Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 49: The sun and the moon are bright, and there is no privacy

The nights in early summer are cool and quiet. In the prosperous Tang Dynasty during the Middle Ages, there was not such a rich nightlife as in later generations. Even in the imperial palace, most people kept a schedule of going to bed at sunset.

Zhang Luo, supported by two eunuchs, hurried along with his head down, barely noticing anyone else. Occasionally, he glanced around, but all he could see was the high palace walls and a glimpse of the outline of a double-eaved bracket arch protruding from above.

The palace alleys were complex and lacked clear markings, making it easy to get lost. Zhang Luo's previous collision probably gave him a slight concussion, and being carried and spun around by two young eunuchs made him feel even more dizzy. His hands and feet grew weaker, and he couldn't help groaning from the dizziness and headache.

"My dear, you still need to be patient. The Internal Medical Bureau is still some distance away."

Seeing that Zhang Luo was not in a very good condition, the two young eunuchs simply bent down and carried him on their backs, while the other supported him from the side. Then they continued on their way and finally arrived at the Internal Medicine Bureau.

At this time, Zhang Luo's condition was getting worse. He was dazed and had no energy. A medical officer and male and female palace slaves from the Internal Medical Bureau came out quickly, took him off the panting eunuch, and carried him into the hall, laying him on a plain couch. He just let them do whatever they wanted.

The blood on his face had dried and scabbed, and his blood-soaked hair was stuck to his forehead and head in clumps. The injury looked serious and needed to be moistened with warm water before further treatment. While the medical officer was carefully treating these things, Zhang Luo, dizzy and exhausted, fell asleep.

"Who is this person? Where was the injury? Why is it so serious?"

The rules in the Forbidden Palace are strict and life is relatively boring. Such emergency treatments for external injuries rarely happen in the Internal Medical Bureau, so the palace slaves can't help but feel curious and start whispering to each other.

"Don't underestimate this young man. He is the filial grandson of Zhang Yan Gong. Not long ago, he was in the Southern Province..."

When the two young eunuchs saw the curious looks of the other palace slaves, they couldn't help but whisper the story. After listening to it, the other palace slaves couldn't help but sigh.

"Is what you said true? If Master Yunyang asks, please explain it in detail!"

At this time, a palace maid came out from behind the screen in the inner hall, raised her hand and pointed at the two young eunuchs and said.

Upon hearing this, the two of them hurriedly responded respectfully, then walked into the inner hall and knelt down to pay their respects: "Greetings to Master Yunyang. We have just returned to the palace from the Southern Province and have met this young master Zhang..."

In the inner hall, several medical officers were carefully preparing medicinal herbs. Sitting in the middle was a young woman with bright eyes and white teeth. She wore no hairpins or skirts, but rather the attire of a nun, her hair tied within a hibiscus jade crown. Over her azure robes, she wore a golden silk veil. Her face was pure and beautiful, her eyes were bright as stars, and her beautiful features were as if painted. She had an air of transcendence, like an immortal, and exuded a noble air that made one hesitate to look directly at her.

After listening to the two eunuchs' stories, the girl, known as Yunyang Zhenren by the palace slaves, stood up, wearing cloud shoes and with a tall figure. She walked around the screen into the outer hall, came to Zhang Luo who was lying on the couch, and looked at him with her eyes lowered.

At this time, the dirty blood on Zhang Luo's head and face had been wiped clean, and the medical officer was carefully picking out the hair stuck in the wound on his head. As soon as the hair was pulled out, Zhang Luo, who was sleeping, gasped in pain and his body trembled again.

"Be gentle. He's in pain, can't you see?"

The girl was looking at the boy carefully. Seeing him frown and gasp, she couldn't help but frown slightly, and then said to the medical officer with some displeasure.

"Yes Yes……"

The medical officer was already very cautious, and he felt even more stressed after hearing this. He raised his hand to gently wipe the sweat from his forehead, and then used a goose feather to more carefully pick out the hair stuck to the wound.

The girl scolded the medical officer, but she couldn't help but stretch out her jade-like slender fingers to press on the wound on Zhang Luo's head, and whispered softly: "It's not jade bone, but it is very hard."

She pressed hard, and Zhang Luo, who was already a light sleeper, suddenly opened his eyes in pain. He immediately saw a graceful, bright and elegant girl in Taoist attire standing before him. For a moment, his entire brain went into a state of shutdown, and he subconsciously muttered, "Have I arrived in the fairyland again?"

The girl didn't expect that he would suddenly open his eyes and wake up. She turned around and walked back to the inner hall with light steps. When she heard the boy's foolish words about entering the fairyland, her pink lips couldn't help but pursed, and the corners of her eyes curved like crescent moons. She returned to the human world from the otherworldly world, becoming more beautiful, pretty, lively and smart.

But how could she know that Zhang Luo was really wondering if he had traveled through time again and came to the world of immortals?

The immortal figure vanished in a flash. Bewildered and lost, he looked around, and the furnishings in the hall seemed unfamiliar. Only when he saw the two young eunuchs who had helped him there did he confirm that he was still in this plane. He couldn't help but ask, "Is this the Internal Medicine Department? Who was that immortal just now?"

