Chapter 148 The True or False Master (5)
5
Zhu Qingchen stood there in a daze, his eyes wide open in disbelief, staring at the man in the carriage.
The man was tall and didn't look thin. Sitting upright in the carriage, he looked like a small mountain.
He held the curtain with one hand and looked at Zhu Qingchen seriously.
I don’t know if it’s because of the bad light in the carriage or something else, but his face looks a little pale, with a gloomy look lingering between his brows.
Zhu Qingchen opened his eyes wide and was stunned for a long time. No, how did this person know the secret code between him and Li Yue?
How did he, a strong villain, become like this? Huh?!
The man cleared his throat and winked at him, asking him to pay attention behind him.
Zhu Qingchen came to his senses and turned to look.
Lu Jiming came out of the Lin family yard with a dark face.
He originally thought that this matter was extremely simple. Lin Jingzhe was just a country bumpkin who had never seen the world and could be taken away with just a few words.
Who knew that he and his teacher were so difficult to deal with that they actually refused to go with him.
When he was getting extremely worried, his cheap elder brother came again.
It made him very confused.
Unable to maintain the image of a gentleman, Lu Jiming walked out of the yard with a gloomy face.
When Zhu Qingchen turned around to look at him, he immediately adjusted his expression and gave Zhu Qingchen a warm smile: "Master Zhu."
Zhu Qingchen asked, "Who is this person in the carriage?"
Lu Jiming smiled and replied, "My elder brother, Lu Que."
Zhu Qingchen understood.
He really guessed it right. Lu Jiming was the second son of Wenyuan Marquis's Mansion, so there must be an eldest son.
At this time, the young master was leaning against the carriage window, looking at Zhu Qingchen leisurely.
That’s right, it’s me, the villain.
Zhu Qingchen snorted at him, then turned around and said to Lu Jiming, "What's going on? The Marquis's Mansion and the Earl's Mansion of Changping have become one? The Earl's Mansion wants to recognize the child, so do we need to ask the two young masters of the Marquis's Mansion to come and visit?"
With a big villain standing behind him, Zhu Qingchen spoke even more without restraint.
Anyway, if the sky falls, there is a big villain to hold it up, so he can say whatever he wants and is not afraid at all!
Lu Jiming didn't want Lu Que to know about the "real and fake young master" matter, so he quickly pulled Zhu Qingchen aside and explained in a low voice: "No, brother doesn't know about this. Brother is not feeling well, so he came with me to relax."
This was also his excuse for going out this time.
He took his brother out to relax. While his brother was relaxing, he came to Linjia Village to look for someone and brought Lin Jingzhe back without anyone noticing.
I didn't expect Lu Que to follow me.
When Zhu Qingchen heard the words "not feeling well", he no longer cared about Lu Jiming and quickly turned around to look at Lu Que.
——Are you really not feeling well?
Lu Que smiled at him and mouthed to him: "It's okay, it's just the villain setting."
Zhu Qingchen was still a little worried, so Lu Que quietly rolled up his sleeves and simply showed off his muscular arms. Only then did Zhu Qingchen feel relieved.
He turned back and said to Lu Jiming, "Second Master Lu, please go back. I have made my words very clear just now. Even if what Second Master Lu said is true, Jingzhe and I will not go to the capital just because of your words."
"If you are interested, please help me tell the Earl's Mansion that if you want to recognize your relationship, please come in person and do a blood test to determine the authenticity. If the Earl's Mansion does not want to recognize your relationship, then forget it. This matter ends here. Jingzhe and I will keep our mouths shut. Please rest assured."
Lu Jiming's gaze swept across Zhu Qingchen and Lin Jingzhe, and finally stopped on Lin Jingzhe.
Zhu Qingchen is too cautious and won't be persuaded, so it would be better to start with Lin Jingzhe.
