Chapter 57: Cold and indifferent "Rong'er, I'm thirsty, pour me some..."
"Rong'er, I'm thirsty. Pour me some water." Yun Yang sat up and looked at the bright sky.
Dry throat and dry lips.
She slept soundly at night, immersed in the storyteller's Xue family legend and unable to wake up. Her brother-in-law scowled at her and scolded her for being heartless. Afterwards, she kept eating something soft and sweet, which was delicious.
"Miss, why is your mouth swollen?" Rong'er was stunned.
Yun Yang got out of bed and sat in front of the bronze mirror. He was also startled. He lowered his eyes and thought for a moment before saying, "It's so dry, I'm getting a sore throat. Just bring me some chrysanthemum tea."
Rong'er turned and went out. Yun Yang looked at his slightly swollen lips in the bronze mirror and felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.
Uneasy, nervous, depressed, but also with some sweetness.
What's going on?
Things were getting weirder and weirder. Before her vague uneasiness erupted, she just wanted to leave Xue's house as soon as possible.
Yun Yang took the washed handkerchief to find Lu Jie. It would be presumptuous to disturb Lu's residence suddenly, so Yun Yang thought for a moment and asked the sedan bearer to park the sedan in the alley at the gate of the Hanlin Academy.
It was not until dusk that Lu Jie appeared.
Walking in front were two officials wearing the same green robe as Lu Jie. As they passed Yun Yang's carriage, they continued to express their contempt for Lu Jie.
"How tactless! We are all eager to show our faces in front of His Majesty, but he volunteered to go to Lucheng and show himself off."
"Once the three-year examination period is over and a new batch of Jinshi are admitted, who will recognize him? He will regret it!"
Yun Yang felt anxious and guilty. What did this mean? Was Lu Jie going to Lucheng?
Lucheng is located on the southern border of Dazhao, a place ravaged by war. It is not a good place.
He just returned to Shangjing, why is he leaving again...
Yun Yang became nervous and without caring about anything else, jumped off the carriage to stop Lu Jie.
"Miss Yun?" Lu Jie asked, "Why are you here?"
"I came to see you and return your handkerchief. I've washed it clean." Yun Yang took out a brocade handkerchief from his sleeve.
She actually wanted to ask him directly whether he was going to Lucheng, but during these days in Beijing and at the Xue Mansion, she had learned to cultivate her temper, not to show her emotions on her face, and she had already developed the skill of not showing her anxiety on her face.
Lu Jie nodded, took the handkerchief and put it into his sleeve, "Miss Yun is so thoughtful."
After saying that, he pretended to leave.
"The road to Lucheng is long. When will Lord Lu set off?" Yun Yang asked.
"Three days later." Lu Jie was stunned for a moment. "How did Miss Yun know?"
"The Hanlin Academy holds an examination every three years. With Lord Lu's talent and knowledge, it's no problem for him to go to the six ministries. If His Majesty appreciates him, it will be a bright road for him to enter the cabinet. Why... why did Lord Lu ask to go to Lucheng?" Yun Yang couldn't help but ask.
Lu Jie's eyes were like cold stars, his face radiating a clear, sharp expression. He said, "King Hui has commanded his own army in the southern border, and the position of military supervisor has long been neglected. Rumors are spreading in the court that King Hui is already preparing his troops and plotting a rebellion. If my three years can save the monarch and his ministers from any discord, and ensure the people of the border live in peace, I know which is more important, and I know the difference."
"Lord Lu, you know that these three years are not the same as those three years. Perhaps by the time you return to the court, everything will have changed..." Yun Yang said.
Behind the young man were the lights of the bustling market. He smiled in the light, his hard features softening considerably. He offered no further explanation, simply saying, "Lu has made up his mind... I wish the young lady all that she desires in the future."
Lu Jie was unfortunate in his childhood. He was separated from his family and displaced for many years. He even had to beg for a living when he was in the most difficult time. Fortunately, he was willing to work hard and study, and he had a high level of comprehension, which is why he was able to rank third in the imperial examination of Hua High School in his twenties.
Most people don’t understand. After finally arriving in the prosperous Shangjing and regaining his identity as the eldest son of the Lu family, why would he ask to go to Lucheng, where the law is broken and chaos abounds?
Yun Yang didn't understand either.
But from Lu Jie's frank and calm gaze, Yun Yang vaguely understood that his goal in passing the imperial examinations was never to return to the wealth and glory of his youth.
There will always be people who work for the welfare of all people in the world, there will always be people who truly want to do things that benefit the country and the people, and there will always be people who will fight for the morality they uphold in their hearts, even at the cost of their own lives.
Lu Jie is that kind of person.
Lu Jie had seen many cruel things in the world, such as flattery, currying favor with the powerful, and the oppression of the privileged class. So when he had the ability to change, he didn't want to be a person who just sat there doing nothing.
The three years in the Hanlin Academy were a time of leisure and nobility, and promotions were quick.
But what's the point of wasting time by getting a leisurely job in one of the six ministries three years later?
"Your Excellency is righteous." Yun Yang bowed, "Yun Yang also wishes you a bright future, Lord Lu. May all your wishes come true, and all you gain will be what you wish for."
Lu Jie stopped but did not look back. He just nodded slightly, leaving Yun Yang with a vague silhouette.
Yun Yang held her breath, her eyes looking past Lu Jie's back, not knowing where they landed. The lonely and thin figure walked towards the dimly lit area and into the bustling crowd. Laughter, hawking, and music drifted faintly in the distance, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
After returning to Xue's residence, Yun Yang ate a quick meal and then stared blankly at the lush vegetation in the yard.
He saved her, but she misled him. But he didn't want anything in return, and just kept moving forward along the path in his heart without looking back.
Perhaps saving her is just following the moral principles in my heart.
