Denghuaxiao

Chapter 125 Festival of Lights

On the first day after New Year’s Eve, after setting off the firecrackers, Renxin Medical Center continued to open its doors.

Other shops on West Street are closed, but the medical clinic cannot. During the first month of the year, if someone in your house has a headache or a fever, you have to come to the hospital to see a doctor and get medicine. It's just that there are far fewer patients than usual, and the shop is quiet.

Yin Zheng woke up the next morning after being drunk on New Year's Eve. When she entered Lu Chen's house, she found that the white Guanyin in the small Buddha cabinet was missing. When she asked Lu Chen, Lu Chen only said that it was broken. I felt very uneasy for a while.

"For no reason, the Guanyin statue broke on New Year's Eve. It's a bad omen. Maybe it prevented some kind of disaster. Then the girl and I went to the temple to burn a few more sticks of incense and invited a new Guanyin statue back."

When Du Changqing heard Yin Zheng's words, he immediately picked up his chair and turned to look at Lu Yun: "Yes, I'll pay my respects to Lord Wenchang again. I'll take the spring test next month and ask Lord Wenchang to let you go."

"What kind of gods do you worship?" Miao Liangfang was very disdainful. "I didn't worship any Buddha back then, but I still became famous and passed the exams of those useless young masters from the imperial medical bureau."

 “No, that’s why you were kicked out.”

　　　…”

"Old Miao, people still have to have a sense of awe." Du Changqing followed the instructions.

Acheng muttered: "It's like the person who stole the raw fish and grilled it is not the owner..."

"Shut up."

Lu Zong listened to them talking and laughing while flipping through the medical books that Miao Liangfang compiled for her. The Spring Examination is imminent, and since there are not many patients in the hospital during these days, I study and study harder every day than before.

Yin Zheng took the washed handkerchief to the yard to dry, and soon opened the felt curtain and came in. She asked Lu Zhen, "Miss, it seems you haven't seen this handkerchief before?"

Lu Zong looked up and couldn't help but be slightly startled.

Yin Zheng held a square-yue white silk handkerchief in her hand. The eagle pattern embroidered on it was gorgeous and majestic. However, because it had been stained with blood before, it could not be completely washed away, leaving a faint pink color in the end.

 It was the handkerchief Pei Yunying gave her on New Year's Eve.

Yin Zheng looked at the handkerchief in his hand: "The material feels pretty good, but...why don't you remember buying it before?"

Yin Zheng made all the purchases of clothes and handkerchiefs in the house. Lu Zhu secretly thought that after that day, she washed the handkerchief and originally wanted to find an opportunity to return it to Pei Yunying. But when Pei Yunying didn't show up again, she forgot to hide the handkerchief, but Yin Zheng took it out and washed it.

Du Changqing had sharp eyes and glanced at it suspiciously: "Why does it look like a men's style?"

This kind of sharp and cold pattern is always used more by men.

Lu Zhu picked up the tea cup on the table and took a sip, without changing his expression and said: "It's the thank you gift that Miss Pei sent me earlier."

 “Oh.” Yin Zheng suddenly realized.

Lu Zhen would prepare medicine for Baozhu every now and then. When Pei Yunshu's servants came to pick up the medicine, they would give him some other gifts of thanks in addition to the medical money. It's not too expensive, just a few bolts of bright fabric, a few boxes of exquisite snacks, etc.

"What a pity." Yin Zheng touched the handkerchief with some regret, "The material is good and the color is elegant, but the embroidery is too cold and hard and stained, otherwise it would be just right to embroider it into silk flowers for the girl."

Lu Zhen almost choked on his tea.

I really want to make Pei Yunying's handkerchief into a silk flower and wear it on my temples. If this person sees it, I don't know how he will slander her in his heart.

Du Changqing glanced at Lu Huan after hearing this: "Speaking of which, Doctor Lu, I will give you monthly silver on time every month. You should also buy some jewelry for yourself. Don't wear those worthless flowers and grass on your head to celebrate the New Year. He is still so plain and dressed like a mourner, and those who don’t know think that someone in our medical center has died.”

"The Lantern Festival is going on these days, and the lanterns won't be turned off until the evening of the 18th. Moths, snow willows and the like are sold everywhere. You should also buy some plugs. To be honest, those flowers on your head, you I'm tired of watching it."

