Chapter 7 (7) Returning to Beijing and Preparing for the Granted Marriage
At this point, it was too late to regret meddling in other people's affairs. Bai Kang obediently took the bundle and held it for Lianzhi. As for the look Chang Yuzhu gave him, he pretended not to notice.
After the heavy rain, the desolate city of Liangzhou seemed to have regained its vitality overnight. By this point, Bai Kang finally felt a sense of relief that he had taken a leave of absence and was now resting. A vendor selling Liangzhou delicacies happened to be on the road, and he wanted to buy some to try. He felt in his wallet and realized, with embarrassment, that he had no money.
Yes, he had used all his money to redeem Lianzhi and buy her one or two or three pieces of clothes. Now he didn't even have money to buy food for himself.
He was about to leave when his sleeve was suddenly grabbed. Looking down, Lianzhi looked at him pitifully: "Brother, I want to eat this. Buy it for me."
Oh no.
He patted Chang Yuzhu's shoulder again. Fortunately, Chang Yuzhu was rich. After Bo Kang promised to write an IOU when he returned, Chang Yuzhu became the richest among them - although it was the same before.
It’s really nice to travel with Chang Yuzhu.
At least he has a little ancestor with him, so he won't be starved to death outside.
After a long stroll outside, they returned to the inn. Lianzhi was already clutching two snacks, while Baikang was clutching a few boxes of trinkets. Was this young man truly a poor orphan? He'd buy anything he liked without a care for money, just like those wealthy young men.
Not to mention that everything he took a fancy to was indeed a good thing, and his ability to identify gold was comparable to that of the real young master Chang Yuzhu.
Finally returning to the inn, Bo Kang wanted Lianzhi to stay with Lianzi, Jiang Yong, and the servant Chang Yuzhu had brought with him. Chang Yuzhu, assuming there was something going on between her good brother and Lianzhi, naturally wanted to bring them together, so she said, "There are already four people living in that room. If one more person stays there, it will be too crowded. How about..."
"How about," Bo Kang rubbed his hands and laughed, "Master Chang, borrow some more money and get a room."
"Why not let him live with you?" Chang Yuzhu quickly added, "Since you brought him back, of course he should live with you. Renting another room isn't free, and I didn't bring much money this time, so we still need to save money for the trip back to the capital."
"Why not..." Bo Kang wanted to say that Chang Yuzhu's servants could come and live with him. They would have to take care of Chang Yuzhu anyway, so they could free up the bed for Lianzhi. However, Lianzhi had already looked at Chang Yuzhu, with a grateful smile in her eyes: "Brother Chang, your suggestion is very good. Thank you, Brother Chang."
Chang Yuzhu gave him a thumbs up.
"Don't hide it, I understand everything." Chang Yuzhu winked at him, "No need to thank me, brother."
Bai Kang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Lianzhi had already entered his room with impunity. This young man was indeed intimidating when he was quiet. Bai Kang had forgotten his spoiled and willful appearance just now and thought that if he stayed this well-behaved, he could probably be brought under his wing.
If it really doesn't work, wait until we get to the capital and ask Chang Yuzhu to see if his shop needs any staff and send them over.
Bai Kang had a good idea. Turning around, he found Lianzhi already lying on the bed, rolling around. The bed was a little too hard for him, but it was better than the cold, hard wooden stool. Lianzhi rolled twice in bed, sat up, and found that Bai Kang was already sleeping on the floor.
"Brother Kang, what are you doing?" he asked.
"You sleep on the bed," Bo Kang said without looking up. "I'll sleep on the floor."
This wouldn't do. Although Lianzhi felt that he was very conscientious and that his decision to sleep on the floor instead of asking him to do so was in line with his wishes, what he needed most now was to win over Bai Kang. The two of them had to interact more so that Bai Kang would be willing to take him back.
Besides, the nobleman in the capital is Bai Kang, which is better than other old men. At least Bai Kang is young, good-looking, and familiar to him. Thinking of this, Lianzhi suddenly became more motivated and took Bai Kang's arm: "Brother Kang, how can I let you sleep on the floor? The bed can accommodate two people."
"Let go." Bai Kang said.
