Chapter 32: [32] Origin

Chen Huichun does not have any pedantic rules. In the eyes of doctors, there is no distinction between men and women.

What's more, it's just looking at the feet.

But after all, the concepts Li Qingwu had accepted since she was a child told her that only her future husband could see a woman's feet and not be easily exposed to others.

What's more, she knew that Qiu Che didn't seem to like small feet.

So even Li Qingwu, who was already pleased with his little feet, also started to hate them.

She was afraid of seeing the disgusted look in the other person's eyes, and she was not willing to take the initiative to expose her injuries to others.

Even though she tried to prepare herself mentally, when she was about to take off her shoes and socks by the bed, she still couldn't hold back, stopped her movements, and turned to look at Qiu Che beside her.

The other party's gaze paused from her feet, then moved up to her eyes, as if wondering why she didn't continue.

Li Qingwu moved his lips and whispered: "You...turn your head."

Qiu Che: "...huh?"

Li Qingwu pursed his lips and said, "Don't look at me."

She avoided Qiu Che's puzzled eyes, feeling a little embarrassed. He lowered his eyes and murmured: "Ugly."

Qiu Che remained silent for a moment, seeing her sitting stiffly, and finally turned his head at Chen Huichun's complicated eyes.

She heard Chen Huichun ask Li Qingwu: "I wonder when your highness started binding feet?"

Li Qingwu said in a low voice: "Six years old."

Six years old.

Qiu Che suddenly thought: That is what Li Qingwu said, the second year after he was taken out of the cold palace.

Chen Huichun said: "That's it." Then he stopped talking.

Soon, he stood up, stroked his beard and said, "Okay."

Qiu Che, however, still maintained his posture with his back to them, and even asked politely, "Can you turn back?"

Li Qingwu had already put on his shoes and socks, and realized that She was asking herself, and said hurriedly: "...Okay."

When Qiu Che turned around again, he saw Li Qingwu fully dressed, sitting on the edge of the bed with his hands folded, his posture as dignified as ever.

She looked at Chen Huichun: "How? Can it be cured?"

Chen Huichun said thoughtfully: "To be honest, from ancient times to the present, I have never heard of anyone being able to restore a broken foot bone to normal... But, according to me, Look, it's not like there's no chance."

Qiu Che asked him to sit down and said, "What do you mean?"

Chen Huichun asked, "Both, are you sure you want to be treated?"

Qiu Che and Li Qingwu looked at each other. He glanced at her and saw her silence, then turned around and said, "It is of course the best to be cured."

"I have two methods here," Chen Huichun said slowly, "First, I have to break off the foot bones myself. It's true that you need acupuncture treatment for several months after the operation, and you are not allowed to move around at will during this period, otherwise you will fail."

"Are you sure it can be cured?"

"This is what I want to say," Chen Huichun sighed, "No one has ever tried this method. However, I can't guarantee that it will be cured, and there is a nine-in-ten chance that the operation will fail."

"What will be the consequences of failure?"

"...his legs will be disabled and he will be unable to stand for life."

Qiu Che said immediately. : "The second kind."

"The second kind is more difficult," Chen Huichun smiled bitterly, "Nanyi - yes, it is this place again."

"There is a book in the unofficial history of Nanyi, which records many anecdotes, and there is one in it. He grows a medicinal herb called Cane Grass. It is said that as long as the method is used correctly, it can kill human flesh and bones... but no one knows whether it is true or not."

"I also read the news about the love affair from that book . "I originally thought it was just some legends, but since the relationship is real, then this rattan grass may not be true."

There was a moment of silence in the room, and Qiu Che asked, "Where did you find this rattan grass?" ?”

“When Nanyi enters the country, they need to pass through a dense forest. The miasma there is deep, but there are many strange medicines. Nanyi people who are familiar with the dense forest often go into the dense forest to collect medicine,” Chen Huichun said thoughtfully, “I think that is the most dangerous place. It is possible to find the place where rattan grass is found. "

But in the dense forest of Nanyi, only the Nanyi people were not affected by the miasma. Many outsiders who entered the dense forest never came back."

