Cheng Yunzhi didn't smile when he left, but when he came back, his face was full of peace and tranquility, he chatted with Lin Huai warmly, all the bad feelings disappeared, no matter how slow Huo Weilou was, it was obvious that the two had reached a certain consensus, he His hands rested on the arm of the chair, his knuckles rubbing against the black jade wrench, his expression was gloomy and his eyes glanced at Bo Ruoyou from time to time.
Bo Ruoyou sat in the last seat, with a straight back and gentle eyes, but only Huo Weilou could see that her hands were tightly clenched in front of her, and he didn't let go for a long time, his eyes darkened again.
Lin Huai ordered Chu Shuning to prepare a banquet in honor of Cheng Yunzhi and Bo Ruoyou, Huo Weilou got up from the head seat at this moment, "The Marquis still has official duties, so I won't stay. You know what I said in the morning." , there will be moves upward in the past two days."
Lin Huai got up to answer, and said: "What else is there for Master Hou? It's getting late, why don't you leave a meal? Speaking of which, Master Hou and their father and daughter are also very destined, if Master Hou did not appreciate Youyou, we We won’t be able to see you in Luozhou as early as possible.”
Cheng Yunzhi also said: "Master Hou still has the grace of saving Youyou's life—"
Huo Weilou bent his lips, "It's just a matter of raising your hands, I won't stay today, you old friends, and this Marquis is here, you also have some restraints."
Since he wanted to leave, it was difficult for anyone to stay. Lin Huai took Lin Zhao to see him off, but Bo Ruoyou had no reason to follow, and Huo Weilou didn't even look at her when he left, which made her heart sink valley bottom.
Cheng Yunzhi sighed: "I didn't expect Lord Hou to be here. It is indeed destined to be related to him."
As soon as he turned his eyes, Cheng Yunzhi saw that Bo Ruoyou had a slight worry on his face, his eyes were clouded with smoke, and he seemed to be troubled.
"Youyou, didn't you expect to come to the Lin residence?" Cheng Yunzhi asked gently.
Bo Ruoyou came back to her senses, thinking about Huo Weilou's engagement, she wanted to ask immediately, but it was still inconvenient in Lin's residence, so she just said: "I really didn't expect, foster father told Uncle Lin just now. What?"
Cheng Yunzhi smiled: "It's nothing, it's just some old things, some misunderstandings, now it's clear, you Uncle Lin is not an ignorant person, I brought you to the house today to pay a visit, and they will take care of you in the future."
Bo Ruoyou hesitated to speak, but Lin Huai and Lin Zhao came back soon, so she had no choice but to swallow what she was going to say.
Next, the old friend reminisces about the old days and had a good chat. Bo Ruoyou sat at the bottom with her eyes closed. She only answered when she was asked. Cheng Yunzhi saw that something was wrong with her, but Lin Huai didn't notice it. When she was originally gentle and quiet, when it was time to eat, Chu Shuning was also quite enthusiastic towards Bo Ruoyou, so she smiled a little more.
Lin Zhao's gaze fell on Bo Ruoyou for half a day, but he couldn't do anything in front of the elders. After dinner, Cheng Yunzhi saw that Bo Ruoyou was too quiet, so he quickly said goodbye.
Lin Zhao said he wanted to send them home, and he really wanted to. Cheng Yunzhi couldn't shirk them, but he was happy to see this, so he agreed. Bo Ruoyou couldn't help it, so he kept quiet on the carriage. When he arrived at Cheng's house, Lin Zhao didn't enter. Mansion, when he left, Bo Ruoyou showed seriousness.
"Father, did you go to the Lin residence today for your daughter? As you mentioned earlier, you have already made arrangements for your daughter's marriage. Can you say that it is Mr. Lin?" Bo Ruoyou served tea to Cheng Yunzhi, and asked straight to the point.
Cheng Yun was taken aback, never expecting that Bo Ruoyou already knew, "Youyou, how did you guess that?"
Bo Ruoyou shook her head and didn't go into details, but asked, "Did foster father ask Uncle Lin to break the engagement between Young Master Lin and my cousin today, and then make an engagement with me?"
