Chapter 79
These two things are certainly not unfamiliar to Xu Duanyi.
One was a handkerchief she had used for a long time.
The black orchid on top was embroidered by her herself.
Another thing...
It was the amulet she gave to Xie Qingya several years ago.
This purple bamboo-patterned amulet was obtained by Xie Qingya from the White Pagoda Temple when she went on her first expedition.
Swords and knives are merciless on the battlefield, and she was always worried that something might happen to him.
I heard that the amulets from the White Pagoda Temple are particularly effective.
She prayed for a long time in front of the Buddha and donated a lot of incense before the abbot of the White Pagoda Temple gave her such a talisman to protect her safety.
But why did Xu Duanyi recognize this amulet at the first moment?
This is because the amulet she asked for at the beginning, in addition to having the same pattern and style as this one, had another extremely important reason.
At that time, she came out of the White Pagoda Temple.
I heard from pilgrims visiting the temple that if one wants the amulet to be effective, the person seeking it can embroider the name of the person they want to be blessed on it.
In this way, the Buddha will know whom he will protect.
Therefore, when she returned that day, Xu Duanyi secretly used needle and thread to embroider Xie Qingya's name on it.
Years passed.
The amulet is old and dirty.
The name she had embroidered underneath was actually a little blurry.
But Xu Duanyi recognized it at first sight.
She half-knelt on the ground with a dazed look on her face.
The clothes in her arms had been scattered all over the floor without her noticing, but she didn't notice. She was holding these two things, and her thoughts had drifted away to who knows where.
Until Mei Xuezheng, who was outside the door, had not heard anything inside, and called her: "Your Highness? Are you okay?"
Only then did Xu Duanyi collect his thoughts.
"not……"
As she opened her mouth, she realized that her throat had become hoarse and she couldn't make a sound. She coughed lightly and managed to find her voice again: "...It's okay."
As she spoke, she hurriedly put the two things away.
He picked up the pile of clothes on the ground and patted the dust off them. Xu Duanyi tried his best to suppress the shock in his heart and said to Mei Xuezheng, "Wait for me."
Then she took her clothes and went to the bed to tidy them up.
The brain is still a little confused because it just saw these two things.
The hands didn't stop moving.
Xu Duanyi also took all his clothes and personal belongings with him.
This book is compiled exclusively for you by the LK team.
Xu Duanyi packed it up and carried it out.
After Mei Xuezheng saw it, he was ready to take it: "Let me take it."
But Xu Duanyi avoided it.
Mei Xuezheng looked puzzled.
When he thought of something, he widened his eyes again.
"Your Highness, you..." Before Xu Duanyi could say anything, his face changed. Without thinking, he immediately said, "No, this is absolutely not possible!"
"Yutian is already in danger now. If I leave you here, I won't know how to explain this to... Prince Nan'an."
"How could I watch you go there?"
"Even if I agree, the King of Nan'an will never let you in!"
Mei Xuezheng's face was filled with anxiety, but it was not just a pretense.
Although he was happy that someone could treat Qingya like this, it was precisely because she was the one Qingya liked that he could not let her go.
If something really happened.
Not to mention that he couldn't explain to Qingya, Marquis Wu'an and the Queen Mother... would definitely not let them go.
Mei Xuezheng had a look on his face that showed he was begging for help, hoping that this ancestor in front of him would stop messing around.
“Your Highness…”
He opened his mouth again to persuade others.
Xu Duanyi interrupted him before he finished speaking: "Master Mei, I know that what I did has caused you trouble."
"but--"
There is noticeable weight in the sleeves.
In fact, they are not that heavy. Both things are light and have no weight. But to Xu Duanyi, they seem particularly heavy.
This weight also weighed on her heart.
But this did not make her feel depressed.
Instead, it made her feel more relaxed and happy than ever before.
No one knows what she was thinking when she saw those two things.
It turns out that it was never her sole wish.
...It turns out that he also has her in his heart.
If she wasn't facing Mei Xuezheng at this moment, Xu Duanyi thought, she would have cried.
But at this moment, the time and place are wrong.
The person you are facing is also wrong.
She could only suppress her turbulent emotions for the time being, and said to Mei Xuezheng as calmly as possible: "I must see him with my own eyes before I can feel at ease."
