Chapter 4
When Lin Rong woke up, it was already the fifth watch three days later. She looked at the Tianshui jade gauze tent above her head, which was embroidered with cloud patterns and white cranes. The night window opened a small crack, the cool breeze blew in, the thin satin billowed, and the white crane seemed to be soaring into the clouds.
Her voice was hoarse, and when she opened her mouth even slightly, it hurt. The room was quiet, with only the eldest girl Kingfisher standing by her feet.
Lin Rong moved slightly, and she woke up: "County Master, how are you, are you feeling better?"
Lin Rong spit out one word: "Tea!"
Kingfisher quickly brought tea, carefully fed half a cup, and said: "You are now awake. In the past three days, the slave has been frightened. She sweated first and changed many clothes. After drinking the medicine , I stopped sweating, started to have a high fever, grabbed my hand and talked nonsense, I was not the only one, the eldest princess, the old lady, and the sixth girl were scared to death and stayed here for half the night. The old lady and the eldest princess then went back It didn't take long. The sixth girl was worried and just lay down in the Bisha cupboard."
As he was talking, he saw Cui Qi put on his clothes and came out: "Sure enough, he is awake. The doctor always said it seriously, otherwise he would not be able to show his ability. I would say, you are so young and you have no foundation." It’s always been good, but after taking a few medicines, there’s nothing bad anymore.”
Lin Rong saw that the expression on her face was one of sincere concern and touching, and smiled after hearing this.
Cui Qi could hold on, but when he saw Lin Rong smiling like this with a pale and bloodless face, he couldn't stop crying when he sat on the edge of the bed. He took a handkerchief and wiped it himself: "Look at me, you're fine. I came to cry. It’s also my fault. I knew you couldn’t drink, so I should have been with you. I made you so drunk that you fell into the lake, and you screamed... and asked Yongzhou Mu to rescue you. But fortunately, no one saw it. Many, just a few familiar uncles in the family."
Lin Rong murmured: "Drunk?"
Cui Qi smiled: "No, like a drunk cat, he fell into the lake and has been sick for the past few days. Kingfisher, remember, your master is not allowed to touch a drop of wine in the future."
Things like love potions cannot be associated with the girl's family. It is better to say that she is drunk and hides it under the guise, so that everyone can be decent.
Lin Rong nodded and asked in a hoarse voice, "That painting you asked Sister Six to look for last time?"
Cui Qi understood immediately, took a picture from the small table next to him, and handed it over: "Last time I saw half of the fragment, it was like I was possessed. If there is anything important about this picture, you will become sick. You look like this, are you still thinking about this painting?"
The painting unfolded slowly, and it looked ordinary at a glance. It was just a gentleman in a robe and a lady in brocade playing chess under a pine tree. There were only two poems inscribed on it - After drinking the romantic man for a long time, he suddenly listened to the catalpa tree. The flat sound of Bisha. Lin Rong thought to himself that this poem came from Nalan Rongruo in the Qing Dynasty. It was a painting that his senior brother hung in his office.
This crappy calligraphy and painting was clearly his handiwork, and Lin Rong's ears could almost hear his complacent voice: When you retire, find a yard with pine trees to play chess, and listen to the pine breeze while playing chess. , this is called artistic conception.
Lin Rong pursed her lips, pointed to the inscription on the painting, and asked without answering: "Sixth Sister, do you know who this Qian Ya Ke is? Where is he now?"
Cui Qi asked curiously: "What's going on? Have you ever had a demon? In the past, what kind of poem or painting did you dislike the most? Why are you so interested in this inferior painting this time?"
The maid Cui Qin on the side came in with the medicine: "The county master, please drink the medicine quickly, it won't be too late to speak again." He wiped his tears again: "I went to the banquet well. I was fine when I left, but I got a serious illness when I came back. This servant is not It’s time to stay in the yard and look after the house, those little girls are of no use, and from now on the servants will never leave the county master.”
Lin Rong took the medicine, but there was no strength in his hand, so he asked Cui Qi to feed it spoon by spoon: "The money mentioned in the painting is Qian Ya Ke, which I have never heard of. At this time, the imperial court was in the midst of a feud between the party and officials. Most of them live in seclusion in the countryside, and this 'Qianya Guest' is another nickname. How can you find out about it? It's just that the seal seems to have the style of the Lu family in Yongzhou."
