Chapter 159 The True or False Master (16)
16
Over the past three years, the three children have explored the capital city thoroughly and are very familiar with every street and lane.
Liu Yun took his two friends and quietly followed the carriage of Wenyuanhou Mansion.
Pei Zhen wanted to say "This is not what a gentleman does", but was still pulled away by Liu Yun.
This carriage is indeed strange.
After all, Wenyuanhou Mansion is a duke's house, why would they use such a simple carriage? And they chose to enter the city in the evening, as if they were deliberately avoiding people.
Moreover, it is the Chinese New Year, and their family entered the capital with a white flower on their head, and there was a sense of weirdness everywhere.
After an unknown amount of time, the group made many twists and turns and came to a side door of the Wenyuan Marquis Mansion and hid in the alley.
The carriage stopped, the driver got off and knocked on the door. I don't know what he said to the inside, but the door was opened from the inside.
The person who opened the door was Lu Jiming!
The three people hiding in the alley couldn't help but open their eyes wide and communicate in whispers.
Liu Yun said: "Look, the second son of the Marquisate opened the door himself, there must be something fishy going on."
Pei Zhen held him down: "Take another look."
Lu Jiming shouted something, then walked to the front of the carriage and lifted the curtain.
The next second, a young man in white got out of the car, jumped out, and threw himself into Lu Jiming's arms, crying, "Brother Jiming!"
The man hugged Lu Jiming tightly and turned his head, showing his face towards the alley.
It was still light outside and the three children gasped.
"It's him!"
"Yi Zizhen! Why is he back?"
"Didn't His Majesty tell them not to return to the capital? How dare he come back?"
The three of them poked their heads out and wanted to take another look, but they could only see Lu Jiming putting a cloak on Yi Zizheng, hugging him, and the two of them entered the mansion through a side door.
The coachman drove the carriage away before the three dared to come out of the alley.
"Did you all see it clearly? That person must be Yi Zizhen. Although he has grown taller, I still remember his face."
"It was him, that's right. He also called me 'Brother Jiming' often."
"That's good." Liu Yun said, "We will go to the government to report the case immediately, saying that someone disobeyed the imperial decree, and let the government come to deal with it. Or I will go to the palace to report, and His Majesty will give me a badge to enter the palace."
Lin Jingzhe hesitated and said, "I think it's better to tell the teacher first." Pei Zhen also said, "It's the New Year, and the government officials have all gone home for the New Year. We are short of manpower. If we rashly go to report to the government, we might alert the enemy. What if the government officials haven't arrived yet, and Lu Jiming has hidden him or sent him back overnight? What should we do then?"
"Even if someone is caught in Wenyuanhou's mansion, he can just say that he missed Lu Jiming and came to see him, and then leave immediately. The government can't do anything to him except send him away."
"Since the Master has contacts with Young Master Lu, maybe Young Master Lu also knows about this matter. Since they haven't made any moves, we shouldn't act rashly. Let's go back first."
"That makes sense." Liu Yun nodded, "Let's go back and find the Master."
The three men turned around and slipped away through the alley again, like three little mice.
When I returned to Liu's Mansion, I didn't see the Master. After asking the servant, I learned that the Master had also gone outside the city to watch the fireworks.
Even their grandfather and other old masters went along.
They had no choice but to run out of the city again to look for their master.
When they left, there was no one outside the city.
After walking for a while, the outside of the city was crowded with people.
Fortunately, the group of elderly people were quite conspicuous, and they quickly found their grandfather and teacher sitting there.
A group of people clasped their hands, wore thick clothes, and sat on small benches.
"Master! Grandpa! We have something important to tell you!"
The three students looked around and found that there were too many people here, so they wanted to pull them away.
Zhu Qingchen sat on a small stool, pulled them back, and said, "The fireworks are about to start, where are you going?"
"There's something big!"
"It's okay, Master knows everything. Let's talk after watching the fireworks."
The three students met Zhu Qingchen's gaze, slowly calmed down, and squatted obediently beside the teacher, not blocking the people behind them.
