12. Veteran
Summer gradually fades away and autumn arrives, the air becomes more refreshing and damp, followed by the imperial examination.
The imperial examination of the Ling Dynasty was held in autumn.
As the imperial examination is approaching, the students in Beijing who are taking the exam must be anxious and restless, and some may even develop illnesses due to anxiety.
Madam Cui was still as leisurely as usual. She walked into Yun Zhihe Palace with a pot of wine, showing her white teeth and inviting her to drink with her, which seemed to have a bit of a drunken dream-like feeling.
Yun Zhihe really couldn't stand her, so he picked up the drunk Miss Cui and stuffed her into the carriage.
"Hmm... Zhihe... drink more..."
She usually comes to her place every day to go crazy. Even Yun Zhihe, who has such a good temper, can't help but find her annoying.
Cui Mingyu curled up in a corner of the carriage, falling asleep in a daze. Yun Zhihe sighed lightly and frowned.
This fool must have quarreled with Madam Cui again. The two of them had the same temper and neither of them would admit defeat. She supported her head and looked out the window, taking in the scenery outside.
It is noon now, the sun is shining brightly on the ground, the slightly yellow autumn leaves are mixed with green fragments, pedestrians are coming and going on the road, and the sound of shouting is audible. Yun Zhihe is watching intently, and a smile appears in his eyes.
She has always lived a secluded life and hasn't been seen like this for a long time.
However, to get to Madam Cui's house, one has to pass through the brothel. The brothel, which is brightly lit at night, has its doors and windows closed at this moment, and there is no sign of its bustling appearance at night.
She was not interested in this at all, so she took a casual look and was about to close the window.
At this moment, a familiar voice was suddenly heard.
"Open the door—I can't even take care of your business?"
The brothel madam waved her fan, her face ferocious with anger, but she still restrained herself from getting angry. Looking at the stubborn look of the person in front of her, she couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Hey, Fang Xiaohou, the brothers in this building are all resting, it's really not appropriate to make loud noises."
"I've already told you that Yuyan has been redeemed. It's not that I won't give it to you. Please don't embarrass me."
Yun Zhihe paused and asked the carriage woman to stop. He was also a little curious as to why Fang Li, who had been beaten up by Cui Mingyu before, was making a noise in front of the brothel.
Some time ago, the Queen Mother of Zhao returned to her fiefdom in the north. No, the title was given to Fang Li, so she can no longer be called the Queen Mother of Zhao.
The title was downgraded and passed to Fang Li. Now Fang Li has risen from a commoner to Marquis Fang, and everyone in the capital gives him some face.
The mother of the State of Zhao was named Zhao Man. In order to inherit the title and prove her innocence, she knelt in front of the Xuanyuan Ying Palace for three days and three nights before she was granted the honor of inheriting the title, which was given to an outsider.
The title is the emperor's favor, how can it be relinquished at will?
Even though Xuanyuan Ying was happy that she was sensible, he still allowed her to portray herself as a wise emperor who cared for his subjects and pretended to be embarrassed to strip her of her title.
Since she had lost her title, it was natural that part of her fiefdom would be taken back. When she left, she brought with her a large group of people who were rewarded by Xuanyuan. On the surface, she was taking back the fiefdom, but in fact, she was trying to test her background.
Xuanyuan Ying mentioned this to her a few times, and she took it to heart. Even though Yun Zhihe was not a chatterbox or a spectator, she still paid attention to Fang Li's every move.
Fang Li was plump, with a chubby face full of grievance. "He was clearly still here a few days ago, how did he get redeemed?"
The madam coaxed her, "She was redeemed by the second wife of the Song family the day before yesterday."
Yun Zhihe paused, lowered his eyes and thought for a moment.
Second Lady Song...
If Cui Mingyu is the playboy in the capital, then the second lady Song is the hyena of the capital, sinister and unbridled, and many playboys are unwilling to associate with her.
"Ugh—ugh…"
Before she could finish her thoughts, Cui Mingyu suddenly pushed her aside. She leaned against the carriage window and vomited, lying on the windowsill and vomiting until she felt dizzy.
Yun Zhihe frowned tightly, especially when he smelled a pungent smell, he covered his nose with an expressionless face.