"Many?" Catching this word, "Does that mean there are still people surviving?"

"Yes," Chen Huichun paused, "But I heard that those who survived have forgotten their names and become confused and confused all day long. I don’t know what to say.”

Qiu Che fell silent, as if thinking.

Li Qingwu twitched the corner of his mouth and said first: "The love affair is not a proven poison. You and I are just guessing... In this way, the rattan grass may not really exist, let alone the way forward. There are many dangers... Otherwise, just try the first option."

"No," Qiu Che objected immediately, "If the treatment fails, you will never be able to stand up again in your life."

"There is a chance. Is it possible to cure it?" Li Qingwu said softly. "Besides, Doctor Chen has great medical skills, I believe in him." Chen

Huichun waved his hands hurriedly and said: "You can defeat me."

Qiu Che's expression did not change and asked: "Do you want to gamble the rest of your life?"

Li Qingwu His eyes moved slightly but he said nothing.

But Qiu Che clearly saw the meaning of "it's not impossible" in her eyes.

She closed her eyes and felt helpless: "You have to think about it. Once you fail, you will have to sit on the throne for the rest of your life."

Li Qingwu was silent for a moment and said: "I just don't want you to worry too much. If it's not cured, "It doesn't matter."

She's used to it anyway.

She was used to the inconvenience when walking, used to the pain and ugliness, used to everything that footbinding brought to her.

"If every woman with bound feet needs the so-called cane grass to be cured," Li Qingwu raised his eyes and said softly, "then you might as well try it on me first -"

"After all, since the cane grass is rare, I'm afraid it can't be transported back to Daxia easily. Even if it is found and transported back, it won't be able to cure many people, and it will take time and manpower... It's meaningless."

Qiu Che rubbed the jade pendant on his waist and didn't reply.

She didn't say whether she agreed or not, but that night, the servants in the princess's mansion and a certain group of dead soldiers in Yeming City all received the same order: to look for Nanyi Fujishou Grass.

After Li Qingwu heard about it, he also asked Qiu Che why he was making such a big fuss. The other party's answer was: by asking all the servants to search, it can increase the probability of finding it. The best one can be found. By then, the foot binding will be cured and there will be no need to hide it from the emperor. cover.

It doesn't matter if you can't find it. This is equivalent to telling the emperor that you can see every move we make. I have no intention of you, so don't worry about what I am doing.

Li Qingwu also acquiesced to this move.

The two of them revealed the matter in unison and tacitly agreed upon.

It wasn't until a few days later that Yuming came to report that Wang was picked up.

Logically speaking, as an aunt, even if she is the consort's biological mother, she cannot be taken to live in the princess's mansion while her husband and wife are still alive.

But Qiu Che's situation is different.

Qiu Chudong and Qiu Zhe were very peaceful during this period and did not dare to provoke her. Naturally, they were angry but did not dare to say anything about Wang's behavior when she was taken out of the Qiu family.

Qiu Che also mentioned to Li Qingwu that Li Qingwu didn't mind her bringing people to the princess mansion.

Originally, Wang had been living in the courtyard that Qiu Che bought, but Qiu Che didn't take her over because he wanted to wait until she figured it out and stopped worrying about going back.

So Wang stayed there alone for ten days before finally taking the initiative to go out.

When she came this time, she was obviously much haggard, but she no longer mentioned the matter of returning to the Qiu Mansion. When she saw Qiu Che, she cared about her food, clothing, housing and transportation, and was comforted by Qiu Che one by one.

During lunch, Li Qingwu, who went out to inspect the shop with others, finally came back and met this real "mother-in-law" for the first time.

Mrs. Wang also had no experience in being a mother-in-law. When she thought that her "son" was actually a daughter, she not only deceived the emperor, but also married the princess of the dynasty according to the order, she became worried and conscientious.

The two of them greeted me politely, and the meal was quite awkward.

On the other hand, Qiu Che always looked at ease, eating and drinking when he should.

After eating, Mrs. Wang pulled her aside and couldn't help but said: "Mom, I don't want to say anything else... You, it's just that you don't want to get married, but now that you have married the princess, isn't it a waste?" Is she a girl? I heard that she is very favored. If the matter is exposed in the future because she is unable to have sex, wouldn't it be..."

