However, Lu Wenzheng returned to the Ministry of Punishments from the palace with a heavy heart. He found Ling Yun, Xu Zhi and Yang Zhen, and announced to them the emperor's order to arrest criminals and find the young lady; and then asked them if they thought the matter was successful. The chances are several percent.
Xu Zhi hesitated and said: "I'm afraid it won't be easy. Looking for someone in the vast sea of people is like looking for a needle in a haystack."
Yang Zhendao: "I can only do my best."
Ling Yun lowered his eyelids and looked away calmly with his dim eyes, saying nothing.
Lu Wenzheng said: "The Holy One has decreed that the lady must be found before the wedding, otherwise you and I will be involved - do you understand?" His last words were so stern that the three of them trembled in their hearts. Nod yes.
Lu Wenzheng said: "Okay, all of you, please step back."
The three of them walked out with their heads lowered. Ling Yun walked to the door and heard Lu Wen say from behind in a voice without any emotion: "Commander Ling, please wait a moment, I have something to tell you."
Ling Yun's heart sank and he had no choice but to stand helplessly. The other two looked at each other meaningfully, said nothing, and went out.
Lu Wenzheng retreated, and there were only two of them in the room.
Ling Yun lowered his eyes, with no unnecessary expression on his face. He still looked away indifferently without saying a word.
There was a brief stagnation in the study at this time, and the awkward atmosphere slowly flowed in the air, making it suffocating and breathless.
After a stalemate for a while, Lu Wenzheng coughed lightly and said softly: "Your injury... doesn't matter, right?"
Ling Yun's eyes were distant and he whispered: "It's okay."
Lu Wenzheng's deep eyes flashed with a look of distress and unbearability, and he said solemnly: "Then why don't you ask the imperial doctor to bandage it? Who are you angry with?"
Only then did Ling Yun realize that the blood stains from his wound had soaked through his clothes at some point. At this time, it was sticky and uncomfortable on his back. Otherwise, how could Mr. Lu see it?
Thinking that he was just confused and didn't pay attention to this, he couldn't help but smile secretly and had to say: "No."
Lu Wenzheng said: "Look at the devastated look on your face. Did something bad happen again?"
Of course Ling Yun was unwilling to tell him about his falling out with the princess, so he could only say: "No, thank you for your concern."
Lu Wenzheng said: "It's okay. There is no one else here. Let you and I say a few words that speak from the bottom of my heart. Commander Ling, you have been following me for many years. I have always treated you as a nephew and a friend. I am a close confidant, so I should have nothing to say." Don’t talk about——”
Having said this, his twinkling eyes became quiet, filled with trust and expectation, and his voice became deeper, "Zhichao, please let me know the truth about Qiuyue. How much do you really know?"
"I..." Ling Yun's heart was churning, and he buried his face even lower. He couldn't help but think of the things that happened last night, the sad tears and frightened expressions of Jiang Chun and Lu Qiuyue, and the promise he had solemnly made to them... He only felt that It was a mess.
He couldn't help but raise his eyes slightly, but they happened to collide with Mr. Lu's eyes full of affection and anxiety.
At that moment, his mind was spinning, and the situations in which he and Mr. Lu handled cases together in the past came to mind vividly. At that time, they were each other's confidants and talked about everything; there seemed to be no taboos, secrets, or even privacy between them...
But at this time, facing Mr. Lu's eyes of infinite hope and desire, he hesitated. He lowered his head in frustration, and his long eyelashes swept down slightly, covering the obscure emotions in his eyes.
"I... don't know anything..." He couldn't help but say this insincere sentence. As soon as the words came out, even he felt strange.
Lu Wenzheng couldn't hide the disappointment on his face, but he was still a little unwilling, and couldn't help but ask again, "Did Qiuyue really not meet you or say anything to you when she left? "
Ling Yun said expressionlessly: "No, I didn't meet her at all last night."
Lu Wenzheng's face turned ugly. He was speechless for a long time, and then said coldly: "Zhichao, you really disappoint me. You and I have worked together for so many years in vain, and we have made a friendship in vain. How can you say that you are a close friend? Who knows the difference between you and me?" The estrangement can be so deep!"
Ling Yun felt extremely sad and said in a thick voice: "Sir, in fact, Ling Yun has always been loyal to you, but..."
Lu Wenzheng said: "Just what?"
Ling Yun thought about it again and again, but finally said nothing.
Lu Wenzheng looked at him with red eyes, and there was a chill in his eyes that made him feel cold and desolate, "Why don't you want to tell me? Well, since you have a grudge against me, since you don't want to tell the truth , then I won’t force you again! You are now a majestic lord of the dynasty, with a noble status, and I can no longer restrain you; you can decide for yourself where to go from now on!"
After saying that, he snorted coldly and walked away without looking back, leaving Ling Yun alone in the same place...
