Chapter 211

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Mafeisan calms, relieves pain, and induces sleep.

Xiang Lin had not yet come up with a way to deal with it; his head felt foggy, and as soon as he leaned it down, he fell asleep.

At this time, the surroundings were very noisy; on the river, the shouts of boats coming and going and the sounds of hauling in nets never ceased, while on the riverbank, the whistles and calls for gathering troops rang out incessantly.

But the Censor, placed in such an environment, found not the slightest annoyance in the noise, only finding it extremely pleasant to the ear.

He even made a comparison—even the famous opera troupe hired for Old Lady's birthday last time, compared with the lively sounds on the river today, fell short by more than ten thousand eight thousand miles!

This is a great merit!

No matter how many twists and turns are encountered in the middle, as long as Lv Mao is finally caught, it will not be a wasted effort.

He stepped forward a few paces, walked to the edge of the riverbank, and watched the scattered fishing lanterns in the river flicker and weave, reflecting on the river surface like maple leaves, a sea of red and yellow. Suddenly feeling a poetic mood, he sighed: "River maples and fishing fires—all say reading ten thousand volumes is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles, and indeed it is so—I never expected that the fishing fires of Hua Prefecture would not only be a sea of river maples, but also net such a big fish!"

Speaking, he turned again to Han Li standing to the side and said: "Han Younger Brother, you previously suggested blockading the river and temporarily requisitioning all boats in the city; I thought it was making a mountain out of a molehill, but looking at it now, it was clearly preparation for a rainy day, and I was the one who was presumptuous!"

He added: "It also makes me reflect deeply; in future conduct, I must avoid being arbitrary and willful."

Han Li followed him forward, looked at the fishing boats coming and going on the river, and after a moment said: "For ordinary thieves, such action is naturally making a fuss over nothing and would only waste manpower; it is no wonder the official did not agree—but I made this suggestion today because someone close to me once suffered a great loss."

The Censor could not help but ask for details.

Han Li briefly mentioned Xin Feng's matter, and added: "That person is a veteran Censor of many years, who always puts duty first and is also experienced; unexpectedly, he met Lv Mao and capsized in the gutter."

"He set an example with himself; I saw it with my own eyes. If we do not take more precautions, I fear he will find out, and in the future when he sees me, he will treat me as if I am not there."

This Censor had also risen from the bottom all the way up; hearing such experiences, he inevitably asked a few more questions. Upon learning how Xin Feng searched and inspected, how he found the person, and how Lv Mao finally escaped by jumping into the river from the boat, he could not help but sigh: "He is capable, a pity the suspect ran away. Although everyone knows he was dragged down by others, and he suffers the most hardship and fatigue, if the superior official does not show him some face, I fear he cannot avoid punishment."

He sighed again: "If this Lv Mao had been caught by him during his river patrol earlier, perhaps he could have made up for his crime with merit. Now it is a cheap gain for our Hua Prefecture to get the merit, but as for him, alas!"

Han Li said: "In any case, the person has been caught. Since caught, although it is not good to violate the rules, there is now some leeway in handling things."

The Censor was stunned upon hearing this, the words on the tip of his tongue, but in the end he swallowed them back. In his heart he could not help but smile wryly, and sighed again.

He naturally knew that the lower-ranking Censors and yamen runners worked hard.

But when one's position is different, what one sees is naturally different.

The superior official is naturally the Military Patrol Commissioner, but this person named Xin Feng, after decades in the Capital Prefecture Office, is only a Censor, which already explains many problems.

The biggest problem is: this person must have no backing behind him.

Although the Military Patrol Commissioner can help a little, within his authority, he can at most make the punishment as light as possible. If one wants to completely let it go, to raise it high and drop it lightly, one must exert great effort and use great influence.

Why would one do that for a Censor who is not from his own circle and is of no importance?

Even his own confidants are hard to take care of!

If benefits are given freely to outsiders, what will happen when his own people need them?

Can one's elbow always bend outward?

To be fair, even if I put myself in the Military Patrol Commissioner's position, at most I would offer some comfort, send someone to visit with a bit more silver, and nothing more.

But seeing that the student before him seems to think that now that Lv Mao has been caught, that Xin Feng is saved, he naturally would not say such words out loud.

Although he is capable, after all, he is still too young!

After bumping into a few more walls in the future, he will know how difficult being an official and being a person really is. Why discourage him now?

The matter here was settled, and people were arranged to help clean up. The rest finished work and dispersed. Just as he was about to leave, two yamen runners hurriedly came from outside.

The two first found the superior official, and the superior official again found the superior official, and soon they found themselves before the Censor.

"What?? Even Elder Zhang Daifu says there is no hope??"

The person replying dared not speak loudly, but also dared not speak softly; his voice almost seemed to slip through cracks and drill into the ground.

"Yes... yes... in the middle of the night, they invited Elder Zhang Daifu and the hall-holding Daifu of Shun An Tang. Official Feng's lips were worn raw from speaking, and he said he would spare no expense, as long as he could be saved—but both Daifus said his windpipe was cut, and even an immortal would find it hard to save him. Right now he cannot catch his breath, cannot speak, and can only have cotton stuffed into his throat first."

