During the few days when Ling Yun followed Mr. Lu for a private visit incognito, it was the triennial imperial examination. After ten years of hard work, candidates who only seek fame and fortune gathered in the capital and signed up enthusiastically.
Among the candidates rushing to take the exam, in addition to poor scholars with great ambitions, there were also many children of high-ranking officials: such as Ding Jinzhi's second son Ding Jiying, He Yuting's two sons He Chenglin and He Chengqi, etc.
On the day when the exam was announced, He Chenglin topped the list and won the first place in the examination room; He Chengqi and Ding Jiying fell behind.
Ding Jiying acted as if nothing had happened and didn't care; anyway, his father Ding Jin lived in a prestigious position and he had no worries about eating and drinking all day long. It was hard to find such a free and easy life, so why should he pursue fame and fortune so hard?
Like his eldest brother Ding Jiwu, what's the point of being burdened with an official career, burdened with countless documents, and busy with official duties all day long?
He Chengqi is completely different. Ordinarily, men's virginity and concubine status are not valued as much as women's, but for He Chengqi, this is not the case.
Before He Chenglin recognized his ancestor and returned to the clan, Princess Changqing was depressed and frowning all day long; she had been thinking about her separated son for many years.
Especially every time I see He Chengqi, I will be moved by the scene and evoke the silent pain deep in my heart.
If it were a festival day, Princess Changqing would have been in a slightly better mood and temporarily forgotten the worries in her heart; but as soon as she saw He Chengqi, she would immediately feel the pain in her heart, and her originally happy mood would be like a boiling soup pot. It cooled down immediately like pouring a ladle of cold water into it.
He Yuting saw the clues, and in order to please Princess Changqing, he told him not to come to greet her every morning and evening; and during festivals, as long as Princess Changqing was present, he was asked to stay away.
Let him avoid Princess Changqing forever, let him hide in a remote corner forever, let him live without any sense of existence.
He Chengqi felt superfluous and humble. He felt that he did not look like the second son of the Marquis's house at all.
After He Chenglin recognized his ancestor and returned to his clan, he originally thought he could live a better life, but unexpectedly he fell into another kind of dilemma and embarrassment.
Princess Chang Qing, He Yuting... everyone in the Houye Mansion held He Chenglin in the palm of their hands, but He Chengqi was left in the cold in that remote corner.
"Why can't I ever get ahead?" he asked his biological mother, Yu, angrily.
Yu was in tears. She and her son had placed all their hopes on this imperial examination - if He Chengqi could get a spot on the gold medal list, surpass He Chenglin in the rankings, and get an official position in the court, he might have a bright future. .
Who would have expected that he would fail again! But He Chenglin was named on the gold medal list and was appointed by the emperor as the number one scholar; he felt that he had completely failed.
He was depressed and depressed, and resorted to drinking to get drunk. When He Chenglin became the champion and the whole family celebrated and held a big banquet, he hid in his room and refused to come out.
He was afraid of being stimulated again. But why did his father not understand him at all and send someone to ask him to come to the living room to toast?
Although he had a hundred reluctances in his heart, in the end he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go. Because it’s hard to disobey your father’s orders.
As soon as he entered the living room, he felt that everyone's eyes were focused on him, and those eyes were full of ridicule and contempt.
He just felt ashamed. He reluctantly walked to the front of the hall and greeted He Yuting and Princess Changqing.
When He Yuting saw He Chengqi, he felt a little angry. He also felt that it was a big day for him to get angry in public and blame him for being late, so as not to ruin everyone's interest, so he just snorted softly.
Ding Jinzhi, who was on the side, was the best at observing words and expressions. When he saw this, he hurriedly said: "Cheng Qi, why don't you propose a toast to your parents?"
This can be regarded as giving He Chengqi a step down.
At this time, Princess Changqing's two maids, Yancui and Biyun, took the tray and filled it with wine.
He Chengqi respectfully offered a glass of wine to He Yuting and Princess Chang Qing respectively.
He Yuting said again: "Go and toast your brother again!"
He Chengqi's heart suddenly trembled. Is this really going to force him to embarrass himself in public?
But the situation did not allow him to hesitate; at this time, He Yuting urged him again, looking very impatient.
Yan Cui's tray has been raised in front of him. He had no choice but to give in.
