a few more times, "Don't run around again before the ceremony."

Qi Qing did not blame himself. Although his tone was calm, it was still concerned. Qi Yutai responded flattered and said a few words to Qi Qing. The housekeeper helped Qi Qing to leave, leaving Qi Yutai sitting alone on the couch.

His head was still groggy. He looked around. All the antique vases in the room seemed to have been put away. He simply sat on the couch in a daze.

Someone came in and said, "Master Qi, remember to drink the medicine." As he said that, a bowl of medicine was handed to Qi Yutai.

 Qi Yutai raised his eyelids and saw Lu Zhuo walking in again.

She held the bowl with both hands, and the brown soup was under her eyes. Qi Yutai did not take it, but only glanced at her and said inexplicably: "How did you convince my father?"

Qi Qing never told him about Cui Min, but even if something happened to Cui Min, Qi Yutai didn't understand why his father still asked her to treat him even if he knew that this woman had evil intentions and caused him to lose face before.

 “It was Lord Qi who personally found him as a lower official.” Lu Yu said.

Her father took the initiative to find her?

Qi Yutai frowned, becoming more and more confused as to what Qi Qing meant by this move.

The woman stood in front of him with a low eyebrow. Thinking of what Qi Qing had just promised him, Qi Yutai glanced at the medicine in her hand and said, "Isn't it poisonous?"

 “Master Qi is joking.”

"I'm sorry you don't dare." Qi Yutai chuckled, then looked her up and down, and the corner of his mouth suddenly curled up maliciously: "In that case, please trouble Medical Officer Lu to feed me."

 Lu Zhen looked at him.

 Qi Yutai smiled contemptuously.

How about the medical officer? He entered the Taishi Mansion, which is a dog of the Qi family, just like Cui Min.

　　Let people work hard.

After a moment of silence, Lu Xu lowered his eyes, picked up the medicine bowl, picked up the soup spoon and brought it to Qi Yutai's lips.

 Qi Yutai's smile became more and more comfortable.

Her fingertips touched Qi Yutai's face. It was as cold as a living person. However, unexpectedly, the decoction was not too bitter. It was much fresher and sweeter than the medicine Cui Min had boiled before. I wonder if it was an illusion. It was sweet and fragrant. , is actually somewhat similar to the "Dream of Spring Grass in the Pond" that was previously lit in Si Li's Mansion.

 Unknowingly, he drank a bowl of medicine.

Lu Zong put down the empty bowl and Qi Yutai squinted at her. She turned around to clean up the remaining medicine on the table, still looking calm, as if she didn't care about the humiliation just now.

Seeing her calm expression, Qi Yutai suddenly felt a fire in his heart.

“Last time I was in Huangmaogang, I would rather die than kneel down. I thought Medical Officer Lu was so noble, but I didn’t expect to see such a humble side of Medical Officer Lu.”

Qi Yutai sarcastically said: "What, where is your good lover Pei Yunying? I asked you to serve me. If he also sees you serving other men with a low eyebrow, I wonder if he will still want you."

“Doctors treat diseases as a matter of course, Mr. Qi should be careful what he says.”

The bright sun seeped in from the window, and Lu Chen stood in the shadow under the window, eyes half lowered, his movements slow and unhurried, and did not answer his words. He only lowered his head and said: "Master Qi, remember to take your medicine on time every day. Don't move around too much and rest more in the house. Master Qi has warned that as the beginning of autumn approaches, the bedding should not be too thin, the incense in the house should be changed from time to time, be sure to go to bed before midnight, and eat light meals..."

She said a lot in succession, "Mr. Qi" every time, which made Qi Yutai more and more upset, and said coldly: "Aren't you the one who will do the daily medicine?" Then he looked at the low couch next to the door, with a playful look on his face, "You are all with me. We’re in the same house.”

"Previously Mr. Qi was seriously ill, so I stayed at the house to treat Mr. Qi's illness. Now that Mr. Qi has woken up and his condition has improved, Mr. Qi allowed me to go home. From now on, I will visit Mr. Qi's house every other day to take his pulse. diagnosis.”

 Qi Yutai's face darkened.

