A Complete Explanation of the Negative Textbooks for the Imperial Examination

How could the medicine that Qing He fried for her be poisonous?

From Zhuo County to Chang An, the mountains are long and the rivers are far away. Although the Xuan Dynasty has pacified Guanzhong and recovered Zhuo County, many places outside Jingji are still caught in the chaos of war. The road from Zhuo County to Chang An is quite uneasy.

Even with the escort of officers sent by Xiao Ying, the journey of the Xiao family to the capital still faced many difficulties.

After a day of exhaustion, everyone in the Xiao family couldn’t hide their tiredness. The soldiers who went to the front to explore the way ran back quickly and excitedly said to Military Officer Chang: “Boss, there is a post station in front of us. We can stay at the official post station today! ”

He ran to Old Lady Xiao’s carriage on horseback, leaned over and said to Old Lady Xiao, “Madam, there is an inn not far ahead. We can rest at the inn today and continue on the road tomorrow.”

Old Lady Xiao was almost knocked to death halfway at this moment. It is natural to follow what the military officer said. With an order from Military Officer Chang, the convoy accelerated and hurried towards the inn.

The carriage of the Marquis of Ding Yong stopped at the post station. After seeing the documents presented by the leading soldier, the post officer hurried over to greet the relatives of the Marquis.

Xiao Jing Duo helped his mother get out of the car. He looked at his bloodless mother. His eyebrows twitched unconsciously.

“Mother, are you alright? Or I’ll let them stop at the station for two days. We’ll go on the road only when you’re healthy.”

“No!” Zhao Xiu Lan said quickly, “There are so many people in the team. How can we be delaying the trip because of me?”

Seeing that her son’s face was still serious, Zhao Xiu Lan comforted him and patted Xiao Jing Duo’s hand and said, “It’s enough that you have this heart. I don’t have any serious problems. It’s just that I caught a cold on the road. So it’s a little bit tired and weak. We’d better go to Chang An as soon as possible. Your father must have wanted to see you a long time ago!”

Zhao Xiu Lan’s expression was both longing and sweet. Xiao Jing Duo also smiled and said, “Yes, I also want to see my father soon! I haven’t seen Da Xing City yet. I don’t know what the capital looks like?”

“It should be called Chang An City now.” Zhao Xiu Lan smiled fondly.

While the mother and son were joking, the handover documents from the inn had already been handled. Qing He walked up to Xiao Jing Duo and said, “Lang Jun, the room has been arranged. I will take you there.”
In the past few days, Qing He has been treating Zhao Xiu Lan respectfully and carefully. He also let go of his worry about this beautiful maid and accepted her.
Qing He led the way. Xiao Jing Duo supported his mother and walked into the room with a smile.

But Xiao Jing Duo still had a question in his heart. He didn’t realize it when he first met the people from the Hou Mansion. Only later, did he feel that something was wrong. Since he had doubts in his heart, he asked generously: “Sister Qing He, I heard about the Rong family’s invasion of Zhuo County last year. Since my father worked for the Rong family, why didn’t my father come to see us at that time? ”

” What do you know? There are many sons in the Rong family. Each of them leads an army to help the sage conquer the world. Last year, it was Second Master Rong, Qin Wang, who led the attack on Zhuo County. Although Hou Ye served the Rong family, he was not under the command of Qin Wang. So Hou Ye did not follow the army that day. It was also thanks to the Qin Wang that Zhuo County was conquered. Otherwise, the Marquis would not have been able to take the old lady and Da Lang into the capital!”

“So that’s how it is.” Xiao Jingduo nodded, but he was still in his heart. Something doesn’t feel right. Since his father knew that the Rong family army was going to attack Zhuo County, it would be okay to ask someone to come to Xiao’s house for a walk or two. But his father did not move. It was still strange to Xiao Jingduo.

Maybe the military order is like a mountain, and my father is not easy to disobey. In the end, Xiao Jing Duo told himself that way.

After Xiao Jing Duo and Zhao Xiu Lan, the mother and son left, the people in the station dared to look at Xiao Jing Duo’s back.

“The one just now is the eldest son of Marquis Ding Yong? At a young age, he has such a good appearance!” The post station officer secretly spoke to his colleagues.

“When it comes to looks, who can compare to the current royal family?” Another replied, “The emperor today is from the Rong clan, a noble in Longxi. Although the Rong clan is not high, the Rong family members are all brave and good at fighting. And this clan is like their surnames1, they are known for their beautiful appearance. In the beginning, someone made a joke about it, insinuating that the Rong family was as beautiful as a woman and had no manliness. Who would have known that they fought so fiercely, they took the capital in half a year!”