Wouldn't it be an additional crime?

Qiu Che patted the back of her hand and said, "Mom, don't worry. She knows I am a woman."

Just this sentence made Wang almost jump in shock.

She immediately covered her mouth and was speechless for a while.

Qiu Che didn't explain any more, and asked Yuming to put her in place, then turned around and returned to the main courtyard with Li Qingwu.

They have developed a habit during this period. Whenever they are free, Qiu Che will personally teach Li Qingwu one-on-one.

What do you want to learn? Naturally, it is a matter related to the government and the opposition.

Li Qingwu is extremely smart. Just like learning to embroider and play chess, he can learn this kind of thing easily. Qiu Che can teach him easily.

It had only been ten days now, and she could almost keep up with Qiu Che's thoughts when discussing things.

But today, Li Qingwu was a little stunned when he listened to her talk.

After she finished speaking, Li Qingwu suddenly asked: "Did you also teach Yuming?"

"No," Qiu Che glanced at her in surprise, "I don't have that free time, they all learn by themselves. In terms of literature and martial arts, I I also invited a master to teach them. "

It's just that Li Qingwu's status is different, so inviting the master into the palace will inevitably attract the emperor's attention.

Now that Li Qingwu is out of the palace, he doesn't want to be too public and attract the emperor's attention, so Qiu Che intends to train Li Qingwu into a secret card of his and will teach him personally.

"Why do you ask this suddenly?"

Li Qingwu paused and smiled: "Nothing, just keep talking - what happened to the Prime Minister?"

"The Prime Minister and King Zhao were once the right-hand men of the late Emperor."

A civil servant, a military general , and created a new dynasty with the late emperor.

However, when the late Emperor died and the Queen Mother stepped down, King Zhao, who was pro-Empress Dowager, was affected and was demoted from the capital to Lingbei. Three years passed and he never came back.

King Zhao and Prime Minister Wu had known each other since they were young and had a close relationship. However, after the coup, they parted ways and had no contact with each other again.

At that time, there were many rumors about these two big figures, but they were all inconclusive.

However, I heard that Wu Rusheng personally proposed to the emperor the idea of demoting him out of the capital.

"King Zhao is a cautious man, and he keeps his peace in Lingbei. He has never caused any trouble," Qiu Che said. "He was able to escape from the coup three years ago because he did not leave any refuge. Only with the evidence of the Queen Mother can he be let off lightly. "

"Then he surrendered?"

Li Qingwu knew that Qiu Che had reached a brief cooperation with the Queen Mother, but he was not sure whether Qiu Che knew the inside story.

But Qiu Che glanced at her and answered: "No."

"When the Great Xia Dynasty began, these two adults swore to the late emperor that they would only be loyal to the emperor in this life."

What this sentence represents is obvious.

But obviously the current emperor does not believe in this so-called oath.

Not only did he demote King Zhao, but he is now still afraid of the powerful Prime Minister Wu.

Wu Rusheng will not comment for now, but the King of Zhao was loyal throughout his life, but in the end he was demoted from the capital and went to a bitter and cold place like Lingbei. He stayed there for three years. Who wouldn't say a word of injustice?

But throughout the ages, when the birds are gone, the good bows are hidden. The cunning rabbit dies and the lackey is cooked. It is already an unwritten rule.

The most ruthless emperor's family.

"King Zhao has been in Lingbei for three years, and he has restrained his talents and ignored worldly affairs, just to avoid arousing the emperor's jealousy. But it just happened that among the three sons of King Zhao, Yang Qiu was born."

Qiu Che smiled, "He is talented and learned, and he thinks he is With great ambitions, he was naturally unwilling to stay in a place like Lingbei. A year ago, he went to the imperial capital on the pretext of giving a gift, but in fact he was arrested by King Zhao not long after. I'm afraid he didn't have time to prepare a gift, right?"

Li Qingwu nodded: "He made a painting on the spot,"

which was later spread throughout the capital.

As he spoke, Li Qingwu blinked slowly and observed Qiu Che's expression calmly.