Lianzhi didn't let go, and Bo Kang stared at him with a serious look. After a while, Lianzhi finally let go and pouted, "Okay. I'll sleep on the floor then. Brother, you're my savior, I can't let you down..."
Reject it quickly.
Hurry up and say we can all sleep in the bed.
Lianzhi screamed frantically in her heart, squatting on the ground, tidying up the blanket spread on the ground. The weather in March was still very cold, and Liangzhou was even colder than the capital. Bai Kang watched for a while, but still couldn't help but said: "Come up, come up."
Lianzhi cheered softly, rushed to the bed, hugged the pillow and sighed with contentment.
Still a child's temper. Bo Kang wasn't angry and went out again. Lianzhi was very tired. Over the past two days, he had to deal with the Liangzhou prefect, the Chunfeng Tower manager, and all sorts of people. It was exhausting. Lianzhi hugged the pillow and fell asleep quickly.
When I opened my eyes again, Bo Kang had returned. It was dark, and he was sitting at the only small wooden table in the side room, looking at something. He was still wearing his black clothes, his black hair was tied up, and his expression was serious. He looked exactly like he did when he was a royal guard in the palace.
Lianzhi felt as if he was still the little emperor of Da Ning Kingdom, and Bai Kang was still his guard, carefully protecting him.
"Bring tea..." He mumbled, his voice was very low, but Bai Kang still caught it. Bai Kang didn't hear what he said clearly, so he walked over and asked, "What?"
It’s over, I let it slip.
Lianzhi regained consciousness and smiled softly, "I asked Brother Kang if he wanted some tea. I'll pour you some."
"No need. Why drink tea in the middle of the night? Won't you be unable to sleep?" Bo Kang smiled helplessly, "You go back to sleep."
Lianzhi was just being polite, so she nodded and continued to sleep, hugging the pillow. He was sleeping soundly, curled up in a ball with the pillow. His body was smaller than Bo Kang's, and now it looked even smaller.
This sleeping position is very familiar, Bo Kang has seen it before.
In the past, the late Emperor Chen Fenglian slept like this. He seemed to be on guard even while sleeping, curled up in a ball, in a defensive posture, as if wary of others approaching.
Is it because Lianzhi’s living environment is not good and she is wary that she sleeps like this?
Bai Kang pulled the quilt over him, trimmed the wick, and lay down beside the bed to sleep. The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. After the heavy rain, the weather was fine for several days. Lianzhi slowly woke up and found it was still dark. He stood up, pushed the door open, and went out to relieve himself.
Just when he was halfway there, a man suddenly appeared from behind him and said, "Are you living with the Minister of Rites?"
Lianzhi didn't say anything.
"How did he treat you?" the man asked again.
"You've seen that I live with him, why are you still asking this?" Lianzhi said casually.
His tone made the people behind him anxious, and they sneered, "Don't think that just because the Minister of Rites treats you well, you can escape our control! Don't forget, your life was saved by our master. Even if you return to the capital with him, we will still find a way to find you! Be honest and work for our master. That is your best choice!"
Lianzhi knew that now was not the time to fall out. No matter what, returning to the capital first would provide an extra layer of security. Lianzhi said coldly, "Do you need me to tell you? I haven't forgotten, and I don't need you to remind me again. If there is anything, we can contact each other. There is no need to follow me all the time. It's annoying."
He usually spoke in the same tone. The man didn't think much of it, and after giving him a few more words of advice and warning, he left. After the man left, Lianzhi finally breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
He is still too weak now. He has no helpers and no confidants around him as before. Anyone can think they can control him.
Lianzhi was even more determined to return to the capital. After he went to relieve himself, he went upstairs when he was suddenly blocked by another person. He thought it was the person who had just left and returned, but the other person spoke in a somewhat sad voice: "Are you Lianzhi?"
This man had no martial arts skills and was about the same age as him.
Lianzhi felt relieved and walked forward. In the moonlight, he saw the face of the person in front of him. He looked remarkably like him, or rather, Chen Fenglian. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were brothers.
He recalled the words of the Liangzhou prefect. He recalled the rumors circulating about the nobleman in the capital. It was said that this nobleman had been infatuated with Chen Fenglian for years, deeply in love, and surrounded by many people who resembled him. Others avoided mentioning Emperor Ling, even cursing the tyrannical emperor. Only this nobleman was different.
