Although Xie Daoyun and Xie Shao deliberately restrained their appearance when they returned to Jiankang this time, the news spread quickly. The rumors that had gradually disappeared began to spread again, and urgent news came from Huaibei that Chen Caozhi had returned from Yecheng.
Accompanying him was Huangfu Zhen, the envoy of the State of Yan——
The scholars and common people in the Jiankang Dynasty were full of expectations for Chen Caozhi's return. They wanted to see how Chen Caozhi made a choice between the two powerful families in the north and south, the Lu family in Wu County and the Xie family in Chen County. Whether he would continue to beg the Lu family's girl to be his wife,
Or should he turn to pursue the wife of the Xie family? Because judging from Xie An's reaction when facing the rumors, Xie An, the censor Zhongcheng, will not be as stubborn as Lu Shi, the minister of the five soldiers, and Xie An has always admired Chen Caozhi, and now
Now that Xie Daoyun's bitter love for Chen Caozhi has been exposed and the rumors are out of control, it is very likely that the Xie family of Chen County will simply marry Xie Daoyun to Chen Caozhi to silence Youyou——
But what about the Lu girl? Emperor Sima Yi wanted to accept the Lu girl as his concubine, but was almost unanimously opposed by both the court and the public. The Nandu clan, headed by the Langya Wang family and the Taiyuan Wang family, after waiting and watching at first, also
He has clearly expressed his opposition to the attempts of the Lu family of Sanwu to join the concubine's party. Huan Wen of the Xifu did not allow Emperor Sima Yi to connect with the southerners to revive the imperial power. Empress Dowager Chongde, the master of the harem, also opposed the Lu family's daughter entering the palace. Emperor Sima Yi
Only then did he deeply understand his own limitations and sorrows. He was just a puppet emperor. He was powerless to change anything. He couldn't do anything. His ambitions when he first ascended the throne were shattered by the cold reality. He was depressed for a while, drunkenly and decadently.
He was moody. Since the imperial power was unavailable, he wanted to seek immortality. He ordered Lu Qin, the imperial censor, to go to Pengcheng to bring back Lu Chang, Lu Daozhi, the grand sacrificial wine of Tianshi Dao, to the palace to worship him, and to preach "Laozi Xiang Er Zhu". Although they both wanted immortality, Sima
Yi's brother-in-law, Emperor Sima Pi, cut off grains and used medicine to seek immortality, but Sima Yi wanted to seek immortality through the art of combining male and female energy, so there was quite a scandal in the palace——
Lu Shi, the Minister of the Fifth Army, knew that it was impossible for the Lu family to become a descendant of the descendants. He was really angry. He didn't blame himself for acting recklessly, but only blamed the king. He thanked the other clans for suppressing him, the Lu family, and even more hated Huan Wen for being arrogant and bullying others. Of course, there were also
The culprit, Chen Caozhi, would have been much smoother for Wei Rui to enter the palace if it had not been for Chen Caozhi. Lu Shi originally thought that Chen Caozhi had been kidnapped by the Xianbei people and would never come back. Unexpectedly, less than two months later, he died again
It was reported that Chen Caozhi was leading Yan's envoy Huangfu Zhen back to Jiangdong. For this reason, Lu Shi had a dispute with his brother Lu Na. Lu Na wanted to take advantage of the spread of Xie Daoyun's love affair with Chen Cao to marry Wei Rui to Chen Cao.
In addition, because the Xie family of Chen County is used as a foil, it seems that Chen Caozhi is indeed an outstanding person and a rare commodity, and the reputation of the Lu family and his married family will be much less affected. However, Lu Shi is stubborn and resolutely refuses, saying that if this is the case, the Lu family of Wu County
Everyone in the world will laugh at him. The dignified and refined Lu Shi also had a fierce argument with his brother for the first time. The two brothers separated on bad terms. Although they lived next to each other, they hardly interacted with each other. However, Lu Shi was still a member of the Lu family.
