Jiuxi

Chapter 795【Young Man】

The next morning, at Duke Wei's Mansion.

Lu Chen felt uncomfortable looking at the thin Li Tianrun.

"Please don't act like a child, otherwise I will doubt whether I made the wrong decision."

Li Tianrun leaned back in his chair, put his hands in front of him, and spoke with a smile.

The so-called "wrong" decision, of course, refers to his telling the emperor about Li Bingxue's marriage.

Lu Chen sighed softly, "Uncle Li, it's not a solution for you to continue like this."

Li Tianrun said calmly, "It's nothing more than living one day at a time. In fact, I don't have many regrets in this life. Liangyu has a steady temperament. Even if I'm not around, he can still protect the Li family. Bingxue is jumpy and sometimes can't control her temper, but now that you are helping me to look after her, there won't be any trouble in the future."

There is an open-minded air.

Lu Chen thought for a moment and said, "Old Doctor Xue came with me to the capital this time and is now staying at Prime Minister Xue's residence. How about I ask him to come and help Uncle Li take another look?"

"Mister Xue is old, there is no need to trouble him any more."

Li Tianrun waved his hand and smiled, "Life and death are determined by fate. It is a miracle that I have survived this illness until now. In the past two years, many imperial doctors from the palace have come here, especially Gui Yuanzheng. It is said that he is also the senior brother of Doctor Xue, and his medical skills are extremely superb. Although he never said how long I can live, I can see that even he can't cure my illness and can only barely keep me going."

Lu Chen picked up the teacup and took a sip, then whispered, "Uncle Li may not know yet, Gui Yuanzheng died of illness yesterday."

"Ok?"

Li Tianrun's vicissitudes of life had a hint of suspicion in his eyes, and then he said, "He came to check my pulse half a month ago. I think he is very strong despite his age. He can live at least ten to eight years."

Lu Chen then recounted the entire process from entering the palace to going to Gui Mansion yesterday, without missing any details except for the letter.

Li Tianrun pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Do you think there is something wrong with Gui Qiuliang's death?"

"What a coincidence."

Lu Chen put down the teacup and said thoughtfully, "Didn't Uncle Li realize that the time of Gui Qiuliang's death was very precise? He probably suddenly fell ill when I arrived in the capital, and then when I entered the palace to meet the emperor, the news of his death was sent to the palace, and I just happened to know about it. This could indeed be just a coincidence, but if it is not a coincidence, this matter is very intriguing."

"If it's not a coincidence, it's not easy to achieve this effect. First, we have to determine when you will arrive in Beijing, then we have to make sure Gui Qiuliang obeys and dies, and finally, we have to ensure that you are present when the news of his death is reported to the emperor."

Li Tianrun frowned slightly and asked, "But what is the purpose of doing this? Even if you know about Gui Qiuliang's death, how can the other party be sure that you will be interested in this matter?"

Lu Chen calmly took over the conversation: "Unless the other party knew in advance that I wanted to investigate this Imperial Hospital Director."

“Why do you want to check?”

"Because I suspect the late emperor's illness is related to the current emperor."

Lu Chen did not hide anything. At least he thought that there was no point in beating around the bush in front of Li Tianrun.

Li Tianrun did not show any shock, and it was obvious that he had thought about similar questions.

After a moment, he changed the subject and said, "Before the current emperor ascended the throne, it seemed that he had a good relationship with you? Moyuan treated you as a distinguished guest, and even the top prostitute surnamed Xue was willing to follow you."

Lu Chen smiled. He hadn't thought of the name Xue Susu for a long time. They were just casual acquaintances and he had never fallen in love with her, so naturally he didn't feel guilty.

Li Tianrun continued, "Judging from your contact with him back then, what kind of person is the emperor now?"

"Before he ascended the throne, to be honest, I thought he was a pretty good person. He was calmer than the eldest prince and countless times better than Li Zongjian. Perhaps that's why the late emperor chose him in the end."

