[R18] The stars are brilliant, so lucky even (The stars are brilliant, the moon rises over the sea) – Chapter 141 of “The Stars Are Brilliant, How Lucky They Are (The Stars Are Brilliant·The Moon Rising Over the Sea)” [English]

Chapter 141

When the morning light first appeared, Shao Shang returned home exhausted, concealed the relationship between the deceased and his wife, and made it clear to his parents and siblings all at once about the future.The five members of the Cheng family were shocked and speechless for a long time, especially Cheng Xiao and his wife. Although they were well-informed, the tragic twists and turns of Huo Buyi’s life experience and the cruelty, viciousness and meticulousness of Ling Yi were still far beyond their imagination.

Shaoshang had no interest in asking his family’s opinion, and just warned: “Your Majesty will tell the world about this matter soon, and the court will also deal with the Ling family and Huo Buyi at that time. It’s better that the parents and three brothers know what they think, and don’t make it public too early. Especially when Huo Buyi mobilized troops at Weiye, it can only be said to be to send more manpower to besiege the Ling family.It has nothing to do with the Third Prince.If someone outside insists on getting involved with His Highness, my father, brother, and mother will fall out on the spot.”

Cheng Song was a little confused: “Is this your Majesty’s intention?”

Shao Shang said: “If we, as ministers, have to ask His Majesty to open his mouth to know everything, then we will not be able to survive for a long time.”

Cheng Shi simply praised him and said, “Well said.” He then scolded his second son, “You will support your uncle Wan’s family in the future, so you should learn to be more calm and think about everything before you open your mouth.”

Cheng Song scratched his head: “Niao Niao is smarter than me!”

Shaoshang said calmly: “I can’t say I’m smart. I’ve been in the palace for a long time and I can’t be calm even if I don’t want to.”

Cheng Shi felt a pain in his heart when he saw his daughter’s haggard and indifferent look.

Cheng Yong quickly changed the topic: “No wonder Uncle Wan wants to take Asong to Xu County to take up a post. It’s time for the second brother to get some experience. Hey, Young Master, why don’t you say anything?”

Cheng Shaogong, who had always been talkative, had remained silent until now. Only then did he say, “Niao Niao, let me go back with you to rest.”

Shao Shang smiled weakly: “Thank you, third brother, I will go back by myself.” Before getting up and leaving, she turned around and said, “Huo Buyu and I have broken off our engagement. I hope that my father, brother, and mother will forgive me for my arrogance and willfulness.”

As soon as Father Cheng waited, Cheng Song immediately opened his mouth to ask. Mrs. Xiao pressed them all down with one hand and said first, “Okay, we understand. You can go back and rest. Your third aunt will be here at noon today. You can have a good talk then.”

Shaoshang smiled mockingly.

Speaking of which, today was originally her wedding day – her third uncle Cheng Zhi was not allowed to leave without authorization during his tenure, but her third aunt came specially to attend the wedding. When Sang came and knew everything, she didn’t know how she looked.

She said nothing, bowed her head respectfully, and then left.

The girl’s movements were smooth and smooth. When she looked straight, she was polite but indifferent; when she lowered her eyes, she was respectful but not condescending. When she turned to leave, her skirt made a layer of beautiful ripples. Her waist was bent just right, and she was soft but not flirtatious – this was a strict habit developed in the deep palace.

Everyone in the Cheng family suddenly realized that the beautiful girl with impeccable etiquette in front of them was no longer the aggressive and cheerful Cheng Niao Niao before.

The three brothers looked at each other, and each felt an inexplicable loss in their hearts.Cheng Shi was also disappointed for a long time. When he looked back at his wife, he found that Mrs. Xiao was trembling slightly.

As soon as Shao Shang lay down, the pain and fatigue that had been suppressed for several days immediately came back in a powerful way. At first, he was just weak and had a swollen and sore throat, but he started to have a fever before Sang Shi arrived.

This time she was no more sick than the night before, and she seemed to have no strength to even cry out in pain. No matter whether her wounds were cracked or her bones and flesh were sore, she was like a newborn lamb, with only two childish and soft bleatings, she could only be slaughtered.