...Could the rumors be true?
Bo Kang, do you really like him? Do you like Chen Fenglian?
Lianzhi suddenly hesitated about whether to stay with Baikang. It didn't matter if Baikang didn't like him, hated him or hated him, but if Baikang really liked him...
How is that possible?
He used to dislike Bai Kang and always deliberately ordered him around to serve him. How could Bai Kang possibly like him?
It's probably just a rumor.
Lianzi had originally wanted to meet the man Bai Kangxin had rescued, but seeing him remain silent with a gloomy face only confirmed his suspicions, and he suddenly felt even more resentful. He had assumed that Lord Bai had brought him here because he truly valued him. Even after bringing back the young man named Jiang Yong, he had only said that Jiang Yong would return to the Duke Chang's mansion with Young Master Chang, not with Lord Bai.
Lotus and Lotus Leaf went to manage the warehouse and usually didn't see Master Bai. He thought that Master Bai cared about him the most.
But this Lianzhi, who had only been with Master Bai for one day, was already living with him. He looked very similar to me, so could it be that Master Bai really liked him?
He was a little jealous. But Lianzhi just smiled and said calmly: "Is there something you want to talk to me about?"
I didn't ask him about his appearance. Did he know about it, or did he not care?
"Will you go back to the capital with Lord Bai?" Lianzi asked again.
Lianzhi nodded. Lianzi said, "Master Bai doesn't like you. If you think he's special to you, you're wrong. He has someone else in his heart. I hope you won't be disappointed in the future."
Saying these words seemed to have exhausted all his energy. After saying this, Lianzi ran back, leaving Lianzhi with a confused look on her face. He returned to the room thinking about these words, and then he thought, does this person like Bo Kang?
Do you think he is here to rob Bo Kang?
It's quite interesting, this Bai Kang is actually quite charming. Lianzhi looked at Bai Kang's sleeping face, feeling angry. Just as he lay down, the person next to him suddenly stood up and pressed on his side.
There was clarity in his eyes.
"Why aren't you sleeping so late at night? What are you doing?" Bai Kang looked at him with burning eyes.
He heard some movement in the hallway and turned to find that Lianzhi had disappeared. The person in the hallway possessed martial arts skills and was clearly not an ordinary resident. Lianzhi and that person had met privately, perhaps to plot something.
Of course, he couldn't do anything to Lianzhi, so he could only send him away early the next morning.
Lianzhi's eyes rolled around, and suddenly they turned red again. He complained, "Who is that Lianzi next to you?"
"Servant. What's wrong?" asked Bai Kang.
"He stopped me and said I liked you, and that I was wishful thinking and would regret it." Lianzhi squeezed out two more non-existent tears, "How could I? I only see you, Brother Kang, as my savior, and I don't have any improper thoughts. How dare the people around you speculate about me!"
"...He will misunderstand. You don't have to worry about it." Bo Kang didn't expect that Lianzi would be involved. How could Lianzi, that kid, say such a thing?
Lian snorted in mock anger, turned around, hugged the pillow and continued to sleep. Before he could ask the question he wanted to ask, Bo Kang nudged him twice, but the person next to him had already started snoring quietly.
Fell asleep so quickly?
Bai Kang didn't believe it, but he couldn't forcefully wake her up, so he could only go back to sleep with a lot of questions in his mind. Starting the next day, he tried to probe her several times, but Lianzhi always evaded him with simple, diverting comments like "my savior" or "I must go back to the capital with him."
Lianzhi's goal is to return to the capital with him.
Bai Kang had no idea what his real plans were. If he just wanted to go back to the capital with him and live a prosperous life, then that was fine. At most, he could just give him some money to send him off. But if he was sent by someone else, to be placed by his side...
As expected, I still have to take him back and keep him by my side to monitor him?
With this thought in mind, Bo Kang never again mentioned sending him away. A few days later, the imperial court arrived as expected. Chang Yuzhu's grandfather, upon receiving his family's letter, went to the palace to present the matter to His Majesty. His Majesty, deeply concerned, dispatched the Minister of Revenue in person, accompanied by dozens of other officials, to investigate the Liangzhou drought thoroughly.
