Lamp Flower Smile

October Festival is almost the beginning of winter.

Thin ice gradually formed on the surface of the Guangyun River. On the broad river, a giant ship slowly docked.

A group of people wearing dark blue cotton robes descended from the deck of the ship. From a distance, they looked like a swarm of ants walking alone in the wilderness.

There was a tea house temporarily settled by the river. The owner of the tea house brought several pots of hot tea to boil noodles and set out several pots of charcoal fire, and the crowd gradually became lively.

Lin Danqing sneezed and complained: "It's so cold."

The medical officer beside me said with relief: "We'll cross Mengtai soon. It's colder next to the river, but it's much better to cross Mengtai."

It has been half a month since the convoy set off for southern Jiangsu. During this period, a section of the Guangyun River required boating. After the beginning of winter, the river froze and it rained for days, so the journey was delayed.

Shengjing is located in the north, and winters are always very cold. I thought that southern Jiangsu would be much warmer in winter because of its southern location. Unexpectedly, not only was it not warm, it was even more humid than the coldness of Shengjing. Even the cotton robe on his body felt as if it had been soaked in ice, cold and heavy. Before we even reached southern Jiangsu, a medical officer developed frostbite on his hands.

Chang Jin walked out of the back kitchen of the tea stall, handed Lu Chen and Lin Danqing each a bowl of hot soup, and said, "Drink while it's hot to warm yourself up." Then he looked at Lu Chen and asked, "How do you feel, Doctor Lu?"

Lu Zhuo had a pale face, took the hot soup from Chang Jin's hand, and nodded: "Much better."

The long journey made Lu Huan suffer even more than other medical officers. She got seasick.

It took seven days to cross the Guangyun River by boat. Lu Zhu had never walked on such a long waterway. Even though he took a lot of seasickness medicine, he was still vomiting. When he got off the boat, his face became thinner.

"Sister Lu, I used to see you know everything, but I didn't expect you to be a landlubber." Lin Danqing patted her shoulder and thought, "Maybe God is fair. He will give you some talents in medical skills, but I will cause you some discomfort in other things." , Otherwise, why are there so many people, and only you and Dr. Ji are so seasick?"

There is more than one landlubber, and so is Ji Xun.

But Ji Xun is better than Lu Zhu, at least the seasickness medicine is effective for him.

Hearing the conversation about him, Ji Xun looked towards them.

Lin Danqing was caught red-handed. He calmly stood up and left with the hot soup, walking to Chang Jin and pretending to talk. Lu Chen lowered his head and drank the soup.

The soup is the white radish and duck soup made by the owner of the tea house. It is sweet and refreshing. After one sip, your stomach gradually becomes sticky.

While he was drinking, a figure suddenly appeared next to him. Lu Yan turned his head and Ji Xun sat down next to her.

She was stunned for a moment, then heard Ji Xun say: "Are you feeling better?"

Lu Zhuo nodded.

All the medical officers joked that they were the only two landlubbers on the whole ship, and they always felt sorry for each other.

"I wanted to give you some seasickness medicine, but I didn't expect it until I got off the ship. I'm sorry," he said.

Although Ji Xun was also seasick, he got better immediately after taking seasickness medicine. But Lu Zhuo was not like that. He felt uncomfortable for seven days.

There was a whole ship of medical officers, most of whom were elderly medical officers. They couldn't find a reliable recipe, not even the genius medical officer Ji Xun. The seasickness medicine he made was taken by Lu Zhuo, and it didn't work at all. Get better.

Speaking of which, it really makes people doubt whether this group of people can solve the epidemic in southern Jiangsu.

Ji Xun looked at her with a strange expression: "But why are all the seasickness medicines ineffective on you?"

"Perhaps it's a heart disease." Lu Yan answered calmly, "I'm worried, so no matter what medicine I use, it's useless."

This may not be a reason.

Ji Xun nodded, did not say anything more about this, and turned to talk about something else: "After Mengtai, we will reach Sunan in a few days' walk."

