White Hedge Dream

Chapter 129: Rubbing shoulders

Zhou Jingyun walked to Imperial Street and saw many officials hurriedly heading towards the imperial city.

What happened?

It's the New Year, and it's time to take a break the day after tomorrow. There are fewer officials coming to the Yamen these days.

Why are so many people showing up in the evening?

If they weren't all beaming with joy, Zhou Jingyun would have suspected that something was wrong in the palace.

"Jingyun, Jingyun." An official he knew saw him and greeted him with a smile, "Let's go into the palace. Your Majesty is hosting a banquet tonight."

Why is Your Majesty throwing a sudden banquet? This emperor was probably afraid of banquets because he was too frightened and tortured at banquets when he was young, so he rarely held banquets.

"I just heard the news that Zhang Qi and Zheng Qing are back." The official said, "Your Majesty is very happy and is hosting a banquet."

Zhou Jingyun didn't have much impression of Zhang Qi. He remembered that he was a calligrapher and painter who once taught the prince, but he soon left the court.

However, Zheng Qing had a great reputation and had served as prime minister. However, when he first took office, the late emperor wanted to appoint Jiang Mian'er as the queen. Zheng Qing scolded him in court. The queen is the mother of the country and cannot be established randomly. She should be elected as a virtuous person and praise Si Daji and Li Ji. It will only bring chaos to the court and destroy the world.

This was undoubtedly to call the late emperor King Youwang and King Zhou. The late emperor, who had a bad temper, almost beat Zheng Qing to death with a stick in front of the palace. Empress Jiang, who was still Concubine Jiang at that time, stopped her with a smile.

"Your Majesty, wouldn't it be as he wished to kill him? Let him live and look good. Am I not praising Si Daji and others? Your Majesty is the King You and King Zhou."

Zheng Qing was exiled and his whereabouts disappeared. Some said he was assassinated by someone sent by Empress Chiang Kai-shek.

Zhou Jingyun thought to himself, in fact, this is really a misunderstanding of Empress Chiang. She would not hide if she wanted to kill someone.

"If you want to kill, kill in public. Kill in a lively and public manner. What's the fun in assassination?"

Unexpectedly, Zheng Qing is back now.

"Jingyun, come together quickly. Your Majesty is happy today."

Zhou Jingyun smiled: "I won't go. I have something to do at home. Now that Mr. Zheng is back, we should have a good gathering during the Chinese New Year this year to congratulate him."

People like Zhou Jingyun sparkled wherever they went. When he arrived in front of the Holy Emperor, he was the only one in the emperor's eyes. They all became foils. It would be better not to go.

The officials laughed and stopped pressing.

Zhou Jingyun walked out of the imperial street as more and more officials came, then looked back at the imperial city and galloped away.

"The prince is back."

Along the way, the maids smiled and greeted him, and in front of him there were little girls running to report the news. When he walked through the door, he saw Zhuang Li waiting under the eaves.

She had a smile on her face, and the maids who followed her were also smiling.

The little girls standing on the porch were holding up the candied haws that they had just received and were also laughing.

Zhou Jingyun couldn't help but smile.

"Your Majesty came back early today," Zhuang Li said with a smile.

Chunyue and others opened the curtain.

"You don't have to go after two more days of rest." Zhou Jingyun said, reaching out to gently hold her arm, "Hurry in, it's cold."

Zhuang Li walked in first with a smile, followed by Zhou Jingyun. The warmth and medicinal aroma in the room hit his face.

"Has the incense been made?" Zhou Jingyun asked, taking off his cloak and looking at the table in the Toji Room.

The original pens, inks, paper and inkstones were all taken down, and various incense utensils were placed, which was messy and vivid.

"It's almost done. I'll go to Dr. Zhang's place tomorrow to check it out." Zhuang Li said.

Chunxiang took the cloak and put it away. Zhou Jingyun sat down. Chunyue brought the tea and left with Chunxiang.

Silence returned to the room.

Zhou Jingyun sat by the window drinking tea, watching Zhuang Li playing with spices, while muttering to himself, "Just take a rest. It turns out that there are so many things to do during the New Year, and my mother is really busy with her feet off the floor." "You can do it at home." Go help." "I don't know anything. I have never been like this since I was a child. I always help." "My mother said let me sell medicine to make money. Don't cause trouble to her."

She laughed at this.

He didn't mind Madam Dongyang Hou's words at all.

Zhou Jingyun kept laughing when she was talking, and nodded: "I also think it's better to make money."

Zhuang Li glanced at him: "I will go to the medical clinic tomorrow to make money, finish the incense, and then take a bath with the prince. There is no need to go out again."

Zhou Jingyun smiled and nodded, lowering his head to drink tea.

"Oh, by the way, you should have received the letter to Mrs. Zhuang, right?" Zhuang Li asked what he had in mind.

Zhou Jingyun counted the days: "It should only be these two days."

Zhuang Li breathed a sigh of relief: "It will be good to receive it before the New Year. It will be like I am with my wife."

