Throughout the ages, the Mid-Autumn Festival has been a day for family reunion.
However, on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Mansion of the Minister of War in the capital was raided. Wang Yongqi, the Minister of War, was arrested while sleeping soundly in the middle of the night and sent to the zhao yu, a prison rumoured to be entered only but not exited.
There are rumours that Wang Yongqi's arrest may be related to the Honghe River Valley disaster silver case.
Inside the zhao yu, that the common people were frightened of, Wang Yongqi was held in solitary confinement. The secret room was dark and damp, with a low roof. Adults could not get up and could only huddle in the corner.
His clothes were in rags, his body was covered in bruises, and he smelled of blood, sweat, and an unbearable stench.
Three days have passed since his arrest. During this period, no matter how much he requested to meet with the Emperor, nothing happened.
It seems that the Emperor has made up his mind.
Wang Yongqi curled his lips and sneered, his eyes flashing with coldness.
He really underestimated them...
He banged his shackles against the wall and shouted, "Come here, I have something to say!"
The impatient voice of the jailer came through the wall, "Chief Minister Wang, things are not as good as in the past. Want to see the Emperor? I'm afraid you can only see him in your dreams!"
If he had been like in the past, he would have been able to tear him into pieces with just a flick of his finger...
Wang Yongqi looked gloomy and his anger surged, but he could only swallow his anger and said: "I want to see Cui Muli. There are some things I want to say to him alone."
After a moment of silence outside, the jailer said, "Is it Cui Muli, the Second Young Master Cui who has an immeasurable future among the number one scholars appointed by the Emperor?"
The series of titles made Wang Yongqi's veins jump, and he squeezed out one word from between his teeth, "Yes."
The jailer said: "I can help you pass the message, but to meet you or not is Official Cui's business."
Not long after, the news reached Cui Muli, who asked, "Has Wang Yongqi pleaded guilty?"
The jailer said: "My Lord, Wang Yongqi is very stubborn. No matter how much Chief Minister Luo tortured him, he would not come clean. He only shouted every day that he wanted to see the Emperor. The Emperor refused to see him, so he changed his words and wanted to see you, saying that he would only talk to you alone for some things. "
Cui Muli said: "Then let's take a trip."
*
In the interrogation room, the walls were covered with all kinds of torture instruments, and everywhere as far as the eye could see were mottled with dried and blackened blood, which was hard to remove over the years.
Wang Yongqi sat behind the desk with his head shackled, his hands and feet shackled with heavy manacles, and his whole body was in a miserable state. There was a coldness deep in his bones.
On the contrary, Cui Muli was sitting on a high-back chair five feet away, with an outstanding appearance, like a celestial being.
The jailer retreated, leaving the two of them alone.
Wang Yongqi's gaze was similar to a snake's forked tongue, danger wandering on his face, "Good nephew Cui, I haven't seen you for several months. You have really made this official see you in a new light."
Cui Muli said: "Your Excellency, you are flattering me. I am a subordinate but I can only fulfil my duties faithfully and do my job well."
"Now that the matter has come to this, why do you have to be so pretentious? Why don't you open the skylight and speak frankly." Wang Yongqi said disdainfully.
Cui Muli asked: "As you wish Sir, where do you want to start?"
Wang Yongqi's eyes flickered, unable to hide his complexity, "Let's start with how you learned that I was the one who transferred the disaster silver."
Cui Muli smiled back: "To be honest Sir, I have help from gods."
Gods? Bah!
Wang Yongqi just thought Cui Muli was teasing himself, and stood up angrily at the table. The shackles suddenly clanked, "You are an arrogant kid. Do you think that since I have been arrested, you will be able to sit back and relax?"
Cui Muli said: "Of course this official knows that your Excellency is extremely powerful. Not only do you firmly control the Ministry of War, but there are people behind you to protect you. However, this time, are you sure that he can protect you?"
After hearing this, Wang Yongqi regained his senses and sat back expressionlessly, "I don't understand what you are talking about."
Cui Muli said: "This official doesn't know if you can bite me to death, but your uncle Wang Keyi, Governor Wang? I heard that he was tortured in prison, and he was already talking nonsense and shouting that the disaster silver should have appeared... elsewhere." "
Sarcasm flashed across Wang Yongqi's face, as if he was mocking his naivety, "Good nephew Cui is really good at pretending. I was wrong before and thought you were a talent. Now it seems that you and that old guy, Luo Biyu, are cut from the same cloth. Short-sighted and there is no way to save it."
Cui Muli looked calm, cupped his hands and said, "I am deeply honoured to be praised like this by your Excellency."
