Prince Consort

Chapter 22
Bai Zhi's whole body is stiff, she is not afraid that it is fake, although she has practiced martial arts, it is a pity that she has never had actual combat experience.In addition, her master Qiu Chan was forced to climb a tree to hide, and she had no chance of winning.After much deliberation, Bai Zhi had no choice but to take a few steps back and seek help from the rescuers.She has no ability, she should be the little woman behind the heroic man.

Unexpectedly, she stepped on the branch, and the crisp sound of the branch breaking caught the attention of the hungry wolves, and they rushed towards her viciously with their green eyes.Bai Zhi paused, then ran away.The hungry wolves shifted their target and ran towards Bai Zhi collectively.

Seeing Bai Zhi leading away the hungry wolves, Qiu Chan was moved to tears, and felt that Bai Zhi was so brave, so she used her body to lure the wolves.Qiu Chan murmured: "Zhi'er, you are really my good sister." After saying that, she trembled all over...

Bai Zhi is still pregnant with Mutusu's child, running with the ball, I'm afraid...

Qiu Chan shouted hysterically: "Help!"

Bai Zhi panicked and ran back and forth. When she caught her breath, she was shocked to find that she no longer knew where she was.With the hungry wolf chasing after him, Bai Zhi wailed to the sky and continued running to escape.

If she knew this earlier, why she shouldn't have come in the first place.

Bai Zhi kept running, her long skirt was caught by a broken branch by the side of the road, she fell directly, and the hungry wolf pounced on behind her.Bai Zhi was shocked, turned her head in astonishment, and saw Hungry Wolf's drooling tongue dangling in front of her eyes, a sense of despair welled up spontaneously.

In reality, she didn't jump off the building and die, but became a snack for hungry wolves?
Alas, what a fate!

Suddenly, with a few "swish", the bow and arrow flew straight towards the hungry wolves, shooting several hungry wolves to death.Just now, Bai Zhi's crisis was resolved almost instantly, and then there was a burst of cheers, and someone shouted: "Master Zheng is good at archery."

"Master Zheng is hiding everything!"

Bai Zhi looked up and saw Zheng Zicheng walking towards her, handed the bow and arrow to a nearby policeman, and said to her, "Miss Bai, is everything okay?"

Bai Zhi stretched out her hand, and her palm was rubbed with blood, which looked extremely hideous.Zheng Zicheng frowned, and looked at the policeman beside him: "Didn't I order you to protect Miss Bai?"

The little catchers next to him all lowered their heads.Bai Zhi broke the siege and said: "It's none of their business, I'm looking for someone. By the way, did Qiu Chan save it?"

"Miss Qiuchan has not been found yet." Several arresters answered Bai Zhi's words.

Bai Zhi smiled and said: "It's nothing, I've found it, I'll take you there."

The policeman looked pleasantly surprised, thinking that the matter could come to an end.After Bai Zhi wrapped her injured hand with a handkerchief, she looked around, and her complexion suddenly turned pale.She murmured, "I forgot how I got here..."

Crowd: "..."

So, everyone continued to look for Qiu Chan.

Having learned the lesson, this time Bai Zhi followed Zheng Zicheng to look for it.Bai Zhi thanked him for what happened just now: "Thank you Master Zheng for saving me. But I just saw that Master Zheng is very good at archery. Did Master Zheng practice martial arts before?"

"I have been in the army for ten years."

"Ah!" Bai Zhi was startled in astonishment, "Then why did Mr. Zheng become a civil servant? You should continue to fight on the battlefield!"

Zheng Zicheng smiled: "When I joined the army, I was forced to do nothing. After fighting for ten years, I was tired and wanted to go back to seclusion. It happened that the county magistrate in my hometown resigned and went back to the mountains. There was a vacancy for the county magistrate for a while. Because my hometown is remote and there are no officials in the court, I I had no choice but to bite the bullet and buy this county magistrate to make it."

Bai Zhi heard that Zheng Zicheng used to be an official in a county where birds don't lay eggs. Hearing what Zheng Zicheng said, one could imagine how barren that county was.

Although Sioux City is also located in the frontier area, it is a city after all, even if there is no oil and water, at least it can be a "Emperor of Earth" in this city.The sky is high and the emperor is far away, and the court can't control it.It's just that Bai Zhi was curious, how could the bought county magistrate be transferred to Sioux City as an official?
Seeing that Zheng Zicheng was very talkative, Bai Zhi asked out the doubts in his heart.Zheng Zicheng also said generously: "By chance, I rescued the son of Prince Gong. The prince had a back injury and was called back to Beijing by the princess to heal his wounds. He refused to follow and escaped on the way. He passed through our county town and healed his wounds in our county town. .Your father's transfer this time, the imperial court couldn't find a replacement official for a while, thanks to the recommendation of the son, I came here and was temporarily entrusted with an important task."

