Vol 2 Chapter 73

With Duan Lingguang’s restraint, after fifteen years, Lu Qing stayed in Lin’an for two more days. On the grounds of visiting relatives, he mixed in with a team of caravans that went to the capital and set off.

The closer you are to the capital, the more rumors about the capital along the way. Lu Qing has deliberately avoided the news of the capital for a few years. Now it is difficult to keep silent.

Many rumors are still related to his acquaintances.

For example, Jinyiwei is bullying, and Zheng Yao, the commander of Jinyiwei, has a fierce style like a bandit, kills without blinking, and can stop children from crying at night. It is said that two officials who hated him got together at night and called him a vicious dog raised by the emperor. The next day, Jin Yiwei knocked on the door.

Another example is Mr. Fan, who entered the pavilion at a young age. At that time, Mr. Fan was on the rise, and it was promoted by the old man. It used to be a good talk, but now the relationship with the old man is getting worse and worse. I heard that he was assassinated with the emperor back then. The matter is related, and Feng Ge Lao’s son was executed because of this case.

Another example is the general Shi Xiao who inherited the legacy of General Shi Da, guarding in Mobei, the general is taciturn, but he is highly skilled in martial arts. Now he has led his troops to the battlefield, repelling the invaders several times, and the last time he returned to Beijing to report his duties. At that time, many people were able to see it and sighed with emotion, the little general is really more and more like a big general.

When Lu Qing listened to these familiar names, he was always in a trance, feeling a little unfamiliar.

During the discussion, there were naturally some vague references to the young emperor, but the closer to the capital, the fewer people dared to talk about Ning Juan.

After all, at the foot of the emperor, it is different from the Lin’an mansion, and the wind and grass will be discovered. If you dare to talk about the emperor, aren’t you afraid that Jinyiwei will come to the door?

When the caravan stopped to rest, Lu Qing stayed on the horse and seldom went down. Hearing people chatting about anecdotes about the emperor, talking about the divination of Taoist priests, he couldn’t help opening the curtain and interjecting. : “Everyone travels south and north, don’t know if they know something?”

The people in the caravan were quite friendly, and it may have been Duan Lingguang who greeted him. Hearing Lu Qing speak, they all responded, “You ask.”

Lu Qing considered it for a while: “Did Your Majesty recruit monks and Taoists to enter the palace?”

It was still hard for him to believe that Ning Juan would do such a thing.

Hearing him calling His Majesty, everyone was shocked: “Oh, son, you can’t call the emperor like this, be careful to hear it for the passing Jinyiwei.”

“I seem to have heard about this, but I don’t know if it’s true or not. After all, things in the palace…”

“I happened to be passing through the capital back then, and I did see a Taoist monk entering the capital, but I don’t know what it was for.

There are different opinions about this, and it is not clear why.

Lu Qing didn’t see them clearly, smiled and thanked them, then lowered the curtain.

Although Lu Qingze was wearing a hat all the way and couldn’t see his face clearly, the few people who spoke to him somehow thought that this weak-looking nobleman must be very good-looking, and discussed him quietly for a while.

When approaching Gyeonggi, Lu Qing and Qian Mingming bid farewell to the caravan and went to the suburbs of Beijing on their own.

Qian Mingming was dying of curiosity about Lu Qingze’s identity, but when Duan Lingguang was there, he didn’t dare to ask. Before, there were many people in the caravan, so it was not easy to ask. Young Master, I hear your accent, it sounds like someone from the capital, why do you have to be so careful when you go back to Beijing, did you offend someone big?”

Such a good-looking face, if you have to paint it ordinary, it is simply a waste of time!

Offended a big man?

Lu Qing smiled peacefully: “Forget it.”

Before leaving, he had offended all the dignitaries and ministers in the capital, as well as the noble emperor.

Qian Mingming pondered in his heart, it seems that 80% of them have a life-and-death feud.

