Chapter 123 Second Sister-in-law, oh Second Sister-in-law, I want to give you again...
The doctor let out a long breath and said calmly, "Did you grab the wrong medicine when you were pounding it?"
The apprentice was too frightened to speak.
"Learn from this experience and don't be careless in the future. Luckily, you discovered it in time and it didn't lead to a serious mistake. Go and get another dose of medicine," the doctor instructed.
The apprentice was stunned. He slowly realized what the doctor meant: was he trying to fool the doctor?
"I told Lord Du that Lord Chen's condition worsened due to mosquito bites," the doctor added. He didn't care where the blister beetles came from; as long as it didn't endanger his life, he would pretend not to know.
The young apprentice nodded, picked up the medicine bowl, and went back to the pharmacy to get the medicine.
"Is Lord Du here?" Du Li walked into the pharmacy and saw Du Min. He said, "Third brother, people from the governor's mansion have arrived. You must come back with me quickly."
Du Min took a step back and turned to walk out.
"Why are you here again?" Du Li asked.
“His son is not here, and I am his student. He is so badly injured now, how could I not stay by his side?” Du Minyi said righteously. “The doctor said his injuries have worsened and his life is in danger. He may not have many days left to live. I will stay by his bedside for the rest of his days.”
"You're going to die?" Du Li wasn't surprised. Governor Zheng's words yesterday had clearly indicated he wouldn't leave anyone alive. He looked at Du Min probingly. "Are you unhappy?"
Du Min glanced at him, and with a sorrowful expression, he uttered two words: "Happy."
"This isn't your normal reaction." Du Li put her arm around his shoulder and asked in a low voice, "Tell me honestly, did you do something to him?"
"No," Du Min denied, not intending to let anyone know about it.
“You really won’t tell me? I won’t tell your second sister-in-law,” Du Li said.
Du Min didn't believe him for a second. He shook off the hand on his shoulder and said, "Take your stinky hands away, they're so heavy."
Du Li punched him.
Du Min stepped on his foot.
"You didn't leave any clues, did you?" Du Li asked seriously.
"I didn't do it, so what's the evidence?" Du Min rolled his eyes at him. "Why don't you believe me?"
Du Li didn't respond. "Are you really sure he won't live more than a few days? This guy hates you just like your father, and he always manages to cause trouble for people from time to time. What if he's about to die and still manages to harm you?"
“He has a persistent high fever, his wounds are festering, and he is already delirious,” Du Min said.
When they arrived at the post station, the two brothers tacitly stopped talking about it.
Meng Qing was entertaining the governor's steward in the courtyard when she saw the two brothers entering one after the other. She stood up and said, "My third brother is back. You two talk."
“Lord Du, the maids in the manor have been spoiled. After eating a few more good dishes with the young lady, they think they are someone important. Please don’t be angry. The lord has already arranged for someone to sell this arrogant and ignorant maid.” The steward said apologetically. “When the lord heard about what happened in the inner quarters, he was furious and immediately sent me to apologize with gifts.”
“Your Excellency is too kind. An apology is unnecessary. He didn’t even know about this matter, and ignorance is no excuse. I understand his intentions. If he didn’t think highly of me, he wouldn’t have been willing to marry his daughter to me; he wouldn’t have even mentioned it,” Du Min said gently. “I should have gone to see Your Excellency as soon as I came down the mountain, but the pharmacy sent word that my master’s condition had worsened and his life was in danger. I am the only close person he has in Luoyang, and I couldn’t leave without going to keep watch over him, which is why I was delayed. Tomorrow or the day after, once my master’s condition has stabilized, I will personally visit Your Excellency.”
Judging from his demeanor, the steward, with his ability to judge people, knew that Du Min did not seem to harbor any resentment.
"I'm glad you didn't misunderstand. The master was worried that you might have misunderstood his intentions..."
"No, no." Du Min smiled. "Please pass on a message: I thank Lord Du Min for valuing me. This sentiment alone makes me extremely grateful. The outcome is not important."
"Yes, I will definitely pass on the message."