“Didn’t the previous emperor flee to the south? And there are warlords entrenched in many places, those people will not obey the Rong clan.”

“So, how long can they sit in that seat? Let’s see how long our beautiful royal family can last? Can they conquer the whole world?!” After finishing speaking, the post station officer leaned up again and glanced at Xiao Jing Duo’s back.

“The Lan Jun2 of the Xiao family is really good-looking. I don’t know how it compares with the legendary Rong family?”

Old Lady Xiao couldn’t wait to go back to the room. So the second uncle Xiao and the third uncle Xiao stayed to take care of the luggage in the backyard. Second Aunt Xiao took her two daughters back to the room and sat on the collapsed chair to rest.

Just in a few days, Second Aunt Xiao is no longer the village woman who used to wear rough cloth and wooden hairpin. She changed into a silk robe with a double-strand gold hairpin on her head. Even the two girls in the second room have a new look, which is completely different from before.

Although Xiao Ying sent someone to pick up his relatives and bring them to the capital, the journey was a long way, he couldn’t have prepared all the clothes and accessories for all the family members. He, a soldier, would never have thought of preparing rings and hairpins for his younger siblings and nieces. These clothes and jewellery are not for them.

Old Lady Xiao prefers her second son, and Second Aunt Xiao is her maiden’s niece. So if there is anything good, the old lady will secretly stuff it into the second room. The night before the departure, the old lady secretly called Second Aunt Xiao over. She opened the box sent by Xiao Ying in front of her and took out some gold and silver jewellery from it. When Old Lady Xiao handed the gold ornaments to Second Aunt Xiao, she made it very clear that these things belonged to Xiao Jing Hu and were left for Ah Hu to marry his daughter-in-law in the future.

Second Aunt Xiao agreed at that time. But weren’t her son’s things hers too? So she was enjoying wearing a gold hairpin for the time being. Thinking of this, Second Aunt Xiao also felt overjoyed. Even Zhao Xiu Lan didn’t have these things! Second Aunt Xiao raised her eyebrows. Even if Zhao Xiu Lan was Madam Hou, she wasn’t liked by her mother-in-law. But she wasn’t the same.
Xiao Yu Li looked at the gold jewellery on her mother’s head. Her eyes couldn’t hide her envy. She rolled her eyes and leaned over to speak to her mother in a low voice: “A Niang, I think there is a ruby ​​and silver hairpin in my grandmother’s place. You can ask grandmother for it later. I want to wear it!”

“Ruby!” Second Aunt Xiao felt heartbroken after hearing Xiao Yu Li’s words, “I have spent half my life digging food in the soil. I have never seen what a gem looks like!”

Then Second Aunt Xiao glanced at her second daughter and said: ” You little clever ghost, I have never seen these things in your grandmother’s place. How did you see them?”

“Second sister is lying at the grandmother’s door all day, just staring at the grandmother’s private savings!” Xiao Yu Fang exposed her sister without hesitation, “Didn’t you beg the grandmother to give you a hairpin before? Why do you want this too? I don’t even have one yet!”

Only then did Second Aunt Xiao know that the second daughter was hiding things on her back. She didn’t know whether to be angry or relieved. Knocking Xiao Yu Li’s forehead, she said, “You are really a traitor. You always cry poor to me. I didn’t even know that you hid so many things behind my back!”

“A Niang!” Xiao Yu Li persistently pestered Second Aunt Xiao for jewellery, “Grandmother secretly stuffed you so much gold. I saw it. You can give me one!”

“No, these are all for your brother. Ah Hu is still young. So I save them for him to marry in the future.” Second Aunt Xiao said without thinking.

Xiao Yu Li was very angry and said bitterly: “You are only partial to Ah Hu. He is the uncle’s nephew. After we arrive at the capital, the uncle will be able to lose his things? Ah Hu has his uncle and grandmother to plan for him. But what about me? Even you are still partial to him!” After speaking, Xiao Yu Li went to stab Xiao Yu Fang who was silent, “Eldest sister. You also talk. Don’t pretend that you don’t care at all. Don’t let me come forward with everything while you make benefit in the back!”

“You two can really do it!” Second Aunt Xiao had a headache. Her two daughters, one was more worried than the other. Second Aunt Xiao lowered her voice, pointed to the door opposite, and said, “Although your grandmother loves Ah Hu the most, your uncle doesn’t. Usually, at home, every good thing should be close to Ah Hu, but when it comes to the capital, the good things? It’s all to the big house! No matter how much your uncle loves his nephew, can he surpass his own son? If I don’t save some for Ah Hu now, it will be too late!”

