Denghuaxiao

Chapter 222: Golden Bell on Flower
When the list of people going to southern Jiangsu to fight the epidemic reached West Street, everyone at Renxin Medical Clinic was stunned.

Du Changqing rubbed his eyes several times and stared at Lu Tong: "Am I seeing things? Why is your name on the list?"

Lu Tong put the medical box on the table and spoke in a calm tone as if he was going out to buy a cup of sweet syrup.

"I'm going to southern Jiangsu to help with disaster relief. I'll leave early tomorrow morning."

"That's not right, Xiao Lu," Miao Liangfang came out from the inner shop leaning on a cane, "You just joined the Medical Officers' Institute at the beginning of this year, and you didn't even pass the first clerk assessment. You have no experience in epidemic prevention before. Why would the Medical Officers' Institute select you to go to southern Jiangsu?"

Du Changqing's eyes flashed: "Is it Pei Yunying?"

"You went to the Palace Marshal's Mansion yesterday to see a doctor, and when you came back today, you said you would go to Sunan tomorrow." He cursed, "Did that black-hearted guy do something to force you to do it? You bastard!"

"I'm going to help the sick, not to die." Lu Tong was speechless, "Besides, this is the arrangement of the Medical Officers' Institute."

Miao Liangfang was puzzled: "The Medical Officers' Institute shouldn't have allowed a new medical officer like you to accompany them... Is this a mistake?"

Lu Tong was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "I am from Southern Jiangsu, maybe accompanying them can be helpful to them."

Du Changqing rolled his eyes when he heard this: "I am still a Shengjing person, who can I help?" He added: "No, my father once told me that the epidemic killed countless people, which is almost the same as sending oneself to death. I think it is better to give a gift to the Medical Officers' Institute. How much silver do they want to remove your name?"

"Manager Du, I'm a medical officer."

"What's wrong with the medical officer? A medical officer is not a human being? Should a medical officer rush to die?" Du Changqing said impatiently, "Stop talking nonsense about doctors being kind-hearted. I don't have that kind heart. I'm just an ordinary person, and you don't have to act like a saint. Hurry up and get some money together to go to the medical officer's hospital."

Lu Tong didn't move.

Miao Liangfang sighed.

Acheng huddled in the corner, not daring to make a sound. Yin Zheng stood in front of the felt curtain, her eyes slightly red.

Du Changqing pulled Lu Tong twice but failed to move him. He got angry and said, "I can't order you around anymore?" He got angry again and said, "Why weren't you so kind when you first came to Renxin Clinic last year to do business with me and put forward conditions? Why are you pretending to be a bodhisattva?"

Lu Tong broke free from his hand and said, "I want to go to Southern Jiangsu."

The autumn wind is chilly, and the fallen leaves under the plum tree at the door rustle, gathering and then scattering.

The shop was silent.

After a while, Du Changqing lowered his head, walked to the inner bunk without saying a word and sat down, and asked unhappily: "Do you have to go?"

"Yes."

He doesn't speak.

No one else spoke either.

In Renxin Medical Clinic, no one could stop Lu Tong from doing what he wanted to do. For example, taking the spring exam, or going to the Medical Officers' Hospital, once he made up his mind, he would never change it for anyone.

And never stop for anyone.

After a while, Miao Liangfang said, "I'll write a prescription for you."

As if he had finally found a backbone, Miao Liangfang said, "I have never been to southern Jiangsu, but I have seen people who have been infected with epidemic diseases before. Miaojia Village has various prescriptions for preventing epidemic diseases. I wonder if you can use them. I will write them all down for you, just in case they are useful to you."

"A doctor is a benevolent person." He looked at Lu Tong and sighed, "If I were you, I would also go to Sunan."

Du Changqing was so annoyed that his teeth ached.

He said, "Hang in there, lady, I'm going to the doctor to ask what I should bring to the epidemic area!" and turned and left.