"Curfew is approaching, so I won't keep you for dinner. The governor's mansion isn't close to here, so you should head back now," Du Min urged with a smile.
The steward smiled as well. He left with a smile, let out a sigh of relief, and returned to the mansion to immediately report Du Min's reaction.
"Judging from Lord Du's attitude, he doesn't seem to harbor any resentment towards you. He also said that you were willing to give up your beloved daughter to marry him, and that this sentiment alone made him extremely grateful. As for whether it will work out, the outcome is not important," the steward repeated Du Min's words.
These words struck a chord with Governor Zheng, who lamented, "The more I look at Du Min, the more I like him. It's a pity. If he had a better background, even just a little bit better, if he were the son of a minor official, I would have made him my son-in-law."
"There are some minor officials in Luoyang who come from the Zheng family. Why don't you introduce him to someone else? Even if he can't be your son-in-law, he can still be a relative," the steward suggested.
Governor Zheng had this idea, and he had been considering it all day, but his servant brought back news that Du Min had made a vow at the Buddhist temple. With that vow in place, he feared it might not come to fruition.
"If I were to force a marriage, wouldn't he think that my daughter, Zheng, is unmarriageable? Besides, being demoted from the daughter of an official to the daughter of a minor official would be a humiliation for him. If it creates resentment in his heart, it's really not worth it. Forget it, before the marriage was arranged, he served the Zheng family. Even if the marriage doesn't work out, he will still be a member of the Zheng family. Anyone with eyes can see that he has the Zheng family of Xingyang behind him. He relied on the Zheng family from humble beginnings. How could the emperor not know?" Governor Zheng dismissed his idea of winning over Du Min through marriage. In his view, the Zheng family of Xingyang was an unattainable backer for Du Min. Du Min should curry favor with this backer, rather than the backer repeatedly taking the initiative to approach him.
His only regret was not being able to control the school's accounts. If the marriage went through, the school would likely become his money bag, not Minister Zheng's. But after thinking it over, the school wasn't worth turning against Minister Zheng.
The steward watched as Governor Zheng sighed repeatedly until his expression calmed down before continuing, "Lord Du is trapped in the pharmacy. He said he would come to visit you again in a couple of days. That Military Advisor Chen is his only close friend in Luoyang, and he also carries the title of his mentor, so Lord Du has no choice but to go and keep watch over him."
"How is the matter I asked you to arrange progressing?" Governor Zheng asked.
"The arrangements were made early this morning. The medicinal mud used by Military Advisor Chen today contains blister beetles. Blister beetles can suppress pain, but an overdose will cause the wound to ulcerate. At first, he will only feel comfortable when it is applied, but by the time he realizes something is wrong, the medicine has already penetrated deep into his flesh and blood, and there is no possibility of healing." The steward explained the situation. "The ulceration of the wound will inevitably lead to a high fever. If the high fever does not subside, he will fall into a coma and die within five days."
Governor Zheng waved his hand, and the steward bowed and withdrew.
*
The next day.
When Du Min went to the pharmacy again, Chen Mingzhang was barely breathing and not drinking any water. The doctor said he was just going to wait it out.
Upon hearing this, Du Min decided to move over and stay with him. He returned to the post station and told Magistrate Zhao to go back to Heyin County first. "Lord Chen is in this state, with his wife and children not by his side. I have to stay with him. I can't let him die alone in a foreign land. I also need to ask Magistrate Yin what to do with Lord Chen's body in this situation. If his body is to be kept in the mortuary, I need to prepare a good coffin for him, otherwise it will be too tragic."
Meng Qing was about to go out to look at the shop when she heard this. She stared at Du Min for a few seconds and asked, "You are his student, aren't you going to wear mourning clothes and keep vigil for him?"
Du Min looked puzzled; he suspected she was possessed by a ghost.