"Medical Officer Lu is from southern Jiangsu. He is about to return home. Are you feeling nervous?"

Lu Yan lowered his eyes: "It's useless to be nervous."

"I thought Medical Officer Lu took the initiative to go to Southern Jiangsu because of his hometown."

Lu Chen was silent.

Among the old medical officers who went to southern Jiangsu, apart from Ji Xun, Lin Danqing, a new medical officer, was out of his way to sneak in. Before leaving, another Lu Yun was added to the list.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that Lu Chen left for southern Jiangsu in order to avoid the wrath of the Taishi Mansion. However, some people believe that Lu Chen was from southern Jiangsu and asked to go, perhaps because he was worried about his hometown.

However, along the way, when the medical officials discussed good strategies and prescriptions for treating the epidemic, Lu Huo acted very calmly, looking a little cold-blooded.

After a moment of silence, Lu Yan said, "Whatever Medical Officer Ji thinks is what it is. After all, I'm on my way."

Ji Xun looked at her, thought for a moment, and hesitated for a moment before speaking: "I have something I want to ask Medical Officer Lu."

"What's the matter?"

"Before Mr. Qi's accident, he was first treated by the Cui Yuan Envoy. Later, Cui Yuan Envoy was convicted, and you took over Cui Yuan Envoy's position. Only you can read Mr. Qi's medical records."

"good."

He said: "Although the Grand Master's Office said that Mr. Qi fell ill due to the fright at the Fengle Tower fire, I heard from others that the symptoms looked more like Mr. Qi's epilepsy. I remember Medical Officer Lu once asked me: Poria, Poria God, and no What about adding some medicine, blood root, Magnolia officinalis... as I said, if you use this prescription, you may be able to soothe your mood and calm epilepsy in a short period of time, but if it accumulates in the long term, the residual poison will accumulate in the body and cause paralysis. His mental health may appear to be improving on the surface, but in reality the disease will become more severe and difficult to treat in the future.”

Ji Xun glanced at Lu Chen and saw that Lu Chen looked calm and did not refute, then continued: "Later, Mr. Qi fell ill repeatedly..."

"What does Medical Officer Ji mean by this?" Lu Zhu interrupted him.

"I am treating Young Master Qi, and Young Master Qi is not epileptic. This point has been repeatedly explained by Cui Yuanshi and Taishi Mansion. There is no reason to convict someone based on just one question."

She said: "Besides, it is a fact for everyone to see that Mr. Qi died at the hands of his father during the Nuo sacrifice. Doctor Ji is settling the accounts after autumn. Could it be that he thinks that no matter what, as long as I have visited the Qi Mansion, the noble Mr. Qi will die." , as his medical officer, I cannot survive and must be buried with him?"

Ji Xun was startled by this sharp answer: "That's not what I meant..."

"Then why does Medical Officer Ji deliberately seek evidence of my crime?"

Ji Xun was speechless.

Qi Yutai did indeed die at the hands of Qi Qing, which had nothing to do with Lu Zhuo.

He also knew that if Lu Huan did not follow the medical officer to southern Jiangsu, he might be implicated in this accident.

His own doubts about the medical records frightened Lu Zong because he didn't think carefully about it.

"Sorry," Ji Xun said, "I'm not doubting you, it's just that there are some puzzling points in the medical record. I won't ask you about it in the future."

Lu Chen didn't say anything, and the two of them were silent. Suddenly, Iris hurried from a distance, looking a little panicked.

Among the accompanying medical officers, Shi Changpu was the most casual on weekdays. When not discussing epidemic relief, nine out of ten of them were sleeping, and the remaining one or two were eating. It was rare to see him so panicked.

Shi Changpu ran closer in one breath, pulled Chang Jin and walked aside. There was a faint voice: "The people from Mengtai Station just came to help, something big happened in the capital!"

Lu Zhen's heart moved, and he raised his eyes to look in the direction where the two of them were walking away.

Something big happened?