In fact, everyone knew that the list of the Medical Officers' Institute had been approved, written in black and white, and it was impossible to change it by giving some money. However, the news came too suddenly, and the trip was very hasty, so everyone found it difficult to accept it for a while.

Without further ado, Acheng and Du Changqing rushed to the medical clinic immediately. Miao Liangfang leaned over the desk and began to write down the medical prescription from his memory for Lu Tong.

Lu Tong lifted the felt curtain and went back to the yard to pack her clothes, and Yin Zheng followed her.

Yin Zheng stood at the door, watching Lu Tong fold her clothes one by one, and suddenly said, "Girl, I'll go with you."

Lu Tong turned around.

Yin Zheng walked into the house, choking up, "I'm from southern Jiangsu too, I can help you..."

She didn't know what had happened, but before that, whether she went to the Medical Officer's Institute or to Qi's house, she was always in Shengjing.

But Sunan is different.

Thousands of miles away and with the plague rampant, she had never been separated from Lu Tong for such a long time, which always made her feel a little panic, fearing that Lu Tong would not come back in the future.

Lu Tong looked at her and shook his head slightly.

"The Medical Officers' Court is accompanying the Medical Officers' Team. You can't get in."

"I can follow you secretly! I can follow you from a distance."

"It's too dangerous. I have to distract myself from taking care of you."

"girl……"

Lu Tong walked up to her.

"Why go back to Southern Jiangsu?" She said, "Since you've already left, don't look back."

Yin Zheng froze and looked up at the person in front of her.

Lu Tong stood in front of her, her dark eyes were bright and clear. Those eyes were always calm and indifferent, but when she stared at them, people could always feel at ease for no reason, as if no matter how big the problem was, it was not worth mentioning in front of her.

Just like when we first met.

After a while, Yin Zheng asked, "Miss, do you still remember the first time we met?"

Without waiting for Lu Tong to answer, she spoke softly, "I still remember it."

She was very ill and in unbearable pain all over her body. The brothel owner had someone roll her up in a mat and throw her into the mass grave at Luomei Peak.

She cried and grabbed the hem of the brothel owner's skirt: "Godmother, godmother, don't abandon me, take some medicine, take some medicine and I will get better -"

He was kicked away by the brothel owner.

"What a bullshit!" The brothel owner pointed at her nose and cursed, "You can buy medicine for free! Open your eyes and see clearly, this is a brothel, not a charity. I have raised you for so long, and you got sick so early, you are a loss-making commodity!"

After he finished speaking, he covered his mouth and nose as if he was disgusted by something dirty, and urged the servants: "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and take it away!"

She was carried up the mountain.

Yin Zheng remembered it very clearly. It was a cold, rainy night, the mountain road was muddy, and the wind was sad.

She lay alone in the cemetery, with the continuous rain hitting her face. She didn't even have the strength to move, and her heart and eyes were filled with despair.

This life is miserable, living like a weed, and dying in disgrace. In the life of an ordinary person, there is not even a trace of dignity.

The night sky between the mountains was like an endless mouth, greedily devouring the only life in the world. In this gray and cold, she saw a beam of light.

A faint light that comes hastily in the rainy night.

She suspected that this was a hallucination before death, but she felt that the hallucination was very real. A man carrying a basket on his back came to the mass grave, walking around and stopping, picking up something.

The light came in front of her, and a hand touched her cheek.

The hand was cold and soft, and it silently touched her neck with gentle movements. Then, it brushed away her messy long hair that was blocking her eyes.

Yin Zheng saw a face.

A young girl's face, pale and beautiful. Under the bamboo hat, a pair of eyes as dark as the night sky of Luomei Peak, shining brightly in the rainy night, looking at her with frowning brows.

Yin Zheng opened her mouth, but she was so weak that she couldn't utter a word.

"Do not talk."

The girl seemed to understand something. She put down the backpack, stood up, grabbed Yin Zheng's hand, and carried her on her back.

