33. Farewell
"absurd!"
Xuanyuan Ying's face was filled with rage, and he obviously could no longer suppress his emotions. The atmosphere in the court was depressed, and everyone lowered their heads.
Mother Cheng stepped forward and knelt down to apologize.
The powerful Queen Mother Cheng humbly and respectfully requested permission.
"Your Majesty, I truly didn't realize the Longcheng County Magistrate was so audacious, deceiving his superiors and subordinates! His crime is truly unforgivable!"
Her hoarse voice echoed in the hall.
Xuanyuan Ying looked at her with cold eyes.
Who could have known that there was no flood in Longcheng, but an epidemic had broken out. The Longcheng County Magistrate deceived his superiors and subordinates, hoping to confuse the public by fabricating a flood so that the court could allocate funds and deal with the plague himself.
Plague is horrific. From ancient times to the present, every time it occurs, countless people die and are injured. Every bit of information must be reported.
Who could have known that the magistrate of Longcheng County was so stubborn and self-righteous, afraid of being blamed by the court, that he even wanted to control the epidemic on his own. However, he did not expect that the situation would become more and more serious, and the victims actually flocked to the gate of the capital!
Xuanyuan Ying was so angry that his breathing was uneven. He gritted his teeth and seemed to squeeze out a few sounds from his throat.
"The magistrate of Longcheng County... was to be killed on the spot."
Yun Zhihe lowered her eyes, still thinking about the scene that Qin Duan pointed out to her that day, which was shocking and absurd.
At that time, Qin Duan narrowed his eyes and raised the corners of his lips, as if with mockery and compassion.
"Without Prime Minister Wen, Xuanyuan Ying is nothing more than a tiger stripped of its claws."
He stood in the wind again, his clothes fluttering and his black hair dancing in the wind, covering his handsome jade-white face.
With a vile mockery.
Therefore, the Xuanyuan family knew about the epidemic early, but were afraid of being blamed, so they cooperated in deceiving their superiors and subordinates.
They even secretly closed the city gates to prevent the victims from entering.
Seriously...it's ridiculous.
Yun Zhihe was in a trance for a moment.
Xuanyuan Ying took another deep breath, his voice no longer trembling, and he no longer looked at the kneeling Mother Cheng, but lowered his eyes to look at the civil and military officials in the court.
"Longcheng County Magistrate, who can take responsibility for the epidemic in Longcheng?"
After these words were spoken, the court became even quieter.
It’s not that they don’t dare to take action. If it were just an ordinary plague, they would just go.
But this plague came with great force, and there had never been any record of such an epidemic in history.
The infected will start to rot from the feet to the head, and finally become a pool of rotten meat. The death is extremely horrifying. Listening to what the victims say makes me feel cold all over. How can I get into that disaster again?
If I become an envoy and governor, I must go deep into the epidemic area to stabilize the people's sentiments. The Longcheng County Magistrate has already aroused public anger by sealing off the city and doing nothing. How can he guarantee the safety of those who go there later?
Taking all factors into consideration, everyone in the court was indeed somewhat hesitant.
At the moment when all the civil and military officials in the court hesitated, Xuanyuan Ying's eyes dimmed.
He obviously knew that this plague was extremely dangerous and that people who went there would be in great danger.
Thinking of this, he closed his eyes and his throat trembled slightly.
Su Lin followed the crowd in silence, hesitated for a moment, and thought of the Su family. His fingertips sank into his palms, he raised his head, and was about to move forward with some determination, when he suddenly heard a sentence -
"Your Majesty, I beg your command!"
The voice is sonorous, resounding, clear and firm.
All the civil and military officials in the court looked at her in surprise.
Yun Zhihe was wearing a clean official uniform, his voice was like the tinkling of jade, his back was firm and straight, and his figure was tall and graceful, as quiet as orchid.
Just standing there, you can see the cold moon in the sky, especially the graceful and graceful rosy clouds.
