Chapter 5 Cannon Fodder White Moonlight 4 It's like a different person
He Zhiyan came back to his senses and met Ali's concerned eyes, his expression slightly changed.
The injury happened on the way back to Beijing. The other party had set an ambush, and even though he reacted quickly, he was still seriously injured. Fortunately, he was helped by a noble person and saved his life.
Because he was worried about the things in the capital, he only had time to change his blood-stained cloak, but he didn't expect that Ali still noticed it.
Seeing He Zhiyan remained silent, A-li couldn't help but get nervous: "A-li knows that brother doesn't like us asking too many questions, but brother has been seriously injured, A-li is really worried."
"It's okay now." He Zhiyan slowed down his voice, but his expression remained cold.
If it were the He Li of the past, seeing He Zhiyan's reluctance to talk, she would probably have been overwhelmed with thoughts and would not dare to ask any further questions, but today she seemed like a different person.
"But..." A Li looked at He Zhiyan's obviously thin figure and mustered up the courage to move closer. "Brother, you don't look well."
"Why don't I take a look for my brother?"
As she spoke, she stretched out her hand to take He Zhiyan's pulse. He Zhiyan didn't expect her sudden movement and subconsciously grabbed her wrist tightly.
Ali couldn't help but cry out in pain.
He Zhiyan was stunned and quickly withdrew his hand. His originally wary and indifferent eyes swept across the red mark on her wrist, and his pupils trembled slightly.
Ah Li covered his instantly swollen wrist, his nose aching, but he still looked straight at He Zhiyan with a firm gaze: "My body and hair are inherited from my parents. If my brother is injured, my father will definitely be very worried."
"Ali, I will be worried too."
Looking at Ali's stubborn look as he tried to hold back his tears, He Zhiyan felt an indescribable feeling in his heart, and the tea he had just drunk suddenly became extremely bitter.
He paused for a few breaths, and when he looked up again, all his emotions had calmed down. He casually placed his arms on the table, signaling Ali to move.
Ali understood, and placed her white fingers on He Zhiyan's wrist, feeling the pulse was icy cold.
She looked at He Zhiyan and wanted to say something, but in the end she swallowed the words and focused on taking his pulse.
But after a moment, Ali withdrew his hand, and just as He Zhiyan said, the external injuries had healed.
He Zhiyan lowered his sleeves little by little, lowered his eyes and asked, "How is it?"
Ali thought for a moment and said, "The pulse is thin and weak, deep and astringent, which indicates that the Qi and blood are deficient and stagnant."
"You should rest quietly and take some medicine to regulate your qi and blood."
He Zhiyan raised his eyebrows in surprise. He didn't think his injury required such a big fuss.
"A-Li knows that brother is busy, but health matters cannot be neglected. Throughout history, many illnesses and pains have originated from minor illnesses and injuries."
Before he could speak, Ah Li counted on his fingers and said, "Hmm... This medicine is most effective when taken an hour before bed. Then, take it at 12:30 every day. I'll boil the medicine and put it in Brother's room. Is that okay?"
He Zhiyan finally looked over, with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
Ali faced his gaze, which seemed to be real, and pursed her lips, fidgeting with her fingers nervously. "Father has been in the palace a lot lately. I'm the only one at home at night. I'm really scared."
"If brother can..." Ali's voice became lower and lower, almost crying, "But if brother feels it's not good, then forget it, Ali, it doesn't matter."
"good."
Unexpectedly, He Zhiyan agreed so readily. Ali suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with surprise.
"Really?"
He Zhiyan nodded slightly, his voice clear and sharp: "But there is one more thing."
He paused for a moment and continued, "The city has been in turmoil lately. Don't open the door to anyone when you're home alone. If you run into a bad guy..."
Ah Li picked up the teacup again: "But Brother Shi is not a bad person."
All the words that He Zhiyan hadn't said were stuck in his throat.
Seeing that his expression was not right, Ah Li carefully put down the teacup. His eyes, blurred and moistened by the mist, blinked twice and whispered, "...Did I say something wrong?"
He Zhiyan met her innocent gaze without a trace of impurities and was stunned. The black hairband behind him was blown up by the cold wind. After a long time, he seemed to have thought of something and shook his head silently.
An awkward atmosphere spread between the two of them, easily breaking this rare moment of silence.
"It's windy outside, come inside early."
He Zhiyan said something and stood up to leave.
"Brother!" Ali stood up and grabbed He Zhiyan's sleeves with both hands, but he didn't dare to pull it too tight, for fear that he would be unhappy.
He Zhiyan turned around, his eyes fell on the hands of the two men, and finally stopped.
Ali's hands were shaking, and tears were filling his eyes: "Don't go."
He Zhiyan met her gaze calmly, his eyes as cold as winter, and slowly pulled out his sleeves.
"have a good rest."
Ali stood there dejectedly, watching He Zhiyan's back getting farther and farther away until it disappeared.
*
Tianminglou is the largest teahouse in Beijing. It is located in the most prosperous area of Central Street and is six stories high.
The first floor receives individual guests, the second to fifth floors are private rooms arranged in order of heaven, earth, black and yellow, and the highest sixth floor is priceless and only receives guests of extremely noble status.
At this time, in the most luxurious room on the sixth floor, two young men were sitting opposite each other. One had a handsome face and an air of nobility, while the other had a natural smile and charming eyes.
