Denghuaxiao

Chapter 219: Failure to raise a godfather

 The night was thick, the fireworks burned out by the Changle Pond, and the remaining smoke was blown away by the wind, disappearing into the tide-like darkness.

 The legitimate son Qi Yutai of Taishi Mansion died.

He appeared in the plague **** puppet of the Nuo ritual. When he was discovered, he was curled up in the belly of the puppet like a baby hiding its mother's body. His whole body was stabbed in a mess by the long sword of the Nuo dance, and his whole body was almost dyed red with blood.

 The corpse’s eyes were full of fear and its fists were bruised. It was obvious that it had struggled desperately before death.

Also discovered were the empty wine flask in the puppet’s belly and the powder remaining on the clothes of Qi Yutai’s body.

 The palace servants saw it and found out that Qi Yutai had just taken Hanshi Powder.

After the fire in Fengle Tower, Shengjing strictly prohibited anyone from taking the medicine powder. I don’t know where Qi Yutai got it. He was so bold that he dared to carry it to the ceremony. For fear of being discovered, he hid in the belly of the doll and swallowed it. However, due to the devouring, he became unconscious and was not noticed by anyone. The trap in his belly was closed, and he was stabbed to death by the long sword of the plague god.

  In the Nuo ceremony, in full view of everyone, the legitimate son of the Taishi Mansion and the official of the Ministry of Revenue died in this way under the eyes of all the officials.

Taishi Lao burst into tears.

The trap in the puppet's abdomen can be tied from the outside. Qi Yutai hid it inside to avoid people's eyes and ears, but who on earth closed the bolt so that he could not escape?

 No one from the church musicians, Nuo ritual dancers, or palace guards acknowledged it.

 That is the "god of plague".

 Others stayed away and no one wanted to get close. Qi Yutai was willing to get into it, which was quite extraordinary.

Perhaps a musician passed by and fastened the buckle, but no one acknowledged it.

Qi Huaying knelt down in the palace, crying and begging: "My brother must have been harmed. Someone wants to harm him, so he is locked up among puppets. Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly!"

The third prince Yuan Yao looked at the beautiful woman who was crying so hard at the door, and said with pity: "But Miss Qi, no one forced Mr. Qi to take Hanshi Powder."

He reminded: "It's only been a few months since the fire in Fengle Building. Brother Ling really doesn't have a long memory at all, and it has even gotten worse."

The prince's situation is over, and the ceremony is not even in front of people. In the past, Yuan Yao was a little restrained, but now he has no scruples. He only looked at the pale-haired old man in the palace and sighed in a pretentious manner.

 “By some mistake, Mr. Qi died in the hands of his father.”

Qi Huaying trembled all over.

  Qi Yutai died in the hands of Qi Qing.

 In the Nuo ritual, the first sword to eliminate plague was thrust by "Fang Xiangshi".

 "Fang Xiangshi" killed the "God of Plague".

 The father kills the son.

 Then the dancers followed with dozens of sword thrusts, aggravating Qi Yutai's death.

Leave aside Hanshi Powder, if you want to blame others, the first person to blame should be Qi Yutai's own father, the imperial master.

The remaining Nuo swordsmen did not know that there was a living person hiding among the plague gods.

D.

 Not to mention that on the day of Tianzhangtai sacrifice, no killing is allowed.

The Grand Master bent his old body even lower. He did not argue or plead. He knelt on the ground silently and dejectedly, like a broken branch, which would never bloom again.

 A white-haired person gives a black-haired person a gift, which is the most miserable thing in the world, but it is nothing more than this.

 The emperor said nothing and looked at the people on the steps calmly.

After a long time, he said: "Grand Master, my condolences."

 …

 In the imperial city, all the medical officers were walking to the Medical Officer's Courtyard.

The joy at the Changle Pond seemed to be just a short time ago, but the medical officers were extremely silent, and the team was as quiet as death.

 When a person dies in the palace, everyone present will undergo cross-examination. However, during the Nuo ceremony, the Medical Officers Court had seats outside the Changle Pond, and the high platform was still a long way away. After a whole night of interrogation by the guards, everyone in the Medical Officers Court was allowed to go back first.

It is already early morning, the sky is slightly bright, and a ray of white light gradually lights up on the horizon. The late autumn morning is already cool, and it looks even more deserted after the party.

