Chapter 68 Don't Abandon Me
Tao Guan was ordered to take the imperial physician out of the capital to stop Chu Yannuo.
Unfortunately, he was a step too late and missed it perfectly at the fork in the road.
Chu Yannuo, clinging to his last breath, returned to the Marquis's residence. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he fell from his horse, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and completely lost consciousness.
Qingzhu shouted anxiously, ordering someone to quickly find the palace physician, while he and the guards carried the person back to the bedroom.
Chu Yanqing was not at the Marquis's residence, and the Marquis's wife rushed over upon hearing the news.
Qingzhu cried as she reported, "When the young master heard that someone wanted to kill the Left Prime Minister, he risked his life to save him. He was shot in the chest with an arrow that was poisoned. Everyone wanted him to stay and get treatment, but the young master refused. Even in his unconscious state, he kept calling out for Miss Biao, saying... saying... saying that he would rather die than not see Miss Biao one more time."
At this point, Qingzhu suddenly knelt down before the Lady of the Marquis. "Madam, the young master is seriously injured. Unless his cousin returns, he will lose the will to live. You only have this one son. Can't you really bring his cousin back...?"
Chu Yannuo was pale and breathing weakly. He rushed back with his last breath, one foot already in the grave.
Lady Hou was heartbroken.
She only has one son. If the Marquis is seriously ill and something happens to her son, the family will collapse.
But who can my niece turn to for justice for all the grievances she has suffered over the years?
Wei Minxian stared at the dying Chu Yannuo, tears streaming down her face.
She had only been married for two months when her husband died from his injuries. What hope did she have left for the rest of her life?
"Mother," she knelt down at the feet of the Lady of the Marquis, "please save Yan Nuo, your daughter-in-law kowtows to you."
Lady Hou was truly reluctant to part with her son, and said with tears in her eyes, "I will send a message to Nuan Nuan, but if she doesn't want to come back, then that is Yan Nuo's fate."
The physician arrived quickly.
Chu Yannuo had used the antidote, but the knife wound was too deep, and it was in his heart. If it weren't for his good physical condition, he wouldn't have survived until now.
"Madam, I can only do my best. I really have no idea whether the young master will wake up."
Lady Hou felt dizzy and nearly fell.
"Qingzhu, go quickly to find Yanqing and Prince Duan and ask them to send the imperial physician over. Go now."
Qingzhu dared not delay. After ascertaining Chu Yanqing's whereabouts, she hurriedly mounted a fast horse and rushed to find her.
Chu Yanqing and Yao Lin have been tasked with compiling the mathematics questions from the imperial examinations of the Great Zhou Dynasty over the past few days.
The provincial examination will begin soon, but the specific exam questions have not yet been determined.
According to the previous provincial examination procedures, Zhou Chuanxing should have appointed a chief examiner, who would then lead the other examiners in drafting the examination plan.
The chief examiners were mainly appointed from the Hanlin Academy and the Six Ministries.
Zhou Chuanxing had considered it.
The officials of the Hanlin Academy were generally selected from the top three Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examination) after the palace examination, namely the Zhuangyuan (top scholar), Bangyan (second-place scholar), Tanhua (third-place scholar), and other scholars with outstanding knowledge.
However, the Great Zhou Dynasty had not held any imperial examinations for more than ten years, so one can imagine what kind of people were in the Hanlin Academy.
As for the Six Ministries, the Minister of Personnel is an old fox. He's good at flattery and boasting, but he can't do any real work.
If the Minister of Revenue were truly talented, he wouldn't have failed to complete a disaster relief plan in two months.
The Minister of Rites was old, with failing eyesight and hearing; even serving tea and water was considered too much for him. Yet, he still managed to become a second-rank minister.
As for the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Justice, they were both under Prince Rui's control, so he couldn't afford to use them and had no way to do so.
The Ministry of War is full of uncultured men, so let's not even mention them.
Zhou Chuanxing was so worried about this matter that his hair almost turned white.
Having no other choice, he summoned the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review today, intending to appoint him as the chief examiner.
Throughout the court, only the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review has consistently maintained his original aspirations and been able to uphold justice for the people.
But he wasn't an academic and knew nothing about it.
Hearing that the Regent wanted to appoint him as the chief examiner, he was so frightened that he immediately offered to retire and return to his hometown.
...
"What did you say? My brother is seriously injured?" Chu Yanqing was so panicked when she heard that her brother was injured that she couldn't help but rush home to see him.