He said in a gentle voice: "Jingzhe, don't worry, I am definitely not a liar. You can come with me to the capital. It will only take five or six days. Once we arrive in the capital, I will take you to the Earl's Mansion immediately."
"If you are not the son of the Earl's Mansion, I will personally send you back and give you one hundred taels of silver as compensation. If you are the son of the Earl's Mansion, wouldn't everyone be happy?"
"It's not that they don't want to come, but they are sick. You go to see them, it can be regarded as a kind gesture, okay?"
Lin Jingzhe stood obediently beside Zhu Qingchen, tugging at his sleeves, and shook his head firmly: "Not good."
From the beginning to the end, he suspected that Lu Jiming was a liar.
The more Lu Jiming was anxious for him to go to the capital, the more he felt that Lu Jiming was a liar.
Zhu Qingchen stretched out his hand and protected Lin Jingzhe behind him: "Second Master Lu, please go back."
Lu Jiming took a deep breath and said, "Master Zhu, do you really have to do this? I am the son of a marquis, how can I not move you two? You have to think it through--"
He lowered his voice and gritted his teeth, "Can you afford to offend the Earl's Mansion and the Marquis' Mansion?" Zhu Qingchen said calmly, "This has nothing to do with you, young master. It's the Earl's Mansion that has gone too far. Jingzhe and I don't ask the Earl's Mansion to come to our house crying and looking for our son, but at least they should come here."
"They filed the lawsuit, so they should be the ones to handle it, isn't that the truth? I am a scholar, and as soon as I heard about the Earl's Mansion, I shamelessly took my students to it. Isn't that too inappropriate? Will people point fingers at my spine and scold me in the future?"
"Of course, if everyone in the Earl's Mansion is sick and has no time to take care of this matter, then we can report it to the authorities..."
As soon as Zhu Qingchen said to report to the police, Lu Jiming was immediately startled and his arrogance disappeared.
He kept saying, "No... You can't report it to the police. You can't report it to the police."
Zhu Qingchen looked at him, raised his eyebrows, and deliberately asked: "Why?"
Lu Jiming said righteously: "This matter is of great importance, and it is also a family affair of the Earl's Mansion. Once it is reported to the authorities and spreads, what should we do?"
Zhu Qingchen frowned slightly: "What's wrong with that? Wouldn't it be better if the government came forward to investigate the matter and put things right?"
"No." Lu Jiming said sternly, "Zizhen... the young master in the Earl's Mansion, he is also innocent. If he reports to the police, how will he deal with himself in the capital in the future?"
Zhu Qingchen suddenly realized something and said with a long tone: "Oh, so that's it."
Zhu Qingchen knew that he would never report to the authorities.
So he reported the case to the police just to provoke Lu Jiming and make him stop talking nonsense.
Either report to the police or leave quickly. Don't use the earl's mansion or the marquis's mansion to threaten him. He is not afraid.
Zhu Qingchen finally said, "Since the Earl's Mansion will not report to the authorities, please let Master Lu pass on the message. Thank you."
"In that case..." Seeing his firm attitude, Lu Jiming could not say much, so he could only nod and say, "I'll pass on the message."
"Sir, please go back. We still have to hold the funeral for Lin Lao San, so we won't see you off. Besides..." Zhu Qingchen looked at him, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
Lu Jiming hurriedly asked, "Master Zhu, have you changed your mind?"
"No." Zhu Qingchen looked at him with a faint smile in his eyes, "I just have something to ask, but I don't know if I should ask Master Lu."
"you say."
"Is good news coming soon between Master Lu and the Earl's Mansion of Changping?"
When Lu Jiming heard this, he froze. He still said stubbornly, "Our two families are old friends."
Zhu Qingchen smiled and said, "Master Lu has been working so hard for the Earl's Mansion. I thought that your two families..."
Lu Jiming said, "Zizhen and I... are the young master in the Earl's Mansion. We grew up together, and his affairs are my affairs. I came here this time because he asked me to do so."
