Promotion and fortune in Song Dynasty

Although Lu Ci had a difficult time to return to his hometown to visit his mother because of his important position, he would send a letter from home every month, accompanied by several gifts, and he never really alienated or lost contact.

Only half a month has passed since the last correspondence between him and his mother, and the letter said that everything was fine.

However, from the scribbled handwriting and hasty words in the letter sent by Zhonghui, it is not difficult to see that the mother's condition is not optimistic.

I don't know if it's because my mother has been ill for a long time, but reports the good news but not the bad, and doesn't want to make him worry until the matter can't be concealed; or it's a sudden illness, and the situation looks bad.

Lu Ci indifferently put away the letter again, hurried back to the study, and wrote down a memorandum expressing his willingness to 'temporarily resign in order to return to his hometown to serve' in two or three strokes.

Hearing that he was about to go out again in official robes after he had just returned home, Liu Qi, who was sitting in the living room composing a new song, couldn't help but raised her head, and met his rare dignified expression .

Liu Qi got up subconsciously and asked: "What happened?"

Lu Ci seemed to be a little absent-minded, and after walking a few steps, he realized what he asked, but he didn't intend to hide it, and immediately told the truth: "Mother is ill, I need to go back to my hometown immediately to visit."

Liu Qi was stunned, and the appearance of that young woman who was not too old, but her face was frosted because of the hardships in her early years, her love for her friends, and her care for herself...

"I'll go back with you."

Liu Qi said without hesitation.

What he knew was that no matter whether the result of this visit was good or bad, Little Taotie would be delayed for a long time before returning to Beijing.

If it is good, after such an experience, Mother Lu will definitely not be allowed to stay in Mizhou alone anymore, and she will definitely be taken to Bianjing to take care of her at any time, and the property purchased over the years will have to be resettled elsewhere.

If it's not good...

Liu Qi's heart sank.

Not to mention that his close friend and his mother depended on each other for life in the early years, and the relationship was deep. The blow must have been not small. Just because of the death of his mother, Ding You would have to be suspended for at least three years.

Not to mention that it was the end of the year, and it would take at least ten days to return from Bianjing to Mizhou. During the Spring Festival, my friends would have to spend it alone on the way.

"Brother Liu's kindness, I appreciate it." Lu Ci seemed to have expected Liu Qi's words, and waved his hand with a smile: "It's just, it's really not necessary."

Lu Ci's every move seemed normal, but Liu Qi, who was always keen, somehow felt a little jittery from the calmness, and became more and more uneasy.

After hearing this, Liu Qi couldn't help but said anxiously: "How can I leave you alone? Anyway, I'll stay there—"

"Brother Liu," Lu Ci shook his head and interrupted him: "You just had a false alarm, the aftermath is still uncertain, and the next round of reconnaissance is not far away. At this critical time, you should act more cautiously. It's too much. Worried about my side, and made random decisions."

The words of rationality and thinking for him made Liu Qi angry when he heard it, he barely held back, held his hand firmly and said: "Although you and I are not blood relatives, we have been together for many years, which is far better than siblings, even if you My son feels uncomfortable, and I categorically do not believe that you and I have such a relationship with each other when you say such nonsense."

He took a deep breath and continued: "I didn't mention how you treated me these years, but I remembered it clearly in my heart. I only hate that although I am a few years older than you, my ability is far inferior to you, and I have never been able to give anything in return. , but I am deeply taken care of by you. If you hadn’t been prudent and insisted on persuading me this time, I’m afraid I would have been expelled from the museum. I’m born with a heart and a heart. Seeing you go back alone, you still hang around in the pavilion with peace of mind? If this is the case, then even if the world doesn't despise me, how can I stand in the world!"

Lu Ci was silent for a moment, then sighed softly.

"Brother Liu."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, and said slowly: "If I trouble you to accompany me for such a trip, and all the illnesses of my mother can be cured, then don't say that you are sincere with each other, even if you refuse in every possible way, I will Trying to pull you along."

Liu Qi was stunned.

Lu Ci raised his eyes slightly, his eyes were still warm, but somehow Liu Qi felt an unprecedented coldness, like fresh snow falling on his palms, making one unable to feel the warmth.

"Unfortunately, that's not the case."

Lu Ci moved the corners of his lips, trying to be tactful, but he still said in a tone that was almost ruthless: "Brother Liu's kindness, I would like to accept it, but please also, Brother Liu, please don't let me delay my friend on my back." The sin of the future."

Liu Qi opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word for a long time.

Hearing what he said just now, he felt a faint pain in his heart as if he had been pricked with needles.

Lu Ci glanced at the distraught Liu Qi, quickly averted his gaze, and quietly walked out of the gate.

Liu Qi watched him go further and further away, and smiled wryly.

How could he be sad because of what little Taotie said, which seemed to be inconceivably rational, yet thoroughly out of touch?

From the time he said goodbye to his young brother, he knew it all too well.

The gentleman in front of me, who was elegant and calm from the beginning to the end, even when we parted, smiled and arranged everything in an orderly and proper manner. He was just a man who thought that he always put on the mask very well, and in the end he didn't even know he was hurt to the extreme. An idiot who is full of faces and doesn't know.