He secretly glanced at Lu Qingze’s looming face under his hat, and suddenly his heart moved again, and he said sincerely, “But Mr. Lu, I don’t think there should be anyone in this world who really hates you.”

unless he is blind.

I don’t know where Qian Mingming’s confidence came from, but Lu Qing smiled: “I accept your good words.”

When they arrived near Gyeonggi, the defense was obviously much more heavily guarded.

The two were riding horses, while Lu Qing was not in good health. Qian Mingming was an average equestrian, but his speed was a little slower. When it was almost night, he arrived near the suburbs of Beijing.

Looking from here, you can vaguely see the brightly lit, majestic and prosperous Yanjing.

There are many people and things that Lu Qing is familiar with.

Lu Qing stared silently at the direction of the capital for a while, guessing what Ning Juan was doing in the Qianqing Palace at the moment.

According to the past situation, Ning Juan should have just finished his dinner and finished his meal, and then returned to the South Study Room and continued to review the manuscripts to deal with state affairs.

It is also possible that several ministers have been summoned to discuss an important matter.

The impulsive young His Majesty must have matured.

What will it look like?

Lu Qing sketched Ning Wan’s eyebrows in his heart, but it was still a little vague.

In recent years, he has dreamed of Ninglan from time to time. The young man in the dream always stands alone on a high-rise building, looking at the bright moon hanging in the sky, looking very lonely and lost.

Every time I dream of Ning Juan, after waking up, Lu Qing is always absent-minded for a long time, thinking about everything in the dream, and then shaking his head.

It is Ning Wan’s long-cherished wish for many years to have the power in the palm of his hand.

Now that he will no longer be ridiculed and bullied, he should be happy.

Qian Mingming squinted and looked forward to see what was there, and was overjoyed: “There is an inn there, Mr. Lu, let’s go there and rest!”

Lu Qingze’s mood was inexplicably complicated and low. He hummed softly, looked away, followed Qian Mingming, and went into the inn to ask for two rooms.

After driving tiredly for a long time, he was finally able to lie down on the bed, Qian Mingming was very happy, kneading his pantothenic arm, and babbling: “I heard from the boss, Mr. Lu, you are here to visit an old friend, When are you going to go?”

His appearance made Lu Qing think of Chen Xiaodao inexplicably.

When he left that year, in order not to involve Chen Xiaodao, he didn’t tell him the plan. Presumably, Chen Xiaodao was also very sad at that time.

Lu Qing sighed silently in his heart and smiled slightly: “Wait a few more days.”

Right now is a good season for spring. There are many men and women in the suburbs of Beijing, and there are many people who worship General Shi, but Lu Qing doesn’t want to bump into too many people.

You don’t have to leave immediately. Qian Mingming happily entered the wing, ready to rest: “Young master Lu, rest early, the north is really cold, don’t let the wind and evil enter your body and suffer from the cold.”

Lu Qing watched helplessly as Qian Mingming got into the house, and didn’t even have a chance to stop him.

I don’t know if it’s because of his bad luck. As long as he hears the words “Don’t suffer from the cold”, he will most likely get sick once.

Lu Qing turned around and entered the wing, pinching his forehead.

Not so unlucky, right?

The two stayed in the inn for a few days, and listened to the recent anecdotes from the visiting guests.

The most notable thing is the fact that the civil strife in the Tartars is over.

Three years ago, the old khan got up from the hospital bed and fought with the third prince, who was in charge of power, in the nest of Fanfa Cizixiao. Now the fight is finally over.

No matter how brave the old khan was, he was still an old goshawk, unable to wave his wings, and could not fight against his young son.

The civil unrest ended with the old khan “falling ill” again, and the third prince returned to power.

Obviously, he can ascend to the throne himself, but I don’t know what the third prince thinks. Maybe it is because he has a conscience that does not kill his father, and still let him stay in the position of Khan.

The Tatar civil strife was over, and the internal vitality was greatly damaged. For a long time, he did not have the strength to jump up again and invade the border of Daqi.