Cheng Yunzhi put down the teacup, "Youyou, that's your marriage. If it's someone else, it's fine. I can't just sit idly by and ignore the eldest son of the Bo family. I don't want to mention what happened back then. Even your marriage will be snatched away. How can they be your elders?"
At this point, Cheng Yunzhi's tone became a bit sad, "I didn't want to tell you so early, this marriage was originally yours, but now it's annoying to be confused with Mrs. Bo's wife, but since you know It's okay to tell you, this was fifteen years ago, when you were only two years old, your parents stopped with Lin Huai and his wife. Although we didn't write a serious marriage letter at that time, we all know it well This doll dear."
"This is your father's and mother's wish. Whether it's for them or for you, I will take it back for you. You and I have been away from Beijing for many years. If Lin Zhao changed someone else's marriage, I don't want to fight. Well, they know this marriage best, they have ignored you all these years, and now they don't give you a single word of explanation, so they just replaced you so plainly."
"Do you know how there were rumors outside when I asked Zhou Liang to inquire? They said that this marriage was arranged when your cousin was born, that the eldest girl of the Bo family and Lin Zhao's childhood sweetheart were a match made in heaven, and that the old lady of the Lin family It's ridiculous how you liked Miss Bo's family back then. They obviously robbed you of your things, but they still made up these words. They really thought that your parents died, and you, a little girl, lived or died. Whether it's good or bad, I can't fight, they are so brazen, how can I bear it?"
Cheng Yunzhi sighed again, "The adoptive father is in his twilight years, and now he is returning to Beijing. There are not many old friends who can talk to him. There is no one in the Bo family to make decisions for you. The foster father really doesn't know that the foster father is old and passed away. Who do you want to rely on? I have checked Lin Zhao's reputation, and I know that he is a leader among the children of the young family, and the Lin family has a clean and upright family. Treating you kindly, this matter is the only thing foster father can do for you."
Bo Ruoyou's eyes were slightly red, and she couldn't help squatting down to beat Cheng Yunzhi's legs. Cheng Yunzhi had leg problems and was not in good health. She couldn't hear what he said about his death. My daughter is good, my daughter understands that the adoptive father must live a long life, no matter who the daughter marries in the future, the adoptive father must look after the daughter."
Cheng Yunzhi brushed the top of Ruoyou's thin hair, "But foster father can see that you don't like this marriage, and you are not very interested in the Lin Mansion. You walked silently on the way back. Now you are not happy to ask me like this, but right?"
Bo Ruoyou bent her lips, "The Lin family is indeed a good family. If my daughter can marry into the Lin family, she will probably be able to live a comfortable and happy life among ordinary women. But foster father, Mr. Lin and my cousin They have been engaged for many years, and their friendship for more than ten years is beyond my comparison. Now that he hastily made him change the engagement, my cousin will not say anything. Would Mr. Lin be happy? If he is not willing, wouldn't it be difficult for me to marry?"
Cheng Yunzhi frowned, and Bo Ruoyou said softly: "Although it is said that the marriage of children is the order of the parents and the matchmaker's words, but my daughter heard from Aunt Liang that no matter it was my father, mother, or adoptive father and adoptive mother, they all came first. The daughter never thought about marriage before, but now the daughter thinks that no matter who she marries, at least there must be some friendship, trustworthy, trustworthy, and righteous How does father feel?"
Cheng Yunzhi felt a bit sad when he heard this, "Of course it's the best. After all, foster father wants to find someone worthy of your entrustment. You and Lin Zhao are old acquaintances. I think Lin Zhao treats you very kindly today." According to his temperament, he is also a young, promising and stable person. The adoptive father thinks that this is the best candidate. If your parents are here, with your father's talent and learning, the current position is not under Lin Huai. Even if you are so worried, but you have no one to rely on, foster father can only find the safest person for you."