 After returning to the Medical Officer's Hospital, everyone was a little tired.

Chang Jin asked the medical officers to go back to the hospital to rest first. Lu Zhu was about to go back to the house with Lin Danqing when Ji Xun called him from behind.

“Medical Officer Lu,” Ji Xun said, “I have something to tell you.”

Lu Xu followed Ji Xun to his medicine room.

The medicine room was quiet. The two of them sat opposite each other. Ji Xun looked at Lu Yu and said after a moment: "Qi Yutai is dead."

 Lu Zong looked at him.

"Previously, something happened to the hospital envoy, and you treated Qi Yutai on behalf of the hospital envoy. Now, although Master Qi died under the sword of Nuo Li, traces of his taking Hanshi Powder were found among the Nuo Li puppets. The imperial doctor will definitely check his past medical history when he enters the hospital. case."

Seeing that Lu Zhen was silent, he added, "Although this matter has nothing to do with you, the Taishi Mansion may be angry with you."

Lu Xu lowered his head: "I know."

The Qi family will definitely investigate the people around Qi Yutai, and in the past few months, apart from the servants in Qi Yutai's house, the only person closest to Qi Yutai is Lu Yun.

What’s more, Lu Huan is still an “outsider”.

"Don't worry," Ji Xun comforted: "The Medical Court can testify for you that you are innocent."

Lu Zhen smiled, and when he raised his head again, his expression had become calm.

She said: "Actually, if Medical Officer Ji doesn't come to see me today, I will come to see Medical Officer Ji."

Ji Xun was puzzled.

“There is something I would like to ask Medical Officer Ji for help.”

 “What’s the matter?”

Lu Yan was silent for a moment before he spoke: "As Medical Officer Ji said, the Grand Master's Office may be angry with me. I come from an ordinary background and have no parents or brothers alive, so it is not a pity to die alone. However, before I entered the Medical Officer's Hospital, I had Sitting in a small medical clinic on West Street."

“The proprietor, maid, waiter, and doctor are not familiar with me, but we have been together for a while by chance, and they know nothing about me.”

Lu Xun looked at Ji Xun and said, "I know that Medical Officer Ji is kind-hearted. If something happens to me unfortunately, please protect the Renxin Medical Center while you and I spend a few days together in our hometown in southern Jiangsu. This is Such kindness and kindness will never be forgotten by Lu Zhu."

After saying this, he stood up and bowed for a long time.

Ji Xun was stunned for a while, then hurriedly stretched out his hand to help her up, frowning and said: "Why do you say this suddenly? Even if the Taishi Mansion is angry, but there is no evidence, how can you arbitrarily convict someone, let alone Qiannu West Street Medical Center? "Medical Officer Lu, please stop saying these unlucky words."

But Lu Zhen insisted: "If Medical Officer Ji doesn't agree, I won't get up."

Although she usually persisted, she rarely forced others like this. After a stalemate for a while, Ji Xun said helplessly: "Okay, I promise you."

 The West Street Medical Clinic is full of ordinary people, and given the Ji family’s reputation, it is not difficult to take care of them.

The two talked for a while, and Ji Xun himself looked tired and said goodbye to Lu Zhu. Before leaving, he muttered to himself: "Now that all cold food powders are banned in Shengjing, how will Prince Qi's cold food powders be banned from now on?" Where to get it?”

 There was no one beside him to answer. Ji Xun raised his head and saw that Lu Zhuo had already walked far away.

 It seemed that he didn't hear the question.

 …

The sun is rising gradually.

The golden-red morning glow is like a burning fire, splashing into the courtyard of the Taishi Mansion.

The servants and servants were wailing and wailing through the door, covered with a layer of stuffy fog. It was strangely like the Nuo songs performed by the dancers at the Nuo ceremony by the Changle Pond last night, which made people's hearts tremble for no reason.

 The hall was very quiet.

  Qi Yutai slept quietly in the coffin.

Qi Huaying was heartbroken and fainted after returning home. The housekeeper sent people to ask for a medical consultation.

Qi Qing sat beside the coffin, holding a silk handkerchief in his hand, wiping Qi Yutai's face little by little.

 This coffin was originally prepared by him for himself.

He was already old, so he had a coffin prepared and placed in his house early, just to wait for one day to go to the fairyland. Unexpectedly, Qi Yutai slept in this golden nanmu coffin, which cost a lot of money, before he did.

