Dingbei Hou's doctor brother

Chapter 228 Fear and Terror

At the Duke of Wei's mansion, Xiao Yan walked into the central hall and saw Xiao Cong drinking tea. He didn't even sit down, but asked directly, "Father, why did you call me here?"

Seeing his attitude, Xiao Cong put down his teacup and asked, "Is there something urgent? Sit down and talk."

Xiao Yan was very anxious. He was delayed yesterday and hadn't seen Lu Ziqing until evening. He didn't know what was going on.

He suppressed his urgency and sat down, "Dad, please speak quickly, I have something else to do."

Xiao Cong didn't speak immediately, but thought for a moment before asking, "Have you been very busy lately?"

Xiao Yan said an expressionless "hmm." "There are the drills for the various divisions, as well as dealing with the Yan clique. There's also the pay owed to the army. There's just so much going on. I stayed at the government office last night to settle the accounts."

Xiao Cong nodded silently, "Father has also heard about the deficit at Huaichang. The court must be in turmoil right now."

"This is the gap where Yan Mengjiang dismounted from his horse." Xiao Yan said.

"I knew he was up to something. I've been observing him for a long time. He sent someone to secretly deliver a secret letter to Huaichang. I wanted to stop them, but someone else got there first. With Yan Mengjiang's style, he's not one to give up even in the heat of the moment. I've been using him as a tool, but maybe he's also plotting against me. The court has been in turmoil lately. Whether the Emperor believes it or not depends on this one."

"The deficit in Huaichang is a big hole," said Xiao Cong.

"Filling the gap in a short period of time isn't easy, but we'll try to fill it if we can. Pulling out the radish brings out the dirt. This case is a case of investigation. But you're right about one thing. At this critical juncture, Yan Mengjiang is likely to be desperate. Your uncles and brothers should be careful not to let anyone take advantage of them. And your second brother, Xianming, has been guarding Ganzhou for years, and now he's building the Great Wall. Write home and ask about him when you have time."

Xiao Yan nodded in agreement, "Dad, are you done asking questions? Go to bed early. I'm leaving first."

He stood up and went out, but before he stepped out of the threshold, Xiao Cong called him.

"and many more."

Xiao Yan turned around and asked, "Dad, what else do you want?"

Xiao Cong was a little embarrassed to speak, and after hesitating for a while, he said, "Originally, these things are not for me, as a father, to say. Your mother passed away early, and I have no choice but to speak."

The more Xiao Yan listened, the more confused he became. "What on earth does Dad want to say?"

"Why weren't you at the Marquis' Mansion on your wedding night?" Xiao Cong asked.

Xiao Yan's heart skipped a beat. "Who did Dad hear that from? The princess?"

Xiao Cong answered irrelevantly, "Yan'er, Dad said before that it's okay if you don't like the princess, but I didn't really tell you to ignore her. On the wedding night, the groom ran away, how could such a ridiculous thing happen? Don't blame the princess for complaining. Anyone would be angry about this. How will outsiders view your wife if you do this?"

When Xiao Yan heard the word "Madam", his heart started beating fast again.

"Dad, could you please not say Madam? It sounds weird. Also, I've already said I don't like the princess, but you guys forced her on me. If you don't like her, why are you talking about entering the bridal chamber on your wedding night? Dad, don't force me."

"How can this be considered as forcing someone to do something?" Xiao Cong said, "I'm asking you to enter the bridal chamber, not to go to the execution platform. What are you afraid of?"

Xiao Yan was helpless, "Then can Dad enter the bridal chamber with a woman he doesn't like?"

"You..." Xiao Cong was speechless for a moment, "I... no, now you are talking about your business, how did it get involved with me?"

"Talking about you is the same as talking about me." Xiao Yan said.

"If Dad can, it only means that Dad has no love in his heart, and he only married to continue his family line. He lives like a puppet, without knowing joy. If Dad can't, then you should understand what I mean. No matter how good the princess is, she is not the person I like. I have given up my marriage to her and have done my best. I don't want anyone to interfere in future matters. So, if Dad wants to talk to me about this again in the future, you can forget it."

Before Xiao Cong could speak again, Butler Wu hurried in and said to Xiao Yan, "Second Young Master, Lieutenant General Yang wants to see you urgently. He's in the outer courtyard."

Xiao Yan said goodbye and turned to go to the outer courtyard. Xiao Cong looked at the back and sighed.

Yang Zhounan was walking around in the yard in a hurry. When he saw Xiao Yan coming out, he walked up to him quickly and before he could say anything, Xiao Yan asked first.

"You've come here so late at night, but is there any news about that demon?"

"No." Yang Zhounan looked grim, "Yes..."

"What's wrong with you?" Xiao Yan said anxiously, "Tell me quickly."

"Don't worry." Yang Zhounan said, "Lu Ziqing might be dying. Xiaoliu... Hey!"

Before he could finish his words, Xiao Yan rushed out upon hearing the three words "Lu Ziqing" and rode his horse towards Chongbeifang. Yang Zhounan didn't have time to catch up with him.

It was late at night, and the place was quiet. The fog and rain were hazy. The wind and rain brought by the galloping horses blew on Xiao Yan's face, but he could no longer feel it. Only the pain brought by the words "Lu Ziqing is no longer able to make it" radiated to every part of his body.

The unprecedented tension and fear made him speed up in the fog and rain. In the past, he didn't notice the distance of a cup of tea, but at this moment, he felt that time was so long that the whip in his hand could not help but whip Mo Kun.

Half a cup of tea later, before Mo Kun had even stopped, Xiao Yan impatiently jumped off his horse and knocked on the door, but no one responded after knocking a few times.

He suddenly climbed over the high wall on the side and ran into the main room, where he saw a group of people standing around the bed, with bloodstains on the floor and bed.

In just this instant, Xiao Yan's mind suddenly buzzed, and his heart was hit hard again, and he was dumbfounded.

He could no longer see the people around him, and didn't know how he got to the bed. The pool of blood on the ground was still imprinted in his mind. He stared blankly at Lu Ziqing, who had silver needles stuck in his body and head, holding wedding candy in his hands, and lying motionless, dying.

He held Lu Ziqing's hand tightly, his voice trembling, "How...what happened? We haven't seen each other for just two days, how...how could this happen? Xiaoliu."

The last shout frightened Xiaoliu so much that he trembled and responded immediately.

"Yes, Master, Judge Xu has come to see him. The young master took half a bowl of medicine, but he vomited it all out along with the blood. He can't take it anymore. Those silver needles were inserted by Miss Xi when he was still conscious. He may be asleep again now. Master, let's wait and see."

Su Chengfeng endured the discomfort and asked everyone to go out and wait. Lu Lanzhi was the last one to knock on the door and leave.

Xiao Yan half-knelt on the ground with tears in his eyes. He stroked Lu Ziqing's face with his palm. It was the second time he saw this dead face with blood stains. He was still as scared as the first time. He was afraid that this person would never be able to talk and laugh in front of him so lively again.

He gently wiped off the blood stains and whispered, "Ziqing, I'm here. I was delayed last night and didn't come to see you. Is it... is it because I bullied you and made you angry, so this happened? Ziqing..."

Xiao Yan was shaking with fear. He held Lu Ziqing's hand against his face, trying to warm the slightly cold hand with his body temperature, and held it tightly.

The next moment, he put it down and rubbed it again. He was so frightened that he dared not speak anymore. He just leaned close to Lu Ziqing's head and watched quietly.