Horse Bandit Officer (15)
Tong Huan and the other yamen runners were gone for one night, and Ai Ye's worries were gone with him for one night.
Firstly, it was to take care of Si Niang and Ba Niang who was temporarily staying in the inner office to recuperate, and secondly, she was really worried about her old friend in the rain. When she came to her senses, the thunder had stopped and the rain had stopped.
Si Niang woke up drowsily from a headache and saw Ai Ye sitting on the edge of her bed with a dull look in his eyes.
After all, after a while of sleep, Si Niang's mind became much clearer.
When her eyes fixed on Ai Ye's brows, she immediately understood - the sound of rain was like drums, hitting her heart.
"Ai Ye..." Si Niang used one arm to support herself and leaned against the headboard. "You must love him very much, right?"
Obviously, Ai Ye did not expect Si Niang to ask her this question, and she paused for a moment inadvertently.
But after just a moment, her eyes regained their luster.
She pursed her lips and made a dull nasal sound: "Well, he was the love of my life before."
"Now that you two have met again, why don't you go find him?"
"Looking for him?" Ai Ye raised his eyes, his gaze cold, "Who am I to go looking for him?"
"My love!"
"But I'm married to Zhao Mugen. I'm the wife of the Zhao family, and he's the lord of a county. If I go to be his lover, what does he matter to me?"
Si Niang was confused, her eyes trembling slightly: "If all else fails... old friends will do!"
"But I love him. How can I be willing... How can I be willing to tell him every time he looks at me that we are just old friends, and that all the words we said when we were young were true, and that we would grow old together, were all lies?"
Unexpectedly, Ai Ye's eyes were dry.
Si Niang thought that maybe she didn't love him as much as she thought.
Who can tell? After all, it's been so many years.
Si Niang sat up a little straighter and was about to speak when her voice was suppressed by the urgent alarm outside the house.
"Quick! Put the master on the bed!"
Before she could even hear what happened, Ai Ye rushed out the door before Si Niang came to her senses.
But the scene outside the door was something she would never forget until her death.
Tong Huan lay on the back of the yamen runner, his body as light as a dead leaf. His official robe was soaked by the rain and stuck to his back, revealing a hint of his bones.
His eyes were tightly closed, his brows were furrowed, and the bloodstains on his chin had been washed away by the rain, but they were still glaring and shocking.
The yamen runner lifted the person on his back. Tong Huan's head hung limply beside his shoulder, his hair disheveled, a few wet strands stuck to his forehead, trembling slightly with his steps.
"Hurry! Go and get the doctor! Hurry!" The yamen runner kicked open the door of an empty room without stopping and yelled to the people on duty nearby.
Upon hearing this, Ai Ye stumbled and followed closely behind.
The yamen runner gently laid Tong Huanping on the bed. Perhaps because his neck was hurt by the pillow, he suddenly coughed twice and blood spurted out of his throat again.
Before the yamen runners could make a move, Ai Ye took the lead, grabbed the oil lamp with one hand, and took out a handkerchief with the other hand and pressed it against his lower lip.
In an instant, dots of wintersweet were embroidered on her supah.
He clearly escaped a disaster, he was only gone for one night and came back with only one breath left. How can one not be heartbroken?
Xiao Lin and the other two came over upon hearing the noise, and were all frightened by Tong Huan's dying appearance and retreated one after another.
What was going on? One problem after another, was Tong Huan destined to fail at every step?
Before the doctor arrived, Ai Ye suppressed the blurry vision and tried his best to dry Tong Huan's hair, and wiped away the blood on his face and body from his coughing.
The situation was urgent, and the doctor arrived soon after.
He gently lifted the quilt and saw that Tong Huan's waist and back were bruised, his skin and flesh were rolled up, and there were bloodstains. He couldn't help but gasp.
Seeing this, the doctor frowned and hurriedly leaned over to take the patient's pulse. As soon as his fingertips touched the cold wrist, he felt that the pulse was weak and intermittent.
His expression was solemn, the veins on his forehead throbbing faintly, and he murmured softly, "Sir, this is a sign of both Qi and blood deficiency, and damage to the five internal organs. If you don't rescue him in time, your life may be in danger."
Ai Ye hesitated, bit her lip, and asked in a low voice: "Doctor... Doctor, that master..."
"Don't panic, my lady. The master's injuries appear to be extremely serious, but fortunately he is still alive. He is also in good health, so he won't die."
Then the doctor withdrew his hand, pondered for a moment, took out a silver needle, twisted it gently, and inserted it into Tong Huan's Ren Zhong acupoint.
After a while, Tong Huan's Adam's apple moved slightly, as if he was moaning, but he still did not wake up.
Xiao Lin couldn't bear to see the miserable scene, so he subconsciously hid behind Mu You's shoulder again.