The people near the capital talk about national affairs with much more eloquence than those in other places.

Lu Qing came down to drink tea every day, and listened to the passers-by in the inn chatting about it, which was quite interesting.

In addition, there is another matter that has also caused some controversy. His Majesty has set up the position of a female official in the court and appointed a female official.

This is the first female official since the founding of the Daqi Dynasty.

When Lu Qing let a woman enter the school, he was scolded by the scholar pointing at the bridge of his nose. He felt that this was corrupting the atmosphere and it was difficult to write about. However, when he was in the Imperial College, the female officer’s strategy and theory examination was the first, which blocked the mouths of many people.

Because of this incident, the capital has been very lively recently.

Lu Qing didn’t think that Ning Juan was influenced by him, so he chose a woman as an official.

Eighty percent of His Majesty the Emperor simply thinks that if this person can use it, then use it.

This is also a problem that Lu Qingze discovered only after he left the capital.

During the years he taught Ning Juan, Ning Juan really listened to what he said, but in fact, Ning Juan’s inner character has not changed much because of him, but he was very good at disguising in front of him, which led him to think that Ning Juan took it seriously. Very harmless.

It was obviously a wolf whose head shrank his claws, hid his fangs, and pretended to be an innocent, poor puppy in front of him.

After observing the passers-by for a few days, Lu Qing successfully waited for two little beggars who were about to sneak into the capital.

He bought some food and wore a bamboo hat. He invited the two little beggars to have a full meal, gave them a few taels of silver, and gently ordered something: “…Can it be done?”

The two little beggars rarely had enough to eat. Seeing that they still had money to take, they naturally nodded their heads quickly: “Nengneng, sir, don’t worry, there is nothing we can’t spread!”

Lu Qing nodded with a smile.

He was still not very concerned about the private soldiers that Ning Cong raised. According to Ning Juan’s temper, if he found out that something was wrong with Ning Cong, he would have already shot, how could he let Ning Cong continue to expand.

One of the limitations of this era was that information was difficult to circulate. He was worried that the news would not be sent to Ning Juan’s desk until Ning Cong really rebelled.

Using the mouths of these little beggars to introduce Ning Cong’s story into the capital can always arouse some vigilance first.

After waiting for so many days, there were not so many people out in the lively suburbs. Lu Qing asked Qian Mingming to disguise himself, carrying two cans of wine alone, and went to General Shi’s tomb.

Shi Rongfeng’s tombstone was kept clean, and people would come to worship it from time to time.

Lu Qing first put two sticks of incense sticks on the general, burned some paper, and then patted the mud seal of the wine jar, and said with a smile, “General, I’m here to bring you wine.”

The spring is cold, the slightly cold spring breeze is blowing, and the mellow wine fragrance is overflowing, as if General Shi was really tasting this bowl of wine.

“Back then, you chose to believe in Your Majesty. If you have the grace to see what Daqi looks like today, you will not be disappointed by your choice.”

Lu Qing raised the wine jar, sprinkled the wine on the side of the tomb, opened another jar of wine, and asked General Shi to drink it: “Although there is no strong wine from Mobei, it is also a carefully selected aged wine. Great wine.”

After speaking, he slowly got up: “Xice’s growth surprised me, but you should have known earlier than me, if there is a chance, I would like to see him again – but now is not the time, I should go back , come back next time, I don’t know when it will be.”

After talking for a while, he left the tomb and walked slowly towards the inn.

During the Qingming Festival, many people came to worship here. Occasionally encountering people on the road, the other party glanced at him and didn’t care too much.

Under Qian Mingming’s method, Lu Qing now wears a face that can only be regarded as delicate, and his Tsing Yi is also very ordinary. At most, he has a good temperament and is not eye-catching.

Lu Qing pondered that it would be better to stay for two more days, and wait for the two little beggars to spread the word.