In the haze, Shaoshang heard Father Cheng’s cry, Mrs. Xiao’s cry (she wondered if she heard it wrong), and Mrs. Sang’s call – she missed her third aunt very much, and she had accumulated a lot of things to say to her over the past year, but now, she felt that she had nothing to say.

Even Cheng’s mother, who had always disliked him, came twice. The first time she said something, and the second time she seemed to say “it’s time to prepare for the funeral.” This made Cheng Cheng furious. After a wild quarrel, Mrs. Xiao kicked out the mother and son.

She had a high fever that wouldn’t go away for several days, and everyone in the Cheng family was extremely anxious.Although it was a cold early spring, once the sweat caused by the fever infected the wound, it would easily turn into inflammation, which could range from ulceration to death.Cheng Shi and Mrs. Xiao had both lived in the military camp for decades. They knew how serious this was, so they became increasingly worried.

After staying up day and night for several rounds, Shao Shang finally lost some of his heat. Cheng Shi saw that everyone was tired and haggard, so he stopped everyone from gathering around and doing whatever they were supposed to do.

Apart from Mrs. Xiao and the Sang family, the one who stayed in the Shaoshang house the longest was actually Cheng Shaogong – He had a good reason. He did not have to be awarded an official immediately like his eldest brother Cheng Yong, nor did he have baskets of Wan clan members to meet like his second brother Cheng Song.

Looking at his fragile sister on the hospital bed, Cheng Shaogong felt guilty for the first time in his life. He thought carefully that ten years ago it would have been better for him to be left behind. He was not afraid of meeting a bad man, and his sister might be able to find a good husband among his father’s colleagues and children, like Wan Qiqi.

Mrs. Xiao rarely acquiesced to the fact that the third son, the Young Master, quietly applied for leave from school. Everyone in the Cheng family knew the reason – Yuan Shen was here.

Shaoshang came home before dawn, and Yuan Shen came to the door that afternoon. At first, he talked nonsense about “meeting Mrs. Sang.” But after learning that Shaoshang was unconscious due to illness, he didn’t even make excuses, and went to Cheng’s house four times a day, which was more than a meal.

Sometimes he brings the doctor who is stationed in the Yuan family, sometimes he brings large and small bags of medicinal materials, and sometimes he just comes out of the Sutra Hall and wants to take a look at Shao Shang with nothing in his hands – if he is not allowed to take a look at him, he can sit in Jiuzhu Hall for two hours, and then he has to catch up with the curfew and have to stay at Cheng’s house overnight.

In this regard, Cheng Shaogong said, “This guy finally knows that putting on airs is useless. Now he not only doesn’t put on airs, he even loses his face.”

The dissuasion from everyone in the Cheng family was ineffective, and they couldn’t lock the person out, so they had no choice but to let Cheng Shaogong accompany him – what can you do to someone who doesn’t even care about his face?Fortunately, the attention of both the government and the public was focused on the Huo Ling family, and few people noticed Yuan Shen’s coquettish moves.

The day Shaoshang woke up, the imperial edict was finally issued, and the Ling family was punished more severely than ever before.

First, the Ling brothers’ treachery of collaborating with the enemy and treason was carved on a stone pillar, and then their corpses were whipped and hung on the bones to warn the world.In addition, all children of the Ling family over the age of five were sentenced to death – including married daughters (what if the Ling family’s daughter respected her father and brother and secretly taught her descendants to wait for revenge), the Ling family’s women and children under five years old were exiled to Mobei, the Ling family’s ancestral tombs were dug up, and the family name was changed.Not only that, all close relatives and close friends of the Ling family should be denounced.

Anyone with a discerning eye would know at a glance that this ruthless and far-reaching move was intended to avoid future troubles.

Chunyu’s mother and son were destined to die. They were drunk with poisoned wine in front of Princess Yuchang, who fainted on the spot.

The old prince of Ruyang’s good days have finally come, and the emperor no longer asks his old uncle to terminate the marriage. He feels that divorce and house arrest are more suitable for his former aunt.The prince of Ruyang wanted to defend his mother, but the emperor said kindly, “I know that your cousin is very filial. You can go to the capital to support the old princess, but in this case, the prince will not be able to bear the heavy responsibility.”