Bo Ruoyou squatted beside Cheng Yunzhi, her nose soured when she heard the words, and after thinking about it, she said, "Mr. Lin is indeed very good, but my daughter has no admiration for him, and my daughter is thinking, we have been away from Beijing for many years, and the Lin family will not be able to do so." It's not about the marriage of the Bo family, but also the girl of another family. Mr. Lin doesn't know what happened back then, and he has no objection to being engaged to the eldest family of the Bo family for so many years. He thinks he is satisfied with this marriage. Fang is not angry, but angry that they are not open and upright, today the adoptive father has explained what happened back then, then Uncle Lin should know that the eldest son of the Bo family used some scheming back then, and the daughter thinks that is enough."
Cheng Yunzhi frowned, "But you, Uncle Lin, have already promised that you will make it clear to the eldest room and return this marriage."
Bo Ruoyou had already expected it, and at this moment she said obediently: "Uncle Lin hasn't asked Mr. Lin yet, and now it's just because of guilt. This is the first point, and the second point is that my daughter has no other thoughts about Mr. Lin now. , if you let your daughter enter into a marriage contract with him, it will really embarrass your daughter, and she doesn't want to do this."
Cheng Yunzhi questioned, "There is no friendship right now, but how about spending more time together?"
Bo Ruoyou shook her head, thinking of something, her cheeks were warm, she whispered: "Mr. Lin is good, but he is not the one my daughter loves."
Hearing this, Cheng Yunzhi immediately became alert and puzzled, "Do you already have someone you like in your heart?"
Bo Ruoyou's expression tightened slightly, hesitating, Cheng Yunzhi sat up straight, "You... you can count on one hand the men you have been with, and the one you like is... Wu Zhaohou?!"
Cheng Yunzhi guessed it instantly.
And Bo Ruoyou's reaction did not disappoint him, her face was quickly stained with rosy color, the person who has always been generous, now panicked and shy, Cheng Yunzhi's face became serious, "You were in the early days I felt something was wrong with the Hou's mansion recuperating, and I was a little apprehensive at the time, for fear that Marquis Wu Zhao would have feelings for you, so I was anxious to inquire about the Lin family, but you..."
"What did Marquis Wu Zhao say to you?"
Bo Ruoyou shook her head, "No, no, foster father, don't worry—"
Bo Ruoyou's cheeks were flushed, and she didn't dare to meet Cheng Yunzhi's eyes, but this matter is no small matter, if she didn't make it clear earlier, she would only make Cheng Yunzhi anxious, so she settled down and forced herself to look at him, "Father, Hou The Lord did express his intention to treat his daughter differently, but this is not important. As for who the daughter likes, the daughter really admires the Lord Hou. Betrothed by others?"
Cheng Yunzhi shook his body, "If you say this, it is true—"
Bo Ruoyou was very embarrassed, but she still had a firm expression, "You know, my daughter never lies to you, if she doesn't speak up, then it's fine, if she does, she won't lie to you, your kindness to your daughter Daughter understands, and daughter knows your considerations, so she dare not hide the truth from her adoptive father. She only hopes that her adoptive father understands her daughter's thoughts, and there is no need to fight for anything for her daughter. Daughter sees that you came to the Lin family's gate just for your daughter, from the bottom of my heart It’s also quite uncomfortable.”
"Today in Lin's residence, Uncle Lin has been talking about fate, but his daughter has been away from Beijing for many years, and her marriage has changed. Grandpa is more destined."
It was difficult for Cheng Yunzhi to express his daughter's thoughts, and it was the first time for Cheng Yunzhi to hear Bo Ruoyou's calm words. He was surprised at first, but also a little happy to see his daughter grow up, but he thought that the Lin family's marriage was the most secure, and Huo Weilou With a high position and authority, if he really likes Huo Weilou, he will have to embark on an uncertain road, and his heart aches again for a while.
"Of course the adoptive father will not force you, but he will tell you the pros and cons, lest you will change in the future if you are not deeply involved in the world, and it will be too late to regret. Marquis Wu Zhao treats you... It is indeed a special treat, but he is high-ranking and He is young and mature, a man of great power, not to mention you, even Lin Huai is no match for him, if he deceives you..."
Bo Ruoyou shook his head, "Father, my daughter doesn't have to marry Lord Hou now. The daughter you think understands that this matter needs to be discussed in the long run. It's just the marriage of the Lin family. My daughter doesn't want to argue. If there is any trouble, it will also make you and you Uncle Lin is in a dilemma, this is what my daughter wants to tell you, what do you think?"