Zhu Qingchen asked casually: "Didn't you come early to grab a seat? Why are you here so late?"
"We saw..." Lin Jingzhe paused, "It was the thing that Master knew about, entering through the city gate. We followed it."
Zhu Qingchen comforted him: "It's okay, everything is under control, Master."
"Yeah." Lin Jingzhe nodded and looked at the night sky in front of him with peace of mind.
As the sky gradually darkened, the fireworks craftsmen hired by the government arrived.
It is said that this custom has been handed down from a hundred years ago. The emperor at that time cancelled the palace banquet for court officials due to the cold and windy weather, and allocated money to the craftsmen to set off fireworks outside the city every year.
Just at this moment, the emperor who made the decision at that time, now the eldest son of Lu, the unchanged villain, came over with a cane.
Zhu Qingchen patted the small stool left for him: "Over here!"
Just as Lu Que sat down next to him, a firework rose into the night sky, illuminating the capital.
"Wow——" Zhu Qingchen couldn't help but exclaimed.
*
At the same time, in the mansion of Marquis Wenyuan.
Lu Jiming covered Yi Zizhen with his cloak, and under the protection of his personal servant, he bypassed the main hall and brought him back to his own yard.
As soon as he returned to the yard and closed the door, Yi Zizheng turned around and threw himself into Lu Jiming's arms again.
"Brother Jiming! I am so miserable!"
"I know." Lu Jiming hugged him, took him back to the room, wiped his tears, poured him hot tea and brought him snacks.
Yi Zizhen cried so hard that he was out of breath, and tears fell down in strings.
Lu Jiming patted his back gently and comforted him, "Zizhen, don't cry, I know, I know everything."
Yi Zizhen fell into his arms again: "Brother Jiming, you don't know how hard my life is!"
Three years ago, he returned to Linjia Village with his biological parents.
Your Majesty's decree, the villagers already knew everything.
So they all had no good attitude towards Yi Zizheng and his parents.
The village chief allocated an abandoned house in the village to them to live in. Lin Jingzhe and Zhu Qingchen's houses were carefully renovated by them and used as the village school, so of course they could not give it to them.
After settling down, the family of three lived comfortably for a while relying on the money sent by Lu Jiming.
But suddenly one day, Lu Jiming stopped sending money.
Yi Zizhen wiped away tears and said, "I know, Brother Jiming definitely didn't do it on purpose."
Lu Jiming recalled the time when he was beaten by Lin Jingzhe three years ago, and his expression changed slightly.
Of course, he would not tell Yi Zizheng about this matter, as it would damage his wise image.
He only said, "That Zhu Qingchen said something in front of my father. My father was keeping a close eye on me during that time, and I had no choice."
"I know." Yi Zizhen nodded, "I don't blame Brother Jiming."
The money is gone, but the family still has to survive.
Father Yi was too embarrassed to go out, and he always said that he had not recovered from the flogging yet.
Yi's mother went to work as a maid in a wealthy family in the city.
Yi Zizhen wanted to be a teacher in the village school, but was driven back by the villagers. The villagers disliked his bad behavior and did not allow him to teach their children.
There was no other way, Yi Zizhen could only go to a faraway place where no one knew him and do some copying work.
"I copied books day and night, and went over the mountain roads to deliver books every day. My father was supported by me and my mother. He did not do any work at all, and did not even wash clothes at home. When the Chinese New Year was approaching, he froze to death at the door of the house because of drinking."
"My mother and I really have no other options. We simply don't have the money to hold a funeral for my father. My father was such a close friend of the Marquis when he was alive. I wanted to inform the Marquis of my father's death, so... I sent a letter to Brother Jiming, wanting to come and see him."
Lu Jiming didn't dare to say anything. His father was now fed up with the former Earl of Changping, so he could only calm him down first: "I will tell my father about this matter, and you don't need to show up for the time being."
"I know. I am a criminal now and cannot show up easily. If I am recognized and implicate Brother Jiming, that would be bad."
Lu Jiming felt relieved. This was good enough. He had never intended to tell his father about these things. He even kept Yi Zizheng's visit a secret from his family.