Mei Xuezheng looked at him with a complicated expression and said in a difficult tone: "But have you ever thought about this? If he really gets the plague and there is no medicine to cure him, then you..."
"Then I'll stay with him."
Xu Duanyi said without hesitation.
She was carrying a huge bag in her hands, but the expression on her face was brighter than the sun outside.
"If the Lord has pity on me, nothing will happen to him or her."
"If God has no mercy, then I will accompany him..." Xu Duanyi raised the corners of his lips, fearlessly, "If he lives, I live, if he dies, I die."
This moment.
She suddenly understood why her mother would rather die than run away with her.
She seemed to have become the mother who held the sword and defended to the death.
Death is not scary.
Death is never scary.
She is willing to give everything for the person who asks for her help.
Xu Duanyi had never been so determined before, she did not hesitate at all.
She had too many ties with Xie Qingya.
Even if you have feelings for each other, you cannot completely ignore other things.
On the contrary, only at such moments could she follow him and choose him so firmly.
She is not afraid of death.
My aunt and my father each have their own ties.
Even if she really died, they could move on with their lives after they were sad.
She had no concerns.
"Master Mei."
Xu Duanyi looked at Mei Xuezheng.
She could see the astonishment on Mei Xuezheng's face, but she had no time to say anything more to him.
The more you know each other, the more you talk.
She had talked to him enough today.
"You can't stop me."
Xu Duanyi looked at Mei Xuezheng. Unlike her gentle voice, her tone was irreversibly firm: "You can choose not to take me, but I can always find the place I want to go."
That was all she had to say.
Mei Xuezheng lowered his head helplessly when she looked at him.
The shock in his heart was still there. He had never felt such a strong love in his life. Life and death together was something that only appeared in storybooks. If he had not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed it.
"...Come on, I'll take you there."
Mei Xuezheng finally compromised.
He knew that he could not change this person's decision no matter what.
Besides, he also has his own selfish motives...
If Qingya really can't get over this difficulty, he hopes that he can have his beloved by his side during the last period of his life.
He has suffered for too long.
While walking outside with Xu Duanyi, Mei Xuezheng couldn't help but glance to the side.
He didn't know how.
Suddenly I remembered the scene many years ago when Qingya first told him that he had a crush on someone.
No matter how he asked, Qingya refused to reveal a single thing.
Asking too many questions makes him angry.
Only when asked about his personality did he say a little more.
"She looks weak, as if anyone can bully her. She has a good temper and never complains when she is bullied. Sometimes I get angry just by looking at her. But after getting to know her, I know that she is actually quite stubborn."
"When did I fall in love with her?"
This book is exclusively compiled by the LK team for you. "It was probably when she fell off the horse while learning to ride, and the first thing she did was smile at me, tell me it was okay, and then pat her clothes and continue to learn with gritted teeth."
"When I saw her sitting on the horse, I knew that my life was doomed."
…
A quarter of an hour later.
Xu Duanyi got on the carriage.
Xie Qingya was now placed in an abandoned house in the city.
At this time, they were on their way to the abandoned house.
Xu Duanyi did not ride in his own carriage, but used the government office's carriage.
The one that the wife of the county magistrate used to use was not big, but it was clean.
Master Wang prepared it for her.
Knowing that Xu Duanyi was going, Wang Fuxin naturally tried his best to stop her.
But Xu Duanyi had already made up her mind to leave, so she naturally wouldn't listen to him. Wang Fuxin had no choice but to prepare some more dry grains and food for her, as well as some clean bedding and pillows, and asked her to take them with her.
After all, it’s not very convenient to live outside.
Although there are people looking after me and delivering three meals a day, how can it be comfortable to stay here?
As we passed by, we found that there were not many people working in the city today. Qiao Bingyuan was leading people to check everywhere to see if there were any "fish that slipped through the net".
Xu Duanyi looked at the scene outside the car window and asked Mei Xuezheng outside the carriage: "Do they know everything?"
Mei Xuezheng knew what she was asking and didn't hide it from her.
He hummed softly, "I wanted to keep it a secret, but Qingya said that the unknown would only cause greater panic. Instead of keeping it a secret, it's better to make it public."
"If there is something wrong, it should be treated and investigated. It is better than keeping it secret and causing a bigger disaster."
Xu Duanyi nodded.
She had the same idea as Xie Qingya.