"Elder Zhang Daifu administered acupuncture, and Shun An Tang took out the old mountain ginseng stored in the medical hall. They could only buy him half an hour to settle his affairs—and perhaps not even that long; people say they can leave at any moment."

The Censor immediately changed his expression and said: "Did that merchant come here alone? Are there family members by his side?"

"There is a son, an adopted son, some subordinates, and an old steward. Everyone else has been summoned. Only his biological son was just captured by the thief. Official Feng sent us to ask: has the person been saved, and can he be brought back now?"

At such a time, who would stop them?

In a short while, everyone came together before Xiang Lin.

Seeing the child's face crisscrossed with white cloth, the Censor was also startled and hurriedly called a Daifu to ask.

The Daifu said: "That thief struck too hard. This child was frightened, lost two fingers and his right ear, and was injured on the face—he will likely be scarred in the future, but his life is not in danger, and moving him is no problem."

Upon hearing this, someone soon called a cart. The Daifu was asked to stand guard to the side, and Xiang Lin was sent back together with him.

The others stayed behind. Just as they were all sighing, they heard someone quietly say: "Don't be anxious and pity them—today it was that merchant who knocked on the door. Old Chen and Lian Shun went ahead and both said they saw him making eyes at the thief."

"That thief had not yet discovered people ambushing outside. As soon as he made those eyes, someone ran from across the way."

"Really? Could it be a mistake?"

"Old Chen's eyes! From half a street away, even if you are bathing in the river, he can see the black mole on your buttocks clearly. You say he made a mistake?? And there is Lian Shun too! Could he also be mistaken?"

"Nonsense, nonsense! You are the one whose buttocks were seen!"

"You just tell me if you have a mole on your buttocks or not!"

"No! No! That is my waist!"

"Oh, a waist split into two halves! And quite fat!"

The official who grew two fat halves of a waist became angry from embarrassment and said: "Whether there is or not, what does it have to do with this case! Ouch! Old Chen's mouth! How big it is!"

He hurriedly pulled the topic back and said: "What do you think he is plotting? If he had not made those eyes, had not leaked the news, perhaps he would have been caught inside the house, and we would not have gone to so much trouble now!"

"You and I are just going to trouble, but he is risking his own life! His son has also been made into this state by that thief!"

"Could it be that I misread?"

"When the time comes, won't interrogating that thief make everything clear?"

A crowd of people chattered among themselves; at first there were those who felt regret and pity, but once they learned that Xiang Yuan had almost certainly leaked the information, they changed their tune, each saying that if it were true, then he deserved it, and again pitying the child.

While everyone here pitied the child, the child Xiang Lin was sleeping in a daze.

He was drooling, when suddenly someone pushed him several times; he was actually awake, only unwilling and not daring to open his eyes, until he heard a familiar voice.

"Young Master, wake up!"

Xiang Lin secretly glanced and saw that the visitor was a familiar servant, whereupon he slowly sat up and asked, "Why is it you? Where is Uncle Sheng? Call him over!"

The servant opposite had always been meek and obedient in the past, but for some reason, this time his face showed a very complex expression as he said, "Young Master, Steward Sheng is accompanying the Master and cannot leave for the moment..."

"If he doesn't come, I won't get off the carriage!"

He was about to say more, but the servant hurriedly said, "The Master is not in a mood to beat anyone right now; he only has some words to instruct the Young Master—get up quickly, or it will be too late."

Xiang Lin already had a guilty conscience; hearing this, he both worried it was a trick to make him take a beating and feared that something had truly happened, so he finally dragged his feet getting off the carriage.

He was almost pulled toward the Back Courtyard; in no time, after passing through two sets of Doors and going through the already broken Side Door, he surprisingly found himself back beside the Plum Blossom Pile.

On the Martial Arts Training Ground, especially beside the Plum Blossom Pile, it was already almost crowded with people, with countless Torches and Lanterns gathered, illuminating it as if it were broad daylight.

Xiang Lin had originally been taking three steps for every two, but when he reached the front and saw a familiar figure standing there, a surge of anger rose in his heart; he stepped forward quickly and shouted, "Liang Yan, what are you doing here?!"

Liang Yan looked up at him, looking while wiping his face haphazardly with his Sleeve—his two eyes were red and swollen, at this moment he was shedding tears, and two streams of Nasal Mucus could not be wiped away no matter what.

Xiang Lin detested him extremely and cursed, "Nasal Mucus Worm!"

Just as he was about to curse again, he heard someone call out, "Quickly bring the Young Master over!"

People immediately came up on both sides and half-supported, half-pushed him to the side of a Reclining Chair.

In the chaos, Xiang Lin almost sprained his Foot; furious, he turned his head to glare at that servant, but was grabbed by someone, pressed to the ground, and told, "Young Master, kneel down quickly!"

Xiang Lin was stunned; he stared and fixed his eyes, only to discover that the Reclining Chair was surrounded on both sides by people, some he knew and some he didn't, and lying on it was actually a person.