Tong Huan couldn't die! He hadn't yet lived out his bright future.
Afterwards, the doctor gave Tong Huan acupuncture several times, and Tong Huan's eyelids suddenly wrinkled, revealing a black pupil.
"Wake up! The sir is awake!" The yamen runner who was squatting on one side shouted softly.
Ai Ye immediately moved the oil lamp beside him a few inches away. Although his vision was blurry, he could still see the raised bridge of Tong Huan's nose.
However, although Tong Huan woke up, he could not speak.
Immediately, a mouthful of thick blood gushed out. Ai Ye didn't even have time to catch it, and the blood flowed directly onto his bedding.
Just when everyone was frowning, thinking that Tong Huan's awakening was a great thing, the doctor sighed silently.
Ai Ye was stunned and couldn't help asking.
Seeing this, the doctor slowly withdrew the needle, closed the medicine box, stood up and left: "I will write a prescription for you later, just take it on time, and also..."
He seemed to have something to hide, so Chu Mo calmly went up to him and said, "Excuse me for a moment."
Is there anything that can't be said in person? Ai Ye and Xiao Lin were full of doubts and followed Chu Mo's back.
The doctor led the three men to a corner and then said slowly, "My lord, your condition is not good. The falling rock has damaged your lungs. I'm afraid you have internal injuries."
"Is it incurable?" Chu Mo asked.
The doctor shook his head and said, "He has been taking too long. It seems that there is blood stasis in his body. I can only use acupuncture to help him expel some of it. Let's see how the subsequent medication works. If his pulse is still not good, it will take three to five years. I am afraid that there will be no way to save him."
As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a thunderclap, instantly splitting the rain clouds and sending down a beam of light.
The summer weather changes faster than a fish taking to water. When the clouds and fog dissipate, it seems as if the rainstorm last night that threatened to destroy the west of the city had never happened.
The water vapor condensed into a colorful sky bridge, with no one knowing where it came from and where it ended.
But the scorching sun could dispel the stuffiness and humidity in the city, but it could not take away the dead look on Tong Huan's face.
In fact, Xiao Lin had anticipated such an outcome long before she came, but her heart couldn't help but tremble until she heard it with her own ears.
Chu Mo was calm and stepped forward: "No matter what happens in the future, please do your best to treat him. If you can delay it for a year, then that's it."
The doctor sighed and bowed to each of the three people.
Afterwards, the doctor left. Ai Ye was dazed, Xiao Lin was speechless, and only Chu Mo was left looking up at the sky, offering words of comfort: "Alright, now that things have come to this, there's nothing we can do. Let's go in and check on Ah Huan and see if he's awake."
Indeed, all they can do now is to take good care of the injured. As the doctor said, if he is properly taken care of, Tong Huan's injury may be able to improve.
Just as Xiao Lin stepped over the threshold, Tong Huan straightened up with a cough, and his figure came into view.
They rushed forward and carefully examined his injuries.
Tong Huan coughed twice more and then said calmly, "I... I want to drink some water... cough cough..."
"I'll pour it for you right away!" Mu You was beside his bed, and he looked a little flustered just tilting the teapot.
But Tong Huan reached out and pushed the kettle away, saying softly, "I want to drink something flavorful. My mouth is dry..."
Something flavorful? There's no fruit juice here, and the tea is cold, which is not good for his health.
As everyone blinked, Chu Mo said, "Xiao Lin and Mu You, go make some tea."
Tong Huan smiled as he said this, "Brother Chu's teahouse has a great reputation for its tea soup. I've wanted to try it for a long time. But I didn't know that Brother Chu might dislike my humble abode and lack good cooking utensils, so I can't make a good tea soup... ahem..."
"Alright." Chu Mo reached out and stroked Tong Huan's back. "You're injured, so don't say anything more."
"Ahem... so what's the rumor about Brother Chu's tea soup?"
Mu You quickly replied, "Liu Xiang Ju's tea soup brings happiness to those who eat it."
This rumor has been talked about so many times that it's almost dead, and he just blurted it out.
"May you live a happy life..." Tong Huan lowered his eyes, his lips pale as he smiled at Xiao Lin and Mu You, "Then please make me some tea..."
Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Lin secretly clenched his fists, then pulled Mu You straight to the kitchen.
After traveling through time, Xiao Lin became an expert at making delicious tea soup, and his skills became even more refined.
So this time, she rolled up her sleeves, determined to make a dish that was lighter and more delicious than any other time before.
Mu You cleaned the tea set while Xiao Lin counted the ingredients.
While they were busy, the two started chatting.
Mu You said, "After making this tea soup, have we successfully created another story?"
"Yeah." Xiao Lin replied, continuing with the work in his hands.
"I always feel a little empty..." Mu You muttered.