Rather than hiding it from everyone and letting them guess among themselves and end up being scared, it is better to tell them the whole story.
At times like this, we all need to unite and overcome the current situation.
Xu Duanyi was still looking out the car window.
At this time in the city.
In addition to Qiao Bingyuan, the old man that Xu Duanyi met yesterday was also there.
He was on crutches.
He was so thin and frail that he looked like he would be blown down by a strong wind.
But he kept his back straight, without even a slight shake.
他未注意到徐端宜的馬車，正在跟衆人說道：“如今咱們的家園正值危難時刻，現在又傳出這樣的事，我知道大家都害怕，是人就會害怕，我也害怕，但咱們不能這麽自私。”
“這次朝廷并沒有放棄咱們。”
“該來的人，一個不少，該給的物資，也從沒短缺過我們。”
“不說王師爺、喬主簿他們，梅大人、李大人，還有京城來的其他大人，也都在盡力保護咱們。還有南安王、長公主，他們本來不用來這樣的地方受罪，尤其是小王爺……”
說到謝清崖的時候，老者的聲音有明顯的哽咽。
他停頓了一下。
接着才繼續說道：“他不顧自己的安危，讓自己身處這樣的險境之中，現在還自己跑去城外，怕得就是真得了影響咱們。”
“做人不能這麽沒良心。”
“我們現在唯一能做的，就是不給別人添麻煩，有病就去治，別總覺得別人會害咱們，他們要真害我們，何必對我們這麽好！”
“就拿今日的事來說，小王爺大可吩咐我們去拉走那對母子，他這樣的身份，何必親自去做這些事？”
“他還不是為了咱們着想！”
“他是不希望咱們出事，這才自己攬過這樣的事。”
“要是咱們還不聽話，那就實在太對不住，小王爺為我們的付出了！”
老者說得眼含熱淚。
其餘人也都跟着紅了眼圈。
就連喬炳元，也擡手抹了下眼淚。
老者還在說：“剛剛喬主簿跟我說了，長公主已經派人去京城找大夫找太醫了，咱們最難的日子都挺過來了，現在怕什麽？”
“只要咱們齊心協力，就沒有挺不過去的！”
“褚老說得對！”
“只要咱們齊心協力，就沒有挺不過去的！”
……
外面一時間都是這樣的聲音。
徐端宜看着這樣的情景，眼睛有些泛酸，心裏卻明顯放心了不少。
現在就怕大家彼此都瞞着，小病都得禍害成大病。但只要大家齊心協力，就算再難的情況，也能挺過去！
她相信上蒼，不會這麽苛待他們。
她雖沒有經歷過時疫。
但從前看碧溪跟着孫太醫學習的時候，她閑來無事，也看過一些她在看的醫書和古籍記載。
歷來對時疫的記載，都不算太好。
但大部分時疫的到來，都是因為一些自然災害下，衛生環境沒有做好，或是食用了一些不該吃的東西，導致人體感染病症，引發疫病。
但如今的玉田，根本不缺吃喝。
至于衛生問題，更是最開始就被着重看管起來，城中幾乎日日都有人撒藥粉，做清潔。
徐端宜心中覺得，那小孩或許并不是感染了時疫。
不過如今，也只能等待。
看看過了這陣子，那對母子會如何，謝清崖……又會如何。
想到謝清崖。
徐端宜不自覺又用手，輕輕捏了下自己的袖子。
“梅大人。”
她捏着那片袖子，感受着裏面的東西，在梅雪征看過來的時候，繼續同他說道：“我已經吩咐時雨去京城了，之後會有人送來藥材和大夫，這些還需要你們去處理。”
“還有那幾位被看護起來的百姓，他們如今是最需要被安撫情緒的。”
“無論是其餘人，還是那對母子，你們都要好生照料。”
說到那對母子的時候，徐端宜的聲音又停頓了一瞬，之後才接着與人說道：“那對母子縱然有隐瞞之過，但也是為了保護自己，這種時候，齊心協力挺過去才是重中要事，不要把多餘的時間浪費在洩憤和責怪身上。”
“……若是他知曉，必定也不會答應。”
徐端宜說完之後，卻遲遲未等來梅雪征的回答，不由擡眸看去，便見梅雪征此刻正在望着她。
她神色未改，語氣如常地問梅雪征：“怎麽了。”