Mutusu again?Bai Zhi muttered in her heart.In the dream, after her father was reassigned, there was no official to replace the post of governor of Sioux City for a long time. As a result, a plague broke out in Sioux City, and there was no official to take control, and Sioux City was in chaos.Later, a foolish Zhizhou came along, wanting to exterminate the family members of those affected by the plague, but luckily she escaped quickly.

So this time the plague spread slowly in Suzhou City, and the whole city was on alert. In the end, it was Mu Tusu who introduced a reasonably sensible Zhizhou, and it was his credit?Or did she injure Mu Tusu's waist and let them meet, thus changing these things?

Bai Zhi was a little confused, but at least she understood one thing - she didn't change everything.This plague, she believed, would be resolved smoothly.For some reason, Bai Zhi has an inexplicable sense of trust in Zheng Zicheng.

This feeling is so wonderful that Bai Zhi is at a loss.

It was half an hour before Bai Zhi found Qiu Chan again.She was not the first to find Qiu Chan. When she arrived, Qiu Chan was drinking water from a kettle.Qiu Chan was covered in bruises, her feet were terribly swollen, she was out of breath, and she didn't know if she was still in shock.

Seeing Bai Zhi approaching, Qiu Chan limped towards Bai Zhi regardless of her swollen and painful feet, threw away the water bottle in her hand, and handed it to Bai Zhi with something that looked like Ganoderma lucidum but not Ganoderma lucidum: "Zhier , hurry up and save my husband, this is jujube ganoderma, just give it to my husband."

Bai Zhi took the jujube ganoderma in a daze, and looked at her worriedly: "What about you?"

"It's okay." Qiu Chan laughed foolishly a few times, then rolled her eyes and passed out.

Fortunately, someone followed her behind.Bai Zhi sighed for a while, what a silly elder sister.

When the jujube red ganoderma was successfully delivered to Song Ke, Song Ke could no longer stand up.Even though he was so sick, he still lay at the door, shouting "Save the cicada, save the cicada".The guard's bodyguard, Quan Dang Qiuchan, had passed away one step ahead, and turned a deaf ear to him, appearing extremely cold-blooded.

Bai Zhi wanted to take care of Song Ke regardless of the infectious disease and plague, but was stopped by Zheng Zicheng. He said, "I will send someone to take care of this matter, so don't bother Miss Bai." Bai Zhi knew that Zheng Zicheng was protecting her.

She backed away silently, and handed the jujube red ganoderma to Zheng Zicheng, who would have thought that the person Zheng Zicheng sent was actually himself!Bai Zhi was shocked and couldn't speak for a while.An hour later, Zheng Zicheng's joyful voice sounded from the inner room of the north courtyard: "It's alright, it's really alright."

Bai Zhi was overjoyed and rushed in, only to see Song Ke's face was rosy, and he smiled brightly at Zheng Zicheng.His smile is similar to Qiu Chan's, slightly silly but sincere.This plague is actually a plague. It happened once in Sioux City 50 years ago. The genius doctor who quelled the plague was Song Ke's grandfather.However, Song Ke got the plague this time on purpose. He couldn't get detailed symptoms from the patients who got the plague. Only by experiencing it himself can he prescribe the right medicine.After Qiu Chan learned of this, she cried and scolded, but she fully supported him, and traveled across mountains and rivers to find medicinal materials for him.Bai Zhi admires Song Ke's self-sacrifice, and even more admires Qiu Chan's life and death.If all this happened to her, she might think Song Ke was too stupid and blame him for not caring about her.

Great sentiments of self-sacrifice, she had none.

In this way, the plague subsided gradually, and Song Ke was regarded as a miracle doctor in Sucheng, and the people respected and loved him.This time, Zheng Zicheng's orderly arrangement and command minimized the loss of Sioux City, and his prestige quickly surpassed that of Bai Yuan, who had been the magistrate of Sioux City for more than ten years.The well-known figures in Suzhou City are either Song Ke or Zheng Zicheng.

People wanted to donate a pharmacy to Song Ke, but Song Ke politely refused.Bai Zhi didn't understand Song Ke, so it was Qiu Chan who explained to her: "He grew up in the mountains, but in fact he doesn't fit in with others, doesn't like to meet strangers, and he's used to the old life and doesn't want to change."

Song Ke is still a mountain drug farmer, and Qiu Chan is still a drug farmer's woman. Only their medicines have risen in price and are in short supply.