After learning the inside story, the imperial concubine without saying a word dragged a bunch of her children to die to show her husband, and the imperial concubine shut up.

When they thought that the evidence of Ling Yi’s collusion with the enemy and treason was contained in the statue of Nuwa, who had been taken by the old princess day and night for the past sixteen years, everyone in the Ruyang Palace broke into cold sweats.Although they themselves knew that the old princess did not have a palace, and knew what Ling Yi did, they could still act as if nothing had happened, but they did not dare to think about what outsiders would guess.

So, when the emperor conveniently found a son-in-law for Princess Yuchang and ordered the marriage to be completed within three months, no one in the Ruyang Palace raised objections.

There were only two exceptions to this thunderstorm of dispositions.

One is the daughter of Ling Laoer’s ex-wife. She was already ten years old when she broke into the city. She vaguely knew that her eldest father’s family and her biological mother died in some mysterious way. Although she didn’t think much of it, she has been hostile to her biological father ever since.Later, Ling Laoer married the widowed sister of a powerful general, had children, and lived a prosperous life. He became increasingly unhappy with this eldest daughter, and within a few years he married her to an old and violent high-ranking widower.

Fortunately, Mrs. Ling was very lucky and became a widow soon after her marriage. An old aunt in her husband’s family took pity on her because she lost her mother at a young age and her biological father and stepmother were mean and ruthless, so she arranged for her to remarry into a middle-class official family. After that, the couple lived in harmony and had many children.

After Ling Yi’s crime was exposed, the Ling family had to commit suicide. Her son-in-law risked his life and petitioned to spare his wife’s death penalty.

There is also the concubine of Ling Laosan, who was born to a maid after Ling Laosan was drunk.His biological mother was betrayed by Mrs. Ling San early on, and she was also thrown lame when she was young.Ling Laosan had many concubines. Seeing that it was difficult for his daughter to find a good marriage, he randomly married her to a poor family.

The family had neither money nor power, so they could only kneel down at the door of Tingwei’s house and beg Ji Zun to intercede on their behalf, saying that the Ling family’s bride had never interacted with the Ling family since she returned home, and she had always been filial to her elders and friendly to her brothers and sisters. She was a virtuous woman praised by everyone in the countryside.

Old Man Ji was a cold-faced and warm-hearted man, so he reported everything to the emperor.

——After the emperor listened carefully to the report, he agreed to both items. All the ministers breathed a sigh of relief and praised the emperor for his wisdom.

After the Ling family was dealt with, it was Huo Buyi’s turn.

Killing the Ling brothers can be regarded as avenging his father. This is the great cause of justice, and because of the special circumstances, Huo Buyi will not be held responsible for seeking revenge privately; but the private transfer of troops, which shocked the Sixth Battalion, is a definite crime.

Facing the dozens of bright eyes in the court, the emperor was also very happy, saying that I will definitely not show favoritism – although it has not been a crime for a son to attack his father’s soldiers since the previous dynasty, although my adopted son only sent a few more soldiers to be more sure of revenge, although I did not take it seriously at all, although…but, I will still act in accordance with the law!

All the ministers were speechless.

In the end, Huo Buyi was deprived of all his official positions and demoted to the northwest border city to guard against Hu tribe intruders – and renounced the engagement with Cheng Shi’s daughter was also one of the punishment items.

Less than half an hour after the emperor’s punishment was handed down, Cui You’s memorial was handed over to the next level. He first quoted a sentence that seemed to be copied from a book about the Hu people’s sufferings on the border, and then volunteered to lead the army to guard the border town.

The emperor was so angry that he scolded him alone in the palace: “You Cui Ayuan, you have been crying and crying since Jun Hua passed away. You have complained about illness every three days. You have pushed back and delayed in doing anything I asked you to do. When you are desperate, you still cry to become an official. You are like the mother-in-law of a dead man! Now you are full of life, loyal to the country and the people!”

He was scolded, but the emperor also knew that it was most appropriate to hand over his adopted son to Cui Hou, so he could only roll his eyes and sign and seal the appointment letter.