梅雪征這才回過神，他匆匆收回視線，與她說了聲“抱歉”，之後才同她說明緣故：“您說的這番話，先前南安王走的時候，也同我們說過。”
“是嗎？”
徐端宜倒是并不意外。
梅雪征餘光，甚至能瞥見她眼中的驕傲。
之後兩人一路無話。
謝清崖被安置的廢宅，并不在城中心。
而是在靠近城郊的地方，離得有些遠，這也是他自己的意思。
至于其餘百姓，也都被分開安排在其他空屋子裏，那對母子則被安排在一處地方。
房間倒是分開的，沒讓他們真的住在一起。
孩子還小。
分開居住，是為了避免疫病的傳染。
但在一處地方，則是為了讓他們彼此感到安心。
不然這麽小的一個孩子，一個人住，誰也不知道會發生什麽。
謝清崖先前把人送過去的時候，與那個母親說過了。
她若是不想自己的孩子出事，就好好聽他們的安排，不然真有什麽，神仙都救不了他們。
那母親雖然愚昧，卻是真的愛自己的孩子。
她的丈夫死于之前的洪災之中，如今她就是家裏唯一的頂梁柱。
先前瞞而不報，是害怕自己唯一的親人，也要離開自己。
但見事情鬧得那麽大，又被謝清崖曉之以情動之以理，她自然也不是不識好的，謝清崖走前，她還一直給人磕着頭，顯然也是知道自己惹出大事了。
馬車遠離城中心之後。
周遭的環境也就變得越來越安靜。
直到馬車快抵達一處地方的時候，徐端宜方才再次聽到外面傳來陣陣聲響，是有人在吵鬧。
梅雪征的聲音，此時也自馬車外響起：“到了。”
徐端宜不語。
她掀簾往外看去，果然瞧見令吉和李文高的身影。
此刻令吉正漲紅着一張臉，在與李文高争吵。
反倒是從前能言善辯，在朝堂上一張嘴能抵十數人的李文高，此刻卻默不作聲，任人罵着。
“——令吉。”
徐端宜出聲喊人。
令吉原本還在紅着眼眶，對李文高破口大罵。
雖然王爺說這事是他自願的，還讓他不許責怪別人，但令吉心裏還是有氣。
憑什麽這麽多人，要他們王爺去做那件事？
城中巡邏，探查有沒有問題，這事原本就是李文高的事情，但凡他查得仔細一些，今日就不會發生這樣的事！
令吉越想越恨，恨不得殺了李文高才好。
偏偏他在王爺面前發了誓，不敢違背，只能一路憋屈地辱罵。
冷不丁聽到前面傳來王妃的聲音，令吉起初還以為自己聽岔了，直到循聲看去，果然瞧見王妃的身影，出現在馬車內。
令吉登時瞪大了眼睛。
恍然一瞬，反應過來之後，倒也顧不上再去辱罵李文高了，令吉立刻跑了過來。
“王妃，您、您怎麽來了？”
說罷，他又立刻去看梅雪征，以眼神詢問，這究竟是個什麽情況？
梅雪征無奈地攤了攤手，表示自己也無能為力。
令吉急得要死，又見馬車內放着一大堆東西，還有被褥枕頭，就曉得王妃已經知道王爺的事了。
他一時間，又想哭了。
最後還是強忍着淚意，哽咽着先安慰起人：“王妃，您別擔心，王爺沒事，這陣子我會經常來看王爺的。” 本書由LK團隊為您獨家整理 “現在玉田危險，您還是快些回京城去吧，若是王爺知曉您來這，肯定不會放心。”
徐端宜沒回他的話。
而是越過他，先看了一眼在看見她之後，也加快步子朝她這邊過來的李文高。
只從前每回見到她，都十分激動的李文高，今日臉上卻只餘恭敬和自責。
在走到馬車前的時候，他還想給徐端宜下跪。
徐端宜未等人跪下，便先出聲阻攔道：“李大人，我跟您說過的，君子只能跪天地君師親。”
李文高的膝蓋已經彎了幾分。
此刻聽到徐端宜的話，不由頓住，卻也沒起來，就保持着這樣一個難受的姿勢，紅着眼眶跟徐端宜說道：“……下官有罪，實在無顏面對殿下。”
“此事我已經聽說了。”
徐端宜這會的臉色，在這幾個男人堆裏，反倒是最好的一個。
她并沒有流露出怨怪的神情，也沒有苛責誰。
她依舊平靜地看着李文高，說道：“梅大人也已經跟我說了。”
“先前大人本想自己過去，是王爺阻攔了你，所以大人無需與我告罪，這個結果，是王爺自己選擇的，與你無關。”
李文高被她說的。
不由又想起了那一個時辰前的事。
當時他跟南安王前後腳到的那邊。
周遭衙役都在遲疑，不敢過去，生怕那對母子真的染上了疫病，會傳染給他們。
他也擔心。
但這事畢竟是他在管轄。
惹出這樣的事，他難辭其咎，所以當時他雖然害怕，卻還是沒有猶豫，準備過去。
——直到被一只手攔住。
李文高還能想起，當時看到這幕場景時，他心中的震動。
雖說這陣子。
他對這位南安王的印象，的确改變了不少。
但他從來沒想過，在那樣的危難時刻，他竟然會挺身而出。
把他擋在身後。
Thinking of the man who walked towards him without hesitation, Li Wengao couldn't help but feel hatred and regret in his heart.