"I'll save you," she said.

I'll save you.

These three words were like a wind lantern on a rainy night, a life-saving straw. She held on to them tightly and dared not let go.

Crickets were chirping in the bushes under the window. Yin Zheng was distracted for a moment, then came to her senses. Tears were faintly visible in her eyes. She smiled and said, "I thought I was dead at that time. I didn't expect to meet a girl."

She loves poetry and painting, and falls into the dirty and filthy world. However, after seeing all kinds of vulgar and ugly faces, she meets the most sincere and beautiful person in the world.

It was the only lucky thing in her unfortunate life, or perhaps it was God's only mercy to her.

Lu Tong said: "It's all over."

Yin Zheng was silent.

It's all in the past. Sunan is the past, and the bad memories are also the past. She has lived in peace in West Street for too long. When she looks back, she realizes that Shengjing is so far away from Sunan.

"Let's stay in West Street." Lu Tong said, "It's great here."

She is a rootless flower, drifting freely. She finally found a safe corner here and is reluctant to let go.

"You will come back, right?" Yin Zheng asked.

Lu Tong looked out the window. The plum tree was still standing tall but had not yet bloomed. She said, "After I leave, please take good care of this plum tree for me."

Her eyes swept across the damp soil beneath the plum tree, but she did not answer Yin Zheng's question.

Yin Zheng was silent for a moment.

"Girl, I actually have a sister."

She said: "My father sold me and my sister to a brothel to pay off his gambling debts. My sister and I tried to escape but were discovered. She didn't make it and was beaten to death. I stayed behind."

"When I see you, I always think of her. It's my fault that I failed to protect her."

"I know you are eager for revenge. For you, there is nothing more important than revenge. But if I were your sister, I would only feel heartbroken when I saw you like this."

Yin Zheng sighed: "You should think more about yourself."

Lu Tong said, "I know." "With Master Xiao Pei, if you like him, be with him. If you don't like him, forget it. Don't make it hard on yourself."

Lu Chen said "hmm".

"Girl," Yin Zheng looked at her one last time, "I'll be waiting for you here. You must come back."

There were many words before parting. Lu Tong was silent for a while and nodded: "Okay."

……

The day passed in a hurry.

Because the news came so suddenly, everyone prepared things hastily. Lu Tong returned to the Medical Officers' Hospital in the evening and set off with the Medical Officers' Hospital's accompanying convoy early the next morning.

After a night, when Lu Tong got up the next morning, Lin Danqing was already sitting at the door drinking porridge.

"I don't know how long I have to wait before I can have the vegetarian porridge from the Medical Officers' Hospital." She raised her hand and handed Lu Tong a bowl, "Try it."

Lu Tong took it.

Lin Danqing is also going to southern Jiangsu.

Lu Tong was also surprised to hear that Lin Danqing was on the list of medical officers. She wondered how she had convinced Lin's father.

"Why is it so hard to convince him?" Lin Danqing said nonchalantly, "I volunteered to tell him that this trip to Southern Jiangsu is a good opportunity to make merit. It would take a long time to become an imperial physician, not to mention a court official, if you want to be promoted through the clerk assessment. But going to Southern Jiangsu to fight the epidemic is different. When you return to the imperial city after the epidemic relief, your reward can save you three levels of clerk assessment."

"You can only get rich through risk. Besides, it's not his turn to take risks. After hearing this, he pretended to be worried for a while, but then he agreed very readily!"

Lu Tong asked: "What about your aunt?"

"The poison of 'Eye Shooting' has been cured, and my aunt no longer needs to be taken care of. Besides, I am a skilled doctor, and she also wants me to go out and prove myself."

It was easy for her to say, but Lu Tong knew that the process must not be easy. However, since Lin Danqing didn't want to say more, she didn't ask any more questions.

After they finished their porridge, they got up and left. Chang Jin was already waiting at the door.