If his father knew, I'm afraid Yizi would be driven away directly.
Yi Zizhen stretched out his hands, but quickly retracted them: "Brother Jiming, don't look at me. My hands are not the hands of a scholar at all."
"It's okay." Lu Jiming held his hand tightly. "It's just my hand. It will heal soon."
Yi Zizhen raised his head and deliberately asked: "Brother Jiming means..."
"After all, it's been a long time since the incident happened. Probably no one is watching anymore. Just stay here with me and take good care of yourself."
"But my mother..."
"I'll send someone to give her the money."
"No." Yi Zizhen took back his hand. "I have no status or position. I am afraid of getting in trouble with Brother Jiming. It would be great if I could come back during the Chinese New Year and see Brother Jiming. After the Chinese New Year, I will go back immediately..."
"Don't talk nonsense." Lu Jiming covered his mouth. "No matter what others think, you will always be my brother."
"Really?"
"Um."
"What about Lin Jingzhe?" Yi Zizhen asked, "I always ask you to take care of him. How are you and him?"
Lu Jiming frowned and wanted to say that he didn't have a good relationship with him, but then he remembered the scene of Lin Jingzhe settling accounts in the shop a few days ago. Although it was mercenary, it seemed... there was a different kind of feeling.
He didn't know what to say.
Now that Yi Zizhen is here, he can only hug Yi Zizhen tightly: "Let's not talk about him anymore. He is not as good as you. If I can choose, I still hope you can be my brother. If those things hadn't happened, our families would still be old friends, that would be great."
"Brother Jiming, don't say that. Jingzhe has only been back for a short time and is still immature."
"He's been back for three years, and he's just not as good as you."
"Yeah." Yi Zizheng responded, leaned into his arms and closed his eyes amid the sound of fireworks outside.
He was so fragile, so helpless, and so dependent on Lu Jiming.
Lu Jiming finally regained his "brotherly responsibility" and "gentle reputation" that he had lost for three years.
They are so well matched.
*
A quarter of an hour later, the fireworks display outside the city ended.
Zhu Qingchen, surrounded by a group of old and elementary school students, stood up, each picked up his own small stool, and headed towards Liu Mansion in a mighty procession.
They have been celebrating the New Year at their elder brother's house for decades. Even after they have each started their own family, they always have a drink at their elder brother's house before leaving.
The group of people followed Zhu Qingchen, chatting and laughing, in the night wind.
Like a string of little ducks.
"I still remember that the first year we set off fireworks, the Master brought us to watch it, and it was the same situation."
"It's been so long. I could still run around in a single layer of clothing back then, but I can't do that now. I'm old now."
Liu's residence was already prepared. A charcoal basin was lit in the hall, and the doors and windows were lightly closed, making it warm. Food, wine and drinks were placed on the table.
Zhu Qingchen sat in the main seat, and students came to him in groups of two or three, holding wine glasses and toasting: "Master."
Zhu Qingchen also smiled and raised his glass: "Well, I wish you good health and a long life."
When it was the turn of the three children, Zhu Qingchen wished them: "Ah Zhen and Yun Er will pass the imperial examination next year, and Jing Zhe's business will prosper."
The three children responded happily, drank up the wine in their cups, then crowded around the teacher, laughing and serving him food and pouring him wine.
Several elderly people watched and felt a little jealous.
They also want to stick to the teacher, roll around and act like a spoiled child, but they are already past that age.
Zhu Qingchen smiled at them and gave each of them a bunch of red envelopes, asking them to take them back to their families.
After a few drinks, the old students went back home.
Liu Yun was still thinking about the affairs of Wenyuan Marquis Mansion. He approached Zhu Qingchen and asked in a low voice: "Master, are you free now? We..."
"I'm free." Zhu Qingchen picked up the two plates of snacks on the table and stood up. "Let's go play in the room."
"Okay." The three students responded in unison, picked up fruits and snacks, and wine glasses from the table, preparing to eat and drink.
Liu An reminded them: "Don't make trouble for the Master, don't force him to drink, and don't make trouble if you lose. You have to give in to the Master, understand?"
