Chapter 23 Save Your Sweetheart
His stomach kept growling, and the old man's face turned pale. Seeing the hesitation on the face of the girl in front of him, he made up his mind, "I won't eat your food for free. I'll buy it. Is five taels of silver enough?"
It would have been better if he hadn't said this. As soon as he said it, the girl's expression changed instantly and she looked at him warily.
"You can easily take out five taels of silver, so how come you're so hungry now?" Su Cheng looked at him with a defensive look on his face. "Could it be that you've offended some big shot and are being chased all the way here?"
The old man's expression froze, and Su Cheng instantly knew that he had guessed right, and pretended to leave.
"Girl! Girl, listen to me..." The old man saw she was about to leave and suddenly became anxious. "My last name is Du, and my first name is Heng. You may not have heard of my deeds, but I am really not a bad person. I was harmed by a villain and imprisoned. I had no choice but to fall to this point. After many twists and turns, I am no longer the person I used to be... Give me a mutton pie and listen to my revenge plan."
Their eyes met, speechless for a moment.
Su Cheng couldn't tell whether the man in front of him was a miracle doctor or a charlatan.
This is too unreliable...
"I can give you a meat pie." Su Cheng squatted back beside him and spoke to him patiently, "You have to explain your life story to me word for word, otherwise I will eat this meat pie in front of you."
"Okay, okay, I will tell you!" Du Heng couldn't wait to take the mutton pie she handed over, took a big bite, and the broth poured into his throat. Du Heng's eyes lit up.
This is actually more delicious than what is made in the palace!
"I used to work at the Imperial Hospital, specializing in treating nobles. Half a month ago, I was unlucky and offended the noble. Not only did he dismiss me from my position, he also lied to the public, saying that I had died of a sudden heart attack, and sent people to hunt me down."
Du Heng chewed on a piece of pastry, his face exhausted. "I've been hiding and running. Everyone in the capital knows me. I have nowhere to stay. I thought I'd be safe in the mountains, but I stepped into a trap and was left hanging for most of the day. I was exhausted and hungry, and I almost died."
Su Cheng was suspicious and asked softly, "Which noble did you offend? What mistake did you make that required you to pay such a heavy price?"
Du Heng sneered, recalling half a month ago, with a flash of sarcasm in his eyes, "I diagnosed the Queen Mother's pregnancy pulse."
Su Cheng's eyes widened instantly and his body stepped back unconsciously.
By the time she realized what was happening, it was too late. The fatal gossip had just flown into her ears.
Du Heng squinted at her, his two white eyebrows drooping in a splayed shape, as calm as an old dog. "Half a month ago, the Queen Mother complained of a loss of appetite and frequent heart palpitations, so she ordered me to the palace to take her pulse. This time, I found a positive pulse."
"When people are down on their luck, even drinking cold water can get a toothache. I sensed something was amiss, but I avoided discussing the pulse and simply added a few herbs for abortion and nourishment to the prescription." Du Heng gnashed with hatred, trying to lower his voice. "I thought I could solve a problem for you quietly, but she actually wanted to kill me to silence me. Luckily, I ran away quickly, or I'd be dead!"
After swallowing the last bite of the meat pie, Du Heng raised his eyes and stared at Su Cheng, who was frightened and stiff in front of him, "Miss, do you have any more of this pie?"
Su Cheng blinked slowly, "Are you telling me the royal secret so easily?"
"Didn't you ask me to explain everything?" Du Heng shrugged, and simply gave up. "I'm old, without parents, children, or even a wife. If I hadn't met you, I'm afraid no one would know the truth even after I die."
"Girl, now you and I are on the same page. They would never have thought I would hide here. Let me make a deal with you. You arrange a place for me to stay, and I will teach you all my skills. Not only am I an expert in medicine, I'm also an expert in using poison."
Stinky old man, no wonder he agreed so readily!
It turns out that he has set his sights on himself.
But he does have abilities. In the original book, he was the one who saved Xie Jinyu from death.
Later, Du Heng accepted him as his apprentice and taught him everything he knew. After Xie Jinyu finished his training, he used all his skills on the original owner, curing the poison and curing the poison, over and over again, until the original owner was pierced through the body by Xie Ming's gun.
Now that I am the one who meets Du Heng, the opportunity should also be mine.
"That's easy to say." Su Cheng's lips curled slightly, and his tone was calm, "I can help you, but you have to promise me first to save someone for me."
"Who to save?" Du Heng smiled with narrowed eyes, "Your sweetheart?"
Su Cheng rolled his eyes at him and stood up. "You've eaten the meat pie, do you have the energy to walk back with me?"
"Of course." Du Heng got up swiftly, dusted off the dust on his body, and followed Su Cheng down the mountain happily.
-
Wang's Residence
"Suzhou, I didn't expect to meet you right after arriving in Ganping County." Wang Lin looked at the man sitting down with a smile on his face. "It's been three years since I last saw you. You've become even more handsome, both talented and beautiful."
Xie Suzhou sat very politely, his eyebrows lowered, and he said in a low voice, "Your Excellency, I am deeply ashamed to accept your praise."
"You wrote me that you were working as a teacher in a school. Now that the imperial examination is approaching, it's best if you don't get distracted." Wang Lin took a sip of warm tea and spoke slowly, "Three years ago, your brother's old illness relapsed, causing you to miss the final exam. Is he feeling better now?"
"My brother's health remains the same, with no improvement." Xie Suzhou lowered his eyes, his tone indifferent, his emotions indistinct. "Sir, please forgive Suzhou's disappointment. I'm afraid I won't be able to go to the imperial examination this year."
"Why?" Wang Lin frowned suddenly and put down the teacup in his hand heavily. "Suzhou, how many opportunities can a person have in this life? I am impressed by your talent and have recommended you to my superiors. This year's imperial examination is your only chance to prove your strength."
Xie Suzhou closed his eyes and sighed softly, "Sir, it is not my original intention not to take the imperial examination. Half a copper coin can crush a person. My third brother is bedridden, and my fourth brother has lost his livelihood. If I take all the money in the family and go to the capital to take the exam, the burden will fall on my eldest sister-in-law. It is unkind and unjust, and I cannot do it."
"You were worried about money." Wang Lin breathed a sigh of relief, a smile spreading across his face. "I already knew your family situation. Since I recommended you, I will definitely help you. Don't worry about the travel expenses. I will pay for you to go to the capital."
Xie Suzhou was stunned for a moment, as if he had not expected this. "Sir, I can't..."
Wang Lin raised his hand to stop him from speaking, looking at him with a smile in his eyes, "If you really can't bear to lose face, I'll lend you this money. When you graduate from high school, you must return it to me in full."
Xie Suzhou couldn't persuade him, so he had to bite the bullet and nodded, "Your Excellency's kindness, Suzhou will never forget it."
"Daddy, didn't you say you would take me to Xinghua Village today?" A flash of goose yellow flashed from the doorway. The girl's round face was full of coquettishness. She wore a velvet flower on her head, and her goose yellow clothes made her look even more charming.
The girl ran into the hall and immediately saw Xie Suzhou sitting on her father's left. Surprise flashed in her eyes and she shouted happily, "Brother Suzhou! Why are you in my house?"
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