"I see." Zhu Qingchen nodded. "That being said, this is after all a family affair of the Earl's Mansion. Let them handle it themselves. It would be bad if others misunderstood that Mr. Lu was mistakenly replaced."
Didn't Lu Jiming like Yi Zizhen? Wasn't it because he would hit wherever Yi Zizhen pointed?
Zhu Qingchen chose to plant a seed of discord between them, waiting for it to take root and sprout in the future.
"Mr. Lu, please go back." Zhu Qingchen extended his hand to him, his courtesy and smile were impeccable.
Lu Jiming had no choice but to get on the carriage. Before leaving, he asked Zhu Qingchen and Lin Jingzhe to reconsider it. If they changed their minds, they could leave now.
As a result, the master and the disciple stood at the gate of the yard, their expressions were equally firm, unwavering, and they didn't even move.
The dirt road in the village was too narrow and Lu Jiming's carriage was too big, so there was no way to turn around, so he could only keep moving forward and make a circle in the open space in front.
Zhu Qingchen looked at the team where Lu Jiming was leaving and couldn't help laughing out loud.
It rained last night and the dirt road in the village was soaked all night and was covered with mud.
The wheels of the five heavy carriages rolled over the yellow mud and almost got stuck in it several times.
The servants following the carriage were even more pitiful. Their feet were soaked in yellow mud and they could hardly pull their shoes off. They were in great pain.
Until now, Zhu Qingchen still can't figure it out.
Lu Jiming was sitting in a carriage by himself, what were the four carriages behind him for?
No one is allowed to get on them, and there is nothing on them. If they are for Lin Jingzhe, then one car is enough for him. What are the other three for?
Just to highlight the godlike appearance of the protagonist of Gaolinghua? Isn't that too contrived?
I don’t know what Lu Jiming is thinking.
While he was planning in his mind how to take the person away quietly, he was also showing off his wealth and extravagance by getting five carriages and a bunch of attendants, not afraid of attracting attention at all.
Isn't this a contradiction?
The original book not only arranged a so-called meticulous plan for Lu Jiming, but also gave him a godly appearance to astonish everyone and stun Jingzhe, but the result was a hodgepodge of things.
There are contradictions and loopholes everywhere.
Watching Lu Jiming's team go away, Zhu Qingchen retracted his gaze, turned to look at Lu Que, and walked to his carriage.
Lu Que whispered, "I'll come find you after he leaves."
"Yeah." Zhu Qingchen nodded, "Where do you live now?"
"In the village outside the city, don't come over, I'll come find you."
"I know."
Under the current circumstances, it is best not to reveal what they know.
The two men whispered a few words, and then Lu Que was about to go back.
The carriage that Lu Que was riding in was quite light. The driver turned a corner at the gate of the yard and headed back.
Zhu Qingchen watched him leave, then turned around and said to Lin Jingzhe, "Take out Lin Laosan's tablet."
"Yes." Lin Jingzhe turned around and went back.
Zhu Qingchen bowed to the villagers in the yard and said, "Thank you all for your help. The funeral will continue. Thank you all for your help."
The villagers all waved their hands and said it was okay, that Lin Jingzhe was the younger one and it was their duty to take better care of him.
Zhu Qingchen thanked the village chief again: "Thank you very much. If you hadn't been here, Jingzhe and I would have been thrown into disarray."
The village chief was very pleased with the words. He stroked his gray beard and waved to the villagers behind him.
"Okay, stop talking. Those who carry the coffin should go and carry the coffin, and those who cook should stay at home and cook. While the weather is cloudy now, quickly bury Lin Lao San. When the sun comes out later, you will be in trouble."
Lin Jingzhe was dressed in mourning, holding the wooden tablet of Lin Laosan, and walked to the front.
A few young men shouted and lifted up the coffin.
The village chief waved in front and shouted, "Go!"