Shi Changpu brought the news from the inn to Chang Jin, and not long after, the entire group of epidemic relief medical officers knew about it.

Something big happened in Shengjing.

A few days ago, the convoy was busy traveling day and night. Later, I crossed the Guangyun River and spent seven days and seven nights on the river. No letters could be delivered.

So the news spread to Mengtai, and everyone was shocked when they suddenly learned about it.

His Majesty passed away.

The third prince, Yuan Yao, set up an ambush outside the Qinzheng Palace. When he entered the palace at night to pay an audience, he launched a palace coup, killed the king and seized the throne, and his majesty was seriously injured. The prince blocked the sword for his majesty, but unfortunately he died at the hands of Yuan Yao.

Prince Ning Yuanlang rushed into the palace, captured the third prince, and sent him to Zhao Prison. Before his death, His Majesty issued a succession edict and handed over the throne to Prince Ning Yuan Long.

In just a few days, the prince died, the third prince was imprisoned, and Prince Ning ascended the throne.

This is too weird.

Although Emperor Liang Ming had been in poor health in recent years, the crown prince and the third prince were fighting openly and secretly, and everyone knew that there might be a war. But everything turned upside down overnight. It has always been said that after the father dies, the son succeeds, the elder brother succeeds the younger brother." Emperor Liang Ming still had two sons, the second prince and the fourth prince, who could take over the throne. Why did he pass the throne to Prince Ning bypassing them?

And how could that good-for-nothing prince who smiles all the time and only wanders around the streets and official alleys buying flowers and vegetables, capture the gangsters on his own?

The affairs of the court were thousands of miles away, and the lowly and anonymous medical officers in the Medical Officers' Hospital remained silent and did not dare to ask more questions.

An old medical officer said tremblingly: "Yizheng, should we go to southern Jiangsu?"

The list of epidemic relief in southern Jiangsu was approved by Emperor Liang Ming, but now the dragon chair has been replaced by another person, and things are unpredictable.

The north wind howled by, and Chang Jin shivered.

"Go." He calmed down, "What does this have to do with us?"

They are the ones who go to rescue the epidemic. No matter who is on the throne, it is a fact that the people in southern Jiangsu are suffering from the epidemic, and there is no way to say that they have turned around and given up.

Furthermore, the new emperor has ascended the throne and Shengjing is in turmoil. It would be a bad idea to go back at this time. It would be better to stay in southern Jiangsu and wait until the epidemic is resolved and everything settles before returning to Shengjing.

They are ants, humble little people who cannot shake the overall situation. They can only go with the flow and try their best to stick to their true intentions.

After learning such shocking news, all the medical officers were a little uneasy and gathered together to discuss in low voices. Lu Zhu put down the medicine bowl and walked towards Chang Jin.

Chang Jin was standing outside and turned around when he saw her coming.

"Yizheng," she paused and her voice became softer, "Did the news from the inn mention anything about the Grand Master's residence?"

Chang Jin looked at her in surprise, then suddenly realized. He looked at the medical officers warming themselves in the tea house in the distance, then leaned closer and whispered: "It's mentioned."

He said: "The case of the third prince's regicide was linked to many court officials. The Qi family also contributed to the third prince's behalf. All the princes who had contact with the Taishi Mansion were wanted and would be destroyed by the party. Qi family The family was executed and three clans were killed.”

Lu Chen was stunned for a while.

On the surface, the Qi family clearly belongs to the prince. However, once the court battle is defeated and implicated, it will be easy to convict a person.

She returned to Changwu County from southern Jiangsu, and then fought from Changwu County to Shengjing. She worked step by step and planned carefully to get rid of Ke Chengxing, kill Liu Kun, bring down Fan Zhenglian, and finally designed Qi Yutai to die at the hands of her father.

Now, Qi Qing is also dead, and her last enemy has disappeared from the world.

The great revenge was completely avenged. After everything she had done, she should have felt happy. However, after that happy feeling, it was like a winding river covered with thin ice in the distance. It was vast and boundless, and she didn't know where it was flowing.