Xuanyuan Ying was silent for a moment. He didn't speak immediately. He pursed his lips, lowered his eyes from his high position and looked down at her, meeting her eyes.
He couldn't make a sound.
All the civil and military officials in the court were also speechless.
They have been immersed in the officialdom for many years, but they are not as courageous as a young lady who has just entered the officialdom. They are so afraid of death...
Xuanyuan Ying closed his eyes and it took him a long time to find his voice.
He wanted to say, don't go.
He spoke again in a hoarse voice, low and deep, with his Adam's apple trembling slightly.
"……good."
Xuanyuan He also rushed forward and asked for permission to go.
The situation is even more serious now.
The prince is the foundation of the country. How can he go to that dangerous place? The court officials argued with him and all of them did not want him to go.
Finally, after Xuanyuan He promised not to go deep into the dangerous area and stay outside the city to receive supplies, the court officials reluctantly agreed.
When the morning court ended, Xuanyuan Ying was still standing there in a daze, his gaze becoming unfocused as Yun Zhihe left.
Including Mother Cheng who had been kneeling on the ground.
The hall was very quiet.
“Hmm…”
Xuanyuan Ying walked in front of Cheng Guomu. Cheng Guomu had been kneeling for a long time and was already uncomfortable. Sweat was dripping onto the floor in front of her. Xuanyuan Ying's boots suddenly appeared in her sight.
Neither the mother nor the son spoke a word. The sight of the mother bowing her head and the son standing arrogantly was extremely shocking.
"Get up."
Xuanyuan Ying lowered his eyes to look at her, his voice hoarse and cold, and asked her to stand up.
Then he suddenly leaned forward and grabbed her collar, exerting force with his fingers and moving his face close to her. His usually cold and noble face was filled with unsuppressible anger, and his handsome face was filled with anger.
The anger... was even greater than when he first came to court.
He gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger.
"Xuanyuan Ming!"
Call your mother by her first name.
"This world currently belongs to me, Xuanyuan Ying! It doesn't belong to you, Xuanyuan Ming!"
The veins on the hand that was grabbing her clothes were popping out, and it looked ferocious and cruel.
"I have taken this position with honor!"
"This is the last time! If the Xuanyuan family acts recklessly again--" He lowered his voice in a hoarse voice, his eyes sharp.
"I don't mind, it's a matter of justice to kill relatives."
He said the four words "kill relatives for the sake of justice" in a suppressed and cruel manner, emphasizing each word.
He suddenly let go of the hand that was holding Xuanyuan Ming's clothes, and Mother Cheng staggered a few times.
"Take care of yourself."
Mother Cheng was in a trance as she looked at her grown-up son in front of her.
He lowered his eyes again to hide the darkness in them and spoke softly.
"My lord, I obey your order."
…
Yun Zhihe pursed his lips, his face looking a little gloomy.
She didn't do it on a whim.
Qin Duan's smiling voice appeared in my mind.
"Without Prime Minister Wen, Xuanyuan Ying is nothing more than a tiger with its claws stripped off."
She is too weak now... She cannot be relied upon by His Majesty, nor can she serve the people.
The sight she saw from the city wall that day pricked her nerves.
She saw the faces of the people were gray and black with fear, tearing their voices to appeal for justice and help, saw an uncle holding his child and sobbing in the corner, and saw a crowd of people surging.
She saw the flourishing flowers and extravagant life inside the wall.
She looks at... "prosperous times".
Yun Zhihe suppressed his emotions and swallowed the pain in his throat.
This trip is dangerous, so we should carefully plan for epidemic prevention.
Almost all the capable medical officers and doctors in the capital were summoned to accompany him to Longcheng. The government also began to summon traveling doctors from all over the country. Once they arrived in Longcheng, there should be a steady stream of doctors arriving.