He lowered his eyes, his voice hoarse, and continued to blame himself: "If I had checked more carefully, this wouldn't have happened..."
"No one is without fault, and even the ancient sages are not without faults."
"Lord Li——"
Xu Duanyi was still sitting upright in the carriage, looking at Li Wengao outside who lowered his head because of self-blame. The man who used to be as tall and straight as a bamboo now really had his waist broken by self-blame.
"There are many more things to come."
"If you feel guilty, then you should cheer up. Now the prince and I can't take care of these things. It's all up to you."
After hearing this, Li Wengao immediately perked up and assured Xu Duanyi: "I know, I will never let this happen again!"
Xu Duanyi nodded.
Seeing that Li Wengao had almost recovered, she stopped talking to him and looked at Lingji: "And you."
"What did the prince say to you? Have you forgotten it?"
"Don't talk to Lord Li like this again in the future."
"princess--"
Lingji is still unwilling to give in.
But he was used to listening to his master, and now that the prince was away, the princess was his master.
Although he was unwilling, Lingji lowered his head when the princess looked at him like this, and whispered: "...I understand."
Xu Duanyi slowed down his voice and reminded him again: "You must protect yourself outside during this period. The prince and I still rely on you."
Lingji instinctively wanted to nod.
But thinking back on what the princess said, he felt that something was wrong.
When Lingji looked up and was about to ask, Li Wengao on the other side sensed that something was wrong with the sentence and asked with a frown, "Your Highness, what did you mean by what you said just now? You and the prince? You..."
He looked at Xu Duanyi, carefully observing her facial expression, and asked with a worried look on his face, "What's wrong with you?"
This is the first time that Lingji has been so smart.
He looked at Xu Duanyi with wide eyes: "Princess, you..." Just like Mei Xuezheng's initial reaction, his head was almost shaking like a rattle. Without thinking, he said, "No, no, this is too dangerous, and the prince will not agree."
Li Wengao reacted and also widened his eyes.
He also followed suit and gave advice.
But how could Xu Duanyi's decision be defeated by a few words? She was already here, and she was about to meet Xie Qingya.
"Whether he agrees or not, I will go." She said, looking at the house in front of her.
This time, there was only determination in her eyes, without any hesitation.
After saying this, before they could persuade him again, Xu Duanyi continued, "I must go. If you want to help me, then move these things over for me. If you don't want to help me, I will move them myself."
As she spoke, she bent down, held onto the edge of the carriage, and stepped out of it without letting them help her.
Without waiting for them to say anything, she took things out herself.
A hand reaches out from behind.
Mei Xuezheng took the thing from her.
"Master Mei!"
"Brother Mei!"
Ling Ji and Li Wengao looked at Mei Xuezheng and shouted at the same time, obviously not expecting that not only did he not help to dissuade them, but he actually took the initiative to help others get things.
Mei Xuezheng didn't look at them. He just took a lot of things from inside and didn't let Xu Duanyi take over.
She said, "I tried it, but it didn't work. If you have the confidence to convince her, I will put the things back now."
They both fell silent.
Seeing the driver starting to help move things, Xu Duanyi was already carrying a bundle and walking towards the house.