Just as I was thinking, I suddenly heard an eagle chirping in the sky, the flapping of wings from far to near, and something ferocious came down!

Lu Qing quickly retreated without hesitation, but the thing didn’t come down seriously. He raised his head in amazement and saw the majestic and handsome Hai Dongqing.

That Hai Dongqing folded its wings, stopped on a big tree in front, looked down at him condescendingly, and tilted its head, as if bewildered.

Lu Qing slowly exhaled and remained calm.

Even if he hasn’t seen him for three years, he can recognize it.

…isn’t this Xiaoxue!

Is it possible that Ningjuan is nearby?

Haven’t seen each other for three years, has Ning Juan still learned to walk the birds?

There was some confusion when I heard hurried footsteps and the cry of “Ouch” in the distance, and a familiar, slightly shrill voice came from the front: “Ancestor, have you seen a rabbit, Feifei? So fast!”

Lu Qing immediately turned to hide, hid behind the big tree, and turned his head to look.

It is indeed Changshun.

I haven’t seen each other for three years, but Chang Shun has not changed much. He still has a sullen face, and ran over to quarrel with the eagle and falcon above his head: “Every time we walk you, it can almost lose a year of life! If it weren’t for His Majesty’s life, Do you think our family will take care of you?”

Xiaoxue raised her head arrogantly, ignoring him, as if rolling her eyes.

When Chang Shun saw it, he was furious: “Your Majesty let you go, you flew back by yourself, and you are eating your Majesty’s food, how dare you have such a bad temper!”

Saying that, he took out the snack that Costin likes and tried to lead it away.

Xiaoxue was really attracted, but her head couldn’t stop looking at Lu Qingze.

In the end, I probably felt that this person was a little familiar, but not very familiar, and finally hesitantly, flapped his wings and left.

Lu Qing hid behind the tree, his throat suddenly itching, he endured it for a long time, confirming that Chang Shun should have left, and finally couldn’t help but clench his fist against his lips, and coughed sullenly.

Ning Juan released Xiaoxue, and then Xiaoxue flew back?

It was really… beyond his expectations.

Perhaps Ning Juan took letting go of Xiaoxue as his last wish, a little wish of the deceased will always come true.

He thought complicatedly in his heart, feeling a little dizzy, he didn’t dare to stay outside any longer, and walked quickly to the inn.

Because he walked a little hastily, he didn’t notice that Changshun over there was pulled back by the eagle again.

Changshun was mad at the bird, but Haidongqing’s strength was much stronger than his slender arms and legs. He raised his head cursingly, and inadvertently, he saw a distant back.

Chang Shun’s heart skipped a beat, his eyes widened, and his voice stopped abruptly, almost thinking he had seen Lord Lu.

He was shocked, and when he took a closer look, he felt that it was not so similar.

The figure disappeared into the depths of Xinghua, and when he turned around, he showed a small half of his eyebrows, which was completely different from the Master Lu he was familiar with.

Master Lu’s eyebrows and eyes are picturesque, and his demeanor is outstanding. Even if he only glanced at it for a while, his face is so arrogant that one dares not look directly at it, and it is unforgettable at first sight.

The man in front was born quite ordinary, the kind that was thrown into the crowd and quickly disappeared.

It’s just that the back at a certain moment is really similar, as if Master Lu had come to life.

Changshun couldn’t help but think of His Majesty.

Every year on the Qingming Festival and the anniversary of Lord Lu’s death, His Majesty, who has always been diligent in administration, would dismiss all chores and go to Lord Lu’s tomb. sad.

There is a kind of heart ashes, permeated with despair-like silence.

It is clear that His Majesty is at a high-spirited age.

During the Qingming Festival this year, Chang Shun was behind him, and finally heard His Majesty ask in a low voice, “Teacher, are you not willing to come to see me?”

Fang knows that His Majesty has never dreamed of Lord Lu in the past three years.

He was such a sharp-hearted person, but after parting, he never saw it again, and the corpses were all charred black… Changshun could feel the same way just by thinking about it a little.

