85. A clear conscience
◎Looks like a human being, but is actually a wolf in sheep's clothing◎
"Cousin!" Zhang Jun walked up to Qi Gu in two steps and said with a smile, "Why are you charging around like a little bull?"
He was completely unaware that his arrival had broken the strange atmosphere between the two.
Qi Gu breathed a sigh of relief, her face regaining its composure. "Cousin, I... this is my first time visiting Uncle's house, and I was a little excited."
Looking at his uncle and aunt behind his cousin, he felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He fled from Sima Hong's side and stepped forward to greet them, saying, "Uncle, Aunt, I was rude."
She vowed never to be alone with Sima Hong again. Fortunately, her cousin appeared in time. Sima Hong was terrifying, as if he had broken free from some invisible restraint. His eyes became increasingly sinister, as if he wanted to devour her whole, making her uneasy.
Is there anyone going to do something about him? Qi Gu knew that even her father and mother couldn't control him. She believed that if Sima Hong said he wanted to marry her, her father and mother would be surprised for a moment, and then immediately happily marry her off to him.
It seems that the only person who can control Sima Hong now is Sima Taigong.
Grandfather Sima, hurry up and arrange for Sima Hong to marry the Gao family's daughter. If things continue like this, she really won't be able to handle it. Perhaps we should wait until after the New Year and ask the Empress Dowager to let her return to her fiefdom in the spring. I wonder if the Empress Dowager will agree.
Having made up her mind, Qi Gu stopped looking at Sima Hong and said to her uncle, "I've long heard that your family has a very large training ground... I got so excited that I just... hahaha..."
"Hahaha," Marquis Dingyuan laughed a few times as he looked at his niece. "It's alright, it's alright. We're family, we don't need to be so formal."
Lady Dingyuan, standing beside her, thought about how her husband and she had been waiting for the princess at the gate, only to be ignored by her. Her words carried a hint of reproach, "Princess, you don't know, but when your uncle heard you were coming, he was already waiting at the gate."
"Why are you saying all this? Are you tired of standing here for a while?" Zhang Tian gave his wife a dissatisfied look.
Qi Gu said, "I was being rude. Please forgive me, Uncle and Aunt."
Seeing her dignified demeanor and neither servile nor arrogant attitude, Lady Dingyuan was reminded of the Empress. Her heart tightened. Her sister-in-law, who had become the Empress, was not someone to be trifled with. She regretted her quick tongue.
His attitude softened, "Princess, you're too kind. We're all family, there's no need for that. But please have a meal. I've prepared the meal long ago and have been waiting for you."
She glanced at Sima Hong beside her, her smile becoming more genuine. "I didn't expect the princess to come with you, Sima Langjun." Does this mean her son won't have to marry a princess? She certainly didn't want her son to marry any princess. She knew what her husband meant, and knowing that only made her more opposed to it.
The one who owes the princess is His Majesty and the Empress in the palace, or at the very least, the eldest prince. What does it have to do with the Zhang family, or her son? Why should her son be used to compensate the princess?
If Sima Xiuyuan were willing to marry Qi Gu, that would be wonderful!
Qi Gu knew that her aunt didn't like her. In her past life, her aunt wanted her cousin to marry her niece, but her cousin ultimately did not follow her aunt's wishes and marry her niece.
After realizing she didn't want to marry him, her cousin devoted all his energy to the army. Before she died, her mother wanted to arrange a marriage for her cousin, but she didn't even know which family's daughter it was before she died in the palace coup.
It's impossible for her and her cousin to be together. The fact that her cousin didn't listen to his aunt's wishes in his past life and marry her niece shows that he has no interest in that woman.
She hopes that in this life, her cousin can meet a woman who understands and cares for him, and live a happy and fulfilling life together.
She looked at her uncle, thinking that if her cousin was to be happy and successful, then her uncle must not have any mishaps.
The uncle in front of me had a cheerful smile, a robust build, and a neatly trimmed beard, which gave him a refined air. My aunt told me that before the chaos of war, my eldest uncle, who had already sacrificed his life, and my second uncle, who was standing before me, had studied with my maternal grandfather.
My maternal grandfather and uncles were well-known scholars and reasonable people in the surrounding area. Their family was also quite wealthy. They were charitable and never bullied others. After the country fell into chaos, they even saved many people who were displaced by the war.
Later, the uncles organized the villagers to fight against the enemy. After the emperor launched his rebellion, the Zhang family resolutely followed the emperor in his campaigns to conquer the world.
