Chapter 63
Li Chenghuan and several others disguised themselves and were invited to Xu's house.
Fang Wenjue lowered his voice and asked Bai Zhang in amazement, "How did you get Xu Ping to agree?"
Bai Zhang chuckled and said, "I sent a letter to Xu Ping, saying that it was from my father-in-law's nephew, who was doing business in Beijing and passing through Hangzhou Prefecture. He heard about the flood in the south of the Yangtze River and wanted to do his best to help. There was no reason for Xu Ping to disagree."
Fang Wenjue glanced at him and said, "You kid, you are hitting me in my name."
Bai Zhang said: "My father-in-law has a great reputation, so he can be of some use."
Fang Wenjue said to Li Chengqian again: "I don't know if they will be discovered. If there is any danger, I will be the first to rescue them!"
Wang Hui said: "As the ancients said, if you want to be loyal to your emperor, why should you be afraid? I will serve the emperor until my death..."
Wang Hui couldn't stop talking about profound principles, and Fang Wenjue and Bai Zhang's faces turned green.
Lord Wang is good at everything, especially water management, but his habit of showing off his knowledge is really unbearable.
Wang Hui looked at the Xu Mansion in front of him with excitement: "I am familiar with Mr. Yongjie's collection of essays. His widely circulated book "Female Virtue" is even more popular among the daughters in my family. I am determined to emulate Mr. Yongjie..."
Fang Wen felt his teeth ache. Although he admired Master Xu, he didn't have to be like this. Bai Zhang even took a deep breath.
Li Chengqian interrupted him again: "Okay, when you get to Xu's house, be careful."
Xu Ping came out to greet him in person: "I am sorry for not welcoming you so far! I am sorry for not welcoming you so far!"
Bai Zhang bowed slightly and said, "Master Xu, you are too polite. We are already bothering you by coming here. Thank you for your help, Master Xu."
Xu Ping saw that the five people in this group all had extraordinary demeanor. The two elders seemed to have often dealt with officials, and the young man was very smooth. There was also a man who spoke very little and was obviously a martial artist. But none of them were as unfathomable as the one in the middle.
That man looked young, and had an extraordinary bearing. These people seemed older than him, but they all seemed to be respectful to him.
I guess this person is the real master of the house.
What a pity! If my younger sister were free, she would really like to get married.
When they arrived at Xu's house, Xu Ping personally arranged a courtyard for Li Chenghuan and his friends to stay in: "This courtyard is spacious and well-equipped. You can all stay here."
Li Chengqian said, "Thank you, Master Xu."
Xu Ping laughed and said, "You're welcome. If my father knew that you are willing to help with the flood, he would be very grateful. Why don't I take you to meet my father?"
Wang Hui immediately said, "That's great. I have admired Mr. Xu for a long time and I really want to meet him."
Xu Ping led a few people to Xu Yongjie's yard.
The Xu Mansion occupies a very large area, with carved beams and painted rafters, pavilions and towers. Xu Yongjie's courtyard is deep in the Xu Mansion, and nearby is the mansion garden, with a very beautiful view.
As soon as Li Chenghuan stepped into Xu Yongjie's room, he smelled a strong smell of medicine.
This medicine has a strong smell, mixed with the taste of many tonics.
It seems that Xu Yongjie's health is not very good.
Who knew that Xu Yongjie didn't really want to see them.
Xu Ping went in first to report, but faint sounds of arguing were heard from inside the house.
"At this time... unrelated people are causing trouble, take them all away!"
"father!"
“Take it away!”
Soon, Xu Ping came out with an apologetic look on his face and said to them apologetically, "I'm really sorry, my father has not been in good health recently, I'm afraid he can't see guests."
Li Chengqian smiled and said, "No problem."
That night, they stayed at the Xu Mansion. The huge Xu Mansion looked magnificent and splendid during the day, but at night, it was eerily quiet. Especially their courtyard was only separated from the courtyard of the Xu family's young ladies by a wall. I don't know if it was because the three young ladies were married and the youngest, the fourth young lady, was gone, but the women's courtyard felt as quiet as a tomb.
Li Chenghuan was wandering at the gate of the courtyard when he saw three or four servants carrying a mahogany box tied with red satin and walking into the women's courtyard.
He raised his hand to grab one of them and asked, "What are you lifting?"