Zhou Jingyun smiled and did not say that he thought so too, so he added more people to deliver the letter as quickly as possible.

"Your Majesty, Madam, the Madam has prepared food over there." Chunyue came in and reminded.

Chunxiang smiled and came in holding an umbrella, "It's snowing."

It was snowing again. Zhuang Li stood up and looked outside, seeing snow flakes flying in the yard.

Zhou Jingyun put the cloak on her: "Let's go, it will snow heavily in a while."

Zhuang Li smiled and nodded and walked out. Chunxiang wanted to hold an umbrella for Zhuang Li, but when Zhou Jingyun took it, she pursed her lips and backed away, watching Zhou Jingyun holding an umbrella and walking side by side with Zhuang Li.

…

…

As the New Year approaches, the number of guests on board the boats does not decrease, but becomes even more noisy.

Shangguan Yue, who had resumed her diurnal and nocturnal habits, fell asleep in the morning light after a noisy night, until she was awakened by the gentle knocking on the wall.

Shangguan Yue sat with her eyes closed, moved to the wall, opened the door, and bent her head to the ground: "What are your orders, princess?"

The maid hurriedly said: "Young master, there is no need to give a big gift." She smiled brightly again, "The princess brought the person to your Majesty yesterday. Your Majesty was overjoyed and held a banquet. At the banquet, she praised and thanked her. The two siblings were as good as before, no, better than before. fine."

"That's great." Shangguan Yue bowed her head to the ground with a joyful voice, "My aunt and I are happy together."

"The princess said that since she has changed her ways," the maid continued, "she will pretend to be for the consort and improve the relationship with you, so that it will be more convenient for you to be around her in the future."

Shangguan Yue responded yes.

The maid said no more, bowed and left.

The door on the wall was closed, and Shangguan Yue lay motionless with her head on the ground, until she slowly lay on the ground, opened her eyes, and stretched her body on the ground.

This is when I woke up from sleep.

"Good luck, good luck," he shouted.

After shouting, I thought, well, he won't shout the wrong name now.

Ji Xiang came in from the door and saw Shangguan Yue lying on the ground with a smile on her face.

"Young Master, I'm so happy." Ji Xiang said with a smile, "It's just past noon. Young Master, please take a nap."

Shangguan Yue shook his head and sat up: "I'm going to Yu Qingtang."

The young master has been going to Yu Qingtang very frequently recently, Ji Xiang thought to himself, but he didn't ask much and answered the question to help Shangguan Yue change his clothes.

The sunlight in the winter afternoon is also very dazzling.

Shangguan Yue was riding on horseback, almost pulling down her hat to cover her face, but still couldn't block the light in front of her eyes.

As the New Year approaches, the streets are full of people, shouting, children making noise, and firecrackers popping up one after another.

New Year's Day is really noisy.

Shangguan Yue closed her eyes and swayed along with the horse's movements. She was half asleep and half awake when a soft call suddenly came to her ears.

"Li Yu."

Shangguan Yue's hair stood on end instantly, the noise around him disappeared, and he could only hear his own heartbeat.

Boom, boom, boom.

He remained motionless, still swaying forward like this. In the blink of an eye, the surroundings were noisy again, as if the sound just now was just his illusion.

"Auspicious," he called.

Ji Xiang, who was following him, approached him. Shangguan Yue raised his hat slightly and looked back from the corner of his eyes while talking to Ji Xiang.

There were many people and cars on the street, and among them was a carriage surrounded by guards. His instinct told him that this was the car that he had just passed by. And he recognized the car.

After all, I had stared at it before and remembered the markings and even the clothes of the servants.

The carriage of the young lady of Dongyang Hou Mansion.

Perhaps he wanted to watch the lively street scene. At this time, the curtains of the carriage were lifted, and someone was leaning against the window to look out. However, his face could not be seen, and he could only faintly see the jade and jade shaking in his bun.

Mrs. Hou Shaofang of Dongyang.

Was it she who called Li Yu to herself?

How is that possible?

Or was it really a hallucination of his half-asleep and half-awake dream?

Or maybe someone is indeed called Li Yu. With so many people on the street, people with the same name are inevitable.

Although her heart was churning like ocean waves, Shangguan Yue sat up straight again in an instant without showing anything strange. She covered her head with her hat, but did not close her eyes to sleep again.

Was it an accident?

Is it a misunderstanding?

Is it an illusion?

After turning the corner, Shangguan Yue reined in his horse.

Jixiang stood aside and hurriedly followed him: "Young Master?"

Shangguan Yue's deep voice came from under the hat.

"Prepare manpower."

There is no room for speculation now, everything must be foolproof.

Mrs. Dongyang Hou, no matter where you come from, as long as there is a threat...

I can only feel sorry for Zhou Jingyun and make him a widower again.

….

….

Because there were so many people on the street near the New Year's Day, it was difficult to park at the front entrance. The processing workshop was in the backyard, and Zhuang Li's carriages were parked at the back door.

Zhang Shilin came over with a smile, "The young lady is here."