Qingzhu reminded her, "Third Miss, the family physician has done nothing more; we'll have to call in an imperial physician."
Chu Yanqing dared not delay.
She was at the Regent's Palace, but Prince Duan had gone to the academy, and she couldn't get there in time. Remembering that the Regent was at home, she hurriedly went to Zhou Chuanxing for help.
Just then, Physician Zhang came to check Tang Xinuan's pulse, so Zhou Chuanxing ordered Physician Zhang to go back with Chu Yanqing.
After Chu Yanqing left, Zhou Chuanxing stared blankly at the row of bookshelves.
The image of the little girl barging into his study for the first time flashed into my mind.
That was the first time he had ever been so close to a little girl. Poor guy, he led troops into battle every day and lived a rough and unrefined life, so he didn't even know how to hug someone.
Chu Yannuo grew up in the Marquis's mansion, living a life of luxury, so he must understand the young girl's thoughts better.
Zhou Chuanxing felt a sudden tightness in his chest and simply put down his work.
He was going to the academy to bring the man back.
It was quite a coincidence that Tang Xinuan returned shortly after Chu Yanqing left.
Zhou Chuanxing and she met at the door.
"Erlang, many students came today. I gave them a lecture, and they all liked me very much."
When Zhou Chuanxing saw the radiant young girl, he felt inexplicably panicked. He hugged her tightly and held her in his arms for a long time.
Tang Xinuan noticed his unusual reaction, "Erlang, why are you hugging me like that?"
Zhou Chuanxing had previously believed that Tang Xinuan would not go back to Chu Yannuo, because she had seen the world and would definitely not be a caged bird again.
But Chu Yannuo is seriously injured and on the verge of death. The little girl has grown up with him since childhood. Can he really bear to abandon her?
"Nuan Nuan, no matter what happens, don't abandon me, okay?"
For the first time, Tang Xinuan felt a man's attachment to her.
She liked this feeling.
Because at this moment, she is also needed; she is a valuable and meaningful person.
"Erlang, of course I won't leave you. I'm still waiting to give you a proper title."
Zhou Chuanxing liked to hear this. "You said it yourself, you can't go back on your word."
Tang Xinuan gently patted his back, comforting him like she was soothing a child, "Erlang, I keep my word. I'm a teacher today, and a teacher is the one who keeps their word the most."
Zhou Chuanxing practiced martial arts from a young age and began fighting on the battlefield at the age of thirteen.
They had long since developed a heart of stone.
The little girl was the only exception.
He gave her all his tenderness.
"Erlang believes you; he believes everything you say."
In the evening, Physician Zhang returned to report.
Chu Yannuo woke up briefly, his life was out of danger, but he was listless and had no will to live, constantly muttering about his cousin. Zhou Chuanxing ordered him to keep this matter to himself.
As usual, Physician Zhang examined Tang Xinuan. The young girl was in good health, but she should not overexert herself.
Zhou Chuanxing stayed by her side the whole time, looking at her gently, "Did you hear that? The imperial physician told you to take a break."
Tang Xinu raised her hand and swore, "I will definitely listen to Physician Zhang."
The little girl was as well-behaved as a baby at that moment.
What can Zhou Chuanxing do with her?
He called over Zisu and Huangqi and instructed them to take good care of the little girl.
We must not let her get tired.
Tang Xinuan still had to prepare for tomorrow's lesson. She was extremely serious about her studies, and nothing and no one could disturb her.
Zhou Chuanxing stayed with her for a while, then called Xiaoqian out.
"Young Master Chu is seriously injured. The Marquis's mansion may send someone to find your young lady in the next couple of days. Keep an eye on things and let me know immediately if anything happens."
Xiaoqian was startled, "Young Master is injured?"
Zhou Chuanxing's temper has also changed a lot; he even has the patience to answer the maid's questions now.
"He was injured while rescuing someone."
Xiaoqian had lived in the Marquis's mansion for over a decade, yet she still worried about the people there at crucial moments.
"If the Lady of the Marquis comes looking for you, will Miss be able to go back and visit Prince Chu?"
As the night deepened, Zhou Chuanxing gazed at the dim stars in the distance, mirroring his current mood.
After a long pause, she spoke as if she had lost her strength: "Let's respect her wishes."
The tighter the thread is pulled, the farther she might escape.
Even though the Crown Prince of Chu kept her locked up in the Marquis's mansion and never left her side, the little girl still managed to escape.
For the first time, Xiaoqian had a secret she didn't want to share with her master.
The young master has wronged the young lady so much; she would rather the two of them never see each other again.