The servant was stopped and questioned, and seemed to be startled. A trace of fear appeared on his already tense face: "Nothing, just some useless things, I will move them to the women's quarters first."
Li Chenghuan's eyes lingered on the bright red silk on the wooden box: "This looks like something that is only used at a wedding. Is there something going on?"
The servant's face turned pale immediately: "You are joking, it is getting late, young master should go to bed early."
Li Chengqian retracted his gaze and said, "It's getting late, so hurry up and go in and set it off. It will be a bit creepy if you do it too late."
The servant shuddered at what he was thinking of and hurried in.
-
The next day, Lin Nanjie was awakened by the sound of the door opening. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Lao Jiang walking in.
Lin Nanjie sat up from the bed in silence. Lao Jiang had already set the table for the dishes. Lin Nanjie got out of bed, washed up briefly, and then picked up the chopsticks.
Lao Jiang had a complicated look on his face: "Eat more."
Lin Nanjie swallowed the food in his mouth: "I have been here for several days, but you still haven't mentioned your fourth daughter. I am going to marry her, and I want to take good care of her in the underworld. Just tell me about it."
Lao Jiang sat down, looking somewhat silent and nostalgic: "The fourth young lady is the youngest child in the family. My wife died when she gave birth to her. She has no mother to love her, so I usually take extra care of her."
"Since she was young, the fourth young lady has been weak and has been raised in a secluded house, never going out. She is very smart, and the eldest young master secretly taught her to read and write without the knowledge of the old man, and she always learned quickly."
"When she was thirteen, the master arranged a marriage for her, and since then the fourth young lady has been waiting to be married. She is very skillful, and she embroidered all these wedding dresses and quilts stitch by stitch herself."
Lin Nanjie looked at the big red wedding quilt on the bed, and an indescribable sadness surged in his heart.
Such a clever, intelligent and studious girl was doomed to die in this deep courtyard.
Lao Jiang looked a little dazed: "Sometimes I always feel like the young lady is still here."
Lin Nanjie: "It seems that you miss the young lady very much."
Old Jiang nodded silently: "I have watched the young lady grow up since she was a child. Whenever she was sick, I would go to the doctor. She is like my own daughter."
Lin Nanqi added: "In this case, you should know that all parents in the world have the same heart. You brought me to the Xu residence, and my father is seriously ill at home, waiting for me to bring money back to save his life. Can you please let me go?"
Lao Jiang didn't answer.
Lin Nanjie sighed: "Since I can't leave, I just want to ask you a favor."
Lao Jiang said: "Tell me, if I can, I will definitely fulfill your last wish."
Lin Nanqi took out the banknotes and a letter from his pocket: "Please send the banknotes and this letter to my hometown, Qianzhou. I am unable to fulfill my filial duty to my father, and I hope to cure his illness."
Lao Jiang didn't say anything, he just accepted the things, which was his agreement.
Lin Nanjie finished his last meal, tidied his appearance, and said calmly: "I'm ready."
Lao Jiang took out a red curtain and said, "Put this on too."
Lin Nanjie took the screen and asked curiously, "What is this for?"
Lao Jiang didn't answer.
Lin Nanqi suddenly understood and laughed bitterly: "It seems that your old man also knows that what he did is against the will of heaven and earth. He is afraid that I will remember his appearance and turn into a fierce ghost after death and come back to seek revenge on him."
Lao Jiang suddenly sighed: "You are a very smart person."
Lin Nanjie put on the muli and said, "Okay, you can go now."
Lao Jiang suddenly took out something from his pocket and said, "Eat this."
Lin Nanjie took it and saw that it was actually a pill. He frowned subconsciously: "I already agreed, do you still want to feed me medicine?"
Lao Jiang said, "Master doesn't want a quarrel at that time, this is a medicine that temporarily silences people."
Lin Nanqi tilted his head back and swallowed it.
I have already arranged a ghost marriage, so are you still afraid of the medicine that will temporarily make me lose my voice?
The wedding hall where the ceremony was held was decorated with bright red satin and the floor was covered with bright red carpet. Wedding candles were burning high, leaving red candle tears all over the floor.
Fang Wenjue, Wang Hui, and Bai Zhang looked at each other in bewilderment. Didn't the little girl of the Xu family just pass away? Why was there a ceremony now, and at night? They were not people who had never seen the world, so they roughly guessed what this was for.
