Spring is warm and fragrant

Chapter 186 Uncle Zhou's Negotiation
After discussing the political affairs in the morning, Chu Xing walked out of the hall with his father-in-law as usual.

"The [-]th day of Tangtang on the seventh day of the lunar new year, the posts are all ready? It's a coincidence that the little girl was born, and it happens to be the [-]th day of the Qixi Festival." Lu Rong walked with her hands behind her back, and asked her son-in-law with a smile.In fact, Weng and his son-in-law are only six years apart in age. If Lu Rong hadn't started growing a beard, the two handsome men of similar height would look more like old friends when they walked together.

Chu Xing nodded, "I just confirmed it last night, and it will be posted this morning..."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly saw a young eunuch standing under the white marble steps, looking at him anxiously.Chu Xing complained to his father-in-law, and strode down the stairs. Seeing him coming down, the little eunuch walked a few steps away, and when Chu walked in front of him, he bent down and whispered: "Duke Lord, just now your family sent someone to deliver a message. The second master fell ill, and the personnel affairs are unknown. Mr. Chu has already notified him, the Duke of the country..."

"Thank you." Chu Xing trembled in his heart, and took out an ingot of broken silver from his cuff and skillfully stuffed it to the little eunuch. He turned around and saw his father-in-law standing over there suspiciously waiting for him. Chu Xing walked over quickly, He simply explained: "Shi Qian is ill, and the family sent someone to pass on the message that father-in-law should go back to the Ministry of Officials first, and I will go and ask the emperor for leave."

Seeing the second brother last night, the second brother was still alive and well, and suddenly passed out. Chu Xing had to go back and have a look. Soon.

It's not easy for Lu Rong to intervene in the son-in-law's family affairs, so she nodded and just watched her son-in-law go to Qianyuan Palace, but Lu Rong didn't agree very much in her heart.Chu Sui is sick, and the son-in-law is going back. Do you value this cousin too much?The son at home has a headache, and he has never asked for leave to go home.

With a trace of dissatisfaction, Lu Rong walked away with his hands behind his back.

In Qianyuan Palace, because Lu Yun's appetite finally got better after pregnancy vomiting recently, Emperor Ming Hui's mood also relaxed. Just now, the second master Chu has come to ask for leave. When Chu Xing came, Emperor Ming Hui smiled and said: " For the sake of Shiqian? Alright, I know, go and have a look."

There are only two brothers in Chu Xing's generation in the Duke's Mansion, and they have a deep brotherhood. Emperor Ming Hui is quite envious.He has no brothers, his sons have a good relationship with each other except for the eldest and the third son, who are brothers of the same mother. The other princes are more defensive than close to each other, Emperor Minghui is very displeased.

After getting leave, Chu Xing quickly left the palace, and Wei Teng had been waiting for a long time outside the palace.He asked the little eunuch to send a message before, and his words were very vague. Now when he saw the Duke, Wei Teng explained in a low voice: "According to Second Mistress, Second Master was fine after breakfast. Gong, suddenly passed out, without any symptoms before."

Chu Xing suddenly thought of poisoning.

He held the rein, stared at Wei Teng and asked, "Have all the maids serving the second master's meals been locked up?"

Wei Teng said solemnly: "All the servants of Xianyun Hall are kneeling in the cross court waiting for interrogation. The corner doors of the Duke's Mansion are closed tightly, and they are only allowed to enter but not to exit."

Chu Xing didn't speak any more, got on his horse and went straight to the Duke's mansion.As soon as he got off the horse, the head of the main courtyard of the Duke's Mansion greeted him, and took out a letter to him with a heavy face: "Master Guo, someone sent a letter to my house, knocked on the door and left. The door. The letter is written to be opened by you personally, it has just been delivered from my house, please read."

Second Master is ill. Could the strangeness of this letter be related to Second Master's illness?
Chu Xing frowned, took the letter, and looked inside while walking, halfway through, his face was ashen.

In the Xianyun Hall, except for Chu Xing who has not yet returned, all the masters of the Chu family gathered in the Xianyun Hall to see Mr. Qiao feel Chu Sui's pulse.Mrs. Tai occupied the seat beside the bed, Mrs. Chu Er, Wan Shu, Chu Xiang, and Brother Run stood beside him nervously, followed by Master Chu Er who seemed calm.