Seeing that she was silent, Chang Jin comforted in a low voice: "Medical Officer Lu, when you return to Shengjing this time, you don't have to worry about the Qi family being angry with you."

If the Qi family is defeated, no one will stand up for the Qi family again.

Lu Chen nodded, but did not walk away immediately.

Seeing this, Chang Jin asked, "Does Medical Officer Lu have anything else to do?"

Without the brazier, it was still cold when the wind blew outside. Lu Zhen paused for a moment before speaking softly.

"Yizheng, have you heard any news about Pei Dianshuai?"

Chang Jin was startled.

Rumors about Lu Zhuo and Pei Yunying spread throughout the medical academy. Lu Zhen had always been indifferent to him, but he actually took the initiative to ask for news about Pei Yunying. It seemed that there might be some love between the two.

"He went to Qishui."

"Qishui?"

"There was a military rebellion in Qishui. Your Majesty sent General Zhenwei to quell the rebellion. The third prince committed such a crime, and the whole lineage of Chen Guogong was implicated. Your Majesty took back the military power and ordered Commander Pei to rush to Qishui. He set out a few days ago."

"They have fast footsteps. Qishui is not far from Sunan. They may reach their destination earlier than us."

Lu Yan was silent, and Chang Jin looked at her, wanting to say something, but in the end he said nothing.

When Prince Ning ascended the throne, the three princes were deeply involved, but Pei Yunying seemed not to be greatly affected. His Majesty even allowed Pei Yunying to lead troops to Qishui with peace of mind. He clearly wanted to use him in an important role.

The young commander already had a bright future, and it became even more limitless after this. But Lu Zhuo was an ordinary person.

The difference in identity is sometimes greater than anything else.

He said nothing more, sighed slightly in his heart, and turned around to talk to the owner of the teahouse.

Lu Chen returned to the tea shop.

In the room, the brazier was very hot. When Lin Danqing saw her coming back, he handed Lu Zhen a soup, turned sideways and asked, "What did you say to Chang Yizheng?"

"Asked about epidemic relief."

Lu Chen lowered his head and hugged Mrs. Tang. Warmth gradually spread between his fingers. Hot and cold alternated, making people feel a little dazed for a moment.

Pei Yunying actually went to Qishui.

He is from Prince Ning, and he has been secretly planning for this moment for a long time. Now that the overall situation has been decided, King Ning has ascended the throne, and it is a good thing to treat him as before.

He is more capable of doing what he wants to do and protecting the people he wants to protect.

Lin Danqing's voice came from the side: "It's getting colder and colder today. I thought it was warmer in the south than in Shengjing, but why is the winter even more difficult than in Shengjing?"

She rubbed her hands, looked at the north wind blowing outside, and whispered: "I wonder if it will snow when we get to southern Jiangsu?"

Lu Zhuo raised his head.

The sky was overcast, and it rarely snowed in winter in southern Jiangsu. The last time it snowed heavily in southern Jiangsu was six years ago.

Six years ago, in the Great Cold, the day she met Pei Yunying for the first time.

Lu Yan lowered his eyes and reached out to touch his heart, where he could feel the residual pain faintly.

She always thought that she would die in Shengjing, but she didn't expect that it would be Su Nan in the end.

Where the story begins, where it ends.

Maybe it would be nice to die there.

…

The days passed like water, and winter began in a blink of an eye.

In the early morning, there was fog on the street.

The heavy fog is also gray and falls on people, biting and biting.

The doors of every house along the street were closed. The morning market, which should have been noisy and lively, was deathly quiet, with no one on the street. Thick smoke gradually rose in the distance, mixed with the scorched air of burning flesh. The billowing gray smoke floated upwards, forming a thick layer of haze in the sky.

Sunan County Lieutenant Li Wenhu stood under the city wall and cursed in a low voice.

"Fangzi," he asked the person beside him: "It's already this hour, are they not coming?"