Zhu Qingchen stayed beside Lin Jingzhe: "It's okay, let's go, the master will accompany you."
*
On the other side, Lu Jiming returned empty-handed.
He sat alone in the bumpy carriage and could no longer bear the pain, so he punched the wall of the carriage.
I originally thought it was an extremely simple matter, but I don't know how it turned out to be such a mess.
He still hasn't reacted to why he was sent away by Zhu Qingchen and was scolded by him.
Although he felt uncomfortable, he had to admit that what Zhu Qingchen said made sense.
Yes, since it is the Earl’s Mansion that is recognizing the relationship, why doesn’t the Earl’s Mansion come himself?
Yes, since it was the wet nurse who told everything, why not let the wet nurse come with him?
Yes, this is clearly the Earl's family affair, why should an outsider like him come?
The Earl's Mansion was afraid that the news would spread and ruin Yi Zizhen's reputation. But weren't they afraid of ruining his reputation? Didn't the Earl's Mansion think that he might be regarded as a liar? Would he run into trouble?
Since he has been allowed to come, even if we ask him to do something, he can't run around and take risks in vain, right?
As a result, the Earl's Mansion was firmly in the capital, and he was being criticized outside. It was simply...
Lu Jiming began to regret it.
He shouldn't have agreed to the matter so hastily just because Yi Zizheng cried a few times in front of him.
Now, he has gotten himself into a lot of trouble that was none of his business.
Lu Jiming was so angry that he hit the wall of the carriage again.
The driver outside heard the noise and asked, "Sir?"
Lu Jiming immediately regained his composure and said, "The carriage was too bumpy, I fell a bit, but it's okay."
Back at the village, Lu Jiming got off the carriage.
Lu Que didn't need to take a detour, he had already returned and sat in the main hall drinking tea.
When Lu Jiming saw him, he remembered that there was still a problem that had not been solved. He didn't know if Lu Que had noticed it.
Lu Jiming pursed his lips, stepped forward quickly, and shouted, "Brother."
Lu Que replied calmly: "Yeah."
Lu Jiming asked tentatively: "Brother, why did you follow me to Linjia Village today?"
Lu Que fiddled with the teacup on the table, his tone calm: "You left early in the morning, I asked the servants where you went, and they took me there."
Lu Jiming also tried to cover up: "I am an old acquaintance of the son of that family. When his father passed away, I went to offer condolences. I did not tell my brother. It was my fault."
Lu Que was silent, and Lu Jiming continued, "I accompanied my brother out to relax this time, hoping that he could recuperate and recover soon. I didn't expect that this place is poor and remote, and the medicine that my brother usually takes is running out, so I have to go back to the capital."
Lu Que had an indifferent expression and remained silent.
He knew what Lu Jiming was going to do. It would be better if Lu Jiming left because then he could go see Zhu Qingqing.
Lu Jiming continued, "Please stay at the manor for the next few days. I will go back to Beijing."
"Um."
After deceiving Lu Que, Lu Jiming finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned around to pack his luggage, preparing to return to Beijing to deliver the message.
Now he just wanted to quickly get the people from the Earl's Mansion over and get out of this situation. He didn't want to care about anything else. *
The back mountain of Linjia Village.
The village chief chose a not-so-good grave for Lin Laosan, who usually did many evil things. It was on the shady side of a hillside and looked eerie.
The pit had been dug long ago. The coffin was carried up the mountain and placed in the pit, with a small mound built. There was not even a tombstone.
Lin Jingzhe held the tablet and knelt down in front of the grave to kowtow to the villagers who helped him: "Thank you, elders, thank you, village chief. When I grow up, I will definitely repay you all."
The village chief quickly helped him up: "Alright, alright, your father is dead, but you still have to live your life. If you encounter any problems, you can come to us. Master Zhu is willing to take you under his wing, so you should learn from him carefully. Maybe you will have great luck in the future. Come on, kowtow to the master."