  Catalogue plays a trick on people.

The clothes of the person in the coffin have been changed again, and the whole body has been wiped clean. They no longer look as scary and ferocious as when they were taken out of the doll's belly. However, Qi Qing continued to wipe the non-existent blood stains on the corpse's face and refused to stop.

He wiped it carefully, once and for all, with a little more force. He wiped the corners of the corpse's mouth slightly upward, as if showing a strange smile.

 The old man's movements slowed down, and his cloudy old eyes moved slightly.

When Qi Yutai was a child, his face got dirty after eating. He did the same thing. He held his son on his knees and wiped the residue from the corners of his mouth little by little.

Qi Yutai grabbed his beard and shouted vaguely: "Dad, dad!"

Qi Qing was quite young when he got Qi Yutai, and at the time when his official career was at its peak, he had a loving wife and young son, enjoying unlimited honors and favors.

 He likes Qi Yutai very much, just as he likes his young and gentle wife.

 But the Yue family hid a big thing from him. His wife suffered from epilepsy and was originally a lunatic.

He cannot let others discover that he has a crazy wife. When he climbs the stairs to a high place, there are always many people staring at him, and everyone is looking forward to his fall.

 So Shuhui died in Taishi Mansion.

 Hua Ying was already born at that time.

He was looking forward to it, with a hint of luck in his heart, hoping that the two children would not inherit the terrible illness like their mother. For this reason, he built ashrams extensively, built bridges and roads, and accumulated merit over the years.

 Luck and misfortune befell him at the same time.

 Qi Huaying grew up peacefully.

Qi Yutai began to suffer from the disease when he was young.

 Qi Yutai should have died too.

But when he saw the child he had placed high hopes in and watched grow up staring at him with admiration, he finally couldn't make a move.

 Qi Yutai survived.

His temporary compassion did not bring about good results. Over the past few years, expensive incense has been burned in the mansion every day to soothe Qi Yutai's emotions and delay his illness. However, this child, who was bright and smart when he was young, has become mediocre and even dandy as he grows up. He is impatient, irritable, and occasionally gloomy and unstable. Qi Qing suspects that this is also a symptom of epilepsy.

Qi Yutai was also unable to give birth to an heir, and the family arranged for a marriage with no one left. When he learned this, Qi Qing was both disappointed and relieved.

 What if the child is born with epilepsy?

But if he cannot give birth to an heir, who will inherit the family business in the future?

 He is too old to have another son.

Qi Qing wiped his son's face over and over again. The cold and stiff skin passed over his fingers, and the coldness seemed to seep into the bones.

Over the years, he has been unwilling to do so, but he is not cruel enough. He thought he despised his son, but when Qi Yutai actually died, he seemed to have aged ten years overnight. The husband who killed his wife, the father who lost his son.

In the empty hall and the gorgeous coffin, he sat with his back bent. A drop of turbid tears fell on the coffin, and was quickly brushed away.

The housekeeper walked in from outside the door and said sadly: "Sir, the young lady is overly sad. The medical officer has seen her and she has taken medicine and has fallen asleep."

 Qi Huaying and Qi Yutai had a deep love for each other. During the ceremony yesterday, Qi Qing specifically told Qi Huaying to be optimistic about his brother. In the end, Qi Yutai died in full view of the public, and Qi Huaying was so sad that he did not want to live.

After a long time, Qi Qing said: "Take good care of Miss."

 He only has this one daughter.

 The butler bowed: "Sir, what should we do next?"

Although Qi Yutai died on Nuo Yi, Hanshi Powder was also discovered together. The third prince would not miss this opportunity, and now that he was allowed to take the body back for burial, Emperor Liang Ming remembered his old love.

 Everything seems to be an accident.

 But it is no accident.

Qi Yutai has been locked up in the Grand Master's Mansion these days. He cannot leave the gate or even take a step forward. The servants in the mansion keep a close eye on him. How can I get Hanshi Powder?

 After Fengle Tower, all merchants in Shengjing kept it secret.

 No one dares to take risks at this time.

These days, Qi Yutai is peaceful every day, just waiting for Lu Zhuo to come to the house for consultation.

 Qi Qing stopped wiping.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　.

 In the past two months, only Lu Zhuo has been the only one who has come in and out of Taishi Mansion.