The middle-aged man standing next to him was wearing a wrinkled long coat. His face was blue from the cold. He kept stamping his feet and rubbing his hands, but his expression was very insistent: "Wait a little longer. It should be here today no matter what."

Li Wenhu looked at the empty city gate in the distance.

Southern Jiangsu suffered a locust plague.

The locust plague destroyed the crops, and without food, famine soon broke out.

The disaster relief grain and silver distributed by the imperial court were delayed, and the epidemic in southern Jiangsu came first.

The epidemic was so violent that within a few months, more than half of the people in the city died.

The governor of the state capital said that he would send people to rescue the epidemic, but for some reason they were delayed. More and more people died, and the county government was not spared. Finally, one night, the county magistrate sneaked out of the city with a family of young people, never to return. Didn't come back. Only the county magistrate Cai Fang and the county captain Li Wenhu were left looking at each other.

It rained all night long when the house leaked, and it was extremely cold in southern Jiangsu this year. It rained every day. The piles of corpses could not be burned, and many poor people died of cold and hunger. Medical clinics in Southern Jiangsu are running out of medicinal materials, and doctors are falling ill one after another. If this continues, it won't be long before the entire Southern Jiangsu becomes an empty city.

"I think they won't come." Li Wenhu's originally strong body has lost a lot of weight after running around for days, and his belt is obviously loose. "If the court has us in mind, how can it be delayed until now? How many months has it been? We said before that we would send people to rescue the epidemic, but we didn’t even see a ghost. I think we just want to fend for ourselves!”

He looked at the steamed buns in Cai Fang's hand again, and became even more angry: "So many people starve to death every day in the city, and you prepare steamed buns for them, maybe the golden nobles in Shengjing will... You look down on this little guy, why bother bothering him!"

Cai Fang rubbed his hands and said, "Stop saying a few words!"

"Why, you won't let me tell you?"

Li Wenhu didn't like the officials in Shengjing.

After the epidemic broke out in southern Jiangsu, the county magistrate immediately asked the court for help. The magistrate, magistrate, and magistrate reported it one by one. It was many days before they arrived in Shengjing. Officials in Shengjing were busy with military and state affairs every day and had no time to care about the life and death of a small county.

Among them were several "high-ranking officials" who came from Shengjing and were so-called to control the locust plague. They stayed in southern Jiangsu for three to five days and then went back. They ate up the half-month rations of the county government and others, and wrote a letter "Controlling Locusts" eloquently. Argument".

If the county government finds a treasure, it will do as it is told, but it is of no use.

With the previous experience, Li Wenhu looked down upon the doctors of Shengjing Hanlin Medical Academy. Those doctors had studied in Imperial Medical College since childhood, and most of them had good family backgrounds. How could people with such family backgrounds let their children take risks in this epidemic area? The doctors sent here this time were either forced to do so unwillingly, or were incompetent people with mediocre medical skills, abandoned children of the Medical Academy, and incompetent people who were forced to do something they were not prepared for, just like those people before.

"You have to wait alone," Li Wenhu said, "I'll go back and move the bodies. The bodies on the execution ground yesterday are almost full!"

He turned around and was about to leave. He had only taken two steps when he suddenly heard Cai Fang shouting behind him: "Here they come!"

Here they come?

Li Wenhu looked back.

In the distance, a team of carriages and horses were gradually approaching a few hundred steps outside the city gate.

The carriage was not moving fast, but for the deserted city of Southern Jiangsu for several months, it was like a ray of fresh sunlight that suddenly appeared after a long period of haze, immediately illuminating the eyes of the two people in front of the city gate.

The carriage approached with a "gurgle" and stopped in front of the city gate.

A middle-aged man wearing a cotton robe and a cotton hat jumped out of the carriage.

"You..." Cai Fang stepped forward excitedly.

The man bowed to Cai Fang, his voice polite and courteous.

"I am a doctor from the Imperial Academy of Medical Officers, and I am here to treat the epidemic in Southern Jiangsu with the order of the court."