The jailer knocked on the door and came in. He said something in Cui Muli's ear, then left again.
Cui Muli looked at Wang Yongqi and said, "Wang Keyi is dead."
Wang Yongqi suddenly laughed loudly and said: "A messenger. This official is forced to confess merely to die. What should I be afraid of? Eighteen years later, this official will be a good man again."
Cui Muli had already anticipated the outcome. Wang Yongqi was able to sit in the position of Minister of War. His tenacity was unparalleled. It was almost impossible for him to overthrow the Zhang family.
After Wang Yongqi finished laughing, he stared at him sadly, "Child of the Cui family. From now on, you'd better be more careful, otherwise you will make a wrong move... Haha..."
"This official will remember the Lord's original teachings." Cui Muli stood up and gathered his sleeves. He spoke lightly: "Abandon the darkness and join the bright road. This official will definitely examine myself three times a day and never follow in your footsteps."
*
After emerging from the zhao yu, Cui Muli boarded a carriage to return home. Unexpectedly, when passing through the western market, two mad cows broke through the fence and ran rampant on the street, injuring countless passers-by.
The officials had not yet arrived, and no one was in charge of order. The people held their heads in their hands and ran around screaming, and the scene suddenly turned into a pot of boiling porridge.
Cui Muli opened the curtain, and looked around quickly. He whispered to Shen Yang to lead people to subdue the mad cow. Coincidentally, as soon as Shen Yang's back disappeared, Cui Muli's carriage suddenly went crazy. The horse raised its long neck and neighed, and also became wild in the crowd.
The driver shouted in horror: "Young Master, the horse has gone crazy. Jump out of the window quickly!"
Cui Muli coughed twice, and covered his left shoulder. He opened the carriage curtain and jumped out of the window.
As soon as he stood firm, he saw the horse heading directly towards a young child. There were many fleeing figures around, and no one paid attention to the crying and frightened little figure.
Cui Muli's pupils shrank, and he ignored the injuries on his body. He forced himself to leap to the side of the child. He wrapped his arms around him to protect him, rolled over, and narrowly avoided being trampled by the horse's hooves.
As the dust was swirling, he was breathing a sigh of relief when he saw the child showing a strange smile, and then there was a sharp pain in the injured area——
"Second Young Master Cui." The "child" said in an old voice that was completely opposite to his childish face: "If you want nothing to happen, it's best to mind your own business."
*
The news of Cui Muli's injury quickly spread throughout the Cui Mansion. Within two-quarters of an hour, Imperial Physician Lin from the Imperial Hospital and two other young imperial physicians hurried over and stayed in Minglan Yuan for a full two hours before coming out exhausted.
A silver-haired old man stood in the centre of the courtyard. He turned around and said, "Imperial Physician Lin."
Imperial Physician Lin cheered up and saluted him respectfully, "Cui Taifu."
Old Cui Taifu's face was as deep as water and he asked: "How is Muli's situation?"
Imperial Physician Lin wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, "Official Cui's left shoulder blade has an old injury that has not healed yet. Now he is injured again with a knife... Fortunately, the dagger is not poisonous, and this official took care of the wound for Official Cui. The wound will heal within two months as long as it is taken good care of."
Cui Taifu's brows relaxed slightly, and then they furrowed further, "Will it affect his future movements?"
"Although the muscles and bones were injured, fortunately with proper treatment, there is no problem." Imperial Physician Lin said.
Cui Taifu said: "Then thank you to the several imperial physicians."
After exchanging a few words, Steward Bai took the three imperial doctors to the hall to rest. Cui Taifu stood quietly in the courtyard for a moment then called Shen Yang for questioning.
"Where is the dwarf?"
"Replying to the Taifu, the dwarf stabbed the Young Master, then immediately took poison and committed suicide." Shen Yang knelt down with a bang and told the truth about what happened. After saying this, he kowtowed heavily and said: "It's this subordinate's fault that I wasn't alert. Taifu, please punish me severely!"
Cui Taifu was silent, looking at the high wall in the distance. Outside the wall, the sky was vast. Thick clouds were gathering, and a storm was coming.
"The mountains are high and the roads are long. Since you have cultivated your body, you have to bear the hardships, ah..." Taifu Cui's expression showed the vicissitudes of life, but he has the same calmness as Cui Muli.
Cui Taifu passed on a message that no one was allowed to visit Minglan Yuan until Cui Muli's injury improved. Even during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Cui Muli stayed in his room to recuperate from his injuries and did not attend the Cui family banquet.
Cui Mansion was immersed in haze.
After Qiao Mu refused her entry to the courtyard to visit for the eighth time, Cui Xijun became angry.