Qiu Che didn't notice her expression, but when he said this, he suddenly raised his head and said, "By the way, that painting - is it still here with you?"

Li Qingwu was startled by her sudden gaze and paused for a moment. Ji's eyelashes trembled: "Yes."

It was among the dowry she brought with her.

This painting was hung generously by the emperor at the entrance to the imperial city for people to admire for a month. Later, countless people copied it, but no one could capture its charm.

Qiu Che was very interested: "Can I take a look?"

She had been curious about this painting for a long time.

Li Qingwu hesitated for a moment, then stood up and said, "Follow me."

The study room in the Princess Mansion is now half Qiu Che's and half Li Qingwu's.

The two of them often sit on opposite sides of each other. These days, one is reading the account book and the other is writing memorials, which makes the time quiet.

Li Qingwu had a big box in the corner with a big lock on it.

Qiu Che had always been curious about what was inside, but seeing that Li Qingwu didn't mention it, he didn't ask out of respect for the other person's thoughts.

This time Li Qingwu let Fuling take the key and opened the box in front of her.

Unexpectedly, there were only some lanterns, rattles, chessboards, safety locks and other gadgets inside, which all seemed to be old.

The box of wood carvings that Qiu Che gave her a few days ago was also placed inside and locked securely.

The scroll is placed at the top.

Li Qingwu reached out, picked it up and handed it to her, saying, "This is it."

Qiu Che opened it and looked at it for a moment, raised his eyebrows, and quickly closed it again.

Li Qingwu took the scroll, lowered his eyes and said, "Actually, there's nothing good to see."

"There's nothing good to see," Qiu Che said. "It feels empty, like something is missing."

She sighed in disappointment, and added: "Not as good-looking as I am."

Li Qingwu's lowered eyebrows moved slightly.

She glanced at Qiu Che and saw that the other person was still smiling casually, as if he was just talking casually.

His eyebrows are raised and his appearance is handsome.

She put the scroll back and when she lowered her head, she could clearly hear her heartbeat.

When he closed the box again, Qiu Che's eyes suddenly stopped for a moment on a lantern in the corner.

Li Qingwu's heart stopped.

But Qiu Che's gaze only stayed for a moment, and he quickly looked back.

Li Qingwu woke up from a dream and calmly exhaled.

She thought: Qiu Che didn't recognize it.

I don't know if this tone is relief or disappointment.

Qiu Che's expression remained as usual. When Fuling left with the keys, she looked at Fuling's back and suddenly asked, "There's something I've forgotten to ask you."

"What?"

"Where did Fufeng go on the day you took the traditional Chinese medicine?

Li Qingwu thought for a while: "... Fufeng was not my secret guard at that time, but he always looked after me because of Poria cocos. He happened to have a mission that day." Qiu

Che said in an incomprehensible tone, "It just so happened that I had a mission that day." "Mission?"

"I know what you want to say," Li Qingwu said gently but firmly, "But it is impossible for Fufeng to betray me. It was because of that incident that he blamed himself very much and asked my father for help, and now he has become my secret. Guard."

Qiu Che didn't expect that there was such a reason, so she said how could a guard in royal robes follow the princess every day.

Thinking of this, Qiu Che blinked and licked his lower lip.

"Is he...is he..."

Li Qingwu waited for a long time, but without waiting for her follow-up, he asked patiently: "What is he?"

Qiu Che looked at her confused look, and finally swallowed the words in his throat. , then coughed and said: "It's nothing, as long as you can make sure that he has no problem."

Li Qingwu said "hmm".

"You haven't finished talking just now. Yang Qiu came to Beijing for the scientific examination, and what

happened next?" "Then he failed the examination."

As the two of them said, they simply sat down on the table and chairs by the study window and continued to talk about what they had just said. topic of.

Qiu Che said: "Later I heard that King Zhao didn't like him studying for the scientific examination, and he often argued with him over this matter. He secretly asked everyone around him to tell him that the scientific examination was last year, but in fact it was this year. In the end, He could only accept his fate and go back with his father. "

Then he secretly signed up again this year. "

This time he got the exam right.