She must have vomited on the outer wall of the carriage. I must make her pay for it.
The noise here was a little louder. Fang Li, who was about to leave, noticed this place at once. When she saw Cui Mingyu's face that made her "haunted", she shuddered with fear and took a few steps back, shouting.
"You, what are you doing here?!"
It was difficult to discern the expression on his chubby face, but deep fear could be seen in his eyes.
After all, she had been spoiled since she was a child, and this was the first time she was beaten.
Yeah, I have PTSD.
Cui Mingyu heard the noise and raised his head shakily, tears of irrationality still flowing from his eyes due to vomiting. His tone was still drunken as he glanced at her.
"Hey... what's that Fang..."
"Ugh—"
She bent down and vomited again. Fang Li was frightened by her voice and took a few steps back trembling.
Yun Zhihe quickly dragged her out of the carriage, fearing that she would vomit inside.
When she saw Fang Li, she bowed and threw Cui Mingyu to the ground again.
“Hmm—”
Fang Li saw that Yun Zhihe was also a little scared. After all, the person in front of her kicked her twice. She looked panicked but still answered calmly.
"Are you here to snatch Yuyan from me? I tell you, I... I..."
She spoke intermittently and was unable to speak. Last time, she went back crying and told her aunt that she was beaten by these two people. Especially when she heard Yun Zhihe's name, her aunt punished her without saying a word and did not allow her to eat for three days. She was starving to death.
"...Yuyan?"
Cui Mingyu regained some of his composure at this point and breathed a sigh of relief, "Isn't that the young man you touched in the brothel that day?"
She scoffed, her eyes wandering but with a hint of inquiring mockery, "Could it be that you're in love?"
"No, no, no..." Fang Li quickly rejected it, his face flushed.
After some hesitation, she spoke, "He looks like my husband in Beidi."
Cui Mingyu now became curious, and he stood up shakily and wiped the residue from the corner of his mouth, causing Yun Zhihe to purse his lips and take a few steps back in disgust.
"Go on... Let me see, do you, a playboy, still have sincerity?"
Under Cui Mingyu's coercion and inducement, Fang Li finally spoke, and was hugged by Cui Mingyu while trembling.
She came to Beijing from far away Beidi, and thought she would return soon, but she did not expect that she would be detained as a deposit, and her return would be impossible in the future. Her new husband was still waiting for her at home, and she missed him so much that she felt as if her heart was being cut.
He had drunk some wine when he was beaten that day, and he mistook Yuyan for his husband, and immediately started to touch her.
Unable to resist the longing for her, he looked for Yuyan a few more times, just to drink tea and listen to the piano.
However, her aunt said that she would send her husband over when she returned to Beidi.
Cui Mingyu sobered up a little and wanted to lean on Yun Zhihe, but she avoided him in disgust. He couldn't help but look at her with some resentment.
"That's not right..." Cui Mingyu scrutinized Fang Li, his eyes narrowed. "How many rooms do you have?"
"Rooms ten, fifteen."
Cui Mingyu sneered with disdain, "You're even more extravagant than me, and you dare to say you're sincere? Did your beloved husband follow you voluntarily?"
Fang Li lowered his head and stammered, "I, I saw it on the street, then, then..."
"Good for you!" Cui Mingyu rolled up her sleeves and prepared to hit her again. Even though she was a willful person, she had never robbed someone's child by force. She usually despised this kind of behavior the most.
Fang Li was so scared by Cui Mingyu's ferocious appearance that he burst into tears. He covered his head and spoke in a trembling voice.
"I, I'm sincere. This is the first time I've liked someone so much... I even sent the others back... just him."
Yun Zhihe quickly pulled Cui Mingyu back. Now Fang Li was a marquis, so he couldn't beat him casually. Although it was just a deposit and had no real power, it would not be good to be criticized by others.
She looked at Fang Li, who was both pitiful and hateful. It was really hard to evaluate this man. She just frowned and pulled Cui Mingyu, who was shouting that she would beat her to death, towards the carriage.
Fang Li heaved a sigh of relief when he saw the two of them leave. He said to the attendant beside him, "Go find that... Second Lady Song."
Fu Ya's residence
Madam Fu Ya fell ill. Her old body could not withstand the illness, and within a few days she was bedridden, trembling even when she spoke.