Zhu Qingchen smiled and held Lin Jingzhe's arm: "Don't worry, Village Chief, I will take care of this child from now on."
"That's great." The village chief smiled happily after finding a good place for Lin Jingzhe. He pushed him and said, "Come on, kowtow to the master."
"Yes." Lin Jingzhe looked at Zhu Qingchen seriously, "Master."
Lin Jingzhe insisted, and Zhu Qingchen did not try to stop him. He gently let go of his hand, turned his body slightly, and did not accept the full greeting.
Lin Jingzhe knelt on the ground, kowtowed three times, and shouted loudly, "Master!"
"Yeah." Zhu Qingchen nodded, helped him up, and brushed the dust off his body.
Lin Jingzhe smiled at him foolishly and called out again, "Master."
The village chief was happy: "In that case, we will go back first. You two can talk slowly and then pay respects."
"Okay." Zhu Qingchen smiled, "Village Chief, take care."
"Hey." The village chief waved at them and left with his people.
Zhu Qingchen watched them leave and until they disappeared from his sight, he turned back and asked Lin Jingzhe: "Do you want to pay your respects?"
Lin Jingzhe asked in a low voice: "Master, can I not offer sacrifices?"
"sure!"
The teacher and the student took away the prepared offerings, went to the sunny side of the hillside, and found a place with plenty of sun energy to sit down.
Let’s eat!
The system was shocked: "Chenchen, why are you taking students to eat offerings?"
Zhu Qingchen said confidently: "Isn't it that we haven't had time to offer it up yet?"
"You are an ancient person! How come you are not superstitious at all? Aren't you afraid that Lin Lao San will come looking for you?"
"I wasn't afraid of him when he was alive, and I'm even less afraid of him now that he's dead." Zhu Qingchen took a bite of the blushed white flour bun, "It's such a waste to give him these things to eat, he doesn't deserve them."
Zhu Qingchen turned around and saw Lin Jingzhe sitting next to him, holding a steamed bun in both hands and eating it enthusiastically.
You are worthy of being my student!
The system finally asked: "Are you really not afraid?"
"I'm a little scared." Zhu Qingchen said confidently, "So I took the students to find a sunny place to eat, to kill the bad luck."
“…”
The teacher and the student ate a plate of steamed buns, a plate of snacks, and a plate of fruit.
Finally, Zhu Qingchen couldn't help but burp.
This was the most filling meal he had ever had since he entered this world.
The same went for Lin Jingzhe. This was the fullest meal he had ever had since he was born.
He pressed his slightly bulging belly and felt a sense of happiness he had never felt before.
Zhu Qingchen looked at him with a smile and shouted, "Jingzhe."
"Hmm?" Lin Jingzhe raised his head, "Master, what's wrong?"
"What do you think of what Mr. Lu said?"
"He must be a liar." Lin Jingzhe said firmly, "Master reminded me before that he was too anxious and wanted to take me away. He is obviously a liar."
"Yeah." Zhu Qingchen nodded, "What you said makes sense, that's right."
Lin Jingzhe became more confident and straightened his back a little: "I remember everything the master taught me."
Zhu Qingchen asked again: "What if what Mr. Lu said is true? What do you think?"
"I..." Lin Jingzhe suddenly lowered his voice, "I don't know."
"It's okay, just think of it as a casual chat with the Master."
"Hmm..." Lin Jingzhe lowered his head and casually pulled the weeds at his feet.
In fact, he had a premonition.
What Lu Jiming said might be true, otherwise the Master wouldn’t have talked to him for so long.
But he didn't dare to think about it. If it was true, what should he do?
He didn't say anything, and Zhu Qingchen didn't rush him, but just accompanied him quietly.
After a long while, Lin Jingzhe finally spoke: "If what Mr. Lu said is true, then I think..."
He paused for a long time again: "Then I think that the Earl's Mansion doesn't care about me at all."