She wiped the corners of Lin Rong's mouth and pointed out the seal on the painting to her: "Look, these characters are in inscriptions and small seal scripts, sometimes with insect and bird patterns. They are quite reminiscent of the Wei and Jin Dynasties. As far as I know , only the Lu family in Yongzhou still has such a seal in fashion. This painting is not a masterpiece, you have nothing good in your little warehouse, why are you asking about this?"
After hearing this, Lin Rong lay down again and fiddled with the tassels on the bed tent. He was silent for a long time and then smiled: "I have a fate with this painting. I saw half of the fragment at my aunt's house and fell in love with it. That painting on the painting The two lines of poetry are also well written. I have never seen anyone else paint like this. It is very novel."
Cui Qi smiled and nodded her forehead: "Although the two lines of poetry on this painting are good, they can't be seen in such a painting. You said that you don't remember the past, but you are still the same as before. , I love to put my heart into these strange and weird places.”
I asked her if she was hungry again. The red rice and rouge porridge was warmed on the stove in the small kitchen, and it was very glutinous. It was just the right time.
It was only midnight at this time. I didn’t want to disturb the people in the house, and I was indeed not hungry, so I shook my head and thought about the painting. The Lu family in Yongzhou? Qian Ya Ke, maybe senior brother is really here too, in Yongzhou...
Cui Qi saw that although her expression was indifferent and she had said a few words, she was still in good spirits, so she thought carefully and said, "There is something that I must tell you because I am thinking about our sisters, so that you can be prepared in your heart."
Lin Rong raised his eyes and listened to Cui Qi say: "The Lu family of Yongzhou sent someone to propose marriage yesterday, and my grandmother, second uncle, and eldest princess all agreed."
Lin Rongyun said, this is expected. The eldest princess disregarded her dignity that day and wanted to facilitate this marriage. She must have some back-up plan: "Jiangzhou is tired, so it is reasonable to rely on Yongzhou."
Cui Qi was half puzzled and half worried: "You are young and don't know the past grievances between the Cui and Lu families. In the past in Luoyang, when the elders of the Lu family were mourning, the second uncle looked down on the ancestors of the Lu family who had attached themselves to eunuchs and made poems in the mourning hall. The irony made an elder of the Lu family so angry that he vomited blood and died, and a feud has been brewing ever since."
Lin Rong was stunned, remembering Cui Jue's unsmiling appearance now: "This... I can't tell, father..."
Cui Qi continued: "I heard my grandmother say in the past that my second uncle was a famous scholar in Luoyang when he was young. He held high standards and took the world's famous religion as his own responsibility. ① He often commented on current affairs in the court, promoted writing, and was at odds with the eunuchs. And Lu Shen of Yongzhou was the most famous. This is someone who will definitely be punished."
Lu Shen's anger must be repaid. Although Lin Rong has only been here for half a year, he has heard about it.
Last winter, Lu Shen's second uncle was ambushed in Liangzhou when he was sending his wife back to her parents' home. The whole family died tragically. When Lu Shen heard about this, he immediately ordered his troops and led eight thousand Yongzhou cavalry to attack Liangzhou. In Liangzhou City, all the wealthy families were bloodbathed, and thirty thousand Liangzhou armored men were killed. Liu Yong, the military governor of Liangzhou, was brutally murdered in front of the city for ten days, and his body was eaten by eagles. Although the imperial court knew about this, it had no choice but to acquiesce and issued an edict ordering Lu Shen to concurrently serve as Liangzhou Jiedushi.
After hearing this, Lin Rong had a nightmare all night, in which he was hung on the top of the city with several vultures circling above. The vulture transformed into a human voice: "Your father is proud of himself and owes us his life. Now it's up to you to repay his sins."
Lin Rong was frightened and woke up. When he opened his eyes, it was already bright.
The eldest girl, Kingfisher, hung up the curtains and came over with clothes in her arms: "The county master woke up, but he slept well. It's almost noon. The servant ordered people to make white jade shrimp balls. The shrimp balls were made according to the method the county master said, first with chicken soup. Simmer over high heat and mix with seaweed. It is indeed clear and refreshing without losing the original flavor of shrimp. There is also panfish, which is also simmered with chicken soup according to the county leader's method, then add 30% of wine, 12% of water, and 10% of autumn oil. Divide, and add a large bowl of ginger juice when you start the pot, nothing else is needed..." ②
Lin Rong asked her to serve and rinse her mouth with the strong tea first, then get dressed and wash up, and interrupted her with a smile: "Okay, okay, bring it up."