Most of the medical officers who went to southern Jiangsu were experienced in epidemic prevention. Among the new medical officers, there were only Lin Danqing and Lu Tong. In addition, Ji Xun was also there.

"I heard that he also took the initiative to request to be added to the list of epidemic relief. The Medical Officers Institute attaches great importance to this." Lin Danqing whispered to her, "Yes, he is an excellent doctor, and he may have more ideas than those old medical officers. With him accompanying us this time, the epidemic relief will be much safer."

Lu Zhuo nodded.

After Chang Jin checked the names on the list, he took the medical officer to the accompanying motorcade. There were also some people from the Imperial Pharmacy in the motorcade. Lu Tong saw Shi Changpu among them. When he saw Lu Tong, Shi Changpu even greeted her.

It was an autumn morning, the dew had not yet dried. On both sides of the city gate, the grass was withered. A line of southern geese flew by, and in the distance, the wheels of the convoy "gurgled" as the geese cried.

"and many more--"

Suddenly, a familiar voice was heard. Lu Tong, who was sitting in the carriage, had an idea and lifted the curtain.

Someone ran up behind the carriage.

They were Yin Zheng, A Cheng and Du Changqing. Miao Liangfang was the last one, walking briskly with the help of a cane.

The carriage stopped, and Chang Jin said a few words to the escort outside, signaling Lu Tong to get off. Lu Tong got off the carriage, and several people stood in front of her, panting.

"I almost missed it." Du Changqing stuffed a huge bag into Lu Tong's hands, "Eat sparingly."

The heavy bag was full of food.

Miao Liangfang took out a thick envelope from his bosom: "I was in a hurry yesterday and you had to go back to the Medical Officers' Hospital. I remembered a few prescriptions at night and wrote them down quickly. Take them with you in case you need them in southern Jiangsu."

There were dark circles under his eyes and he looked sleepy, as if he had been through a hard night and was exhausted.

Lu Tong took the prescription and asked, "The Medical Officers' Office does not allow relatives to see you off, so how did you get here?"

To avoid trouble, the accompanying convoy set off early in the morning and family members were not allowed to visit, but these people caught up with them.

Yin Zheng said, "I originally just wanted to try my luck at the city gate, so I was not allowed to talk. I happened to meet Master Pei passing by on official business, so I told him and he let me go."

Pei Yunying?
Lu Tong was startled.

Ah Cheng smiled and pointed to the distance: "They haven't left yet, so that's it."

Lu Tong looked in the direction where his finger was pointing.

In late autumn, with the golden wind blowing, a scarlet figure stood high on the city wall above the mottled brown brick wall, shining brightly in the morning sunlight of autumn.

The sunlight shines on the young man's handsome and sharp facial features. He is up high and she is downstairs. Where their eyes meet, it is like the light of smoke and the shadow of the sun, floating silently.

He didn't say anything, just watched her leave calmly and quietly.

Hearing Chang Jin's urging from behind, Lu Tong withdrew his gaze, held the bundle and the letter, said quick goodbye to a few people, and hurriedly got on the carriage.

After the carriage went for a while, Lu Tong thought for a moment, lifted the curtain and looked back.

The tall buildings are far away, the sun shines on the city walls, and under the golden sun, the crimson shadow is no longer visible.

He has already left.

……

Below the city tower, the wind is clear and the fields are vast.

Xiao Zhufeng asked the person beside him: "What's the point of asking them to deliver it one more time?"

It was really speechless to go to West Street early in the morning to pick someone up just to see him off.

"Bondage."

Pei Yunying said: "When there is a bond, people will want to live."

"Then why don't you go and say goodbye? Are you not worthy enough to be her bond?"

Pei Yunying sneered, ignored him and walked forward.

After being on duty all night, he planned to go back home to change his clothes. Just as he reached the door, he saw Pei Yunshu coming out of the door next door.

When she saw him, Pei Yunshu's face lit up with joy.

