Chapter 242: Feeling Like a Thorn in the Back (Two Chapters Combined into One)
As if struck by lightning, the violent shock quickly spread from the top of his head to his whole body. Yang Shengqiu's body suddenly became unable to move, and his feet seemed to be deeply stuck in the mud, unable to move or pull out.
Why is Lin Xian still alive?
Why is Lin Xian here?
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Yang Shengqiu's mind, but none of them were as real as the shock he felt at that glance.
Although it was time to leave the yamen, the sun had not yet set. Above his head was the bright red sun, on the ground were long slanted shadows, and standing in front of him were living people.
"Sir, Young Master?" Xiao Mo had his back to Lin Xian. He could only see his master's face which turned pale instantly. He was so anxious that he changed his address twice in succession.
Yang Shengqiu had not yet recovered from his shock. He opened his eyes wide and stared at the person not far away.
Lin Xian had a half-smile on his face. This cheerful and heartless boy now had a cold look in his eyes.
He remembered, he remembered everything. He indeed did not see the man's face, but he always felt as if there was something he had forgotten.
Until three days ago, Xu Bo was scolded by Master Xu again and complained to him: "Can this be blamed on me? Wasn't it because he gave birth to me so stupid? If there is anyone to blame, it should be him, not me, don't you think?"
At that moment, he suddenly remembered.
Before he was thrown into the ice cave, he heard the murderer say, "If you want to blame someone, blame yourself. Who told you to come to me? You can't blame me, right?"
He was already dying at that time, and the severe pain made his head dizzy. The next moment he was thrown into the ice cave, and these words were forgotten deep in his memory.
More importantly, the bamboo token he had worn for ten years disappeared after the accident.
At first, he thought he had lost it when he was rescued, but then he remembered that the murderer had felt around on him, and thought that was when the murderer took the bamboo token away.
It was carved by Yang Shengqiu himself when he was a child. It is not valuable and no one would steal it on purpose.
That year, he gave all the New Year's money he had saved for a long time to Yang Shengqiu. Yang Shengqiu had nothing, so he carved this bamboo plaque for him by hand.
He has always regarded this bamboo plaque as his most precious souvenir and has never taken it off for a full ten years.
Whenever he touched this bamboo plaque, he would remember that he had a friend who was very good at studying, and they agreed to become scholars, juren, and jinshi together!
He remembered the "young man" he met at the grilled fish stall that day and repeatedly asked him who he had met that day. Yes, he had met Yang Shengqiu that day.
He also remembered that when they met for the first time, the "young brother" told him not to mention the Shi family's massacre when he saw Yang Shengqiu. When they met for the second time, the "young brother" confirmed with him whether he had talked about the massacre with Yang Shengqiu. He said that he felt that he should say it, after all, it was such a big thing. He also remembered the way the "young brother" looked at him, as if he was looking at a mentally retarded person!
Just because he said this, Yang Shengqiu wanted to kill him. Why?
Because he was an old friend of Yang Shengqiu, he knew Yang Shengqiu back then, and he knew that Yang Shengqiu had lived in the Shi family!
So Yang Shengqiu wants to kill him!
Lin Xian was in so much pain that he implicated his cousin. He was rescued and luckily survived, but his cousin was nowhere to be found. Even Hero Yan was unable to find his cousin.
His cousin knew that he went to see Yang Shengqiu, and he did not come back that night. His cousin was worried about him and must have gone to look for Yang Shengqiu, so his cousin disappeared.
Three days have passed. From the time he learned the truth until now, Lin Xian has spent the entire three days in agony and self-blame.
He couldn't figure it out, couldn't understand it. His family was not rich, but they had some money. He was an average student, but he passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. His family was a small family, but the family was harmonious, his parents were loving, and relatives helped each other. From childhood to adulthood, the biggest hardship he had experienced was failing the provincial examination.
He didn't understand why the person who had promised to be his lifelong friend became like this?
He didn't understand why there were such bad people in this world?
Yesterday, the "young man" from the fish stall came to Xu's house again, and he couldn't wait to tell the young man what he remembered. It was not until then that he realized that the person was not a young man, but a little sister.
Instead of laughing at him, the little sister offered to cooperate with him.
He agreed without thinking. He had to find his cousin, whether alive or dead. Otherwise, he would not have the face to go home and would feel sorry for his cousin's family.
So, he came today. The girl from the Zhao family said that he just needed to show up here.
He saw Yang Shengqiu, who walked out of the Ministry of Revenue. Yang Shengqiu was not as glamorous as he had imagined. Instead, he looked like a defeated rooster, dejected and decadent.