The two of them gritted their teeth and finally had no choice but to step forward and help carry the things.
Wait until the things are moved to the front of the house.
Xu Duanyi just let them put it on the ground and said to them, "Okay, you can go back first."
Mei Xuezheng and Li Wengao looked at her in silence.
Lingji's eyes were red, and he was still trying to persuade: "Princess..."
"Go ahead."
Xu Duanyi just smiled gently and didn't say much.
Mei Xuezheng was the first to sigh.
He didn't know whether his decision was right or wrong.
But it seems that no matter what he decides, the person in front of him will make this choice.
Mei Xuezheng lowered his eyes and said to Xu Duanyi in a difficult tone: "...You and the prince should take good care of yourselves."
Xu Duanyi looked at him and nodded.
Mei Xuezheng stopped talking, patted Li Wengao and Lingji on the shoulders, and walked towards the carriage.
Li Wengao's eyes were red and he bowed to her before leaving.
Only Lingji remained where he was, sobbing with her, "Princess, let me go with you."
Xu Duanyi smiled helplessly and said, "This isn't an easy job. Besides, if you go in, who will deliver things for us in the future?"
Before Lingji could say anything, Xu Duanyi said, "You know how picky your prince is. If you're not watching over him, what will happen if they bring him food he doesn't like?"
The ringgit looked hesitant.
"What's more——"
Xu Duanyi suddenly looked behind him with soft eyes: "On days like this, I just want to be with him and me."
Although Lingji still doesn't understand the feelings.
But when I heard this sentence, I seemed to understand something.
He looked at Xu Duanyi.
Xu Duanyi also retracted his gaze and looked at Lingji again.
She smiled and said, "Go ahead."
Thinking of his two personal maids.
Knowing the situation here, Bixi would probably never stay in the capital any longer.
In order to avoid a quarrel between them later, Xu Duanyi told Lingji first: "Shiyu and Bixi should come together. Shiyu has an impatient temper. If she gets angry with you, don't take it to heart. She has no ill intentions."
"You just need to tell them that this is my own decision and I don't regret it."
That’s all.
She said to Lingji again, "Go ahead."
This time Lingji did not stay any longer. He bowed to Xu Duanyi and then walked forward, looking back every few steps.
Xu Duanyi watched them leave, then he pulled the copper ring and knocked gently on the door.
After a while, there was a sound coming from inside.
"who?"
Xu Duanyi said nothing.
Instead, Xie Qingya's voice came from far away, lazily, and reached Xu Duanyi's ears: "Put it down if you have it, I'll get it later."
Xu Duanyi then spoke to the others: "It's me."
It was obvious that the originally slow steps suddenly became much more hurried.
Through the tiny gap in the door, Xu Duanyi could see Xie Qingya running over in a hurry, and could even see his hand on the bolt.
The bolt moved.
But it only lasted for a moment before falling back.
The man also took several steps back.
"What are you doing here?" Xie Qingya's anxious and angry voice came from behind the door, "Didn't I tell you to go back to the capital? Who told you?"
"Where is the person who brought you here, Xu Duanyi? Go back to the capital immediately!"
Xie Qingya was really anxious now.
It is more anxious than before when I didn't know what I would face.
He never thought that Xu Duanyi would come here.
What is Mei Xuezheng doing?
Didn't he ask him to take her out of town?
And Li Wengao and Lingji, didn't they leave not long ago? Why didn't they stop them and take them back?
These useless things!
I don’t know what the situation is like outside now.
Xie Qingya was extremely anxious.
He could get out.
Not to mention this door, even this wall can't stop him.
But in his current situation, he couldn't just go out casually. He could only suppress his anxiety as much as possible, slow down his voice, and said to Xu Duanyi: "Xu Duanyi, you go back first. I'm fine here. I'll be able to come out in a few days."
"Xie Qingya——"
Xu Duanyi called him softly.
Xie Qingya didn't even think about it and replied, "I'm here."
After Ying Wan wanted to persuade him to leave, but before he could open his mouth, he heard Xu Duanyi's voice: "Xie Qingya, I miss you."
All the words in my heart stopped at this moment.
Xie Qingya stared blankly at the dark red door with peeling paint in front of him, his eyes blank, and for a moment, he couldn't utter a word.