Yangyue

Qi Zhu stared at Duan Rufeng closely, and then said in a deep voice, "Your best friend died at his hands?"

Duan Rufeng: "Yes."

Duan Rufeng's words were beyond Qi Zhu's expectation. He had been a guard for the court early on. Even if he really made friends in the world, it might not be long. How could he meet Huo Qiao?

Duan Rufeng felt the indifference and suspicion hidden in Qi Zhu's eyes, and knew that he had to make it clear to Lord Hou, and he had originally planned this trip.

"Seven years ago, the gate guard was ordered to investigate the Southeastern King's private deployment of troops. At that time, I was just a guard of a thousand households, and I happened to be patrolling the conscription area in the southeast." Duan Rufeng said slowly, "After checking by the gate guard, the Southeast King and The martial arts forces colluded with each other and intended to raise troops to rebel. At that time, the Duckweed Pavilion had just been established, and its influence in the court was far less than that of the dry gate guards. The prince's rebellion was of great importance, so the dry gate guards were still in charge. A group of martial arts colluded with the Southeast King The faction has a great influence in the local area, and on the way to wipe out the faction, the Ganmen guards accidentally got the help of another neutral force in the martial arts named Wan Jingzong."

Qi Zhu quietly listened to Duan Rufeng's words, thinking secretly in his heart, seven years ago, the Duckweed Pavilion was indeed not in its infancy, and he had heard about the Southeast King's intention to plot rebellion. He was in the martial arts at that time, but those martial arts gangs were He seemed to be really worthless, so he didn't pay much attention to it.

Duan Rufeng continued: "Wanjingzong advocates righteousness in the world, and has been dissatisfied with the southeast king's atrocities for a long time, so he also took action against the sect colluding with the southeast king. During the mediation with the treacherous sect, I almost died. The young lord of Wanjingzong ordered Beiting came to the rescue. After the Southeast King's plot was foiled, I shared the same interests with Ling Shaozong and gradually became close friends. For the next four years, I will spend half a month every year in the southeast to meet him."

"Lord Duan should know what the consequences will be if the imperial court orders officials to associate with martial arts forces without permission?" Qi Zhu asked, "Even so, is Lord Duan still close friends with him?"

"In front of my friends, I'm just a like-minded friend, not some court official." Duan Rufeng replied quietly, "He doesn't care about my identity, he taught me many martial arts techniques, he lived a chic and free life, Have what I don't have."

A bit of surprise appeared in Qi Zhu's eyes. Duan Rufeng was indeed very loyal to the emperor's order and he was upright in his affairs, but in these places, he had a bit of integrity that only people in the world have.

"Three years ago, I went to the southeast again. At that time, the martial arts was in turmoil, and various sects and masters were fighting against each other." Duan Rufeng said, "That day, when I went out with him, I was suddenly attacked by an unknown sect. Jingzong's rival sect lay in ambush for revenge until...until I met that person."

When narrating the past, Duan Rufeng's eyes contained deep regret and pain. That memory had been rooted in his heart for a long time, and every time he recalled it, it would send a chill down his spine.

"His martial arts are powerful and terrifying. I haven't seen his true face, but I feel that he hardly looks like a real person." Duan Rufeng said, "He killed many people in the Wanjing Sect and took Ling Ling away. Young Sect Master. Five days later, the rest of the Wanjing Sect and I found the Young Sect Master's body by a lake."

He paused, closed his eyes and exhaled slightly, and said in a deep voice: "His body was cut off from the thigh, his legs were missing, and his face was cut off from the left ear to the right side of the jaw." , only half of his face was left."

In the rivers and lakes, there was once an extremely cruel and insidious bone-replacement exercise. If a disabled person wants to reshape his bones, he must find a person who is very similar to his internal pulse circuit, and use this person's body to reshape his body. The parts are connected to oneself to achieve the purpose of building broken bones and melting flesh and blood.