“I would like to, but I also have official duties to attend to.” Du Min looked at Magistrate Zhao and hesitated, “Prefect Yin just sent the letter, it’s still a long way from arriving in Chang’an, and Lord Chen’s son won’t arrive until the middle of next month…”
“No, you can’t stay in Luoyang for long. A month is too long.” Magistrate Zhao refused. He said with annoyance, “According to the original plan, we should have left yesterday. If we arrive today, we can start coordinating the governance of Heyin County tomorrow.”
"It's too tragic to place Lord Chen's coffin in the mortuary. He was your mentor, and you'll never be at peace after you're gone. It's a lifelong regret that you'll never be able to let go of. Why don't you take his coffin back to Heqing County on his behalf? Whether you keep the body there for a month or temporarily bury him, you can exhume it and return it to his hometown when his son comes." Meng Qing spoke of sorrow and guilt, but his eyebrows arched and his eyes gleamed. "Your second brother, my younger brother, and I have been traveling around Luoyang these past two days, and we've basically found a source of supplies for the mortuary. If you're willing, the three of us—oh, and you too—can make a batch of paper offerings for Lord Chen. Lord Chen died far from home, which is already tragic enough. His funeral shouldn't be so bleak. You can take the paper offerings and the coffin back to Heqing County, so he can go with you in style and see the territory you govern."
Du Min understood her plan. She wanted to use Chen Mingzhang's funeral to make the paper offerings and funerary objects appear in front of the people of Luoyang in a natural way, so that he, as the student who carried the coffin on behalf of his son, could also gain a reputation for filial piety.
Du Min stood up and paced back and forth, pretending to be anxious. If he didn't walk around, he would jump up and laugh out loud. Chen Mingzhang threatened him repeatedly with his reputation for being unfilial, but he never expected that his own funeral would earn him a reputation for filial piety.
Hahaha, life is so unpredictable!
“Lord Du, your second sister-in-law is right. Stay in Luoyang for a few more days to handle Lord Chen’s funeral before returning home.” Magistrate Zhao had no choice but to speak. He glanced at Meng Qing; this woman was quite cunning. She had killed two birds with one stone. Du Min’s act of carrying his mentor’s coffin back to his post was a remarkable story worthy of being told! Even paper effigies could be used to gain fame in Luoyang.
Thinking of this, Magistrate Zhao couldn't help but slap his thigh and let out a long "Ouch!"
"What's wrong?" Meng Qing asked.
"Oh! I'm so jealous!" Magistrate Zhao grabbed his teacup and gulped down a mouthful of water. He stood up, punched Du Min, and stormed off indignantly.
Du Min finally smiled. He walked up to Meng Qing and bowed repeatedly. "Second sister-in-law, you are amazing. I want to kowtow to you a few more times."
Oh my god! Du Min wished he could kowtow to Meng Qing's feet and die. This plan was even more satisfying than killing Chen Mingzhang with excrement.
"I pondered all night, but it was no match for Second Sister-in-law's quick thinking." Du Min bowed in admiration. "I regret it, I regret it! I shouldn't have dirtied my hands; that was the worst move."
"And you still say you didn't do anything!" Meng Qing pointed at him.
Du Min was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Second sister-in-law, I couldn't sleep last night because I kept thinking about the humiliation and indignation I suffered in front of him. He tripped me up in so many ways. Without you and the paper offerings, my career would have been ruined by him long ago. Don't think that my regret now is just temporary. He's already handed me the knife. If I don't stab him, I'll regret it until I die, and I won't be able to swallow this anger even in death."
"I can't be bothered with you." The deed was done, and Meng Qing didn't bother to say anything more.
"Didn't you leave any evidence?" she was still worried.
"No." Du Min quietly told her how he did it. He had read in the pharmacopoeia that the golden juice could cause wounds to fester and ulcerate, leading to a persistent high fever.
Meng Qing glared at him. "Don't be so smug. Once you cross the line, once you disregard human life, your career will be in danger."
"Sister, why haven't you come out yet? The mayor is waiting." Meng Chun rushed in anxiously.
Meng Qing responded, glanced at Du Min again, and then left.
Du Min stood alone for a while, then went out to find a good coffin for Chen Mingzhang.
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