As the head of the Ya family, there was a constant stream of visitors to her mansion. Madam Fu Ya could not stand the noise and had them all driven out.
Except for her students, of course.
Although the time she spent with her teacher was short, Yun Zhihe felt a little melancholy. She prepared gifts for the visit and went into the mansion with Xuanyuan He, carefully entering Fu Ya's room.
The medicinal aroma lingers, with a strong smell of decay.
Yun Zhihe lowered her eyes and glanced at Xuanyuan He. In response to her gaze, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince frowned, obviously very worried.
Everyone in the Ming Dynasty knew that Madam Fu Ya was old and might not be able to withstand this illness.
Xuanyuan He is young and has to endure the pain of separation from his mentor.
The moment her gaze moved away, Xuanyuan He's expression calmed down again, and his eyes, as deep as a pool, turned into a calm and gloomy look.
It smells so bad.
It stinks...
Madam Fu Ya was becoming increasingly ill. When she saw the two men coming, she coughed twice and weakly tried to stand up and salute the prince.
"My lord, my lord..."
Yun Zhihe quickly held her down, and Xuanyuan He also exempted her from the formalities.
Xuanyuan He was already an excellent candidate for the crown prince. He lowered his eyes to look at Madam Fu Ya, held her dry hand, and said some compassionate words.
"I hope you get better soon."
Madam Fu Ya paused, tears streaming down her cloudy eyes. "Your Majesty, your Majesty, I'm so sorry. Ahem, Your Highness..."
Xuanyuan He paused.
She had long known that her time was running out. The old woman paced for a long time before taking on the task of teaching the prince, and sighed leisurely in the hall.
Madam Fu Ya looked up at Xuanyuan He, her fingers trembling, and his figure reflected in her dim eyes.
When she was young, she had a desire to save the world and only wished for peace and prosperity. She used her body as a sword. However, the previous emperor was incompetent and was entangled in fighting with the Xuanyuan clan. All her ambitions and knowledge were in vain in the chaotic times.
Although she looked down on the actions of the Xuanyuan family's foreign relatives in disrupting the government, she also admired Xuanyuan Ying's strategy for governing the country.
The first time the old woman completely bowed down to Xuanyuan with both body and soul was when she received the imperial edict to be appointed as Grand Tutor. She kowtowed and tears welled up in her eyes.
"This old minister... is incompetent... Your Highness..."
Madam Fu Ya spoke with tears streaming down her face and a hoarse voice.
The prince's talent is unparalleled in the world. She tried her best to strictly require Xuanyuan He, but she was afraid that her body could not bear it and she would die early.
"May Your Highness forgive me for my previous disrespect..."
Her voice was already weak, and Yun Zhihe supported her so that she wouldn't collapse.
Xuanyuan He lowered his eyes to look at her and said, "I understand Madam Fu Ya's painstaking efforts. There's no need to blame yourself."
Madam Fu Ya shook her head, tears wetting her dry face.
She failed to impart all the knowledge.
I was unable to personally witness His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ascend the throne.
I haven’t been able to see the peaceful and prosperous mountains and rivers.
She had already lost consciousness, muttering, "I am incompetent, I am incompetent..." The old woman fell asleep crying.
The dry body looks like it will break if you are not careful.
The smell of medicine in the room became stronger.
Yun Zhihe was in a heavy mood and did not speak for a long time after he walked out.
Xuanyuan He sat in the carriage and looked at the scenery outside the window calmly. It was the sunset, and the red setting sun seemed to have swallowed up the world, setting inch by inch on the distant mountains.
He saw outside the window a little son of a commoner family clinging to his mother and refusing to let go, insisting on buying her candied haws to eat. Then the two of them walked into the red glow together and disappeared, as if they were swallowed up in the red.
But the voice was still ringing, "Mom... I want to eat candied haws..."
Like the last gift left to this dirty world.
Xuanyuan He looked for a long time, so long that he stepped into his dormitory unconsciously.
The sun has set and it is pitch black outside.
Madam Fu Ya's sobs and unwilling sighs could still be heard in his head. He looked out the window at the silent night indifferently, then spoke softly in the empty palace.
"Stop taking the medicine."
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