During the Tianchao Gang incident, Qi Zhu broke Huo Qiao's legs and half of his face.Physical incompleteness will cause the meridians in the martial arts practitioners to be disorganized, making it difficult to practice martial arts that require great internal strength. Huo Qiao must be looking for people with similar meridians to reshape the bones and faces, and Wan Jingzong's Lingbei Pavilion must be exactly the same. A person with meridians similar to Huo Qiao's.

It's just that he didn't expect Ling Beiting to be Duan Rufeng's best friend for many years. Thinking of this, Qi Zhu felt sad in his heart. The hatred he forged back then ended up falling on someone else.

"I have searched for this person for three years, but found nothing. It was not until the night before yesterday in Jieziling that I felt the same aura again after three years." Duan Rufeng said calmly and firmly, "I will never admit my mistake, he is The real culprit who killed Beiting."

He didn't report Qi Zhu's knowledge of the Gu poison to the emperor, but he wanted to use this to find out about that person, which was his personal affair.

Qi Zhu was silent for a long time, and asked, "So what if you found him? Do you want revenge?"

"Whether you seek revenge or not, I just don't want my best friend to die humiliated and painful for no reason." Duan Rufeng stared deeply at Qi Zhu, "Master Hou, what would you do if it were you?"

At three moments later, the carriage of the Hou Mansion was driving through the streets of the capital, and Qi Zhu was sitting in the carriage, thinking about Duan Rufeng's words not long ago.

He didn't answer Duan Rufeng's last question, but he already had the answer in his heart.

Qi Zhu leaned lightly on the cushioned carriage, silently looking at the street scene outside the sedan chair window.A quarter of an hour later, the carriage stopped, and the servant who drove the carriage lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and said, "Master Hou, the Xiao residence is here."

Qi Zhu got out of the carriage and asked the person guarding the door to announce. Not long after, the vermilion front door was opened from the inside, and a clever little girl saluted Qi Zhu, saying, "Good afternoon, my lord, young master!" He is resting now, so it is not convenient to see Lord Hou, how about you, Lord Hou..."

It was rare for Henry Zhang to be resting at this time, and Duan Rufeng said that the emperor even sent an imperial physician, so Henry Henry Zhang might really have a serious illness this time.

"I just want to see him." Qi Zhu stepped into Xiao's mansion, "Is he in better health? What does the imperial doctor say?"

"Back to Lord Hou, the young master's injury has not healed yet, but he is better than yesterday, but occasionally he still feels drowsy and feverish. The imperial doctor said it was caused by fatigue, cold and injury, and he needs to rest for a while." The maid followed behind Qi Zhu, He said worriedly, "Young master was so scary when he came back in the early morning yesterday. I heard from the boy that the young master knelt in the snow for more than two hours. When he came back, he was completely bloodless and his hands were stiff. Terrified..."

Qi Zhu shook his fan hand for a while, and said: "On weekdays, I tell you young master to take care of yourself more, and don't ruin your body like this."

The servant girl said: "The housekeepers are all trying to persuade you, but the young master won't listen! It's better for the Hou Ye to persuade, the Hou Ye persuaded, the young master will definitely listen!"

Listening to the little girl's words, Qi Zhu came to the courtyard where Henry Zhang lived. There was a tall ginkgo tree in his courtyard, and the heavy snow had already knocked down all the ginkgo leaves on the branches.

Henry Zhang's bedroom has a faint fragrance of tranquilizing incense, and a hazy bead curtain hangs down from the arched pear blossom wood inner room door. Qi Zhu asked others to watch outside, gently opened the bead curtain, and walked in.

It was the first time Qi Zhu saw Henry Zhang like this. He was only wearing plain pajamas, his hair was scattered on the pillow, his eyes were closed, and he was breathing softly. His ten fingers wrapped in gauze were exposed outside the quilt, and his face was still pale. Too much blood, and the pale crimson lips are also extremely pale.

Normally he is so proud, aloof, beautiful and powerful, overlooking everyone from a high place, but now he is weak and powerless, he has suffered so much for one person.

Qi Zhu sat quietly beside Henry Zhang's bed, lightly caressing his cheeks with his fingers, Henry Zhang's cheeks were slightly cold, not as warm as he imagined.