Lin Xian looked at Yang Shengqiu, and Yang Shengqiu was also looking at him. He saw shock and fear in Yang Shengqiu's eyes. Haha, that handsome and elegant Yang Zhuangyuan turned out to be the same as ordinary people when he was afraid.
Lin Xian didn't say anything. He turned around and left, got on a gorgeous carriage, and drove away.
It was not until the carriage disappeared from his sight that Yang Shengqiu came back to his senses from his shock.
He grabbed Xiao Mo's wrist and asked in a trembling voice, "Did you see that? A carriage just stopped there!"
Xiao Mo looked in the direction he pointed, confused: "That's where the carriages are parked. The adults from the six ministries all park there."
"No, it's a very gorgeous carriage!"
Yang Shengqiu looked excited. This was one of the six ministries. From the Shangshu to the petty clerks, everyone was very low-key when they went to the yamen. Whether it was a carriage or a sedan chair, they had to abide by the rank regulations and would never exceed the limit.
The carriage just now was inlaid with gold and jade, and it was obvious that it came from a royal family or a noble family.
He was so shocked that he didn't even notice the emblem on the carriage.
Why was Lin Xian riding in such a carriage? Who sent him here?
Why are you here?
Just for him to see?
What’s even more terrifying is that not only is Lin Xian still alive, but there is also a big shot standing behind him.
Xiao Mo really didn't understand why his young master had lost his composure like this. He was completely confused and said, "Please wait a moment. I'll go and ask around."
Yang Shengqiu took two deep breaths before he calmed himself down.
He got into the sedan chair with an expressionless face, and Xiao Mo ran to find out.
A moment later, Xiao Mo came back and shook his head at Yang Shengqiu. No one had seen the gorgeous carriage that the young master was talking about. Xiao Mo even suspected that there was no such carriage at all. The young master must have been too tired and dazzled.
"Sir, I heard that goat liver can improve eyesight. I'll go buy some for you."
Yang Shengqiu looked at the place where Lin Xian had stood. It was empty, without even a fallen leaf.
Maybe, I really am dazzled?
Yang Shengqiu shook his head slowly. It was impossible. How could he be dazzled?
......
Lin Xian returned to the carriage. There were three people sitting in the carriage, one was Mr. Yan, another was Little Sister Zhao, and the other was the young man he met for the first time today. The young man was serious and had a cold attitude, but he was a very nice person. He even bought candy for Little Sister Zhao, and of course, he also had some.
Lin Xian felt that there were still many good people in this world, such as Hero Yan, Lord Xu, Xu Bo, Little Sister Zhao, and of course, the two little brothers who saved him. Now, there was one more person in his list of good people, this cold and indifferent young man whose name was unknown.
"Hero Yan, when can you capture Yang Shengqiu and make him tell you the whereabouts of my cousin?"
Yan Xia said, "Don't be anxious, wait a little longer."
Although Lin Xian was certain that Yang Shengqiu was the murderer who killed him, this evidence was too weak in court. As long as Yang Shengqiu denied it, the evidence would not stand.
Zhao Shiqing comforted him: "Yang Shengqiu has other secrets. We are waiting for him to reveal his true colors. Don't worry, it's not that we won't report it, it's just that the time has not come yet."
Lin Xian asked hurriedly: "What about me? What else can I do?"
Yan Xia said, "Let's talk about your residence first. Are you still staying in Xu's house, or are you coming home with me? I think you should come home with me. Xu Bo talks too much and it will affect your studies."
Not to mention Lin Xian, even Xu Bo, the runner-up in the imperial examination, was extremely annoyed with his younger brother. Under the pretext of editing a book, he lived in the Hanlin Academy and refused to go home.
Lin Xian didn't think so. On the contrary, he and Xu Bo got along quite well. He even wanted Xu Bo to study at Huiwen Academy so that they could meet often. However, Huiwen Academy was a small academy, and even if Xu Bo wanted to go, Lord Xu probably wouldn't let him go.
"Master Yan, is your home quiet? Suitable for studying?"
Yan Xia nodded. "It's perfect, absolutely perfect. My study is huge, three times the size of Lord Xu's. Right now, my brother is the only one using it, so you can keep him company. Plus, you don't have to audit classes at Huiwen Academy. I have a tutor at home, and he's free anyway, so let him teach you."
Mr. Wang is either fishing or fishing every day. He has caught all the koi in the lake. Now is a good time to find him something to do.
The corners of Zhao Shiqing's mouth twitched. "Hero Yan, do you have any misunderstanding about An Jing?"
However, Zhao Shiqing knew the teacher that Hero Yan mentioned.