Xiao Lin smiled upon hearing this. "How much more realistic can you be? You acted like a hero, rescued a room full of kidnapped women and children, successfully transformed into a girl, made friends with the county magistrate, and learned all the gossip about Chu Mo that you've always wanted to know. You've experienced so much in just half a month. What else do you have to regret?"
"That's true..." Mu You shook off the remaining water droplets on the tea set and walked towards Xiao Lin, "But there are still people we couldn't save, such as Ba Niang's child... and County Magistrate Tong..."
"County Magistrate Tong will not die. The doctor said that if we take good care of him in the future, he will not die." Xiao Lin immediately put down the teapot with a resolute attitude and a stern look.
Mu You had never seen Xiao Lin look like this before. He stepped back in fear and tried to defend himself: "I... I didn't curse him to death... I... I... ah..."
It was not known whether Xiao Lin was angered by Mu You's words, but since she kept silent, Mu You wisely slapped herself a few times.
The kitchen was filled with dust, and only the two of them were left alone, silent and companionable.
The atmosphere in the side room was also cold and quiet.
Chu Mo went with the yamen runner to get medicine for Tong Huan, leaving Ai Ye alone in the same room with him.
He waited for ten years, a full ten years, before finally getting a chance to be with her again, but at this moment, he didn't know how to start.
The words flowed out of her mouth against her will: "You...are not going home? Aren't you afraid that the young master of the Zhao family will accuse you of causing trouble?"
Ai Ye didn't say anything and just wiped Tong Huan's palms.
But Tong Huan didn't appreciate it. He pulled his hand away without permission and asked, "Ai Ye, why did you not recognize me that day?"
"Ah Huan, it's not that I don't recognize you..." Ai Ye took a deep breath and finally had to face him. "Don't you understand? You and I are no longer the same as before."
"Because of those evil people? Ai Ye, it's not your fault that you were kidnapped!"
"It's because of the ten years I was apart from you!" Ai Ye couldn't control her emotions, her voice got a little louder, but she soon dropped it again. "Ah Huan, it doesn't matter whether I was kidnapped or not. In these ten years, I have never belittled myself. I want to live, and I am trying hard to live..."
Then, Ai Ye wiped away her tears and continued to speak of her pain, "But so much has happened in the past ten years. We are no longer the children who sat side by side and counted dogtail grass. I admit that when I was young, my heart and eyes were filled with you. I only wanted to marry you and be your legitimate wife. But things have changed. Zhao Mugen saved me, and I married someone else. We have several children now, and Ali is only five years old. How could I leave him and go with you?"
"Then take Ahri with you and keep her by my side, okay?"
Ai Ye lowered his head, tears dripping onto the back of his hand.
Tong Huan didn't understand. He had desperately searched for her for ten years, but could she just brush it off with a simple "things have changed"?
No, it's not.
"Ai Ye, reputation, is it so important?"
Ai Ye chuckled softly, raised her head to hold back her tears, and reached out to touch the jade belt around his waist and his official robes: "Reputation is important, but people's livelihood is more important."
Tong Huan: “…”
She twisted the sticky blood on her fingertips and said, "Ah Huan, your future path will become increasingly broad, and the burden on your shoulders will also become increasingly heavy. Serving as an official is about benefiting the people. The people need a county magistrate more than I do, and Hanlu County is in urgent need of a good one."
"What about you? Will you be in my future?"
"I will. I will be in every street and alley you walk through, in front of every stall you pass by, and in every business you achieve. I will be everywhere, and I will always be with you."
Tong Huan understood that Ai Ye was saying goodbye to him.
After waiting for ten years, this is the ending.
He was reluctant to let go, but he just reached out and pinched the wooden pendant hanging on Ai Ye's chest. That was their past, a past that he had not walked out of until now.
"I smell the fragrance of mugwort. Is it almost Dragon Boat Festival?"
"Well, the day after tomorrow is Dragon Boat Festival."
"Ai Ye, after I get better, can you make me some rice dumplings?" Tong Huan forced a smile. "I've been craving your rice dumplings for a long time."
"A great honor for a common woman."
---
Afterwards, Tong Huan arrested Liu Mancang and, with the help of everyone, found evidence of his guilt. He convicted him a month later, and Si Niang was officially freed.
At the same time, under Si Niang's careful care, Ba Niang's health improved, and she finally chose to pack her bags and go back to her hometown with the travelers.
By the way, Ba Niang has changed her name to Ru Yue. The reason for this change was that one day she picked up the poetry collection that Tong Huan had specially found for her and read a line, "May I be like a star and you like a moon, shining brightly every night."
She thought that her future should be like this too.
So, Ruyue set out on her journey home, returning to her hometown.
Xiao Lin and Mu You did not leave in a hurry. They wanted to see if Tong Huan's health had improved, and they tried their best to take care of him during this period.