The girls filed in, and until there were ten or twenty side dishes placed on the square table outside, Kingfisher replied while laying out the dishes: "Several girls sent by the old lady have been sent back. The old lady felt that calling the eldest princess was embarrassing, yesterday Then he began to complain that he was sick, and all the female relatives in the house went to attend to the illness. Even the sixth girl was called there early in the morning. Several other girls were selected, and they were all readily available. They were all asked to sit in the corridor. Wait, the county chief doesn’t want to see you?”
Lin Rong shook his head: "See you later."
Kingfisher put a piece of fish into Lin Rong's small white porcelain bowl, and continued to chatter: "Xishun's sister bought medicine according to the prescription written by the county chief, but she was fine after taking it for three days. Yesterday I came to the garden to kowtow and thank you, saying that all the doctors in Jiangzhou City have been invited, and they all said that there is no cure, but the county master's prescription is of great use."
Lin Rong didn't want to show off his medical skills, but when he saw the little girl hiding in the corridor and crying pitifully, he suddenly became interested in being a doctor: "How can I prescribe a prescription? I just forgot which ancient book I read about this disease. I don't know how useful it is to write it down based on the gourd's drawings."
Just after dinner, the eldest princess arrived. She was born when the dynasty was at its peak, and later married Cui Jue. Apart from some mother-in-law and daughter-in-law disputes with the old lady, her life was smooth, and she developed a fierce temperament that always speaks the truth.
She was bright and elegant, but she didn't like to dress up in makeup. She was still wearing a half-worn cloud satin. She pulled Lin Rong to look at her and frowned: "I've lost weight again!" Then she smiled again: "You have to take good care of yourself. Yongzhou is no better than Jiangzhou. I heard it’s very cold there, and it starts snowing in October. By November and February, there’s even ice on the roads, and it won’t melt until spring next year.”
She touched Lin Rong's face with a cold hand and sighed: "Eleven, these are troubled times, and your uncle's decrees can't even come out of Luoyang. All love and love, floating like clouds, are all empty. One day you will You will understand that everything my mother does is for your own good."
Is this all for your own good?
Lin Rong never felt that she was Cui Shiniang, and she had no intention of playing Cui Shiniang for a long time. She felt that she had to leave eventually. She had never considered this place as her home, and she was extremely unaccustomed to the life here.
Somehow, after hearing what the eldest princess said, she felt a burst of anger. Lin Rong looked at her and said coldly: "If you want to be good for someone, you mean forcing her to death, then this kind of good thing is not bad." That’s not necessary.”
The eldest princess stood up, suppressed her smile, and looked at her steadily for a while before she sneered: "You said you had forgotten what happened in the past. It turned out to be a lie. It seems that not only did you remember it clearly, but you were also waiting to follow me. I'm settling the accounts one by one, right? Don't blame me for speaking harshly. Whether you remember it or not, you must do everything you need to do. You must be ambitious and peaceful. If you have to marry and go to Yongzhou, there may not be a day when I ask you for help."
"You are a girl from the Cui family. You have enjoyed the glory for more than ten years and have been supported by the people of Jiangzhou. You should do your best for Jiangzhou. I know you had some childish thoughts in the past. Now, you have decided to marry Yongzhou. , you should put it away as soon as possible, and don't cause it to fall off the cliff again and embarrass everyone. Your father is willing to cover up the scandal for you, but I can't get rid of the dirt in my eyes. "
After the eldest princess said these words, she ordered someone to seal the corner gate of the garden: "Your county master attaches great importance to recuperating from illness. He likes to be quiet on weekdays, and no one is allowed to disturb him."
Lin Rong knew that this meant house arrest, and he was afraid that she would never be asked to go out until the wedding day.
The corner door was sealed and the guards were ordered to guard it closely. For a while, even the maids and women's movements were restricted. Cui Qi couldn't get in either, so he only asked someone to bring in more than a dozen books from the official residence's library.
Lin Rong had nothing to do all day long, and in a month or two he actually flipped through all the books.
On this day, after taking a nap, I took a modern person's reading notes and read slowly. One of them said, "I came across a piece of handwriting written by a guest from Qianya in Yongzhou. Although the calligraphy and painting are not good, the short sentences seem to be obtained by chance. It is really good." The article is a natural one'.
Only then did Lin Rong realize that there was a handwritten note mixed with it. When he opened it, he found it was in a strange willow style, but the words were extremely familiar - the road to Xiongguan is really like iron, but now he is crossing it from the beginning.