Lu Mingyu led his sister-in-law, Chu Ying, and stood in the outermost circle.Chu Ying was so anxious that her cousin, who was kinder to her than her own brother, had already cried once, now her eyes were red and her little hands were cold.Through the figures in front of him, Lu Mingyu looked at Chu Sui's handsome face that seemed to be sleeping peacefully, with many thoughts in his heart.

Chu Sui became ill suddenly, as if he had been poisoned.

At this time in her previous life, she was already dead, and she didn't know anything about what happened to Chu Sui after he came back from Shanxi.Could it be that the six-fingered murderer really had an enmity with Chu Sui, and she also attacked Chu Sui after killing her in the previous life, just because she married Chu Xing in this life, so she only poisoned Chu Sui?
But how did the other party poison it?If it is really possible to be invisible, why have to wait until today?
Or, is Chu Sui just an ordinary coma?

Various speculations intertwined in her mind, Lu Mingyu was restless and restless, who is the murderer?What kind of grudge does he have with Chu Sui, and will something happen to Chu Sui... Even though she had broken up with Chu Sui long ago, Lu Mingyu did not want Chu Sui to be killed like this.

"Grandpa is back!" Agui shouted loudly outside.

Lu Mingyu was the first to turn her head to look at the door, just in time to see her tall and straight husband walking in, her eyes met, Lu Mingyu was trying to find some comfort in Chu Xing's eyes, but Chu Xing immediately looked away and looked at her husband younger sister.

Seeing her elder brother, Chu Ying burst into tears again, "Big Brother, Second Brother is sick..."

The words in the letter and the sister's tears combined together were like a knife piercing Chu Xing's chest. First, there was pain, and then there was overwhelming anger.Grandmother, second brother, and younger sister, one raised him with his own hands, one is a sibling, and the other is his sister by blood from the same mother. If any mistake occurs, it will be tantamount to cutting flesh in his heart.

Touching his sister's head, and then looking at his wife, Chu Xing suppressed a thousand words and went to see his cousin first.

At this time, the whole family was expecting Mr. Qiao to speak, and no one had the heart to speak.

Old Qiao's forehead was gradually sweating, he took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, and continued to take Chu Sui's pulse in disbelief.Mrs. Tai trusted her. Chu Xing remembered that Mr. Qiao had asserted that his wife could not have children, and knowing that his cousin had been poisoned. Now Mr. Qiao clearly could not diagnose as the villain said in the letter. Maid, "Let the steward go to the palace to invite the imperial physician."

That maid is Zhi Xia, Wan Shu's eldest maid, and she first looks at her master Wan Shu when she hears this.

Wan Shu was so angry that she almost rushed over to slap her, "What are you still doing, hurry up!"

You idiot, don't help Chu Sui when you should help her. Now that Chu is doing her husband's favor, she still has to look at her face, or in front of everyone in the Chu family. Isn't it better to be ordered by the dignified Duke? Does she work as a second wife?
Seeing the anger in the master's eyes, Zhixia hurried out to make arrangements.

Wan Shu looked at Old Qiao again.

Old Qiao's face was flushed, Chu Xing sent someone to invite the imperial physician, it was like a slap in the face.However, he really couldn't diagnose Chu Sui's illness. With a sigh, Mr. Qiao said to Mrs. Tai in shame: "Second Master is very sick. The pulse condition is normal and does not seem to be sick. The bleeding between the fingers is the same, and it does not look like poisoning. Please Forgive me for being incompetent."

Mrs. Tai's old face had turned pale a long time ago, and You asked persistently, "When will Qian wake up then?"

Qiao Lao still shook his head and bowed his head to say goodbye.

The Second Madam Chu couldn't bear it anymore, picked up the handkerchief and cried out, "My Shi Qian, why is my life so hard, and I have suffered such an innocent disaster..."

"Second Aunt, don't worry, the imperial physician will be here soon, maybe he can cure the second brother." Chu Xing persuaded.

Mrs. Chu took a deep breath, turned around, and cried silently.

Chu Xing's eyes fell on his grandmother's face, and he clenched his hands tightly.