That person's complexion was pale, his Beard was left with only an extremely short stubble, there was a scar on his Chin, his eyes were closed, his head was tilted to the side, and from his Neck to his Foot he was covered with a thick Quilt; at this moment, his Throat, covered tightly, was emitting a distinct gurgle-gurgle sound.

Xiang Lin looked several times before realizing this was his father who had suddenly lost his Beard; seeing the other lying on the chair, though he felt Strange, a sense of grievance surged in his heart first, and he rushed forward, crying, "Father!! That man surnamed Rui..."

He had not finished speaking before he was grabbed by that steward.

The steward shouted loudly into Xiang Yuan's ear: "Master, the Young Master has come!"

Xiang Yuan slowly opened his eyes, as if it cost him a great deal of strength.

He pointed to Liang Yan, then pointed to Xiang Lin.

Liang Yan wiped away his Tears, stepped forward a few steps, and half-knelt beside that Reclining Chair.

Xiang Yuan slightly raised his hand.

The steward beside him then raised Liang Yan's and Xiang Lin's two hands together and placed them on Xiang Yuan's body.

Xiang Yuan very hard held the hand of an adopted son and the hand of a son, straining to place them together, then looked at that steward.

The steward produced a sheet of paper; the paper was a mess, full of words that did not form sentences, one by one, some even missing characters, and just looking at it one could not make out anything.

"Earlier the young master did not have time to return; we, together with Official Feng and Official Mao of Hua Prefecture Government Office, and the Chai Guan, served as witnesses. The Master said that after he passes, the Eldest Young Master and the young master need not escort the coffin back to their hometown themselves but may hire a dart agency for the escort; they also need not observe great mourning, only observe until the Seventh Day, then the two of you can take your luggage to the Capital."

"The Master has already asked someone to find Nanlu Academy, and also asked someone to find a suitable Wuguan. After the two young masters enter the Capital, the young master will enter the Academy to study diligently, while Young Master Liang will temporarily stay at the home of Shopkeeper Zhu Liang Fu..."

He went through all the arrangements one by one, and also spoke of property.

The Zhu Family's Shops will for the time being still be managed by the various Shopkeepers on their behalf; the Fields and other Wealth will be managed for the two elders of the Xiang Family, and so on and so forth.

After finishing speaking at once, he looked at Xiang Yuan and asked: "Master, is this your meaning? If so, nod your head; if not, shake your head!"

Xiang Yuan nodded very slowly, but very firmly.

At this moment his gaze was almost scattered, but he still strained to raise his head, first looking toward Liang Yan; actually unable to speak, he only repeatedly mouthed words, carefully discerning them as "mutually take care of, Liang Lin" a few words.

Liang Yan forcefully held back his Tears and nodded, saying: "Uncle Xiang, rest assured, I and Xiang Lin will definitely mutually take care of each other!"

And after Xiang Yuan finished looking at Liang Yan, he looked toward Xiang Lin; this time, however, he was struggling, forcibly squeezing out a few words from his Throat.

"Son... son, do not learn bad, read, books..."

That voice leaked Wind, almost inaudible, strangely frightening.

Xiang Lin wept uncontrollably, crying: "I don't want to! Father! I don't want to read books! I don't want to go to the Capital! You must not die!!"

Xiang Yuan had no reaction, but instead rolled his eyes, finally looking toward the steward, opening his mouth, and mouthing the words: "Rui... Fu... Sheng..."

The steward understood his meaning and hurriedly said: "Just now a reply came from Outside; this person has already been Captured!"

Xiang Yuan's eyes stared fixedly, his mouth opened, he exerted force with his hand, he kicked with his Foot, and for a long while there was no movement.

The whole crowd held their breath and waited for half a day; seeing no further reaction, then an Eldest Sister hurriedly stepped forward to feel the pulse.

Two Eldest Sisters almost simultaneously gave the result.

"He is gone."

"The person has passed away."

Before the two voices had even fallen, Liang Yan and Xiang Lin had already begun to weep one after another; the former only wept and sobbed without stopping, while the latter wailed loudly, and while crying, he forcefully pulled his hand out from under Liang Yan's hand and out of Xiang Yuan's hand, desperately calling Father in his mouth, while his eyes fiercely glared at Liang Yan opposite, his gaze full of hatred.

And that steward stood to the side; seeing Xiang Lin's appearance, he already understood clearly in his heart.

—In the past, Xiang Yuan almost always had it on his lips that he wanted to change Liang Yan's surname, include him in the Genealogy, and give him half the family property.

But today, in all the distribution of Wealth and property, there was not the slightest mention of this so-called adopted son, as if forgotten Cleanly Eaten.

At this moment, a person's death is like a lamp going out; without the father, who can still suppress Xiang Lin, this sole heir child?

That so-called division of property naturally came to nothing.

Only Zhi Bu Zhi De whether the young master, despite the Master's painstaking arrangements, actually cares or not.

Only fear that not only does he not care, but he may even overturn it all!