If he doesn't nod, Lu Weirui still won't be able to marry Chen Caozhi——
The eighth day of August was Lu Weirui’s 20th birthday. Because of rumors and the clan elders complained that Lu Shi and Lu Na brothers were not getting along, Lu Weirui’s birthday was celebrated hastily. Xiaochan followed Zhang Tongyun to celebrate Lu Weirui’s birthday. Xiaochan
Presenting the gift, saying that it was what Mr. Cao Zhi ordered her to prepare before leaving Beijing, Lu Weirui felt sweet and sad at the same time. Mr. Chen was always so considerate. He thought of her birthday half a year ago, but they have only been together for five years.
, Mr. Chen couldn’t spend a moment with her every birthday——
On August 22, the day after Xie Daoyun returned to Jiankang, Zhang Tongyun and Xiaochan came to visit Lu Weirui again. Zhang Tongyun first said: "Weirui, a letter came from Gushu from Changkang, saying that Chen Langjun has arrived from Yecheng.
When I return to Jiankang around the beginning of next month, it is said that Duke Huan is very pleased and will report to the court to reward Chen Langjun."
Lu Weirui suddenly felt overjoyed, her face was radiant, and she said happily: "Of course Mr. Chen will come back, of course he will come back--" Suddenly, her heart softened, tears rolled down her jade cheeks, and she felt that she had waited too long.
Now that Chen Langjun has not come back, she can bear no matter how much pressure she has. She will keep waiting. Now with the news that Chen Langjun is about to return, she feels that she is still so weak and longs for Chen Langjun's warm heart -
—
Zhang Tongyun hesitated for a while, then said: "Weirui, there is one more thing. Zhu Canjun, who was fighting the drought in Kuaiji, returned to Jiankang yesterday. Yes, Zhu Canjun is the Xie family's wife."
Lu Weirui said "Oh" and said softly: "Madam Xie is very admirable. I heard that the people in Kuaiji are very grateful to her."
Zhang Tongyun didn't know what to say, because she heard that Xie An didn't seem to object to Xie Daoyun marrying Chen Caozhi, but Wei Rui's second uncle Lu Shi refused to accept Chen Caozhi. This was very worrying!
Banli, the steward of the Lu family, informed his sister Duan Hoe of the news he found out every day, and Duan Hoe reported everything to Lu Weirui. Therefore, Lu Weirui knew what Zhang Tongyun wanted to say. Zhang Tongyun did not say it, and Lu Weirui did not want to mention it, but kept it in his heart.
He said: "Mrs. Xie is very kind, and she is really infatuated with Mr. Chen. If it were anything else, it would be fine for me to let her go, but how can Mr. Chen ask me to let her go!"
…
In the next few days, news came out that Xie Daoyun was suffering from serious illness. Yang Quan, a famous doctor from Yangzhou, and several imperial doctors went to Wuyi Lane to examine Xie Daoyun. The diagnosis was the same as that of Li Shouyi from Chuyang Taoist Temple by Mingsheng Lake. They all believed that Xie Daoyun was ill.
It is a disease caused by blood paralysis and fatigue. It is an incurable disease. With proper care, it will only prolong life for a few more years——
When the people of Jiankang City heard the unfortunate news about Xie Daoyun, they had great sympathy for this talented girl of the Xie family. Her talent was so great but her fate was so poor, but she was so infatuated that it really made all the lovers in the world shed tears.
Lu Weirui learned about this before noon on the 26th. He was shocked at that time and ordered someone to go to Gu Mansion to call Xiaochan. When he talked about Xie Daoyun's serious illness, Xiaochan burst into tears. Lu Weirui asked: "Xiaochan, if
If I go to visit Madam Xie, will Madam Xie be careless and unhappy?"
Xiao Chan said: "No, Mr. Zhu may seem arrogant, but he is actually very kind. Mr. Zhu is not jealous of the little lady Wei Rui. If the little lady goes to visit her, she will not be unhappy. Xiao Chan
I was also planning to visit her."
Xiaochan still used to call Xie Daoyun Zhu Langjun.
Lu Weirui then went to inform her stepmother Zhang Wenwan that she was going to visit Xie Daoyun in Wuyi Lane. Zhang Wenwan sighed and said, "Go ahead and come back early."