Lu Chen spoke slowly, his tone becoming a little colder. "That's why I don't understand many of his actions after he ascended the throne, especially his impatience to drive me to Dingzhou and his efforts to force Qin Tiju to resign. People change, but there is always a gradual process, or there are reasons why they have to change. I can only see his guilty conscience from these two things, but I don't understand why he feels so guilty, unless he doesn't want us to discover some secrets."

Li Tianrun pondered and said, "So you suspect that he tampered with the late emperor's treatment."

Lu Chen nodded and said, "Gui Qiuliang suddenly died of a serious illness, and Lu Shizhou died accidentally last year. Could these things be accidents? From his rejection of me after he ascended the throne, his suppression of Qin Tiju, to the deaths of these people who once accompanied the late emperor, it is really hard for me not to doubt him."

"I can understand how you feel."

Li Tianrun coughed twice and said seriously: "But in my opinion, the current emperor should not have done anything to murder the late emperor."

Lu Chen couldn't help but frowned slightly.

Li Tianrun explained, "I should know the late emperor better than you do. He is not only good at forbearance, but also more meticulous. Otherwise... he would not have lived to see you enter the capital for the first time. You don't think that the late emperor has been walking on flat ground in the capital for the past ten years without any danger, right? At the same time, if the current emperor could quietly win over the emperor's close ministers under the nose of the late emperor and then poison the late emperor, he would definitely not be so eager to exclude you and Qin Zheng."

This is a very simple logical inference.

If Li Zongben had such skills and character, he would definitely not be so rough in his actions. Even if he was suspicious of Lu Chen, he would take his time.

Li Tianrun added: "Secondly, assuming that the emperor did do this, why did he do it? He must have a reason, right? In the last two years of the late emperor's life, the emperor was already the crown prince, and the late emperor's health was not very good, so he would not have been the crown prince for more than ten years. Could it be that he could not even wait for these two years and had to take such a huge risk to kill the emperor and his father?"

Lu Chen couldn't help but remain silent.

After a moment, he said in confusion: "What happened yesterday was really strange."

"Perhaps you can consider it from another angle."

Li Tianrun looked at him gently and said, "Gui Qiuliang's death was indeed an accident. After all, a doctor cannot heal himself. The emperor agreed to let you take Doctor Xue to Gui's house only because he has a clear conscience. Otherwise, he would have enough legitimate reasons to refuse you."

Lu Chen has never been a stubborn person, so he nodded and said, "Maybe I'm overthinking it."

Li Tianrun smiled slightly and was about to speak when he saw Li Liangyu walking in quickly.

He first greeted Lu Chen, then said to Li Tianrun: "Father, the man from Pingning Marquis' Mansion is here again, and my younger sister has gone to the front." This sentence made Lu Chen raise his eyebrows unconsciously.

The so-called person from the Pingning Marquis Mansion must not be a woman, otherwise Li Bingxue would not have had to go to the front house, and Li Liangyu would not have come to report in such a serious manner.

It is even less likely to be Tang Yong, Marquis of Pingning. After all, he is a military hero of the same generation as Li Tianrun. If he came to visit, Li Tianrun would not be unaware of it.

In a flash, Lu Chen knew that the person coming should be Tang Yong's nephew.

At this moment, he was filled with disbelief.

Could it be that there really is a fearless dandy in the capital who dares to steal his girl?
"It has nothing to do with ice and snow, don't let your imagination run wild."

Li Tianrun saw through Lu Chen's thoughts at a glance, and then said with a little annoyance: "But in the final analysis, it is you who caused the trouble. Since you happened to be here today, you should solve it."

Li Liangyu, who was standing next to him, smiled but said nothing.

"Okay, I'll go see if the young masters in the capital have made any progress."

Lu Chen didn't ask any more questions and went to the front house under the guidance of the housekeeper.

Walking into the side hall, he first looked at Li Bingxue who was sitting in the main seat. Their eyes met, and Lu Chen pretended to be jealous, obviously echoing the joke he made outside the city yesterday.