She was stunned for a moment. This banner was the boss's favorite, and because the boss loved calligraphy, everyone sent a banner on New Year's Eve as a Spring Festival benefit. Others just took it home as a token gift. Only the graduate student brother who had the same tutor as Lin Rong posted it in his office in a serious way. He not only posted it in the office, but also copied it every day. Lin Rong thought he was embarrassed and was too embarrassed to talk to him for a long time.
Lin Rong's chest felt slightly warm, and his whole body suddenly felt much lighter, as if he had found a glimmer of light in the chaos. He was not the only one here.
At least, not one person, so where is the other person?
Chapter 5
Weddings are also held in the evening, which is at dusk.
According to the wishes of Yongzhou's envoys to pick up relatives, they must set off in the morning. There may be wind and waves when sailing at night.
Since Lu Shen had agreed to appoint Cui's daughter as the clan's wife, the eldest princess didn't care about these details, and she was smiling and smiling.
Cui Jue, on the other hand, sat in the hall, cited scriptures, and resolutely refused: "Those who are oblivious to rituals have the best of both natures. They serve the ancestral temple at the top and carry out the affairs of the future at the bottom, so a gentleman values it. The Marquis of Fuyuan values honor and order." , don’t you follow the Zhou etiquette?”
Disobeying etiquette? With such a big hat suppressed, the envoy from Yongzhou had no choice but to agree to set off at dusk. He ruthlessly refused Jiangzhou's request to send troops to escort and dowry five thousand Bubu. Incidentally, he also sarcastically said: "I hope Ming Gong can forgive me. My lord has an order not to let any soldiers from Jiangzhou enter Yongdi, and to avoid escorting and dowrying the tribe. Cui Minggong sent troops to Dingzhou, and when he heard that the eldest son was besieged in Muye, these soldiers had to rush to support him. yes."
Cui Jue suddenly became so angry that he pointed at the back of the envoy from Yongzhou and said: "The Lu family in Yongzhou started off by relying on their servants. They were so servile and servile in Luoyang in the past, but now even a small welcoming envoy is so arrogant. It's true that thirty years ago in Hedong , Hexi in the 30th year. In such a situation, how good would it be to go to Yongzhou on the 11th?
The eldest princess smiled slightly: "The Yong people are martial and ignorant of etiquette. Why do you care about the wedding messenger? When you marry on the 11th, you will be a tomb woman. Even if it is difficult, your son-in-law is the only one to do it. Where can others go?"
They have been husband and wife for twenty years, and every word touches Cui Jue's heart, making him stand up.
Lin Rong was released from house arrest exactly the day before leaving Jiangzhou. The female relatives of the whole family came to see her. The elders used their private rooms to add makeup to her, while her peers made needlework, calligraphy and paintings for her, and occasionally made some fun remarks, which made it unusually lively.
The youngest sister was only five years old. She touched the peacock fur hanging on the sandalwood hanger. The green light was dazzling and shining. She threw herself into Lin Rong's arms: "Eleventh sister, eleventh sister, how can that cloak change color? Okay." Scary.”
The children's words made the whole room laugh. Cui Qi hugged the little girl and smiled: "You little girl, you don't read or practice your handwriting. Now you are making a joke."
At the same time, he explained to her: "This is peacock feathers woven with gold satin, imitating the hundred-feather skirt of Princess Hanzhang of the former dynasty. It looks like one color when looking at it, and it looks like another when looking at it under the sun. If you look in the shadow, you will see another color, a total of four colors②."
Unexpectedly, the little girl looked at Lin Rong and sighed: "Sister Eleven, it must be very cold in Yongzhou. You can't even wear a skirt and can only wear a cloak. How ugly is that?
This was a bit out of place. Her mother smiled and flattered: "Yongzhou has its own advantages. In the future, lighting up the lamp to appreciate the plum blossoms on a snowy night will be an elegant thing that cannot be compared with Jiangzhou. Moreover, Yongzhou Mu is a hero in this world. He has been there since he was twelve years old." , entered the battlefield at the age of three, and has never lost a battle. Now he is in charge of three continents and five counties at a young age, with hundreds of thousands of cavalry under his command. Since ancient times, beauties have been paired with famous generals. Apart from him, I really can’t think of anyone else who can match them. Where is our county leader?”
Lin Rong didn't want to spoil the fun and lowered his head slightly: "Auntie is so eloquent, it would be a pity not to read books."