"I am his younger sister of the same parents. So what if I go in and take a look? Can I still harm him!"
Qiao Mu was in a quandary and said: "Third Miss, this is not what I meant, but the Young Master is still in a daze... This morning, the old Madam simply said a few words at the door."
Cui Xijun said: "Grandma is old and it's not good to be infected by the sick air. I am in good spirits and I am not afraid of these things. Please let me in quickly."
It is precisely because you are in such good spirits that we cannot allow you to go in and disturb the Young Master's recovery.
After Qiao Mu silently criticised, he immediately excused himself: "I dare not disobey the order given by the old Master himself... How about you ask the old Master?"
Cui Xijun was grinding her molar teeth. No need to ask. My grandfather will definitely not agree!
Her eyes were rolling wildly, and when she was considering whether to force her way in, a maid came over and said a few words to her.
"Panyan is here?" Cui Xijun raised her eyebrows in surprise and became happy, "This girl has finally turned a corner. Isn't it just a matter of breaking off the engagement? There are so many good men in the world, just find another one."
She came in a hurry and left in a hurry.
Qiao Mu thanked Miss Su from the bottom of his heart, and couldn't help but think to himself: Such an outstanding young lady, I don't know why Young Master Wen is so crazy that he insists on cancelling the engagement...
A touch of moon-white skirt appeared. Qiao Mu's spirit was shaken, and he shouted enthusiastically: "Miss Cousin, you are here?"
Xie Miao nodded to him, "My aunt stewed red ginseng chicken soup for my cousin."
Qiao Mu sighed secretly. Every day when Miss Cousin came here, she was ordered by the Second Lady to deliver soup, and she never did it out of her own will. But even so, the Young Master still remembered her the most. Did Miss Cousin come today? What did Miss Cousin say? After asking the questions, the Young Master remained silent. He appeared unconcerned, but in fact desolation lingered.
Qiao Mu couldn't help but look at Miss Cousin again and again. Indeed, the tides are turning. The one who chased after people's love in the past, now ignores them, but the one who was being chased couldn't help himself...
After Xie Miao completed the task, she was leaving as usual. Qiao Mu thought for a moment and on a whim, said: "Miss Cousin, why don't you go in and see the Young Master?"
Xie Miao was stunned for a moment, "Didn't grandfather say that no one is allowed to visit the courtyard and disturb cousin's recovery?"
Qiao Mu said: "Young Master is slowly getting better, and he is very upset with us all day long. It would be great if you could go in and talk to him."
If Cui Xijun heard these words, she would definitely sneer: Haha, a small servant who has two faces, so capable, ha!
Of course, Qiao Mu would never let the Third Young Lady know.
Xie Miao hesitated slightly.
On the one hand, she wanted to know how the disaster silver case was progressing, and on the other hand, she didn't want to get too involved with Cui Muli.
But this is contradictory. She used her prophetic advantage to secretly drive Cui Muli to eliminate disasters. It caused him to be prematurely exposed to the enemy's sight and they attacked one after another.
Looking back on his past life, even if he was surrounded by conspiracies, he was able to save the day without suffering any physical damage.
But now...
Qiao Mu sighed at the right time, "The Young Master was injured in Hangzhou. This time the bad guy was vicious and stabbed the old wound deeply. Imperial Physician Lin said that the Young Master's left arm was almost useless..."
It's that dangerous and severe? !
Xie Miao's heart trembled, and guilt emerged under heavy pressure. Holding her waist like a villain, she muttered in an old-fashioned way: Xie Miao, you can't cross the river and demolish the bridge. Unload the mill, kill the donkey, and throw it away after use -
She blurted out: "Okay, I'll go in and see my cousin."
Qiao Mu led the person to the main house in the courtyard. He suppressed his excitement, knocked on the door and said, "Young Master, someone is here to visit you."
Cui Muli's indifferent voice came from the room, "Who?"
Qiao Mu said: "It's Miss Cousin."
...the air became silent.
Just when Qiao Mu suspected that he had done something wrong with good intentions, Cui Muli said, "Come in."
Qiao Mu opened the door and invited Xie Miao in. Then he walked out tactfully.
Xie Miao stepped into the bedroom, and the familiar furnishings came into view. She felt a little suffocated. After looking around hesitantly, she hurriedly opened the bamboo green curtain and looked at the person sitting on the bed.
He was wearing a plain robe and holding a book in his hand. His handsome face was pale, his deep eyes were calm, and there was a hint of sickliness in his leisurely manner.
When he saw her, a faint smile appeared on his lips, "A-Miao."