He picked up the wine glass with trembling hands and slowly raised it in front of He Chenglin.
He Chenglin said half-jokingly: "What, second brother, don't you say a word of congratulations to me?"
He Chengqi gritted his teeth and said word by word: "Brother, I wish you a prosperous career and a prosperous career!"
He Chenglin smiled and said, "Thank you, big brother, I'm lending you some good words!"
At this time, He Chengqi suddenly felt a gust of wind coming, and his wrist holding the wine glass stung. His hand shook uncontrollably, and the wine glass fell to the ground and shattered.
There was an uproar in the hall. When everyone saw this, they all whispered to each other and talked about it; it was really not a big deal to watch the excitement.
He Chengqi was also shocked and at a loss.
Princess Chang Qing's expression immediately changed. On such a festive day, it is unlucky to break a wine glass.
He Yuting was so angry that he could not speak for a while.
He Chenglin was very generous and said with a smile: "Second brother, what's wrong with you today? Your face is so ugly. Are you feeling uncomfortable? Why don't you go back and take a rest first!"
He Chengqi returned to his room in despair. He felt that what happened today was really useless.
Yu originally wanted to comfort him, but unexpectedly he became even more angry when he saw her, and yelled at her: "I blame you! Why did you give birth to me? You go out, I don't want to see you again! ... …”
Yu was stunned. She didn't expect her son to say these words to her. She couldn't help but feel heartbroken and shed tears.
In the evening, the banquet broke up. He Yuting called He Chengqi to his study and asked him why he had lost his temper at the banquet.
He Chengqi pouted and said depressedly: "Dad, I don't know why this happened! I was just careless!"
He Yuting glanced at him and said, "Is it really careless, or is it for something else?"
He Chengqi was startled: "Dad, what did you say?"
He Yuting said coldly: "Don't you understand what I said? Your brother got the top spot, but you didn't even get the last spot on the list. Are you feeling uncomfortable?
"That's why you have to show off to everyone! First you hesitated not to attend the banquet, and then when you reluctantly came, you threw the glass and spilled the wine. Are you sincerely trying to get along with your father? How could I have someone like you? Use your son!"
He Chengqi was furious, with countless words of resentment and venting filling his chest, but he didn't know where to start. Because the father's authority is here after all.
He could only turn around and rush out without looking back - to express his greatest protest.
He Yuting was so angry that he was shaking all over and shouted: "Get out of here, if you have the guts, never come back!"
He Chengqi walked out of the door in despair, confused and confused.
The moon lazily hid behind the clouds, and the stars blinked with mocking eyes.
He Chengqi walked with one foot deep and one foot shallow. There was a dark pool of autumn water in front of him, and he had reached the Jinming River.
The wind whimpered, and there were faint sounds of sobbing.
He wondered if he had heard wrongly. Looking for the cry, he saw what seemed to be a small silhouette by the river, sitting with its front facing the river and its back facing him.
He felt something strange, so he stepped forward to take a closer look.
Looking at the choked and sobbing little beggar, He Chengqi couldn't help but think of his own situation at this time. He felt that he was not a second son in the Marquis's house, just like a beggar.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a burst of sadness in his heart, "Alas! We are both fallen people from the end of the world!"
With a feeling of sympathy, he slowly walked forward and wanted to ask the poor little beggar what happened and did he need his help?
At this time, the little beggar suddenly turned around, his movements so fast that he was caught off guard.
He held a golden dart in his hand, aimed it at He Chengqi's chest, and pierced it with a white rainbow piercing the sun!
He Chengqi suddenly saw a cold light coming toward him. He screamed in fright and jumped to the side, scrambling.
The golden dart was tilted a little and hit his right shoulder, causing blood to flow immediately.
He Chengqi screamed in pain. He staggered back a few steps, stared blankly at the little beggar, and stammered, "You...what are you going to do?..."
The little beggar looked ferocious and said with murderous intent: "I want your life!"
He Chengqi trembled and said: "I have no enmity or enmity with you...why did you..."
The little beggar said fiercely: "Because you deserve to die!"
He Chengqi was so frightened that he backed away. He now has no time to think about why the other party wants to kill him. He only has one thought now, and that is how to avoid the disaster in front of him?