How could such a good uncle be gone just because of a cold?
Thinking of this, Aunt Qi said to her uncle, "By the way, Uncle, this is Doctor Ye." Aunt Qi introduced him to her uncle and said, "I would like to ask Doctor Ye to take your pulse..."
Doctor Ye, carrying his medicine chest, stood at the back of the crowd, already waiting for the princess's summons.
From the moment he met this General Dingyuan, he observed him in secret. The General Dingyuan had a booming voice, a ruddy complexion, walked with a vigorous stride, and his steps were steady and unsteady. He was clear-headed and had bright eyes, and did not seem to be in poor health.
Before coming here, the princess said to him: "Dr. Ye, I want to ask, are there some people who look healthy but are actually deficient in internal organs, and could lose their lives from a very minor illness?"
The princess didn't say it explicitly, but he guessed she was referring to General Zhang. He didn't know what the princess's basis for this guess was, or why she thought that General Zhang, who was perfectly healthy, would lose his life because of a minor illness.
As a physician, he wouldn't ask questions that weren't his responsibility. He was entrusted with a task and had to be loyal to it. Since the princess was worried, there must be a reason. He would simply obey her orders.
Zhang Tian was puzzled as to why his niece wanted to treat his illness on her first visit to the mansion, since he wasn't sick.
He looked at his son suspiciously. Could it be that while he was away, the child had been talking nonsense with Aunt Qi, and Aunt Qi had believed it?
But looking at her son's silly appearance, he didn't seem like the type to make up anything.
"Uncle is very happy that Aunt Qi cares about him. However, Uncle is in good health. Zhuang'er's illness is the most important thing. Has Doctor Ye examined him?" Marquis Dingyuan thought that Aunt Qi was probably worried about Zhuang'er's health after seeing him, which is why she thought of having Doctor Ye treat him. He felt very comforted.
Aunt Qi replied, "Uncle, don't worry. Doctor Ye has already treated my cousin, and there is medicine that can control her illness."
Upon hearing this good news, Marquis Dingyuan breathed a sigh of relief. His younger sister had only this one daughter, who was the apple of his eye. If anything were to happen to her, what would become of her?
Now, Zhuang'er's poor child's illness is finally under control, Qi Gu has returned, and the remaining children of the Zhang family have all been saved.
He felt heartbroken when he thought of his deceased elder brother and his two grown nephews who had lost their lives on the battlefield.
Over the years, he only had one child, Jun'er, who was fortunate to be healthy. He was sent to the army to train and became tough.
However, the children of her two younger sisters were not in good health. Although Aunt Qi seemed to be in relatively good health, she had been separated from them since childhood, which was also pitiful.
The Zhang family was small, and the children were not in good health, which worried him greatly. Now, things are better; Aunt Qi has returned, and Zhuang'er's illness has been cured.
He knew his own body well; he had never had even minor ailments. Qi Gu was just being overly concerned, but Marquis Dingyuan was quite pleased with it.
"Daughters are so caring." She then jokingly scolded her son, "Look at your cousin, she knows how to care about her father's health, and what about you? I'm lucky if you don't drive me crazy."
Zhang Jun chuckled and said, "Hehe, Father, I see you can eat three big bowls of millet and wheat rice a day, you don't seem sick at all. Besides, do you like drinking that bitter medicine?"
"You brat!"
Marquis Dingyuan waved his hand and said, "Come on, Aunt Qi, didn't you want to see the martial arts arena? I'll take you there and let you see your uncle's skills. My body is in excellent condition!"
As expected, the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion had a large training ground with all kinds of weapons on display. Qi Gu walked in front of the two rows of weapon racks and was amazed.
Looking at his niece's shining eyes, Marquis Dingyuan found it rare to see a young lady who wasn't afraid of these things, but rather curious.
He walked over to Qi Gu and showed off, saying, "This one," Marquis Dingyuan picked up a long spear, "is perfect for knocking down an enemy riding on horseback with a single thrust!"
Marquis Dingyuan acted as if he were coaxing a child, twirling the spear around a couple of times. Qi Gu, a complete novice, only thought her uncle's spear-wielding posture was very smooth and beautiful, and clapped her hands, praising, "Uncle is mighty! Uncle is amazing!"
He praised the Marquis of Dingyuan so much that he then demonstrated his knife skills, sword skills, and halberd skills to Qi Gu one by one...