Arranging a ghost marriage is simply ridiculous.
If it was an ignorant family, it would be fine, but why would the prestigious Xu family also arrange ghost marriages?
The three people quickly looked at Li Chenghuan and saw that there was no emotion on his face, as if he knew what was going to happen beforehand and was just watching the situation.
He is truly worthy of being the emperor. His fearless demeanor in the face of danger is truly admirable.
Needless to say, Liao Baifan beside him had had this expression on his face ever since he left the capital.
After an unknown amount of time, the ceremonial officer in formal attire suddenly called out, "The auspicious time has arrived!"
When people heard the sound, they felt it was thin and cold, and goosebumps appeared all over their bodies. Then they saw a big red figure appear outside the wedding hall.
They couldn't help but feel their scalps tense, because this was the man who was to be arranged in a ghost marriage for the fourth daughter of the Xu family.
Lin Nanjie, wearing a bright red wedding gown and holding ashes in his hands, was led by Lao Jiang across the threshold. He knew that they had arrived at the place where the ceremony would be held.
He couldn't see the specific scene in the wedding hall through the curtain, he just felt that the man sitting at the head was very old, and there was a strong smell of medicine coming from his body.
Sitting on the left should be the two sons of the Xu family, Xu Ping, the prefect of Hangzhou Prefecture, and the second son Xu Jing.
There were a few people sitting next to him, but Lin Nanjie didn't know who they were.
The whole wedding hall was dim, with only a few red candles burning, not very bright, and a bit eerie. The candlelight was like the eyes of a monster floating in the darkness. When they saw the urn in their hands, the atmosphere became more solemn.
Li Chenghuan watched as the old butler led a man in red inwards. The man had a big red veil on his head and was holding an urn in his hands. His movements were slow but very obedient.
這場面十分故弄玄虛，好像怕見到這個配陰婚的男子。
柏章幾人看着也覺得有幾分不适。
那紅衣男子被老管家牽到徐永階面前。
“老爺，一切就緒，可以開始了。”
司儀便扯開了尖細的嗓子：“吉時到，一拜天地！”
林楠績分不清方向，被老姜轉了個方向，按着頭拜了下去。
司儀又高聲道：“二拜高堂！”
林楠績又被轉過來，面向徐永階彎腰拜了下去。
這場面看的幾人實在是有些坐立難安。
王徽看向徐永階，忍不住問道：“徐老，這配陰婚豈不是有損德行？”