Mr. Wang was a Jinshi (Jinshi) graduate. When he returned to his hometown with his son to worship his ancestors, a jealous relative set fire to the house. Mr. Wang's son was burned to death. Although Mr. Wang survived, his appearance was disfigured and his official career was interrupted. His wife was shocked to hear the bad news and could not bear the blow. She hit her head against the wall and died.
The case was solved by Yan Xia, the criminal was brought to justice, and Mr. Wang's family was destroyed, his career was ruined, and he became disheartened.
Yan Xia invited him to be a tutor at the Duke of Weiguo's mansion. After all, the Yan family didn't have much else, but they had the most students, more than a dozen or so, and he could teach some of them.
Unfortunately, the idea is very good, but the reality is very skinny.
The dozen or so brothers of the Old Yan family left Master Wang with nothing to do every day. He lived in the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion for three years, and except for the first three months, he was very idle the rest of the time.
And during those three months, it was because Madam Yu was guarding the study door with a whip.
When Xu Bo heard that Lin Xian was going to the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion, he did not feel reluctant to let him go. On the contrary, he was very excited. He wanted to go too so that he could see his most admired hero Yan every day.
Xu Bo packed up all his things, but unfortunately he was stopped by Lord Xu. He was locked up in a small dark room, crying all the time. For the 295th time, he suspected that he was not his biological son, but was adopted.
Yang Shengqiu spent a sleepless night in fear.
The next day, he went to the yamen with dark circles under his eyes.
After leaving the yamen, he saw Xiao Mo rushing over and asked, "Did you find out everything?"
Xiao Mo said hurriedly, "I went to Huiwen Academy. People there said that Mr. Lin Xian hadn't been to the academy since the Chinese New Year. I also went to Mr. Lin's place and met the landlord. The landlord said that Mr. Lin's rent is paid every three months. He paid it once in early February and again a few days ago. The landlord was very happy and praised Mr. Lin for being particular and always paying in advance without any urging."
"Who paid the rent? Was it Lin Xian himself?" Yang Shengqiu asked.
"Yes, the landlord said that Mr. Lin seemed to have become rich. He was wearing Hangzhou silk. He used to wear ordinary scholar's robes. But although he paid the rent, he never moved back to live there. The house has been empty. The landlord asked Mr. Lin, and Mr. Lin said that he is temporarily living in a friend's house, but it is difficult to rent a house near the academy. He will move back in the future, so he will not give up the lease." Xiao Mo said.
The hairs on Yang Shengqiu's body stood up.
Lin Xian was indeed still alive.
Yang Shengqiu remembered very clearly that the last time he saw Lin Xian, although Lin Xian was dressed appropriately, he was wearing only the most ordinary clothes.
Even Yang Shengqiu himself, before coming to the capital, had his only Hangzhou silk robe bought for him by Lord Lang, and he only wore it on important occasions.
Now the landlord said that Lin Xian was wearing Hangzhou silk and living in a friend's house. The houses near the academy were not cheap, but he could only pay the rent but not live in them.
Combined with the gorgeous carriage he saw yesterday, Yang Shengqiu became more and more certain that Lin Xian must have joined forces with some big shot.
What is more terrifying than surrendering is that Lin Xian was actively recruited by a big shot.
Thinking of this, Yang Shengqiu's scalp went numb. For several days in a row, although Yang Shengqiu had not seen Lin Xian, he could always feel that someone was staring at him. Being stared at felt very bad, like countless bugs crawling on his feet, which was painful and itchy, but he could not kick them away or get rid of them.
Until this day, he finally lost his patience. After leaving the yamen, he did not go home, but went to Zizhu Temple again.
After Master Feng passed away, the Feng family kept a low profile. Feng Yalan went to Zizhu Temple in a sedan chair and became a lay Buddhist.
Originally, Feng Yalan wanted to become a nun, but Feng Ke ultimately did not agree.
Among his many children, Feng Ke still favored Feng Yalan. This concubine's daughter was not only well-educated and well-mannered, but also calm and sensible. If she had not fallen into the water, she would have been a good candidate for marriage.
Not only the concubines of the retired emperor, but also Princess Jiarou lived in Zizhu Temple.
Princess Jiarou was different from those concubines. She was the youngest daughter of the retired emperor and the younger sister of Emperor Yongjia. She could enter the palace and attend important occasions with other princesses.
Although she was just an insignificant princess, Feng Ke didn't want to waste her, and he didn't want to waste his daughter Feng Yalan even more.
Feng Yalan will stay with Princess Jiarou, and after a year or two, when the incident is forgotten, she can continue to serve the family.
Although there was no engagement, Yang Shengqiu had been keeping an eye on Feng Yalan's whereabouts. Today, he finally made up his mind and came to Zizhu Temple.
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