Don't disturb me, I won't be a concubine

After the morning court session, the emperor called Cui Qiyan to the imperial study.

"Tell me, why did you go to Xizhou?" the emperor asked while sitting at the desk.

Cui Qiyan didn't dare to deceive the emperor, and he didn't want to tell the emperor about their relationship before his marriage with Dong Jiafu was finalized. So he remained silent.

"Do you think I won't know if you don't tell me?" The emperor snorted coldly, "You are attracted to the girl from the Dong family, right?"

"Your Majesty has a keen eye, and I dare not deceive you."

Seeing that he honestly admitted it, the emperor felt much better.

"You have good taste, I also think that Censor Dong's daughter is good. The Seventh Prince has not yet married a wife, I am thinking..."

Cui Qiyan was horrified when he heard this. He knelt down before the emperor finished speaking and said, "I have been attracted to Miss Dong for a long time. I beg Your Majesty to grant my wish!"

"Now you are scared. When I asked you why you wanted to leave the capital, you would rather be whipped twenty times than tell me. I am not an unreasonable person. If you tell me the truth, I will not refuse. If you don't say anything, and I really marry her to the Seventh Prince, then your begging will be useless."

"I know I was wrong, I just felt that it was not the best time to inform Your Majesty."

The emperor originally wanted to scare him, but when he saw that he was always calm no matter what happened, he was really scared this time and couldn't help but feel in a good mood.

"You have been promoted three levels to serve in the Ministry of Justice. I know some people are dissatisfied with this. This time you have made military achievements in Xizhou, and they should shut their mouths. I am not in a position to reward you with anything else. Since you like that girl, how about I grant you marriage?"

Cui Qiyan said quickly, "It is an honor for me to be granted marriage by Your Majesty, but I would like to formally propose marriage to the Dong family. I don't want Lord and Madam Dong to have to betroth their daughter to me because of Your Majesty's marriage."

"I didn't realize you have such a considerate side. You won't let me grant you a marriage. Are you sure about this marriage?"

"Marriage is a big deal, I dare not make big promises."

"Okay, get up."

After Lu Siheng, the Ministry of Justice and the people sent by the Dali Temple searched all night, they finally found the two managers Huo and Fei under Zhou.

After interrogation, the two men revealed Qingyan's whereabouts.

Minister Han immediately brought his men to the woods they mentioned and asked the two men to point out the specific place where the body was buried.

"This is it..." Manager Fei dragged his two legs that were hit by the board and pointed to an empty space and said.

Lu Siheng took the shovel from the person next to him and started digging.

Others also rushed over to help.

A box was soon dug out and several people worked together to carry it out.

"Don't move!" One of them was about to open the box, but was stopped sternly by Lu Siheng.

"Everyone, step aside." Minister Han understood Lu Siheng's feelings and asked them to step aside.

Minister Han looked at this deputy commander who had worked in the industry for many years and was highly valued by the emperor at a young age. When he opened the box, his hands were shaking.

The box was open and Qingyan curled up inside. If it weren't for the unignorable smell of corruption, she would have looked like she was asleep.

"I'm sorry..." Lu Siheng's voice choked with sobs. He knelt down beside the box and reached out to Qingyan's dull black hair.

"Lord Lu, please accept my condolences. Right now, it is more important to let the coroner perform an autopsy." Minister Han reminded.

Lu Siheng didn't let anyone touch Qingyan and took her out of the box personally.

After the coroner examined the body, he confirmed that the cause of her death was strangulation.

The two stewards, Huo and Fei, knelt on the ground and begged for mercy, "Sir, please spare our lives. We will also follow Madam's instructions——"

Minister Han did not listen to their excuses and said, "Take these two men back to the prison."

Lu Siheng didn't sleep all night last night and his eyes were red.

"Master Han, can I take Qingyan back for burial?"

Minister Han thought for a moment and said, "The cause of death has been found out. Lord Lu can take the person away."

"Thank you."

Lu Siheng did not take Qingyan back to the Marquis' Mansion, but took her to a house.

