If you are going to vomit blood, you can’t just vomit blood. You must stretch out pale fingers, sway as you vomit, hold your chest in a silent accusation, let the blood flow before the words come out, and the voice must be as light as a sigh as you vomit.
Every detail could withstand scrutiny.
“My Lord!”
Tao Yong, according to Rong Juan’s hint, took the money bag to subsidize the merchants.
Tao Wen rushed forward and supported him: “Quick, call a carriage, back to the Prime Minister’s manor.”
Prime Minister’s manor?
Han Kui’s radar sounded instantly.
After being robbed at home a few times, the Right Prime Minister had given him hints.
One reason Han Kui followed Rong Juan in the name of patrol was to prevent him from repeating his old tricks. He immediately went to stop him.
Tao Wen argued strongly: “What is your intention in obstructing a court official from seeking medical treatment?”
Han Kui crossed his arms and sneered: “Which eye saw me stop him?”
Although he didn’t stop it himself, his subordinates still uttered threats, and no coachman dared to take the order.
A vendor pulling a pushcart got angry from the bottom of his heart and was about to push the cart over, but Rong Juan waved his hand at this time. Finally, Tao Wen supported him to walk.
Tao Wen was not actually confident, checking again in a low voice whether it was really necessary to call a doctor.
Rong Juan shook his head: “It’s fine.”
Han Kui’s triumph of blocking the carriage didn’t last two seconds. When his gaze swept around, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
The surrounding commoners were indignant. Those who dared not speak out were also full of worry as they watched them leave.
Han Kui naturally didn’t care about the thoughts of “ants.” The commoners at the foot of the Imperial City were all within his jurisdiction. His subordinates accepted money daily, and he already had a bad reputation.
But not far away, there were clearly a few figures with different temperaments. Cold, with straight backs, likely people from the Superintendent Bureau.
“Damn it.”
The Superintendent Bureau might make a big fuss about this matter. Ruining Rong Hengsong’s reputation was completely impossible now. Under such a promotion, his reputation might become even better.
Who could have thought that someone could spit blood just like that? Truly “losing the wife and the army” (suffering a double loss)!
The fat on Han Kui’s face shook three times. Wondering what he was thinking, with dark eyes, he quickly caught up with Rong Juan.
Outside the Prime Minister’s manor stood a row of Imperial Guards who were responsible for guarding the capital region daily.
The steward walked out and opened his mouth wide when he saw Rong Juan.
Before long, Zheng Wan hurried out.
This time, she didn’t even pretend to be a loving mother. With a face the color of iron, she said, “Why did you come again?”
Rong Juan said weakly: “Why does Mother ask this? I’m returning to my own home.”
Zheng Wan felt a breath stuck in her chest. Behind her, Han Kui suddenly spoke: “Recently, there have been many refugees in the capital. Madam, rest assured. With this subordinate standing guard here, no one dares to act rashly in the Prime Minister’s manor.”
With someone backing her up, Zheng Wan’s face looked better. She stared at Rong Juan with a sneer.
She wanted to see if the other party dared to do anything outrageous under the nose of the Imperial Guards.
Rong Juan walked into the manor: “Huo.”
The ground had been repaved. It would be autumn soon, and the Prime Minister’s manor had changed some landscaping in advance.
Everywhere he looked, the people in the manor became a little tenser.
Even when Rong Juan looked at the rockery, everyone gasped.
Rong Juan: “…”
No need for this.
Do you really think I can pull up mountains and lift cauldrons, taking the rockery away?
Obviously, Rong Juan’s credit had run out in the Prime Minister’s manor. Now he couldn’t even sit in a carriage in the manor.
From precious medicinal materials to precious talents, the other party took something every time he came. The manor was now basically full of Zheng Wan’s confidants, determined not to let him take away even a blade of grass!
Rong Juan moved his lips at this moment.
Tao Wen immediately raised his voice: “At the request of Mr. Gu, our Lord specially came to get his belongings.”
“Shu…” Zheng Wan almost accidentally blurted out a curse word.