Ling Yun left the Shangshu Mansion of the Ministry of Punishment numbly, and returned to the Junma Mansion in despair. Looking at the empty room in Huanyun Pavilion, a feeling of loneliness and desolation that I had never felt before suddenly hit my heart.
He left the courtyard lonely and wandered alone in the back garden. In the garden, there are dark willows and bright flowers, and the mood of spring is fading; all kinds of reds and purples compete for beauty; poplars and elm pods are flying all over the sky.
Lu Wenzheng's chilling words echoed in his ears again. If these words had come from someone else's mouth, he wouldn't have noticed it; but these words came from the mouth of Mr. Lu, whom he relied on and respected the most, and every word was shocking, like a sharp knife. The cold sharp blade stabbed directly into his heart, making his heart freeze.
He silently raised his face, stared blankly at the helpless white cloud in the sky, and said with a wry smile: "Did I do something wrong?"...
Those who abandon me will not be able to keep yesterday's day; those who mess up my heart will be troubled today...
Cut off the water with a knife and the water will flow more. Raise a cup to relieve sorrow and sorrow. He drank a lot of wine that night, and he was so drunk that it was dark and dark, and he didn't know what was going on.
He didn't know how he got back to his room. In a daze, it seemed as if someone was serving him, comforting him, whispering to him, and exhaling like blue.
In the haziness, he seemed to see Lu Qiuyue and Jiang Chun walking towards him with smiles, thanking him for his righteousness and fulfilling his righteousness; a moment later, he saw Lu Wenzheng's face full of anger and disappointment, the touching face. The cold and decisive words that reached deep in his heart...
In desperation, he suddenly sat up and shouted: "No! No! Sir, listen to me..."
A woman's soft voice was heard: "Jianma, Junma, what's wrong with you? Wake up!..."
Ling Yun couldn't help being surprised and happy when he saw that the woman was practicing Nanchun. He grabbed her hand and said, "Chun'er, is it really you? You haven't come to see me these days. Do you know, I miss you so much?" ah……"
The woman's face turned red and she struggled back, trying to get rid of his entanglement, but Ling Yun grabbed her arm tightly and wouldn't let go...
The next day, it was bright.
Ling Yun finally woke up from his daze. Opening his sleepy eyes, he slowly sat up from his bed. He felt that his mind was still in chaos and his head was still aching. It seemed that the alcohol from last night had not completely worn off.
Seeing that he woke up, the girl who was serving him on the side stretched her eyebrows and said happily: "Master, you are finally awake! You were very drunk last night. It took a lot of effort for this slave and a few attendants to get you away." Help me back to the room in the garden, otherwise, the wind is so strong at night, how can I get cold if I catch a cold?"
Ling Yun pressed his forehead hard with his right hand and responded feebly.
His eyes flashed, and then he realized that he was already lying on the brocade bed in the inner room of Huanyun Pavilion, covered with brocade quilt and fragrant quilt; the tables next to him were smoked with sandalwood, and waves of faint fragrance curled up. It floats up and penetrates the heart and spleen. It smells very good.
Jiao Xing added: "Also, I have asked the doctor to take a look at the injury on your back."
Ling Yun seemed to be in a daze at this time, and just said "Oh" blankly.
Seeing Ling Yun's dazed look, Jiao Xing couldn't help but asked worriedly: "Master Ma, you... what's wrong with you?..."
Ling Yun finally regained his composure. He let out a dull "hmm" and breathed out softly: "Jiao Xing, thank you."
Jiao Xing said in panic: "Jianma, please don't say that, this is all the slave's business... If I don't serve you well, the princess will scold the slave again when she comes back."
When the princess was mentioned, Ling Yun's face turned gloomy, he lowered his eyelids and sighed softly.
Jiao Xing said softly: "Jianma, please forgive me for being too talkative. You really shouldn't be so cruel to the princess. She is only doing it for your own good!"
Ling Yun felt a stabbing pain in his heart. He raised his eyebrows and said with some displeasure, "Okay! Stop talking!"
Seeing that Ling Yun was a little angry, Jiao Xing didn't dare to say anything more. She lowered her eyebrows and said in agreement: "Yes, I'll leave you." After saying that, she lowered her head and walked out the door.
At this time, Ling Yun suddenly found that her clothes were wrinkled, stained, and dirty, and the right sleeve was broken. He couldn't help but feel moved in his heart and asked: "Jiao Xing, what's wrong with your clothes?"
Jiao Xingfen blushed and said calmly: "It's nothing..."
Ling Yun's clear eyes turned, and he suddenly realized something, and asked softly: "Tell me, last night... was I very rude?"
Jiao Xing lowered her eyelids and murmured: "Actually, it's nothing... nothing. The county horse just vomited a few times, and he still held the slave's arm tightly, saying... Chun'er..."
As she said that, her face turned redder, and she couldn't help but think of last night.