Lu Zong didn't take his words at heart at first, but he paused when he heard the word "moth".

 Moth…

 There was also a pair of golden moths lying in a box in the drawer of her bedroom.

Lu Zhen still can't figure out the meaning of Pei Yunying turning back in the middle of the night and giving her a pair of gold moths, euphemistically calling it a "birthday gift." Of course, she would not be so sentimental as to think that Pei Yunying bought it specially for her. She probably bought it to give to some girl, but he changed his mind temporarily and gave it to her by borrowing flowers to offer Buddha.

Perhaps seeing her as pitiful inspired this powerful young man to have some meager and meaningless compassion.

Just as Lu was thinking, Acheng's excited shout came to his ears: "Why don't we go to the lantern festival together tonight! Dr. Lu came to the capital last spring, and the lantern festival ended early at that time. It's just in time this year, let's go and have a look. lively!"

 When he said this, Yin Zheng's eyes suddenly felt a little expectant, and she quietly touched Miao Liangfang's arm.

"Uh... not bad," Miao Liangfang understood immediately, "Xiao Lu works hard in the medical clinic every day, so it's time to go out for some fresh air and relax." What he said was sincere. Miao Liangfang himself also passed the spring examination and was the Preparing for the spring exam was not without effort, but compared with Lu Zhu now, it still pales in comparison. Lu Chen was studying hard when he went home every day. When he came to the hospital in the morning, Lu Chen was still working hard. Yin Zheng secretly told him that Lu Chen didn't go to bed until midnight every night after reading. Miao Liangfang himself was also worried about Lu Chen. If you keep enduring like this, don't wait until the spring exam and your body will collapse first.

 The most important thing is to save your life.

"Old Miao is right," Du Changqing believed deeply. "Wu Xiucai from the fresh fish shop also sent you a message earlier, asking you not to shut yourself up at home and study all day long. Come, let's go to the scenery together today. The boss is in charge." Demen look at the lights!”

Having said that, Du Changqing observed Lu Zhuo's face quietly, and other people in the room also secretly glanced at Lu Zhuo.

Lu Huo rubbed the pages of the book in front of him.

 She has indeed not left the hospital since Yuan Day.

 She is actually not interested in lights, but...

Not far away, Acheng was lying on the table and counter, revealing half of his head wearing a tiger hat, and looking at her eagerly with his eyes.

 Lu Zhen looked away, closed the book, and said, "I'll go."

 …

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, every family lights up lanterns.

Liang Dynasty has always had the custom of "three yuan viewing lanterns".

There are lantern festivals on Sanyuan Lantern Festival, that is, the Shangyuan Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the Hungry Ghost Festival on the 15th day of July, and the Xiayuan Festival on the 15th October. In addition to watching lanterns, people also celebrate the festival by eating Lantern Festival, guessing lantern riddles, setting off fireworks, and offering sacrifices to doors and households.

Zhaoning Gongfu is also lively tonight.

The man sitting above the banquet hall is wearing a crow-green round-neck gown. Although he is middle-aged, he looks handsome and elegant, with elegant and elegant features in his eyes.

This man is Pei Di, Duke of Zhaoning.

The woman sitting next to him is beautiful and gentle. She is holding a three- or four-year-old boy in her arms and talking to the man sitting there with a smile.

“Master, tonight is the Jingdemen Lantern Festival. Can we hold Rui’er and watch the lanterns later?”

The speaker was Jiang Wan, Mrs. Zhaoning.

 Pei Di, Duke of Zhaoning, had three concubines except his wife. Among the three concubines, only one, Aunt Mei, gave birth to his concubine, Pei Yunxiao, who was one year younger than Pei Yunying.

Duke Zhaoning's eldest son Pei Yunying and his sister Pei Yunshu were the children of Pei Di's first wife. After the first wife passed away, Pei Di married Jiang Wan. Jiang Wan later gave birth to his legitimate son Pei Yunrui, who is only four years old this year.

Before Pei Di could answer, Pei Yunrui, who was in Jiang Wan's arms, shouted: "Call the eldest brother! We need to ask the eldest brother to come with us!"

Jiang Wan was startled and quickly pinched the young son in her arms. Aunt Mei on the side burst into laughter when she heard this.