Cheng Yunzhi had already left the Lin family behind, and there was only one thought in his mind, whether Huo Weilou used some means to trick his good daughter!
"Youyou, do you know how difficult it is to live in the Hou Men's deep house?"
Bo Ruoyou had already expected Cheng Yunzhi's many worries, but she seemed to be paying attention, "Father, you said that your daughter wants it, but firstly, Master Hou is not like the generation of Qin Muchu, and secondly, my daughter only has this admiration." It's not about what you want, the marriage of the Lin family doesn't have to be forced, as for where the daughter will marry in the future, it's up to you to see."
Cheng Yunzhi said bitterly: "But if you abandon the Lin family and want to find a marriage like the Lin family in the future, but there will be no more, what will you do then?"
Bo Ruoyou tilted her head and thought for a while, "My daughter has made her own choice, so she will be able to bear all the consequences, don't worry."
Cheng Yunzhi didn't agree immediately, but lowered his eyes and pondered. Bo Ruoyou didn't urge him, but just beat his leg carefully. After a while, Cheng Yunzhi looked at Bao Ruoyou's cute appearance and softened his heart, "Really think it over?"
Bo Ruoyou nodded, and Cheng Yunzhi sighed, "Then...then I'll write a book and send it to the Lin family. Let's see what happens to Lin Huai. You don't want this marriage, so there will be less fuss, but..."
"That Marquis Wu Zhao is an extraordinary person, you may be able to see how sincere he is to you? He comes from a noble family, and now he covers the sky with one hand in the court. But if one day he doesn't like you, you have no way out, Youyou, foster father actually doesn't want you to marry into this kind of family."
Bo Ruoyou said in relief: "The adoptive father thinks about the daughter, but you know the daughter's temperament. The daughter will not obey your arrangement just because of filial piety, nor will she let anyone decide who she admires. If the daughter Without this kind of ambition, how can I still work for him today? My daughter is stupid and doesn’t know how to read people’s hearts, but she thinks that it’s never wrong to be slow in everything, so she is not in a hurry to get married. obedience."
Cheng Yunzhi saw that her eyes were gentle but firm, and her tone was calm and calm, so he knew that she had an idea in her heart, "Youyou has grown up, foster father can't do so much for you, but he will never force you to do what you don't want." Whatever you want, that's all, I'll go to study now, and I don't bother to see him anymore, after reading the letter, he will definitely understand."
Bo Ruoyou got up and helped Cheng Yunzhi, went to the study, and rubbed the ink for him in person, Cheng Yunzhi exhaled, wrote two large sheets, and folded them up, ready for Zhou Liang to deliver the letter, but Bo Ruoyou said: "It's still my daughter send it."
Cheng Yunzhi was a little puzzled, but it didn't matter if she wanted to go out, so Bo Ruoyou took the letter and went out, first arrived at the Lin Mansion in a carriage, handed the letter to the concierge, and then turned back, but before taking a few steps, Bo Ruoyou Lifting the curtain, "Uncle Liang, go to Marquis Wuzhao's Mansion first."
Zhou Liang was slightly surprised, but Bo Ruoyou made a silent gesture, "I don't ask my adoptive father what I asked Uncle Liang to do, and Liang Shu can't tell my adoptive father what I asked you to do, okay?"
Zhou Liang showed embarrassment, coughed lightly and drove to Wu Zhaohou's mansion.
It's dusk now, Bo Ruoyou said: "I'll come out in half a stick of incense, and Uncle Liang is waiting for me here."
Zhou Liang agreed, and seeing Bo Ruoyou walking gracefully towards the Hou's mansion, he inexplicably felt that today's Bo Ruoyou felt a little more calm and steady, and looked like a little master.
…
Huo Weilou felt displeased when he left Lin's mansion, and once he returned to the mansion, he asked Eunuch Fu to find out which family with the surname Cheng in the capital had an accident more than ten years ago, and it only took half a day to find out what he wanted.
Eunuch Fu entered the study room with a letter in his hands. It was already sunset and the light in the study room was dim. Huo Weilou sat behind the desk, with a tendency to keep strangers away from him, obviously sullen.