Having survived the plague period safely, and Liu Shi is still alive, Bai Zhi was so happy in those days.It's just that Bai Yuan broke his silver, and his life began to struggle.One night, Bai Zhi was thinking of ways to make a fortune, but Liu suggested: "Let's go to the capital to find your father."

Bai Zhi was startled, feeling unhappy.She felt that life without a father was very comfortable, and she would rather stay in Sioux City than go to Beijing.Bai Shu leaned against Liu's side, "Where mother is, Shu'er will be there."

Bai Zhi said: "I have sent many letters to Beijing, but father has not sent any of them back. It is clear that the three of us are not wanted, so what's the use of going?"

"It must have been caused by the plague, and the letter must have not been delivered to the capital."

Bai Zhifang wanted to argue, but Hongqiao rushed in: "Madam, Miss, something is wrong, the backyard is on fire."

Both Bai Zhi and Liu Shi jumped up and hurried to the backyard.The fire in the backyard was bigger than Bai Zhi's imagination, and the black smoke shot straight into the sky, forming an umbrella shape, tall and big, and it was extremely spectacular.

There are no more than ten people in the White House, and this amount of manpower cannot put out the raging fire at all.If the fire is not extinguished, it will spread to the entire Baifu, and the whole house will be burned down.Bai Zhi rushed out of the White Mansion and ran towards the government office, beating the drums frantically.Zheng Zicheng was woken up, Bai Zhi explained his intention, and Zheng Zicheng immediately sent someone to Baifu to fight the fire.Zheng Zicheng was a vigorous man, maybe because he had been in the army for ten years, he commanded the soldiers in an orderly manner, and he himself joined the firefighting ranks.Bai Zhu standing by the fire and crying loudly caught Bai Zhi's attention. Before she got close to Bai Zhu, Hong Qiao hurriedly told her: "Miss, madam is still in the fire."

"What?!" Bai Zhi was startled.Without hesitation, Bai Zhi wanted to rush in, but was held back by Zheng Zicheng, who said, "I'll save you." He poured a bucket of water on his body, and rushed in decisively.

Bai Zhi was in a trance at that moment...

The fire didn't tend to go out, but it didn't spread anymore, it just kept burning, and Bai Zhi's heart kept burning.How much she wished for a figure to emerge from the fire, but no, never.

Hongqiao cried while blaming herself: "It's all my fault, I didn't look at Madam."

Bai Shu cried and tugged at the corner of Bai Zhi's clothes: "Is there something wrong with Mother?"

"No, don't worry, Shu'er." When Bai Zhi comforted her, her voice was trembling.She stared at the raging fire, looking forward to the appearance of the black shadow.

Finally, when they came out, Zheng Zicheng came out with Liu Shi in his arms.The moment he brought Liu Shi to Bai Zhi, Bai Zhi was frightened.Liu's face was burnt, as well as her leg.Zheng Zicheng was not much better, there was a black spot on his arm, and he could still smell the smell of burnt meat.

Bai Shu cried and pushed Liu Shi, hoping she would wake up soon.Bai Zhi asked Zheng Zicheng with concern: "Master Zheng, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. When I went in, I saw Mrs. Bai holding this..." Zheng Zicheng handed the bundle he was holding to Bai Zhi, and continued, "I think Mrs. Bai came to get this."

This burden was just wrapped casually, and it should be wrapped casually in an emergency.The backyard has always been a warehouse for unused things, and almost no one comes in or out, except for Liu Shi.But it's perfectly normal to put things you don't need in the backyard.

When Bai Zhi opened the package, there were three tablets inside, one was Zheng Changming, one was Zheng Lu's, and the other was...Zheng Zicheng.Bai Zhi was startled, and looked up at Zheng Zicheng, who was also full of astonishment.

The tablet is spotless, obviously being cleaned and cleaned frequently.Liu Shi went to get the memorial tablet regardless of her life, it must be something extremely important to her.It's just that the tablet with the same name and surname is a coincidence or is there another world?

Before Bai Zhi could prove it in the future, Zheng Zicheng cried, and tears fell on the ground. Under the bright red fire, he looked shocking and trembling with heat.

He yelled, "Ajaan."

Ajiang is Liu's baby name, and Bai Zhi has never heard his father Bai Yuan call his mother like this.

What exactly is going on?

At this time, Liu Shi opened her eyes, drooping her eyelids in confusion and weakness, with tears in the corners of her eyes, she muttered something that no one could hear, only the nearest Bai Zhi could hear: "Brother Cheng."

Bai Zhi was so shocked that her entire body stiffened.