In addition, the Ministry of Rites also sent several officials, at Bai Kang's request. He had Chang Yuzhu write a letter detailing the Chunfeng Tower incident, strongly demanding an investigation into the Liangzhou Tongpan and the swift handling of Chunfeng Tower. Upon arriving at Chunfeng Tower with his men, Bai Kang felt immensely pleased when he saw the manager's shocked expression.
"Everyone move out, move out! Don't look at it anymore. From today on, Chunfeng Tower will be closed... Put up the sticker in that room too!" Bai Kang stood on the platform on the first floor of Chunfeng Tower and directed his subordinates to seal Chunfeng Tower tightly.
Chang Yuzhu looked at him for a long time before she said, "Bai Kang, are you venting your anger on Lianzhi's behalf?"
"Hmm?" Bo Kang was stunned, then gave a dangerous smile. "Chang Yuzhu, haven't you seen me lead people to investigate a brothel? Also, Lianzhi and I have nothing to do with each other. Stop speculating."
Chang Yuzhu smiled and didn't believe him.
The Ministry of Revenue has taken full responsibility for the drought investigation. In recent years, disasters have been frequent across Daning State, and the Ministry has long had plans in place to address them. With only a few days left of his vacation, it's time to return to Beijing. He arrived in one carriage, but returned in two. Besides the people who came with him, there's also Jiang Yong, Lianzhi, and everything he's bought from Lianzhi in recent days.
Lianzi looked at Jiang Yong sitting on his left, then looked at Lianzhi sitting by the window, close to Bai Kang, and felt that it would be even more difficult to attract Lord Bai's attention in the days to come.
I don't know what other means are available to win over Lord Bai. In short, we can't let the latecomers get ahead.
On the road, Lianzhi was as fussy as ever. He complained that the carriage wasn't spacious enough and the conditions were poor. But given the current situation, they couldn't rent a better one, so Lianzhi could only quietly complain to Bo Kang.
Bai Kang suspected that he was a spy sent by someone else, and his attitude towards him became unusually better. In the eyes of others, they had a deep relationship. Lord Bai was willing to listen to the boy's complaints, and the boy liked to act coquettishly with Lord Bai.
Another look at the young man's face made everything clear. Lord Bai was truly affectionate, but it was a shame that his affections were directed towards the former deposed Emperor Chen Fenglian. Otherwise, he would have been a highly sought-after son-in-law among the capital's nobles.
Five days later, they returned to the capital.
Chang Yuzhu took the servant back to Duke Chang's mansion. He didn't take Jiang Yong with him, instead sending him to stay with Bai Kang. Jiang Yong naturally agreed to his benefactor's request. Bai Kang, however, felt like he had just added another piece of the puzzle to his plate. He wondered how he would get the housekeeper to arrange for these two men upon his return.
Lianzhi had to be kept under his watchful eye. As for Jiang Yong... it seemed the mansion had no shortage of servants.
Before he reached the gate of the Shangshu Mansion, he saw the familiar figure through the window again. Lianzhi also saw the person outside the window clearly and couldn't help squinting.
Eunuch Lu?
Why did he come to ask Bai Kang for help?
Bai Kang ordered the driver to stop and prepared to get out to receive the imperial edict. Unexpectedly, before he could get out, Eunuch Lu spoke first, "Sir Bai, wait a minute. His Majesty has learned that you will be returning to the capital today, and has specifically ordered me to wait here to summon you to the palace to report on your duties."
Reporting on his work, presumably asking about the drought in Liang Province. Bai Kang nodded in acceptance and followed him into another carriage. The carriage drove into the palace and then to the Imperial Study. The current Emperor of Daning, Jianguang Emperor Chen Fengke, sat on the Dragon Throne, evidently already waiting for him.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Bai Kang knelt on one knee and saluted.
Chen Fengke waved to him and said with a smile, "My dear, please stand up."
Chen Fengke looked no more than twenty years old, with a gentle demeanor and a gentle expression. If it weren't for the dragon robe he wore, he might just be described as a refined young man devoted to poetry and prose. However, rumors about how he secured the throne have long been controversial. Having served under him for three years, Bo Kang knew his character was more complex than his appearances suggested. He was about to recount the events of Liang Province when Chen Fengke said, "No hurry. My dear, I heard you rescued an actor in Liang Province?"
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