“Third Young Master, the prince is very busy every day, how can he have time to look at the lights? Your second brother is free, so why not ask him to go with you.”

Aunt Mei was charming and beautiful, and she was a beauty given to Duke Zhaoning by his colleagues. Because of this, Aunt Mei was respected by people in the palace, and because she gave birth to Pei Yunxiao, her status was much higher than that of the other two concubines.

Pei Yunxiao is twenty this year. He is also handsome. His appearance mostly inherits Pei Di's handsomeness. He also has a gentle and gentle temperament, which is often praised by others.

  Sons who are similar in age and equally outstanding under the same roof are always inevitably compared.

 Especially when one of them has a delicate relationship with the family.

Pei Yunxiao didn't seem to hear Aunt Mei's words and continued to eat vegetables with chopsticks. Pei Yunshu, who was sitting next to Jiang Wan, frowned upon hearing this and looked at Aunt Mei with a hint of anger.

Everyone knows that there is a lot of conflict between Pei Yunying and Pei Di's father and son. In the first month of the year, it was necessary to worship ancestors and light incense. Pei Yunying had to go back to the Pei family ancestral hall to offer incense to his mother, so it was rare to go back to the Pei family. But most of the time he was on duty in the palace. Except for offering incense to his mother, he never took the initiative to set foot in Pei's house. Pei Yunshu didn't want to come back either, so he tried his best to stay with Baozhu in the courtyard where he lived before leaving the palace. If it weren't for fifteen Pei Di to have dinner with her tonight, she wouldn't come here to see this sad scene of family harmony and friendship.

Pei Di didn't say anything, and only glanced at Aunt Mei lightly. Aunt Mei was startled, and then she fell silent, lowering her head and not daring to speak anymore.

Pei Yunshu felt depressed for no reason. She ate some food and said, "I'm going to take a look at the orb." She left the banquet.

After leaving the hall, the cold wind outside the corridor blew on my face, which seemed to have lifted away a little of the depression from the banquet just now.

"Madam," Fangzi said softly, "If there is no need in the future, there is really no need to eat with them."

Even the maid next to her can see that everyone in the Pei family has their own agenda, let alone others.

Sighed, Pei Yunshu said: "It doesn't matter, I will be leaving in a few days after all."

She is a married daughter, not to mention that before she got married, ever since Jiang Wan entered the house, there was no place for her in the Pei family. Now that she and Prince Wen have separated, she has not returned home, but is living in the house bought by Pei Yunying.

He Li's daughter did not go back to her parents' home but opened a new residence. This was the first time in Shengjing. However, there were many extraordinary things, but this one was not missing. Besides, the house she lived in was adjacent to Pei Yunying, so it was convenient for her to visit Pei Yunying.

 Had I not offered incense to my mother, she would not have come back.

Just as she was thinking about it, Fangzi looked forward and shouted: "Your Majesty!"

Pei Yunshu raised her eyes and saw Pei Yunying walking from the other end of the corridor.

"Why are you back?" Pei Yunshu was surprised and happy, "Didn't you say you were on duty today?"

“I am on duty at night. I have nothing to do. I will come back and offer incense to my mother.”

Pei Yunshu smiled and said, "That's right. I'll go with you."

 The ancestral hall is the last room at the end of the corridor. The stickers and peach charms were newly replaced outside the door, and the incense and candles were bright inside, enshrining the portraits of the ancestors of the Pei family.

 Pei Yunshu and Pei Yunying walked into the ancestral hall, but there was no one inside. Pei Yunshu took the incense and planned to pay tribute one by one from the right. When he turned around, he saw Pei Yunying lighting the incense and walking to his mother's memorial tablet.

 He did not intend to pay homage to anyone other than his mother.

Pei Yunshu moved her lips slightly, trying to say something, but in the end nothing came out.

Pei Yunying stood in front of his mother's memorial tablet, bowed and offered incense. He looked calm and did not say any words of respect. He silently placed the incense candle in front of his mother's incense niche, took two steps back, looked at the hazy memorial tablet blurred by the green smoke, and showed a normal smile.

 “Mother,” he said with a smile, “happy New Year.”

Pei Yunshu couldn't help but feel sad when she saw his movements. She quickly turned her back. After she calmed down, she and Pei Yunying burned incense together.