Liu Yun turned around: "I see, Grandpa, do you want to come?"
"I'm not with you. I'm outside."
At this time, Zhu Qingchen put the snack in his hand back on the table.
Liu Yun hurriedly asked, "Master, don't you want to play anymore?"
Zhu Qingchen called out to him: "Move the whole table away!"
"good!"
Three students carried a large table of snacks and food back to Zhu Qingchen's yard.
Zhu Qingchen helped them push the door open: "Be careful, don't break anything."
"Don't worry, Master..."
Three people carried the table and walked into the room steadily.
Zhu Qingchen lit the candle, and when they saw the scene in the room clearly, the three of them were stunned.
because--
"Master Lu, why are you in the teacher's room?"
Lu Que folded his hands and leaned on the soft little pillow that Zhu Qingchen used to lean on. It seemed that he had been waiting in the room for a long time.
"Your master hid me here, a beautiful woman in a golden house."
The villain doesn't seem to be very good at using idioms.
Zhu Qingchen closed the door, patted the three students, and asked them to put down the table: "He is alone in the Marquis's Mansion and has nowhere to go, so let him come and stay up with me."
Lu Que folded his hands and said quietly, "He let a cripple like me climb over the wall to get in, and he even forgot to bring me food. I almost starved to death."
The three students were all stunned. How could the teacher let a cripple climb over the wall?
He is truly worthy of being called a divine master, one blessed with divine power.
Zhu Qingchen pursed his lips and pulled him up from the bed: "How can I say that you are starved to death? I just delayed you for a short while."
The group sat around the table. Lu Que, who was almost starving to death, had a simple midnight snack while Zhu Qingchen played homemade flying chess with three students. Liu Yun finally couldn't help it and told them about the person they saw in Wenyuan Marquis's mansion in the evening.
After listening to their story, Zhu Qingchen nodded approvingly: "Yun'er is frank, Jingzhe is cautious, and Ah Zhen is thoughtful and didn't alert the enemy."
"Master, now we..."
"Lu Que and I both know about it."
Lu Que had been sending people to keep an eye on Linjia Village. As soon as the carriage sent by Lu Jiming arrived there, he knew it.
"Who died then?"
Lu Que looked at Lin Jingzhe: "Your father."
Lin Jingzhe choked for a moment, remembering for no reason how happy he was when Lin Laosan died, with the casino guys chasing him from behind, shouting, "Your father is dead! Your father is dead!"
It's quite funny.
He lowered his head and tried hard to suppress the upturned corners of his mouth.
Pei Zhen deduced: "So Yi Zizhen's father died, and Lu Jiming took him back?"
"Yes." Lu Que nodded.
"Then... is Yizi really coming back to ask for money, or does he want to live in the Marquis' Mansion permanently?"
"I don't know, you'll have to ask him."
Zhu Qingchen frowned and slapped Lu Que, telling him to shut up and not to discourage the students' enthusiasm.
Zhu Qingchen guided the students: "If you were Yi Zizhen, would you want to take the money and leave, or stay for a long time?"
"Of course..."
The three students looked at each other and had the answer in their hearts.
Yi Zizheng grew up in the capital, living a life of luxury. Suddenly, he was stranded in Linjia Village for three years, living on simple meals. Now that he's back in the capital, he will definitely find ways to stay.
Zhu Qingchen added: "So I said, Ah Zhen is very thoughtful. If you go to the police and drive him back this time, he will always find a way to come back. Lu Jiming will also find a way to pick him up in a place where you can't see him."
“Things that are blocked and unattainable are naturally the best.”
The three students were still frightened, but fortunately they did not report to the police at that time.
"Then we will just... pretend that we didn't see anything and stay the same in the face of all changes."
"Yeah." Zhu Qingchen nodded. "Ah Zhen and Yun Er don't have much contact with them. They are staying at home to study for a while. I have nothing to worry about, but..."
He looked at Lin Jingzhe worriedly.
Lin Jingzhe said quickly: "Master, don't worry. I have been taking servants and guards with me when I go out recently. There will be no problem." "That's good."