The beauty of the sixth floor of Tianminglou is that, although it is located on the most prosperous street in the capital, it is quiet and isolated from the hustle and bustle outside.
But now someone wants to break this silence.
Seeing Liang Zizhuo push open the window as soon as he came in, the noise outside instantly poured into the quiet room, and Pei Miao frowned.
Liang Zizhuo leaned out the window and saw that opposite Tianming Tower was the capital's leading clothing shop, Fuguang Pavilion. If one wanted to know what clothing styles were popular in the capital, one only had to look at Fuguang Pavilion.
Both of the two major shops are located here, and this location is extremely valuable.
It was afternoon, and the streets were bustling with people.
Liang Zizhuo glanced at Pei Miao, fanned himself, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "I know you're upset because the clue you finally found was broken, but the spring is so beautiful, we can't let it go to waste."
Pei Miao still had a gloomy expression and clenched the porcelain cup in his hand.
"No news from there yet?"
Liang Zizhuo's expression turned serious: "Not yet, but." He paused and looked out the window: "Maybe there will be a result soon."
Pei Miao turned the jade ring on his hand, and a hint of cruelty flashed in his eyes.
A sudden knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
A servant in green pushed the door open and came in, saying respectfully, "Second Young Master, this is the guest list for the master's birthday next month. Madam has asked me to give it to you for your review."
Pei Miao snorted coldly, a mocking smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he did not accept it: "She is always pretending to be hypocritical."
Liang Zizhuo was not surprised by this. Seeing that the servant was still standing there, he closed his fan and casually placed it on the table: "Come, let me take a look."
The servant knew that the eldest son of Minister Liang of the Ministry of Justice and his second son had been good friends since childhood and were as close as brothers. Seeing that Pei Miao had no dissatisfaction, he handed the invitation over as if he had been pardoned, bowed, and retreated to the door.
Liang Zizhuo glanced at a few pages and saw that Pei Miao across from him still looked troubled, so he teased, "Your stepmother does have some skills."
He paused deliberately for a few moments. "This list includes both old nobles and upstarts from humble backgrounds. Although many of these people have grudges against each other, the seating arrangement is impeccable."
"The Prime Minister has truly found a good wife." Liang Zizhuo gave his final verdict.
Pei Miao finally looked up at him.
Liang Zizhuo chuckled and leaned back in his chair, saying lazily, "What are you looking at?"
"Lord Pei, who is said to be so elegant, gentle and affectionate, would also have a murderous look on his face like this? If the young ladies outside saw this, wouldn't they be heartbroken?"
Pei Miao ignored him and poured himself some tea, saying, "If you're too bored to read, go read the Northwest files again."
The Sui army, which had been stationed in the northwest for generations, was planning a rebellion, which was a major event that shocked the government and the public at the end of last year.
Sui Yuanzhou, the head of the Sui family, was originally a minister of the previous dynasty. After the fall of the previous dynasty, he surrendered and followed the previous emperor of this dynasty to fight everywhere. He served under the previous emperor together with Duke Xu and King Annan, who were generals of the front army at that time.
After the establishment of the current dynasty, the previous emperor bestowed titles upon his ministers. Sui Yuanzhou was granted the title of First-Rank General, commanding the Sui army to defend the northwest. Xu was granted the title of Duke, commanding a hundred thousand troops to defend the capital. Zhao was granted the title of King of Annan, guarding the southern border. From then on, these three became the three most meritorious and influential military commanders in the court.
But last year, news of the Sui army's rebellion suddenly spread in the court, and the Censorate was ordered to secretly investigate the matter.
But within a month, Sui Yuanzhou, his family, and his personal guards were escorted back to the capital. Everything had unfolded so rapidly that many officials in the court were willing to vouch for the Sui family and request a thorough investigation.
However, the new emperor had not yet taken power, and all major court affairs were decided by the empress dowager and three regent ministers, and the court and the public were arguing endlessly about this matter.
It was not until the imperial envoy who secretly went to the northwest to investigate found several letters, the contents of which were clearly communications between the second son of the Sui family and the remnants of the previous dynasty. This finally confirmed the crime of treason against the Sui family.
But how to deal with the Sui family and the Sui army became another difficult problem.
In the end, it was Prime Minister Pei, the head of the regent ministers, who overruled the majority opinion and executed all the members of the Sui family and their close military followers on the 21st day of the twelfth lunar month on the grounds that "it is not appropriate to see blood during the New Year, otherwise it will lead to trouble." The Sui family army was disbanded and incorporated into the armies in various places.
But the centipede is still alive, and there are still some members of the Sui family who have escaped the net and are trying to cause trouble.
Liang Zizhuo understood the implication of Pei Miao's words, frowned and thought for a moment, then replied, "I understand."
He took a sip of tea, but saw Pei Miao's eyes suddenly turned cold.
Liang Zizhuo followed his gaze and saw a young girl in purple standing in front of Fuguang Pavilion. Although the girl was dressed simply, her temperament was particularly eye-catching. She looked delicate and pitiful, like a willow swaying in the wind.
The girl said something to the shopkeeper, and turned her head to look outside. Liang Zizhuo was able to see her face, which was indeed in good condition.
"What are you doing?" Before he could ask, Pei Miao got up and went downstairs.
Liang Zizhuo's eyes grew more interested. He tapped the note with his fan and said with a half-smile, "It seems Madam Pei needs to add a few more names to her list."
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