"Sir, please lie down quickly. If the injury is not treated quickly, blood will ooze out again!" Seeing that Master Yunyang had retreated into the inner hall, the two young eunuchs naturally did not dare to say anything nonsense. They pressed Zhang Luo on the couch before entering and spoke in a hurry.

After waking up, the slight pain from the wound interrupted Zhang Luo's thoughts, especially when the medical officer began to sprinkle the golden wound powder on his wound, he gasped in pain.

"My dear, you were so strong and courageous in Southern Province just now, how come you can't even endure the slightest pain now?"

Several palace slaves in the hall had just heard about Zhang Luo's deeds in the Southern Province and were full of admiration. Seeing his appearance, several palace maids couldn't help but ask with a smile.

"I am only flesh and blood, and I feel cold, heat, illness, and pain. Just now, driven by filial piety, I didn't care about my own life or death. Now that I'm in a comfortable situation, isn't it human nature to be afraid of the cold and pain?"

Zhang Luo had never been one to shy away from the stage. Hearing the harmless teasing of the maids, he smiled and said, "As long as my family is safe and sound and no disaster strikes, I would simply be a playboy enjoying the fun of the court, chatting with the ladies about the pleasures of life, and not be content to argue about right and wrong with the gentlemen and villains out there!"

There were few outsiders in the deep palace. Seeing that Mr. Zhang was not only morally upright but also humorous and charming, several palace maids immediately took a liking to him and came forward to help treat the injury. Not only did they quickly bandage the wound, they also helped to put on a fu hat, so that the young man regained his handsome and decent appearance.

The young girl Yunyang Zhenren who had just returned to the inner hall was also listening attentively to the movements outside. After hearing what Zhang Luo said, she couldn't help but show a look of agreement. Her eyes fell on the medicinal materials that the medical officers were busy preparing, and she looked down at the Taoist clothes on her body. Her originally bright eyes quickly dimmed again.

Surrounded by beautiful women and fragrant breezes, Zhang Luo felt a little dizzy for a moment and almost forgot where he was. It was not until Gao Lishi came into the hall again that he quickly composed himself and stood up to greet him.

Seeing that his injuries had been treated, Gao Lishi said, "If there is nothing wrong, please come with me to see the emperor."

Hearing that he was finally going to face tonight's final boss, Zhang Luo's spirits instantly lifted. Although his brief nap hadn't lasted long, it had significantly replenished the energy he'd just expended. Now, he was fully refreshed and ready to face the challenges ahead.

When Gao Lishi saw the young man's excitement, he sighed inwardly.

He knew that the saint already had a prejudice in his mind, and that he had not summoned the young man to really listen to his story. No matter what expectations the young man had, he was afraid that they would not be fulfilled tonight, and he might even suffer a huge blow.

As a close confidant of the sage, Gao Lishi had seen many similar situations. With the entire world devoted to one man, the world was full of people harboring various expectations and ambitions, desperately trying to get close to the sage. However, the sage's will was so lofty and almost divine, how could a mere mortal presume to understand it?

Gao Lishi had seen enough of these people, some succeeding, some failing, to become somewhat numb. Even though the young man before him was the grandson of his old friend Zhang Shuo, Gao Lishi didn't intend to give him any warnings, leaving it to fate to decide his fate.

Thinking this in his heart, Gao Lishi simply turned around and motioned the young man to follow him. When he walked out of the Internal Medicine Bureau, several palace slaves came out with him and waved to the young man, saying, "My dear, you will surely get your wish on this trip!"

After hearing this, Gao Lishi couldn't help but be slightly stunned. Looking back at the young man who was smiling and waving goodbye to the palace maid, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised. It had only been a short time, and they seemed to have become familiar with each other?
"I advise you to cherish your youth..."

Looking at the young man who had recovered his posture after treating his injuries, Gao Lishi couldn't help but murmur.

Zhang Luo couldn't help but smile when he heard this. He looked at Gao Lishi and asked with a smile, "Duke Bohai has also heard of my humble work?"

"T-This is your poem?"

Gao Lishi had originally been speaking from a place of feeling, and hearing the young man's words was even more surprising. Then, remembering Concubine Hui's song in the side hall, his expression shifted slightly. After a pause, his face suddenly grew serious, and he whispered in a deep voice, "The sage is the ruler of the world. The sun and the moon are bright, and there is no hiding anything from the people. You should reflect on yourself and answer with caution."

Zhang Luo was stunned when he heard this, then he quickly nodded in agreement. At the same time, he began to think, was Gao Lishi's sudden words a reminder or a warning?

After pondering for a while, he still hadn't come up with a clue, so he simply stopped thinking about it. This kind of cryptic information transmission was meaningless in the first place. No matter how high-level the game was, the key information that truly needed to be accurately conveyed could not be expressed so vaguely.

Gao Lishi said this because he was either confused himself, or he wanted to express something but felt that he was not worthy of being explained too clearly. In short, he was just trying to be mysterious.

But after all, it is the emperor who plays the decisive role tonight. Instead of wasting energy guessing riddles here, it is better to think about how to respond when you meet him later.

The sun and the moon are bright, and there is no privacy among the people. This is a typical example of being brainwashed and self-taught by imperial power. It is just like it was not this old Deng who was beaten to the point of crying for his parents, separated from his wife and children, and fled to Sichuan in a panic thirty years later!
(End of this chapter)