"It's just like what Master said. If I were their biological child, why didn't they come to look for me themselves? Why did they send someone to look for me? If the people in the next village lost a chicken, the whole family would go to look for it. I'm their biological child, but they didn't come. It doesn't make sense."
"Just now the Master said to report to the police, but Master Lu said that we can't report to the police. If we do, that person's reputation will be ruined. They are protecting that person and don't want him to get hurt, but they didn't think about me."
Lin Jingzhe whispered, "I finally waited until Lin Lao San died. I really want a new family, but I won't follow just anyone who comes and says a few words to me. I'm not stupid. What if they sell me out?"
Zhu Qingchen nodded and asked deliberately: "That makes sense, so what should we do now?"
"Right now..." Lin Jingzhe said, "Go home and clean up the house. The crops in the fields have not been taken care of for a long time, so we need to take care of them. Then we need to clean up the house as well. It would be best to get rid of the bad luck."
He said firmly, "If what Mr. Lu said is true, they will come here on their own. I will not rush to the capital to recognize my relatives just because of his two words. I want to live my own life well."
"Okay, let's do it this way." Zhu Qingchen put away the offering plates and stood up. "Go back."
Lin Jingzhe carried a small bamboo basket and walked back on the mountain road with the teacher.
"Master."
"Um?"
"If that Mr. Lu is really a noble, how could you let him go with just a few words? Are you really a powerful person in the capital? Do you really have many students in the capital?"
"Of course." Zhu Qingchen said firmly, "I have many students."
"Then what rank can I get?"
"Too many, too many to count, impossible to count, just like the stars in the sky."
He started talking nonsense again, and the system flew away silently.
When they returned home, the villagers who came to help had already prepared lunch and invited them to eat.
Zhu Qingchen and Lin Jingzhe looked at each other. Both teacher and student were so full of offerings that they couldn't eat anymore. They could only pretend to be sad and hide back in their room.
In the afternoon, the villagers all dispersed. Lin Jingzhe thanked them one by one, saw them off, then returned to the yard and started cleaning.
Now, he can clean his house carefully and no longer have to worry about Lin Laosan coming back and messing up the house.
He seemed to have endless energy and swept all the bad luck from the past out the door. After cleaning the house, he carried the farm tools and went to the fields to tend the crops.
Because of Lin Laosan's funeral, Zhu Qingchen hasn't taught any students for a few days.
He gathered the few students together and taught them a few words.
In the evening, several children ran out of the yard, saying "Goodbye, Master".
Just at this moment, a carriage stopped in front of the yard.
Lu Que opened the curtain and said, "Zhu Qingqing, get in the car."
Zhu Qingchen waved at him and said, "Get off. It would be bad if someone saw me getting into your car."
Lu Que paused and said, "Come up, I'll take you to eat something delicious."
"I'm not hungry, come down."
The two men were in a stalemate for a while. For some reason, Lu Que refused to get out of the car.
Zhu Qingchen had no choice but to look around and make sure no one had spotted him. He lifted his coat and tried to climb up: “Here I come!”
Lu Que opened the curtain and held his arm firmly: "Come and sit down."
It was a little dark in the carriage. Zhu Qingchen climbed in and bumped into something, making a slight sound.
Zhu Qingchen looked back and picked up the fallen wooden crutch.
Wait a minute! A wooden cane? Where did the wooden cane come from?
Zhu Qingchen raised his head and looked at the man in front of him seriously, then lowered his head to look at his legs: "Li, you..."
Lu Que hid his left foot to the side and said, "That's a dog-beating stick."
Zhu Qingchen rushed forward quickly, wanting to lift up his shirt to take a look, but ended up falling into Lu Que's arms.
Lu Que hugged him tightly. Zhu Qingchen used his hands and feet to struggle hard: "Li that!"
Lu Que held him in his arms and told the driver: "Go."!
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