He couldn’t help but wonder, if His Majesty saw this person, would he be a little bit happier, would there be some consolation?

After all, this person’s back is quite similar to Mr. Lu.

After thinking about it, Changshun still asked people to stare at Fang Cai from a distance, pay attention to the other party’s trail, but don’t startle the other party, and then changed back to the chief executive’s clothes, and hurriedly entered the palace with a tooth card. .

His Majesty the Emperor is reviewing the manuscript in the south study.

The study was quiet, only the plum incense burning in the incense burner was floating.

Changshun replaced Anping, who was serving him, and waited on the pen and ink beside him with a low eyebrow.

Changshun was not on duty today, but he came back from outside the palace, and it was different at first glance.

His Majesty the Emperor glanced at him lightly, but did not speak. After reading the stinky and long memorial in his hand, he threw it away displeasedly: “I see you seem to have something to say.”

Changshun then smiled and said, “My servant took General Xue for a walk in the suburbs today. Seeing the beautiful scenery and the blooming apricot blossoms on the shore, I thought to myself whether Your Majesty would like to go out for a walk tomorrow to relax. ?”

The emperor’s majestic and indifferent gaze fell on his face, with a bit of inquiry.

Changshun smiled so much that his face stiffened.

In recent years, His Majesty has become more and more condensed, making people dare not breathe too much.

He couldn’t ask Mr. Lu before His Majesty, saying that he saw a person with a back like Mr. Lu outside.

But looking at the form of His Majesty’s case, it is gloomy and a little sad. If you can see a few traces of Lord Lu’s shadow, maybe His Majesty can sleep better?

After a long while, Chang Shun heard a voice from above his head: “Go ahead and leave the palace in micro-clothing tomorrow.”

Changshun was a little surprised and heaved a sigh of relief: “Yes, this servant understands.”

After returning to the inn, Lu Qing felt less groggy.

He was used to walking outside in the past few years, and he became more and more familiar with the small problems of his body from time to time. According to his experience, it should be that the cold wind was blowing outside, which made him dizzy and not worried.

However, he still asked Qian Mingming to help people grab some medicine to prevent colds and drink it. While drinking the medicine, he couldn’t help but recall the scene in the apricot blossom forest.

Changshun is the chief executive of the imperial front, and he basically waits in front of Ning Juan, so he doesn’t come out every day for a stroll, and the possibility of encountering him again is very small.

However, seeing the old man suddenly made him a little uneasy.

Lu Qing overturned his original decision and planned to stay for another day. No matter what the situation in Beijing was, he had to leave. The longer he stayed, the more likely he would meet acquaintances again.

Early the next morning, Lu Qing woke up. The first thing he did was stretch out his hand and touched his forehead. He didn’t feel hot. He felt very relieved. He felt that he had become stronger. In many places, listen to gossip about Beijing.

Sure enough, I heard a lot of people say that there is a song circulating in Beijing these days, “Shu Mi is fat, the prince is idle, I have nothing to do to practice, and the gunshots in the sky shook Shu’an”.

But since it spread from beggars and quickly spread, it is too difficult to find the source.

Lu Qing got the answer and was ready to leave with satisfaction.

By the time Jin Yiwei came over, he had already left.

He also didn’t plan to go back to Lin’an Mansion, and walked north along the capital.

Anyway, he walked aimlessly, and no one could catch him.

Thinking of leaving this place tonight, Lu Qing is not in a hurry like yesterday. Although the wind is cold in March, the ice and snow have melted, and the scenery is very good. After a walk on the shore, I met a flower seller. mother-in-law.

The old woman’s hands and feet are not very agile, and there are fragrant apricot flowers in the basket.

When Lu Qing saw it, he couldn’t help but feel a little soft-hearted. He took out a piece of silver and picked up a flower with a casual smile on his lips. He listened to the old woman and heard a voice in front of him. He raised his head casually, and was caught off guard. In a pair of cold black eyes.