Bai Zhi got the past from Zheng Zicheng that she didn't want to admit.The story of Zheng Zicheng and Liu Shi is a bit old-fashioned, but it makes sense.Zheng Zicheng's family was poor, and he left his hometown since he was a child, and came to Tongcheng, the most prosperous city in the frontier area, and became the servant of Liu's house with his honesty.As a matter of course, he fell in love with the beautiful Miss Liu of the Liu family.But he also has self-knowledge, and knows that Liu can only watch from afar and not play with it.The Liu family, who lived in seclusion, naturally did not pay attention to the ordinary servants in the family.

Until Liu accidentally fell into the fish watching pond at home, and was rescued by Zheng Zicheng who was passing by, and they met each other face to face.Since then, for some reason, the two have gradually cherished each other.Mrs. Liu taught him how to read, while he told some interesting things outside, which always made Mrs. Liu laugh from ear to ear.

After spending a year in peace like this, Mr. Liu was killed by a bandit while negotiating a business outside, and Liu's brother took over, and Zheng Zicheng followed Liu's brother around.In the winter of the same year, Zheng Zicheng's parents came to Tongcheng from their hometown to join Zheng Zicheng, and Liu's brother arranged for his parents to live in the house.The Liu family loves the house and Wu, and treats the two old people very well.

The fire could not be covered with paper, and Liu's elder brother found out about Liu's and Zheng Zicheng's affairs. Liu's elder brother became furious and drove Zheng Zicheng away.Zheng Zicheng desperately wanted to be perfect, maybe he was annoyed by Zheng Zicheng, so Liu's brother said casually that the bride price was 300 taels before marrying the younger sister to him.Zheng Zicheng and his parents went back to their hometown to sell land and houses in order to raise the 300 taels.Who would have thought of such a coincidence, the country compulsorily recruits soldiers, and any son in the family must go to battle.Zheng Zicheng was forcibly dragged into the battlefield for more than ten years. He couldn't see his parents, let alone fulfill his original promise to marry the Liu family with a dowry of 300 taels.

They missed it like this, obviously so in love with each other.

Zheng Zicheng has never had any woman in his life, and even if he returned to his hometown, he never thought of marrying again.He went to find Liu Shi, and when he learned that she was married to someone else, he gave up, not wanting to disturb her peaceful life anymore.He ran into Liu Shi in Sucheng to avoid her embarrassment, so he pretended not to know each other.On the surface he appeared to be a stranger, but in fact he was in pain in his heart. How could a person who loved him like that be able to control him?
After hearing their story, Bai Zhi bowed her head and did not express her opinion, feeling bitter in her heart.She thought it was the saddest thing for someone she loved not to love her, but it turned out that it was extremely sad that people who loved each other could not be together.However, Bai Zhi felt a little confused, why didn't Liu Shi wait for Zheng Zicheng for a year or two?But after Zheng Zicheng had just entered the battlefield for a month, she hurriedly married Bai Yuan?Did Bai Yuan know that the Liu family had such a past?Bai Zhi wanted to ask Zheng Zicheng, but realized that it was useless to ask. How did Zheng Zicheng know about this?

Bai Zhi ordered someone to treat Zheng Zicheng's wound, and it was past three o'clock when Zheng Zicheng left.Bai Zhi was worried about Mrs. Liu, and didn't feel sleepy, so she stayed by Mrs. Liu's bed for the whole night.

At dawn, the maid came into the room to wake Bai Zhi, Bai Zhi got up and wanted to wash her face, but found that Liu Shi who was lying on the bed had also opened her eyes.Bai Zhi quickly stood up and asked, "Mother, where does it still hurt?"

Liu Shi frowned, shook her head and said weakly: "It's okay, but my face hurts." Liu Shi wanted to reach out to her painful face, but Bai Zhi hurriedly stopped: "Mother, don't move around."

Liu Shi insisted on touching it.Bai Zhi had no choice but to think carefully about her words and said: "Mother, there is an injury there, don't move."

"Bring the bronze mirror."

Baizhi didn't move.

Mrs. Liu is not stupid, she understood what she meant.Her face was injured, and it was very serious.Liu Shi remained silent, and gently closed her eyes: "Forget it." Appearance is no longer important to Liu Shi.Seeing Liu's behavior, Bai Zhi thought about it and said, "Mother, Mr. Zheng told me about you and Mr. Zheng."

Liu's eyes that were originally closed suddenly opened, and she looked at Bai Zhi suddenly. Bai Zhi was startled, and her body shrank, just now her mother's eyes were truly terrifying.Liu Shi asked, "What do you know?"

"The touching love between a little girl and an infatuated man." Bai Zhi pretended to be relaxed and explained, and when she said it, she looked at Liu Shi's expression.Liu Shi's sharp eyes dimmed at this moment, occasionally showing sadness.Bai Zhi knew it was time to shut up.

(End of this chapter)