Thinking of the desperate spirit that emanated from Lu Jie, Yun Yang felt an indescribable emotion in his heart.
He will definitely keep going until he reaches the place he wants.
No matter what turbulent forces are surging on the border, no matter whether the people are suffering, the capital is full of singing and dancing, and is full of prosperity and splendor.
Yun Yang lived a comfortable life in the Xue Mansion. After meeting with Zhang Qian, he did not come to propose marriage for a long time. Yun Yang was trapped in the melancholy of Lu Jie's departure and was too lazy to urge him.
The desire to repay Lu Jie when she first met him was forcibly suppressed. Even though she tried hard to adjust her mood, the guilt and uneasiness in her heart kept piling up.
I asked my brother-in-law indirectly. Lu Jie was going to Lucheng as an accompanying military supervisor, his duty being to carefully record the progress of Prince Hui's march and report it to the emperor. If Prince Hui did not rebel, Lu Jie could return after three years and someone else could take over. However, he would definitely not be eligible for the three-year promotion. Even though he had served in Prince Hui's army, he would not be trusted or valued by the emperor. In any case, his future was ruined.
But if King Hui wanted to rebel, Lu Jie would not be able to return.
Yun Yang stared at the spring scenery in the courtyard in a daze, and suddenly thought that she should have died at the age of five. Being saved by Lu Jie was like having her life in vain, and she should have lived a happy life.
Yun Yang made an appointment to meet Zhang Qian, still in Fanyue Tower. This time they did not book a private room. She felt that since they were going to be married to Zhang Qian, there was no need to avoid others when they were talking to each other.
She went around in circles trying to ask Zhang Qian why he hadn't come to propose to her yet, but Zhang Qian just didn't respond. Yun Yang also became cold. Just as she was about to say something, she was interrupted by a dandy young man beside her.
The man was wearing a bright pink shirt, with a charming look in his eyes, and his gaze was wandering around her waist and hips without any hesitation.
Zhang Qian was not blind. Even if he was devoted to Buddhism and oblivious to worldly affairs, he could still see that the man coveted Yun Yang.
Yun Yang is not a delicate woman, and she has plenty of ways to deal with this kind of scoundrel, but when Zhang Qian is around, she just stands by and watches coldly as others covet her future wife!
This was not a matter of being raised in wealth and luxury to develop such a character that was indifferent to worldly affairs. Her heart sank.
Yun Yang knew that after a woman reached the age of 15, she would have to look for a suitable man. From then on, the way she looked at men was no longer as innocent as before, but would more or less carry a bit of hope.
Although she had no expectations of Zhang Qian, she did not expect him to be such a cold-hearted person. Even if he was watching a strange woman being teased, he should not remain silent!
Yun Yang's eyes were sharp, and in the blink of an eye, the dandy young man and his minions were sitting on the ground, holding their heads and groaning.
"Young lady, you have great skills." The servants around Zhang Qian couldn't help but admire.
Yun Yang sneered, his expression became bleak, and without even looking at the master and servant, he turned and left.
In the dark alley outside the Xue Mansion, a middle-aged man smiled at the young man in front of him, "Young man, your master's request has been fulfilled. The young master of the Zhang family believed it without a doubt and is obsessed with cultivating Taoism and becoming an immortal. He can't even distinguish between Buddhism and Taoism. He is very easy to deceive."
Si Qing smiled faintly, took out her purse from her bosom and weighed it.
There was not a single hair in the middle-aged man's bun, and his smile was very kind. He raised his eyes and looked at the serious young man in front of him, and sighed that the servants of the wealthy family were so handsome and dignified. The money they were given must have been a lot.
"Master, please stay away and don't let anyone see you." Su Qing whispered and handed him the purse.
Since the beginning of summer, the atmosphere in the city has suddenly become solemn and murderous. The streets are cleared and there is a curfew. Silver-armored soldiers with swords and spears can be seen rushing about everywhere. The shouts and screams of the twelve regiments stationed outside the city during training can also be faintly heard.
The common people spread rumors that the emperor was enthroning the youngest instead of the eldest, which was detrimental to the foundation of the country and caused instability in the country, so King Hui wanted to rebel.
Xue Yu also suddenly became busy. Logically speaking, the court's preparations for war were the responsibility of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, and had little to do with the Ministry of Justice. However, a series of corruption cases were exposed due to the raising of food and wages and the dispatch of military supplies.
It's harmless if you take a little and I take a little. It was originally a way for court officials to make money, but during special times, it was pulled out by an invisible hand, as if a sharp sword was piercing the chaotic sky of Beijing.
Case documents piled up like snowflakes on the desk of the Ministry of Justice, waiting for the life and death verdict, with a momentum that seemed to be overwhelming.
Xue Yu often did not return home for several days and simply lived in the public housing of the Ministry of Justice, only ordering Si Qing to come and go to bring some clothes for replacement.
Yun Yang didn't know what had happened, so he brought some food to the Ministry of Justice. Seeing the officials coming in and out with different expressions on their faces, he didn't want to disturb them. He waited on the stone steps for a long time but didn't see him. He had no choice but to leave the food box, hoping that he would remember to eat something if he was hungry in the middle of the night.
As soon as I reached the door, I saw a clerk running over with an umbrella in his hands. Looking down the stone steps, I saw the carriage was already ready.
As the days passed, everything in the Xue Mansion was normal, but no one knew when the stored grain in the granary had become so full that it was about to overflow.
As for the marriage with Zhang Qian, Yun Yang thought, let it go without saying anything. Although Zhang Qian is a good person, he is too cold and indifferent, almost like a human being.
Unexpectedly, after the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara's Enlightenment Day in June, Old Lady Zhang brought Zhang Qian to the Xue Mansion to propose marriage.
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