The children in the room clapped their hands and laughed: "The bride is shy, the bride is shy..."
It was lively until nightfall, when the congratulatory crowd gradually dispersed.
Lin Rong and Cui Qi were lying on the bed, and what they saw was the bright red wedding curtains and tents, a large area of red. Cui Qi sighed: "You will leave tomorrow. Once you leave, we sisters will not see each other for who knows how many years."
There was a patter of spring rain outside, dripping from the eaves, falling on the moss and bamboo leaves. Lin Rong was fascinated by it, and it took a while before he replied to her: "We will meet again if we are destined."
Cui Qi was sad, but he burst out laughing when he heard this sentence: "If you talk about Buddha's verses properly, won't you have to become a monk tomorrow?"
Then he smiled gently: "Being a monk, getting married, aren't you going to get married? Eleven, you should be here, hahaha..."
Such words could not make Lin Rong laugh. She raised her chin and took out a notebook from under the pillow: "Sixth sister, I have been ill for a long time. Thank you for taking care of me day and night. Although I was sleepy at the time, I was not I am unconscious. Now I am leaving, and I have nothing to give you. This is a notebook dictated by me and written by Kingfisher. The symptoms, pathology and pharmacology of common ailments are all written in it. When you are sick, it is better to take medicine. Then it’s best not to take too much of the Taoist priest’s elixir.”
Cui Qi took it, looked through it, and said doubtfully: "The prescriptions of Taoists and doctors are always kept secret and are kept to ourselves..."
However, Cui Qi has always been a good person, so he only said this half-sentence and accepted it happily: "They say you like to work hard in strange and weird places. Now you are even more powerful, and you have started to make a living as a doctor."
The two of them didn't say a word until late in the night, when Lin Rong was drowsy, Cui Qi asked: "Eleven, do you know that wet nurse?"
In Lin Rong's mind, there appeared a woman who loved to wear Qian's gauze shirts, and often looked sad and gentle: "What's wrong with her?"
Cui Qi was silent for a while: "It doesn't end well after all. The eldest brother is a bastard, but she is the one who suffers."
"I just want to tell you something. That wet nurse is born at home. She doesn't understand the rules of our family. She is greedy for wealth and seduces her master. How can she be willing to risk her life? I have spoken to her before. She is not stupid, if she was not forced by others, such a thing would happen."
Lin Rong turned around and touched Cui Qi's braid: "Sixth sister, if you think this way, I won't have any friends."
Cui Qi knew that he had made a mistake, and was afraid that she might feel sorry for him, so he hurriedly consoled him: "Although the Marquis of Fuyuan in Yongzhou has a grudge with our family, he is said to be a very reasonable person, and he has no favorites around him. Of course it's different. With your character, talent and appearance, what are you worried about?"
Lin Rong smiled and stopped answering.
Lin Rong slept very late that day, and when the rooster crowed the next day, Aunt Xi took her out of the bed and cleaned her face. The old lady from an aristocratic family who had all the blessings personally made her face and opened her face, saying auspicious words: "The first line opens the face, the second line covers both sides, the third line will give birth to a precious son..."
After receiving the instructions from the adults, the children clapped their hands and laughed, and continued: "I will give birth to a noble son, give birth to a noble son, Sister Eleven is going to give birth to a noble son..."
Lin Rong was so painful from the tattoo that she felt her face was burning for a moment. When the makeup was finished, she heard the male guests outside urging her to make up. In the past, she was going to Yujing for a trip. The first immortal Xu Zhuangtou, today Fortunately, he was a member of the Qin and Jin Dynasties, and he taught Luan Feng to go to the makeup building early. ④
A boy leaned on the railing and looked down, disappointed: "Isn't he the governor of Yongzhou? Didn't he come to welcome the bride?
Lin Rong was led down the small building in a daze and entered the main hall to say goodbye to her parents. The local doctor did not expose his inner feelings. Cui Jue originally wanted to teach a few words to his wife, but he didn’t want to see her now, so he paused: “Hey, Shiyi, you... you are so thin like this, it’s all because of your father. fault……"
As he spoke, he started to cry, unable to control himself.
The eldest princess turned her eyes and glanced at him. She took Lin Rong's hand and said, "When you go to Yongzhou, you must take good care of yourself. Make good friends with the Cui and Lu families so that Anzong can be close to the border people. Your father and I will never have any differences." Don’t worry.”