The slender eyelashes of the person on the bed trembled slightly, and then he opened his eyes. He stared blankly at Qi Zhu beside the bed, his expression gradually cleared up, and his voice was still slightly hoarse: "...Why are you here?"

"I heard from Duan Rufeng that you are sick, and I want to come and see you." Qi Zhu lowered his head and stared at him, "The emperor has suffered for you, you have done a lot for me, thank you, Xiao Yangyue."

Henry Zhang looked back at him silently, then turned over and faced the bed.

"Don't do this next time." Qi Zhu said, "How's the injury on your body? Does your hand still hurt?"

Naturally, it still hurts, but Henry Zhang didn't want to say it, and didn't want to show more vulnerable side in front of Qi Zhu.At that time, he didn't think much about it, but he didn't want the emperor to kill Qi Zhu. The emperor didn't like him intervening too much, so he could only kneel outside the hall.

The emperor probably also understood his personal affair. Although he did get the emperor's approval later, the emperor still did not decree to return the badge of the master of the duckweed pavilion to him. His identity is different from usual, and everyone in the court can see inside.

What's the use of Qi Yi thanking him?What he wants is not Qi Zhu's thanks, not Qi Zhu's kindness, what he wants, even he himself doesn't know.

Seeing Henry Zhang's silence, Qi Zhu sighed softly.

The bedroom door was knocked lightly, Qi Zhu got up to welcome him out, the little maid beside Henry Zhang came in lightly with a tray, on which was a silver-rimmed porcelain bowl containing the medicinal liquid and a A small porcelain spoon, and a small dish of crystal-clear sugar-coated candied fruit.

The little maid whispered: "Master Hou, it's time for the young master to get up and take medicine."

Qi Zhu: "Give it to me, just come and collect the bowl later."

The little servant girl was surprised and said: "How can I bother Lord Hou..."

"It's okay, I'll come."

Seeing that Qi Zhu insisted, the little maid could only carefully hand over the tray to him, and said: "Master Hou, this medicine is very bitter, and the young master doesn't like it too bitter. This candied fruit is for the young master."

Qi Zhu looked at the candied fruit on the plate and couldn't help chuckling in his heart.

The little maid closed the door and retreated, Qi Zhu put the tray on the table beside the bed, picked up the medicine bowl, stirred it gently with a spoon, and said, "You should take the medicine."

Henry Zhang sat up, her body wrapped in plain clothes seemed to be thinner than before, and her outstretched wrists were even thinner. Qi Zhu used Henry Henry's sword that day, and that sword seemed light It is actually an epee, I don't know where Henry Zhang's strength comes from.

Xiao Yangyue wanted to reach out to pick up the medicine bowl, but Qi Zhu withdrew the medicine bowl back and said: "If your hand is hurt, don't use it. I'll feed you. Why, the servants in your family let you eat it by yourself Is it?"

Henry Zhang pursed his lips slightly, for some reason, he didn't want Qi Zhu to feed him.

"You are sick because of me. I should take care of such a small matter."

Qi Zhu scooped up a small spoonful and took a sip by himself first. He was tasting hot and cold, but also whether there was anything that should not be added in it. After finishing these, he scooped up another spoonful and handed it to Xiao Yangyue. Lips: "Come."

"..."

"What? Do you think I've used a spoon?" Qi Zhu said, "I was negligent, someone—"

Henry Zhang curled his lips slightly: "No."

Qi Zhu smiled, then passed the spoon over, Henry Zhang lowered his head and drank the concoction, the bitter taste of the concoction filled his lips, he frowned slightly, but still drank the whole bowl of medicine quietly.

Qi Zhu picked up a piece of candied fruit and fed it to him, while smiling, he licked the candy stains on his fingers: "Unexpectedly, you are still afraid of hardship."

Seeing Qi Zhu licking away the sugar stains on her fingertips, Henry Zhang felt inexplicably embarrassed, and her eyes fell on her ten fingers still wrapped in gauze.