 He originally wanted to torture Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo took a step back and nodded to him while holding the packed medicine tray, "Young Master Qi has just recovered from a serious illness. Remember to take care of him quietly. Master Qi paid great attention to you during your previous illness. Master Qi must not let down your beloved son." heart of."

After finishing speaking, he bowed to Qi Yutai, lowered his head and retreated.

Qi Yutai was already upset, so it was a good thing that Lu Zhuo didn't say this. Once he said it, he looked at the new mattress in the house, the unfamiliar-looking maid, and the Lingxi incense burning on the table.

My father was already very strict, but now that he is detained in the house, he probably has no freedom at all.

That bit of mania grew bigger and bigger like a spark, raging in an instant with nowhere to dissipate, so he vented his hatred on the shadow that had just left.

 “Bitch,” he said.

“After the festival, let’s see how I torture you.”

 …

Lu Zhu carried the medical box on his back and left the Grand Master's Mansion.

As soon as I stepped out of the gate of Taishi Mansion, the world suddenly became much wider. The refreshing wind blew on my face, sweeping away the stagnation and stickiness of the past few days, and even the nausea in my chest was dissipated.

 She got on the carriage and went back to West Street. Yin Zheng and others were very happy to see her back.

“Is the son of the Qi family recovered from his illness?”

Miao Liangfang pulled her aside and asked secretly.

 Lu Zhuo nodded.

Miao Liang breathed a sigh of relief: "Blessed by Bodhisattva, I was still worried that something would happen."

Miao Liangfang has always been worried about Lu Zhu.

 The last time he met Cui Min, Cui Min's words always made Miao Liangfang feel uneasy. Qi Yutai is ill, Cui Min is in prison at this juncture, and Lu Zhu is on top. But madness is always difficult to treat. This is a hot potato. If you are not careful, the gain outweighs the loss.

Du Changqing squeezed over and looked at her carefully for a moment: "People are looking haggard. Tsk, I just said that rich people are not good people. They treat people like animals, don't they? Look under those eyes, they are as dark as if they were painted with ink... How much money did it cost you? I need more money!”

"Money, money, money, my boss knows money. I haven't seen how tired the girl is." Yin Zheng pushed Lu Zhuo into the small courtyard, "I'm going to put the bath water for the girl. I haven't seen anything in the Taishi Mansion these days. It’s good to have a rest, it’ll be good to come back, it’s just a few days of rest.”

The hot water was quickly boiled. Lu Zhu changed his clothes and lay between the barrels. The steaming heat blurred his eyes, but it made the fatigue from the past few days less severe.

Yin Zheng came in with clean clothes and hung them on the screen.

“Girl,” she sat down in front of the small table behind the screen and whispered as she picked up the unfinished needlework, “Is Mr. Qi really well?”

 Lu Zhen said "hmm".

Yin Zheng was a little puzzled.

Lu Zhen came to Beijing to avenge the Qi family. Now that his enemies were right in front of him, Lu Zhen cured Qi Yutai.

 She doesn’t understand.

Yin Zheng wanted to ask, but swallowed the words when they reached her lips. Even if she asked Lu Chen, she would not tell him. Lu Chen always only did his own thing silently and never let outsiders know.

After thinking about it, she said another thing: "Girl, it's Chinese Valentine's Day in a few days. Mr. Miao has made a new herbal tea. It nourishes blood and qi for women, and strengthens yang and kidneys for men. They are sold in the same straw basket. . I see that many medical clinics in Shengjing Medical Clinic do this, and Shopkeeper Du said we should also learn from it.”

"It's just that the straw basket looks too rough, I thought. Make a colorful silk ribbon and hang it up. Anyway, women on Chinese Valentine's Day are also interested in making ribbons to give to their sweethearts." Yin Zheng raised the string of silk ribbons in her hand and gave it to her. Lu Yan looked at it, "Look, girl, does it look less monotonous?"

 Lu Zong looked over.

The colorful silk ribbons were like garlands of various colors in Yin Zheng's hands. They were really beautiful, so she nodded and said, "It's beautiful."

"I think it looks good too. If you want to learn it later, I'll teach you." Yin Zheng smiled and said, "It's not difficult at all. Just wear a suitable one and hang it around your waist. It will look great with a skirt."