Zhuang Li held Chun Yue's hand and got out of the car. The waiting disciple took out the box containing the medicinal incense from the side of the car.

"The pharmacy is ready." Zhang Shilin said with a smile.

Zhuang Li said with a smile: "Success or failure depends on today."

Zhang Shilin laughed and went in first. Zhuang Li supported Chun Yue and walked in. When he stepped through the door, he looked back.

It seems that Shangguan Yue and Li Yu don't know each other.

Just then she saw Shangguan Yue walking towards her. Although her head and face were covered, and although they had never interacted with each other in daily life, to her, she and he were not strangers, and they recognized him at a glance.

Although she initially suspected that the Dreamless Realm was Shangguan Yue, she was shaken when the child said her name was Li Yu. When she learned that Li Yu might be the former emperor's grandson, she didn't think much more about it.

However, when seeing Shangguan Yue getting closer and closer, this is a rare opportunity.

After all, she could only see Shangguan Yue in her dreams.

The dream was fabricated by her, and she could not obtain more and more accurate information than a real person.

So she couldn't help but test it out, and called Li Yu when she passed by.

People react very sensitively to their own names, or the names of familiar people.

Will respond subconsciously.

Will follow the sound subconsciously.

But Shangguan Yue didn't react at all, and just staggered past without even turning his head.

She really thought too much.

"Young madam, be careful of the steps." Chunyue said.

Zhuang Li withdrew his gaze, gently lifted his skirt and walked through the door.

Because they knew Zhuang Li was coming today, the processing workshop in the backyard was specially vacated, and the disciples all avoided it.

After chatting a few words, the two of them got busy. Chun Yue helped them, collecting various medicinal materials and delivering various tools.

Zhuang Li was lowering her head to make incense. When the sound of Dr. Zhang cutting medicine stopped in her ears, she subconsciously raised her head and saw two people coming in like shadows from outside the door. Silently and with quick movements, she hit her back with a palm. Look at the back of Dr. Zhang's neck at the door.

Doctor Zhang fell forward and was hugged by the man.

At the same time, Chunyue, who was tiptoeing to get medicinal materials from the medicine cabinet, also fell limply into someone's arms.

"Young lady, don't shout." A voice came, "Otherwise, these two people will die."

As he was talking, someone else walked in.

As he walked in, the sound of cutting medicine could be heard in the processing workshop. Dr. Zhang was supported by someone, holding his hands and continuing to cut medicine. Chunyue was also placed on a chair, leaning against the table, and her arms were restrained as if she was picking up medicine. medicine.

At the same time, each had a knife pressed against their hearts.

Zhuang Li looked at the person who walked in with a surprised expression.

Shangguan Yue did not cover her face, she even took off her hat and looked at Zhuang Li.

This is the second time he has met Mrs. Dongyang Hou

Although I have wanted to see him many times before.

Thinking of the past, it was like a dream.

If Mrs. Dongyang Marquis really knew about Li Yu, then his various speculations at the beginning were not absurd.

This woman is indeed extraordinary.

The last time we passed by each other at the door of the drug store, I turned around and glanced at her. She looked similar to other women. She was the kind of person who wouldn't remember her even after just one look.

At this moment, perhaps because of the fear on her face, the woman's face was a little blurry.

It doesn't matter what she looks like.

"I just came to ask..." Shangguan Yue said.

But before he finished speaking, a smile broke out on the face of the woman in front of him.

"You are really Li Yu." She said, "That's great!"

She looked at him, seemingly curious and confused.

"It seems you don't recognize me when I'm awake."

What's the meaning? She's awake? What about waking and sleeping? Isn’t it all her?

Shangguan Yue found this scene strange. The young lady was suddenly held hostage. She was not frightened at all, but was surprised.

What's the trick?

He stretched out his hand and grabbed Zhuang Li's arm, grabbed him, and held him in front of him: "Don't talk nonsense..."

"... Let's make a long story short." The man who was being held hostage in front of him took over, "Leave this to me."

Shangguan Yue didn't want to be in a trance, but she still froze when she heard these words. What does it mean to leave it to her...

As the thought flashed through his mind, he suddenly felt his vision blur, and everything around him became blurry. The attendant holding Doctor Zhang and the maid in his trance stood up, walked to the door and sat down. Zhang Shilin and the maid both opened their eyes and sat up straight. He got up, but he didn't seem to notice the extra people in the room or what was going on. He didn't scream, but one continued to cut medicine and the other continued to pick up medicine.

What's going on?

What the hell?

Shangguan Yue heard shouting loudly in her head, but no sound came out.

He looked at Madam Dongyang Hou who was being held hostage in front of him.

The woman's face suddenly rippled like lake water, dispersing in an instant and re-condensing in the next moment.

A face appeared, and a voice sounded in his ears.

"Do you recognize who I am now?"

Looking at this face that suddenly appeared, Shangguan Yue had only one thought in her mind.

What a hell!

"Bai Li!" He heard his own voice, "Are you possessed by Mrs. Dongyang Hou?"