Lu Weirui immediately ordered the steward Banli to prepare the cart, and brought a short hoe, a hairpin, and Xiaochan. Under the protection of several Lufu servants, the two ox carts drove to the south of the city, crossed the Zhuque Bridge on the Qinhuai River, and walked along the long
Walking eastward on Wuyi Alley, the bluestones were wet, and there was a cold rain in the morning. The rain stopped in the afternoon, and the sky was overcast——
The bullock cart stopped outside the gate of Xie's Mansion, and Banli went to report it. Lu Weirui sat in the bullock cart and waited, feeling restless. She rarely felt so uneasy.
After about a cup of tea, I heard the murmur of footsteps, and a group of maidservants came out one after another. Mrs. Xie An, Liu Dan, personally came to welcome Lu Weirui into the Xie Mansion. Lu Weirui had met Mrs. Xie Liu Dan at Waguan Temple last year. That time
It was Xie Daoyun who persuaded Zhu Fatai's apprentice Tan Yi to open the main door of the Main Hall with his eloquence. What he encountered was Chen Caozhi and Lu Weirui working hand in hand. Xie Daoyun was very embarrassed and decided never to meet Chen Caozhi as a woman again——
Mrs. Xie Liu Dan has always been cheerful, open-minded and heroic, laughing all day long, but now she has a sad look on her face. Xie Daoyun is her most beloved niece. She has contracted this serious disease and her life is as thin as a piece of paper. How can she not feel sad!
After sitting down in the small hall of Xie Mansion, Lu Weirui explained the purpose of his visit. Mrs. Xie Liu Dan said: "Mrs. Lu, please forgive me, my Ayuan is seriously ill and I'm afraid I won't see outsiders." Seeing Lu Weirui's very disappointed look, he added: "Let's do this. I
Let someone ask A-Yuan first, if she refuses to meet, Mrs. Lu shouldn’t be offended.”
The maid who went to inquire soon came back and said that Madam A Yuan would like to see Madam Lu.
Mrs. Xie Liu Dan asked her maid to lead Lu Weirui and Xiaochan to see Xie Daoyun. They walked zigzag through the Tingyu Corridor. There was a small pond on one side of the corridor with broken lotus leaves and withered yellow lotus leaves.
There are crystal clear raindrops before noon, the autumn sun shines through the gaps in the clouds, and everything is pale and yellow, late autumn is desolate.
Xie Daoyun has a small courtyard where she lives alone. Now because the fatigue disease will infect others, Xie Daoyun wants all the maids and servants around her to leave. She can spend the rest of her life alone in this small courtyard and not to harm others. Due to the wind and catkins,
The two maids who had grown up with Xie Daoyun since childhood cried and refused to leave. Xie Daoyun had no choice but to let the two of them stay. She just tried her best to take care of herself during daily life and did not need the two maids to serve her——
When Lu Weirui, two maids, and Xiao Chan entered the courtyard, they saw that the leaves of the rose plants under the courtyard wall had almost fallen off, but there were no fallen leaves on the ground. The courtyard was neat and elegant, and had not been abandoned because of the owner's serious illness.
Liuxu came over and asked Mrs. Lu to meet Xie Daoyun in the study. He also said that Mrs. Ayuan didn't want to see more outsiders, so the others should wait outside. When Xiaochan heard this, she begged Liuxu to let her meet Mr. Zhu. Liuxu
He was very familiar with Xiao Chan, so he agreed to let Xiao Chan go with Mrs. Lu.
A calligraphy screen divided the study into two parts, the inside and the outside. Xie Daoyun was sitting behind the screen. The light from the rear window filtered in, reflecting her thin figure on the screen, shadowy and shadowy. Her soft voice came out: "Miss Lu, Daoyun
Sorry, let's have a conversation across the screen——"
Lu Weirui was not good at words, so she didn't know what to say in front of the dim shadow on the screen.
Xiaochan said softly: "Zhu Langjun, Xiaochan is here to see you too."
Xie Daoyun behind the screen said "Oh" with joy and said: "Hello Xiaochan, I am returning to Jiankang from Kuaiji this time. I passed by Chenjiawu in Qiantang and met Ding's sister-in-law and Run'er. They were very happy.
good--"
Xiao Chan heard Zhu Langjun speak so calmly. Although the tone of his voice was very different from the previous days when his nasal voice was strong, she could still confirm that it was the same person's voice. Xiao Chan said: "Zhu Langjun, let Xiao Chan see
It's up to you -" He said, without waiting for a reply from behind the screen, he walked over.