Cui You was not impressive in appearance, and he did not like to charge into battle, but he was one of the best in handling things. He was meticulous and neat. In just five days, he arranged all the necessary clothing, food, housing and transportation along the way.

The seasonings must be grilled, steamed, and boiled, and the bed tents must be seasoned with the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. There must be several doctors who are good at treating external injuries and internal injuries. Even the spices for fumigating mosquitoes are prepared with five scents. In fact, the emperor opened his own private treasury for him to move.

On the day of leaving the city, Cui Hou led a large number of people and horses, with colorful flags flying on their heads and horses neighing under their crotches. Those who didn’t know thought they were going for an outing.

Huo Buyi was lying in the carriage fully clothed, covered with thick fur, and looking out the window. When he reached the Shili Pavilion outside the city, he ordered him to stop and rest.After a long while, Liang Qiufei came over and said loudly: “My lord, Marquis Cui asked us if it’s time to set off!”

Huo Buyi said: “Wait a moment.”

Liang Qiuqi looked at he’s pale face and couldn’t bear to say: “Young lord, stop looking, she won’t come.”

Huo Buyi lowered his long eyelashes: “It’s difficult to get to the border town here, so it would be better if she didn’t go…”

At this moment, Cui Da Cui Er dragged a young man over from the front. Liang Qiufei’s eyes lit up: “Hey, isn’t this the third young master of the Cheng family! It must be the little lady who wants to tell him something!”

Huo Buyu’s deep eyes instantly glowed with hope.

Cheng Shaogong shook off Cui Da and Cui Er’s arm: “You two kids, why did you take away my horse when we met? You are so rude!”

Cui Da and Cui Er apologized with a playful smile.

Huo Buyu said in a trembling voice: “Young palace, she, does she have something to say…”

Cheng Shaogong remained silent, took out a small kit from his arms and threw it to Liang Qiuqi.

Liang Qiuqi felt that there seemed to be a small, square, hard object in the kit, and then he handed it into the car with both hands.

Huo Buyi grabbed the kit and shook it open. He saw that it was the private seal that he had given to Shao Shang. His face turned gloomy for a moment.

Liang Qiufei angrily said to Cheng Shaogong: “The young master’s sister is too ruthless. My young master is like this now…”

“When I came out of the palace that day, Shao Shang had a high fever for three days, and then it was good and bad for another six or seven days. To this day, he still can’t go to bed. During this time, the doctor asked the family to prepare for the funeral twice. Fortunately, he finally got over it.”

Cheng Shaogong looked at Huo Buyi and said word by word, “My father and my mother were secretly discussing, worried that my sister would suffer from such a serious illness and her life span would be shortened in the future. I heard that you were seriously injured and lost half of your life. Now Shao Shang has also lost half of his life. She can be considered worthy of you.”

Huo Buyu squeezed the private seal tightly, so hard that his knuckles turned white, and the sharp corners of the private seal dug into the pulp of his fingers without any pain.

Brothers Liangqiu and Brother Cui looked at each other.

Cheng Shaogong continued: “Your loyalty, bravery and admiration are rare in the world. Everyone in the Cheng family is deeply moved. But one thing comes to another. If you are not destined, you are not destined. Please stop forcing me, Mr. Huo.”

Huo Buyu breathed in and out slowly, trying to calm down: “I understand what you mean, doesn’t she have anything to say?”

Cheng Shaogong was silent for a moment: “Yes. She said – we will never see each other again.”

Huo Buyu immediately pressed down on the car wall with one hand to prevent himself from falling.

The scene that night was vivid in my mind, the wind was cold and the dew was cold, and the whistling of the surrounding vegetation was like a knife blade piercing the bones. He was riding on a galloping horse, holding his beloved girl tightly in his arms.Cutting off she was more painful than cutting off his own limbs, but he still left her behind.

He said at that time that there would be no date for the future.

She is such a person, and she will retaliate and be forgiven by all difficulties.

Huo Buyi leaned back on the hidden bag and closed his eyes: “I understand. Mr. Cheng, please go back. A Fei, ask Uncle Cui to set off.”