The smile at the corner of Lu Qingze’s mouth froze slightly, and his always flexible brain suddenly clicked and got stuck.

It’s like an eternity.

I didn’t expect that when we met again, it would be here, under this kind of situation.

He thought that after the city gate parted, he would never see Ning Juan again in this life.

I haven’t seen each other for three years, and Ning Juan has changed a lot.

Much bigger than he imagined.

When he was wandering around in the past few years, he occasionally imagined how old Xiao Guoguo, who was coquettish in his arms, has grown up now, using the mentality of an elder looking after a child.

But when he really saw Ning Juan, the huge impact washed away his childlike mentality.

The young man has grown into a young man, with slender limbs and an increasingly tall and straight body. He is wearing a black uniform with dark embroidered gold thread. His dignity is indescribable. Even in the crowd, he is the most dazzling one.

When they parted, the greenness that was still on Ning Wan’s face had completely disappeared, and the majesty and arrogance of the superiors converged in the bones, appearing unattainable, handsome and indifferent.

If Ning Juan, a young man in the past, was a sharp sword unsheathed, now it has been sheathed, but the sharpness still remains, and the coercion is extremely strong.

This is a full-fledged His Majesty the Emperor.

Not the child in his heart who would lie in his arms and be a good boy.

The stubborn impression that was deep in his heart was suddenly shattered by this unexpected meeting.

Countless thoughts ran through my mind, but it was only a moment in reality.

Lu Qing calmly didn’t start, as if he didn’t see Ning Juan.

He was using another face now, Ning Juan couldn’t possibly recognize him, at most he felt a little familiar.

Don’t panic.

How can ordinary people know the emperor who is in a high position, if he chooses to turn around and run away in a hurry, Ning Juan is not suspicious, and he has to be suspicious.

Lu Qing resisted the movement he wanted to avoid subconsciously, and lowered his head in confusion, pretending that he just looked at each other inadvertently, and continued to pick flowers in the old woman’s basket as if nothing had happened.

He didn’t notice that the moment he stopped, Ning Wan stared at the bottom of his eyes, the redness deepened.

Chang Shun had been serving Ning Juan for many years, and when he saw His Majesty like this, he felt something was wrong and became uneasy.

Did he do something wrong? Actually, Your Majesty doesn’t want to meet someone similar to Lord Lu?

Although this person’s back is somewhat similar to that of Lord Lu, but his appearance is really mediocre, perhaps His Majesty is not happy to see such a person.

Ning Juan felt as if he had been thrown into a mass of icy flames, his heart was scorched by the scorching fire for a while, and stinged by the cold snow and ice for a while, breathing and body, trembling indistinctly, mentally. It stretched tightly, like a fierce beast locked in a cage made of paper, screaming wildly, breaking open the fragile cage at any time, and rushing out to bite the animal trainer outside.

He didn’t even dare to take a second glance, for fear that his eyes would be too scorching and compelling.

Chang Shun was terrified when he suddenly saw Ning Juan staring at the man, his eyes reddened and he smiled.

Laughing made his scalp go numb.

Before he could speak, Ning Juan suddenly abandoned him and the guards, as if afraid of a beast that would disturb its prey, and slowly walked over to the young man who seemed to be carefully picking flowers, his voice was mature and low: “This son.”

The faint fragrance of plum brushed the tip of his nose, Lu Qing’s brows twitched, his heart felt dizzy, his heartbeat, which had always been calm, couldn’t stop beating at this moment, his fingertips tightened and he crushed an apricot flower. Scented with apricot blossoms.

“You look like a person.”

His Majesty the Emperor next to him stretched out his hand and brushed off the fallen flowers on his shoulders, his voice incomprehensible: “Plum blossoms are more suitable for you.”

The author has something to say:

Changshun: I was looking for a meal replacement, but I didn’t expect to find a regular meal (?)