Xiao Yu Fang and Xiao Yu Li both looked at Xiao Jing Duo’s room. Second Aunt Xiao secretly mentioned her two daughters: “You two, don’t keep staring at your grandmother’s private savings. Take advantage of these few days to get close to your eldest brother. When he arrives at the Hou Mansion, he will have a lot of good things. He is a man who doesn’t need gold hairpins and jewellery. Isn’t his things all yours?”
As soon as Second Aunt Xiao finished speaking, she heard footsteps stopping at the door of Xiao Jing Duo’s room, Xiao Yu Mang’s voice sounded: “Brother, are you in there? I boiled water for you. Do you want to use it now?”

Hearing Xiao Yu Mang’s words, the faces of the people in the second room immediately changed. Second Aunt Xiao said bitterly, “This little hoof is used to flattery. This must be taught by her mother. The third room is always so annoying.” Second Aunt Xiao pinched her daughters hard. With one hand, she said with hatred, “What are you two still doing here? Go to the kitchen to boil water. Don’t let the girl in the third room grab it first!”

After the daughters ran out in a hurry, Second Aunt Xiao touched the golden hairpin on her head, showing a complicated look.

She came from a peasant background. So she never thought of playing a gold hairpin in her life. But God suddenly favoured her. Not only letting her get rid of the yellow land, but also allowing her to enjoy the gold and silver jewellery that noble ladies are qualified to play with. At the same time, Second Aunt Xiao was ecstatic, but her heart was deeply uneasy. At that time, the aunt clearly agreed to let her be Xiao Ying’s daughter-in-law. But Xiao Ying’s uncle went to Zhao Lang Zhong to see a doctor. When he came back, he set up Xiao Ying with Zhao Lan Zhong’s daughter, Zhao Xiu Lan. Xiao Ying’s father had no opinion. So he agreed to the marriage. She failed to marry her favourite cousin. She could only marry Second Uncle Xiao with embarrassment.

Therefore, Second Aunt Xiao has been dissatisfied with Zhao Xiu Lan all these years. She feels that Zhao Xiu Lan is the third party who wins the love. However, she and her eldest cousin had no fate after all. She also gave birth to two daughters and a son to Second Uncle Xiao. Slowly, Second Aunt Xiao had put down the affairs of that year. However, a few days ago, the news that Xiao Ying was named a Marquis suddenly came. Zhao Xiu Lan hit the big luck and became Madam Hou. Second Aunt Xiao feels a lump has been stuck in her throat ever since she heard the news. The handsome and powerful cousin of that year also reappeared in her mind. Second Aunt Xiao thought angrily, Zhao Xiulan, why does she deserve such great luck? First, she stole her first cousin. Now she has to take away her Madam Hou position!

Second Aunt Xiao was angry, but there was nothing else she could do. Zhao Xiu Lan was surrounded by many maids these days, as well as her son, Xiao Jing Duo. Second Aunt Xiao really didn’t know what to do with her. So she could only grit her teeth in secret.

After Xiao Jing Duo sent his mother back to the room, he went back to his room to rest. These days, Xue Lan refused to let him live with Zhao Xiu Lan on the grounds that he was getting older. Xiao Jing Duo knew that the big families lived separately. Everyone had a yard, not to mention the noble families in Chang An. So Xiao Jing Duo did not resist and let Xue Lan place him elsewhere.

But after a while, his tranquillity was interrupted. First, the cousin of the third room came to bring him hot water, and then the two sisters of the second room also came to make trouble in his room. Xiao Jing Duo was so annoyed that he had no choice but to go to his mother’s room.

He closed the door, sat in front of his mother and complained: “I have never seen them so attentive in so many years. When my father came back, their attitude changed suddenly.”

Zhao Xiu Lan looked at her son with a helpless and doting smile: ” It’s human nature to follow the trend. They are all girls’ families. They can neither be officials nor buy property. Your grandmother has always emphasized men and women. There is no side in favour of them. Naturally, they feel that there is no guarantee. So they can only find another way out. You are their big brother and also the son of Hou Ye. If they are not looking for you, who are they looking for? Yu Fang and others have to rely on you to support them after they get married, so you don’t have to avoid these sisters too much. You can treat them like you usually treated them in the past. ”

“I know.” Xiao Jingduo nodded.

After a few days, Zhao Xiu Lan felt that her son had undergone earth-shaking changes. His appearance was still the same, but his gestures showed an indescribable majesty.