Only when Rong Hengsui rushed over did she seem to find her backbone again.
Rong Hengsui’s composure was lost due to repeated setbacks. Seeing Rong Juan swaggering toward the place where retainers lived, the wound on his chest almost split with anger.
He walked over and warned: “You forcibly kidnapped Mr. Gu, and now you still want to steal his property.”
“Then go report to the officials.”
“…” The owner wasn’t here, how to report?
Rong Juan’s voice was light and well-reasoned: “Mr. Gu has decided to stay in the General’s Manor. Besides daily clothes, those books he cherished most must naturally be taken away.”
While speaking arrogantly, Rong Juan noticed movements in the manor.
Interesting.
Cheap Dad should be in the manor at this time, but didn’t appear to stop him.
Rong Hengsui also paid attention to this point. He forced himself to calm down, stopped Zheng Wan who was about to speak, and reminded her in a low voice: “After all, he is also Father’s child. If we kick him out of the manor directly, there will definitely be censors impeaching Father.”
Rong Hengsui’s brain was far behind Rong Chenglin and Rong Juan, but better than Zheng Wan’s.
He was very sure Gu Wen didn’t defect to Rong Juan. Coming here to make noise was just to sow discord.
On the opposite side, Rong Juan seemed even more arrogant, raising his chin: “Mr. Gu said his friendship with Big Brother is just as recorded in ‘Zhao Collection’: ‘Spring dreams and autumn clouds, scattering like wild ducks and wild geese.'”
“It’s already scattered. Why is Big Brother still stubborn?”
Rong Hengsui didn’t stop Rong Juan from packing Gu Wen’s things again.
Amidst the latter’s chatter, Rong Hengsui repeatedly pondered that sentence.
Mr. Gu probably deliberately lured this bastard here, definitely wanting to convey some information through this sentence.
He needed to hurry up and check “Zhao Collection.”
…
The front yard was noisy to the extreme, not affecting the Daishè (annex for retainers) at all.
The green bamboo was vigorous. The stone table placed in the courtyard wasn’t ordinary; its surface was transparent and gentle, smooth like jade.
Rong Chenglin’s scarlet official robe contrasted sharply with the table’s color. Although there was someone opposite him, he was playing chess alone.
When he came today, a very difficult endgame was set on the table.
As the last stone fell, Rong Chenglin lifted his eyelids to look at the man in a thin shirt opposite.
Retainers were mostly good at socializing. Song Mingzhi was an exception. He disliked dealing with people but loved luxury and enjoyment.
For example, in this courtyard, there were about ten servants, some serving tea and water, some fanning, and some reading. When Song Mingzhi was lazy, he would have someone read books to him.
Witnessing the Right Prime Minister solve the endgame, Song Mingzhi wasn’t surprised. “It’s very noisy outside. Doesn’t the Prime Minister go take a look?”
Rong Chenglin: “Sui’er can handle it.”
Hearing him specifically point out Rong Hengsui, Song Mingzhi understood.
After glancing at the black and white chessboard first, he said again: “They all say life is like chess. Sometimes, no matter how clearly divided, black and white pieces are essentially just chess pieces, just like civil officials and generals are all His Majesty’s subjects.”
Rong Chenglin didn’t react when Rong Juan came to make trouble, but now he showed obvious interest: “What does Mister mean…”
Song Mingzhi smiled without speaking.
Rong Chenglin meditated for a moment and smiled too.
This was hinting that Rong Hengsui could take the path of a general.
Now party strife was serious, and such an arrangement was very contrary to common sense, but thinking carefully, it might not be impossible.
In the army, Xie Yanzhou dominated alone and advocated war. His Majesty privately preferred peace, so he naturally hoped someone could check and balance Xie Yanzhou.
“Sui’er has no military merit and no achievements. If he is really in the army, I’m afraid his words will carry little weight.”
Song Mingzhi said lightly: “Ministry of War.”
His Majesty was already suspicious because the Fifth Prince had secretly asked the Superintendent Bureau for help. He was displeased with them right now.