Eunuch Fu handed over the letter paper, "Master Hou, I found out, the old slave knew Mr. Cheng's face that day, so it turned out that the old slave really met him."
Huo Weilou read the letter slowly and asked, "Where did you see it?"
Eunuch Fu said, "I've seen it in the palace."
Huo Weilou opened the letter, looked at it twice and then frowned, "Imperial physician Cheng's family?"
Eunuch Fu nodded, "His father was the former director of the imperial hospital, and now the father of Mr. Ming, he can be regarded as the same brother as him. In the case of Concubine Hui thirteen years ago, Mr. Cheng's father used the wrong prescription. In this matter, the Cheng family was ransacked, Mr. Cheng's father was sentenced to beheaded, and Mr. Cheng himself was admitted to the imperial hospital, but he was demoted from his position. Not only that, the descendants of the Cheng family were no longer allowed to practice medicine in the palace. Nor can he obtain any official position."
Thirteen years ago, Huo Weilou was only ten years old, but he still remembered the case of Concubine Hui mentioned by Mr. Fu. Thirteen years ago, Concubine Hui was pregnant and waiting to give birth, but she died of a blood collapse on the night of labor. It was also a stillborn fetus, and later it was discovered that the palace maid had poisoned her, and the director of the imperial hospital at that time was also implicated because she used the wrong prescription and failed to treat her well.
Huo Weilou's memory of this case is still fresh, because Empress Xu's mother's family was also involved in it, and the entire harem was in turmoil. He was one of them, so he had no impression of the Cheng family, but he didn't think that Cheng Yunzhi was from such a background, and was involved in a case involving the royal family, no wonder he would leave Beijing to avoid disaster.
"The old slave vaguely remembers that at that time, the old slave often accompanied His Highness the eldest princess in and out of the inner palace, and ran into Mr. Cheng. At that time, Mr. Cheng was only in his early twenties. It must have been a short time since he got married. Because his father was still in power, he It's just an ordinary imperial doctor, after his father's accident, the entire Cheng family also dispersed, but the case was still pursued for a long time, presumably he was afraid of being involved again, so he left Beijing directly."
Huo Weilou frowned slightly, "No wonder we are old acquaintances with Lin Huai."
Eunuch Fu had already asked the attendants who followed Huo Weilou, and knew that Huo Weilou's anger today came from the Lin family, so he tentatively asked, "Did their father and daughter go to the Lin family today? Is it for that marriage?"
Huo Weilou folded up the letter paper, his eyebrows frowned tightly, and Mr. Fu sighed, "Master, this old slave has already said that this matter is not easy, and you have a long way to go. Besides, getting married is a lot of complicated things. , it is even more difficult for two people to be united in their hearts."
"I know." Huo Weilou's tone became colder, "No one knows better than me."
Eunuch Fu's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly changed the subject, "However, Lord Hou, you don't have to think so hard. You can't tell what kind of temperament Youyou is. It's just that you always say the same thing, Youyou Following you on errands makes you satisfied, but now you are not letting her be your subordinate, and you can't treat her with the same thoughts as before, and if she follows you in everything, she can't reveal her heart in front of you, then How unfair to her? How aggrieved?"
Huo Weilou frowned even tighter, of course he never treated her with the same thoughts as before, he never tried to consider her in the past, she thought he was making his own decisions, but she had already followed her adoptive father to the Lin Mansion to get her marriage back, so why would he still want to marry her? Is it up to her
The more Huo Weilou thought about it, the more annoyed he became. He is a dignified Wu Zhaohou, how has he ever suffered such sulking? If he can't even grasp the person he likes, and just watch her talk about marriage with others, then what's the use of such overwhelming power
But Eunuch Fu was right, he didn't ask Bo Ruoyou to be her subordinate, and he couldn't use that set of vigorous methods in this matter.
Huo Weilou let out a breath, looked at the sky outside, thought to himself that Cheng Yunzhi and Bo Ruoyou must have left the Lin residence at this time, so he ordered: "Go and pick her up."
Eunuch Fu responded and turned to go out, but just as he went out, he heard him exclaim, "Youyou?!"