And it’s the third flower.

Now that he had passed the exam and had an official status, King Zhao could no longer tie him back as before.

But Yang Qiu's temperament was influenced by his father's and he was as cautious and cautious. He stayed alone in the capital with no backing, so of course he could only make friends with others on the surface and avoid offending others as much as possible.

This also led to the fact that when any young student official in Beijing mentioned Yang Tanhua this year, they would all comment that she was an all-rounder and good at dancing.

"He came to me to cooperate, but he actually took a fancy to the fact that I am now in the limelight and have the trust of His Majesty," Qiu Che said lazily, "and most of the laws I proposed are the ones he wants to change."

Li Qingwu said crookedly Tilting his head: "How do you know?"

"This..." Qiu Che pondered for a moment and joked, "You can think of it as my political sense."

In fact, Qiu Che realized it himself when he worked with Yang Qiu in his previous life. .

Yang Qiu's goals in both lives were probably the same as her goals in this life, which were to change this rotten system and eliminate the worms in the government and the public.

But he alone could not shake the towering trees of the aristocratic family and prime minister.

In his previous life, he also mentioned the need for reform, but the angle was from the perspective of people's livelihood issues. The emperor did not pay attention to it, so the reform naturally did not succeed.

But in this life, Qiu Che will be his ally.

"Yang Qiu has no backer in the capital. He urgently needs someone to join forces with him so that he can quickly and accurately implement his plan - I am the person he chose," Qiu Che said lightly, "Is there anything else you don't understand?"

"He said Wu Prime Minister..." Li Qingwu paused slightly, "Does it mean that Prime Minister Wu has had contact with Nan Yi? This time the Nan Yi people entered Beijing unimpeded. It is possible that Prime Minister Wu secretly..."

"He only said that Nan Yi had contact with Nan Yi. Wu Xiang has contact, but nothing else is said," Qiu Che said with a smile, "Is his source accurate? Even if it is accurate, is Wu Xiang still in contact with Nanyi people secretly entering Beijing? Whether it has anything to do with him... these are just our speculations. "

What's more important is that this incident did not happen in Qiu Che's memory in his previous life.

It's also possible that it happened, but it didn't have much impact.

Therefore, Qiu Che, who was still compiling in front of the Hanlin Academy peacefully at that time, did not hear any news.

Li Qingwu nodded, but before he could speak, someone knocked on the door again outside the house.

Fuling said: "Your Highness, the Prince Consort."

Li Qingwu asked: "What's wrong?"

"The Duke's wife is going to hold a flower viewing banquet and invites the ladies from all the provinces to attend, and His Highness is also among them."

The Duke's wife is exactly that . Queen's mother.

The two looked at each other, and Li Qingwu asked: "When?"

"Tomorrow."

Qiu Che vaguely remembered that there was such a banquet in his previous life. Seeing Li Qingwu's hesitation, he gave her a comforting look and said, "Go ahead."

The two chatted for a while, and Li Qingwu left the study first.

Entering the bedroom, Fuling looked around, took a roll of paper from the leg of a white pigeon by the window, and handed it to Li Qingwu.

The other party sat quietly at the table, looked at it for a moment, then took out a pen and paper and wrote a few lines of small words.

Poria cocos was carefully rolled up and tied to the pigeon's leg. She watched it fly away. When she looked back, she saw Li Qingwu looking in the direction of the window in a trance.

She couldn't help but said: "Your Highness..."

"Do you really like the Prince Consort so much?"

Li Qingwu came back to his senses and was stunned: "Why did you say that?"

"You just insisted on marrying him before. The Queen Mother said His Majesty's decree requires you to look after the Prince Consort... You always write messy replies, aren't you afraid of being blamed by Your Majesty and the Empress?"

Li Qingwu put his hands on his lap and sat motionless for a long time before whispering: "I just I think she's right...I'm already married, and I lived like no one before, but from now on, it's up to me to live my own life."

Even if I pissed off those two people, the worst possible outcome would be death.

"You used to cherish your life the most, and you were always cautious," Fu Ling frowned and complained, "Why are you following the Prince Consort now and imitating him to ignore me?"