The journey was urgent and dangerous. Within half a day, people in the capital came to the rescue because of her volunteering to go to Longcheng to manage the plague. Everyone admired her heroic act.
The deployment began to be arranged tightly, and supplies and medicinal materials were continuously loaded onto the carriages. Tomorrow morning would be the time for departure.
Yun Zhihe looked through the information about Longcheng that she knew so far. The night was already dark. She wanted to rest in the Yun Mansion today so that she could set off tomorrow.
The candlelight was dim and gloomy, illuminating the room dimly, just like Yun Zhihe's mood.
“Knock, knock…”
Suddenly, there was a slight knocking sound outside the window.
Yun Zhihe was stunned, hesitated for a moment, and opened the window.
In an instant, the bright moonlight poured in through the window, illuminating the dark room.
She saw Wen Yanhe's handsome face illuminated by the moonlight, which made it look soft. It was already midsummer, and the pear blossoms were in bloom late. The lush pear blossoms were drifting in the wind and falling behind him.
With the gentle breeze, a few pear blossoms were blown in and fell into the house, which was particularly beautiful.
His bright robe and black hair were stained with white pear blossoms, which made his features look even more picturesque and as bright and smooth as jade.
Yun Zhihe was a little stunned, probably because the moonlight was too dazzling and he couldn't see clearly.
“…Zhihe.”
Yun Zhihe climbed out of the window and stood with him under the pear tree.
The moonlight is bright tonight, and with the dim light, there are fireflies flying around and pear blossoms fluttering in the air.
The two of them were silent for a long time before Yun Zhihe spoke.
"How did you get in?"
The smile on Wen Yanhe's face paused, he glanced away, slightly straightened his messy hair, and his long clothes were slightly stained.
“…Why bother?”
Just whisper this.
Look at his expression and clothes.
“Uh…hahahahahahahahahaha…”
Yun Zhihe suddenly laughed, and his gloomy face was suddenly covered with an irrepressible smile. His laughter was like a silver bell, and a tear seeped from the corner of his eye.
She seemed tired of laughing and raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Wen Yanhe pursed his lips and lowered his eyes, obviously not wanting to pay attention to her.
He was tall and graceful, with a graceful figure. Perhaps he had been greedy for food recently, and when he was trying to crawl through the dog hole, he almost got stuck. He struggled for a long time before he could get out.
The light makeup she had applied was smudged, the perfume on her body had lost its scent, and hearing her laugh was really irritating.
He couldn't help but compare it again, thinking of Qingzhu's slender waist, and felt a little jealous. Qingzhu would definitely not be stuck.
He was also thinking that if the two of them were making love at this time, he would throw a stone to break up the couple and waste his worries.
Wen Yanhe felt a little aggrieved, and his eyes turned slightly red as he looked at her.
Yun Zhihe stepped forward and used his fingertips to pick the pear blossom petals from Young Master Wen's hair, his voice tinged with laughter.
"I don't care."
After laughing, I just let the matter go.
Perhaps the atmosphere at this time made Wen Yanhe tremble. He pursed his lips, moved closer to her, sniffed the fragrance on her body as if with satisfaction, and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Your journey to Longcheng...is likely to be dangerous."
Yun Zhihe paused, lowered his eyes, and asked softly, "Are you here to persuade me not to go?"
Wen Yanhe paused, and a cold snort came out of his nose. His eyes felt a little sore, and his voice was muffled and choked with sobs.
"Why would I advise you?"
"As a minister, an official, and a woman... you deserve it all. I know what this means, and why should I advise you?"
He closed his eyes and thought of what Wen Youzhi had just said.
Wen Youzhi was dismissed from office and had no time to spare. After hearing about Yun Zhihe's story, he stopped drinking tea and analyzed the matter to him with a sigh in his eyes.
"The odds are stacked against us. The plague is terrifying. If you're not careful, you could lose your life. Besides, the return date is uncertain; one or two years is too little."