Zhang Jun looked at it with great disdain, "Father, why is your showy approach so different from what you usually teach me?"
"Go away, go away!" Marquis Dingyuan's disdain for his son reached its peak. If you had any brains, how could you let that Sima family brat almost steal away such a sweet niece!
But Qi Gu still hadn't forgotten the purpose of her trip. The Jin-Yan conflict was such a dangerous battlefield, and her uncle was fine in so many battles. He went to the south to suppress the former dynasty's general Han Zhao and was fine. Yet he died of a cold in the capital after only a year of peace and quiet. It really made her think a lot.
Seeing her uncle so energetic today, Aunt Qi became even more determined to have Doctor Ye examine her uncle's body.
"Uncle, Physician Ye has been here for a while. Let him take a look at you." She blinked desperately, trying to imitate the Second Princess, her eyes filled with tears as she squeezed them out. "When I think of all the times you've fought on the battlefield over the years, I get scared. Uncle, please put my mind at ease. I haven't been able to be filial to Father and Mother for so many years, nor have I been able to be with you and Aunt. Please grant me this wish since I came back."
Seeing her pretentious act, Marquis Dingyuan burst out laughing: "Hahaha, Aunt Qi, have you got a grain of sand in your eye?"
Zhang Jun looked at his father: Father, you are just like me!
Lady Dingyuan, who was standing to the side, seemed to be thinking about something and also advised, "My lord, since it is the princess's filial piety, I think we should let Physician Ye take a look at you."
Seeing how concerned Qi Gu was about her health, Marquis Dingyuan looked at her expectant eyes and said, "Alright, I really can't refuse you."
After much effort, Doctor Ye finally managed to place his hand on Marquis Dingyuan's pulse.
Sima Hong, seemingly out of nowhere, stood beside Qi Gu again. Qi Gu immediately became alert, her eyes saying: What are you up to now?
Sima Hongdao: "You suspect that the Marquis of Dingyuan in your previous life... was a man-made being?"
Qi Gu glanced at Sima Hong and snorted, "Looks like a decent person, but he's actually a wolf in sheep's clothing."
However, she still nodded, "Don't you think it's too much of a coincidence? If I didn't know, I wouldn't care. But now that I know, I can't just sit idly by. Whether it's an accident or fate, I have to find a way to stop it. I have to have a clear conscience."
Can you say you have a clear conscience? Sima Hong looked at the woman beside him, thinking about why he had agreed to the Empress's proposal to marry Qi Gu in his previous life.
He refused the first two times. The third time, perhaps it was because Aunt Qi noticed his bad mood after being scolded by his grandfather, or perhaps it was because Aunt Qi opened her big, innocent eyes and asked him if he was tired, or perhaps it was because when he turned around, she was always standing there, her eyes only on him.
On the last occasion, he agreed.
But at that time, his mind was filled with matters of the court, matters of the Sima family, and his grandfather's unfulfilled wishes.
He didn't have the extra energy to spare for him. All along, she was the one watching him and walking towards him, and he went from being unaccustomed to it to getting used to it, until she saw him completely.
After seeing it clearly, she was still willing to wait for him.
Sima Hong suddenly thought of that last day, the look in her eyes as she cried at him, filled with profound despair. The moment she collapsed, he seemed to hear the sound of something falling. At that moment, he thought that sound was the triumphant return of soldiers, the triumphant song of his own success.
Later, he realized that it was the sound of Qi Gu's trust in him, which was as tall as a building, collapsing.
It was Qi Gu who had a clear conscience towards him. Sima Hong smiled bitterly, "A clear conscience indeed!"
He couldn't help but reach out and tightly grasp Qi Gu's hand. Qi Gu's attention was focused on Doctor Ye, but Sima Hong was shameless enough to dare to do such an immoral thing in front of everyone!
She was startled and glared at Sima Hong: Let go!
An unidentified emotion welled up in Sima Hong's eyes, and he tightened his grip even more.
As the two were struggling, Doctor Ye withdrew his hand and said to the crowd, "The Marquis is in very good health and there is nothing wrong with him, however..."
Qi Gu's heart tightened, and she forgot to struggle. Then she heard Doctor Ye say, "There is some yang evil invading. I will prescribe some heat-clearing and fire-purging medicine for the Marquis. It will be fine after that."
[Author's Note]
Qi Gu: That's enough.
Sima Hong: Not enough
Author: Not enough +1 [Sunglasses]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