"Ah-Ying, you're back just in time. I just heard someone say that Doctor Lu went to southern Jiangsu to help with the epidemic. Is this true? Why didn't we have any news before? Aren't those who help with the epidemic all experienced medical officers? She's a young girl who has only been in the medical academy for less than a year. Wouldn't it be dangerous for her to go to southern Jiangsu?"

Pei Yunying entered the room, and Pei Yunshu chased after him: "Did you listen to me?"

Pei Yunying took off his sword, loosened his collar, took a deep breath, and said to her, "Sister, Lu Tong wanted to go by herself."

"But……"

"Neither you nor I can choose for her."

He was so strong this time that Pei Yunshu was stunned for a moment.

"I'm just worried..." Glancing at the young man's eyes, she fell silent again.

The room was quiet for a moment.

A gust of wind blew, and suddenly the sound of bells could be heard in the yard, light and crisp.

Pei Yunshu was puzzled and looked in the direction of the sound, and was stunned.

The courtyard of Pei Yunying's mansion has always been empty, so much so that Duan Xiaoyan often joked that it was a good place to practice sword and knife skills.

However, I don’t know when large areas of hibiscus were planted in the flower beds.

The hibiscus has bloomed, looking like white frost or red clouds. Planted in the garden, it adds to the gorgeous autumn scenery.

The sparse branches and dense leaves are dotted with thin red silk threads, which are decorated with golden bells and tied to the flower tips. When the wind blows, the golden bells make crisp sounds.

Pei Yunshu was stunned: "Golden bell on the flower?"

It is recorded in books that there was once a royal family who "loved music, and was elegant and refined, and other kings could not compare with them. In spring, they sewed red silk into ropes, densely strung golden bells on them, and tied them to the tips of flowers in the back garden. Whenever a magpie flew over, they would order the gardener to pull the bells to scare it away. This was probably because they cherished flowers. All the other palaces followed suit."

Pei Yunying never liked flowers and trees, and his house was simple and solemn. Pei Yunshu didn't know when he started to imitate his predecessors and make a "flower protection bell".

This place was deserted during the last Chinese Valentine's Day.

It can be used as a "flower protection bell" for people who "cherish flowers".

When did he begin to feel pity for flowers and plants?
"Why did you suddenly fall in love with Hibiscus?" she was puzzled.

"Is it not good?"

He chanted quietly: "There is a girl in the same carriage, her face is like the flower of Shun. She is about to fly, wearing a jade pendant. That beauty Meng Jiang, she is really beautiful and...

There is a girl walking with me, her face is like Shunying. She is about to soar and fly, wearing a jade pendant. That beautiful Meng Jiang, her virtue will never be forgotten.

The tone of voice is light and casual, like a young man returning from an outing by the lake, and every word is touching.

Pei Yunshu was at a loss for a moment, looking at the blooming flowers and trees in front of her, and subconsciously said: "But hibiscus is a wild flower, why does it need a bell to protect it? The flowers will wither in a day and only bloom for a day. Why not plant some peonies and roses? Hibiscus will not bloom for you."

Pei Yunying lowered his head and smiled.

"Nature must be protected."

He looked at the hibiscus in front of him: "The wind will blow it, the rain will hit it, the summer will be harsh, the snow will be cold. Birds will peck at it, and there will be people outside the garden picking flowers."

"I appreciate the flowers I love, so of course I have to protect them. I am willing to be a flower protector for my whole life. It doesn't matter whether they bloom for me or not. As long as the flowers bloom well, why not be a flower protector for my whole life?"

His voice was flat, but it was like the sound of a heavy hammer, which startled Pei Yunshu. She suddenly realized something and looked towards Pei Yunying.

In the colorful flowers, the bright autumn light illuminated the handsome eyes of the young man. That beauty fell into his eyes. Pei Yunying looked at him and spoke calmly.

"I want to keep her company."

"But she refused my protection."

He said: "She doesn't need my protection."