Huo Weilou frowned, his first thought was that it was impossible.
However, the next moment, he saw a beautiful figure entering the door of the study, Huo Weilou was stunned for a moment, he couldn't believe it for a moment, when was it not him who asked her to come to the house, and when did he see her appearing on her own initiative
"Greetings, Lord Hou." Bo Ruoyou saluted, with a slight smile on his face.
Huo Weilou looked at her, he hadn't recovered for a while, but thinking that he was still angry, his tone was a bit cold, "Why did you go to the mansion?"
Bo Ruoyou was still a little nervous in her heart, but it can be seen that his back was straight and his face was cold, but the hanging heart fell to the ground. She said in a relaxed voice: "I have made it clear to my adoptive father that I will not be engaged to the Lin family. This marriage has been going on for so many years, it is not counted, and the Lin family is willing to marry anyone who has nothing to do with us."
After Bo Ruoyou finished speaking, the expression in Huo Weilou's eyes moved slightly. He looked at Bo Ruoyou with complicated expressions in his eyes, but he held back his words, but Bo Ruoyou blessed the body very quickly, " Then I take my leave."
After she finished speaking, she left, everyone was about to leave the study room before Huo Weilou realized it, he hurriedly said: "Stop."
Bo Ruoyou stopped and turned around, Huo Weilou frowned and said, "How did you convince your adoptive father?"
Bo Ruoyou blinked, "My adoptive father loved me since I was a child, and never forced me to do things I didn't like. If I said I didn't want to, he wouldn't force me. As long as I reasoned with my adoptive father, it was always right." It works, it’s as simple as that.”
Huo Weilou felt that he was choked, Bo Ruoyou's words seemed to be blaming him, after saying this, Bo Ruoyou was blessed again, "It's getting late, I'm going home."
After she finished speaking, she really went out now, Huo Weilou wanted to get up and chase her, but somehow felt that she would not be able to keep her today, so he just froze on the seat for a while, he carefully smacked her words, the more he thought about it, the more he thought about it. I think she did it on purpose, but thinking of Cheng Yunzhi's experience, and thinking of Cheng Yunzhi's visit to the door during the day to ask for the marriage back, she changed his mind in the afternoon after being persuaded by her, and felt some unspeakable feelings in his heart. , Chu Chu answered her request with the look of surprise on her face, and suddenly felt that she had used the wrong method.
Bo Ruoyou was very flustered, got into the carriage, patted his chest, and hurriedly ordered Zhou Liang to drive home, as if he was afraid that Huo Weilou would catch up with him. After walking out of a street, he was relieved, thinking that today he finally came and went in front of the majestic Marquis Wu Zhaohou Free for a while! She clenched the fist in her sleeve, once familiar with the second, she will definitely not be in awe of him in the future!
The closer she was to the house, the more relaxed she felt, but when the carriage arrived at the house gate, she saw two horses outside. With a heartbeat, she quickly entered the house, and soon saw Wu Xiang and Hou Yang in the main hall.
Seeing her, Wu Xiang also stood up, "Xiao Bo, you are back!"
"What happened to Chief Wu? Is there a new case?"
Wu Xiang took two steps forward, "It's not a new case, or the infanticide case. I'm here to ask you, maybe follow me to Guzhang Village, twenty miles away from the city tomorrow?"
Bo Ruoyou frowned, "What are you doing there?"
Wu Xiang looked solemn, "Guzhang Village is further downstream of the Luohe River, you should still remember that I took you to the river beach where the dead baby was found, there are strange rocks there, it looks very ordinary, but today we are visiting outside the city I learned that the jagged rock may not be useless, it is most likely an ancient altar."
Bo Ruoyou's expression turned serious, "The altar... uses live babies as sacrifices?"
Wu Xiang nodded, "This kind of altar appeared in this Guzhang Village a few years ago, and it was introduced to the capital as a kind of witchcraft. Not only that, but today I asked a few long-term workers who did the work, and they said that Guzhang Village Several families have lost their children."
Bo Ruoyou felt a slight chill down her spine when she heard this, and hurriedly said: "Okay, I'll go with you."