The three students whispered, "What do you think Yi Zizhen will do to stay here?"
"He is now a criminal. Even if he stays, he cannot be exposed to other people. He can only be hidden in the backyard by Lu Jiming..."
A strange thought slowly arose, and the three people couldn't help but frowned: "He wouldn't want to...stay in Lu Jiming's backyard...right?"
No way?
*
With the teacher's reminder, Lin Jingzhe has not been going out much recently.
You can either stay at home and accompany your mother to entertain New Year visitors, or go to the shops outside to check out the business, as business is the best during the New Year holidays and you can make more money.
He was accompanied by servants and guards whenever he went in and out, and never gave anyone a chance.
And since Lu Jiming brought Yi Zizhen back home, he has been staying with him all day long and never even goes out.
Anyone who asks is sick.
He was immersed in Yi Zizhen's kindness and gentleness.
Only Yi Zizhen would accept all his gifts, call him "Brother Jiming" with a smile, thank him, praise his good articles, and ask him to teach him.
It was like going back to three years ago, when the Earl's Palace and the Marquis's Palace were still as solid as a rock, and his reputation was still that of a gentle gentleman.
Sometimes when he was drunk and in a daze, Lu Jiming would mistake Yi Zizheng for Lin Jingzhe.
It was so comfortable to see Lin Jingzhe, who was always rude to him, showing such a respectful expression.
After waking up, he recognized that the person next to him was Yi Zizhen.
Lu Jiming continued to swell up. He thought that Yi Zizhen was Lin Jingzhe's half-brother, and Yi Zizhen was so gentle to him, let alone Lin Jingzhe?
Taking down Lin Jingzhe would certainly be no problem.
Half a month passed like this.
This day is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival.
Lu Jiming asked the servant to set up a table in the courtyard, put wine and water on it, and asked him to guard outside the door and not allow anyone to come in.
He and Yi Zizhen were drinking and admiring the moon in the courtyard.
Yi Zizhen had a bitter face and whispered, "Brother Jiming, the New Year is almost over, and I should go back to take care of my father's funeral. I won't bother you any more. Tomorrow morning, I will..."
Lu Jiming hurriedly said, "Zizhen, didn't I tell you not to mention leaving? Just stay here peacefully. I will send someone to deal with Linjia Village. You don't have to worry about it."
Yi Zizheng forced a wry smile: "With what identity can I stay here?" This was the second time he mentioned his identity.
"Of course..." Lu Jiming held his hand, "For the past half month, you and I have been eating and living together. Can't you see my feelings for you?"
Yi Zizhen shook his head: "I can see that brother only has brotherly feelings towards me, while brother's feelings towards Jingzhe are admiration."
"What?" Lu Jiming was a little anxious. "What nonsense are you talking about? How could I possibly be...?"
"Brother was drunk a few days ago and called out his name." Yi Zizhen quietly raised his eyes to look at him, "Brother, don't you like him?"
"Of course I don't like him." Lu Jiming hastily defended, "He's a country boy, rude and rude, doesn't know what's good for him, doesn't even take the imperial examinations, and only thinks about doing business and making money all day long. He's completely disrespectful."
"But that's why Brother Jiming likes him more. He doesn't treat Brother Jiming well, unlike other people, so Brother Jiming is thinking about him."
"nonsense!"
"Brother, you know whether I am talking nonsense or not." Yi Zizhen said, "Besides, I think Jingzhe is the most suitable person for Brother Jiming."
Lu Jiming frowned, but did not refute. Instead, he asked, "What do you mean?"
Yi Zizhen was stunned for a moment, then adjusted his expression: "Although he was rude to Brother Jiming, he didn't do anything to you. He didn't take the imperial examination, but went into business. In the future, he can also help Brother Jiming manage the mansion. So I say, he is the most suitable for Brother Jiming."
"I am just a lowly person. A gentleman like Brother Ji Ming should be worthy of Jing Zhe. I am not worthy."
Yi Zizheng lowered his head and waited for a while, but again he did not receive any comfort from Lu Jiming.