Rong Chenglin thought of this, and the fine lines at the corners of his eyes gradually smoothed out.
If he mentioned the achievement of taking a stab during the suppression of the rebellion at this time, it wouldn’t be difficult for Sui’er to be casually conferred a minor official position in the Ministry of War.
Even without conferment, leaving an impression on His Majesty first would ensure a good place after participating in the imperial examination next year.
“Mister has great talent.” A few words solved a troublesome matter for him now.
After Rong Chenglin was satisfied, he asked about the main purpose of coming today: “Does Mister think your junior brother, my good student, will be a fence-sitter?”
The celestial phenomenon matter was Gu Wen’s plan. Once the Superintendent Bureau pried open his mouth, there would be a lot of trouble.
“Just fellow discipleship, understanding might not be very deep.” Song Mingzhi half-closed his eyes, already showing signs of seeing off the guest, “Only know Junior Brother likes Huizhou.”
Rong Chenglin wasn’t unhappy about his attitude at all, leaving amiably.
Huizhou wasn’t big, and the local officials were their people. Finding Gu Wen’s family wouldn’t be difficult.
Song Mingzhi was too lazy to even open his eyes, let alone watch the Prime Minister leave.
He shook his head, thinking to himself that it would be strange if they could find them.
A servant entered not long after, reporting what happened in the front yard.
Hearing Rong Juan ran a special trip, claiming to get things for Gu Wen, Song Mingzhi opened his eyes and said calmly: “Run to Gu Wen’s courtyard. Pay attention and see if there is anything unusual.”
The servant went confusedly, returning very surprisedly: “There really is! There’s a book!”
Song Mingzhi opened the book.
“How did you know…”
“A young master who never does housework wouldn’t personally do something like packing luggage.”
Rong Hengsong especially stayed in Gu Wen’s room for a long time; most likely, something else was fishy.
However, finding that the other party had only left a book was somewhat unexpected for Song Mingzhi.
A book titled “Three Kingdoms,” Song Mingzhi had read extensively and was sure he hadn’t seen it.
One page was folded. The moment he opened it, he scanned a few times and browsed the content.
The chapter was titled “Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage.”
Hearing that a strategist was talented, the protagonist wanted to ask him for assistance and went to Longzhong. He visited three times in a row, only meeting the strategist on the third visit. The strategist was touched by his sincerity and finally came out of seclusion.
At the end, a note was scrawled with ink: One visit.
Is this confidence that he can persuade me on the third visit?
There is actually such a brazen person in the world.
The image of Rong Hengsong as a stubborn, bad student in the past and the current appearance of cleverly leaving information alternately appeared.
Song Mingzhi closed the book: “Interesting.”
…
When returning, Han Kui didn’t stop Rong Juan from calling a carriage. Rong Juan refused instead.
“Go, call a carriage for me. Remember to pay.”
The bossy attitude made Han Kui laugh in anger. If the other party didn’t also have an official rank, he would have said something nasty long ago.
Rong Juan glanced back at the archway of the Prime Minister’s manor: “Since I have no carriage, I will stay here overnight temporarily.”
“…”
Han Kui finally called three carriages for him. At Rong Juan’s request, the Tao brothers each had to take a carriage as well.
As a good son of the Rong family, Rong Juan never left the Prime Minister’s manor empty-handed. This time, “ransacking” Gu Wen’s home, he also successfully loaded half a carriage of things.
After the carriage was on the road, the System wondered: [Aren’t we going to meet Gu Wen’s senior brother?]
Rong Juan wiped the bloodstains from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, picked a comfortable position to lean on, and said unhurriedly: “Song Mingzhi is still avoiding the world.”
Calling hastily would likely result in closed doors, alerting the target instead.
“‘Spring dreams and autumn clouds, scattering like wild ducks and wild geese.’ Knowing the mountain road is long, also letting the mountain wind send him back.”
He recited the poem, unhurriedly, with the right stress and speed.
“Let this strategist submit and willingly become my concubine (Xiao).”
System: [??]