"By the way." Qi Zhu said, "What did you say to the emperor the day before yesterday?"

"It is said that the martial arts forces behind Geng Chongdao have not yet been identified, and it is still useful to keep you. If you are innocent, you cannot be killed; if you are not innocent, then you can use you to draw out this force and wait for it to be eradicated in the future." Henry Zhang Yue said, "If you really harbor evil intentions, I will kill you with my own hands."

Although the emperor was dissatisfied with Xiao Yangyue, Xiao Yangyue had taken root in the duckweed pavilion for a long time, and there were many forces close to him in the military general group. Xiao Yangyue was to the duckweed pavilion, to the emperor, and to the entire court There are also irreplaceable uses.

The emperor still wanted Qi Zhu to die, but not through his hands. If he ordered Qi Zhu to be killed, Henry Zhang's sincerity towards the imperial order might be shaken. The best way is naturally to let Henry Zhang be willing to do it himself.

Henry Zhang also understands this in his heart, he can already figure out what the emperor has been thinking for so many years.Regardless of the outcome, this is the only way he can think of at present to preserve Qi Zhu.

The monarch and his ministers each have their own plans, and each acquiesced to the other's thoughts.

"So that's the case." Qi Zhu was not surprised after hearing this, and his expression didn't show the slightest turbulence, "Your status is still irreplaceable to the emperor, no wonder the emperor will withdraw his will."

Xiao Yangyue raised her eyes and stared at him quietly for a while, then said hoarsely: "I said I would kill you, don't you mind? Or do you think I can't do it?"

"I'm innocent, why should I mind this?" Qi Zhudao, "However, if I can die by your hands, that would be a good way to die."

This answer is not what Henry Zhang wants to hear, but he is also confused, not knowing what he wants to hear.

After a long while without words, Henry Zhang said: "Let's go."

"Forget it, you just took the medicine, you should continue to rest, I will not bother you." Qi Zhu stood up, "Listen more to the people in the house, they are also for your own good. Didn't you feel sorry for the broken hair before?" Tin, when you recover, I'll go to that store in the capital with you."

After leaving Xiao's Mansion, Qi Zhu boarded the carriage back to Hou's Mansion.

When the carriage reached the middle of the street, it suddenly heard the neighing of the horse, the boy who drove the carriage suddenly pulled the reins, the carriage shook suddenly, and then stopped.

Qi Zhu hadn't lifted the curtain of the sedan chair yet, when he heard noises from people around the market, and the boy in front apologized again and again: "Master Hou, forgive me! Someone is blocking the sedan chair in front!"

Qi Zhu frowned slightly, opened the car curtain, and saw a woman in a gray cherry-colored short dress knelt in front of the carriage with her head bowed, unable to see her face clearly, holding a rolled up paper with both hands, and shouted loudly: " Daughter Dong, please sue the imperial court! The evidence of the court is here, please take a look at it, Mr. Shaoqing!"

Sue impeachment?

The people in the surrounding streets stopped to discuss, maybe some unjust, false or wrongful case really happened, which made such a thin commoner woman dare to stop the sedan chair of the Marquis's mansion to sue.

As Qi Zhu is an official of Dali Temple, if he really wants to sue the imperial court, then it is reasonable to stop his sedan chair.He stared at the woman who bowed her head, and asked, "What is the court?"

The woman answered loudly: "My daughter's father was brutally framed by thieves, and died of malaria in a place where the government exiled barbarians! My father's bones are not cold yet, but the thieves are still at large!"

Qi Zhu got off the sedan chair, and the woman kneeling on the ground raised her head, only then did Qi Zhu see clearly that half of the woman's face was covered with a white eyepatch, which covered her left eye. Its face is still visible with astonishing beauty.

Qi Zhu took the pleading paper in her hand, unfolded it, and found that the pleading paper was not full of criminal evidence like the woman said, but only wrote a short sentence——

Lord Fang wants to kill Huo Qiao, I would like to help Lord Fang.

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As we all know, in addition to output, the book also needs to bring several assistants!

The next chapter is the end of this volume~