Wen Yanhe's Adam's apple trembled. He wanted to say something, but paused.
“Hmm…”
When Yun Zhihe was stunned by his words, Master Wen suddenly stepped forward and threw himself into her arms.
In an instant, the warmth in my arms was piercing.
He hugged her, his handsome face resting on her shoulder.
“Woo…”
The crying voice seemed to overflow from the throat, so soft that it made people's heart ache.
Yun Zhihe was stunned. He could hear Master Wen crying softly and hoarsely. It was a rare cry for him. His shoulders were wet.
"You, don't die... Ugh, don't die..."
She was still in a daze, but after hearing his words clearly, she lowered her eyes and gently stroked his protruding spine, soothing him softly.
“…definitely not.”
Young Master Wen was still crying in her arms, his shoulders trembling with sobs. Yun Zhihe stiffened, then softened, helplessly watching the pear blossoms fall, leaving the ground in a mess.
"I know your character." Wen Yanhe spoke in a hoarse voice, "You wish to be a famous official, you wish for peace and prosperity, you wish for a noble character..."
"You must go to Longcheng this time. I'm glad you are just that kind of person, like the gentle breeze and bright moon, blending in with the world. You are the Madam Xiaoyun praised by everyone in the capital."
"But..." He closed his eyes, his nose turned red, and his voice choked.
"Longcheng is a dangerous place, and the plague is terrifying. Those infected will fester and die. If you die..."
"If you die..."
He placed his other hand tremblingly on his lapel.
With eyes closed.
What if she died?
...I will become a widower.
Just one night, no regrets.
He thought about it for a long time... He could marry her tonight, be her bridegroom for one night, and belong to her for the rest of his life.
Wen Yanhe's red eyes were filled with determination. Just as he was about to tear open his clothes, he heard her say.
"Don't worry, I cherish my life and will return safely."
Yun Zhihe obviously didn't notice what he had just done.
Wen Yanhe's courage, which he had just accumulated, collapsed, his face flushed red, and he hugged her tightly.
Yun Zhihe hesitated for a moment. She knew that the hug was ambiguous, so after thinking about it, she spoke and asked.
"Why...are you so reluctant?"
Wen Yanhe paused, his voice hoarse, and spoke after a long time.
"...You and I have been childhood sweethearts for many years. You definitely don't want... you to die like this. After all these years, I've even developed feelings for my dog. How could I bear to let you go?"
Yun Zhihe was stunned.
The ripples of tenderness that rose in my heart were suppressed by Wen Yanhe's words, "I also develop feelings for a dog," and I felt a little amused.
He just couldn't bear to give up the friendship of his childhood sweetheart.
Wen Yanhe closed his eyes and spoke with a nasal tone.
"Can I call you Jinniang?"
He pronounced the word "Jinniang" lightly and asked softly.
"……Can."
On the eaves of a house in the distance, Xuanyuan Ying looked at the two people hugging each other under the pear tree with a complicated expression. He was silent for a long time, his nails digging into the flesh and bleeding.
Lou Zhi, who was leading him to the roof, was also silent. He turned to look at Xuanyuan Ying and asked softly.
"Why do you want me to bring you here?"
See her hugging someone else?
Lou Zhi concealed the gloom in his eyes.
Xuanyuan Ying asked him to take him to Yun Mansion. Lou Zhi's kung fu was light and he could enter Yun Mansion quietly.
Xuanyuan Ying looked at the two people hugging each other below, closed his eyes, and his voice trembled.
"Nothing... Let's go."
Lou Zhi turned his head and glanced at Yun Zhihe with a gloomy look in his eyes, then hugged Xuanyuan Ying again and left with his internal energy.
He deliberately exerted force with his foot and kicked a brick down.
"Bang——"
The sound of bricks and tiles exploding made the two of them tremble violently. Wen Yanhe was startled. Yun Zhihe let go of his arms and went over to check.