“Xiao Nao (Cerebellum/Small Brain).” Dedicated brain machine.
Gu Wen came first, so let him be the Da Nao (Cerebrum/Big Brain).
[…] Why don’t you say bigger and stronger, make the world submit?
Gu Wen played a key role in exposing the flaws of the Prime Minister’s manor.
How many eyes were watching?
How could Xie Yanzhou let Gu Wen secretly pass information, especially through his mouth?
If Song Mingzhi were smart, he would understand that my trip had another purpose.
Rong Juan said boredly: “I guess I’ve succeeded in arousing his interest.”
After the tiring journey, when finally arriving at the General’s Manor, Rong Juan got off the carriage sleepily.
As soon as he lifted the curtain, he felt something was wrong.
Couldn’t say the reason; perhaps it was the sixth sense. Rong Juan forced his eyes open and soon saw Xie Yanzhou standing at the manor gate.
Huh, didn’t the steward say he went to the drill ground?
At this moment, Xie Yanzhou’s expression was a bit like when they first met.
The difference was that last time it was ignoring, this time those eyes were looking directly at him.
Xie Yanzhou’s eyes were kept very low throughout, and his thin lips pressed tightly.
Rong Juan could even sense the tension beneath that calm exterior.
Xue Ren was also there, wearing sheepskin gloves, smiling: “Not bad, heard you can induce vomiting in yourself now.”
Following Xue Ren’s gaze downward, the spots of blood on the lapel were like red plum blossoms.
Rong Juan couldn’t help but give birth to an outrageous guess: Xie Yanzhou couldn’t be wearing a dark face because he deliberately vomited blood, could he?
Before he could confirm further, these two had already turned and walked towards the manor.
Xue Ren gestured halfway for Rong Juan to follow.
Rong Juan was puzzled and followed for some distance.
The road ahead was long. Feeling that his step count had exceeded the limit recently, he tried to open his mouth to express his wish to sleep.
“I…”
A strong smell of medicine drifted in the wind, interrupting the conversation.
The door at the end was half open. In a small cabin next to the pond, there was a very large medicine tub, and a rich, continuous smell of medicine emanated from it.
Rong Juan inexplicably felt bad.
Xue Ren ordered people to add some more hot water inside, then said: “I left the capital to find Master two days ago. He personally prescribed this.”
Prescription, for curing illness?
So rampant now. Used to drug secretly, now acting in broad daylight? Rong Juan opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
“No need to be moved.” Xue Ren waved his hand: “Thank the General if you want. He forced me to go. Some special medicinal materials are even used as favors to exchange.”
Unknown things were put in the medicine tub. Just smelling it felt pungent, as if the lungs were burning.
Rong Juan’s legs were already weak.
“Ap… appreciated.”
“What use is appreciation alone? Must experience it personally.” Xue Ren reminded him to experience it fully: “The medicinal bath is almost ready. Need to soak for half an hour at a time. It will be a bit painful during the process, and you need to leave someone to prevent fainting and drowning.”
Need to prevent fainting. Is that ordinary pain?!
Rong Juan stepped back cautiously step by step. Nearing the threshold, he turned to run, only to hit hard muscle face-first on the spot.
The point of impact was wrong. Even the tip of his nose was red from collision, looking pitifully tearful.
Unfortunately, those present were all cold-hearted.
Creak—
As Xie Yanzhou’s arm moved, the closed door blocked the sunlight. Inside the house was gloomy, with only the unknown medicine tub bubbling.
“Get in.” Xie Yanzhou looked at Rong Juan, his tone allowing no discussion.
Looking up and making eye contact, Rong Juan remembered the nightmare the day before becoming an official. Xie Yanzhou commanded two personal guards to hold him down, then cruelly forced him to take tonics.
The details of the dream are still clear to this day.
The nightmare has come true!!!
Author’s Note:
Unofficial History:
The Emperor, diligent, traveled far to help worthy men pack luggage.
Worthy men: Far from home, sighing endlessly, transformed into autumn leaves.
Far from… leaves comes from lyrics.