It was not until the doctor gave him acupuncture every day that the bruises on his back gradually disappeared and he was finally able to get out of bed that Xiao Lin and Mu You breathed a sigh of relief.
Tong Huan also kept his promise and never bothered Ai Ye's family again. The rumors from the neighbors were washed away by time and gradually flowed down the ditch along with the mud and sand.
Ai Ye continued to sell her glutinous rice dumplings as usual. After all, this season was over and it was time for her to switch to other food.
However, in the alley that she failed to notice, the old friend was wearing plain clothes, lurking in the darkness, burying his love deep in his eyes.
The heat is scorching in July and the clothes are being distributed in September. Before they knew it, Xiao Lin and Mu You had charged Chu Mo for the entire three months' accommodation expenses.
Chu Mo naturally didn't want to pay for the two of them endlessly, so one day, when he learned that the two had gone to the county government office again, he also went there.
Just as he put his hands behind his back, intending to scold the two naughty monkeys, Tong Huan's footsteps interrupted the fierce fight.
Seeing Chu Mo, Tong Huan immediately quickened his pace: "Brother Chu! Brother Chu, wait a moment, I have something to say to you three."
Chu Mo opened his thin lips, but had to close them again.
Seeing that someone was in charge, Xiao Lin and Mu You sneaked out from behind the water tank and went into the house with Chu Mo.
After pouring tea for the three of them, Tong Huan got straight to the point: "Didn't Brother Chu ask me before how I got this official position?"
"I know you work for the Wang family."
Tong Huan nodded and changed the subject: "But do you know what job the Wang family wants me to do?"
"What other job can you do?" Chu Mo said with disdain, "The Wang family has done so many dirty things, and all they want is for you to kill and burn people."
"Brother Chu is truly clever." Tong Huan smiled and praised, "They were impressed by my kung fu skills and indeed asked me to kill someone. But, do you know who my target is?"
Tong Huan's words were somewhat confusing, and Xiao Lin and Mu You were also bewildered listening to them.
However, Chu Mo suddenly came back to his senses, his eyes stern.
Tong Huan no longer kept the secret and blurted out the name: "Qian Li."
In an instant, Chu Mo grabbed the armrest of the wooden chair with his fingertips, stood up slightly and shouted, "Why do they want to kill him?"
"You have to find out for yourself, Brother Chu."
"and you……"
"Brother Chu, don't worry. I didn't do anything." Tong Huan's smile did not fade. He then stood up and pushed Chu Mo back. "When I learned about his friendship with you, I let him go."
"If you let him go, will the Wang family let you go?"
Tong Huan then took a sip of tea, his lips moistened. "It's okay, let them kill me if they want. By the way, I put Young Master Qian in a small hut outside Tianling and spared his life. The Wang family didn't notice."
The more I listened, the more confused I became. What was this Wang family? Who was Qian Li? What were they talking about?
Xiao Lin's brows tightened.
In comparison, Mu You was already a thick-skinned person. Seeing the two of them talking incoherently back and forth, his mind was even more confused than Xiao Lin's hair.
But before he could open his mouth, Chu Mo turned around and said to the two of them, "Let's go back to Tianling."
Mu You was shocked and wanted to deny it: "Ah? You're going back so soon? County Magistrate Tong hasn't even fully recovered yet!"
"If you don't go back, you two will use up all my savings!" Chu Mo walked towards Mu You with gritted teeth and grabbed his collar, "Why don't you go back and work to pay me back!"
But Mu You looked reluctant, struggling while grabbing Chu Mo's fingertips and shouting "I don't, I don't."
Chu Mo didn't tolerate him and immediately cast a spell to hold Mu You's hands and feet. Suddenly, he became a wooden stake.
Xiao Lin was puzzled and asked hesitantly, "But Boss Chu, County Magistrate Tong..."
"Aren't you in a hurry to go home?" Chu Mo's eyes were half closed, and the demonic mole on his left eye was extremely oppressive. "Everything is done, why stay here?"
Xiao Lin finally realized that it had been almost a year since he traveled through time. Four of the five stories that were originally agreed upon had already been completed. Only the finale was left, and then they could go back.
But having said that, she always felt that some things were still unclear.
For example, the new character Qian Li, the grudges between Chu Mo and the Wang and Jiang families, and which beast slaughtered Chu Mo's entire family.
Maybe we can find some clues by returning to Tianling.
Or maybe, this Qian Li is the clue.
Xiao Lin's thoughts were wandering, but Chu Mo looked impatient and kept urging him, "Don't you have one more story to tell? You were so confident before, but now you're letting your guard down?"
Mu You: “Woooo ...
"Then... then Boss Chu, why don't we go to the last story now?" Xiao Lin suggested.
"No need to wear it." Chu Mo's sleeves fluttered as he stepped out of the room. "The next story will be in Tianling."
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