"It must be a tile dropped by a wild cat."
Wen Yanhe pursed his lips, reached out to his waist belt, and tried to untie it, his voice trembling.
"Jin, Jin Niang..."
As soon as he opened his mouth, a sound came from the other side of the wall.
"My son—Mother has something to ask you. Is it enough to say goodbye?"
Wen Youzhi spoke calmly to the wall separating the Yun Mansion and the Wen Mansion. His voice spread out and stifled Wen Yanhe's movements.
She naturally knew what Wen Yanhe wanted to do.
How could she not know what the young man was thinking after living for so long? Moreover, he was her own son, with a personality similar to hers, as if they were cut from the same mold.
Wen Youzhi closed his eyes... Even if he understood him, he would never let him do whatever he wanted.
Yun Zhihe heard Wen Youzhi's voice next door and smiled at Wen Yanhe.
"It's getting late. Lord Wen is calling you, so you should go back."
Wen Yanhe's eyes were red and she was dazed for a moment. She pursed her lips and said goodbye, but when she turned around, tears still flowed uncontrollably.
Wen Youzhi sent someone to prepare a ladder.
She didn't want her son to come back through a dog hole.
After a night, many people were restless and unable to sleep.
Early the next morning, they set off, and many people in the court saw her and the prince off.
Cui Mingyu held her hand and cried, giving her instructions for a long time, looking uncomfortable. Li Miaomiao comforted her beside her.
Yun Zhihe smiled and said a few words of comfort. At this time, she saw Chunya beside the second prince waving at her. She was a little confused, but she followed him anyway.
Chunya pursed her lips and took out a sachet.
"Madam Yun, this is given to you by the Second Prince. It contains vanilla grass and precious medicinal herbs for epidemic prevention. Please accept it."
Yun Zhihe paused, nodded, and accepted it.
The stitching on the sachet is a bit crude, but the pattern is exquisite and the workmanship is meticulous, and you can tell that the person who sewed it put a lot of effort into it.
"...Madam Yun, the Second Prince has warned you that this journey is dangerous, so you must be careful."
Chunya looked melancholy and hesitated for a moment. She wanted to say something but didn't say it. She bowed and left.
Yun Zhihe was left stroking the soft sachet in his hand.
The journey finally began and the convoy started moving forward.
Slowly disappearing into the dim dawn in the distance.
The second prince was watching the departing carriage in the carriage, his gaze following the movement, and only when Chunya entered the carriage did he raise his eyes vaguely.
"Gone?"
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Chunya seemed to be unable to help herself, her face full of heartache, and she choked with sobs as she spoke.
"Your Highness, why didn't you let me tell Madam Yun that you made the sachet? And why didn't you deliver it yourself?"
He held up the second prince's hand with heartache, looked at the dense needle holes on his fingertips, and tears flowed.
"Ah... Your Highness, you haven't slept all night sewing that sachet, and your hands are covered with wounds."
"You, oh, you have hands for shooting arrows, you are so spoiled... Have you ever sewn, oh, these things?"
"Just let me sew it..."
Qin Zhi pursed his lips and lowered his eyes to look at the stinging wound on his hand, which was numb and unconscious.
"...The stitching is terrible. If I tell her that I sewed it, wouldn't it be too embarrassing?"
He couldn't help but glance at the rear of the departing convoy again, his voice hoarse.
"Besides..."
Qin Zhi pursed his lips and stroked his face with his fingertips. "I haven't slept all night, and I look haggard... It doesn't look good."
Qin Zhi's handsome face looked a little haggard, obviously because he didn't sleep well, and his light-colored lips turned pale.
"...How can I let her see this prince in such an awkward and unattractive state?"
He muttered to himself.
The author has something to say:
I wrote it for a long time and thought this chapter was 10,000 words, but it turned out to be only 5,000 words.
That’s right, Master Wen thought Qingzhu was Mr. He’s sexual servant.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival
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