Just as Lu Zong was about to nod, he suddenly remembered something: "Isn't the Chinese Valentine's Day the seventh day of the lunar month?"

"Yes what's the matter?"

 “I have something to go out that day.”

Yin Zheng was startled: "What are you doing out there, girl?"

He looked at Lu Yun tentatively again, "Who are you celebrating the festival with?"

 “No,” Lu Huo replied, “It’s to wish someone a birthday.”

The seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the Chinese Valentine's Day, is Pei Yunshu's birthday, as Pei Yunying said when he came to the medical hospital last time.

 She almost forgot about it.

 …

In Pei's mansion, Pei Yunshu was gesturing with some clothes in front of Pei Yunying.

Pei Yunying stood with a hint of impatience on his face, while Baozhu sat on the low couch, holding a golden butterfly in his hand, looking at the two of them and laughing.

"I can't even look at the orb anymore," Pei Yunying raised her hand, pushed aside the clothes that Pei Yunshu was holding in front of her, turned around and sat down on the low couch, and picked up the orb to avoid Pei Yunshu's subsequent busyness.

“Sister, you are making so many new clothes, why not make a new cabinet.”

Pei Yunshu let go and looked at him sideways: "Oh? I made so many new clothes, and you wear official uniforms every day. I thought you didn't care about them, so you threw them all away."

"You're slandering me again." Pei Yunying smiled, "Of course you wear official uniforms when you're an official in the palace. You don't have to bathe on weekdays. I don't wear them too."

“Wear it, wear it, I’ve never seen it before!” Pei Yunshu glared at him, “Get up! It’s my birthday the day after tomorrow, and you must choose something you like to wear.”

Pei Yunying remained unmoved: "It's your birthday, not mine. Why should I dress up so brightly?"

"Miss Lu will be here the next day. If you wear official clothes, others will think you are on official business."

Hearing this, Pei Yunying's eyes moved slightly, but he still sat down and refused to get up. He said slowly, "Doctor Lu is not someone who judges people by their appearance. Besides," he paused, "I'm not ugly either, so there's no need for clothes to enhance my appearance."

Seeing him like this, Pei Yunshu sighed, put down the pile of clothes in his hands, and sat down at the round table opposite Pei Yunying.

“Ah Ying,” Pei Yunshu said earnestly, “Sister, I’m not a fool. Why can’t I tell what you think of Miss Lu?”

"I know that you have been favored by others since you were a child, and you will not speak if you are not completely sure about anything. Unfortunately, there is no reason for anything, and your heart is not controlled by you. If you want to deal with your heart like official business, then It’s absolutely impossible.”

She said: "If you are interested in Miss Lu, you must show it in a real way. Ask her what she likes and give her something. Take her out often to make her happy. How tiring it is to be a errand in the imperial city. How can you compare it to yourself? Others know better that it will only be more difficult for her as an ordinary person."

Pei Yunying listened indifferently and took the hair that was grasped by Baozhu away from Baozhu. Baozhu happily held up the golden butterfly and put it on his head.

Pei Yunshu then added: "What's more, Miss Lu also has a fiancé who I don't know is real or fake..."

 At this point, he suddenly looked at Pei Yunying: "Ah Ying, it's my birthday tomorrow, why don't I help you ask Miss Lu if she has someone you like?"

Pei Yunying was speechless: "No."

"I won't do this or that." Pei Yunshu got angry, "I heard Duan Xiaoyan say that Miss Lu is very popular in your palace, and so is such a good-looking, kind-hearted, smart girl. If I I have a son, and I also want to see you for my son’s sake..."

She talked for a long time, but when she saw that the man still didn't care, she was so angry that she pushed her clothes on the table: "I have said everything that needs to be said, and you don't listen to anything. Don't regret it in the future!" After that, she gave him a hug. Returning to Baozhu, he said angrily: "Let's go and ignore him."

Pei Yunying: “…”

 The house became quiet again.

The young man lowered his head and picked up the golden butterfly that the orb had just left beside the couch.

The butterfly wings are shining and gorgeous, blooming at his fingertips. Like a faint spark in his dark eyes, his beauty filled the room with light.

 He lowered his eyes for a while, then put his palms together to hold the butterfly in his palms, and smiled lightly.