儀式被打斷，徐永階有一瞬間的不悅。他壓了下去，神色黯然：“小女近來總是托夢，說一個人孤單，難入輪回。老夫無奈之下，才想到這個辦法。”
幾人面面相觑，白發人送黑發人，傷心挂念，也是人之常情。只是這場面，實在讓人有些難受。
王徽又問：“這配陰婚為何要蒙面？”
老姜解釋道：“這位年輕人曾受過老爺的幫助，出于報答幫小姐配陰婚，幫老爺和小姐了卻一樁心願，過後還要讨生活，不方便讓人看見，免得以後不好說親。”
王徽點點頭：“原來如此。”
李承銑冷眼旁觀，總覺得事情沒有這麽簡單。
他的目光頻頻看向新郎，總覺得身影有些眼熟。
林楠績臉被幕離遮住，狠狠地翻了個白眼：【狗屁的說親，你們根本就是想把我殺了，到陰曹地府去陪徐四小姐。】
李承銑面色驟變，瞬間從椅子上站起來。
這聲音，分明是林楠績！
這時候，司儀又扯着讓人難以忍受的聲音喊道：“夫妻對拜。”
徐四小姐生前的貼身侍女接過骨灰盒，老姜按着林楠績，強迫他低頭對拜。
林楠績只覺得身上的手有千斤重，絲毫掙脫不開，他突然有些後悔吃下啞藥了，他要是知道還有外人，絕不會放過這個求助的好機會。
就在這時，老姜按在身上的力量忽然消失，林楠績還沒有弄清楚緣由，就被一股極大的力量扯了過去。緊接着，他就聞見了熟悉的氣味。
是淡淡的龍涎香混着紙墨香的味道。
這味道，他只在一個人身上聞到過。
幕離掩蓋，他只能看見擋在自己前面的身影高大，肩膀寬闊，雙腿修長。
【皇上……？】
林楠績怔怔地瞧着眼前的背影，簡直不敢相信自己的眼睛。
【這該不會是做夢吧？】
【我怎麽會在這裏遇到皇上？】
【他不應該在京城嗎？】
徐永階見有人明目張膽的破壞儀式，頓時勃然大怒：“你是誰？竟敢在此惹是生非！”
就連柏章幾人都震驚了，皇上怎麽突然沖動了？
徐平也站了起來：“是不是有什麽誤會？”
徐靖就直接多了：“我們當你們是客人才好生款待，你們別敬酒不吃吃罰酒！”
李承銑眼底的戾氣一閃而過，冷聲道：“你們剛才說自願配陰婚，我看未必！”
徐永階像是聽到了滑稽的事情：“難道你的意思，是老夫強迫他的的？笑話！徐某人會做這種事？”
李承銑極其冷漠的掃了他一眼，轉身揭開林楠績頭上的紅色幕離，露出一張紅潤的小臉。
李承銑眼中閃過一絲輕微的訝異，他以為林楠績會臉色蠟黃渾身虛弱，沒想到，竟然還胖了一點。
禁不住擡手捏了捏他的腮幫。
手感綿軟滑膩。
林楠績羞赧地低下了頭。
【斷頭飯吃得太好，又沒有地方活動，在船上吐的都補回來了，甚至補得更好了。】
柏章三人看清楚那人樣貌後，震驚的差點跳起來！
這不是禦前的林公公嗎？
聽說回家探親去了。
怎麽會成了配陰婚的對象？
方文覺感覺自己見鬼了一般：“林林林……楠績？”
方文覺正要喊林公公三個字，想起他們是微服私訪。
硬生生的轉成了林楠績三個字。
徐平愣住了：“你們竟然認識？”
他下意識地皺起眉，察覺出父親話中的漏洞。這幾人是從京城來的，又怎麽會與在杭州府做事的新郎認識？
他不由得看向自己的父親。
徐永階那張皺巴巴的老臉異常冷漠的看相向林楠績：“老夫問你，你分明是自願的，對吧？”
林楠績沒說話。
李承銑有些疑惑地看着他。
徐永階眼中閃過一抹得意的精光：“你們看，他不說話就是默認了。你們這些陌生人何須多管閑事。”
方文覺幾人對視一眼。
還真不算是多管閑事。
這就是他們該管的事。
若是自願，事後放歸也就罷了，可林楠績是回黔州探親，出現在杭州府給人配陰婚，怎麽看都不像是自願的。
若并非自願，那極有可能是活人殉葬。
太祖時期就已下令廢除活人殉葬，這是觸犯大齊律例的罪行。
方文覺身為大理寺少卿，就不能袖手旁觀了。
所以方文覺也在等林楠績的反應。
林楠績眨了眨眼，沖着李承銑搖了搖頭。
【我吃了啞藥，說不出話呀。】
李承銑臉色陰沉，扳正林楠績的身體道：“你不用說話，我來問，你只需要點頭或者搖頭就可以。”
林楠績目光微亮，像是找到了救命稻草一般緊緊看着李承銑。
就在這一刻，林楠績感覺自己就像是看到了生命的救星。
而這個救星，竟然是李承銑。
【嗚嗚，竟然遇到了狗皇帝，小命可以保住了。】
李承銑問：“你是自願的嗎？”
林楠績将頭搖成了撥浪鼓。
李承銑又問：“是路上被人抓來的？”
林楠績使勁點頭。
【船上遇到徐府姜管家，被一棍子敲暈了關在徐府，不能出屋子，每天只能給徐四小姐的牌位和骨灰上香。】
【好慘的！】
李承銑內心湧上一股憤怒，其中有摻雜着諸多心疼、氣惱、後怕的情緒。若是他當初派人手保護林楠績，又或者早些做決定帶着林楠績一同南下，就不會發生此事。
若是他沒有碰巧住進徐府，沒有撞見徐家配陰婚的儀式，林楠績是不是就要活生生地殉葬？
李承銑氣血上湧，眼眶一陣陣發緊，雙手緊握成拳，克制住內心翻湧的情緒，緊聲問：“你被徐家人抓來配陰婚，他們對你下藥不讓你說話。是不是？”
林楠績莫名地想哭，眼眶有些發紅，被抓過來，不能外出，無法求援，每日守着徐四小姐的骨灰和生活過的房間，說不害怕是自欺欺人。
李承銑出現的那一刻，他仿佛看見了一束光，刺破黑暗照到了他的身上。那種感覺無法描述，而林楠績可以實實在在的感受到的是：
他得救了。
他有人撐腰了！
林楠績眼眶濕潤地拼命點頭。
李承銑心髒發緊，一想到要是晚了一步可能會再也看不見林楠績，他就覺得心裏空了一塊。也許是上天庇佑，讓他能夠及時見到林楠績，挽救這場災禍。
李承銑看向徐永階：“你們身為朝廷命官，明知觸犯律法，也要做傷天害理之事，可曾想過腦袋上的烏紗帽？”
徐永階冷笑一聲：“你們現在知道也晚了，這陰婚是非配不可！”
