The Duke of Cheng's mansion has been the talk of the town for the past few days. Their ancestral hall caught fire in the middle of the night. Although the ancestral hall is repaired every year, it is a wooden building, and the wood used to build it was quite old. As a result, the ancestral hall burned completely.
When the Duke of Cheng's mansion caught fire, not only did the Prefect of the Capital send a firefighting team, but people from the surrounding neighborhoods also came to help put out the fire. However, after the fire was completely extinguished, the entire ancestral hall was reduced to ashes, and a male corpse was found among the ashes.
If someone is burned to death, then it becomes a criminal case. Originally, the Prefect of the Capital was going to send someone to investigate the case, but the Third Master of the household, Zong Houzhao, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, a high-ranking official of the third rank, stopped him from doing so. He said it was an accident and that the one who died was his eldest son by a concubine. He said that after his eldest son by a concubine talked back to him in the afternoon, he was locked in the ancestral hall to reflect on his actions. Who knew that the ancestral hall would catch fire and his eldest son by a concubine would be burned to death.
In such a vast capital city, with so many prominent families, which one doesn't have some private affairs? When the Prefect of the Capital heard that this was a family matter, he had no choice but to recall the person.
Xu Zhi didn't try to avoid Zong Chengping. When she heard the explanation from the Duke of Cheng's mansion, Zong Chengping just smiled faintly. What he was most interested in now was the new identity that Xu Zhi had given him.
Lin Zhijing, a native of Gaoqing, is a cousin of Lin Zhining, a famous Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in Gaoqing County. His father died early, and his mother remarried some years ago. Because of her poor health, she had been recuperating in the Lin family residence in Gaoqing County. In the past two years, her health has gradually improved, and she has begun to travel outside.
Lin Zhijing's identity was a decision made after Xu Zhi, Xu Yao, and Lin Zhining discussed it.
Upon hearing that Xu Zhi was in the capital, Xu Yao settled her affairs at home and brought her children to the capital. During this time, she not only played with her sisters at home, but also helped Xu Zhi build up that small bamboo paper shop little by little.
Xu Zhi was troubled by the relationship between Zheng Yuanyuan and Zong Chengping, and Xu Yao was naturally aware of it as well. When Xu Zhi said that she planned to help Zong Chengping get a new identity, Xu Yao suggested inviting Lin Zhining over to discuss giving Zong Chengping the identity of one of Lin Zhining's cousins.
The household registration system in Daliang was very strict. Lin Zhining's cousin had always been in poor health and stayed at home to recuperate. Because his father had died early and his mother had remarried, he initially relied on his elderly grandparents. Later, Lin Zhijing's grandparents passed away one after another. Before his death, Lin Zhijing's grandfather asked Lin Zhining to take care of Lin Zhijing. His daily needs would be covered by the family's shops. After Lin Zhijing passed away, an heir would be adopted from the clan to inherit the family's businesses. During festivals, he would simply offer a few sticks of incense and burn some paper money.
Lin Zhijing had been frail since childhood and had always stayed at home to recuperate. Few people had seen him. After Lin Zhining helped with the funeral arrangements for Lin Zhijing's grandparents, he brought Lin Zhijing to the mansion. Xu Yao usually took good care of this cousin. He felt that it was cruel for someone so young to have to wait at home for the last moment of his life to arrive. Before Xu Yao came to the capital from his home, the mansion invited a doctor over and only told him to prepare for the funeral, which should be within the next few months.
Lin Zhining arrived quickly. After listening to Xu Zhi's request and Xu Yao's thoughts, Lin Zhining pondered for a long time before saying to Xu Zhi, "Ninth Sister, I would like to say a few words to this young master."
That's certainly not a problem. Since you want to be a member of their family, you should talk to them properly about it.
Zong Chengping was still lying on the kang (a heated brick bed). When Lin Zhining entered the room, he saw a pale-faced man covered with a thin gauze quilt. Hearing the noise, he raised his head and looked over. Lin Zhining was startled by the man's eyes.
Those eyes were as still as a deep well, as if nothing could trouble his heart.
Lin Zhining nodded to Zong Chengping and said, "I come from Gaoqing County. I am the fourth brother-in-law of Madam Zheng's family. My sister-in-law just mentioned the young master's matter. I happen to have a cousin who is naturally weak. Recently, the doctor has been telling us to prepare for his funeral."
Upon hearing this, Zong Chengping's brow twitched, his head was raised slightly higher, and his eyes showed a hint of eagerness.
Lin Zhining said apologetically, "This matter not only needs to be explained to you, young master, but also to my cousin. From now on, you will be walking in this world as my cousin, and many of the things my cousin should do will fall on your shoulders. Most importantly, after my cousin passes away, he cannot be buried in his own name. These things need to be explained to all three of us in person."
Zong Chengping's face flushed with excitement as he said to Lin Zhining, "I'll go to Gaoqing County with you."
Lin Zhining looked at Zong Chengping's body and said with some difficulty, "But what about the young master's current health?"
Zong Chengping turned his head to look behind him and said nonchalantly, "I'm already a dead man outside, so this little injury is nothing."
Lin Zhining had no choice but to come out and discuss it with Xu Zhi. When she heard that they were going to take people to Gaoqing County, she considered the journey and said with some concern, "It's so far. I don't know if his body can handle it. I'll ask my mother first. If it's really not possible, we can ask one of the sisters to go with him."
Lin Zhining, seemingly having thought of something, said happily, "This matter still depends on Third Aunt. I told my family that I was coming to the capital to help my cousin find a famous doctor. If we send someone with us, we can cover up this lie, right?"
Xu Zhi ran back to the Yongning Marquis's residence and told Lin Zhining about his idea. Chen Zhaoci thought about it seriously for a long time and said, "My plasters are all for promoting muscle regeneration. Let him keep applying them. I will also write two prescriptions for him to take to Gaoqing and get the medicine. In addition, let Bai Mi accompany him on the trip."
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