The Regent held a high position and wielded great power, far surpassing the Crown Prince in status. Yet, he never looked down on the young lady for being foolish, always respecting and indulging her, and never interfering with her affairs.
Since Miss moved into the Prince's Mansion, she has been incredibly happy every day.
She didn't want her mistress to go back to that manor where she had no freedom at all.
"Miss, you should go to bed early, don't ruin your eyes by looking at the screen."
Xiaoqian stood at the door, rubbed her face vigorously to make herself look natural before entering the bedroom.
Tang Xinu put the lecture notes away and asked curiously, "Did Erlang look for you just now?"
Xiaoqian gave an unnatural "oh," then lied, "Erlang... no, it was the prince who ordered me to take good care of you and not to tire you out, otherwise you'll have to drink bitter medicine again."
Tang Xinuan, having drunk her fill of bitter medicine, hurriedly hid in bed, saying, "I don't want to drink bitter medicine. I want to sleep, I want to sleep. If I get enough sleep, I won't be tired anymore."
Xiaoqian helped cover herself with the thin blanket and couldn't help but sigh, "The prince is so good to you."
Tang Xinuan had no doubt, "Erlang is the best person in the world."
Xiaoqian said worriedly, "So, no matter how much Prince Chu begs you in the future, you must not pay any attention to him. The Prince is the best person in the world to you."
Since leaving the Marquis's mansion, Xiaoqian has almost never mentioned the Crown Prince.
Although Tang Xinuan is not yet able to behave like a normal person, she has learned to observe and pay attention.
Noticing Xiaoqian's odd behavior, he asked curiously, "What's wrong with you tonight? Why do you keep mentioning your cousin?"
Xiaoqian realized she had said too much and yawned, saying, "It's because the Third Miss has been coming to the Prince's Mansion a lot lately that I thought of the Young Master."
So that's what happened. Tang Xinuan was also sleepy. She was simple-minded and fell asleep quickly after her head hit the pillow.
Xiaoqian continued to tidy up the quilt for her mistress, truly hoping that the mistress and the prince could soon achieve a happy ending.
The next day, Tang Xinuan set off from the Prince's Mansion on time and soon arrived at the entrance of the academy.
With Lianqiao's help, she jumped off the carriage and was about to walk into the academy when she was suddenly stopped by a student who rushed over.
"Sir, sir, please give me a chance and let me in to listen to the lecture."
He was a handsome young man, probably in his early twenties.
Tang Xinuan was stunned at first glance because the other person looked somewhat like her brother.
"Why can't you go in?" Tang Xinuan asked, coming back to her senses. "I remember you went in yesterday and even asked me some questions."
"Sir, you actually remember me?" Chen Yu was shocked.
There were at least a hundred students attending the class yesterday. He squeezed through the crowd and asked a question, and Hanxi actually remembered him.
No wonder he's a man who can be a teacher.
Tang Xinuan was a little smug. "I have a very good memory. I remember everyone who came yesterday."
Chen Yu: "..."
He had never seen such a terrifying person.
Time was of the essence, Xiaoqian reminded him, "This student hasn't given a reason why he can't come in yet, and class is about to start."
Chen Yu said anxiously, "I don't have a recommendation letter, so I can't participate in this provincial examination. But I've studied for ten years and finally got this opportunity. If I miss this one, I don't know when I'll be able to enter the examination hall again."
I humbly request that you allow me to attend the classes first, and then I will try to obtain the recommendation letter later.
Tang Xinuan remembered the question Chen Yu had asked yesterday, a very unique tax question.
Without genuine talent and ability, one absolutely cannot make such a contribution.
"Go in and listen to the lecture first. We'll talk about everything else after I finish the lecture."
With Tang Xinuan speaking, Wei Minzhao ordered his men to let them pass.
There were three other students like Chen Yu who did not have recommendation letters, and Wei Minzhao was included as well.
Tang Xinuan is becoming more and more skilled at lecturing, and today's results are even better than yesterday's.
Many students had questions for her, but she was in poor health and couldn't keep it up for long.
To make things easier for students, she decided to set aside another half hour in the afternoon to answer their questions.
Remembering Chen Yu's matter, she called him aside to a convenient place to inquire.
Why didn't you submit any recommendation letters?
Chen Yu was both resentful and powerless: "Each official has a limited number of recommendations, and in our area, the price has already reached 10,000 taels of silver per person, which my family cannot afford."
Having no other choice, I set off early to try my luck in the capital.
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