At this time, he suddenly felt something moving behind him; he turned around quickly and saw a burly man in gray clothes four or five steps away from him, holding a sword in his hand, looking at him with a cold expression and a sinister gaze.
He Chengqi was so frightened that he ran away. While running, he shouted desperately: "Help! Help!..."
The big man in gray shouted in a bloodthirsty tone: "The more you scream, the faster you will die!"
His deep eyes were as terrifying as a will-o'-the-wisp in the night; suddenly he raised his hand and drew his sword, and a thunderbolt struck him straight in the back of the heart.
He Chengqi was so horrified that his face turned as pale as earth. He knew he couldn't dodge, so he could only close his eyes and wait for death.
At this critical moment, a white figure flew through the air, with a graceful splitting of flowers and willows. He had raised the hilt of his sword and swung the long sword away from the hand of the big man in gray.
The big man in gray clothes was stunned for a moment and subconsciously took a few steps back.
He calmed down and looked up and down at the man standing in front of him who had come out halfway.
I saw the person who was in his twenties, dressed in white, with a strong posture, a face like a crown of jade, sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, holding a sword in his hand like a jade tree facing the wind, showing a chic and unrestrained appearance; he couldn't help but be surprised and said angrily: "You are who?"
The young man in white asked, "Who are you?"
He Chengqi ran forward panting for a while. Suddenly he saw someone helping him, so he stopped, looked back, and immediately ran back with joy, hid behind the person, and shouted loudly: "Commander Ling, save me." !..."
The big man in gray clothes was shocked and said: "You...are you Ling Yun?"
The person who came was none other than Ling Yun. Hearing this, he didn't say anything, just snorted coldly.
The big man in gray clothes and the little beggar looked at each other, with a look of awe on their faces.
The big man in gray clothes cupped his hands towards Ling Yun and said: "Commander Ling is famous all over the world and his martial arts skills are unparalleled. I have learned from you. We will see you later."
After that, he winked at the little beggar, and the two turned away dejectedly.
Seeing the two people walking away, He Chengqi said: "Commander Ling, why don't you go after them?"
Ling Yun glanced at him and said: "I'm going after the assassin, what should you do?..."
"I——" He Chengqi choked for a moment.
Ling Yun asked: "Master He, why are you here alone in the middle of the night?"
He Chengqi couldn't help but be reminded of his sadness. He sighed softly and lowered his head sadly.
Seeing that he didn't say anything, Ling Yun stopped asking and just said, "I'll take you back home first."
He Chengqi said repeatedly: "No, I won't go back! I won't go back!..."
Ling Yun asked in confusion: "Why?"
"I..." He Chengqi didn't know how he should explain his difficulties to Ling Yun, but he had to answer Ling Yun's questions; after hesitation, he suddenly covered his shoulders and said: "Ouch! Ouch!... …It hurts me so much!”
Only then did Ling Yun notice that the placket of He Chengqi's right shoulder had been dyed red, and the clothes were stuck together with the solidified blood. Moreover, the golden dart was still deeply embedded in the flesh.
Just now, He Chengqi was just running for his life and forgot about the pain; now he recovered, his teeth were chattering in pain and his face turned pale.
Because he was leaving in a hurry, Ling Yun didn't bring any healing products such as hemostatic cream and gold wound medicine with him; and the second master of the He family in front of him was so delicate, he didn't dare to rashly pull out the dart to heal his injuries.
While thinking about it, he suddenly remembered that there was a medical clinic on Yonghe Street not far from Jinming River. The owner's surname was Liu, Xingliu, known as Mr. Liuliu. He was a famous doctor in the capital with superb medical skills, especially good at treating various internal and external injuries. Why don't you take him there to bandage him first?
So Ling Yun supported He Chengqi and walked towards the medical center.
He Chengqi touched the other hand covering the wound with his right hand, and saw that it was covered with blood. His face turned pale with horror, and he kept saying: "Blood, blood!..." He felt that his heart was out of breath and his hands and feet were weak. , can't move any further.
Seeing his squeamish attitude, Ling Yun said a little impatiently: "Stop barking, I'll carry you on my back!"
After all, He Chengqi was not very familiar with Ling Yun, so he felt a little embarrassed and said: "No, no need, I'll make you covered in blood..."
Ling Yun said angrily: "Look, I've already been infected!..."