He was a little anxious and raised his head quickly.
No way? He was just playing hard to get and being polite. Lu Jiming wouldn't take it seriously, right?
When Lu Jiming heard him say this, he did agree to some extent.
Lin Jingzhe is now an earl, with a large family and a great fortune, but he and his mother are the only ones to look after it.
He doesn't pursue a career in politics, so it won't be long before he is schemed against and falls.
I am more than qualified to be worthy of him.
Seeing that he was silent and seemed to be pondering, Yi Zizhen rolled his eyes and said, "Today is the Lantern Festival. I used to like the hustle and bustle the most, but now I can't go out. Can you ask Brother Jiming to buy me a lantern so that I can carry it with me when I return to Linjia Village as a reminder?"
Lu Jiming said, "Don't mention going back home all the time. You grew up in the capital, and this is your home. Since you want a lantern, I'll go buy one."
"Thank you, brother Jiming." Yi Zizhen added, "If you see Jingzhe, you don't have to come back. Just talk to him."
Lu Jiming smiled and said, "You always underestimate yourself like this."
Yi Zizheng just smiled and said nothing.
He knew in his heart that Lin Jingzhe had a bad temper, so how could he possibly agree to Lu Jiming's request?
Since Lu Jiming is so wishful thinking, let him go to Lin Jingzhe and hit a snag. After he comes back, he will know how good he is, and he will stop having wild thoughts about Lin Jingzhe.
When Lu Jiming was about to go out, Yi Zizheng diligently got him a cloak and put it on him, told him to go early and come back early, and personally sent him to the side door.
As luck would have it, as soon as Yi Zizheng opened the door, he saw Lin Jingzhe pushing a lantern cart, passing by the street with Zhu Qingchen.
He can make some money by selling lanterns during the Lantern Festival.
Mr. Zhu also helped him sell lanterns, and they split the profits 50-50.
Great, Zhu Qingchen is here too.
Yi Zizhen rolled his eyes and immediately pushed Lu Jiming out: "Brother, he is over there, go quickly."
He closed the door, hid behind it, and quietly observed the situation outside.
Lu Jiming had drunk some wine and his steps were a little unsteady. He shouted "Jingzhe" and walked towards them.
Lin Jingzhe stopped the car. Zhu Qingchen, wearing a furry short jacket, a tiger-skin hat, and holding two lanterns in his hands, turned around and looked.
Seeing that it was Lu Jiming, the system quickly reminded him: "Chenchen, here it comes! The Lantern Festival marriage proposal plot in the original book is here!"
Zhu Qingchen hurriedly said to Lin Jingzhe: "Hurry up and go!"
He had completely forgotten about this matter and did not even look at the road when he went out. Unexpectedly, he ended up outside the mansion of Marquis Wenyuan.
But Lu Jiming was fast, and he rushed to Lin Jingzhe, blocking his car, and shouted: "Jingzhe..."
Lin Jingzhe frowned and responded unhappily: "What?"
What a bummer.
Why is this guy here? Isn't he entangled by Yi Zizhen?
Zhu Qingchen put down the lantern and prepared for battle.
Lu Jiming lowered his head and asked in a low voice: "Jingzhe, are you willing to marry me?"
Lin Jingzhe was stunned for a moment, his face full of confusion, which quickly turned into anger.
Lu Jiming continued, "Zizhen is respectful and considerate to me. You and he are brothers, so why are you always so mean to me? Are you willing to marry me?"
"The power of the Marquis' Mansion can protect you from doing business with peace of mind, and you can also support the Marquis' Mansion and Zizhen. If it weren't for those things, we could have been good friends who grew up together..."
Before he could finish his words, Zhu Qingchen wanted to roll up his sleeves and beat him.
Lin Jingzhe stopped the teacher, parked the car, walked quickly forward and came in front of Lu Jiming.
Lu Jiming still wanted to hug him and blocked his mouth with his stinky mouth.
The next second, Lin Jingzhe lifted up his clothes and kicked hard!
Lu Jiming screamed and instantly collapsed to the ground. !
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