 Speaking of which, Qi Yutai has indeed become much more at ease since Lu Zhu came to visit.

 The guard in the house did not notice anything unusual. He thought Qi Yutai's illness was stable.

 But if it’s something else…

 Qi Qing raised his eyes and clenched the silk handkerchief in his hand.

 “Where is Lu Huan?”

 …

It was already evening when Lu Zhen returned to Renxin Medical Center.

Du Changqing and Miao Liangfang have both returned home. Yin Zheng was standing at the door and was about to close the door. Suddenly, he saw Lu Zhu appearing at the door. He was suddenly surprised and asked: "Why is the girl back suddenly?"

Lu Zhen smiled and said: "Yesterday was a great ceremony in the palace. After that, the hospital will have a day off for ten days. I will go back tomorrow."

Yin Zheng was happy and regretful at the same time: "Girl, why didn't you tell me in advance? There's no food left in the kitchen... Whatever you want to eat, I'll do it."

　　Lu Zhu pulled her and said, "I'm not hungry yet, so let's talk inside first."

 The Yin Zheng is said to be good.

 The door is closed.

The two of them entered the house. Yin Zheng lit a lamp and put it on the table. When she saw Lu Zhu standing in front of the yard looking out the window, she asked, "What is the girl looking at?"

"flower."

Lu Huan said: "When you and I first moved here last year, there were not a single flower."

The chrysanthemums planted under the window bloomed in three or two, and a gust of autumn wind passed by. The pistils were cold and fragrant, and they were pure and pure.

Yin Zheng loves to grow flowers and clean the small yard. Ever since they moved into this yard, the flowers have bloomed differently throughout the year and are always beautiful.

"The yard belongs to others, but the days are our own. A few flowers are not valuable, but looking at them can make people feel comfortable." Yinzheng said with a smile: "If you like it, girl, we can raise some fish in the yard. Let's go back. Pick some beautiful ones with red tails in Guanxiang, I think those wealthy families are like this."

 Lu Zhen laughed.

Yin Zheng looked at her and said, "The girl seems to be in a good mood today, but what good thing happened?"

"So be it." Lu Zhu turned around and entered the room, "By the way, Yin Zheng, I have an important event tomorrow. Please choose some nice clothes for me."

Yin Zheng was immediately happy when she heard this. Without saying a word, she quickly walked into the house and took out several dresses from the yellow wooden cabinet.

"I made new clothes for the girl at Tailor Ge's earlier. The girl can't wear them for daily medical treatment. It's just the right thing to wear when the weather is cold." She spread the dress on the couch, "But girl, it's an important event. If it's You have to dress up, but the material is probably a bit rough. How about making another one? Are you a nobleman from the palace?" Her eyes flashed, "Or is it Mr. Pei?"

Since Pei Yunying’s birthday, Yinzheng has never seen each other again.

She didn’t know what happened between Lu Zhen and Pei Yunying, but for a long time after that, Lu Zhen looked more silent than before. Sometimes I sit in front of the window and stare into the distance for a long time in a daze.

She had a faint clue. Every time she wanted to ask Lu Zhuo, she was distracted by Lu Zhuo without any trace. After several times, she finally understood.

 She felt sorry for Lu Zhuo, but she didn’t know how to persuade him.

Yin Zheng came closer to Lu Yan and asked, "Have you reconciled with Mr. Pei?"

"not him."

Lu Zhen smiled and picked out a jade-colored embroidered floral skirt from the bed of clothes and skirts, "How do you like this one?"

 “It looks good!” Yin Zheng nodded, “A light color like this looks best on a girl!”

After Lu Zhu was convinced, he put the dress aside and folded other clothes. He took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Yin Zheng.

Yin Zheng was confused: "What is this?"

"Tonight at Xu's hour, you send this letter to Duan Xiaoyan, the commander-in-chief of the palace, and ask him to hand it over to Pei Yunying."

"For Pei Dianshuai?" Yin Zheng hesitated, "Why didn't the girl give it to him herself?"

"There are some things that I can't explain clearly to him face to face. Yin Zheng, can you help me?"

Yinzheng was stunned for a moment, then hesitantly said: "Girl, you don't want to make a clean break with Pei Dianshuai, do you?"

Lu Zong just looked at her and said nothing.

Yin Zheng sighed and took the letter from Lu Zhuo's hand: "I understand." After a pause, he asked again: "But why is it Xu time?"