Emperor Minghui sent two imperial physicians over, and after a while, they inspected all the food and tea that Chu Sui had used in the morning, and they came to the same conclusion as Mr. Qiao, saying that Chu Sui must have suffered from a strange disease. Unheard of, I have to go back to the palace to discuss countermeasures with other imperial physicians.

The Duke's Mansion invited several other famous doctors in the capital, but they were also at a loss.

Mrs. Chu, Wan Shu, and Chu Xiang were in tears, and Brother Run kept crying too.Chu Xing glanced around the crowd, went to tell his wife first, and whispered in his wife's ear: "You take Yingying back to Dingfengtang first, if Yingying also faints suddenly, don't panic, and don't let the servants other than the maid know about it. .”

Lu Mingyu's eyes widened suddenly, and she subconsciously looked at the sister-in-law who was weeping silently.

"Go first." Chu Xing squeezed his wife's hand hard.

Lu Mingyu encountered too many things in her two lifetimes. After a brief panic, she glanced at her husband, then walked to Chu Ying's side, comforted her softly, and took away her sister-in-law smoothly.After his wife left, Chu Xing looked at his cousin who was sleeping on the bed, and motioned for his uncle to follow him to the study.

When they arrived at the study, Chu Xing ordered Wei Teng to watch outside. He took out the letter and asked his uncle to have a look.

Master Chu Er opened the letter paper suspiciously.

The content of the letter was concise and to the point, saying that Chu Sui was poisoned, and only the antidote could cure it, and others could not cure it. It also said that Mrs. Tai and Chu Ying were also poisoned and would pass out tonight at the latest. I advised the Duke's government to hide it from the outside world. The illnesses of Mrs. Tai and Chu Ying will prevent the three of them falling ill in a row from causing suspicion.In the end, the letter writer gave them one day to seek medical advice. If Chu Xing failed to seek medical treatment, and he did not want his relatives to die suddenly, please go to a gazebo in the north of the capital to make an appointment at night.

The letter didn't say what to do at the appointment, but it was obvious that he wanted to threaten Chu Xing with an antidote.

His mother and niece were also sick, and the second master Chu looked at his nephew in horror, "Shijin, did Shijin provoke some enemies?" After asking, the second master Chu thought for a while, then shook his head heavily, "No, he It is against our entire Duke's Mansion."

If it is only aimed at the nephew, then threatening the nephew and daughter-in-law is more effective than using his son.

Guessing is useless, Chu Xing said: "I will go to see him tonight. Before we find out what the other party is planning, the second uncle will keep it a secret for the time being. Don't mention this matter to anyone. Yingying is taken care of by her sister-in-law. I will send someone to take care of her grandmother. Guard the Sanqiu hall, saying that grandma is weak and no one is allowed to visit, and if my aunt asks, I will ask my second uncle to help me go over."

Master Chu Er nodded, but worriedly reminded his nephew, "What if they just want to lure you into the bait, what if they attack you while you are at the appointment?"

Chu Xing had his own plans, "Second Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely come back safely."

Master Chu Er was upset and unable to help, so he could only hope that he could find a famous doctor and heal his son in the afternoon.

He first went to coax Mrs. Tai to go back to Sanqiu Hall, and Chu Xing rushed to appease his wife, but he didn't mention the matter of going to the appointment at night, only said that the three grandmothers were poisoned, and the people behind them would not inform them of their intention until tomorrow.

Lu Mingyu immediately thought of Miracle Doctor Ge, "Perhaps Miracle Doctor Ge can cure you."

Of course Chu Xing remembered Miracle Doctor Ge, looked at his wife and said: "The other party must be watching our house's every move in the dark at this time. They are sure that the famous doctors in the capital cannot detoxify. Let's invite famous doctors and imperial doctors. They will not suspect anything, but At this juncture, when an unknown person is invited to the mansion, most of them will be suspicious. After dark, I will arrange for someone to bring Miracle Doctor Ge into the mansion. I have other things to do, so I will leave the mansion to you."

"What are you going to do?" Lu Mingyu asked nervously.

Chu Xing smiled, held her hand and said: "I also want to set up a trap to arrest people. Don't worry, Ah Nuan, there will be no danger."

