Chapter 1 The Young Man with Tuberculosis
In the eleventh year of Hongzhi, it was winter and early October.
Beiping, by the Tongji River, in a simple courtyard by the river, a young man with red lips and white teeth and a peach-like face is sitting on a low stool.
Perhaps these two words are inappropriate to describe a man, but the young man sitting on the stool as quiet as a virgin is really too handsome.
Judging from his age, he looks only seventeen or eighteen.
Chen Ce stared blankly at the early winter snow outside, coughed slightly, and drank the brown medicinal soup with a painful look on his face.
This is the second year that Chen Ce has traveled through the Ming Dynasty. Unfortunately, the original owner is not in good health and has non-contagious tuberculosis.
Chen was originally a well-known businessman in Hangzhou Prefecture, but Chen Ce got this disease when he was five years old. His parents were extremely anxious. For more than ten years, they traveled to all the chief ministers of the Ming Dynasty to find famous doctors for treatment, and even spent money to seek immortality. asked.
In the end, all the money was spent, and the business in Hangzhou was taken over by relatives of the family, and he died in depression.
Chen Ce was poor and helpless in Hangzhou Prefecture. His relatives who were "blood is thicker than water" all turned into wolves and gave Chen Ce two taels of silver to let him fend for himself.
Two years ago, Chen Ce came to Peiping from Hangzhou, where he had his last hope.
Chen's father and Chen's mother had supported a scholar when they were young, and provided him with education and scientific examinations. The two parties agreed to set a baby for the child. Chen Ce came to Peking two years ago to find his father-in-law and fiancée.
It's a pity that the disease did not kill him, but he died of poverty and starvation in a ruined temple ten miles away from the capital.
After Chen Ce inherited the memory of the original owner, he found the Tongji River according to the address. Unfortunately, he did not find the other party and all his money was spent. Although he was a time traveler, he did not have any skills. It was almost impossible to survive that winter night two years ago. Impossible.
Fortunately, a passing young man in brocade casually threw five taels of silver to Chen Ce, which allowed him to spend the winter two years ago safely. Chen Ce spent two taels of silver to rent this simple little yard. .
This little money is definitely not enough for him to spend in the future. Because of tuberculosis, he can't carry it on his shoulders or lift it. Even if he wants to do a job, it is a luxury. As for the land... he is currently a refugee and has no land.
He couldn't take back the family business in Hangzhou for the time being.
But life has to survive. In the past two years, Chen Ce has barely maintained his survival and expenses by writing novels.
His father-in-law and fiancee have not been found yet. If they were found, they would not be so embarrassed.
The other party may be an official now. After so many years of scientific examination, he must have become an official in high school. However, there are so many government offices in the capital, so it is not easy to find someone.
We can only figure it out slowly.
However, there is always a road ahead. Chen Ce started the farming and harvesting system at the end of the year a year ago.
He opened a small field in the courtyard and planted some fruits and vegetables, which can be harvested as long as they mature.
After the first batch of fruits and vegetables matured, he harvested many Ming history, scientific examination papers, eight-part essays, etc. The most rare harvest should be the ability to understand "ten lines in one eye".
During this year's quiz, Chen Ce predicted some quiz questions and sold them for an additional ten taels of silver.
In this way, life is somewhat protected.
Life is hard, but despite being ill, one still strives for self-improvement.
Chen Ce took out the book next to the document, put on a soap-colored cotton coat, faced the first light snow in winter, and began to read the book tirelessly.
Although this sick body cannot be an official, it cannot be without knowledge reserves. Over the past year, Chen Ce has accumulated powerful knowledge theories in his mind.
Bang bang bang!
A rough knock on the door sounded from outside. As soon as Chen Ce put down his book and was about to open the door, the broken door was kicked open, and immediately a group of people wearing green cotton clothes and armor carrying scimitars broke in. Not all Jinyiwei are qualified to wear Feiyu uniforms.
It's just that Chen Ce doesn't understand. He is just an ordinary citizen in Shuntian Mansion. He doesn't steal or rob, and he hasn't participated in any major cases. Why should he be accompanied by Jin Yiwei to break in in person?
Even if something happens, Shuntian County Office should come to get the person. How can we alert the Jin Yiwei?
Chen Ce looked at the group of stern-looking Jin Yiwei with a confused expression, and said in a neither humble nor overbearing tone: "Everyone, have you found the wrong person?"
How can a dying person have anything to fear?
I don’t know if tuberculosis can be cured. Anyway, my parents have spent so long and still haven’t been cured. It’s just a matter of dying early and dying later. Not to mention that the other party is a royal guard, what will happen even if the emperor comes tomorrow?
A young man wearing a flying fish suit slowly walked out from behind the Jinyiwei, with his hands behind his back. This should be a senior official of the Jinyiwei, at least third grade or above.
Chen Ce has dabbled in the history of the Ming Dynasty, and there are records in it. Chen Ce is still a little puzzled by such a young high-ranking official in royal robes.
The young man was very coquettish, with his head held high, his hand on the embroidered spring knife, his eyes looking at the sky, completely arrogant, and said arrogantly: "You were the only one who leaked the questions of the Shuntian Prefecture's college examination?"
"Hey! You are a bold and rebellious person. The country's search for talents is based on subjects. This year's first college examination in Shuntian Prefecture has not yet entered the candidates, but the Analects of Confucius has been recited. If you ask carefully, you will know that it is you who leaked the questions!"
"Can you plead guilty?"
From the beginning to the end, his eyes were looking up to the sky, and his expression could not be clearly seen. Chen Ce couldn't help but ask: "Sir, are you sick?"
"Be bold!"
Chen Ce said: "Can't you lower your neck?"
"sure!"
"Bah! Don't tell me these things. Let me ask you, can you plead guilty?"
Chen Ce shook his head and said: "Of course he is not guilty. As long as you think about it carefully, you will know that a person like me, who is neither an official nor a nobleman, can know the questions of the college examination, and how can I talk about leaking the questions?"
"There is some truth to it." After the young official in Feiyu uniform said, he hummed again: "You really are a cunning and insidious person, don't try to deceive me!"
"I understand! Although you are neither an official nor a nobleman, you must have some interests with the chief examiner of the Shuntian Prefecture Examination! Hurry up and recruit them. Who are these civil servants?"
Why does it feel like he's not here for you, but more like he's here for those scientific examination officials?
Chen Ce was really helpless and said, "Sir, you might as well lower your head and take a look at my surroundings, okay?"
"You can't see anything when you look at the sky like this. You might as well look at how poor I am. If I have that ability, can I still live in this simple courtyard and live a poor life?"
The young Jin Yiwei finally lowered his head. When he saw Chen Ce, he was shocked and said, "What?"
"Why is it you?"
Zhu Houzhao never felt that he was a good person. The only time he showed kindness was when he rescued a tuberculosis ghost two years ago. It was because seeing the tuberculosis ghost reminded him of his only brother who died young, so the memory was particularly deep.
Of course he recognized that Chen Ce in front of him was the tuberculosis man he rescued two years ago.
When I see Chen Ce now, I still feel that he is very similar to his brother who died young.
In this case, he is a good person and will definitely not do anything illegal.
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand coolly and said to the guards behind him: "Okay, get out of here. I have concluded that this person did not do it. He is an honest man at first sight!"
(End of chapter)