"I used to cherish my life, just to live."

Li Qingwu smiled, lowered his head, and looked at his beautiful fingers, but his eyes were distant, "—Now I don't care about my life, but also to live."

Fuling listened in confusion, and muttered: "Okay, okay, who told him to be Where is the consort? I don’t know what kind of enchanting soup I poured into you to make you so devoted to him that you insist on marrying him."

"Fu Ling," Li Qingwu raised his eyes and looked at her gently, "you said it wrong. "

Poria cocos made a dull "ah" sound.

"I once wanted to marry her, but it was really just for myself."

Li Qingwu said in a low voice, "I am not a crazy person, but I have a good impression of her because of some connections in the past. It happened that my father was interested at that time. Promise me to Wu Xiang..."

"Wu Xiang!" Fu Ling hurriedly covered her mouth, lowered her voice and said in shock, "Don't Wu Xiang have a wife? He is over fifty... …Didn’t the servant hear that you will be promised to the grandson of the Wu family?”

“It’s just a rumor to deceive others,” Li Qingwu shook his head, “Young Master Wu has no power, and Prime Minister Wu is the one in charge of the Wu family. The emperor wanted me to marry, and naturally he wanted to marry the most powerful one. He made a few vague remarks, probably because he was afraid of being criticized, so he was always hesitant. "

She happened to do it that night when she heard what the emperor meant. A dream.

She couldn't tell whether the feeling left in the dream was too profound. In short, she hesitated for a long time the next day and still asked to go out for an outing.

And she really met the man of her dreams at the gate of Qiu Mansion.

"On the day of the consort's parade, I actually left the palace on purpose," Li Qingwu tightened his grip on her skirt and said, "I was betting that my father also left the palace together and was also watching the parade."

In this way, she could take advantage of the situation. Please intercede and ask the emperor for marriage.

Like in a dream.

——She made the right bet.

"At first, I just thought that marrying her was someone I liked a little bit. No matter what, the ending would be much better than marrying Wu Xiang as my concubine."

But she didn't expect that reality gave her more of favor.

Poria couldn't calm down for a long time, and stuttered: "Then, what happened next?"

"Then?" Li Qingwu thought for a while and smiled, "Later, I found that she was indeed the same as I imagined. She was worthy of my liking. . I also showed some affection, so that she could feel at ease with me and not doubt that I still have entanglements with my father. Why not? "

In fact, there is some real feeling.

However, she was very clear that since Qiu Che confessed that she was a woman, her slight liking for the other party had turned into an ordinary good impression - just like between ordinary friends.

The ambiguity revealed was just to make Qiu Che uncertain about her thoughts.

Being able to survive from the deep palace until now is enough to prove that she is not a good person.

She is not good at other things, but playing with people's hearts is her specialty.

There is no need to tell Fuling about this little thought.

"...That's it."

Fu Ling's face showed surprise.

She still thought that her Highness had been walking alone in the palace for so long, but she really couldn't understand why she suddenly fell in love at first sight with a top scholar who had nothing, and she had to be her.

At the corner outside the door, Qiu Che held a piece of grass in his mouth, leaned against the railing, and listened quietly to the whole story.

At the same time, she felt relieved.

After learning from the emperor that day that Li Qingwu had proposed marriage a long time ago, she always had a layer of doubt about Li Qingwu marrying her.

Even occasionally looking at Li Qingwu, one would have the illusion that she really liked him.

She was afraid that Li Qingwu really liked her, but also felt that since she knew she was a woman, Li Qingwu wouldn't be so picky about food.

In fact, I was worried for a long time, but I just didn't show it in front of the other party.

Poria couldn't hear Li Qingwu's deep meaning, but Qiu Che could.

Hearing her personal clarification, although she was indeed a little annoyed that her mind was being played with, she felt at ease.

Li Qingwu hid the comb... probably just to show his harmlessness and love for Qiu Che, so that the other party could treat him better.

It's just that Qiu Che in his previous life was too unsophisticated.

However, there are still two things that cannot be explained.

Why on earth did she kill herself?

And what is the origin of what Li Qingwu said?

Have they ever...really met?

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