How could Lu Mingyu rest assured, but Chu Xing refused to say more, and she could only wait for the news with trepidation.

As night fell, Chu Xing was dressed in black and quietly left the capital. After meeting the eight hidden guards, he hurried towards the pavilion six miles to the north of the city.It was dark at the beginning of the month, and when he arrived near the gazebo, Chu Xing rode on his horse and vaguely recognized a figure in the gazebo, but the surrounding area of ​​the gazebo was open, so it was not suitable for ambush.

Chu Xing gave some instructions in a low voice.

Two dark guards went straight to the gazebo, and four dark guards went to check if there was an ambush nearby.After a cup of tea, the two hidden guards in the pavilion came back first, and reported to Chu Xing: "Master Guo, there is only one masked man in the pavilion. He has no weapons on him. His subordinates have searched all over the pavilion. , no difference."

Chu Xing hummed.

Not long after, the other four hidden guards came back to report.

After confirming that there was no danger, Chu Xing went to the appointment alone, and the eight hidden guards were divided into two circles to surround the pavilion, which was too far away to hear the conversation in the pavilion.

"I've heard about Duke Chu's reputation for a long time. It's a great honor to meet you tonight. The Duke only brought a few secret guards to meet the villain. He really has the guts." Uncle Zhou stood in the gazebo and listened. Hearing Chu Xing's footsteps, he slowly turned around and spoke politely.

The night was dark, and he couldn't see his appearance clearly without covering his face. He didn't want to waste time greeting, Chu Xing said directly: "You put all your effort into sending Brother Run into the Duke's mansion, and ordered him to poison him. What do you want to do? What?"

Uncle Zhou raised his eyebrows in surprise, "How does the Duke know that Brother Run did it?"

Chu Xing snorted coldly.

He had long suspected that there was something wrong with Dong Yueer's mother and son's safe entry to Beijing, and his subordinates also found out where Dong Yueer was buried. Although he was shocked by the cruelty of the grandmother's attack, but Dong Yueer died, so Chu Xing only sent people to keep an eye on Brother Run.There is no problem in the Duke's mansion, and Brother Run only went to the theater with his cousin. The cousin took Brother Run to the theater on a whim, and his subordinates followed behind and found nothing, so Chu Xing had no doubts.

But the facts proved that Brother Run must have met someone in the clean room of the theater, and was coaxed to poison him continuously. His grandmother and younger sister had all drank the tea served by Brother Run himself, and this was the evidence.

During the day, Chu Xing observed Brother Run's performance. The child obviously didn't know how sick his father was. Although he was crying, he didn't feel scared.Brother Run was just being used by others, and it was useless to arrest him. Chu Xing only asked people to watch Brother Run closely.

Uncle Zhou didn't expect Brother Run to be safe and sound after poisoning him, but his goal had already been achieved, and Uncle Zhou didn't care what happened to Brother Run.Walking to the stone table in the pavilion, Uncle Zhou asked Chu Xing to take a seat, but Chu Xing did not move, Uncle Zhou smiled, sat down by himself, and said leisurely: "Master Zhou, in fact, Zhou has something to ask, as long as the Lord Be willing to cooperate, and after the matter is completed, Zhou will definitely offer three antidotes and keep the medicines until the illness is cured."

Chu Xing asked coldly: "What's the matter?"

Uncle Zhou was silent, and said after a long time: "The Duke is in charge of guarding the capital. I heard that the guards outside the Huainan Palace were also arranged by the Duke. I would like to ask the Duke to relax a little and let Zhou take the concubine and the son out of Beijing. "

Chu Xing's eyes changed abruptly, and only then did he realize that the man in front of him was actually the subordinate of King Huainan.

"If I don't agree, what about you?" Chu Xing sat opposite the man with a calm voice.

Uncle Zhou smiled, looked directly at him and said, "My lord, don't rush to make a decision. You don't agree because you are afraid of the emperor's punishment. In fact, it is not the case. On the night of the operation, I will prepare a pair of sons, mothers and children, and then just set a fire , saying that the Queen Mother and son of Huainan were buried in the sea of ​​flames, and the Duke would be guilty of dereliction of duty at most, and the emperor will not pursue it too deeply because of the importance the emperor attaches to you."

(End of this chapter)