The brocade curtain was hung high in the main hall. After standing there for a while, the two siblings slowly walked out.

Pei Yunying asked: "How long do you plan to live here with the orb?"

 “I’ll be leaving in two days.”

Pei Yunying remained silent.

She smiled: "Don't worry, I stay in my own yard with Baozhu on weekdays, no one bothers me, and it's quiet. But for you, if you're not happy, don't come back. Mother's side..." She turned back and glanced at the ancestral hall, "I I’ll tell it for you.”

Just after saying this, another person came towards me. It was already evening, and the sky was getting dark. The man stopped in front of Pei Yunshu and the two of them. His long robe was elegant and his expression was gentle. The lantern hanging under the wall of the corridor illuminated half of his shadow, and his originally handsome face also glowed. A little cool.

Pei Yunshu said hurriedly: "Father."

Pei Di nodded slightly, his eyes falling on Pei Yunying beside her.

“Why didn’t you say anything when you got home?”

The tone is natural and soft, like a loving father scolding his late son, with concern in his words.

Pei Yunying said nothing.

 “Ah Ying!” Pei Yunshu was extremely nervous.

The whole Shengjing capital knew that the father-son relationship between Duke Zhaoning, Pei Di, and his eldest son, Pei Yunying, was not harmonious. Outsiders only said that Pei Yunying was rebellious at a young age, so he repeatedly disobeyed his biological father. However, Duke Zhaoning had a gentle and tolerant temperament, and it was his eldest son Hu Lai.

Only Pei Yunshu knows that the truth is not the case.

“Sister,” Pei Yunying said to her with a smile, “Baozhu is still waiting for you in the house, go back quickly.”

"you"

 She was still a little worried, but Pei Yunying's gaze was very insistent. After a moment of stalemate, Pei Yunshu was defeated. She had to suppress her uneasiness, cast an admonishing look at Pei Yunying, and then left worriedly.

The hibiscus lanterns hanging under the eaves are exquisite and gorgeous, casting colorful light on the people under the eaves. The young people are as tall and straight as eagles, the middle-aged people are as deep as wolves and tigers, and the father and son, whose blood is obviously thicker than water, are blocked by a lantern. The flower table of the palace lantern is divided into two sides of light and shadow at the foot.

 The distinction between Jing and Wei is clear.

The wind gradually picked up, and Pei Di spoke, his voice as gentle as ever: "I heard that the Qi family is looking for you."

 The young man smiled but said nothing.

 “The Qi family belongs to the prince.”

Pei Yunying said "Oh" and said with a half-smile, "But I don't plan to get on the boat."

Pei Di said nothing and looked at the person in front of him silently. The young man was very tall, already a head taller than him when he stood up. When he smiled, there was a small pear dimple on his lips, which was from his mother. But his gaze was very stern, like the silver knife at his waist glowing with coldness.

It seems that unknowingly, perhaps overnight, the boy who followed his father's footsteps and watched the lights grew up in the blink of an eye.

Pei Di stared at him for a long time before speaking: "The Pei family is on the side of the prince."

"So?" The young man said with a faint smile: "What I have done is harmful to the interests of the Pei family. What are Mr. Pei's plans?"

Pei Di said nothing.

 “Perhaps the righteousness of killing relatives will poison me to death...”

He took a step forward, bent slightly, and lowered his voice in the man's ear: "Just like when he poisoned my horse."

Pei Di's eyes moved slightly, and Pei Yunying straightened up.

He looked at Pei Di with a strange look in his eyes, as if he were looking at a stranger, and his tone was very calm.

 “If you still have something to do, I won’t disturb your family enjoyment.”

Having said that, he passed the person in front of him and walked away.

 The palace lantern was swayed by the night wind, and the colorful spikes under the lantern looked like colorful flowers.

Pei Yunying walked around the corridor, and Qiong Ying, who had been ordered by Pei Yunshu to come to ask, asked, "Where are you going, sir?"

The young man paused slightly, glanced at the brightly blooming colorful ears under the lanterns under the eaves, and smiled carelessly.

“Today is the fifteenth day, and the lanterns are lively.”

“I suddenly want to go to Jingdemen to see the lanterns.”

 (End of this chapter)