“至于律法，老夫已經向你們解釋過了，事成之後我會放他走，我們的家事還輪不到你們外人摻和！”
林楠績又搖頭。
【放屁！】
【他們在說謊，他們就是打算活人殉葬，把我和徐四小姐的骨灰一起埋葬。】
李承銑的目光冰冷到了極點，冷冷地嗤笑：“放走？恐怕是要一起埋入棺材！”
徐平憤怒：“你們怎可如此惡毒地揣度家父！”
李承銑并不給他辯解的機會：“你們說他受過你們的恩惠，所以答應。但他卻是從京城南下回家探親，只是途徑杭州府。而至于蒙面，恐怕是怕他記住你們的樣子，夢裏報複！”
“你們萬萬沒想到，我們恰巧認得他。”
徐平臉色慘白，看看徐永階和徐靖沒有起伏的神色，啞聲道：“爹，二弟，你們竟然……”
徐靖忍不住道：“哥！小妹陰魂不散，擾得家宅不寧，我讀書都讀不好，這儀式必須得完成。”
見徐家父子臉色逐漸慘白，李承銑怒聲道：“我說的可有錯！”
徐永階臉色陰森森的，語氣陰冷：“知道了又怎樣？你們多管閑事，就一起下陰曹地府！”
徐平這下子慌了：“爹，三思啊！何須為了小妹的事搭上這麽多人，萬一東窗事發，那可怎麽辦。”
徐永階臉色有着不同尋常的陰沉：“你懂什麽，只有讓你小妹的靈魂安安穩穩地輪回，你們才有好日子過！”
徐平一頭霧水：“爹你在說什麽？”
徐永階忽然高聲道：“來人，把這幾個人給我拿下！”
徐府家丁聞風而動，迅速将幾人圍在中間，要将幾人拿住。這些人全都聽命于徐永階，這陣仗簡直令在場的在官場成了幾十年的大臣們震怒。就算是朝廷命官也不能違反律法，随意拿人！
Wang Hui struggled desperately, trying to find a reasonable explanation for Xu Yongjie's actions.
He repeatedly cast a look that suggested "turning back is the right path" and said with deep sorrow: "Lord Xu has written many books in his life and is famous all over the world. Why did he do such a foolish thing and ruin his reputation in his later years? Parents love their children, but this groom is also someone else's son. Lord Xu should put himself in his shoes. How could he bury a living person with him? You are confused! There is an old saying that goes, love the old as well as the old of others, love the young as well as the young of others..."
As soon as Wang Hui opened his mouth, he started to behave like an old scholar and kept talking nonstop.
Xu Yongjie finally lost his patience and said, "You pedantic scholar! You are so stupid! Shut up!"
"You're a sour Confucian!"
Wang Hui was stunned and stared at Xu Yongjie blankly.
He was familiar with all of Xu Yongjie's collected works, and regarded his words as a guiding principle. He was looking forward to meeting the old gentleman. In his mind, Xu Yongjie was the role model of all the literati! When he arrived at Xu's house, he couldn't wait to talk about poetry and songs with the old gentleman and look at the temples and rivers and lakes.
Who knew that Mr. Xu would actually scold him...
Sour Confucian?
Lord Xu, whom he had always admired, actually scolded him like this!
But you can scold him anything you want!
How can you call him a sour Confucian!
Lin Nanjie looked at Lord Wang with a bit of sympathy.
[It seems I heard the sound of Lord Wang's filter shattering to the ground.]