Lu Zhuo looked out the window: "I won't go to the Medical Officer's Hospital until later tomorrow. I want to eat duck with lychee and kidney from Renhe Store tonight. You go buy a bowl, and when you come back, can you take the letter to the Commander-in-Chief's Mansion?" "

"Now you want to eat lychee and kidney and duck?" Yin Zheng was confused. "There is always a queue at Renhe store for lychee and duck..." She said, and when she saw Lu Zhu smiling at her, she perked up and thought for a moment: "Girl, it seems like today I'm really in a good mood." She stood up and said, "In that case, I'm going to line up now and buy some wine to burn the snails."

 Lu Zhen nodded.

Yin Zheng said that she was about to go out. As soon as she opened the door, she heard Lu Zhu call her from behind: "Yin Zheng."

 She turned back: "What?"

 Lu Zong looked at her for a while, shook his head, smiled, and said, "Be careful on the road."

Yin Zheng went out and the yard became quiet again.

Lu Zong stared at the plum tree outside the window for a while, then looked away, picked up the jade-colored skirt next to the couch, put it on, walked to the dressing table and sat down.

The woman in the mirror is in her prime, with white teeth and bright eyes, and a pair of extremely dark eyes with an indifferent color.

She picked up the wooden comb on the table, combed her black hair carefully, combed her hair carefully into a bun, and finally inserted a hibiscus flower hairpin.

Lu Tong looked at the flower hairpins for a moment, then lowered his head and picked out two butterflies cut from black gold paper. They were bought by Yin Zheng at the lantern market in Jingdemen on the night of lanterns. She had never worn them once.

Lu Tong tied the butterfly hairpins on both sides of his bun. When he moved slightly, the butterfly wings flapped one by one, ready to fly.

 Pretty and clean.

 After doing all this, she left the dressing table, opened the wooden cabinet, and took out four porcelain jars from the wooden cabinet.

The porcelain jar was cold and small. Lu Zhu put his cheek against it and rubbed it lovingly for a long time.

She took the porcelain jar and walked to the plum tree, poured out the soil in the porcelain jar, buried it in the flower mud, and put the porcelain jar back into the cabinet.

Finally, Lu Zhuo took another look at the small courtyard, closed the door, held up the lamp and left the hospital.

 As night falls, the lanterns sway under the eaves of West Street, and everything is quiet. In the low-rise bungalow, a little dim light showed through the cracks in the window. There was a child lying on the table in front of the window, stumbling and reciting the Three Character Sutra.

 …"Dou Yanshan has a righteous way. He taught the five sons and they all became famous..."

“…If you don’t teach, it’s the father’s fault. If you don’t teach strictly, it’s the teacher’s laziness…”

 Lu Zhuo stopped.

It seems that a long time ago, she made a mistake and was punished by her father to copy the Three Character Classic like this when she came home.

The mother wanted to protect her, but was pushed out of the door by her father. The wooden ruler was wide and long, reflecting the father's angry face.

“It’s the father’s fault if he doesn’t teach him. Lu Min, you are so naughty and if I can’t teach you well, someone will stab me in the back in the future!”

 It is the father’s fault to raise but not teach.

His son made a mistake and it is his father who should educate him.

 It should be so.

 That’s how it should be.

Lu Zhen looked at the shadow in the window, his eyes were indifferent.

 “Creak—” a sound.

The door was pushed open, and dusk spread all over the floor. Tailor Ge's wife came out of the house carrying a bucket, and paused when she saw Lu Zong standing under the window: "Doctor Lu?"

 Lu Zhuo nodded.

The woman poured the remaining water in the bucket on the ground outside the house and asked with a smile, "It's so late, where are you going?"

 Lu Zhen smiled: "Go home."

 “Oh.” The woman nodded and went into the house carrying the bucket again.

After taking two steps, he suddenly realized: "No, Renxin Medical Center is behind it. Why is Dr. Lu going south?"

She opened the window and stuck her head out to see. There was a mist in the night, and she couldn't see the woman's shadow.

 The dim light of the lantern swayed beneath my feet, and in the thick cold fog, the warm light drove away all the chill.

Lu Zhen walked in the night with a smile on his face, his expression calm.

 She is going home.

 Finally, I can go home.

  Happy Children’s Day to all the adults and children!

　　(End of this chapter)