Li Bingxue suppressed her smile and turned her head to the side.

Lu Chen moved his gaze and saw a young man in his twenties.

This man has a decent appearance and a strong and sturdy body, unlike Li Yunyi who looks like he has been hollowed out by alcohol and sex.

"I am Tang Huai, the humble man, and I am here to meet you, sir!"

The young man was quite tactful and immediately stood up and saluted.

Lu Chen walked straight to Li Bingxue and sat down, then asked calmly, "Master Tang, who is Pingning Marquis Tang Yong to you?"

Tang Huai replied respectfully: "It's my father."

Lu Chen asked again: "Why did you come to Duke Wei's mansion?"

Tang Huai glanced at the silent Li Bingxue, and then said cautiously: "I would like to ask General Li for permission to let me meet with Miss Gu."

"Who do you want to see?"

The mystery was finally solved, but Lu Chen was slightly surprised.

Tang Huai took a deep breath and mustered up his courage to say, "Miss Gu Wan'er."

At this time, Lu Chen finally understood the meaning of Li Tianrun's words.

At the beginning, he was soft-hearted and didn't want to keep Gu Wan'er by his side, so he entrusted her to Li Bingxue. Later, Gu Wan'er had been living in the Li family and is now considered half a member of the Li family.

Lu Chen frowned and asked, "Why do you want to see Miss Gu?"

Tang Huai no longer cared about his fear of Lu Chen at this time, and said sincerely: "To be honest with you, sir, I first saw Miss Gu in Fanlou six years ago, and I was so shocked that I could not forget her. Although Miss Gu was born a courtesan, in my heart, she is as flawless as white jade and pure as snow. When Miss Gu left the capital, I happened to be traveling abroad, so it was a pity that I had no chance to see her more often. Over the past year or so, I have thought about it again and again, and I still can't deceive myself, so I have come to your house several times with a shameless face, just to ask the Duke and General Li to allow me to propose to Miss Gu!"

Lu Chen looked at the guy's sincere face, and a strange feeling gradually arose in his heart.

Li Bingxue looked at him with a half-smile.

In fact, there are many powerful and wealthy children in the capital who admire Gu Wan'er. Whether they really like her or for some psychological reasons, if it weren't for the golden signboard of the Li family, it would be difficult for Gu Wan'er to enjoy a peaceful and stable life.

However, there are not many young people like Tang Huai who have a good family background and are brave enough.

"Several times?"

Lu Chen's tone finally showed some impatience, and he said lightly: "Mr. Tang, nothing can happen again."

When he saw that the other party was quite frank, he didn't take his identity. However, after hearing this sentence, Tang Huai seemed to have the courage in his heart, and said seriously: "Guo Gong's lesson is. The villain has taken a few meals at home, and the father finally agreed to the villain. As long as the girl nodded, the little man was willing to lift the big sedan media to cross the door!"

The so-called formal marriage is the treatment only given to the principal wife.

Lu Chen looked at Tang Huai's excited face and asked curiously, "Does Miss Gu know about this?"

Tang Huai choked.

Lu Chen immediately realized that this guy was completely wishful thinking. Li Bingxue would not hide this from Gu Wan'er. If Gu Wan'er was really interested, he would not be unable to meet the real person forever.

Thinking of this, he sneered and said, "Fortunately this is the Duke of Wei's mansion, otherwise a playboy like you wouldn't be so easy to talk to, and it wouldn't be surprising if you started to rob people. Tang Huai, while I'm still in a good mood today, get out of here immediately!"

Tang Huai wanted to say something but stopped himself. In the end, he didn't dare to confront Lu Chen. He bowed and left in disappointment.

Lu Chen turned his head and saw Li Bingxue sighing and asking, "How are you going to arrange for Wan'er? Do you really want her to live in my house forever?"

"..."

Lu Chen suddenly felt a headache.

(End of this chapter)