What made him sad was that he was helpless in the face of the deep pain that Xiao Taotie was unaware of.

When he suddenly heard the news that Lu's mother was seriously ill, the little emperor, who was so happy to see the little master come into the palace overnight, was shocked on the spot.

Knowing that time was running out, Zhao Zhen naturally did not hesitate to approve the leave, and even proposed with a worried face to make an exception and ask the post station to send a fast horse to send Lu Ci off so that he could go back as soon as possible.

Lu Ci refused.

"Love from the officials, fear from the officials." He bowed slightly, and said gently but firmly, "However, this precedent must never be set."

The horses in the post station are expensive and not many in number, especially what Zhao Zhen is referring to are the most handsome horses dedicated to delivering emergency military reports.

If Zhao Zhen was really allowed to open the door for him, wouldn't he have to agree to it when the parents and children of any important member of the court were ill and rushed back to their hometown to ask for favor?

In this way, these precious steeds are destined to be frequently occupied, and when they are really needed, they may not be able to be used.

"Thanks to Your Majesty's grace, I have a generous salary even if I am not talented," Lu Ci said with a slight smile, "After disembarking, I will buy a few good horses locally, and replace them along the way. Even if I travel day and night, it will not take a few days."

Zhao Zhen pursed his lips, and nodded reluctantly: "Then follow what the little master said."

He didn't know that the reason why the little master reluctantly refused was entirely for his consideration?

And what the little master said is indeed true.

Once he has said this, it will be difficult to refuse in the future, maybe because of this special treatment, the little master will be criticized by the officials again.

It was different from the situation when Di Qing procrastinated for a while before leaving Beijing, chose an auspicious date, and attracted a group of friends from Lu Ci to see him off.

Lu Ci's heart was like an arrow, and he went straight to the Ministry of Officials after leaving the hall, and presented the report of the instructions, then turned around and went to the pier, and booked a boat that could set off immediately.

He only had time to ask someone to deliver a message to Liu Qi, and he didn't even think about going home again, let alone telling other friends, so he just boarded the boat and set off.

Lu Ci obviously didn't care about the aftermath of his sudden departure.

When the boat was sailing, he sat quietly by the window, overlooking the busy river. Apart from speaking a handful of times and never doing anything else, his face was so peaceful that no abnormalities could be seen at all.

The boatman secretly looked at his picturesque and beautiful profile, not daring to ask questions, but full of curiosity in his heart.

He neither knew the identity of this very noble and handsome gentleman, nor did he have the ability to judge the grade from the color of the official uniform.

But in the past, there were some officials who would take his small boat, and they all wore blue or green official robes.

It is obviously very different from the purple that this one wears.

Even if he doesn't know exactly what cyan and green are, it is not difficult for him to guess the grade of purple, which must be higher.

But take another look at the inconceivably young age of this gentleman...

The boatman was not sure about this conjecture again.

Could it be that the young gentleman of a merchant family specially cut his body to wear a robe of the same style as the official uniform, just to have a good time?

—It is possible.

Thinking of Dalang, who was standing near his home and still studying hard in the cold window, the boatman felt more and more like him.

After all, how can a real senior member of the court be so young, and how can he not even bring a servant or a maid, but just rush to board his small boat.

Although the boatman kept guessing in his heart, he still worked extremely hard because he got a considerable amount of extra money from Lu Ci.

Under the seamless rotation of the boatmen he hired, the boat moved forward without stopping for a moment.

Whenever there is an inspection by the shipping department, Lu Ci no longer waits in a low-key manner as before. He only orders the boatman to go straight to the front, and shows the officials that the monogram signed by the emperor and the Zaizhi, and then by the emperor The official documents can be passed immediately.

Every time he saw this scene, the stunned boatman's originally firm guess was shaken again.

... What is the incredible background of this gentleman?

It's a pity that Lu Ci, who was completely out of his mind, didn't notice the pain of scratching his heart, let alone open his mouth kindly to explain his doubts.

Lu Ci originally thought that half of the water route and half of the land route are the fastest.

But when he actually arrived on the road, he soon discovered that because of the New Year's Day, no matter whether it was a fisherman who fished all the year round or a merchant who traveled far away, they all went home a few days in advance to celebrate.

There are very few boats on the water, and there is no usual blockage at all, and the road is very smooth.

But because the traders closed early, it was difficult to find good horses in the market, so it was inconvenient to change land routes.

Seeing this situation, Lu Ci simply gave the boatmen another reward on New Year's Eve and Spring Festival, and troubled them to continue heading towards Mizhou Port.

It took only ten days, on the third day of the Lunar New Year, Lu Ci successfully arrived at Mizhou Port.

It is still brightly lit, at the peak of life, and full of traffic.

Having just set foot on the land of his hometown after so many years, Lu Ci put on his veiled hat, looked at the various buildings that were either unfamiliar or familiar in the bustling streets, and couldn't help being dazed.

Every time I come back, there will always be a few years apart, enough to change the street.

After paying the last tranche of the boat, Lu Ci followed the direction he remembered to find the horse rental place, and headed straight for the Lu family.