Xiao Jing Duo used to be a very hard-headed person. When the people from Ding Yong Hou’s mansion came back, no matter whether the maids in gorgeous clothes or the sergeants in military uniforms, they all treated him with respect. Walking among these people, Xiao Jing Duo’s aura would naturally change. Slowly transformed from a thin country boy, he gradually revealed the majesty of the noble son of Hou Fu.
Zhao Xiu Lan looked at her son who seemed to have grown up overnight, with a gratifying smile on her lips, but tears flowed from her eyes unconsciously: “Mother’s Duo er has grown up. When my mother was pregnant with you, I couldn’t let your father see it. When you were born, he left home and joined the army. When my mother named you, I was thinking, your father is so handsome and dazzling as the sun in the sky, I will give you the word Duo, golden gallant iron horse, military type. This name, your father will definitely like it.”

Xiao Jing Duo knew that his mother had been caring about his father all these years. She almost cried whenever she mentioned his father. He was silent for a while, then he held his mother’s hand tightly and said, “A Niang, we will see my father soon. He will definitely like the name you gave me.”

There were still tears in her eyes, but she nodded vigorously with a smile.

At this time, the girls’ voices came from outside the door. It seemed that Xiao Yu Li and Xiao Yu Mang were arguing again. Xiao Jing Duo found out that several of them had chased after his mother’s room. He felt a headache, and immediately got up and said to his mother, “A Niang, I’ll go to the kitchen to make medicine for you. When they come in, stop them for a while.”

“Hey… “Zhao Xiu Lan hasn’t finished speaking yet. When she saw Xiao Jing Duo go through the window and leave, she showed a helpless smile, “This child, Qing He has already taken over the errand of decoction. Where is the need for him to see medicine?”

Xiao Jing Duo avoided his cousins, with a flexible posture in the kitchen. He looked around, and there was only a small stove with a medicine stove on it. He pointed to the bubbling medicine stove and asked the handyman next to him: “Is this the medicine for Madam?

” Yes. Sister Qing He has something to do. So she ordered this slave to look at the medicine here.”

“Okay.” Xiao Jing Duo opened the medicine stove and poured medicine into the bowl next to him. But the handyman called out unexpectedly. Xiao Jing Duo turned around strangely: “What’s wrong?”

The handyman shook his head in embarrassment, his expression a little tangled: “Sister Qing He said that no one is allowed to touch this pot of medicine except her.”

“Sister Qing He has a heart.” Xiao Jing Duo said without taking it to heart. He continued to turn around to fill the medicine and then walked out with the medicine bowl in his hand, “If Sister Qing He comes back, you can say that the medicine was taken away by me. My mother is not in good health. So she has to take medicine and rest earlier.

” Yes.”

Xiao Jing Duo carefully brought the medicine bowl to Zhao Xiu Lan’s room all the way. He put the bowl on the low table and urged his mother: “Mother, take the medicine quickly. It will not work well when the medicine cools down.”

“Okay,” Zhao Xiu Lan said with a satisfied smile. She was willing to be controlled by his son. She picked up the medicine bowl and took a sip carefully. But she frowned and murmured, “Why is it so bitter?”

“Bitter?” Xiao Jing Duo felt something was wrong. His mother was cold on the way. The prescription is the Zelan soup, which was more focused on nursing. The soup contains licorice, zelan, and honey. The taste should be sweet and slightly bitter. How can it be so bitter that it is impossible to swallow?

Xiao Jing Duo’s expression changed. He grabbed Zhao Xiu Lan’s medicine bowl with one hand and put it on the tip of his nose to smell it carefully.

“What’s wrong?” Zhao Xiu Lan asked suspiciously. Although she is the daughter of a genius doctor, she doesn’t know anything about medicine. Seeing her son’s expression is wrong, she becomes more and more confused.

“There is something wrong with the medicine.” Xiao Jing Duo came to a firm conclusion. He stood up and walked out with the bowl in his hand, “Mother, stay in the room and don’t move. I’ll go check the medicine.”

Zhao Xiu Lan stayed in the room anxiously. Is there a problem with the medicine? How could this be possible? Qing He made the medicine for her with her own hands. Every procedure was watched by countless people. How could outsiders have the chance to manipulate medicine? “Isn’t someone putting the wrong ingredient?” Zhao Xiu Lan murmured in a low voice.

After a while, Xiao Jing Duo came back. He holds an empty bowl in his hand. His eyes are dark as if he can swallow all the light: “The medicine is poisonous. The dog at the station is dead.”

The author has something to say:

Dog at the station: ? ? ?

Dog owner: ? ? ?

Author: I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I’m guilty [cover face]

1

容(Rong)- appearance, look

2

Lang Jun- young master