He had asked Lin Zhong to buy this place before he went to Xizhou. He had originally planned to let her live here if he couldn't come back. But now, she hadn't had time to enjoy a day of freedom before he left.

Lin Zhong bought a high-quality coffin and came back to see Lu Siheng sitting next to Qingyan, still in the same posture as when he left.

"Third Master, please punish me. It was all because of me that I failed to fulfill your request and take good care of Miss Qingyan, which led to her being killed by Madam." Lin Zhong knelt on the ground and blamed himself.

"It's my fault. When she first arrived at the Marquis' Mansion, I shouldn't have agreed to let her stay. Maybe even earlier, when we first met, I shouldn't have dragged her into this." Lu Siheng turned around and asked, "Are all the things ready?"

Lin Zhong nodded, "Everything is ready."

Lu Siheng stood up and set up the mourning hall with Lin Zhong.

He carved the tablet himself.

Lin Zhong looked at the words above and said, "Third Master, this name..."

Lu Siheng placed the carved tablet on the table, stroking the three characters and said, "Xiao Tian'er is her real name, and Qingyan is the name she changed after being sold to Baihua Tower. She once said that after leaving Baihua Tower, she would start a new life under the name Xiao Tian'er."

"Miss Xiao's life is too hard..."

Lu Siheng lit the incense and burned paper money while looking at the tablet in front of him.

Others only know that she is Qingyan, the courtesan of Baihua Tower, who is beautiful and charming. But they don't know that what she wants most is to be an ordinary woman, but in order to help him, she even sacrificed her life.

Late at night, Lin Zhong came to the mourning hall and advised: "Third Master, go and rest for a while. I will stay here. You didn't rest last night, your body will not be able to bear it."

"I'm fine, you go to sleep. I want to accompany her for the last time." Lu Siheng's face was reflected in the firelight in the brazier.

Lin Zhong did not try to persuade him anymore and just stood by to watch.

The next day, Lu Siheng selected a cemetery and buried Xiao Tianer.

When the emperor learned that Dong Jiafu had returned to Beijing, he gave her some more rewards.

Dong Jiafu took a look and handed all the things to Xu Yiwan, then went out to the clinic.

The clinic was still busy, but with two new doctors in place, everything was orderly and there were no problems.

Knowing that Dong Jiafu had arrived, Doctor Tan let her in after examining the patient.

"Has Madam Dong started taking the pills?" Doctor Tan asked with concern.

"I have already taken it. After my mother has taken it for a while, I would like to ask the master to take another look at her."

"Yes, you don't have to worry too much. The medicine is made according to the prescription and will remove the coldness in Mrs. Dong's body."

"With Master's words, I feel more at ease."

The two chatted for a while before an apprentice came in and said, "Master, Chen Yuanshi from the Imperial Hospital is here."

"Doctor Chen?" Doctor Tan and Dong Jiafu looked at each other and left the consulting room.

Tan Kai and Tan Hao also came out of the clinic after receiving the news.

Doctor Tan saw Envoy Chen and stepped forward to greet him. "How come Envoy Chen has time to come here?"

Envoy Chen smiled and said, "Doctor Tan, congratulations to you."

"I wonder where this joy comes from?" The four of them were a little confused.

Envoy Chen looked at Tan Hao, "Your Majesty heard that Doctor Tan had saved many soldiers in Xizhou, and remembered that he had also helped in the plague some time ago, so he promoted him to the Imperial Hospital as an exception!"

It took Doctor Tan a while to react, and he knelt down with the two Tan Hao brothers to express his gratitude.

"I thank your majesty for your grace—"

"Hurry up and get up," Chen Yuanshi helped Doctor Tan up, "You have cultivated a good seedling for the Imperial Hospital. You won't be reluctant to let me take you away, right?"

Doctor Tan shook his head quickly, "My son's medical skills still need to be improved. I'll need Director Chen's guidance in the future."

"Don't worry about that. To be honest, I noticed your son the last time we were outside the city. Now that the emperor has given his will, he will definitely make a difference in the Imperial Hospital in the future."

After coming back to his senses from the surprise, Tan Hao bowed his hands and thanked him, "It is a great honor for me to be appreciated by the envoy of the academy."